More Crochet!

In response to my blog post on doilies, my daughter sent me this picture of a crocheted sweatet she came across...

Doilies may not be as popular as they once were - but crocheted clothing isn't going away!

Memories!!

Congratulations! 

Wow! 

Where does the time go?!

Has it really been 11 years?! What an eventful DECADE PLUS!

So many more of us now!

(And I refuse to think that Terry and I look any older!)

Always More to Discover

I've been an avid knitter since I was in my teens - so for years now I've been on the hunt for interesting projects - and yarn!

And, ... after all these years, you'd think I'd know everything there is to know about knitting and yarn. But that's not the case.

Only in the past year did I learn about Cowachan sweaters - traditionally made in British Columbia out of undyed black, white and grey wool. They're famous worldwide.

And just a few days ago I discovered that one of Canada's largest yarn shops is in Toronto - in the neighborhood where my son and his family used to live! How did I miss that?!

Now that my daughter has moved back to Toronto, I hope to check it out!

More Playtime

The last two weeks of August - before school starts again - Terry and I have been hanging out with our grandkids a little more...

Once school starts, life gets busy for them.

One day last week, we played with Jericho. (Actually, we watched him build forts!)

Later that same day, we went to watch Ivy's final activity at "spy camp" - at the Diefenbunker, the cold-war era bomb shelter built to hold key government officials - in case there was a war. Now it's a museum.

Walking through the bunker, we passed this "family kitchen" in the underground building. Not sure how many "families" would be there. After realizing that there would be no room for their families, even the Prime Minister balked at the idea of going into the bunker.

The underground shelter was named after John Diefenbaker, Canada's prime minister at that time.

At a mock trial, all the campers presented "evidence" as to why they thought this or that "agent" had committed a crime.

For the children, it was a good opportunity to gain confidence speaking in front of an audience - as well as a lot of fun!

Greek Music and Dance

Ottawa's annual Greek Fest - a fund raiser for the Greek Orthodox Church and its many activities - is held over two weekends in August.

Terry and I attended both weekends, taking our grandchildren - and their father - the second time.

I regret not taking more pictures - of the loukoumades, for example - the tiny Greek doughnuts sprinkled eith cinnamon, which we watched them cook - and later ate fresh out of the pan.

 

Later on, we did get up close to the music and dancing... and watched a young man do a traditional dance.

Fun for all!

Anniversary!

Eighty years ago today, my parents were married in a Lutheran church in south Edmonton, Alberta. The date was August 26, 1944.

Here is a picture of my mother and her bridesmaids - including the youngest, my father's niece, Eleanor Missel.

My father is peering over their shoulders. I think this photo was taken after the wedding ceremony - at my grandparents' house, where they probably held the reception.

Memories!

My "Happy Place"

I love to get up early - when everyone else is still asleep...

Then sit and reflect - with my cup of morning coffee - in the early dawn.

Surrounded by books, plants and flowers... and silence! 

My "happy place"!

Building...

It's always fun to hang out with my grandson, as I did this past week

He loves building with Lego ...

... cardboard boxes...

... odds and ends he comes across in Grandma's basement. 

Even squares of quilting fabric!

When I see his enjoyment of "construction" and "helping" - whether washing dishes or picking up pine cones - it makes me wonder where these interests will take him later in life... 

(Thoughts of a grandma - who has always found pleasure in creativity, too!)

"Bugs" is Back!

When my kids were young, Bugs Bunny was a popular cartoon character.

My youngest son always wanted to snack on carrots while watching Bugs on TV - so I didn't discourage him from watching the program.

I haven't seen a Bugs Bunny cartoon in years - but I noticed recently that Bugs and his buddies are making a comeback in the mall - decorating shoes and purses.

A bit of nostalgia! I guess I wasn't their only fan!

So Many Doilies!

Among my mother's things, I've found dozens of doilies.

My mother taught crochet - so she collected samples of as many designs as possible.

Lovely!

But what to do with them, now that they're not really in style?!

Hmmm... Maybe just hold onto them...

One never knows what next season's fashion will bring!

(As they used to say: Everything old is new again!)

Here It Is!

A few weeks ago, Terry and I were driving home from our daughter's Ottawa apartment... and the sky was amazing!!

We had just returned from eating at our favourite vegetarian restaurant (the Green Door), trying to maximize the little time we had left together before her move to Toronto. 

The sky looked ominous as we drove back to the apartment, but the rain held off. Then a few minutes after we got there, ... a sudden downpour!

When the rain stopped, we headed home. She still had s lot of packing to do...

On the drive home, the sky was pink and blue. It looked so amazing - so different - that I kept taking pictures as we drove.

Later I wrote a blog post about the pictures.

I wonder how many people shared pictures of that sky in Ottawa, I wondered, as I checked the Weather Network's photos..,

Nobody?!!

Gotta fix that! I uploaded one... It was hard to choose.

So here it is!

Plant Sitting!

I now have a lot of houseplants that my daughter left behind when she moved back to Toronto. 

I expect that we'll eventually take them back to her when she figures out her new apartment - which is smaller than the one she had here in Ottawa. In the meantime, I'm enjoying them, especially the two orchids in bloom. 

In an upstairs south-facing window are some large succulents that did very well in her last apartment.

The most interesting challenge will be seeing if I can get the plant in the top picture to bloom. Apparently she never succeeded.

Actually. the main challenge will be to NOT KILL any of her plants! (That's always the biggest challenge in indoor gardening!)

Comedy... in the Rain!

I was looking forward to the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival here in Ottawa.

My favorite American comedian - Nate Bargatze - was the headliner - and my son and his wife had bought tickets for Terry and me as Christmas gifts!

I was so excited...

The day was lovely... but one big cloud hung over the festival grounds... and didn't move!

The first two comedians finished their routines... and it was time for Nate to do his. A few minures into his act, rain began to fall. Then it began to pour!

In true stoic Canadian style, most of us stayed... but I wondered WHY I hadn't bothered to bring an umbrella or raincoat. There was no rain in the forecast... but that big cloud in the picture (above) had given us fair warning! We had left our umbrellas in the car!

Greek Fest 2024

Yesterday Terry and I headed over to Greek Fest - to enjoy the music and genuine Greek food.

I haven't been for a few years - so it was nice to be back.

Terry enjoyed a souvlaki dinner with salad and a locally-made Greek style beer.

I had a chicken wrap...

...and a piece of Greek custard pie (called "galaktoboureko" - a word I won't even attempt to pronounce!)

Later we went into the Arts Court - where a potter I know had some items for sale.

Then we headed up unto the church and sat for a few minutes. 

We admired the paintings of saints on the domed ceiling.

I looked around at all the ikons, trying to find one that looked like the ikon I made. The one above - a portrait of Jesus - bore some resemblance to the one I made in Toronto 5 years ago.

It was a lovely afternoon... punctuated with showers. The festival will be held this weekend and next. 

Glad I was able to go.