No recap just yet

I've been wanting to blog about our Ucluelet/Tofino adventure, and show you all the fantastic photos we took, but the hubby downloaded them all onto the laptop & there they are stuck until I can transfer them over to the pc. Oh the frusterations of having multiple computers! (I know, my life is so hard).



So you will have to be appeased with this cute pic of the pony at Oldfield Farm, one of the Island's local organic farms. This fellow was quite pleased when I let him sample one of my blueberries, and quite insistent that he have more. He demanded more by agressively hoofing at the gate, and snuffling at me after he ate said blueberry, which was decidedly poor manners even for a pony.

And to give you a taste of what is to come, here is a short list of weekend highlights:

1. our first real holiday in 5+ years
2. car knitting
3. 680 km/8 hrs on the road
4. a b&b in the rainforest
5. a long beach
6. two pairs of socks

~Nessa

Wahoo!

Goin to Ucluelet & Tofino for the weekend + monday!

WAHOO!!

happy weekend to all!
~Nessa

Monday is for show and tell

So loads to show & tell today!



My pattern, Algormortis finally went live today on Anticraft! Check it out! Thanks to Sylvana, & Lorraine for being my helpy test-knitters :-)

Next Up: Preppy Socks



I am on a sock binge lately, somewhat aided along by the staff free-leftover-yarn bin at work. These are being made from some leftover Kroy from aforementioned bin.



I finished spinning a skein of yarn on my Ashford Drop Spindle!



It is about 65 meters long, so I guess I'll need to spin one more if I actually want to make something out of it. I haven't done a swatch yet, but I'm guessing it is around a worsted/aran weight.

AND FINALLY, LAST BUT NOT LEAST: I got a spinning wheel!



My friend Tiffany suddenly found herself with too many spinning wheels, so she sold me this Ram Spinner for a great price! She also, so very kindly offered to come and teach me the ropes sometime soon. Here it is modelling the drop spindle yarn.



Happy knitting, & spinning!

~Nessa

Huzzah for me!

The fantastically bright Huzzah For Me Socks are done!
I used one skein of Fleece Artist Merino 2/6 to make them. I think I want to cast on for another pair straight away, since these were so quick and easy to make. A lovely mindless project that I can do when I want a break from my bigger harder projects.



A gratuitous flower shot from a local organic farm's U-PICK garden. This one is of Bergamot.
I also picked up some sour apples, rhubarb, & ginger & made a fantastic apple/rhubarb crisp, but alas, we ate it up so fast there are no photos to share. I will definitely be making more soon, since it is a relatively healthy and oh so delicious dessert! Oh & I have lots more rhubarb left...



And a bouquet of poor-man's orchids, aka, wild sweet pea blossoms from my garden. So pretty :-)

So what haaave you been up to, Nessa?

I know, that's the ten dollar question. What do you mean I'm supposed to say million dollar question? You think I'm MADE of money?

Last weekend we had my Uncle come up from Seattle to visit us. We haven't seen him since the Christmas before we got married, so it was nice to catch up with him. Being the rad uncle that he is, he brought me some antique teacups that belonged to my grandma.





The green flowered one is my favourite. It somehow seems so mod for being made in the early 1900's which is when I think it was made.

But what about knitting?



I finished one sock of the now dubbed "Huzzah for me!" socks. I am using The Comfy Soled Sock Pattern. This pattern is for people with sensitive feet, such as diabetics. The soles are purled rather than knit, so the knit side is on the inside of the sock, much smoother.
I just like the feel of my socks worn inside-out, so this pattern was a good fit for me. Cast on while travelling to Saltspring Island, I later realized that I really needed this project, since two of my other on-the-go kips have lace involved. I need a break from lace!



With that said, here is one of the two lace things I've got on the needles...
I present, The Leming Cardi. Thusly named due to the high volume of ravelers knitting this sweater.



Of course I am at 282 sts, and on the first lace repeat I missed 3 YO's, this will be my second time ripping back on this many sts, as the first was due to an error in the pattern. Aiya. I really need to bring myself to just do it!



If the whole thing was garter stitch instead of just the yoke, I think I'd be done by now.

And finally, since it is finally feeling like summer here... here's a pic of my new Indian summer scarf! Love.

Saltspring Island

This past Monday, I got to spend the day on Saltspring Island with fellow knitters, Iona, Tiffany, and Iona's all-around-crafter friend Barb. The day could not have been nicer! It was sunny & warm, and felt like real summer weather. This first pic is of Ganges Harbour.



We had a lovely lunch at Barb's parent's place on the top of a mountain (they own the top!). This is their view from the porch!



After lunch we walked to the tippy top of the mountain for amazing views of Saltspring, but of course I forgot my camera. You'll have to trust me when I say it was incredible.




Barb's parent's have an adorable black lab, his name is Cash. Look at him pose ;-)



Myself, Tiffany, & Iona on the porch.

Later in the afternoon, we headed out to Ganges to check out the local yarn shop/quilt store, Stitches. It is a lovely shop & I reccommend that you check it out if you're ever on Saltspring. I left the shop unscathed, with no yarn or fabric purchases! It was difficult, let me tell you, but I was saving my money for unique locally produced yarn which they didn't carry.

Next, we hit up The Rainbow Road Trading Co.. This unique little shop is always a must-visit when I'm on the island. When you enter the shop, which is located in a victorian style heritage house, you smell sweet incence and spices. In every nook & cranny of the house you will find a funky assortment of odds and sods, with everything from real Indian garam masala spice, to intricate hand-knitted garments.



I ended up buying a cute brown strappy camisole (scroll to the bottom of page 1 to see), some gauzy cotton luxa scarves from India (top of page 4), and some cute little carved wooden tea spoons. This eclectic shop is too awesome to leave empty-handed (I don't think I ever have!).



It turned out that Art Craft was on while we were there, so we decided to check it out. While there, I picked up some lovely handmade soap from local soapsmiths Kama Soap. It was lucky Art Craft was on, because I had almost run out of their soap that I bought last year. I love this soap!

More soap was procured from the Saltspring Soapworks, wherin I obtained a little 3 soap sampler. While I love the Kama Soap the best, the Soapworks shop is so cute to visit. They have bubbles blowing from their sign into the street to welcome visitors. Too adorable.

Finally, we went to the chocolate shop for some gelato...



Time ran out to visit any of the farms, so no unique Saltspring yarns were procured. However, in all it was a great little mini-vacation & it was nice to get to know Tiffany & Iona a little better. Thanks Iona!