It's a Wrap - My Texture Time Shawl

It's been some time since I've felt like visiting this space.  Over the past six months I lost my father to Lou Gehrig's disease and my dear mother is currently in skilled nursing with a fractured pelvis.To be honest I debated abandoning my blog during this period as it seemed so trivial in comparison to what my family was going through. But I realized going through this sad process how important memories and pictures are as you get older.  I think one day I'll look back at my blog and the pictures and stories will make me smile as I remember all the things that I've made during my life.  And hopefully my knitting tips and recipes will have made other people's lives a little more enjoyable along the way too.

I have been busy knitting away this entire time and have finished many beautiful pieces that may never get their moment to shine.  But I wanted to return with a truly special piece of knitting and so I chose my Texture Time shawl which is Stephen West's 2018 mystery knit along (MKAL).  This piece is a knock out and attention grabber, especially when you turn around and people see it from the sides and back.

I loved knitting this project.  Like all Stephen West's designs it is well written and full of creativity.  Some might even say it's flamboyant.  And I say why not go for it.  That is why we knit after all, isn't it?  We want something that is uniquely ours and expresses our creativity.  Otherwise it would be cheaper and easier to simply buy something that is mass produced.  Speaking of which I should point out that I did make a few modifications to this design (detailed below). Whether it is color, fit, or a design element almost every knitting pattern can be improved with simple modifications and you are missing a wonderful part of the knitting experience if you fail to do so.  Before you begin any project and as you progress on a project you should always be asking yourself if there isn't a better option for the color, fit, or design that would better suit you and your tastes.  Admittedly it's harder to do this as a new knitter but with time and experience that thought process should be part of how you think about every project that you knit.

As for the actual knitting of this design I think the one major challenge is the back panel which is "syncopated" brioche.  If you are new to brioche knitting this, in my opinion, is not the starter project for you.  But if you are game or simply need a refresher course on brioche I highly recommend Craftsy's online brioche class to get you started.  If you do knit this shawl I guarantee that you'll have a one of a kind piece of knitted art.

Particulars:  Texture Time MKAL (2018); designed by Stephen West; US 5 needles; Spun Right Round (classic sock and mohair (held double)).  My only modifications were (a) I did not follow his suggested order of colors for the back center panel (i.e. light to dark) and instead I went in the order of colors that created contrast best (b) I substituted and/or added a bright acid green yarn (from stash) for the wavy contrast portion to help make that design element really pop (c) I added a single strand of mohair to the sides on pattern rows to create a striping effect (d) I substituted my main color for the tips rather than using the green contrasting color as suggested; and (e) I did not knit the tips as long as suggested as I felt that adding too much length to the sides would overwhelm the shawl.  I am very happy with my final shawl and can't wait for next year's MKAL adventure!  Previous MKALs by Stephen West that I've participated in include The Doodler shawl and Marled Magic Shanklet (post also includes my Striped Esjan shawl which is Stephen West design, but not a MKAL project).  If you are looking for a basic brioche project I recommend the Parlour Shawl, which was my first brioche project.

In Loving  Memory of my father, Vernon Bugh, Jr. ~

As I mentioned above my father recently passed away.  I don't want to dwell on the sadness of the disease that took him from us.  Instead I want to remember all the happy times we had as a family.   I specially love this picture of him that I took a few years back because he particularly loved Christmas.  He always went to great lengths to decorate the outside of our house and property with beautiful bold strands of Christmas lights.  It was important to him that he select the perfect Christmas tree for my Mom to decorate inside and he would drill holes in the base and nurture the tree with solutions to keep it fresh through New Years.  He also had fun with the holiday.  He was always the first to suggest it was time for eggnog spiked with whisky or rum.  He collected and set up a whole holiday village display in the living room complete with houses and shops that lit up and cars and carolers strolling the streets.  When I was little he had a neighbor dress up as Santa Claus and come to our house.  Santa gave my sister and me a candy cane and told us to watch for his sleigh leaving from our back window.  I still remember wearing my pajamas and bright blue fuzzy slippers standing in the living room watching for his sleigh out the back window and being puzzled how I could have missed it.  And every Christmas morning he captured all the chaos and fun of opening presents using an old fashion movie camera.  He was sentimental that way.  I hope to come across these old films when my sister and I go through the house.  I won't be able to watch them right away but hope that someday I can watch them and smile.

After my dad passed many of our neighbors wrote or told me what a wonderful neighbor he was and how much they will miss him and miss seeing his house beautifully lit for the holidays.  It was a hard Christmas this year as it was my first year without him.  And Christmases and my life won't ever be the same.  But I do have all my memories of him and I know that we will be together again in heaven as he is now with his mother, brother Cecil and sister Shirley and all his dearly loved friends and family that departed before him. 

My dad lived a remarkable life and only snippets have been included on the blog.  But there are a few posts that talk about my Dad include a post that shares his fabulous BBQ chicken rub recipe; his favorite Christmas cookie recipe; (which also includes a bit of his life history including his award of the Bronze Star for bravery in combat); his stint as a lumberjack; and his firm belief in the health benefits of drinking a daily glass of orange juice!  He also made a few cameo appearances on the blog helping me showcase some of my knits along the way, proving he was a good sport to the end.

Vernon Bugh, Jr.  ~ May 22, 1929 - November 30, 2018 ~

Until next time be well, love well and I hope that 2019 will be a happy and healthy year for all.

Wintergreen Hat and Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

Every Fall I knit myself a new hat.  It's a rite of passage for me, right along with buying a new pair of corduroy pants and a pumpkin.  And this year it's all about the pom-pom.  These large over sized pom-poms have been around for a couple of years but this year is the first time I've considered adding one. Typically I'm more low key with my hats, but I figured why not give it a go?  And now I find myself ridiculously pleased that I did.  Probably due to some repressed cheerleader complex stemming from never having had real pom-poms to play with.

Long ago well before I began blogging I made my first hat and added a pom-pom (that I never actually got to wear due to a traumatic incident involving our dog, but I digress) and so I knew roughly the process but felt I needed a refresher course, particularly if I wanted a large over sized one.  And I found the prefect video tutorial given by Stephen West (who is very amusing and I highly recommend you watch this and his other videos).  I followed his method exactly except I found that with a sock yarn I needed much more friction than a mere brush to achieve a fluffy cottontail effect. So I scrounged around and found a velcro strip that really grabbed and traumatized the yarn and gave me the result I was looking for.  A perfect pom-pom finish.  Now if I could only do a cartwheel.

Particulars:  Caramel Brulee designed by Alicia Plummer (blogs as AliciaPlum); 2 skeins The Fiber Company Terra (colorway Black Walnut); US 6 and 8 Needles.  I knit the longer length as I wanted to wear this hat with the brim folded up.  This is an extremely easy and well written pattern and I made no modifications whatsoever.  My pom-pom is made with Madelinetosh tosh sock yarn left over from my Vintage Bouquet shawl.


Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

A new love of mine is chocolate banana bread.  I of course knew that chocolate and bananas went well together.  Who hasn't eaten a banana dipped in chocolate at their local fair?  You haven't? Well, the good news is that it's never too late to enjoy that taste sensation.  But until then try this delightful twist on the combination and my new favorite fall treat.

Recipe adapted from Simple Recipe's Chocolate Banana Bread substituting my preferred ingredients, i.e. pastry flour, bittersweet chocolate, dutch cocoa, etc.  But if you don't have these ingredients on hand I'm sure the original recipe is delicious too.

Ingredients:

3 ripe bananas (I used 1 small and 2 large) - puree to remove all lumps - approx. 1 1/4 cup+
1/3 cup melted unsalted butter
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt (use half this amount if you use salted butter)
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups pastry flour
1/4 cup dutch process cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips (reserve a few to sprinkle on top)

Steps:

1.  Prepare 1 loaf pan (butter and flour) and preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Using a wooden spoon combine the wet (mostly) ingredients in a bowl (banana puree, melted butter, brown sugar, egg, and vanilla extract) and mix well.   Whisk if necessary to remove any sugar lumps.

3.  In a separate bowl whisk together most of the dry ingredients (pastry flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and allspice).

4.  Add the dry to wet ingredients and stir until just incorporated.  Add chocolate chips and pour into prepared loaf pan.

5.  Bake for approximately 1 hour at 350 degrees or until cooked through.  I would start checking at around 55 minutes as mine only took 57 minutes.  If you use a generous portion of banana you may need to cook yours longer depending on how hot your oven runs.  Don't overcook though as this is meant to be a moist cake.  The original recipe suggests gently pushing on the top to feel if it is relatively firm and bounces back to help gauge whether it's cooked through.

And Last but Not Least ~ Happy Birthday Mom ~

My mom recently turned 89 years young and my sister and I took her to a traditional English afternoon tea at the El Encanto Hotel in Santa Barbara.  Born in Teignmouth, England she has never gone a day without enjoying afternoon tea, and has a very healthy attitude toward leisure, that she fortunately passed along to me.  I think many Americans get so caught up in constantly "doing things" that they forget the importance of taking a break and the elixir it can be to put your feet up in the afternoon and enjoy a good and proper cup of tea.   A sad loss for Americans.  Happy Birthday mom and may you enjoy many many more afternoon cups of tea and garden parties!

Incidentally, in the picture below I am wearing my Pogona scarf which is one of my favorite summer accessories that is, ironically, designed by Stephen West (of pom-pom tutorial fame).

 

Until next time be well, love well, and make time this Fall to explore new technique and seasonal treats  ~

Yvonne's English Sherry Trifle

It is with great pleasure that I'm sharing my mother's recipe for English Sherry Trifle.  This is one of my favorite desserts and is relatively simple to make.  It is an authentic English recipe that she learned from her mother growing up in England (and in all likelihood came into the family from their family cook, as my grandmother lived in a household that employed a cook).

I think of sherry trifle as a traditional Christmas dessert as my mother always makes one for afternoon tea on Christmas day.  But the English love a festive party and nothing adds to the festivities like an English Sherry Trifle, and it is a dessert that is served year round at parties.

You wouldn't truly be making an "English" sherry trifle unless while preparing it you didn't wink and say "it's only a trifle said the monkey wee weeing on the sponge cake."

Don't ask me what this means, one can only guess.  Keep in mind that it's just part of the experience of making the trifle and something my mother always says, so go with it.  If it helps (and in case you didn't know) the English are known for having a lavatorial (bathroom) sense of humor.  Having been born and raised in Southern California I can honestly say I don't think I have an English sense of humor, but for some reason I never laugh as much around anyone as I do when I'm around my Mom.   
 

Without further ado, here is Yvonne's English Sherry Trifle Recipe

Ingredients:

1.  Sponge Cake (you can use a jelly roll or even an angle food cake but whatever you use it must absorb liquid well without disintegrating).  My mother buys a sponge cake but I bake a Sponge Cake using this recipe by King Arthur Flour.

2.  Sherry.  Use a nice sherry (not a cooking sherry).  The amount is a matter of taste but I think at a minimum you should plan on using 1/2 cup).

3.  Raspberries.  Using frozen raspberries is perfectly fine.  Approximately 2-3 cups.

4.  Raspberry Jello - yield 4 cups.  This is a unique aspect of my mother's recipe and gives her trifle a beautiful rich red color.  It's best to use a  large box of Jello brand, if available.

5.  Custard - yield 4 cups.  My mother uses Bird's Custard mix (if you use the mix make sure you use the mix that calls for adding milk not water) but I make a custard from scratch - see recipe below.

6.  Heavy Whipping Cream.  1-2 cups

7.   Decorations:  candied cherries cut into half and candied angelica cut into tiny strips (candied angelica is a green cake decorating item that can be cut into tiny strips and placed around the cherries to look like grass).

Steps:

Find a large bowl.  It looks best in cut glass but I use a heavy glass salad bowl.  Whatever you use it must be thick enough to withstand boiling temperatures.

1.  Line your bowl with sponge cake torn into pieces.  Sprinkle with sherry (it should be damp but not soaked through).  Cover with a layer of raspberries.

2.   Prepare raspberry jello according to package directions.  Pour hot liquid directly over raspberries and cake.  You want the liquid to absorb and cover all of the cake and just cover the raspberries.

3.  Refrigerate until the jello sets.  This takes at least a few hours and it can sit overnight.

4.  Make a custard and while it is still hot (directly from the stove top) pour custard over the jello.  The custard will settle into the jello mixture and form a layer on top.  Allow to cool and "set up" in the refrigerator at least an hour or two before adding the whipped cream.

5.  Whip the cream with a small amount of sugar (1 or 2 tablespoons).  Carefully spoon the whipped cream over the top and decorate with the candied cherries and candied angelica. 

Custard Recipe - 4 cups (2 pints) .  The original recipe for proper custard is found here on BBC Food (which I converted to US measurements/ingredients).

Ingredients:

4 cups whole milk
4 fluid oz heavy whipping cream
8 eggs (yolk only)
2 oz super fine baking sugar (white granular sugar)
4 level teaspoons cornstarch
1 tsp vanilla extract

Steps:

1.  Use a heavy weight sauce pan.  Slowly bring the milk and cream to simmering point over a low heat.  This is the longest part of the recipe and it is important not to rush this stage otherwise your custard will not "set up" properly.  To ease the boredom I stand over the stove reading a book whilst stirring mixture with a wooden spoon.

2.  Whisk yolks, sugar, and cornstarch together in a large bowl until well blended.  Pour the hot milk and cream mixture into the bowl with the eggs whisking mixture well.

3.  Return mixture to the sauce pan and add vanilla extract.  Stir over a low heat with a wooden spoon until mixture thickens.

4.   Pour directly over trifle while hot.  You can also serve this custard with an English Pudding.

And here is a picture of my Mom with her trifle.  Nothing makes her happier than having her family around her at Christmas and making it the nicest experience possible.  Many of our family Christmas traditions come from her childhood when her mother went to great lengths to make it a a very special occasion, and she has done the same for us.

Now I don't want to hear any whimperings about calories or red food color dye.  This is a once a year treat and best to do it right and enjoy it.

Lastly, I can't resist sharing this picture of my Dad taken this past Christmas.  He has nothing whatsoever to do with making the trifle (except eating it) but as you can see he looks happy at the prospect of doing so.

Until next time be well and love well and may 2012 be a jolly and festive year for you ~
Soon I shall be back with some knitting as I have been busy busy busy knitting away.

Handspun Mittens ~

I'm back! I'm back!  What?  No one noticed I was away?  Gee whiz.  I thought you might like to know that I've been through a bout of poison oak (severe), a late summer heatwave, out of town company, and work hassles, only one of which was enjoyable.  In any event, I'm happy to be back in my space waffling on about knitting as usual.  This time about my rock n little handspun mitts.

I'm a huge fan of handspun yarn, and although I don't have the time to spin I find it a treat to knit.  Especially so when it's spun by a special person whom you probably know as Smoking Hot Needles.  I love this project because it is a great example of how the internet connects knitters and fiber enthusiast all together.  The yarn was dyed by an indy dyer; it was spun by an indy spinner; the pattern is by an indy designer; and I'm the indy knitter/blogger who, as improbable as it seems, is wearing woolen mittens in sunny Southern California.  All thanks to the internet.

I knit these mitts to be shorter and more slouchy than I typically knit mittens because I wanted them to be causal and comfortable to pull on in the morning when I take Simcha out for his walk. And yet.  I still wanted them to have a classy look so I could wear them out for coffee or wherever.   That's where the genius of picking the right buttons comes in and upon whom my dear friend, Murielle of Murielle Knitwear I rely.  My first thought was to choose either wood or leather buttons but she immediately suggested something black and shiny, and that was the right call.

Particulars: Based on Albina Armwarmers pattern by Vera Brosgo (Verabee); handspun by Monika (blogs as Smoking Hot Needles); indy dyer Spinning Aewsome Good Fiber BFL colorway Awesome Boyfriend colorway; US 3 needles.  This is a great pattern and has a very helpful formula for using all weights of yarn as it's designed for handspun yarn and not any specific weight.  The designer also has written a similar free pattern called Easy Handspun Mittens.  I followed the cuff and placket as per the pattern but modified the thumb gusset to better suit my fit preferences and, in broad strokes, I made the increases every other row (instead of 2 rows plain between increases). Rav Linky.

Spinning A Family Tradition ~

I read once that if you are the child of a knitter you are more likely to be a knitter yourself.  That happens to be true for me.  I also have a great grandmother (picture above) who was a spinner and my grandmother (picture below with my mother) was also a spinner.  My grandmother, Ruth, taught me to crochet as a child and I proceeded to hook an afghan at a speed that startled people.  But it didn't take and I've never crocheted since.  My mother many years later put needles in my hands and taught me how to knit.  But she did not teach me how to follow patterns as that was never a strength of hers, as I allude to in my post It's a Vintage Thing.  I guess it really is in the blood and maybe someday I'll spin too.

Until next time, be well and love well.  The heat has finally broken here and I hope everywhere so that we all can all enjoy an early Fall!

The Promised Toy

Here he is!  A sweet bear, naked as a the day is long. The toy that I promised Steve long ago.

A little background about Steve and why this toy was important to him.  Steve was something of a child protege and because of that he missed out on a typical childhood.  He came from a no nonsense family and at an early age he was hard at work around the house mowing the lawn or in his bedroom constructing a ham radio or doing a physics project.  By age 12 he was a budding entrepreneur and began the first of his many business ventures, which was selling customized Christmas cards.

After only 2 years of college he began medical school.  At the time he graduated from medical school he was one of the youngest doctors licensed in the United States.  He went on to become a highly respected and skilled eye surgeon and had patients that traveled from as far as the United Kingdom for treatment.  All the while he was furthering his education by obtaining a law degree from the University of Notre Dame, publishing a textbook, and pursing his entrepreneurial interest and adding a string of other awards, degrees, and professional licenses.

But with all that drive and focus on education and developing his profession, he never experienced what should have been the fun and carefree days of childhood.  Which is enigmatic to me, because I had a very different childhood.  Mine was filled with fun and endless Summer days of camping, tennis, sunbathing, picnics and getting lost in story books without a worry or thought given to the future.  I guess opposites really do attract. 

Fortunately it's never too late to have fun, or a stuffed toy of your own.  At least that's what I think.

Particulars:  Sweet Bear by Twins; this is a well written pattern and easy to follow but I did modify it for a heavier gauge yarn and larger needles to make a bigger toy (pattern instructions are for a 9" bear and Steve's is 15").  I also modified the pattern by making my own sweater and scarf set. I wanted this toy to be exactly right so I had Steve choose everyting from the pattern to the yarn and finishing buttons.  Yarn:  Lush (50% angora / 50% wool) by Classic Elite Yarns - 2 skeins sky blue and 1 skein root beer; the white yarn is angora left over from my Netsuke Wrap; US 6 needles.  The pattern calls for all pieces to be knit flat and seamed together, which is not my preference, but wasn't too bad.  The scarf I based on the free pattern by Jared Flood (Noro striped scarf) and the cardigan I made up as I went along.  The hat is only slightly modified to be a bit slouchier (Ravelry Link).



The MisAdventures of Simcha

The other man in my life, Simcha, is also filled with strong drives.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, we have possibly found him a vocation.  Ta da..... sheep herding.  Bet you didn't know there was a need for sheep herding in Southern California.  Think again, we have something here for everybody.  So off we went to Drummond Ranch (Malibu location) for Simcha to be evaluated for his herding instinct. 

Simcha was eager to begin.  But Steve was concerned that we would be eating Shishkabobs for dinner after paying for the sheep.  What an absurd worry.

His concern was obviously misplaced as all Simcha did was gather the sheep together in the middle of the ring, as he was supposed to do (albeit with a few nips here and there).

We were as proud as punch.  I'd like to quote from his evaluation "Simcha had a lot of enthusiasm and drive.  He went right to work exploring his instincts.  He brought his sheep into a group and would regroup them.  He read his livestock well - all instinctually.  Nice dog.  He was showing his ability to think well with the sheep."

All that chasing sheep is hot work and afterward he jumped into a tub of cold water.  He had a blast and so I think we'll sign him up for a few lessons.

Until next time, be well and love well and it's Summertime so remember to go outside and have fun.

Night Cap Anyone?

For Christmas I've knit a night cap for my Dad. He feels the cold at night so what could be more useful than a night cap? It's not as if you can find these readily at your local mall. At least not here in Southern California anyway.

For the modeled photo I specifically told Mr Puffy to look jolly and whimsical. However, he disagreed and went for something solemn and more dignified. I told him he looked like Captain Hook from Peter Pan. But, what can I do? He's his own man, Mr Puffy, and he would model it his own way.



Particulars: Basic Hat Pattern; Ann Budd's The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns; 1 skein Hand painted Cashmere DK weight (Tess' Designer yarns); US 6 needles. The edging is a simple 2" turned hem without the picot edging. My dad just isn't the picot type. The hat is stockinette as I didn't want anything to detract from softness of the fabric. I added the tassel because all night caps seem to have them. Check out Twas The Before Christmas if you don't believe me.



I haven't talked much about my dad, but he's a pretty special person. He grew up on a farm in rural Minnesota during the great depression. Not an easy life. He describes getting up while it was still dark out to milk the cows before school and hunting with his brothers to put food on the table. But his mother made life as nice as she could and they ate well on the farm. Stacks of hotcakes in the morning, plenty of fresh baked bread and pies.

The follow picture is one of the few that were taken of the boys on the farm. My dad is the one standing farthest from the camera.



After high school my dad fought in the Korean war and was awarded the Bronze Medal for his bravery in combat. His unit was responsible for laying communication lines on the front with only fox holes for protection, which was a very dangerous assignment.

After the war, he was able to afford college with the assistance of the G.I. Bill. This resulted in a long and successful career as a civil engineer. He's retired now and he and my mother enjoy good health and a happy marriage in beautiful Santa Barbara, California. At age 79 he's still golfing, fishing, camping and enjoying life to the fullest. And he deserves it all because you'll never find a more honest, decent and hard working person than my dad.



Since I'm on the subject, I thought this would be a good time to share the recipe for his favorite Christmas cookies. They are a buttery walnut cookie and I make them every year, just because.



Festive Walnut Christmas Cookies: A modified version of a Betty Crocker recipe.

Ingredients:
2/3 cup unsalted butter room temperature (150g)
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 egg room temperature
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp water
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts (it's best to chop the nuts by hand as the irregular pieces are nice)

Garnish ~ candied cherries (cut into quarters). You can find these at the grocery store over the holidays typically sold in plastic tubs.

Note:  This is a rustic cookie and is best made using old fashioned stirring with a wooden spoon.  So put aside your electric mixer for this one.

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and cover baking sheet with parchment paper or silpat.
2. Using wooden spoon cream butter with sugars and then stir in egg, vanilla and water.
3. Sift together dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, and salt). Add to butter mixture with a wooden spoon and stir just until incorporated. Add walnuts.
4. Decorate cookie dough with cherry pieces; and
5. Bake 8-10 minutes or until cookie is set and slightly brown at the edges.



I hope everyone has a wonderful, meaningful, and happy Christmas. And if you happen to have a night cap, say a toast to my Dad and those like him.

A Non-Scratchy Scarf for Steve

I hope everyone had a fun and festive Thanksgiving celebration. Steve and I had a wonderful time visiting his family in Napa Valley (California Wine Country). Whilst there, I took the opportunity of snapping a few pictures of Steve in his new scarf. I think it passed muster.



Which is a relief because he's a fussy one. Nothing "scratchy" or "fancy" for him. He's actually not much one for wearing a scarf, period. But as I observed to a good friend who remarked on having never seen Steve wear scarf, "he's going to wear this one," spoken with more confidence than I felt. But now having seen him wearing it I'm pretty sure he does like the scarf.



Particulars: Basic Scarf pattern, Ann Budd's The Knitters Handy Book of Patterns (and handy it is); 5 skeins Elsebeth Lavold's Silky Cashmere; US 10 needles. This is a simple "mistake rib" scarf where I cast on 27 stitches and knit until I ran out of yarn. I like a mistake rib scarf because it gives a nice drape to the fabric and in a solid color creates a nice no-frills manly scarf. If you are interested in mistake rib, this link will take you to a website that explains the simple stitch pattern.



As I mentioned, we spent Thanksgiving with Steve's family and this year we had time to pop in and visit his cousin Gerry at her pottery shop, P& G Art Studio, in Sebastopol, California.

Steve comes from a very artistic family and his mother and aunt are wonderful painters and his cousin Gerry is wonderfully creative too, as you will see. Actually, Steve's not too shabby an artist himself having studied at the Art Institute of Chicago while in medical school and he takes most of the pictures that you see here on the blog.

His cousin's shop is mainly pottery although she also sells a few fabric items such as scarfs, hats and pillows. As of yet they haven't got a shop on-line so you will just have to visit the shop the next time you are in the Napa area.



I love pottery hanging from a wall. It gives a California mission feel to architecture. Growing up I was fortunate to live near the beautiful Santa Barbara Mission which is situated next to a stunning rose garden. I have pleasant memories of sitting by it's fountain and wandering through its cool dark hallways feeling an eerie connection to the past.

Gerry whimsically describes her wall pieces as follows:

Vignettes: It is their pleasure to delight, beautify, adorn, furbish, decorate, and garnish as well as smarten, spruce up, embellish, and detail, festoon, or amuse.


As I've previously mentioned, growing flowers is not a talent of mine. It's ideal when a couple compliment each other's weaknesses and it would have been nice if Steve had a passion for gardening. But I had a sinking feeling that was not to be when I had to tactfully point out early in our relationship that he was smelling and admiring flowers that were plastic, and not real. Sigh.

Do you think I could fool people into thinking I have a green thumb if I scattered some of Gerry's flowers about in my pots? Maybe from a distance?

Have a great week everyone ~ and make time to put your feet up and enjoy a cup of tea while flipping through your favorite knitting magazine!

Socks and Celebrations!

It's wonderful to go away but it's also wonderful to be home and together as a family again! Mr Puffy in particular is happy that the vacationing is over and we can get back to our regular daily lives.




As I breathed deeply of the salty air, felt the dry warmth of the sun on my skin, and watched Mr Puffy play in the sand, I realized that as much as I enjoy visiting other places there is no place I find more enjoyable than my own deck in San Clemente, California with a steaming pot of tea, a good book, and Mr Puffy to keep me company.

I didn't accomplish much knitting on my vacation, so I thought this would be a good time to share a pair of older socks. These are actually my favorite "go to" comfort socks and I wear them a lot in the Winter. Of course it's too warm to wear them at this time of year, but I've modeled them nonetheless perched upon a rock in front of our house - just for you - so you can see how they fit.



These socks have held up really well despite a slight tendency to pill. The yarn is Mountain Colors Bearfoot (60% superwash merino, 25% mohair, 15% nylon). Because it's a handpainted yarn it doesn't require a fancy stitch pattern so I chose a simple seed stitch motif on the leg to give them a bit of interest. The pattern is from The Joy of Knitting by Lisa R. Myers.

I "borrowed" my neighbor's fence and pretty hibiscus flowers for this shot. Hibiscus flowers are a quintessential California flower and they are particularly prevalent where I grew up in Santa Barbara, California. I love hibiscus flowers because the blooms are huge and colorful and they have a long season.


So What Was the Cruise Like?

Oh. My. Gosh. Going on a cruise is an incredibly relaxing and fun vacation. We were on the Carnival Cruise Line. The cruise was a week long and left from Long Beach, California and traveled along the Mexican Riviera (Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, and Cabo San Lucas). Besides relaxation and fun, there is also the food. What you hear about food on cruises is true - the food really is wonderful!

For those who have never been on a cruise, I would liken the experience, on this vessel, to something like being in a Las Vegas Hotel at sea. There is gambling, shows, food and drinks and impressive interior design (glass encased elevators, huge paintings, art work, etc.) In addition, you have the shore excursions which are a fun break on the journey. Here I am in Puerto Vallarta looking every inch the part of an American Tourist.

Here's Steve with my mom and dad, who are all looking quite the tourists as well. My dad in particular is looking pleased with himself as he has just found the perfect leather bag to hold his golf balls.



This particular cruise was family oriented and had fun shows in the evenings (comedy, musicals, a ventriloquist, etc.) and lots of activities that my nephews (ages 9 and 11) really enjoyed. Another nice feature of this ship is that the staterooms had private balconies. Here I am on our private deck modeling my newly completed Monkey sock!



I really enjoyed sitting on the deck being able to look out at the ocean. On several occasions we saw dolphins playing in the boat wake, and that was something to see. There were so many and sometimes they jumped so high they were completely out of the water!

Unfortunately we missed out on our day of snorkeling in Cabo San Lucas due to strong currents in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Douglas. But, I did manage to take this shot of the famed Cabo San Lucas "Los Arcos" rocks before we headed back out to sea.



You will recall from my last post that this cruise was a gift from my parents to the family in celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. I love this photo, as it shows how happy they are together. This picture was taken on the last night of the cruise in the dinning room. I have to say the dinner waiters were just terrific and every night they either danced or sang for us and really made the dinners a fun experience.



Fifty years of marriage and they are happier now than they have ever been. If you ask my mother what is the secret to a happy marriage she will tell you "don't major in minors". What she means is - don't over react to small things. She would also tell you what her Aunt Joan told her (a woman who enjoyed an exceptionally happy marriage) and that is to bring a spirit of generosity to your marriage. If you plan on giving of yourself 75% and expect to receive 25% in return you will be setting a tone of "giving" that paradoxically is actually the most rewarding.



Here's a picture of them during their whirlwind courtship period (all of 3 months long *giggle*). The picture was taken on the beach in Santa Monica, California very close to where I live now.