I'm participating in a dishcloth swap online, and one of the requirements is to post this questionnaire here on my blog:
1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both?KNIT
2. What types of needles do you enjoy using for making dishcloths?5 mm
3. What types of cotton do you enjoy using for making dishcloths? Is there any that you've been wanting to try?Ordinary craft cotton for my own, but for gifts I like to use 'Peaches'n'Cream' or something a little nicer
4. What color(s) are your kitchen and bath decorated in (if any)?Navy blue
5. What are your favorite colors for yarns? Least favorite?Any of the 'jewel tones' ... fuschia, blues, greens, purples
6. Do you like Winter, or do you count the days until it ends?I don't mind it, it's pretty mild on Vancouver Island
7. What's your favorite way to brighten your day when you're down in the dumps?I usually just drive down to Clover Point and knit at the water, but if it's really bad, I also buy fresh flowers for the table.
8. What is your favorite treat to indulge in and when your down in the dumps?A hot fudge sundae
9. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Cocoa?Coffee
10. If you could take a vacation starting tomorrow and go anywhere for one week and money were no object, where would you go and what would you do?I'd go to Poets Cove Resort and Spa on South Pender Island
11. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should be aware of?I have an aversion to housework... but I DO use dishcloths!
There. Done. Oh, I'm also supposed to invite YOU, dear reader, to participate along with me! So if that interests you, get yourself over to the Dishcloth Exchange blog and check it out, or sign up.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
DIDN'T SLEEP A WINK
The wind started blowing last night before I went to sleep, and I was aware of the boat rockin' and rollin' even in my sleep -- it finally woke me for good at 3:30 a.m. This was in my email inbox first thing...
It's all part of 'the life' of a liveaboard, and I love it ... but I suspect I'll regret the lack of sleep later today. Looks like I get to go be a Grandma this morning... Michael's not feeling well, so I'll go take care of Gibson. But they don't come any cuter, don't you wish it was you?
It's all part of 'the life' of a liveaboard, and I love it ... but I suspect I'll regret the lack of sleep later today. Looks like I get to go be a Grandma this morning... Michael's not feeling well, so I'll go take care of Gibson. But they don't come any cuter, don't you wish it was you?
Monday, January 7, 2008
ESQUIMALT LAGOON
Next weekend Michael and I will celebrate having met 30 years ago (on Jan. 12th) at a special B& B/cabin out in Sooke. We booked the place online, sight unseen, so we decided yesterday to go for a drive and check it out.
First of all, we always enjoy 'road trips', of any description, together. We usually pack our own picnic before we leave home, he drives and I knit, and we get to have *uninterrupted* (by the phone, boat owners on the dock, grandchildren...)conversations. We also sometimes drive for miles in silence, and that's pretty nice, too!
So yesterday the sun was out, and off we went. It's about a 45-minute drive on a lovely twisty road out to East Sooke, and the place was really nice. We met and chatted with the couple who run it, and wandered around the property. (I'll post photos and tell more after we've been there!)
On the way back we decided to stop at Esquimalt Lagoon and enjoy the sun for awhile, and I only realized as we drove by a new development en route there that there was a story in the morning paper about it. Doesn't look like much ...
... but apparently an ancient dwelling has been unearthed on this former First Nations land, along with other artifacts from possibly nearly 3000 years ago. Across the street from this development is a view of the wide-open Juan de Fuca Strait, and yesterday it was a-buzz with activity: a large freighter on its way to the open Pacific, sailboats, and even a couple of guys in a little row-boat bringing crab-traps ashore.
ON THE NEEEDLES: The day was made even lovelier by the fact that I made about 5' progress on the purple shawl, and finished a few more squares for River's blanket.
First of all, we always enjoy 'road trips', of any description, together. We usually pack our own picnic before we leave home, he drives and I knit, and we get to have *uninterrupted* (by the phone, boat owners on the dock, grandchildren...)conversations. We also sometimes drive for miles in silence, and that's pretty nice, too!
So yesterday the sun was out, and off we went. It's about a 45-minute drive on a lovely twisty road out to East Sooke, and the place was really nice. We met and chatted with the couple who run it, and wandered around the property. (I'll post photos and tell more after we've been there!)
On the way back we decided to stop at Esquimalt Lagoon and enjoy the sun for awhile, and I only realized as we drove by a new development en route there that there was a story in the morning paper about it. Doesn't look like much ...
... but apparently an ancient dwelling has been unearthed on this former First Nations land, along with other artifacts from possibly nearly 3000 years ago. Across the street from this development is a view of the wide-open Juan de Fuca Strait, and yesterday it was a-buzz with activity: a large freighter on its way to the open Pacific, sailboats, and even a couple of guys in a little row-boat bringing crab-traps ashore.
ON THE NEEEDLES: The day was made even lovelier by the fact that I made about 5' progress on the purple shawl, and finished a few more squares for River's blanket.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
I RISKED LIFE AND LIMB ...
... but it worked out... sort of. :-)
So there I was, parked at Clover Point minding my own business and knitting (working on the heather-toned purple shawl I've decided I need to FINISH before I start the two KALs) when I spotted something interesting floating out in the water between the point and Trial Island.
I was pretty sure that the floating object was someone's lost dinghy, so I decided that I'd do my good deed for the week and 'catch' it when it came to shore.
Well. Here's the shoreline of Ross Bay, where it was headed ...
... and it was already dusk, and cold and windy.
I watched it for a bit to determine its 'trajectory' toward the shoreline, and then drove the van along Dallas Road closer to where I was guessing it would come in. I parked, and walked out on the beach, trying to keep my eye on it in the looming darkness, while 'plucking' my way over patches of loose gravel, kelp, logs and various other flotsam and jetsam.
It took forever to get close to the shore, and because of the south-west wind blowing, I kept having to walk further along the beach and kept getting further away from the road as the dinghy angled off.
Luckily I had a wool scarf on, so I wrapped it around my ears to keep the wind from hurting them. I was probably standing there ... or walking along the beach ... for about 45 minutes - that's a long time when you're not dressed properly on an exposed beach.
At some point, I heard a noise behind me and turned around, only to realize that the wind had shifted something on the beach behind me. But it was then that I became aware that I was totally alone - on an exposed beach, in the pitch dark, and about a city block from the nearest point of access to Dallas Road. What WAS I thinking when I began THIS adventure? What if I slipped on some kelp or a log and fell? What if there was an attacker lurking somewhere? Oh, and then there's the Ross Bay cemetery ... and no shortage of ghost stories associated with it.
I turned back to the sea and again managed to visually locate the dinghy floating ever so slowly toward me. I decided that since I'd already been there all that time, and since it was clearly too dark to make my way back in the light anyway... I might as well wait.
And wait I did, for another full 15 minutes as the tide carried that dinghy closer and closer to the shore. Freezing, spooked and chiding myself for my stupidity, I waited ... until, finally, one last big wave crashed ashore, carrying my prize to me ...
So there I was, parked at Clover Point minding my own business and knitting (working on the heather-toned purple shawl I've decided I need to FINISH before I start the two KALs) when I spotted something interesting floating out in the water between the point and Trial Island.
I was pretty sure that the floating object was someone's lost dinghy, so I decided that I'd do my good deed for the week and 'catch' it when it came to shore.
Well. Here's the shoreline of Ross Bay, where it was headed ...
... and it was already dusk, and cold and windy.I watched it for a bit to determine its 'trajectory' toward the shoreline, and then drove the van along Dallas Road closer to where I was guessing it would come in. I parked, and walked out on the beach, trying to keep my eye on it in the looming darkness, while 'plucking' my way over patches of loose gravel, kelp, logs and various other flotsam and jetsam.
It took forever to get close to the shore, and because of the south-west wind blowing, I kept having to walk further along the beach and kept getting further away from the road as the dinghy angled off.
Luckily I had a wool scarf on, so I wrapped it around my ears to keep the wind from hurting them. I was probably standing there ... or walking along the beach ... for about 45 minutes - that's a long time when you're not dressed properly on an exposed beach.
At some point, I heard a noise behind me and turned around, only to realize that the wind had shifted something on the beach behind me. But it was then that I became aware that I was totally alone - on an exposed beach, in the pitch dark, and about a city block from the nearest point of access to Dallas Road. What WAS I thinking when I began THIS adventure? What if I slipped on some kelp or a log and fell? What if there was an attacker lurking somewhere? Oh, and then there's the Ross Bay cemetery ... and no shortage of ghost stories associated with it.
I turned back to the sea and again managed to visually locate the dinghy floating ever so slowly toward me. I decided that since I'd already been there all that time, and since it was clearly too dark to make my way back in the light anyway... I might as well wait.
And wait I did, for another full 15 minutes as the tide carried that dinghy closer and closer to the shore. Freezing, spooked and chiding myself for my stupidity, I waited ... until, finally, one last big wave crashed ashore, carrying my prize to me ...
Saturday, January 5, 2008
AM I OUT OF MY MIND?
Yesterday, being Friday, was my Knit'n'Cafe day, an event I look forward to with an unreasonable amount of pleasure every week. We are anywhere from 6 - 10 women, some of whom are also local Guild members, who get together more informally on Friday afternoons. Let me clarify 'more informally' -- it's a hoot! We eat, we laugh, we share stories of our lives, solutions to all manner of problems (not just of the craft variety, but often that) and photos of grandbabies ... and we also knit.
I had to drive out to the ferry to pick up my friend Monica, who had a doctor's appointment, first. Monica lives on Mayne Island, and we visited her this past summer when I met my navigational challenge of cruising -- both ways -- through Active Pass. See?
That's our inflatable following us dutifully through the Pass. (This pass has freighter and ferry traffic 24/7, and currents that can run up to 9 knts at certain tides). Monica lives near a little community in the middle of the Pass called Miner's Bay (if you've ever taken the ferry to Vancouver from Victoria, you pass it on your right side)... 
... and when we went to visit her there, we had lunch at the historic Mayne Inn... 
... which is apparently closed for renovations at the moment.
But I digress ... (really? me? who'd-a thunk it?)
So Monica and I went together to Knit'n'Cafe, and after much eating and talking (and a little knitting) we then went to a Chinese food buffet for supper and more eating and talking (but no knitting).
I had to drive out to the ferry to pick up my friend Monica, who had a doctor's appointment, first. Monica lives on Mayne Island, and we visited her this past summer when I met my navigational challenge of cruising -- both ways -- through Active Pass. See?
That's our inflatable following us dutifully through the Pass. (This pass has freighter and ferry traffic 24/7, and currents that can run up to 9 knts at certain tides). Monica lives near a little community in the middle of the Pass called Miner's Bay (if you've ever taken the ferry to Vancouver from Victoria, you pass it on your right side)... 
... and when we went to visit her there, we had lunch at the historic Mayne Inn... 
... which is apparently closed for renovations at the moment. But I digress ... (really? me? who'd-a thunk it?)
So Monica and I went together to Knit'n'Cafe, and after much eating and talking (and a little knitting) we then went to a Chinese food buffet for supper and more eating and talking (but no knitting).
Some time between driving out to pick Monica up yesterday, and this morning, I've managed to complete two swatches, both of which are for lace shawl knit-alongs (KALs, for future reference). 
Am I out of my mind? The small one is a Sivia Harding design called Moon Shadow, and the larger one (which is stunning ... the photo doesn't do it justice) is for a 'Secret of the Stole' KAL that terrifies me -- the swatch pattern was a full page long (that's 40 rows you're looking at on 2mm needles!) and the pattern, including charts, is almost 40 pages.
I'm definitely up for Sivia's design -- I'll probably cast on today -- but the other one might need a bit more ruminating first. Like several months worth....
Thursday, January 3, 2008
A BOAT PARADE
Yesterday morning my son and I took my grandson Joshua to the train, and since I was already 'out and about' I realized I could get some errands done -- if only the stores were open that early! So what's a gal to do while she's waiting? Find a nice look-out and knit, of course! The lookout I chose is called 'Trafalgar Square' which is really quite pretentious considering it's a simple u-shaped pull-off along the waterfront in Oak Bay.
It is, however, a place where one can watch boats go through Enterprise Channel, which is the tricky narrow bit of reef-infested water between Trial Island (where the now de-commissioned lighthouse is) and Victoria. There must have been a New Year's yacht club cruise leaving town, because I got to watch about a dozen boats go through the pass -- all successfully!
That was my entertainment while I worked on another diamond for River's blanket -- it's his birthday tomorrow, so it's not going to be done, but it'll be a great take-along project for the next few weeks.
It is, however, a place where one can watch boats go through Enterprise Channel, which is the tricky narrow bit of reef-infested water between Trial Island (where the now de-commissioned lighthouse is) and Victoria. There must have been a New Year's yacht club cruise leaving town, because I got to watch about a dozen boats go through the pass -- all successfully!
That was my entertainment while I worked on another diamond for River's blanket -- it's his birthday tomorrow, so it's not going to be done, but it'll be a great take-along project for the next few weeks.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
RESOLUTIONS
I'm still in New Year's resolutions mode, and I found this list yesterday at http://wcmusings.blogspot.com/
On that blog, it’s called a ‘Life List,’ but I’ve adapted it to become my list of things I’d like to do THIS year (except for the first two, under ‘travel’ – those ARE on a life list!)
Travel
1. See Canada from coast to coast – especially Nova Scotia, my birthplace.
2. Cruise the entire BC coast
3. Get to Whistler for a visit some time during the summer months
Education
1. Take a photography course
2. Update my web development skills
3. Learn to play the flute
4. Go to a talk or lecture at UVic
5. Learn at least one new fibre-related skill
Family
1. Spend more quality time with each of the kids
2. Tell them I love them and I’m proud of them more
Home
1. Become more organized, and get rid of some of my storage
2. Do more housework in general.
Entertainment/Hobbies
1. Attend a live play here in Victoria
2. Go to the local Jazz Club just once
3. Knit lots, especially new challenges … and take pics and maintain the blog
Overcoming fears
1. Be friendlier/less judgmental to individual women in my life
2. Take the helm of the Wind Walker more often in challenging situations
3. Get back to my 12-step program enough to feel comfortable there again.
Career
1. Write for the magazine market again.
2. Do a better job of the financial reporting for the marina.
3. Consider a long-term/retirement plan.
4. Do more event planning.
5. Consider taking the Master Knitter program.
Health
1. Work towards a healthy ATTAINABLE goal weight.
2. Get back to the gym a minimum of twice a week
3. WALK for at least 20 minutes on the other days.
4. Establish a relationship with a doctor.
5. Cook at least 3 meals a week at home, and eat healthier in general
Life
1. Tell someone I love them every day
2. Be more open-minded in my personal problem-solving
3. Express appreciation for my life in some way every day
Kindness
1. Attempt to say hello, have eye contact, and/or smile at, at least 5 strangers a week.
2. Help someone in need in some way at least weekly.
3. “Pay it forward…”
Whew, I'm going to be busy!
PHOTO OF THE DAY:
Doesn't this look more like a watercolor painting than a photo? It was taken at daybreak off McTavish Road in Sidney.
On that blog, it’s called a ‘Life List,’ but I’ve adapted it to become my list of things I’d like to do THIS year (except for the first two, under ‘travel’ – those ARE on a life list!)
Travel
1. See Canada from coast to coast – especially Nova Scotia, my birthplace.
2. Cruise the entire BC coast
3. Get to Whistler for a visit some time during the summer months
Education
1. Take a photography course
2. Update my web development skills
3. Learn to play the flute
4. Go to a talk or lecture at UVic
5. Learn at least one new fibre-related skill
Family
1. Spend more quality time with each of the kids
2. Tell them I love them and I’m proud of them more
Home
1. Become more organized, and get rid of some of my storage
2. Do more housework in general.
Entertainment/Hobbies
1. Attend a live play here in Victoria
2. Go to the local Jazz Club just once
3. Knit lots, especially new challenges … and take pics and maintain the blog
Overcoming fears
1. Be friendlier/less judgmental to individual women in my life
2. Take the helm of the Wind Walker more often in challenging situations
3. Get back to my 12-step program enough to feel comfortable there again.
Career
1. Write for the magazine market again.
2. Do a better job of the financial reporting for the marina.
3. Consider a long-term/retirement plan.
4. Do more event planning.
5. Consider taking the Master Knitter program.
Health
1. Work towards a healthy ATTAINABLE goal weight.
2. Get back to the gym a minimum of twice a week
3. WALK for at least 20 minutes on the other days.
4. Establish a relationship with a doctor.
5. Cook at least 3 meals a week at home, and eat healthier in general
Life
1. Tell someone I love them every day
2. Be more open-minded in my personal problem-solving
3. Express appreciation for my life in some way every day
Kindness
1. Attempt to say hello, have eye contact, and/or smile at, at least 5 strangers a week.
2. Help someone in need in some way at least weekly.
3. “Pay it forward…”
Whew, I'm going to be busy!
PHOTO OF THE DAY:
Doesn't this look more like a watercolor painting than a photo? It was taken at daybreak off McTavish Road in Sidney.
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