Retiring...To A New Location!

With all of my online busyness over the past two years, I felt it time to commit to my own domain name and customized blog format. Therefore, you can now find me at www.fourboysandanlgirl.ca. Come on over and join me on a continuation of this venture in a slightly updated format.

See you soon!

Patty XO

Cross Stitch Tutorials

The following lists all of my tutorials and posts relating to helping you learn to cross stitch.

Enjoy!

Patty

Video tutorial: Using a Glue Gun to Finish Your Cross Stitch Projects

https://fourboysandanlgirl.blogspot.com/2018/06/tutorial-finishing-cross-stitch-project.html

Tutorial - Finishing Cross Stitch Project Using a Glue Gun

This is the first in a series of videos helping you cross stitch. Enjoy!

Patty

https://youtu.be/XcSOkJGFiFk

Join Me For A Time!

I would love it if you would join me for my first knitting and crocheting retreat here in beautiful Newfoundland and Labrador.

For more information, contact me at fourboysandanlgirl@gmail.com

To receive sneak previews of what's happening with the retreat, you can also join my private Facebook group called 'Knitlantica'. Simply place a request to join and I will add you.

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Four Boys and a NL Girl Episode 31 Podcast

I'm fighting a cold so please excuse the husky voice!

My first FO is another of Helen Stewart's Ice River Hat (paid pattern on Ravelry) in a single ply, 100% merino locally hand dyed yarn by Kumi Soddart. I also mentioned that I bought a fingering weight merino in the same colour way that I intend to knit into Helen Stewart's Knitvent 2017 Land of Sweets Cowl (paid pattern on Ravelry). Still need to put the pom pom on that hat!

My second finished object was a little snowman ornament that I made at the St. John's MFRC (Military Family Resource Centre) at craft morning on Wednesday.

Finally, I showed off my rug hooked wonky row houses mounted on wood for a local Christmas Craft Fair coming up this weekend.

I introduced you to Madison, our foster beagle dog through the Beagle Paws organization. We are having great fun with her!

Next was showing you the BFF Cowl that Victoria (from the Victoria Knits podcast) and I are knitting for the Pen Pal KAL hosted by Lucky Jenny Knits, Jenny and Paws for Stitches, Candy. It is due by December 31, 2017!!! We each knit a half to exchange and then another exactly the same to keep.

Then I talked about two December KALs that I'm going to be involved with. The first is the "A Canadian Afghan, Eh! Pillow KAL" with the lovely ladies from the Fibre Friends podcast, Caroline, Louise and Adrienne. Everyone is welcome to join in! I purchased the book for this KAL as I want to knit the Canada flag block. However, the 'Eh' square for the pillow is available from GC Designs on Ravelry for $6 ($1 off when you use the coupon code PODKAL) if you want to knit that 14" square pillow.

This December, I am also going to knit with the Project Peace KAL on a DK weight shawl designed by The Healthy Knitter's Christina. This is a paid pattern on Ravelry (only $3 which is donated to one of three organizations) and the concept is to work on the project each of the first 21 days of December, ending on International Peace Day on December 21st. I'm using a white Debbie Bliss Cash-merino for the project.

A HUGE thank you for all the support during the forced break I had to take from podcasting due to depression. I'm feeling much better now, thank you!

Acquisitions:

A Mid Century crochet kit from Kaleidoscope City as a treat for me for under the Christmas tree. The box contained a lovely project bag, a number 3 crochet hook with handmade clay handle, two small styrofoam balls for the ornaments, the pattern and four gorgeous mini skeins to complete the ornaments.

My next bundle was from Prairie Dye Studio - stitch markers and a gorgeous cashmere/merino/stellina sparkle colour way Silver Bell skein. BEAUTIFUL!

Knit Picks had a sale and I purchased two balls of Candy Shop and two balls of Punch Bug Felici sock yarn. I also purchased three books: "Toasty Toes: Socks for all Seasons," "Soctacular" and "Merry Knitmas."

I also did some cross stitch patterns from The Cottage Needle on Etsy. 2017 Santa from Prairie Schooler and three Hands on Design patterns: Wreath Houses as well as two Chalkboard Ornament patterns in the 'Be Jolly, Be Merry and Believe' kit and 'Glad Tidings, Great Joy, Good Will to All" kit. I also purchased some 32 Count Belfast linen in 'Gunmetal'.

Again, thanks so much for all of your support!

Patty XO

Episode 30

Back again! This week I talk about two finished objects (FOs)!!!

Ice River Hat by Helen Stewart, a paid pattern available on Ravelry.

and my husband's Smooth Operator Socks by Susan B. Anderson another paid pattern on Ravelry, using West Yorkshire Spinner BFL sock yarn blend in the Pheasant colour way.

I then talked about my WIPs (works in progress):

My Easy Garter Stitch 4 Patch Baby Blanket, a free pattern on Ravelry and

I'm back to working on the very beautiful Snowmelt Shawl by Helen Stewart, a paid pattern on Ravelry. I have hopes of finishing it this month!

I also talked about wanting to knit three more of Helen Stewart's shawls: Hundred Acre Wood, Surprise Party and her Knitvent 2017 collection.

I then moved onto acquisitions and showed off a polar bear rug hooking kit I'd purchased from the Newfoundland and Labrador Craft Council's 2017 Christmas Fair that morning and made by Molly Made Fibre Art Studio.

I was also very pleased to show off some NL hand dyed yarn from Kumistoddard.com also found at the Christmas Fair.

I then announced the winner of the podiversary prize pulled from the YouTube comments from Episode 29. The winner is: Betsy Queen! Betsy, please PM me on Instagram to I can get your goodies to you.

As ever, thanks for watching!

Patty XO

Four Boys and a NL Girl Episode 28

Back from a short hiatus, this weeks podcast includes the following:

My felt Christmas FO ornament that I made. It's my own creation/design.

The Easy 4 Square Baby Blanket that I'm making for my new little niece out of Caron Cakes in the Rainbow Sprinkles and Rainbow Sherbet colour ways. Not the perfect match but it'll have to do.

I showed off my new fall project bag from Sunshine & Bubblegum and the project inside that I'm working on out of Caron Cake leftovers is the Barley Hat by Tin Can Knits (free pattern on Ravelry). Hopefully I can sew up that hole I have;)!

I also showed the goodies that Lynne from Sunshine and Bubblegum sent me with the project bag - two progress keepers in the form of a little fox and an owl. She was also so sweet and generous and sent me two balls of Knit Picks Felici yarn - my first time feeling this yarn that I've heard so much about! I'm one lucky lady!

I also talked about my pair of socks FO that I sent to my pen pal, Victoria. I just showed a picture of these as they are in the mail en route to Victoria as I type.

I inserted information about the Fall Make a Long that Lynne and I are hosting until November 15th. I am hosting the chatter thread and Lynne is hosting the FO thread.

I apologize if I'm forgetting anything from the podcast as I'm typing this while its trying to upload to YouTube and I cannot view the podcast at the same time.

Until next time!!

Patty XO

Four Boys and a NL Girl in Ireland - Episode 27

This podcast was taped during my recent trip to Ireland for Atlantic Knitscape - a knitting and crocheting retreat - from September 21 - 28th, 2017. I was lucky enough to partner with Catherine Hastings, the genius and host behind Knitscape, for this podcast. Lucky luck!

We talked about:

Kate from Hawthorn Cottage Craft's lovely project bags (Hi, Kate!)

Catherine showed off her gorgeous second rendition of Joji Locatelli's Pure Joy shawl using yarn from Strand Designs and Urban GypZ yarn.

We showed off our Close to You shawls from Lete's Knits, a free pattern on Ravelry. Mine was knit in Strand Designs fingering weight 'Wild Atlantic' colour way and Catherine's was knit in Dublin Dye Company's merino sock yarn in the colour way 'Powerscourt'.

I spoke about my on going Madewell Cardigan by Joji Locatelli (paid pattern on Ravelry) using Smith and Ewe's Maryanne's socks yarn in 'Borealis'.

I showed off my progress on my pen pal Victoria's (from the Victoria Knits podcast) shortie socks using Krityum Handmade's Toe Up Sock Recipe, a paid pattern on Ravelry.

I also showed the hat that I'm knitting using a new style of knitting called 'Russian Speed Knitting' that I learned from an Atlantic Knitscape participant. I was supposed to be using Knitting Expat's new Seeded Path Collection but I've changed to a simple vanilla hat pattern that I'm making up as I go along and am knitting in Estelle Chunky in a cream colour.

Catherine showed off her vanilla sock using Schoppel Wolle Zauberball Crazy yarn.

Catherine also showed her finished Pure Joy shawl knit in Irish Fairy Tale yarns in a navy and another hand dyed yarn. She also showed a plain vanilla sock knit in a speckles and stripes yarn by Strand Designs Ireland as well.

Acquisitions:

Both Catherine and I (and another friend, Siobhan) were lucky enough to score a skein each of a brand new Indie dyer in Ireland's yarn - Babbles Yarns (Grace) in a merino single, colour way 'Inishturk'.

I then showed the yarn that I intend to use for a Chateau Rouge shawl - a paid pattern on Ravelry. I bought Babbles Yarn in 'Storm Cloud' and two Merino Nep Strand Designs yarns in 'Magenta' and 'Charcoal'.

I then showcased two more skeins that I hope to knit into yet another Pure Joy shawl - 'Old Town' by Babbles Yarns and 'Beachcomber' by Strand Designs.

I showed off two wool/alpaca and a wool/silk blend that I won at the Knitscape raffle Saturday night. Sadly, these yarns are no longer available.

Thanks so much for joining me on my Irish adventure!

XO Patty

Episode 26

Taped on a beautiful sunny day from my front deck (bridge we call it here;)!):

Showed off the beautiful socks that Victoria, my pen pal who is from the Victoria Knits podcast, knit for me using the Hermoine's Everyday Socks pattern on Ravelry (free pattern download).

HO alert! Showed off the first of a pair of shortie socks that I'm knitting for my pen pal friend Victoria in Patons Kroy (toes, heel and cuff) in the Sherbet colour way and using H'Ewe Phoria yarn from Ontario, Canada.

Showed off SS's sock cards from Krityum Handmade.

SS also gave a copy of her newest pattern - the Tircha Shawl Recipe on Ravelry - to my podcast viewers. Go to Ravelry under the Tircha Shawl pattern giveaway thread under the Four Boys and a NL Girl Podcast group to enter your chance to win a copy of this lovely pattern! This pattern is also currently ON SALE until September 20, 2017 for 25% off in case you want to gift it to a friend!

I talked about two new to me podcasts that I've been enjoying: Dag from the Dag Byrd (Ziawoolz) podcast and Kay and Tom Jones from The Bakery Bears podcast.

And, last but not least, I talked a bit about my new Etsy shop where I now sell cross stitch kits and digital patterns inspired by the landscape and architecture of Newfoundland and Labrador!

Podcast Episode 25

The end of our summer holidays and the first week of school!

No FO's! Boo...!

WIPS:

Easy Garter Stitch 4 Patch Baby Blanket - free pattern on Ravelry. Knitting using two Caron Cakes in  Rainbow Sherbet 17023 and Faerie Cake 17010 using vintage 6 mm needles.

Talked about my pen pal Victoria from the Victoria Knits podcast. Go check her podcast out! She is so sweet!

The pen pal group is hosted by Paws 4 Stitches, Candy, and Jenny from Lucky Jenny Knits. Both of these lovely ladies host podcasts by those names so be sure to check them out too though it's too late to sign up for the pen pal program.

I showed off my progress on my shortie socks for my pen pal using Patons Kroy in Sherbet (toes, heels and cuffs) and using H'Ewe Phoria yarn, a Canadian indie dyed yarn  (Rhonda Kellett on Instagram) in the colour way 'Hot Diggity.'

Showed off my Molly Klein Designs bag where my Madewell Cardigan, paid pattern by Joji Locatelli, is housed. I'm using Smith and Ewe yarn in the Borealis colour way using two different dye lots.

Stash Enhancement:

I showed off four gorgeous skeins of yarn from the lovely Yarn Enabler, Amanda. The first two skeins are in the colour way 'Northern Lights' on her sparkle base. The next skein and mini is her 'Not Your Mother's Sock Monkey' set. The final skein of yarn was a gift from Amanda (that I'm going to keep. Bad Patty!) in the colour way 'Fall Into It' which is a new colour way for her. It might be available at the Kitchener-Waterloo Fibrefest coming up this weekend.

Now, lets see when Youtube will upload this episode! Overnight I hope!

Chat soon!

XO

Podcast Episode 24

Hi there! I'm back! Here are my show notes for Episode 24 taped on Father's Day, June 18, 2017 all about my recent trip to Toronto, Ontario:

I showed my Canada 150 inspired needle minder (that I also use to hold my rug hooking hook and embroidery scissors) from Paula at Kelmscott Designs and available through needlegoods.com.

The first yarn store I visited was Yarns Untangled where I bought two skeins of handed yarn from Riverside Studio, a Canadian indie dyer in Wakefield, Quebec. I purchased her 80/20 SW merino/nylon sock yarn in the 'Creek' (the one for my husband) and 'Little Burgundy' (the one for me) colour ways.

The next day I headed off to two more yarns shops but only talked about one of them in this podcast - Ewe Knits! I LOVED Ewe Knits!

Lovely fairly traded project bag sewn by Madres Salters for Ewe Knits.

Book on felting is called 'Felt With Love' by Madeleine Millington (Search Press) also purchased at Ewe Knits.

Two sheets of wooden felt were purchased at Ewe Knits.

Grace Handwarmers kit (free pattern) by Ewe Knits in Lang Cashmere premium chocolate (067) and aqua (172).

Muskoka Shawl (free pattern) by Ewe Knits in Blue Sky Fibres Wolstock Worsted yarn in colours Storm Cloud, Cast Iron, Earth Ivy and Golden Meadow.

WIPS:

I did this podcast backwards and showed my WIPS last!

First up was my The Age of Brass and Steel (free pattern) shawl knit in Legacy Fiber Artz colour way 'Four Main Food Groups' a Christmas  colour way inspired by the movie 'Elf'.

Secondly were my husband's socks knit using Susan B. Anderson's Smooth Operator socks (paid pattern). I managed to fix and finish both after thought heels!

Hope you enjoy the podcast!

Podcast Episode 23

This week I talk about:

Finding me on Ravelry at 4boysandanlgirl
Ravelry Group Thread for the podcast: Four Boys and a NL Girl Podcast
Instagram: fourboysandanlgirl

FO's:

Dishcloths! Easy pattern (from the ball band) also found at the Sweet Bee Buzzings Blog. Using Bernat dishcloth cotton yarn.

WIP:

Yarn used: Norah George Hand Dyed Luxury Yarn on her Blenheim Base Colourway: Fleur Delacour

Auspice Shawl by Lisa Mutch (paid pattern)

Held in my purple gnome pattern bag from Strand Designs Ireland.

Travel News:

Visiting Toronto and Kingston, Ontario from June 8 - 13, 2017
Atlantic Knitscape September 22, 2017 weekend (in Ireland from September 22 - 28th, 2017)

Crafty Spring Make Along OVER tomorrow, May 31, 2017! Thanks so much for joining us. Last minute additions to mine and Barbara's (Knitting I Love podcast) Ravelry threads.

Presents from Viewers:

Sheep sock bag from Knit2Scrap2 in Manitoba (The Knit2Scrap2 Store Inc. on Facebook)

Knitting pin from Stash Yarn Lounge in Calgary, Alberta.

Tea cup progress keeper and stitch markers from YarnCandyStudio.

Lavender soap from the Rocky Mountain Soap Company.

Huge pom pom by Bernat from the Prairie Lily Knitting shop.

Selection of teas.

Gradient sock kit from Hiloris Yarnorium from Manitoba.

BFL fingering weight yarn from Flock Fibre Yarns from Alberta, Colourway: Sunset Soon Forgotten.

Thanks SO MUCH, C in MB!

And,

Lovely minis, Fantastic Beasts pin, Lion Brand Measuring tape, and wooden puzzle barrel. Thank YOU SO MUCH, R in NJ!

Episode 22 Podcast Show Notes

Hi there! I'm baaacccckkkkk;)!

In the podcast I mentioned:

Joanna (aka OperaJo) from the Stitching the High Notes podcast

Bernat dishcloth pattern: Basic Knit Dishcloth

Gorgeous draw string sock bag with cups of cocoa material by Lynne from her SunshineandBubblegum Etsy shop. Check out her Sunshine and Bubblegum podcast too!

Kayleen from the LittleBeanCrochet shop on Etsy collaborated with Lynne to create this beautiful bag and yarn set (yarn not shown) around Christmas 2016 time frame. Stay tuned to both of them for future collaborations!

WIPs:

Brattleboro Hat by Melissa LaBarre found in the New England Knits book in collaboration with Cecily Glowick MacDonald. Great book of patterns!

Yarn used for the Brattleboro Hat is from Sweet Fiber yarns from British Columbia, Canada. This is their merino DK in the Spanish Coin colour way.

Mentioned wanting a sweater's quantify of Sweet Fiber yarn in the Spanish Coin colour way for the Middlefield Pullover by Melissa LaBarre in the same New England Knits book above.

Next WIP in my Molly Klein Designs sweater sized bag.

Madewell Cardigan by Joji Locatelli. Gorgeous pattern but I'm ruining it!

Using Smith & Ewe yarn from Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada in her Borealis colour way on Maryanne's Socks base.

Showed off my Close to You shawl by Lete's Knits (free pattern).

I ordered from more skeins of the same colour way as in my Close to You shawl from Strand Designs Ireland in the Wild Atlantic colour way. LOVE them! One to knit for a friend and one to use as an eventual podcast give away.

The beautiful project bag also came from Strand Designs as did the progress keeper and stitch markers.

Cross stitch kit 'Believe' designed by Mary Engelbreit found via Ebay.

This week's footage from Cape Spear, NL, the most Easterly point in North America.

But, with the camera cutting out all the time, I forgot to mention mine and Barbara's (from Knitting I love Podcast) Crafty Spring MAL on until the end of May 2017! Follow our threads in Ravelry for details and to join and post your projects.

Day Eight: Why Start a Podcast?

Some of my long time readers might be wondering where this idea to start a podcast came from so I thought I'd write a little about that.

I only started listening to podcasts at the end of the 2016 school year just after I'd been reading Sandra's Cherry Heart blog (which I highly recommend!) and her post talking about the Legacy Knit's podcast and Sue's 'stitching revolution'. You can read Sandra's post here. I was cross stitching again and feeling like everyone I knew had cross stitched years ago but had given it up besides myself and one close friend of mine (Hi, L!). So, I looked up the podcast and had a listen and, behold! A fan was born! I loved it! I loved hearing about their knitting and stitching projects and I loved their mother and daughter interaction (Sue and her daughter Chelsea co-host the Legacy Artz podcast). From there I looked into other podcasts that they mentioned and found myself down a rabbit hole and into a land that I had no idea existed.

The same thing happened to me about ten years ago when I found The Yarn Harlot's blog and, as a result, I started my blog Fibreholic. I found a community of like minded people that lived and breathed the making/crafting life that I too aspire to and manage to live some (most) days. 

It's hard to believe I wrote my first blog post ten years ago. Many, MANY knitting and crafting blogs have come and gone in that period of time and certainly my own two blogs have had times of empty but I've always come back to it. I love writing and this interactive, electronic community is something that I love and am continually inspired by.

So, I decided that if I'd had the nerve to write my first blog post ten years ago and look how much I've gained from that experience, then I could take a leap of faith and start a podcast too. Podcasting is a little more real, a little more raw and shows you a different side of personal that a written blog offers. Yes, I can get more intimate here on the blog than I'm likely to get on the podcast as my written voice is sometimes a quicker route to my soul but here there is some anonymity in that you can't actually see or hear me and I can edit out a sentence or paragraph that is too raw. With the podcast, my accent, my baby weight (can you call it that after your last baby is now five years old?!?), my double chins are there for all to see. Frankly, the first two podcasts were terrifying.

But, like most leaps of faith I've taken once I've forced myself over that hump of fear, I'm loving the experience. I'm meeting new people from all over the world. Like minded people like me. Some with children, some without, some with three (and four!) boys and some with three and four cats and dogs. It doesn't matter; somehow my little podcast is resonating with people and I am so happy about that.

There you have it - why I started a podcast. And the experience has been so good.

Day Seven: Fourboysandanlgirl Episode 3 Show Notes

Oops! I forgot to publish my show notes for Episode Three before publishing the show notes from Episode Four. Forgive me... and my apologies for the baaaaad screen shot picture below;)!

Gorgeous footage taken from Quidi Vidi Village, Newfoundland and Labrador.

Instagram: fourboysandanlgirl
Ravelry: 4boysandanlgirl

Ayrton Sweater by Jane Ellis (AKA Commitment Sweater) using Plymouth Yarns' Mushishi yarn in the Harvest colour way.

Short Sleeved Quick Knitted Cardigan by A Crafty House (Paid Pattern) in Lions Brand Wool-Ease Tonal colour Royal Blue.

Project Bag by Mrs. Brown's Bags

Hitchhiker shawl by Martina Behm using Little Bean Loves gradient Merino Cashmere Nylon (MCN) in the colour way 011.

Knit Along (KAL) with Lynne's Sunshine and Bubblegum Podcast.

Shawl KAL with Barbara's Knitting I Love Podcast.

Traditional rug hooking designed by me using a variety of natural and manmade fibres.

Rug hooking inspired by Deanne Fitzpatrick's style of hooking.

Noro Kureyon is the name of the yarn I used for whip stitching my fish rug's edges.

Podcast Love:

Christina at The Cozy Knitter also co-hosts the Dye Another Day podcast with Amanda of The Yarn Enabler Etsy shop.

Barbara at Knitting I Love podcast.

Kayleen from the Little Bean and Me podcast.

Katie at Inside Number 23's Podcast Colour work KAL.

Upcoming Patterns:

Yarn Cocoon By Cindy Moisant using Noro Kureyon (see above).

Movie Night Mittens by Betty Clay. I'm planning on using Richard Devries' worsted weight super wash yarn in colour way's Jewelbox, I.L.Y. and Oz Opal.

Caramel Slouch by Tin Can Knits in stash yarn.

LYS:

Cast On Cast Off

Canada Post Deliveries/Stash Enhancement:

Four Main Food Groups yarn on their MCN base from LegacyKnitz.

Day Six: Fourboysandanlgirl Episode 4 Show Notes

I can't believe it but I posted Episode Four of my podcast today. It's amazing that I'm enjoying it this much. The picture above will bring you to YouTube and the podcast. Subscribe if you're inclined!

Show Notes:

Ravelry: 4boysandanlgirl
Instagram: Fourboysandanlgirl

Ayrton sweater by Jane Ellis. Click here for my project page on Ravelry. Plymouth Mushishi 100% wool yarn in the Harvest colour way.

My apologies - I forgot to add a picture of me wearing my new sweater. Stay tuned!

Caramel Slouch by Tin Can Knits (paid pattern) in Fine Merino 100% Superwash by Diamond Luxury Yarns.

Antler Hat by Tin Can Knits (free pattern on Ravelry).

Podcast Love:

Inside Number 23
Twitch and Stitch
Paws 4 Stitches

Hitchhiker Shawl by Martina Behm in Little Bean Loves Merino Cashmere Nylon (MCN) in the colour way 011.

Short Sleeved Quick Knitted Cardigan by A Crafty House (paid pattern) in Lion Brand Wool-East Tonal.

Upcoming Project:

Drake Cowl (free pattern) by Estelle Yarns using Drake yarn.

Pretty row house stitch markers from Dawn's Creations.

100 Subscriber Contest! Details to follow next week.

This episode's ocean footage was taped in beautiful Flatrock, NL.

Day Five: Fall Colours

I love Fall. It's my favourite season likely influenced by the fact that I'm a November baby;). I love the smell in the air, the crisp temperatures (sweater weather - yeah!), the change in the leaves. One thing I miss about several of the houses that we've lived in over the years not here in NL are the change of leaf colours.

Our current home was a new build when we bought it. Sadly, most newly built homes are placed on land that has been levelled of trees and our plot was no different. We are lucky to have a thick frame of trees on our property's perimeter but they are mostly black spruce and fir trees with two or three dogberry (Mountain Ash) trees scattered in for good measure. As you drive closer to downtown St. John's, the older, stately trees have just started to come into their own with Fall colours.

I thought it would be fun to walk down memory lane and I pulled some pictures from our time in Ottawa and Middleton, Nova Scotia to show off some of the trees and fall festivities close to where we were living years ago that I'm missing now.

The Rideau River from the Quebec side.

Orange, yellow and red reflections.

Wouldn't this make a gorgeous colour way for yarn?

These leaves remind me of crisp apples.

Moving onto Nova Scotia I couldn't find many pictures of the turn of the leaves. But, I did find pictures of Kentville, NS where the pumpkin people start to arrive at this time of year. If you happen to be near the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia right now, go and check them out.

Is there anything that screams 'Fall' more than pumpkin people walking through the leaves?

How are the leaves where you are?

Day Four: Brigus

We were lucky enough to host one of DH's cousin's a few weekends ago (Hi, R!!!). DH only has two cousins (TWO!) and this is the first time we've been able to welcome one of them into our home seeing as we are in the extreme East and they live in Western Canada. It was a short and sweet trip but we really hope that she had fun because we all really enjoyed seeing her.

This was R's first time visiting the East coast of Canada and we wanted to give her a good all around tour to give her a sense of our beautiful province. Here are some shots taken on our day trip to beautiful Brigus, NL.

The community park grounds.

Brigus has canals that ebb and flow with the high and low tides.

I could include architectural pictures until you were bored. Here are a selection.

The building is called 'Ye Olde Stone Barn.'

The houses that the people of Brigus get to live in are just striking.

I missed taking a picture of the church itself but...

... I did capture one of the traditionally used church gate.

Here's a little bit of history for you regarding the town and it's founders. You can click on the plaque picture to enlarge them if you fancy a read.

Graffiti makes its way everywhere, doesn't it?

Couldn't you just move in?!?

I love how even the fences are designed in keeping with the architectural age of many of the homes and buildings.

And that's that. Just another gorgeous day in small town Newfoundland and Labrador.

Day Three: Spindrift Shawl

Those of you who follow me on Instagram can probably skip today's post entirely. During the ten days it took me to knit this shawl, I posted regularly about it on Instagram. However, I realize that I have friends and family out there who are not on Instagram regularly (or at all) so I've decided to dedicate one post to this lovely project, Helen Stewart's Spindrift Shawl.

I cast this project on the same night that I'd purchased the skein of Sweet Georgia's Tough Love sock weight yarn in the Mirror Pond colour way on September 1st. I completed it on September 10th. This skein was purchased during a visit with R (Hi R!) to Beehive Wool Shop in Victoria, BC and knitting it in ten days is a new record for me.

Likely the long airplane(s) ride across North America helped me get quite a bit done.

Don't you love my project bag? It's a drawstring bag from Brindy Linens a local print artisan and it's the perfect size for airplane travel.

And on I knit.

Here I'm knitting at the Geo Centre in St. John's where the boys were playing happily in the Kids Zone.

At home, I settled into my 'butt groove' spot with some company from Bella. She is great around fibre and rarely tries to play with it.

Then I started the picot edge bind off. Glorious!

Soaking before blocking.

Blocking on the guest room mattress with piles of blankets and towels to protect the mattress from getting wet. I used my new wire blockers that I'd purchased from Cast On Cast Off.

And finally it was ready to display.

I'm in love with this shawl. I've used it most days since it dried and it's the perfect size and warmth for the warmish fall we've been having here.

Just look at those eyelits! And that edging!

This shawlette was a pleasure to knit and I'd highly recommend it to a beginner lace knitter like myself!

Day Two: Paw Patrol Party

I'm sitting here with an over full stomach, my body struggling to process an excess of sugar and fat with the knowledge that Youngest had a great party and now I have a month or so before the next one. Score!

As had been our tradition, there was a balloon forest in red, white and blue Paw Patrol colours.

Rubble is Youngest's favourite Paw Patrol character so he was the star of the heavily sugar-ified cake. This cake idea is straight from Pinterest and took me about twenty minutes to decorate. Compared to my usual 2 - 3 hours, decorating this cake was a dream. I even got some knitting in last night!

Paw Patrol was out in style from toys to napkins to plates to the papers under the Rice Krispie squares.

The paw print stamp from last year worked perfectly well for this year.

Youngest's banner was ordered from this shop on Etsy.com this year. I love it!

There you have it. Another party according to our 'formula' done and dusted.