New Metal Knitting Needles

I love to knit. I’ve been knitting since I was 16. At the time, mohair sweaters were in style and I started to make one for myself. Realizing I could actually create clothing for myself was a great motivator. Later on I began to crochet as well.

I’ve knit regularly over the years - more since retiring. Knitting is very portable, so I often take knitting along when travelling. It’s easy to toss into a bag.

A few years ago, I developed wrist pain while knitting… If took me a while to realize that it might be linked to the new bamboo knitting needles I was using. I thought bamboo might be gentler on the hands then metal, but I later read that they create more strain on the wrist because they offer more resistance to the yarn than steel knitting needles. The hand has to do more work.

After thinking about it for a while, I recently purchased a set of metal needles, hoping I’ll notice a difference in my wrist pain. It would be wonderful to knit painlessly again!

Knitting is a pastime I definitely don’t want to give up.

Let’s Get the Mail!

Now that the rural mailbox has been installed, it’s time to learn to use it!

He’s too young to do it on his own, but our grandson  can learn the basics…

Look both ways before you cross the street…

Running back with the mail is definitely more fun!

Bringing the mail… Always an adventure!

My Last African Violet

There was a time when most of my indoor plants. were African violets. Some had pink flowers; others purple…

And a few - like this one - were white.

Over time, Some faded away, no longer flowered or grew. Not sure what I was doing wrong. I did give a few to my daughter - and they’re doing well in her sun-filled apartment. But this white one, in a pink pot is the only one that I now have in our house..

Last winter, we had an indoor infestation of no-see-‘ums - tiny, annoying mites. They flew around the main floor of the house. Were they coming from one of the plants?

I didn’t know what to do  - but wondered if this African Violet plant might be harboring a nest of eggs.

I put a plastic bag over the plant, tucking all openings under it, put it to a shady shelf - and basically ignored it for the past five or six months.

A few little mites appeared inside the plastic, but all in all the plant seemed to be thriving

I was recently surprised to see that it was blooming, so I removed the bag. Almost immediately a tiny mite flew by… then another appeared…

DECISION: I no longer want to keep the plant in an indoor plastic bag terrarium, so I’ll just move the plant outdoors,  to avoid a further infestation of my other house plants!

I wonder if I can grow roots from one of the leaves… 

Our Own Problems…

A week ago today, a half-hour storm (strong wind and rain) - but only for half an hour… changed life for many in our community.

Thousands of us lost electricity as trees came down on power lines… and houses.

In the whole of Ontario, only 10 people died as the storm swept across the province - struck by falling trees.

Two evenings ago Terry went walking to see how progress was being made on the poles that had snapped, on Merivale Road, near our house, bringing power lines down.

All the malls, stores, schools, and restaurants on this busy two-mile strip were still shut - no electricity… The Best Buy store where my son was shopping when the storm struck and where the force of the wind broke a large plate glass window he was standing near at the front of the store, not wanting to head out into the blinding wind and rain… the window was still covered with plywood.

These broken poles had mostly been removed and workers were digging holes for new poles.

It’s going to be a few more days before power is restored in that area, Terry said when he returned.

He started talking to a man who lives nearby - who was still without electricity and feeling very discouraged.

An article in yesterday’s newspaper said that, in our city of a million people, 37,000 homes were still without power. 

I had no idea…

Once our problem disappeared and our electricity was restored, I assumed everyone else in our community was fine as well… But that’s not the case. I guess it’s human nature to forget that others around us may be suffering silently, worse off than us.

Plant Tomatoes… Sideways…?!!

My daughter recently asked me if I had tomato plants in my garden this year…

And, if so, had I planted them SIDEWAYS… (?!)

SIDEWAYS?! I asked… so she sent me this illustration from a large nursery near her home…

I wasn’t planning to grow tomatoes in my garden this year -  but now I’m curious to try!

And if tomatoes.., will ALL plants do better if planted… sideways?!

One Benefit…

There has been one benefit to losing electricity for three days…

It forced us to clean out our fridge and freezer. A lot of stuff had to be disposed of…

At the same time, we discovered things we had lost - like Terry’s homemade strawberry jam, which we store there.

It’s a good feeling - that we’re starting afresh.… A new beginning!

Walking Down Our Street…

Signs of destruction from last Saturday’s half-hour storm surround us in our neighbourhood.

A block down the street, the house where my youngest son’s long-time soccer coach used to live has significant damage. I see several windows shattered … and more.

A large neighbouring tree was uprooted and landed on the house…

Further down the street, another house totally surrounded by trees was suddenly visible…

Block by block we see situations like this all over the city. 

At our house, we had no trees come down. But we have no electric power - three days after the storm. 

Fortunately our son’s family - who live half an hour away in the country - have power again. 

Questions… Should we borrow their generator now that they no longer need it?

Should we go live with them?

So many decisions! In the meantime, we eat at a nearby MacDonald’s restaurant and go to bed at dusk. The main thing is that we are all fine.

So really - in the big picture - I have no cause to complain. 

Destructive Storm

Last Saturday, a destructive storm passed through our community.

We were told to expect rain and strong winds…

But we didn’t expect so many trees to lose branches, like these in our neighbors’ Earl and Mary’s back yard.

We also didn’t expect to see power lines snap, on a busy shopping street, near the mall where I used to go to the gym.

(An hour before this happened, I drove down this very street!)

At the next corner, next to the high school my sons attended, the power lines - now disconnected, I hope -  hover above the road. Thankfully no one was killed.

A large part of the city still has no electricity.

I now head to our local MacDonald’s for my morning coffee - and to recharge my cell phone. I go to bed at sundown.

Life has definitely changed!

Hard to Be a Pet Photographer!

Pets can look so cute… especially when they’re young.

There are two highland lynx cats in my older son’s home.

When I try to photograph them, it’s hard to keep them still - unless they’re sleeping. 

Will it help if I lie down on the floor?!

It takes a certain skill… I should check out pet photography tips online!

Misunderstood!

“It’s a sunny day!” I say - glad for the beautiful spring weather…

My grandson comes running…

Sunny?! Where sunny?!

He thinks I’m talking about “Sonny” our neighbors’ little dog!

Barbecued Rib Season

Terry always looks forward to summer barbecues.

We haven’t started barbecuing yet - but last weekend, we bought ribs at this stand, outside a restaurant, near my older son’s home.

They were very good… 

I hope the stand stays up all summer. Take-out is much easier than cooking on a hot day!

Armchair Sports

Terry’s getting his exercise playing armchair sports!

A choice of basketball or soccer …

Using a soft baseball - crocheted by my mother - that my own children once played with!

It looks easy, playing while sitting in an armchair…but everyone was tired in the end!

New Flowers in Bloom!

It’s amazing how quickly the garden landscape changes in our yard.

The lilac tree is in bloom - though it isn’t as full this year as it is some years.

Lower to the ground, the Lily of the Valley is beginning to show flowers.

It’s the scent of these that I love. I wonder if it attracts butterflies and bees…

A few white tulips have appeared in our west-facing flower bed. The gout weed does a good job of hiding them.

White anemones are also in bloom in the front yard.

Blue forget-me-nots…

Yellow euphorbia…

This little flower has appeared. Some years I don’t see it. I bought the plant after being told it does well in shade. I was also told it spreads - but mine hasn’t. Perhaps it has, in the undergrowth.

Lots to Do and See!

Our two-year-old grandson has discovered that there’s lots to do in grandma’s neighborhood…

Ducks and squirrels to watch in Earl and Mary’s yard…

A puppy dog to pet…

Garbage trucks to watch…

Construction machines building a driveway across the street…

Birds singing - like this loud one on top of the church cross at the corner…

Non-stop action!