Category Archives: baking

Time vs. Speed

I have run straight, smack dab, face planted in fact, into the phenomenon of time vs. speed.  It is almost Christmas – less than two weeks away – and I am stunned by the speed with which this last year has passed!

My intentions for the year were good – blog regularly, design a few patterns, and knit every day.  Well, as the song says “two out of three, ain’t bad”!  LOL!

I am working on two new patterns for the New Year – Tulip Fields Forever, a lacy half-pi shaped shawl knit with Maryanne’s Socks.  This one is slated to be a KAL starting in Mid February.  The KAL will be called Dreaming of Spring.  And the Furrowed Skies Blanket Vest, knit with Buffalo Wool Co, Buffalo Skies DK.  I need one of those vests for myself!  Both are looking great and I will keep you updated.  Just finished – Makin’ Mittens.

I am now knitting Christmas Presents – and the push is on!  How about you?   Are you knitting gifts for Christmas?  If so, what?  There is still time – I mean – almost two weeks – that could be a pair of mittens, a hat, a scarf – maybe all three!  Where is the Magnum when you need it!  LOL!  A couple of Chunky hats are in my near future!

I am also baking this year – well I have added Christmas Cake, both light and dark to the list and what’s more I actually baked them!  Today I baked the walnut shortbread (my favorite), it is cooling on the racks; and we still need more regular shortbread – some one seems to be eating it!

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Decorating is next – looking forward to the house being ready for Christmas.  We bought the tree today, a noble fir.  It smells so good!

It isn’t raining right now – but it has for most of the last few weeks.  Today was the first day I had really walked!  We hadn’t done much real walking for the last two weekends – I missed it – I missed the pictures and the time outside.

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Today we went to Piper’s Lagoon.  I revelled in the wind, with just a touch of rain.  My ears and fingers were cold, but it was great!  We watched and admired a couple of Kayakers that braved the waves – it would have been hard work to stay upright and moving forward over that surf.

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There was no beach this morning – just waves rolling right up to the logs that lined the shore.

No pretty flowers, just interesting leaves and struggling weeds to photograph today!

Happy Planning, Knitting and Decorating

Lynette

 

Knitting on the Summer Side

 

How does the garden grow - right now - like crazy!
How does the garden grow – right now – like crazy!
Love the honeysuckle - every year the vine grows more and more blooms.
Love the honeysuckle – every year the vine grows more and more blooms.

I know it is not Officially Summer yet, but my garden doesn’t believe it, everything is blooming early!  The weather has been so warm.  Monday evening it was too hot to knit!  I mean – that hardly ever happens!  So it is Unofficially Summer!

Last week I was off of work and so had some time to knit and walk and generally do as little real work as I could get away with!

Sophie on the Beach and loving it!
Sophie on the Beach and loving it!
Perfect travel knitting for the car - I had the lace and bead section done so all I had to do was go round and round - River Queen sample for the store.
Perfect travel knitting for the car – I had the lace and bead section done so all I had to do was go round and round – River Queen sample for the store.

The highlight of the week was a trip over to the West Coast and a stay at Ucluelet.  As we drove up and over the Island mountains I worked on the store sample of River Queen – perfect knitting for the trip.

I love the beaches and walks around and through the Pacific Rim.  Sophie, Tom and I had a great time walking and exploring the area – revisiting our favorite haunts and discovering new ones.

Strawberry Rhubarb pie
Strawberry Rhubarb pie

Last weekend I did a little baking – some strawberry rhubarb pie.  It was the second pick of rhubarb from the garden – after a slow start this year the rhubarb is starting to look a little better!

Merry Mantle for me!  I call this one the Bordello Mantle!
Merry Mantle for me! I call this one the Bordello Mantle!

Have you been knitting or has it been too hot where you are?  Thank-fully it was too hot for only that one night and my knitting is back on track.

After I finished knitting up and writing the pattern for Merry Mantle I decided that I needed one for myself – and as I had some gorgeous new yarn from the Buffalo Wool Co – Sexy with a Silver Lining – I set to work.  I am over 60% done.  I do like the Sexy base – strong, light and soft.

BuffBoo - look at those colours!
BuffBoo – look at those colours!

This last week I received a few hanks of the newest yarn from the Buffalo Wool Co.  This one is the Sexy mix, with a strand of bamboo twisted in – making the blend roughly 34% bison, 33% silk, and 33% bamboo.  They are calling the yarn BuffBoo and this is a lovely soft light fingering with a high sheen.  The twist of bamboo shows up almost like a tweed  through the yarn.  Gorgeous colours and lovely hand – I am already working up a pattern in my mind!

DewMoth with the edging.
DewMoth with the edging.

I also finished DewMoth during my week off.  It just needed the Beaded Crochet Edging applied over the lace edging.  I though that it turned out well.

River Queen and DewMoth are the class projects this summer at Mad About Ewe.  The Summer schedule is up on the Mad About Ewe website.  If you get a chance check out our Summer Activities.

Year of Making Squares to date.
Year of Making Squares to date.

 

 

The Year of Making project is moving along and the selection of squares is steadily growing.  I have added two more squares this month!  I hope that you are enjoying you are enjoying your making this year.

Happy Knitting

Lynette