Happy Anniversary, Ellen!

My goodness, how a year can fly by! Ellen was delivered by Purolator courier one year ago today. We've had all kinds of adventures since her arrival and hopefully we have many more in the months and years ahead.

It's kind of humorous how Ellen became the focal point of this blog: When I told my daughters that I intended to buy a mannequin so that I could use her to build a knitting portfolio, they all thought it was rather funny. One of them asked if I intended to have her ride around with me in my car sitting in the passenger seat like a real person. Another said I should get a group of mannequins and load them aboard the car and go around doing photo shoots with them. Then, she went on to say how funny it would be unloading them while people watched, all the while wondering what in the world I was doing. All said in good humour and we all laughed at the ideas. Anyway, as eccentric as that sounds, when I began to think about it, it really did seem like a great idea because, when I picked up knitting again after several non-knitting years, I stopped doing photography. And, seeing I had spent quite a bit of time and money learning photography I didn't want to forget what I had learned. So, with Ellen around I always had a model for the knit wear and I could still take landscape photos. 

A few months later I started the blog as a way to keep in touch with Andrea and Angela, the daughters who live in other parts of Canada so that they, my Mom, other family members and friends could share in the adventure, keep up to date with what I am knitting, and hopefully be entertained. As you know, from time to time I need a sidekick - to help keep Ellen upright or just as buddy to go on a photo shoot. Enter John (my boyfriend/partner/buddy) and Alana, my oldest daughter/buddy. I think both of them thought I was losing my mind at first, but being the gracious souls that they are, they willing agreed to help whenever they were asked and sometimes volunteered when they were not asked. I always appreciate their help. I also appreciate the encouraging comments from people who write me privately.

Below are some of the highlights of our year.  Cheers to Ellen and thanks to all of you for accepting her as one of your own!

Andrea's Wedding Dress
Photo taken at home but the dress was an adventure!

Placentia

Bridgeport

Twillingate

Brigus

Outside Botanical Garden, St. John's

Sash for Andrea's dress - also a designing adventure

Long Pond

Logy Bay

Cape Spear

Topsail Beach

Manuels River

Mad Rock

Near Johnson GEO Centre, St. John's

Flat Rock

St. Vincent's, St. Mary's Bay

Bowring Park, St. John's

Bauline Line

Bay de Verde

Tea time at a friend's house

Ellen meets Katherine

Kelligrews Beach

Foxtrap Beach