Keep to the Path

On Sunday last, Ian and Nigel and I headed out to Spirit Sands to walk the 7km (return) trail to the Devil's Punch Bowl. We've walked this trail before, always on days that were ridiculously hot (28, 29?). Sunday wasn't too bad though, I think highs were 23 or 24 Celsius.



If you check the online site from the government it will tell you to stick to the path and beware of poison ivy. They tell you once you start down the trail to be aware of other dangers too...



Hmmm...yes...former National Defense testing range...well now, thanks for the head's up.

Signs pointed to the scenic spots...



does this refer to scenic outhouses? Don't know, we didn't take the detour.

The trails are varied.

Sand...





roots...



and rails.





After struggling up a few inclines you're rewarded with scenic ridges.





Everyone that's been will tell you that the Devil's Punch Bowl is a bit of a disappointment. It's more of a swampy green pond that empties into a small winding creek. Nigel calls it the Devil's Toilet Bowl.



The grafitti on the wooden rail is always amusing. Clearly some of us have walked this path more than once...





The path of the reno continues...

framing...



rafters...



doors and windows...



installed...



tyvek.



I chose the materials for the counters and cabinets.



The cabinets will be maple with a finish called millstone - a lovely soft creamy colour with a touch of grey. Counters are CaesarStone, the main counters will be done in Quartz Reflections (pale grey with stone chips) and the island in Smoky Ash (dark charcoal/black). Door handles and knobs will be black hammered iron. Should be lovely...

*** I'd love to link you to these things, but Blogger isn't playing nice. ***

Does anyone remember those 101 things I said I'd do? Well, September 1st marked the start of six months of buying NO NEW YARN.

Ack! What kind of crazy journey would require that path?

In anticipation I bought this lovely hank from Etsy at the end of August.



Wensleydale DK in a colourway called Thistle - four ounces - that should be enough to do a hat or mittens. Lovely...

And lastly, last night at the knit meet-up we got to talking about babies and toddlers and how much work they are - there were some hilarious stories people told - and though my two wee ones were very pleasant and rarely willful, it still had it's downside.

I became a mother at the young age of 22 (to Elly) and a single mother shortly after that, and everyone always told me how lucky I was to have a bright and happy child with a sunny dispositon.

Did I ever tell you that Elly started talking at ten months and never (and I mean never) stopped.

She was my friendly friend...



I'd like to add that I stuck to the path and never abandoned her in the park.

All This in Just a Week

WARNING! WARNING! PHOTO HEAVY POSTING!



Last Sunday was the annual Knit-Out for one of our local Stich-n-Bitch chapters. I've never attended before, but thought I'd make an exception this year.

It was held at Assiniboine Park (just a hop and a skip from my front door), on a thoroughly dismal, cold and rainy day...



the mood was light and fun despite the rain...



I'm not going to embarrass myself by trying to reel off everyone's names, so I'll just say that all were there that were there...



and there was loads of both stitchin'...



and bitchin'...



and a yarn swap too...



there were also door prizes! I won three skiens of Bernat Felting Wool. I'm thinking, perhaps, some cosy slippers for the coming months.



And in reno-land...

Here's our new chimney. Isn't it lovely?

Yes, it is.



The complete and total destruction of what was isn't total or complete yet, but great strides are being made. These are former cabinets...



a former sink...



and wallpaper, uncovered from long ago.



I've been amusing the tradesmen by taken photos of things that are very mundane to them. How come when I go ladder shopping they're all just regular aluminum and not spiffy green ones?



I love the bright colours - makes all the equipment look like toys.



Keeping down the dust.



A look through the main floor.



Here's what was the former computer room...



a view from window, looking into the room it will become...



and now, no more wall...



Here's a lovely view out my window (sorry, I mean, hole in the wall) looking out over the neighbour's back garden...



and then a peek into our own back garden...



I'm not going to bother trying to keep up with the neighbour's this summer.

I promised last post that I'd show a snap of the finished Tangled Yoke Cardigan.



Well, there it is, done. The lighting has been terrible lately, too many black and rainy days.

Also finished is the Stardust Clapotis. How I love this pattern and this yarn...



I think I've made four of these shawls now, I wonder how many it will take before I'm sick of it...

New on the needles,

a striped scarf made from two skiens of Noro Silk Garden Sock yarn.



This is the same as the regular Noro Striped Scarf, but with 63 stitches instead of the 30-some with the worsted weight yarn. I'm using two skiens of colour S95, starting one skien from the outside, and one from the inside. So far, the same colours have only intersected once for a short time (briefly losing the stripe effect). I anticipate a few more intersections, but they should all be brief.

Also begun is the Waves of Grain Scarf by Rosemary Hill. I've been hearing nightmarish accounts of knitting from Rosemary Hill's patterns and have been putting off making this one for a while.



However, so far it seems to be very easy and straight-forward, which is good, because I'm most sincerely not up for any heavy thinking during this home renovation.

The yarn is Cascade Lace by Cherry Tree Hill in colour way "Indian Summer". These are not colours I would normally wear, very amber/orange/salmon, but I think, perhaps, with all the changes going on in the house, it's a good time to try something different.

Just so long as there's no complex thinking...