We're Not in Kansas

Today T returned home from his trip to Toronto. The T's are back together again! As we were relaxing and catching up the television flashed a warning for severe thunder storms and funnel clouds heading towards our area. Being warned almost every other day about severe storms, we made nothing of it until the sun suddenly disappeared and the hail began.

It stopped as suddenly as it started, leaving the tree down the street split in two and marble sized hail everywhere.Our street turned into a river of ice.The patio furniture barely survived.Luckily there was no tornado and no one was hurt but some small plants. I had never seen anything like it and I think the next time we hear the words "funnel clouds" and "severe t-storm" we'll take it more seriously.

Year of the Frog

Amphibians could be the next dinosaurs! I didn't know that. My friend, Isa, owns the Bloomin' Bog just north of London, and she is campaigning to save amphibians along with this organization called Amphibian Ark. On the weekend, we went out to walk around the bog, and El took pictures (luring her with the camera is the only way to get her in the car to come along these days). The chalk drawing is courtesy of yet another knitter, the blogless Alana. I was so impressed that I poked El and forced her to photograph it too.
Tadpoles! Kat was brave enough to hold two up for El. They're so cute.
I like this picture of Jenny holding a slimy frog. There's a photo contest and a colouring contest that the girls are eager to enter. I think El has a couple other frog pictures, but this is definitely a contender!
B's been hard at work colouring, and she's pretty confident that she's got a winner. No pressure on the other little frog lovers!

Sorry, turtles. It's just not your year. But you're cute too.

Frogs matter. Jump in!

N

Disparu dans la Nuit

In a rare moment of frivolty, I purchased a fish. I've never owned a fish before. They poop a lot. Didn't know that. The girls named him Charlie after their favourite youtube video. If you thought me a horribly lax parent before, there will be no doubt in your mind after watching this. I am not exactly sure why I feel that I should be censoring more of their viewing. In my defense, they have inherited their father's humour. It's unicorns. I didn't get it, but the more I hear them repeating all the lines, the more I seem to giggle. Please don't judge us. The 2nd video is even funnier. El took a tonne of pictures on the weekend. B loves to ham it up for her.
I picked up those oil pastels for some Kandinsky-inspired art. I lost B at only one square or circle - whatever that is. I think it's awesome. Next time I will try to smear the circles together a bit more. I forgot to look back at the inspiration picture before I went ahead. I still like it though.
And rather than finish a pair of socks, I started the Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery with my Handmaiden Mini Maiden merino and silk wool. I love the feel of this yarn, and I am starting to get a hang of the 24-row pattern despite my incessant whining about the double yarn-overs and ssk's.

Must go. B says she can't see the fish. I kind of forgot we had a cat when I was out impulse shopping. I'm sure it's nothing.

Cheers!

N

A Woman's Work...

...is never done. That's what I feel like this week. With T gone to Toronto to visit friends and folks, I've been keeping myself occupied by tidying up the house (it was very needed), laundering everything I could get my hands on (oooh, stain removal!), experimenting with baking, and get this, recycling. Gasp! Taking out the recycling and the garbage are T's jobs but since he's out of town for ten days I couldn't possibly leave the garbage until his return. So I gathered up our piles of refuse and out to the bins at the back of the house I went. On my second round of paper and plastics I noticed a lilac tree that had blossomed just behind the garage next to the recycling bins. I had never noticed it before and the blooms smelled so lovely. The smell of lilacs always reminds me of my childhood growing up in Fredericton, NB. Anyway, back into the house I went to get scissors, elated over this discovery.Earlier in the day I decided to try baking cakes in jars. Yes, sounds weird but I'm actually a little late in the game. I came across the idea on Delicious Days and then Angry Chicken made some and they were so cute I kept coming back to them. I finally picked up some half pint canning jars at the super market and whipped up a batch of lemon sour cream pound cake and banana chocolate chip jar cakes.I was a little nervous about the whole canning thing, having never preserved anything before, but I made sure that everything was sterilized and amazingly the jars sealed right up. All they need now are some cute labels. I will keep these ones around and taste test them at different intervals. A possible wedding favour idea?

I am off to finally do some relaxing after this busy long weekend (oh yes, happy Memorial Day!). I have a new knitting project started but that will have to wait until next time. Bye for now!

Our Newest Addition

This wee kangaroo is very life-like and somewhat repelling, but I couldn't resist picking it up for B last weekend at Heidi's yard sale. I am assuming that the fur is real kangaroo fur. B absolutely loves the kanga, and it now holds a very special spot by her bed. I keep noticing how it is looking back at me. Ew.
I finished another cowl with an orange skein of Misti Alpaca Chunky that I bought at The Knit Cafe in Toronto. I whipped this puppy up while watching PS I Love You. Not a fantastic movie, but watchable I suppose. The girls want to go see the new Narnia movie - I need to find a good time to take them. I forgot to show you the Billie alpaca! Isn't it lovely?

It's time to get into my pjs and settle in with a cup of tea and some mint chocolate ice cream. I have my sock knitting, and I plan to get comfy for some good Thursday night tv-watching. Cheers!

N

Sea Legs

Outside on the balcony of the Sapphire Princess and the waters of the Pacific are calm. Inside however, there was swimming, eating, golfing, eating, a wedding, and oh, did I mention eating?

The cruise from LA to Vancouver was my sister and her now husband's idea. They wanted to have their wedding somewhere different and somewhere everyone could enjoy and have fun. I think my favorite part of the whole vacation was being with my family. T and I had great fun hanging out and swimming with my nieces and nephew and trying new things with my parents (late night comedy shows and line dancing, oh my!). For most of us, this was our first time cruising. For anyone who has ever gone on a cruise, you know that when you get back on solid ground you'll still feel the boat moving beneath you. My first night home I swear the bed was still rocking in the waves. It's all worth it when you have a 24 hour buffet and room service though!

Now it's time to diet and get back to the usual routine. The closest I got to crafting anything was marveling over my niece's felt ball that she made at kid's club on the cruise. I should have gone with her...but I was lounging by the pool with a huge plate of food.

Remember to Renew Battlestar Galactica

She might look a little strange, but she had plenty of motive. She planned to fit in with the alpacas by wearing a cream wool cardy with her toque and mittens, and Erica Bear wore her furry jacket. I can't think of anyone who was as excited as B to visit the alpaca farm on Monday. This kid could hardly contain it! She was dressed like this for two hours before we left.

- Hey, alpacas! I'm over here! I'm your alpaca pal! Yoo-hoo!
- Wha?
Here's an alpaca waiting in line to be sheared. It was a bit brutal watching a group of people strapping the alpacas to the table for shearing and having to hold down the poor animal. I had to explain it to the littlest that it didn't hurt the alpaca, but the alpaca was a bit frightened nevertheless.

We even got to tour the processing mill and touch a lot of alpaca. B was right when she compared it with a fluffy cloud. This stuff didn't weigh a thing, and it was so-o-o-o soft. Of course I came home with two hanks of chunky alpaca from an creamy-coloured alpaca named Billie. I plan on making myself some Billie mittens for next winter.

I'm off to bed. I'm getting to be old. 9 p.m. is getting past my bedtime.

N