Ferntastic Ceramics

Last week we spent a week at one of our favourite places on earth, Fern Resort. I’d say it is THE favourite place, but that would make my Disney buds gasp, and that would make me realize that I do have at least two favourite places on earth.) Fern is wonderful and a great place to relax or keep busy. They have an incredible activity schedule with something to do at every turn.


On Tuesday morning, Creative Café came in and let us paint some ceramics. It was a fun way to spend a couple of hours and in the end I had a plate to take home.

I decided to make a plate suitable for serving Christmas food. The first step was to select a nicely shaped plate.

Then we got down to work and did some painting. This was a great time to chat with the other painters and learn a thing or two about the Fern regulars. I learned the following:

·         “The sisters” aren’t sisters, and the one that came to ceramics is a very talented artist

·         “The friendly woman whose husband uses a walker” is very nice and has a very nice daughter

·         I am known as “the woman with the husband who reads”

This is my plate after painting.

This is my plate after clear glazing and firing.

I love my plate and it is a great memory of another Ferntastic summer vacation.


P.S.  I did plan to provide my blog readers with a full blown trip report, but then we arrived at Fern and I realized I just wanted to kick back and relax, and had no interest in making trip notes and taking a thorough set of pictures.

If you want to know what Fern is like, maybe I’ll do a post or two with random thoughts from Fern that will give you a glimpse into this little slice of fun-filled paradise.

Summer Vacation Socks

We are just back from our annual trip to Fern Resort. I took the Summer Vacation yarn with me and made good progress on a pair of socks. I’ve finished the first sock and have a good start on the second sock.

I will miss sitting on our deck and looking out over the water while I knit the time away.

August Sock Pattern

As I continue to just meander through August, I have finally picked out a pattern for my August project.

I will be knitting up my SummerVacation yarn, using the Mock Wave Cable Sock Pattern.

It comes from my favourite sock pattern book, appropriately called Favorite Socks.

I’ve decided that since August is passing by so quickly, I’m going to take a break from blogging for a week and focus on these socks. So for now, the blog will go dark and hopefully when I come back I will have finished at least one sock. I’ll see you sometime during the week of August 27.

Time for Some Summer Vacation

I’ve dawdled long enough and realize it is time to get started on my August project. As I looked through my stash to see what I could knit up, I stumbled across this skein of yarn that would be perfect for a pair of socks, knit in August.

It is KnitPicks Stroll Handpainted sock yarn and the colour is called Summer Vacation.

I had fun using my swift to wind the skein into a wonderful little cake of yarn.

Next up… I need to find a sock pattern worthy of this nice yarn.

Sea Glass Inspired Necklace

This weekend I found myself floating around, unable to get focused on any one thing for long, but I did manage to stop by my beading table enough times to finish a necklace.

The necklace is made with beads from the Michaels store we visited a few weeks back. I love the green and turquoise colours, and the shiny small and medium beads, combined with the larger matte beads. All combined, they make me think of sea glass. (I love sea glass and if I lived by the ocean I would spend much time looking for some.)

I struggle with how to best display beaded creations for a photo, so here is a less interesting photo composition, but one that shows the beads off nicely.

As Cici followed me around, playing the role of assistant to my photo session, I thought I’d see if she would make a good model for my beaded creation.

Leftover Blanket Update

I’ve managed to make some progress on the Leftover Blanket. As I captured it for the blog, Cici continued with her assistant responsibilities and chose to add her thoughts and paws to the picture.

Next up, it is time to get started on some socks or mittens as my project for August. I’m going to have to get some focus on a new project soon, if I’m going to be able to finish it by the end of August.

Summer's Almost Over

Not that I’m wishing the summer away, but I can’t help but notice things have taken a turn lately and we are heading into the end of the season. It should feel like we still have half our summer ahead of us, but the signs of Fall are all around.

We did some shopping for back to school clothes this weekend. While out and about I notice that the grocery store is selling Halloween items, the book store is selling 2013 calendars, and Hallmark has Christmas ornaments on display. So that’s it folks, summer is almost over.

Fortunately, I’m prepared. I recently finished this pair of mittens.

They are made from KnitPicks Palette yarn, using a pattern of my own design.

Love French Toast

In the hot summer months, one of our go to meals is to get a baguette and find some no-cook food to go with it. Steve like jalapeno Havarti cheese, Jacob like kielbasa, and I love having enough baguette leftovers for French toast, the next morning.

Here is today’s batch of French toast on the griddle.

It is so simple to make:

• Whisk together a few eggs
• Add a splash of milk
• Throw in a dash of salt
• Sprinkle on some cinnamon
• Add a bit of vanilla
• Dip some baguette slices into the mix and place them on the griddle

In just a few minutes you have a delicious breakfast treat. Mmmm.

While The Beader's Away...

There were bead shenanigans in our house today.

Yesterday night I began to layout my next beading project. When I came home from work today, I found that the proposed necklace had taken on a new personality.