Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are green, mint and black.

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

Book ~ "Musseled Out" (2015) Barbara Ross

From Goodreads ~ The busy summer tourist season is winding down in Busman's Harbor, Maine, but Julia Snowden senses trouble simmering for the Snowden Family Clambake Company. Shifty David Thwing - the "Mussel King" of upscale seafood restaurants - is sniffing around town for a new location. But serving iffy clams turns out to be the least of his troubles.

When Thwing is found sleeping with the fishes beneath a local lobsterman's boat, the police quickly finger Julia's brother-in-law, Sonny, as the one who cooked up the crime. Sure, everyone knows Sonny despised the Mussel King ... but Julia believes he's innocent. Proving it won't be easy, though. It seems there's a lot more than murder on the menu, and Julia needs to act fast.

Summer’s winding down in Busman’s Harbor, Maine, and Julia is stressing about her future. Should she head back to her fast-paced New York career or stick around to keep helping her family’s clambake business? Her personal dilemma is soon overshadowed by the arrival of David Thwing, an arrogant entrepreneur known as the “Mussel King”, who announces plans to establish a competing clambake operation. Tensions mount quickly but the conflict takes a turn when Thwing is found murdered, tangled in ropes beneath a lobsterman’s boat. Suspicion falls on Julia’s brother-in-law, Sonny, whose disagreements with Thwing were no secret. 

Determined to clear her family’s name, Julia begins her own investigation. As she starts digging, she uncovers rivalries, secrets and hidden motives within the close-knit community. Along the way, Julia also has to face some tough personal choices about her future, her career and her relationship with her boyfriend, Chris, who isn't going to leave Busman’s Harbor.

This story was written in first person perspective in Julia's voice. It's a cozy mystery so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity (just brief references that it had happened). There was lots going on with rivalries between the different lobster communities, a secret that Chris has been keeping about his disappearances during the summer that they agreed not to discuss, a beloved senior collapsing and more. The whodunnit was a bit convoluted but I was okay with it. At the end of the book, there are recipes that were mentioned during the story like lobster, shrimp & fennel scampi and apple pie.

This is the third (of 12) in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. I read the first two recently and will keep moving through the series.

Book ~ "Boiled Over" (2014) Barbara Ross

From Goodreads ~ For Julia Snowden, the Founder’s Day summer celebration in Busman’s Harbor, Maine, means helping her family’s clambake company to prepare an authentic taste of New England seafood. Any Mainer will tell you that a real clambake needs wood for the fire ... so why is there a foot sticking out of the oven? 

The townspeople want to pin the murder of the RV park owner on Cabe Stone, a new employee of the Snowden Family Clambake Company, who bolted from the crime scene and disappeared. 

Julia knows having another murder associated with her family’s business is a recipe for disaster ... but who is the killer? Cooking up a proper investigation doesn’t leave much time for the rest of Julia’s life, and this is one killer who’ll do anything to stop her from digging up clues.

In the spring, Julia had returned from New York to her hometown of Busman’s Harbor, Maine, to help save her family’s struggling clambake business. The town’s annual Founder's Day celebration is in full swing, with fireworks, food and lots of tourists. Julia’s family clambake has a booth at the festival but things go downhill when a body is discovered in the fire pit used for cooking clams. Even worse, the prime suspect is Cabe Stone, one of Julia’s summer employees. 

Cabe is a young drifter with a troubled past who had found stability working for the Snowdens. Julia believes Cabe is innocent and, determined to clear his name (and protect her family’s reputation), she starts investigating. As she digs, she uncovers secrets in the small town, which she hopes gets her closer to finding the killer.

This story was written in first person perspective in Julia's voice. It's a cozy mystery so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity (just brief references that it had happened). There were lots of characters to keep track of so at times I had to stop and remember who was who. I was okay with the whodunnit. At the end of the book, there are recipes that were mentioned during the story like lobster deviled eggs and blueberry pancakes.

This is the second (of 12) in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. I read the first one last week and liked this one better so I'll keep moving through the series.

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).

I had what I always have … Buttermilk Fried Chicken (Battered Ontario Chicken Thighs, House Made Corn Bread, Yukon Gold Fries, Mango Habanero Hot Sauce). It’s a big meal and I took most of it home.

Stackt Market, Toronto, ON

It was a nice sunny day so Gord and I walked to Stackt Market  (Bathurst Street/Front Street). We walked around for a bit.

Tylenol had a pop-up this weekend. Gord and I checked it out this afternoon and got free samples of cooling pain relief cream. Right on!

We headed east towards Bathurst Street.

Gord and I

1664 Re:Collection Pop-Up Experience, Toronto, ON

1664 Re:Collection Pop-Up Experience is happening this weekend on the NW corner of Queen Street W and Shaw Street. 

Enjoy a free 1664 beer (I did!) and a rotating collection of thoughtfully sourced garments and artist-designed drops in signature 1664 colours.

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

I walked to Trinity Bellwoods Park this afternoon and visited KC's tree. It was nice to see a family enjoying her tree.

The Burger Shop, Toronto, ON

I had a burger for lunch today at The Burger Shop … they opened about six months ago on Queen Street W, just east of Ossington. 

I got a classic smash burger with no lettuce, onions or cheese. It was a good burger. The bun was hot and soft and the burger was flavourful.

Book ~ "Clammed Up" (2013) Barbara Ross

From Goodreads ~ Julia Snowden returned to her hometown of Busman’s Harbor, Maine, to rescue her family’s struggling clambake business - not to solve crimes. But that was before a catered wedding on picturesque Morrow Island turned into a reception for murder. 

When the best man’s corpse is found hanging from the grand staircase in the Snowden family mansion, Julia must put the chowder pot on the back burner and join the search for the killer. And with suspicion falling on her old crush, Chris Durand, the recipe for saving her business and salvaging her love life might be one and the same.

Thirty-year-old Julia left her fast-paced life working in finance in New York City and returned to her hometown of Busman’s Harbor, Maine, to help save her family’s struggling business, the Snowden Family Clambake Company. The business hosts traditional clambakes on a nearby island, which they own, but on the first big event of the summer, which was a wedding, disaster strikes ... the best man was found dead before the festivities even began. 

The loan arrangement Julia had made with the bank only allowed them to have five days in which they could be closed. With the best man's death and the police investigation, this could eat up those days and the bank would call their loan and their business and property would be gone. So it's in Julia and her family's business' best interests to figure out who killed the best man and why.

This story was written in first person perspective in Julia's voice. I thought Julia was okay. She seems smart enough but I found it hard to believe she STILL has a crush on Chris, a fella she went to high school with ... she hasn't seen him in about ten years but still feels the same as she did when they were teenagers. They are friends (he seems to be her only friend) but he's never given her any indication he feels more. I wasn't buying the whodunnit or the ending so that was a bit of a disappointment. 

I didn't think Julia's mother was written realistically. She's probably in her late 50s and has been widowed for about five years. With all the troubles the family business was in, everyone protected her by keeping it all from her. Considering this was a family business she ran with her late husband, I found it unbelievable that she was that clueless as to how bad things were. Julia's goal was to ensure the business didn't go under and her mother wouldn't lose her house and island that had been in the family for many generations. Mom needs a dose of reality.

It's a cozy mystery so there is no swearing, violence or adult activity. At the end of the book, there are recipes that were mentioned during the story like clam chowder and lobster mac 'n cheese.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I thought it was just okay. It's the first (of 12) in the Maine Clambake Mystery series. I liked it enough to check out the second in the series.

Honeycomb (aka Newfie) knitted mittens

I just finished knitting a pair of Honeycomb (aka Newfie) mittens to donate ... the colours are reef, raspberry and black.

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

Book ~ "The Girl in the Ice" (2016) Robert Bryndza

From Goodreads ~ Her eyes are wide open. Her lips parted as if to speak. Her dead body frozen in the ice … she is not the only one.

When a young boy discovers the body of a woman beneath a thick sheet of ice in a South London park, Detective Erika Foster is called in to lead the murder investigation.

The victim, a beautiful young socialite, appeared to have the perfect life. Yet when Erika begins to dig deeper, she starts to connect the dots between the murder and the killings of three prostitutes, all found strangled, hands bound and dumped in water around London.

What dark secrets is the girl in the ice hiding?

As Erika inches closer to uncovering the truth, the killer is closing in on Erika.

The last investigation Erika led went badly wrong … resulting in the death of her husband. With her career hanging by a thread, Erika must now battle her own personal demons as well as a killer more deadly than any she’s faced before. But will she get to him before he strikes again?

After the body of a young woman is discovered frozen beneath the ice of a London park, Detective Erika Foster is called back to duty. The victim is Andrea Douglas-Brown, a beautiful, wealthy young woman from a powerful and politically influential family. Her murder attracts immediate media attention and pressure from high-ranking officials who want the case solved quickly and discreetly. 

Erika is still grieving the loss of her husband, a police officer who was recently killed in the line of duty. But she is determined to find the truth, even if it means going against her superiors. Erika soon uncovers that Andrea’s glamorous life was not as perfect as it seemed. Andrea was hiding secrets and moving in sleazy circles. As Erika digs deeper, she faces opposition from Andrea’s family, who are more concerned with their reputation than justice. She moves forward, piecing together Andrea’s last hours and linking her death to a series of earlier murders of young prostitutes. 

This is the first book I've read by this author and I thought it was okay. Because it was set in London, England, there were references to things I hadn't heard of (like windscreens) and I'd sometimes stop to Google to see what they were. It's written in third person third person perspective with the focus on Erika and the killer. The editing could have been better ... there were typos and grammatical errors. As a head's up, there is swearing (including an annoying overuse of the word "bloody") and violence. 

This is the first in the Detective Erika Foster Series (there are currently nine) and I liked it enough to read the next one in the series.

NODO Liberty, Toronto, ON

I had lunch today with friends at NODO Liberty in Liberty Village. It's been around for a couple years and it's the first time I've been there.

SummerWorks, Toronto, ON

I have attended many SummerWorks performances over the years and volunteered last year for the first time. I volunteered this year again and did two shifts.

SummerWorks is a leader, collaborator and community builder at the forefront of contemporary performance – asking crucial questions; nurturing artistic innovation; and presenting new works that reflect the complexity and diversity of our society.

BACK TO THE FUTURE | FORWARD TO THE PAST

Entering our 35th year, we’re back with a landmark season of bold performance, intimate creative experiences and daring artistic interventions exploring time - personal and collective, real and imagined. From August 7–17, 2025, join us as we gather in theatres, in public parks, in galleries, at transit hubs, and in the spaces between.

This year’s Festival theme, Back to the Future | Forward to the Past invites reflection, imagination and disruption with bold creative expressions that dive deep into temporality, exploring and questioning the past, present, and future, with a gentle curiosity and a critical ferocity. Inspired by the words of Dr. Elder Duke Redbird and curated by Artistic Director Michael Caldwell, the 2025 edition features works that dive into our memories, our legacies, our bodies, and our relationship to time.

With 40+ projects and over 200 artists, SummerWorks 2025 is a space to gather in curiosity, conversation and complexity - to mark the past, anchor in the present, and move collectively into imagined futures.

Uncover your next magical experience at the 2025 SummerWorks Performance Festival!

I attended the volunteer orientation training that was on Friday, August 1.

Sunday I was at the Citadel (on Parliament and Dundas E).

Book ~ "It's Always the Husband" (2017) Michele Campbell

From Goodreads ~ Kate, Aubrey and Jenny. They first met as college roommates and soon became inseparable, even though they are as different as three women can be. Twenty years later, one of them is standing at the edge of a bridge ... and someone else is urging her to jump.

How did things come to this?

As the novel cuts back and forth between their college years and their adult years, you see the exact reasons why these women love and hate each other - but can feelings that strong lead to murder? Or will everyone assume, as is often the case, that it’s always the husband?

Kate, Jenny and Aubrey met in their freshman year at an elite college as roommates. They couldn’t be more different ... Kate was rich and wild, Jenny was ambitious straitlace townie and Aubrey was poor, desperate to fit in and obsessed with Kate (it seemed that everyone was obsessed with Kate). There was lots of partying, questionable decisions and eventually a tragic incident. Fast forward twenty years and the three are back in their old college town, each with their own lives but still friends (but were they?). When one of them died, the police investigated and secrets were revealed. 

I thought this story was okay, not great. It tended to be a bit draggy at times and the writing could have been tighter. It's written in third person perspective. The timeline jumps around from the past (when the women met and were friends/roommates in college) to present day. I didn't find any of the women (or any of the characters) likeable. As the ending drew near, there were suddenly lots of possibilities as to who could have dunnit and I found who actually dunnit a bit of a letdown. As a head's up, there is swearing.