Category: Fun

The Start of Summer

Marie Haigh7 Comments

Technically, Summer officially started on June 22nd. I had been informed of the fact and even subjected to a brutal heat wave. Still, I refused to welcome Summer in. Until yesterday.

Yesterday, I bought blueberries.

 

OK. So, we live in an era where seasons hardly matter anymore. One is no longer restricted to purchasing and eating fruits and vegetables based upon when they are harvested in his/her little corner of the world. Somewhere else, it is warm and sunny.  

Yet, there are specific fruits that I refuse to eat out of season; blueberries, strawberries, and apples are top on that list. I think part of my philosophy stems from the fact that since childhood I associate fruits with a particular season. More accurately, I associate a season with particular fruits. I look forward to each season with the glee of a child waiting to open a present.

I was thrilled yesterday to find blueberries in the grocery store. Not just any blueberries – blueberries grown and harvested in our neighbor state, New Jersey.

The best way to enjoy fresh blueberries is with heavy cream poured over top of them.

Delicious.

Yesterday was made even better by our mini-trip to Saint Peter’s Village. Piney, my secret pal from Summer of Love swap, had told me about it. It’s only 15 minutes down the road.

Though I have no pictures of the little town, I do have pictures of our booty.

Inside Dan’s bag are two chocolate coated pretzels.

My bag is better.

Dan said he should steal a truffle or two from my bag just to teach me lesson about how to properly label bags. Not funny.

Shiny New Car

Marie Haigh10 Comments

The plan was to drive our our old car, a ’98 Honda Civic, into the ground. We made it to 190,000 miles.

When Pottstown’s local Midas mechanic informed me that it would cost approximately 1 thousand dollars to repair all that was wrong with it (back suspension, broken motor mount, and broken hubcaps) and receive the state inspection sticker, I told him not to bother. “Kindly give me back my broken car” I said. Surprisingly, he was relieved. The mechanic confessed he was going to try to talk me out of sinking more money into the ole Civic.

On Friday, we went car shopping at Car Sense. Dan has already narrowed the choices down to a Honda Accord or a Toyota Camry, since both have excellent reputations for longevity and reliability. We test drove both. And by ‘we’, I mean Dan test drove the cars while I played with all the buttons and gizmos in the passenger seat and back seat.

Our old Civic didn’t have any buttons outside of the AC/heat and the radio. To let the fresh breeze in, you had to manually hand crank the window open.

By the end of the evening, Dan and I couldn’t agree. I liked the Accord. The Accord, being a Honda, felt more familiar. Additionally, it had less automatic buttons (i.e. less things that can break and require repair). Dan liked the Camry because it was a smoother ride.

Guess who won?

Dan got his 2006 Toyota Camry.

He was right. The Camry was a smoother ride and we drive a LOT. Our closest friends and relatives are an hour away (which equates to a 2-hour round trip). Other relatives are much further. It is more important to be comfortable in the long rides that it is to buy a car for its familiar environment or to worry about the buttons and moon roof that might break.  

WWKIP Day and Slow Service

Marie Haigh11 Comments

There is nothing wrong with my computer. The problem lies with my Internet provider, Comcast. We have a high-speed cable connection though you wouldn’t know it these past few days. On Monday and Tuesday, I was certain I had a dial-up connection. Yesterday, I couldn’t connect to the Internet at all. Today, it is still splotchy, but greatly improved. I can only load one site at a time, but something is better than nothing.

Though it was frustrating to be barred from the internet, it did allow me to complete a task I have been procrastinating about. I completely rebuilt the charts in my Christmas Tree Skirt pattern so that they are easier to “read”, adhere to industry standards, and look more professional. My eyes were starting to cross towards the end, but I am pleased with the way they turned out. Here’s a small and abbreviated snapshot of the chart for the white tie.

Because of my Internet service troubles, I was not able to share with you pictures of what I did on WWKIP (Worldwide Knit in Public) day. So, I’m late coming to the Show off your WWKIP Pictures party.

Knitting at Spinnerstown Hotel & Restaurant, Spinnerstown, Pennsylvania:

A closer shot of the good beer: Scotch Silly.

Dan would like to make a notation. He asserts that I cheated. He states that I only started knitting at the table so that he could take a picture of me. Once the pictures were taken, I promptly tucked the i-cord back into my purse so I could concentrate on the good beer and good conversation.

I defend myself by pointing out that I put enough foresight into the occasion so that I was properly prepared with both a knitting project and a camera. Besides, it will have to do. I was not about to drive a hour to the nearest WWKIP event in Philadelphia. Gas prices are high here too and Philadelphia is too far away to bike to.

My Prize from Tyger Lily

Marie Haigh2 Comments

Karen of Tyger Lily hosted a Mother’s Day challenge on her blog earlier this month. Readers were to guess what she was going to do with the vintage embroidered handkerchiefs she had rediscovered while getting ready to move. My ambitious plan had her using the handkerchiefs to make a christening gown though all of her children are grown. Yep, I was wrong.

Nobody guessed correctly though, so she just threw our names into a hat and pulled one out. I was the lucky name drawn.

Look what I received.

Isn’t it lovely? It is a book cover using half of a vintage handkerchief coupled with flower fabric. It fits the book I had purchased for one of my close friends like a glove. The book cover is prettier than any wrapping paper I could ever find, so I’m leaving it on there.

Besides such pretty fabric will hoodwink a passerby into thinking that my friend is reading a romance book. Nothing could be farther from the truth. The book is titled A History of Murder by Colin Wilson. She has a passion for criminal psychology.

Thank you, Karen!

A Frame, Another Tie and Baseball

Marie Haigh6 Comments

I couldn’t think of a snappy sounding title. So, I just rattled off all of the things I want to tell you about.

First, I received a package today from Kodak. Inside were the two pictures of my garden I had printed out. Typically, I don’t print out any of the pictures I take with my digital camera. I upload them to our computer and then I forget about them. If it wasn’t for friends and family, I wouldn’t have any pictures in my photo album or on our photo wall.

Our home still has lots of empty space on the walls. Sometimes I wonder if people actually live here or if this is just a fortified tent for sleeping. 

In a desire to make this house feel more like a home, I printed out two of my favorite garden pictures. Of course, I realized after they arrived that I didn’t have frames to put them in. I had to steal one that had been holding a hand-painted flower. I couldn’t find a frame in my house suitable for the other picture. I hope to find something over the weekend.

In knitting news, I finished the 5th tie in my Christmas Tree Skirt this morning.

True, it is in desperate need of a good blocking, but I am pleased with how it is coming along. I still need to find a more flashy star for the top of the white trees. I should have leftover Christmas yarn, so I could knit 6 small stars out of it. That is unless I use the Christmas yarn to crochet around the edges. It might be wise to wait until the entire skirt is assembled before I make any embellishment decisions. I would prefer to not run out of yarn again. I had to place an order this morning from Knit Picks for more white wool. I should mention that had I stuck to my original design, I would have had enough yarn, but of course, I didn’t do that. I had to add points at the bottom of each tie.

Onto my baseball topic, I received my tickets for Phillies’ Stitch ‘n Pitch night!

Dan will be attending with me. Although I have asked him many times if he would like to learn how to knit, Dan only knows that the craft involves a lot of yarn and an equally large selection of needles. No, he will not be knitting. Instead, he will make himself useful by scoring the game and periodically retrieving any wayward balls of yarn.

Last year, I attempted to knit a scarf and watch the game at the same time. It was unbearably hot though. The yarn kept sticking to me, the needles and my clothes. What started out as a nice, loose gauge ended up into a tight, sticky mess. I plan to bring a project with me, but I may only end up using it for show-and-tell rather than something to knit on.

Slipping into Happiness

Marie Haigh14 Comments

I swore I wouldn’t do again. I had even considered giving it all away to somebody who would put it to good use. My knitting, sewing, quilting and gardening hobbies keep me busy. I don’t have time for another hobby. I explained all of this before.

On Wednesday when I was deciding between the gorgeous yarn my MIL gave me and the true-red, practical yarn, I saw the Corriedale roving. Instantly, I remembered where I was when I bought it and how excited I was to bring it home. Master K, my nephew, was newly born. (He will be 5 in August). I was visiting my sister in Texas to help with keeping Miss K, the proud big-sister, out of the way. I purchased it in a small shop in McKinney, Texas on the one day my sister and I escaped the confines of her house. I was terribly excited to bring it home. Inside the package of roving was a drop spindle. Once I got back home to Pennsylvania, I immediately took it out of its packaging and tried to spin it up. It was a disaster. At first, I was spinning too loose. Then, I was spinning too tight. So, I bought a book. Then, I bought another book. I purchased a Turkish spindle. I bought a batt of gorgeous merino wool. I took a spinning class at Stitches East. Nothing worked. The harder I tried, the more frustrated I became. So, I packed it all up and put it away. I gradually accepted the fact that I would never spin my own wool. It was nothing to be upset about. The world is full of commercial-spun and hand-spun wool. Naturally, I just bought more wool to make up for the lack of handmade wool.

Looking at the Corriedale roving, I was inspired. I walked into the office/craft room and took down my Turkish spindle. All these years, it had been hanging from a hook. Waiting. I sat down and I started to spin. My first try was once again too loose. Then, everything I had been taught just clicked into place. I was spinning! And I was smitten.

The rationalization has already started. If I finish knitting 10 more rows, I can go spin for a half an hour. If I finish making four more quilt squares, I can spin for a full hour. It’s going to rain tonight, so the gardening doesn’t need watering. I can spin a bit more during the time I would have been watering. It’s a slippery slope.

I don’t need another hobby. Yet, I just can’t stop myself!

Speaking of my garden, I leave you with a picture of a Flowering Dogwood. Though last summer’s drought took a toll on my other four dogwoods, this one was left unscathed. It is protected in the backyard from the afternoon sun.

Easter Pictures and a New Project

Marie Haigh3 Comments

I know I mentioned that I would be posting pictures of my niece’s 5th birthday party and the apron I made her. Unfortunately, I failed for the 3rd day in a row to retrieve the apron pictures off of Dan’s camera. In an effort to remember tonight, I have informed Dan about my need to borrow his camera. Hopefully, one of us will remember.

Today, we will have to muddle through without cute niece pictures. Instead, I will woo you with other pictures.

Thanks to my SIL, I have Easter pictures to show you.


Dyeing Easter eggs with my godson Finn.


Finn getting tickled by his mother and I.

Pictures taken by my SIL (Michelle H.).

I have to admit that I rely on my SIL, perhaps too heavily, to provide me with pictures of the family get-togethers. I never remember to pull my camera out and she is never without hers.

In knitting news, I started a new project. It’s a simple scarf that uses up some of my odds and ends: leftover cotton Clip yarn, rayon yarn by A Touch of Twist and Sinflex by London yarns. The pattern is what I would call a Quadruple Moss Stitch, a double moss stitch elongated by four more rows.


 

My New Toy

Marie Haigh7 Comments

The last time I bought a new gadget (my treo) was approximately 5 years ago. Truth be told, I didn’t even buy that toy. Dan bought it for me. I’ve had the same cell phone since we signed onto Verizon’s family plan. I don’t even know how long ago that was. It’s older than the Treo. Let’s just say that my cell phone isn’t slim – at all. Plus, it doesn’t flip open and it doesn’t have a camera in it. So, you see the pattern, right? I don’t buy the latest gadget toys. I don’t even know what half of them are for. I spend my mad money on fabric and yarn.

Yet, today I have a new toy to show off to you.

OK. I admit it. I didn’t buy this toy either. Dan did. But, isn’t it pretty?

It’s a Kodak EasyShare digital camera (model Z1275). Dan found it on Woot.com for $100, refurbished.

As you can see, I’m still trying to figure out how to work the camera. (That picture was a bit blurry).

I did a better job taking a picture of my first completed star block for the Americana quilt.

One might think since I’ve had a whole week to work on this quilt, I might be further along. I would be if I hadn’t detoured. =)

It was my youngest niece’s 5th birthday last week. I tossed all my obligations out the window so I could make her an apron. Pictures of the apron and details of the birthday party will have to wait until Wednesday. In my excitement over the new camera, I forgot to transfer the pictures I took on the old camera. Oops.

Today is Dan’s Birthday

Marie Haigh12 Comments

Dan is 32 today! (Dan is my DH … though I’m still not sure what the ‘D’ stands for … dormant husband, designated husband, divorced husband, doobop husband).

It took me the longest time to find a picture of Dan to show you. I think I have been taking waaaay too many pictures of cards, food, fabric and yarn. Centuries later when somebody comes and digs up my life, they are going to think that I am a hermit. All I do is take pictures of inanimate objects and Jake.

This picture of Dan wasn’t even taken by me. It was taken by my SIL.

Because Dan does not like traditional birthday cakes (His mother still shakes her head in disbelief. She always tells me that she didn’t raise him to dislike sweets. Something went very wrong somewhere), I made him a cheesecake.

I was almost too embarrassed to show you this picture. I have probably cooked at least 10 cheesecakes in the past 5 years. I’ve even gotten to the point where I have started to tweak the recipe (Don’t tell Dan. His logo is if it’s not broken, don’t fix it). Yet, for the life of me, I can’t keep the top from cracking. I cook it only until it sets. I place a dish full of water underneath. Nothing works. It splits almost every time.

When I showed the cake to Dan, he assured me that he likes it when the cake splits open. He said “It’s a sign of a delicious cheesecake. It’s the goodness trying to escape.” Yep, I’ll keep him just a little bit longer.

Here’s a close-up of the “goodness”.

A Contest and 2 Tags

Marie Haigh8 Comments
I love contests, especially when they involve yarn!

Anne is giving away Malabrigo yarn. Have you heard of this yarn? (Please tell me I’m not the only one who didn’t know about it until last week!) It’s 100% wool from Uruguay. Up until a week ago (when I started hearing the Malabrigo drum), the country name Uruguay immediately made me think of Manos del Uruguay. Manos is lovely wool. I was super excited to receive it for a bday present last year from my MIL.

According to Karyn at Knotty Stuff, Malabrigo is better than Manos. Much better. “It knits like butter”.

What better way to get your hands on some than to win it – free! All you have to do is leave a comment on Ann’s Contest post naming an unpublished designer. Easy. You do know an unpublished designer, don’t you? Of course, you do. Well, to remind you, there’s me (though I hope to change that later this year), Tracie (though she will be published later this year), Sharon (who just got word that she will be published in Interweave Knits – yay!), and Katinka. So, now you have no excuse.

Onto the tagging.

Vicki of Knitting Dragonflies tagged me with a meme on Feb 7th. (Boy, am I a slacker!) Thank you!

I’m to share 7 random/weird facts.

  1. My bicycle is my main form of transportation during the work week, since we are now a 1-car family. Dan takes the car to work. I run any errands with my trusty red bike. Yesterday, I piled two big boxes on the bike rack and pedaled down to the post office.
  2. My favorite gardening task is pruning. Jake’s favorite gardening task is breaking up the pruned sticks into kindling for our fireplace. He’s extremely quick and efficient.
  3. There are only 3 candles in our entire house and they are kept behind glass doors. Since I quit smoking 6 years ago, candles, perfume, smoke, and other strong smells give me an instant headache. I avoid them like the plague. Around the holidays, I carry Ibuprofen with me and drink a lot.
  4. My favorite fruit is apples. I wait all year for the fall harvest. Then, I go batty. Apples are cooked into everything for a solid 2 months. By the end of it, I am sick of apples and won’t touch them again until next year’s harvest.
  5. I fell in love with cooking when I was 9 years old. I would wake up early in the morning and cook my sister breakfast. Breakfast is still my favorite meal of the day. I eat two breakfasts; one before I take Jake on his walk and one after while he is eating his only breakfast.
  6. There is lotion and chapstick in almost every room of our house. Dan doesn’t touch the stuff. It’s all for me.
  7. I am not a big fan of fresh cut flowers. I would prefer them to be planted outside in my garden. It would never occur to Dan to bring home a vase of flowers. Instead, he keeps my chocolate supply well stocked and drives me to the garden center for seeds and starter plants. He’s a good husband.

Jo of Blissed Out tagged me with a You Make My Day award. I’m so glad to know that she doesn’t view me as a stalker.

Now I am to tag 7 people for the meme and 10 people for the YMMD award. That’s 17 blogs and/or websites. I’m not sure I have the stamina. We’ll see how far I get.

Amby – Fantastic sewer and knitter. I love seeing her new creations. She’s a bit crazy about her cats, but I try not to hold it against her.

Creative Apples – Perhaps my favorite card seller on Etsy. I started out with her cupcake photo cards. Now, when I want a new pack of bday cards, I go straight to her Flickr album and pick out the photos I want her to print.

Letterary Press – My next favorite card seller on Etsy. I gave this card to Dan on our anniversary.

The Dip Lady Knits – The Dip Lady has undergone surgery on both her hands for tendinitis and still she knits. She was actually chomping at the bit the day after her surgery. I’m not sure I would jump back into it quite as fast.

The Knitsy Bitsy Spider – Though it’s supposed to be two friends blogging, it’s really just Marti. It started out as a knit blog but has morphed into a needle felting, dog loving, and travel bopping blog. Oh, and Marti is hysterical.

Sew Spun – A new blog I just found. She’s a spinner and a sewer. If my MIL is reading, this is for you … Sew Spun posted a tutorial on how to get great corners on your quilts.

Kitty Grrlz – Long have I read her blog. Well, truth be told, I’m not sure how much I read it as I just scroll down and drool over all the beautiful yarn she spins up. I’m an avid fan of her Navajo plied yarns. Exquisite.

Glorious Hats – I love hats. There are no hat shops around me. The last one I went to was 9 years ago. So, it’s wonderful to see and read Jane’s blog. Not only does she make hats, but she’s quite the sewer too. I suppose the two do go hand in hand. I feel like I should stress that Jane’s hats are amazing. We’re not talking bucket hats. We’re talking fancy hats.

OK. I’m sorry. I ran out of steam. I made it halfway. That’s good, right?

If you are still looking for blogs to read, check out my Blog I Read list. It’s updated (well, it was two weeks ago).

Thanks again to Vicki & Jo. I truly appreciate it even though I’m slow as molasses in January.