New Hampshire

What an interesting trip! We arrived at Waterville Valley for the Regional Ski races Friday night late, so we didn’t do anything fun. But Saturday and Sunday was full of knitting and such for me, while David is with the ski teams.

I started my Saturday late, 5 hours later than David. I was hungry and asked for some advice on where to go, and I was pointed to the Coffee Emporium. I ordered a Caramel Hot Chocolate and Stuffed Bagel with Jalapeno Cheese and Mushroom.

Doesn’t that look good!? The place was PACKED! For good reason of course!

After my very full filling breakfast, I set out to find Patternworks. I’ve always wanted to visit the place, but being in the middle of New Hampshire, it is hard to take a trip. It turns out it is only about 45 minutes away from where we were.

And that’s just some view of the store. The store is huge! and packed! It’s got different rooms full of yarn! Although I think it may still be smaller than WEBS. It’s hard to judge since the layout is so different. I chatted with the nice ladies there and bought some buttons and a tool I’ve been wanting for awhile.

Those buttons and the ear wires are on sale for almost nothing! It was a great find.

I’ve got back to where we were staying about the same time David got back. We were hungry and took a walk to the town square (a little gathering place by the resort area) and went to a little mexican food take out place for dinner.

Don’t they look good? I was so hungry I forgot to take a picture before I bite into the giant burrito I got. David’s chili was a bit more tomato-y than we both liked, which was a let down, but the rest was absolutely delicious and inexpensive! I was surprised at the prices for being a ski resort place.

After dinner, we decided to walk around at all the shops and wait for the fireworks. While we were browsing through the the country store, we came upon this:

Yup. It says Bitch. And I have no idea why. It is fun to look at though.

The fireworks was pretty but hard to capture. We tried.

We passed out rather quickly after we got back to our room, despite the fact that I only woke up less than 12 hours ago, but apparently, I was tired.

Sunday was a lot less eventual. I got up around 8, and was planning on going to Inspired 2 Knit & Tea, but due to the fat flakes of snow coming down from the sky rather rapidly, I decided to stay local. I went back to Coffee Emporium and ordered the same breakfast, but enjoyed a cup of Chinese Flower Green Tea this time, and knitted.

That is Icarus in progress. So far, it is a super fast knit and I’m really enjoying it. I have since made more progress though, since after I left Coffee Emporium, I went and sat in the lounge of the place we were staying and watched NCIS marathon and knitted some more.

David got out at a reasonable time, and on the way home, we stopped at Inspired 2 Knit and Tea right before it closed. The owner was super nice and knowledgable on recent trends. Even though I have said that I’m on a yarn diet, I went away with some local spun and tea:

That’s three skeins (750 yards total) of 100% Shetland Wool by McGinnis Brook Farm, from the sheep Lola. I already have a plan for it. I think it will become one fo those pretty doily blankets. The tea is Notting Hall Peaches Supreme. I haven’t tried it yet, but I think I may break it out tonight.

The drive on the way home, however, was quite interesting. The snow didn’t stop and it just kept on going. Until we got to MA. It became little snow, then turned into rain when it cross the CT border. Needless to say, we were home safely.

So did you do something fun this weekend?

Feb 16

Flapper Girl?

What do you think? Can I pass for one? Well, alright, maybe after the hat is completed. But so far, I’m loving the pattern though!

Feb 2

My New Love Affair

With Jamie Lee, v.2.

Laura had emailed me and asked me if I would make another one but with cap sleeves. I liked it so much the first time around, I said yes to the second one. The only thing is – I’ll only make it till the split of the arm holes and Laura will make the rest along with making up the written instructions.

Did I tell you I love this pattern?

Dec 28

mmm… PORK!

Yes. Yet again, this knitting blog is going to talk about food. You see, I started this blog with the intention of talking about everything, hence the name Cafe Eclectic. Instead of Knitting Cafe of some sort. But when I first started, I didn’t know what to put on a blog, so all I talk about is knitting. But now I think it is finally got to the point of where I want it to be.

So on to the food…

I forgot to take a picture of the whole roast, but I follow Giada’s Pancetta Wrapped Pork Roast with Herbed Polenta.

I didn’t have pancetta, so I used bacon instead. The roast I had didn’t need as much of chicken stock as it called for, and it cooked longer – about 1.5 hours. I think it all depends on the size of the roast. The result is a tender, juicy roast. And the polenta is the perfect compliment to this dinner. Although I think white rice would do as well, since there were lots of yummy pan juices left on the bottom of the pan.

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So I joined the Hot Cocoa Swap #2. If you missed it last time and would like to join this year, hurry over and sign up since they are only taking the first 100 participants! I had a great time with this swap last year and highly recommended!

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Lastly, I’m almost done with my new sweater. Although I’m getting worried on the yardage I have left. The pattern said 9 skeins, but I already used 10! And that’s all I got! I’m crossing my fingers on the yardage. Hopefully I’ll finish the sleeves today to get a judgement on that.

Dec 24

Christmas Eve Update

Well, it’s been a little while since I posted. Since then, I’ve been to an awesome party at Peaceful Knitter‘s:

I’m sure we entertained Peaceful Knitter and her sweetie’s non-knitting friends.

There was also a huge snow storn since then. I think we got 8 inches here. And I didn’t take any pictures. I don’t know why.

And I made some progress on the sweater:

I finished both front and back and actually made some progress on the sleeves as well. I probably could have finished the sweater by now, but then I was distracted by making a couple of balls:

Both are for my new work friends, with one for a yankee swap, which was a hot item to go. After the swap, one of my coworker really liked and hence the second one was made.

Well, time to go finish that sweater. Happy Holidays!!!

Nov 30

My New Sweater

Well, I didn’t finish yet! I started yesterday after finishing off the bag. Instead of browing through Ravelry, I decided to go through some of my pattern books and see if there is anything I wanted to make with the yarn I already have – and Bingo!

The cover picture sweater is made with Louisa Harding Kimono Angora Pure, and in the pattern book, suggested yarn choices are Angora, Kashmir DK and Grace. (Ravelry is linking Karabella Magerite, which is weird, but whatever, it’s DK) Well I just happened to have some Kashmir DK around Right on gauge too! I’m cruising on the back panel. Can’t wait to have my new sweater

Time for din din!

Nov 16

Food? I Thought This Was a Knitting Blog?

I know, I know. But I promise there are some knitting content in this post!

A New Stew

Whenever I made beef stew, I got my staple recipe that I go to everytime. I make it so much I know it by heart. And it never fails. But today, while I was browsing around, I saw another recipe - Beef and Butternut Squash Stew, and I couldn’t help but give it a try!

I subsitute the marsala wine with some apple cider, although when I googled for good subs for the wine, it said grape juice. I supposed it made sense, but I had apple cider on hand and I know it will work.

I will definitely make this again, but I will probably put the butternut squash when there is half an hour left for the stewing so it doesn’t completely full apart on me. Or I will try my staple recipe’s trick – sautee the butternut squash in a separate pan until the edges are golden brown. I’ll update the next time I make this.

Gluten Free Meatloaf

Since we are talking about food, I might as well show off my last weekend’s dinner – Meatloaf.

I used the meatloaf mix from a sale I got and there were way too much meat, so I made two of them instead. Also, I made them with cooked rice isntead of bread crumb so David can enjoy this as well. One more thing – no tomato of any kind is in this meatloaf. I made a honey glaze instead and it was good!

Sadly, I can’t find the link that I got the recipe from, so I can’t credit the awesome recipe maker. But I will quickly share what I made here:

Meatloaf

2 lbs meatloaf mix (or ground whatever…)
3 cups of cooked rice
1 onion, chopped
1 egg
1 tbsp Worstershire Sauce
1 tbsp Steak Seasoning
5 strips of bacon (or whatever you need to cover the top of the meatloaf)

Honey Glaze

3 tbsp honey
1 dash of worstershire Sauce
1/4 tsp of salt
1/4 tsp of pepper

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees

2. Mix all ingredients for the meatloaf together, and shape it in the meatloaf form. You can use a loaf pan to shape it and then turn it out onto the baking pan, but I was lazy and I didn’t want to clean another item.

3. Cover meatloaf with the bacon strips

4. Mix the honey glaze and brush it on top of the meatloaf and bake for 1 hour or until done (150 degrees).

Win A Knife!

Go visit here to see the knives give-away!!!

Turkey Sighting!

In my driveway! So weird. There were two but I didn’t get both at the same picture.

Knitting!

See! There ARE actual knitting content in this blog! Although I’m still making the Schaefer bags. New development on that though. I received words that the handle is no good, so I ripped it out and fixed it.

Now you can’t even tell which one is which!

And I started the Laurel bags – same pattern, just using a different yarn. I finish one already and am currently on the second one:

Almost done. Once it’s done, I think I’m going to make something for myself.

Aug 26

Project Gallery

Wow. I haven’t posted FOs for awhile now. SO without further ado…

Pattern – Rattlesnake Creek Socks by Anne Podlesak
Yarn Used – 313.2 yards of Neighborhood Fiber Co. Studio Sock in Cooper Circle
Needles – Harmony size 0
Gauge – See Note
Knit – July 01, 2008 to July 12, 2008
Modification – Did two less repeats on each sock

This pattern uses cables, but do not have a cable gauge. I didn’t see the note from the mod on Ravelry after I frogged it 3 times trying to resize it for myself. I generally uses Yahoo group for this group and apparently I should have been paying attention to both, even though yahoo was supposedly the main group. Oh well. Live and learn.

If I have a choice, I wouldn’t have make this during the hottest days of the summer. I like the pattern alright, but probably wouldn’t have made it if it weren’t for this KAL.

Besides not having cable gauge, everything else is pretty straight forward. I think my yarn choice is so-so. A solid color yarn would have do much better justice for this pattern I think.

Pattern – Woodland Shawl by Nikol Lohr
Yarn Used – 701.7 yards of Schaefer Yarn Andrea in Julia Child
Needles – Harmony size 4
Gauge – N/A
Knit – May 18, 2008 to July 25, 2008
Modification – I added 4 more pattern repeats to make the whole shawl wider

This shawl felt like it was taking forever. I think I was losing patience mid way through. It doesn’t help the pattern was written for sock weight yarn and I’m using lace weight either. I think if I do it again, I’ll add more length. I think I cut the shawl a bit short, but still long enough for a shawl though. And what can I say, Andrea is just a pure pleasure to work with.

Pattern – Child Cardigan by Elaine Brody (Hooded and Collared Version)
Yarn Used – Almost 1 skein each of Schaefer Yarn Elaine in Indigo (Hooded) and Snooks (Collared)
Needles – Harmony size 10 & 11
Gauge – 3 sts per inch in Size 11
Knit – July 24, 2008 to August 4, 2008 (Hooded); August 7, 2008 to August 8, 2008 (Collared)
Modification – None

I made one of each for Schaefer Yarn samples. These are so easy and so fast to make. I was a little stunned on the increase as I automatically did Make One increase, which leaves giant holes with the size needles I’m using, but after consulting with CostumeChick, I frogged back the first one I made and change it to knit front/back increase. Now they look fabulous!

Pattern – Lehmus-huivi by Sari Åström
Yarn Used – 467.8 yards of Schaefer Yarn Andrea in Julia Child
Needles – Harmony size 4
Gauge – N/A
Knit – August 8, 2008 to August 24, 2008
Modification -None

This is my Ravelympics project. I CANNOT, I repeat, CANNOT, believe I made this shawl in 17 days. Literally, as the flame was being put out, I snapped the picture for the completion. I started this project after the flame was lighted and ended when the flame went out. This has been a world wind project and I am so glad it is done. And of course, I medaled in two events with this shawl.

With the Olympics behind me, I started a project for the wedding – Wedding Basket that collects the cards:

I’m using Farmhouse Yarn’s Andy’s Merino in Cranberry. The color is not completely set so it’s staining my fingers as I knit. Should be interesting. Hopefully I’ll get it done soon so the stain will be gone by the time of the wedding.

And finally, I want to show off some flowers arrangements I received while I was in the hospital:

Last Thursday around 3pm, I just finished up with a meeting and all of the sudden I had some stomach ache. David drove me home, but on the way home it got worse, so we turned around to go to the ER. As I waited, the pain subsided but the blood work came back with high white cell count, and the CT scan came back iffy on appendicitis, so they admitted me for observation in the hospital overnight. I have to say, the idea of someone cutting into my body is not exactly appealing. The next day, I saw the surgeon, and did more CT scan and blood work. Blood work came back normal, pain was gone, the CT scan came back normal too. So they released me Friday night. We have no idea what happened to me.

By then, David’s dad and step mom had sent me flowers with get well wishes (the Lilly one) and David came back from work with the sunflower arrangement. My brother had came by after work and stayed till I was released and David’s mom had also shown up to sit with me, and stayed with us Friday night to make sure that I was really okay.

I’m back to work, and it was nice to see everyone. A lot of people stopped by to say hello, and let me know that they were worried about me and had send good thoughts or prayed for me. It was very touching and it’s nice to know that I made some friends at work this past few years.

With the wedding come up so close, blogging will definitely be a little more scattered for the next month or so. Maybe soon I’ll have time to blog about our plans for our honeymoon!

Aug 1

Catching Up

I guess it has been awhile. Wedding preparations have been taking over most of my life, so I guess I will give you a list of what’s been happening around here:

I switched blog – as you can already tell. I’m still trying to figure out how to make it pretty. So bare with me on all the changes that’s going to happen around here.
We have two more “new” vehicles. I gave my old car to David’s mom who doesn’t have any transportation, and bought a ’03 Passat GLS Wagon in Red with black interior and heat seats! The other one is a Kawasaki touring bike. David uses as his commuting bike and we ride to go places once in awhile.
We went to the Red Sox vs. Yankee Game last weekend. Yankee killed the Red Sox, but we had a good time, even though it was completely way too hot to do ANYTHING.
David made me a raise bed outside the gate, and I replanted all the cantaloupes and only one died, and the rest are thriving! And my herbs are going crazy!!! I cut a bunch and gave it to Archiknist and another bunch to another friend at work.
I finished Woodland Shawl, but haven’t block it yet. Maybe this weekend.
I started a Schaefer sample and am hoping that I can finish it this weekend. We’ll see.
David is away for his Bachelor Party – White Water Rafting in Maine. Yes, the man has weird taste for his party, but hey, at least he is having fun.
David’s mom and step mom and my female families are in town for my shower. So excited to see everyone!
I had my second fitting for the gown, and this time, I took pictures! However, can’t post it here since you never know when that sneaky groom is going to read this. Maybe I will password protect it on my next post.
Wedding invitations were done and mailed last week. I know quite a few family members and friends had gotten them, which is a good sign, since I mailed the whole box of invitation up to the Wellesley Island Post Office so they can hand cancel the stamps. As far as I know, they were perfect as perfect can be in my standard.
When we went to the Sox game, we took a detour to WEBS, and WEBS Bead Store. It just happened it was the Northampton Side Walk sale and I bought a bunch of Classic Elite Inca Print for $2/skein! Seriously!
I joined Ravelympics, which is knitting one or multiple items that is challenging for me during the Olympics. I chose a lace shawl in 17 days. Am I nuts? Maybe.
Engagement pictures are coming in the mail. Suppose to be getting them tomorrow . Can’t wait.

That’s all I can think of right now. My camera battery had died and I can’t find the charger. I have been using a back up camera, which is okay, but not as good as my regular one. I better get going to find myself a charger on ebay or something before I’m completely pissed at myself for losing it.

Enjoy your weekend!

Jun 15

A Weekend Of Fun

What did you do this weekend?

Saturday morning, our new lawn guy came, and he did an AMAZING job cleaning up the yard.

Even the dogs didn’t know what to do with it!

I went to my weekly farmer’s market with Archiknist and we came back to the house waiting for a few others to show so we can go try on my wedding gown. Now, I was too excited to see my gown and didn’t take ANY pictures!!!!! But no fear, my readers, I’m going back on Thursday to do my first fitting so I will make sure I take a picture then.

While I was there, I was tying out different veils. The one I liked was $195!!!! WTF??? So I looked online and found this – yup, only $63!! I’m pretty sure I’ll be getting that. At first I didn’t want to have a veil, but I saw a very similar one on a magazine and just loved it.

We came back to my house for some BBQ and crafting. It was too bad that the weather wasn’t so great so we couldn’t be out to enjoy my new swing:

We are going to use it for our “altar” area. We will take out the awning part, and the swing, and I’ll decorate it with some fabric and ask my florist to get some hanging plants for the four corners. I really like the look of this when I first saw it during my research, so I’ll do something similar, minus the crazy flower on the top.

Today I went with Beth and Ola to Lyman’s Orchard for some strawberry picking. It was a lot of fun looking for those ripen red, juicy berries.

Afterwards we went to the Apple Barrel to see what’s in season and what they got. There are lots of canning stuff for sale (mmm… jam…) and pies. But I came home with these:

YUM. Can’t wait for mid-July for the other berries to be ready.

On other news, I worked on my invitations, and here is what I got:

Yeah, the outer pockets are finally done! I can finally move on into the inside of the invitations. Speaking of that, I got these in the mail:

I’m going to use these vintage postcards as the response card. I think it would make a cool scrapbook when it is all over. I just hope everyone will actually return the response card!

Oh, and it’s 97 days till the big day!

As far as gardening, I’ve been kinda on hold since I couldn’t move all the blocks needed to do the raise garden and David is away for work, all the seedlings have been just staying in their starter container and waiting. Hopefully it’s not too late. So without further ado, here are some pictures of the herbs:

See how awesome those herbs look? And I use some for dinner tonight:

I had some Greek pasta salad at Ola’s house not too long ago, so I decided to try my hands in it with some of my herbs.

jennsquared’s Greek Pasta Salad

1 box of pasta of any kind
1 small can of chopped olives
1 and half cup of corn (I grilled some corn last night so I used that)
1 shallots, finely chopped
1 scallion, finely sliced
some parsley, finely chopped
some thyme, finely chopped
1 tsp dry basil (use fresh ones if you have any)
some garlic pepper seasoning
salt
olive oil
basil pesto grapeseed oil (just use more olive oil)
apple cider vinegar (use whatever light vinegar you have on hand)
crumbled feta cheese

1. Boil a pot of water and cook the pasta until al dente
2. While the pasta is cooking, chopped up all the herbs
3. When pasta is ready, drain well and let it cool a little bit before mixing everything together
4. Serve slightly warm

Hope you all enjoy it as much as I do. And feel free to leave a comment on your variation!

Café Eclectic

where all the good stuff comes together

Tag Archives: WIP