I took hundreds of pictures

The Honest Ed's farewell party was amazing. They even called part of it aMAZEment. Truly a blast. Here are just a bunch of pictures of the building and the art.

I am stunned at how clever and witty and resourceful these artists and organizers are. Just wonderful. I'm glad I saw most of it on Friday because there was room to move. I looked in at the Marketplace today and it was jam-packed. There is still time to volunteer Sunday as it closes down for good, but I don't think I'll manage that. I'm so glad I was involved -- even a wee bit -- though.

Eye candy Friday

I've mentioned the Honest Ed's store before, I think. It has closed and is going to be demolished soon, to be replaced with residential towers and a bit of retail.

This weekend a big party is happening there in the empty building. I am doing a bit of volunteering, mainly because I wanted to see how it all works out! I have done a shift of smashing tables and carrying nail-filled plywood, to make the space usable for party-goers; I scrubbed gunk off mirrors and swept floors; and I'm doing some community activities today and tomorrow. I'll report in when it's all done.

They've got the lights back on! Of course, burned out bulbs have not been replaced in some time.

These balls were just lying there, being pretty, in one of the Honest Ed's spaces. I took this while things were still being set up; perhaps it is part of some larger art piece, or perhaps they are just gewgaws. Bonus artist's reflection in the shiny ones!

And a frame outside. Painted over several times. Just a bit odd. I like it.

Movieland

Your Think Write Thursday prompt for February 23, 2017 is to write about the movie you can quote from the most. ... What's that movie, the one that once you start quoting from (probably with your friends) and you just can't stop? 

Well.

I see lots of movies, but mostly documentaries these days. We have been TV-less since 1981 (except for a few months around when the Berlin Wall came down) so we don't watch the Grinch every Christmas or any other late-night movie reruns.

Stephen and I have watched lots of movies together in the past, but there isn't a special movie we quote to each other. Maybe African Queen? "Well, do so, Mr Allnut." Yes, that must be the family movie quote.

Die Hard has some familiar moments, but there are no conversations I can repeat.

Sound of Music is certainly one that I know all the words to!

"Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."

To see what other people quote, look here.

Eye candy

Just some nice oranges for you today.

Think Write Thursday

What are you procrastinating about? And why? And, finally, how are you going to address it?

There are the obvious things we deal with on this blog: how many half-knitted sweaters are lying around the house? Gazillions. The oldest work-in-progress project on Ravelry is from 2011... six years ago!

I have a few half-knit sweaters around. And how many sweaters do I wear regularly, out of all the sweaters I have knit over the years? Zero. They come out once in a while, especially in the spring and fall, when I wear them outside, but really, I do not need another sweater. (This can't be the only reason I don't finish them. It's unlikely I need any more shawls, either, and I can churn them out!)

One day, I will address this. I will get my bags and ziplocs and plastic bins and look at what's in them and do something. I can think of some frogging I might do.

But, you know, I'm busy these days! So things like making decisions about my handiwork get pushed aside.

Sometime in March?

You can read about other procrastinators over at Carole's blog.

February's vintage accessory

Voilà, a tea cosy! It is a bit large for the pot. 

It has a pompom, which I made with my neighbour's fancy-pants pompom-maker. It does keep the strands from going all over the place in the all-important "tie together" step of the process, so that is good. The fact that the pompom is a bit small and sparse is my fault; next time I will use more yarn! 

Nice texture! Squishy and thick. I'd be happier if it was closer to the right size, but I do like it a lot.

Eye Candy Friday

These chairs are in a top secret location. I think I am actually breaking the rules by showing them to you. I spent Thursday afternoon moving them into position, as well as carrying splintery wood, plywood with nails sticking out, plants that need watering, lost umbrellas and much more. All for the sake of art, I think.

Another Thursday

This week's Think, Write, Thursday theme is "a love letter." That's a bit personal, isn't it?

Of course, it can be "to a person, an idea, a project, a dream, a wish, a relative, a famous person, an ancestor or anything (or anyone) else you can think of."

Silly or serious? Alan Rickman or my kids? 

***

I wrote that earlier this week while pondering the theme. 
And got no further.
And now I am pressed for time and, what am I to do? 

Quick, a photo:

We had some freezing rain the other day, which made for a treacherous walk and some nice icicles off every overhang. This is the Little Library up the street. I was thinking at the time of writing a love letter to my neighbourhood. 

Okay, and now I'm off... but don't think I don't love you all!

Hello, February

Another Think, Write, Thursday This week's topic is Hello, February.

February is starting off with a bang. Today I had to shovel snow!

Knitting-wise, I am making a tea cosy for my vintage KAL. It is a very simple thing, but it's in what might be called "half-brioche" or some sort of fake brioche stitch. It's not quite this Fisherman's Rib. It's not quite the same as this variation of brioche, according to Woolly Wormhead. You knit one row, and on the second row you purl one, knit one in the row below. And that is it for the whole tea cosy! I had to rip out about an inch and a half because no size is given in the pattern and the cosy would have swamped my poor pot, so I started again with about 10 fewer stitches.

Other than knitting, well...

1. It is the beginning of birthday season around here. We do all four family birthdays between the middle of February and the end of April, and by some strange luck we go in order from youngest to oldest!
2. On Sunday I am going to the opera, something I have not done before. It is five hours long, and that's about all I know about it. 
3. At the end of the month, there is a big celebration in the empty Honest Ed's store. Honest Ed Mirvish was Toronto's big showman/ salesman/ rags-to-riches guy. He built up his business till he owned a whole block, covered his store in light bulbs and silly signs, had door-crasher specials and Christmas turkey give-aways. People have lots of stories about their immigrant families buying stuff at Honest Ed's, about buying things when they first set up house, as students, as newcomers to Toronto... I am volunteering at the final party, and even though it's only about 3 weeks away, I really have no idea how it's all going to work, but I'll keep you posted. And in a few years, that block will be covered in 20-storey towers and a whole new park. 
4. Stephen is going away for a week and Arthur is coming here for a week. 
5. I'm going to the first meeting to talk about volunteering at Hot Docs 2017. Whoo-hoo!
6. I'm training to volunteer at the Textile Museum.
7. I have a potluck dinner planned with my pals.
8. I plan to write to my MPP about road tolls in the city and my MP about election reform. I think that telling my elected officials how to do their job might be my Canada150 project! A letter a month, two in February to make up for a lack in January. 

I'm exhausted even thinking about it. 

A real Honest Ed's sign, on the way to the exit.