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Friday, January 30, 2009
January came with a vengeance around these here parts. (Personally, I was rather hoping we'd left minus 30 degrees C behind us in BC, but, alas . . . ) And our slippers, faithful though they've been, have worn through in the line of duty. Or should I say "blown through"? I mean, they're BUSTED! 
(Ahem, ignore the dirty toenails.) What's a Mama to do? I'm sure we all know the answer to that—start knittin', and how! Well, I wondered for awhile whether or not I'd ever get to the actual knitting. You see, there was this matter of deciding on WHICH slippers to have. I thought we had finally decided on puffy, creamy, little sheep, for the smallest feets among us, when at the last minute it was decided that something in purple with roses was in order. (Shucks. I wanted the fun of watching the little "powder puffs" running about the house. But in the end it was a great choice, as these jobbies knit up quicker and allowed the breezy toes to get covered NOW.) 
And then I realized that I needn't knit the next set myself . . . only a small hole so far, and plenty of time for the kid in question to knit her own! A few rows down already, and I'm sure it won't be long (and certainly before the hole in the current slippers gets to crisis status) before some new, blue slippers with roses will be finished off by one of the other in-house knitters! Of course there are still my slippers to replace, and I'm thinking another pair of Fiber Trends' Felt Clogs in Lett Lopi is probably my choice. But first I'm working on a pair of socks to put in `em. Speaking of socks, I finished up a smallish pair with some leftovers from the Misti Alpaca socks I made for Christmas: 
I like to have a pair of socks on the go for those times when only a few stitches or, with luck, rounds, can get done at a time. Little concentration required, and before you know it, another pair is off the needles. Off to brew up a pot of steaming, nourishing soup and settle down to an evening of knitting! (I wish . . . it's time to get that GST/HST report done . . . by TOMORROW. And THEN I can knit again.) Have a great weekend! |
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Friday, January 16, 2009 Hello? Hello! It's been a couple of weeks, and we've gotten ourselves moved and settled (temporarily . . . still out of boxes and suitcases). The newest view from the kitchen window is of the beautiful tidal Avon River . . . absolutely lovely, and always changing. And in the kitchen we've been—it's where we find ourselves most often, reading, learning, discussing, crafting, cooking. My husband, he who knows me so well, got me two new cookbooks for Christmas, a bread book and a Nova Scotia cookbook, and I've been busy trying many new recipes. Especially those incorporating apples. Apples, apples, apples everywhere. Pretty much the only fresh fruit available around here at this time of the year, and they are plentiful and cheap. Apple pie? Apple cider pie? Apple muffins? Apple bread? Apple cornbread? Apple granola? Took a wee break from the "a word" and made a chocolate zucchini cake yesterday from some frozen grated zucchini that traveled across Canada with us, but really we're not getting tired of the apples. There are so many varieties available around here, it's mind boggling. And though most of them are heritage varieties, they are mostly new to us. It's like sampling wine to try the Kings and the Empires and the Cortlands and the Cox's Orange Pippins (fun just to say the name of that one), and to savour the distinctive flavours and characteristics of each. A pie with easily five kinds of cooking apples inside—thrilling. Buying from the farms and farm markets here, I celebrate the opportunity to find apples that aren't uniform in shape and color and that aren't hermetically sealed in a plastic bag from another country. The crafting that has been emerging from the kitchen table has been varied. I'm almost through the prototype pair of my newest sock pattern (resolutely sticking to my promise to knit the PAIR of socks in the men's size, as they were already been gifted, before they were finished, to my husband for Christmas). I do still have tons of work to do . . . charts, typing, and sizing for smaller sizes, along with at least one sock in a smaller size, as I would like to have a cuff variation and have it shown in the pattern photo. Thus I have nothing to show, yet, but I am making good progress . . . honest. I also got a new little baby cousin (third . . . is that what you call your cousin's daughter's baby daughter??), so thought a quick n' cute little Rio Arriba cap (scroll down on that pattern page to JA28) in some leftover hot pink from the Christmas jacket would be just the thing. A couple of hours later (oh, I LOVE those kinds of projects): 
This has been such a great hat in our family, and I love to make them. I should also mention that I am clearing off my 2007 "blog" entries, unfortunately. My site is getting "full", and rather than purchase extra space, I've decided to pare back from the "old stuff" to make room for newer. I did already do a big cull of blog entries a year or so ago, as you might recall, so for newer readers, it might be even more difficult to find a "beginning" and catch up. My apologies, but I've gone for ease of maintenance in the midst of our current lives' limbo. (Really, it's the thrill of the new, anyway, right?) If you can't find something you may have had bookmarked, just send me a note and I'll find any info you might have wanted for you. OH . . . I've loved hearing about all your Gytha's . . . feel free to share photos of them finished! |
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THE WOOLLEN EARTH, General Delivery, Summerville, NS B0N 2K0 Canada Phone: (902) 633-2727 Email: |