by Kat | Jun 17, 2015 | General, Making
In a few short weeks, my first grand baby will be here and I could not be more excited. As you can imagine, I have been doing some knitting for this little one. It was a pleasant task to knit my favorite baby sweater pattern – EZ’s Baby Surprise Jacket for my first grand baby! I think it turned out beautifully and it will get some use before she grows, as it is chilly at night in Northern Michigan. I made a pair of Saartje’s Booties and a rolled brim hat with the remainder of the skein. I am eager to head to Michigan tomorrow to spend some time with my daughter, attend her baby shower, and enjoy all things baby for a few days.
Baby Knitting
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by Kat | May 30, 2015 | General
And I never want to leave…
This month is a month to remember – the month in which I finished not one, but two sweaters!
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by Kat | May 22, 2015 | General, Making
Sweater knitting has been my Waterloo.
I have knit sweaters before only to be insanely unhappy with my yarn choice, or my pattern choice, or the fit, or any combination of those items. Until this point, there has been no sweater success in my knitting life.
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by Kat | May 3, 2015 | General
There is sure to be wool. Even an over-abundance of wool.
Early yesterday morning, I boarded a bus bound for the one and only Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. My excitement was at a fevered pitch after reading blog posts about what to do.
I had made my lists, I had highlighted some vendors that I deemed “must see”, and I had a map of the festival.
However, I really had no idea of what to expect at all. I was delusional in thinking that I would have time to lunch with new friends, see everything I wanted to see, and have a leisurely amount of time to complete everything.
First off, I have been to fiber festivals before but I had absolutely no idea of the volume of people who would be at the Howard County Fairgrounds – much less that they would all be in Miss Bab’s booth looking for exactly what was on my list! Yet let me tell you about Fiber Folk – they are a kind and gentle lot. There was no pushing, no shoving, no grabbing – but rather, people who helped each other find things. These are not the “Black Friday” masses in any way, shape, or form – even standing in the LONG line to pay there was no irritation or even any grumbling. Thank you fans of Miss Bab’s for renewing my faith in humankind – at least the segment of humankind that knits – I am proud to call you ‘my people’! I managed to snag a couple of treasures from Miss Bab’s and got my day off to a good start.
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by Kat | Mar 31, 2015 | General
I absolutely love things that are easy and I think “easy” should be the norm for all things in life. Unfortunately, this is not the case and many things are complex, complicated, and entirely lacking ease.
When I find something complex that is easy, it is a win! This recipe for Baked Pumpkin Steel Cut Oatmeal is just that: an easy dish that has complex flavors. In addition, it would work well with any number of fruits, making it a year round breakfast treat!
The bonus is that it makes a nice big pot of oats, so I won’t have to think about breakfast this week – which is a very good thing because my work schedule is currently insane right now.
Have a good week, Gentle Readers – nourish yourselves both inside and out!
by Kat | Mar 18, 2015 | General
I sometimes think the Pussy-Willows grey
Are Angel Kittens who have lost their way…
Oliver Herford, Rubaiyat of a Persian Kitten
by Kat | Mar 15, 2015 | General, Making
“Beware the ides of March.” William Shakespeare
The Ides of March are upon us and with each passing day, the grasp that winter has on us loosens. The Snowdrops outside my back door are bravely baring their blossoms to the hints of warmer weather that have coaxed them forth. They have a sense of urgency…
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by Kat | Mar 9, 2015 | General
I saw this recipe on a blog recently and it peaked my interest. The only problem, the grapefruit’s at the market were A. not on sale and B. they did not look appealing at all. However, oranges were and they were bright and sunny and blemish free.
The wheels of my brain began turning; oranges and a bit of fresh basil might be just what the Dregs of Winter needed to foster the hope of more sunshine and warmer weather.
The recipe is surprisingly simple. It would work with a variety of fruit and herb combinations and really, why wouldn’t you want to make seasonal beverages to brighten your day?
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by Kat | Mar 6, 2015 | General
It has almost been 5 months since my last blog post. Five very long months that included me traveling back to Michigan to see my kids, some more knitting for a friend, some personal knitting for myself, some Christmas knitting, and a little tiny bit of Beginning Spinning teaching at my LYS.
Many things to fill the days and none of them having much to do with writing or blogging, which feels very much like failure when I look at my blog. I like to think that the process of blogging activates my brain and encourages me to write creatively. Sad that I so easily let this fall by the wayside.
The New Year came with no list of resolutions for me, at least nothing specific or defined – a purposeful decision on my part. No resolution, no failure – a simple, yet very motivating factor. Rather, my goals this year are simple – Be Healthy, Be Happy, Read More, and Learn More.
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by Kat | Oct 16, 2014 | General
I love wool and I really love people who share my obsession.
In my perfect world, Beth Smith would be my next-door neighbor, I would be able to have her over for tea, and we would spin together. She would share her vast knowledge of all things wool from her encyclopedic brain and I would become her best student – soaking up every bit of what she knows and using it to improve my spinning skills.
Such a dream could only be improved if Beth lived with me and was there to answer every question and show me how to do all things wool. Every. Minute. All. Day.
Sadly, I do not think that Beth’s family would like it if she moved in with me but imagine my good fortune when I discovered a way that I could have Beth in my house 24/7!
How, you ask?
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