Abandoned Things

I am going to start this entry in my blog with a quote from an e-mail that I received from Auntie Muffy.  It goes like this:

"What a lovely Garter Snake you have!  I'm surprised Dad hasn't 'eliminated' it already.  If he has not, keep an eye out for a snakeskin. The cloudy blue eye in your picture would indicate that your snake is ready to shed his skin. If you see him again he should look much darker and shinier in his new skin."

Interesting. 

You know how Uncle Shaun always finds those abandoned beverage cups, all neat and tidy and awaiting his camera?  You know - like this:

Imagine someone stacking these cups up precariously - and just perfectly - so they would not fall over, but would sit there nicely until Uncle Shaun came along.  When we go for our stroll to the donut shop each morning, Poppa and I are always on the lookout for a nice posed cup for my camera to catch.  Well, the other morning, we finally found one, carefully perched on some weeds.

Oh OK - so it's not perfect - so it's not right side up - so what!  It's the best I have been able to come up with and I thought it looked cute there - and I like the texture of the weeds in the shot.  Hee!

I took another picture of Curtis' new blankie which is much more reasonably sized for a little guy.  I tried several angles to get the colours properly, as well as the texture with cables and seed-stitch diamonds.  I pored over all the pictures and I think this one is closest and clearest.

It is difficult to get a good picture because of the mottled colourway, but it actually looks much better in reality than it does in the photos.  It is longer than this now and more pictures will follow.  I think when it is done I will try taking pictures outside in natural light and see if I can get a better shot for you.

Another item of interest that we saw when we were returning from the donut shop:

We've lived in our current home for 17  years.  In all that time, we can't recall the long grass at the sides of the highway being trimmed.  But, as most of you are aware, the planned route of the important people heading to Huntsville, Ont. for the G-8 summit is up this highway.  And these tractors mowing the long grass and weeds along the highway are apparently part of the effort to make Canada beautiful for these influential visitors.  There were actually three of these large tractors with mowers behind them industriously working on this project.

Speaking of tractors and heavy equipment brings to mind our little Munchie.  Remember as an infant when he was always trying to decide what to do when he grew up?  Well, he took a break from all of that to work on motor skills and more recently oral skills.  He is starting to talk more all the time and his ability to ask for a cookie is amazing!  Anyway, he recently started thinking once again of what he might like to do in the far future.  While he and Mommee were out for a walk on the weekend he decided to try out a fork-lift truck that was sitting idly along their route.  He seemed to enjoy it.

On another note - did I tell you that Kev-Inn and Poppa planted four tomato plants in big pots out by the patio?  They did - and those four little plants have grown very well.

Looking good hey?  Poppa came dashing into the house the other day requesting that I get my camera and come out to the tomato patch (I use that term loosely).  This is what they had found:

See the little tomatoes?  The boys were sure excited about those small, green orbs.

Now, back to Auntie Muffy's comment at the beginning of this entry in the blog.  I asked her if she wanted me to save that snakeskin if we found it and here is her response:

"Oh, I doubt you will actually find it - he could leave it just about anywhere out there - I don't know how big a territory those snakes have, although with his vision impaired at the moment he's probably not going far - he just has his tongue to guide him."

Well Auntie Muffy, this photo is just for you.

I didn't pick it up and it has disappeared since we took the picture - so I hope she didn't want it!  We found it several yards from where we got the picture of Slither in the first place.  Poppa has spotted Slither since then - it appears that he/she/it is living in or near the culvert under the driveway - and he/she/it is shinier and darker in colour now - still yuck!

I have started another piece of pink lace.  It is the same pattern as one of the earliest pieces of lace I knitted for Auntie Colleen when I started the Lace Project down in Florida (Diamond Edging from KnitWiki).

As usual, it will be much prettier when it is starched and pressed.  While getting this shot and admiring the delicacy of the lace and the colour, I found myself thinking about Auntie Colleen's Picture of the Day that I received this morning.

Beautiful!