Go to Simply-Thai.com for more information about this exotic and yummy fruit. :)

 

 

 

 

I just love this guy. When the wind blows the chime, the neck and head move around, bobbing in the wind. It makes him look like he’s looking around and checking out the yard. Bandit and I saw one of these on our regular walks to the park and I knew that if I ever saw one, I’d buy it! Sure enough I found this guy :)

Pam sent me a lovely flower jibbitz! (Pam, they arrived yesterday and thanks a bunch! I love it!)People are already asking me where to get them.

 

They are TOO CUTE! I’m afraid of being accosted by the little kids wearing Crocs on the subway!

This is a picture of a tree root growing right underneath or maybe into our foundation. Not good.

And our lovely neighbour who doesn’t even have gas into her house…even she couldn’t hide from the digging gods…

Lately, I’ve heard of a few municipalities that have actual by-laws against the  use of clothes lines in yards. Apparently, they are an “eyesore” in the community. This is a huge pet peeve of mine. Not the lines, since I use mine all summer long to conserve energy, but the anti-green by-laws. Hannah wrote a wonderful post on Midnight Poutine entitled:“You can’t do that”.

A commenter on Yarn Harlot’s blog wrote:

“And in Toronto, there is contraversy about hanging clothes outside on lines!! Wouldn't want to save any of that electricity, would we! Wouldn't want to be environmentally conscious, would we! (I have a clothesline. Bylaws be damned.) That pollution line, and it's implications, is frightening… Posted by: Jo-Anne at July 30, 2006 05:12 PM”

The City of Kingston, Ontario has it right.

“Wash your clothes in cold water and hang them to dry on a clothesline - Reduce 0.2 tonnes/year.”

In closing, I think we need to end on a positive note because I am so angry about these stupid LAWS that make no sense. In that case, I’d like to create a law that states that any ugly man aspiring to be a politician will be fined $5000. Second-time offenders will be looking at some time.

Here is the positive note. There are some pretty weird Canadian laws out there. CKA (Canada Kicks Ass) has an article entitled “:In the Books” listing a slew of them. I had no idea we were so nuts in Canada.

I did find the 2005 Ontario Energy Association Energy Conservation and Demand Management Forum Minister’s Speech on the Ministry of Energy website. In his speech he recognizes that we have these by-laws that prevent us from saving energy. Here is an excerpt:

“And it may sound funny, but there are communities in Ontario where homeowners are restricted from hanging their clothes out to dry. The intent here was to make neighborhoods look nice...but it means that homeowners have to use their dryers – one of the highest energy consuming devices in the house.

This is yet another type of barrier that’s holding back conservation in this province. “

In the meantime, I’m hanging my clothes out on my line. Since we’ve moved here and I’ve started doing that, I ve noticed more and more of my neighbours following my lead and saving themselves some money in the warmer months. I love seeing laundry on the line! Join us, save some big money! Put your laundry out!!

I’ve been in love with Crocs for a while  now and have desperately wanted a pair. I haven’t found any in my travels, so I ordered some online! I have pink and I bought Ross a blue pair! FUN! They are soooo comfortable and light. I’m even wearing them to work today.

Thanks to Pamie for the info about Jibbitz. I really want some. I need:

cows, a gold dog some fishies..... lol Maybe my mom can bring me some in October!

Oh momma. Look at my funny tomatoes. In fact, my tomatoes are starting to be like my yarn stash - hiding in buckets behind the couch, stuffed into closets, tomatoes in every room, my fridge is full of tomatoes..

   

Now check out the size of this awesome tomato!!

   

Any ideas for what to do with all these tomatoes??

Every time I water my garden, my dog gets really worn out. Click on the attached file to find out why! He's so funny!

This morning just moments before 6 am I heard my bald husband bumbling about doing last minute preparatory important-type things. Then I heard our lovely friend Erol’s voice and I stumbled down the stairs with eyes half-opened to see them off. Alas, I did not cheer, yell or clap, but I was in fancy jammies and I did have my camera.

    

   

 

Goodbye and good luck you crazy, charitable, cycling adventurists you! Be safe! And let it not rain on you.  Read about his adventures on His Blog. 

What is Tour For Kids? It's an 840 km journey with 250+ cyclists to raise money for camps for kids with cancer. Last year I witnessed the spiritual side of the journey, the camaraderie amongst the riders, the organizers, the volunteers and the camp members. It was an experience that had many people crying at the end of the journey just for the sheer beauty of making a difference for these kids and their families and for that sense of achievement. All the riders were deeply moved and I look forward to hearing more of their touching stories.

Note: It really isn’t that dark out at 6:18 am. lol

Vintage Stitch-O-Rama! Check out her free patterns for some Skull Lace Stockings…. divine!

If you’re a Princess Bride fan (like my entire family – the song Storybook Love from the movie was our first dance at our wedding :) then you’re likely a Labyrinth fan as well. Who doesn’t love Ludo?? Faery Daydreams crocheted a Ludo! Listed under WIP wanna-be’s on her blog is “Writing Out Pattern For Ludo”. I can’t wait to see that pattern. I will make myself a Ludo!

Finally, lyrics for “Chilly Down”!

Hello knitters, crocheters, cross stitchers, needlepointers – You’re going to love this application and now you’ll be sitting at your computer all day long looking for cool images. You’ll fill up your hard drive with graphs of projects you’ll never get to. But hey, who cares! It’s so fun! Actually, I’ll probably get around to this one.

knitPro is a web application that translates digital images into knit, crochet, needlepoint and cross-stitch patterns. Just upload jpeg, gif or png images of whatever you wish -- portraits, landscapes, logos... and it will generate the image pattern on a grid sizable for any fiber project.

How frigging cool is that?

This image was captured using SnagIt! knitPro creates a .pdf file for you. You have to save it to your hard drive. I played around with the settings. Everything looks better if you use large or extra large sizing. You get a much cleaner image. Nearly everything that I inputted would require some cleaning up. I still think it is super cool. :)

SendDate: Fri, 04 Aug 2006 15:55:22 +0100 Subject: Congratulations from Simply Knitting

Congratulations! Your letter was featured in our magazine. Unfortunately we haven't been able to send you your prize as we do not have your address. Please email your full postal address to me, Laura Male at laura.male@futurenet.co.uk and your prize will be with you soon. Thankyou for your letter and for reading Simply Knitting. Best wishes, Laura Production Assistant, Simply Knitting To: simplyknitting@futurenet.co.uk SendDate: Sat, 25 Mar 2006 10:15:51 -0500 Subject: My Yuletide Gnome It was love at first sight for me when I laid eyes upon the Yuletide Gnomes by Alan Dart (Christmas Gifts Extra 2005). I knew I had to make some. I used up some leftover bits of an inherited stash and some other furry yarn that I had in my stash as well. Everyone is crazy about my gnomey and I'm now making more. I have lots of ideas for more. I've attached photos. I worked on him while visiting my dad in the hospital. Gnomey is perched on Dad's bed. (I crocheted the heart-shaped pillow for him.) Amanda Rader Toronto, Ontario Canada

   

Update: 6:42 pm : It's 38.5 degrees in this office right now. Awesome. Also, since yesterday, I've had swollen glands and a really sore throat, my chest feels really heavy, my ears have stabbing pains in them and I have a  headache. (But I'm still cross stitching.) Rant over. Gotta go play with my hot dog! LOL Get it? Hot dog? Bandit's hot.... get it?

---

Or it’s really frigging hot in here! Stay cool. Drink lots of water. Be smart. Go to a mall or community centre if you don’t have A/C. Seriously. This is extreme heat. How do you get ready for work when you’re sweating??? Ewwwwwwwwwww.