Chickens and ducks

We thought Kanga might be chicken. All this reluctance to sail. And messing up the weather (sorry, England...it's our boat's fault).

And then, today, she took to it like a duck to water. Even in the rain.

Why I love making baby quilts

Here are the recipients of the last two baby quilts I made, snoozing (and presumably drooling) on their quilts. So adorable! I can't wait to see them in October when we're in NY...they'll be looking quite grown-up by that point, I think! (And yes, their Dad gave the ok to put them on the internets). Apparently the quilts are perfectly sized to fit in their pack-and-play. Since, you know, I planned that. By accident. Ahem.

In case you were worried that I would be lacking newborns to snuggle with, fear not. The future recipient of this future-quilt (her mom's favorite colour is red) will be very small and sleepy when we're there. The last of my Tufted Tweets, some monaluna organic midcentury chairs (also with birds!), and some more red and white stripes and solids. It's less blinding in real life, especially as I have interspersed the RED with lots of grey and white. The vibrating red stripe will be used as the binding. I'm aiming for zingy and cheerful rather than spectacularly overpowering!

The quilt top is actually finished but not yet photographed - I may need to check with future-mom to see if she wants to see the quilt in person first rather than on the blog.

What a weekend

The endlessly resistant Kanga is now one main sheet (to be procured this week) and two halyards (to be installed Thursday) short of Actually Sailing. Oh, and we need to attach the tiller to the rudder but that shouldn't take long.

The father-in-law and I spent Saturday morning attaching the final bits, including the v-jam for the kicker, the starboard jib sheet keeper, the backstay, and the main halyard blocks. Lucky girl...new shiny blocks and fittings all over the place! She's looking very smug and pleased with herself. I may need to get a second job if this keeps up...

Self portrait, hard at work:

I was out most of the day today, helping out at (and enjoying) a BBQ, despite the belting rain in the morning and a brief shower in the afternoon. The sun actually came out for a few hours in the early evening...we weren't quite sure what to do with ourselves. Sitting on the patio drinking rum punch and eating strawberries and cream made us feel better, though.

And now, I shall disappear into 16th century England. With vampires and witches. I'll see you in 500 pages, or so. I'm rather glad I decided to re-read the first one...there's some refresher notes in the first few chapters of Shadow of Night, but I'm already well into the Deborah Harkness universe.

The witches' house in Discovery of Witches is definitely my favorite literary house, though. It's spectacularly haunted, and keeps and returns things (and adds rooms) as required. SO entertaining. Sometimes I think my house does the same, just in a slightly less noisy fashion.

700?

Holy moly. According to Blogger, this is post number 700 on this little blog of mine (started mostly for the benefit of my parents). Um. Now I have to say something pithy (I love that word). Or maybe something profound.

I've been rereading A Discovery Of Witches in preparation for the release of the sequel, Shadow of Night, on Tuesday. And because I loved it SO much the first time. And because I wish I had reread Graceling and Fire before I read Bitterblue.

I have NO memory for fine plot points. None at all. It used to mean that I did poorly on English tests. Now it means that I can reread my favorite books and be surprised the second time around. I'll take it as a trade-off, I think. I DO retain the major plot points and characters, and my overall feeling about a book, usually. Minor characters don't stand a chance. And murder-mystery endings? Not in a million years. Who dunnit? Don't remember!

Hmm...not terribly profound for post number 700.

Can I show you a picture instead?

Oh, good. Here you go...slates at Houghton Hall

Floating Kanga

After 18 months, enormous quantities of sweat equity, quite a few tears, more money than I care to think about, several months in a barn, a new trailer, a failed (leaking!) launch, and 3 trips across the Orwell bridge, Kanga is officially in the water! She's tucked in at the end of a long line of other Squibs, feeling very pleased with her looks-like-new deck (thank you, father-in-law and husband). Remember when we met her, back in 2010?

We are waiting on two small boat-bits, both on order and due in this week, and then...weather permitting (hah)...we can SAIL!

Applications for crew gladly taken.

And this is her view, of an evening. Not bad, really.

Choir trip to North Norfolk

A mini-Bach Choir plus assorted guests went on a day out to the north-Norfolk coast last Sunday. We went to Thornham for a quick rehearsal in the church, then down to Houghton Hall to see the obligatory stately pile. As you can see, my shoes and their fountain were exactly the same colour. They had a very tasty cafe (if rather expensive) in converted part of the stables.

There were also a number of art installations throughout the grounds. This one was a vast circle of piled slate. Um, ok. Made for neat pictures looking back at the house, though.

The Cholmondeley (pronounced CHUM-ley, obviously) family still live in the house, so we went through the 10-or-so staterooms open to the public. There were some extraordinary tapestries with incredibly fine needlework, and an entrance hall that reminded me of the main hall at The Breakers in Newport. You walk in, you gasp, you look up, your mouth drops open, and you look around in disbelief. I imagine Mr Vanderbilt was well aware of Houghton Hall (and would be pleased at the comparison).

I mean, seriously. This is the fruit cage. You know, the little tent with mesh where you grow your raspberries to keep the birds out. I thought the steel walk-in one my father-in-law welded together was intense. It's got NOTHING on this one.

After our dash through the rest of the gardens (which I'd highly recommend), we went back to Thornham for evensong. Most of the village appeared to have turned out for the evensong, which was really nice - the church was reasonably full. The vicar was great - if you look in the encyclopedia under English Country Vicar, he'll be there, waving at you, complete with booming BBC English. Loved it.

We then retired to a well-scouted and extremely delicious supper at the Briarfields Hotel, followed by a surprisingly short coach ride back to Bury. It was a VERY long day but we all really enjoyed ourselves.

And the sun even came out in the evening!

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

I've been under the weather for a few days, which meant that I read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children in one sitting yesterday. I thought it was very compelling, and scarier than the usual YA-fantasy that I read.

I found it a little slow to get started (and I wasn't thrilled with the protagonist), but about 30 pages in, it really picked up. I don't want to give too much away (spoilers!), but I thought that the premise was excellent and I can't wait for the second book (not sure about the movie, though...)

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

My dad gave me a love of sailing (which we have been doing all weekend - hello, RYA keelboat level 2!)

And a love of photography. The sunset in Stowmarket on Friday night as we were walking home:

Thanks, Dad!!

Sun and Rain

We're still having the wettest "drought" ever. Sigh.

At least we had a pretty sunset the other night.

The right tools

After my last post, my friend Lesley (hi, Lesley!) sent me a text to ask if I wanted to borrow her wool winder. Um, yes, please.

Useful and beautiful. Sign me up.

Silken kilometer, now fully wound.

Makings

I've had two recent cowl commissions, both as a result of wearing mine. First was another of the Honey Cowl pattern, ravelled here. This is a BEAST to cast on - it's 220 stitches and because it's so long it's quite tricky to make sure it's not twisted. Also, I normally use the long-tail cast on method so it's not unusual to get to 200 stitches and realise there's not enough wool. Anyway, third time's a charm. And once it gets going, it's easy to knit and looks so pretty.

I was a little disappointed with the Sublime wool that I used - there were three knots across my two skeins, both in the middle of the balls. YUCK. It's soft, though.

This one's almost done - it's not a colour I'd ever have picked out but I think it will look really pretty. I may have to block it, since it's a slightly smaller yarn than the pattern calls for and is a little bit narrower than mine. I should have just cast on 10 extra stitches at the beginning but I didn't think of that until about half way through. Bah. I really like the way the pattern looks, though, and it falls really nicely on the neck. Good thing it's still super-cold (hello, tights and wool sweaters in June).

If you want to commission me, just email. It seems like an excellent way to feed my wool habit (and avoid a continuous pile-up of sweaters!

Next up, a seashell silk shawl with a KILOMETER of silk yarn that my mom bought for me at at the Fiber Fair. I'm having a bit of trouble winding the skein into a ball - it keeps tangling. We'll get there!

Recipe: Melissa Clark's Rhubarb Compote

A few weeks ago, the mother-in-law handed me some home-grown rhubarb from their garden. They'd tried to give us a rhubarb plant a few years ago, but it was added to the list of Plants That Do Not Like Kate's Garden. (Sorry, Mr. Azalea and Ms. Hellebore.)

Anyway, since I am apparently entirely unable to grow it myself, I was very grateful for the donation. I made a rhubarb crumble for the boys (which was eaten too quickly to be blogged), and then I remembered this video recipe for Rhubarb Compote from Melissa Clark (of best-ever Calzone fame).

I love how pretty and glossy it looks when it's coated in melted sugar and its own rhubarb-juices, right before it starts to break down. Doesn't it look like candy?

Here it is, over yogurt. I was being semi-healthy. My favorite combo? Over vanilla toffee crunch ice cream. YUM.

If you see rhubarb at the farm market and aren't sure what to do with it, now you know!

Recipe: Grandma's onion vinaigrette

I've always loved artichokes. (Sadly, John is not a fan). My family likes them too, so we had them fairly often during the summers when I was growing up. I've since found out a few things. 

First, a lot of people have never eaten an artichoke and have no idea what to do with it.

Second, nobody else that I've ever met has eaten them with anything other than melted butter. Except my family. Who eats them with my grandmother's onion vinaigrette. YUM.

My mom used to make this in her older-than-I-am Tupperware quick-shake, and we would eat what most people would consider to be excessive amounts of vinaigrette with our artichokes.

Oh, and there's a secret ingredient which most people are scandalised by. I've looked around the web and I can't find many similar recipes!

Recipe: Grandma's onion vinaigrette (for artichokes)

Makes enough for one artichoke, if you're like me...

Ingredients:

1/2 small onion, finely chopped

3 tbs olive oil

1 tbs vinegar (cider, white wine, or red wine)

1 tbs ketchup

Mix until emulsified, and enjoy.

Review: EZ's Knitter's Almanac

I've been enjoying the Math For Knitters podcast (I love Lara's laugh), and most people refer to Elizabeth Zimmermann at some point during their interview (frequently as "EZ," since we're obviously all supposed to know who she is).

I borrowed her Knitter's Almanac (the Dover commemorative edition - woot!) from the library (and have renewed it twice...erm, I think maybe I should buy it), and loved it. She was a blogger before there were blogs. She writes in a very conversational style, and intersperses knitting patterns with random daily-life anecdotes. Also, she is somewhat obsessed with socks. And buttonholes.

There are a few problems with the book.

First, you cannot read it on a train, in public, or with anyone who is a non-knitter. I laughed until I cried, and poor John bore the brunt of my renditions of the particularly amusing bits. Except that they're not funny if you're not a knitter, apparently.

Second, it is expensive. Not the book, but the fact that you will want to go out and Buy More Wool to make everything that she writes about, as well as Buy All Her Other Books because she's so darned clever and interesting to read.

Third, I will never meet her. And she's not going to write any more books. (She passed away in 1999.)

Fourth, she pointed out that one can knit and read simultaneously. SHUT UP. Viv, I know you could already do this. I have discovered that I can only do it if either someone is holding the book for me and turning the pages, or if I am reading on the Kindle. Obviously, this will also become expensive, since I either have to pay an underling to hold the book for me, or buy more books on the Kindle.

Ok, so none of those are really problems. EZ, you and your "unventions" are pretty fabulous. Knitters who haven't read any EZ, get thee to your library (or yarn shop or bookstore) and remedy that. You'll be glad you did.

Cookbooks

I have two new cookbooks. SHINY. That's all.

Pardon the radio silence - I've been absorbed in the final Jean Auel book (hello, guilty pleasure) and rehearsals for tonight's Happy & Glorious concert. Hooray for the queen!!

Here and there

Here: I rode my bike to Needham Market (and then when it got very windy on the way home, wished I hadn't). I stopped at Halfpenny Home for some buttons, felt, and fabric, and tea with Nicola, of course, which was lovely, and then stopped at the farm shop. I cannot resist rhubarb, even though it didn't fit in my panniers and so rode along poking out at a jaunty angle. Teehee.

And there: I was really wishing for a teleport machine when my mom told me that she was going to the Rhode Island Wool and Fiber Festival at Coggeshall Farm today. She sent me a bunch of pictures from her phone, and was going to bring home any wool that she thought I wouldn't be able to live without. Since, obviously, a girl can't have too much wool.

Foodie Fursday

I spotted these long-life lactofree milk single-serving pods in our local Tesco a few weeks ago (I've been on the lookout for them in other stores but haven't seen them yet). It's not the cheapest way to get milk, but it means that if I want a break from black coffee at work, I can have it. Score one for the Dairy Fairy!

Our new favorite meal is from the June BBC Good Food (not posted on their website yet, unfortunately). Harissa roasted vegetables with couscous.

Ingredients:

2 tsp harissa

2 tsp olive oil

a tray-full of veggies: we used an aubergine and 2 courgettes (in chunks), about 8 mushrooms (quartered) and a handful of cherry tomatoes (halved), and some spring onions.

Dressing (just mix all the ingredients together in a bowl):

2 tbs greek yogurt

1 tbs tahini

juice of 1 lemon

large pinch of coriander or mint (fresh/dried are both fine)

Mix the veggies with the harissa and olive oil until they're all coated, then roast at 180C until the veggies are cooked.

Serve with couscous with the dressing on the side. I add the tomatoes about halfway through the 20-or-so minute cooking time, so they don't completely disintegrate. I start the couscous once I've put the tomatoes in and it all arrives together. Ta-da!

Review: Bitterblue (and Graceling again)

I've been reading Kristin Cashore's blog since shortly after finishing Graceling. She's a great writer and finds fun things to link to. I really loved Graceling, and so have been pretty excited for Bitterblue since she announced the title. It is a great story with compelling characters (I really just wanted to drop myself into their world for a week or two and just chill with them all), and is expertly constructed.

Telling the story of Queen Bitterblue of Monsea, Bitterblue picks up about 8 years after the end of Graceling. Some familiar characters, some new ones, and a very strong feeling of reuniting with old friends.

My first action after finishing Bitterblue was to download Graceling to my Kindle and reread it. I'd forgotten so much...I think it's time to reread Fire! 

The reviewer in the New York Times loves it, too. HOORAY!

The finished scarf above is nothing to do with Bitterblue (except that it's blue). Ravelled here (the Anzula For Better Or Worsted is SO soft).

Inspiration

We went back to The British Larder last weekend, and I loved the colour palette of this fireplace against the blue walls with the dark trim. Not that we have any exposed brick in our house (or a fireplace, for that matter).

I also spotted this fabric hanging in an interior decorator's in Woodbridge - LOVE the designs. They helpfully included the designers: St Jude's Fabrics

Cold, wet, windy bank holiday

Bad news: the weather has continued to be grey, rainy, and horrible.

Good news: the grey skies make the yellow rapeseed flowers positively glow.

More good news: grey skies + cold weather = knitting under a quilt on the couch while watching iPlayer, drinking tea, and intermittently savouring Bitterblue on the Kindle. Quite wonderful, actually.

Making, to follow

I found this fabric at CallyCo in Cambridge when we were there a few weeks ago. I'm not sure what it's going to be, yet. It's quite large-scale - the seaside tents are about 4 inches tall.

In some unrelated sewing, my mom brought the Lisette Diplomat pattern that I had ordered. I'm going to start with some plain green cotton that I've had in my stash for years, and then see how the fit works before I cut into the bicycles. There was also some very cute navy polka dot cotton at Halfpenny Home a few weeks ago - I need to go back and get it!

And in the tradition of my mom filling her suitcase with Real Simple, here they are. Two issues, along with a Food Network magazine and a Real Simple recipe book. Thanks, MOM!

British Larder and Aldeburgh

After reading that Cambridge blogger Lazy Giraffe drives an hour and a half all the way to Woodbridge from Cambridge to eat at The British Larder, it was added to my must-try list.

When my Mom (whose birthday is today - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!) suggested a trip to the coast, I suggested this as an optimal lunch spot on the way. I was a little worried that it would be super-crowded on a Saturday lunchtime, but it was merely reasonably busy.

I ordered the pork tasting platter, below. Pork terrine, a pork & pickle salad thingy (in the little pot), homemade coleslaw, homemade piccalilli, the Best Scotch Egg Ever, a sausage roll, a mini-meatloaf, some exceedingly delicious bread, and a spring-greens salad. The scotch egg and the butter both had cracked pepper and just the right amount of sea salt on them. The whole thing was rather unbelievably delicious. I washed it down with some Broadside, obviously.

My mom had the ploughmans' lunch, which had cheese twists, homemade pickle, a boiled egg, really excellent ham, and a wedge of cheese, along with a sausage roll, bread, piccalilli, and salad like mine.

We really enjoyed ourselves and will be going back. If you're in the neighborhood (or even if you're not), I highly recommend it.

On our way to Aldeburgh, we stopped at Snape Maltings. The sky was rather dramatic (it had stopped raining, briefly)

We found out later that John had been sailing in the mega-rainstorm in this picture. Boy, was he wet:

A yellow tractor on Aldeburgh beach:

And a good rock.

Conversation before reaching this particular rock, as follows.

Kate (walking on Aldeburgh beach, home to about 100 zillion rocks) : Mom, keep your eye out and let me know if you find a good rock.

Mom: Um, what?!

Five minutes later

Kate: Aha! This is a great rock! (Crouches down to photograph above rock)

Mom: (Shakes head)

C'mon, you can't say that isn't a great rock!