Any books you’re particularly hoping to be gifted this year? Any that you’re giving as presents this holiday season?
Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!
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Tagged Wordpress
I haven’t been able to capture the color of this yarn! It’s darker than it shows here. I should swatch some up, try some beads on it… see if the 6/0 or 8/0 beads work better.
Stuff just keeps getting in the way of knitting, busy season and all, and I think I’m coming down with a cold. I manage to get home from work, get dinner together, and then I’m pretty much done. I’m horrified at the piles of things all over the table (the table that still has the tablecloth from Thanksgiving on it, but with an addition of glittery sparkles from writing the xmas cards).
Clutter. Nemesis.
We finally got the tree decorated. Mostly I just took ornaments out of boxes and got boyo and his friend to do much of it. And my girlfriend. Who I plied with martinis.
They did a fabulous job! Even boyo’s friend, who tells me his mom won’t let him decorate their tree, because he breaks too many ornaments.
It’s a shitty picture, I know. But I think I took maybe 25 pictures, and this was about the best. I have lots of favorite ornaments. These, in particular, amuse me. I’m pretty sure I paid 10 cents for them. They even came in their original box!
We did a bit of shopping this past weekend. Nice thing about having a 17 year old who is interested in getting more clothes? You can go shopping with him and tell him “this will go under the tree, yaknow” and he’s all fine with that. (and yes, he did drag me into Wal-Mart, first time in several years… I had to take a deep breath when we walked out, and blather about surviving the ordeal).
(he poses with the villain, I pose with the tacky xmas decoration… and then I went out and immediately bought a bunch of silver tinsel garland to make one of these… maybe I’ll do it for Friday’s work party).
We have a new thing at work! The conference room on our floor is gorgeous (as is the rest of the floor), but it is terribly echoey. All that glass, hard floor, 3 windows, hard walls… it was fairly painful to sit through a meeting in here sometimes. We started to think about getting some acoustical ceiling tiles, and then I said “wait a second, historical rehab here, maybe we should ask somebody“, and sure ’nuff, we shouldn’t just paste the things to the ceilings.
So, several months after starting this process, and working with an architect with the state, we have this drop ceiling thingamajig. It lets most of the light through (it is darker) and also doesn’t interfere with the sprinkler system. We had a smallish meeting in there today, and the echo is better. Not gone, but better. We probably need a rug, but we are resisting that notion.
(there is usually a huge central table composed of 6 small rectangular tables and 2 end pieces, and chairs).
Time for bed!
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Tagged dyeing, Family, life in maine, work
This week I wanted to show off Yearling, JMF’s bulky weight 60% merino 40% cotton blend created for the Spring Summer 2012 line. Talented repeat designer Pam Wynne created 12 lovely patterns that were mostly kid-centric.
sparker created this girly Charlie by using Firetruck, Leafy, & Bashful. Pam Wynne designed this pattern, as well as the companion patterns Marci & Lucy which give you the same look for matching photos! (or if your tyke just adores this sweater you could make her a matching tunic as she ages. Ya know, if you’re not into matching Christmas pictures or something.)
These Lamb Shoes (in recommended colorway Snowball) by laurelcat are also in the Yearling booklet. And they are another baby to adult pattern, as there are matching adult slippers! I just adore the sleepy lamby faces.
Pam Wynne outdid herself with all the wonderful patterns for little ones made in Yearling, I wanted to show off how great Yearling looks on adults, too!
thewonderfulone made this Sunkist for her mom in Bashful. I love the tag sewn in; such a nice detail and great for care instructions. I can easily see me slipping into this cozy cardi!
katertater knit this Winkle-colored Anthropologie-Inspired Capelet within two days! I made one for my little sister early on in my knitting career and it took me WAY longer. (In fact, I think I finished it on the plan returning from a farm trip!)
Even though I wanted to show you adult patterns, I couldn’t resist showing you maryvooigt’s Immie Baby Blanket in Cloudy. Look how lovely the lace blocks out!
Mollinn striped Firetruck and Cloudy to make her Oatmeal Pullover. I love the bright stripe with the gray neutral for added pop.
This Dorfinger Tee was made by mstgarden in Kiwi. Another lace pattern! I wouldn’t think of using Yearling for lace, but it looks like it’s working out well!
And finally, another Pam Wynne-designed project to round out the makings. This time it’s the title pattern Yearling! Again in Snowball, MNKnitter did a lovely job!
I don’t know if there’s enough time to knit much else for Christmas (but that’s not going to stop me from trying), but if there’s a way to meet your knitting goals it’s with a Bulky weight yarn like Yearling!
As always, click on the picture to be taken to the project page for more pictures as well as a link to the pattern.
You can find Yearling in a LYS near you by clicking here then clicking “find a store,” inputting your zip code and selecting Juniper Moon Farm as the yarn brand.
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Tagged Features, Knitting, Uncategorized, yarn, Yarned by You, Yearling
Inspired by this post, I made a really lovely roast this week. I marinated my roast all day long in a bottle of red wine, two pink oranges (juiced), a large sweet onion (chopped), and several chopped carrots as well as salt and pepper. After several hours, I removed the meat from the marinade and patted it dry. I browned it well on all sides in a little canola oil while preheating the oven to 300F. After the meat was brown, I returned the marinade to the pan and cooked it, covered, at 300F for 3 hours. I meant to add the tomato paste, garlic, and olives just before the marinade but it was a bit late and I was in a rush so I forgot. The roast was absolutely delicious anyway! Maybe next time I’ll be more organized and try it with the rest of the ingredients.
Twice a year- just before my birthday and Christmas- my friend Amy tells me that I am impossible to buy gifts for. This statement never fails to make me laugh because I make a list of things I want and post it on the internet about once a week. I posit that I am actually the easiest person in the world to shop for.
Nevertheless, Amy inspired me to make a PSYWL specifically for people who are (allegedly) difficult to shop for. Just in case you know anyone (allegedly) like that.
Frye Dorado Riding $457. True story: two years ago, I bought a pair of Frye boots. A way less expensive pair than these. I spent an entire weekend taking them out of the box, trying them on and admiring them. I loved those boots! But I couldn’t keep them because I am just not the kind of person who spends two hundred dollars on boots. But oh Lord how I wish I was!
It would be fun to collect trophies and loving cups, particularly ones like this one that were won for something totally obscure. $40.
How sweet is this dress? And the best part is that it’s made of wool. And awesome. Just like everything else Ibex makes.
I can’t decide if these Twitter journals are cool or narcissistic. Maybe both?
Truffle Pig Chocolates! $7.50. (via Lynnette C.)
I am in love with Wooly Bison’s bags, but this one is particularly wonderful. $185.
This preppy, 100% wool felt laptop case makes me want to go back to school. $100.
Charming notebook. $12.
Lovely beehive note cards. $3.
Young James Herriot
I really, really, really hope Santa brings me a Baking Steel because I have always wanted to make restaurant quality pizza at home. $72.
If money were no object, I would love the Logos Decagon infinitely extendable modular tent system. You can configure it in lots of different ways and it would be so great for having friends stay over during our twice-yearly shearing weekends. Approximately $3500 for this configuration. (via my friend Lyn C.)
Okay, your turn. What’s the one thing on your Christmas list that you’d never buy for yourself?
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There are days when it seems like the dogs are so much trouble for how few animals I have. They are still rambunctious puppies, after all. and you know how puppies can be. They like to fight with each other – sometimes violently – and manners are something neither one has had much interest in. Had I left them at Juniper Moon Farm they would have continued learning proper behavior from the senior dogs – but I interrupted that to bring them home.
When George started chasing the sheep around I decided it was high time to be strict. I contacted my friend Cindy over at Jacob’s Reward Farm for some advice. Cindy adopted the previous litter of puppies from Susan, and so if anyone had some insight on raising that particular blend of personalities, I figured Cindy would. Thankfully, she reinforced what I was already thinking.
I separated George into his own private pen so that he could be in the middle of all the livestock action, but could not actually chase them or touch them.
Orzo immediately calmed down. George immediately calmed down.
Two unaltered male puppies together = chaos. Separated they are much more trainable.
Now we are able to work on manners. George is leaning to be completely calm before he gets fed and petted. Both dogs are learning to sit back from the gate when we are opening it. Orzo is learning not to jump all over us.
We are still having some hiccups – George still loses all focus when I allow him in with the other animals – on a lead – and refuses to hear my commands. But, little by little this is improving.
Orzo has been taught by both Milkshakes and Jerry that he is not in charge. He no longer tries to eat out of the trough when I bring grain out to the sheep and goats – thanks to being butted a few times by bratty Jerry – and Milkshakes knocked him down a time or two when he got too energetic for everyone.
There is no doubt in my mind they are worth every bit of effort, however. I awoke very late a few nights ago to the sound of both dogs barking furiously, and while my first instinct was to be annoyed, I heard something out there answering them back with a high pitched growling / yelping noise. I couldn’t see whatever it was, but I could hear it retreating.
Those dogs earn their keep.
Besides, Milkshakes seems to have taken a liking to Orzo.
I often see them like this – either by the gate or in the hay. Not quite touching, but close enough.
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Tagged Farm, Pets, Uncategorized
Tiffany and Tyler 1989 ~ 1998
Tiffany and Tyler 2012
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Tagged christmas, Family, Memories, Photographs
Cashew Brittle
Ingredients
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup water
1 stick unsalted butter
1/3 cup light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
12 ounces roasted salted cashews
Directions
In a large saucepan, combine the sugar, water, butter and corn syrup and bring to a boil. Cook over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until the caramel is light brown and registers 300° on a candy thermometer, 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and carefully stir in the baking soda. The mixture will bubble. Stir in the nuts, then immediately scrape the brittle onto a large rimmed, nonstick baking sheet. Using the back of a large spoon (oil it lightly if it sticks), spread the brittle into a thin, even layer. Let cool completely, a least 30 minutes. Break the brittle into large shards.
As a part of my efforts to avoid all news this past weekend, I spent what can only be called a ridiculous amount of time looking through my Amazon purchases to see what I read in 2012. It started as a hunt for the name of a particular book I wanted to recommend to my sister but an hour after finding the title, I still enjoying scrolling though the pages and pages of Amazon purchases, and becoming almost nostalgic for my immediate reading past.
Rather than write off an afternoon to something so silly, I’ve made of a list of some of my favorite reads of 2012 to share with you. This list represents about a third of my total reading for 2012, but even I started to get bored towards the end.
The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses. How I wish this book had been around when I was starting my business!
Permission Marketing : Turning Strangers Into Friends And Friends Into Customers
Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us
Graceful: Making a Difference in a World That Needs You
The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice
Blah Blah Blah: What To Do When Words Don’t Work
The Editor in Chief: A Management Guide for Magazine Editors
Expressive Photography: The Shutter Sisters’ Guide to Shooting from the Heart
Making It: Radical Home Ec for a Post-Consumer World
Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work
Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer. This was a re-read and I am currently re-re-reading it. Absolutely spellbinding.
Speaking of Lincoln, I finally got around to reading Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. The Spielberg Lincoln movie is based on this book and it is un-put-down-able.
Gypsy Boy: My Life in the Secret World of the Romany Gypsies
Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity
Foreskin’s Lament: A Memoir
The Little Red Guard: A Family Memoir
A Year in the Village of Eternity: The Lifestyle of Longevity in Campodimele, Italy It’s really rare for a book to make you want to eat healthier and move to Italy at the same time. If I ever turn up missing, I’m in Campodimele.
Opium Fiend: A 21st Century Slave to a 19th Century Addiction
We Is Got Him: The Kidnapping That Changed America
Death in the City of Light: The Serial Killer of Nazi-Occupied Paris
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns)
Joseph Anton: A Memoir
A Case for Solomon: Bobby Dunbar and the Kidnapping That Haunted a Nation
Death Comes to Pemberley PD James plus Jane Austen. What’s not to like?
I read this whole mystery series, set in Reykjavik. Jar City is book one.
Frozen Assets: An Officer Gunnhildur Mystery
How It All Began: A Novel
Roseanna: A Martin Beck Police Mystery I devoured the Marin Beck mystery series this year. It is one of the first police procedural series, originally published back in the ’60s. This book seriously has influenced nearly every mystery writer working today, and you’ll understand why when you read them. I was blue for a week when I finished the final book in the series.
A Discovery of Witches: A Novel I liked this book very much, although I don’t know that I loved it as much as most people seemed to.
The Ladies Auxiliary: A Novel
A Son of the Circus This was another re-read and I had forgotten how much I love this book. Almost my favorite John Irving book, after A Prayer for Owen Meany
Broken Harbor: A Novel I am a complete and utter fool for anything by Tanya French. I can’t recommend them all highly enough.
Where’d You Go, Bernadette: A Novel
I would love to hear your favorite fiction and non-fiction book of 2012.
. Loved this!