lavender blue

I sewed some simple lavender sachets for Christmas, using a variety of blue fabrics from my stash and a heaping bag of lavender from the bulk herb store. I packaged them in sets of three and gave them away to scent the wardrobes of the recipients. Of course, I kept a set for myself. They're squirreled away in my hand-knitted sweater drawer to keep away moths. Each time I pull out a sweater to wear, I get to smell like lavender all day. It's my favorite.

I used this Purlbee tutorial until the final sewing step. Sometime on December 23rd I decided that I didn't have time to blind stitch all the sachets closed (or you know, time to learn how to blind stitch). So I machine-stitched the sachets closed, which looks less polished but serves the same purpose.

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I'm still knitting away on my blue Featherweight. I don't want to jinx it, but I'm getting ready to start the second sleeve. Lately I've been knitting in bed each night and listening to these lullabies. Lavender Blue is one of my favorites to sing along to. It's worth a listen, even for adults. 

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I hope you're finding some calm moments this week.

oh, look what the sun did

This is my new favorite spot: my big comfy chair. The seat is large enough to curl up in, and there's enough sunlight and lamplight to read and knit. Plus, it's right next to the radio and record player. I'm content to listen most of the time, but lately the radio station has been playing songs that make me dance. Here are a few of my current favorites:

Oh Look What the Sun Did

Andrew in Drag

Somebody That I Used to Know

And of course I collapse into my tufted gray chair in a happy heap afterward.

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What are you listening to lately? I'd love to hear what your favorite song of the moment is.

favorite of favorites

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.

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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!

yarn along: little red and LEO

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!

Lovely Christmas Days

Though we're quickly heading into a new year, I'm still savoring Christmastime. I do love the gift-giving and getting, but my absolute favorite part of Christmas is the time spent with my family and friends. There's such a rush of busyness--cooking, baking, making, wrapping--followed by a restful lull. Here's what I did with my lull time.

Ate Italian Cream Cake with lots of coconut and pecans. Mom and I make this every year for Christmas. When all of the party guests have left Mom's house, we each have a slice for a late night snack. 

Of course I crocheted during my downtime. It's what I do. 

The drive to K's hometown was beautiful. The roads were clear, but the surrounding fields were covered with a dusting of snow. The cows and horses looked so pretty silhouetted against the white, munching their Christmas hay breakfast.

I had a hickory nut-cracking party with Korey and my friend Kristie. Hammers pounded and shells flew. Now I've got a bag full of hickory nuts to use up. I'm thinking cookies or bread because it's not enough for a pie. Any other ideas?

Gin! K and I became a little addicted to gin rummy. 

We drove through downtown Maysville with K's parents to look at the Christmas lights. 

K played Christmas carols. He doesn't usually play piano anymore, so this was a special treat. Thanks, K!

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Happy New Year's Eve, everyone! I will see you back here next year.

In case you were wondering about my bobble-y pattern, I've extended my self-imposed deadline to January 10th. Wasn't that nice of me?

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Cards have been sent. These pine cone stamps are what motivated me to send cards in the first place. Sure, keeping up with old friends was a factor too, but I really wanted to use these stamps. Aren't they pretty?

The tree is up. Isn't it lovely? I think I outdid myself this year. 

Parties are in full-swing. My mister and I got all fancied up for a party at the Brown Hotel. And if you must know, the tree above is in the Brown's lobby. I played total tourist and snapped lots of photos of the place.

Christmas records are in near-constant rotation. The Dean Martin one is my favorite because I love "June in January" and "Baby It's Cold Outside." 

We also have an autographed copy of "Christmas with Colonel Sanders." It may be the most unusual album we have in our record collection. I'm not certain, but I think it came from my Grandma Trudy. She used to work for KFC, so perhaps that's how the autograph came about.  

And finally, the nativity is set out. It's up on a table this year instead of under the tree. I like being able to see it more. I'm very curious about what new addition my father-in-law might be making for it this year. Wise man? Sheep? Angel? 

As much as I love doilies and lacy things, I'm not usually one for covering my tables in them. However, I made an exception because I think it looks like snow and because this tablecloth was crocheted by my childhood next-door neighbor, Mrs. Piper. I wanted her hard work to be put to some use.

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I hope you're enjoying the holiday season!

good morning

This morning feels good. It's a gray and cold winter day outside, but snug and warm inside. I woke up to the most beautiful song on the radio. I'd never heard it before, but it was perfect to listen to in the early morning hours because it is both sweet and sad. It captured that place between waking and dreaming for me, that time when in my mind contradictions are possible. Everything is possible. The song is called Rest and it's by Cheyenne Marie Mize. You can hear it in the video at the bottom of this post.

I woke up with a picture of this crochet project in my head. I was counting imaginary stitches in my sleep. You see, I finished my big Christmas project last night. All I have to do is weave in the ends! I am so excited to give my mom her present and to show all of you after Christmas. 

I ended up with a partial skein of yarn leftover to play with. I'm really into interesting textures lately; I can't get enough bobbles and cables. And so first thing this morning I grabbed a cup of coffee that the Coffee Fairy left for me and picked up my hook and yarn. The star-spangled quilt kept me warm and cozy. 

I've been so torn lately about what to crochet. On one hand, there are so many amazing patterns out there that I want to try. I've got a hat, scarf, mittens, cardigan, and hood on my list of things I'm itching to make. On the other hand, if I spend all of my time crocheting from patterns I'm never going to get any design practice, and I really want to design. I think one of my new year's resolutions will be to spend more time on my own designs. 

I'd like to share the pattern I'm making for this bobble-y project. I'll get back to work and see if I can't get it posted here before the new year. Look at me, setting deadlines for myself. I work best under pressure!

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How is your morning/afternoon/evening going? 

weekend snippets: the last good weekend

Well, I think this might have been the last good weekend until the end of the semester. I'll have to savor these moments until then.

Red wine and couch sitting. Two of my favorite things. 

In addition to my pizza-eating challenge, I think I might challenge myself to try all of the Charles Smith Wines. I love a good excuse to indulge challenge.

I found this dinosaur on the table at work. My co-workers are fun people. They make the occasional Saturday at the office less of a drag.

K and I got all glammed up (ok, I got all glammed up, K looked suave) to go to the Moscow State Symphony. I finally wore my crocheted cardigan out in public! At first I was worried that maybe I just go to symphonies for the glitzy bags I get to carry...

But no. The Russians know how to bring it! The music was so intense and energetic. I had no problem keeping my mind on the music this time. Plus, the conductor was such a funny character. He had the musicians play three encores and then tiptoed off stage during the last one.

I spent a Sunday study break playing Forbidden Island with K, Mom, and Julie. What I like best is that it's a cooperative game, so everyone is on the same team. We're not a very competitive family.

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What moment are you savoring from the weekend? I hope you had a good one and that it won't be the last good one for you!

weekend snippets: halloween what?

fancy evening out (glitzy bag and new coat)

started this book. totally enthralled so far. (bonus: i finally finished middlemarch.)

played carcassonne. such a fun game. goes great with wine.

parmesan popcorn. my favorite kind of popcorn. 

baking prep. i've got a cake link and an icing recipe for you soon.

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On Friday I went to my first orchestra performance, where I realized that I have no idea how to listen to classical music. My grade school music classes consisted of singing along with tapes and occasionally tapping some sticks together. The song I most vividly remember learning to sing was "Walk Like an Egyptian." And that's the extent of my music education. So, yeah, the first half of the orchestra performance pretty much flew over my head. During intermission I quickly skimmed through the program, so I had in mind what to listen for, which helped me get more out of the second half. I still thought the most exciting part of the performance was when the violin soloist broke a string. Oh, the drama of the orchestra...

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What's something that made your weekend interesting?

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You've still got time to enter my hat giveaway!

weekend snippets: fall doings

concert

another hat using the divine pattern

college football

 pancakes made by k 

coat rack hung and put to use

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what did you love about the weekend?

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be sure to check out my stone blue cable hat giveaway below!

weekend snippets

things i loved this weekend:

starting a new (cable) crochet project

listening to julia and lucas's record collection

(it includes a beatles album bought the day president kennedy was shot)

playing silly games

learning weird trivia (victor hugo's writing habits were among the weirdest)

spending time with good friends (julia and lucas)

  

eating homemade egg and cheese biscuits

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what's something you loved this past weekend?

Honey Pie: A song for a happy Monday

I'm absolutely loving The Beatles song Honey Pie these days. As in, I'm afraid I might wear out that song on the record. I just want to listen to it again and again. It's so catchy, and fun to sing and dance along with. Go have a listen--I bet it will make you smile.

Also, it makes me really hungry. I can't help but dream up recipes for a Honey Pie.

Here is my dreamed up recipe, which I have not attempted at all because I've been too busy dancing in the living room.

Honey Pie

Fill a baked pie crust with vanilla honey custard, top with meringue, sprinkle with toasted walnuts and crushed bits of honey toffee,  and drizzle with honey. Eat in a pool of sunlight. Dance between bites.

What recipe would you dream up for a honey pie?

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Hope you are having a marvelous Monday!

Thrifting + giveaway winner

 Lately I've been finding lots of good things at thrift shops.  Here are some things I found last week. Most all are from my favorite vintage shop, Tickled Pink. If you live in Louisville, I highly recommend stopping there sometime. The guy that runs the shop is so down-to-earth and passionate about vintage things. Plus, the prices are really affordable and the stock moves fast, meaning that each time I go in it's like entering a new shop.

I found some great textiles--a bit of old feedsack cloth, a scarf, and cloth map of New Zealand, which I have vague notions of someday incorporating into a travel quilt along with reminders of all the other places K and I have traveled. A scrapbook quilt, if you will.

I picked up quite a few doilies (the owner of Tickled Pink said they sell around 5,000 doilies a month!), some simple egg cups, and a pretty tin. We'll get back to the tin in a minute...

K and I have also had a lot of fun shopping for used records. There are actually lots of places in our neighborhood to find records, but we spent hours this weekend hunting for some real bargains at a peddlers' mall. K is very selective in the records he buys, while I want to buy everything cool I find. 

Lately I've been looking for older stuff and I scored quite a few good albums. The Nat King Cole one from 1963 is just perfect for summer--so carefree! The back cover reads: "So break open the popcorn, fill up a giant-size pitcher with root beer, and listen to some of the happiest music in a long, warm century of summers." When K saw that line he said the record sounds like it was made especially for me. And yes, I love it. I also like the super sweet 1937 sounds of the Andrews Sisters. Their music is absolutely perfect to listen to while baking a pie. 

The record I'm most excited about finding is the Crosby-Clooney one from 1958, which I recently read was Rosemary's favorite recording.  I had my fingers crossed that I'd find one of Rosemary's albums and am so happy I did!

Now back to that tin. I typed up the names of everyone who left a comment on my giveaway post, put the slips of paper in this tin, and had K pick one out.

The winner is Chrissy! Congrats Chrissy, I'll get your goodies in the mail soon. 

Thank you to everyone who entered the giveaway. I appreciate all of your comments so much, and I especially liked reading what you like and dislike about blogs. 

Thank you again for reading my blog! I love getting your comments and emails and reading your blogs, too. I have been so inspired and encouraged by all of you who stop by this space and take the time to read my posts. Thank you!