20 Year Newlyweds

Twenty years ago today, John and I ran off to Carmel Valley and got married.  It was the third anniversary of our first date, so we decided to go with the St. Patrick's Day theme, and give a nod to our heritage as well.  John wore a green tie, and I had a little handkerchief embroidered with green shamrocks.  We even found a minister by the name of Pat O'Brien (seriously!) to marry us.

March 17, 1992

Recently, a nice older gentleman we had just met asked us if we were newlyweds.  We chuckled, and replied that it just felt like it.

Happy 20th, John.  I love you.

Surprises

When moving into a new home, surprises are generally not a good thing:  They are signs that something is broken and it's going to cost you a boatload to repair (the shower stall sinking through the subfloor immediately comes to mind).

Sometimes, though, you can be pleasantly surprised.  With spring right around the corner, our new yard is sprouting all kinds of surprises.

Daffodils are popping up everywhere.  So many of them!  I just adore daffodils.  Besides being a harbinger of spring, is there a more cheery flower?

Clusters of Paperwhites at the base of a big oak tree.  So pretty in the dappled sunlight.

Violets!  I haven't seen these since I left New England a loooooooong time ago.

This plant appears to be growing out of the side of a dead log, but the roots are actually in the ground.  I've no idea what it is, and there is only one. 

I don't know what this is either, but the vibrancy of the pink and yellow is amazing.

PTSD (Post TNNA Stress Disorder)

I love showing at TNNA.  Not only is there the opportunity to meet up with friends and customers (both old and new), but you have the chance to see and touch up-close and personal all the new yarns and gadgets and books and dyers and designers.  (Well, maybe you don't actually get to touch the dyers and designers, but hey.)  It can actually be somewhat overstimulating; I come home with my brain on overdrive, full of inspiration and ideas.  Then of course there are the orders to fill, and the inventory to make for the next upcoming show (in this case, Stitches West), the follow-up contacts to be made, etc etc etc.  It takes a week or three before I can sleep regularly again and get back to a normal schedule.  It's a stressful time, but in a good way.

For some reason I tend to come down with a serious case of camnesia whenever I attend TNNA; this winter's show in Phoenix was no different -- I lugged my camera everywhere but neglected to snap a single pic.  But I can tell you about just a few of some of the great folks met and lovely goodies procured at the show.

I roomed with my pal Michelle of Fickle Knitter Design.  We had a good time, and there may have been some chile mac-and-cheese and tequila and wine consumed.  I finally got to meet the charming Roxanne of Zen Yarn Garden.  Her booth was near mine, and I kept sneaking over to fondle her wares.  Mmmmm.  I'll be working with her yarn in the near future, for sure.  I also got to meet Mira Cole of Baah Yarns, a new vendor at TNNA.   A skein of her superwash merino fingering weight yarn in the saturated Blue Sapphire colorway came home with me; I'm using it for a new pattern I'm working on (so far so good on both fronts). 

A couple of gadgets also came home with me:  The Stitch Light and Yarn Cozies by Buffy Ann Designs.  These are items that I didn't know I needed, and boy are they coming in handy.  The Stitch Light hangs from a strap around your neck and provides a bright white spotlight.  My new studio is surrounded by tall trees so the natural light I like to work with is limited.  I gave the Stitch Light a test drive this morning, and it provided just the right illumination I needed when I was working with fine gauge wire.  I'm becoming rather enamoured of the Yarn Cozies as well.  I normally work with yarn cakes and thus hadn't seen a huge need for a cozy, but with multiple cats (plural) in the household I'm finding that the Cozy not only keeps the yarn on the outside of the cake well in place, it also protects it from acquiring the inevitable coating of cat hair.  I'm told that Cozies shaped for pull skeins are in the works and will be released soon.  Thanks to Larry and Buffy Ann for letting me give these a whirl.

Speaking of my new studio, it's finally finished and I began moving in this week.  It's spacious, full of windows, and painted in a bright chartreuse that's sure to keep me going.  I even found the perfect rug for the space.  Once TNNA orders are filled, I'll be setting up the other half of the building to use for fiber production.  My drum carder is calling me.

 

A Quilt Story

During a lovely holiday visit to John's family, my mother-in-law, Sally, asked if I might be interested in an old quilt.  I followed her down to a back bedroom, where she pulled out of the closet a pretty spread done in soft colors against a creamy white background.  It was made in the 1930's and was still in remarkably good shape.  Sally said she didn't know if I would really want it, and I shouldn't feel that I had to take it (she's so cool).  I thought perhaps screaming HELL YEAH! at my mother-in-law would be a bit inappropriate, so I managed to mumble what I hope was a respectful yet enthusiastic, "Yes, I would really like to have this."

This entirely hand-quilted piece was made by Shelley Stevens, a woman who used to babysit John and his siblings when they were very young.  Shelley was born ca. 1905 and passed away many years ago.  Her sister, when disposing of some of Shelley's personal affects, was going to put the quilt out in a yard sale for $2.  TWO DOLLARS!!!  My MIL couldn't bear that it be subjected to such an uncertain fate, and so brought it home (see, I told you she was cool) and has taken good care of it. 

The pattern seems familiar to both Sally and I, but we couldn't quite put our fingers on the name of it.  Sally isn't certain, but suspects that the fabric came from a quilting kit put out by Sears in the 1930's.  I'll need to do a little research on the quilt's background.

When the weather turns warm, the quilt will grace our bed.  Until then, it's tucked away in my closet, safe from the ravages of time and three cats.

Shelley, if you're out there somewhere, you are fondly remembered, and your quilt lives on.

Cuke Mystery Solved

It's a loofah.  Huh.

Opting Out (A Gift Guide)

Overloaded.  A quick trip down to the Big City this morning to run a couple of (non-holiday) errands was enough to put me over the jittery edge.  Christmas decorations, sale signs, lines everywhere.  Add to that the mailbox stuffed with circulars and catalogues, the email inundated with Black Friday announcements, and the xmas carols heard over the grocery store loudspeakers long before Thanksgiving, and it's enough to make one want to give up and hide, and pretend that the holidays don't exist.

But I don't.  I love the holidays, everything about them.  The food, the gift giving, the weather, the spirit.  So I chose a few years ago to just opt out of the holiday madness, and observe them in a more measured and quiet way.  No more gifts for everyone and their brother, no more bleeding bank account, no more angst-filled hours trolling the malls looking for presents.

At first I decided that all-home made was the way to go.  That didn't last long.  I think it was the intricate hand-beaded ornaments that I made for all of my co-workers that did me in.  Only one of the 10 recipients of those ornaments that took me hours and hours and hours to make really appreciated the time and care that went into them. 

Now I take a mixed approach.  I make, whether on my needles or in my kitchen, as much as my schedule allows and purchase the rest.  I steadfastly refuse to leave the house on Black Friday, and often rely on my good friend, Mr. Internet.  The best gifts I've received are simple and given from the heart.  I try to keep that in mind, and select gifts that the recipient will truly enjoy.

Here are a few of my favorite gift-giving ideas.  What are yours?

FROM THE NEEDLES.  This year I'm going small but mighty.  First there's the beautiful Cotuit Sands Cowl by Marcy Vandale.   I've already knit one and am going to make another one for....someone who's name shall not be disclosed.  There will be a hat for my brother, and maybe some wristlets for my nieces.  I'm thinking about these slipper socks for the ladies in the family (I might need a pair for myself, too).  There will likely be a few knitted xmas ornaments as well, because I just can't resist.

TO BUY FOR A KNITTER/SPINNER.  There's always yarn and fiber, especially the exotics that folks might not splurge on for themselves (think mink, musk-ox, and buffalo), or a beautiful handspun art yarn.  But how about something different (that also happens to be inexpensive)?  I started having custom rubber stamps made for myself a few years ago, and found that packaged with an ink pad and maybe some gift tags, they make great gifts.  You can design them easily yourself using Word, and small stamps cost only $10-$20.

FROM THE KITCHEN.  Cookies and quick breads are always wonderful.  Homemade granola, walnut halves spread with almond paste and dipped in chocolate, and honey with nuts, chopped dried fruit, and a cinnamon stick (great on top of yogurt!) make good gifts too.  This year I'm thinking about making hot fudge sauce and putting it in pretty jars, and maybe some pomegranate or cranberry-rosemary jelly.  Jars and other containers are great wrapped in a pretty linen kitchen towel, which can then be reused time and again.   Food gifts need not always be sweet.  One of the best gifts I ever received was some homemade herb salt made by my friend Susie.  This was a gift that kept on giving: I used it regularly, it lasted a long time, and I thought of her whenever I cooked with it.  Now I let her know when I run out, and I give her something in return (hey Susie, send salt!!).  Infused oils and vinegars are easy too, and look nice presented in pretty bottles.

TO BUY FOR A BAKER/COOK.  If your favorite kitchen ninja adores gadgets, then you've got it easy.  But for a little something different, try a dough-rising bucket or a bread forming basket for your favorite baker.  A selection of specialty flours, such as Italian oo or French-style flour, would be fun.  For the cook, an unusual sea salt, a special balsamic vinegar, or a local artisan olive oil would be welcome. 

MISCELLANY.  One of the most charming gifts I've received, and another one that keeps on giving, was given to me by my friend Becky.  She formed some pretty art paper into a cone, filled it with daffodil bulbs, and included a little card with daffodil lore and planting instructions.  Every spring when the flowers bloomed I was treated to a splash of color.  On the weirder end of the gift-giving spectrum is a Turducken.  This is a chicken stuffed in a duck stuffed in a turkey, with sausage-cornbread stuffing in between each layer (outrageous, but really tasty).  I sent one to my brother a few years ago and he loved it, so now it's an annual tradition. 

KARMA.  For the office, I gave up on the hand-made (see above) and the Starbucks cards and instead tried to find something practical and inexpensive, but that supported a good cause.  One such find was cotton dish towels screen printed with charming images from the group LA Goal.  I know this group well; my sister-in-law is a member.  They provide job opportunities and social and artistic outlets for adults with developmental disabilities.  The work they do is incredible, and a small sum of money goes a long way in making a difference in the members' lives.  There are similar organizations in many communities; consider stopping by their holiday boutiques to pick up some charming gifts.  Another favorite organization of mine is Heifer International.  Knitting-wise, there's lots of ways to help (premie hats, chemo caps, lap blankets for nursing home residents, etc etc).  This year I plan on knitting a bear for the Mother Bear Project.  I purchased a charming little kit from them a year or so ago at Stitches West, and I hope to have at least one knit up to drop off to them at the next Stitches.

Here's to joyous and stress-free gifting!

Garden Unrest

Figuring it was time to put the beds to bed, so to speak, I meandered down to the garden this morning to check things out and work up a garden-winterizing to-do list.  I hadn't been down there pretty much since we moved in a few weeks ago and I was surprised at what I found. 

A bright and cheery gerbera daisy.

Some type of cucumber.  Tastes different from a regular

cuke, and I think these are well past their prime.

These were tucked under the cucumber vines.  Nothing smells like a carrot straight out of the ground.  They'll go into a butternut squash-carrot soup for tomorrow night's dinner.

An orange cherry tomato variety.  It's been pretty cold the

last week or two, but these seem to be getting a second wind.

With some feta and olive oil, they'll make a nice salad (if I

don't eat them all straight off the vine first).

Strawberries!

This is frightening.

Onions.  I think they sprouted after the rains a week or so ago. 

I don't know if they'll continue to grow in this cold.  I pulled one and it was

pretty small.  Maybe I'll get a few pearl onions?

It looks like I still have a bit more time before I need to put the garden to rest for the winter.  Good -- all the more knitting time for now.