May 17, 2020
I recently posted some of Giovanna McCarthy’s knitting projects from the past few months—as we Stay-At-Home.
She sent me pictures of two of the projects she has since completed, and I though you all would like to see them.
Here’s the shawl, which is just WOW!
And here’s the “painting the bricks” project, which is another “Wow”!
Giovanna makes this kind of lacy work look easy. It isn’t!
May 14, 2020
Look at my beautiful cold frame lettuce. It’s still growing—as it has been so cool here in Maine this spring. But I gathered some lettuce—thinning the clumps to give some plants more room to grow—for my first cold-frame lettuce salad.
To remind, I set up this cold frame in the fall with new compost and seed and cover it for the winter. Left alone, it does its own thing when the longer daylight hours return. I’m still covering it most nights—remember that it SNOWED all day last Saturday, with no accumulation, but…
Here’s my first lettuce, rinsed and headed for the lettuce spinner.
I’m making a lunch salad, of course. And the protein will be one of the cube steaks I keep on hand. These steaks have a lot of flavor, defrost quickly, and cook in a very few minutes—just about two minutes a side, or less, in a hot cast iron frying pan.
Here’s my beautiful salad:
Lettuce from cold frame, sweet red pepper, roasted beets, cucumber, leftover asparagus, carrot, spring onion, red onion, apple, leftover forbidden black rice, cubed steak, olive oil, salt, and dried dill.
The daffodils this year have been glorious. I’ve planted so many now, each year choosing more and different varieties. Some of them are so frilly—they look almost like peonies.
I bring some inside to the kitchen window and so enjoy them there. Here’s the most recent selection.
Tom Jackson’s crew came and cut up the GIANT ash tree that fell over the stone wall property line last fall. It is a monster. I tried through the winter to donate the wood to anyone who would cut it and take it, but had no takers. It is just in a very difficult spot where getting the wood out would be way too hard.
There is a wetland below the stone wall and the tree, which would not allow for any equipment to come in that way.
I really need to get a picture of the daffodils in the little meadow this year. They are so beautiful and continue to naturalize over this area. They brighten the heart and soul, and I look forward to seeing them each year.
I finished hand quilting the big block Galactic wallhanging last night. I’ll trim and put on the binding/hanging sleeve/label today. And yesterday I finished the smaller block version—just two rounds. I love this block and could quite easily go down a rabbit hole with making the big block in a different palate. But I need to move on to the remaining three projects in The Color Collective, season 2, each of which look exciting to make.
And, today, which is THURSDAY already, is going to be much warmer. It is a bright, sunny day with little wind. I’m eager to get out into it.
May 10, 2020
I love lamb.
Over time, I’ve discovered one either loves lamb or one doesn’t. There does not seem to be much of a middle ground. Maybe how one relates to lamb depends upon exposure during childhood? In some areas of the country, lamb isn’t very common. Or wasn’t, until recent decades. And if places where lamb hasn’t been common, it can be expensive.
I buy a whole, local lamb each fall for my freezers. “Lamb” isn’t a small baby, but an animal that is fully grown for 9 or 10 months.
The shanks are, in parts of the country where lamb is raised, fairly inexpensive. Each holds a good amount of meat, and the bones add good ingredients to the resulting stew.
One cooks lamb shanks (or beef short ribs) as I described in earlier posts: brown in some fat, add water, herbs, and savories; bring to a boil; cover; and cook in the oven at about 350 degrees for about an hour. Then add desired veggie chunks, more spices, etc., for at least another 30 to 40 minutes. In that first cooking, make it long enough to see that the meat is now fairly tender—which can vary according to the kind of covered pot you are using. A cast iron/enameled pot, for instance, will cook the meat faster.
Here’s my first dinner—I cooked the large Russet potato right in the pot.
Here’s my second dinner—I added more of the broth to the meal and topped the dish with a bit of REAL sour cream (that does not have additives).
Along the way, I roasted some chicken drumsticks to have for a salad lunch. Roasting drumsticks only takes about 45 minutes. I wish I could take a picture of the way my house smells when something delicious is cooking in the oven.
The local market had some beautiful lamb stew meat, so I bought a package, browned the meat, and added it and some raw sliced cabbage to what was left of my lamb shank broth. Here it starts to cook a soup/stew.
I added frozen corn to the soup/stew just before serving.
I topped with the REAL sour cream and some fresh green onions. Oh my goodness: this dish was absolutely delicious.
This last mixture provided 4 or 5 other servings for lunch or dinner. And I ate each one with the added green onions and sour cream!
I hope this post shows you how you can think about what you are cooking in ways that allow you to be creative with what you have on hand in your kitchen AND to diminish the workload AND to get more bang out of your food bucks.
May 8, 2020
Giovanna McCarthy is a master knitter.
I so enjoyed seeing pictures of her recent work, and I thought you might too.
Here is an in-progress shawl.
I adore this sweater. She will look so pretty wearing it. And I look forward to the day when I see it ON HER.
The longer length on this one makes it work like a jacket. Lovely. And, of course, the texture is beautiful.
Giovanna is known for the intricate lacy knitting work she does. Here is a great example. This one is “in progress” as it still needs, sleeves. The color is yummy!
She called this next “in progress” work something like “painting the bricks.” I believe it is going to be a shawl???
Thanks, Giovanna, for sharing your work. All of these wonderful projects have made my day brighter.
Date
We are still in a modified Stay At Home up here in Maine.
The out-of-state visitors or returning Mainers must quarantine for 14 days in their place of abode. This is NOT the Stay At Home dictate; it’s a hard quarantine.
It’s been over two months for me, as I started self-distancing before the formal Stay at Home state mandate that started about 2 months ago. Some of the restricted places are opening up again. I made an appointment for a haircut and then cancelled it. I’m just not ready to take risks I don’t need to take. I’ll know more about how we are doing in Maine in a few weeks.
I’m ok. I’m an introvert anyway, and I have lots and lots of projects, to include picking up inside and outside jobs where I got help from others. I’m BUSY!
BUT, I miss my friends, and my very rich life where it involved other people. And my family will not be coming this summer. I have not seen them in a year now. Nor will any of my usual visitors. So, I’m thinking of where I can cut back on some of things I would normally do—like all the flower pots I plant each summer.
Meanwhile, my house is cleaner than it has probably EVER been. And I’ve been sorting through “stuff” and culling a lot. It’s a good time to do that kind of work.
AC and I get out into the woods or to the beach at least once a day. It’s good for both of us, and I probably wouldn’t be as good about doing this outing if it weren’t for this little dog.
We have a little quiet break around 3, especially after a long walk. I have a coffee, and we watch one episode of something on tv. Sometimes I fall asleep for a short nap afterwards. This time is so special, but it is also cutting into my sewing time…
Still, I am making progress on the sewing “to do” projects. More pics of those down the road.
I am so grateful for my health. There is a way this time alone has been good. It’s been peaceful, for the most part.
Date
I really enjoyed this book.
It’s lyrical, magical, evocative—altogether a nice read.
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/erica-bauermeister/the-scent-keeper/
May 3 2020
I love bringing spring inside the house.
The daffodils are all coming into bloom now. The intense yellow forsythia is blooming. Yesterday on the walk AC and I took through the woods, I could see that the willow leaves were emerging—like bits of green lace against the blue sky. And a butterfly rode the currents of the wild wind: I could see only for a moment s/he was black with neon green spots on the outer bits of the wings.
The rock that lives in my kitchen window is part of an old mill stone from a mill owned by Georgia Bryans way back in the day. Since inland Georgia did not start to be settled until around the 1830s, this mill stone could go way, way back.
My beloved Georgia uncle, who inherited the family farm, took me to the mill site once many, many years ago—back when I was in my late 20s or early 30s. It’s a lovely memory, and I’ve carted this rock around with me ever since. Sydney Bryan created many, many memories for me over the years.
I always try to find some pussy willow branches locally each spring as well. The soft grey bud is such a mystery for me.
The Siberian blue Scilla are naturalizing across the yard now—after many years. I try to plant more bulbs every year.
I’ll need to mow this next week some time. Recent rains jumpstarted the growth of the grass.
Enjoy every day of spring. Take time to watch how it emerges, a bit each day until all at once, the grand burst into summer appears.
May 2, 2020
How did it get to be May already???
I’m handquilting the Galactic wall hanging quilt now with Wonderfil Glamour thread, as shown by Tara Faughnan on Instagram. The Galactic quilt is a project in Tara Faughnan’s season 2 online class hosted by Sewtopia (Amy Newbold) . Glamour is a 12-weight rayon thread with a metallic strand.
These are the thread colors I’m using for this project. The orange one was risky—it’s so hard to tell real colors from an internet picture—but it is working out well I think.
I saw a magazine ad for the Tulip sashiko needles and wondered if they would be a good idea for this heavier weight thread in a quilt. I found them online (Fat quarter shop). And, yes, I think these needles are a good idea. However, I did find I needed a learning curve to handle the needle and the fabric to get smaller stitches. This is the THIN coated needle, and you can see the bigger eye helps NOT to fray the thread.
Here, you can see that my stitches started out bigger and gradually begin to get smaller. I don’t mind as there is a certain funkiness about this quilt anyway. And I do like the way the thread shines in the quilt.
Here, you can see the progression starting to go from big stitches to smaller ones. See the bottom rows in this picture. My first rows were…BIG stitches.
Now, look how pretty. I am just keeping the quilting simple—straight lines on a diagonal.
I hand quilt at night while watching tv. Someone thinks it’s time for him to go outside to drop his britches. Afterwards, he will decide that it is time for us to go to bed—all of which involves teasing wallowing on me.
April 26, 2020
My dear, dear friend Gina Caceci and former neighbor sent me a request this morning: would I help her son William, who is trying to build a photography business and who is very talented, win a prize for one of his portraits?
Of course I would. I’ve watched this young many grow up and have always known he is loaded with many talents.
Take a look at his portraits and other work on his web site? Vote if you like what you see?
Here’s Gina’s message to me:
I’m sure I told you that William has a budding professional photography business. And he’s been nominated for Photographer of the Month by Pictas Collective! Please vote by this Thursday, April 30 for William Gallagher’s photo by clicking on this link: https://www.pictas-collective.com/march-april-2020/?contest=photo-detail&photo_id=10182
And if you want to see more of his work, (and some pics of me and Bill) please click on this link to visit his website: https://www.williamgallagherphoto.com/
April 25, 2020
It’s a beautiful sunny morning in Camden, Maine.
I hope this post finds all of you safe and well.
Like many of you, I’ve been spending LOTS of time at home. Ha! But I’ve been deep cleaning, culling “stuff,” repairing broken things, washing winter coats and sweaters, getting out spring clothes and storing winter ones, sewing, spending time connecting with people via internet, and on and on. My life is, actually, pretty full.
Spring is coming in slowly this year. The new raspberry and blueberry plants arrived Thursday. I planted them all yesterday—which was a BIG job made moreso by having to plant the 5 blueberry bushes into soil that had quite a few rocks embedded. It was warm in the sun, and I really enjoyed being outside with some outdoor work to do.
The raspberry canes are in the dark soil—and the box they came in will keep the center weed-free. The cold frame is FULL of delicious looking lettuce. I keep it covered until each day warms, then cover it at night as our temps are still dropping too low at night for tender plants.
These raspberry canes fruit on the second year growth, so the canes will spend this summer getting established and growing new canes.
Here’s the cold frame—taken a few days ago. The lettuce is now filling out the box as the plants are getting much larger.
Here’s where the blueberry bushes went in: 3 varieties that will pollinate with the two bushes I have in the back yard. Research says mixed varieties is a good idea. (You can see our leaves have not yet started to pop out.)
I decided last year some time that the current raspberries on the hill in front of the house were a bad idea: too hard to get to, the whole bed there was a weed-infested mess, etc. So, I dug them out, got some help with the weeding and pruning, and things are looking MUCH better. That hill is just too steep for me to manage safely now.
Here’s where the blueberry bushes went. Each needs about 3 feet of space.
Inside, my sewing has been a bit slower as I’ve had other jobs that needed my attention—to include a daily long outing with my boyfriend, AC Slater.
But, here is the “Elvira” quilt top finished—from a design by Erla Gudrun released by her free for a one-day quilt-along online. I was drawn in by the movement with the slashes, but I’ve never done BIG blocks like this block, and they are really way out of my comfort zone. Still, the project used up a lot of stash and the quilt will be a sturdy, functional lap quilt.
The “Gumdrops” top, designed by Tara Faughnan for Sewtopia’s The Color Collective, is finished. I took this picture with another quilt underneath, so it looks a bit “bumpy” on the design wall.
Papers will come out now, and I’ll layer it. It will be a wall hanging. I’m thinking of matchstick quilting it on the domestic machine up and down with a pale grey thread. Maybe a color here and there? Don’t know… The fabrics will all lay flat with the templates out. (We learned how to make templates with card stock run through a printer for the pattern.)
Here’s the quilt underneath—a mini Galactic block with which I’m playing.
I have no idea what shape this quilt will take. I have lots of fabric from the big Galactic project (which is layered and ready to hand quilt now), so will just see where this idea goes…
I am RESISTING starting anything else new until I clean up the ongoing projects: there are 2 dresses cut out, a knit top pattern copied and ready to use up some leftover knit fabric, four quilts now ready to quilt, and pieces for an improv quilt prepped and ready to make. And, Sugaridoo’s row 7 to make before row 8 arrives in May.
It’s all good!
Be safe: Be well.
