Pony

I'm overdue with posting and will eventually catch up with old stuff.  In the meantime, I wanted to share that Abi finally got her first pony ride - and just barely.

We spent Saturday seeking out Geocaches en route to New Hamburg, then lunch at Meme's (nom nom), then a few more in that area, then decided we would indeed run out to the Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese festival in time for things to be wrapping up.  Watched some model boats racing. Hopped on a tractor-wagon ride. Passed pony rides in progress and hopped off the wagon at the next stop, only to walk back to the pony rides to find the  circle they walk in dismantled and the horses being loaded up. It was very sad, for us.  Abi was quite distraught following her building excitement for her first pony ride, finally.  Fortunately, a kind woman looked over and saw her, the pony had to be unloaded anyhow to rearrange the horses inside, and Abi got a special pony ride around the parking lot.  She smiled and enjoyed it, but later voiced her disappointment that she couldn't ride a bigger horse! That kid! I don't even think the bigger horses were saddled for rides.  The last time she was at a stable, where older friends of her ride, he was informed she couldn't ride until she was 4. I think she's eagerly awaiting her birthday in the spring and I suspect we'll be taking her to the stables shortly after. Let's hope they don't pull out a pony...

It was a full day of geocaching stops.  We took a few photos with this tree that Abi wanted to climb.

Mystery KAL - Tread Softly

I am truly excited to be hosting my first mystery KAL.  Some of my family in Winnipeg might remember one of the lace projects I was playing with. That design has been named Tread Softly.  After much play I have all the charts ready and in order.  I've swatched and tested. I've moved things. I've created new designs, I've charted existing patterns (that were all written out and sometimes wrongly... and written to be worked flat anyhow so needed modifications), I've modified patterns... and I'm ready. And excited.
It's like going back to school...
which I'm not doing.
For the first September in 25 years.
This gives me something to do.  Something to facilitate.  To focus on.  To share.
Within minutes of posting the pattern and saying if anyone might be interested to leave a comment and I'd figure out the best form of hosting the KAL, there were several responses. Eager responses.  Then more and more. So I created a group in Ravelry. Made up a banner and such things. Wrote out more descriptions. Started discussion threads. 'Pimped' it out a little in my favourite discussion forums with other lace knitters...

If any of you are interested in joining, the first clue will be release on Tuesday.  Check out the pattern link above. You'll need to join Ravelry to join the KAL, but I'll post progress here too if you just want to be a voyeur.

I'm also very excited because I'm working it in my favourite yarn! Waterloo Wools Montague.  Lindsey custom dyed the yarn for my project at my request and we made a fair trade for the shawl I knit her. Yeah, remember that wine-inspired shawl I was working on in Winnipeg? It was 'supposed' to need about 600 yds of yarn.  I had 2" left of an 840yd skein.  I was the pattern tester. And this is why we test patterns :)  I didn't mind. I love to knit. I got yarn.

Winnipeg

Here's a summary of our trip to Winnipeg. Drove 23.5 hours from 3am (EST) to 1:30am (CST). Surprised my parents expecting us the next day. (mwhahahaha) Abi and Darla slept most of the way.  When not sleeping, Abi was happily looking out the window or colouring or something like that in the back.  I forgot until too late that I had meant to pick up children's gravol or some such thing before the trip.  And then we forgot again before the return drive. (But remedied that on route after a 'reminder' and after running out of towels for cleanup.)
Saw family and friends. Attended a lovely wedding. Abi and her cousin Do' had sleepovers. Met my 3 week old niece. Spent some time on my sister's farm helping out.  Drank Caribou. Spent a long day at the beach. Saw my grandma, also visiting. Ate too much. Knitted.  Let everyone else go Geocaching.  Worked on a new design of my own. Did I mention knitting?  Shared many hugs.
Drove back in two days. Stopped in White River - where the bear that inspired Winnie the Pooh came from (before it was given to a soldier, ended up in the zoo, etc). Note, it's not a very exciting stop - there's not much to see, not really many restaurant options, and motel will not be a return visit for us.  I'd expected a bit more tourism considering its tie to Winnie.

Pictures probably tell a better story.

geocache

within a week of Robin telling Abi she'd never see owls in the wild...

My old stompin' ground

Just Married

Candy Var delights. And wearing Evenstar. There was a chill breeze.

The boys

Just what she always wanted - so she told me. Thanks Nana.

Siblings? Cousins.

At St. Vital Park. Best themed playground ever! (and better than the new one at Assiniboine Park)

He asked me to take this...

At Assiniboine Park

Heading home - beyond the prairies obviously

It really is a lovely drive

Really cool spinning ride at the playground. I need one of these... will upload videos too.

Winnie the Pooh "Where it all began" in White River, ON

Sunrise on day 2 homeward bound

I have a disk of photos my dad took, somewhere. There is a definite lacuna in my set of photos. None of Sara, my new niece.

Heat

It's hot again this week. I wish I was at a splash pad right now with Abi - but I'm sure they're all shut down for the night and Abi is fast asleep. Because, you know, it's 2am and too hot to sleep - for me. Instead I'm looking longingly at these photos from the last time Robin and Abi were at one of the many free local splash pads.

I'd even be happy to be back by the lake at Parry Sound where we were visiting with friends last week.

Doesn't that water look inviting? It was warm in Georgian Bay. I even went swimming of my own volition!

Evenstar FO

At long last, the glorious shining Evenstar shawl is finished! I knit this between Oct 2010 and Aug 2011, although there was a long period when I did not work on it. I needed a break.
Click on pictures to see larger versions (and I've shrunk them considerably already, so it won't fill your screen.)

The full circle (mostly) hanging on the brick wall (imperfectly, but you get the idea).

The radius of this shawl is about 28"

Yes, it was worth every minute...

...and every bead placement.

My shawl was knit with Painted Fleece merino lace yarn in sapphire blue that I picked up in the 50% bin at the KW Knitter's Fair 2 years ago (almost 3 now since the next fair is quickly approaching in September - same day as wedding number 2 for the summer). There were two full, matched, gorgeous skeins just sitting there in a bin. I have no idea how they could still have been there when I arrived since I certainly was not the first person in the door. There were no knots in the yarn, it knit up like a dream, it blocked out beautifully, and when washed there was barely any blue in the water despite the mass of yarn soaking. I paid $24 for the pair - of hand-dyed yarn. All 1760 yards of it. I'm confident it was destined to become my Evenstar.

Pictures still do not do the colours and the beads (iridescent, pearlized, and metallic blue) justice.

I'll be wearing this to a couple of evening weddings this summer closed with a lovely handmade silver shawl (technically it was made for hair, but same technique for use) pin I purchased at Spirits of the Earth Festival from Angelyques.

P.S. Dear mommy, I honestly do not post these photos to taunt you with my beautiful lace. Let me remind you that this beauty is coming to you later this month - hand-delivered with love.

Before I forget, this hand-knit shawlette in hand-spun yarn (purchased, not spun by me) will also be accompanying me for donation to a fundraiser.

Once again, photos do not do justice. There is red sparkle in the yarn.

So many Hatchlings

Normally I don't like to knit a pattern more than once.  There are so many more patterns I would love to play with, that I usually don't see the point in knitting the same thing.

Apparently, that is, until my Hatchling obsession.  I recently finished another in a golden, silky yarn. It's divine. And a gift. Shhh. Surprise. (You don't know who it's for and the person may or may not ever read the blog, so I'm really not worried about ruining the surprise.)

 

  For context, I also made these ones:

Today I picked up MORE yarn to knit ANOTHER one. This one will be donated to a fundraiser being held for my cousin and his son.  My cousin is terminally ill with cancer and is not insurable (that's my quick summary of why the fundraiser is being held).  I also grabbed some lovely handspun yarn to whip up another shawl for the fundraiser.  Both will have to be finished by August 19th - not a problem.

Speaking of Hatchlings...
within two days two new baby girls entered my circle of loved ones!
My sister had a baby girl named Sara on our wedding anniversary date.
Yesterday (two days), later my friend had a baby girl named Brielle.
Aren't those lovely names?
Another local knitting-friend is due (with another girl) at the end of summer and her baby shower is coming up.
Consequently, I've been handling a lot of baby stuff - to gift (and to lend to my sis). Going through Abi's old stuff brings back so many wonderful memories.
I've yet to see any of these beautiful girls in person, but I will soon.

Muah

Kissy-face from Abi. (It's much nicer than the other silly faces she was making for the camera.)
Nothing terribly exciting to write about lately. Like everyone I know, we're just trying to stay cool in this tropical heat wave.
Trying not to knit or spin the mohair project... you know, that kind of stuff.
Swimming at a friend's place some days, but in the last week, mostly just hiding inside with the air conditioning.

Also, "muah" made me think of Abi's recent proclivity to give a wicked laugh when she's tackling me. "Mwhahahahahaha."  I've taught her well.

Robin and I will be celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary this year. We're going to see a movie.  Without cable at home, I had no idea that a new X-Men movie was released last month (missed it) and new Transformers is playing - until a friend happened to mention it.  Of course, I know of the new Harry Potter, since enough of my online friends are fans Tweeting and FBing about it.  I managed to miss part one of HP however, so it looks like I need to rent a movie.
I suppose I could set something on my browser/Yahoo/a newsfeed/Twitter to keep me updated about movie releases, but nah. That would involve too many notices I don't care for.  Usually Robin's pretty good about knowing of these things. I don't know how he missed these ones. Busy I guess (and I suppose his X-Box gaming friends don't talk about movies while they're shooting and blowing stuff up).

Also, look for us in Winnipeg - to visit - mid-late August.

Spirits of the Earth

Home from Spirits of the Earth Festival. Clean. Enjoying the cooler indoors. Putting things away.

Crossing the suspension bridge near the revel fire site.

Playing with best fest friend Jade.

Keeping hydrated.

Entertaining themselves (and inspiring the other kids soon after) during the Bardic Feast.

Receiving awards for the children's performance at the Feast.

Asleep at the revel fire on Fire night - Saturday - despite the drumming (including Dragon Ritual Drummers) and hollering.