Tuesday, September 27, 2011

There was sun. I swear.


Walk on the Beach

On the yearly family vacation at the Outer Banks. We usually stay in the quiet still of the Southern end of Hatteras Island, but Hurricane Irene damaged all of the routes in in ways that we hope aren't permanent or crippling.

So, this year, we headed north to Duck. Duck is not our kind of town--more expensive, while being really packed in tightly. None of us quite understand why it's considered so fancy except for the exorbitant pricing. Yesterday, I saw a 4 oz. bag of pistachios for $8.99. One red pepper at the big grocery store? $2.99. Silly.

But it's still the Outer Banks. It's still the Atlantic. It's still fresh seafood and time with the family. So, we're gritting our teeth and having a lovely time.

The first day was overcast and a little drizzly, but if it's not outright pouring, there's no excuse to stay inside during vacation. So, Ma, Pa, and I headed out to the beach for a long walk to the pier.


Pelicans are out in full force travelling south in big groups. A big Noreaster was blowing on our first full day and the pelicans were mostly gliding.


Even the dunes want to extract a price from you in Duck. He he he.
Seriously, though, unexploded ordinance? Terrifying. We stayed on the beach. I'm hoping, though, that this is the length to which wildlife folks are now going to protect birds' and turtles' nests--scary signs to keep you out of breeding grounds.


The Core of Army Engineers builds piers that look an awful lot more stable than the piers on the rest of the island. So straight and solid.


Lots of cool stuff blown up on the beach by successive storms. . .


Monday, September 5, 2011


No one could ever claim that our L.P. is not a handsome wee dog. He is small and cute and good looking.

But many also know that he is an obsessive little guy. Tenacious and mostly interested in chasing things, all things. . . any thing. Today, he pulled this runner bean from the bottom of a vine in the back yard and brought it to me to play fetch.


Not surprisingly, once thrown, that bean was pretty hard to find. . .



Sunday, September 4, 2011

September Farmer's Market

It's all I could do this summer to fight the monster of glumness. But without fail, the farmer's market was there to brighten each Saturday. . . and then to fill the week with food that I am sure is helping me heal and get healthy again.


Right now, my own garden is cranking out herbs and tomatoes and string beans and hot peppers.


The farmer's market is augmenting that harvest with broccoli and melon and peaches and the first apples of the season. It's going to be fall soon and the fruit will drop off, replaced by butternut squash and pumpkins and chard and onions and leaks and spinach. But I'm certainly enjoying the last hurrah of summer.

New Cowls at Fivetrees

I love making cowls and mitts. Both give me an opportunity to play with color or new lace patterns I haven't tried before in finite projects. And there's such an immediate pay off. A day's work and there's something beautiful and complete to show for the time spent.

Anyhoo, here are a few of the new cowls in my fivetrees shop: