". Arranged Words: lilies
Showing posts with label lilies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lilies. Show all posts

28 Aug 2018

Icelandic Lace

With the summer winding down, I finally got around to blocking the lava lace scarf designed by Evelyn Clark. The colours remind me of fall, and I think it will look nice with a sweater or a light fleece jacket. The yarn: Handmaiden's Mini Maiden 50% wool, 50% silk. A wonder to knit with. 
Because of the busy colours involved, I ended up ripping out several other patterns that I tried. I do think this pattern, which I have made before, accentuates the lively colours. The beauty of the free pattern, besides being easy to remember, different yarn creates a different look. So versatile.

Two scarfs draped over the form. One for me and one for my sister. 


I am not sure about the blunt edging, but perhaps the weight it creates keeps the scarf from moving around.

In my critically low stash, I found several yards of left over lace weight yarn. I think I have enough to fashion a stripped scarf; one with a definite point. It will be nice to have something new on the needles.



This month I also celebrated a milestone birthday. Where does the time go? Amazing how fast a year flies by, especially, it seems, as you grow older. I did have a wonderful day, and I am pleased that I've made so many trips around the sun. (Talk about travel :) Part of the day included a walk in the woods. Can't imagine life without the woods.

           
            Although the days are still very hot and humid,  the nights are cooler, so there are a few noticeable changes.


Speaking of the woods, tragically, over 500 wildfires are raging in British Columbia. They are in a state of emergency. I can't imagine how many hectares have burned.  Heavy smoke has reached Calgary and beyond. (more than 500 miles) Praying for rain ... a lot of rain.
We have about 60 wildfires in Ontario.  I hope and pray the brave firefighters are all okay, and that they make more gains, everywhere, very soon.

            
                              What's left of my birthday bouquet; the lilies are hanging in there                                                              nicely with more blooms to come.

Thank you for your lovely comments on my last post. I have responded to each of you there.

'Til next time...Have a lovely week, and

Cultivate your dreams.


20 Sept 2016

Birds and Golden Days

Sept 20, 2016 
Hi lovely people!
As you know, I am very fond of birds. These days the migrating birds are flocking and making plans to fly off to warmer climes. The hummingbirds have already left. (My friend, Lois, knows when they arrive and when they leave to the day.)  They are so small, yet so clever and resourceful, obviously the denigrating term bird brain does not apply. The hummers are off to Mexico and Central America. Such bravado!

I love moments like the one above.  I can never get enough of  the cheerful Chickadees. They are so trusting and they don't mind visiting a giant hand. My son said this wee birdie didn't even take a seed. At the moment, it's Eden out there. No need to rush or grab seeds, so this lady flew down for  a long visit. I like to think the Chickadees remember us from our treks to the woods on cold, snowy blustery days with pocketfuls of seeds. I sometimes wonder how they make it through the long, cold winters.


You may remember my Staying Alive Series (threatened or endangered species); this one's #3. Eastern Meadowlark and Dogwood. I put a background in ( not shown) at night.  It looks a little too bright. (An OttLite, please Santa.)

A few older paintings and a new one to the right.

Since my other lily didn't make it until I was ready to paint it, I nipped over to the florist for another one.  It's so nice to be able to buy one stock now and then for a reasonable price. 

A wee one.
I planted this orchid at the end of May. I was about to cross it off my list of bulbs to plant and then the other day it began to bloom.


The annual pick up has begun. I still have a ton of leaves from last fall, but I can't resist. I'll check Pinterest for ideas on what to do with these beauties. I'd like to paint the Maple leaf.
And finally, a glimpse of gold. It's a wonder out there just now. It reminds me of the following stanza from Dylan Thomas' Fern Hill.

Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs
About the lilting house and happy as the grass was green,
The night above the dingle starry,
Time let me hail and climb
Golden in the heydays of his eyes,
And honoured among wagons I was prince of the apple towns
And once below a time I lordly had the trees and leaves
Trail with daisies and barley
Down the rivers of the windfall light.
Enjoy...


17 Nov 2014

Retrospective

Hummingbird moth wings beat over 30 beats a second. My camera couldn't keep up.
Looking back through my pictures, I happened upon a pic of a hummingbird moth that I took this summer, so I thought I'd share it.  Actually, as luck would have it, I saw two hummingbird moths this year. The other one was white and red.
To get this pic I hung out at this butterfly bush for awhile before the moth arrived, but while I waited,  two monarch butterflies swept in for a few sups.

Missing theses beauties; they provided inspiration for this early coloured pencil drawing.



on the needles...
With snow on the ground and roofs for the second time, (it might stay this time) I decided to  knit something warm:  a cowl from alpaca and I have added mohair for extra warmth. Since alpaca stretches a lot, I'm hoping the mohair will help it retain it's shape. 
Recently, while I was reading, I discovered that mohair is the warmest fiber. Who knew?


Thank you so much for your emails with kind comments about my last post.

Enjoy the week...