Balkan Style

Adieu

2011-04-29T15:01:00.000-04:00

Dear friends

A couple days after our last post, we realized that we had hit the ceiling of our image limit on blogger. This was a bit of a roadblock. Would we pay the blogger troll and continue to stumble along, or was this an opportunity for something new? It didn’t take long for us to decide that this was fate telling us that better things awaited us elsewhere, but it has been very hard writing this final post in this shared space. We’ve had hundreds of good times here. 772 good times to be exact. The good thing is that this space isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. It’ll be like that little notched heart carved into a tree trunk. We were here. We knit, we read, we baked, we made silly faces, we grew, we wrote, we danced, we sewed, we liked, we walked, we cried, we laughed, we sang, one of us got married, we travelled, we played, we took pictures, we learned, we shared . . . and then we left.

I’ve not gone far. I’ve defected over to wordpress. It’s a bit scary not holding on to T’s hand, but she needs to be hands-free shortly because she’s expecting, and I’m expecting that her hands will be more than full with a new chubby bubby. So let’s not be sad. It’s all good.

xo
N

Winter Wonderland

2011-03-14T19:26:00.000-04:00

Just when we thought we were finished with winter, we woke up on Friday to everything covered in snow. It was hard to get upset considering the destructive earthquakes and tsunamis in other parts of the world. I took this opportunity to stay cozy under my mohair throw and knit like the wind. And wouldn't you know it, I finished my cardigan, and then I spent an insane amount of hours seaming the pieces together and weaving in the gazillion ends on Sunday. So I'm giving myself a well-deserved break, and I've cast on a simple stockinette sock with some pretty striped Black Lamb fingering weight superwash wool. It's my first and most favourite sock yarn. And I'm wearing my cardigan today. It's so warm and toasty. LOVE.

I have a few days of work this week and then a long weekend in store for me. I've planned some 'making' and a trip to the sugar bush for pancakes and syrup. MMmmmm . . . Fingers crossed that no one gets sick.

Happy Monday!
N

Playdate

2011-03-11T21:41:00.000-05:00

We're always guaranteed to have fun at the Children's Museum. We can go to outerspace, pretend to work in a restaurant, play with words, and teach in a turn-of-the-century classroom - all in one morning. Soon there will be a new Arctic gallery, and well, that tickles us pink. I hope there's ice fishing!

Here's to the weekend!
N

A Recap of Sorts

2011-03-06T22:39:00.000-05:00

Just popping in to say . . .

The tulips have bloomed and are falling over.
Hot apple fritters have been discovered.
Tomato & spinach soup was whipped up with lots of basil accidentally.
The Aidez cardigan is super close to completion, and it would have been done much sooner had I not been distracted by this knit which I happened to finish in one week. Whew!
March Break is only a week away. I'm thinking a day at the sugar bush 'cause we loves our maple-y syrup. Mmmmm . . . That's totally worth a vacation day.

Take comfort

2011-02-28T23:44:00.000-05:00

This is my first crocheted hat. I'm pleased with how it turned out. Started on a Friday night and completed on Saturday, this charcoal cloche was a very quick project. Crocheted in a soft wool-acrylic blend it is easy to care for and the brim comes down just far enough to shade the eyes, although you can't tell on the model because she's smaller than your average adult head. The flower is pinned on and can be removed in case the recipient isn't much of a flower hat kind of gal.

This cloche was crocheted for the mother of a coworker who will undergo chemotherapy this week. She's already had a mastectomy and now fears losing her hair. I can't begin to think that a simple hat can make her feel better but maybe she will find that it brings her a little warmth from the cold winter.

In Progress

2011-02-24T08:21:00.000-05:00

We started a few masterpieces this week. One being a creative endeavour, and the other we will leave to nature (with a little sun and water).

Yesterday's public discussion on the Senate's report on poverty was eye-opening. We all know that poverty is devastating to one's soul, and for that reason alone, we should want to eradicate it, but it's been proven with unrefutable stats that it costs taxpayers more to allow our fellow Canadians to live below the poverty level than it does to bring them in from the margins. It is to all of our benefit to educate, house, feed, employ and nurture every single one of us. Imagine a country where each person is productive and paying taxes. It would be an economic dream. It costs taxpayers $100,000 per homeless person per YEAR. Imagine if we helped lift that person up out of poverty by meeting their needs - housing, food, schooling, health, and finding a meaningful, good paying job. It would be a very good start indeed.

So now I have to figure what I'm going to do about it. In the next few weeks, I'll be meeting with the volunteer coordinator at a homeless shelter for young single moms. In addition to some focussed volunteering, I will continue to talk about it and spread awareness and educate. We need to show that the public, us, wants the poverty issue to be the government's top priority. I've also joined the London Homelessness Outreach Network which is a grassroots organization developed out of the passion of individuals to take action on homelessness in our city. If you feel like joining me, I'd be happy for the company.

Happy Thursday, friends!
N

High Winds

2011-02-19T21:21:00.002-05:00

Fun times are being had in these parts. The Bumblebee is writing a book about a monster with smelly feet, and that there drawing is a town meeting to brainstorm some solutions 'cause all the 'sunlight' super power flowers are wilting from the toxic fumes. We've come up with an ending, but each page she writes takes us farther from that predetermined destination. Needless to say, it's going to take more time than I thought to wrap this ditty up.

Thankfully the girls and I have the next two days to hang out and enjoy each other's company. I plan to wear lots of sweats, knit up a storm, drink pots of tea, and do a little early spring tidying. What I am really looking forward to is an event on Tuesday morning that I am co-organizing for work with Glen Pearson's office. Senator Art Eggleton will be presenting his report In from the Margins: A Call to Action on Poverty, Housing and Homelessness at the Wolf Performance Hall. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., it's free, and there's no registration required to attend. I'm stoked because this is exactly what I was seeking in my resolution-making - getting involved and building a caring community. I just hope that I keep it together and don't cry. When I get passionate about anything, I get really blubbery and unintelligible. Everyone deserves a roof over their head, enough food to eat, and respect. We live in a country that is incredibly rich with resources. If one person is in need, we are all diminished. If only this was as easy as solving some freaky malodorous toe jam.

Getting a grip

2011-02-16T11:28:00.000-05:00

I received an email from Amazon this morning advertising Susan Bates Comfort Cushion for Crochet. Isn't Amazon wonderful? It magically seems to know what you want/need and delivers deals right into your inbox. Ok, so maybe Amazon is watching you and tracking your every mouse click but you can get almost anything, from organic vanilla beans to downloadable MP3's. I realize that our Canadian friends do not have the same products and services from Amazon.ca and I am deeply sorry.

A few weeks ago I complained about my carpal tunnel that is caused by crocheting for long periods of time and lovely Kathryn over at Crochet Concupiscence blog suggested that I look into crochet tools that could help minimize the pain. I could have kicked myself for not thinking of it sooner. So naturally I do an Amazon search and find a few crochet hook grips that looked interesting. And then, being a crafter and a penny pincher, I decided to search my seemingly infinite closet of craft supplies to see if I could make my own crochet grippy thing. This is what I came up with.

Craft foam cut to fit the handle of a crochet hook and then rolled around the handle looks and feels very similar to the crochet hook grips that are on the market. Secure with some tape and viola, a remedy for carpal tunnel for mere pennies. Plus if you make your own craft foam grip you can make it as thick or as thin as you need by rolling around more foam. I like to think of it as "custom made". Sounds so much more posh, don't you think?

Jackpot!

2011-02-13T20:26:00.000-05:00

The Bumblebee likes reading. Let me clarify. She likes me reading while she listens. And that's cool. In the last few years, we have read Charlotte's Web, Nancy Drew, Anne of Green Gables, and lots of Little House on the Prairie books. I'm a sucker for reading. Just before Christmas, the Bumblebee discovered the Bad Kitty books, and suddenly she wasn't waiting for me to read to her, and before I knew it, she had finished all of the Bad Kitty books, and I hadn't read a single page. I felt a little left out. I could hear her laughing in bed and staying up late to finish "just one more chapter". And so the quest began to search out another series that would equally encourage this solo reading. She had seen the Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie and expressed interest in reading the book. The library came to the rescue last week, and she's flying through the first book. And this week, the second in the series came in, and it's just waiting in the wings. I'd have to say I'm enamoured of this little one flipping through the pages and chuckling to herself. I admit I've snuck in bed beside her and listened to her read aloud, and this Wimpy Kid is hilarious. Maybe not the classic headstrong female heroine I've been pushing on her for the last while, but I'll take it if it means that she continues to love reading. :)

N

If I Baked You a Cake, It Would Look Like This

2011-02-12T08:37:00.000-05:00

Just vanilla cake with vanilla icing. Nothing fancy or crazy like, say, a COUCH or a kitty litter box! But it would come from my heart.

T.

If you were here, and I gave you this cake, we would eat big squares of it and wash it down with several cups of tea. We might laugh, and half-chewed up pieces of cake would spray out of our mouths and hit the wall. After we were done stuffing our faces with cake, we would retire to my couches that are not made of cake, and we would get out our sticks and string and make clickety-clack sorts of sounds for hours. I would play some croony and swoony songs on my laptop, and eventually the Bumblebee would interrupt us and request some Ke$ha, and we would feel obliged because she has a dimple on her left cheek that is super sweet when she smiles. We might look down and see our feet tapping to 'tik tok', but we wouldn't make fun of each other, and no one else would ever need to know. The Bumblebee would also want some balloons blown up, and she would volley one around the room, and eventually it would pop so loud, we'd poop in our pants, and you would get up quickly and insist you leave immediately. I'd agree because I would also need a change of clothes, and I'd fetch your coat, and the party would be over.

It would have been a blast. Really. Happy birthday, my friend!

Be on the lookout for unexpected loud noises all year.

N

Happy Fr'Aidez

2011-02-11T08:05:00.000-05:00

I now have two sleeves and the left front of my Aidez cardigan complete. This project is moving along nicely thanks to the bulky yarn. Have I mentioned that it feels like dryer lint? Someone needs to spin that shizzle and make themselves bazillionaires 'cause I'd buy it. Dryer lint is gold to touch. I'm always sad to throw it away. I should collect it and stuff pillows with it or sumpin'- sumpin'. I'm sure if I googled ways to recycle your dryer lint, I'd come up with a mountain of ideas. Oh dear. I was right. Apparently you could stuff your bra amongst 21,000 other links.

Just some stuff to get you thinking on this super freezy Friday.

N

Heart Garland

2011-02-08T08:13:00.000-05:00

Inspired by the heart garlands over at house on hill road, I got to work and made one. My intent would be to make a gazillion, but time hasn't been on my side. It's on my to-do list for now. May this serve as a reminder. To be honest, this little string of hearts only took a few minutes, but I made it a lot longer by gluing sheets of scrapbook wrong sides together so that the hearts were patterned on both sides. Next time, I plan to embrace the white (wrong) sides, and save myself an hour of gluing and drying. It really is as simple as cutting heart shapes free-hand and stitching them together with the sewing machine, and hanging it with tape.

Valentine's Day Decorating Music Mix:

Air hugs,
N

Fifteen

2011-02-07T07:57:00.000-05:00

The eldest turned 15. Over the last few weeks I've been practicing saying I have a 15-year old, but it still sounds crazy today even though now it is real. I don't think anything can really prepare you for parenting a teen. She's much closer to being an adult than being a child. It's amazing to watch her spread her wings a little more each day. She's pretty responsible. She's very likable. She can be very serious, and she can be very funny. She also has raging hormones. She is a teenager after all. It comes with the territory. :)

Unfortunately she also has the flu. Spending the day in bed with a sore belly wasn't exactly what she wanted, but there's always next weekend.

Here's to another year of growing and learning and coping and cracking jokes.

N

Year of the Rabbit

2011-02-03T15:37:00.000-05:00

Image source

Today is the first day of the Lunar New Year. It's the year of the rabbit, which means that if you were born in 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975. 1987, 1999, or this year, you are a rabbit. Rabbits tend to be outgoing, sensitive, and enjoy being around others. They approach situations with calmness, consideration, and they highly value their friends and family. Like the animal, those born under the sign of rabbit enjoy spending time at home in a safe and comfortable environment and therefore dislike taking risks. Good careers for rabbits can be writer, designer, therapist, or teacher.

So here's to all of you classy rabbits! Happy new year and chuc mung nam muoi! Wishing you all health, wealth, and happiness in the new year!

Knitting Faster

2011-02-02T10:43:00.000-05:00

The Ptarmigan cowl is finished - blocked and ready to be gifted. The recipient I have in mind has felted many of my knitted gifts to her, so this puppy knit in a soft superwash wool will be absolutely perfect. Since this came off the needles, I've knit two Early Morning Berets, and I've cast on a sleeve for the Aidez cardigan. It's imperative that I find my cable needle.

Of course, I'm still plugging away at the Featherweight Cardigan, but a girl can take only so much stockinette before she pulls her hair out. I've paused to wind another Malabrigo lace cake. Isn't that pretty?

Today is a snow day, so I'm home with the girls. I have a little bit of office work to do, but at some point I must sew up some hearts like this. My windows need them. :) It's also a potato leek soup and artisan bread day. Mmmm . . .

Listening to this over and over and being reminded of wolf blankets-slash-curtains:

Keep warm!
N

Oatmeal two ways

2011-02-01T22:33:00.000-05:00

My nephew hates oatmeal. When a bowl of oatmeal is placed in front of him he refuses to eat it. He prefers to have just the milk and brown sugar if that's ok and hold the oatmeal. I gotta agree with the kid. I've tried to like oatmeal and I tell myself that it's good for me but I'm still gagging down those last four of five spoonfuls. I think it's a texture thing. That's why I've started making oatmeal in different ways. One way is to bake it. You get all of the goodness of oatmeal, minus the gluey texture. I like my baked oatmeal with a tiny bit of butter and maple syrup. It's almost like having cake for breakfast.

Lately my most favorite way to have oatmeal is through homemade granola. In addition to my dislike for gruel-y oatmeal, I have many food allergies like nuts and fruits. Most of the granola in the stores contain at least one thing that I am allergic to. If I make my own I know exactly what's in it and it tastes amazing to boot. I love this stuff and prefer eating it by the handful. No milk, no yogurt, just straight up, although both ways are also pretty tasty.

T's Very Best Granola Recipe
Try your own mix-ins to suit your taste. If you'd like to add dried fruit, add it during the last ten minutes of baking.

2/3 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup maple syrup or agave syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 cups quick oats
2 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup rice cereal
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup pecan pieces

Heat oven to 300 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, rice cereal, and wheat germ. Set aside. In a microwave proof bowl add the peanut butter and maple syrup. Heat in the microwave on high for 30 seconds. Remove and give it a mix. Return to microwave for another 30 seconds. Remove and stir in the vanilla and cinnamon. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the cereal mixture and toss until well coated. Sprinkle in the brown sugar and toss to coat. Spread the mixture evenly onto a large sheet pan with sides. Bake for 30-35 minutes, stirring occasionally. After time is up stir in the seeds and nuts and return to oven for another 10 minutes. Cool and store in airtight container for up to two weeks if it lasts that long.

Weekend Musings

2011-01-30T10:26:00.000-05:00

I've realized my idea of perfection in terms of Saturday mornings. Wake up early while everyone is still sleeping, have a quick bowl of cereal, get dressed, drive to the market, knit with friends over cups of Balinese coffee, buy vegetables and fruit, drool over the cheese, smell the flowers, and return home to children fed and dressed - that part was just luck and a wee bit of timing.

Now it's Sunday morning, and I'm still in my pyjamas. I've already got a roast and vegetables in the slow cooker, and the littlest has decided that today would be a good cupcake day. She didn't have to convince me much, and now they are in the oven baking. Next up, I have some finishing to do on a Simple Beret and the Ptarmigan Cowl, and there should be plenty of time to read a few chapters of The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. I'll be staying under my cozy blankets and soaking up the sun from the front window like a lazy cat. It won't be all lying about as I have a soccer game after dinner. Think of it as conserving energy. :)

N

Ptarmigan In Progress

2011-01-27T08:18:00.001-05:00

I am knitting another cowl. I have enough cowls to keep me and my hundred closest friends in cowls until the end of the world. So it only makes sense that I would cast on for another. I'm using a dk-weight superwash wool for this project, and I am following Jared Flood's Ptarmigan pattern which is so very, very pretty and well-charted. It's a good knit for those times when you have a little more attention to give, but one that you will also find more rewarding in the end.

Happy Thursday!

N

Be mine Valentine

2011-01-26T12:05:00.000-05:00

I'm going through a crochet phase right now if you haven't noticed. I think crochet and knitting have different applications, for example I prefer the look of knitting for clothing but find crochet faster and easier for smaller, shaped items such as toys and these little love hearts from PlanetJune. I crocheted these from leftover bits of Vanna's Choice in pink and red and made them in three different sizes. They were crocheted all in one night, which was great and very satisfying, however my carpal tunnel kept me up all night and stayed with me the next day. Does anyone else experience carpal tunnel from knitting or crocheting? If you do I wouldn't suggest making all seven hearts in one sitting because although you'll have a festive heart garland to adorn your kitchen window in no time, shooting pain up the arm is definitely not worth it. Valentine's Day is still over two weeks away so you've got time.

-T

P.S.
The small sized heart would make a cute pin or could be glued onto some cardstock for a Valentine for your sweetie.

Peppermint Deodorant

2011-01-23T18:24:00.000-05:00

I was drooling and clicking on etsy last Saturday, and a Valentine's Day appropriate lip balm, a grapefruit patchouli facial soap, and a stick of peppermint deodorant made their way into my cart, and within six hours they were in my mailbox in a homemade cotton bag! Jamie lives in London, and she was out doing deliveries (FREE) door-to-door. It didn't take that much longer for the deodorant to make its way into my pit. :) I'm loving the deodorant. It's so minty that my armpits tingle when I roll it under my arms. The most brilliant part is that as I move around all day, the scent makes its way up my shirt and into my nose. I get high off of it. I swear!! It wakes me up. My co-workers have been doing a lot of eye-rolling as I shriek and exclaim the wonders of my deodorant. Can they not smell the peppermint??

The lip balm will be a Valentine's Day gift to the littlest who loves cinnamon and needs lip balm. I feel as if I'm constantly reminding that sweet child to apply some chapstick. The dry, cracked, bloody lips don't seem to phase her one bit. I, on the other hand, have to look at them.

I have yet to try out the facial soap. I'll probably test it out on the teen first, and then assess her skin over time. If she doesn't break out from it, I will be buying it in bulk. Wow, that kinda comes off as if she's my guinea pig. I'll make her sign a consent form. :)

N

PS. This is not a paid endorsement. This is how excited I honestly get by small stuff. I did however have the table beside Jamie at the Handmade Festival last year, and we exchanged smiles and some small chit chat, and I just know that she is a lovely girl who is local, makes natural products, and delivers right to my door under six hours. And that alone was blog-worthy. Well, and my minty pits.

An oldie but a goodie

2011-01-19T21:37:00.000-05:00

My much loved and much used kitchen towel has seen better days. I haven't gotten around to mending it yet. It's an oldie but a goodie and I plan on keeping it around for awhile. I'm not quite sure how this towel with its lovely hand crocheted topper ended up in our house but I do know who made it. Much like her towel toppers, my husband's best friend's grandmother (did you get that?) was a woman adored by all who met her. A woman who was smart as a whip, wise beyond her years, and full of wit and humor, she was someone who you only had to meet once and you would remember her forever. I was lucky enough to meet her during her last years. My husband wanted to tell her personally that we were engaged and he wanted her to meet his bride-to-be. Even when she was sick she was 100% there and could keep everyone engaged in conversation. Fast forward four years and although this lovely woman no longer graces us with her presence, her spirit and her memory live on in her family members, as does her towel topper legacy.

I love the utility of the towels combined with their vintage, handmade feel. My crochet skills still leave something to be desired, and they'll never be as sweet as the "original" towel toppers but once the original ones get retired these new ones would be happy to replace them. I used plain white waffle towels and sewed on strips of scrap fabric that I had from a previous project. They're a bit more modern looking but I'm hoping that they'll still find a place in the hearts of all of the people who loved the woman who made the towels.

P.S.
I used this pattern.

School Lunch First Aid

2011-01-17T19:25:00.000-05:00

My newest trick to entice the girls to eat their lunch apple is to sprinkle cinnamon on the slices. When the slices naturally brown from being exposed to the air, the girls think it's cinnamon. Well, it IS cinnamon, but they eat them. They think it's a special treat. They wouldn't eat the slices before because they were brown, and they refuse to eat apples unless they're sliced. This is brilliant. It's almost as brilliant as the time my friend showed me how she flips the bread crusts, so the crust is facing the spread on the inside of the sandwich, and the kids haven't a clue that they just ate the crust. I experimented this trick on my family with grilled cheese, and no one suspected a thing. These tricks make me feel a wee sneaky, but we're wasting less food, so I feel it's a win-win. Good food is making its way into their bellies and not into the garbage. And like Martha would say, "Now THAT is a good thing."

N

Friday Night Skating

2011-01-16T19:19:00.000-05:00

Friday nights around these parts are being spent skating. It's a nice way to wind down a week of work and school. We skate in circles, we tell stories, we make plans, we joke around, we laugh, we hold hands, and we hold each other up. I think to myself as we go round and round that we are so lucky to be skating and letting loose. We're lucky we have one another and these moments. It's the four of us against the world. To make the night last longer, we follow it up with fancy hot chocolates at Starbucks, then we slowly drive home in the dark. We dump our skates in the foyer, and we change into our pyjamas and get cozy under blankets and watch movies. The teen is not in these pictures as she is the one snapping away because on this particular Friday night, her feet were sore, and if you've ever argued with a teenager, you would know it's pointless. :)

Here's to five more days 'til our next skate.
N

A Teenager's Sanctuary

2011-01-15T15:44:00.000-05:00

There is one room in this house in which we rarely step inside. It's kept tidy for the most part. I sneak in every few weeks and feather dust it to freshen it up a bit. I never stay long. I bet it's a treasure trove of teenage angst and drama. I'd rather not find out as I am certain it would probably keep me up at night. There is also a large collection of monkeys, and their stares are a bit unnerving. Terrifying, really. However, I am enamoured by her wall of art. There are a few paintings that she has painted, but my favourite is this portrait that her best friend/boyfriend painted of her for Christmas. He absolutely adores her, and I know that he spent so much time perfecting it. I love it! She spent an equal amount of time knitting him a super long navy scarf, and he wears it every time he steps outside which is more than I can say of Mr. J who has wore the Cobblestone I knit him once in two years. They're so cute and cool and sensitive.

Happy Saturday! I'm going to hunker down and get some knitting finished. I'm excited about dinner - hummus, pitas, and fresh veggies. It's a nosh kind of night.

N

Warding off the Chill

2011-01-10T21:33:00.000-05:00

The office in which I work can be a bit frosty at times. I believe I need to make about twenty pairs of these pretty handwarmers for all the ladies. You know, for health and safety. :) Details such as yarn and pattern can be found here on ravelry. To speed things up, I think I'll modify the pattern for dk or worsted weight.

Ron Sexsmith is playing at the Aeolian in March. I think we all need to go. 'Cause there's gold in them hills, and I like dandelion wine.

N

Funky Cold Medina

2011-01-08T22:59:00.000-05:00

When I found myself pregnant fifteen years ago, I had lofty dreams of being the hippest coolest mama, but it didn't take long for me to learn different. Kids don't think their parents are cool. I should have known this because I thought my mum was the most uncool. But a mum has to be cool if they recognize coolness when they see it. And if my kids are cool then I think that automatically makes me cool because I made them. They are my mini me's. This is my kid, so I am cool.

What kid takes a picture like this? It's brilliant. Hence, I am by association. Huzzah!

N

January

2011-01-08T13:59:00.000-05:00

The house has been stripped of Christmas, and I can feel the rhythm of our everydays return again. It's quiet. It's warm. It's bright. My face is stuck on smile. The busyness of school and work makes us appreciate our weekends more. A roast is cooking slowly, the sun is shining, and my feet are up. The knitting needles are clicking, and I'm coaxing Mr. J to leave his comfy spot on the couch to fetch me a cup of hot apple cider with no luck. That's fine. It's time to stretch my legs. But if I'm getting up, I'm going to make it worthwhile. I should start a new batch of bread dough. That'll take five minutes tops. Ooh, and there's a princess puzzle in progress on the dining room table that I can hit on my way back to the couch. This is the life.

N

New beginnings

2011-01-03T21:53:00.000-05:00

Over the weekend I opened up our carton of eggs to make Mr. T and I some breakfast. I thought I saw one of the eggs wiggle ever so slightly. Upon closer inspection I noticed that they were all starting to crack. These were the only eggs that we had and I wanted breakfast! Unfortunately the eggs had other plans. Five minutes later these four little guys appeared and looked at me so sweetly I couldn't bear to throw them into the awaiting cast iron pan.

And since it was the beginning of a new year and everyone deserves a second chance, yes, even little crocheted chicks, I opened the window and away they flew.
Wishing everyone a new year full of much health, happiness, creativity, and new beginnings.

-t

Nantasket

2011-01-02T19:33:00.000-05:00

This cozy little sweater came together in THREE days! I'm talking a couple of hours each night by the light of the Christmas tree because during the day, we were out skating, going to the library, visiting friends, hosting a dinner, and cleaning house. It helps that the pattern is fairly simple, and the wool was bulky. Nantasket is a new free pattern from Berroco. As soon as I saw it, I knew it was perfect for my Bumblebee, and I have had ten balls of Sandnes Garn Alfa wool for a year and a half in the stash - just enough for a child-sized sweater. It's soft and stretchy and warm as well as a pleasure to knit. My only modification was to add an extra three inches to the length of the sleeves, and obviously I only needed to maybe add one tops. I think the sweater will look absolutely lovely with her skinny jeans, her leggings, and her flouncy skirts. Best of all, I think the kid actually likes it. She may even wear it. I LOVE this sweater.

Now back to my neon green feather-weight cardigan. If I ever finish it, I vow to wear it every day. I'm serious. Note to self, that Christmas tree NEEDS to come down. I'm done with the holidays. It's back to work and school tomorrow. And packing lunches. Ick.

N

2011

2011-01-01T19:34:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

I would have to read the archives to remember most of 2011. If I'm correct, it was a lot of smooth sailing - not much craziness. If my resolution last New Years was to live more simply, I think I'm getting closer. I was steered towards soccer by friends, and I am grateful to those peeps. I made myself a promise that I would knit twelve Elizabeth Zimmerman patterns, and I did cast on twelve; however, three have yet to be finished. I'd say that wasn't horribly bad. I didn't add too much yarn to the stash. I was somewhat controlled. I learned a lot about photography. I got more involved with my community at public discussions, and I consider myself a heck of a lot more engaged. I renegotiated our mortgage. I connected with friends and family. I started volunteering again after a bit of a hiatus. I put my foot down and stood by my opinions. I picked up my tennis racket again after two decades. I went to some rockin' concerts. I did not see any rattlesnakes or bears. And it was all good. I'm happy. My family is healthy. They have clothes, food and shelter. They are loved. I have everything I need and, more importantly, want.

I made my resolution back in November, and it's not really something I can conquer in one year, maybe never. I'm going to be part of building a caring community. I think Starship said it best. They also built this city on rock and roll. They were so ahead of their time.

And thanks, Kat, for reminding us that we didn't have to take our clothes off to have a good time! Oh no.

Back on the horse

2010-12-29T22:44:00.000-05:00

The presents have been opened, the turkey eaten, and the pants have been let out. Christmas is officially over. We were so blessed to be among family and enjoyed being with the nieces and nephews, who really make the holidays fun. We dearly missed the family members we could not be with but look forward to spending some time with them in the new year.

I was able to get most of my holiday crafting done, including a few of these "I Spy" bags for the littles. This one was for the three year old nephew. He liked poking the bag and watching the items pass across the plastic window. I took a picture of all of the contents of the bag and then listed the items on the other side. These toys took no time to put together. The only difficult thing was finding 30 tiny things to put inside.

The long awaited Tomten was finally completed on the flight to Seattle and the zipper sewn in in Vancouver. You could say this was somewhat of an international project. I liked how it turned out and knitting it was a pleasure. You gotta give it to EZ for her smart patterns.

I've already been poking around on Ravelry for new projects to start but I'll wait until after New Years to begin Christmas 2011 projects. Knitters can never begin too early, right?

-t

Bread & Butter with a Little Dill

2010-12-27T09:48:00.000-05:00

Christmas has been a success on all fronts. We gave and received plenty. Silly bandz have been sorted by colour. Turkey was scarfed down. The house is surprisingly tidy. Knitting continues. Five full-length family movies have been watched. Pyjamas need to be laundered. It's time to get dressed and step outside. :)

Peace and joy to everyone! I need to make a pickle tray. I googled it already, and there's no way to kick this one up. Any ideas?

Cheers!
N

Second Time's A Charm

2010-12-22T23:01:00.000-05:00

For the story of this garland, check out my SECOND guest post over on the Canadian Living craft blog. I had so much fun writing and making these garlands that I had enough for two posts! Thanks, Austen, for the opportunity to contribute to your blog. My fifteen minutes of fame were brilliant. :)

N

Christmas Knitting

2010-12-19T19:58:00.000-05:00

These seed stitch bracelets from More Last Minute Knitted Gifts take an hour from start to finish. They take just a titch of sock yarn, and they're so sweet. I think they would make a lovely little last minute gift for a hip teenager. Thankfully I have a hip teenager, and she has many friends.

N

PS. The bracelets were knit exactly the same except I stretched the bottom one when I was testing it out on my wrist without undoing it (like a lazy teenager). Now you probably think I have chunky wrists. I assure you they're normal-sized. After I took this picture, I stretched the heck out of the top one, so now they look the same again. Huzzah.

Friday Morning

2010-12-17T08:06:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, I'm sleeping in. At the very least, I will stay under the covers until 8 a.m. I'll be back, pillows and duvet. Do not fear. Until then, stay warm and cozy please.

N

Guest Appearance and Pom Poms

2010-12-15T15:21:00.001-05:00

I'm so excited! (Now I have the Pointer Sisters stuck in my head.) I guest-blogged over at the Canadian Living craft blog today. Thanks, Austen, for letting me ramble on about pom poms. 'Cause pom poms are where it's at. And for those of you living in my vicinity - why wasn't today a snow day, eh??? It totally should have been a snow day. Thankfully the children only have two more school days left until their holidays. I'm looking forward to two weeks of vacation. :) Think of all the crafting that's possible in two whole weeks!

N

Marshmallow world

2010-12-14T00:25:00.000-05:00

This is the "marshmallow" that appeared outside of our window during Saturday's worst storm since Halloween '91. We got hit with over 15 inches of snow! Pure madness but it was actually kind of fun since we had nowhere to go and I stayed in my pajamas all day. After the blizzard finally subsided, the car was dug out. This is where our car was.

A car shaped snow bank.

The sun came out and although there are snow banks as tall as I am, we got out unscathed, which is more than can be said for some (yikes!).

All is calm.

Pi Shawl Progress

2010-12-12T15:18:00.000-05:00

Popping in to say hello! I'm still very much consumed by this shawl. I'm two-thirds through the third part, and I'm eager to double my stitches and start in on Part 4. At this time, I'm ignoring housework, cooking dinner and the children. The children are surprisingly happy to be doing their own thing - the littlest is cutting up empty cereal boxes and constructing what seems to be a hamster mansion with a wild disco theme. I bet you wish I had taken pictues of that in place of this cream blob. I promise it gets better. :)

Cheers!
N

Pi Shawl

2010-12-08T16:42:00.000-05:00

Last spring my parents went on a Baltic cruise, and they brought me back the most wonderful gift. A giant skein of undyed sheeps wool from Estonia. This was the best gift I've ever been given besides the three snow days in a row that Mother Nature just presented us AND the Mike Milbury autograph my dad brought me back from a baseball trip when I was in high school. Don't ask.

I have spent months researching Estonian patterns - borrowing books from the library and browsing the patterns on ravelry. I just knew that the project had to be very special and worthy of the wool. And then December came, and I was gettting anxious about my EZ project. I need to finish a few last Elizabeth Zimmerman patterns in order to pull it off. And then I found Wendy Johnson's Shetland Pi Shawl that she had designed to celebrate Elizabeth Zimmerman's 100th year. It is more than worthy of my precious wool, and it is written in 5 easy-to-follow parts. I finished part 1 yesterday before heading to bed, and I finished part 2 shortly after lunch today, and now I am into part 3.

Of course, I should really be knitting Christmas gifts, but I can not stop knitting this shawl for the life of me. I am loving it. It's highly addictive.

And that was Snow Day #3.

Snow Days

2010-12-07T10:52:00.000-05:00

We're on a second snow day here in southwestern Ontario. No one is complaining. There's been baking, playdates, cleaning, laundry, knitting, lots of shovelling, building snow forts, pyjamas, hot chocolate, movies, and lots of relaxing. It's been a gift.

On the other hand, I'm very cognizant of the work piling up on my desk in the office, but it will have to wait. The weather has other plans. :)

Cheers!
N

Gingerbread House

2010-12-05T14:44:00.000-05:00

Holy moly cannoli. It's snowing hard and crazy. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas . . .

And speaking of Christmas , we can check off decorating a gingerbread house. Done.

Now I'm going to have to dig out the driveway, so that I can get out to play soccer. Bleh.

N

Party Down

2010-12-04T21:26:00.000-05:00

Sleeping in. Check.

Big ol' cup of coffee for me. Check.

Hanging with her favourite cousin. Check.

Clown????? CHECK!

Crafting ornaments with ice cream cones. Awesome check.

A decorated tree. Not ours. We're deferring that one until tomorrow.

Verbally telling Santa she wants an ipod touch. (Letter has been mailed - but she's still not getting one.) Check.

Sneaking in her one glass of pop for the month. (Please ignore what I think may be my Grampa's beer bottle in the bottom left-hand corner.) Check.

Home safe and sound and high on sugary pop and chocolate balls and molasses crinkles. Check.

Happy? Check.

N

Alpine Mitts

2010-12-04T11:05:00.000-05:00

I bought this mitt kit at the Wellington Fibres booth at the Fleece Festival this year, and it didn't take long to cast on these puppies. There were many colour combinations, but I picked blue and orange because I think they pop out together. And there wasn't a kit with blue and white. :) Dang it! I'll make them match something.

For the most part, this is a simple pattern that doesn't require a lot of counting stitches. That's what I like most about it because, to be honest, I like mindless knitting, and usually colourwork doesn't equal mindless for me. The plaited cuff did throw me for a loop. I've never used that technique before, and I was infinitely glad that it was only four rows, but I figured it out, and after that it was smooth sailing. Now that they're finished, that little plaiting may be my most favouritest part of my new mittens.

And although I probably have amassed a giant pile of handknit mittens now, I think everyone deserves a pair of bright, new shiny mittens every winter. Don't you?

N

Family Meeting

2010-12-03T22:52:00.000-05:00

Inspired by this post, I called a meeting of the minds - big and small. We compiled a list of all that we want to do and see in December. Once we got started, there was no stopping us. Here's our holiday agenda in no particular order although some thing naturally come before others:

decorate a gingerbread house
get a tree
decorate the tree
baking extravaganza (the littlest likes these and the eldest likes these)
build a snowman
wrap gifts
go ice skating (LOTS) in the park, at the market, at Storybook, at the arena
craft night (I admit that this suggestion got plenty of groaning, but I persisted)
listen to lots of holiday music
watch holiday movies
clean and sort and donate
two school Christmas concerts
tour of lights
two family turkey dinners on-site and two family dinner off-site
playdates up the wazoo
pizza and bowling night
low-cost/no-cost gifting
wearing our pyjamas and sweats for days on end

Oh yeah, and it's Friday! I must go make a new banner.

Dark December

2010-12-01T22:41:00.000-05:00

The calendar turned today to the last month of the year. Just when I was getting used to 2010. It's been unseasonably cold here in the Midwest and all I feel like doing is nesting. Of course as the calendar changes to December I also realize that there are mittens to be knit, cookies to be baked, and gifts to be wrapped--activities that fill a house with creativity and warmth. So I shall plug in the Christmas tree, sit down on the couch next to my dear one and make up those little mittens that will keep little hands warm. Hope that you are staying warm and cozy too.

Decking the Halls

2010-11-28T16:49:00.000-05:00

Over the last decade, my parents have invited the grandchildren over to decorate their revolving, sparkling Martha Stewart Christmas tree. This weekend was no exception. We arrived to a bare tree and boxes of bows, balls, and ornaments, and by the end of the night, the tree is decked out from head to toe. I love that they have favourite ornaments to hang, and they feel just as close to the ornaments with which my sister and I grew up coveting. My favourite ornaments are the cream embroidered and stuffed stars that my mum made one year when I was in high school. I also especially love the crystal beaded icicles that my sister, my mum and I slaved over for an entire afternoon so many years ago. Maybe 25 years ago? And now our children squeal when they pull out an icicle or the ceramic sled with all of their names written on it. It's gold!

And then my mum makes a big dinner worthy of Christmas day. This year was roast beef and gravy, mashed potatoes, baby carrots, corn and dinner rolls. I brought pie and ice cream and cookies. We ate until we were stuffed. Naturally the board games were dragged out, and we ended up playing Apples to Apples. My throat was killing me by the end of the night from all the screaming, laughing and joking around. It was CRAZY fun. I was in tears. And everyone except the two little girls played - they took advantage of this time by moving every piece of my parents' furniture in the basement and building the biggest fort ever made.

We had such a great time that we rolled up into our driveway well after midnight!

Clearly, this is happiness. I am so grateful that I have my family, and we enjoy each other's company. I am ever so thankful for our good health and good fortune. I have everything I need.

N

Pass the Dutchie

2010-11-27T22:31:00.000-05:00

Today we went "home" to see Sinterklaas.

The littlest and I rather enjoyed ourselves. I had no idea about this Dutch tradition of Saint Nicholas. Despite being one part Dutch, growing up we celebrated a Christian Christmas on December 25 with Santa sneaking down the chimney - very American. My goal this Christmas is to skip the shopping malls, and instead we will spend quality time with family and friends. There will be lots of ice skating, online shopping, wintry hikes, movie nights, board games, exploring other traditions, baking bonanzas, crafting, visiting, laughing, feasts, pyjama parties, and tobogganing. Doesn't that sound perfectly fun?

N

Pebble

2010-11-21T19:01:00.001-05:00

This one has been off the needles for over a month now. I was slow to sew on the buttons and mailing it off to Quebec.  This is the day she opens all of the gifts her blog friends sent, so it should be safe to post today. I love this pattern. It really is simple and quick, and I used a smidgeon more than one 50g ball of dk-weight wool. All the deets are on ravelry here.

As for what's happening on the homefront, I'm sitting on school council, volunteering in a newcomer youth program teaching needlecraft, playing indoor soccer, madly knitting gifts, cooking up applesauce, baking bread, and slow-cooking some spicy tomato soup - not all at the same time.   I've made some big decisions recently - wear more sweatpants and build a caring community. I'm really into the sweats. It was I all I could do today to not drive to the store for more sweats. I wonder if it's a cold weather thing. I wish I could wear them to the office. Could you picture me sitting in on Board meetings wearing sweatpants and a hoodie all curled up and cozy recording the minutes? It would be my luck that it would end badly like the time George got the security guard a rocking chair.

Ooh, I nearly forgot. Mr. J and I went out this week to see a concert at the Aeolian. This never happens. We never go out. We like to be in our jammies by 8 p.m. We're pretty boring.  However, I was able to pick up some tickets for cheap while also giving to charity, so I youtubed some of the upcoming performers, and I stumbled upon this video.

I fell in love instantaneously. One of the musicians in the ensemble is the lead singer of The Weakerthans, and I didn't even know this until after I got home. Apparently I was already in love with this band, and I didn't even know it. See, I have this friend who makes me mixes - fabulous mixes - without liners. I have no idea what I'm listening to EVER! It's weird and brilliant at the same time.   There's a lot of music out there that I absolutely adore, and I haven't a clue what it is.

Speaking of jammies, I think I'll go get mine on, grab a cup of tea, and settle on the sofa with some knitting.

N

Thursday cake

2010-11-18T21:25:00.000-05:00

I came home from work today craving a slice of cake. Two layers, yellow cake, chocolate frosting, home made. So I made it.

And I ate it. Despite not having gone to the gym in over a week. Happy Thursday!

Little House on the Conservation Area

2010-11-17T23:08:00.000-05:00

I found my paradise in the form of a pioneer village. We learned about printing presses, really tiny fonts, making ink from soot, carding and drafting wool, singing God Save the Queen, churning and molding butter, and living in a one-room homestead. It was awesome. We only saw half of the village, so I'm eager to return and visit the rest. I'm packing a bag. Wonder if it would get wi-fi. Hmmm.

N

PS. The littlest and I are reading The Little House on the Prairie every night before bed, and I'm amazed that I've made it this far in life without reading this series. We've just finished chapter 9 in which Pa has built a fireplace for their new house on the prairie. I was super relieved last night/chapter 8 when Laura helped Pa build a door to replace the ol' quilt that hung over the doorway. I barely slept a wink after chapter 7 in which a giant pack of 50 or so of the biggest wolves that Pa had ever seen surrounded the house howling at the moon. I honestly don't think that Pa and his gun and Jack the scruffy dog would have been a match had the wolves stormed the quilt-covered opening to the house. Evidently I am quite consumed by this book. I'm going to freak out when they have to move house again. Just saying.

Gratitude

2010-11-11T08:37:00.000-05:00

The Bee's class is studying Remembrance this month, and each of the students must choose an aspect of war to present to the class. Armed with a couple of images, she has to rattle off a paragraph or two. I gently steered her towards Children and the War Effort. I was trying to keep it light, but how do you make anything war-related pleasant? I guess that's the point. We've talked about how many people lost their loved ones, how many people were hurt, and how scary it was. We've talked about freedom and protecting our rights. I'm surprised at how much she understands at the age of 8.

I will be spending some time today thinking of courage, remembrance, heroes, self-sacrifice and freedom. I believe it's important.

N

My First Bokeh

2010-11-08T11:44:00.001-05:00

Of course, it would be completely unintentional, but it still counts as the real thing. Now I just need to learn how to do it on purpose. :)

And one day we're going to wake up and find ourselves turned into crusty loaves of artisan bread. We eat THAT much. I'm just saying, don't be surprised.

N

Meet Yo Yo. Yo Yo, Say Hi.

2010-11-07T19:28:00.000-05:00

Sorry about the silence. I haven't taken a picture in seven days! I'm back. This is Yo Yo. He was a gift for the Bee's eighth birthday. Yo Yo is still kind of leery about us. He plasters himself up against the side of the bowl when we come near. He seems to remember the blue fishnet really well when I need to clean the bowl. He's very slippery and can evade the net for hours until I give up. I never completely give up 'cause the bowl needs to be cleaned. It usually takes a few tries. It's been very trying. We never had this issue with Tartar Charlie. Tartar Charlie was most cooperative when it came to cleaning the bowl. Who knew fish had such personality? Oh Yo Yo.

As for some things I've been working on, I have another pair of stripey socks nearly complete, I've whipped up three of these bracelets out of an old tee that was destined for the goodwill pile, and I only have two months left to finish my EZ project which has stalled with a fairisle vest. I need to step it up! I'm going to need to focus, priortize, organize, plan, coordinate, gather up my resources, implement, do, make, go, knit, sew, cut, thread, run, bake, cook, clean, lead, drive, play, create, eat, drink, be merry. All of that. Beginning now.

Bunting card FREE download

2010-11-02T10:15:00.000-04:00

I spent last night putting together these bunting cards from fabric scraps that I had. I wish my fabric scraps were a little more vibrant in colour but these worked in a pinch. With the help of my trusty old Kenmore sewing machine, I was able to whip up three cards in less than twenty minutes--from printing, to cutting, to gluing, to sewing. You could totally hand sew these cards too if you don't have a machine.

I lined the cards with coloured paper in order to hide the stitches on the inside. I guess if you like the stitches you could leave the card unlined too.

Want to make your own? Below is a link to download the PDF card template. I've only gotten around to making a template for the "thank you" and the "happy day" cards. You will need:

- white cardstock or cardstock in a lighter colour
- fabric scraps or felt scraps
- scissors
- glue stick
- needle and thread or sewing machine
- printer to print out template

Once you've printed the template onto cardstock:

- Cut the cards in two along the dotted line.
- Cut out triangles from scrap fabric or use felt. You'll have to eyeball the size of your triangles and try out different sizes and shapes. My triangles were about 1.5 cm by 2 cm.
- Glue the triangles in a row just slightly above the light grey line. I found that just a tiny dab from a glue stick was enough to keep the triangles in place while I sewed.
- Either using a sewing machine or hand sewing, stitch along the grey line. You should be stitching the triangle pieces along the top, which will secure them in place.
- If you want to line your cards, cut paper slightly smaller than the cardstock and glue into place inside the card.

Voila! A lovely bunting card to celebrate any occasion. For the blue card above I just free-styled two rows of bunting.

Download the PDF template here!

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T18:00:00.000-04:00

For the first time in my 14 years as a mum, I feel as if I am on top of this Halloween thing. The littlest is dressed as the ghostly spirit of a young girl tragically run over by a train just like Jumbo the elephant, and candy is ready by the door. And we still have half an hour before the neighbourhood gang is gathering.

Huzzah!
N

Spooky ghost cookies

2010-10-28T23:51:00.000-04:00

These ghost cookies may not be all that spooky but they sure tasted good. These are just plain sugar cookies with a vanilla frosting and mini chocolate chip eyes and mouth. This was a little project that I prepared tonight for the kids that I volunteer with on a monthly basis. They had a fun time decorating the sugar cookies and most of them got eaten even before the cookies were finished being decorated. Thank goodness I brought plenty of extra cookies so that each kid could take one home. Bring on the Halloween sugar high!

What's in Your Fridge?

2010-10-26T21:52:00.000-04:00

During the week, I am the last person home each day, and for the most part, dinner is usually being put on the table as I walk in the door. This is an absolute blessing. For the most part. Mr. J is very skilled in cooking tuna noodle casseroles (after many years of mishaps), warming up frozen dinners, and slow-cooking roasts in the crock pot. He is a lover of rice and convenience. And he is the king of the barbeque. The girls are more than pleased with what he has to offer. But every now and then, I will rush home a bit early before he wakes up, and I will start dinner from scratch. I'll root through the fridge and dig up all the vegetables and place them on the counter. I'll pull out a grapefruit-sized lump of bread dough and throw it on the stone to rise. I'll heat up the oven, and chop veggies to my heart's content. Sometimes, I'll end up with a salad. Other times, an omelette. More often than not, a soup. Today it was cheese omelettes for three of us, noodles for the littlest, a romaine salad with all the goodies above, and a potato leek soup for tomorrow's dinner. I find so much satisfaction from these impromptu cooking extravaganzas. I also appreciate that my little family doesn't rely on them happening consistently. :) 'Cause sometimes I come home pooped! Now if only getting homework completed was just as easy . . .

N

NOTE: Those wack-a-doodle carrots were yanked out of my friend's garden on the weekend, and they are perhaps the sweetest carrots I've ever had the pleasure of tasting. I ate half that bowl raw. I wonder if she needs me to visit this weekend coming up. Hmm . . .

Boo

2010-10-23T20:33:00.000-04:00

That kid found the Halloween box that I unsuccessfully hid last year. Dang.

N

The nook

2010-10-21T10:23:00.000-04:00

Things have been pretty quiet around here on the crafting front. I've been putting off seaming up the hood on a pink Tomten for the youngest niece and there's a cowl neck sweater that's waiting patiently to be picked up again. I've been playing around on the sewing machine though, figuring out how to mitre corners for more napkins and trying to master using a rolled hem foot. My sewing nook is tucked away in one of the eaves in our attic bedroom. My husband teases me that this is the one place in the house where I can go to get away from him because he can't fit under the sloped ceiling. He's a good foot and three inches taller than me. It's kind of a Rocky and Bullwinkle arrangement that we have and we even live in Minnesota (Rocky and Bullwinkle lived in fictional Frostbite Falls, MN).

Some Fun on a Monday

2010-10-19T07:39:00.000-04:00

Yesterday we had some 'work' to do. While the eldest volunteered at a craft station, the littlest and I took pictures. Well, I snapped away while she played. I admit I did some colouring too. We had a lot of fun despite the Bee having a crick in her neck. When we got home, I heated up one of the ol' rice socks, and she wore it around her neck to bed. I felt so badly for her, but she didn't once complain. And that outfit? Oh boy, does she ever get lots of remarks, but she's got a 14-year old sister! We've been noticing a trend around here of some slight copying with a little 8-year old jazz sprinkled throughout. And we are big advocates of allowing our children to choose their own clothes except when they're 14 dressed like they're 18. Besides, I'm nowhere near her at school, so it's not bothering me if she wears short over leggings with several different stripes. :) And she loves scarves - this one in particular is made more special because it is El's scarf that was kindly lent to her for just the evening. The Bee also does her own hair. I love that she packs her fashion design book in her school knapsack because she's always thinking up new styles, and you never know when inspiration will strike. Y'all best keep your eye out for this one! I'm seeing snowflake tank tops and skirts made of streamers in the near future.

N

Loose Ends

2010-10-17T20:04:00.000-04:00

These socks have been sitting in my knitting pile for a while now. In fact I've probably only had to knit the toe on the second sock for two weeks. Wednesday night while at Ignite London, I finished the toe, but I set aside the grafting until I was safely at home. Well I got home, and they were set aside again until Saturday morning. They fit the oldest perfectly. Those are size 9 feet, my friends! I shall not feel too guilty when I send her off at an ungodly hour each morning to the bus stop. Her feet will be toasty. Of course she can not wear this pair every day, so I will have to get moving on another pair. If she's especially nice, I will lend her my size 8 socks in between. :)

The pattern is Wildflower by Fawn Pea, and they were very simple and mindless. Really. That one stitch is just purling 3 stitches together, leaving them on the left hand needle, bringing the yarn over, and purling the same 3 stitches together again. Oh Nelly, it was easy. I used up some unnaturally green Knit Picks Palette fingering-weight wool. The wool was super cheap, but it is not superwash nor does it have a wee bit o' nylon. Ack, it's what we get for $3 (I only used a ball and a half). Oh but they will be warm, and that's all that matters at this point. I really don't mind handwashing socks. Really.

Happy Sunday.

N

Acts of Kindness

2010-10-14T12:22:00.002-04:00

For the second year in a row, my city has challenged itself to perform a great number of acts of kindness in the month of October. For the second year in a row, my organization for which I work is participating. In fact, I am on the Kindness Committee. Think of me as a Kindness Leader. Without the shiny cape. A very simple project that we are doing (and anyone can do this!) is keeping a Kindness journal in our staff room. Each morning I pop into the staff room, and I jot one kind act that I performed the day before. It only takes a minute or two, and I am back on my way to my desk. While eating my lunch, I read about all the acts that my co-workers are doing. I know I work with some great people, but this project really makes them shine! Today the Kindness journal pen dried up. I had a real situation on my hands, but thankfully I managed to scrounge up an old green Holiday Inn pen off the receptionist's desk. It felt oddly unkind to be stealing a pen, but tomorrow I plan to return her 'stylo' and replace it with some new pens I ordered. I'm coo' like that.

But that's not all we're doing. I contacted the Boys and Girls Club, and I asked if we could be another drop-off point for children's winter coats and accessories for the Koats for Kids program. I've already cleaned out our closets and winter hat/mitten/scarf stashes, and I've filled up two boxes! This is another easy and rewarding act that anyone can do. At the end of the month, I'll drive all the stuff we collected down the street to the Boys and Girls Club. Easy peasy.

The neat thing about being kind is it's what you're doing already. So far it hasn't cost me a dime, maybe a few minutes here and there, and the rewards are karmic. :) If you're a Londoner, go and register! It's not too late. And if you're not local, do some random acts of kindness. Pay it forward.

Cheers!
N

Not all it's cracked up to be

2010-10-13T21:54:00.007-04:00

"Crack is whack."

- Whitney Houston

I'm a little late jumping on the Crack Pie bandwagon but on Monday I finally found an excuse to make it. The recipe is from Momofuku, a trendy restaurant and bar in New York City. This pie costs $44 if you want to buy one from their Milk Bar and has a major following. Earlier this year the L.A. Times published a recipe for it and it's been sweeping the blogs since. With a name like Crack Pie, it's gotta be good, right? Well, Monday was Mr. T and my two year wedding anniversary so I used it as an excuse to make the pie, which contains butter, lots of sugar, egg yolks, all in a homemade oatmeal cookie crust and weighs in at a whopping 432 calories per slice. We didn't get around to eating the pie until the next day because we had an amazing dinner at Bar La Grassa (I highly recommend the soft egg and lobster bruschetta--to die for!) and we were too stuffed to eat anything else. We finally settle in after dinner on Tuesday with a slice each of Crack Pie, although the creator of the pie recommends that you eat it "with a spoon, while it's still in the pie plate, with your favorite someone." While Mr. T quite liked it, I thought that it was just too sweet for my taste. I didn't dislike it. The filling is buttery and sweet, not unlike a pecan pie without the pecans, and the crust it crunchy and just a little bit salty. The crust is definitely the best part. I'm not saying that I won't enjoy eating the rest of the Crack Pie, I just won't be needing to go into rehab any time soon.

Thanksgiving

2010-10-11T18:49:00.000-04:00

Yesterday while the turkey cooked all afternoon, we went for a long hike in the woods as we do every year. Despite being a third into October, the sun was shining, and it was quite hot. I wish I had worn a light cotton skirt and a t-shirt instead of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Thankfully I left the sweaters in the car! :) And today is just as warm again. The littlest had to run back home from the park to put her shorts on. It's all so lovely! The colours of the leaves, the leaves sprinkling the ground, the smell of turkey leftovers, sipping on cinnamon spice tea, and knitting in the sun. The girls are out playing with their friends. The house is so quiet. It's making me a bit sleepy.

It's been a while since I've posted any finished knitting! Last week I did finish another Meret beret for a gift, and I am only a handful of rows away from finishing a third Mara shawl. These are two excellent patterns that I am destined to repeat knit. After some thought, I realized that I do have some stand-by projects to which I keep coming back. I'm thinking the clapotis, anything Elizabeth Zimmermann, the purl bee cowl, the mittens from Knitting Pretty . . .

Here's a few freebies on my to-do list:

So much gift knitting to do!

Here's to another week. Cheers!
N

Play with your food

2010-10-05T14:11:00.000-04:00

Can you guess what these are?

If you are my husband you would answer, "A waste of money", which would be the wrong answer. Does this picture help?

If you guessed that they are boiled egg molds, you are correct! How cute are these? I had no idea that you could mold boiled eggs into cute shapes like bunnies and bears until I saw them here and then I had to have them. These would be fun for a child's lunch box, or an adult for that matter! I brought a couple of eggs into work and although I got some confused looks, everyone thought that they were cute. Come on, wouldn't finding a bunny (shaped) egg in your lunch box make you smile?

Country Fair

2010-10-02T18:29:00.000-04:00

We woke up silly early this morning, and despite the family moaning and the rain pouring down, we went to our first ever country fair. On the way, we stopped for rainboots and umbrellas as only we would do. We sat on bleachers and watched a sheep show that was out of this world, paraded through deep and muddy puddles squealing, oohed and ahhed over the handcrafted exhibits, petted handspun alpaca, ate black bean brownies, admired pumpkin twins and award-winning indian corn, and laughed at crazy clowns zooming around on motorcycles. Country fairs are where it's at. Even when it's raining cats and dogs.

I returned home itching to bake and knit and search local farms for sale. Never hurts to dream my Amish dream a little. :)

N

Hot mama

2010-09-29T09:59:00.000-04:00

I almost wanted to flag this post as containing "adult content". Have you ever seen so much fondant cleavage? I may have went a little overboard with this fondant figure's chest area but really, this is what happens when you're eight months pregnant. I was only being anatomically correct. This cake was made for a co-worker's shower yesterday. The colours correspond to the baby's nursery colours. The mother-to-be was so tickled with the cake that she asked everyone if they would be ok not cutting into the cake so that she could bring it home to show her husband. Luckily there was a back-up sheet cake that was served so no one minded. I've never had anyone not want to eat my cake before but I guess it's a compliment!

Pictures of a Picture

2010-09-27T19:13:00.000-04:00

I can't believe the amount of work that went into this picture. When I saw it at the bottom of a Goodwill heap, there was no question in my mind that it was meant to be mine. I love those little golden knots and every single whipstitch on this loosely woven canvas. Unfortunately it isn't framed, but I can fix that, or maybe I'll just tighten it up on a new board as it's gotten a little saggy. I was picturing it hung up in my craft nook, but visitors would have to descend into the basement to admire it. :) And I think this sort of stuff needs to be oohed and ah-ed tout le temps. Perhaps I will incorporate it into my autumnal decorating of the mantle. I confessed to friends over the weekend that I had a whole dresser drawer full of branches, pods and pinecones from last year, so I'm pretty much all set. I hope that came off as normal behaviour.

N

Mini Me

2010-09-24T23:44:00.000-04:00

It's no secret how much this one and I clash. Mr. J says it's 'cause we're the same person. Have you ever tried arguing with yourself? It's an impossible battle to win. We're not exactly the same. I haven't a clue from where she gets this sweet curly hair, and she's crazy pretty. My mum permed my hair a few times in my youth, and my hair stayed limp and heart-breakingly straight, and I was super nerdy. It was the giant glasses. Honest! Her witty and dry off-hand comments usually floor us. Do I do that too??? I guess we both get choked up and passionate about silly things. I once went in to speak to her Principal, and it wasn't long before I was crying, and the lady sighed and noted that sensitivity must be a family trait. So what! We're artists! No sooner did I bring home my new camera, she had my 'old' one in hand snapping a hundred pics a day. In fact these photos were completely her idea. The wall was changing colours, and it never occurred to me that it would make a great background. It's gut-wrenching when the mentee surpasses the mentor.

N

Autumn

2010-09-21T23:06:00.005-04:00

The fall officially begins tomorrow and as much as I've been complaining about the cool weather that fell upon us on Labour Day, I secretly love it. The fall means apples, boots, cozy sweaters, and best of all, using wool again! Welcome back wool, oh how I've missed you. This baby sweater is for a co-worker who is due in October. She and her husband have chosen not to find out the sex of the baby, hence the neutral colour. It was a quick knit, as most baby items are.
This is the start of a complicated cowl neck for this sweater. I'm still not sure if I got the pattern correct but this is what I translated it to be. The cable pattern is turning out to be quite fun to knit once I somewhat figured it out and just gave into the pattern. You know what I'm talking about.
Here is a tiny apple pie. I used a muffin pan to make up a few of these. The apples used in the filling are called SweeTango. It's a "new" apple that was developed by the University of Minnesota. They were really tasty but for some reason I still feel weirded out that there is an apple breeding program at the U where all they do is breed new apples. I suppose that everything we eat these days has been genetically modified in one way or another. On that note, I'm going to find a snack before bed. G'nite!

Doors Open

2010-09-21T19:12:00.000-04:00

How can moths - our archnemeses - be so pretty? The Canadian Agricultural Research Centre was very educational, and it took all afternoon to tour it. I was astounded by all the work that is being done to control infestations, soil amendments and genetic weaknesses. For a moment, I imagined being a scientist hunched over a microscope dressed in a white lab coat and scribbling notes on a chart. It was quite spectacular.

The next day we took in the Museum of Archaeology, and we got to see a real pow wow!

I totally would have danced had I not been lugging around a heavy soapstone carving kit and a bajillion flyers and my camera. I was the juggling act! :)

Really.

N

Souvenir Shopping

2010-09-18T11:00:00.000-04:00

I couldn't be in the vicinity of so many wonderful yarn shops and not pop in to a single one. My three family members understood this and sat at a nearby coffee shop to sip on hot chocolate and scarf down a mountain of cookies while I browsed the Mother Ship. After all the neon florescent knitting I've been working on lately, I chose a few skeins of muted pastels which were much easier on my eyes. The two skeins at the top are Romni Angora Silk in a pretty pale pink - just enough for a small shawlette, and the bottom two skeins are Fleece Artist Big Merino for a couple cowls or hats - whatever floats my boat I guess. :)

I think I was quite restrained especially after missing the biggest knitting fair of the year last weekend in favour of attending Photocamp. This decision was to save me from spending lots of money as the conference was free, and I would probably have dropped a load on wool plus meals and transportation expenses. As it turns out, I am now dreaming of spending hundreds of dollars on lenses. I can't seem to win.

Speaking of free events, Doors Open London is on this weekend. I'm itching to check out the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada research centre. I'll take my camera and report back!

Happy Saturday.
N

Holiday in the City

2010-09-17T13:52:00.000-04:00

We're back from a little trip to the big city. We learned lots of new things and remembered lots of what we already knew. For instance, when we chicken out, we chicken out together - we're solidly afraid of heights and speed. Our dreams of eating at a nice restaurant may never be realized - our attempts are amusing at the very least, and our next visit promises a free appetizer. Rather than be wasteful, Mr. J can eat thirty Swedish meatballs. After a year, I've finally learned to appreciate having two cell phones thus being able to locate where the other half of us are. We all snore to some degree. We have the ability to write a Family Guy scene in almost every situation we find ourselves. The littlest is hooked on all things Katy Perry and can eat some form of french fries for every meal. Both girls would like to dress as Egyptian queens or Greek goddesses for Halloween next month. We can't seem to escape raccoons. I still want a sheepskin, but not in an animal-killing way.

There was lots of laughter and fun, but I think the four of us agreed that we can now say we've been there, done that. And man, we were pleased as punch to be back at home and in our own beds. We would make horrible rock stars.

After school snack

2010-09-12T19:53:00.004-04:00

It's funny what you remember eating as a kid. My mother always made home cooked meals and baked every week for my sisters and I. Almost all of the food that we had was made from scratch, save for sliced bread (wheat, never white) and the occasional bag of McCain's frozen french fries. I now realize that it couldn't have been easy for her feeding four kids a healthy diet while working three jobs. All I remember was wanting Chef Boyardee ravioli from a can. I saw commercials for it in between after school cartoons and begged for it (do you remember "thank goodness for Chef Boyardee"?). There was something about that bright red sauce that called to me. After what seemed like months of begging my mother, the day finally came and a dish of Chef Boyardee ravioli was placed in front of me at dinner time, amidst the bowls of rice and soup and vegetables that the rest of the family was having. I dug in, took a mouthful of slippery, nearly neon coloured sauce and pasta and immediately spit it out. It was not what I had expected.

Fast forward a few years, ok, 25 years, and although I've eaten Chef Boyardee pasta from a can a few times and find it almost edible, I can now fully appreciate my mom's home made meals and snacks. There's nothing like food that has been made with your own hands, or better, by the hands of someone who loves you. So here is a quick, three ingredient recipe that my mom used to make for my sisters and I. It is still one of my favorites.

Mom's Oatmeal Bars

3 cups quick oats
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened

Combine all ingredients in a bowl, mixing with a fork until well combined. Press firmly into a 9x9 square pan and bake at 360 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden around the edges. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes before cutting into bars. Bars are easier to cut while still warm.

Eight

2010-09-09T23:20:00.000-04:00

Today you're 8. I love you just the way you are.

You make friends everywhere.
You make the most boring task fun.
You like simple food.
You dress good.
You give life to books.
You ooze excitement.
You leave drawings everywhere.
You dance and sing unabashedly.
You hold your own with your teenaged sister.
You say thanks, and I want to thank YOU.
You let me hug you as much as I want.
You go with the flow.
You LOVE parties and vanilla cake and balloons.
You make us all happy.

You rock.

Love Mum

PS. You were most excited today about no longer being legally required to ride in a car seat. How do you wrap up a gift like that? :)

Labour Day at the Lake

2010-09-06T20:09:00.000-04:00

She wrote with feathers in the sand. Mostly her name and initials all over the beach. Kat and I set up some chairs and knit the best we could with the wind whipping about us. It was the perfect way to spend the last day of summer. School starts up again tomorrow. Have I ever mentioned my dislike for packing lunches? Oh well, I'll always have Saturdays and Sundays.

It looks like she has feathers up her noodle. By the way, I was silently screaming inside my head about how dirty those feathers were, but the doodle is still alive and well.

I can not believe how anxious I am about the oldest heading to high school tomorrow. That's super big. I have to stop thinking about it. It's making me old, grey and wrinkled.

N

Promise Kept

2010-09-03T09:45:00.000-04:00

The Bumblebee was as sad as she can be (which isn't very sad at all) when her end-of-year school trip was cancelled in June. I pinky-swore that I would set aside one day this summer to take her myself. She didn't let me forget for a moment! So with the summer coming to an end, I took a day off work, and we spent the day at one of her favourite places. We packed a picnic and her swimming suit, and she ran around excitedly for five hours. Then we came home and flopped down and rested a bit. Good times.

I love that she held on to Humpty Dumpty's hand. It did occur to me while I followed her around and snapped pictures, that this little one is growing quickly, and sooner than I'd like to think about it, it will be me dragging her along rather than her dragging me along on adventures. Oh dear. That broke my heart a little. I'd like her to stay this age forever. Her birthday is a week away. Maybe she'll forget.

It's fantasy time

2010-09-01T20:47:00.005-04:00

As in fantasy football. I made these cupcakes last year for Mr. T's football draft party and they were a big hit with the drafters so I made them again this year. Did I mention that I hate football? I don't even like being in the same room as football. I think there's something about how slow the game is combined with how silly people look while playing it is what bothers me most. But football shaped Oreo truffles atop a cupcake with"grass" frosting is right up my alley.And I suppose one good thing about the football season starting up is that I can go back to shopping at Target on Sunday afternoons and the store will be virtually empty. Leisurely cruises down the aisles of my favourite Super Target can be had once more. Now that's my fantasy.

A Grey Meret Beret

2010-08-31T22:31:00.000-04:00

Once again, for the record, she was very happy to pose with the hat on her head, but apparently 'serious' was the look she was trying to achieve. And achieve she did. The grey Meret beret was two days of leisurely knitting, and believe me when I say the pattern was mindless. Using a hank of Berroco Vintage - a wool/acryclic blend - I cast on the medium size, but followed the large size body with an extra pattern repeat for extra slouchiness. It was meant for the oldest, but she has thick, long, curly hair that can not be contained with this size of beret, so I will be casting on for a second extra, extra, extra slouchy Meret beret. I can do this.

N

Straw Flower Love

2010-08-29T15:01:00.000-04:00

A $2.50 bouquet of straw flowers from the market is happiness.

N

A Month of Socks

2010-08-29T10:55:00.000-04:00

I could get used to churning out a couple of pairs of socks a month. Sure, they're plain ol' vanilla stockinette socks, but they're even easier when they're knit to fit an 8-year old. Only 52 sts on my 2.5mm addis! Oh how a world of difference only 8 less stitches makes. :) Please note that my model couldn't even stand up to pose. She never even took her eyes off the laptop to pull the socks on. Oh dear. It's time for a walk to the park.

Happy Sunday, friends.

N

Sweet Tooth

2010-08-26T22:18:00.000-04:00

Only a week and a half until the girls are back at school. Where did the summer go? Back-to-school shopping to top up the school supplies and a few items of clothing has been completed. We'll probably need a few pairs of shoes. Shoe shopping is dreadful. Ice cream might make it better. Or a cocktail.

N

Lavender Blue Farm

2010-08-23T21:49:00.000-04:00

I found myself with four kids on the weekend, and so we went on a little adventure to the nearby lavender farm. It was a bit drizzle-y and overcast - perfect for taking pictures and smelling lavender.

I bought a bag of dried lavender to sew sachets for my wool stashes and a vial of lavender essential oil to make my own linen spray. I could have fallen asleep right in that field - except four kids will keep you alert. Just saying.

N

My EYES!!!

2010-08-21T10:29:00.000-04:00

What does one do when her projects in progress are blinding her? Cast on another florescent number of course. On the top we have a new pair of stripey socks for the Bumblebee that I hope to have finished in time for her birthday early September, and on the bottom is a featherweight cardigan for myself. I hope to have the cardigan completed by the end of my life. Knitting a cardigan out of lace is insanity, but so soft. What you don't see pictured here is a fair isle vest that I am about to start. I still need to accomplish steeking this year, so I have chosen EZ's fair isle vest from her Knitting Workshop. The Bumblebee loves vests, and I am too lazy to knit an adult-sized vest. That's the truth of it. I found some old Quebecoise 2-ply wool in the stash in bright raspberry pink, bright orange, bright green and bright turquoise. Are you seeing a pattern? This may be a good time to get my eyes checked.

N

World view and some old skool knitting

2010-08-17T09:48:00.005-04:00

Right now if I were to look in front of me I would see this.It's never too early for some butter toffee with your morning coffee, right? Yes, that's a laptop and a keyboard. How people type on laptop keyboards, I have no idea. About the toffee, I made up a practice batch last night for my dad. He likes crunchy things and since Mr. T and I will be seeing our families next week I thought that I should bring something for him since the women in the family are getting hand sewing and knitted things. Dads tend to get left by the wayside in terms of handmade items, at least with me anyway. You can't go wrong with some crunchy, buttery, chocolatey goodness. The toffee was very easy to make and tastes like a Skor bar, or Heath bar if you live south of the 49th.These headbands (or lamp decorations?) are for the little girls. They're the Old Skool Headbands from Lion Brand. You could easily make a bunch of these in one night while watching a Blue Jays game being streamed through the computer onto your television, not that I would know. Happy Tuesday!

No Signal Detected

2010-08-15T22:35:00.000-04:00

I need to edit my photos more. I am normally too lazy to touch them up, but I really should. I found this in my photo archives, and it had to be taken early on in the summer. I had to put that blanket on the white sofa because the cat was leaving an obvious fur blanket all over it. The hazy 70's-look to the photo must have been an experiment with some photo editor, but I have no idea which one I used. I'm going to have to add that to my sleuthing list.

The To-Sleuth List

What the heck was that yarn I used to knit the spiral hats?
What photo editor application made my fur-covered sofa look so dang cool?
When will all the teen emo drama end?
Why does the soccer ball always go to the opposing team when I kick it?
What was I thinking when I cast on for a cardigan with lace-weight yarn?
How do I find an oompa loompa to do my yard work?

Off to find some clues . . .

N

Sunday Morning

2010-08-15T09:57:00.000-04:00

Mmm ... coffee and muffins. Sunday mornings, I love you. Everyone is still in bed. It's peacefully quiet. It just started pouring rain outside. Just trying to figure out what needs to be done today and what I'd like to do today. It looks like the rain is dying down. Oh, dear. I'd like it to rain a bit longer. Not in a cancel-my-soccer-game kind of way, but in a playing-in-the-rain-is-nicer-than-killer-heat-during-soccer kind of way. Poo. The sun's back out. On the other hand, this could be good. The front garden could use some whacking. Well now it looks like I have something to do.

EZ #9

2010-08-14T14:01:00.000-04:00

I started this spiral hat on what would have been EZ's 100th birthday (8.9.10), went to work, and finished it by bedtime. The next day I started another, and again, I finished it before bedtime. Then I did it all over on the third day. Now I have three, and I'm still itching to cast on another 10. The best part is that the girls love them. Success! I think I have my go-to for gift knitting this winter. Thanks again, EZ.

Cheers!
N

Local Community Initiatives

2010-08-11T14:00:00.001-04:00

I've not always been a huge fan of living in London. It took me a long time to call it home. I moved here sixteen years ago from a small town less than an hour away. It was a bit exciting and new at the time to live in a big city, but over time, it became clear that there weren't many reasons to stay here. If I had a nickel for every person who has moved away, I'd have a mountain of nickels! (I'm looking at you, Mr. & Mrs. T!) And then along came the internets to the rescue!    I've found that my most successful method of finding out all the cool stuff happening in my community is via twitter. I'm not a very active twitter user - meaning I don't have much to add, but I have gotten so much out of it.   Here are a few projects that I've stumbled upon while stalking local tweets:

ecoLIVINGLondon is a new website that developed out of the London chapter of GreenDrinks, a monthly gathering of people concerned about the environment. I plan on using this site for tips and ideas for green living as well as identifying local businesses that are offering green products and services. The event listing alone is reason to keep this site on your radar.

Another really cool initiative is the idea of a Parking Day. Know what that is? I didn't, but now I do, and you should too. It's super cool. I'm not surprised because Kevin Van Lierop is always thinking and DOING up really cool stuff.   This guy needs to run for City Council some day - this was suggested on twitter, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. It's true. If London is an awesome place to live, it will be a direct result of what he's started.

Most recently I attended the first Ignite London event, and it was ten kinds of awesome. You can watch the presentations on youtube here. Registration for the next Ignite London on October 12 opened a few days ago, and it is beyond full, and it's still two months away. Regardless registration is still open, so if you're reading this, for the love of Todd, go register now. It's FREE!   And I almost won a pitcher of beer for building the highest spaghetti noodle structure to hold up a marshmallow. What do you do on Tuesday nights?

As for knitting? I've finished two EZ snail hats, and I've cast on for a third. I'm addicted.   Pictures to come!

Happy Winds-day, my friends!

N

EZ #8

2010-08-08T15:03:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is what would have been Elizabeth Zimmermann's 100th birthday, and I find it fitting that I just finished one of her most classic designs - the Baby Surprise Jacket. I used a few cheater row count sheets I found online to keep track of what I was doing, and I doubt I would have done as well without them. However, next time I knit this pattern (and I definitely will make more!), I think I'd be okay without the spreadsheets. I get it. It's genius. I did get a lot of weird looks while knitting this floppy piece of garter stitch. I also want to make a crazy wild stripey jacket next time. This one is a bit boring knit mainly with Patons Classic Merino Wool in paprika and a grey stripe of Cascade 220 - all leftovers from past projects. Now on to find some sweet wooden buttons

Happy Sunday!

N

Linen and things

2010-08-04T15:01:00.005-04:00

It's hot. It's been really hot here in the Midwest and I'm sure most everywhere else. I wont complain because summers here are fleeting and before we know it we'll be up to our eyeballs in the white stuff so I'll enjoy it while it lasts.It does make it a bit more difficult to enjoy the hot summers when you live in a very old house without central air. The other night it was just too hot to even sit on the sofa and watch tv that I turned on the window AC unit in the bedroom and retired to my sewing nook that's tucked in one of the eaves up in our attic bedroom. Thanks to the heat I now have a set of linen napkins that I've been meaning to make up for awhile now. I was able to get six 18x18 dinner sized napkins out of a 1.5 yard remnant of linen that was on sale. I love how soft linen gets as you use it and wash it. No more wasteful paper napkins and it adds a touch of luxury to everyday meals.

Pretty Peninsula

2010-08-02T20:33:00.000-04:00

The Bumblebee's stripey socks are so worn out that she has holes in the toes. So the EZ project was paused once again for a new pair of stripey socks. I started the socks on the first day at the cottage, and I finished them the first day back at home. They've been met with approval. Sweet!

It's back to work tomorrow and some much needed soccer practice!

N

Reflections of Tobermory

2010-08-01T11:26:00.020-04:00

We're back! Did you miss me? :) I missed this space, but I was kept busy with hiking, swimming, biking, kayaking, board games, reading, knitting, picture-taking, lots of ping pong, and the sort. I see have a lot to catch up on around here - lots of blog reading, catching up on one or two tv shows, and the house is a disaster amidst all the unpacking. There are at least eight full loads of laundry sitting rather unpatiently in front of the washer. I am dreading opening the day planner as I do every time I step away for a holiday. And baking! Oh how I've missed baking! I'll be doing some of that this weekend. Bread, muffins, and maybe some cookies. And I need to hit a fruit and veggie stand ASAP. Mmm-mmm-mm . . .

Juicy fruits

2010-07-29T11:16:00.003-04:00

Do you have a staff kitchen at your place of employment? I do where I work and people are constantly pulling hot items out of the microwave and burning themselves. I came across the pattern for these fruity trivets from the Purl Bee and thought they were adorable. And they were exactly what our sad, little staff kitchen needed to brighten it up. I loosely based the potholders that I made on the Purl Bee's pattern. I did not use doubled yarn like the pattern calls for but crocheted with a smaller hook to make them nice and thick. I went for the watermelon and lime slice because those were the colours that I had on hand. Nice, quick summer project.

The summer of doing things

2010-07-25T22:28:00.008-04:00

After I found out that Mr. T would be away for eight weeks this summer studying in the next state, I made a commitment to myself that I would do things. All kinds of things. Things that I've always wanted to do, things that I didn't necessarily want to do in the beginning, and things that I hadn't planned on doing but did anyway. This kind of explains my absence on the blog and I apologize but N does such an outstanding job! By the way, N is doing her thing this week and on a much needed vacation.

So this summer, the summer of doing things, there was boating (and tubing rather unsuccessfully for the first time!).There was camping.There was visiting the farmer's market in Madison, WI.There was the Basilica Block Party.
There was going to Washington, D.C.
I don't know about you but I tend to get very comfortable in my routine. I'm kind of a quiet person too so making a commitment to try new things has really allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, meet new people, and experience some very fun things. Now I get to regroup for a few days until Mr. T returns home and then we're off to the beautiful Pacific Northwest for some family time.

What new thing do you want to try or have recently tried?

Family Game Night

2010-07-21T23:21:00.000-04:00

The girls made a board game, and the littlest insisted on a Family Game Night. She's always scheduling family activities because secretly I think she's in love with us. I also think she has a future in event organization. One thing with having children far apart in ages is that it can be a challenge to find common ground. At the same time, the benefit is that they complement each other when teaming up on a project like this. The littlest loves drawing and cutting, and the eldest loves writing and organizing. Surprisingly we didn't have to drag the teenager out of her bedroom when it came time to play. Thank goodness, too! She was the only one who knew the answers to the green cards! Playing this game was a buttload of fun. We all laughed and joked and smiled for an hour. I wish that when my children grow up that these are the times they remember, and not the times mummy was mean and said 'no' to soda pop. (I realize that I've probably been 'meaner' than this, but honestly this is the stuff that really bothers them.)

In regards to my natural shampoo trial, I lasted exactly four days. First day, I immediately noticed and appreciated the healthy amount of natural oils that had returned to my hair. It felt great and crazy healthy. Second day, my hair was put up in a pony tail. Third day, I washed it, and this time, my hair felt thick and heavy. Weird, but okay, I guess. Fourth day, I felt the back of my head, and it was so oily. I curled my hair around my hand, and it STAYED. Um, cool if I was having it styled professionally, not cool to leave a stain on my pillow. So, if I was to make a recommendation on this particular recipe, I would say it would be great used maybe once a week. It's a bit frustrating, but I am not ready to admit defeat yet. I will keep my eyes peeled and see what I can find.

Happy Winds-day!
N

Squeaky Clean

2010-07-17T20:18:00.000-04:00

I made my own shampoo this morning and washed my hair with it. I'll pilot it out a bit longer and let you know how it goes.

I just combined 1/3 cup of tea tree liquid castile soap, 1/3 cup of water and 1 tbsp of vegetable oil. It's just a small batch while I am in the experiment stage still.

Day 1: My mane feels squeaky clean. Now I'm off to google hair conditioners.

N

Best Blueberry Muffins

2010-07-17T11:56:00.000-04:00

As promised, I have what I believe is the bestest blueberry muffin recipe I've ever baked. I found it in a James Barber (LOVED that guy!) recipe book that is no longer available in print, and I've tweaked it a bit to my liking.

Blueberry Muffins

1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Mix dry:
2 cups flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
dash of cinnamon

Mix wet:
1/3 cup orange juice
2 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 egg

Mix the two together being careful not to overstir, and fold in 1/2 cup fresh or frozen blueberries. Spoon into lightly oiled muffin tins, sprinkle a little sugar over top, and bake in a 400F/200C oven for 15-20 minutes. Take out of pans immediately, and cool on racks. Makes 12 muffins. Enjoy!

N

Blueberries Here, There & Everywhere

2010-07-16T09:33:00.000-04:00

Just popping in to say that I still have probably 5 pounds of blueberries left!!!! Please do not misunderstand me. I'm far from sick of them. this is a pretty sweet situation to be in. So far I've made blueberry sherbert, blueberry muffins, blueberry salad and blueberry sauce. I'm thinking blueberry pie next.

I definitely have to share some of these recipes as I am fully aware how mean it is of me to post these images of mouth-watering food and not point you in the right direction. Mea culpa. First I must put in a day of hardly working, I mean working hard.

Toot, toot.
N

Blueberries for Bee

2010-07-11T22:15:00.000-04:00

The littlest and I took a little drive out to the country, and we spent an hour and a half in a sunny field of blueberries as wide and far as the eye could see. She hummed little tunes and entertained me with silly stories. We laughed and made a pretty good team. We paid a pittance for our two big buckets of blueberries, and I haven't got a clue how I'm going to use up all of them because we must consume them quickly as I want to take her and my hundred closest friends next weekend - everyone should have that much fun. Ever have those wonderfully blissful days you want to relive over and over again?