Vacay Monday

I had a vacation day to use up before the end of the year, and I figured today was as good a day as any to take it.

So Tux and I are staked out on the couch. I've got Foyle's War on the TV, and a sideshow of squirrels and sparrows at the feeder.

There's a nice roast beef in the slow cooker, a squash all ready for baking, and pan of super-rich brownies waiting for dessert (or maybe just snack time).


Dave's gone off to work, so I've got all afternoon and the evening to work away on Sandpoint. Once it's sewn up, it's time to pick up the stitches and knit the collar.

If only I hadn't forgotten to pick up the zipper on the weekend, it could be done today.

Oh well.. it will be done before week's end!

Twinkle, twinkle little orchid...

Things have a been a little rough in orchid world over here.

My poor little white orchid drowned a few months ago. I think Dave might have decided to "help" by watering the plants... her little pot was just full of water. I tried to dry her out, but she didn't make it.

I accidentally knocked over my peachy orchid and broke her pot. She survived, but lost a good chunk of her potting mix. She's hanging in there but could use a good top up.

So when I walked into the grocery store earlier this week, I certainly wasn't planning on buying another orchid, but the there was this...

This a Twinkle Orchid. I saw them several months back, but I didn't have the money for it. When I finally did and went back to get one, they were all gone.

I certainly wasn't expecting to see this one when I went grocery shopping, but there was no way I was passing it by.

Twinkle orchids blooms are super tiny - each about the size of my pinky fingernail. The store had them paired up with some very pretty Phals

 Just look at those gorgeous pink blooms!

Unexpected visitor

The other night, I'd just got home from work, and was sitting down to dinner when I noticed something flutter by my feet. And then Rocky pounced.

At first I thought it was a little house moth (we see a few now and again), but as Rocky moved his paws, I noticed it was a fair bit bigger than our usual moths. I bent down to rescue it from Rocky and...

... discovered it was one of our favourite little White Cabbage Butterflies. I have no idea where he came from. It's entirely possible he flew in while I was bringing in the groceries...

...but we usually don't see them past October. We had a really mild November, but we have had frost, which I think would have killed them all.

The only thing I can think is that maybe there as a cocoon hiding on my one of house plants. I had no choice but to put him outside. I doubt I could have kept him alive throughout the winter...especially with the mighty butterfly hunter in the house...

Friday Felines

I know our days left together are numbered, but we still have more good than bad... and I'm so thankful for that.

Leg up

Being a child of the late 80s/early 90s, you have no idea how happy it made me to see that leggings have made such a comeback. (Almost enough to get out my scrunchies, slouch socks and Blossom hats too!).

But I was really excited to see the styles of leggings that they were making... not just plain old solid colours.. but prints! And knit-inspired prints!

It took me a while to track down a reasonably priced pair in my size... but finally did! (Thank you Giant Tiger!) Now... I think I need a nice knit tunic to go with them... Damn you Christmas knitting!

Inching toward the end

That, my friends, is a half completed sleeve. Actually it's more than half, because I'm ready to start the decreasing. An evening or two more, and it will be on the blocking board! And since this is the last sleeve, that means I should be able to wrap this whole thing up by the end of the weekend! Woot! Woot!

Table for one

It seems, in the rearrangement of my gardens this year, I made the ideal set-up for the squirrels.

The lilac bush, stripped of its finery for the winter, is just the perfect little chair for my little diner.

Of course, I do need to have a word with him about his table manners...