Fireworks

The nearby town of Alexandria had some fireworks tonight to kick off its Festival of Lights.
Here is some of the show with occasional commentary and faint bagpipes in the background.

Shells

 Some pictures of a few shells I bought in PEI.

Angora Blend Hat and Mitts

When I was in Cape Breton, I stopped in at Baadeck Yarns, a lovely little shop in Baddeck.  I was on the look-out for some angora blend yarn, and they did have some, although in a limited colour range. I settled on this variegated yarn with mixed feelings about the colours, but as I knit with it, I started to like it more and more. I have a beige jacket so I think it will work fine with that.  The yarn is very light and soft - delightful to wear especially on the hands.

Light Prevails

Psalm 23 (NIV)

The Lord is my shepherd
I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
He leads me beside quiet waters,
He restores my soul.
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
  for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow
       of death,
I will fear no evil,
For you are with me.


 Toujours dans nos coeurs.

Dried Flowers

 Just picked a few bits and pieces outside.  I like the greyish green with the red.

 One of my hostas makes many black seeds that show up nicely against the beige outer covering.

This is from a ligularia. The fuzzy one in the middle is a cluster of seeds.  When they fall off, what remains looks like a brown daisy.

Strawflowers

 A little bit of summer to brighten up the day.

Strawflowers are easy to grow and their papery petals keep their colour for months.

Chunky Afghan

I wanted a knitting project that would go quickly so I made this afghan out of very chunky yarn (acrylic/wool blend).  The needles were 15mm.  I've never knit with such big needles before, but it certainly made the process go quickly, and it only took about a week of casual knitting to get the afghan finished. I actually found it a bit awkward, though, using the extra large round needle so I probably won't use it too often.  Right now I am finishing up a pair of mitts in an angora blend. Angora is just the coziest for cold weather.

Pointing the Way

 I know we are barely into fall, but I look at this "arrow" and say, "It's pointing to spring!"
 Winter is barely a hop, and then spring is back, right?

 Some nightshade berries looking tantalizing, but poisonous.

 Some high-bush cranberries that the birds will eat over the next while.

 The sun shining through some ninebark leaves.

 

 More nightshade making a lacy pattern over the rock.
The little chipmunks and squirrels are very busy these days carrying the hickory nuts to special places. The chipmunks are not as nervous as they should be for survival.  They are very cute and often stop to look at you as they gather dry leaves or seeds for their burrows.  We have some brush piles that they are cozy in. I'm hoping they won't be eating some new crocuses I planted.

Sun In November

November - my least favourite month.
But today is sunny and mild, and this dandelion and hoverfly would like me to believe that it's spring.

Several woolybears were out and about soaking up the warmth before the winter hibernation.

The tamarack (larix laricina) trees are still a lovely yellow.

The needles are starting to drop, though, and, in a couple of weeks,  they will be bare.  The genus larix is the only one that has needles that drop off in the winter.

The cones look rather like cedar cones.

The branches come out every which-way.
The name Tamarack is Algonquin for "wood used for snowshoes" which gives a clue as to the usefulness of this tree.  The wood is durable , yet flexible.