Happy Halloween

Do you see the hidden image?...stand back and squint...cool eh?

Thursday already???

.......No, It is Friday fool.














I started this yesterday, obviously, and then never got back to it.

The Halloween candy is in the bowl but we are having second thoughts about whether there will be enough. I am expecting a larger crowd due to the weekend date. We have showed great restraint since I filled the bowl...patting myself on the back...and have stayed away from pinching too much.

NaNoWriMo starts on Sunday and I haven't signed up yet. Last year, when I signed up, I still had nary an inkling of what to write. Nothing came to me and I descended into ignominy and defeat. So the deadline looms for this year and IF I sign up this year I have to write 50,000 words no wimping out. The year before I collected pictures of "things" that inspired me. as it turned out I was pleased with the resulting story even thought I never did any rewrites. That's for when I retire.
I was planning on going to the Knitter's Group again this evening after supper. Carl will be working late and it sure beats sitting in the house alone. The "Tim Burton Cat" as my brother calls Ebony, is not a lot of company. I have decided to stay in after all too damp to go anywhere.
I am busy perfecting my technique for "double knitting"...see other blog... It would have been easier had I chosen 2 solid colours but noooo I had to choose 2 variegated. Some days I am my own worse enemy. Still and all as long as the light is good I can handle it. I took a break from the "The Vest" this week. I am ahead of schedule on it.
It is pouring down rain right now and the air is damp ooo I hate damp. It is time to stock up on cup a soup to keep me from being chilled.

Autumn has arrived.

I know, I know, where the "Sam Hill have I been?" That is an expression my mother always uses and I have no idea who Sam Hill is or rather was. Everyone is ticked off with me. I haven't called, I haven't posted. Well, it has been crazy at work and more than once I have come home and fallen asleep before putting the supper on.

My boss has joked for years that he wishes we could go from air conditioning weather right into furnace weather. (See picture above. This was Thurs Oct 15. Our first snow. Not much but under that dusting was a thick layer of ice. Chip chip chip that's how I started my day.) We have been going non stop since June. Great for business but the staff are pooped...including me.

Speaking of Mother, she is doing better, very slowly and seems to have settled into the routine at the "Manor." Of course she would rather be in her own home but she is a very practical person and accepts that is not possible at this time.
The nice part of sunny autumn days is watching this bush in the garden change it's colour. We have one on the left and one on the right. I see them from the bedroom window and the colour is quite lovely.
Lots of knitting going on over on the "other" blog. I have discovered a wonderful wool shop in St Thomas, "Little Red Mitten" and I finally made it out to a knitting get together on Friday night. I realize how much time I spend alone when I get into a room full of women who are chatting and knitting. The knitting vibes were wonderful. I miss teaching we used to have so much fun. Of course I talked too much. Could have kicked myself afterward. I took this picture outside Little Red Mitten, with my phone, but the detail is lost. Yes, that is a huge memorial to Jumbo the elephant in the back ground. The sun was shining and the Canadian flag was vibrant against the dark grey threatening clouds. Next time I am there I will be sure to take the camera.
I also picked up a copy of the pattern for the Adult Surprise Jacket. I have enough Koigu ( I hope) in some gorgeous colours to knit it. Jean over at Jean's Knitting has inspired me and we were talking about her progress on Friday evening as we admired one in the "flesh," so to speak. That's a lot of garter stitch.
On the "Ever Optimistic Canadian Attitude Toward Weather" front. We are in for some Indian Summer this week. This may be my last chance to knit outside till spring. Pictures to follow.

Now is that job or Job?

Job as in the "patience of " or job? Hmm??

I have decided that I am too young to retire and too old to work.

Our mother is still not herself physically and says she is content having settled into the retirement home. She may decide to stay. This is all very unsettling. It is hard to see her "little," she was 5'5.5" and is now about 5'1." I went to see her yesterday and she sent me over to the house with a list, which I misplaced, of things she would like to have. I fortunately remembered the important stuff. She may be little but she is still a force to be reckoned with..lol

I ended up bringing home her beautiful fern from the living room. Now I look at it in my front room with very mixed feelings. It says to me that she is not planning on returning to her home...oh dear

The television is full of previews for the movie 2012. According to the Mayan calendar the world will come to an end on Dec 21, 2012. Last week I processed a Visa card which expires in 2013. Visa obviously does not believe this prediction. Don't go nuts shopping just 'cause you believe everything you hear. Visa will get you in the end.

My brother has H1N1 flu. He will be alright but he has two daughters in their early 20's living at home who will be avoiding him.

Fall has arrived. Today it is overcast and raining. Yesterday the sun shone and I enjoyed the drive to Tilbury, for once. The highway is lined with wooded areas. The Sumac has turned red and the Fire Maples stood out amoungst the golds and rust of the turning leaves. This is time of year I miss the long walks in the woods at Rockwood with the crunch of falling leaves underfoot and the fluttering leaves landing on your head and shoulders. Portent of the snow to come.

I am ready for winter, my winter knitting projects are planned out, wool has been purchased and now I just have to schedule my time.