And the beat goes on .....

The other day, I was chatting with my friend Gina. We were talking about the global situation and the need for compassion. Many are experiencing an increase in stress ... these are challenging times ... Covid 19 circumstances, reduced work hours, pay cuts etc ... however, on the surface there appears to be a calmness ...

Gina brought up the analogy of a calm lake. When you look at the surface, it is calm, serene and yet underneath are the currents, the turbulence ... sometimes the chaos surfaces and at other times it just is ... that's how I feel at the moment ... calm on the outside and yet, on the inside I'm affected by the situation.

I am truly grateful that I have a warm home, food, employment, my family and to be surrounded by wonderful friends. I do miss my family terribly ... and so wish I could visit. My parents are aging and I'm not there. I cannot cross the border. My inability to be there for both my parents is the underneath turbulence ... what the others do not see. Time is precious!

On another note, I started a new knitting project. The En Voyage shawl is still in the works ... I just wanted a little bit more of a challenge ... perhaps a good thing! lol

I purchase the kit from The Woolly Thistle, my favourite on line store. The pattern is called Foula Snood by Donna Smith.

It is from the book Shetland Woolweek - annual 2018. Lovely book/magazine ... Lots of wonderful projects!

I'm using Jamieson & Smith Shetland Wool from the Shetland Islands. Lovely wool!

I'm truly enjoying these various knitting projects I've been working on. Particularly enjoying learning about the various sheep breeds and the type of fleece they produce. Loving it!

Thank you for stopping by! Enjoy the moment! Cheers!

Self awareness ... Self acceptance ...

How is everyone doing? I do hope that you are finding time to connect with loved ones.

As I mentioned in a prior post, I am using this time to get to know my self better ... becoming more and more comfortable with who I am, working with the areas that need some attention. Self awareness is not always easy ... actually, rarely is it. It's takes patience, gentleness and courage to face ourselves.

You might ask, "why am I bringing this up?"

Well ... A few days ago, I came face to face with my imperfections. Some of you might know, I'm a perfectionist! I know, it comes as a total surprise to you! lol ... Not in an obsessive, compulsive sense, but more in a need to continuously improve upon myself; striving to become a better version of myself.

I set high standards for myself and work towards achieving those standards. I don't always succeed, but I learn from them. In my mind, it's really about what you are willing to live with. Can I live with that mistake in that quilt? Sometimes, it's a yes and sometimes it's time to take out the seam ripper!

I started a new knitting project. I needed something mindless, yet beautiful, to keep me occupied. I purchased the kit from my favourite yarn shop in Montreal, (Espace Tricot) on line of course, as the borders are closed. The pattern is called En Voyage by Espace Tricot and can be found on Ravelry ... It's a free pattern.

Photo from Espace Tricot

I began knitting, checking my work as I knitted along, making sure I was doing my cables properly...

It wasn't until I was into my second skein of yarn (that would be over 275 yards) that I noticed a mistake .... in the beginning of my project! I'm missing a cable row, making the V shorter than the others.

Well, as I looked at that mistake I started to tear up .... not from my having noticed my mistake so far up into my work, but from a position of total acceptance ... completely surrounding to my imperfections! It was such a wonderful feeling ... so liberating!

After I finished savouring the moment, I thought about unravelling my work to correct my mistake ... which would not have a been a big deal for me .... but I chose to leave it as is, serving as a joyful reminder of this beautiful moment of total surrounding.

I am now five (5) skeins into the project ... and just loving how it's turning out.

I'm using Scout yarn by Kelbourne in Charcoal Heather. I love that yarn and am planning on knitting another shawl in Navy Heather for someone special! ;)

What have you been up to?

Thank you for stopping my little corner in cyber space! Stay safe and healthy, both emotionally and physically.

Cheers!

Knitting in peacefulness ....

This whole pandemic really has me reflecting on life, the universe and everything else. What is important/meaningful to me?

For one thing, I refuse to look at this as social isolation but more as a quiet, peaceful time. An opportunity to spend time with myself, away from social distractions. It is allowing me to think about my priorities, my life and the next paths I will choose ... What really matters to me? ... my family, friends and hobbies. The rest, is just small stuff!

Sure I miss our weekly get-together at our local coffee shop, what we gals refer to as "Coffee Shoping" ... but this peaceful time only makes me more grateful for the friendships I have cultivated. When the quarantine has been lifted, we will have a wonderful show & tell party! Now there's something to look forward!

In the meantime, I have been knitting. Seems quilting has been put on the side for now. It's easier for me to sit in the living room and pick up the needles than it is to sit at my machine. That's ok ...

I finished this winter hat for my little Pumpkin, who is not so little anymore. 

I used Cuzco Cashmere, by the Plymouth Yarn Company ... 40% Superbaby Alpaca, 40% Mulberry Silk & 20% Cashmere ... As you can imagine, it is super soft. This is a birds eye view! 

Pumpkin wanted a pompom ... so I bought this gorgeous vegan pompon at my favourite brick & mortar yarn shop in Montreal ... Espace Tricot ... Le Pompom

And now, voici le pompom with le hat!

Now my little Pumpkin is all set for the winter! She be stylin' lol

How have you been doing? 

Thank you for stopping my! Wishing you a wonderful day! Cheers!

Show & Tell ...!

Saturday morning, my friend Diane texted me and said:

"Do you feel up to an outdoor chat? I can walk over to your place and talk outside. I have some show and tell."

It was a gorgeous day ... perfect for sitting outside .... I'm game ... So we had a Social Distancing Show & Tell.

I set up two chairs ... 6 feet plus apart, of course ... while she walked over.

We both subscribe to the Primitive Gatherings wool box ... during this isolation, she has been working on the various projects from the boxes we've received.

Check out the cute pincushion.

Hum ... inspiration to get mine done! lol

The last show and tell was the project she's presently working on.

Diane does beautiful work. She is such an inspiration.

I so miss our weekly get-together with our group ... Our Saturday coffee Shoping time! Sigh!

Later that day my friend Gina stopped by to drop off a quilt .... and brought me a sweet care package.

It was wonderful to catch up with friends on quilting, life the universe and everything else. That day was just what I needed !

How have you been maintaining some social time?

I do hope you have found ways to keep in touch with your circle of friends, those you care about. Social distancing does not have to be total social isolation. It's important to connect ...

Keep healthy, both physically & psychologically. Cheers!

Getting down to some serious baking ...!

During these times of social isolation, I find that I have more time to keep up with my Instagram account ... checking out what all my favourite bread bakers have been up to. By Sunday, after watching Martin Philip and his Son making pitas ... link here I became overwhelmed with inspiration and decided to get down to some serious baking business ... time to make some pitas

I used the Golden Pita Bread recipe from the King Arthur site and started my mise en place. Then in no time I'm ready to bake ... Okay, the wine might have helped pass time a bit quicker! lol

After a period of rest and a bit more wine, it was time to bake those pita ... check this out! Pouff!

They didn't all puff up ... but hey! It was my first first time making pitas They are quite touchy and it is a science to get them out of the oven in time before they dry out.

Voila the finish product ...

All in all, they turned out pretty good. I will admit, they are easy to make and are so delicious. With practice, I'll get pita baking down pat.

What have you been up to?

By the way, King Arthur Flour Instagram account has some wonderful baking videos. You might want to check them out at

Thanks for stopping by my littler corner in cyberspace. I do hope you have been keeping safe and healthy. Cheers!

Knitting away ....

I haven't quilted in a bit ... Seems easier to pick up knitting needles than it is to sit at my machine. I could pick up some wool work .... but ..... naw for now!

I still haven't picked up my No Frill's Sweater by Petite knit ... I'm really not in the mood to think ... so simple projects it is.

I knitted two pairs of mittens .. I'm sure you'll recognize the pattern ... Bromont Mitts designed by Dianna Wallaby's for Espace Tricot. This time I used Plymouth yarn Galway Sport ... a burgundy pair

And a Blue pair

Last week, on my trip to Albany I picked up a new book ... Maja's Swedish Mittens by Maja Karlsson ... you know ... to spice things up a bit!

It's a lovely book with lots of different patterns ...

During these unprecedented times .... Creativity is my therapy and sanity ... What's yours?

Hoping you are keeping safe and healthy ....

The new normal .... for other's anyway! lol

My friend Cheryl sent me this. It is so me! lol

What made me laugh was my favourite brother's reply to my post!

In these insane times .... laughter/humour is a must!

Stay safe and healthy every one ... both physically and emotionally/psychologically! People are doing some crazy stuff!

Hugs to you!

Happy St Patrick's day!

Top of the morning to you! Hope you are enjoying a fabulous day!

Finished this little quilt ... a project from my last wool box with Primitive Gatherings. The pattern is called Irish Chain by Lisa Bongean

The instructions called for hand embroidering the shamrock ... but I went with hand dyed wool. They were tiny pieces ... so tiny that it was best I hand embroidered the stem. 

I love how it turned out. Glad to finally have a piece for St Patrick's day. 

What have you been up to?

Catch you all later.  Cheers!

Stop the world, I want to get off ....!

Can someone explain to me what is going on?

On my way back from Albany, I stopped in Plattsburgh to do my weekly grocery shopping and was puzzled to see such a packed parking lot .... unusual for a Monday!

Once inside I was greeted by an empty vegetable section ..... WTF! Not a potato to be had anywhere!

Ok onward to pick up some milk and ..... meat counter bare except for hot sausages!

Not only that but the canned vegetable & legume section were bare and so was the canned broth section ... the frozen vegetable section ... totally empty!

and not a paper product to be had anywhere ...

My experience at Hannafords scared me to death ...

People's carts were filled, over flowing with stuff ...  some had two carts filled .... there was enough food for six (6) months if not more in there!!!! And here I was with my little cart barely filled .... couldn't even get a gallon of organic 1% milk! All out of stock!

Strangely, the beer section was not empty ..... Now that's totally weird!

I'll tell you ... I am more scared of people's present behavior than I am of the virus. Wow!

Stay healthy everyone .... physically and especially emotionally/psychologically!

Cheers!

A first pair knitted ...!

Just completed my first pair of mittens .... The pattern is called Bromont Mitts by Dianna Walla for Espace Tricot

It was easier than I thought. I was a bit worried about the thumb ... but it's a thumbs up! Corny ... I know ... lol

Just love how they turned out! They are so comfy on my hands. I think I'm addicted! lol

What have you been up to?

Catch you all later!