'Tis The Season

Have you found your holiday spirit?
Mine is around here somewhere in all this yarn and paper and ink spots......
I have been knitting up a storm.
I don't want to ruin the surprise, but a lot of people on my list are receiving mittens.
Not like these mittens though...


More like these:

These are made in just your basic mitten pattern.
No Muppets were injured for this yarn.

These are Jared Flood's Green Autumn mittens from Vogue Knitting Fall edition 2008


I knit this scarf with yarn inspired by the Walking Dead, Boy and His Bow

The pattern is Dovetail Scarf which I found on the Purl Soho webpage.

I finally found a pattern that works with my Berroco Boho yarn.


I think I need a model with a bigger neck to really show it off!

The pattern is Sanibel Cowl.


After all is said and done, we did finally get the tree up.


We may have to place it in a witness protection program. Reno does not have many good intentions towards the poor tree.

He has zeroed in all the shiny and glittery decorations.

I hope you are all well and enjoying the holiday season.
I'm off to put a turkey in the oven.

Lot Going on in the World

It would seem like I have awaken into a nightmare setting.
I turn on my news feed and all the chaos that has flooded the internet has erupted.
It just looks absolutely terrifying.
I can't seem to find words to describe what is happening.
My way of coping is to delve into my own personal space.
I have been watching Supernatural and reading. A lot.
I am very thankful for my library card.
Right now I am reading Frankenstein: A Cultural History.
Mary Shelley's Frankenstein has always been one of my favourite reads. This review and exploration of the fictitious work and how it was influenced and is influencing society, even today, is a great read for me.
In it, Hitchcock uses a quote by Jean Jacques Rousseau that has currently, for me, hit home. "...the imperfections and suffering in human life arose not from nature but from society. Human beings had only to free themselves from social oppression and prejudice in order to regain their native joy and liberty.

As I mentioned, I have also been knitting.
My current project is from Vogue Knitting, Fall 2008: Green Autumn, by Jared Flood

It is a fun knit, but very difficult on the hands with all of the cables and bobbles.

Wherever you may be, I hope you are all safe and secure.
Have a good day.

Victory!

Any time I complete a project, be it with yarn paint or from your usual domestic goddess itinerary, it feels like such an accomplishment. A victory if you will.
I do not consider it a completed project until every last detail has been fulfilled. With regards to my knitting, that would mean all of the loose ends are tied in and secured.
Loose ends.
That could be applied to all my projects really.

Here are my completed Why So Serious? socks. The pattern, created by Jennifer Vancalcar


Now I am starting on a few Christmas knit items. I'm always a little late to this planning stage.
The beginnings of a mitten.

The pattern is Green Autumn and I found it in one of my Vogue Knitting magazines from 2008.
I can't wait until I get to the cable bits.

There are also non-knitting happenings.
Like this very unique situation:

For these two to be in such close proximity is truly amazing.
Napoleon (black) and Tom (orange) always to seem to have this epic struggle on hierarchy. Napoleon is constantly sneaking up on an unsuspecting Tom and smacking him repeatedly in the butt. Tom is forever on the look out for the crazy Napoleon who takes great pleasure in causing chaos at every possible moment. I just had to take a picture because I might never see this event again.

Meanwhile, Jackie forever struggles trying to carry items up stairs.

I usually just take whatever she wants up the stairs for her. It's little things like this that make her happy and I am happy to oblige.

I am off work this week end. I have no particular plans.
This is my favourite kind of week end!
I hope you are all well.

363 Days to Go

Until next Halloween.
That is not much time.
We had better start planning.
We had a great Halloween.
This year, Little man was in charge of his costume idea.
His mission was to think and execute something with very little help from the adults.
He did fantastic.
Little man even won first in the school's Costume contest.

His inspiration was the puppet character Billy from the Saw movies.
The only thing I did to assist was sort out the make-up and make that bow tie.

I was a Day of the Dead person. I would love to know how those people get their hair so big!


Hubs was terrifying.

His theme was retired welder.

Can you imagine if you were a little one and this image greeted you at the door?


Hubs was wearing his big heavy work boots.
As soon as he heard the little feet moving towards the door, he would stamp his feet, scootch down so he would be at eye level with the little trick or treaters and the quickly wretch open the door.
Of course the little trick or treaters would be taken aback and physically move back a little, then Hubs would lift up his welders mask and there would be probably the most scariest face these little ones would see all night.
A few little ghouls would have a hard time opening their bags so I could put in candy.
One little witch just started running back to her mom. I followed, saying: Wait, wait. We have candy!!!
One lovely child was the Queen of the Hearts who calmly asked the scary welder, Please stay inside the house.
No problem
Here is more candy.


We noticed this year there were more little ones. I love that. It means a new generation to enjoy in the festivities.
I have no problems with older kids, teenagers, trick or treating. As long as they are wearing a costume.
I feel this is a holiday for the young and the young at heart.

From my family to yours,
Happy Halloween!

Autumn is Here

We are now experiencing a lot more dampness and chilly nights. That is a sure sign that Autumn has arrived.
Jackie is thrilled.


We decided to go for a little drive and see if we can photograph some interesting things to paint later.


There are an abundance of colours in our neck of the woods. The camera does not do it justice.


After a nice long ride in the truck, it was time to make supper.
This is my favourite go to meal
A blade roast.
So simple.
Just chop up some veggies, carrots, potatoes, celery, onion and whatever else your heart desires.
Add in some cloves of garlic.
Rub some olive oil on that roast and sprinkle on some herbs. I usually use sage, basil, oregano and a bit of salt and pepper.
Then the best part! Add some wine to the pan and to the chef!
I also add water.
I like to leave it in the oven on low, about 250F for a long time. I pop it in around noonish and it is usually ready by 17h00.

While that is in the oven, I like to go out to my shop and paint for a bit with the rest of the wine that did not make it into the roast.
This is what I am currently working on:

I'm happy with my progress on the apples. I will have to wait and see if the other paintings give rise to a voice.

I work tonight, so I am off to veg and trick my brain that it is sleepy time.
I hope you are all well!

It Draws Closer.....

Halloween is just around the corner.
In our little chateau, we are in the planning stages.
So much excitement to be had at this time of year.
The beautiful colour changes as Autumn is ushered in and Summer takes its leave.

With Autumn, starts a brand new school year.
Jackie is having a difficult time adjusting.
I spent the better part of the morning explaining why Little Man boards the yellow brick on wheels.

She was having no part of this conversation.

With the cooler temperatures, I have finally finished some projects.
Here is my Bad Fairy Princess Stole!

This was a work of love.
There were times when I thought I bit off more than I can chew. I persevered.
The trick is to knit like you watch anime. Do not try to guess the next step. Just follow the instructions and go with it.
To be honest, I am not one to wear lacy items of clothing or accessories. With this stole, I am just so proud of myself, I will wear it with pride.

I finally sewed the buttons Hubs made onto my sweater!!!

I absolutely adore this sweater. I will be wearing it to work tonight!

Now I have one work in progress on my needles:
Why So Serious?


Lunch is underway.
I am making some soup to go with a loaf of cheesy bread I purchased over the week end.

Enjoy the start of the Autumnal Equinox!

Almost There

Little steps.
One foot in the front of the other.
You got this!

I'm back at work. It was a long week, but I feel like I performed as a decent human being.
This week I also went for my next blood test to make sure the body is functioning as it should.
The nurse who telephoned with the results was so kind. She reminds me of someone who should have been on Sesame Street.
She has empathy and is able to speak without being condescending or using that pitying tone that I heard a lot of these past few weeks.
My body apparently is almost on the way back to normal.
Normal.
What a bizarre word to describe something that certainly does not feel normal.

I have been watching a great anime series titled Death Note. I love animes that a strong theme of the supernatural coupled with intense character studies. It makes me wonder how I would respond in a similar situation. You know, like if I ever find a magical book that gives me the power to decide life and death.

As I binge watch my programs, I enjoy knitting.
My current projects are still my Fairy Princess Stole, which is turning out better than expected!


I cannot work on my stole while Death Note. I have to read the subtitles.
This is my other work in progress, Why So Serious Socks by Jennifer Vancalcar.



This is such a fun sock. The pattern is simple but interesting enough to keep me knitting away like a happy little fiend.

Have any of you tried Windows 10?
I'm starting to really warm up to the operating system. Especially they introduced me to iMovies app.
Now I can watch all those movies that Hubs has absolutely no interest in viewing.