A Shout Out

I have to share a wonderful blog from which I have gleaned so much, the most recent being a method of making my own almond milk (which I love on my muesli each morning). The site is A Sonoma Garden. Go check it out. I have made the chapsticks, hand lotion, beeswax lotion and body butter, all of which have been a great success. Kendra also shares free labels so you can pretty up your goodies for gifts. I purchased her recently published e-book called Simple Handcrafted Body Care that has recipes for body butter, bath salts, aftershave, lip balm and a facial scrub. It comes with labels you can print out as well. 

Oh yeah, AND she knits............

Wild West Christmas

This year we did something completely different and travelled to Pacific Rim National Park on the west coast of Vancouver Island.  We have been to this beautiful place many times over the past 40+ years.  The first time I went there was in 1969.  I went with a group of young people, riding in the back of an open flat-bed truck over gravel roads to the most spectacular beach (Long Beach) I had ever seen.  In those days you could drive right on to the beach and camp wherever you wanted.  Hubby and I went there together for the first time in 1974, camping in our VW van. Now the roads are all paved and the park is heavily regulated with pay parking lots and absolutely no driving on the beach - definitely changes that were needed as once the area was "discovered" it became a very popular tourist attraction and summertime in the area is pretty crazy.  It has also become a popular place for surfers, even in the middle of winter.

P.S. - we don't camp any more, preferring life's mod-cons, we stay on MacKenzie Beach at Tin Wis.
 

Bootleggers

My second pattern ~ boot cuffs.  I made these for my daughter and she loves them.  They are a quick knit (still time before Christmas!), worsted weight wool on 4.5 mm needles.  A 2X2 rib on the inside snugs around your calf and the oak barrel cable pattern shows up nicely on the outside of the boot.

The pattern can be found here ~ Bootleggers

Snowvember

Last weekend we took the grandboys part way up Forbidden Plateau so they could play in some snow.  We stopped at Nymph Falls where great big flakes were falling.  Fog was hanging over the water creating a spooky light.

Brothers

Snow Angels!

 

Never Forget

Sadly, due to ongoing involvement in the Mideast, lives continue to be lost and previously healthy young men and women are coming home with horrific injuries.  

~~ PEACE ~~

November Roses

It is a beautiful fall day here.  Blue skies, sunshine, 10° C.  There is very little in bloom in my garden, a few hardy fuschias and these two roses ~~

CALM SEAS COWL

I published my first pattern today on Ravelry. Pattern is available here.

CALM SEAS COWL