Little toadie

November always makes me a little sad. In Canada, we don't have Thanksgiving to look forward to (ours is a month earlier), the days are noticeably darker, and colder. It's almost as bleak and drear as February.  It's especially sad for me, because everything in the garden has stopped blooming.

This November has been a touch warmer than usual, and a few blooms are hanging in there - namely the snapdragons and the milkweed. But we've had a few evenings of frost, and all the greenery is starting to die off now.

So imagine my surprise when I walked out the door yesterday, and something in the front garden caught my eye...

One of my Toad Lilies bloomed! On November 13th!!! These were newly planted this spring, and while they seemed to grow well - they didn't bloom. That's not unusual with plants in the first year, so I wasn't concerned. They were a mixed bag, and I wasn't sure what colours I would get. I was content to wait until next year to find out.

But I guess I don't have to!  I may have other colours in the other plants, but I know I at least have this pretty little purple spotted thing.

As you can see - it's a wee little flower. Not much bigger than a quarter.

I'm not sure how long it will last in this weather, but I'm going to treasure it for as long as it does. And look forward to seeing more next year!

FO: Corvin - take two

It's done  - all blocked with ends sewn in, and buttons sewn on.

I let Dave have final say on the buttons, and I think the ones he chose up the "grandpa" vibe nicely.

I'm not a huge fan of knitting cables, but I do so love how they look when they are done.

This version helped me work out some of the kinks from the first one.  I fixed the proportions, and as a result, this one used two skeins of Stray Cat instead of one (though just barely). The colourway is "Little Boy Blue" and it's nice and bright and cheerful.

I'm so pleased with the final result, and I should be able to get this pattern released by the end of next weekend. I promise, you'll be the first to know when I do!

If the sock fits....

With Corvin off the needles in blocking, I was all revved up for finishing. I picked up the messed up tunic sleeve. I was already to rip it back, but I had to find my needle first. I couldn't  remember what size, I was using. But that's what Ravelry is for!

I checked my project page... 4mm... no problem!

Wait... 4mm... that's what I was using for my new lace design...

Shoot. Double shoot! I have doubles in quite a few needles, but oddly enough, 4mm (one of my most used needles) is not one of them! So the tunic will have to wait until I can get another, or until I finish the lace design (my best on the former happening first.)

Disappointed, I wasn't in the mood to work on any other lace, so I picked up my Jaywalker sock. Stella's starter crapped out on me this week, so I've been working from home while it was rebuilt (let's note my thankfulness for a job where I can do that, and that handsome guy who lives with me and is not just a pretty face, but handy with a wrench, saving me several hundred dollars in labour), so I haven't had lunch hours to work on it.

I made up for that with a quiet evening of knitting

I'm through the gusset, and as you can see, at a point where I'm able to try it on. The designer admits that the stitch pattern doesn't allow for much stretch, and offers several sizes, the smallest having a 76 stitch cast on. Most Ravellers have still found that too small. I have very narrow feet, so I figured I'd be safe.

I got a little worried once I was a few rows in. It was looking like it'd be way too large. I was happy to find that wasn't the case. It's a touch on the loose size, but I'm betting it will tighten up after the first wash (especially if I give it a trip through the dryer).

A note about the yarn

As mentioned in a previous post, it's Berocco Sox. Love the colours, love the stripes.... not loving the texture. It is scratchy and rough. Admittedly, I'm spoiled with all our lovely yarns that are oh so soft.
In the end - both types make great socks. I'm sure these ones will soften up with a good soak - and they will probably wear like iron!

Friday Felines

There's nothing prettier than a Peno Cat in the sun

Say hello to my little friend

Corvin is done and blocking. I'll share pics once it has buttons. Then it will be packed up and sent off with Dave. The little guy made his entrance Monday night, so the timing is perfect.

In the meantime....

I give you Squirrley McSquirrelpants and his fabulous, fluffalicious tail.

The feeder's been empty of seed all summer (partially to help the grocery budget, partially because I hadn't decided on a new home for it) and I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed watching the squirrels.

Oh they'd come and steal a raspberry or two... but now with the feeder, they hang out a lot more.

This guy is really bold, and I think he enjoys teasing Rupert by getting really close.

I know some people think they are pests (and when they chew on houses, etc,  I don't disagree), but mine seem to be pretty well mannered...

 And I find it hard to resist that floof!

You knew it couldn't last...

... startitis is a disease that can't be stopped, only delayed. And while I have managed to put a few rows on the sleeves of Corvin, I just had to cast on for something new....

Well... something old, really.

Four years ago,  I designed this little vest.

My intention was to write up the pattern, get it off to testers, and get release it to all of you. Don't ask me why that never happened... I'm not entirely sure. The only thing I do know, is that somewhere along the way, I lost all my charts and notes, but I never truly lost the desire to add it to my roster of designs.

I've been thinking about it a lot lately because it's a design that would work so nice with my sundresses (especially one of my new ones!). So I dug out some Jungle Cat...

 ... and set to work. 

Without the original charts/notes, I've had to try to figure out what I did by looking at the original vest. As a result, it's going to be a touch different... but I'm quite pleased with the differences so far. This version will also have sleeves, but both options will be available when I release the design. Hopefully it won't be four years from now.

Here birdie, birdie, birdie

One little task  I set myself this weekend was moving the bird feeder.

Last winter, I had it tucked between the Butterfly Bush and the Lilac. And while it was ideal from a landscape design, as well as viewing perspective. It had a few fatal flaws that didn't make themselves apparent until spring.

First - the birds and the squirrels used the Lilac as an access route - and in the process seemed to break off several of the blooming branches in the process.

Second, the birds left quite a mess on the soil below, and as the Lilac and Butterfly Bush grew out over the summer, it got really hard to get under there and pull up all the greenery that resulted from the spilled seed.

So it the feeder needed a new home.

In the end, I didn't move it far - just to the edge of the Little Bee garden. It's now closer to the house, and even easier to view from the couch as I knit. And as you can see... it didn't take Mr. Jay long to find it in it's new location.

Or Mr. Squirrel.

It also didn't take Rupert long to figure out there was a whole lot of excitement going on on the other side of that glass.

It's going to be a fun winter...