Happy Hallowe'en

Friday Flowers

 I'm stealing this idea from Cornflower. I love how she used non-petally flowers today. I looked at my garden, grabbed my camera and felt a rush of excitement. I love these lost flowers that mark the change in seasons. I confess I let my parsley go to flower.

 New pots in purple with pansies to cover spring tulips.

 The anemone still holds her graceful head on a delicate stalk.

 Pink poppies are still beautiful when they are generating seeds.

And my beloved columbine. I was given seeds from my sister's heritage garden and was so pleased to be able to take the same seeds to her new farm. We think of BIL's grandma who came over from Ireland and kept her hats in a trunk with the original travel tag.
The preservation of last years flowers give hope to next spring.

Compelled

 I was at my daughter's Jazz Band concert in Langley and heard my friends from knitting night saying, "That's pretty close to 88 Stitches." Why yes it is. So I scooted over. The concert was great, but my back is giving me problems and driving is the problem. I snuck into Fort Langley and still did not find shoes that are as interesting as Converse but for this older knitter. I felt my feet were too big. But at 88 Stitches, I was Goldilocks at home. Can you say wall of Malibrigo? Sue was super and I felt like I needed to stop in again to pick up more. The Kidsilk Haze is because I never buy it. Now it is mine.

 This Sweet Fibre is so gorgeous. It is hand dyed by a local dyer,  Sue's daughter, in fact. I was compelled to take it home with me. It's sock, 80% superwash merino and 20% nylon. I will make myself a shawl. Another one.

And yesterday morning I was compelled to make a shawl for a friend who may be facing a terrible diagnosis. I still say maybe not, but she deserves something warm and comforting. A Damson in Shibui baby alpaca. I shall call it a Cache Coeur to keep her heart safe.
I am giving up my knitted Hallowe'en wig that was my compulsion last month to rip this thing out.
How quickly can I knit this up before I get back on the crazy train that is all the Christmas knitting?

Muffling

 The presents are presenting themselves. J doesn't read blogs, so I think I can post progress here, but not on Ravelry.com. This is Grumperina's Volna scarf. I'm doing it in Fame Trend. The colour changes are like Noro, but stay in Jean Green.

Mom asked for a skinny scarf. The Crystal Palace Bunny Hop has 8% Rabbit Angora and is so soft. This is Falling Water, and I like it better than the lacy ripples I did a few months ago. This pattern sings (and screams, as in screamin' fast). Two mufflers, check.
There are other gifts in the planning stage, but I have had confessions of lurking and have very unfortunately introduced Ravelry to many new friends. The blog is not safe. Don't they know they can just look in my knitting bag(s) for the evidence they seek?
Any ideas on how I can get them to comment and come out of the shadows?

Unexpected Finds

 The Wooly Bears are out. Also called Wooly Worms (no longer creeped out by Wooly Wormhead). You could easily miss them if you are travelling too quickly. But when I walk the dog, I like to take my time and enjoy the lovely area we live in.

 The view is not always of the mountains. When it's really rainy and cloudy, the  mountains are hidden in their shrouding. But the sky can still be beautiful. Even though I am not a fan of Canada Geese in my yard, I am touched by their beauty in the sky and how they mark the autumn. Unfortunately while I was engrossed in taking this picture, our rotten neighbour's daughter, the Troll, brought the vicious black labs to the same park and let them run loose. They were in the tennis court, but the doors weren't shut and when Roxy came at me with teeth bared and barking like a devil, I was still greatly frightened. This was on top of a painful back from my first chiropractor visit and the bad behaviour of my own big dog who is afraid of the garbage and recycling trucks that are out on Thursday.
I consoled myself by baking a birthday cake for my best friend, and pumpkin muffins for the family. My friends had a great birthday party!! What great friends!

 Surprisingly I finished the baby sweaters. The green alpaca is from a fail to mix two colours. I love the shell buttons. Hopefully we'll have a baby shower soon.

 The Baby Surprise Jacket is always a treat. This one was completed surprisingly quickly. Thanks Knit Girllls for the yarn prize. This one will join a hat and booties to support the Chilliwack General Hospital Auxiliary.

Last Sunday was the Rotary Club Book Sale. A huge event, you never know what you'll find. Although the prices are no longer one dollar each, they are all 3-5 dollars and worth sifting through hundreds of thousands to find a few gems. The genres are better organized now and I have so many books I am more discerning. Also Jean bought the other ones I want and I can borrow them.
It is time to put reading on the to do list. I need to read more than just at bed time because I have a long queue including book club books and non fiction.
If I wake up before my alarm is set, I get to read in bed. I love unexpected finds.

Yarn Bombing

 I got home from work today, a little sore from the chiropractor and got a wonderful surprise. Thank-you KPJJ1 from Ravelry.com.

 We had some high jinx at the Chilliwack Common Threads Knitting Circle last night. What fun. I took Emily's scraps and knit a long scarf about 7 inches across. I finished it while we enjoyed our tea and goodies at Decades Coffee Club.

 DamnMagpie and I cable tied it to the post outside the coffee shop and whip stitched it together with dental floss. Thanks for playing with me. I wonder how long it will last?

Definitely need more silliness in my life. Maybe a dancing evening with my alto section.

Fresh Look

I was happy to be home this week. It feels like I worked a lot and I did a lot of housework. But the cool evenings are setting in and I am practicing nesting.
The baby sweaters are off the needles and I walked to the mall today to buy buttons. I usually walk the dog and then drive to the mall, but I wanted some time away from work and to go at my own pace.
This is a big weekend with friends for a Haiti Art Auction (I'm baking and manning the kitchen), kids fun day (I did the craft) and tomorrow I lead a drumming circle and sing a solo (Ordinary Miracle) at church. Did I really think I could go to the round up at the ranch?
Monday is back to work for three days this week. And October is being eaten away like a waning moon.
I am taking time to set up Christmas knitting and finish off a few projects. Not the black shawl which I know I will love to wear, but don't love knitting. We are planning a pi-along when the Dahlia is done. Looking forward to that.
But right now I'm happy to look out and see my mountains and my back garden in the long autumn light.

With Gratitude

This is how I like my turkey: in a sandwich with roasted vegetables. I made the turkey on Wednesday so my family wouldn't do without Thanksgiving dinner while I was on Saltspring Island knitting. They did go up to MIL's for huge dinner by awesome Ukrainian cook, and tonight I go to my eldest sister's for fancy turkey dinner. 

I am thankful that I had an extra day to unpack, do laundry, plant the autumn plants and dig out my winter clothes. 

Hope you are surrounded by friends, family and plentiful food. We have much to be thankful for.

Saltspring Retreat

 Sunset on Saltspring is a wonderful start to the day. Our retreat days started early with huge breakfasts and went late after delicious organic dinners from vegetables grown on the site of the Harbour House Hotel.
 This is the view of the marina from the front stairs.

There were lots of colours to choose from for our Fearless Fair Isle knitting lessons with Barb Brown. Caroline dyed lots of extra electrictree sock yarn for us and rolled it into small cakes. We each made a bag of 3 colours including several new techniques, a three colour row, and real, live steeking. I don't call these lessons 'tips'. Tips are too tiny. These are mind-blowing knitting secrets from the Shetland Island knitter and the combined knitting experience of some great fibre artists.
I also got a great lesson in drop spindling and feel quite full of myself.
There was a bit of stash acquisition, but it's hand-dyed by electric tree and some was for Emily.

The weather held and we had fun tromping up and down the quiet roads to wineries, bakeries and a farmers' market. I got to meet up with a few knitters I had met years ago at Sivia Harding's retreat and am so grateful to get to know them a bit better. I also made a new buddy who is fearless and way too fit, but funny, funny and fun. Thanks.
I had so much fun spending time with my sister, niece and great niece and just breaking up with our own brand of humour.
You should have been there.

Gratitude

 I am treading water to keep my head above my in box. Thanks to David Allen for this quick tip. Why have I  not been doing that? I have papers all over my desk, under my macbook, under my ipad. No idea where the book club notes got to? Oh, yes, the garbage. I wouldn't have looked there because I usually recycle (I usually make notes before I recycle). But my rule is, if it's not in the right place, look in the wrong place.
I am grateful I had enough time in the afternoon last week, after an 8 hour day shift, to make up the Gratitude banner I had been scheming since seeing one in Pinterest. No need to thank me for the time-sucking website.

 I also stopped by our local DecorWest shop and picked up a runner in the shade of wheat I was hankering for and a red pitcher and platter that remind me of Fiesta ware. In Attic24's website, she notes that the touch of red makes a happier home. I am slow to add red to our home except at Christmas and Valentines. I should bring out the red cushion, too, but it doesn't like my burgundy shawl.

I am thankful I had time to knit the September hat in the brown colour of the spectrum for Project Help Mexico. I also whipped up a baby sweater for  a friend who is due in November.

Went to Burnaby on Friday for the second in a series of Palliative Care lectures. The traffic couldn't have been worse! I listened to Lorna Doon because I hadn't updated any podcasts! Oh well, I'm enjoying the book, too. The course was deep and touching and I hope to be more effective at talking about the difficult things with patients and family. 

The trip to Vancouver Island this weekend got off to a rocky start. Why does no one keep track of the time? We have a ferry reservation for a reason! We went to Victoria, dropped off runners and root beer at the Bear Den (Scott's condo) then set up in our rooms at the Queen Victoria hotel. I like an old hotel that is not part of a chain. This one has been redone to the best of her abilities and I got a deal through expedia. It's right across the street from the Royal BC Museum, where I spent many hours as a child. My sister and I lived with Aunt Anna in the summer and the museum was free. Her brother, Uncle Lloyd took us to the beach and China Town and Beacon Hill Park. We were happily spoiled. The other Uncle Lloyd had a birthday the same day as me and I remember pancake parties with cousin Sheldon and a full table of relatives. I got another birthday in August when I came home.

Anyway I cast on the Baby Surprise Jacket in the Regia Cotton top Color yarn I won from the Knit Girllls Podcast  and got a lot done. I also knit the funny pieces of the back for the Dahlia cardigan and pieced them together. I'm afraid to knit too much until I check in with the other two KALs to place the afterthought sleeve. D likes the colour a lot. It comes out grey in the camera, but it's really teal (like the family tartan).

My October visit to my Bellingham friend is bumped to November. I am working this evening and next which means apologies to the choir and knit group. I hate that, but they need me at work. I am feeling a bit off kilter. The to do list is choking me. Plus I have a big list of chores I do at the turn of the calendar (hello watering plants!).

Today I am going to take it one step at a time. Thanks for being there so I can put my crazy thoughts in order. I am grateful for you, gentle reader.