Silence is Golden

My sock knitting goals for 2011 are twofold - to expand my horizons by knitting new patterns (I have a hankering to try Fair Isle, twisted stitch, Aran, etc.) and to buy sock yarn that suits a specific pattern instead of buying gorgeous skeins of yarn and struggling to find patterns that serve them well.
And here it is January and I've already hit a glitch. Before Christmas, I ordered Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Yarn in a new-to-me color called Silence. I had been looking for beige/light brown/khaki neutral tone for a man. When the yarn arrived, I found it was more a gold or wheat shade (it is not captured well by the camera lens) - pleasing but just not manly enough. So I've had to find a pattern for it and last week, I spent a lot of time trying several different designs with the yarn and after struggling to find something new and novel, I reverted to my old, familiar, Basic Cabled Socks - a pattern I have used many times in the past. It suits the yarn. God bless Brainylady, the designer!

Pattern: Basic Cabled Socks

Designer: Brainylady

Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock

Color: Silence

Needles: Circular, 2.25 mm.



Baltic Blossoms

Pattern: Baltic Blossoms Lace Shawl
Designer: Evelyn Clark
Yarn: Zephyr Laceweight
Color: Garnet
Needles: Circular, 3.5 mm

I have had this shawl on the go for months now. I had it three quarters finished when I decided to "improve" the look of one of the nupps and in the process, dropped stitches, and became hopelessly lost in terms of the pattern. I ended up frogging back the entire lily of the valley border. I set it aside to go to France and got it out a couple of weeks ago to work on again.
Because there are so many nupps in this pattern, I found it took 30-45 minutes to do every nupp row. And as much as I enjoyed it and like the shawl, I don't think I will be knitting this particular pattern again in the foreseeable future.

On The Art Scene

We have never collected original art. As much as we appreciate and admire the pieces, it has always been far more practical to purchase prints and enjoy the artists' talent in that way. And over the years, we have collected many lovely prints and etchings from mostly Maritime artists like Lewis Smith, Susan Paterson, Anna Syperek, Vicki MacLean, and William Rogers.
So there was great excitement when we discovered a new French artist whose work, at least for the time being, is as affordable as it is vibrant and exciting. Like Cher, she goes by one name - Lucy.

Some of the work is more structured with firm outlines and color contained within. Yet even with the increased structure, the imagination and playfulness of the artist is evident.

Other pieces are more abstract and free flowing.

Along with continuing to collect the works of this talented Mademoiselle, we hope to act as her Canadian agent for many years to come.

Sammy The Snowman

The Two Lucys

Dear Lucy Darling,

Yesterday, when I talked to you on the phone, I told you that it was snowing lots and lots here in Canada and that today, we would make a snowman (or two!) and send you pictures.
This morning, I put on my jacket and boots and scarf and mittens. I filled a bag with two carrots for two noses, some brown knobs for eyes, and two scarves to keep the snowmen warm. But when I went outside, I found the snow was too fluffy to make snowmen. It wouldn't stick together and roll into balls. It just kept falling off my mittens.
Maybe it will be better tomorrow. I'll try again then. So instead of making snowmen today, I took  pictures of Lucy Dog playing outside in the back yard.
We think we are very lucky to have two Lucys. We have Lucy Darling in France and we have Lucy Dog at home in Canada.

Lucy Dog wishes that you and Apolline were here to play in the snow with her

And someone else wishes you were here to help shovel all the snow! Can you guess who that is??

On The Bookshelf

When the children were growing up, we lived in a rural area and the library was a single room over the village office. The shelves were mostly stocked with outdated paperbacks. For avid readers, it was a grim situation and we spent a lot of money on reading materials.
Our younger daughter, now an author, would have her nose in a new book before we even left the store. On the walk across the parking lot to the car (nose still in book), I would urge her to take a breather, fearing the purchase would be half finished before we even made it home!
Now, we are 4 km. from a really great regional library. I can scan the catalogue online, place a hold on books, pick them up and check them out with the automated check out machine.
Consequently, the only books I buy at this stage of life are knitting books and the occasional cookbook.
I research carefully before making a wishlist. Christmas is a great time to get new books as the short winter days and long winter nights are an ideal time to pour over and savour the new volumes.
Here are this year's gift books:

Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting

Victorian Lace Today

Knitting Lace Triangles

Snow Brushed Tree Trunks



A Second Cabled Rangoli Hat

Pattern: Cabled Rangoli Hat

Designer: Desi Knitter

Yarn: Cascade 220

Color: 9452

Needles: Circular - 3.75 mm. and 4.0 mm

I started this second Rangoli hat in France. Despite the fact that the pattern is well written, logical, and error-free, I made so many mistakes that I thought the yarn would be worn out before the project was finished! I finally had to set it aside until we returned home.
Since this is a snowy weekend, I put a pot roast on to simmer, picked up the hat again, and finished it with no difficulties. Though it looks like a beret when laid flat, it is actually cross between a seaman's cap and slouch hat. It fits beautifully, takes only one skein of worsted weight yarn,  and would look good in so many different colors.

Deliciously Snowy Saturday

Christmas Yarns

Hand Maiden Casbah

Color: Cedar

Classic Elite Fresco

Color: Natural

Tosh Merino Light

Color: Molly Ringwald

Merisock (Punta Yarns)

Fleece Artist BLF Socks

Color: Saltspray

Winter is going to fly by with the projects I have in mind for these lovely yarns.

Back In Canada

We arrived home last evening to find a layer of snow, a few centimeters deep, glowing in the moonlight. Today, the cases are unpacked, the laundry is processed, Lucy Dog is back home with us again, a dozen bran muffins are cooling on the counter, and I picked up my knitting needles once more to finish a sock that was started as our journey began.

Pattern: Show-Off Stranded Socks

Yarn: Enchanted Knoll Farm Superwash Sock

Color: Cornucopia

Needles: Circular, 2.25 mm.

As a Christmas gift, Adam picked out a truly wonderful red wine and paid more for that one bottle than most of us spend on wine in a month or two. I can find my way around white wines and there are many on my list that I enjoy. I have a much harder time finding just the right red. I suppose it is because red wines are more complex. This wine was so good that as soon as it reached the mouth, the palate recognized class and quality. One of the best reds I have tasted. If I could speak wine language, I could describe it properly.

As a souvenir of the experience, we saved the winery paper that was used to wrap the bottle.

Sophie gave us this plate, which is so quintessentially Parisian and French. It will be a lovely accent on the dinner table, which always seems to include something from France. In the meantime, it just seems to belong in the black cabinet.

Lunch At The Creperie

Yesterday, we did what everyone should do at least once when visiting France - we had a meal at a creperie. Adam took us to one of his favourites - Creperie Beaurepaire in old Lille. We sat in the cellar portion of the restaurant, surrounded by brickwork, with lamps on the tables, and a warm and comfortable atmosphere.

And the meal! Mon Dieu! We started with savory crepes (I had ham, egg, mushroom, and cheese), cider and dry white wine, followed by a dessert crepe. I chose the St. Malo, a crepe with vanilla ice cream (obviously made with real vanilla beans), a rich caramel sauce, and generous dollops of whipping cream.  I would have to rank it as the best caramel dessert I have ever eaten.

Doors of Lambersart