This was supposed to be a post about our trip to London and me knitting my way through England. We took a trip to London, for Rich to work at Farnborough. We were going to be in Chester, and Horley, and tried to visit Buxton in Derbyshire, and I was going to make jokes about not asking if the family were from home at Pemberley and how seabathing at Brighton would set me up forever. That kind of took a backseat, though, because we had a family emergency (everyone is doing as well as can be expected, everyone is alive) and Rich and I left nine days early, having to buy same day, one way tickets on a different airline to get home because our airline with the free changes had no room on any flights for two days. We got the phone call as we were getting ready for the first day of the air show. So, with only one airport tour and one day of meetings, Rich had to leave. We would not have had it any other way, but there is still a bittersweet sadness. We briefly discussed me going home and him staying, but he just couldn't stand smiling and gladhanding when this was all going on at home.

So, that is me knitting on the Thames. Two and a half days before we got that call. I was going to have some photos of the fashion and knitting from the Victoria and Albert museum, but that part of my visit was scheduled for Monday, when we left. We did get to go on Saturday and see most of the medieval and renaissance exhibit. One day we will return.

I'm not normally someone who has a hard sell, but if I had enough sales from any of my sales platforms, we could cover the unexpected expenses of an ambulance, overnight in the ER, plane tickets, and so on. If you have ever considered buying my patterns, please do so now: Ravelry Store, PayHip Store, LoveCrafts Store. I am also selling stash on Instagram and Ravelry (and you are free to make an offer on any stash that isn't marked for sale, but I may not accept it), and some samples on Instagram. Thank you.

I've finished Death of a Knit Wit and am still making slow progress in Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday and Your One Word

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 12:02 AM 2 comments

This week the Dormition fast begins. It is a 14 day fast in preparation of the Dormition or Assumption of Mary. The Church teaches us that when it was time for the Blessed Mother to fall asleep in the Lord, all the Apostles were gathered to her deathbed. Just like any person would grieve when a beloved family member was passing, we do so and prepare ourselves by fasting with them. When she was laid to rest, her body was taken to heaven to be with God. There is a tomb, but there is no body. Glory to God. We take the fast much more simply, and still eat dairy and egg (except on Wednesdays and Fridays), to make it a little easier on our younger kids, and there are a few fish days in there, too.

Three of the kids got to go to a church camp last week, and it was so good for them. We are hoping they keep up with the friends they made there. Jerome was able to go visit his brother and sister in law and will be with them for a little bit. My birthday was fun, and even the girls at camp made things for me there.

This has been a rather busy few weeks, and I will have much to share later. This has been a challenging week. Please pray for us. For now, here is our menu. It is cooling down a little this week, actually, which makes me curious about how August's weather will be. So far, the weather shaman is predicting a cooler than average August. I just hope that doesn't mean a shorter fall and colder winter.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Apple and Raisin Oatmeal Pancakes with Maple Syrup, Coffee and Milky Tea
  Dinner: Potluck at Church, we are bringing Macaroni and Cheese
• Monday - Feast of Saints Mary and Martha
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Raisins, Brown Sugar and Cream, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Mustard Glazed Corned Beef, Baked Potatoes, Steam Sautéed Carrots with Garlic and Dill
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Corned Beef Hash, Fried Eggs, Fruit Plate, Milk and Tea
  Dinner: Papas con Chorizo, Salsa, Sour Cream, Chopped Avocados, Salad, Fruit Plate
• Wednesday - Feast of Saint Joseph of Arimathea
  Breakfast: Tomato Toast, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Pasta with Clam Sauce, Salad, Cherry Limeade Sorbet
• Thursday - Feast of the Holy Seven Maccabee Children, Solomone Their Mother, and Eleazar Their Teacher
  Breakfast: Homemade Cottage Cheese with Avocado, Cucumber, Cherry Tomatoes and Cracked Black Pepper, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Araka (Greek Pea and Potato Stew), Fruit Plate
• Friday
  Breakfast: Ful, Sah'awiq, Toast, Vegetables and Olives, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Black Bean, Corn, Tomato and Avocado Salad with Corn Chips to break fast after Liturgy
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Cream Cheese Pancakes with Butter and Raspberry Syrup, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Seafood and Scallion Pajeon with Dipping Sauce, Kimchi, Rice, Fruit Plate

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 7:56 AM 0 comments

I cannot remember when I first saw this recipe, but it seemed simple enough, tasty, and the kind of thing we all would like. Well, it definitely was, but even more than I anticipated. This is a dish that is certainly more than its component parts. Evidently, this is a Turkish preparation of eggs and we have fallen in love.

Usually, I try to give an option for ingredients which are more difficult to find, but this one is so much better with the Turkish that the substitute of Aleppo pepper might be equally challenging for you to find, I would strongly recommend getting the urfa biber peppers for it. If you follow my blog and use a lot of my recipes, you have probably already picked up some Aleppo pepper, and that makes an admirable substitute. Red pepper flakes will really be a bit too hot and one dimensional. If you absolutely must use red pepper flakes, I would use half the amount, and would not consider the paprika optional. If you cannot find labneh, you can make your own (this takes a few days' preparation, but only requires plain, full fat, yogurt, a sprinkling of kosher salt, a strainer, cheesecloth, and a bowl to catch the strained liquid) or just use all plain, whole milk yogurt. I like using half labneh and half yogurt, as it makes a thicker sauce.

Çilbir is a dish whose quickness really depends on a good mise en place. If you gather your ingredients, you can make this whole meal in 10 to 15 minutes. So, take the extra minute or two to crack all your eggs into ramekins, and grab every other ingredient and pan you will need, so it is all there and ready to go. Even with the quick cooking, you do have time to mince garlic and herbs while the eggs cook. This recipe can be scaled up or down quite easily.

Çilbir

8 eggs cracked into small bowls or ramekins
generous pinch salt and splash vinegar for poaching liquid
1 stick (8 tablespoons, 1/2 cup) butter
2 tablespoons Urfa biber or Aleppo pepper
1 teaspoons of paprika or sweet smoked paprika, optional
1 cup labneh
1 cup plain, whole milk, yogurt
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons minced fresh dill
2 tablespoons minced fresh mint (plus a few sprigs to serve, if you like)
kosher salt, to taste

Prepare two pans: One a wide, shallow skillet with sides and a lid, the other a small saucepan. Fill the skillet about half way with cold water, sprinkle in the salt and vinegar, and bring to a low boil. Put the butter, pepper flakes, and paprika in the saucepan and heat on low. If using unsalted butter, you may want to add a pinch of salt, if salted butter, I would not. Stir the butter mixture occasionally. You do not want the butter to boil or burn, but a little simmer is fine.

While the water is coming to a low boil and the butter is melting, mix the labneh, yogurt, garlic, dill, mint and salt in a bowl. Set aside.

When the water is simmering rapidly, give the pan a slight swirl, to get the water moving a little, and start carefully slipping each ramekin of egg into the water. You will want to dip the edge of each bowl into the water, so the egg is not dropping from a distance. There are a lot of ways to make "perfect" poached eggs, and I honestly don't worry about them that much. Mine are not picture perfect, but they are perfectly cooked, and that is good enough for us. If having them look better matters to you, there are numerous strategies you can use. When all the eggs are in the water, cover and let simmer for about 4 minutes. This should result in fully cooked, soft, whites, and creamy yolks with a custardy, runny center. If you want them more or less cooked, add or subtract a minute. Remove each egg from the water with a slotted spoon and place on a plate.

To serve: Ladle about 1/4 cup of the yogurt mixture onto a plate, nestle a poached egg into the center, then drizzle some of the butter sauce over the top of the egg and yogurt. Serve with warmed flatbreads, khoubz, or toast, to grab the egg and sop up the sauces.

Labels: Homemaking, Recipes, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 7:02 AM 0 comments

Sometimes progress is ripping something out of a project. That's how it went this week. However, I have one mitt completed the way it ought to be and one back on track now.

We still need to pick a book for reading with the kids. Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages became a bit much for me again this week. It has been a hard week. It feels like a whole week happened in the past three days. So, now I am reading another happy, little murder, and that is about what I can handle some of the time.

Today is actually my birthday, but it is much more subdued than even we normally do things. Rich made me a lovely breakfast, we are getting fish and chips for dinner, and he is taking me to see the new Despicable Me movie. You know what I said up there about how sometimes progress is ripping out? Well, that is what it feels like right now in life. We have had a family emergency come up (everyone is safe, marriage is solid as a rock), and between a cold bug starting and the adrenaline and cortisol that shot through me on Monday, I am well in the depths of sickness. Please pray for our whole family.

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Birthday, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:43 AM 0 comments

It's another week of simpler, faster, cooler meals. Also, several that use things we have in our freezers to make for quicker preparations. It's still supposed to be hot this week, though not as hot as two weeks ago.

We have a little hope for Jerome's diet. There was a genetic marker that helps us figure some things out, and so we are doing some treatments with vitamins and waiting on a particular allergist to do more testing. We hope this might actually mean that he can process all foods properly and not have to worry about their effect on his skin, sleep, and so on.

My birthday is this week, and we are going to have a dinner to celebrate it. I don't know if there are any suprises planned, like there were last year.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Battatas ou Bayd, Fruit Plate, Milky Tea
  Dinner: Potluck at Church
• Monday - Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
  Breakfast: Red Eggs, Toast, Fruit Plate, Milky Tea
  Dinner: Wedding Pork, Salsa Rice, Tortillas, Fruit Plate
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Overnight Slow Cooker French Toast, Fruit, Milky Tea
  Dinner: Beef Ravioli from Freezer with Jarred Marinara Sauce, Fruit Plate
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Vegetable Hash Burritos, Salsa, Fruit Plate, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Brazilian Shrimp Soup with Rice, Salad, Fruit Plate
• Thursday - Feast of Saint James the Apostle
  Breakfast: Breakfast Enchiladas, Fruit Plate, Milky Tea
  Dinner: Pork Pasta from Freezer, Fruit Plate
• Friday - Feast of Saint Anne, Mother of the Blessed Theotokos
  Breakfast: Oatmeal with Chopped Apples, Raisins, Brown Sugar and Cinnamon, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Ranchero Beans and Rice, Fruit Plate
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Vanilla Yogurt, Fruit, Toast, Milky Tea
  Dinner: Papas con Chorizo, Salsa, Sour Cream, Chopped Avocados, Salad, Fruit Plate

Labels: Birthday, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 12:56 AM 0 comments

I have decided how to work the increases and decreases on Jamal. Now I'm happy with them and the pattern is written and about to go to my tech editor. Once I finish this pair (which will mean ripping back on the first mitt), I will start on the variation.

We finished Sense and Sensibility and watched the movie with Emma Thompson. I believe that Elinor is one of the best of Austen's heroines (Fanny in Mansfield Park is the other, in my opinion) with Colonel Brandon being a close second to Mr. Knightley for hero. Don't get me wrong, I adore Elizabeth and have been in love with Mr. Darcy since I was nine years old, but both needed correction and had flaws from the beginning. Knightley and Brandon were truly good men who did not need to be corrected in character in any way, likewise Elinor and Fanny. They made mistakes, but none that showed weakness of person. Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories was returned to the library and is on hold again, and I'm reading more in Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages.

The SAL has begun, and the sale is still going through the end of the day on Friday (PDT). My bundle of five patterns can be found on PayHip and Ravelry. If you haven't yet, please consider joining us either in our Ravelry group or on Instagram. We have different ways to participate on both platforms, and prizes for games and finished objects.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:04 AM 0 comments

Summer is here, and I am delighted! We are supposed to have another hot hot week, then it will go down to normal summer hot for this area. That is fine with me. Winter is so long and so cold here, that you will never find me complaining about the heat.

That doesn't mean that we have to heat the kitchen all the time, though. We will be eating some easy meals, salads, quick cooking meals that don't use the stove that long, or cold dishes that can have the cooking done in the morning, or things that can cook in the pressure cooker. We are even pulling out some leftovers from the freezer and just making a pot of rice to go with it for one meal. There is a soup one day, but it is a quicker soup to make.

Today there is a neighborhood picnic, so we are bringing Cool and Creamy Potato and Pea Salad and some lamb burgers to grill. Our lovely church family will be bringing dishes to share for our church dinner, and that will be a treat for us, as well. Tomorrow is Rich and my anniversary of our first meeting, and we are probably just going to get a couple milkshakes to celebrate. What are you eating this week?

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Leftovers, Coffee, Tea and Milk
  Dinner: Garlic Herb Roasted Pork Loin, Sides/Salads/Desserts brought by Church
• Monday - Feast of Saints Bonaventure and Swithun
  Breakfast: Çilbir*, Toast, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chicago Style Hot Dogs with Potatoes, Peppers and Onions, Limoncello Zabaglione
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Breakfast Veggie Crinkle, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Chef Salad, Cherry Chocolate Mousse
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Ful, Sah'awiq, Toast, Vegetables and Olives, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Thai Coconut Rice Salad, Fruit Plate
• Thursday
  Breakfast: Vanilla Yogurt and Fruit, Toast, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Muffroom with Rice, Green Salad, Fruit Plate
• Friday
  Breakfast: Tomato Toast, Fruit Plate, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Musgovian Vegetable Soup, Oyster Crackers, Fruit Plate
• Saturday
  Breakfast: Scrambled Eggs with Toast, Fruit, Milk and Tea
  Dinner: Cowboy Beans, Rice, Carrot Salad

Labels: Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Romance and Relationship, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 11:18 AM 0 comments

My babysitter when I was growing up made a bread like this that I loved and I have been trying for decades to re-create it. This recipe is as close as my memory of this delicious bread. It is so pretty and tasty, and makes a great addition to a holiday meal or a potluck. I have written the recipe to make two loaves, but if your family cannot eat that much at a time, you can freeze the second (I haven't tried freezing it after shaping and before the second rise, but may experiment with that and let you know), or halve the recipe and just make one at a time. You do need to start this bread the day before you bake.

Rye Dough:
1 cup room temperature water
4 teaspoons butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon molasses
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 cups bread flour
1 cup dark rye flour

Whole Wheat Dough:
2 eggs, plus room temperature water to equal 1 cup
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon honey
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup bread flour

White Dough:
1 cup room temperature water
1 tablespoon sugar
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons yeast
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 1/2 cups bread flour

Make doughs:

Starting with the rye dough, then moving to the whole wheat dough, and finishing with the white dough, mix all ingredients until combined (in a medium bowl or your stand mixer), then knead by hand or with the dough hook in the stand mixer. These can all be done on the dough cycle in a bread machine, also, reversing the order of ingredients and removing each dough to a covered bowl after they are fully mixed and kneaded and beginning again with the next dough.

After each dough is made, place in a medium bowl and cover to rise in a warm place. When the third dough is complete, set a timer for 60 minutes and let all the doughs rise. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

When the doughs have risen completely, lightly flour a work surface. One at a time, turn out each dough and form it into two ropes, each about 20 inches long.

Line up one of each of the dough ropes next to each other. Pinch all three strands together on one end, and braid loosely. When completely braided, pinch the ends together. Transfer loaf to the parchment lined baking sheet with room for it to rise. Tuck pinched ends under on each side and straighten and arrange dough to make it even. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours. Repeat with remaining three strands of dough.

Bake:

Remove pans from refrigerator and heat oven to 375˚F.

Remove plastic and bake bread until it is well browned, about 25 - 35 minutes. Transfer loaves, on parchment, to racks and allow to cool completely before slicing.

Labels: Homemaking, Recipes, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 8:40 AM 0 comments

My two projects right now are still the baptismal gown and the Jamal mitts. I think I have made enough progress on the second mitt to decide what to do with the first one, and I am getting ever nearer to the finish line on the gown. This gown has gone much more slowly than I expected it to, but that is in part because of the delays in the baptism, leading to me adding length to the skirt, and in part beause the skirt is the same circumference as a sweater for me, only longer than I usually make the bodice for my own sweaters.

The kids and I are hoping to be finished with Sense and Sensibility in the next week, but at the same time are enjoying the dénoument. I'm still reading Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories and picked up Milk: The Surprising Story of Milk Through the Ages again, which is good reading for me.

We are just about to start the Around the World Stitch Along sale in preparation for the cast on and kick off of the full event on Tuesday, July 15. My bundle of five patterns (on PayHip and Ravelry) will be on sale for 25% off beginning at 5:00 pm PDT on Friday, July 12, through the end of the day PDT, Friday July 19, 2024, using the coupon code SAL2024. Mine is not the only sale bundle, either. We have 27 designers this year, all with beautiful patterns available to make and each with five patterns for sale. I love this event. It is not too large, and we really get to know the designers and participants. I hope you can join us either in our Ravelry group or on Instagram. We have different ways to participate on both platforms, and prizes for games and finished objects.

Besides that, I have a surprise, one day, sale on my pattern Saint Veronica, both on PayHip and Ravelry. On Saturday, July 13, the Feast of Saint Veronica, for 24 hours (again, PDT), the pattern is 30% off with the coupon code SaintVeronica.

Linking to Unraveled Wednesday

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Around the World Stitch Along, Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 9:25 AM 0 comments

Summer is here at last! I am not one to complain about the heat. 102˚ is infinitely better than 32˚ and 10˚ and -24˚. So, I relish and enjoy our summers. It is going to be hot enough this week that we have installed the air conditioning units. Our house doesn't have a/c, so we put in three window units and direct the air with fans.

We are celebrating a birthday this week, but even so, we are doing as much cooking/baking in the mornings and using the grill, pressure cooker and slow cooker to make as much of our food as possible, to avoid heating up the house so much. Our ice cream maker is also coming in handy, as we will be making sorbets and other treats this week.

Dominic and Shawn will only be here a few more days, but we are enjoying the time with them while we can. It has been fun having both our daughters in law here, and sharing their pregnancies.

• Sunday
  Breakfast: Fried Halloum, Toast, Sliced Cucumbers and Tomatoes, Olives, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Red Beans and Rice, Sides/Salads/Desserts brought by Church
• Monday
  Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls, Bacon, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Loaded Nachos, Chocolate Strawberry Shortcake
• Tuesday
  Breakfast: Eggs in Chorizo, Toast, Fruit Plate, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Salmon Cakes, Roasted Cauliflower, Cherry Limeade Sorbet
• Wednesday
  Breakfast: Vegetable Hash Burritos, Fruit Plate, Tea and Honey
  Dinner: Besan Chila, Marinated Vegetable Salad, Sah'awiq, Fruit Plate
• Thursday - Feast of Saint Benedict of Nursia
  Breakfast: New England Spider Cake, Bacon, Fruit, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Grilled Hot Dogs and Hamburgers, Tri-Color Braided Bread* (White/Wheat/Rye), Red Potato Salad
• Friday - Feast of Saint Paisios
  Breakfast: Ful, Sah'awiq, Toast, Vegetables and Olives, Tea with Honey
  Dinner: Garlic Shrimp, Portuguese Rice, Fruit Plate
• Saturday - Feast of Saint Veronica
  Breakfast: Savory Parmesan French Toast with Hollandaise Sauce, Fruit Plate, Ham, Milk and Coffee
  Dinner: Italian Beef Sandwiches on Herb and Olive Bread with Fried Peppers and Onions, Fruit Plate

Labels: Birthday, Church Year, Faith and Morality, Family, Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Menu Plans, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 7:00 AM 0 comments

These are so delicious. I can usually make a dozen or a baker's dozen with this recipe. We serve them with hard boiled eggs and fruit, and it is quite filling and tasty.

Mustard, Gruyère, and Prosciutto Rolls

one recipe of Pizza Dough
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
4 ounces prosciutto
2/3 pound Gruyère cheese, shredded
4 tablespoons butter, melted
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried summer savory (or 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh)

Preheat oven to 450˚F. Grease a 9" X 13" pan.

Roll out the dough to a large rectangle about 3/8" thick. Spread 1/4 cup of mustard over the dough, lay pieces of the prosciutto over the top so each piece has some on it, then sprinkle with the shredded cheese.

Whisk up the butter, honey, 1 tablespoon of mustard, thyme and summer savory and set aside.

Roll the dough on the long side to make a log. Cut into 1" thick rolls and place on the prepared baking pan. Cover and let rise about 30 minutes. Cover with the butter sauce and spread over each roll.

Bake 15 - 20 minutes, until golden brown. Serve warm.

Labels: Homemaking, Keeping the Feast, Recipes, Tales from the Kitchen

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 10:24 AM 0 comments

There was no chance for blocking this week, and I'm still not sure about the increases on this. So, I finished all but the thumb, bound off, and I am working a second with a different set of increases. If that looks more like how I like, then I will rip back and re-do this one, but if not, I will make the increases on the second like this first, and keep moving. After the bustle of this week, maybe even this weekend, I hope to get a chance to block the first mitt and maybe even a couple other pieces that are still waiting.

We are now more than halfway through Sense and Sensibility, and have gotten to the exciting parts. I'm still reading Hercule Poirot: The Complete Short Stories, and finished The Perils of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Same sense, that the story is good when the author can get out of the way. She has great imagination, but either is unable or refuses to put herself in that time frame. It affects what she write, how she writes, her diction and syntax, and detracts from her good ideas.

If you would like to receive updates and early notice of new patterns, beta knitting opportunities, and great discounts (plus pictures of new yarns, new tools, fun places, neat hints, book ideas, recipes and more) each month, please subscribe to 1,001 Knits. My best, and sometimes my only, discounts go to my subscribers.

Labels: Books, Design, Homemaking, Knitting, WIP, Yarn Along

// posted by Ranee @ Arabian Knits @ 11:59 PM 2 comments