Sabbath

Our Father, 

which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, 

forever. Amen

Color Too

I love neutrals. I guess I have an understated, somewhat quiet personality. But one can't fade completely into the woodwork and I abhor monotony. So I generally wear a pop of color somewhere and I knit colors too. Above are a couple of samples in flame stitch  .... I love the classic little granny square as well. Wouldn't the Zigzag Scarf  be pretty in Kid Silk Haze? The afghan would be a very lengthy project but you can find this pattern for free from Rowan. .... So for all you sassy bold types .... we love you too. And have a lovely day.

Working With Wool

I recently purchased this book of wonderful photos and history of the West Coast Salish Knitting tradition. I was disappointed that no patterns were included in the book, but you can go online to find some authentic items knitted by Coast Salish Indians at West Saanich Woolworks. I especially liked the items pictured above and have purchase some roving wool (Lions Alpine Wool or Tahki Montana) to design my own.

The Clover Hill Dictionary

I knit, write, cook, garden, and keep house in general. Currently I have 2 nearly completed books; Christmas With Giselle, an allegory and The Two Step, a biblical study guide for reconciliation .... I am as yet unpublished but still working .... lately I've been in the kitchen knocking out some recipes for my next project; The Clover Hill Dictionary. I plan for it to be a little bit of this and that ... maybe some knitting, and other general but interesting information.

So here are some of my latest recipes;

Clover Hill Cookie Scones

2 c. flour

1 c sugar + T for dusting

3 t cream of tartar

1 t baking soda

6 T butter

1 c large chunks of walnuts

1 c raisins

3 eggs

1 T whole milk

Combine dry ingredients and cut in butter till fine. Add walnuts and raisins. Stir. Combine and add; egg and milk. Stir until just moist and roll out to  about 3/4 inch thick on a floured surface. Use a small biscuit cutter to make rounds and place, well spaced, onto a parchment lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle with sugar and bake at 425 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Almond Sugar Cake

1/2 c butter softened

1/3 c shortening

1 3/4 c brown sugar

4 eggs

1 t almond extract

1 3/4 c cake flour

1 1/2 t baking powder

1/4 t baking soda

3/4 c finely chopped almonds

1 recipe Butter Almond Icing

1 cup slivered almonds

Grease and flour three 8 x 1 1/2-inch round cake pans. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl beat butter, shortening and sugar with electric mixer until mixture is light and fluffy about 10 minutes. Add eggs and almond extract and continue beating. In another mixing bowl combine dry ingredients. Add alternately with buttermilk to the creamed mixture until just combined. Add almonds and stir. Pour batter evenly into the three cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Cool on wire racks for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and continue to cool on wire racks. Frost all layers, top and sides of cake with Butter Almond Icing and sprinkle slivered almonds on the top of the cake. Lovely for any birthday party!

Butter Almond Icing

1 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature

1 stick of unsalted butter, softened

1 T vanilla extract

1 T almond extract

6-7 c confectioners sugar

Cream the butter and cream cheese together. Add extracts and stir, add sugar until proper spreading consistency.

Banana Cakes

1 c very ripe banana

1 egg

1 stick butter

2 t vanilla

1 c sugar

1 c all purpose flour

1 t baking soda

1 t baking powder

confectioners sugar for sprinkling

Cream banana, butter and sugar well, about 5 minutes. Add egg and vanilla and continue to mix. Sift together dry ingredients and stir in until just mixed together. Pour into greased and floured muffin pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes. Cool completely before removing from pan and sprinkle with confectioners sugar.

Hello Dolly

This little red sweater pattern was adapted from Knitsimple's Doll Cardigan fall 2011 issue. The same pattern can be adapted to a child and woman's size. I made the little dress from Liberty of London fabric. I have kept myself busy with little projects like these while waiting for my daughter Samira. It only took me 9 months to have a baby, it has been 18 months waiting for a finalized adoption proceeding. 

Tweaking A Recipe

I had discovered Meyers Lemons this month. An exotic introduction for me so I sliced them up to serve with fish ..... (ick) and decided they were really a dessert item. So I went online to look for recipes and found one for marmalade .... actually I wondered if it might be enhanced by some fresh mint ..... the results were so amazing. The marmalade was good ... the mint made it so much more. Next I think I might try a cake recipe.

Meyer Lemon & Mint Marmalade

1 cup zested lemon peel
1/2 c Meyer Lemon juice
1 cup water
1/8 t. baking soda
3 cups finely chopped lemon segments (12-16 Meyer Lemons)
5 cups sugar
1 t unsalted butter
2 (3 oz.) pouch liquid pectin
12 leaves fresh pineapple mint
7 half pint canning  jars

In a measuring cup, soak the lemon zest in about a cup of water for about 10 minutes. Drain and discard the water.

Combine the zest, lemon juice 1 cup water, and baking soda in an 8-quart saucepan. Bring to a full boil over med-hi heat. Reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the fruit segments, cover and simmer another 10 minutes.

Add the sugar and butter. Heat stirring constantly till sugar is completely dissolved.

Increase the heat to med-hi and bring the mixture to a rolling boil, stirring constantly.

Add the pectin and return the mixture to a rolling boil for 1 minute. Add fresh mint, simmer lightly for a minute or 2 and remove the pan from the heat.

Allow the marmalade to cool just slightly before filling jars, about 5 minutes. Fill canning jars that have been sterilized in boiling water and are still hot. Fill to 1/2 inch from rim of jar. Wipe jars with a clean cloth and screw on the lids. Keep jars refrigerated up to 5 weeks. 

Picking Pumpkins

This is one of my Jarradale Pumpkins from a previous season. Also, my granddaughter Lauren Ava. She got to pick her own pumpkin from Grammie and Grady's  Garden

Irish & Linen Stitch

1. I have had this pattern for awhile and it is looking like time to start on it. I am still collecting some koigu yarn ... enough for three separate scarves. One in green, another in blue and also plum. The scarf is worked entirely in a linen stitch and can be knitted from almost any stash of odds and ends. You can find this pattern at Churchmouse Yarns & Teas.   Oh and Happy St. Patty's .... I've shamrocks in the window and on the table and I have been planning my;

St. Patrick's Day Menu 

Guinness,

Chicken Sausage

Scalloped Potatoes & Spring Peas

Irish Soda Bread 

  Irish Coffee &  Oatmeal Cookies

The Irish Soda Bread Recipe came from a very dear little Irish Grammie who makes the bread for the Irish festival at the Hagley Museum every year.

Irish Soda Bread

3 c. flour

2/3 c. sugar

1 t. salt

2 T melted butter

2 eggs

1 T. baking powder

1 t. baking soda

1 1/2 c. raisins ( I like golden)

1 3/4 c. buttermilk

1 T. caraway seed (opt.)

Sift all dry ingredients. Stir in raisins and caraway seed. Combine beaten eggs, buttermilk, and melted butter. Add to the dry ingredients and mix with a fork till just moist. Don't over stir. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. Remove from pan immediately.

A Victory Garden

I have harvested seeds from last years Jarradale (Blue)Pumpkin. I shared about half of them as winter feed for the squirrels and planted the rest. They are above, enjoying a sunny window sill. I harvested butternut squash too but the rest of my seed has been ordered from Victory Gardens. I will buy my eggplant and peppers from Leon's Garden Shop and I do expect last years tomatoes to come up on their own

... All things bright and beautiful, All creatures great and small, And all things wise and wonderful;The Lord God made them all.

 ~Cecil F. Alexander

She Said "Yes"

My great aunt & uncle, Gordan and Mary Peterman, get engaged. Love the sweater and the enthusiasm! They had five children .... my California cousins .... Uncle Gordy is with Jesus now.

Simple

I've begun a blankie in the moss stitch. The wool is Rowan purelife (13 circular needles). I plan to toss over my favorite chair so I can snuggle. It is also a simple break from trying to figure out more complicated patterns.

Knitting & Upcycle

I do not only knit for myself. The above items are part of my nesting projects for Samira and perhaps some other children. I knitted and felted the hats (a free online pattern) to match some upcycled gloves on etsy from Felt Sew Good. The gloves, as shown to the right, are my own first attempt ... the little grey pair with the wayward thumbs. I did make about three more pairs, from thrift store sweaters, which turned out much better. I cannot show them because they all went under the Christmas Tree .... I may try to make a couple more, in the near future, as I promised my mother a set.

Basketweave Cowl

Done and finished this lengthy but lovely project. Above, with my cowl, are some pretty, little, recycled mittens from Felt Sew Good on etsy. Allthough they match so nicely, I am tempted to knit a set of mittens in the very same basketweave design. I did find a helpful site online, where you can graph and print a digital design for fair isle knitting or other motif. And so I am in the process of designing my set of mittens on Tricksy Knitter. You can find a link under my list of blogs and tutorials. My Basketweave Cowl is made from a Danish 100% wool from Kauni. My project required 2 skeins (150 g. each) with some left over for the mittens.

Norwegian Christmas Socks

So here are the Norwegian Christmas Stockings or "little red socks" I have been promising to blog to you about, dear reader. They are knit on #2 circular needles and double points.

As you can see I am stopped conveniently at the heel, awaiting the stamina to figure out the next step. I have a pretty good idea about how to proceed and may be able to show you at least one finished sock very soon. I have hung up the idea of making a set of Christmas Stockings for a pair of socks. These will be for just two little feet .... mine.

The Winter Gardener

I've brought in some of my garden to winter and I am nursing it thru till spring. Above, I found some fresh potted herbs at the Acme marked 40% off. I put both pots in my cart and continued my shopping only to be chased down by the horticulture employee who let me know that for today and for me they were 50% off. How really kind.

I like to grow my indoor plants in old ironstone chamber pots. And the herbs make any kettle of soup gourmet fare.

Kiss Me

Sam models one of my latest additions to Cotton Ginnie Studio, the Aran Sweater. It is a vintage find. Sam is a long time friend and team mate with Jon from WCS. And yes, he's Irish too.

The mittens were an emergency effort for my son Caelen who has his studio in the top floor of his urban row house. It gets very cold up there. Since I got one of his paintings for Christmas I responded with a pair of very masculine fingerless mitts so he will be encouraged to paint some more. Caelen and his wife feel very connected to their Scotch Irish roots but I had to remind him that he is nearly 1/2 french from his mum's side of the family.

Happiness Is ...

Returning to finish some of my pre Christmas efforts. I'm trying to finish projects in an orderly fashion but the Double Irish Chain is calling my name .... along with the little red socks .... Jon and Ashley get happy.

Homecoming Christmas 2011

Above are some pic's of our Christmas tree .... cut, as always, from Pusey's Farm in Rising Sun, MD. The trees still cost $22. I thinned the blue spruce to squeak out a wreath for the front door. I loved the tree this year .. it reminds me of a little fruit cake. Some new children's faces were added last year and this .... Samira, Sandy and my grandchildren, James, Lauren & Asher.

The Christmas holiday finds us with one son home from college and another home from the Navy. Jonathan and Jesse both arrived home on December 16. Jesse will be transferring to a job in the Washington D.C. area. Much closer then Hawaii. Needless to say, I have been doing a lot of cooking for my company.

My Santa workshop was busy too, making hats and mitts for grandchildren and relatives. Wish I had pictures but I was doing good to get it all wrapped and under the tree. I did begin a rather ambitious project to knit an entire set of new Christmas stockings. I have yet to finish the one as I have been stuck turning the heel (I am self taught on this project). But it is turning out nicely and I think I will stop at two and just wear them. I'll post pictures soon.

Christmas Day we visited with the rest of the family at Caelen and Samantha's downtown urban nest. A lovely time was had by all.