Hallowe’en is out of the way, so now the town is focused on Remembrance Day. It’s Friday, and the Legion has been in full swing prepping for the last couple of weeks.

The convenience store (and other businesses) has poppies right at the checkout. Dave and I got our poppies before Hallowe’en from some cadets outside the hardware store, but I always pop a few coins in whenever I see the boxes.

The Legion is selling these signs as another fundraiser, and I’ve seen quite a few around town. I should find out how to get one for our lawn.

Alvinston’s cenotaph is unlike most of the ones I’ve seen across the province. Most of the ones I seen are usually shaped like and obelisk, where this one has this impressive sculpture.

The front lists 15 men who died in the First World War and the back lists eight men who lost their lives in the second world war. Considering the size of the township, that’s a sizable loss.

It’s situated right in front of the library on the main street, so I pass it every day when I walk to get the mail.

A ceremony will take place here at 1l am on Friday.

It’s been driving me crazy, but I haven’t been able to get in the sewing studio for almost two weeks. On Saturday, after running errands with Dave, I told him on Sunday he was to leave me alone. I was going to spend the whole day sewing.

And I did.

I got several things done. I’ll share one today, and the rest I’ll space out in other posts. Who knows when I’ll be able to get back into the studio.

First up was catching up on the Sewcialites quilt-a-long

Yeah… I went and joined another one. Well, I should say Burton joined… because it was one of his facebook friends that encourage us to do so.

The quilt-a-long is only three blocks in so far, but we were already two blocks behind.

We are using a fat quarter bundle called Catmosphere, with a few things from the stash added in. The block on the left was a little fiddly and time consuming, but the one on the right went together easy peasy.

Here it is with the first block in the quilt-a-long. And as you can see, Burton has a little apprentice. Lemmy is getting along swimmingly with Burton now, and he was thrilled to join in on the sewing session.

Friday we will get another block… and hopefully we won’t have to wait another two weeks to make it.

I am very happy to have finished my pumpkins for the year.

I made two, in fact. The first one following the small version on the Hello Gourdgeous pattern, and the second one I made up myself on the fly. Like the white one I made early, these are made with cotton as well. It’s a bit more of a rusty orange than a pumpkin orange, but it’s the only orange I have. And I quite like it.

I’ll leave them out for a little while longer, but then they will be packed away for next fall. And who knows… the harvest may grow a little more by then.

Although it’s only been five years since Burton was a kitten, I’d completely forgotten what it’s like having a kitten in the house. Lemmy was already pretty fearless (which is one of the things Dave loved about him) but now that he’s gotten comfortable, he’s REALLY coming out of his shell.

He’s into everything he can get into, and he’s more than willing to give it a try even if I he can’t. He’s still working on getting on the bathroom counter. His Mission Impossible recreation was not quite successful. But as you can imagine, nothing is safe.

This week’s lessons have been:

• No climbing on the humans at their meal times
• No pooping in the house plants
• If you stand behind a human while the are doing something in the kitchen, you’re probably going to get stepped on.
• If you run at top speed at the human’s feet while they are walking, you’re probably going to get kicked
• Do NOT stop on the stairs just as the humans are walking up/down them so they almost trip and fall. They do not like it and they yell really loud

And humans really do not like claws and piranha teeth on their skin. Especially on their nose, and really especially at 5 a.m. when they are sound asleep.

But one area we have made progress with is friendship…

All the cats are getting used to having the interloper around. Relic and Rupert are still spending most of the day in the catio (though that’s probably more to do with the nice weather than anything). But Relic has stopped running every time he sees the tiny terrorist. And Rupert has reclaimed his spot on the bed at night, and won’t let the little guy push him out.

But Burton…

… has warmed up most of all.

Burton has actually started playing with Lemmy. It started with just swatty paws, and has progressed to brief wrestling matches. But Lemmy is a bit of a screamer, which kind of freaks Burton out. Burton’s not playing rough enough to hurt Lemmy, but you’d never know it from the screeching coming from that tiny bit of fluff.

And last night…

We even had a brief snuggle session on my lap. It would have lasted longer, but Lemmy just can’t resist a swishing tail…

To say that November is off to a weird start is an understatement.

Usually, the week of our Thanksgiving (Early-Mid October) is almost always “summerish”, but after that we may get a nice day or two, but in general, the end of October and into November it’s cold and wet. While we never get much accumulation, it’s not entirely uncommon to have snow in late October, and no one would ever bat an eyelash at it in November.

But this year… Thanksgiving week was as expected, as was the week after it. Then something happened. The temps zoomed up and stay there. While the nights still dip down to close to freezing… there’s been no hard frost. And the days…. most days get at least above 15C/59F… and 20C/68F days have been plentiful. And this has been going on for about two full weeks at this point!

Today is supposed to get up to 22C/72F and while temps are supposed to fall off the following week, they are still expected to stay above 15C/59F.

I don’t ever remember a fall like this.

I’m not complaining, because it means I still get to see things like this..

From top left:

The Toad Lilies are doing amazing this year. They’ve multiplied and there has to be about 30 blooms on all the plants. Next year I might split them up and move some to a shady spot out front.

This is a first for the Physostegia… it’s blooming again. And I admit, this plant is only about three years old – but this has NEVER happened. My only explanation is the weather. I won’t get as big a show as the first bloom, but it’s nice to see a bit of colour in that corner.

The Tickseed is a prolific bloomer in the warm weather, so I’m not surprised to see more blooms on it with this extended warmth. This is another plant I’ll probably split and put more out front.

While the Coneflowers blooms slow in the fall, they don’t stop until a hard frost… so I’ve still got a handful of gorgeous beauties. These ones are such and intense red, they really stand out.

And yes… it’s stayed warm enough for my Chicago Peace Rose to bloom!!! There’s another bud too, but I think I’m going to cut it and let it bloom inside. This one is currently getting ravaged by cucumber beetles… I went out this morning and there were about a dozen on it. I guess they don’t have many cucumbers to munch on, and the warm weather is keeping them active.

And all the Clematis buds were able to bloom. The cooler nights have given the newer ones this gorgeous pink and green tinge. I am absolutely thrilled to have Clematis thriving after so many years of failure with them. I think they are going to be just amazing next year.

And last… Fresh November Strawberries anyone??? They are small, but they are ripening!

Since the weather is supposed to hold until next weekend… I expect I’ll have another garden post for you then. There’s some Susans, a daylily and another rose with buds coming… we’ll see if they make it before then. In the mean time… I have to go cut my grass again… lol

Thanks for all the sweet comments about Lemmy.

But our poor Relly-Belly is still feeling rather disconcerted. He continues to run from Lemmy like the kitten is going to attack him at any moment. Happily, the weather has been nice enough for him to spend all day in the catio, but that’s not going to last.

Please send him some love, and let him know it’s okay to come inside. He can totally take the kitten down if he needs to.

Something unexpected happened the morning of Hallowee’en. Dave and I were out running a couple errands in the late morning. We finished our errands and he wanted to go get some lunch. I wasn’t too keen, as I wasn’t feeling great and just wanted to go home. He insisted, as we would be having a late dinner after the trick-or-treaters.

The town we were in didn’t have any good lunch options (its not much bigger than Alvinston), so we headed to the next town over. Dave really wanted pizza. But when we got there, the pizza place wasn’t open yet (It was a few minutes before 11 am). I continued on up the main street, looking for an easy place to turn around. By the time I turned around and got back down the street and passed the pizza place, Dave saw the open sign come on. So I started looking for another place to turn around. I pulled into a side street with a pharmacy on the corner, when all of a sudden Dave yelled out “There’s a kitten running around that parking lot!!!!”

I took a hard left into the parking lot. Dave realized what he’d done and said “Oh crap… I shouldn’t have said that out loud.”

The parking lot was narrow and very busy, but I managed to get a place to park and jumped out of the truck. It took me a few minutes to locate the kitten, and when I did he was very nervous about coming to me.

He cried and purred, but stayed just behind the rear wheel on a parked mini-van.

By this time Dave has gotten out and was standing a little ways from me. I don’t remember his exact words, but it was along the lines of “I know the kitten can’t stay here, but you can’t keep it either.”

I finally got close enough to grab the kitten, and told Dave I’d contact the Alvinston Cat Rescue when we got him home.

I put the little guy (who was soaked through, dirty, and reeked of the underside of an automobile, but purring up a storm) in the back of the truck in one of the reusable plastic bins I use for groceries. We headed home (Dave never did get his pizza)

On the drive, the little guy escaped the bin and climbed the console between us and immediately climbed into Dave’s arms in the passenger seat. Purring the whole time.

The whole drive (about 15 minutes) Dave recounted all the reasons we couldn’t keep him. We already have three cats. Those cats will be upset. The cost of needles, and neutering, and other vet appointments…

I said nothing.

When we were almost home, Dave said “He’s got one serious little motor on him. We should call him Lemmy.” (Lemmy Kilmister was the lead singer/bassist of the band Motorhead)

When we pulled in the driveway, he said “You’re going to call the rescue right?”

I nodded and told him I’d do it after I got Lemmy cleaned up and checked the online sites to see if any one was missing him.

Now I know… you’re just dying to see the little guy…

My best guess is he’s between 12 and 16 weeks. He’s got a round little belly (probably full of worms) and very dirty ears (which I’ve cleaned up, but will probably need treating for mites), but seems to be flea free.

First thing he did was have a good little snack at the cat bowls, and then a long drink of water.

He smelled terrible (a mix of poop and old motor oil) but the bath took care of that. As you can see, other than his football shaped head, he’s pretty close in colouring to Rupert. He’s actually a shade lighter, in both fur and eyes, but you only really notice that when they are side-by-side.

As Dave predicted, and was pretty much expected, the trios diablos was NOT AMUSED. Relic was the first to see him. And Relic ran right up to give him a sniff all over. This overwhelmed poor Lemmy, and he arched his back and hissed. You would have thought that he attacked Relic. Relic took off, and has been treating him like he has the plague every since.

Burton like Relic ran over to sniff him, but unlike Relic, it was Burton who hissed. He’s been fine with him ever since, as long as Lemmy doesn’t try to touch him. Which of course, now that Lemmy’s over his initial shock… all he wants to do is rub all over the big cats.

Rupert, our little Napoleon, has actually been the best of all of them. He mostly ignores Lemmy all day (staying up in bed, as is his routine). At night, he comes down and mostly just follows Lemmy around. Or sits where he can keep an eye on him.

But the second night, I was reclined in my chair as usual, with Relic by my feet, and Rupert stretch out down my legs. From no where, Lemmy appeared.

He wanted to get in on the cuddle puddle. And Rupert was pretty chill. He watched, and only complained once or twice but didn’t leave. Eventually Lemmy settled in.

(You can really see the difference in their colouring here) They stayed like that for about 15-20 minutes with Lemmy eventually using Rupert’s tail as a sleeping mask…

After the first day, Dave stopped talking about calling the cat rescue. While I’m working, I frequently hear him talking to Lemmy. And when I come down on breaks, more often than not, they are curled up together.

I’m 99.9% sure that little Lemmy Purrmister is a permanent member of the Wandering Cat Crew.

This week’s walkabout is all about front porches!!!

I love a nice big front porch. The house we had when I was a teen had covered front porch that spanned the whole width of the house. We spent a lot of time on that porch, crafting, listening to music, and just enjoying the fresh air.

Our house here has a front porch with an awning, but it’s not really a sitting porch.

Dave really wants to put a full porch across the front of our house, because he thinks it will draw attention away from the odd addition plunked on the side. He’s a little OCD, so asymmetry bothers him.

It would also require the relocation of our gas metre which is right out in front of the middle of the house (another thing that bothers him), and I can just imagine how much THAT would cost. It’s definitely not in the cards any time soon.

But there are lots of our type of houses around town that have added full porches.

This house just recently redid theirs and it looks lovely. I’d like to think if we had the money, ours would end up looking something like this… but longer of course, because of the addition.

Another idea could be taken from one of my favourite houses in town.

We could take the foot print of our existing porch, and build a little bump-out addition above it. The addition would be off the master bedroom, and it would be a lovely little spot for a reading nook. I’d build it with windows all around, and put in a big window seat. I could fill it with pillows and plants and laze the days away there with the cats!

And since we are dreaming….

Why not a wrap-around???? This is another of my favourite houses in town. And I think you can see why.

I would only be able to have partial wrap-around on our house, since there’s no room on the driveway side. Of course, if Dave had his way, there would be no room on the other side either – he really wants a U-shaped driveway that goes around the back of the house and out either side. This would mean taking out my maple tree… not to mention how much it would limit my garden plans!!!

But… he also wants to expand the garage, and build a pool and a pond and, and, and….

I think the final verdict is we really need more money and a bigger property!

Still. It’s fun to dream, and there’s lots of inspiration around town.

I’m taking a wee break from Tiny Needle Tuesday. Not giving up cross stitch, I just need to get some things off my plate before I start something new.

But I’m happy to say… my white cotton pumpkin is now off my plate.

As much as I did not enjoy knitting with the cotton, I am thrilled with the result. It’s like lovely little Cinderella pumpkin, and the cables just made it that much more delightful! And, I used up the last of that yarn, which is always a good feeling!

Now… I have some orange cotton… and yes, after all my complaining… I’m going to make some more. She needs a couple small ones to go with her! And I know if I don’t do it now, I will never get around to it!

The most wonderful day of the year is finally here!!!

Happy Hallowe’en!!!

It’s supposed to be a very rainy one here. I’m hoping we get a break for the trick-or-treaters.

Whether we do or not, Dave and I already had a little spooky fun this weekend. On Saturday, we took part in the Sarnia Street Cruisers Trunk or Treat event.

Dave shined up the Bonneville, and I got in character…

And we hit the road (No, Burton didn’t come along).

A Trunk or Treat is basically a big car meet, but with a twist…

Every one fills their trunks with candy, and decorates them….

Then the kids come trick or treating trunk to trunk.

It wasn’t just classic cars either, but all kinds of performance vehicles.

The Yellowstone crew even made an appearance.

I really hope they didn’t give Mr and Mrs. Claus a ride to the train station!!!! Lol.

Our trunk was pretty tame compared to most of the trunks, but this was our first year, and we weren’t sure how far to go.

It was just my witchy broom and black cat, of course. We did bring our foam pumpkins too, but I ended up putting them away because I just kept knocking them over with my cloak.

We did have something the other cars didn’t have though…

A skeleton chauffeur at the wheel! Several of the kids were quite delighted with this!

As you can see, the day was sunny. It was also warm. I had to take my cloak off, but it was just perfect for the kids.

I was told there was about 80 trunks taking part… and as for kids, someone said something like 5,000. We gave out candy for a little more than two hours.

The group posted this picture taken from the sky.

I’ve marked this one up to give you an idea of the scope…

The area surrounded in blue was all the trunks. The pink line is children and their parents lined up waiting to get in (all the little bodies around the cars are kids already going trunk to trunk. The green line at the back is a line of cars on the street waiting to get in.

But I did not hear a single complaint about the long line or wait to get in. Everyone seemed to have and amazing time. I know I was pretty darn pooped.

Rain or not, tonight won’t be quite as intense, but I hope it’s just as fun!