Leigh's Knitting and Gardening Escapades

Another year has pass

2010-10-06T14:44:00.001-04:00

Wow! Its been another year and I haven't posted. I feel bad, but I have been busy. Work is keeping me hopping as well as the kids. I have done alot of reading again this year and some knitting. More than last year.

I managed to get into the flower beds this summer and will finish them up these next couple of weeks.

Been awhile

2009-09-17T22:39:00.002-04:00

Well alot has been going on. I have lost 35 lbs so far! I am so please and love how I feel and look. I hope to loose another 18 and then that should be it. Hopefully! lol Lovin' the size 8 pants!

I have read 28 books so far this year - though I think its higher all though I may have forgotten to write some down.

The East coast was amazing and I wish I oculd of stayed out there longer. Hopefully I will get back out there and if I do I will fly! Then rent a car out there. We loved PEI the best but I did love Acadia (Port Royal and area) was my next favourite. Not that it has anything to do with me being an Acadian descendant! Really it does't! lol Not!!! It was so surreal that my ancestors walked and lived in this area over 308 years ago and that I can trace my roots back that far. Amazing!

Well off to read before I go to bed.

East Coast Bound

2009-07-28T19:39:00.002-04:00

In a few days we are heading to the ol' East coast. I can't wait! It feels like I am going home though I am born and breed here in Ontario. lol I am an Acadian descendant and can't wait to see where my ancestors called home and were the great Expulsion took place.

Alot has happen since I last posted. Well it has been awhile! In May we had a big storm and the back siding of our house came off abit soooo what's a person to do. call the insurance company. Well we couldn't match the new siding to our brick (icky brick), that's 25 years old. So we did the next best thing. We painted it and got taupe siding! It looks amazing and like a brand new house. Now to work on the inside.

Oh! Speaking of May WE FINALLY SOLD THE FARM AND ITS GONE. Hence the painted brick, new truck and a trip east. lol Its nice not to worry about the farm anymore.

On the gardening and knitting front nothing has happen much. Especially gardening with the spraying and that. And knitting haven't touched it since December of last year. Well one good thing of having the farm was that I went there to knit. lol

Well of to rest. I felt like shit and came home from work today. Had a bug in my tummy as the kids.

Earth Hour

2009-04-08T21:26:00.001-04:00

We participated again this year and had fun. The kids lit a bunch of candles (with me in the room) and we sat and watched a movie together. It was really nice. All the other lights were out. Sadly alot of my neighbours had their lights on.

Till next year when we can do it again!

Here's what WWF- Canada had to say:

Climate Change Message Heard Around the World!

Thank you Canada for becoming part of the solution by sending a strong message to world leaders about the need for action on climate change!

A poll commissioned by WWF-Canada shows that more than half of all adult Canadians (52%) participated in WWF’s Earth Hour on March 28, creating an unprecedented call to action on climate change in advance of the UN negotiations in Copenhagen in December. The main reasons people turned off their lights were to show support for action on climate change and express a commitment to take personal action for the environment.

Globally, almost 4,000 cities in 88 countries participated in Earth Hour, far exceeding WWF’s global goal of 1,000 cities. Canada was again among the leading countries in the campaign in terms both cities participating (more than 280 nationally) and for participation per capita.

The poll results also show that Canadian concern for climate change extends far beyond participating in Earth Hour. Eighty per cent of Canadians believe that Earth Hour is sending a message to the federal government that now is the time to start taking climate change seriously and develop a plan to reduce emissions.

Still time to sign up!

If you forgot to sign-up for Earth Hour there is still time! Do it now and your sign-up will still count to the global count.

People were inspired across the country and around the globe as monuments such as the CN Tower, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Acropolis and the Empire State Building went dark. This year we welcomed new participation from people in countries such as India and China, and welcomed back the countries that celebrated Earth Hour in 2008.

Thanks to everyone for making our climate change message heard around the world. However you celebrated, we hope it was a truly memorable experience and we hope that you continue to take actions every day to reduce your ecological footprint. Remember to make every hour Earth Hour by joining WWF-Canada’s web-based community, The Good Life! The next few months will be critical as we wait to see how global leaders react to this united call for action on climate change.

How low did we go?

The goal of Earth Hour is really about participation but it is also fun to track the energy reductions across the nation.

The results are just starting to trickle in and we'll update you here as we get them.
City/Town, Energy Drop (Energy Drop Percentage)
Alberta
Calgary, 10 MW (1%)
Edmonton, (5,2%)

British Columbia, 72.67 MW (1.1%)
Victoria, (3.1%)
Vancouver, (1.3%)

New Brunswick, 20 MW

Newfoundland and Labrador, (1%)

Nova Scotia, 15 MW (1%) Ontario, 920 MW (6%)
Toronto, 455 MW (15%)
Mississauga, (10%)
Ottawa, (6%)
Oakville, (13.3%)
Peterorough, (10%)
Richmond Hill, 43 MW (27%)

Prince Edward Island, (9.7%)

Quebec, 150 MW (5%)

Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, (1.2%)

If your city or provinces results aren't here please ask your local city leaders or hydro company as WWF-Canada won't be following up directly with any energy providers.

Welcome to March

2009-03-01T10:26:00.003-05:00

Its hard to believe its the first day of March. Where has the time gone? As I sit at the desk I can see snow flakes falling down - nothing major but still a reminder that Spring is a few weeks away. Being a winter baby (March 8), I love winter and the snow that comes. But this winter has actually been a long cold one with lots of snow. This snow baby is ready for spring.

The days are getting longer and the sun "appears" to be brighter and thts a beautiful thing!

On the knitting front I still haven't gotten much done. Still working on a scarf but one of these days I will set my mind to it and finish it and the other projects.

With the snow melting I can see the mess I will have to deal with in a few weeks in the gardens, which by the way got neglected alot last year. I am thinking of ripping one up and beginning again.

I went to Ash Wednesday mass with the kids on Wednesday and then headed to work. My goal is to make it to church more during the Lenten season this year. With Matt's accident last year I hate to say I hadn't been to church since last Jan/Feb '08.

Also, I will try and post more here. With the hours I work at work 9-10 hour days its hard to get the daily stuff done let alone all the fun stuff. lol

My daughter, Miki, and I went to a friends 1st Anniversary sale at her Quilt Shoppe. She offered 30% off and I got some fabric to make my recyle bag and a few patterns that I should be able to do. I am not a big sewer but it would be fun to do. Add to the growing list of to do. lol

Well of to finish some laundry, send my daughter's friend home and head to my parents for the day and dinner.

Have a peaceful Sunday.

Mid of January

2009-01-18T15:51:00.002-05:00

Its hard to believe its the middle of January already. Where has the month gone. It has been a really cold week this past week with temps getting down to -28C with the windchill. Okay its nothing like the West with their temps at -50C but baby its COLD OUTSIDE!

Now we have to contend with snow and more snow. I really am getting tired of it but it beats heat of the summer. Hubby took the sled for a rip at the local park ( a no no) but he hasn't had a chance to ride it up at the farm as the trails are still not open. They got early snow and farmers hadn't taken off all of their corn yet so some of the fields aren't snowmobile friendly.

It's going to be a busy week here - Quincy gets a hair cut on Tuesday and the cats go for the neutering and nails on Friday and come home Saturday. Still not sure about the nails but I do want to save the furniture.

Well my son had his belated birthday party last night and the kids were good. Darling daughter had a friend as well and they didn't bother the boys too much. The kids loved the castle cake I made this year. Isn't anything full of candy good. lol They all left at 10 am and its been a jammy day ever since.

I have three reviews to write up but have no motivation. I did finish reading Fleece Navidad and earlier this week I read Dyer Consequences both by Maggie Sefton. I love her books. Knitting and mystery what a deadly combination! hehe

Well off to get my work cloths washed so I can wear them tomorrow and write the reviews...

Choi!

Some Scarves I made for Christmas

2008-12-27T13:42:00.003-05:00

I actually made 5 scarves for Christmas but didn't take photos of the first two as I was away for training with work. Just forgot to do it as I did have the camera with me.

The white scarf was yarn my mil had and asked me to knit her a scarf. One of the red ones (longer one) was for me to go on a grey sweater that I had bought to wear for Christmas and I made a shorter version for my mil as she commented that she liked the colour.

Sad to say I still didn't complete everything on my list this year but hopefully will get some of it done for next year.

Made the 5 minute chocolate cake

2008-11-02T16:01:00.003-05:00

Well I tried these and one thing you have to eat them right away of they go hard. I made two and the kids finished a game of bowling on wii sport and the one was hard as a rock.

I had a tiny taste of it before it went lumpy and it wasn't bad. So they both had some of Miki's. Live and learn.

Will post some pictures of them after.

I know what I did wrong! I nuked it for 5 minutes and it should of been 3. Got it for next time.

October Gales and Geese

2008-11-01T09:20:00.006-04:00

I took these photos last week when the winds were blowing something fierce off of Lake Huron. Then I took the ones of the geese a few days later.

Chocolate cake in under 5 mins

2008-11-01T09:16:00.001-04:00

Okay for the chocolic in me this is good. Very good! So I was on the Stashalong blog and found this. Sorry just cutting and pasting to my blog so I can make this later. Guess I need breakfast first. hmmmmmmm chocolate cake for breakfast.

AliP (find a link to her in the side bar) emailed me this crazy recipe. Get this: 5-minute chocolate cake from scratch! Seriously! Well, let me tell you: by the time I finished replying to her email (how DARE she send me such a tempting recipe!), I had the thing printed off. I practically floated upstairs to the kitchen and started scoping out the ingredients. By the way, 4 tbsp = 60 ml or 1/4 cup, 2 tbsp =30 ml or 1/8 cup, 3 tbsp = 45ml, measurements provided for your convenience in case you don't want to so the math. Also I couldn't located my tbsp measure in under 5 minutes, so there you go. Oh, and instead of chocolate chips, I grated some baking chocolate into the mix, because you can never have too many calories in a chocolate cake. HEHEH

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE

4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)
a small splash of vanilla extract
1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts. The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired. EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous). And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

As soon as I opened the microwave door the thing started to drop down into the mug. Don't be alarmed, eh? You should have seen my eyes popping out of my head right before it was done cooking; I was seriously nervous about the thing totally messing up the clean microwave (that my husband cleaned a couple days ago!). It was about 3/4 as high above the mug as the mug itself!
That's how it looked for about half a minute, about how long it took me to take a decent picture, before this cake was assaulted by my fork. Slightly chewy on the outside, not as light and fluffy as a traditional cake (duh) but quite edible (if you're not too fussy or don't have overly high standards) and need I say, chocolaty. Not bad at all. I plan on over-indulging on a regular basis! And I'm about to teach this little gem of a recipe to my kids. They'll love me for it.

Thanksgiving Weekend

2008-10-15T21:22:00.002-04:00

Here are some photos form my Thanksgiving weekend Up at Blue in Collingwood.

Never a Dull moment in the Grove

2008-09-30T15:00:00.003-04:00

I had gone to town today and when I came home I saw all the kids outside of the school along the fence. There were a couple of fire trucks so I thought they were doing a fire drill. Didn't think much of it and hubby mentioned something when he came home about 15 mins later.

So around 2pm I went on my yahoo account and there was an Alert Mail. Normally I delete them but I thought I'd read it.

Well I am glad I did! As this is what it said:

At 1:30PM today Sarnia Fire and Rescue was called to St Michael's school in Brights Grove to investigate a natural gas odour. The building has been evacuated and Union Gas is investigating. There are no reports of injuries.

The alert hasn't been cancelled yet but picture day was cancelled and there's no homework. My sons teacher has borrowed my cell phone to call parents because there's kids that have kids to their house in the class room and no one is allowed in.

From the Sarnia Observer

BREAKING NEWS — Firefighters called to Bright's Grove school
Posted By Observer staff

Firefighters have been called to St. Michael's school in Bright's Grove this afternoon.

Fire officials say they are investigating a reported natural gas odour.

Engines from four fire stations responded shortly after 1 p.m.

Tom Marshall, of Sarnia Fire and Rescue Services, said school officials reported feeling the school shake, which set off an alarm at the school.

The school was evacuated as a precaution and Union Gas officials have been called to the scene.

There were no injuries and the investigation is continuing.

More updates will follow.

Busy Day

2008-09-28T20:05:00.002-04:00

I will have to add some photos of the new potted container I did today. I took the oostpermums out and add fall coloured mums with a pumpkin in it. Boy does it look cute! We also but a bail of straw on the front porch with gords and baby pumpkins. The kids and I had fun doing it.

Tonight was the night that I took my staff out to Boston pizza for a pizza and pop party. Nine girls were able to come (next time get RSVPs) and we order 4 different pizza. They were good as usual and here is a sampling of what we got:

PEPPERONI AND MUSHROOM
Signature pizza sauce, mozzarella,
pepperoni and fresh mushrooms.

BASIC CHEESE PIZZA (but did half and half with PEPPERONI).

BOSTON ROYAL
Signature pizza sauce, mozzarella,
smoked ham, pepperoni, shrimp,
olives, green pepper, onion and
mushrooms.

TUSCAN
Pomodoro sauce, mozzarella,
cheddar, spicy chicken breast,
roasted garlic, fresh spinach,
sun-dried tomatoes and feta.

I stayed with the pepperoni and mushroom with extra cheese and it was good! Fresh mushrooms and lots of cheese. The other two looked okay but I am not a shrimp fan and I do not like tomatoes of any kind.

The top three girls that won my little contest (I was one but gave it up for the team) got a $25 gift certificate to our local mall. What did they have to do to win it? Well....we have our annual back to school campaign to get packs for children who cannot afford school supplies. Our goal was set and I thought alittle competition for the most packs sold (cash donations counted as one too and we took those and bought more packs with them) would win a prize. Nothing motivates people than a reward.

Also, I did the pizza and pop party as an additional incentive to come on top for our district. One store was a head pretty much the whole time and my girls brought it and kicked some country ass by 55 transactions.

It was a fun night and I am thinking I'd like to do something like this down the road as a get together.

Well off to get some laundry done and hit the hay

Toronto Zoo pics

2008-09-16T21:04:00.001-04:00

Here are some pictures of our trip to the Toronto Zoo this summer. More photos to come.

Indian Falls

2008-09-16T20:45:00.003-04:00

Here are some shots of Indian Falls up near Owen Sound, ON.

One flower bed done

2008-07-06T16:05:00.001-04:00

Well I got one flowre bed weeded so far today and I have 5 more to go. With two of them being nasty! With the one I just got done I planted a yellow clematis (Clematis - Helios - Tangutica). The flowers are bell shape and I think its really cute! The other plant that I planted there was Rudebeckia - Gloriosa Daisy - Becky Yellow. Its sooooo cute. It will only get to be 10-12" tall. Not like the clematis that will be 9-15' tall. So the weeding is done and I miracle growth the crap out, my hanging baskets and my pot.

My pot is looking good still. I am surprised! I also bought some other plants - in yellow and one purple too. Names are escaping me at the moment. But I will let you know later.

I am contemplating buying some mulch now and laying it down so the weeds won't come up as quickly or waiting till I have a few more beds done. But! That might take all summer. Though the rose one - I watered the crap out of part of it and the weeds came up fine and dandy. Can't wait to see them weedless. Or its going to be a "natural" garden.

Have a great day. The weather is beautiful. 25C humidex at 30C. Wish my pool was one to go swimming.

Happy Canada Long weekend .......or not

2008-06-29T12:30:00.002-04:00

Oops! We actually get screwed out of a long weekend as Canada is July 1st and it falls on a Tuesday this year. Boo!!!! Hissssss!! lol

I can't believe I haven't been on here since April 21st. Holy crap. Its been raining like crazy this past month. Lots of thunderstorms and torrential down pours. Good news is the lake level is coming up.

The kids pasted and are moving up to grades 6 and 4 this year. Matt's walking again! Its been a long haul but he's still limping. Hopefully by the end of summer he will be running. We are taking our holiday the first week of August - and we will be off for a week. Which will be nice. Not sure where we are going but doing something.

The farm still hasn't sold. Bugger! I am hopeful by the end of summer its gone. I haven't been up too much lately, with the gas prices and the kids doing things with friends and soccer tournaments. We haven't gone up much. Next weekend is the family reunion so we will be up there for that. And Brian's sister and her family is home from the UEA! Yeah! Our son will be happy to play with his cousin!

Well off to do some weeding in the rain. Good way to get all of them picked. One of these days I will knit again.

Choi!

Exciting weekend

2008-04-21T18:28:00.002-04:00

I had an exciting weekend...NOT! The start of it was okay but then on Sunday morning I had to start prep to have a Colonoscopy this morning. Wasn't looking forward to it but it turned out normal, for that I am thankful.

I did some knitting this weekend and I read S is for Silence by Susan Grafton. I have pretty much the whole series but haven't read that many books. Now I can get into them and finish reading them before the next book comes out.

I still have to post some photos later but I am on the kids computer. I got a clearance computer at work for $47, plus monitor $15 and a wireless internet card for $39. So for under $100 the kids got a pretty good computer.

Well off to watch some tv - still tired and just want to go to bed but its to early for that.

Leigh

Fiber Quiz

2008-04-11T21:25:00.002-04:00

What type of fiber are you?

Wow the end of the Month!

2008-03-31T19:19:00.002-04:00

Hard to believe that its Mars 31st! Seems just like yesterday it was the 1st, then my birthday and a blizzard on the same day. Then we had March Break which coinceded with my b-day as well. Next came the first day of spring and then Easter. Now we are knocking on April 1st for the Fool's day.

I did manage to get some knitting done this month. Lucky me! lol Two scarves and 2 baby hats made it to the done pile. The hats are going to Sarnia Craft Supply to be given to Save the Children charity. They are looking to collect 3000 by May 1st. Hopefully I can knit up a few more to go with it.

Oh!! This past Saturday was the Lambton Stich N Bitch! What fun! I had a blast and the girls are great. I even started and finished a scarf there. Okay! Okay! I had two rows to finish when I got home. Will post pictures later.

Speaking of photos: here are a few I took of Ingall's Fall at Easter. Its near Harrison Park in Owen Sound, ON

Enjoy!

Earth Hour

2008-03-29T18:25:00.004-04:00

Well Earth Hour here in S-W Ontario is about 1 1/2 hours away. Some of the people I have talked to are going to particpate. Go Lambton SNB's!!

Some fun links:

http://www.earthhour.org/downloads/EH_728x90.swf

http://www.earthhour.org/about (the video where it all began)

The sails of Sydney's famous Opera House were plunged into darkness Saturday as Australia's largest city voluntarily switched its lights off Saturday night.

The event, known as Sydney's Earth Hour was billed as a sixty-minute demonstration of Australia's resolve to curb global warming. Thanks to a reliance on coal-fired power plants, Australia is the world's single largest per-capital emitter of carbon dioxide.

If nothing else, the lights of Sydney's skyline were noticeably thinned by Earth Hour, which began at 7:30 local time. Officials had arranged for all non-essential city lights to be switched off, and residents followed suit by darkening their homes and unplugging unnecessary appliances. Hundreds gathered at Sydney harbor to watch the spectacle, while clubs and restaurants served patrons by candlelight.

While billed as something of a party, Earth Hour kicks-off a serious 12-month public awareness push by the World Wildlife Federation-Australia and the Sydney Morning Herald. The immediate goal is to cut the city's greenhouse emissions by 5-percent. In the long run, Earth Hour organizers hope to expand their concept to other cities in 2008, coupling it with a focused initiative to make deep and permanent cuts in the amount of carbon dioxide being pumped into the Earth's atmosphere.

Sydney's mayor, Clover Moore, told Sky News Saturday that his city is serious about addressing climate change.

"Tonight is really important because it's a call to action," said Moore. "We are asking people to think about the action they can take to fight global warming. We all have to act to reduce out ecological footprint."

Scientists worry that global warming -- which the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change links to manmade greenhouse output -- may already be exacting a painful toll on Australia's most treasured natural wonder: the Great Barrier Reef. Marine biologists report unparalleled coral bleaching and dry-off, with a domino-like effect rippling through the aquatic food chain. Australia suffered its hottest and driest summer on record, and some climate change experts wonder if last year's violent typhoon season may have been made more severe by rising ocean temperatures.

While Australia's Conservative Prime Minister, John Howard, is a bitter opponent of the greenhouse emission reductions proposed by the Kyoto Protocols, his government has recently responded to political pressure to take action. Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced in February that Australia will enact energy regulations essentially banning the sale of conventional incandescent lightbulbs after 2010.

So -- what can the average Australian (or anyone else) do to curb global warming? It all starts with small, meaningful changes in our personal energy habits. Australia's WWF Futuremakers website lists Lighter Footstep's article How to Live with CFLs as a good place to start.

You can also take your first Ten Steps toward a lighter lifestyle, give your home an energy audit, investigate local recycling opportunities, and talk to your family and friends. Share a few of your ideas, and you may get some back in return.

Were you in Sydney for Earth Hour? Please share your experience in our comments section!

The Sydney Morning Herald has a photo gallery of Saturday's Earth Hour here.

http://www.smh.com.au/ftimages/2007/03/31/1174761812677.html

A Changing Antarctica Draws 'Doomsday' Tourists

2008-03-29T18:10:00.002-04:00

I was reading a really great article on the Antarctica today and thought I'd post it. With Global Warming its nice to see people not wanting this Vast Wilderness to change or to have man kind destroying it.

Climate Connections: Solutions
A Changing Antarctica Draws 'Doomsday' Tourists
by Gwen Thompkins

Audio for this story will be available at approx. 7:00 p.m. ET

Jessica Goldstein, NPR
Antarctica is not as remote as it once was, as thousands of tourists a year visit the continent.

View Gallery: Destination Antarctica

Jessica Goldstein, NPR
Visitors have had a more positive than negative effect on the continent, some say.

More NPR Antarctica Coverage
Antarctica's March of the Tourists
Visits by thousands of tourists each year could damage the world's most unspoiled continent.

Cruising to Otherworldly Antarctica
While travel to the icy continent has become cushy, Antarctica's allure remains powerful.

Antarctica's Sea 'Babies' in Limbo
Antarctica's seas depend on microscopic animals, but global warming is changing that balance.

A Bright Spot of Life on the Icy Continent
What kind of people come for months at a time to live in the most difficult place on Earth?

Jessica Goldstein, NPR
Fleets of ocean liners chug through Antarctica's waters, but tour guides say keeping Antarctica pristine is their top priority.

All Things Considered, March 29, 2008 · At one of the finest cocktail lounges in the Antarctic Circle, Carol Hughes is sipping a mystery drink from a wine glass. It's after dinner onboard a luxury cruise liner. And Hughes, an English clinical nurse, says whatever it is she's tasting is better than anything else she has had tonight.

"It's lovely. It feels cleaner, much smoother," Hughes says, savoring the taste in her mouth. "I'd say there's probably something in there slightly ... something to do with fish, I'd say."

What Hughes doesn't know is that she's sipping an iceberg. When she finds out, she laughs and says, "Is that the one that the penguin was walking over?"

Antarctica, like every other continent, is too big to describe in one take. But Hughes's description of the melted iceberg water is an awfully good start. Antarctica is lovely. It does feel cleaner, and it has something to do with fish.

Still, much of the continent remains a mystery, a cold and curious void. So most people learn the facts and fill in the rest with feeling. Every cabin on the ship has a book that touches on how remote the continent is — what can live here, what can't. And yet all 159 pages amount to a few lines of verse from the poet Pablo Neruda:

There all ends
and doesn't end:
there all begins:
rivers and ice part,
air is married to snow

A Sense of Place

Karin Strand, the expedition leader on the ship, expresses a sentiment similar to Neruda's. "Take some time and simply stop and reflect a little bit about what you're seeing," she advises, "because it's pretty overwhelming."

Put down your camera and get into the spirit of this place, Strand says. You've got to appreciate the beauty, the loneliness, the unlikeliness of this continent that Aristotle suspected was here but could never prove. Only a smidgen of the world's population has ever seen Antarctica. So Strand says that if you decide to come this far, don't blow it.

"Unless you stop and take a look once in a while you will miss it," she says. "Yes of course you will see it, but you won't see it. ... I mean, I am Norwegian and I thought that I had seen enough snow and ice for the rest of my life just living where I am. ... It is a feeling — it's not like you can explain it with pictures or film, really. You just have to be there."

Many of the people who visit the perpetual winter of Antarctica are in the autumn of their lives. They want to unlock the mystery of the place. They also want to learn about the effects of climate change here, why the ice is melting. But more than anything, they want to have fun. Aroon Patel is 70 years old and he walks with a cane. And at one of the boat's last landings on the Peninsula, which stretches north from the continent, Patel slid down a glacier on his tush.

"It was like a roller coaster on your bum," he says, smiling. "Best ride I've ever had in my life. At age 70, you find something like this, different ... it's wonderful. Wonderful."

And that's not the only thing that got his backfield in motion.

On the tail end of the voyage, the ship's crew put on an evening of entertainment that included music and lyrics by Usher, Lil' Jon and Ludacris. There's something surreal about being on a boat in the near-frozen middle of nowhere — and listening to men sing about women in their birthday suits. But you know what they say: Hip hop is the poetry of the streets. Even here, where there are no streets.

Changing the Continent

What the tourists onboard the ship don't know is that they are testing an important scientific principle. Does the very act of observing something change it? In Antarctica, the answer is "probably." Antarctica — so clean, so pure — is now a hot destination. Armadas of ocean liners are troubling her cool, heavy waters. And tourists are sharing terrain vital to the continent's wildlife.

Wherever humans go, Karin Strand says, "we have sort of a brutal way of imposing on nature." But there is a prime aim in Antarctica, she says: Keep it as a wilderness.

That means if anyone drops so much as a plastic bag in the water, Strand says, the ship will turn around and retrieve it.

Robyn Steegstra is guiding a group of Americans onboard the ship. She says Antarctic tourism has actually helped the continent. Bases that conduct scientific research along the coast have been prodded to clean up their act.

"I remember 20 years ago ... some of these bases, they looked like nothing more than dumps," Steegstra says. "The rusted material, the 20 or 30 years of rusting tin cans out back, the old machinery. We've had bases where they would go, 'Oh, you want to see a penguin?' and they would go pick them up. They were just pushing them out of their way; there wasn't this concern for the wildlife.

"But when people started visiting and seeing this, there's been an enormous change in the way bases operate ... regarding the environment and the wildlife. And that was largely due to visitors," she says.

So the industry's bottom line appears to be that sometimes you've got to risk a little to get a lot. An international treaty prevents mining, drilling and dumping here. But tour operators say that the world's last great wilderness also needs goodwill ambassadors for its continued protection. And people like Carol Hughes, the English nurse who drank water from the iceberg, can make pretty poetic ambassadors.

"It's just absolutely magical. I don't think I should be the same person when I get home," Hughes says. "It really makes you feel so humble to think that this is such a wilderness and that we have to preserve it at all costs, really. It's a special place and we mustn't spoil it. We must look after it."

After all, the best lines about Antarctica have been uttered by the people who have been here. "Glittering white, shining blue, raven black, in the light of the sun the land looks like a fairy tale," wrote Roald Amundsen, the first explorer to reach the South Pole.

And perhaps Fritz Klein said it best. He and his wife came here from York, Pa. Klein is no expert on the threat of climate change to Antarctica. But now more than ever, he's dead set against anything or anyone marring the continent's beauty.

As he put it: "They betta' neva'."

Produced by Jessica Goldstein

Also here is a good link of photos of Antarctica:

http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/antarctica/antarctica_gallery/

What a wonderful weekend we had

2008-03-16T20:01:00.002-04:00

I can't believe that Mother Nature actually gave us a nice weekend! Wow! It started friday and went till today. Though we did see some snow flakes this morning they were gone by noon.

I am still knitting on my foo foo black scarf and my Celtic Cable scarf for the Project of the month group. I have quite a way to go on it.

My sons leg is coming along. Each day it gets alittle easier to get up. He still won't be back to school this week - though hubby and I would like that alot! Our daughter goes back tomorrow which reminds me I better tell her to go to bed or she will be cranky in the morning.

Oh! A neighbour of mine saw a robin either during the snow storm or the day after. I bet the little bugger was cold! lol Spring is coming and the snow is melting.

Have a great night. Keep knitting!

Leigh Ann

MY BIRTHDAY PRESENT!!

2008-03-11T23:17:00.002-04:00

Here's a photo of my birthday present from my parents.

Its a James Lumber ghost painting called Grandpa's Boat. Can you see grandpa?

March 11/08 update

2008-03-11T22:58:00.004-04:00

Well no knitting done but I have bought some new pattern books and some yummy yarn! The yarn is called Cicciobello Hyppo by Paolo Scettri made in Italy. I bought 5 balls of it and I will make a hat and scarf for my daughter. I love the colours! Blues, greens and white.

Here are some photos of the day.

Geese flying over Mike Weir Park

Snow frost on some trees at Mike Weir Park.

Evergreen and pine cones in snow frost at Mike Weir Park.

Another dumping of snow on my car tonight.

Snow!!!

We interrupt this birthday

2008-03-10T19:52:00.000-04:00

I posted this on my wrong blog so here it is from march 8, 2008;

Well Happy Birthday to me! Nothing is going right for this one. First with my sons femur getting broke at school, then I get a nasty head cold and of course it wouldn't be March 8 with out a snow storm (aka blizzard). I am so use to it that I have decided to reschedule my birthday for a different day. Hell! Maybe I will just legally change it to a month that doesn't get snow. hehe

I have been doing some knitting not alot as the tendinitous flares up. But my Project of the Month group is doing the Celtic Cable Scarf. Oh my gosh! Its turning out really nice. I love it!

Also on the needles is a black foo foo scarf for a craft show this fall/winter.

Any... its now March Break and I am sooooo glad that I was off yesterday as the headcold made a major invasion of my head. Took a night time sinus tablet and went back to sleep. Felt alittle better in the afternoon.

Well will post pictures and more later.

Lunar Eclipse

2008-02-21T14:00:00.003-05:00

The Earth's shadow travels over the moon's surface during a full lunar eclipse on Wednesday, Feb 20, 2008.

Earth's shadow crosses the moon in lunar eclipse
Updated Wed. Feb. 20 2008 10:57 PM ET

The moon was almost completely in shadow at 10pm, Feb 20, 2008.

CTV.ca News Staff

Canadian skies were mostly clear for Wednesday's lunar eclipse, the full moon bright in the sky as Earth's shadow crawled out from the left of the glowing sphere, ultimately turning it pale orange.

Starting at 8:42 p.m. ET (7:43 p.m. CT, 6:43 p.m. MT and 5:43 p.m. PT) and lasting for three hours, the last total lunar eclipse before 2010 was visible anywhere in North America lucky enough to have clear skies, according to NASA. It was also visible in Europe and Africa.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth's shadow blocks the sun's rays from hitting the moon. The three bodies must be perfectly aligned during a full moon, a rare event because the orbits of the moon and Earth are not on the same plane.

What began around 8:30 p.m. as a faint hint of darkness at the bottom left of the moon's visible surface turned to almost complete darkness by about 9:30 p.m. The moon was completely shadowed around 10 p.m., appearing with an orange hue.

The lunar colour show lasted for about 50 minutes before turning dark brown, then returning to its usual glow.

In close proximity to the moon were the evening's other two bright lights, the planet Saturn and Regulus, a bright star. Together, the three bodies created a stunning triangle.

According to NASA's Laura Motel, the exact color of an eclipsed moon depends on the amount of dust and clouds in the atmosphere.

"If there are extra particles in the atmosphere, from say a recent volcanic eruption, the moon will appear a darker shade of red," Motel wrote in a news release.

Science centres across the country, including the Ontario Science Centre in Toronto and University of Calgary's Rothney Astrophysical Observatory, hosted free viewing parties, offering telescopes for eclipse enthusiasts to view the proceedings up close.

With files from the Canadian Press

from newsday.com

WHAT A WEEK!

2008-02-21T13:42:00.002-05:00

Well it all began last week when I got the call from my husband to say that Matt got hurt at school and that he was at the hospital. I'm like WHAT! And when did it happen and why are you just calling me!

Turns out Matt and his friends at school were playing King of the Castle on a small snow hill, his one friend pushed him and he fell and they heard his leg snap. Yes he ended up breaking his femur! The school called an ambulance (the first time ever they had to do that) and basically the whole school was around him. One kid thought he was faking and kicked his bad leg the little shit. I saw him at school yesterday and gave him a dirty look - you know the mom look.

He ended up staying in the hospital for almost a week. They kept him drugged up on morphine and tylenol till friday when they did his surgery. The surgery went very well the doctor said. He will be on crutches and/or a walker for 8-10 weeks and the titanium rods will come out somewhere between 6-12 months. He has along way to go.

He had alot of his friends come to see him as well as family. Lots of presents to keep him busy in hospital and once he got home.

My work has been great and hubby can work his schedule around mine. He came home on Tuesday and has been either in bed or on the couch. He's making up for his lack of computer time when he was in the hospital.

I am in the process of having the school get him a tutor so he won't miss much. He's out for at least 2-3 weeks and that puts him back around the March Break. No biggie then he's back for 4 days and then Easter.

We are just glad to have him home.

Still around

2008-02-10T16:59:00.000-05:00

What a week! Cold weather and snow! You think its winter here in S-W Ontario! Oh! I guess it still is! hehe We actually got a foot and a half of snow on Thursday. I had the day off and didn't get a snow day.

I have been getting my box ready for the Misfit Cocoa Swap and I am having fun with it. I am doing it like I would the knitted tea swap so I hope its okay. I should have it out by Monday night as I work 7-4:30pm tomorrow.

With the weather the way its been I have been going to work and then home. Today its a -24C with the wind chill. Baby its cold out there!

Gotta go see the crying daughter. She bought the Kangaroo and the chocolate brown Horse and she mixed up the tags. She wanted to call the Kangaroo - Kangaroo Jack and the horse - Cocoa. Well the kangaroo is cocoa and she's freaking out. Plus I have to find the cord to my camera to download photos. I took the camera to WalMart to get a few for her project and I took a photo of the back 40 of the farm and printed it in black and white. Turned out gorgeous!

More later.

first book read

2008-02-06T19:08:00.000-05:00

I can finally post that I have read one book so far! I finished it on Feb 1/08 and its by Iris Johansen but can't remember the title. Will post later.

A belated Happy Ground Hog Day

2008-02-05T19:28:00.000-05:00

It was nasty last friday but we hit the road any way to go to the farm. It snowed, and hailed and when we hit Exeter we were thinking of turning around. Had some lunch at McD's and decide to keep going. I buried my head into a book and look up occasionally.

It took 4 1/2 hrs to get to Owen Sound and thats 1 1/2 hours more than normal but we got there safe and sound. Our goal... to go and see Wiarton Willie on Saturday for Miki's birthday. Nothing says lovin' than getting up to see a rodent on your daughter's birthday. Our son didn't go and he opted to sleep in. But hubby, daughter and I went and had fun. The tv cameras panned the crowd and the kids were on but when it hit the evening news at 6 and 11 it was the big kids that hit it, yours truly included. Thank goodness I looked enthused! lol Did the sausage and pancake thing and tried to find all the events that were going on hard to do when you don't know the town. I know where Timmie's is and to drive straight through to Tobermory but not all the side streets.

We got back around noon and Matt wanted to go to Harrison Park toboganning. So daddy took him and I stayed at the farm. He came back for Miki and I and we all went for a late lunch at Pizza Hut the all you can eat buffet. Definitely got our money's worth but didn't want my supper at 5:30pm (we finished lunch at 2pm). Pass the tums please.......

All and all it was a great day and I did a bunch of knitting. I finished a scarf on friday night, made 2 dishcloths on Saturday and finished another on sunday.

Hubby and I went snowmobiling on Sunday moring for about 1 1/2hr. WE figure it might be the only time we get to go and the trails are still not open. I guess you really do need a good dumping of snow for that and for it to stay! hehehe He went out again with his dad and Matt and we left around 3:30 to come home.

Now I am trying to catch the laundry up and other stuff and I am still tired. I watched a movied Sunday night till 11:20pm.... wouldn't be a bad thing but I'm up at 5:30 am so not alot of sleep that night.

Will post pictures once I download them from the camera.

Ohhhh and if we don't get this storm I will be finishing up getting my package ready for the hot chocolate swap that I am in. Can't wait to see what I get her and what I will receive!

Happy knitting! With these temps I could be gardening! hehehe

The Great American Knit Out

2008-01-22T20:39:00.000-05:00

Vogue Knitting has a link to the Great American Knit Out.

The Golden Compase Hat Pattern

2008-01-20T21:15:00.000-05:00

I say this pattern on Froggie Meanie for the hat pattern from the movie The Golden Compass.

Here's the link.

http://froggiemeanie.blogspot.com/2007/12/golden-compass-hat-happy-holidays.html

Some more photos

2008-01-20T00:06:00.000-05:00

When my mil, Mary, my daughter and I went to the Neudstadt Craft Show we stopped at an Alapaca Farm. They are so cute! Here are a few pictures of them. One even posed for me! hehe

I got a nw computer!

2008-01-19T23:48:00.000-05:00

I got a new laptop today! I really really like it! All night I have been moving pictures from one computer to another and I can say that they are all on one now! Yeah me! (Okay! I'm watching WAY too much of the sweet life of Zach and Cody).

Finally! Here are the photos from my KTS 4 from Finland. Heli really spoiled me!

Another day

2008-01-15T18:43:00.000-05:00

Well like I mentioned in the last post we are finally repainting the basement. I am not sure I like the colour I bought last year (yeah its been a year since I bought the paint) but hubby is going to move his office downstairs and we will have a rec room done there. The Wii and a satelite and a small section maybe for me for my crafts. There is room in the closet for all my yarn. Yeah!

Will keep you posted and add pics!

I am a yarnaholic or a yarn

2008-01-15T18:40:00.001-05:00

Last night while I was doing laundry I decided to straighten up some of my yarn. I had moved some from the laundry room to the rec room size - but since hubby is filling holes and sanding (today) I decided to move it back.

So I thought I'd see how much I have. Holy cow batman! At this point and I am not finished! I am sitting with 8171 grams of yarn. Not counting the three other totes full of yarn, nor counting the basket that I know holds 4 - 1 pound balls, nor does it count the dress bag that is full too. Also I didn't count yarn that was on the needles.

I think I have enough to last for awhile. I categoried it as well but I don't have it figured out on this paper but I do downstairs.

So I am confessing to be a yarnaholic or a yarn wh*re! I wonder how long it would take me to knit it all if I didn't buy any new yarn. hmmmmmm

Happy Knitting!

Photos of Christmas Gift and 2 finished projects

2008-01-13T09:51:00.000-05:00

Here is a photo of the yarn I got for Christmas and the two scarves I just finished.

Saturday's musings

2008-01-13T00:24:00.000-05:00

What a beautiful day! I saw a bunch of people out doing yard work today. It would be just an ordinary day but this is JANUARY folks! We don't do yard work in January - unless you count shovelling snow as yard work.

I hae finished of scarves number 4 and 5. Yeah! These were suppose to be done for Christmas as gifts by my arm gave out. I am taking it easy but its still sore. Only 2 balls of Radiant to use. I love how these scarves look. They are so pretty.

I will post pictures later.

Back to the Jane Doe mysteries on the Hallmark channel.

Out of commission

2008-01-11T13:03:00.000-05:00

I am out of commission today. I woke up with a bad stomach ache that left me in the bathrooom for a while. To put it politely. I have slept most of the morning and probably will be heading back there shortly. My son is home to with croup! He's 10 and still getting it. So we are sleeping and having soup. My daughter is mad as she had to go to school.

Have a good day.

A birthday contest on Phoe's Blog

2008-01-11T12:48:00.000-05:00

Phoe is turning 30 this year and she is having a contest. Just leave a message and choose a colour. Here is the link!

http://phoeknits.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/surprise-yarn-sparkles-and-a-birthday-bonanza-contest/#comment-781

Wordless Saturday

2008-01-05T21:21:00.000-05:00

2008 Finished Projects

2008-01-05T20:49:00.000-05:00

Three completions so far

2008-01-05T18:34:00.000-05:00

Well I am starting the year off with a bang! I have completed 3 scarves so far and number for is 1/4 of the way done. I will post pictures when the camera battery gets charged. They were all made with Radiant yarn that I purchased at Walmart. Each ball has 50 grams so I have used up 300 grams of yarn! Yeah me!

It normally takes me about 3 hours to knit a scarf but with the bummed up arm its taking a day and I am taking breaks in between.

My goal is to finish off the 25 things I had on my Christmas list for 2007. Will post them as soon as I find the list again. (I know where it is) hehe

I am on Ravelry as well and will list my stash there. I really don't want to know who much yarn I have. I think hubby would blow a gasket.

Well off to knit. Have a great weekend and happy knitting!

Cute Christmas Ornament

2008-01-04T15:21:00.000-05:00

I found this cute Christmas ornament on Year Long Gift-Along. I am hoping to join the group so I can get all my Christmas knitting done this year.

Here's the link for the ornament.

http://knitallyear.blogspot.com/2008/01/christmas-ornament.html#links

Happy New Year!

2008-01-01T18:57:00.000-05:00

Its hard to believe another year has come and gone. I guess the saying the older you get the faster the days go.

We stayed home last night and had munchies and chips. Not the healthiest in meals but the kids enjoyed it. I knitted abit and went to bed at 10:30pm. I know! I know! But I was up at 5 am. The kids went to bed around 1 or 2 am and slept till 10 am. I finished another scarf and have started another. That will make 3 since saturday!

Today all the stores were closed here in Canada so we did a border run. It was fun using the NEXUS lane. A few people thought we were cutting in front of them but I flashed the card. hehe. Wasn't funny went we won the lottery though. We were one of the random people who got to go to secondary but with the NEXUS card we were the next ones to go. Fifteen minutes later we were heading to the stores. Didn't buy alot, some groceries and a webkin for my daughter.

I will have to think of my New Year resolutions as I always seem to never complete them.

I hope everyone has enjoyed their day!

A great Christmas

2007-12-30T08:22:00.000-05:00

Alittle late in posting this but we had a great Christmas! Like I mentioned in the above post we had fun at the farm and enjoyed Christmas dinner with hubbies parents. We came home on Monday and th roads kept getting worse as we headed home. Which is normally the opposite for us! Once we hit Grand Bend it was smooth sailing again.

We went to Christmas eve Mass and Matt alter served. There were only two at Mass and they did a good job. He actually got to carry the book (normally reserved for grade 6 and up students). He's in grade 5. Hubby had most of the presents wrapped so all we had to do was the stockings and put them out. The kids were really excited but went to bed.

They got up at 7:30 and we opened our gifts. Matt loved his Wii and hugged it. Miki loved her keyboard and they got lots of other stuff too. I got a new electric grill, CM snow punch, my order from knit picks (yarn for stocking pattern in mag, knitting earrings, 2 books), cd, book, slippers, teapot, and blender.

We went to my mom and dads for Christmas day and dinner and of course we had a good time. My nieces are getting big. Niece 2 will be 1 on Jan 2 and I don't know where the time has gone. Niece 1 is 4 and in JK and a cutie too.

I worked Boxing Day and it was busy and I had worked the next two days as well. I am off for the weekend, go back for Monday and Wednesday and off for another 4 days. Yipee! Hopefully the kids won't drive me nuts.

My camera is full and I have filled the computer with pictures so I have to start putting them to disc so I can take more pictures again.

Have a great weekend!

Its been a busy month

2007-12-23T15:13:00.000-05:00

WOW! It hard to believe that Christmas is two days away. It seems like it was just the beginning of Decembre and now we are at the 23rd. The last couple of weeks have kept me hopping. With Miki's Christmas play - the class was barn animals and they didn't like the fact that humans were going to be staying there. In the end they decided to let them stay. Miki was a mouse along with a few other students and there were cows and sheep.

Next was to be Matt's 10th birthday party at Lazar tag but it didn't happen because of a snow storm. We had to cancel and are hopping to reschedule for January. Everything for last week got postponed a day because of the storm, so I was able to make it to Mass with Miki and her class. Its always cute to see the children do the true meaning of Christmas and of lighting the advent candles.

Matt's play was pre-empted too so we got to see it on Thursday night. The grade 5 and 6 classes did an awesome job. Love Matt's class as Elvis! lol I must say for all of the above the participation of the parents at school is amazing. Its great to see so many people out for these.

I finished work up on Friday and have a four day weekend! Yippee! We have headed to the farm for an early Christmas as I have to work Boxing Day and the rest of the week. Not bad to have a three day week but Boxing Day will be busy!

Brian and I took the sleds out for a ride and boy my new one is fast! Its not registered yet or licensed but hopefully soon. Also since the trails aren't really open yet we tried to stay on our property though we did venture on our neighbours. Its was beautiful and peaceful. The snow on the ground and nothing to hear but nature. Sadly the snow has melted and we are suppose to have snow squall warnings for the way home but I won't worry about that till tomorrow. Ahhhhhh!

I did manage to finish knitting a couple of projects I started back in Septembre. My tendentious is still acting up but I want to knit. So I knit abit and stop and then do some more. I had thought that I had brought up some 10mm needles with me but for the life of me I can't find them. errrrrr... I was hoping to make a scarf this weekend as a gift for my sister. I do have some other ones made up already so I might have to give her one of them.

Well the turkey is smelling great and the pie has been baked already. Hubby and his mom have gone into town for abit, leaving fil, the kids and dog and I home alone. I guess we really aren't alone are we.

Have the Merriest of Christmas!

From sheep in the city

2007-12-08T18:34:00.001-05:00

I was on ravlery today and found this really cute scarf pattern.

Here is the link for it.

http://www.sheepinthecity.prettyposies.com/archives/000079.html

Snow!

2007-12-02T16:58:00.001-05:00

Well if there is snow than its close to Christmas!

It snowed last night! The dog came in wet and had snow on his legs and I told the kids to put him in his cage. He is not really happy to be in there but the carpets, furniture and floors are staying clean.

The kids and I ran to the window to look and see the winter wonderland. Now today its raining and foggy too. Make you wonder what tomrrow will be like!

What you will do for a Nintendo Wii

2007-12-01T07:38:00.000-05:00

Brian and I have been searching these past couple of weeks for the hottest toy. The Wii! Do you think we can find one anywhere? NOoooooooooooooooo! We've been state side and this side and going into stores everyday to see if we can find them.

We've been on the net too - .coms and .cas and no luck.

Well it has turned for the good. Keeping the fingers crossed anyways. Brian and I have been up since 5:30 am and started looking at the sites and strategizing. As a team we are awesome! Checking the flyers calling the stores that open at 6 or 7 and seeing if any are in stock. Everyone in Sarnia knows that Toys R Us is getting around 30 of them Saturday morning. At 6:45 am 12 people are in line for them (the flyer said they would have 20). Now smart me remembers that Zellers is getting 10 in today. Hubby pulls into the parking lot and there are already 3 people there. Figures he will take his chances. The doors are open to stand inside as the store opens at 8. Well at 5 to 7 he calls and has ticket number6! We are in baby! Now I can get the things to go with it for my son. Its the only thing he wants for Christmas.

Kids are still sleeping and I am wired! I've emailed my sister and if her kids weren't little (4 and 10 1/2 mths) I would of called. So in about 20 mins we will have a Wii.

Have a great day! I just might go back to bed now.

Long time posting

2007-11-04T18:29:00.000-05:00

Well its been along time in posting. I was trying to upload some photos and the computer won't let me. Why you ask? Well seems to me that I have filled it! Oopie! Plus this is my husband's computer! I have backed them up on a USB drive but I have to get them onto discs that I have here in the office. Guess I will wait till he is home tomorrow.

Lots to post but not alot of photos. The ones I want are still on the camera.

First, Brian's Aunt Mabel passed away on Octobre 22nd, 2007. She was 92 and lived a good long life. Brian and our son went to the funeral as our daughter and I had brownie camp and I was the Contact guider. I probably could of missed the first day but if something happened it would fall on me.

I got a great package from my knitted tea swap pal Heli! Lots of great yarn, lots of great tea (will have to translate what they are into English) and lots and lots of good Finnish chocolate. My package was mailed out Oct 25 to her and she will get it in another 5 weeks. Apparently it weighs too much! Have I ever mentioned I love to shop! Any way... I thought I was a GREAT KTS partner but I now bow to the queen. hehe I have enjoyed this swap and can't wait till the Christmas gifts are done to make something out of the yarn.

Speaking of Christmas I am participating in "a village Christmas" and have some knitting done and hopefully if the arms feel good more will be done. I am also making some "Whisk you a Merry Kissmas" and doing some candy cane bark and probably snowman poop. Cute little Christmas things. There is another pattern of things I want to do but have to dig it out. Got it from a girl guide site.

Tomorrow is deer hunting season. Not DEAR but DEER so you can't hunt my hubby though mainy times I wonder why I don't put him out. hehe JUST KIDDING!!! He was scouting the property this morning and of course a 6 point buck is out and with it being Sunday you cannot shoot. Plus in the neighbouring field a neighbour was burning some stuff off. Three strikes there. I hope its there for him tomorrow.

Speaking of deers... I guess up in the Grey County area 11 people have had accidents involving deer. Here in Sarnia Lambton the total for the year is 87. I guess they keeping their eyes open alot more up there than we are! :)

Its been almost 6 weeks and my arm is still sore. I broke down last week and went to the doctor. He says its tendonitis. Great! Something else to keep me from knitting. It hurts to lay on the arm and being at the keyboard now its seizing up.

So that's all from me! Happy knitting!

KTS 4 is here!

2007-10-20T18:24:00.000-04:00

I should of posted this weeks ago but I am still excited! I got an international pal this time. She is from Finland and her name is Heli. Hi Heli!! I've gone shopping and have gotten her some really neat things and I hope that she will enjoy them.

The sports are rapping up thank goodness and we can have a breather. Though the Hoops coach is starting another girls session next friday. This one ends on tuesday. We go to brownie camp on friday and I told him we wouldn't play this time around but next. I need a break. With ds in it on mon and thurs and dd tuesday and fridays (plus brownies on thurs) it kept me running.

After hubby and the kids get back from hunting (the first week of November) I will get ds into Karate. He loves it and it is two nights a week too. So I guess I have a three week respit. Yeah me!

Raverly

2007-10-08T15:18:00.000-04:00

Well I signed up for Raverly. Not really sure what it does but it looks like a knitting blog and site for other stuff.

I just looked to see where I am sitting and here is what it says:

Found you!
You signed up on September 16, 2007
You are #33315 on the list.
8091 people are ahead of you in line.
7776 people are behind you in line.
58% of the list has been invited so far

Well I am getting closer!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2007-10-06T21:53:00.000-04:00

Its been a busy week. The kids were home sick from school for two days. I was home the first day with them and then I managed to go to work for the other four. Basketball for both of them is taking alot of time right now. Another two weeks of this and it will be done. Thank goodness! Gotta love them and the extra activities but its wearing me done and I'd like to join something too.

This is how our week goes: DD has cross country practice mon, tues and thurs. She has basketball tues and fri and brownies and thurs. DS has basketball mon and thurs (hubby has to take him to that one). The only nights free are Wed and the weekends. I put my foot down on that one!

Well we got the house cleaned up for the in-laws and the rolled in after lunch yesterday. Hubby did the bulk of the cleaning. I have managed to get 5 loads of laundry done today. Yeah me! hehee

Plus cook two pies (mil brought apple pies with her), cooked a turkey. Stupid me! Its 102F! But the bird and mashed potatoes and fresh carrots were yummy! I didn't realize it was going to get that hot out. I figured warm - you know in the twenties, celsius) not this other shit. It was 29C and the humidex was 38F.

I haven't been doing any knitting this week but I did make a scarf last weekend and a soap sack as well. The soap sack will be part of a gift basket for the CWL christmas bazaar. I haven't done alot of knitting for the Chirstmas sale I am going in. Getting tired of scarves and dishcoths. I have other knitting I need to do now but my one shoulder is killing me.

We are going state side tomorrow and having Thanksgiving with my family. My sister and I are getting rooms over there. Get this! Its $58 Canadian a night or $59 Us a night. Well I think I know what I want to pay in! hehehe Hubby bought $250 US and it cost us $250.43 Canadian and that is with the staff discount. Mind boggling. Going to do some power shopping tomorrow.

The last time our dollar did this well I was my kids age. Boy I feel old but at least I can say its happened twice in my life. Plus they say that the Canadian Unemployment rate is the lowest in 33 years. We are breaking all kinds of records. WOW!!!!!

Well I need to pack. I am taking some knitting with me and hope to get a few things done. Little projects are great and then I know that they are finishede.

Happy Thanksgiving!

KTS 4 starts Wednesday

2007-10-01T18:59:00.000-04:00

Just to let everyone know that KTS 4 begins Wednesday at http://knittersteaswap.blogspot.com/

The first 200 people who sign up will be able to participate.

Lets make tea.....

A contest to enter!

2007-10-01T18:58:00.000-04:00

Gotta love contests! Kathy from http://gimpykatk.blogspot.com/2007/10/let-contest-begin-day-1.html is having a contest on her blog. Go to the above link to find out more!

Have fun!

So far so god

2007-09-28T07:27:00.001-04:00

Well I've been on the job for two weeks and so far so good. I am really enjoying it and am learning alot! I got to help out in the copy centre yesterday and I am glad to say I haven't screwed up yet...... YET being the key word. hehe

We've been busy with the sports, brownies, Terry Fox run and life in general. Haven't had much time to knit but hopefully this weekend.

Its a PD day for the kids so I am hoping to get the laundry done and head to the farm. I'm going I think everyone else wants to stay home. That's fine.

Well back to the laundry!

Knitting Saturday!

2007-09-16T16:01:00.000-04:00

Well last night I got some knitting accomplished! I finished a mauve scarf for the craft show. Then I started an orange toque for my son to go hunting with hubby. Turns out I need BLAZE ORANGE yarn not bright orange. Anyone know where I might find this at at a reasonable cost? Blaze orange shows up in the dark. Go figure. Needless to say I don't want my son getting shot so I am going to look for some. I did find some for $17.00 a ball (250 grams).

Any way..... I couldn't sleep so I got up and finished the hat (6 rows left) and I started and finished a scarf in black fun fur. That only took 40 minutes. When you used 10mm needles, 10 stitches and the yardage is 65 yards. It really doesn't take that long.

Well today the kids and I have gotten some housework done. I've backed a snitch pie, have a roast in the oven, carrots and potatoes on the stove ready to go. A nice fall meal.

I am hopping to finish off a candy bag and a dishcloth tonight. I have some laundry to do as well before I go back to work tomorrow.

Yeah! New job! New experiences! K get your resume in! Its part-time at Staples - doing deposits, covering cash for breaks and learning alot. Can't wait to do this.

Have a great day!

Leigh's Christmas Knitting List Updated

2007-09-16T15:59:00.000-04:00

I have made a new list of knitting that I would like to get done by Christmas.

1. Matt's Sweater - needs to be sewn
2. Miki's Sweater - needs to be knitted and sewn (front done)
3. poncho needs to be sewn
4. 1st niece - sweater
5. 2nd niece - seater
6. Nephew - not sure
7. Matt - hat
8. Miki - hat
9. teacher 1 - scarf
10. teacher 2 - scarf
11. teacher 3 - scarf
12. CWL raffle - scarf
13. CWL raffle- spa set (3 items)
14. hubby - slippers
15. me - slippers
16. son - slippers
17. daughter - slippers
18-20. my sister - 3 dishcloths (I have the yarn)
21. son - orange hat for hunting. DONE!!

There maybe the odd thing after this. The teachers scarves could possibly be done. I can take them from the items I have knitted for the craft show. Or I might do a different colour.

Its been busy weeks for me!

2007-09-13T23:06:00.000-04:00

I can't believe how fast these last few weeks have gone! With getting the kids ready for back to school and having them in. WOW!! Then there's the extra circular activities. Brownies, basketball, karate, soccer (maybe for dd), and the cross country team at school. Both kids want to go in it and the first meet is Oct 13. I think they will have fun and we need to get them out and practice. Only thing........I DO NOT RUN!!! Not interested... don't want to learn. BUT!!! For them I will maybe give it a try.

Also! I start a new job on Monday! Part-time at Staples doing a whole lot of different duties. It will keep me busy and out of trouble. I bought the kids an electric pencil sharpner and they love it! They were sharping pencils for about a half hour! hehe

Well not much else is new. Brownies registration went really well. We hae 24 girls. The meet the teacher went good today and we ordered hoodies, hats and T's for the kids. They got to have pizza and pop and then ds went off to Hoops basketball where his team won! Yeah!! At least hes' not the worst player on the team. When this is done then we will get him into karate. He loved it this summer so I will get him in it again.

Well off to bed for a busy day of cleaning house. Ohh! And doing laundry now that dh hs fixed the washing machine. How long it will last is anyones guess. Its the best twenty dollars we have spent. Saved us from spending $1000 on a new machine. Though we will be forking out money for a new hot water tank. This one is leaking and I am afraid that one of these days that it is going to go! Literally!

Nite!

Knitting Badges that I have earned!

2007-09-05T21:32:00.000-04:00

A fellow blogger had done this and since I am a brownie leader and I love badges! I had to do this! lol

Here's the link for Cast On! http://www.cast-on.com/?page_id=123

The “Proselytize Knitting” Badge - A requirement for all Knitting Scouts, the recipient must do his or her bit to present knitting in a positive light, whilst at the same time avoiding all references to “hipness”, grandmothers, and yoga.
I have talked it up with my brownies and my daughter. Its fun to sit at lunch or in the public and knit!

The “MacGyver” Badge (Level One) - The recipient must demonstrate clever use of a non-knitting tool in a knitting-related scenario. For instance, recipient has used paper clips as stitch markers, or successfully whittled and then utilized bamboo skewers as dpns.

I have used different things as well for stitch markers and have used pens as cable hooks when my have gone missing.

The “Knitting Whilst Under the Influence” Badge - This applies to both actual knitting under the influence, as well as achieving moments of stunning intellectual clarity about ones knitting under the influence. Presumes talking about knitting whilst under the influence a given.

Guilty on both accounts!

The “Inordinately Fond of Novelty Yarn” Badge - In which the recipient professes an arguably unhealthy affinity for yarn with slubs, sparkles, spangles, fur, feathery bits, and an unconscionable proportion of man-made fibre. Recipient makes no apology for the preference.

Making abunch of these for a craft show. Two words: Big needles!

The “Knitting Has Forced Me to Seek Medical Attention” Badge (Level One) – In which the recipient has been forced to seek the advice of a medical doctor, nurse, or alternative healthcare professional for injuries sustained as a result of knitting.

Can you say Tennis Elbow anyone?

The “Knitting Has Forced Me to Seek Medical Attention” Badge (Level Two) - In which the recipient has been forced to seek the advice of a medical doctor, nurse, or alternative healthcare professional, in a hospital emergency room, for injuries sustained as a result of knitting.

Can you say Tennis Elbow again and couldn't knit for two months!

Wordless Wednesday (lots of photos!)

2007-09-05T18:45:00.000-04:00

These next photos are taken from the Elke farm that isn't too farm from Wiarton.

Some Canning that I have finished. The relish, more red beets and dill pickles.

Here's the tent that Matt won for the Scavenger Hunt we participated in through the library.

Our friend Bob the chipmunk. Next time I will bring the peanuts!

Photos from Camping at Happy Hearts.

Knitted Tea Swap 4

2007-09-05T18:33:00.001-04:00

KTS4 is coming to a computer soon! I can't wait!

Powerful Felix hits Central America, Henriette roars into Baja California

2007-09-04T18:07:00.000-04:00

CP Photo: Hurricanes Henriette, left, gained force as it churned south of the Baja Peninsula near Mexico... By Paul Kiernan

CABO SAN LUCAS, Mexico (AP) - Felix walloped Central America's remote Miskito coastline and Henriette slammed into resorts on the tip of Baja California as a record-setting hurricane season got even wilder Tuesday with twin storms making landfall on the same day.

Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes making landfall on the same day is unprecedented, according to National Hurricane Center records dating back to 1949.

Felix roared ashore before dawn as a Category 5 storm along Nicaragua's remote northeast corner, an isolated, swampy jungle where people get around mainly by canoe. Winds near 260 km/h winds peeled roofs off shelters and a police station, knocked down electric poles and stripped humble homes to a few walls.

"The metal roofs are coming off like straight razors and flying against the trees and homes," Lumberto Campbell, a local official in Puerto Cabezas, near Felix's landfall, told Radio Ya shortly before his phone line went dead.

Emergency official Samuel Perez said most of the port's buildings were damaged and the dock was destroyed, although there were no reports of deaths.

Forecasters worried Felix would do great damage inland as it slowed over Honduras and Guatemala, threatening mudslides. Up to 64 centimetres of rain was expected to drench the mountain capitals of Tegucigalpa and Guatemala City, where shantytowns cling precariously to hillsides.

By Tuesday afternoon, towns across Honduras were already flooding, and residents waded through waist-deep, garbage-strewn water in La Ceiba, on the northern coast.

In 1998, hurricane Mitch parked over the same region for days, causing deadly flooding and mudslides that killed nearly 11,000 people and left more than 8,000 missing.

"The major concern now shifts to the threat of torrential rains over the mountains of Central America," said senior hurricane specialist Richard Pasch at the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

In the Pacific, Henriette's top winds increased to 137 km/h and it made landfall just after 2 p.m. on the southern tip of Baja, a resort area popular with Hollywood stars and sports fishermen. Few tourists or residents had expected much trouble, but they awoke Tuesday to dangerous winds, closed airports and forecasts of a direct hit.

"I've been hearing it from the wife, coming to Cabo during the hurricane season," said Derek Dunlap, 45, an engineer from San Francisco. "I was going to roll the dice, and well, here we go."

Henriette was on a path to drench Mexico's northern deserts, and its remnants are forecast to drop drop a few centimetres of rain on Arizona and New Mexico in the Southwest on Thursday night.

The Mexican government declared a state of emergency in southern Baja California.

Felix is the 31st Category 5 hurricane seen in the Atlantic since record-keeping began in 1886, and the eighth in the last five seasons. Some meteorologists say human-caused increases in sea surface temperatures are making storms stronger, while others say the numbers are up because new technology allows us to measure their intensity better.

In Guatemala, presidential elections were still scheduled for Sunday, but authorities prepared supplies and equipment for heavy rains and flooding from Felix. In Honduras, schools were closed and 11,000 soldiers went on alert as Tegucigalpa residents emptied supermarket shelves and waited in long lines for gas.

"I've been standing in lines for two days at different places to buy food and home supplies," said housewife Cristina Segura.

In the Nicaraguan mining town of Bonanza, 1,000 refugees crowded into 16 shelters. Mayor Maximo Sevilla said most roads were washed out or blocked by debris.

"We are cut off and being beaten by hurricane Felix," Sevilla told The Associated Press by phone, pleading for help from emergency officials.

As soon as Felix moved inland, the Nicaraguan army sent in a planeload of soldiers, life jackets and building materials, joining 700 troops patrolling against looting and clearing debris.

Tuesday was historic for two reasons: It was the first time on record that two Category 5 Atlantic hurricanes made landfall in the same year, with Felix coming two weeks after hurricane Dean slammed into southern Mexico.

And Atlantic and Pacific hurricanes have never made landfall the same day, according to records dating back to 1949. The closest comparison happened at 5 a.m. on Aug. 24, 1992, when Andrew devastated southern Florida 23 hours after Lester hit Baja California, Mexico, the Hurricane Center said.

Henriette's leading edge brought driving rain and five-metre waves that sent plumes of whitewater about 10 metres high at the main Cabo San Lucas marina. Waves also washed away sand and licked at the walls of beachfront hotels. Catamarans crashed against their moorings and palm trees bent in the wind.

Henriette claimed seven lives even before it strengthened into a hurricane. One woman drowned in high surf in Cabo San Lucas on Monday, and the storm caused flooding and landslides that killed six people in Acapulco over the weekend.

Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean Cruises changed itineraries for six cruises to avoid ports in the area.

126 days till Christmas!

2007-08-21T18:42:00.001-04:00

Can you believe it! Only 126 days till Christmas! Can't wait. Christmas is my favourite time of year.

Off to find a count down to add time my side bar! Ho ho ho

Who founded Lego

2007-08-21T08:03:00.000-04:00

Who founded Lego? I found this quite interesting and though I'd share.

The plastic toy created in 1947 has sold over 400 billion bricks
Many people wonder who invented LEGO®s, that popular children’s toy that is known around the world. The inventor of LEGO®s is Mr. Ole Kirk Christiansen, who is the grandfather of the company owner today, Mr. Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen. Mr. Ole Kirk Christiansen was a carpenter who lived in Bilund, Denmark, and that is also where the company first began. Little would he know that from one decision during the Depression, one of the most popular toys in the world would be created.

Mr. Christiansen began his carpentry business in 1916. He made houses and built furniture for farmers who lived in the area. He lived with his family in Bilund, Denmark and did his carpentry work in that area. But in 1932 he decided to start to make wooden toys for the local children. He made animal pull toys and piggy banks and buses.

Christiansen loved making children’s toys so much that he was inspired to switch from carpentry work to the toy business. This was a very wise decision, as the country Denmark was in a depression, and Christiansen believed that while people would wait for awhile if they needed repair work done to their homes, or even new furniture, they would always find money for brand new toys for their children. Christiansen chose the name LEGO® for his new company. It is actually a contraction of two Danish words: “leg” and “godt” which means “play well”.

Christiansen’s new company LEGO® created its first plastic toys in 1947. In 1949, they brought what they called Automatic Binding Bricks: interlocking plastic blocks that were an early design of what we now know today as the LEGO® brick. The LEGO®s that we love today came to market in 1955. They were originally designed in red and white plastic.

The first set was called Town Plan and was created to teach children about traffic safety. Town Plan was a hit! In the years that followed, Christiansen offered many more kits to teach children about more important issues. Today, children can find LEGO® assortments that include more than 3,000 elements in 75 different colors.

It is estimated that over 400 million children and adults all over the world have played with LEGO® bricks. In the past 60 years, global sales of LEGO®s have reached an astounding 400 billion bricks. That’s about seventy-five bricks per person (at the world’s population estimated at six billion people). No wonder so many people are interested in knowing who invented LEGO®s!

Fern Michaels - Free Fall

2007-08-17T20:57:00.000-04:00

Well we are up to the farm for the weekend and I read Fern Michaels Free Fall on the way up and at the farm. I should of had it finished in the car but the kids were yacking! hehe It is the seventh book in the series about 7 lady vigilanties. Loved it!

Well off to do some knitting now. I'll either finish the scarf our start another candy bag!

Which woman from the Outlander series are you?

2007-08-16T13:07:00.000-04:00

I love the books and now I just had to do the quiz!

Which woman from the Outlander series are you?

You are Laoghaire MacKenzie McKimmie Fraser. You'll do whatever it takes to get the things you think you want, though you might not necessarily be happy with the results. Your life feels out of control and you are very dependent upon the men in your life.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

More photos

2007-08-16T08:14:00.000-04:00

Photo Thursday

2007-08-16T08:02:00.000-04:00

Some completed knitting projects. A scarf done out of knitpick yarns, a trefoil dishcloth and aa bathsuit dishcloth.

A gift from Suzie from the KTS3. Thanks Suzie! Love the yarn.

These are the pickles that I have canned over the last few weeks. Dills, red beets and icicle pickles.

Mandy's Candy Bag

2007-08-16T07:42:00.000-04:00

There is a contest running at NH Knitting Mama (http://nhknittingmama.blogspot.com/2007/07/mandys-candy-bag.html), and it goes like this:

1. Knit the candy bag
2. Post a pic of your candy bag on your blog and let Mandy know about it (with a link to the blog post!).
3. Your name will go into a drawing FIVE TIMES for some swag!

Don't want to knit Mandy's Candy Bag? That's okay! You can still participate
See how on Mandy's blog...

Deadline is Monday, September 3rd, 12:01am eastern standard time.

Here is my finished bag!

Photo one is of me at the point using dpn needles.

Second photo is off the bottom of the bag.

Finish bag with out the cord.

My use of a crohet hook. The camer is in my left hand.

The finish bag itself. I had put a dishcloth in the bottom to puff it up some.

Updates of what I have done

2007-08-12T18:44:00.000-04:00

Okay I haven't posted in abit but I have been busy.

I have read 17 books in July

canned 17 jars of dill pickles
canned 36 jars of icicle pickles
canned 25 jars of red beets
froze 8 bags of green and yellow beans

knitted 6 scarves and 2 dishcloths

and have been working with my son on the scavenger hunt. We had 72 stamps as of yesterday and took it up to 98. We need 156 stamps in total to finish. 58 more to go! We are going out tomorrow to do some more.

Well off to get some house work and laundry done so I can go and play tomorrow.

Leigh Ann

Create Your Own Masterpiece!

2007-08-04T16:10:00.000-04:00

Here is mine!

http://www.createpaintings.com/result.php?id=11862580665960

Click here to create your own painting.

Update on my kniting

2007-08-02T22:48:00.000-04:00

Well I have been kniting up a storm and I have also been canning up a storm. I have knitted two scarves, a dishcloh and have another scarf and dishcloh on the needles.

I have canned 13 jars of dill pickles,
and I have froze 4 1 ltr bags of raspberries and 8 bags of green and yellow beans.

We have bought a new car! Yeah! Its another Honda Civic but this one is an Honda Civic EX. It has a moon roof, cd player and power windows. Gotta love the moon roof! Its white or taffata white and we get it tomorrow. Can't wait!

Well a big day tomorrow and alot to do.

Leigh

Pictures

2007-07-23T08:08:00.000-04:00

I finally got the buttons sewn on to these! It only took over 5 years. Probablly longer.

Happy Canada Day! Almost a month late but its done!

I did it!

2007-07-22T21:46:00.000-04:00

Except for the two purses and 3 sets of baby booties I have tucked in all the ends in on my projects in my basket! Yeah me!!!

I also had to rip back the red maple leaf dishcloth by 10 rows as I screwed up. Don't coo at a baby and talk to your sister when your knitting this!! hehehe

Well I finished the red maple dishcloth and also made 2 scarves using Bernat Envy. One in black with blue and yellow tones and a beige one with brown tones. I like them.

Also, did all the laundry, shopped and have half the stuff packed to go on our camping trip tomorrow.

Oh! And I finished a book by Jayne Ann Krentz called Flash! A busy girl I have been.

I still need to cook some chicken to go with us tomorrow and make some muffins but I can do that in the morning.

What is everybody up too?

2007-07-14T15:52:00.000-04:00

We are alittle quite but I know there's holidays, lots of knitting and reading going on. If your I my house the computers are taken over by the kids.

So what is everybody working? Any vacations yet?

Hope you have a great weekend!

Happy Knitting!

Leigh Ann
who's fitting a loosing battle with a cold. Anyone want it?

Lean Mean 13

2007-07-12T17:18:00.000-04:00

Well by midnight last night I finished Lean Mean 13 by Janet Evanovich. Now I liked it and it was fun but its the tug between Ranger and the Cop. So I think Stephanie Plum should decide. Not sure if JE is putting another book out but will check out her website to see.

We just got a sunburst of rain! It was great and we needed it. Its nice an sunny now and I will be taking Miki to soccer tonight. Hopefully she will get another goal.

Have a great night.

My reading for July so far

2007-07-08T21:25:00.001-04:00

These are the books I have read so far this month and its only July 8th. Mostly one a day.

My long weekend trip

2007-07-08T21:24:00.000-04:00

I'm abit late at posting this and I still haven't gotten alot done but now I have a big cold like hubby and the kids. Just want to stay in bed today. Been doing alittle knitting and reading but nothing else.

Here's what I posted last week on POTM (Project of the Month).

We got home yesterday(July2) by 12:30pm. I didn't want to wait till later
in the day because then we would be sitting on the bridge. Not a fun
thing to do! And plus we did that going over! lol It took us 1
hour to go 3 km and hit the toll both at the Blue Water Bridge (we
were in line at 11:30 am) and got across to Port Huron by 1pm. Once
we got past the tolls it was pretty much smooth sailing.

We took the tent trailer and camped at Washataki Golf Club and RV
camp ground. Our tent trailer at least didn't have a complex against
the motor homes or rv's at least. hehe Food was great, the company
was fun (my sister and her family came up to my parent's trailer).
Just alot of r & r and beer.

Question? Why is every cooler I drank made of malt? What's malt?
Where's the vodka? Where's the rum? Where's the real booze? The
kids fished and they rode grandma's bike - hubby didn't pack them
theirs like I told him too. I vegged yesterday and today I was
getting stuff unpacked and put away.

Hope everyone had a great weekend! And I hope you enjoy this weekend! Boy its hot out there! Yuck!!

Yes Virgina there was a funnel cloud!

2007-06-28T18:35:00.000-04:00

I guess the rumors were alittle true. A funnel cloud was spotted near Canatara park in Sarnia. It was a nasty storm. I had left early from home to pick the kids up and ended up being there till 2:50pm. The principal announced over the pa that the walkers and bikers were to stay till further notice, then the power went out and we were all to line up in the hall with the walk way clear. Some of the younger kids were crying and if their parents weren't there some of other moms and dads were comforting them. I even saw some of the bigger girls crying. It was alittle scary but I think the principal and the staff of our school did a great job. They kept us inform and were all very calm. Now I know better what to do next time. I did take one of my daughter's friends (with the teacher's permission) to her big brother.

We did end up having our little end of school party -by 4:30pm we were in the pool (the kids any way) and having fun. The pool was 80f at that point. Today temps are 21C and it feels cold after having temps at 28C or 94F.

Here's the article that was in the Sarnia Observer today.
Tornado warning spurs panic

Jeffords, Shawn; Huebl, Stephen

Thursday, June 28, 2007 - 16:00

Local News - A violent storm that ripped through Sarnia-Lambton and spawned at least one funnel cloud near Canatara beach Wednesday also produced some confusion in the emergency response system.

Sarnia police interrupted local radio broadcasts to issue a tornado warning, even though one was never officially issued by Environment Canada.

The emergency broadcast sent school children, city hall workers and Sarnia courthouse staff scurrying for cover in basements and hallways.

The officer was acting on information gathered from emergency officials in Michigan, 9-1-1 calls, CB radio chatter from truckers and Environment Canada's own CanWarn weather watchers, said Cal Gardner, Sarnia's emergency management co-ordinator.

"It would have been worse if we did nothing and it had happened and someone had been hurt," said Gardner, who wondered why an official warning was never issued.

The skies darkened shortly after 2 p.m. and driving wind and rain blasted the city, downing power lines and tree branches. The power went out for about 6,000 city residents for up to two hours.

Wind gusts reached 67 km/h at Sarnia airport and the Blue Water Bridge Authority for a time considered closing the border crossing. "It was getting close," said operations manager Joe Lopetrone. "We kept a very close eye on it."

Residential streets overflowed and there was localized flooding in south Sarnia. The backed-up sewers discharged an enormous brown plume of storm water and raw sewage to the St. Clair River that lasted several hours.

All 25 of Bluewater Power's linemen were busy repairing damage from fallen tree limbs and lightening strikes, said president Janice McMichael-Dennis. Staff had monitored the storm and were prepared to deal with damage, she said.

"We're very concerned about restoring power quickly and safely to our customers, and we take that very seriously."

Jeff Coulson, of Environment Canada, said three storm fronts passed over Sarnia-Lambton yesterday. He confirmed a funnel cloud appeared over southern Lake Huron and briefly formed a water spout, an event captured on camera for The Observer by Sandy Lane resident Brian Sawkill.

The Sarnia fire department fielded dozens of calls from residents concerning about downed branches and arching power lines. Queen Street was closed after three utility poles were snapped.

And a resident of an apartment building near the Sarnia Arena was reportedly stuck in an elevator until a backup generator kicked in, the department said.
ID- 590770
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The garden at the farm

2007-06-25T20:35:00.000-04:00

Here are some photos of the garden I have up at the farm. The beans, tomatoes, and my in-laws garden, the watermelon that's not doing so hot, the pumpkins, and a view of the rows of carrots, onions and beets. Not too bad so far.

My knitted tea swap 3 goodies

2007-06-25T20:32:00.000-04:00

I have finally gotten all the photos off of my camera. Wow! I had over three hundred to down load. But they are worth it. This is what Lynda sent to me from WV.

Thanks again Lynda!

Update on accident at Hiawatha Horsepark

2007-06-23T17:47:00.000-04:00

I was at Hiawatha that night with the Guide Leaders of our district. We had a race for our division (race 6 where we got our photo taken with the winning horse and jockey). The accident happened in the first race. Put abit of a damper on the night but we did enjoy ourselves.
Update On Accident At Hiawatha

June 22, 2007

Driver Gord McKnight is in good spirits today after suffering a cracked pelvis in an accident last night at Hiawatha Horse Park.

"He cracked his pelvis so I'm sure he'll be sore for a while," race secretary Dave Walls told Trot Insider this afternoon. Walls had seen McKnight earlier in the day when they arranged to have J N C Diamond transported to Guelph. The horse died tragically in the accident.

"Gord just basically said it happened so quickly he had nowhere to go," said Walls, who witnessed the accident from the announcer's booth. "He left with crutches (en route to the hospital last night). He seems to be fine; he was talking and joking around. Obviously he's going to be very sore in the next little bit."

McKnight's horse, Clever Coquette, fell approaching the half and J N C Diamond (Gord McDonnell) could not avoid them. McDonnell was unharmed but J N C Diamond was killed on impact.

"I'm surprised Gord got up because he got hit so hard," Walls said. "The ambulance got there quickly and our ambulance attendant is very good. They did all the precautions to protect his neck so it might have looked worse than it was, but he was conscious the whole time."

Walls confirmed that McKnight's horse, Clever Coquette, suffered only scratches and superficial wounds.

Please join Standardbred Canada in wishing Gord McKnight a speedy recovery, and in offering our condolences to the connections of J N C Diamond.

What a great day!

2007-06-23T17:17:00.000-04:00

What a great day it was today! The weather was awesome. Today was
Bright's Grove's annual Canada Day parade and the kids and I
participated in it. They with their bikes and myself with the my
brownie unit (dd didn't want to walk she wanted to ride her bike). We
had a great time. Our local Optimist host it every year and all
participates get a free hot dog and pop. Not bad for a short walk.
The people and friends I got to see was fun.

Bright's Grove is a small town, population about 2500 (and we are
amalgamated with the city of Sarnia) and it had that real family
feeling today. The kids wandered where ever and I didn't have to keep
an eye on them like I would in the city. Dd even took second prize
for her bike!

Our parade is always a week earlier than the city, better selection of
stuff from the dollar store too! hehehe

Well off to start summer and get something done around this neglected
house. The kids are having a pool party on Wednesday and I want the
house to look half decent.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Leigh Ann

And the winner is....

2007-06-17T21:57:00.000-04:00

The winner of my Contest is Regina/Garnet. She guessed 54 projects that needed ends tucked in.

The actuall number of projects were: 70!!!! I do have 35 done as they were for my brownies.

Here is how it is broken down:

dishcloths - 58
Tea Towels - 2
baby booties (sets) 3
baby hat - 1
scarves - 4
purses - 2

Regina email me at leigh33ca at yahoo dot com and give me your mailing address so I can pop something into the mail for you.

Thanks to everyone that made a guess!

Survived Brownie Camp

2007-06-16T09:53:00.000-04:00

Well we had brownie camp last weekend and it was a hit! The girls had a blast! We thought we werer going to be rained out or be in a major thunderstorm but it pasted over us. Setting the tents up in the wind was challenging but it all worked out and we did a craft and had smores the first night.

The second day we went for two hikes and did some crafts. The second hike took us to Rock Glen where the girls got to see the waterfall and we went to the musuem there. Also we went down 150 stairs to where you could look for fossils and they all found one. Kind of neat. We should of done that first and then went to the museum so that they could match up what they found with what the museum has. We then had to climb UP a 100 stairs. Lets just say everyone was pooped after that hike. We invited the guides from Corunna to join us for a campfire and sing songs. Both groups behaved excellently and got along amazingly. We brought out the smores again and gave everyone juice box (good way to clean them up). Our girls were saying can we go to bed as we are tired. Makes for a great camp when they are tired! heehee

We had dd class first communion on the Sunday as well so it was a very busy weekend for us. It went great as well and it was nice to see all the kids in their outfits and gowns. I had a tear in my eye as well.

Will post pictures of camp later.

Leigh Ann

Contest Winner to be announced on Sunday

2007-06-16T09:47:00.000-04:00

I got unexpected company yesterday. My sister and her girls came up to visit us and I didn't get a chance to count all of my projects that need ends tucked in. I was trying to pack for us to go away for the weekend and well.... that ran late too. But! I did have a good visit with my sister and my nieces.

I have brought some knitting with me, I guess I should of brought the basket with me and I could of worked on that this weekend. I know it won't take me long. Hopefully when I get home I cang et them done. It will be a priority.

Have a great weekend!

Leigh Ann

More photos

2007-06-05T08:48:00.000-04:00

Quincy before a hair cut.

Quincy a few weeks after his hair cut.

Picture Tuesday

2007-06-05T08:31:00.000-04:00

Our cake for our final night of Brownies.

June Contest - Guess how many projects need to be finished off

2007-06-02T20:31:00.000-04:00

I am going to fun a contest on my blog from today, June 2 to June to June 16th.

Guess how many projects need to have their ends tucked in or sewed together. NO! There are no sweaters or ponchos in here. They are in a tote. The person closest will win. In the event of a tie (or more people get it right). I will put everyones name in a hat and draw a winner.

What is the prize? Something from my stash and I will make it worth while.

Happy Guessing!!!

Here are two photos of the basket that has the projects in them. Some you can see others you can't. Hint... after this picture some of the items are finished and gone.

Well a week into 2007 SSO

2007-06-02T20:25:00.001-04:00

Well its been about a week or almost two since I started the 2007 SSO and so here is the May progress report:

3 balls used for 3 dish cloths knitted ( blue, pink and light green) trefoil pattern.
5 balls used for a Fiore scarf knitted (donated the scarf to a friends silent auction at her school).

Returned the following yarn. Yes! You read right

12 balls of Bernat Satin 100 grams each
2 ball of Bernat Cotton appr. 50 grams each
8 balls of Primavera Nova Yarn 5o grams each
1 ball of Bernat Denimum 100 grams

So grand total of 1450 grams of yarn returned. I still have alot of knitting. I did put an order in for yarn for sweaters for my nieces. My Just for Kids book came in and I have the yarn on hold till August (downpayment came from the Primavera yarns - so basically switching out).

On the needles to finish that I started this month is:

A+ apple dishcloth for teacher helper (need to do two of these maybe two for dd teach too)
scarf for a Christmas gift and I can do a matching hat and mitts if I have enough of the funky yarn.

So not a bad month and hopefully will get more done after next weekend. Brownie camp!

Knitting Meme

2007-05-27T11:11:00.000-04:00

Bold for stuff you’ve done, italics for stuff you plan to do eventually, and normal for stuff you don’t intend to do.

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with bananafiber yarn
Domino knitting (=modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffitti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knittingDesigning knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button Holes
Knitting with alpacaFair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone elses handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
BobblesKnitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Knitting two socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/feltingKnitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
SwatchingLong Tail CO
Entrlac
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with selfpatterning/selfstriping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Knitting with cashmere
DarningJewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mits/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

My 2007 goals for Summer of Stash Out and the Skeins Her Way contest

2007-05-26T18:26:00.000-04:00

Any way..... my goals:

1. Not to buy any yarn until after the Labour Day weekend (depending on how much of the stash I have used). See April 2,2007 blog for pictures of the stash. My blog is: http://knittingngardeningjunkie.blogspot.com/

2. To complete some of my UFO's:
a. Matt's sweater just needs to be sewed
b. Miki's sweater
c. Poncho - not sure who its for yet - jsut needs to be sewed
d. The 6 cable sweater I started back in 1992 that no longer will fit but is almost done.
f. Sewing buttons on a few things that need them and tucking ends into others so that
they are 100% finished.
3. To work on depleting some of my new yarns into the projects that I bought them for:
1. Bernat Satin top for me
2. Hat for Matt - can't think of the name but its 100% virgin wool
3. Hat for Miki - same as above
4. Cotton top for me - Twilley's Freedom Cotton DK in navy
5. various scarves that I have done - just have to be sewed
6. to use up some of the dish cloth yarns that I have had for awhile.
4. I won't buy any more yarn on sale till after the SSO is done or till I use up alot of this yarn.
5. To work on the project of the month and finish them.
I think that's good for me for now. Could add more if I get through these lists.

Exceptions:

1. A knitting magazine that may come out during this time
2. A ball of yarn to finish a project. Shouldn't have too as I normally buy an extra ball.
3. If I go on a fab holiday and see an awesome yarn shop and the yarn calls to me. Fat chance this will happen but if it does I would be aloud.
4. Extra stitch counter if I have mutiple things on the go or I loose one. I really don't need any extra knitting stuff as I have alot as is.
5. Yarn for the project of the month. I probably will have the yarn in my stash but I may have to add to it depending on the project.
What's in it for me in the end.

Yarn used up and a feeling of accomplishment. Hopefully some Christmas presents will be finished and I won't be rushed then.

Skeins Her Way blog

2007-05-26T18:11:00.000-04:00

I was directed to this blog by Rycrafty about a contest for a fitted tank top and 4 balls of Blue Sky Dyed Cotton. Who could resist that! lol Here is the blog link to go to the contest:

http://www.skeinsherway.com/2007/05/pre-summer-contest.html)

Here is how to enter the contest. You must do it on her blog not mine but mention that you saw it here.

"""""First place winner will receive 1 copy of the pattern along with 4 hanks of Blue Sky Dyed Cotton in their choice of colors! Second & third place winners will each receive a copy of the pattern and whatever other goodies happen to jump into the package just before sealing and sending...

The warmer weather has moved in, even here in Minnesota, and I will be casting on a tank of my own very soon- maybe 2 as I can't seem to decide which color to do!

Okay, so here are the contest rules- all you have to do is:

1.) Leave a comment on this post letting me know what color you want and mention who's blog you heard about the contest on (if you jumped from a blog and if you can remember...)

2.) Then head to your blog and post a list of your summer knitting goals (there may be an end-of-summer contest of some sort to celebrate summer knitting accomplishments...) and mention this contest (with a link to this post- http://www.skeinsherway.com/2007/05/pre-summer-contest.html)

3.) Lastly e-mail me with the link to your post! (ali AT skeins her way DOT com) Be sure to mention in your post for anyone who follows your link to let me know what blog they jumped from as every 'referral' will earn you another entry!

Contest will run through the end of the month (May) and my talented children will draw three winning names (or secret blogging identities) out of a container of some sort on June 1st.

Think about your summer knitting, make your lists, and get blogging!

Happy knitting,

ali""""""

Fiore Scarf Done

2007-05-21T23:01:00.001-04:00

Well I started a scarf tonight and finished it. The first two balls went really quick. I used 5 balls of Fiore, earth tones, and 9mm needles. It hands almost to my feet! lol I can double it or wrap it a few times around me. Might be a christmas gift - not sure yet.

So 195 yards or 250 grams of yarn used along with the Bernat Cotton I used earlier today. Not bad!

I'll take a photo of it later as its time for bed.

Leigh Ann

What I did on the long weekend

2007-05-21T18:31:00.001-04:00

Well I can't believe that the weather sucked! Okay! I should because it always sucks on our May 2-4. But I wasn't expecting the rain!

I read two books this weekend, knitted two dishcloths and went to my sisters today. I also, went to the cemetery and planted some flowers on my great grandparents grave. They are the only ones with out any so I decided its time to change that! I planted some hostas (I split one of mine at home), 2 plants from my sisters (I divided them too and not sure what they are. Daisies of some sort?) and 3 Ostrepermums (sp??). Two orange and one white. I added fresh dirt and my niece helped me. She was a good girl. We watered them and the flowers that my mom had on my grandparents grave.

My other niece is just giggling up a storm and VERY ticklelish. Loves her auntie Leigh.

Well of to take a hot shower as I am freezing! And pack to head to the farm tomorrow to plant my garden. I think Quincy will be going on a road trip with me. When I get back its my garden to be done.

Have a great night.

Yahoo! Its the longweekend!

2007-05-18T13:55:00.001-04:00

Yep you read right! Its the May 2-4 weekend. Dd and hubby have gone to the farm for the weekend. Ds and I are staying home. Ds is going to a friends house for a birthday sleepover. Hopefully tonight then we can head up tomorrow and visit too. Hubby and in-laws are having a big yard sale too. I have put somethings on it and hopefully hubby will abide by my prices!

I went to mass this morning for the Mass of Mary. My daughters class and another were putting it on. They were all so cute! Hubby got the front lawn cut and I did the back while he tilled my garden. Add 4 bags of cow poop and he retilled and I am set to plant! Yes!! hehe Hopefully tonight if not tomorrow.

I've got alot plans but haven't started anything yet. Have to pick up ds at 2:30 and get some groceries. I purposely ran stuff low so it wouldn't be wasted.

Well off to watch As the World Turns.

Leigh Ann

Knits for Kids

2007-05-17T19:35:00.000-04:00

I've just ordered Knits for Kids by Judy Lamb. Here's the scoop on it:

Knits for Kidsby Judy Lamb

Nothing is more satisfying than to knit a stylish sweater for that special young person in your life. From size 1 to 10, each of these delightful designs is perfect for a boy or a girl. Change yarn colors and buttons on any of the projects to recreate the outcome. Easy to read instructions and full color photographs.

5 projects—32 pages | Softcover