Summer is finally here

Hello, Everyone,

Summer is finally here!  Today is nice warm, sunny summer Thursday.  Finally. 

Nate is visiting again..

He loves his race car bed at Gramma's.

I'm listening to Classical guitar on sky.fm.  Loving it!


Cinnamon roll time again.  Gotta go get 'em out.

Bye,
Julie

baby girlie sweater

Hello, Everyone,
It's a coolish Sunday morning in this strange cold, foggy summer of 2010 in San Diego.  I feel ok, bit of a sniffle.  Listening to Nestor play Latin jazz flute on "This Side of Paradise".  Go, Nestor!


I finished a cute girlie little baby sweater.  (After all those boyish booties, LOL)

Big natural shell buttons, cables and lace. Just darling

I have 2 friends expecting and neither knows the gender yet.  Can't have too much baby stuff stashed in the gift drawer.  


Nate and I are making cinnamon rolls this morning, so I'd better go and help him.  He loves to cook at Gramma's.  Last night he made a nice salad.


Tata, 
Julie and Lilo

It's time for Nate

Hello, Everyone,
It's a lovely summer Friday afternoon in San Diego, not too hot.  I feel ok and I'm listening to Jerry Lee Lewis play honky-tonk music: I got a woman,  Chantilly lace. The great thing about JLL is all the stuff he originated.Very raw.

Nate camr to visit Gramma for the weekend.  Here we are at Tip Top eating lunch, specifically his fav, Schwartzwaelderkirsch, or, as he calls it, "Cherry chocolate cake".

Lilo sez she wants some attention.  Then she faces away when I try to get her pic.  She is always in motion, so very hard to photograph.  

Now she is rolling on the floor, really jonesing for attention, this one. 

Did I already show you this one?

I broke my chanting beads yesterday, so I'd better make up some new ones. 

See ya,
Julie

It's bootie time

Hi, Everyone,

It's a warm Wednesday summer night in San Diego.  I feel good and I'm listening to "the King":  Love me tender.


I have a few new things to show you. First some crocheted booties.  

No idea why I made so many.  They're like potato chips. I just couldn't stop. 

Then I liked the "Peruvian mix" colorway so much,  I got some more and made Dan a hat, Me a hair band, A sutra case and a "manly" pair of slippers, size 11.  Dan doesn't like that style, so we'll see who gets them at Christmas.  Not one of the "big feet" guys, LOL.

 Tonight was the annual stash sale at the Knitting Guild.  I bought this necklace partially finished.  After I got home I finished it.  

Like the Hallmark bag? LOL.  

I made turkey mole today and it was out of this world.  Wanna know how to make it?


Turkey Mole 


Break up about 6 large dried chili peppers into a heat-proof bowl and add  about 2 cups boiling water.  After a few minutes process (blender, food processor, stick blender, etc) until smooth.  We're doing the modern version of the molcajete here.


In a crock pot put:

The chili sauce
1 frozen turkey hindquarter (it will thaw as it cooks)
3 minced cloves garlic
1 large onion, chopped
6 ribs celery, sliced
2 carrots, sliced
3 diced potatoes (after they are well cooked they will thicken the sauce)
1 round Mexican chocolate 
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed dried oragano
1 tablespoon ground cumin
cayenne to taste for heat ( I used 1/2 teaspoon)
1 cup tomato sauce (leftover marinera is what I used.  A couple of sliced tomatoes works, too.)
1/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup wine vinegar
pinch dried thyme
Salt and pepper


Add water to cover.  Cook on low 2 hours. Cut the turkey into chunks and return to the pot, including bones.   Stir everything well.  Now that the chocolate and peanut butter are softened, they will mix in easily.  Let 'er rip for another few hours, until the smell is just killing you.  Serve over rice, or anyway you want!  I imagine a vegetarian version could be made by omitting the turkey and adding garbanzo beans and olive oil. 
 
Lilo sez." Hi!"  She's headed out the window to see what is afoot.


Now that I wrote about it,  I have to have a taste of mole before I go to bed. 


Goodnight.
Julie

More finished objects

Hello Everyone,

It's a cold, breezy, overcast, foggy summer Tuesday in July!  What a strange day in San Diego!  We are having the weirdest summer I can remember.  There was a  show on the cable educational channel recently featuring a local meterology  prof from SDSU.  He was talking about how global warming had changed things in the ocean off the coast of Alaska, which increased the volume and changed the angle the Humbolt (cold) current comes down the coast of California.  As a result the cold current is flowing inside of the offshore islands, close to the coast, rather than the usual path outside the islands.  As a result the ocean close to the shore is cooler, casusing the coastal cloudiness and fog.  The end result is that the earth as as total is warmer, but that makes the California coast cooler this summer.  I dunno.  At least we do not have the killer bone dry heat waves, knock on wood.  If we have a cool, damp summer, we may escape the usual autumn wild fires.  That would be good.   I feel fine except for the pain in my knees, they don't like this dampness.  Funny that I am blogging a weather rant.  San Diego is usually immune to such, LOL.

I'm listening to Sergio Mendez's Encanto.  For those of you who remember the Sergio Mendez Brazilian beat from the 60's, this is a younger relative, I think his son.  Kind of super laid back dreamy Brazilian dance music.  Goes well with my cardamom tea. 

Here are some more finished objects.

I found the light blue mohair knitted lace scarf in an UFO pile.  I finished it off and then did a cute little hairpin lace cousin.  The three hats are another peach cable job, another tweedy one and  one I like very much, one in a colorway called Peruvian Mix. My gift drawer is filling up nicely.

Lilo slept with me last night, she hates the cold and fog,.  I think she is still on my bed, snuggled in the blankets to keep warm.  She's so spoiled. 

Tomorrow I'm going to a potluck luncheon, so I'd better think about what I'm bringing. 

See ya, happy knitting,
Julie

Dare's socks

Hello Everyone,
It's late. Warm, foggy summer Sunday night in San Diego.  I'm listening to an Argentine radio station that plays gaucho music.  Country western to the Argentines.   I slept earlier and then got up, so I guess my sleep is in 2 pieces today, LOL.  I'm ok, just a little stiff after tripping and falling flat on my face Saturday night.  Thank heavens I did not break anything, or otherwise seriously injure myself.  I stepped on a piece of paper, that slid on the carpet and  slipped out from under me.  Careful, paper is slippery and loose papers on the floor are dangerous.  

I finished Dare's belated birthday slipper socks, but then we did not end up having dinner together in the evening after all.  Oh Well, I'm sure we will get together soon.  BTW, for you sock knitters...  The trick to "no-holes" at the corners of the short row heels is to pick up 2 stitches  at each corner when done with the short-row heel and resuming rounds.  One is in the bottom of the gap between the two needles, and the other is on the side of the fabric held by the left hand needle.  It almost looks like an extra row on that side, so pick up a stitch in it.  I hope I am explaining that clearly.  Then the extra stitches are decreased like mini gussets.  I also increase a couple stitches on each side of the heel in the last row before the  heel starts.   This makes the heel deeper and it fits Dare better.  I do not do it for everyone.  The extra stitches are also decreased in the mini-gussets. 

Lilo is happy, I shared my roast chicken with her at dinner.  She opened one eye to say "Hi" to all her fans and then went back to her nap. She lost hr collar again, sigh.  Have to get her yet another one. 

Good night,
Julie

Girly, Girly

Hello there, Everyone,

Today is a coolish overcast breezy morning, as unlike San Diego in July as I can remember.  I feel great and I'm sipping a  lovely cup of cardamom tea. Drew Tretick is playing romantic violin on my player. I'm fightin' back, you gloomy weather, you. 

Heather and I had a girly day yesterday.  First we swam.  Then we  had Vietnamese food for lunch from the little Pho place across from the nail salon.

Then we got manicure/pedicures.

We were testing out the plum polish that is planned for the wedding in October.  It was so much fun.  We told Susan and Mimi (the manicurists) that we were doing the same plum polish and we both wanted flowers, but that there was a competition to see who did the best flowers.  They really got into it and had a big laugh.  Susan won.

Those are my swim booties drying in the breeze on the porch. 

I'm playing with more hairpin lace. Pink and foo-foo.   Lots of fun!

Lilo opened one eye to say hello.  She is sleeping on the foot of the bed.  That's what SHE thinks of this gloomy weather.I think I'll do something silly, like go and have a hot dog for lunch at the Price Club. 

See ya,
Julie

Hats, a scarf and a beautiful new shawl

Hello, Everyone,

It's a strange cool, cloudy, moist summer day, very untypical for us in July in San Diego. The music playing is Audrey's Kitten with a Whip.   Too bad that band broke up.

I feel fine and I'm heading out soon to swim with my sister.  Lilo is helping me blog as I am eating some yummy Mexican-style turkey soup and she is hoping I will give her a bite of turkey.  Nah!  Hmmm....        Oh,  Alright, here's a tiny bit for you to taste, Lilo.  She and I both love turkey.  Her digestion is so tricky I can only give her tiny tastes of "people food".  Now she's happy.

But I just had to stop and blog the pretty new shawl I finished late last night. 

It's hairpin lace, which I have not made since the 70's.  It's delicate lace weight, fine and ephemeral.  I just love it.  Tell me again, why did we stop making hairpin lace???  I love it.  And it works up fast.  Here's a detail.

The pattern is not entirely mine, although I made some changes.   It's a riff on the free pattern by Coats and Clarks.  The lace strips are 4 inches wide instead of 3, and the strips are  finished in swirling loops instead of points.   I think I'll make another one incorporating the ideas that came out when making this one. Let's see of I find time.

Here are the knit hats from the hat-jag I went on.

The tweedy ones are great for using up scraps. 

This is a pretty beaded keyhole scarf in a wavy lace pattern. Here's the detail.

 It's fun to do beads like that.  I'm trying to think what else I finished during the time I was too busy to blog.  As I think if things, I'll blog them. 

Here's Nate at Mission Bay Park, eating a strawberry paleta on a hot day we had last week. 

Got to run and swim. 

See ya!
Julie and Lilo, who thinks she is now my very best friend..

I'm back, again....

Hello, Everyone,

Well, I'm back.  I got real busy supporting a youth peace festival. Check it out. Here is the Taiko performance. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8xfzXyeEaI&NR=1
The song, Rise, at the end made me cry.  Maybe I can find a clip of it.  Wow! It was so great.

It's a hot evening after a hot day in San Diego.  I'm listening to Carlos Santana's Supernatural.  Maybe after I post we'll go somewhere air conditioned to cool off.

Heather gave me some pics of the 2nd pair of long stockings I knit.

These are for her daughter-in-law-to-be.

I was on a hat jag, since they are small and portable.  I made a whole bunch of them.  I'll post as soon as I get pictures.

Lilo is too hot to stay in the house.  She'll be back later.

See ya, keep it cool!
Julie

Hugg Me Baby Boots

Hello Everyone,

It's a mellow late night Tuesday after a lovely, sunny day.  I'm feeling good,  listening to Jazz 88.3 play Rebirth Brass band.

I just finished some cutie patootie baby booties.  So I wrote them up and  I'll be posting them on Ravelry as soon as I get to it, probably tomorrow. 

Hugg Me Baby Boots

These cute little high boots are suitable for either a boy or a girl. They look just like the famous sheepskin boots, but are knit of practical machine washable brown wool, with a creamy faux shearling sheep cuff, knit in loop stitch to look like sheepskin. Altogether much cute baby snuggliness.

Size: 4 (5) inches long, about 6 (9) months. Baby feet vary, better to be too big and grow into them. Instructions for larger size will be given in paren.

Gauge: 4 stitches to the inch in garter stitch

Materials:

1ball, cream worsted weight washable wool yarn, I used Lion Brand Collerction Superwash Merino, Antique

1 ball smooth chocolate brown Worsted weight washable wool yarn, I used Lion Brand Collection Superwash Merino, Mahagony

size 5 circular needle. I know this is small for the size of the yarn, but it needs to be knit tightly if the loop fabric is to look “sheepy”

1 marker, I used a coilless safety pin

large yarn needle to sew up heel

Special stitches:

Knitted-on cast on: Slide a slip knot on the left hand needle. Insert the right hand needle from heel to tip of the left needle through the loop. Bring the yarn around the needle and pull it through the first loop as if knitting the first stitch. *Do not remove the first stitch, instead, rotate the right hand needle so it lies parallel with the left hand one, heel to heel and tip to tip. Slip the left hand needle through the new loop, so both needles lie heel to heel and tip to tip again. Snug up the yarn around both needles. Draw the yarn between them and draw up a loop as if to knit a stitch. Repeat from * for desired number of stitches. This creates an open, lacy cast on.

Loop stitch: *Knit a stitch, but leave it on the left needle, draw the yarn to the front between your needles and sling it around your left thumb, using the thumb to hold a long loop. Bring the yarn back between the needles to the back and knit the stitch again and this time pull the "old" stitch off the left needle. Pull the first stitch over the second one on the right needle to lock it down. Tug on the loop to pull all the slack into the loop. Knit the next stitch plain. Repeat from * across, alternating every other stitch with loop and regular knit. Knit the next row plain. So, every other row you have a row of loops, every other stitch. If the loop rows alternate the loops so that they do not stack up, but instead alternate like an eye of partridge heel flap, why, that is a nice touch. If you can't make that happen, don't worry. Nothing shows in all the loops!

3 needle bind off: with a third needle knit 1 stitch from each side together, *knit 1 stitch from each side together again, pull the first stitch over the second to bind off 1 stitch. Repeat from * until all stitches are bound off.

Lilo sez,  "G'nite, Mates!"

Bye,

Julie