Sunday wonders - P

P is for Promises.
With the sun finally warming the earth and the air, the veggies are tripping over themselves to get growing.

Blossoms are everywhere and they have wee green fruit which will grow into ripe, red tomatoes.

I love the intricate architecture of the kohlrabi.  When they're just forming, the swirls remind me of the tops of chocolates displayed in a fancy box.

And this is our first cucumber.  So tiny yet ferocious with its little spikes.  The paper on the ground is about 1/4" wide so you have an idea of the size of this baby.  We know it will grow up to be part of a yummy salad or maybe a sandwich for tea?

Mostly pink and purple

The summer garden is always changing color.  Today it's mostly pink and purple with a nice contrast of white daisies.  My favorites today:

A clematis that we rescued.  Actually there are two the same...I think it's called 'Nelly Moser' which is one of the oldest named varieties.  In the spring after we bought the house, I noticed these spindly little tendrils that popped up under the fir trees.  They looked like clematis and we tried to encourage them to grow.  They didn't.  The next spring was the same story so that fall I dug them up and moved them to a new home.  I think they like it, don't you?

This clematis was purpose-bought.  I loved the name 'Etoile Violette' and it surely does produce hundreds of purple stars for us to admire. Since it grows over the deck rail we have the blooms nice and close.  But this is our neighbor's view - pretty nice.

 
The raspberries are not as good this year as last.  Only small amounts to go on cereal...if they last that long in the hand.  We'll have to do some work with them this fall.   

One of our blueberry bushes is loaded but the other we pruned right back this spring.  The theory being what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, I think. 

And this poppy is our summer surprise.  Many years ago we bought some poppy seedlings at a garden club sale.  They were called 'Springer Grape' and they bloomed for many summers.  Then they just disappeared  about five years ago.  This spring, we noticed a forest of poppies growing up amongst the leeks.  It looks like they are this same beautiful poppy.  Did the seeds lie dormant all those years?  Were they in the new soil we put down for the leeks?  No idea...I'm just glad they're back - and I'll save some seeds!

The heat is on!

Too hot to do anything requiring energy.  So, we met up with a friend and went for a little explore.  We've been to Fort Langley many times but we've never walked along the Fraser River.

These kids were having kayaking lessons across from where we ate lunch.

And these boys were jumping from a bridge into the river then scrambling up that path to do it all over again.  Ah, youth!

We visited Derby Reach Park with shady walks along the river with the promise of blackberries in a few weeks.

Work never stops along the river...

A film crew creating a faux cemetery for the 'Supernatural' TV series....

A Douglas squirrel works, too.  The white stuff on the ground is actually fluff from the cottonwood trees.  It was thick like snow but not as cool.

Two friends, deep in conversation, walk by a barn from the original farm on this property.

On the way home, we took the new bridge that has replaced the old ferry that carried cars and people across the river many times each day.  Zip! And we were over.  No waiting in a lineup, no traffic jam to get on the other over-crowded bridge.  Just pay your toll and you're good to go home.

*bridge photo from CBC files

Obsession?

Can't seem to get enough of those points, balls and I-cord. 

Back when I made these apres-sledding socks for the Project Yarnway challenge on Ravelry, I thought there might be some mitts to go with.  But when I started knitting up the yarn, I realized that it was slightly more purple than the socks. 

I didn't quit, though.  In fact, I was on a roll and I made a hat, too.  I kind of like it - the fit is quite close like a beanie.   With the points, it reminds me of Jughead's hat.  So that's what it's called.  The mitts have a loop to keep them in place - and were way too hot to wear for the photo shoot this morning!

The next Yarnway challenge is for a Christmas design.  I'm having a hard time getting very excited about this one.  But, the month is still young...who knows what can happen? 

BTW, if you're a Raveler, please put in a vote for your favorite design.   Just go to the Project Yarnway forum and click on the Amateur Runway.  There's some interesting stuff there.  You have til the 15th to vote for the June challenge.