The Finished Hat

The Zumthor hat is finished.

Hats are hard to photograph with an iPhone.  Tricky coloured greeny-blues are tricky to photograph period.  So you ask a friend, a very talented friend, to take a shot so that you aren't making yet another weird bathroom mirror funny face snap.

This is the actual colour.  Yay for talented friends!

However....

...the trouble with having a talented friend take the photos is....

...it's going to be tricky to top these with my iPhone.

You can find my talented friend, Christy, here at Foxtail Studio.

Broken-hearted

There have been three very sad deaths in the hockey community in the last four months.  Two of them were guys from Saskatoon.  One of them, I'd actually met.

The death of Wade Belak hits pretty close to home.  Within a block, in fact.  I can't tell you what I was dressed as for Halloween in 1991, but I can tell you who opened the door we knocked on at the seventh house.  Hushed and excited whispers as we walked away.

I watched him play I don't know how many games with the Saskatoon Blades, our hometown junior hockey team. He was a solid player, and only retired from the NHL this March, after playing with a number of teams, the Maple Leafs being one of them.  My father told stories about going with him to the children's ward at one of the hospitals in town and seeing Wade get mauled by kid after kid, a human jungle gym, staying for hours until the nurses finally sent him home...  We were talking about him just this past Sunday before dinner, about how we might actually have to watch Battle of the Blades (Dancing with the Stars on-ice for ex-hockey players) this year because he was going to be competing.  There's no doubt in my mind that he'd have won.  He was a favourite in town and a favourite in the hockey world.  And I have never heard anyone say a negative word about him whenever his name came up.

I was driving home yesterday afternoon when I heard the news.  It's all kinds of horrible. Today, everywhere I went, the air was filled with "Did you hear...?" and "What?!? No... That's so sad..." and people telling stories about him. My heart goes out to his family, along with prayers - if my heart broke, I can't imagine how devastating it is for those who were close to him.  I wish them healing and hope they find solace.  I hope they know he will be missed by many.

Rest in Peace, Wade.

Birthday

Another year older.  But I prefer to think of it as another year better....  Although, the wonderful gifts I received remind me that I'm also another year even less mature than the last - and proud of it!

It's tradition to do family supper for birthdays but since I am already too busy during the week to even write this post (but I'm doing it anyway), we gathered Sunday night to celebrate.

Reason #847 that my Seester is awesome:

If you were a fan of Arrested Development, you already know that Annyong is Korean for "hello."  If you missed the "You had me at hello" reference, to you I say, "Seriously, you've never seen Jerry Maguire???" (Sidebar:  apparently, the clerk at the t-shirt place had never heard of either as the shirt my sister gave her came back reading "You had me at annoying." That shirt has now been relegated to pyjamas or for wearing on Dadaism Tuesdays.)

With a birthday celebrated two days in advance, there was, of course, debate whether or not presents would be given or kept until the actual day.

Mum:  Well, I already gave her one so...
Dad: Oooh, can I give her mine today?
Mum:  Yours?  It's from both of us...
Dad:  Yeah, but I bought it.
                At this point in the conversation, Mother gives Father an incredible death glare that translates as "shut up or she'll figure out what it is!"

Curiosity piqued!  Father picked out my gift? Whatever could it be?  I certainly didn't think it would be this:

HAPPY CAMPER!

If you read this weblog regularly, you've likely figured out I'm a *bit* of a hockey fan.  A sweater was needed, wanted and is oh so appreciated... I've always had a soft spot for goalies.  Also, while the smallest size they had, it's big on me and, wearing it, I feel about the same size as I was when Father took me to my first game oh so many years ago.  The feeling has a sweet nostalgia to it that reminds me why I treasure my family and am thankful for moments, both small and large.

Dad:  I almost got you a Leafs jersey...

Me:  That would've been pretty cool, too.

Dad: ...but I couldn't think of a player in Toronto that anyone's heard of.

I almost fell off my chair laughing.  Sad, but true.  I love Boston for the feel-good times and old-time's sake, and Toronto because they keep me humble. Perpetually.

Great birthday.  Hope you had a great un-birthday (or birthday, as the case may be!)

No campfire? No problem!

Toothpick.  Mini marshmallows.  Candle.  Patience.

Freshly roasted marshmallow goodness.

Please note:  this is a natural beeswax candle - no colours or perfumes, with an undyed cotton wick.  I wouldn't recommend trying this with a scented or petroleum-based candle with graphite/cotton wick....  I prefer my burnt sugar to be as chemical-free as possible. :-)

Two years and I've only got this far...

Two years ago, I saw a spiderweb quilt.  I thought, "Hmmm, that's interesting."

Then I saw THIS ONE.  And I fell in love with it.  So then I had to make one.  I wanted scraps, I wanted two sizes of webs, and I wanted the background to change somehow.  

Remember this pencil sketch from last spring?  Of course not.  I haven't mentioned it since then.  Why would you?  :-)  I did background calculations, I cut lopsided foundations kites and paper triangles and spent an entire evening last fall gluing them together.

The lighter greenish grey is French General "Rouenneries" from my stash which it almost pained me to cut into but that's what it's for, right?  The darker colour is actually an old pair of dress pants that belonged to my dad.  Now, it's kites.  How it's going to wash? No idea...  The cream is a muslin of unremembered origin.

That was a year ago.  As it was on my to-do list for the summer, I felt it nagging at me that I hadn't touched it and I was heading into one of the busiest periods of my life and leaving it again. Alone.  Neglected.  So on Saturday night, I took to the machine! (Exciting Saturday, I know...) I haven't really done much sewing this summer.  When your sewing room is the living room coffee table, and weekends are family time, it's tough to negotiate...  Knitting is quieter and far more social so I've knit my hands into gnarled knots instead.

Sew. Iron.  Sew. Iron.  Trim.  And there you have it - thirty triangles tackled.  And it felt wonderful!  

Stay tuned for when I sew more triangles (probably summer of 2012 with a completion date sometime before Buck Rodgers starts exploring the stars... I hope.)

I also finished the toque this weekend but haven't got the pictures yet.  It's difficult to photograph tricky colours. Especially on your own head. With an iPhone.  So I asked a friend.  Photos forthcoming.  :-)

Progress before the Onslaught

I've been trying to get some post nuggets started so I don't completely disappear this fall.  What do you suppose the chances are I'll succeed at not disappearing?? [Laughs. Sighs.  Wipes tear. Laughs again.]  

Orientation for internship was today and signals the winding down of free time and the ability to watch football games without feeling guilty.  Before I get lost in the stacks of lesson plans and extra-curricular activities, I thought I would post some progress on projects.  You know, before I abandon them in the oblivion that is education.

 My scrappy afghan - panel 3 of 5 (or 6).  It's coming along and laying siege to scads of leftover mitten yarn.  The stash is taking up less room and three folded knit panels now sit in its place.  Much tidier.

 I took some of my back-to-school clothing budget and invested in a toque.  Or rather the beginnings of one. While reading a favourite blog, I spotted the hat and instantly needed the pattern.  Then I had to wait patiently for some Madeline Tosh Vintage to arrive.  The colour is murder to photograph.  Basically, it's an emeraldy-tealy sort of green with a bit of inky black for depth.  They call it Cousteau.

I should have the toque knit by the end of the weekend.  But no matter how busy I get, there is one project I'll never finish and always have time for:

...catching a little bonding time with Nephew.

And his giant baby feet.

Last Weekend

Our student council headed to the lake to plan for the upcoming year and to get some good solid bonding time.

Mission accomplished. Complete with thunderstorm, swimming, and campfires. Minus makeup.  Full of smores and fresh air.

Hope your weekend is a great as my last one.