I Think It's Spring, Ellen!

This week the weather has been behaving like it's Spring, but we are supposed to get more snow tomorrow and Saturday. We had to get Ellen out for a photo shoot yesterday while there was no active weather, so we went to Conception Bay South again, but a different area from last Saturday. CBS is a busy spot. We drove down a few roads that lead to the beach only to find beach access no longer available because of housing construction. Seems that a lot of people want to live near the ocean. It was a beautiful calm day, but still a bit nippy on the fingers. The sun did peek out for a minute while we were there so I managed to get one sunny shot.

Ellen is modelling the colourful scarf that I finally finished last weekend. I loved hand knitting this scarf, but was delighted that it was finally done! Toward the end, I had set my mind on knitting other items so the scarf became like the last mile! Felt like I was knitting a road! Anyway, I am keeping it for myself because I love the feel of it and the way the colours knit up, although I don't have any clothes that match the colours in it! (I guess it would go with black though, hey?) The yarn is aptly named "Cottonspring". It's made by Artyarns and is 80% cotton, 20% wool. Even though it contains wool, it feels cool to touch and you don't want to take it off. When you were a little kid and you get something new, you wear it all the time regardless of whether it matches your clothes or not. Maybe I'll do that!  :-)

Another item Ellen modelled yesterday was a bandeau bra that I knit for Andrea (my middle daughter). Andrea said she wanted mint green and when I went through the yarn stash, the only yarn I had in mint green was a Karabella yarn that consists of 60% dehaired llama and 40% cotton. This yarn is absolutely lovely to touch. I'll have to knit something funky with the rest of it. Oh, by the way, no llamas are harmed in the dehairing process. Apparently the llama is shorn and then the course hairs are removed from the fibre before spinning. Anyway, the bandeau bra is a work in progress. Andrea will have to wear it and make recommendations for the next one.

Conception Bay South has a rich history

Our moment of sunshine

Bandeau Bra

Seagulls enjoying the calm afternoon

Large unusual beach rocks in this area

The boats will soon go back in the water. There was some people activity here at the Marina yesterday.

You Look Like a California Girl, Ellen!

Ellen does look like a California Girl in that bikini, minus the sandy beach and warm temperature!

Angela has been mentioning that she'd like a knit sun-bathing bikini for about a year now, so when I asked her if she would like something knit for Spring, that was the first thing she named. So, here we are with the first Rockin' Knits Bikini!  It's hand knit with "Smile". Smile a 50/50 cotton/acrylic yarn made by Berlini of Italy.  It knits up very nicely and softens when washed.  The pattern for the top took a bit of figuring out. It took 3 attempts before I came up with what you see below. Poor Ellen is not very busty and has a really flat backside, so it's kind of difficult to figure if the bikini is made proportionately for a human. Angela says she will report back to me when she receives the bikini in the mail. 

Today it's a beautiful sunny day here but c-o-l-d! (-1C, feels like -9C) So, when I finished the bikini I checked the weather forecast to see if tomorrow will be warmer, but tomorrow's forecast says flurries, cloudy and still cold. Whatever about modelling a bikini in the cold, you definitely need sunshine, so off we went to a beach in Conception Bay South, only 15 minutes away on the highway. Alana came along to help keep Ellen upright. I would not have been able to manage Ellen on my own in that wind. Ellen looks a little off kilter in the photo below because the beach rocks are big and it's difficult on a good day to stand anything up straight. Add some wind and you've got yourself a situation! Ellen and I both were  delighted to have Alana's assistance.

We did have the opportunity to meet Ticker, a dog who is 13 or 14 years old. His owner was eager to tell us all about Ticker. He didn't know Ticker's exact age because he inherited him two years ago when Ticker's first owner passed away. The man said Ticker never does anything wrong and knows every word you say. He especially listens for the word, "walk" and responds happily when he hears it.

Our short photo session was a bit of an adventure after all. When you meet a dog, it turns an ordinary day into a great day!  :-)

Ticker on his walk

Ticker turned and came back to us for a chat

The man waiting for Ticker

White tops on some waves - windy!

Is That a Baby With You, Ellen?!

Ellen is usually scared of babies and small children because they have the ability to topple her over. And, you know Ellen, she very much likes to stand straight. However, times are a-changin'. 

Last week I made a stay-put baby stroller blanket and of course, needed a baby to try it out. Enter Katherine! Katherine is 13 months (and a couple of weeks) old and was a willing volunteer (with the help of her Mom and Dad). Sunday was a beautiful, sunny, and half-warm day, so we all went to Bowring Park for the blanket trial run. Before we got started on our jaunt around the Park, Ellen had to get her picture taken with Katherine. It was love at first sight for Ellen! I can totally understand. Katherine is a darling. Besides being super-cute, she was a very cooperative model. We were in the Park for an hour and a half, took a bunch of Katherine/blanket pictures, family pictures, doggie paparazzi, even swan paparazzi, and Katherine seemed to enjoy herself the whole time.

I designed the blanket and have written the pattern, complete with photos within the pattern to help the knitter understand the construction of the blanket.
It is for sale on Ravelry at this link:  Stay-Put Baby Stroller Blanket

Here in Newfoundland, we officially enter into the Spring season according to the calendar, however some days we wonder. Below I've posted a photo of LeMarchant Road, St. John's, yesterday.

Ellen is excited about Spring - so many new projects in the works! We'll keep you posted.  :-)

LeMarchant Road yesterday around 2:30 p.m.

Quick! Before It Melts, Ellen!

In Newfoundland, it has been said, "If you don't like the weather, wait around for a few minutes!" That saying rings true most days. So, today when John came home and told me that the trees down on Waterford Bridge Road were laden down with ice from freezing rain, it didn't take me long to make a decision to check it out. I drove as far as Bowring Park and stopped. There was so much ice there, that I didn't need to go further. As I was walking through the Park ice was clinking on the trees and falling all around me.

Kind of slippery under foot, so best that Ellen stay at home by the fireplace.  Knitting in progress, but nothing for her to model today.

I took a bunch of pictures at the Park and figured I'd pick some to show you. A few doggie Paparazzi shots and one crow Paparazzi shot. The crow actually sat in the tree and allowed me to photograph him/her.  I was impressed.

Hope you like 'em.  :-)

My Neighbour's Grass

Plant in a rock garden at the Park entrance

Across the street from the Park entrance

Ice falling from trees. It kept hitting my hood as I walked along this pathway.