Meanderings of a Mermaid

BUNTING BAG Maybe this title should be "Catching Up ...and.....Falling Behind". Just as it seems that I am catching up to various chores and activities, a whole new slough of things arises. Yes, sometimes they are self-inflicted, but certainly worthwhile. For example, my new neighbours are expecting thier first baby any hour now. Have I started on a knitted gift yet? Well............some swatching and testing, but not really started. So I have to get cracking. I'm thinking of doing a blanket in a nice brioche stitch. The photo shows the last baby project I whipped off and it is a bunting bag. Kind of like a sleeping bag for babies. And I designed it so that Mommy can cut away the bottom edge seam once Princess is of a certain length/height. It will then become more like a housecoat. Knitting for a baby when you don't know the sex is a bit tough. Use yellow or green, or even a soft grey. I've also done layettes in red and white. The one above came out in those colo...

Canada Day will be celebrated here. And yes, I will likely be canoeing and having a grand old time. Do something fun and special that day! Happy Birthday Canada. You're looking pretty good Girl!

So today was a typical day. After supper and in between rain showers and thunderstorms, I took the dogs down to Cummings Beach for our exercise. This photo was taken some time ago, looking into Peninsula Harbour, and catching the edge of Skin Island. As the name suggests, it was a host to a brothel. Because such a thing wasn't allowed in the town limits, the enterprising businessperson moved it out to a nearby island. Ah, the good old days! The area I live in is gorgeous. Nestled on the shore of the largest lake in the world, the town is embraced by large rocky hills and sand-filled coves. Some spectacular beaches can be found. Some you can drive to, but most you need to hike into. Normally you will be the only person visiting the beach. Talk about relaxing. You won't find any garbage on our beaches either, just driftwood. Maybe if you're good I'll share some photos of these special places in the days to come. For now it will remain a secret haunt for the local intrepid...

The Crown Range Highway. Yes Friends. That very highly twisted thing in the foreground is a highway, or what passes for one in the Souther Alps. Dear Friend and I travelled this incredible route a few times over the days we spent exploring the Alps. It's a wonder that there is any population in New Zealand whatsoever. With the fantastic wines the country produces, and those prevalent speed bumps, the chunky possum, how do they ever stay on the road?? Mmmmm. Doesn't this look amazing? It was, trust me. My dear friend from the South Island created this tasty Pavlova dessert. No leftovers. Sorry, none for you. This is the central square in Christchurch, on the South Island of New Zealand. What a fabulous place! The square is huge and centred on a gorgeous catherdal. But this organic sculpture really captivated me. It seems all my photos will come in, in reverse order to how I am bringing them in. Well............ And I don't see any way to move things around on my post. So ...

So I've gone and done it. I wrote the exam, passed, and now have my Boat Operator's License. Pretty soon in Canada it will be the law for everyone to have this. So I am glad to have this behind me now. This photo is from a very fun ride in a jet boat I did with a special friend in New Zealand. It was certainly the most exhilarating part of my trip to that lovely land. What an extremely scenic tour it was as well as a wild ride. The excursion was through the Southern Alps, and as the name suggests, rugged mountain peaks arched over us. Spectacular turquoise waters carried us. See the photo from my first or second post for some of the scenery. Not that I'll be spinning 360s in my little fishing boat at camp, but I will be zipping along knowing that I am a little bit safer and smarter on the waters now. And who know? Maybe my destiny in my retirement is to become a jet boat driver in the Southern Alps. There are worse things.

A few months back a trip to new Zealand represented a life long dream come true. I travelled that marvellous land for three weeks, taking in everything i could about everyday life, the fabulous geology, the scenery and the intertwining of man and nature. I took a lot of photograghs and notes along the way. I drew much inspiration from the land and the people. In particular the unique geology impressed me - the hydrothermal regions, the volcanoes, the Southern Alps. It was all so accessible and so easy to explore. My intention now is to work on a collection of knit designs, based on the inspirations from this trip. It may be clothing, or accessories such as hats and tote bags, or even items for the home. Some pieces may wind up being art pieces. I'm busy with another book at the moment, but as soon as that wraps up, I can devote my time to this new project. I will be preparing this as a book. Part travelogue, part philosophy (cleary just my limited view of things) and part knitting ...

O is for Orange. That seems to be the colour that I am gravitating towards this spring. I can't explain it. Except that maybe I think it is a great contrasting colour to the greyish blue of the fencing and house trim. I've always pictured tiger lilies growing on either side of my basement windows at the front of the house. So I started with the new shed, which needed some paint anyways on the bare plywood doors. What do you think? It actually drove me a little wild. thinking how nice that was. Spiced Tea is what the colour consultants at the paint company call it. Then I was inspired to paint the front door. I had already planted some bright flowers in the half barrel, and so the next step was naturally a bright colour on the door. In a neighbourhood where the required colours (or should I say non-colours) are white, beige, light grey and ... white, beige and light grey... whi......... Just wait until those plantings really fill out! And there was paint left in the can and the ...