My 'Backyard'

Scout tagged me to the backyard meme.

Although we don't have a backyard as we live in an apartment block, we do get to enjoy a nice view in the suburbs. I'm really happy that I don't have to peer into my neighbour's window every time I sit on the sofa. If you live in or know Hong Kong (picture a concrete jungle), you would know what I mean.

This majestic mountain is what gives me my sanity from day to day. I tried to get a good shot of it but it was super foggy last week and this. Every time I look at it, I feel that the world is indeed a much bigger place than the tiny hole we live in.

And this is my favourite tree. It is a tree cotton (bombax malabaricum) which is common in Hong Kong. It always makes my head turn to see it standing proud and straight with its dark branches quite bare of leaves but with dark red flowers blooming in spring when the other trees are all green. Look at that bird's nest, it has been there ever since we moved here. The pair of birds that lives there has black and white plumage and sing a beautiful song, I'll have to go figure out what species they are. Last month, the birds had to share their tree with a hive of bees (or was it a hornet's nest) but the residents have the firemen removed it.

I'm drowning in my own grand red knit and sew plans. First of all, the red quilt. My sewing machine is complaining, and very loudly at that. The other day I tried to use it, it grunted so loudly and the bobbin doesn't seem to be yielding the thread as smoothly. I thought it might need some oiling but both Eva  and Joy warns me that there might be something stuck in there. I just do not have the energy to face it yet this week so I'm hand quilting the red quilt. Actually I'm just sewing running stitches along the red stripes. I'm only half way there, and I cannot finish it in time for my cousin to bring it back to Singapore, so I'll just have to mail it.

And knitting. We are half way through March and I still have yet to start knitting Something Red because the needles I need are stuck on the Backyard Leaves Scarf which I'm diligently adding one repeat here and there. Some progress is being made on the red Jaywalkers. My sock twins are born though, check out Joy's jaywalkers. Here are mine.

Poster made with fd's Flickr Toys.

Comments

[Scout]

Oh what lovely pictures!!! Thank you for posting them.

And dang. I can't believe how perfectly matched those socks are! Have you seen my second cousin ones?

[brooke]

Wow, your backyard is beautiful-something very calming about that mountain. Your jaywalkers look great.

[Gina]

What a lovely view! I have to tell you that your un-pedicured toes are just fine.

[joy]

I love tree cotton trees too, so pretty.

Great job with matching the stripes on the twins. Hope the sewing machine behaves itself soon.

[Jennifer]

Lovely pictures and what a lovely tree! Your Jaywalkers are pretty too.

[erin]

We have neighbours so close that we have the curtains drawn closed at nights. So it is nice indeed to have a view. Look forward to seeing your quilt. I just got the denise schmidt book and saw how to hand quilt for the first time.

[Angela]

I'm so jealous of how perfectly your stripes match!

[Jeanne]

A lovely "backyard" -- and fab socks!

[Marie]

The view and the tree are beautiful! Thank you for sharing! The view out my window is of a dim little concrete courtyard in the middle of my building so it's always nice to live vicariously through others. :) I've given up on my backyard leaves scarf until next month (it's orange, perfect for project spectrum)...I finish one half and became so bored with the pattern that the other half has been languishing on my needles for months now. :P

[mimi]

Your backview is so beautiful with the tree cotton. It's so nice to live in a place with a nature view like yours.
The stripes in your jaywalkers are so perfect!

[claudia]

I love getting a peek at where you live.

[Tracy]

Perfectly identical twins too, fantastic!
I think your view is wonderful, mountains always take my breath away.

[may]

you're so lucky to have that kind of view! My view is apartments, and people's messy patios :(

[bernie]

What great socks. I go around "partially pedicured" most of the time (that is chipped polish--even worse than no pedicure!) Nature inspires me too when I'm tired or feeling at the end of my sanity.

[Gina]

So professional looking!

[Kerstin]

Love your "Caution" pic. Would make a perfect poster!

[Chris]

Your Caution poster is fabulous! Talk about perfectly matched Jaywalkers... Amazing.

[Allison]

Oooh- your Jaywalkers are fabulous! And they look to be a perfect fit!

[Séverine]

I am a french knitter and I love your blog and everything inside !
I wish i could knit and sew like you do... Quelle source d'inspiration !