Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Rainy Wednesday..........

I don't have anything new started with knitting.  Just trying to concentrate on getting wip's finished which isn't easy at this time of year.  I've been purchasing bedding plants here and there as the quality seems to be really good right now.  Later on in June everything seems to be picked over so in the meantime I store them in the garage and pull them out during the day to get some sun.

Today I was scarifying (scarification) the sweet pea seeds, and also the nasturtium seeds.  The sweet pea's I've started in the tray pictured below.  The nasturtium's are soaking in luke warm water and tomorrow I'll plant them in trays as well.  So hopefully in 10 days I'll see some sprouts and in mid June transplant them outside.
 




I just realized that I have finished my Multnomah Shawl.  It's been so cold and rainy here today that I've been wearing it and totally forgot to blog about it.  This shawl was a fast knit, and I loved this yarn Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light.  Pattern:  Multnomah designed by Kate Flagg.  The shawl pin was bought from Twist of Fate out of Kamloops, British Columbia at Fibre Week in Olds, Alberta June 2009.  Hopefully I'll make it there again this year.
Here's hoping you are having better weather than we are....I'm looking forward to some sun after four days of rain.  
Take care and Happy Knitting!

Friday, April 23, 2010

TGIF.......

I have no pictures of knitting or spinning today. Just a few pictures of the work I've been slogging away at outside. Basically spring cleaning the flower garden, and I'm amazed at how it's starting to green up outside with a little bit of rain. Some garden Mum's breaking through the leaves.We have lived in the same neighbourhood for 29 years, and this is the first time I have had a little visitor of the squirrel kind. So Cute!DH and I are heading over to some friends for supper, and DH offered to bring dessert. Something decadent but light was requested so I came up with a recipe out of Company's Coming Christmas Celebrations by Jean Pare.I know it's in a Christmas cook book, but this Snow Angel Trifle translates well for an all year dessert. Snow Angel Trifle
4 cups Milk
2 Boxes of instant white chocolate (or vanilla) pudding powder (4 serving size, each)
17 oz. Commercial angel food cake, torn into 1 inch pieces.
8 0z. Package of cream-filled chocolate mini cookies (oreos), 12 cookies reserved for garnish
3 cups Sliced fresh strawberries
2 cups Frozen whipped topping, thawed

Beat milk and pudding powder on low in medium bowl for about 2 minutes until thickened.
Layer ingredients in large glass serving bowl as follows:
1. 1/2 of cake pieces
2. 1/2 of cookies
3. 1/2 of strawberry slices
4. 2 cups (500 ml) pudding, spread evenly
5. Remaining cake pieces
6. Remaining cookies
7. Remaining strawberry slices
8. Remaining pudding, spread evenly

Spread or pipe whipped topping in decorative pattern on top of pudding. Garnish with reserved cookies. Chill for at least 4 hours to blend flavours. Makes about 12 cups (3 L).

p.s.s.: For my picture above I doubled the amounts for the angel food cake and cookies. It seems like it's a lot, but when spreading the layers it all compacts down. The bakery section at PC Superstore is where I find the already baked angel food cake, and I use the mini oreo's for the chocolate cookies.

The actual picture out of the book just for reference.....Our weekend will be consisting of painting and doing yard work, but I'll get to visit my Monty. Here's a quick snippet. Don't mind the wiggly video, or my pink crocs, or the sounds I make to get Monty's attention. He's full of piss and vinegar Love and Cuddles. :)
Have a great weekend everyone!

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Where there once was a wall......Now there's a window.
This is my DS house which we're helping to reno. I have since figured out that between doing renovations at our home (because of a flood) and working on DS house, I much prefer the demolition side of tearing down and throwing out. Finishing work like drywalling, sanding, and trim work is a pain in the backside, and takes long to do.It started out all innocent, 'Oh let's open this up and it'll make it brighter in here!' To then actually stepping back and thinking that this is a support wall so we'll have to do some creative building. Thus an extra wall was built to support the support wall and put in a header before we cut the opening. (The headers not up yet in this picture.)
Renovations continue as well downstairs in DS house so that we can utilize the basement suite, and make it it's own contained space. So a couple walls were put up to close it in. The entry into the suite. (Primed and waiting for molding and baseboards)The kitchen area.
Finally the last wall in the laundry room. Enough about renovations.....there's been some weaving going on at my house.I can't describe how exciting it's finally been to sit down and finally start weaving. I'm using left over yarn from the stash, and if I would have had one straight afternoon I could've had this scarf done. Saturday night I couldn't stop. 10:00pm rolled around and I thought I should really stop, but then it soon turned 11:00pm and I was starting to make mistakes and I decided to quit for the night.
The biggest challenge was warping, and then tieing on, threading it through the heddles, and getting my coordination working with the loom. I was exhausted but just thrilled that I had tackled it along with a couple great books which were a BIG help
Weaving Made Easy by Liz Gipson
Hands On Rigid Heddle Weaving by Betty Linn Davenport

More sock knitting is happening as they're great for packing along.Calloway Sock Pattern by Cookie A. I'm using Knit Picks 2.25mm dpn, Yarn: Briggs & Little Durasport 1 ply in colourway: Smoke. It's a tough little yarn and I'm putting it through it's paces. I like to knit my socks with a tight gauge and this 1 ply seems to be holding up. 80% Pure Wool 20% Nylon.I love this pattern. Diagonal Lace Toe-up Socks. What makes it even more loveable the price is FREE!! From a wonderful designer WendyKnits. You'll find the pattern on her website under Free Patterns with the added bonus of over 40 more free patterns. I'm using Knit Picks Harmony Wood 2.00mm dpn's. Yarn: Regia The Sockwool Jet Set Color. 4 ply.One more shawl that I spied on Smoking Hot Needles. Monika was knitting this up and I had to follow. I'm such a follower of people with great ideas ;)
Pattern: Multnomah designed by Kate Flagg. It is a free pattern you can find on either Ravelry or Hello Knitty. I'm using Knit Picks Harmony Wood Circular needles 3.25mm. Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light. Colourway: 4275

Anyways that's all folks! Time for a nap....