Is it Monday already? I've been collecting things to blog all weekend but was so busy (or else so tired from being so busy) the whole time that I never really got past thinking "Oh, I want to blog this". But now I've got some time and I'm just going to mash a bunch of stuff together. There are a few more pictures over on my Flickr.

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First off a belated Happy Canada Day to all my fellow Canadians out there. I hope you had a nice time and got to enjoy some good weather and local festivities. We went to the parade downtown. Abby came with us and behaved pretty well for the most part. It probably helped that Rob had a bag of jerky and was sharing with her. Our parade included a marching band for the first time I can remember. I really liked seeing the different performing groups and the SPCA dog walkers. Abby freaked out a bit when the fire engines came by and turned on their sirens so we didn't stay downtown for much longer after that. I got a really nice berry bowl at the Guild shop on the way home but totally forgot to take a picture of it. I'll try to do that later this week.

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I finished a pair of socks. Sort of. If I'd paid attention to the instructions when I was knitting the first sock I'd have finished a pair of socks this weekend but as it turns out I have to frog out and reknit one foot. I know I could have knit the second sock to match my mistake on the first but I really liked the pattern better as it was written (that would be the left sock).

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Most of the rest of my weekend was spent getting ready for a tea party with a couple of friends on Sunday afternoon. There was much cleaning and cooking to be done and for the first time I felt finished and ready before anyone showed up (usually I'm still making the sandwiches). I made macarons for the first time. They were not without some trials but turned out pretty well. I really liked the filling when it was mixed with marmalade - very tangy, almost bitter. I also used a vanilla bean for the first time when I made the clafoutis and just love the delicate flavour it gives a dish. So mellow.

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When I went hunting for some pins on Sunday afternoon I found something I thought I'd lost. An old keychain I made from a cross stitch kit. Ever since we lost Zeke I've been hoping I hadn't tossed this when it broke. I made it a few years before I got Zeke, while I was at university in Victoria. Zeke always wore a red collar.