Hand Spun Hat

I volunteered (or was I conscripted?) to knit a hat for a family friend using this beautiful hand spun Finn wool.

This yarn is so wonderfully soft I can't stop petting it.  I haven't decided whether to do a striped hat, maybe something like Amy Andersen's Oliver Jogless Stripes Beanie or Jared Flood's Turn a Square hat or perhaps something with slipped stitches or a fair isle pattern.  Any suggestions?

This Week's Canning Project

I finished up a batch of about 16 cups of grapefruit marmalade this weekend.

My mom's grapefruit tree has been excessively prolific this year so marmalade seemed a great way to use some of them.  Actually, this was more of a recanning process as I had made and canned it about a month ago but it didn't set up.  So, I opened up all the jars and added some pectin.  Success!  Perfectly set and delicious.

Mom gave me another couple of bags of fruit on Friday so today I'm making a batch of grapefruit-ginger granita.

What's your favorite grapefruit recipe?

Jeweled Again

I've started another Jeweled Cowl. 

This one is for my boss.  She loved the one I made for myself and since her birthday is next month I thought this would be the perfect gift.  I wanted to use Malabrigo Lace again and wanted to make it in red because that's her color.  Abuelita's just what I needed - Malabrigo Lace in Ravelry Red.  Perfect!

The beads are from Fusion Beads.  They're size 8 Japanese seed beads.  I like the play of the light amber beads against the red; it makes me think of a Bollywood production.  Hope she likes it!

Canning Day

Sterilized jars ready to be filled with Grandpa's barbecue sauce

When I was little there were only two occasions where I recall my paternal grandfather would spend any time in the kitchen (other than to get a can of Hamm's out of the fridge when my grandmother wasn't around to get it for him).  One was when he would make a pot of chili beans and the other was when he made barbecue sauce.  He wouldn't let anyone else in the kitchen when he was cooking up a batch of sauce and he wouldn't share his "recipe" with anyone.  Except his daughter-in-law - my mom.

My mom and I recently started making grandpa's sauce again.  Every few months we whip up a batch or two, can it, and share it with family.  I love spending time in the kitchen with my mom.  She's always been a great cook and, thanks to her, my brothers and I have always enjoyed cooking.

Mmmm...saucy

I enjoy the process of canning.  There's something so satisfying about hearing the "pop!" as the jars cool and the vacuum seal forms, and I love seeing the filled jars on the shelf ready for whenever I need them.  Most of all, I love that my grandfather's tradition lives on.