LAST DAY OF NOVEMBER

So this is my final posting to fulfill my commitment for NaBloPoMo. I did it!  :)

Here's some knitting to show you....

This is a test knit for a designer in Portland, Oregon, and it's SO much fun. I can't show you the 'product' yet or tell you much more, but what I can tell you is this: every time I think I'm pretty clever, someone like this shows me what true brilliant, creative genius really is!

Oh, and no, I haven't slacked off on the Gratitude Challenge, either. I sent off my 5 notes yesterday, and yesterday's challenge was this:

Try to see the world through the eyes of a child. Think about the things you take for granted on a daily basis, and then express gratitude for everything down to the basic necessities that sustain your current life.



You know what? I already do this, pretty much every day!


Today's challenge:
Pick three friends or family members you see regularly. View their actions and gestures through a positive lens, assuming their goodness and witnessing their best intentions.


Okay.

I'll let you know tomorrow how that went.  :)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME :)

Got back from my little retreat this afternoon -- it was nice, and not long enough.  :) Oh, well, we'll spend three nights on the dock at the Empress this weekend, so that'll be a nice little break, too.


This was the view from my room when I arrived ...

Then I walked over to my favorite restaurant for dinner (this was in Sidney, not sure if I mentioned that) and this was the view en route..

I knit. Stock stuffers for family which I can't show you ... and a delightful test knit project for a designer in Portland, which I also can't show you (yet)!

Now I believe my hubby is waiting for me to finish this so he can take me out for dinner.

Only one more NaBloPoMo day to go!

SUNDAY

I have packed enough knitting for at least a week, one change of clothes and my jammies -- and I'm off!

I'm checking in to a nice quiet place out on the peninsula. I decided, since I would have had an extra day to myself in Tofino, if I'd gone, that I would just create that extra day anyway. :-) So the idea was my birthday present to myself -- but at my request, each of our children contributed financially so that amounted to enough money to pay for it.  How fun is that??

I'll be back tomorrow afternoon sometime. With more Christmas knitting DONE.

Yay!

(Oops, I almost forgot to catch you up on the gratitude challenge. Yesterday's was:
Send thank you notes to five people who deserve a little recognition.
Well, I haven't done it yet, but I have the list of people, and I'm taking those cards with me to finish on this little retreat -- they'll go in the mail on Monday.

And today's challenge is:
Pick one of your five senses to focus on each day. Take note of how many gifts come to you via that single port of entry. Write about this experience.

I started off this morning focusing on smells. River has decided he needs to wear deodorant now, so I became aware of that smell right away. I also noticed the smell of the felt pens that Gibson was coloring with, and the smell of the Christmas present wool blanket as I was weaving in the ends this morning. Then I met Esther for breakfast, and was really aware of all the smells in the restaurant.

Walking home I noticed the smell of the air -- THAT was the 'gift' so far today. Even though I live right downtown, the smell of the air this morning took me right back to being 8 years old and walking the path to my school on a crisp autumn prairie morning!  Lovely ....

A LOOOOOOOONG DAY

For some reason, I woke up this morning at 3:45 a.m. ... and couldn't get back to sleep. LOTS of knitting happened, which is a good thing -- finished the lap blanket. Then I had to attend the skipper's meeting for this weekend's Lighted Ship Parade in the Inner Harbour. I finally made it down to Clover Point just in time to watch this go by....


This beast looks like an old ferry but apparently it belongs to Fraser River Pile and Dredge; it must have been at the Esquimalt Shipyard, but was leaving the area when I saw it.

When I got home, Penny and Robin came for coffee, and then Jason stopped in for a visit. Then we went to the Santa Claus Parade with Gibson and River, who are having a 'sleep-over' tonight.

Oh, and somewhere in there I did a 45-minute walk along the waterfront -- it was lovely!

OUT OF THE DEEP FREEZE

For the first time in several days, when I woke up this morning and came out of the aft cabin (that's boat-talk for 'bedroom', by the way) into the salon (that's the nautical word for 'living room', by the way) it was WARM. Yes! It's finally back above freezing!

Yesterday I got about 3" knit on a lap blanket I need to finish for Christmas (only about 6" to go now, so I think I'm good) and printed out a pattern for a test knit pair of Gibson-sized mittens. 

Today is Knit'n'Cafe, and today's Gratitude Challenge is this:
Enjoy the people around you. Take a moment to appreciate their unique talents, abilities and personalities.

I can't think of a better place to do that!

I *was* supposed to go to Tofino (again!) today, but that's been cancelled again -- we'll try again in the spring, I guess. So since I had intended to celebrate an impending birthday there, I think I'll go *somewhere* on Sunday for 24 hours, with a lot of Christmas knitting and a Starbuck's card.

I'll keep you posted!

We woke up to a blanket of about 3-4" of snow this morning and it's still coming down -- although it has warmed up and Environment Canada swears it'll be rain and slush by noon.

Meanwhile, back to the Gratitude Challenge -- I missed my task yesterday because I was out-and-about most of the day, but I've completed it this morning. The task was:

Take a few minutes to call someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Tell them how much you appreciate them.


Well, I called Rosalie, who is hosting the Thursday spinning group today. Rosalie is a sweetie -- she's one of the kindest women I know. I've almost quit going to that group several times now (partly because I'm a spinning imposter, but that's not the only reason). Wendy M (whom I already put on my gratitude word list the other day) and Rosalie make the group what it is, so I told Rosalie today that I'm glad she's in my life.

Come to think of it, I want to tell you ALL -- if you're in my life, in any way, I appreciate you!

Now, today's gratitude challenge was this:
Take a picture of one thing, person, place or specific moment that makes you feel grateful. Share it with your social network.
Since I don't do Facebook and I don't twitter (or tweet or whatever that silly thing is), you're my 'social network.' Or at least you're the online one!

Anyway, the picture that immediately came to mind when I read that was this one:

Unfortunately it's not mine -- someone sent it to me a few year's ago, and I've tried to find the photographer to credit him/her, but had no luck so far. But it IS one of my all-time favorite photos, and shows the Inner Harbour here beautifully. (Our marina is just beyond the one you can barely see behind and to the right of the blue bridge in the photo, and remember that you can click on the photo to see it bigger).

Anyway, I'm SO grateful that I get to live here in Victoria, and on Vancouver Island!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING U.S.A.

I spent most of the day with Mischa, running errands and doing a bit of Christmas shopping. When I wasn't walking around with her, I was sitting knitting while I waited for her -- got almost half a sock knit!

I just really want to wish my American friends and readers the very best THANKS-giving -- have fun, get stuffed, stay safe!  :)