You're Missin' Out, Ellen!

It's all fine and dandy when Ellen wants vacation but when there's work to be done and she's not around, I just have to ask someone else! Enter Jennifer!

Jennifer and I have wanted to go to the Ferryland Picnic all summer. We tried to get a reservation a couple of times, but they were fully booked. We finally got a reservation this week and went there yesterday.  The Ferryland Picnic is the name I've given it but the correct name is "Lighthouse Picnics".
It's a bit of a hike from the parking lot to the lighthouse, but well worth it. The picnic itself is always delicious and homemade. You even get homemade lemonade if you like it. I try to visit this wonderful spot every year. After Jennifer and I finished our picnic we followed the trails down to the cliffs by the ocean.

Jennifer agreed to be the model for my new pattern release, Breeze Blasters, (click for link to pattern) for which I am more than grateful! This pattern was fun to create. It reminds me of years ago when we had 3 Samoyeds. We used to walk them all on the old train tracks beside the beach whenever we could and some days it was pretty breezy! I never used to mind the wind in my hair but always wanted my neck and hands to be warm, with fingers free to sort out leashes or dogs if necessary! I wish I had thought of the Breeze Blasters back then. They would have come in handy for everyone involved!

Breeze Blasters are knit with Artyarns Supermerino. It's a lovely yarn! Even though I wanted the pieces finished, I hated to stop knitting this yarn. It washed nice and feels cozy next to the skin.

Yesterday was the perfect day for the Breeze Blasters because the sun was warm and the breeze cool. Hopefully you will get a sense of the picnic and feel as though you were there with us.

Jennifer did such a good job I think Ellen should consider coming home soon!  :-)

Ferryland Lighthouse complete with picnickers.

Jennifer at our picnic spot.

Our yummy picnic!

Doggie paparazzi (you can barely see him in the tall grass).

Doggie paparazzi..... This is Hunter. He is 8 weeks old and needed a little help to look straight at the camera!

Cliffs at the end of the trail to the ocean.

Jennifer modelling the Breeze Blasters.

Looking out to sea. There are artfully stacked rocks all over the place.

Inuksuit - art of Inuit rock stacking.

The willpower of flowers always amaze me!

More rock stacking.

View from the bottom up.

View from the top down.

Lighthouse tower

View of neighbouring small island from the road leading to the parking lot.
Herds of sheep hang out there in summer.

View of a portion of Ferryland from road leading to the parking lot.

Ellen, stylin' at Blueberry Festival last weekend.
Photo compliments of Mom.

Gloves With No Fingers Ellen?!

I've never knit fingerless gloves - until now. I've seen them in pattern books and on models but never really saw the need or the sense of them, being the practical person that I am. However, lately I've been drawn to them more than ever and seeking patterns for them. Strange as it may seem, I now really like them! So, I decided to knit a pair - simple ones mind you. I found an easy cable pattern in Knitting at Home by Leanne Prouse and just happened to have compatible yarn. Yaay!

When I started knitting them a few weeks ago John asked what is the purpose of fingerless gloves and who would wear them. I just said that I know people who would wear them, at the same time wondering what I would do with them. When they were finished I tried them on but they didn't suit my hands. I was disappointed with that because last week when we went fishing I had my sweater pulled down over my fingers and immediately thought of the fingerless gloves I was making. Anyway, I decided that they are a Christmas gift for a fashionable person. 

Ellen wanted to model them which I thought was totally ridiculous, then she enlisted Alana's help and off we went to do a photo shoot on the back patio. It's really windy here today (gusts up to 60 kms) and only 8 degrees C so Ellen had to be sheltered. Poor Alana dressed up in her sweater and jacket but still nearly perished with the cold. I promised to make her a cup of tea (lemon and ginger) for being a good sport and helping Ellen and me.

Alana questioned the purpose of fingerless gloves also, but soon got into the groove and came up with some pretty fashionable ideas. She likes them!