1. Vancouver Mural Festival winds up this weekend, with 60 murals added in 11 neighbourhoods around the city. On a walk last week, I spotted artist Dimitri Sirenko taking a short break from his work on The Reflection, a mural responding to Polish science fiction writer Stanislaw Lem’s thoughts about humanity’s drive for exploration, for searching out other worlds. The artist’s “mural statement” reads: What is truly the reason behind humanity’s unquenchable desire to reach out far into the skies? Do we really wish to find other civilizations exceeding our own in technology, social development and overall intelligence or are we simply looking for our own reflection?
2. Just around the corner, a long, long mural was in progress. . . and I had just visited with a few hummingbirds on my terrace that morning, sipping my tea while they sipped nectar from the fuchsias. . . . I’ll go back later, when the ladders and paint cans are all put away, the last strokes of colour applied, and get you photos of the completed walls. I’m planning on treating myself to a few walks from mural to mural throughout the city, using the free VMF app. A good way to combat the still-not-quite-time-to-travel ennui.
3. Also an antidote to ennui: putting together an outfit that makes me smile. This one combines old — that textured white cotton skirt I bought, Summer 2016, at J Crew (also featured in this post and in this one); the white Birkenstocks, also new in 2016 — and a new top I bought at a favourite local boutique — Polka Dots and Colour bringing the Happy!
And then, of course, because we were pedalling to breakfast, I accessorized with my (lightweight leather) backpack/purse and a bike helmet. Because Safety, right?
4. We had some mini-Travel this past week. All the way across the Salish Sea, by ferry, to visit and baby-sit at our son and daughter-in-law’s place. The Six and the Three are in day camps and childcare during the day, so after drop-off in the morning, we managed a short hike up a local hill (it’s called a Mountain, but that’s a dubious claim, in my humble opinion), did some biking on a fabulous trail, and managed a few delicious lunches at a favourite casual restaurant.
4a) The hike
4b, the lunch at Part and Parcel, where one can eat as healthily
or as indulgently, as one chooses, and still find everything delicious!
and finally
Exhibit 4c, showing that Ginger Bear continues to live a well-loved life which features ample hours of modified hibernation. . . .
4d. Two small anecdotes
The Three, after having chosen a long-sleeved red t-shirt with the words Okay Santa, Define Good across the front. . . and after my pointing out that some might consider it a “Christmas shirt.” . . . He graciously conceded my point, but countered, “Well, it was a Christmas shirt. But now it’s a normal shirt.” As they say, “Mic drop.”
The Six, sitting watching some baseball with her Granddad after her brother’s earlier bedtime gave her some one-on-one time. I came into chat with the two of them a bit, and a few minutes later she announced, with a smile, “I can read Granddad’s mind.” We were curious and amused, and encouraged her to continue. “I know he’s thinking ‘I can’t wait until these two girls go out and leave me alone to watch the baseball game.'” He might have denied it, and she might have been right. . . But what is certain is that we all had a good laugh.
5. A recent Instagram post by a favourite English bookshop I’ve not yet visited (cue the 84 Charing Cross references; just saw the 1987 movie version, having read the book a few times now) sent me to my bookshelves for my decades-old paperback copy of Marian Engel’s controversial, if not quite scandalous, novel, Bear. Turns out that copy hadn’t survived my purges, which makes me a bit sad, but as I’d recognized when down-sizing our space, I was able to get a copy quickly from the public library. One of the quotes on the back cover claims that this book was once dubbed Canada’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Sure. If bears were gamekeepers. . . .
What fun that this book, which I first read in the late 1970s (it was published in ’76) is now being reprinted, getting new cover art, gaining a new audience. A reclusive librarian cataloguing artifacts in a Victorian home on a relatively remote island in Northern Ontario. Hallmarks of Canadian Gothic, and also addresses issues of settler colonialism, appropriation, environmentalism. And, as Professor Nick Mount says in this CBC article of one of the novel’s more outrageous(ly funny) lines, “depending on how you read it, that is either the worst line in all of Canadian literature, or it’s one of the best.” (You’ll have to read the article, or the book — I’m not writing that line here! 😉
Let’s just say I never put it on the syllabus of any of my courses, more’s the pity (Seriously, though, not because of prudishness, I quickly assure you; I’ve taught my share of Mature Subject Matter). But you might enjoy it.
And now, as my title suggests, I might have begun this post optimistically on Friday morning, but I’m only managing to finish it today, which is Saturday. So a Sixth random item for you, because alliteration matters.
6. A glimpse at a knitting project I began many weeks ago, but put aside to finish some socks and a turtle. . . and also because it was too hot to knit anything large. But as the weather cools (nighttime lows of 11C this week, and daytime highs of 23), I’ve been adding rows to this Doocot sweater. That’s the same pattern I used for this favourite sweater, but the yarn combination is inspired by this sweater I knit for a certain small polar bear. So now, if I manage to get to Rome to visit that bear’s owner, I could, theoretically, if I knit quickly enough, arrange for a Nana and Orso Polare Selfie Twins photo. . . Watch this space! (Kidding, but chissà?!)
Alright then . . . as much as Six Things Sunday is also alliterative, I think I’ve shown-and-told as much as we need for this post; no need to delay further. Perhaps now you will chime in and tell me One or Two or Sixteen Things you’ve seen or done or heard or read or worn lately. Just to keep our conversation going, thank you! Or nod and smile in this direction. . . I’ll know. . . 😉
xo,
f
Well, I will keep the conversation going with…Four Things in (less than) Forty-Eight:
Thursday night – smoke alarm batteries send out their dying chirps in the middle of the night. Dog (60lbs) is deathly afraid of sound so sits on my chest and shakes until I finally “encourage” DH—who was still sleeping–to get up and change the battery. Would have done it myself, but I’m too short to reach the damn thing—even standing on a chair. Not much sleep—for me, anyway. DH fell right back to sleep.
Friday morning, more than 2 ½” of rain falls in an hour. Backyard resembles a river. Could have used your kayak, Frances. Fortunately, no damage to property, but we’ve had almost 10” of rain since August 1st, so a tad water-logged (wish I could send it West).
Later Friday afternoon, get a call from DDiL. She is in the ER (DS is away on extended military duty). She was hit in the eye with a toy gun projectile accidentally fired by 4 year old DGS when they were in a store. Luckily her Mom was with her. She dropped her off at hospital (in great pain) and then took the three children (ages 2,4,6) home with her. I made DDiL a sandwich, snack and drink, and brought her a blanket and KN94 mask. We spent the evening together in the ER. Drove her home when she was discharged around 10pm. Fortunately, she’s recovering, but it was v. painful—a corneal abrasion.
Couldn’t sleep once I got home, so read for a couple of hours. Awakened before 4 am by four fire trucks parked outside of my house and down the street—lights flashing. House two doors down had a fire. Family, who just moved in last month, was away but automated alarm system called in the fire department. Fortunately, they managed to stop whatever was going on before too much damage was done, but were on the scene for about an hour and a half. Gave up on sleep. Got up and made tea. Awake ever since. Not sure what to expect tonight…
Author
Wow, Mary! That’s way too much for the nerves! Could you remind me where you are, roughly, that you’re getting that much rain — alarming!
I’m going to hope that if you’d gone on to post a Fifth Thing, it would have been a quiet Satuday, just breathing. . . . Take care of you now!
Great post! I’ve been preparing for hurricane Henri (I’m in Rhode Island) by putting away bird baths, wind chimes, patio and deck furniture and moving potted plants to sheltered corners, along with planning for a few days without power. Fingers crossed! I have books and puzzles to keep me busy until the storm passes.
Author
That’s too much drama for me, Joan. I’m glad you’re as prepared as you can be and hope to hear from you in a few days that all went well.
Wow there is so much drama going on in the other comments. Wishing everyone well.
I also read Kate Davies’s blog and love looking at her designs, although have only ever made one that I did not in the end like wearing. Doocot is one of my recent favourites of hers, as her original version in that gorgeous natural brown reminded me of a favourite sweater I knitted while in grad school years ago after painstakingly ripping out another garment and reusing the yarn (frugality!). I stupidly gave that sweater away at some point. To be honest, I usually don’t use patterns anymore when I knit – not because I am a great designer or anything, but because I have made so many sweaters in my life that I usually have a specific vision in mind. These days, I have mostly been using my knitting as a canvas for odd intarsia motifs on a theme that I make up myself, including things inspired by stories and even a house in the Swedish countryside I saw in the NYT. I’m really not sure what is going on in my mind. I cut myself slack, given the circumstances! I’ve started three different garments this summer and they are in various states of being unfinished, seeming to lose motivation quite quickly. One of them is also pink. The pink of yours is lovely and I love the halo added by the other yarn.
How interesting and coincidental about 84 Charing Cross Road, although I suppose the film was on Netfix recently. I watched it for the first time a couple of weeks ago and loved it. I made the mistake of reading the Roger Ebert review before clicking on it and nearly didn’t watch, but fortunately one evening just put it on and was delighted I did. Seems I need to read the book!
I like Marian Engel but confess that I have not read The Bear. It was enough for me to get through early Margaret Atwood (e.g., Surfacing) and Margaret Lawrence, and this book and its themes put me off a little bit. That said, I should definitely reconsider now that I am older and presumably somewhat wiser. 🙂
I would love to see more of the murals. Thanks for the interesting journey and inspiration. Always new things to think about.
Author
I’ve only made two of Kate Davies’ patterns (Doocot and Strodie) and I love them both, wear each of them several times a week through the fall, winter, and spring. I admire your ability to eschew a pattern — I’ve also knit countless sweaters and should be able just to wing it (I did that a bit in my late teens, with mixed results), but I get impatient with the math. . . Also admire your willingness to knit intarsia patterns — one of my bugbears, I must admit. I can do it, but I really don’t like it!
Oh, if you haven’t read 84 Charing Cross you’re in for a treat — It’s one I enjoy rereading.
Thanks, I will definitely read it.
Ah Strodie…yes. That’s a nice one. I picked a poor shape for my figure and climate (dolman and cropped). It was fun to knit and I’m glad I experimented a bit, but wasn’t a great fit for my figure (long and lean, but with a bust). Great that yours turned out to be wardrobe staples. I hope I can find someone to give mine to so that it doesn’t end up living a sad life in the wardrobe! I do math for a living, but to be honest when it comes to sweaters I mostly start with a stitch count that will work roughly, after swatching, and then eyeball it, with the occasional ruler measurements to keep myself in line. It can be nice to knit a pattern though and just turn the brain off for a while and enjoy the rhythm of the knitting. I like intarsia because it allows me to “paint” with knitting, but it can be a little bit tedious unless the project or motif is small. And the weaving in of ends….not fun!
Author
The Strodie is great, although if you ever decide to knit it, you should think a bit about those welts. Ai-yi-yi! I won’t knit that again in a hurry, but I love it! Her yarn is so good!
I wouldn’t say I turn my brain off when knitting from a pattern, tbh. Rather, I’ve learned so many new techniques from following these — so many ingenious approaches developed by a generation or two of knitters approaching the skill from new perspectives and with new tools at hand thanks to materials that weren’t available when I began knitting. Circular needles, for example, are the bomb! Magic Loop!! I learned how to knit FairIsle with two hands from some pattern or other and a YouTube video. And ditto for steeking! (Kate Davies’ Rams and Ewes blanket). Since my early teens, and maybe earlier, I loved knowing that reading gave me access to designs I’d never have the patience to work out on my own, but depending how complicated the pattern, there was often some tricky interpretation involved. And unknitting! 😉
You make some great points! I didn’t mean that knitting a pattern always means to turn off the brain – sorry. I meant the counting/calculating part only. (I do often love a stocking stitch sweater in a basic shape, but maybe with an interesting shoulder shape, and great finishing techniques, however.)
I too have enjoyed the evolution of knitting over recent decades. I have learned many new techniques from patterns that I have completed (tubular cast-ons, steeking, too). The equipment is also great. It’s a nice blend of old and new. The part I don’t like very much about contemporary knitting is that I feel that often designers are selling rehashes of the same patterns over and over again (there’s the marketing issue, for me, with some of it, and the social media push to always be making the next garment, when I am more in the camp of use it up/wear it out/make it do/do without). For a while I started going back and knitting patterns from much earlier on in the twentieth century (e.g., 1920s), and I discovered how modern many of the patterns were, in their way, with techniques and ideas borrowed from sewing that surprised me. Their equipment didn’t measure up, but their creativity did.)
Yes – I recall those welts in Strodie and people complaining about them! In fact, I think that is why I chose the Dathan and not the Strodie during the Knitting Season course. Lovely that you’ve made the Rams and Ewes blanket!
Author
Ah, we knitters! So much to think and chat about as our needles are working! 😉
I am likewise preparing for the arrival hurricane Henri. I live near Long island Sound where it is supposed to hit. My son is traveling back from the Outer Banks today as well so of course concerned for his safety. I do have lots of books, so fine but of course not so useful if the power goes out.
Author
I hope your son got back without any problems, and I also hope that your power doesn’t go out, or at least not for too long. Take care.
Spent the last two weeks with grandchildren, first a family of three aged 13, 11, and 7, then a family of two aged 11 and 8. Afternoons at the beach, fun times on the golf course (driving the golf cart was a highlight), wiener roasts in the backyard, picking raspberries and eating them with ice cream, visits to the playground, playing games, and reading stories. Also took both sets of grandchildren to one of our favourite hiking spots. Now they’ve gone home, the laundry is done, the beds remade, and the house is very quiet! Desperately missing the two who live in Vancouver though. Haven’t seen them since before Covid and with case numbers rising both there and here, not sure when we’ll be able to.
Author
Those two weeks sound brilliant! Such good activities to enjoy together. I hope you can see your two in Vancouver before long; I know how tough it is to be apart. . .
Love. these five and six things posts as I always find them so refreshing and they round out a mental picture between the longer, more thoughtful posts. Not that these are not thoughtful.
I published three things on Saturday, all I thought my life contained, but of course never true. Tonight I am having dinner with my step-daughter and grandson and family at a local food-truck park and very much looking forward to it. It is a place where we can social distance to some point as grandson just started school, we are in the middle of a covid surge, and schools are unmasked. Apparently my covid immunity is rather high, (I seem to get extensive tests for everything under the sun every two weeks) as I was vaccinated just before starting cancer treatment and chemo, but my immune system otherwise fragile and vulnerable to every other bug children fling about, so distancing for at least another month.
Starting a new sweater, which I decided based on multiple swatches to knit at one gauge (closest to the pattern specifications) and now think was a mistake, so I am contemplating ripping (yet again I might add). I wish I could make up my mind before I started things, but accept that this is just my current status. This too will pass. The sweater is in wool, but it does have a border in Artyarns Beaded Silk and Sequins Light, which will be a bear to rip if I take that path. Some serious consideration ahead.
Author
We’re all beginning to think about the under-12s and appropriate safety measure here as well, although we have a decent % of doubly-vaccinated folk, in the city, least. Ours don’t go back to school for another two weeks, but between that and the weather nudging us indoors more and more, it’s clear some restrictions will return.
I’m crossing my fingers you don’t have to rip that border — ugh!
What fun it will be to view all of those murals once completed! I’ve been seeing some new ones going up around our part of LA, and you’ve inspired me to get out and take a closer look.
The polka dot shirt is a great find and coordinates so nicely with your skirt. Polka dots indeed bring the happy!
Author
It will be fun! The Mural Festival is such a great project and really enlivens the city!
That bowl meal looked delicious but ginger bear was the star of your post – hibernating in the sun . Your grandchildren anecdotes made me smile . We were dog walking in our village the other day & we met a brother & sister ( 8 & 4 ? )out walking their puppy . The boy was struggling to control the boisterous pup but his sister , who looked like a little angel , seriously informed me that it would be easier soon as the puppy was being castrated next week . I’m not sure she understood what that meant . ‘ Oh that’s good ‘ we said & we all went our separate ways .
Author
I’m imagining you trying your best to keep a straight face while hearing a Four pronounce such a dire future for her little pup. . .
Hello Frances from a dreich or more romantically misty Edinburgh – Auld Reekie without the reek. Feela a bit early to be thinking of days of mists and mellow fruitfulness, but each morning has felt more autumnal.
This comment is a bit of a non-sequitor, although it does refer to lists.
I am on catch up reading your blog posts, as one of the things I like to do before a day at work is have some time for myself – whether drawing, reading or walking. My work is not so enjoyable these days – still remote and interminable online meetings.
I was transported to a post you wrote from last September, 7 things to do each day from a French podcast you had listened to.
On lists and daily practices, I have mixed feelings because it can feel like yet another thing to do – I started writing a daily gratitude journal but found myself getting ratty when I had to find something EVERY DAY to be grateful for or more accurately I felt it had to be something different every day – probably says more. about me than the practice of reflecting or counting your blessings which I agree is a good thing to do.
Of the list of 7 – I do most of them except calming breathing – and capturing my ideas.
I do jot things down intermittently and all over the place – my phone, scraps of paper etc – so they are captured from the ether but perhaps keeping them in one place might be a good idea.
One of the things I am doing daily at the moment is trying to learn/ relearn French – but I am very much at the elementary school stage so doubt I could listen to the podcast in French – save for the lovely sound of French being spoken.
I am enjoying your other musings as always – I don’t always read them in chronological order, but that gives me the chance to meander as I like to do.
Have a lovely week
Margaret
Author
“dreich” is romantic enough, by virtue not of its meaning but by being associated with your country and especially with that great visit I had in 2018. I was just thinking the other day of our afternoon and evening together, that meal with Lesley. . . Nothing dreich about that! 😉
I came across that post myself recently, on the 7 things, when I was trying to re-organize things on this platform. I share your reservations about lists and daily practices, even while I often find them useful in terms of kick-starting something. . . I’d argue that your IG photos represent a capturing of sorts, maybe not quite of ideas but there’s probably an idea associated. . .
Have you ever tried Coffee Break French podcasts? Your lovely fellow Scot is an inspiring polyglot and that radio program is encouraging and fun.
Thanks for the encouraging comment! And I hope your week is great as well.
Hello Frances…your photos conjured up enjoyable thoughts including civic-community-wonderfulness with a free app, remembering the addition of those white Birkenstocks, beautiful environs, yummy food, and turtle getting warm under that sweet quilt. Thank you!
Thanks to Mary for wishing to send rain to the West! We desperately need it. Looking at California, it’s seems that the entire upper third of the state is in flames. There are two major fires going on while the drought brings on water rationing at the same time.
Sigh…while domestic and international news is sad and alarming, this past weekend, I’ve been able to focus on smaller, more local good news. I was able to participate in setting up a baby shower on Saturday (so fun!) and am now working on folding wedding napkins for the daughter of a dear friend. Call me a pollyanna but I can’t help but see the hope and excitement in these two small events. It lifts my spirits! Just like your photos did for me!
Thanks, Frances! Stay safe and healthy!
Charlene
Author
It’s true, Charlene! All across the West we could use some of Mary’s rain, and I know she doesn’t want even a quarter of it! So much loss here to fire!
Glad you’ve found joy in the smaller daily events. I wouldn’t call you a pollyanna as you don’t seem to be denying alarming and sad news, but working to balance that news with hope. To tackle the bigger problems, in whichever way we might be able to contribute, we do need to care for our own spirits. xo
Bear. I had forgotten. The new cover is better. ‘If bears were gamekeepers’ is a great line on so many levels. It could be the start of one of those tell-a-story games.
Author
Yes, it could. . . Apparently, the CBC archives offer Peter Gzowski’s 1978 interview with Marion Engel about this novel — pretty sure I must have listened to it then and I’m planning to take it out on a walk soon. You might enjoy that trip in the WayBack machine as well 😉
Delighted that our Insta post prompted you to revisit Bear. In turn you have prompted me to read 84 Charing Cross Road, considering I was born the year it was first published and home at the time was No 93 Charing Cross Road I really should have read it a long, long time ago!
Author
Oh, you’ll love it! Did you really live just across the street? I don’t suppose the shop still existing within your memory. . . . but how very fitting that you should now be a bookseller! That’s brilliant!