Crochet Companions

I have two constant Crochet Companions; our cat Maggie and our poodle Sadie. Usually Sadie cuddles up beside me on the sofa while Maggie prefers to curl up on the most comfortable chair in the room. I love how contented and relaxed they looked soaking up some sun this weekend while I sat crocheting owls. Aren't they adorable Crochet Companions?

 

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Six Owls and Counting

This week, I added two more owls to the group for a total of five. Our daughter thinks the owl on the left looks a little stoned. I have to agree. 

I asked our daughter to pick her favourites for me to take to Boulder when we visit. Counting from the left, she selected 2, 3 and 5 with 5 being her most favourite. I guessed she would like the pale pink one.

Since I still have cotton yarn left and it was a long weekend, I managed to finish one more owl for a total of six so far. I think our daughter will like this one too. I'll take all six and let her choose from the bunch.

Six Owls and Counting ... I wonder how many more owls I can make using my cotton yarn stash? I'm guessing two or three tops.  

If you would like to make one too, check out my Fall Crochet post for the pattern link and instructions.

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Parliament of Owls

This weekend I crocheted two more owls. With a total of three, you could say I have a parliament of owls. I bet you didn't know a group of owls is called a "parliament of owls". 

I found this explanation online: "Owls are generally solitary, but when seen together the group is called a “parliament” as they have long been considered to be of a wise disposition. In Greek mythology, the owl is the symbol for Athena, the goddess of wisdom." 

I am steadily working through my cotton yarn stash. I would guess I have enough to make at least three more owls. Each owl is unique as I choose colours based on what I have left in my basket. 

Do you have a favourite? I can't decide. I like all the colour combinations. 

My parliament of owls poses on the railing for photos before finding a comfy spot amongst the branches. These owls must rest for their long cross country trip. In just two weeks, they will be driving with us to their new perch in Boulder. It's so exciting, we are counting our sleeps until we leave ... 11 more to go.

 

If you would like to make your own parliament of owls, you can find the pattern link and instructions in my last post titled Fall Crochet.

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Fall Crochet

I continue to crochet using yarn scraps, but I've switched to making owls and pumpkins for fall. 

This owl was made using a 4 mm hook with worsted weight Bernat Handicrafter cotton yarn following this free pattern by blogger Divine Debris with a couple small changes. I omitted the wings and added ear tufts. I still have lots of cotton yarn, so might crochet a couple more. Owls make great gifts for little ones.

These pumpkins were made using a 3.5 mm hook with bulky Bernat Alpaca yarn in natural and tundra following this free pattern by blogger June on PlanetJune. I made some pumpkins last year in this size (3.5" across) and larger by simply doubling the pattern, but gave them all away. Luckily, I still have enough yarn to make a couple more. White pumpkins are great for both fall and winter decorating.

 

I like using yarn scraps. It's practical and fun making each owl unique. I think this owl looks great from both the front and back in this mix of colours. I want to make more.

I am currently working on another owl in slightly different colours as my Fall Crochet continues. I will be sure to share photos when it's done.

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Happy Birthday to my Libra

My husband's birthday is September 29th. He is my Libra. We celebrated tonight because he will be on a train to Toronto tomorrow after work. 

His parents treated us to dinner at Dolcetto, one of our favourite restaurants. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals: individual pizzas for my husband and his Dad, squash risotto for his Mum and roasted salmon salad for me. All were tasty choices.

Afterwards, we returned to our house where my parents joined us for birthday cake with candles. Cake and candles are part of every birthday without exception in our family.

Happy Birthday to my Libra with love. Cheers to another great year.

 

 

 

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Exploring Point Pelee

On Saturday after staying over and enjoying a wonderful breakfast with Wendy and Keith in Chatham, we decided it might be fun to visit Point Pelee. Our last visit was the first summer we dated, so 33 years ago. 

It was a beautiful sunny day for a drive in the country. We stopped to take a photo of this field full of rusty old tractors before continuing on our way to Leamington for a bite to eat.

Perch with coleslaw, fries and grapefruit draft beer made for a yummy lunch at a restaurant near the Pelee Island Ferry Dock. I liked this bird sculpture in their garden.

It was a short 3 km drive from the dock to Point Pelee National Park.

We caught a shuttle from the Visitor Centre to the Tip of Canada.

The shuttle dropped us off and a short walk along the beach brought us to the southernmost Tip of Canada.

Instead of taking the shuttle, we walked the 2.5 km trail back to the Visitor Centre capturing photos of monarch butterflies, moths, bees and flowers along the way.

We also stopped at the DeLaurier homestead built in the 1800's. My husband sat on this old farm machinery. Imagine what it must have been like planting the fields with this.

The Marsh Boardwalk was our last stop. We walked the easy 1 km loop through the marsh and climbed the lookout tower for a panoramic view of the wetlands.

The last time we visited, these barn swallow nests on the tower were full of babies. By September, they are abandoned and empty. 

Exploring Point Pelee was a fun and relaxing way to spend an afternoon. 

We drove the scenic route home on Highway 3 and saw lots of windmills plus lots of signs protesting them. I don't really really know whether windmills are good or bad, but I do think they are beautiful in an odd, alien-looking kind of way.

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Celebrating Six Decades Married

My Great Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Ron were married September 24, 1955. 

Wendy, their daughter sent out this invitation via Facebook: "We hope you will join us to celebrate Ron and Dorothy's 60th wedding anniversary!! Reception is from 8 PM to midnight at Aleksander Estate Winery 1542 County Road 34, Kingsville on Friday September 25th. Casual dress. No gifts - Dad says just "smiles and best wishes". Feel free to message me if you want more info. We would love to see you there to congratulate this amazing couple on an amazing marriage (but then I'm a bit biased...)"

Wendy is my Mom's cousin and my first cousin, once removed. (Great) Aunt Dorothy is my Grandmother's youngest sister, but truthfully more like a daughter with a 21-year age difference. I always loved seeing Wendy and her sister Janice when I was little and was happy to reconnect with them through Facebook. 

It was Wendy who recommended the Happiness Option Weekend course in Sheffield, MA in July and offered a ride with her husband Keith and son Ben. If you missed it, you can read all about that weekend here. I loved the course and loved getting to know Keith and Ben. I was hoping I would get to see Wendy someday soon too. 

Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Ron's 60th Wedding Anniversary was a perfect opportunity to get together to celebrate family and a lifetime of happy memories. We had such a great time at the party chatting with relatives we rarely ever see and meeting the next generation we had heard about over the years, but never actually met. It was such a fun evening.

I took photos of the table displaying Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Ron's photo from their wedding and a more recent photo of them together. They are a beautiful happy couple both then and now. 

I also took photos of the picture boards Wendy made for each decade of her parents' married life together. I loved seeing them on display.

 

 

 

 

Wendy posted this comment with her parents' wedding photo on Facebook. "Today is the official day. Happy 60th Anniversary to the best example of "wedded bliss" I know. So lucky they are my parents too!!" 

Wendy says the nicest things and she is right. Aunt Dorothy and Uncle Ron are an exceptionally great couple with an amazing bond that started way back in grade school I am told.

I was busy chatting and reminiscing, so did not take a lot of "party" pictures, but did get one of me with Aunt Lena and Aunt Dorothy, my Grandma's two youngest sisters. I love these two ladies and know my Grandma did too. I'm sure she is sending hugs from heaven to us all.

This is another of my Mom's cousins Vicky and her husband Ron. Vicky is Aunt Lena's daughter. Her pet name for my Grandma was Mimi. As a young child I couldn't understand why Vicky called my Grandma 'Mimi'. I knew her name was Marian. Now I get it and am happy to see Wendy named one of her cats Mimi. Fond memories live on.

Wendy brought home roses from the party. I took a picture before she hid them from her cats. Wendy and Keith invited us to stay over with them which was wonderful. It gave us a chance to catch up properly over breakfast the next day.

Wendy and Keith's property backs onto the river. The view from their kitchen is truly lovely. 

I went outside to take a few more photos and had to share this garden mermaid. She's beautiful from every angle.

 

This is one of Wendy's cats. He looked so cute sitting in the window, I couldn't resist taking his picture too.

Thanks to Wendy and Keith for inviting us to stay. We had a wonderful time and Chatham isn't that far away, perhaps we can get together again sometime soon. It would be fun.

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