Annual Knowledge & Needles Open House Report

This past Saturday was Ann's annual Knowledge and Needles open house.  I realized, that I've been going to Ann's Get Together/Retreat/Open House (its evolved over the years) for 10 years now!  Can you believe it?  The first mention of it on my blog was in August of 2004 HERE this event has always signaled the end of my summer as by this time my holidays are over and the start of September and the kids coming back to school is looming right in front of me.

Stitchers in the garage

And in the kitchen

and in the sunroom

The day as usual was a huge success the house and garage were filled with stitchers!  We figure that over the course of the day about 38ish different people came through.  I love the day because I get to visit with friends, reconnect with those who I only see a few times a year, and meet new stitchers!

My road trip companion (and official keeper awaker) Christin

Bonnie "tried" to combine exam studying and stitching (I think I only saw those notes come out once)

Barb's Amazing HAED only 4 more years to go she says!

When stitchers get together there's always an awesome display of needlework!  Here's a quick peek at what awesome work was on display!

One of my favorite pieces on display, TW's Egyptian Sampler 

 Wow!  All French Knots!  Crazy!

 This upcoming weekend I have another awesome stitching adventure, its my dear friend Kathy's Labour Day Stitching Get Together!  I missed it last year so I'm soooo looking forward to going and stitching up a storm!

Trying Something Else

I've always had my blog set up so ANYONE could post and I'm hearing a lot of complaints out there about the word verification I just turned on this weekend (due to a disgusting amount of spam for various drugs).  So I'm going to try something different I've turned off the word verification but you must have a Google ID to post.

See if that works.  I must admit I hate the word verification too... it wouldn't be too bad if it wasn't so hard to read.

It's Baaaaack!

Sorry folks, but I've had to bring back comment verification to my blog comments. In the last 24 hours I've just been flooded with spam comments (probably about 50 so far) for every drug available out there and I'm fed up with dealing with them showing up in my inbox and in the comment spam folder.

Summer Happy Dance!

Well, it took me until 1am but I FINALLY finished the Summer Mandala from Ink Circle's Seasonal Mandalas.



Today, I can start fall!


- thanks for reading!

PhotoHunt - Chocolate

This week's PhotoHunt theme is a very, very, very tasty one "Chocolate"... I mean who can't resist chocolate?  I can't... as long as its milk chocolate and the good stuff at that!

This picture was taken this February in Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic.  This is the origins of chocolate, the pod off of a Cacao Plant and inside are the cocoa beans which will be fermented, dried, and turned into chocolate!!!!

Post IHSW Progress

As I suspected I didn't really stitch at all on Saturday. We went to my Taekwon-Do school's annual outdoor training/BBQ at a local Provincial Park. It was a beautiful day, I wasn't training, I'm dealing with a foot injury right now but I wanted to be there. When I got home I was absolutely exhausted, I crashed for about 4 hours!


I did manage to make up for that on Sunday and made great progress on Summer. I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with this season!

August Two-Fer - TUSAL and IHSW!

Wow this weekend is a stitching two-fer!  Today is TUSAL day so lets get on with that first:

Finally as you can see there's no longer just black on the top there but lovely summer-like colours!!!  All from the Summer Mandala.

I'm not sure how much hermitting and stitching is going on this weekend.  I've got a TKD do at one point and well I did stitch a lot last week!  Here's where Summer is at as of this moment.

PhotoHunt - Can

This week's PhotoHunt theme is "can"

Sometimes kids just do things becasue they can... enough said.

Even, Even, More Summer Adventures - Yet Another Catchup Post

My friend Amy

 

I had a few days at home after coming back from my visit with Beatrice and Bonnie, getting a few things done and a little stitching here and there.  My next adventure brings us to August 9th when I met up with my friend Amy from work.  We had made a date to go check out the Mayan Exhibit at the Museum of Civilization.  I had never been there before so I took in a few of the permanent exhibits as well as one they have on the Queen and her visits to Canada, as it is her Jubilee year!

Upon entering the Museum of Civilization there was a BIG throne to advertise the Queen and Country exhibit.  Any of my friends know I'm just a big kid on the inside!  I just couldn't help myself and Amy did egg me on!

Before going to the Mayan Exhibit we checked out the Native Peoples exhibits including these spectacular totem poles.  You can rent this area for functions and weddings.  Amy assures me its VERY expensive!

 These are genuine real-sized totem poles!  Of course I'm a wee 5ft 2in on a good day!

The Mayan Exhibit was pretty neat, of course it was a lot of stone carvings, pots, and some jewelry.  Its neat to see things that are SO old.  I am constantly amazed at what we humans could do so long ago with the crudest of tools and materials!

Finally before leaving I wanted to take a bit of a walk outside on the grounds of the Museum, its a beautiful building and my understanding is there is not one single corner on the building.  There is also an amazing view of Ottawa and Parliament Hill as we were just across the river in Hull, Quebec.

See, Parliament Hill in the distance, museum on the right

Le Chateau Laurier (a hotel) much better view from the "other side of the river"

 Checking out the Japanese Zen Garden

It is definitely a neat museum to go visit!

Even More Summer Adventures - Another Catchup Post

 Friday evening I left Beatrice's and headed further West on the 401.  Just a short drive away was Cobourg and Bonnie's house.  Since I was in the general area, I decided to see if Bonnie was up for a visit and she said to come on down, and that the Sandcastle Festival was on and the Summer Sidewalk Sale.

This booth was not only doing face painting but full body painting!

Saturday morning we started the morning with breakfast out at one of Bonnie and Blair's favourite spots before checking out the bustling sidewalk sales.  Surprisingly Blair was the only one who walked away with a purchase.

After an afternoon of hard work, stitching and watching movies Bonnie and I headed back out to the beach to check out the finished Sandcastles.  There was a mixture of Armatures and Professional Sandcastle builders and I have to say the armature work was quite impressive!

Professional Sandcastles

Amateur Sandcastles

Sunday was a little more stitching, then time for me to head back home.

More Summer Adventures - Catchup Post

 Me (left) and Betrice

Well I haven't gone far in terms of distance this summer but I've been definately having some adventures with great friends!  On Thursday August 2nd I hopped in my trusty little red Kia (which I love!) and drove down to Brighton to visit with Beatrice and to visit the Thrusday Stitchers with her over at Knowledge and Needles.

 Beatrice and Angie at dinner

That evening we had a lovely dinner on the shores of Lake Ontario with Angie at the Harbourfront Cafe.  Excellent view, food and company!

 Go Dragonboaters Go!!!

 Catching the evening breeze

 The great view from our table on the patio

Friday was a beautiful and hot day so Beatrice and I packed up a picknick lunch and went to Presqu'ile Provinical Park for the afternoon.  We went for a walk along the boardwalk through the marsh/wetlands and a bit of lunch on the beach.  I of course had my camera with me!  Here is a taste of how beautiful this park is.

 The fantastic Marsh Boardwalk

I LOVE waterlillies

It was pretty hot for the birds but the dragonflies where about

Spiderwebs

No wetland is complete without bullrushes

 Me - taking pictures

More boardwalk

Beatrice at one of the higher vantage points to view the marsh and bay

 The view from said higher point

 A Park employee and a little boy netting water critters

The Presqu'ile Lighthouse

Warning, non-flattering picture, I'm seated on one of the "horse trees" they grow this way!

Our lunchtime view

 Dipping our feet into Lake Ontario before having lunch

 After lunch, a little stitching by the water!