Saturday scene

The rain has stopped for a while.  Long enough to go out and catch some raindrops with the camera lens.
Mountain ash, or rowan berries are waiting for the robin flocks to come and feast...

The ash leaves drip...

A raindrop clings to a stem...

The privet berries are all dressed for the Hallowe'en festivities tonight... 

Hope the rain stays away until tomorrow..

Vest

I like vests because they look so neat and tidy.  I have never knit a vest - ever.  All mine have been the ever-present ( in my part of the world) fleece and zipped vests.  These have a purpose but are pretty casual.  I only wear mine with jeans.
So, I figured I might like something a little more professional-looking - maybe for Board meetings?  A while ago, I queued up Sarah Castor's Honeycomb vest.  I didn't have the right yarn in my current stash so it just waited.

Then I got back a sweater that I had knit (twice) and which was never really perfect.  So, into the frog pond with it.  And on to a new pattern.  The photo above shows the color fairly accurately.  The other one is a bit too light with the flash but the detail is clearer.

The yarn is almost DK weight and I'm using 3.5mm needles so it's quite firm in the ribbing.  The honeycomb comes from 2-stitch cables across the entire width every few rows.    This pattern makes the fabric pretty stretchy.  So maybe this vest will pull in - as well as pull together - my look.

I'm still working with the KAL cardigan.  It'll be done this weekend, for sure.  

Garden mysteries

Does anyone remember the summer?  That long hot time when the seeds we planted were growing so fast?
There were two mystery vines that sprouted from a deck planter and flourished in the heat.  One had a fruit the size of a tennis ball and the other had squash-y flowers.  But, all good things must end and I cut them off theeir vines.  I think the ball is a honeydew melon - definitely a compost volunteer  seed - and the other looks like it could have grown to be a pumpkin.  What do you think?

Then, while we were tidying up in the garden, I cut away a bunch of dead goatsbeard stalks.  Underneath I found another mystery!  There was the beginnings of what looks like a tree.  But I really don't know what it is.  The leaves smell sort of soapy.  Kind of like lemon balm but not so lemon-y.  Any ideas?

And right beside it was a lovely plant with mottled arrowhead-shaped leaves.  It looked familiar but I just couldn't think what it could be.

Then I remembered that we had bought some plants at a local plant sale and maybe this was one I'd forgotten about.  Some sleuthing in the garden of origin and it's not a mystery any more.  The beautiful leaves belong to Arum Italica.  It puts up its new leaves in the late autumn which is why I hadn't really noticed it.  That - and it was hiding under a few stalks. In the spring, when the leaves die down, it will have an orange flower.    That's a good mystery to have solved.

Ruby Tuesday

It's Ruby Tuesday again!

 

I fell in love with this wonderful, dramatic set at the sale last week.  Isn't it marvellously red!

If you like red, visit Mary T and her Ruby Tuesday meme here.  You can sign up and post your own red photo, too.

Mellow Yellow Monday

Walking in the forest  near the Capilano Suspension Bridge on a rainy fall day.

Mellow Yellow Monday meme is hosted by Drowsy Monkey here.  Get some yellow in your day - drop by for a visit.

Sunday wonders - F

F is for Fun.
You can have fun on a swing...

 Or in a parade...

Fun in the sea...

 Or fun in the garden...

There's indoor fun...

And outdoor fun...

It's fun hangin' out with dad...

And when the fun is done, a cup of tea in a quiet place can be the best part.

Saturday Scene

Can you hear the music? 

This is one of the metal sculptures at the Pier near Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver, BC.

Fall color

Yesterday the sun came out - briefly.  I grabbed the camera and ran around to get some of the gorgeous reds that are in the garden now.  They'll fade quickly now that the rain is here to stay.
The blueberry bushes are bright coppery pinks and reds.

The evening primrose is a deeper red but very bright.  It's much bolder in the fall than in the summer.

This lovely mini garden was a gift...I liked the contrasts.

A few rosehips waiting for the first frost...

Breakthrough

I finally have this cabled trim licked.  I was paying too much attention to those Helpful Hints included with pattern.  They weren't. Here I am almost up to the center bind off.

  It seems to be  taking a lot longer than usual to knit what should be a small section of the sweater. And a surprising amount of yarn.
But don't the short rows make a nice job of that pocket curve?

Ruby Tuesday

My red today is the fruit of our lily of the valley plants.  The berries are about 1/2 inch in diameter and the most beautiful ruby red. 

To see more rubies, check out  Mary T's Ruby Tuesday meme here. 

Mellow Yellow Monday

Fall's hosta leaves up close...I like all the different shades of gold and mellow yellows. 

Thanks to Drowsy Monkey for helping us share our yellows on Mondays.  For a look, take a wander over here.

Sunday wonders - E

E is for Essentials of life.  Humans and birds share the same basic needs.  Air...

without it the hummingbird would not only die but would also be unable to dazzle us with its flight.  The second essential is food...

 we don't have to feed the downy woodpecker for his survival but he seems to enjoy a suet treat now and then. Water is needed....

as is a roof over your head...

and clothing to wear.  Not all are as splendid as this Stellar jay's feathers but all are functional.

And, last comes love...

which gives everything else meaning.

Sale report

I think the sale was a success!  We all had  a good time - more than you can say about some things!  Teamwork is important...I got to be in this picture because I contributed one idea to the construction of the huge dinosaur puzzle.  It's still available if you want it for your home or office.

 The best china is set out, waiting for the company to come...

And, they did come to visit.  Lots and lots of people came all at once and it was very busy and noisy...

But these two little girls found a quiet place to wonder at the animated Christmas figures.  They were so unselfconscious, mimicking the movement of the figures. It was impossible not to smile...

Financially, it was almost the same as last year ( about $4K) which is a success to me in this economy.   It was hard to sell the really big ticket items  but we did make a nice dent in our stock.  The rain stopped for most of the day and has only just begun again.   Oh, yeah, did I mention that we had fun?

Saturday scene

A garden in transition.  The hostas have  glorious green leaves have turned many shades of yellow -  yet, there's still a spark of red in the geranium's wheelbarrow.

Laws of nature

This is the day to move all the big items which have been donated for the antique & collectible sale on Saturday.  They've been warm and dry in a donated storage unit for a few months.  So, since this is the day, Mother Nature planned a weather treat.  Just like last year - it RAINED!

But unlike last year, we had a big truck - also donated - and many hands to make the work faster and easier.  Last year, everyone's hands as well as their vehicles were put to use.  Several trips were needed from the various homes where the items had been stored.

But, this time, thanks to our storage angel, all the items arrived safely  - and dry. 

Power of suggestion

So, here I am looking at something new from that Interweave Knits mag.  I haven't finished the first KAL project yet - my  Farmers Market Cardigan.  A little hiccup in the cable trim which is annoying me.  It will work out.

When Rudee mentioned the Fair Isle hats, I went looking.  I'm not a big fan of knitting Fair Isle and usually don't care for the yolked sweaters.  But...this morning Knitting Daily was talking about how good this pattern looks on us sturdy gals and I thought: why not? The colored yolk reminds me of a rainbow spider web.

Oh, how fickle and easily distracted I am.  I'm planning the colors in my head now.

Getting ready

Now that all the company has gone,  Anne is pricing the many items that will be on offer at the antique and collectible sale that she organizes.  These are items that are donated to the thrift store and which are too nice to be sold for 50 cents or a dollar.  This is the second year she's done this and it's interesting how the mix of items and the quantities change.   This year books and jewellry are down a bit but the linens are huge.

They were all spread out on the couch this morning and set into categories.  I haven't even included the embroidered tablecloths, napkins, pillowcases and tray cloths here.  Some of the doilies along the back are 10 deep.  There are several potholders and this lovely apron which I would never wear for fear of ruining it.  It's been nicely starched and pressed, ready for a party.

That dinner party would definitely be served on a table covered with this beautiful tablecloth all hand crocheted in ecru cotton.

There were a couple of interesting piles of 60's and 70's work which was made in the colored cottons that were popular then.
 

And remember these little crocheted hats?  I have no idea of their purpose other than decorative.  It couldn't be used as a doily since the hat crown is stuffed.

And I've saved the best piece to the last.  As soon as I picked it up, I could see that it was different from all the others.  The feel and drape make it silk.  And it's been crocheted so finely.  It looks handmade and is very lovely despite needing a bit of ironing. I wonder how old it is?

I know that none of these pieces will ever fetch the money they deserve. Many of the doilies will probably be used in other crafts.   The amount of work in a doily is more than I spend knitting a pair of socks.  I know because I've made a few doilies - in my crochet days.  I still have an unfinished tablecloth that will be my daughter's some day.  If she still wants it, that is. And if I finish it. 

Sunday wonders - D

D is for Dinner.

We shared an early Thanksgiving Dinner with family gathered from many different parts of Canada.  Wishing all my Canadian blogging friends a happy weekend of dinners.