Saturday, September 19, 2026

It Feels Like Fall

I think the high today was 16C. As the equinox approaches, it is starting to feel like fall. The winter blankets are washed, but need to be put on the bed.

I finished another pair of mittens.


I played yarn chicken with these and got two pairs out of one ball of yarn. I have another pair started and in my "emergency knitting" bag.

My friend Maggie (The Cheerful Chickadee) asked if I would make some socks for her house. Her projects from now until the snow flies don't include room for one more project, so I figured why not. I still have time to finish my Christmas knitting.


The first one is nearly done. I had to get out Kate Atherley's excellent book on knitting socks. This pair is a different size from what I use for my dear ones. I see there is a similar sock on the cover of the book.

I managed to get in some sewing this week. I made a purse, a Clematis Clutch in cork.

I bought a kit of materials from MM Cork, and had no problem getting it together. The cork is black with silver foil accents.


The lining in the kit was a dark green floral print. I found this in my stash that I like better. It has a single slip pocket on the inside. I figure it will hold a phone, a packet of tissues, a bit of makeup for touch ups, and a card or two. It was a quick, fun sew.

I got these labels, recently, and I thought they suited.


The bag is for a dear one in the bridal party of a friend of hers. I remembered I had something that the bride might like to borrow.


It is an Australian sixpence, for the bride's shoe. I had a "pen friend" in Australia when I was a young teen. She sent this to me, and I sent her a Canadian dime from 1967, with a fish on the back. Appropriate because in Canada, if you didn't have a sixpence, a dime would do. This sixpence is from 1951, and has been in a lot of shoes.

I am hoping that I am back into the swing of daily sewing. Sunday is cleanup day, before starting a new project. Haven't quite decided what is next, but starting with a tidy space is always a good idea.



Friday, September 4, 2026

A Grand Day Out

 But no Wensleydale. (Sorry, if you aren't a fan of Wallace and Grommit)

We took Daisy on a road trip to a lovely nearby town. We are working on her car riding and being in strange places skills. We like to take our dog with us on outings.

We went to the Rideau Canal Lock Station at Merrickville.


We watched the boats lock through. The water is being lowered in the lock they are looking in.

Daisy walked across a lock gate.


We had lunch on a dog friendly patio.


She had some chicken Caesar wrap, too.

The weather was lovely, we met some dog friendly people and dogs. and got our "lock nerds" fix.

I spent a lot of the week tidying. I was on hold for way too long the other day, and got the top of my desk cleaned off.

I got a bin from last summer finally emptied, except for one item.


I finished the first lace section of my shawl.


One final picture from Merrickville, a reminder of the history of our relations with our neighbours.


This is the 200 year old Block House, guarding the route to Ottawa from the south. So far, it hasn't been needed.