Make Room for Baby

This is the newest addition to our busy household. His name is Baby.

Last winter my friend (Bruce)'s mother (Dolly) passed away and left behind her little white finch who has now found a new home with us. He's very sweet and chirps and flutters most of the day.

***I should mention that he will, in fact, move along with Elly to her new digs if the rental shortage ever lets up - (hee hee, get it, "let's" up, ha ha). Ack, it's late and I should go to bed...***

Gus LOVES Baby and spends most of the day doing this:



He very quietly whimpers too....very sad. He longs to give Baby just one really big kiss - no doubt with his teeth. Don't worry, he's too short to reach the cage, and not nearly bright enough to open it.

While helping Bruce to sort through the estate, we came across this fabulous socialist cookbook:



I haven't tried any of the recipes...



but I love that left wing sense of humour...



this is no frills...



OK, maybe just a bit...



partisan cooking.



Yes! Crush the noodles of oppression!



I'm going to have to try some of these before I return the book.

Off the needles!

The pink and green Noro Striped Scarf:



I found this easy-peasy single rib so therapeutic that I started another one in shades of blue:



I'm finding I desparately need the repetitive motion of knitting something simple while the reno goes along.

This is where my new kitchen sink will someday be:



The furnace ducts went in today (this a pre-installation shot):



And lots and lots of electrical work has been done. Days and days in fact.



I've opted not to photograph every outlet and socket, but here is a shot of the empty wire spools that litter our back garden:



That's a lot of wiring.

Also, a note. August 24th was my second blogiversary and I missed it completely.

Oops! I'm going to blame the reno.

Here's a video to enjoy. It's my favourtie song at the mo', and plays endlessly in my head, and though it has nothing to do with renos, wires, socialist cooking, blogiversaries or birds named Baby, it does mention a scarf...

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.