field wonderful

weekend snippets: homebody

2012-01-30T12:33:00.000-05:00

sweet sweets.

first attempt at basket weaving.

as you can see, it's not quite a basket yet.

challah

i've wanted to make this bread for years and finally the stars aligned.

casting on for the knit along.

afraid those 160 stitches will intimidate the new knitters in our group.

big curry noodle pot

perfect for warming up on a lazy winter night.

* * *

how was your weekend? i'd love to hear about what you enjoyed.

yarn along: braided cables

2012-01-25T06:15:00.000-05:00

Yarn Along

I've been knitting like a madwoman this week--finishing up Amy's present, swatching for the Baby Surprise Jacket, working on a hat for a friend, getting in a few rounds on a pair of socks for myself, and making the first of a pair of braided cable mittens to complete my snow day set. Whew! You'd think it were Christmas again with this amount of yarn and needles flying. I'm racing to finish these woolens before the end of winter.

* * *

Recently I've found myself taking a hot bath about once a week. There's no set schedule. It's just that at least once a week I get to feeling worn out or stressed and nothing will cure me but a bath. So I fill the tub, light a few candles, and soak. A good book is vital to the bath-taking experience. We Took to the Woods has been my companion of late. It makes my life seem easier when I read about spending nights out in the freezing Maine winter trying to pack down the snow for driving and working for whole days out in the garden trying to move a single boulder. It's a book about daily life, full of practical advice and funny anecdotes. I've also been reading bits of Fifty Days of Solitude before bed. It calms my mind before I sleep. Both of these books were recommended by Liesl. The girl has good taste in books.

* * *

Are you yarning along today?

I'd love to hear what you've been making and reading lately.

homemade peanut butter cups

2012-01-22T08:54:00.000-05:00

The women on my dad's side of the family make Christmas candy every year. My aunts and cousins set up little candy-making factories in their kitchens and churn out toffee, fudge, peanut butter cups, and more. I'm easing my way into candy making. My grandma let me help out with her Christmas candy a couple of years ago, and my one day apprenticeship made me bold enough to try out some simple candy on my own.

These peanut butter cups are the easiest candy to make. They're a great place to start if you're a beginner or if you just want to put in minimal effort for maximum candy deliciousness. I know Christmas is many months away, but peanut butter cups would be a perfect Valentine's Day (or really, any day) treat. These are much tastier than a box of store bought candy!

* * * * *

Peanut butter cups

Makes approximately 75 peanut butter cups.

Ingredients
2 lbs. chocolate (I used milk chocolate; Mom uses white. Dark chocolate would be divine.)
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar

Equipment
Candy molds
Paint brush
Double-boiler

Peanut butter filling:

Make the peanut butter filling first so that it can chill in the refrigerator overnight or at least a couple of hours. It's much easier and less messy to work with when it's cold.

Cream the butter. When it's soft and smooth, add the peanut butter. Beat until completely combined. Whip in the powdered sugar. Refrigerate overnight.

Assembling:

Melt chocolate in a double boiler. Drop a small teaspoon of melted chocolate into each candy mold. Use paintbrush to spread a thin layer of chocolate over the bottom and sides of the mold. Refrigerate for 5-10 minutes until the chocolate has hardened.

Roll peanut butter filling into marble-sized balls. Place one ball in each candy mold, pressing down slightly to flatten. Cover with melted chocolate. Refrigerate for 5-10 minutes. When the chocolate has solidified, unmold the candies. They should slide right out. These peanut butter cups keep for a couple of weeks in the fridge, but they never last that long at our house.

28

2012-01-19T17:52:00.000-05:00

28 things about me

1. A mug of tea almost always cheers me up.

2. I'm related to Abraham Lincoln and Jim Beam.

3. Right now I'm very excited about a knit along that's starting at work in February. We're going to knit the Baby Surprise Jacket.

4. I am messy. I like messy activities like baking, ceramics, and playing with all of my yarn at once.

5. I've am trying to be a tidier person. My two goals are to leave the bathroom counter clean every morning and make my bed before I go to work. Right now? The counter is clean, but the bed is unmade.

6. I studied in Amsterdam for a semester. One of my favorite things to do was bike along the Amstel River. I'd stop for lunch among the windmills and sit on the bank to watch the boats go by.

7. My favorite flower is lilac. Peony is a close second. I need to find the perfect spot for both in my yard.

8. I recently (as in this morning) received some very good professional news out of the blue.

9. I love trying new restaurants. My current favorites are Eiderdown, Simply Thai, and Roots.

10. Sometimes I wear headphones on the bus but don't turn on any music. Nobody bothers me, and I get to eavesdrop.

11. If I could only watch one movie for the rest of my life, it'd be The Royal Tenebaums.

12. I also want to steal Margot Tenebaum's style. And the whole Tenebaum house. I want it.

13. In a typical week I talk to my parents and sister every other day.

14. Growing up, I wanted to be a writer or the lead singer of an all-girl rock band.

15. I'm currently undecided about what I want to be when I grow up. I'm taking suggestions.

16. I used to be a night owl, but now I'm a morning person all the way. Give me a cup of tea (or coffee) and a whole day ahead of me and I'm a happy camper.

17. Most of my closest friends live far away. Shout outs to those in Minneapolis and Berlin!

18. I love my blog friends, too. It's weird to feel like I know people I've never met, but I do.

19. I taught high school in Japan for two years. I also led a conversation group and tutored a 3-year-old Japanese girl. She was so tiny and cute! Somehow I kind of taught her the word mustache, which she loved. She'd hook her finger over her upper lip and shout, "Mustar!"

20. You can usually find me listening to the radio and knitting on Sunday nights. Sunday nights are hands down the best nights for radio around here. From 8 until 11 the Country Gentleman plays bluegrass, traditional country, and old-time country. He's 81 and such a hoot. You can stream it if you aren't lucky enough to live in Louisville.

21. My favorite ice cream is salted caramel from The Comfy Cow. Butter pecan is a close second.

22. I try not to watch much TV. However, I can't stop myself from watching Modern Family, Downton Abbey, and Parenthood.

23. I put off doing dishes as long as I can.

24. In high school I wore a pair of tight sparkly jeans in public. More than once.

25. Also in high school, I voluntarily attended a personal finance class that started at 6:30 AM because my friends were doing it. Peer pressure for nerds.

26. The college I attended has a crypt in the administration building. Every Halloween they'd draw names of students for the privilege of staying overnight in the crypt. I never put my name in that creepy raffle.

27. I'm happy.

28. Today is my birthday. I'm entering my twenty-ninth year. Let the adventures continue...

yarn along: trade secrets

2012-01-18T17:59:00.003-05:00

I've been secretly knitting for Amy this week. She sews. I knit. We decided to trade. She posted a sneak peek of what she's been sewing, so I thought I'd return the favor.

I won't say much about the project I'm knitting because I don't want to spoil the surprise for Amy. She told me she favors neutrals, plum, and rose, so I hope this color will suit her. The knitting is simple, but constructed in a pretty interesting way. Garter stitch, ribbing, and lots of short rows. I finally understand short rows! For this project they add a cozy fullness.

This week I am reading We Took to the Woods thanks to a recommendation from Liesl. If you enjoy reading about people living in the woods, this book is for you. I happen to love reading "roughin' it memoirs" as Liesl calls them. This book has been my refuge at work this week. Lately I've been making sure to take my breaks (I sometimes forget) and for fifteen minutes I get to imagine myself in the Maine woods, chopping firewood, knitting, and getting snowed in. The loveliest moments of my workday!

I also devoured Made from Scratch, a book about homesteading also recommended by Liesl. It was fun to live vicariously through the author as she raised chickens, attempted beekeeping, adopted Angora rabbits, and played a bevy of stringed mountain instruments.

* * *

Yarning along with Ginny today.

What are you making/reading this week?

snow day set

2012-01-15T20:09:00.001-05:00

{snow day set, ready and waiting}

We got a dusting of snow this week. School let out two hours early. No joke. People in Louisville go a little crazy at the prospect of snow. We rush out for milk and bread, cancel school, and batten down the hatches at the mention of a flake.

By happy coincidence, I finished up my cowl and hat just before our tiny winter storm. I got in a few extra hours of knitting because I stayed home sick one day this week. I knitted rounds on my hat in between fever dreams. I always think a bit of myself goes into each thing I craft, so perhaps memories of those bizarre dreams are tangled up in the stitches. Fantastical images of the moon falling down and then bouncing right back up into the sky. Then there was the dream where I was tiny and traveling through my own synapses and muscles looking for the root of my sickness. I haven't had a fever in over a decade, and I hope I don't have one for another 10 years. Fevers are weird and exhausting.

Now that the fever is gone I can comfortably wear my Hermione Hat. I absolutely love it! The plump cables wind their way to the top where they form a snowflake design. The pattern was very easy to follow and quick to make without a cable needle.

The Cloud Cowl doubles as a chunky knitted necklace. I thought about blocking it, but actually like the way it looks unblocked. Maybe when I want a change I'll block it.

I'm ready for the snow! Come on, winter...

Patterns:

Hermione Hearts Ron (hat)

Frosting (cowl)

Grandma Hearts (bunting, first photo)

yarn along: cables and lace

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

yarn along day

My bus rides this week have been spent knitting the Hermione Hearts Ron hat, a delicate cable and lace beanie inspired by one Emma Watson wore in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The hat indulges my Harry Potter nerdiness and satisfies my cable obsession. I can't wait till it's done so I can wear it! It'll complete the cream hat, cowl, and fingerless glove set I'm making for myself. Although I'm also considering adding mittens and leg warmers to the set, so maybe complete is the wrong word.

This week I've been reading through seed catalogs and dreaming up where to plant all the flowers, vegetables, and herbs that I want. We have a tiny yard, so it'll be tough to squeeze in everything, but with some planning I think I can do it. The problem with seed catalogs (especially this one) is that the descriptions of plants make me fall in love with each one. I want ALL of them.

* * * * *

What are you making/reading this week?

resolve

2012-01-08T09:55:00.000-05:00

action: my word for 2012

I am a dreamer. I could happily spend my days thinking up places to go, crafts to make, and foods to bake. However, I'm resolving to make a year of action. I want to do things instead of just thinking about them. I want to be out in the world living.

Recently I've heard a number of people eschew resolutions. They don't like to set goals because they'll feel bad when they don't achieve those goals. Pshaw, people. Leave that negativity back in 2011 and move on. Resolutions are my favorite part of the new year, in part because I'm a list-maker anyway and also because I don't get worked up if my goals don't get checked off. There's always next year, right?

2012 To-do List

Try out new crafts. Basket-weaving, spinning, and woodworking are all possibilities.

Knit like crazy. Experiment more with knitting and be unafraid to veer away from patterns.

Try new crochet stitches. Write and share more patterns.

Make cheese. This one I've already done, so I'll change it: Make more cheese.

Submit writing for publication, online or in print.

Get outside more. Walk, hike, play.

Use time more wisely. Curtail computer use.

Send more snail mail. Hopefully this will result in receiving more mail. Yay!

Design and create a lovely backyard garden.

Travel somewhere I've never been. Maybe the Grand Canyon or Yosemite? I also want to go to Mammoth Cave and Gethsemani.

As part of my plan, I'd like to curtail my computer use. I've written before that my job requires me to spend long hours in front of the computer. When I get home at night, my eyes feel strained and my body is tired, yet I continue to log evening hours online just for fun. There are so many blogs and websites that give me inspiration, but what use is that inspiration if I have no time or energy to create on my own? I absolutely want to continue crafting and writing here on Field Wonderful, so I need to carve out more space for myself to do that and be more mindful of how I use my time.

* * * * *

What are your resolutions for 2012? I'd love to hear.

* * * * *

Resolutions for 2010 and 2011.

An article about quiet, stillness, and time away from electronics (via).

yarn along: fluff

2012-01-04T06:27:00.001-05:00

I've been having fun this week knitting fluffy cables and reading Mindy Kaling's light collection of essays Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns). Reading her essays is like chatting with a friend.

The project is a Frosting cowl, which taught me to cable without a cable needle. In my nerdy knitting world this is a great advancement, akin to climbing a small mountain or something else normal people consider impressive. The whole universe of cables is open now. Perhaps the Rocky Coast cardigan is in the realm of possibility? The Frosting cowl is a fast knit, plus I've been knitting in overdrive because I'm very excited to wrap up in a cowl on freezing cold mornings, and I need the needles for another project.

Yarning along with Ginny today.

craft year

2012-01-02T10:46:00.000-05:00

Bingo!

A collage of my 2011 finished knitted and crocheted projects (plus one that is almost finished--can you spot it?).

3 adult-sized sweaters

1 baby sweater

5 adult hats

2 baby hats

1 pair of socks

1 pair of slippers

6 pairs of mittens/fingerless gloves

3 scarves

1 blanket

1 rug

4 crochet accessories

1 crochet block of my own design

(I'm pretty sure I forgot to show the finished version of this last one)

My hands kept busy this past year, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I hope to keep my hands even busier in 2012.

Happy New Year! I hope you have a creative and productive year.

christmas knits

2011-12-28T18:51:00.000-05:00

Wrist warmers, fingerless gloves, mitts, driving gloves. I'm not quite sure what to call these, but I spent the weeks (and hours) before Christmas knitting lots of them. The wristwarmers were a hit with the recipients and were fairly quick to knit, too. Knitting the thumbs and sewing in ends took the longest because I'm not fond of those tasks. I put them off as long as possible.

The brown and pink ones on the left were made using the Susie's Reading Mitts pattern, which is the same one I used to make my own fingerless gloves. These mitts are wonderfully fancy and very ladylike. They make me want to curtsy and attend afternoon teas. Sadly, the pattern is unavailable now. Apparently there were some copyright issues between the designer and the publisher. However, after poking around Ravelry a bit, I found that there's a loophole so that you can still access the pattern. Just check out the recent comments on the pattern page. Nothing ever really disappears on the internet, does it?

I knitted the shorter brown and yellow mitts by modifying the pattern. The honey-colored ribbed gloves would be perfect for plain jane days, and the cream embellishment really perks up the garter stitch wrist warmers. I'm excited to try more modifying and much more embroidery on knits.

* * *

I haven't joined in the yarn along in ages, but I happen to be blogging about knitting on a Wednesday. So, I'll go ahead and throw in my reading, too. I just devoured Agatha Christie's Crooked House on my new Kindle Fire, a gift from my sweet sister. Paper and ink are still my thing, but now that our library is lending eBooks, I can definitely see myself using the Kindle. Oh, and Crooked House? Meh. Yes, it was suspenseful and fun to speculate, but ultimately the oversimplified midcentury take on genetics turned me off.

{Ravelry links}

Marie Antoinette Mitts

Fancy Forager Mitts

Honey Mitts

Driving gloves

*

brown paper packages

2011-12-27T20:52:00.001-05:00

a peek at the packages.

merry making!

free gift tags from hey look.

crochet stars.

free pattern from a foothill home companion.

* * *

and just so you know, only hours before the gifts looked like this.

knit mess.

More photos to come, of course.

christmas sweets

2011-12-23T08:13:00.000-05:00

Hello there. These last few weeks have been busy at work and busy at home. I've logged plenty of hours in the kitchen--mixing, rolling, baking, icing, sprinkling. I had four generations of family over to help prepare the Christmas sweets this year! I've never been able to do that before, but with the new house we finally have enough room. Hooray!

We actually didn't go overboard with Christmas baking and making this year, but we definitely made enough to share. We made butter cookies, peanut butter cups (the best!), butterball cookies (I'm noticing a butter theme here), fudge, chocolate-covered pretzels, and Italian Cream cake.

butter cookies

Christmas pretzels

[these disappear as fast as they're made]

Italian Cream Cake

my sweet love-

roasting marshmallows in our living room

I've also kept busy with Christmas crafting, but I'll save the photos for after Christmas. I wouldn't want to ruin the surprise. I love surprises!

* * * * *

Remember this? I was spot on for winter.

Here's hoping I was right about the rest of the year, too.

floppy-eared bunnies

2011-12-10T08:22:00.001-05:00

Bunnies featured heavily in my childhood. Peter Cottontail, the Easter Bunny, and these adorable sleepy rabbits kept me company through bedtime stories as I drifted off to sleep. My mom and I had matching pink and white bunny slippers. We kept a concrete bunny in the garden named PeeWee. To top it all off, "Bunny" is the nickname my mom gave to my sister and me when we were kids. Actually, I'm pretty sure she still calls us that sometimes. So, when I came across the hopsalot pattern, I knew I had to make these sweet little critters.

The knitting part was quick and easy--big needles and two strands of yarn held together. This was the first time I've held two strands together. It was no harder than regular knitting.

What held me up was the felting. I started by hand-felting the slippers, which took about a million years and left me with one slipper that fit and one that fell off my foot every time I tried to walk. I chucked them into the washer and dryer, which made for a slightly better fit. In the end, I just had to stitch up the top of the heel on the bigger slipper so that it fits more snugly.

I still found myself stealing K's slippers when he wasn't looking. He's got store bought ones with comfy, substantial soles. My bunny slippers felt more like glorified socks. My solution was to cut out two foot-shaped pieces from a felted scarf and tuck them inside the slippers. The felt lining makes a world of difference. It's thick and cushy, making the slippers more comfortable and giving them more structure. K can keep his slippers. I'll take my bunnies.

And just like the bunnies of my youth, these have fluffy white tails. I love them.

I can see myself making another pair of these slippers sometime down the line. The fit issues I had make me want to take on other projects first and let my frustrations settle. Next time I'd skip the hand-felting and go straight to the machine. Find more details here.

work

2011-12-08T22:08:00.001-05:00

solid vanilla perfume. clementines. green tea.

This blog is about moments. I've written that before, but what I've left unspoken is that it's a blog about good moments.

I haven't written much about my job. It's pretty much a mixed bag of moments. I work for an IT company, which requires me to spend 8-10 hours a day in front of a computer screen. Sometimes my eyes go out of focus, and sometimes I feel bad about all the time I spend with computers. Wendell Berry makes me think I need to hightail it out of the office and into the fields. Maybe someday.

But for now I want to savor the good moments in my days.

I get to talk with college professors every day.

I create online courses for colleges all over the U.S.

I work with smart, talented, funny people.

And I fill every spare moment with good things--tangible things--in an effort to live and appreciate a "three-dimensioned life." Clementines. Tea. Vanilla perfume. Knitting. Origami. Books. Crocheting. Walks.

button making

2011-11-30T19:20:00.001-05:00

"Can I borrow your hacksaw?" I asked my father-in-law as I bounced into his kitchen on the morning after Thanksgiving.

He didn't say yes.

Instead he politely inquired why in the world I'd need a hacksaw and then volunteered to help me with the project I had in mind (probably to protect his hacksaw). We He spent the morning making buttons for my Levenwick cardigan inspired by these handmade ones. We used a walnut dowel rod he had hanging around his workshop, sanded the edges, sliced off 1/4 inch pieces with a bandsaw, and drilled the holes. The buttons are finished with sealer and varnish.

guide

drill bits

almost finished

drying

I'm glad our buttons are more polished and less rustic because I had some concerns about snagging my sweater on hacksawed buttons. Not so with these shiny guys. They'll be perfect for my Levenwick!

levenwick

2011-11-27T09:13:00.000-05:00

It's time for sleeves. Ugh.

My Levenwick knitting has been humming along in the background, filling time between other projects. When I wanted long stretches of stockinette, I picked up the Levenwick. Seeing miles of knits and purls before me soothed me. My hands worked without any thought, leaving me free to daydream. I thought of how this cardigan would be perfect for Christmas get-togethers with skinny jeans and boots, how the color reminded me of cranberries, how the scalloped collar will keep my neck warm.

Now I've got two sleeves to knit, all purling in the round. Daydreaming time is over. If I daydream on the sleeves, my stitches end up in an uneven, ugly spiral all down the sleeve. I know this from experience. I've already ripped back once, but I'm facing the slog of sleeve-knitting with determination because I do want to wear this on Christmas Eve.

* * *

How is your Christmas crafting coming along? I've got four presents I've started but not yet finished, plus this sweater for myself. I'm only really worried about one of the projects because it requires reading a knitting chart. I haven't mastered that skill yet. I'd love to hear how your projects are going!

* * *

P.S. Thanks for the podcast suggestions! I love This American Life and plan to try out On Being. I also recently discovered Here's the Thing with Alec Baldwin (I could listen to him talk all day) and CraftLit (a combination craft podcast and audiobook--I started with Dracula, but can't wait to listen to The Woman in White).

little things

2011-11-24T08:30:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all of my U.S. friends (and happy Thursday to everyone else)!

Good morning! Today is starting off with a cup of creamy hot coffee and gingerbread cookie beside me, so needless to say, I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a lot of big things to be thankful for this year--healthy family, new home, steady job, graduate degree--but this blog is about noticing the small things, too. Little things I'm thankful for lately:

{cheese and fruit feast}

Accompanied by a movie marathon with my little sister.

{quince yarn and harmony needles}

I never get bored with this soft yarn and these colorful needles.

{persimmon tree in the neighborhood}

Reminds me of our time in Japan.

{vegetable pot pie}

So cozy and comforting.

* * *

I hope you have a lot of things--both big and small--to be thankful for today and always.

Happy Thanksgiving!

crafting

2011-11-20T20:44:00.001-05:00

Lately my mind is buzzing with projects that I want to make right now. Nevermind that I've got several Christmas projects that I haven't even started. No, now is the time to make myself some bunny slippers, knit myself a cardigan, and crochet stars for Christmas package decorations. I may end up with nothing to put in those packages, but rest assured that they'll be gorgeously decorated empty boxes.

I've been logging plenty of crafting hours, which means I get to spend lots of time in my upstairs craft room. It's so cozy up there! I've also been listening to a ton of podcasts and thought I'd share a few of my favorites with you.

Patient Zero - Radiolab Fascinating exploration of the history of HIV and SIV. This podcast episode made me long for my days as an anthropology major when my favorite professor deemed everything "fascinating." I think she'd like this.

Unintentional Spinners - Just One More Row Um, so, I have this urge to add another craft to my repertoire. It started when I watched women spinning yarn at the state fair. This podcast episode only added fuel to the fire. The hosts of this show, Brittany and Dana, always sound like they're having so much fun (and they have lovely twangy voices). I've promised myself not to start spinning until after Christmas.

[Every episode] - The Moth The Moth makes me happy. If you don't listen to it yet, you should start. It's real people telling true, unscripted stories, and it's always compelling.

* * *

Are you a podcast listener? What are you favorites?

I'm always looking for new ones to try!

it feels like home

2011-11-09T19:34:00.000-05:00

apple peeling out on the deck.

garlic planting. hoping for a harvest come june.

in the evenings, japanese maple shadows dance across our walls.

{so hard to capture in a photo...}

squash bread makes the new place smell like home.

a beautiful day in the neighborhood. yeah, it feels this idyllic in person, too.

* * *

I can only show you snippets of our days lately. If I showed you more, you'd see that nearly every room of the house still has boxes to unpack. You'd see me sneaking off to read The Hunger Games or knit Christmas presents or watch the first season of The Sopranos with K. We're settling in slowly.

It's funny the things that have changed. Things that I never could have anticipated. For instance, I can see the sky so much better in our house than I could from our apartment. I never knew how much I missed it, but lately I've been watching the clouds by day and marveling at the waxing moon by night. What a show.

new place

2011-11-02T12:24:00.000-04:00

We are in our new house and loving it. We've got a lot of unpacking to do before we can really settle in, but it's not as daunting when I can take knitting breaks in front of the fire.

keeping warm

2011-10-22T07:58:00.003-04:00

The kettle is on. I'm layered in shirts and sweats. Our bed is piled with quilts and afghans. My hands want to wrap themselves around a mug of coffee--c'mon, kettle. Cold weather has finally found its way to our Kentucky valley.

Of course this means that I need to make more woolly things. These fingerless gloves were on and off my needles last week, and I'm getting a lot of satisfaction from such a quick knit. They keep my hands from freezing at the bus stop while leaving my fingers free to find my bus pass, work keys, and knitting needles.

Now the coffee is ready, and I need some slow sipping time with the newspaper and maybe a bit of knitting before a day of packing and running errands. Have a good weekend!

Details

Reading Mitts (free pattern)
Yarn: Littledove (a Kentucky yarn!)
Needles: US Size 5 DPNs

* * * * *

Other people keeping warm:

Andrea with her Rocky Coast cardigan

Kristen with her scalloped collar

Anna Maria with her new flannels

Penguins!

right now, handwritten

2011-10-20T19:45:00.000-04:00

And you?

* * * * *

Updated to add: We're not in the new house yet. Right now we are enjoying the last few (chaotic) days in our apartment before the big move, and we're eagerly anticipating settling into our new home next week.

yarn along: planning

2011-10-12T12:50:00.000-04:00

I just don't know about this week. Work is crazy-busy, leaving me feeling scattered at the end of each day. My personal life is stressful--sick relatives and family fights. And this morning at the bus stop an angry drunk man got up in my face and yelled horrible things. It's all enough to make me want to crawl into bed and hibernate all winter.

But I can't.

So, I'm planning for the future, for those glad times that are hopefully waiting out there for me in the not-too-distant future.

This week I'm knitting some wrist warmers for myself in anticipation of delightfully chilly autumn days. We've had such a warm streak of weather lately that it hasn't felt like fall at all. It's been so warm that I was surprised to see the trees turning gold and sidewalks filled with russet leaves when K and I were out on a walk last night. There's a cold front moving through tonight that is supposed to bring rain. Cool days will soon be here and I'll need some wrist warmers to ward off the chill while still keeping my fingers free. You know, in case I need to mace anyone at the bus stop.

And of course, I'm planning for our new house. It seems unreal that we'll be living in a place of our own in just over two weeks. Design*Sponge at Home is full of inspiration and my copy is full of sticky notes marking decor I love. It's overwhelming to think of decorating a whole house, but certainly exciting.

* * *

I'm yarning along today with Ginny. What are you making/reading this week?

happy distractions

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

Happy fingers

(Cables! Woohoo!)

Happy mouth

(find a version of the recipe here)

Happy thoughts

(dreaming of my next sweater and a hat)

* * * * *

Lately I've found mounds of happy things to distract me from moving chores, but we've got a stack of empty boxes in the living room that I've promised myself I'll start filling. Soon. We move in three weeks!

What's making you happy today?

21c

2011-10-05T12:51:00.001-04:00

It has been so hard to get back into the work week after the weekend that we had. For K's birthday, I surprised him with an in-the-city getaway. We stayed downtown at the 21c Museum Hotel, which was voted the #1 hotel in the US and #6 in the world (that's right, big things are happening here in Kentucky). The 21c has fabulous 24/7 gallery space with a bevy of art exhibits. Their rooms are full of interior design inspiration, and they serve up delicious meals at their restaurant, Proof.

Downtown Louisville has (surprisingly) a lot going on at night. I curled up on the window seat for a while and watched people walking by. Later K and I had a board game marathon (it was his birthday, after all). K was surprised and loved having a low-key birthday getaway.

* * *

I just had to show you guys my favorite interactive art installation. A camera projects live images onto a wall along with falling letters. You can actually catch the letters as they cascade down. The word nerd in me had a blast!

If you're in need of a getaway, I highly recommend the 21c!

celebrating

2011-10-01T08:21:00.001-04:00

We're celebrating my mister's last year as a twenty-something.

We've had birthday dinners, birthday cakes, and birthday games.

His birthday may be over, but the celebrating isn't. I've still got some surprises up my sleeve. I can't wait to share with you (and him!) where we're going.

* * * * *

Happy birthday, K! You just keep getting better with age.

* * * * *

Have a great weekend!

honeycomb cardigan

2011-09-26T22:05:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited to show you my latest finished project, which I've named the Honeycomb Cardigan. Remember when it was still growing? Well, now it's a full-fledged sweater, and I feel like a bona fide knitter. It's my absolute favorite sweater, and I'm still marveling that my hands made it. Bona fide, oh my.

What do I love about this sweater? Um, just about everything--the color, feel, lacework, i-cord edging, and twisted rib. It's dressy enough for the office, but cozy enough to wear when I'm just kicking around town. It brightened up my rainy Saturday last weekend and even made my trip to pay the bills feel kind of fun.

Details:

Honeycomb Cardigan (my version of Audrey in Unst)

Yarn: Quince & Co. Chickadee in Carrie's Yellow (I wholeheartedly recommend!)

Notions: Cream-colored buttons

* * * * *

P.S. As I was sorting through these photos I realized that I had unintentionally knitted myself a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Maybe I make my own luck?

P.P.S. Bona fide! (1:20)

favorite of favorites

2011-09-24T10:28:00.000-04:00

Saturday mornings move slowly around here. Hours feel like whole days, and Monday's return to the routine seems far away. This morning has been particularly pleasant. I dove into our CSA vegetables and made breakfast burritos. The open windows let in cool, rain-soaked air, but two pots of coffee have kept me warm. A ball of red wool found its way onto my needles. But by far the best part of this morning has been the music.

Tonight we've got tickets to a Nanci Griffith concert, so I dug out all of my Nanci records and CDs. I've been playing them the whole morning. Nanci's voice is tied with many memories for me. My dad and uncle listened to her music when I was a kid. Certain lyrics transport me across the world and time.

Bicycles squeezed down alley ways into view

And towels warmed on oven doors
To not freeze
Was the only thing to do

I hummed this song all over Amsterdam for months as I rode my bike through cobblestone streets. Her words reminded me of home and made me feel less alone among strangers.

One winter night in Japan I walked home from work late at night listening to Nanci's album of torch songs. Snow was piled high around me as I trudged through an empty park. The only sounds were the crunch of snow and Nanci's voice singing "Bluer than blue." The whole world seemed cast in blue--the pale ice, glowing streetlights, and dark sky. In those moments I felt both melancholy and the happiest I'd ever been.

One of the Nanci Griffith records I found at a shop in Ann Arbor has notes taken during a concert she played on December 7, 1985. The album is also signed by Nanci and includes her book recommendations: Carson McCullers's Reflections in a Golden Eye and Thomas Wolfe's Look Homeward, Angel. I think these two need to make it onto my reading list.

* * * * *

Do you have any special memories tied to music? Who is your favorite musician? What do you love about their music? I'm such a word lover that lyrics are the most important part of music for me, and Nanci's songs always tell stories. She's definitely my favorite of favorites. I can't wait till tonight!

news...

2011-09-22T23:02:00.000-04:00

People told me that when I found the right house, I'd just know, but I didn't believe them one bit. I thought they were glassy-eyed optimists who'd just as soon try to convince me that if I really look hard enough I'll find a leprechaun and pot of gold at the end of every rainbow. For real, people? I was firmly convinced that the house I found would be something I settled for--good enough, but not "the one." It's not as if there's a house soulmate out there for everyone. Of course I had my hopes, although I didn't have a lot of conviction that those dreams would materialize.

But then I walked into the house above and fell in love so hard. Fireplace? A big kitchen? Plenty of room in the dining room for that long table we want? I skittered from room to room with a giddy feeling in my stomach, knowing that I would feel incredibly lucky to live there.

And I am so damn lucky sometimes I can't believe it. Because if everything goes as planned, K and I will be moving into our new house next month. We're so excited to make the space our own, to settle in, build fires, cook meals, and live lots of new adventures. I can't wait to share it all with you!

yipes! stripes!

2011-09-14T12:36:00.000-04:00

I'm obsessed with stripes lately. The obsession started with these colorful stripes and continued with the yellow-striped hat I made for my husband. Now I've got this red and dark gray hat (a gift) on the needles, and I can't help thinking of how fun it would be to have my own striped hat to wear this winter.

I need stripes right now. They make me feel like I'm really making progress on something, which helps me as I anxiously await some news on a possible new house. Yes, we found a house that we LOVE, but we've been in negotiations the past few days and the waiting is driving me a little batty. So, I knit stripes. All that anxious energy has to go somewhere!

Speaking of anxious energy...This morning I was knitting so feverishly on the bus that I almost missed my stop. Luckily, I looked up just in time and scrambled out to the street. In my hurry I shoved my yarn and needles into my purse. Well, when I arrived at work I unpacked my bag and found a peanut butter and jelly sandwich impaled on a knitting needle. The needle went all the way through the sandwich and out the other side!

* * *

It was great hearing from so many of you last week about how you deal with a boring book. I took your advice and picked up something more exciting (to me): If on a winter's night a traveler. This novel is completely unlike anything I've ever read, and I have no idea where it is going to take me. It continuously calls attention to the act of reading and the reader's interaction with the text. Each chapter is part of a different novel, and each builds suspense and then breaks off before anything is resolved. I really like books that ask me to put the pieces together and give me plenty of moments to wonder what in the world is going on. This book is full of those moments!

* * *

I'm yarning along today with Ginny. Be sure to check out all the other great yarns this week.

Yarn Giveaway Winners

2011-09-13T23:18:00.001-04:00

Hilde of Hildes lille krok, Maria of Aussie Maria, and Marfa of Scrumptious are all winners!

I'll be contacting the winners shortly, and once I have your contact information I'll send some lovely yarn your way.

* * * * *

Thank you everyone who took time to enter the giveaway. I had a blast reading the comments. You guys came up with some interesting facts! I thought I'd share my five favorite here (the ones that competed for the Noro):

Kitten With a Whiplash said...

Random Fact: Collectively my littletoes have been run over by three cars and a piano. Plus countlesstimes that Mom's run over them with her Rascal.

[Too funny...and painful!]

* * *

Mindy said...

What a great giveaway! Thanks for thechance to win!

Random fact about me. I've beensearching for months and months to figure out a crochet stitch thatmy husband's great-grandmother had used for MANY afghans she created.I have finally figured it out, and I am almost finished making a babyblanket for my sister-in-law and niece-to-be using that stitch. Itwill be a tribute to her from her great-great-grandmother'sincredible crocheting legacy. I hope they like it!

[That's amazing, Mindy! How wonderful that you're carrying on a family tradition and making connections between generations.]

* * *

moreofhim said...

What gorgeous yarn! Any of them wouldbe such a special treat!

Something about me: My Grandmothertaught me to crochet when I was 4 years old with thread. It'ssomething I've done my entire life and I think of her every time Ipick up my hook.

Thank you for entering me in thegiveaway. :)

[Wow, either your grandmother was very patient or you were a very talented child. Maybe both. :) I'm amazed that you learned with thread at such a young age!]

* * *

Jennifer said...

Something about myself...when I wasabout 9-10 I wrote and orchestrated a play in which my 7-8 yr oldcousin walked out into the livingroom at my g'parents stating, "Oh,I'm just a streetwalker. Just a streetwalker." Of course, theparents in the room and my grandparents threw a fit...and I neveradmitted to them that I was the one who told her to say that.

[I love funny kid stories. I actually know Jennifer and cannot imagine her ever saying streetwalker.]

* * *

Marfa said...

I am posting my 368th blog post today!So, I'm near 400, too. I'm sure the weather there is similar to thisodd weather we've had here...extremely hot days, then very cooldays...right now, I'm wearing the orange alpaca socks (my first eversocks I knit) to keep warm!

[Orange alpaca socks sound super cozy! Hurray for first socks!]

yarn along: yellow stripe

2011-09-07T12:29:00.001-04:00

Yarning along with Ginny today

It has been so long since I've gotten to participate in yarn along day. My knitting and my book never got together this week for a photo op, but rest assured they're both in my life.

This yellow-striped hat I'm making for K has kept my hands busy during my bus rides this past week. With school starting back, my morning bus is now packed with students. I squeeze in beside high school students, med students, and plenty of other working people. I previously reserved my knitting for times when the bus was sparsely populated, but lately I've been using it to carve out space for myself. People tend to leave extra room when there are needles flying about.

I went a little overboard on the stockinette section of this hat and ended up with an extra inch. No problem, I thought. K has kind of a big head, so I figured it would fit fine. I kept on knitting. But then last night I actually finished the hat and had K try it on. It was definitely too big! So I ripped back and am trying again. At least it's quick knitting!

* * *

Lately I've been reading Water for Elephants, but I'm having a hard time feeling involved in the story. Reading about old-timey circuses is interesting (the trains! the sequins! the animals!), but I just don't care about the characters. At all. I'm 200 pages in, so I'll probably stick with it till the end. I'm already looking forward to a new read, though. The Hunger Games is definitely tempting me.

What yarns are in your life this week? I'd love to hear if you're reading something compelling. What do you do if a book loses its appeal halfway through--plow through or kick it off the night stand?

* * * * *

There's still time to enter my yarn giveaway!

400 posts yarn giveaway!

2011-09-05T17:45:00.000-04:00

Hello, hello! I recently realized that my last post was number 400. That's certainly something to celebrate! It's been a long time since I held a giveaway, so when I was at the yarn store today I picked up a few skeins to give to some lucky readers.

I'm giving away 2 skeins of Ella Rae wool in yellow and cream, 3 skeins of Mission Falls cotton from my favorite yarn shop (now closed), and 1 skein of Noro Kureyon in blue and green hues. I want to share the yarn, so I'll be choosing three winners--one for the Ella Rae, one for Mission Falls, and one for Noro.

The nitty gritty of how to win:

1. Leave a comment on this post telling me something about yourself. Anything will do--I'm a fan of random facts. I'd love to know more about my readers. Make sure I have a way to contact you!

2. For a bonus entry, become a follower of Field Wonderful. Leave a comment letting me know you're a follower.

3. For another bonus entry, post about this giveaway on your blog and leave another comment here with the link to your blog post.

Entries from all over the world are welcome. I'm willing to ship this yarn anywhere mail will go.

This giveaway will close on Monday, September 12, 2011 at 8 PM EST. I'll put the names in a lovely vintage tin and draw for the Ella Rae and Mission Falls. The Noro is my favorite, so I'll choose my five favorite comments and hold a special drawing for it.

The giveaway is closed. I'll announce the winners in a new post soon.

* * * * *

Good luck to you and thank you so much for reading Field Wonderful!

dream home

2011-09-03T08:29:00.000-04:00

I've been thinking a lot about my dream home lately--the place where I want to spend my life and build a family. Yes, I've got a laundry list of wants and needs and wouldn't-it be-cool-if-we-hads. But when I really try to picture my dream home, here is what I see.

It's spring, and we've just planted vegetables in the yard. The flowers are starting to come up. They are old-fashioned varieties of roses, peonies, and lilacs that have been growing here for many years. We've planted herbs near the patio, just out the back door, for quick snipping around dinnertime. It's still quite cool in the evenings, so we spend time curled on the couch with piles of books and yarn. During thunderstorms we watch the rain out the wide front windows until the weather gets too scary, and then we hide out in the basement till it calms down.

Summer comes with its hot and heavy days. The kitchen is busy with canning and jamming vegetables from our garden and fruit from our trees. We've got summertime craft projects spread out across the long dining room table. Suppers are quick salads and grilled vegetables eaten outside on the deck. Evenings are spent on the porch swing with iced tea. When the mosquitoes drive us inside, we break out a board game and stay up too late playing.

Autumn is my favorite season of all. We pull quilts from the cedar chest and pile them on the beds. Windows stay open all evening long so that my porch-swing-knitting is accompanied by the sounds of Dinah Washington records. We carve pumpkins and line them up on the porch steps. We build the first fire of the season and feel so cozy in our living room. We cuddle under crocheted afghans for movie nights with a big bowl of kettle corn and hot apple cider.

During winter we put our stack of firewood to steady use, and our home is filled with the rich smell of wood smoke. We linger under the covers longer every morning, scurrying out in woolen slippers to put the kettle on. The Christmas records play regularly after dinner as we make wish lists and homemade presents. We bake more cookies than we could ever possibly eat and pack lots up to give away to neighbors and friends. The kitchen is the place to be this season. When it snows we clamber outside to make snow angels in the front yard and build an igloo in the back.

I am looking forward to many seasons in my dream home. I know that everything on my laundry list of wants is not going to be checked off, but I'm looking for a house that captures that feeling of home that I want. And a big kitchen would be nice, too! We're still on the hunt...

* * * * *

What's your dream home like? Is it a cabin in the woods? A cottage at the beach? Do you live there now? I'd love to here about the place where you dream of spending your days.

* * * * *

P.S. I've been listening to this song over and over. It's perfect for dreaming! (found via Cast On)

good things lately

2011-08-30T21:35:00.000-04:00

a feather in my path.

lucky horseshoes.

quiet trails.

a new coffee shop.

i had the campfire tea!

picking yarn for a new project. yellow won.

* * *

i'd love to hear what good things you've found in your life lately.

baby red sweater

2011-08-27T13:57:00.000-04:00

I finally got a couple of packages shipped off to far away friends, so now this baby red sweater is on its way to Japan. I really should wait to post about this sweater until after it is received, since I know that my friend occasionally stops by this space, but I just can't wait any longer!

I knitted this sweater using the Springtime Baby Cardi pattern and yarn left over from my Strawberry sweater. Most of this sweater was completed on my daily commute and short lunch breaks, so the process took longer than I expected.

This was the first pattern I've used that gave me leeway on counting rows--the instructions stated generally how long each part of the cardigan should be. I enjoyed knitting freely and measuring later more than the usual knit a row, write it down method I've been using.

I tried to give some perspective on how tiny this sweater is. It's hard to imagine a person small enough to wear it. I hope it will fit my friend's baby!

you can never have too much yarn

2011-08-20T07:10:00.000-04:00

My yarn basket is overflowing these days, helped along by a recent trip to Knit On in Newport, Kentucky. This is the basket of yarn for projects I plan to make in the very near future. Isn't it pretty? I can't wait to have my hands busy with all of that wool.

This striped number has been my constant companion for a couple of weeks. The pattern is easily memorized, so I've been able to knit wherever I happen to be. I've found myself pulling out the knitting needles as I stand at the bus stop, while riding the bus, during my lunch break at work, and of course while curled up on the couch in the evenings. The stripes make progress visible and the changing colors of Noro keep the project feeling fresh. And what is this project, you may ask? Just wait and see, I say.

I'm looking forward to autumn. I've got plans to spend my fall nights making Christmas presents, but I also want to make a Levenwick cardigan for myself. When I spied the pattern last week it jumped right to the top of my Ravelry queue. Such gorgeous texture. Wonderful scallops. Now I just need to find the perfect yarn. Oh yeah, and finish the sweater I'm currently making for myself--only one more sleeve, button bands, and edging to go!

weekend snippets: storm

2011-08-16T22:17:00.001-04:00

power outage

smashed

uprooted

K and I returned from a day trip on Saturday to find the streets in Louisville dark. We had no idea what had happened, but found out that a wild storm with high winds had ripped through the city. Nearly 120,000 homes and businesses were without power, and public schools ended up being canceled for two days.

We spent our power-less night with the windows open and candles burning. On Sunday morning we walked around the neighborhood to survey the storm's damage. In our area there were some big trees down. We saw this smashed car, but no heavily damaged houses like in other parts of the city. Despite the loss of beautiful old trees, we're feeling pretty lucky. Hope you're having better weather where you are.

picnic blanket

2011-08-08T19:44:00.000-04:00

breakfast picnic/photo shoot

After eyeing Amanda's blanket for ages, I finally got around to sewing a vintage sheet picnic blanket of my own. The bright colors and crazy floral patterns make for a festive summer outing. K and I have been enjoying the heck out of it and inviting our friends and family to come share it with us. I'm looking forward to using this blanket even more when the weather cools off in September and October (fingers crossed--it will eventually cool down, right?).

Our friend Christine relaxed on the blanket while listening to a concert by the river.

K rested while my sister and I played gin rummy.

Mom, K, Julie, and I all squeezed on the blanket to play one of our favorite new card games, No Thanks!.

* * *

For my next picnic blanket, I'd like to use a thicker backing and make the whole thing a block or two bigger. The chenille I used to back this blanket is on the thin side, so we layer another blanket underneath for cushioning and to sop up any moisture from the grass.

(Photos by Christine, me, and my mom)

woodcarving class

2011-08-07T12:19:00.002-04:00

K and his dad using a froe and mallet to split cedar

David, my father-in-law, gave K and I a woodcarving class this weekend. He started off by introducing us to the tools we'd be using--these were all old-fashioned handtools. Some of the tools have been in David's family for 130 years or more. These bear the initials NM for Nathaniel Morgan, David's great-great-grandfather, who used the tools to make furniture in the 1880s. Others belonged to David's grandfather, Homer Morgan, who was a tobacco farmer and ran a saw mill.

Using the drawknife

We began with a cedar fencepost and the goal of making a little cedar cross. David recently taught a woodcarving class at his church, so the first step of sawing the cedar was already done for us. We skipped ahead to using a froe and mallet to split the wood, then used a brace with an auger bit to make a hole for the wood to intersect. Next was one of my favorite parts. We used a drawknife to square up the wood and shave it down to the right size. Then we used a miter saw, miter box, plane, rasp, eggbeater drill, and a mythbuster, which is a tool that David invented to create round pegs from square pieces of wood. (In case you're wondering, I aced the tool quiz at the end of the class.)

Using a rasp to smooth the edges

Two hours went by so quickly as David demonstrated each step and then K and I took our turns. My mother-in-law, Phyllis, snapped photos of the whole process.

Cedar crosses

Soon we had handmade, cedar crosses of our own (they smell so good!). And the best part? Coming up with ideas for the next project...

* * *

Thanks for sharing your talents with us, David. And thanks Phyllis for keeping us company and taking great photos.

today

2011-07-31T20:14:00.000-04:00

Today has been a slow Sunday.

K and I went on a couple of hot walks--one to the grocery and one to pay the rent. Even though I started sweating the moment I stepped out the door, I'm glad that we live near enough to walk to a lot of places, and I plan to keep walking despite the weather.

I took photos of flowers that I saw along the way (and may have snagged one growing from a crack in the sidewalk to put in a vase at home). I'm keeping mental notes of all the flowers I want to plant once I finally have a yard again. The list is long.

Our galley kitchen was crowded as K and I spent the afternoon preparing pitas, hummus, feta dip, and lemonade for dinner. The results were delicious, but the making...eh...not so much. Two cooks in a tiny kitchen with lots of food prep going on is just plain frustrating. When my shoes stuck to the floor because of spilled lemon juice and every surface seemed covered in flour, I took a mid-afternoon yoga break to keep myself from cussing anymore. When I felt calm again, I returned to baking bread only to burn my forearm on a 450* oven door. Yeah, so much for that not cussing idea. Some days aren't meant for cooking and I just have to accept that.

I did discover a new love: shandy. When I first heard mention of this beer and lemonade concoction I gagged a little. It sounded like a terrible combination. Rest assured, it is not. Shandy tastes like sweet, bubbly lemon soda, and I'm hereby dubbing it my drink of the summer.

A sunny perch on the couch was the perfect place for knitting today. The baby cardigan for my friend is coming along quickly.

* * *

How's your weekend? What have you been up to?

csa day: summer stuff (and a comfort food recipe)

2011-07-30T11:28:00.000-04:00

last week

This is what we've gotten the last two weeks from our CSA. I love that we're getting summer stuff like tomatoes (yay!), squash, basil, and watermelon, but also getting things like carrots, potatoes, and onions. Planning dinners has been a cinch lately because of all the food we've got on hand, and our weekly grocery trips are getting shorter and cheaper. We often look in our cart as we stand in line at the register and ask, is this really all we need? I'm really impressed with the variety and amount of produce we've been getting from the farm this year.

this week

Want to know what we've been making? I've included a menu for the past two weeks since I am behind in my posting.

Menu
Tuesday: Leftover okonomiyaki and tamagoyaki

Wednesday: Homemade pizza with onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and spinach. Crust recipe is here. I also made a whole-wheat version to try.

Thursday/Friday: Thai curry with squash, green beans, and tofu

Saturday: Out to eat at the Sante Fe Grill, our new favorite Mexican restaurant in town

Sunday: Veggie burgers. Corn, tomato, and basil salad with vinaigrette.

Monday: Japanese curry with potatoes, carrots, onions, and tofu

* * *

Tuesday: Out with co-workers (me), fending for himself (K)

Wednesday: Leftover curry

Thursday: Pasta with tomatoes, basil, feta, and fried eggs

Friday: Barbecue tofu, cabbage casserole, sauteed squash

Saturday: Out

Sunday/Monday: Hummus, pitas, feta dip, and lots of fresh vegetables

* * * * *

I've made the cabbage casserole twice recently for company and both times the guests went back for seconds, which I think says a lot for a cabbage dish. The cabbage flavor gets a layer of depth from roasting in the oven and is complemented by buttery cracker crumbs and sharp cheddar cheese. It's savory comfort food.

I wanted to give you a recipe, but I don't measure anything for this--I just use what we have on hand. Here's what I estimate I used this last time. Feel free to change things up and eyeball amounts.

Cabbage Casserole
(adapted from a dish K's mom makes)

2 small heads of cabbage (equivalent to 1 large)
4 tiny onions (equivalent to 1 medium onion)
1/2 sleeve of Ritz crackers, crushed
2 TBSP butter, melted
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, grated
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350* and oil a 13" x 9" baking dish.

Chop the cabbage and onions into thin strips. Saute cabbage and onions with a bit of oil over medium-high heat until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Be sure to salt and pepper generously.

While the vegetables cook, mix the melted butter and crushed crackers.

Transfer cabbage and onions to the prepared baking dish. Top with cheddar cheese and cracker crumbs. Bake for 10-15 minutes. Serve immediately and amaze your friends and family with how delicious cabbage can be. This is also great reheated the next day.

yarn along: little red and LEO

2011-07-27T17:49:00.000-04:00

yarning along today

We are headed out to a concert by the river tonight. We're packing bottles of cool water, blankets for lounging, and maybe a card game or two. I'm also stowing this knitting project in my bag.

I've been working on this red rectangle (soon to be a tiny cardigan) on my bus ride to and from work. You can see the bumpy road in my gauge, but that just adds character, right? This is the first time I've worked on a project with seed stitch, but it won't be the last. It so simple (alternating knits and purls), but makes a pretty pattern.

As for reading, I have about five books spread-eagled beside my bed. I can't seem to pick just one and honestly, I've been so tired lately that I only make it through about three pages before my eyelids start drooping, so I don't feel very invested in any of them. One thing that I am invested in is picking up a copy of the LEO Weekly, Louisville's alternative paper, every Wednesday. It's got great columnists (including my friend Sarah) and lots of great local event coverage. It really helps me plan my weekends and makes my midweek commute more entertaining.

I'm off now to gather up blankets, games, and knitting for our night out by the river. I can't wait to see the sunset and listen to some good music. Have a good night!

today

2011-07-24T17:26:00.001-04:00

Today feels good. Life is full.

K and I spent the morning slowly waking up over coffee, scrambled eggs, and the newspaper. We still enjoy holding the printed pages in our hands, even if all the news seems bad. The sections I read end up in a messy wad. When K's finished reading the paper looks as if it's just been delivered.

Mid-morning saw us out house-hunting. We finally found one today that we could picture ourselves living in, which certainly doesn't mean we'll end up buying it, but still...exciting. I found myself sitting in the kitchen there in yellow chair at a tiny yellow formica table. I mentally added a lamp and imagined the coziest late-night tea parties. Nightcaps would also be appropriate. It seemed like a place to share secrets and talks about the future. Yes, that sweet kitchen is still on my mind.

This afternoon I've talked to my mom, dad, and sister. Being in touch with them makes me so happy. They are the reason that buying a house in my hometown feels right. I love Louisville for many reasons, but what anchors me here are those three people. I am lucky enough to also have a large extended family living here and K's family is only a short drive away.

Right now three pots of beans simmer on the stove. Granola sits cooling on the kitchen table, tempting me each time I pass by. I grab a pinch of cinnamon-scented oats and pecans and debate mixing up a batch of dough for granola bread. Right now K is taking a break from doing laundry--the fourth and final load is in the dryer. He is re-reading a book he has read probably five times before. Some well-loved books never get old. And here I am, happily blogging for the first time in a week. I am glad to be here chatting with you.

Lately I've been looking for balance in my life. My new job takes much of my time and energy, but I find it very fulfilling. I've never felt (or expected to feel) so professional in my work. The people I work with are all incredibly smart and fun, a winning combination in my book. Even though I do like my job, I'm trying not to let it sap all of my creative energy. I want to devote some time each day to crafting, whether it be designing crochet projects (I can't wait to show you the mitered crochet cross block), knitting, or sewing. So far I've done well, but I haven't yet figured out how to fit blogging into my routine. I love blogging in the morning, but mornings now are busy with getting ready and going to work. So, bear with me as I figure out this new routine.

I am looking forward to tonight. We're making Japanese curry for dinner and I'm planning to watch a good hour of trash TV. I can't resist it sometimes.

* * * * *

What's going on in your life today?

Mitered Crochet Square Pattern

2011-07-17T21:27:00.003-04:00

This weekend was filled with good things: a walk to the farmers' market, seeing the final Harry Potter movie, spending time with new friends, and working on a mitered crochet design. I've worked up a pattern for you. I hope you like it! I'm currently using a pile of mitered squares to make a dishcloth pattern. I'll post the dishcloth pattern here on the blog when it's ready. And no, I have not forgotten about my rope doily rug pattern. It's in the works still.

Mitered Crochet Square

by Allison Lutes

Free pattern courtesy of fieldwonderful.blogspot.com

Supplies:

Worsted weight yarn in two colors (not much—this is a great project for scrap yarn)

US Size H (5 mm) hook

Tapestry needle for weaving in ends

Stitches used:

ch—Chain stitch

sc—US single crochet (same as UK dc/double crochet)

sc2tog-- US single crochet two together (same as UK dc2tog)

How to sc2tog: Insert hook into next stitch. Yarn over and pull up loop (2 loops on hook). Insert hook into next stitch. Yarn over and pull up loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook. One decrease made.

Notes: This is a simple and hopefully straightforward pattern. To make a mitered square, you start with the largest side and gradually decrease with each row. I found that alternating a decrease of three stitches for one row and one stitch for the next row made a pretty even square. I've listed the stitch count at the end of each row so that you can easily keep track of the number of decreases.

I have tried to keep the instructions as simple as possible. For example, in the first row “12 sc” means one single crochet in each of the first twelve stitches. For this pattern, always crochet one single crochet per stitch except on the sc2tog, which have one single crochet per two stitches.

The turning chain does not count as the first stitch.

* * *

Let's begin, shall we?

To begin: With color A, ch 31.

Row 1: 12 sc, sc2tog 3 times, sc to end. Ch 1, turn. (27 stitches)

Row 2: 13 sc, sc2tog, sc to end. Ch 1, turn. (26 stitches)

Row 3: 10 sc, sc2tog 3 times, sc to end. Ch 1, turn. (23 stitches)

Row 4: 11 sc, sc2tog, sc to end. Ch 1, turn. (22 stitches)

Row 5: 8 sc, sc2tog 3 times, 7 sc. Sc one more time, switching to color B on last yarn over. Ch 1, turn. (19 stitches)

Row 6: 9 sc, sc2tog, sc to end. Ch 1, turn. (18 stitches)

Row 7: 6 sc, sc2tog 3 times, sc to end. Ch 1, turn. (15 stitches)

Row 8: 7 sc, sc2tog, sc to end. Ch 1, turn. (14 stitches)

Row 9: 4 sc, sc2tog 3 times, sc to end. Ch 1, turn. (11 stitches)

Row 10: 5 sc, sc2tog, sc to end. Ch 1, turn. (10 stitches)

Row 11: 2 sc, sc2tog 3 times, sc to end. Ch 1, turn. (7 stitches)

Row 12: 3 sc, sc2tog, sc to end. Ch 1, turn. (6 stitches)

Row 13: sc2tog 3 times. Ch 1, turn. (3 stitches)

Row 14: 1 sc, sc2tog. Ch 1, turn. (2 stitches)

Row 15: sc2tog. (1 stitch)

Cut yarn and weave in ends. Finished square measures approximately 4 in x 4 in (10 cm x 10 cm). Now make more and sew them together to make dishcloths, potholders, scarves, blankets, etc. Or simply add a border and you've got a cute coaster.

You can also find this pattern on Ravelry.

* * *

Feel free to use this pattern for your own personal use or for sale. If using it for sale, please give me credit by including my blog name (fieldwonderful.blogspot.com) with your crocheted product. Spread the crochet love!

yarn along: knit + crochet experiment

2011-07-13T06:33:00.000-04:00

yarn along today

I've been in awe of the wonderful mitered crosses I've seen recently, such as Andrea's and Andi's blankets. So I started experimenting with my own miters, adapting from other patterns and throwing in some trial and error. Once I started knitting one, I wondered if I could create a similar square in crochet. Turns out, I can. I'm still trying to get these the way I want them, but in the meantime I am enjoying my experiments. Sometimes it's fun just to see what my fingers can make. I am not normally a fan of projects that combine knitting and crochet, but these two squares are looking pretty happy together.

As for other yarns in my life, I've been flipping through A Perfectly Kept House is the Sign of a Misspent Life. It's got fantastic peeks into ordinary homes, clutter and all. It's good to see the flux of real living. I can't remember where I first came across this book, but I know lots of bloggers have been reading it. It'll keep you inspired with pretty, cozy homes and the interesting people who inhabit them.

csa day: summer vegetables

2011-07-12T18:38:00.000-04:00

Squash, zucchini, onions, cucumbers, cabbage, green beans, garlic, fennel

Tuesday/Wednesday: Skillet nachos with black beans, squash, and zucchini

Thursday: Family cook out

Friday/Saturday: Green curry with tofu, zucchini, and green beans over rice

Sunday/Monday: Okonomiyaki (Japanese cabbage pancake), tamagoyaki (sweet omelet). I planned this meal for a couple of weeks ago, but it never got made.

* * * * *

Otsu (Soba salad)

Recently I've been cooking from Super Natural Cooking and found this cold soba dish to be the perfect summer meal. Crisp vegetables, tofu, cilantro, and soba are tossed with a tangy Asian-inspired dressing. This meal is even better after chilling overnight in the fridge. We're definitely putting it in our regular dinner rotation. I've also been thinking of how to adapt this for a summer picnic or potluck. I think smaller pasta and tofu cubes instead of strips would make it very picnic friendly. Here's the otsu recipe link if you're interested (and you should be, it's delicious!).

* * *

What are you eating this week?

Also, does anybody have any suggestions for cooking fennel? I've got three bulbs in my fridge right now. They're starting to taunt me.

the cathrineholm collection begins

2011-07-11T21:32:00.000-04:00

I had some wonderful luck over the weekend. On a whim, I stopped by a yard sale as I walked home from the farmers' market. This CathrineHolm pan jumped out at me. There was no price tag on it, so I tried to contain my excitement as I asked the lady how much she wanted for it. "A dollar," she said. Only $1? Are you kidding me? "It's a great omelet pan," she told me, as if I needed convincing. I paid her quickly and high-tailed it out of there before she could change her mind.

Now that I've got a CathrineHolm pan, I can't help thinking that it needs some company. My eyes are peeled for bowls. A tea kettle would be a great find. I found a cute print that would look good in my kitchen. I couldn't resist buying one of Amy's new fabric designs. And so, just like that, a collection begins.

Knit for Japan Hat

2011-07-10T12:12:00.000-04:00

My Knit for Japan hat is finally complete! I chose the Milanese Lace Topper because I liked the swirl of lacework. Also, the pattern was free, and I already had a ball of worsted weight yarn that I could use. The lace pattern took me longer than I'd care to admit, mostly because each repeat was similar to the round before, but not quite the same. I had to keep looking at the pattern to keep my place. As I progressed, I kept worrying that the brim would roll up because there was only one round of ribbing to anchor it. However, after wet blocking the brim isn't rolling at all. Score one for me.

I like how simple and feminine this hat turned out. I also like imagining who will end up wearing it. I picture it arriving halfway around the world and keeping a Japanese woman warm and pretty this winter. Maybe it will bring her some comfort knowing that people from all across the globe still think and care about the people of Japan. This hat is a small but intimate connection between me and a stranger. I don't know her, but she is on my mind.

* * * * *

Thanks to Ginny for organizing the Knit for Japan group.

If you want more details on this hat, check out my Ravelry page.

* * * * *

I'm brainstorming ideas to make something for another Japanese stranger. My friend Fumiko just had a baby! Fumiko lives just outside of Tokyo, and when I heard from her after the earthquakes and tsunami she expressed worry about her baby and worry about her ability to respond to emergencies while seven months pregnant. I want to send her new little girl something handmade to celebrate her safe and joyful arrival. I'm undecided if I'll knit, crochet, or sew something for her. What's your favorite thing to make for a new baby? I'd love to hear your ideas!

yarn along: knitting for japan

2011-07-06T07:28:00.001-04:00

yarning along

Hello. Is it Wednesday again already? I can't believe it's been a whole week since we last talked. Since then I had some great time touring around the city with my out-of-town guest. There really is a lot to do in Kentucky. I'm excited to share our adventures with you. Since we last talked I also had a good first day of work (though mind-boggling in the amount of names and company lingo I have to learn).

But what I really stopped in this morning to talk about is yarny things. Gosh, I love yarn and lately I've only had needles or hook in hand intermittently. I'm making slow progress on a sleeve and trying to finish up a hat for Japan. The deadline for the hat is looming (July 15th), so I need to get a move on. I'm using the Milanese Lace Topper pattern. The yarn is a greenish blue heather that changes hues in different light.

As for books, I've been reading snatches from The Architect of Flowers short story collection. There are some beautiful phrases and sentences in this book. If you're a word lover like me, you'll probably enjoy these stories.

* * *

What have you been up to this week?

* * *

P.S. Sorry if you came here from Ginny's blog looking for crochet. I don't have a crochet project pictured this week, but I forgot to change the description.

yarn along: rope doily rug

2011-06-29T06:00:00.001-04:00

{hip hip hooray, it's yarn along day}

I've got a rope doily rug in my home now. I knew I was missing something before, and now things feel just right in my life. It only took three trips to the hardware store and five packages of clothesline.

Crocheting this wasn't hard, but it wasn't relaxing either. The rope isn't as smooth or pliable as yarn, so I never did get into a rhythm as I made this. I used a combination of hook and fingers to make the stitches.

I am so pleased with the results. This doily rug is going to be my bathmat because bare feet on rope feels so summery, like hanging out at the dock. I also think a doily rug would be a perfect welcome mat at the front door, and I'd love to use thicker rope and a larger hook (mine was 9 1/4 mm for this project) to make an area rug for the living room (inspired by this gorgeous one). I'm not so sure my husband would approve of all these doilies, but we'll take things one rug at a time.

My sister stopped by for a visit yesterday and I convinced her to lend her lovely toes to give some perspective on the size of this rug.

I'm working on writing up the pattern and tips for a tutorial, so if you're interested check back here in the next couple of weeks.

* * * * *

For the other yarns: I spent many lunches and bedtimes this week poring over The Opinionated Knitter. I enjoy Elizabeth Zimmermann's descriptions of camping out in the woods as much as I love her knitting patterns. My favorite passage of this book describes how EZ used to secretly knit on the back of a motorcycle. She didn't want her husband to know she was knitting because he would (rightly) be upset with her, so she'd stash a small project in her pocket and knit away once they were on the road. That's passion.

welcome

2011-06-28T08:29:00.000-04:00

My friend Christine is coming to visit today!

K and I became friends with Christine when we were all living in Japan. We visited her in Minneapolis last year, so this year it's her turn to come see us.

She keeps telling me how excited she is for her first trip to the South. She grew up in Minnesota, so she has always considered Kentucky a southern state. I, on the other hand, have grown up in Louisville and traveled farther south through Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama. And I have to say, Louisville isn't really the South. It feels very mid-western to me. We'll see what Christine, a true mid-westerner, has to say.

To welcome Christine, I put together a nook vignette in her favorite color--purple. I think I used every purple item that I have, and it still looks a little sparse. I also made her a sandwich bag for when we pack picnics this week. I didn't have any purple fabric, but I did find some with purple flowers. I embroidered a few of the flowers to make the purple stand out more.

* * * * *

No menu or CSA post this week. Our vegetable share was pretty small this week due to bad weather in the region last week. We had flooding and four tornadoes touch down in the city. Amazingly, there were no serious injuries. The small vegetable share this week is actually fine for us because we plan to take Christine to all of our favorite restaurants.

good day

2011-06-27T21:42:00.001-04:00

celebratory malt

Two good things to tell you.

1. Today I picked up my diploma. It was in the Registrar's office in the basement. "Pomp and Circumstance" played just for me (really) as other students picked up their transcripts and employees typed away at their desks. Such a surreal moment. All said, I'm glad to have it in my hands.

2. I got a job!!! I feel very relieved and excited. The exclamation points could go on for pages. I start next week as a publishing assistant with a small-but-growing company. Thanks for all of your encouragement here. I thought of your kind words before each interview. It made things easier knowing that you all believed in me. (Cheesy, but true.) Thank you, thank you.

loving lately

2011-06-23T22:40:00.001-04:00

Kate's caravan bedding makes my heart beat fast. So much vintage sheet goodness!

Francesca's nightgown has me thinking that my t-shirt and shorts as sleepwear don't cut it anymore. She also recently shared the most beautiful day at the beach.

Liesl's wallet has lots of pockets for organizing and a mini-doily that I made!

Kristen's nook takes its inspiration from her garden. She just started her blog recently, and it's already bursting with good things.

Cirilia Rose's sequined cardigan looks like something out of a fairy tale.

Esme is lovely in yellow and polka dots. I like her bike, too.

The perfect pillowcase for my bed is made right here in Louisville. (via Design*Sponge)

I'd like to take a drive through horse country and then spend the day weaving baskets at The Homestead.

My favorite Missed Connection has books and polka dots.

* * *

What are you loving lately?

yarn along: little lace and big lace

2011-06-22T08:33:00.002-04:00

yarn along today

I am still going strong on my Audrey cardigan. The Shetland lace turned out to be simple (and fun) to make. I knitted the lace section while K and I watched The Wire (season 3), and I didn't get nearly as much knitting done because I couldn't stop watching the show. Now I'm working on the back and wondering just how long sleeves are going to take me. I'm guessing longer than I'd like.

I just started reading Lee Smith's latest collection of short stories Mrs. Darcy and the Blue-eyed Stranger. Smith's stories of people in the South make me appreciate the daily-ness of life and the incredible characters who live here. I read her writing when I lived abroad to feel closer to home (Wendell Berry, Bobbie Ann Mason, and Barbara Kingsolver were also on my abroad reading list).

* * *

rope doily rug preview

Yesterday I stopped in at the hardware store and asked where the rope section was. "What do you need rope for?" the man behind the counter asked. "Oh, I'm just making a rug," I said. Hardware stores make me nervous because I never feel handy enough to be in them. The man showed me the rope section and pointed out cotton and sisal ones that might be good for rug-making. Maybe I'm not the first to come in about a rug. I didn't mention I was crocheting a doily rug, though. I ended up buying fifty feet of cotton clothesline, which you can see didn't get me very far. I'll get more today so that I can finish this rope doily rug. It's going to be my bathmat. I plan on making a tutorial for this when I'm through.

csa day: first day of summer

2011-06-21T20:06:00.000-04:00

Summer is here! I'm anxiously awaiting some juicy tomatoes, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy the cooler weather crops.

This week we got kale, cabbage, mixed salad greens, radishes, onions, and potatoes.

Tuesday/Wednesday: Black bean, kale, and onion tacos

Thursday/Friday: Pitas stuffed with hummus, salad greens, radishes, and carrots. Topped with feta dip from Sweet Paul magazine. This meal was slated for last week, but we didn't get around to it.

Saturday/Sunday: Toasted kale with eggs and marinara sauce

Monday: Okonomiyaki

Snack: Kale chips

We've got a lot of kale. So far we've eaten it in soup and pie, toasted it, sauteed it, and baked it. We even put it on our tacos tonight. I know. I was desperate because we suddenly had two giant bunches in the fridge. We did find a new favorite kale dish last week when we made kale and feta pizza. I'd recommend that one. The tacos are only for the really adventurous. If you've got other ideas, let me know. We'd like to try them all while we've got so much kale on hand. Actually, I just want new recipes so that I can trick myself into thinking I'm eating something different instead of kale again. Please send ideas.

positive outlook

2011-06-20T13:24:00.003-04:00

This weekend I rescued a project that has been languishing in my to-do pile since February. It's a cross pillow stuffed with buckwheat hulls and lavender. I have wanted one ever since I came across Liane's shop. K bought me buckwheat hulls and wool felt for my birthday so that I could make my own. I made the pillow out of muslin soon after, but didn't get around to sewing the cover for it. Months passed without progress on the pillow; school and knitting hogged all of my time. But then I came across this sweet bedroom (via emma lamb), and I remembered how much I wanted a cross pillow. I dug out a piece of thrifted canvas, my mom's embroidery thread, and red wool felt and got to work.

* * *

After a few hours of cutting and stitching, I've got a pillow that smells wonderfully of lavender. The buckwheat hulls offer great support for my tired neck. So far I've used it for reading and yoga, but I'm looking forward to taking some summer afternoon naps with it. I hope all of that lavender will make for sweet dreams.

* * *

Finishing this project felt very satisfying. I'm going through other unfinished things to see what I can finish next. I've got a crocheted lap blanket that just needs ends woven in and a bookmark that I promised K years ago. Maybe posting about these perpetual works in progress will motivate me to complete them.

Do you have any projects languishing that you'd like to finish?

Red Sweater Day

2011-06-16T14:27:00.000-04:00

I'm so excited to show you my second knitted sweater. Strawberry red and mostly cotton, it's perfect for summer cookouts and picnics in the park. It's comfortable with a t-shirt and jeans, and I think it is going to look very cute over a jersey dress. What I love most is that I can wear it right now without having to take a trip to the Southern hemisphere (or Maine).

The sweater and I had our first evening out together last night. We rented movies and went to the post office. Since K was with us (way to be a third wheel, Honey), I had him get a few photos. The sweater and I are pretty smitten with each other. I think every day should be a red sweater day!

The knitting was great--fast and fun. I left the sweater at home when we went on vacation because it was too big to haul around by that point and found myself missing my knitting time with it. While I do like knitting with wool better, this cotton/wool blend yarn is wonderful to work with on sweaty summer days.

For more details, check out my Ravelry page.

yarn along: sweaters

2011-06-15T13:14:00.001-04:00

{yarn along}

My Audrey cardigan has been speeding along this week. It actually looks like a sweater now (this was it last week). After the slow-going twisted rib at the bottom, the stockinette portion seems lightning fast. I'm almost to the lace yoke section! I've been knitting this cardigan exclusively (my socks and scarf are on hold) because I love the yellow yarn, and I'm excited to have a new cardigan finished, even if I do have to wait until fall to wear it. With all of the knitting and reading about knitting I've been doing lately, I've figured out that I am a product knitter. While I do enjoy the process of knitting, I mostly knit because I want that cardigan/hat/scarf.

And you'll notice from the photo that I am reading another knitting book (Yarn Harlot), a children's book (Little House on the Prairie), and listening to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. What of it? It's summer, and my reading habits are like being at the state fair. I'm having ice cream, cotton candy, and a funnel cake. I want sweet, fluffy, and mind-numbingly good. Also, all of these fun, light reads balance out the finance book I found myself checking out from the library last night. What's the food equivalent of a finance book? Oatmeal?

* * *

{sweater soaking}

In other yarny news, I just finished blocking my summer sweater. Yep, that's right. I bit the bullet and wove in all of those ends. I will get some photos soon to show you.

* * *

Thank you to everyone who offered encouragement about the job interview. I am so glad to have you all cheering me on! Keep thinking good thoughts--there are more interviews to come.

csa day

2011-06-14T13:49:00.000-04:00

This week our CSA box came loaded with broccoli, French breakfast radishes (oolala--fancy), carrots, lettuce, kale, and kohlrabi. With the exception of the radishes, we got these same vegetables last week. That's fine--it just means I have to be more creative so it doesn't feel like we're eating the same thing over and over. This is what I've come up with:

Tuesday/Wednesday: Teriyaki vegetable and tofurky sandwiches

Thursday/Friday: Broccoli Lasagna

Saturday/Sunday: Kale and Feta Pizza

Monday: Hummus, pita bread, whatever raw vegetables we have left

Every day: Salad of lettuce, carrots, radishes, and kohlrabi

Dessert of the week: 25 cent ice cream on Saturday!

* * *

Scenes from my kitchen last week

Chocolate chip pecan cookies

I baked three dozen for a get together with friends. Then I froze the extra dough--enough for two dozen more cookies!

Eggs ready to be made into cake

I made a yellow cake with chocolate icing for my sister's graduation party. It didn't go as smoothly as I had hoped, but enough icing will cover nearly all flaws, right? The cake baked up tall and pale yellow. I frosted it with an old-fashioned chocolate buttercream. We cut thick slices that reminded me so much of the bazaar scene in Pollyanna. Every time I watched that movie I wanted to eat that cake, and now I have. Next time I'll have to snap some photos.

* * *

What's on your menu this week?

breakfast chatter

2011-06-10T08:21:00.000-04:00

Good morning. Won't you join me for breakfast today? It's my favorite meal, and I rarely get to share it with friends. Somehow people just don't want to get up with the sun and socialize. But a virtual breakfast, that's something we can all enjoy together on our own time. So pour yourself a cup of coffee and grab a slice of banana cake, no matter the time. Let's chat.

* * * * *

I got a row of knitting done on my yellow sweater this morning. I finished the rib and am working on the body. It feels like quite an accomplishment to finally be working on the next step. I had hoped to have my other sweater (remember that red one with lace) done by today, but I can't motivate myself to weave in the ends. Soon.

I'm feeling nervous about a job interview that I've got today. However, once I finish that I have an afternoon of baking ahead of me and a visit with my dad planned. Those are good rewards.

An out-of-town friend is coming for a visit in a couple of weeks, so I've been looking for fun places to take her around town. So far I've decided on a free concert by the river, Churchill Downs, and cheap beers at a baseball game.

K and I went for a walk last night and discovered nearby streets that we'd never been on. I love finding new places to see.

The sun was bright apricot this morning. It rose, small and brilliant, over the rooftops. And now there are three little birds sitting on my windowsill. This bodes well. I can feel a good day coming. Can you?

* * * * *

How are you today? What's on your mind?

yarn along: yellow audrey

2011-06-09T00:02:00.000-04:00

yarn along

This week I am knitting some lovely yellow Quince & Co. yarn into a cardigan. I love the twisted rib so far, but am a bit nervous to start the more complicated bit of the sweater. I feel like I can handle knitting directions if I take them one step at a time, though if I look ahead I get scared. So I'm taking deep breaths and focusing on the twisted rib. The waist-shaping, sleeves, and lace yoke will come later. This is the first time I've done a bottom-up sweater, so it's a good, new experience.

I've been reading such fun books this week. Bossypants cracked me up. K read it right after me, so we got to talk about our favorite parts. He has told me several times that he wants to be just like Tina's dad, Don Fey, a guy who doesn't mess around. I loved reading about the origins of 30 Rock and Tina's time on SNL.

Of course I've also been reading a knitting book because I am a yarn nerd (if you are here because of the yarn along, you can probably empathize). Adrienne Martini describes a year she spent knitting a super-complex Fair Isle sweater. She throws in interviews with well-known knitting bloggers and designers. The book gave me a great overview of the knitting community as well as a lot of (a little too much) information about Alice Starmore's designs and legal issues. I especially liked this book because I don't have a knitting group yet, so I liked the interaction with another knitter.

* * * * *

You all have had great book suggestions these past few weeks. What are you reading this week? What's in your project pile?

csa day: still salad season

2011-06-07T15:11:00.000-04:00

This week our Finger Picking Farms CSA box contained (clockwise from top): Summer Crisp lettuce, Oriole Orange Swiss chard, broccoli, purple and white kohlrabi, Winterbor kale, and Danvers Half long carrots.

Menu for the week

Tuesday/Wednesday: Spicy Black Bean burgers on toast topped with caramelized onions and sauteed chard. Salad of lettuce, carrots, broccoli, and kohlrabi with homemade thousand island dressing. I'm making my own burgers because you guys shamed me into it. Last time I posted veggie burgers on our menu I got several requests for the recipe. Yeah, I just took them out of the box in the freezer and heated them. [head in hands] I'll let you know how this homemade version goes.

Thursday/Friday: Stir-fried tofu and vegetables (carrots, onions, broccoli, kohlrabi) over rice. Served with garlic mirin sauce or maybe magic sauce.

Saturday: Dinner out (Julie's graduation party)

Sunday/Monday: Toasted kale with soy crumbles and marinara sauce (credit goes to Jodi for this one), bread

Bread of the Week: Light Wheat

* * * * *

I am so glad to be back in the kitchen after several semesters away. I've been baking a lot this week, and I'd highly recommend making your own cheddar crackers (via maya*made). They are a delicious and addicting snack.

Last week's dinner winner was homemade bread topped with sauteed chard, a fried egg, and bechamel sauce. We had this instead of chard gratin because I didn't feel like taking the time to bake everything.

For dessert last week we had strawberry sour cream ice cream from The Perfect Scoop. Punch cups full of sweet homemade ice cream are my favorite summer treat. Of course, I think my favoritism might shift once I make these fudge pops.

* * *

What's going on in your kitchen this week?

the bookish lamb

2011-06-02T12:00:00.001-04:00

This little lamb is newly born, but he already loves books. He climbs mountains of paperbacks, beds down amongst pages, and every so often nibbles a tasty word. He likes galloping along bookshelves and cuddling up to listen to a favorite read. So sweet, this bookish lamb.

He has found a home with my cousin's eight-month-old son, where I know he will get lots of snuggles and play time.

Now I think I need a bookish lamb of my own. Do you need one, too? All you need is a few sewing supplies, wool felt, embroidery floss, and this free pattern.

yarn along: sweater and swatching

2011-06-01T17:39:00.000-04:00

It's yarn along day. Yippee!

This week I have been working on my Strawberry Summer Sweater (thanks to Marfa for the name idea). I am almost finished. Today I did the bottom rib and the rib around the neck. Now I just have to knit the sleeves (only 3 rounds each), but I don't have the right size needles. Since progress is halted on that I went ahead and swatched for my Audrey in Unst. I can already tell that it's going to look good in yellow. I hit gauge, so I guess I might go ahead and cast on. I've got the right needles to get started, but need to get a few more to make the whole thing. I figure at some point I'm going to have a stock of needles and when I decide to make a new project I'll be able to pluck them from my stash rather than buying some. This day will come, won't it?

* * * * *

Right now I'm reading On Writing and have enjoyed King's memories of how he started writing. I also like that he gives concrete instructions about writing. Sometimes "everyone works differently" isn't enough to get me started; King's suggestions are helpful for people like me who want more guidance.

I've been listening to audio books every day. I'm making an effort not to watch TV, so audio books are filling that place. I thought I was productive while I watched TV--I always have yarn and hook or needles in hand--but I get much more done when I am only listening and crafting. This week I listened to the first Harry Potter book and Alice in Wonderland. Today I started Heidi and found myself longing to carve wooden spoons, build a three-legged stool, and eat goat cheese. It sounds like such a dreamy life in the mountains. I downloaded Alice and Heidi from Librivox, a site that records public domain books. I've found this website helpful for searching, if you're interested in free audio books.

* * *

Do you listen to audio books? Are there any you'd recommend?

csa day: leafy greens

2011-05-31T21:22:00.002-04:00

Our CSA box this week included:

Kale, lots of lettuce, chard, radishes, sugar snap peas, and turnips

Tuesday's dinner

Weekly Menu

Sunday: Black bean and rice tacos

Monday: Leftovers

Tuesday/Wednesday: Barbecue tofu sandwiches, roasted turnips, salad with radishes and sugar snap peas, lemon garlic soy dressing

Thursday/Friday: Spring Garden Soup and rice. This is a miso soup with lots of greens. It's from How It All Vegan. (No, I'm not going vegan. I've had this book since high school when I saw the authors do a cooking demonstration. I was getting rid of things the other day and found some good recipes in this book, so it gets to stay around a while longer.)

Saturday: Dinner with K's family

Sunday: Chard gratin, homemade bread, fried eggs

Monday: Leftovers

We are shifting our meal planning to coordinate with our CSA delivery, so our weekly menu will start on Tuesdays instead of Sundays. We get our vegetables on Monday nights and have decided to use the produce as a jumping off point for meals. We'll then make a list of groceries needed to round out the meals. This is the first year we've shifted our planning/shopping. I think it's a necessary step to using all of the vegetables we get.

* * * * *

The sugar snap peas tasted so sweet that I kept eating them like candy as I made dinner tonight. I wanted to balance that sweetness in the salad with a little tartness, so I threw together a lemon garlic soy dressing. It was snappy enough to balance the peas.

Lemon Garlic Soy Dressing

(*Please note, these measurements are approximate. I eyeballed with these amounts in mind. Also, this recipe makes just enough dressing for two people. Multiply if you want more.)

2 TBSP olive oil

1 TBSP soy sauce

1 TBSP lemon juice (or a bit less. K would prefer less tang. I liked it.)

1 clove of garlic

Blend all ingredients together. I use a Magic Bullet and have dressing in seconds. If you'd prefer an unplugged method, mince the garlic and whisk everything together.

* * * * *

Just so I don't give you the wrong idea, we don't eat vegetables all the time. We also make room for sweets. These are sugar cookies I baked to celebrate my sister's college graduation. Festive, huh? She liked the cookies, but our real graduation present to her was helping to move all of her stuff home from school on a hot and humid afternoon. We love you a lot, Jules.

* * *

What's going on in your kitchen this week?

Maine in May

2011-05-30T22:23:00.000-04:00

Seeing

{Portland Head Light}

Eating

{Red's Eats, Lobster Shack at Two Lights, Pie in the Sky Pizza, Bartley's Dockside}

Sleeping

{Manor House Inn, Bar Harbor}

Drinking

{Tea time at the Manor House, popovers at Jordan Pond House, coffee in Portland, The Great Lost Bear--a top ten U.S. beer bar}

Searching for treasures

{Kennebunk Beach}

Still searching

{Bar Harbor}

Balancing

{Jordan Pond trail, Acadia National Park}

Hiking

{View of Sand Beach from Ocean Path trail, Acadia}

Breathtaking

{The Bubbles, Acadia}

We adored our getaway to Maine. The days were cloudy and rainy at times, but the fog added a touch of mystery and the rain gave us an excuse to take it easy. We spent our time strolling and then ducking into warm places for tea or coffee. We had such a cozy trip. It was the first time we've ventured to the Northeast, but I know we'll be back to see what else the region holds.

* * * * *

Where have you been lately?

Or do you have any plans to travel soon?

* * * * *

(As always, click on the images above to view them larger.)

Yarn along: balsam fir socks

2011-05-26T09:16:00.000-04:00

Yarning along a day late this week

This week I've been working on my Balsam Fir socks, named after all of the lovely firs we found in Maine. Our hikes through moss and evergreens were permeated with the scent of fir and pine. I worked on this sock on our vacation and still am only halfway through it. Progress is so slow with tiny yarn! I've also been distracted with books lately. This week I'm reading Radical Homemakers, and last week I read The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie, which is a really fun mystery.

And because I didn't post last week, but was participating in the yarn along in spirit, here's what I would have posted if I had had computer access:

I've got a lovely pile of Chickadee yarn that I picked up at KnitWit in Portland. I've been admiring Quince yarns online, and once I saw some skeins in person I couldn't wait to knit something with it. Chickadee has a lot of bounce to it--I can't stop squeezing it. My yellow skeins are waiting to be knit into my very own Audrey in Unst cardigan. I won't let myself start on it until I finish my summer sweater, which is stalled at the moment because I misread the pattern. Still, I can't help dreaming of knitting more cardigans. Shalom and Estelle are calling my name, too. The more the merrier!

As far as books go, I've been craving suspense and mystery, so I picked up a quaint island page-turner by Karen MacInerney. It's been a fun read.

* * * * *

What are you reading/making this week?

* * * * *

csa day: "lettuce" begin

2011-05-25T08:31:00.000-04:00

Lettuce sandwich with tofurkey and cheese

Our first CSA day of the year! It felt like Christmas to open our door and find a box of fresh vegetables there waiting for us.

This is the first year that K and I have a CSA subscription to ourselves because the past two years we've split it with my family. I'm a little nervous about being able to use all of the vegetables each week, but I'm taking this as a good challenge to try to eat more veggies and keep my diet more local. I think I'll be cooking/preparing food more, maybe freezing or pickling things, sharing with friends, and hosting family and friends to help us eat this bounty. I'd really like to cut our grocery bill down to the minimum (local eggs and milk, yogurt, flour, etc.) and eat mainly from our CSA. I'll be documenting the process here, so hopefully I can get some help when I run out of ideas for what to do with all the radishes and greens I get.

Our vegetables from Finger Picking Farms

This week we got four kinds of lettuce--Panisse, Green Towers, Bronze Arrowhead, and Jericho. We also got Red Russian Kale, turnips, garlic chives, radishes, and strawberries. The strawberries were so tiny and sweet that K and I ate them as soon as we had the box in the door, so no photos of those.

Olive Bread + Bean and Olive Soup

The menu for this week

Sunday/Monday: White bean and black olive soup from my favorite cookbook, Olive bread from this book (pre-CSA meals)

Tuesday: Dinner out for Dad's birthday (Happy Birthday!)

Wednesday/Thursday: Big salad with lots of lettuce, garlic chives, radishes, eggs, and parmesan. Garlic oregano vinaigrette. Olive bread. White bean dip.

Friday: Kale and Turnip greens tart, adapted from this recipe.

* * * * *

What are you eating this week?

Are any of you getting a CSA subscription this year?

green tea leaves cardigan

2011-05-23T15:25:00.000-04:00

Last week K and I sneaked away for a vacation in Maine. It was cool and rainy the entire time we were there, but we managed to have fun in spite of the weather. We got in a couple of wet, foggy hikes in Acadia, which of course warranted lots of tea time to warm up afterward. It was my idea of a wonderful week.

I took along my very first knitted sweater, which you may have glimpsed as it was coming into being. However, now that it is a full-fledged sweater, let me introduce you...

This is my green tea leaves cardigan.

I am so proud to have made it.

I can't help but look at my hands in disbelief and wonder, how did this happen? A pile of yarn is now a sweater; it's sooooo exciting! I have to thank my knitting teacher, Tonya, for helping me throughout the knitting process and for motivating me to make a sweater in the first place. I see lots of sweater-knitting in my future.

I wore my tea leaves cardigan as my jacket in Maine on city strolls and wooded hikes, while scouring outlet shops and hunting for sea glass. The wool stayed warm even as salt water spray and foggy droplets beaded up on it, and I felt amazing wearing it, knowing that my own cleverness and effort were being put to good, tangible use.

click on photos to enlarge

I'll be writing more about our Maine adventures, my latest yarn endeavors, and our CSA (which starts today!) soon. I'll also be working on responding to comments and visiting your blogs. I've missed you!

* * * * *

What's going on with you this week?

crocheted stone from margie

2011-05-17T06:00:00.001-04:00

I recently won a giveaway on Margie's blog, resurrection fern. Her crocheted stones have been inspiring me for years now, and lately she's been documenting her experiments with natural plant dyes. She has created some wonderful colored yarns and fabrics from materials she's gathered near her home.

I was so happy to receive my giveaway package from Margie. The bamboo "stone" feels so light and smooth. I'm amazed at the colors Margie has achieved--such stunning robin's egg blue and deep, dusty purple. This stone will definitely be treasured.

Thank you, Margie!

hello, sunshine.

2011-05-15T06:30:00.001-04:00

It's no secret that I love yellow. Canary, lemon, goldenrod, mustard, and butter are all shades that make me smile. So, I wanted to celebrate the sunshine and upcoming summer with a series of yellow vignettes around my apartment.

The first vignette I created is on one of my living room end tables. It features a bowl of yarn, initial blocks, a mustard tin, a memory jar, a glove mold that is just the size of my hands (extra small), and Elton John's "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." The memory jar, in case you're wondering, is the jar that I chuck all of my event tickets into--tickets from movies, plays, concerts, ballgames, etc. I'm a saver, but not a scrapbooker. This easy storage arrangement works for me because it keeps all my tickets together and on display, but requires no effort on my part.

The second vignette is in my phone nook. Yellow books, a button jar, a crocheted stone, and scrabble letters. These are a few of my favorite things!

I couldn't resist posting another photo of the yellow yarn bowl. It holds so many wonderful possibilities...

* * * * *

What's making you happy today?

this moment: three beers full

2011-05-13T13:09:00.000-04:00

a moment from this week that i'd like to savor.

find more moments on soulemama's blog.

heidi braids

2011-05-13T13:03:00.001-04:00

playing around with my suddenly (realized) long hair. this is what a year without a haircut looks like--not too bad when it's all tucked up in heidi braids (via cup of jo).

before i grew out my hair, i rocked a bob for quite a few years. my hair was so short!

there is a salon appointment in my near future, but just for a trim because i like having long hair.

i see loads more braids for me this summer. take a look at the other lovely looks joanna has rounded up.

doesn't it make you want to wear a braid more often?

* * *

ps i had to repost this because the original disappeared when blogger was down. sorry if you tried to comment before and couldn't. the comment section should be working now.

can't stop starting

2011-05-11T09:02:00.000-04:00

A sweater in its infancy

The call of new projects keeps beckoning. I keep relenting. Or rather embracing. The beginning of projects, that time when individual supplies (yarn + needle) become something more than they are, is my absolute favorite part of crafting. It's magic.

This past week I've been knitting a red Rusted Root sweater for summer. The yarn is a cotton/wool blend that stays cool in my hands even in the hot humid weather that signals summer in the Ohio River valley is fast-approaching. This is the first time I've tried knitted lace. It's not nearly as intimidating as I expected it to be. Nothing really is if you take things one step (or stitch) at a time.

I am still working on my monkey socks and my Noro scarf, but I wouldn't let myself start a second sweater until I had finished the first. And I did finish it! I've been holding out on you, though, waiting until I get some photos that do it justice. If you're on ravelry, you can get a sneak peek.

The last of the knitting news is that my friend Jennifer is coming over tomorrow for her first knitting lesson. I taught her how to crochet earlier this year; she's a quick learner. I'm excited to share the knitting love.

* * * * *

In the past week I've started no less than five books. My attention is everywhere these days and nowhere. I read a cumulative 14 pages before I finally picked up one that I plan on finishing--Annie Dillard's The Maytrees. I'm surprised it took me so long to start this novel because Dillard is one of my favorite authors. I love Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, An American Childhood, and Teaching a Stone to Talk. She knows how to describe nature, noticing small details and recalling natural histories that I've never heard. I'm not so far into The Maytrees yet (see my earlier note about lack of attention), but I'll let you know how it goes. The blurb describes it as the optimistic story of long-lasting love. I think I'm going to like it.

* * * * *

I'm participating in Ginny's yarn along today. Check out her blog to see what others are up to.

weekend snippets: kentucky in may

2011-05-10T08:37:00.000-04:00

derby drink

I am having trouble getting back into the swing of blogging. I thought it would be no problem. School would end, and I'd immediately kick up my blogging frequency. Instead I've been dragging my feet. Of course blogging has been on my mind. Anyone who blogs can probably tell you that the question "Should I blog this?" crosses her mind like ten times a day. But my answer to that question lately has been, "No, too boring for the blog." All the things I've been doing have meaning to me--lunches, dinners, and teas with friends, derby parties, coffee dates, hours of knitting--but I'm having a hard time coming up with things to share here. I'm starting small. Scenes from my Kentucky Derby/Mother's Day weekend (a very good weekend indeed!):

my sister and my hat on derby day

* * * * *

lettuce in mom's garden. we spent time on mother's day looking at all the new sprouts in her garden.

i found these prints in the mud. is that one near the top a raccoon?

glad to see my old wagon is being put to use carting firewood.

* * * * *

I hope you all had a great weekend and are having a wonderful week. If you've got any tips for getting back my blogging pizazz, please let me know.

How do you keep your blogging spirits up? And what would you like to see more of on Field Wonderful?

yarn along: noro striped scarf

2011-05-04T09:13:00.002-04:00

*yarning along with Ginny today*

I needed something soothing. Big yarn. No fiddly bits. Two needles, preferably straight. The Noro Striped scarf fit the bill. I found a ball of Noro silk garden and half a skein of melon-colored Cascade 220 cozying up together in a bowl. The colors looked great together--pinks, greens, and purples. So I tucked the supplies in my bag yesterday and got to work. The emerging stripes make me so happy. This will be a great project to have in my basket for times when I need to relax.

The book, well, I just can't get enough knitting these days so I picked up At Knit's End from the library. It's a quick read and mildly entertaining. My brain wanted a vacation, so I gave in. I also just finished Gathering Blue, a young adult novel that has some wonderful descriptions of using plants to dye thread. It reminded me of Margie's art. I'd love to try out natural dyeing on fabric or yarn sometime. Have any of you tried it? What was it like?

* * * * *

I also wanted to mention the Knit for Japan project that Ginny has going on. She's collecting knitted AND crocheted hats (don't be fooled by the name of the project) to send to people living in areas of Japan where the tsunami hit. I do hope you'll consider making a hat to show your support. She's hoping to collect 400 hats by August. Head on over to her blog for more information.

the start of something good

2011-05-02T08:59:00.000-04:00

Monday again, huh? Well, I just spent my first weekend as a graduate, and I really think the non-student life agrees with me. It felt great not to have homework hanging over my head. There was plenty of time for knitting, eating at new restaurants, playing games, thrifting, listening to records, drinking beer, and catching up with friends and family that I haven't seen in what feels like years. I managed to get a few photos of the past several days.

Soft and squishy Madelinetosh sock yarn from my new blog friend, Andi. Andi's knitting productivity inspires me to get my needles out even more. I've been wanting to try out Madelinetosh's yarn, so I was over the moon when this green skein arrived. Thanks, Andi!

So far I've made a yarn house with the Madelinetosh. I'm hoping that someday the house will look like these socks. I think it will be slow going. I've already had to rip back once--not that I'm complaining. Even with setbacks, knitting with this lovely yarn makes it worth it.

K's parents came in for a visit. My mother-in-law brought this turtle cake. Yes, it tasted as good as it looks! The candied pecans are my favorite part. Thanks, Phyllis!

I knitted this Sprout hat for someone new in the world. Now I've just got to get it to him before he gets much bigger! I actually made this hat on Friday, starting with the royal wedding and then working on it throughout the day as I awaited my big meeting with my professors. Busy hands kept my nerves calm. Well, as calm as they were going to be. The yarn is Cascade Sierra, which is a washable cotton/wool blend that seems great for a baby. The pattern is a very basic newborn hat.

We squeezed in some game time. This one is Stone Age, which has been a big hit with the family. K has this amazing ability to find cool new board games. I'm looking forward to playing them more now that I've got more free time.

* * * * *

What's going on with you this week?

The Kentucky Derby is this coming Saturday, which means lots of family time and parties. This week promises to be a very good one indeed.

after graduation plans

2011-04-23T11:35:00.000-04:00

I am so looking to having a bit more free time to fill with creative pursuits. This is going to be such a fun summer! Here are some things I plan to do:

* * * * *

* Make this indulgent cake. There is a high probability that my version fall apart. Since I don't need a meltdown while trying to write papers, I'm saving this cake to make next weekend.

* Knit a Rusted Root sweater of my own. I need to get my new knitting needles first. I'm thinking that Harmony needles would make knitting even more enjoyable.

* Hem my jeans. I've put off this task for an embarrassing amount of time.

* Begin my summer reading list. So far the list consists of: Bossypants, Little House on the Prairie, On Writing, Thirteen Stories by Eudora Welty, Pride and Prejudice, Heidi. I'm taking suggestions, too.

* Sew up some fun bits and baubles. I'm feeling inspired by Chez Sucre Chez's anticipatory cross stitch; Tuuni's doily and lace creations; Jane's delicate, colorful works; Aneela's patchwork; and Camille's cheery banners.

* Shake up a jar of homemade butter. I remember doing this as a girl scout and loving it. The resulting butter seemed too precious to eat, so I tried a bit on a cracker and then saved the rest until it had to be thrown out. This time I'm going to eat it all.

* Host a knitting/tea party inspired by this one. I've had a number of friends express interest in learning to knit, and this would be a fun way to teach them all in one fell swoop.

* Pull some salt water taffy of my own. I'm don't even like taffy that much, but it looks so pretty that I want to try it out. I'd make mine pink and flavor it with vanilla. Or maybe bright yellow and lemon-flavored.

* Garden hop. I was talking yesterday with some friends about their gardening, and it made me long to grow some vegetables of my own. Since I've got no outdoor space to plant at my apartment, I thought I'd make a point of visiting the gardens of family and friends this summer. There was talk of a canning party, and I'd love to try that, too.

* Go thrifting. I'm in search of the perfect (and perfectly priced) vintage globe and a materials to make a picnic blanket of my own.

* * * * *

Whew! I'm going to be busy!

Have you got any plans or projects you're looking forward to?

yarn along: sister stone

2011-04-20T09:07:00.002-04:00

Today is my sister Julie's birthday. Happy Birthday! Julie always tells me that she's so glad I'm her sister. How sweet is that? Well, today I want to make sure that she knows the feeling is mutual.

* * * * *

Jules,

You are the sweetest sister, and I'm so glad you're mine.

I couldn't imagine my life without you.

Happy 22nd birthday!

I love you,

* * * * *

I whipped up a birthday stone for Julie over the weekend. I made some motifs of my own design a couple of months ago, so when Julie said she'd really like a crocheted stone, I pulled out a motif from my pile. I connected the tips of the motif with chain stitches and then continued chaining around and slip-stitching into the chains of the previous round to create a kind of netting. She seemed to really like it.

When I first started giving crocheted stones as gifts, I often described them as paperweights. I thought people could understand paperweights better. However, lately I've been thinking of them as meditation stones. Meditation stones sounds much more appropriate.

This week I got to read The Diving Bell and the Butterfly for class. Jean Dominique Bauby narrates his life story, ending with the massive stroke that left him completely paralyzed except for one eye. I found it so interesting to learn the perspective of someone locked inside his own body. The writing process that produced this book astounded me: Bauby spent two months with a translator documenting each letter he signaled with a blink of his eye. At first I couldn't help but read this book very slowly, trying to take in and appreciate all of the time and effort that went into composing each letter. Soon, though, I found myself caught up in Bauby's story. I would definitely recommend this book (and the film).

* * * *

Yarning along with Ginny today.

I'm in awe of this recent post of hers. What a beautiful family of knitters!

lately...

2011-04-18T09:28:00.001-04:00

Hello. How are you these days? It feels like ages since I've stopped here for a chat. No worries. Soon I will be back in full force because I am nearly done with school. I feel like an eek! would be appropriate but I don't want to squeal in your ear. Just know that I am so excited to be finishing my grad program in two weeks.

There are also some cringing yikes! thoughts going on right now as I try to figure out my next move. I've always been a person with a plan, and now I'm flying by the seat of my pants. People keep asking what I'm going to do and all I've got for them is: Get a job. Preferably one that I enjoy. I am open to suggestions.

This is my life lately: I've been fortifying myself with cups of tea and coffee, filling my belly with husband-made meals (he's wonderful), sneaking in some knitting time, taking breaks at night to watch silly movies, and of course, reading/writing/worrying about school. I printed out this list to keep from stressing too much. I've promised myself there will be a bubble bath and new knitting needles at the end of all this paper-writing.

* * * * *

What have you been up to lately? I would love to hear.

Cabin Socks

2011-04-08T06:00:00.002-04:00

I got so wrapped up in my sweater-knitting that I forgot to show you the socks I made.

These socks are so warm and cozy! They are very thick because they're made with Aran weight yarn, which also made them easier for a new knitter like me to make. Everything I make these days seems to be green, but I especially love the fern green color of these socks.

I named these the Cabin Socks because I finished them just before our spring break getaway and wore them every night of our trip. I actually wore them over some thinner wool socks, so they served as kind of slipper socks to keep my feet extra toasty while we stayed up playing board games and drinking wine.

I knitted these in a class at The Knit Nook, which is sadly closing its doors at the end of this month. The class was very fun and educational. I learned lots of new knitting skills: using double-pointed needles, making short rows, and grafting the toe with kitchener stitch.

I am so sad that my local yarn store is closing and regret not taking classes before now. However, I am glad to be able to spend even a little bit of time there. I've gotten to know some great knitting teachers and students. I think after the store closes I'm going to have to find a knitting/crochet group to join because I have enjoyed getting together to share projects and tips.

* * * * *

Details

Name: Cabin Socks

Pattern: Knit Nook sock pattern

Yarn: Järbo Garn Raggi Solids

Needles: US Size 8 DPN

Made for: My own two feet

field wonderful

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brown paper packages

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*good day*

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Yarn along: balsam fir socks

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hello, sunshine.

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the start of something good

good day