Tuesday in K-Town

I’ve been living in Kelowna, BC for just over a year now and have been working so hard that I seldom have any time to enjoy my surroundings.  You know how it is: work, housework, errands, sleep, repeat.  Even knitting time has fallen by the wayside over the past few months.  I’m hoping to change that.  Now that Spring has sprung (and it truly has sprung here in the Okanagan), I’m going to try to take a little time for myself for sightseeing (and knitting – while I sightsee, of course) or just hanging out around town and away from the house.

Rhapsody, Waterfront Park Plaza

It’s 14º out as I write this, but it was about 6º cooler when I hit the waterfront earlier this afternoon and it certainly felt cooler.   I tried to catch up on some knitting while I was there, but after 10 minutes, I couldn’t feel my fingers.

 

It’s a favourite pair of store-bought socks with a very badly sewn toe section. I love them but they’ve been too uncomfortable to wear.  Out with the old toes and in with some new hand-knitted ones.

Wee hyacinths are in bloom near the Delta hotel,

and the tulips are budding.

Mallards are everywhere.

I’m looking forward to more sunny days (warmer ones!) and sharing more of my locale. Happy Tuesday, everyone!

So Much to See

As predicted, it’s not really Spring yet here in Banff.  Though it’s still sunny, things have cooled off a bit.  There’s been a lot of freeze-and-thaw over the past few weeks, as you can see here.

Both the Spray River and the Bow River look like an ice breaker has come through.

Roads are clear but trails are icy from the constant temperature changes and I really had to watch my footing during my walk this afternoon.  I did remember to look up every now and then though; you never know what you might see.  Here’s what I saw.

This lovely tree nymph was seen on the horse trail to Bow Falls.  If you know the story behind it (or would just like to make one up), I’d love to hear it.

What was new in your world today?

 

A Brush with Nature

No matter where BB and I have lived, we’ve had issues with water.  Usually those issues involved some sort of basement flooding.  We don’t worry about that much anymore since there is no basement in this house, but we do live very close to a river and sometimes things can go wrong.  Our neck of the woods received somewhere in the range of 50-80 mm of rain in a 24-hr. period.  Coupled with some extra snow melt, we ended up with swollen rivers and creeks.

Our house is about 15 feet from the river bank and it’s been a bit scary watching the water rise.  Even more scary is the speed of the flow.  I’ve been amazed watching huge trees charge down the river as if they were nothing but bark.  It’s stunning.  I’ve gone ’round town this morning to see what’s happening with the Bow as it winds through town.  Mother Nature is pretty impressive.

A bit of overflow
Bow Falls in Banff, AB

The river’s edge creeps onto the golf course

Bow Avenue, in downtown Banff, has been closed to traffic and some sandbagging has begun.

Maybe Banff should consider “Hippo Tours” (amphibious buses) for the next couple of days.

A little wet, but still a good view, with fresh snow on the mountain

We should come out of this all right.  It’s beautifully sunny today and rather cold, which explains all the fresh snow in the nearby mountains.  I’m staying in today and working on “The Shawl”.  I bought new needles for it.  Yes, I know I’ve only a few rows left, but I’m certain that nice sharp lace needles will make the knitting fly – and don’t try to convince me otherwise.

From Sticks to Pics

Living in a resort town means that we get to visit with a lot of friends we don’t see very often, as people take the opportunity to vacation rather than “staycation”.  Our guest room is booked most weekends from mid-June through the end of August and we normally spend a lot of time touring the area with guests, taking them on hikes, shopping for souvenirs and of course, eating.  This year’s been a little different.  Guest visits have been for shorter stays, and with BB still recuperating somewhat from his Spring injury, we haven’t been on a hike all season.  I’ve been feeling a little trapped here in the park.  Yesterday BB suggested a day trip.  We’d never been to Kananaskis yet and even though the day was cloudy and cool, we decided to pack up and take the dog for a Sunday drive.  On the way there, I finished this:

 

 

 

The second Lacy Mock Cable Sock is now done though I had a heck of a time with the toe seam.  I used kitchener stitch on the first sock (my first time ever!) and it worked beautifully.  I followed the instruction in the “techniques” section of Creative Knitting and it worked like a charm.  For the second sock I went online to my favourite knitting website, www.knittinghelp.com and followed the video for kitchener stitch.  Then I had to undo it (please note that kitchener stitch is an EXCELLECT way to seam a sock as it is almost indestructible).  I tried again.  This time I had to unlock the stitches AND frog back a couple of rows.  Cue the wine (just a small glass).  And dinner was going to be a little late.  I finally dug out the magazine instructions again and it worked as perfectly as for the first sock.  I absolutely love them!

 

  

Kananaskis proved to be a lovely get-away  

Kananaskis Country Golf Course

  

 

Reflections: Wedge Pond

  

 

Merganser mom & chicks: Beaver Ponds

  

 

 Skyler had a good time, too, though it seemed to be thisty work!

 

 

 

 

 

 We don’t have anyone scheduled to visit for the next couple of weeks, so I’m back working on my cardigan. 

 

 

 

 I started the sleeves last night and am working them both at the same time on circular needles, so this should go pretty quickly.  That’s all I have left to do before blocking and seaming.  If this cool weather holds, I’ll be able to wear it as soon as I’m done.