The Old York, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper this evening on the patio at The Old York (Niagara Street/Wellington Street).  As a head's up, on the weekends, brunch ends at 3pm and supper doesn't start until 5pm ... so there is a two hour break when you can't get food.  Weird on a weekend, right?  We got there during the break and decided to wait until the supper service started because we figured it would be hard to find a space on a patio somewhere else.  It was interesting to see people arriving and then immediately leaving because there was no food being served.

Gord was craving a burger and ordered the Old York Burger with bacon and mushrooms.  He said it was a good burger, though he thought the mushrooms were canned rather than fresh.

I ordered the Old York Fried Chicken.  It was really good.  The honey sauce was a bit spicy but not too spicy.  The fries were yummy.

Heather and James were our servers and they took good care of us.

Knitted cat blanket

Crumpet likes to sleep on a towel in the hall ... so I thought I'd knit her a blanket (I used a dish cloth pattern).  She hasn't checked it out yet (she's snoozing on our bed) and I hope she likes it.

I used 6 ply Bernat Baby Blanket Yarn (Pitter Patter) so it's really soft and 8mm needles.

• Cast on 3 stitches
• Row 1 (wrong side): k3
• Row 2 (right side): kfb (knit front and back of stitch), k1, kfb 
• Row 3: k5
• Row 4: kfb, k until 1 stitch left, kfb
• Row 5: knit
• Repeat row 4 and 5 until you have reached the desired size (it's the first half)

• Row 1 (right side): k2tog, knit until 2 stitches left, ssk (slip slip knit)
• Row 2 (wrong side): knit
• Repeat row 1 and 2 until only 3 stitches remain
• Last row: Bind off the 3 remaining stitches

Topbox - October 2020

My October Topbox arrived today.

Get 4 hand-picked deluxe samples delivered to your door for $15 per month. It's the best way to discover the products you'll love.

Here's what I received ...

NARS Climax Extreme Mascara (Uncensored Black) - $9.33 value 

Benefit 24-Hour Brow Setter - $8 value

Olly Probiotic - $23.97 value

belif Aqua bomb makeup removing cleansing balm - $4.05 value

Estate Lip Icing (Down) - $10 value

Total value = $55.35

Knitted cat blanket

I made my sister's cat another blanket for Christmas ... basically it's a big dishcloth.

I used Caron Chunky Cakes Yarn (Rainbow Jellies). It's a 6 ply yarn and I used 8mm needles.

Cast on 65 stitches (or an odd number of stitches).

Row 1 to 5: k1, p1, repeat until you reach the last stitch, k1.

Row 6: k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, purl until you reach last five stitches, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1.

Row 7: k1, p1, k1, p1, k1, knit until you reach last five stitches, k1, p1, k1, p1, k1.

Repeat rows 6 and 7 until desired length less five rows.

Last five rows:  k1, p1, repeat until you reach the last stitch, k1.

Bind off all stitches in knit. Weave in loose ends.

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

I went for a walk this afternoon to Trinity Bellwoods Park to check out KC's tree.

When I was there last week, the leaves on her tree were still just starting to change ... it's usually one of the last trees in the park for the leaves to start changing colours.  Today the leaves are very orange!

Knitted cat blanket

I made my sister's dog a blanket for Christmas a couple days ago so I thought I'd knit her cat one too.  I used the same pattern as the dog blanket (basically it's a big dishcloth).

I used Bernat Blanket Yarn (Cornflower Twist) (it's a 6 ply) and 8mm needles.

• Cast on 3 stitches
• Row 1 (wrong side): k3
• Row 2 (right side): kfb (knit front and back of stitch), k1, kfb 
• Row 3: k5
• Row 4: kfb, k until 1 stitch left, kfb
• Row 5: knit
• Repeat row 4 and 5 until you have reached the desired size (it's the first half)

• Row 1 (right side): k2tog, knit until 2 stitches left, ssk (slip slip knit)
• Row 2 (wrong side): knit
• Repeat row 1 and 2 until only 3 stitches remain
• Last row: Bind off the 3 remaining stitches

Book ~ "Bending the Paw" (2020) Diane Kelly

From Goodreads ~ A bloodbath is a shocking new challenge for Megan and Brigit when Detective Audrey Jackson calls them to the scene of what could only be a brutal murder. But the one thing the nightmarish scene is missing is a victim. The frantic homeowner’s husband is gone, seemingly without a trace - and so is the money he was holding. Has a vicious killer committed what might just be the perfect crime? 

Meanwhile, it’s hailing cats and dogs all over Fort Worth, and roofing contractors have descended on the city in droves. With plenty of damage and continuing storms, work delays are building up like so much runoff but Megan is suspicious that one roofer may be a scam artist. Determined to leash every lawbreaker she and her K-9 partner find, Megan is building a case for prosecution, all while Brigit has her nose to the ground for a murderer.

Megan is a police officer in Fort Worth, Texas.  Her partner is Brigit, a German Shepherd.  Megan has aspirations of becoming a detective and is being mentored by Detective Jackson.  Jackson has been called to the scene of a potential kidnapping and/or murder and invites Megan along.  A wife arrives home to find her kitchen awash with blood and her husband is missing.  Blood tests show that it's the husband's blood and his car, also full of blood, is eventually found, but there's no body.  The couple seem to have had a great relationship so it's puzzling as to who would kill the husband and why.

A roofer is taking money from new clients but isn't doing the work.  He is blaming the rest of his crew and a shortage of supplies and Megan isn't sure if he's telling the truth or if he's a scam artist.

This is the ninth in the Paw Enforcement series (I've read them all) but can work as a stand alone and you don't have to read the others to know what's going on (there is enough background provided).

I liked the writing style ... it was amusing at times.  It is written in first person perspective from Megan's point of view and third person perspective from Brigit's point of view (which is funny) and the Slasher's perspective (the chapters alternate and are labeled).

I like Megan.  She's gotten more confident and ambitious as time goes on.  Brigit's funny and likeable and it's fun to get into her head.  Though she is a trained police dog, she can be naughty when she wants to be (like figuring out how to open a cupboard that has been child-proofed and eating a box of Megan's crackers).

Salmon spawning, Humber River, Toronto, ON

The Chinook and Coho salmon are currently spawning in local rivers ... I'd never heard about it or seen it until a neighbour told me about it last weekend.  Gord and I headed to Etienne Brule Park (near Bloor Street W/Old Mill) this afternoon.   We've never been to this park so it was fun to check it out.

We headed up the Humber River and followed it to Dundas Street W.

Knitted dog blanket

My sister asked me to knit her dog, Frankie, a sweater for Christmas (and I did).  I just finished making him a blanket (basically it's a big dishcloth).

I used Caron Chunky Cakes Yarn (Sweet and Sour), which stripes naturally, for both.  It's a 6 ply yarn and I used 8mm needles.

• Cast on 3 stitches
• Row 1 (wrong side): k3
• Row 2 (right side): kfb (knit front and back of stitch), k1, kfb 
• Row 3: k5
• Row 4: kfb, k until 1 stitch left, kfb
• Row 5: knit
• Repeat row 4 and 5 until you have reached the desired size (it's the first half)

• Row 1 (right side): k2tog, knit until 2 stitches left, ssk (slip slip knit)
• Row 2 (wrong side): knit
• Repeat row 1 and 2 until only 3 stitches remain
• Last row: Bind off the 3 remaining stitches

Knitted dog sweater

My sister asked me to knit her dog, Frankie, a sweater for Christmas.  I made one for him last week from a pattern I found at Yarnspirations (it's the first time I'd knitted a dog sweater).  It's considered an easy pattern (and it was).

Though the pattern calls for two colours and stripes, I just used Caron Chunky Cakes Yarn (Sweet and Sour), which stripes naturally.  It's a 6 ply yarn so is thicker than the 4 ply that is recommended.  I used the same size needles as in the pattern (5mm) so it's thick and sturdy.

I made a medium one.  My sister had given me Frankie's measurements and it came out exactly as the pattern said it would.  I hope it fits him.

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

I went for a walk this evening to Trinity Bellwoods Park to check out KC's tree and the changing leaves in the park.

The leaves on KC's tree are still just starting to change ... it's usually one of the last trees in the park for the leaves to start changing colours.

KC's tree is the green one in the middle

There it is!

Books ~ "Saving Tiberius" (2020) Gordon K. Jones

From Goodreads ~ Morgan Watson has a problem. When word leaked that his cat, Tiberius, miraculously cured itself of diabetes and may hold the key to a cure, he is attacked in his home and almost killed in a bloody fight. 

Paula Rogers, a strong-willed dedicated police officer, has put herself in the line of fire protecting them, and for the first time is stretching the rules and hiding facts from her superiors. 

The two fiercely independent people find their romantic feelings for each other grow as they search to find who is behind the brutal attempts to get Tiberius before they find themselves intertwined with the growing list of dead bodies. 

Morgan works in an office and lives alone with his cat, Tiberius, who had had feline diabetes but seems to have miraculously cured itself of it.  Morgan comes home one evening and finds two men in his apartment, trying to kidnap Tiberius.  They have been hired to bring Tiberius to a man whose only goal is to profit financially from the cure and Tiberius' certain death.  Morgan is able to fend them off but is shaken.  He contacts the police and Paula, an officer, investigates.  There are more threats on Morgan and Tiberius' lives and Morgan and Paula race against time to do all they can to protect Tiberius and stop whoever is trying to kill him.

This book will appeal to readers of crime fiction and cat lovers (like me!).  It is written in third person perspective with the focus on wherever the action.  I liked the writing style and it moved along at a fast pace.  It's got a bit of everything ... suspense, romance, action and a cat!  What more could you want?!  As a head's up, there is violence and adult activity.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

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

I used black Red Heart Super Saver 4 ply yarn as my main colour (A), teal from Craft Smart Value Yarn in Neon Yellow 4 ply yarn as my second colour (B) and 5mm double pointed needles.  They are bright!

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

Book ~ "Silent Bite" (2020) David Rosenfelt

From Goodreads ~ Lawyer Andy Carpenter can finally take a breath; he’s back on dry land after a family Caribbean cruise forced on him by his wife, Laurie, to get into the Christmas spirit. Of course, the family’s first stop is to the Tara Foundation, the dog rescue organization that has always been Andy’s true passion. 

But when Andy arrives, his partner, Willie Miller, needs his help. Willie’s old cellmate, Tony Birch, has been arrested for murder. Andy doesn’t necessarily believe in Tony but Willie does. And Andy believes in Willie, which is why Andy decides to take the case.

Andy is a criminal defense lawyer who doesn't want any clients.  Because of the money his father left him and some lucrative cases, he is able to not work and spend his time with his friend, Willie, running the Tara Foundation, a dog rescue that he and Willie formed.  He is married to Laurie, they have a young son, Ricky, and he is enjoying his life.  He love love loves their dog, Tara, and thinks she's the best dog in the world.  They also has another less lively dog named Sebastian, who he also loves.

Andy and his family just got home from a cruise, which Andy hated.  He stops in to see Willie who tells him about a friend of his, Tony, who has been arrested for murder.  Willie doesn't think Tony did it and wants Andy to be his lawyer.  Andy wants to be retired lawyer and agrees to meet Tony.  Because Willie is Andy's friend and Tony has a dog, Andy begrudgedly takes the case.

Tony has a past.  He is a former gang member and had spent time in prison for involuntary manslaughter.  When Tony got out, he turned his life around and became a mechanic, eventually buying the garage where he worked.  One of his former gang "colleagues" had testified in court during the manslaughter trial and Tony had sworn in court he would kill him.  He is now being charged with the recent murder of this man plus another colleague.  Plus it didn't help that he has no alibi for the nights of the two murders and the murder weapon was found buried in Tony's backyard.

This is the 22nd in the Andy Carpenter series (I've read them all).  I enjoyed this book and am enjoying this series.  I find with most series that by the time an author has come this far, the series isn't very good and the author is pounding out the books just to get a paycheque.  That's not the case with this series ... the author is able to keep this series fresh and fun.

Even though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone (so you don't need to have read the ones before it to know what is going on).  I like the writing style as it was funny, sarcastic and amusing.  It was written mostly in first person perspective in Andy's voice but is sometimes in third person perspective when the focus is on other people.

I like Andy ... I think he would be a hoot to be around and he's quite generous with his time and money (his two best friends continue to take advantage of his tab at their favourite bar).  Part of Andy's team is the K-Team (Laurie, a former police officer and now an investigator; Marcus, an investigator with "persuasive" reasoning skills; Cory, a former police officer; and Simon Garfunkel, Cory's former canine partner).  Sam is his accountant who is also a computer hack who wants to be part of the action and he has a new associate named Eddie who is a former football player.  Edna is his secretary who, like Andy, would rather he not take on any cases and she likes getting paid to do nothing.

Northern Maverick Brewing Co., Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper at Northern Maverick Brewing Co. this evening (on Bathurst Street just north of King Street W).

We sat on the patio.  There was a bit of a chill (it was 12C) and there were heaters on the patio to keep us warm.

I liked the raspberry wheat beer.  I'm not a fan of wheat beer and this wasn't very wheaty.

We both ordered Buttermilk Fried Chicken and it was all delicious.  The chicken was boneless.  I'd get it again!