Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens.  They are fun to make.  

I haven't made a pair since April because (1) I have many pairs already knitted that I'm trying to figure out what to do with and (2) I've been knitting dish cloths and blankets.

I used 4 ply yarn and 5mm double pointed needles.

Wrist

1. With A, cast on 42 sts
2. Knit 1, purl 1 for 18 rows
3. Purl
4. Purl, increasing 2 stitches on each needle for a total of 48 stitches

Pattern

1.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
2. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
3. Purl 2 rows with A
4. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
5. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
6. Purl 2 rows with A
7.  *Knit 4 with B, slip 2 purlwise with A*, repeat to the end of row
8. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
9. Purl 2 rows with A
10. Knit 1 with B, * slip 2 purlwise with A, knit 4 with B*, repeat to the last three stitches, knit 3 with B
11. Repeat this row 4 more times (5 in total)
12. Purl 2 rows with A

Thumb

1. In step 12 above, purl 2, put 7 stitches on a stitch holder for the thumb and cast on 7 stitches, purl to the end.  Purl 1 row.

Mitten

1. Knit the pattern until long enough (I did 6)
2. Knit 1 row
3. *Knit 4, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
4. Knit 2 rows
5. *Knit 3, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
6. Knit 2 rows
7. *Knit 2, knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
8. Knit 2 rows
9. *Knit 2 together*, repeat to the end
10. Thread the yarn through remaining the loops and pull tight
11. Weave end inside

Thumb

1. With A, pick up the 7 stitches from the holder
2. Pick up 7 stitches around the thumb hole for a total of 14 stitches
3. Knit to fit length of thumb
4. Knit 2 together all around
5. Thread the yarn through the remaining loops and pull tight
6. Weave end inside

Cat Shelter Building Workshop, Toronto Street Cats, Toronto, ON

Toronto Street Cats started their cat shelter building workshops for the season last week.  The workshops are held throughout the fall and winter season in the garage of the Toronto Humane Society.

It's my fourth year volunteering with them ... it's so nice helping the kitties in Toronto keep warm and dry during the cold winter.

Our mission: improve the lives of Toronto’s homeless cats by offering spay/neuter services, free for feral cats, and building overwintering shelters. We are also working to increase public awareness about Toronto’s homeless cat population and the importance of spay/neuter and trap/neuter/return (TNR). 

We are part of the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition, working together to implement strategic TNR programs to sterilize Toronto’s feral cats, decrease shelter intake and reduce euthanasia rates.

Since COVID, instead of having 40+ volunteers, there are only 10.  There are lots of strict protocols to follow ... we were all socially distanced and required to wear masks.  56 shelters were made today.

I set up next to my pal, Darlene.

There's Carol, our coordinator.

We taped the insulated walls together in the bins and then taped the tubing entrances ... I mostly did the first part as I like it better and just did taped the tubing to a couple.  Thom cut the tubing for the entrance ways, cut the Styrofoam for insulated walls and drilled holes into the bins after the insulated walls had been taped inside.

Serendipity Soy Candles, Collingwood, ON

I ordered Serendipity Soy Candles' Fall into Winter Candle Box (they are in Collingwood, ON) and it arrived today. It costs $85 (the value is over $100) and shipping was free. I had ordered their last three boxes and like their candles.

Don't count the days, make the days count - frankincense

Peppermint Hot Chocolate -
dark chocolate and cool peppermint

Dog & Bear Pub, Toronto, ON

The electricity in our condo complex was turned off about 1:30pm today, shortly after three fire trucks and a police car had arrived.  There was apparently something happening in our electrical building.

It was still off at suppertime so Gord and I headed to the Dog & Bear (Queen W/Dovercourt), which is in our 'hood.  

I ordered chicken fingers and fries with honey garlic sauce on the side ... it's one of my go-tos there.

Gord ordered a garden salad and wings.  He orders their wings with no sauce often when we are there and likes them.

Delysées, Toronto, ON

Delysées used to be on King Street W (just east of Niagara Street) and closed shop a couple years ago and went exclusively into wholesale.  A couple weeks ago they opened a shop on Ossington Avenue (at Argyle Street).  I liked their desserts so stopped in while I was out on a walk.

I knew I wanted a lemon meringue tart and couldn't resist the banana chocolate.

KC's tree, Trinity Bellwoods Park, Toronto, ON

I took a walk this afternoon to Trinity Bellwoods Park to visit KC's tree.

There wasn't a big change from when I was there last week ... the leaves on KC's tree are always one of the last to change. This time last year the leaves were a brilliant orange.

Alltrue, Fall 2021

My fall Alltrue box (formerly called CAUSEBOX) arrived today.

Alltrue is a membership uniting a community that stands for good, seeks truth, and takes action - connecting socially conscious individuals everywhere who are out to build a better world. Best known for our flagship seasonal subscription box, we’re adding new features every season to help you find your people, explore your values, and discover the brands and products that are making a difference.

What does our name mean?

All: A fundamentally inclusive word. All are welcome, bring your full self. The Alltrue community is here for you at home, with work, in life. All of it.

True: Truth is at the heart of everything we do. As product curators and community leaders, we find the facts and share them with you.

Altruism: A selfless concern for the wellbeing of others. We are a community of altruists.

Small changes add up when we come together, and Alltrue believes that the community we build – one of shared values and conscious choices – can benefit everyone. By being a source of encouragement, inspiration, and just plain good, the everyday choices we make together have the power to change the future of global consumption.

GROWN ALCHEMIST Hydra Repair Day Cream
($49 value)

LSTN Wanderlust Portable Speaker ($99.99 value)

Book ~ "Hana Khan Carries On" (2021) Uzma Jalaluddin

From Goodreads ~ Hana Khan's family-run halal restaurant is on its last legs. So when a flashy competitor gets ready to open nearby, bringing their inevitable closure even closer, she turns to her anonymously-hosted podcast, and her lively and long-lasting relationship with one of her listeners, for advice. 

But a hate-motivated attack on their neighbourhood complicates the situation further, as does Hana's growing attraction for Aydin, the young owner of the rival business. Who might not be a complete stranger after all.

Hana's mother has been running a halal restaurant in the close-knit Golden Crescent neighbourhood in Toronto's east end for 15 years.  Hana's sister and brother-in-law work there as does Hana.  What Hana wants to do, though, is be in radio and she has an internship with a radio station plus she has just started doing podcasts.  She has been exchanging comments with a listener named "StanleyP" and, though they have never met or provided details of their real life, they have become friends.

Hana's mother's restaurant is failing and it doesn't help when a rude aggressive businessman from Vancouver buys the restaurant nearby for his son, Aydin, to open and run.  His goal is to buy all the other property in the area and develop it for condos.  Hana will do all she can to keep her mother's restaurant in business and clashes with Aydin, despite being drawn to him.

I liked this story and the writing style.  It is written in first person perspective in Hana's voice. Though she is 24, she seems a lot younger.  There is a lot going on, however, with so many different storylines in so many different directions.  I found it interesting learning more about the Muslim beliefs and practices.  As a head's up, there is some swearing and violence.

Dog & Tiger, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper this evening on the heated patio of the Dog & Tiger (on the corner of College Street and Euclid Avenue) ... we'd never been there before.

I ordered a D&T Burger (with no lettuce, onions or cheese) and Fries and Gord ordered Fish & Chips (and swapped out his chips for a salad).  My burger was good ... the patty was tender and the bun was really soft (just how I like them).  Gord said his fish was really good.

College Falafel, Toronto, ON

I've been craving a donair lately and stopped in for lunch today at my usual spot, College Falafel (at Ossington Avenue and College Street).  

The owners, Oljana and Bard, are very nice and friendly and they make good donairs.

There are a wide variety of condiments but traditionally a donair has meat, tomatoes, onions and sauce.  I got just tomatoes and donair sauce (I'm not a fan of onions).  The donair is served in a pita pocket.  The meat was good and tender and the sauce was tasty.

Cat Shelter Building Workshop, Toronto Street Cats, Toronto, ON

Toronto Street Cats started their cat shelter building workshops for the season today.  The workshops are held throughout the fall and winter season in the garage of the Toronto Humane Society.

It's my fourth year volunteering with them ... it's so nice helping the kitties in Toronto keep warm and dry during the cold winter.

Our mission: improve the lives of Toronto’s homeless cats by offering spay/neuter services, free for feral cats, and building overwintering shelters. We are also working to increase public awareness about Toronto’s homeless cat population and the importance of spay/neuter and trap/neuter/return (TNR). 

We are part of the Toronto Feral Cat Coalition, working together to implement strategic TNR programs to sterilize Toronto’s feral cats, decrease shelter intake and reduce euthanasia rates.

Since COVID, instead of having 40+ volunteers, there are only 10.  There are lots of strict protocols to follow and Carol, the coordinator, ensured we did ... we had to complete the COVID screening questionnaires ahead of time and we were all socially distanced and required to wear masks.  Someone from the Toronto Humane Society checked our proofs of double vaccination.  41 shelters were made today.

I set up next to my pal, Darlene.  I haven't seen her since the last workshop in December so it was great to catch up.

We taped the insulated walls together in the bins and then taped the tubing entrances ... I mostly did the first part as I like it better and just did taped the tubing to a couple.  Thom cut the tubing for the entrance ways, cut the Styrofoam for insulated walls and drilled holes into the bins after the insulated walls had been taped inside.

Before

After

Small knitted blanket

I finished knitting a small pet blanket for my sister's dog tonight.

I used one skein of Bernat Baby Velvet Stripes Yarn (Misty Forest) and 5mm needles (her cat's is Bunny Beige).

• Cast on 3 sts.
• 1st and 2nd rows: Kfb. Knit to end of row
• 3rd and 4th rows: Kfb. Purl to end of row
• Rep last 4 rows until half desired length (for me, that was about half the skein)

• 1st and 2nd rows: ssk. Knit to end of row
• 3rd and 4th rows: ssk. Purl to end of row
• Rep last 4 rows until there are 3 sts rem
• Next row: Sl1. K2tog. psso
• Next row: Sl1. K2tog. psso
• Bind off and weave in the ends