A Lion's Share Knitting Circle!

Yarn, What's Not to Love?

On October 23rd I held my first Lion's Share gathering...and we started with knitting!

My Mother taught me how to knit when I was 12, or so, and I didn't stick with it very long.  I have always been an art and crafty gal, but knitting required a level of calmness and patience I just didn't have then.  Although, I have always had more patience while creating art of any sort.  It was always a source of amazement to my parents given my short fuse :) And to me, actually! I still have the first project I ever started (an unfinished gray scarf). Maybe one day...

A few years ago I decided to pick up the needles again, and asked my Mom to re-teach me how to knit.  I never looked back.

Knitting has been the source of so much more than sweaters and scarves to keep me warm.  I've gained friends (we had a knitting group at work for a while and it really bonded us), serenity, a sense of accomplishment, a creative outlet and confidence. I recently realized that it started to give me a "yes I can do that" sort of outlook.  I used to read a pattern and say, "I can't do that..." and then I would tackle it and learn and come out with a beautiful piece of clothing.  So pretty soon I started hearing "I can't" in my head and quickly replied, "What makes you think that? Of course you can...you've proven that over and over again...so get on with it!"

And I've gone on to apply that mentality to other things in my life. They just get bigger and bigger (but not always as warm i. e. "Taking the Plunge" in Scotland).  It's very liberating.  So start small but aim big, right?  :)


Now, back to the party...

On the eve of the circle...my good friend, Sara, came over to help prepare...We tried out a burger place called "Flipside." They stuff the burgers with cheese!!!

Hard at work...

And she brought along a guest...Johnnie Walker Black...who we then introduced to another friend, Glenfiddich...

More work...

And I finally introduced her to my boyfriend, (David Tennant's) Dr. Who...

A very welcome dinner guest ;)

Then I got to work in the kitchen making the dough for parmesan shortbread. (I got the recipe from "Sue  Lawrence's SCOTTISH Kitchen.")

Parmesan Shortbread

All the while I left Sara in front of the television with Dr. Who cutting up vegetables and seeding pomegranates.

 Out! Damn Spot!!!

 Pomegranate Seeds!

Barley with butternut squash, pesto, walnuts, onions and mushrooms

Carrots and yams with caramelized onions, herbs de provence and balsamic vinegar

Mixed greens with apples, walnuts and cheddar cheese

A delicious Fall lunch!

Sassafras Leaves

I also served a wonderful Sassafras and Mullein tea infusion, pumpkin dip with organic graham crackers and ginger snaps along with hot, spiced apple cider...which we married with a little bit of whisky ;)

And yes, there was actual knitting...here are some projects I've (finally) finished!

 A stripey (Summer) Hat

 Felted Slippers

 The beginnings of a cabled cardi

It was a wonderful afternoon full of yarn, food, laughter and food!  If anyone is interested in participating or hosting a circle, please get in touch!

Maybe I'll see you next time!

XO

P.S. Thank you to all who attended and a HUGE thank you to Sara for all that chopping!

Domestic Bliss

My Sprouts!

I've recently gotten back into the joy of tending my hearth.  Spending the past couple weekends making yogurt, sprouting sprouts and knitting!  Yes...knitting again.  I can breathe.

It's been a little slow going because of the heat...and my refusal to put the air conditioner back in.  Note to self: Never live in the South.  I am, however, settling into the heat to a point where I can tolerate it and not be miserable...but I don't enjoy it.  Sort of how I feel about living in New York City :)

I actually started writng this blog on 4th of July weekend. The heat has sort of forced me into nap-mode on the weekends.  Maybe that's what I need right now...be like a cat and sleep to cope with the heat.

This past weekend I had my Apprenticeship day (which is always a day I can breathe) and then Sunday was a homemaking day...although laundry fell into the oblivion that it always seems to in favor of cooking and catching up on assorted TV shows and singing along to my iPod in the kitchen.

As I participated in all these activities I started thinking about this blog entry, just sitting waiting to be finished, and I realized that it's very hard for me to relate my feelings about tending the hearth and home because their mine.

On Saturday I had a lovely conversation with one of my herbal Sisters. We were discussing what our ideal jobs would be.  I found that "Homemaker" was the most accurate title I could come up with.  Is that going against feminism? I think not. Tending the hearth is such a joyously feminine thing that I completely revel in re-embracing it! I adore making my own yogurt, bread, granola, sprouts, knitted items...etc.

Although yesterday, as I braved the heat and switched on the oven to make granola for the first time (and crisp bacon for a BLT Potato salad), I realized that I do resent having to squish all these luscious earthy pursuits into one or two days over a weekend.

However, I'm confident that one day the time will be right and I will find a "homemaking" position.  Until then my weekends will be very busy :)

Thursday in Edinburgh: Part 3

As soon as I finished posting "Thursday in Edinburgh: Part 2" I began "Part 3" of my day. (and please forgive the myriad of fonts I have going on here...I have no idea how I managed that).

I walked over to The Grassmarket to meet my friends at a cafe called, "The Lot." It was really nice and chill, and my friends were knitting! So I settled in with a very large bottle of Williams Black Ale...and a snack of olives. It was delicious!

After some wonderful conversation we headed for the bus and down to a bar and cafe called "Roseleaf."

I love this place! I was amusing my friend Christina because everything about it filled me with glee...from the home made Ginger Beer cocktail served in teapot and teacups...to the discovery of cake forks! I'd never seen such a thing! Needless to say the food blogger in me took over and my camera was out (if I looked like a silly tourist so be it!)

Ginger Beer w/Rum

Cullen Skink

Cake Fork!

Apple Cupcake

It was a wonderful penultimate day and evening in Edinburgh. Now, as I write this, it's Friday night and I'm extremely sad to be leaving early in the morning. My only consolation is that I know I'll be back...there's really no question about that because I love it too much.

Today we traveled over to The Sheep Heid Inn for lunch. I had wanted to go last visit but never made it. The Sheep Heid is the oldest Public House in Scotland (according to "The Local's Guide to Edinburgh"). It's very cozy and laid back. We enjoyed some beer and sausages and mustard mash with red wine gravy, then went down to the bar area for some tea. At one point a woman came in with her adorable West Highland Terrier and I was just delighted.

The Sheep Heid

After tea we walked back around and over the Arthur's Seat area...so I got to spend a few more moments out there which I cherish :)

I'm about to head back out to the cash machine and market for dinner fixings. I'm quite excited over cooking something while here...now...what to make???

I'll report back, of course.

XO

Knit One, Pearl...Well, You Know...

To add to my Domestic Goddess skills...yes, I knit. :)

It's a wonderfully meditative thing to do...and so old school! Anyone who knows me well, knows that if I had the space and time, I'd be baking all my own bread, making soap, and brewing mead and beer in my backyard...you name it. I'd probably even give churning butter a go.

I became fascinated by the thought of being able to knit my own sweaters, socks, washcloths...etc! I thought I'd never have to go to the store again! Unless is was a yarn store, of course. That wore off after a time (I tend to get into things full blast and then they even off into a more realistic obsession...ah, past-time...) In the early days of my knitting frenzy, I bought a drop spindle to spin my own yarn (warning: it's not as easy as it looks). Someday, I'll have a spinning wheel!

Things I've made (after the chaos of knitting all my Christmas presents one year...note to self, "Never do that again!"):

• Numerous sweaters from Stephanie Japel's "Fitted Knits"
• An iPod Cozy
• Socks (for my Mom)
• A hip purse (also from Stephanie Japel)
• Coffee Cup Cozy
• Quite a few scarves
• Kick Ass Gauntlets
• Washcloths (to wrap around handmade soap)
• A strapless summer top (Fitted Knits)

In production:

• Orange neck warmer (pictured at beginning of blog)
• Cabled, wool coffee cup cozy!
  
• Felted slippers in Scottish Rowan Tweed:

Felted panels

I think it's important to note that you can make some very stylish and fun things!

I love listening to my iPod and knitting on the Subway...then you get a dual distraction ;) and it makes the trip fly by.

There's something about yarn, wool in particular, that really calls to me. The coziness of it...I've had an affinity for all things wool for a long time...and cables? Swoon. :)

I'm going to be putting some knitted items (such as coffee cup & iPod cozies and yoga mat bags) up on Etsy, as soon as I get my page back in order...so stay tuned!

XO