Let Freedom Ring!

What I Did Last Weekend

Last weekend, I had a mini-vacation of sorts.  I house, dog, and cat sat for some friends who live in Birmingham and live near the Galleria and Patton Creek, the epi-center of shopping for Birmingham.  Since I rarely get to those shopping centers, it was something of a novel experience to be that close.  My only duties were to give the dog and cats their food and fresh water and to walk the dog, leaving plenty of time to knit, watch movies, and shop. 

Like all knitters, I had problems deciding what knitting to take.  The clothes were no problem.  And since I was  working on Friday and Monday, I had to take work clothes too.    I ended up with one suitcase, one cosmetic bag, and three knitting bags!

Sophie was very curious about all my knitting stuff and particularly liked my yarn.  The lime green bag held all my needles, a knitting book, and some cotton yarn.  The blue bag had my log cabin and a few balls of yarn in case I finished the strip I was working on.  The black bag held my Multnomah, blanket square in progress, a swatch in progress for a baby hat, and my knitting tool kit.

Before I left, I had decided that I was just going to have a nice, relaxing weekend.  On Saturday, I had breakfast at Panera and then went to my LYS to hang out and knit and do some shopping.  While I was there, I finished my Multnomah.  Thanks to Heather for graciously taking my picture!  Remember, what you are seeing is just off the needles!

I've been admiring  Churchmouse Yarns and Teas patterns.  By the way, the photography is gorgeous! I understand that Jared Flood did the photography for their patterns and so  Bainbridge Island is now on my must-see places. 

The Koigu is for the Koigu Linen Stitch Scarf and the Rowan Kidsilk Haze is for the Two-Way Ruffled Scarf.

Over the weekend, I did a fair amount of knitting.  I finished a blanket square for Blankets for Birmingham, started a Picot-Edge Washcloth, worked on my latest Log Cabin,  finished the Multnomah, and swatched for a baby hat. And I admired my purchases and petted the yarn.

All in all, it was a wonderful weekend. 

Blueberry Jam

It's July here on the farm and it's Saturday, so that means it's time to make jam!  Today's flavor - Blueberry.  Made from blueberries picked from my Dad's blueberry bushes.

Here's the berry cooking equipment.  It's my grandmother's and the ladle is actually the dipper they used when they had a well.

As usual, while I was stirring the berries, I thought about how beautiful the color is and wouldn't a shawl just look gorgeous in this deep, rich, blueberry color. 

Check out that wooden spoon.  It's stained from several weeks of jam making. 

I also get a sense of satisfaction when filling the jars and I keep thinking that I'm doing exactly what my grandmother did, in that very kitchen, using those same tools.  And that baking pan the jars are sitting on?  That's my Mother's.  She's had that pan ever since I can remember and it is black from cooking thousands and thousands of biscuits over the years.

I was so involved in what I was doing, I forgot to take pictures of the rest of the process, including the jars.  I have to tell you - the sound of the jars sealing is a beautiful sound indeed.



Makin' Jam

Doesn't this look delicious?  It's blackberry jam.

I'm feeling quite accomplished lately.  A few weeks ago, Mother and I made strawberry jam and it my first attempt at jam making.  Mother taught me how to make it and I was surprised at how easy it was.  On Saturday, we made blackberry jam.  Mother sat at the kitchen table crocheting and supervising while I measured, smashed, and stirred.  But she helped when it came time to fill the jars.  I filled and she put the lids on.

I couldn't help but think about my grandmother as I stood at the stove, in what used to be my grandmother's kitchen, stirring blackberries and sugar in that big white enamel pan with the red rim.  It is the same pan that my grandmother used when she canned and made jams and jellies.  To fill the jars, I used their dipper they used when they had a well.

Since we had three cookers as my Mother calls them, I had plenty of time to think and meditate while I stirred.  As I waited for the blackberries to boil, I thought how deep, rich, and beautiful the blackberries were and how I wished that I could have a wrap that color.  If anyone knows of a blackberry colorway, PLEASE let me know! 

We're planning on making pear preserves, blueberry jam, and muscadine jelly next.  So stay tuned.

Row Counting and Pattern Squinting

So.  After a stretch of many miles of garter stitch, including the body of my Multnomah, I'm back to row counting and pattern squinting  I started the Feather and Fan border this morning.  I've done three rows of the 4 row pattern repeat and now I'm finishing up taking them out.  I sure hope things go better this evening.

Picture of the Week

Spotted in Warrior.  Recycling at it's best! 

An Update and Birthday Knitting

An Update
As of today, the North Jefferson/Blount County division has crocheted and knitted 65 squares!  I made this square over Memorial Day and everyone who's seen it just loves it.  And it was fun to do which makes it just that much better in my opinion.

The pattern is the Mitered Crosses Blanket by Kay Gardiner.  I had to modify it a bit to meet the 8x8 dimensions for Blankets for Birmingham.  And I ran out of yarn and had to use a different dyelot.  Can you see the difference?

Birthday Knitting
Walker and Tristan will be celebrating their birthdays together on June 18.  Walker will be 3 and Tristan will be 1.  Their mom called yesterday and asked if I'd make bibs for them to wear on their birthdays.  She wanted the bibs I had made when Tristan was born.  Of course I said yes!  I love to knit for "my" boys! .So, I'm making the Baby Bib 'O Love from Mason Dixon Knitting.

I just need to add the straps and button.  Then I'll start on a red bib. 

Back to bib knitting!