My Snow Blue

OMG. Is that a (bad) picture of a knitted item? Me? Knit!? It's hard to remember a time when I was truly knitting. It's been soooo long since I've finished anything. But even longer than that, I haven't done anything fairisle since these hats over a year and a half ago!

Is it a coincidence that this was also made as a gift? (Prolly not, if you know me.)

One of the nicest girls ever, who I've played soccer with for the past two years, is moving to a place more North than Ottawa. (She's an amazing soccer player too. I'm very much going to miss having her on the team!!) I think the direct quote from her is, "It's a good thing I like winter!" Yes. Good thing. But another hat can't hurt right?

I made one slight modification to the pattern. Instead of having the contrast grey colour along the decreases on top of the hat, I kept it in the main colour.

I was worried I was going to run out of the grey. But I also thought that the hat would look better with blue along the ridge. Either way, I think it turned out pretty good. Hopefully it keeps her head warm.

Garden Update 2

It's been a long time since I've been in Ottawa for a weekend. First Toronto, then camping, then California. All those trips made for an *amazing* July, but it is good to be back. And it was soooo nice to spend time with the fam in the garden.

Thus, here is your garden update for the start of August!

Notice the difference a month makes?

I'd love to tell you the garden is the best ever... but there are a few things I'm worried about. I don't think the brussel sprouts are forming properly. Some of the celery isn't looking so hot. And the peppers...

While the ones that do have peppers on them look and taste pretty darn good, many of them are just a plant. No fruit. And isn't the fruit kinda the point?

But everything else is pretty great. We even made our first batch of homemade tomato sauce today! By next weekend we are going to have a bumper crop of tomatoes. I don't think it would be any exaggeration to say there are a thousand green tomatoes out there just waiting for a hot day to ripen. Homemade tomato sauce is on the horizon.

And one of my personal favourites right now: yellow zucchinis! I had to fight hard for these when we were making our seed list this spring and man are they worth it. I love the bright colour they add to stir-frys. Not to mention that they are super tasty!

Speaking of tasty... when I returned from California, everyone told me that the raspberries are done for the season. But oh look! There are still a few hiding out. You just have to take the time to look for them. And yum. They are worth it.

All in all, there's still a lot of garden to look forward to. I am loving summer! Hope you are too!

On the beach

For about the last week I've been visiting friends in California and it has been just so nice! It's fun to go back to somewhere I know so well and see friends I adore so much. It almost makes me wish I had never left! If only I could uproot everyone and everything I love about the Bay Area and take it with me. If only...

Cause I miss things. Like the beach. It was soooo nice to spend 2hrs on a Sunday morning just knitting at the beach.

Seriously. Why did I never do that when I lived in California??

On this past Sunday morning I was going to drive the Big Sur coast, but with it being overcast, I figured it wasn't worth it. So I just listened to the small waves crash on the shore and worked on my latest project. So. Much. Fun. Everything Cali related. I wish I got to stay around for longer.

More pictures to come.

Camping like it's 1993

Did you go to sleep-away camp when you were a kid? I did. This past wknd I went camping in the ADK with my super awesome friend Steph, and it totally reminded me of when I was like 13. It was summer camp, but only the best parts!! There were no mean girls or counsellors saying "You can't have another s'more". Instead we had amazing weather, the most beautiful campsite, fun hikes, awesome food, kayaking, rock jumping and (of course) crafts!

Crafts circa 1993 even!

Did you ever make friendship bracelets? Well, when I noticed these popping up all over the blogisphere I thought it would be a hilarious project for Steph and I to undertake in some of our time off. Luckily neither of us have lost our touch.

I love the over the top colours Steph chose for the anklet I made her. It totally reminds me of cotton candy!

Here are a few more pictures from the trip. The view from our campsite! We even swam out to the island and back one day.

From the top of the fire tower on Blue Mountain.

Our fire pit.

All in all, it was one of the most fun camping trips I've ever been on, and I simply cannot wait to go again next year!

The End of an Era

It's the end of an era. So exciting, but also pretty sad. The last movie, and thus maybe the last scarf.

(The newest one is the hufflepuff scarf on the left.)

We also had an awesome HP feast!! Roast beef, peas, potatoes and Yorkshire pudding even!

And the piece de resistance: Treacle Tart!!

I've always wanted to try Treacle Tart! Turns out treacle can be made of one of my favourite things, molasses, so I was doubly excited to try it!

And it was... disgusting. I don't know what we did wrong! None of us could eat a single bite.

Oh well. At least the scarf, the movie and the rest of the feast were awesome!

Garden update #1

I would tell you to call me the jolly green giantess, but at 5'6", I'm average girl height. And I'm not green. I don't even wear green that often. And, while I think in general I'm a pretty happy person, I'm not jolly. I'll leave that to dear old St. Nick.

But the jolly green giant and I do have a lot of things in common. Mainly: Peas!

The garden is now OVERFLOWING with them! Peas and snap peas too! It is such a tasty and healthy work snack! And that's not all the garden has. Oh no. We've got lettuce and spinach and little tiny zucchinis and today we ate the first beans. I can see little tomatoes on a whole bunch of plants and flowers on so many other things.

And, last but by no means least the blackberries are ripening! And do you know what that means? Raspberries are just around the corner. I can barely contain my glee. Garden glee!

Anyone else out there gardening? Or just plain old enjoying fresh summer produce?

(Hope you don't mind these garden updates, cause I see more coming in the future!)

Happy Canada Day!

Wills and Kate? Here I come.

Me and the bracelet I made out of old tshirt (kinda like these!).

Classy? Yes, I am.

Happy Canada day all!!

(And for the American's out there, happy early 4th of July. And... for non North Americans... Happy weekend!?)

Update: This be's Will and Kate!

LOVE her hat. Have I mentioned I want a fascinator?