on being ♥ broken

my fav lunch of salmon cakes, grilled mushrooms and salad ♥

I recently went for a routine check up and the doctor found that I now have Arrhythmia.  I am still waiting for  my test results which is pointless because of the, "no news is good news", policy.  I have no idea how long to wait before I can relax.  Then again, I am not feeling "good" enough to let the subject drop.  I need to see a Cardiologist!

In any event, I was thinking about how important it is to live everyday to the fullest.  Therefore, I am going to do just that.  Not put off stuff that really matters.  There are so many knit projects I want to make!!

I have been swatching a new lace pattern.  Uggh, what is it with me and those lace charts?  This one has YOs on every row.  There are no restful alternate rows.  A real, "keep your eyes peeled to the page, honey", sort of pattern.  It will be gorgeous, if I ever get passed the second row.

I have now changed to chunky yarn and big bamboo sticks to practice on.  When I am not typing for work, I will be stitching on this chart while I wait and see if my heart will come back to regular programming.

I have so much biking I want to do!  I am afraid of going off alone, in case I can't get back.  I was reading about the beautiful trails in the Canton de l'Est this morning.  There is a taxi service for when you get too tired to come back on your own.  That is exactly what I need here. ♥♥♥

lo and behold, she knits again

I finished it! This has been running up and down the circumlocution office stairs for months. My shot of those nifty decreases was too blurry to post.  Anywho, the knitting is back to comfort me in times of sadness, some stress and muddy dog feet.  I will survive!

I used a free pattern called Katahdin by Kate Gagnon Osborn. I used 3.5 mm needles to outwit the ribbing from stretching loose.  Only time will tell.  I hope to tackle a cute pair of mitts to match this hat but that is on hold for now since snow is gone.  I am hoping to cast-on a cool summer knit for myself as well as a celebratory pair of socks just because I made it through winter and tax season in one piece.  Well, sort of one piece; I did kind of loose parts along the way but I hope to find such a one waiting for me around some summery bend...

I am walking a new path with Pete the pup these days.  Not nearly as fun and beautiful as the trail along the bay but I dream of buying a really fetching basket for my bike.  Fill it with water, snacks and a map.  Ride my ass off.  See if my new kilometer counter works.  I must get a tire repair kit too.  Hope I never have to use it...  

4 nids et mes ciseaux

ON my walks in the forest, the same path every day, there is always something worth seeing.

On Valentine's Day, I saw four bird nests and a fox. Today, two turkeys in a tree.

They never left their roost while we walked by. They got a little fidgety and they fanned their tails but decided we were nothing but vegetarians.

I can't imagine why I never saw those nests before. I realize they were there the whole time. It is exciting to think of all the beauty around that will soon be discovered because I am now looking on purpose every day.

My favourite nest is the one just above my head in the open shed where I keep a spare set of skis for company. A Mama bird has made her home there. See?

In the meantime, I have pulled Monsieur Janome out of the closet again. I love him more and more as the years go by. I've decided to try selling my serger machine. I am having it professionally cleaned and checked before I sell it.

Here is a small project to get my mojo flowing. Adding a silky binding to a blanket I found at the thrift store. I used a multi coloured embroidery thread and an X stitch to attach the first side. Mitered corners are not my strong point and now I realize that I should have basted first but it's too late now. I will finish securing the second side of the binding by hand some day soon. I love hand-sewing!

I want to start sewing some summer dresses too. I am using my Burda pattern magazine from France. Love love love...

My aran style socks are finished. I have taken my sweet time making these but they are perfect. There is still enough cold of winter left to keep my friend warm with these. I hope she loves them as much as I do. The angle of this shot makes the leg seem too small so just ignore that.

I made a pair of sockies for myself using the left-overs from my sister's birthday socks. They are really soft and warm and they have become very fuzzy with wash and wear. Love love love these too. They are great to pull-on over stockings inside my boots to drive to work. I have just enough of a wee ball left-over yet again to make at least one hexipuff someday since this yarn is the right colour for my future beekeeper's quilt.

Last night I made perfect pastry and turned it into delicious pumpkin pie. Love love love. Ali xx

7 choses

Award...

À mon tour, je suis honorée de recevoir le 'Versatile Blogger Award', décerné par AllSaints, un endroit inspirant qui partage la belle vie d'une maman et son talent à nous faire découvrir ses projets crochet, tricot, broderie, bricolage, couture et recettes...

J'aime bien suivre ce blogue et placoter ensemble lorsqu'on se voie à la boutique de laine!

Alors, pour faire ma part de mériter cet honneur, je vais essayer de vous apprendre au moins 7 choses sur moi...

J'aurais voulu être ballerine et j'adore la musique. La musique est presque mon oxygène...
Je me couche tôt et il me faut un bouquin sur ma table de chevet.
Je pleur facilement et souvent même quotidiennement.
La forêt est mon refuge parmi les arbres. Je veux toujours grandir et atteindre de nouveaux défis. Je trouve que la vie est de plus en plus belle. Je préfère donner des cadeaux que j'ai fait à la main avec amour. Je rêve de voyager avec mon amour. 

Mon Univers en Bleu et en Rose

1. Ce matin vers 7h30 / Softness greeted me earlier today.

 My garden is fast asleep all tucked in under a blue and pink duvet...

2. Mon plus beau cadeau de Noël. J'ai trouvé une chouette pendant ma marche le 24 déc. / Happened upon an owl on my Christmas Eve walk.

3. Le marais endormi. / The beauty of a frozen wet land.

4. Une autre chouette lapone quelques jours plus tard. / A second owl on my trail.

Déjà le mois de février.
Je suis plutôt occupée avec mes résolutions 2013...
Par contre, je tricote toujours des bas lorsque je trouve quelques minutes ici et là. J'ai une deuxième paire en marche. Celle-ci torsadée pour une amie avec qui on a partagé le beau voyage en Europe l'année dernière. Photos à venir.


Contente d'avoir trouver un commerce de livres usagés tout près de ma boutique. Les bouquins à 10 $ font vraiment mon bonheur. xx

****

Where did January go? I never saw it! I have been knitting socks in between this and that. I am on my second pair with the second sock on the go. These are a special gift for my friend Jennifer (of the lovely Provence trip last year) using thick yarn with cables. (photos soon).

Gosh, I have been all over the place. My mood is up and down from nerves and excitement. I am learning a new job and still running the shop from a distance with Ivy at the helm. I am so proud of her. She is doing a great job. The only hiccup being that she still has no driver's licence and well, all this driving to and fro is costing me a mint. But, it could be worse.

Everything is new. I am taking it one day at a time. I am hopeful I might finish my home decorating project soon too. Fresh paint and pretty tiles.

Ali xxx