Olallieberry

Nourishment

Just a few images I've collected over the past week showing where my focus has been.

I have a surprise to share... we have a sweet addition to our little family.

Soon, very soon, I will introduce her.

Golden

While summer is here in all her glory, I can't help but think how fall is just around the corner. I can feel her presence in the coolness of the evening breeze, and I catch glimpses of her in the lengthening shadows cast by the early morning light.

The leaves are beginning to change.

For the very first time we pull beautiful frames of capped honey from the hive. The strawberries are finished, and the tomatoes are beginning to ripen on the vine. The Mr works on the deck we've been planning for so long, and I imagine myself sitting out there in the mornings wrapped in my quilt with only my tea and my knitting for company. I imagine all of us out there spending time together sharing, eating, talking, laughing. 

I am off work again for a couple of weeks vacation time and plan to savour these moments leading up to September in the most leisurely manner possible. I've thrifted some books: Runaway by Alice Munro, and The Swallows of Kabul by Yasmina Khadra. I rarely have the time to sink into a good read these days, so this time is to be savoured and treasured.

Oh, by the way, I'm knitting these socks in Tosh Merino yarn... to be ravelled soon. I'm not altogether crazy about sock knitting, but I absolutely love the yarn which happens to be perfect for this pattern. So I make the sacrifice and will get on them in earnest... eventually.

Lazy golden summer days. The best days. I am captivated by it all.

Hot and Off the Needles

Whew, this week has flown by! I didn't even begin to touch on all of the things I was hoping to, but I did manage to finish off the tealeaves cardi (raveled here) in 32 degree celsius heat (ugh). Not exactly ideal knitting weather, but that's never stopped me before. I love this sweater, it turned out perfectly. Way too hot to wear right now even for a few brief moments, so it's tucked away to savor in a more appropriate season. 

Did I mention we have no air conditioning in our house? We had to hit several air-conditioned thrift stores, yarn shops, and fabric outlets just to escape the incessant heat (a highly unfortunate necessity, I know... that's just what the Mr said). I did manage to whip up a little summer top in between shopping trips, although I'm not altogether happy with it. I followed all sizing measurements and seam allowances, but it still turned out waaay to big. And I used store bought bias tape on the neckline and armholes, so the whole effect is a bit apronish looking. 

This is a regular problem with me and garment sewing, the way-too-big thing I mean. Is there some special top secret pattern reading technique that I don't know about? Does anyone have any insight on how to avoid this problem? I did manage to tailor it in a few spots to make it wearable, but it's still not what it should be. I'll be doing another in a smaller size and with a few other changes, more on that coming.

Now off to the lake for some desperately needed relief to finish off the week and indulge myself in some good reading. Wonderful summer wishes to you all! xoxoxo

Rain

Lots of rain always makes for good gardens, good baking, good projects, good reading, and...

...very grumpy kittens.

Winter Blues

I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've last posted; life certainly does have a way of interferring with our selfish creative pursuits. Oh how I have missed this space! 

So, what's been happening on the creative front? Well, quite frankly not much. However, last night I finally managed to sneek in some "me" time and whipped up a little dress from this totally awesome pattern book. Turned out perfectly, I LOVE the fit. (Please excuse the wrinkly photo, time has really been a hot commodity around here lately.) The fabric is reminiscent of a warm summer day with lovely little lady bugs and honey bees lazily sampling the wares of the garden. Clearly I'm experiencing summer withdrawl symptoms, as winter has indisputably set in here with a solid "thump". 

How have you been managing with your autumn (or winter) routines? xox

Mystery Post

I wrote a post.

It was about how much I appreciate all of you and your kind words of support during my 'bout of the flu, which I'm absolutely certain aided in my speedy recovery. I shared about a project I've been working on--the little knitted pouches made with Noro yarn you see above, and how I've been experimenting with a felted embroidered version. I wrote about the Summer Garden Quilt and how it has been calling to me for attention.

But it's all gone now.

Upon publishing, the post was appearing oddly in my dashboard for some reason, showing up as two separate posts, exactly the same. So what did I do? Well after carefully checking the links, I deleted one of them of course, confident the other was the official published version.

I was wrong. "Poof", both versions of the entire post disappeared. And so I leave you with this.

Pathetic, isn't it?

Au Naturel

Six days and five nights we frolicked in the Kootenay Region of beautiful British Columbia. The morning we left home it was raining so incessantly we were wondering if we were going to have a holiday at all! But by evening when we arrived at Blanket Creek the rain had stopped completely and did not rear it's ugly head again until our drive home (more on that later). By day two the skies were blue, the air fresh, and our spirits soaring. We had left the flatness of the Prairies behind us and were nestled in, comfortably surrounded by beautiful mountain forests. The sweet smell of cedar and the sound of birdsong permeated our senses. We hiked, and cooked outside, and sat around the crackling campfire, and made friends with the squirrels, and swam, and cliff dove (or our extremely mild version of it at my panicky insistence--dangerous business that cliff diving can be--the locals told us one or two fearless adventuresome types die every year engaged in the wretched sport). The water was crystal clear and warm like bathwater. I even found the relaxation time to start and finish this book, which was a real treat as time for such indulgences are sorely lacking for me in the real world.

The Ferry crossing in what felt like the middle of nowhere was definitely a highlight for us. The area is so remote we shared the entire boat with only one other party apart from a family of swallows who had made their home there. (Although we certainly do not tolerate vandalism of any sort, E really got a kick out of someone's artistic perspective of the no smoking sign.)

Everywhere we looked was unbelievably more beautiful than the last. Upon our eventual reluctant drive home the torrential rains began immediately, and we drove for 14 hours through unrelenting thunderstorms and heavy winds magnified by the narrow and treacherous mountain passes. Part of the long drive was spent at a dead stop on the highway near Banff, waiting for emergency workers to clear a mudslide off the road caused by the storm. Traffic was backed up for 20 km in both directions (quite significant considering the remoteness of the area) and we wished we could simply return to our blissful retreat.

Eventually we made the long journey home to find a joyful Mylo awaiting our return. Although well-cared for by a dear friend, he clearly missed us terribly and had lots and lots to tell regarding his own adventures without us (he does in fact speak exceedingly well and understands English perfectly).

xoxox