My cup runneth over…

…or in this case the creek outside the back of my house. We live on what used to be a farm and our house specifically backs onto what was apparently once a little millpond so when you look out the back window what you see is our property then a bit of a drop off the backyard into a flat area and then another drop off into a wider flat area and it is this flat area that the creek flows through.

Most years you never see the creek through the tall grasses on the lower level. We and three other neighbours cut the upper level so its like a little parkland and I have my garden there.

Back view looking down into the creek area.

I got so excited this year because we set up a rainbarrel collection system so I could water my plants during the dry spells between rainfalls but the reality is that our area is setting a new record for rainfall this season. We’ve had some really heavy rains the past couple of days and yesterday was no exception.

My husband came downstairs last night around 11 p.m. saying that he could hear the creek and so we all took flashlights and ended up tromping down to the creek where indeed the banks had overflown with the excess water. Unfortunately I didn’t know how to set the f-stop on the camera for night-time shots so didn’t get any pictures of the creek but I thought I’d post some taken this morning after the creek’s water level had fallen.

Pickling cucumbers at night with the flash.

Closer view of the creek showing the flattened vegetation so you have an idea of where the water flowed. It came to within about a foot of the level we mow.

The creek still a bit swollen, view taken a bit farther down the stream.

More flattened vegetation. It brough back memories of all the rain England got last year and the flooding that went on there. We haven’t had near the amount of rain but it does give you pause to wonder what if and where do we go to evacuate if need be.

Karen

Clouds

Well not much has been happening on the crafting front so I thought I’d post a couple of interesting pictures of some rain clouds, pathetic yes? However it has been a while since I last posted so I need to come up with something.

I was up early, miracles of miracles, and happened to glance out the sliding porch door and noticed some billowing puffs of “I can reach out and touch them” clouds right over my deck so I rushed for the camera and took a few shots.

Rain cloud above back deck.

Not that I’m paranoid or anythng but what is that circular formation in the middle?

I thought the middle of clouds were interesting because I was thinking…hmmm…early formation of funnel? There wasn’t any indication of the winds rotating around this hole so I didn’t think much of it. Anyhow I rushed out the front to snap a shot and laughed because my neighbour from across the street had the same idea and had rushed out with her camera as well. She’d been out walking the dog and rushed home to grab a few shots.

Anyhow she pointed out that the clouds were moving quite quickly and although it didn’t seem like it when I was standing on the back deck I could see she was right because the formation had already moved off. I was just in the right place at the right time. I rushed into the house and back out onto the deck and by that time the sun was just breaking through the clouds.

Sun shining off clouds.

Karen

Op-shop find.

I’ve taken to visiting the local thrift stores mainly to find craft books at bargin prices and I’ve scored quite a few in the last couple of weeks. Today I didn’t find any books but found some material instead.

Mystery material.

It seemed like a good deal at $9.99 for 2.5 yards at 60 inches wide. I thought I’d try to dye some of it but the problem of course is I haven’t a clue what the fibre content is so anybody else know what this is?

I’m still beading and not doing much of anything else, progress is slow but I should finish this off today or tomorrow which means two down and three scarves to go. I had this set up in front of the computer so that I can bribe myself inbetween rows with some computer action at the same time.

Still beading.

And last but not least another fun photo of a die that was rolled when my sons and I were playing a board game (Settlers of Catan – I highly recommend it). The die looks huge in the photo but really wasn’t but the neat thing is my son rolled it and it settled on one of it’s corners, how many times does that happen to someone?

Die sitting on corner edge after being rolled.

My brother and sister-in-law and their daughter are coming for a visit tomorrow, which will be nice as they live in Vancouver so we don’t get to see them very much. I need to clean, my most favorite thing to do (not). They’re not fussy but you know…one must clear away some of the junk so they can at least get in the house (just joking it’s not quite that bad).

Karen

Fabric Organizer

Just a quick blog to show off my new giftie that I received in the mail yesterday from Catherine. It came all the way from Australia here to me in Canada. Catherine is a most wonderful blogger who does the most amazing work and she had a free give away to celebrate her 700th (I think 700th) post and I was one of two winners, yeah me! Her blog is Calidore and can be found in the blogroll at the side of this blog.

Anyhow here is a picture of the organizer.

Outside of organizer, velcroed shut.

Inside of organizer with space for a little notebook and small sectioned off pockets that can hold pens, pencils, crochet hooks, small scissors, etc.

I love how the outside apples are echoed by the apple fabric prints on the inside. Catherine was kind enough to put some brochures in the organizer so I could read all about the area in which she lives, a very clever idea that I’ll have to remember next time I have a give away. All in all a fantastic gift, thanks Catherine so much.

Karen