Jamberry

As I put Maxime to bed tonight, I read him one of my favourite children's books, Jamberry by Bruce Degen. It seemed appropriate and in accordance with the goings on at casa de Dear over the past few days.

Yesterday the wise, lovely, talented, funny, and über-kniter extraordinaire Alison came over to mentor me in my first foray into the jam making experience.

Making jam and preserves is one of those things I've always had a really romantic notion about, that I've always sighed about wanting to do and never actually did it. Well, this being the year of "I want to do it? Well, I'm gonna do it!" (tattoo, signing up for the 10km run...), I asked Alison if she would be willing to teach me how to do it, and she graciously offered to come over and show me the ropes.
Now, it must be said: spending time with Alison is always a privilege (she's an absolute riot and just an all-roud joy to be around), but spending time with her in the kitchen, learning from her? It was just a wonderful experience.

And dudes! The jam turned out SOOOOOO GOOD! Seriously, why would anyone ever eat the store bought stuff? Whenever I open one of these jars over the winter (because, there's no way in HELL I'm giving any away! Kate the Enabler will be the only recipient of my jammy love), I'll be savouring a little bit of summer, and I'll remember the time I spent with a friend to boot. I ask you: what could Smuckers possibly have on that? Nothin', that's what.


I'm now totally hooked on making jam. While on my lunch break today I strolled down to the book store and bought a book of jam and preserve recipes called Jellies, Jams & Chutneys which I can't wait to try out, as well as a Williams Sonoma book on baking bread. Because, you know, now all I want to do is smother my jam on fresh, homemade biscuits. Drooooooooooool. If Phil wakes up one night to find me gone, it'll be because I'm downstairs eating jam and making "Nom Nom" sounds.

Oh, and while at the book store I finally caved and bought myself Cookie A's Sock Innovation.

It's been so long since I've bought a knitting book! It was a toss up between this one and Wendy Johnson's Socks from the Toe-Up, but I figured since I've never knit a Cookie A. pattern yet (I may be the only knitter who doesn't have a pair of Monkeys...), it was time I let my guard down.

Happy Knitting Everyone!

Hamsa

As I mentioned in my last post, I finished Hamsa on Sunday night.

Knit with Knitting Notions Classic Merino Lace in the Very Berry Colourway (I won the yarn and the pattern at the Ravelry Party at Rhinebeck last year).

What can I say about this project? It was a lovely knit, I really enjoyed it. So much so that I ended up doing 12 repeats of the pattern as opposed to 9, partly because I like my scarves to be a bit on the longer side, and partly because I didn't want any of the lovely yarn to go to waste. But honestly, it was such a quick knit (you know,when I actually had time to work on it?), I really didn't mind.

I don't know what it is lately, I'm absolutely overcome with the urge to knit. Cardigans, hats, blankets, mittens. You name it, I want to knit it. It's made sticking to the whole "yarn diet" thing a bit... difficult. All I'll say is: stay tuned for some yarn pron in the next few days, OK?

I'll leave you with a picture of another type of berry, this one taken from one of my flower boxes turned strawberry patch. My good friend Alison is coming over tomorrow night to teach me the ancient and venerable art of canning and preserving, so this shot seemed appropriate :)

Happy Knitting Everyone!

I want candy

All day today, I would periodically refresh my email and ponder as to why there were no comments to my blog. Then I remembered that I hadn't posted since last week, heh. Whoopsee!

Well, despite what we might think, Summer must be here, right? Because everywhere I look, flowers are just on the brink of bursting open. My Bee Balm has grown to quite a prodigious size, and is covered with little buds, getting ready to seduce some unsuspecting butterflies...

My Hostas are stretching their delicate necks above their luscious foliage (gah.... I know, I'm trying to be all poetic and stuff, and it's coming out really cheesy, isn't it?)

And the little pumpkin plant Emilie and I planted a few weeks ago is sporting it's very first flower! See it?I don't know why I'm so excited by the idea of growing my own pumpkin for Halloween. Maybe I just watched It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown one too many times growing up? :)

Lots of my knitting is also on the verge of greatness :) My Mad Color Weave socks are past the heel, and I love them dearly, despite having to switch needles after having lost TWO 2.25 mm Harmony dpns! Those are the perils of commuter knitting, I guess...

I also finished Hamsa last night! It's upstairs blocking as I type, but by the time I was done threading everything on those blasted blocking wires (I. Hate. Blocking), the light had gone (as had my eyesight, to say nothing of my threshold for pain). Pictures next post, I promise.

And last but not least, I got some very special yarn in the mail last week. It's destined for baby knitting, for the yet to arrive Little Miss Enabler, so I can't really blog about it (Sorry!). But I can give you a wee taste...Oh yeah... this is going to be good.

Happy Knitting Everyone!

Canada Day

Apologies to all of you who come here for the usually abundant eye candy (Hah!). I'm going out tonight, seeing Kool and the Gang with my mother as part of the Jazz Festival, so I'm writing this post on my lunch break.

That's right, I'm working on Canada Day. *Sigh* My daycare lady decided to take Friday off for the holiday, and she pretty much calls the shots as far as vacation time goes around here. But there are a couple of upsides to this deal. First, traffic was a BREEZE this morning. Seriously, why can't every morning be this way? Second, I'm sitting in my office wearing shorts and flipflops and listening to really loud and obnoxious music, something that would really freak my boss out (but guess what? she's not here!!!). And third, as Phil usually has to take his day to coincide with the Fourth of July (his company has many American customers), we'll be spending the day together on Friday.

Yup, lots of upsides. But there's also a downside: sitting here with uninterrupted computer time, I'm finding it really, really difficult to not shop online. For yarn. *Sigh* I found a new site (thanks, Stéphanie!) that's got some absolutely drool-worthy worsted weight yarn that would be awesomeness incarnate as a cardigan for yours truly (have y'all noticed I'm really itching to knit a cardigan for myself?). Luscious yarn, good prices, and free shipping!!! Gaaaah!!!

A few of you have inquired about the sicks sitch. Sadly, I'm still sick. My voice is still AWOL, and I'm feeling a little run down, so much so that I skipped my run last night. By the time the kids were in bed it was beginning to rain, and while I would normally have scoffed at rain (with a toss of my hair and a resounding Hahahaha!!!), I figured it might not be the wisest thing in my current condition.

However, I felt so horribly guilty about skipping the run that I headed out at 6:15 this morning! The weather was nice and cool, the sun was shining... and people were out and about, showered and dressed and everything! Weird...

Happy Knitting Everyone!

Back to normal

Hi there! I'm back! Did you miss me?

Well, I am over-the-top ecstatic to report that, after 3 concerts in 3 days, choir craziness is officially behind me for two glorious months, and thank GOD and Sunny Jesus for that. Not a moment too soon, as what started out as a slight cough a few days ago has turned into full-blown laryngitis, and I sound like I should be living in a swamp and have green goo dripping from my skin.

I shouldn't be surprised, I suppose. Whenever I get sick, the voice is always the first thing to go. But when I started coughing on Saturday night, I didn't really pay it any mind. Then when I got up yesterday morning, my voice was just... gone. No, not gone. It had dropped a couple of octaves, and I was convinced I wouldn't be able to sing at all, never mind perform my solo. But after warming up, I was able to pull it off. I really gave it all I had left though, because today? I think all I could manage would be some Leonard Cohen, and even that would be pushing it, heh.

So there are a few things to get caught up on, not the least of which is that it was my birthday this weekend! Yup, I turned 33 this past Saturday, wheeeee!!! It was a lovely day, I got to go out for a run in the rain, did some shopping (for Maxime's big boy bedroom set), had yummy birthday cupcakes, spent time with family. All things that are of the good. And of course, I was spoiled by friends and family alike. Here are some of the highlights:

A lovely necklace and earring combo from Phil, Émilie and Maxime.

A beautiful necklace from Phil. Doesn't the pendant look like my tattoo? :)

A skein of Sea Silk from Kate-the-Enabler (Mmmmmmmmmmm, Seeeeaaaaa Siiiiiiilk)

I also got a gift certificate to Mouliné from my cousin Jessica, and the Whimsical Little Knits booklet from Robyn.

My grandmother also sent me some money, under the express condition that I spend it on myself. No spending it on the kids or household expenses (she knows me so well), something for me only. And honestly? I don't know what to do! Yarn? (Can you say Tanis???) Clothes? Shoes? Mani pedi? Spa day? Too many options...

Oh not to worry. I'm sure I'll think of something.

Happy Knitting Everyone!

Joiner

Yesterday was a national holiday here in Quebec, and I had a rare moment in the afternoon when a block of time stretched out before me and I had nothing that needed to be attended to. One child was sleeping and the other was out fishing with her dad, and it was just beautiful outside. It was the perfect time to grab a beer and cast on for something new!

I mentioned a few posts back that I joined the Ishbel KAL that my friend Robyn is hosting on Ravelry. I wasn't entirely sure which yarn to use, but when the opportunity presented itself to just sit back and knit yesterday afternoon, I didn't dawdle. I went through the stash and found 3 skeins of Knit Picks Shimmer in the Maple Leaf colorway that I bought... oh... a while ago. How long ago? Well, the first skein was wound by hand, so this has been marinating in the stash for at least 2 years.Normally I wouldn't go with a handpainted yarn for lace (I was such a newbie when I bought this!), but since Ishbel is actually pretty simple, with a fair whack of stockinette, I think this will actually work out quite well.

I've decided to knit the large version. As of tonight, I'm almost done with the stockinette section, and I hope to move onto the vine border within a few days. Oops, better make that next week. I've got concerts coming up on Friday, Saturday (my birthday!) and Sunday. There won't be much knitting 'round these here parts!


Happy Knitting Everyone!

5 minutes

As you've probably figured out by now, I've had a heck of a week. Not a bad week, just filled with many different, mostly happy things that have left little time (and to be honest, little inclination) to blog. I'd say I'll do better this week, but as I've got 4 concerts in the next 7 days, well.... I don't want to make any promises.

So this weekend marked the beginning of week 3 in my 14-week training regimen for the 10km race of the Montreal Marathon. I wasn't able to get out on Saturday, as Phil was away at a kite festival in the Saguenay region all weekend (oh, that and the fact that I'd had about 2.5 hours of sleep on Friday night didn't help either). But after getting the kids ready for bed, I was really anxious to get out there this evening.

When I stepped out onto my front porch tonight, it was just starting to rain. Not a heavy downpour, by any means, but drops were falling, there was no mistaking it. I didn't even hesitate though, I just started running.

Now, I know many of you have this really romantic notion of what it's like to run in the rain, how it'll feel on your skin, mingling with your sweat, how the sound of the raindrops will combine with the sound of your footsteps hitting the pavement, how everything will smell so fresh and green and alive. Well let me tell you: it's all true. It felt great. The rain was cool on my skin, the air was more pristine, and fragrant with growth and life. It didn't last very long, and by the time I was about halfway done, I looked up and there was a rainbow in the sky.

I wish I'd had my camera with me. But then again, I would have had to stop running to get the shot, wouldn't I?

I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to go from "I think I can, I think I can" to "I know I can, I know I can" in 2 short weeks. Or how surprised I feel when I look at myself in the mirror when I'm getting ready to head out, wondering who this sporty chick in my bedroom is. How even adding 5 minutes to your running time (I went from 15 to 20 consecutive minutes of running tonight) feels like reaching the summit of Everest. It's addictive, I tell you. Positively addictive.

Happy Knitting Everyone!