Heldin im Chaos

First attempt at jam making

In the backyard of our new home grows a large, prolific fig tree.  The heat of the summer has been working its magic, turning green buds to ripe figs for instant enjoyment by us and some frequent avian diners (and a mouse on at least two occasions we've seen).  

 

Thus far, the ripeness of the fruit has been so piecemeal that we've just enjoyed them as we've plucked them from the tree, maybe 2 or 3 per day.  Over the weekend, the Cyclone That Wasn't brought very high temperatures and set that fruit to work!  For the first time, we harvested close to a kilo of figs fresh from the tree in one go, so I'm making my first ever attempt at jam.

 

The starting point (aside from the fig tree, of course) was this super-simple recipe I found online.  It requires only five ingredients: figs, sugar, one lemon, one vanilla bean and one cinnamon quill.  No frills, not even pectin.  Sounded perfect!  Whenever I try a new recipe, I always follow it without adaptations the first time around.  That way, if I like it (or not), I can make changes accordingly.  This recipe calls for a hefty amount of sugar, but I think most jam recipes do.  We'll see how it comes out!  At the moment, the scent of vanilla and cinnamon wafting through the house is heavenly!

Brownie ice cream cone cupcakes, anyone?

Today was the first day back to some sort of normal routine around here.  My mother-in-law had been visiting since early December, but she returned home yesterday afternoon.  This morning, my big girl started back to school for the year.  Hubby was off to work, of course, which left me and my Wee One alone together for the first time in a couple of months.  We had a blast!  I so enjoy her company!  Too soon, she'll be off to school herself.  Whatever will I do?

Today's mission was to the huge home decor and crafter's shop (warehouse), Spotlight.  I don't like going as it's quite a way from home (my kiddies have low tolerance being in the car much more than 10 minutes), and the shop is a bit overwhelming for me and any littles I have in tow.  However, some things are best acquired at Spotlight (in our case, a cheap but functional curtain rod), so off we went!  I checked in with the very productive Aussie Mum in case she needed anything, and she added colorful zips to my list (note to self: someday, I really must learn how to sew in zippers properly!).

My Wee One was thrilled to select some ice-cream-shaped candy decorations for cupcakes, and she waited most patiently for us to get home to bake them.  Once the process started, however, the patience evaporated quickly.  She started asking if it was time to decorate the cupcakes once the mixers started working on the eggs and sugar and didn't stop asking until...well, until the entire process was done over 40 minutes later.  Hmm.  Although it took ages in 2-year-old time to finish our baking, in the end we had these:

 

Wee One wanted cake and ice cream.  I wanted brownies.    We compromised by baking brownie cupcakes in a cone.  Tah-dah!  

When I mentioned to Aussie Mum that I had no idea what we'd be eating for dinner tonight but I prioritized by baking brownie cupcakes, she reassured me that all I needed to add was a glass of nice wine and at least my own dinner would be complete.  

I am blessed with very clever friends.

Craft morning

For a long time now, I've been wanting to start a children's art group at home.  It hasn't worked out in the past for various reasons, but for the last two weeks, we've managed to enjoy two really fun craft mornings at our home.  The group dynamic is excellent.  The older girls are friends through school, and the younger siblings all play nicely together too.  Most of the time is a big playdate with lots of dress-ups, trampoline time, and running amok...but we do manage to fit in some crafting, too.  Today, we potato-stamped hearts on t-shirts for Valentine's Day.

I was inspired by this post on The Artful Parent, but I figured the process required for doilies would be a bit too demanding for our crowd.  Stamping seemed a good way to make it accessible to all the kids, from age 2 to 5.  I find potato stamping is so much easier for littles than just about any other stamping because the handle (the potato) is so easy to grip.  It makes a nice stamp with a well-defined mark, and it's fairly straightforward.  On the larger potatoes, I used a cookie cutter to cut into the potatoes and trimmed the excess back.  Cutting sponges is more challenging, and often sponges take up too much (or too little) paint and can be hard to peel away from the stamped surface without smudging.  I prepped the shirts ($4 each on sale!  yippee!) by giving them a wash and then ironing freezer paper to the inside of the front to stabilize the fabric and keep the fabric paint from leaking through to the back.  Since it's nice and warm out, we opted for bare bellies over smocks.

The kids had a blast today!  The attention to detail and sheer pride in the littlest ones' faces was so joyful to witness.  I wish I'd managed to capture it on camera, but I almost forgot to snap even these few pics.  We were so caught up in the fun.  What a great project!  Thanks to Jean for the inspiration!

Keeping mum and keeping busy

When I first started this blog, I was so excited about being incognito.  I was excited to have a space to share my thoughts, send troubling questions out into the world, open discussions and debates...all while having it run freely disconnected from my real life, thus not having to edit according to friends or family (especially family) readers.  Then, I felt a bit shifty for doing that and told those I know and love about this site.  And consequently, I keep mum on all those topics I meant to carry on about in the first place.  Sigh.  So, I'm sorry I've been so quiet.  I have A LOT on my mind, and honestly, I'd love to share it with you and get some feedback and hopefully some insight...but alas, I cannot (or should not).  Certain readers just wouldn't appreciate it, so I won't go there.

Guess I'll talk about knitting and crafting instead. 

I'm making decent progress on my scarf, and I'm still loving it.  Even the texture of Noro is growing on me.  I think this is because what I really love is watching those colors evolve and change.  The scarf is plain, the stitch is basic, but knitting it isn't because of those glorious colors.

I had intended to finish the Noro scarf before starting anything else, but my thoughts are wandering and I'm not sure how much longer I can keep them at bay.  My sister is due to birth her baby boy any day now, and I'd love to knit him something cozy and warm.  A girlfriend is due in March, and I have the perfect yarn ready to go!  I have that facebook craft challenge to meet, and at least one of the five projects is decided and on the brain.  A friend and I have discussed a knit-a-long Tea Leaves session.  Not to mention sweaters I would really love to knit for myself and my girls this year.  Hm...

One of my Christmas gifts from Hubby was the book, Alterknits, which I really enjoyed reading.  It has been a great starting point for inspiration (since I definitely don't need any patterns added to my mental queue at the moment).  One idea I really loved was the felted pinboard for the studio.  In my reality, there is no way I would knit something as large and time-consuming as a blanket just to felt it and hang it on the wall...but I do like the large alternative to a corkboard for certain!  A few years ago, I bought a bright yellow cotton quilt in Qatar that I simply could not leave behind (really cheap and really nice work in it), but when I say "bright yellow", I mean it is BRIGHT YELLOW.

It's so yellow that my camera didn't capture it correctly.  Its little meter thought, "Seriously?  There is no way it is this bright.  Let's tone it down..."  As much as I like it, I have never used it.  Now, I will.  I bought some quilt batting, and I'm going to baste it to the back to give the piece some more density, and then I plan to hang that up in my studio and use it for my inspiration board.  I'm very visual, so having a spot to display not only inspiring pictures and quotes but also tack up projects I'd like to get to seems a perfect idea.  Of course, that means I have to actually prepare and hang it in the first place...

What have you been up to lately?

Scarf meditation

The Noro Striped Scarf is coming along pleasantly.  Despite the initial vile color combos, the evolution of the skeins has been lovely.  I'm really enjoying it now.  The pattern is so simple, but excellent.  I like that I cannot see the yarn carry between stripes.  I like that it is reversible and flat without troubled edges.  I really like the color changing Noro.  However, there is no escaping the fact that I do not like the texture of Noro (though I see no way around this).  It reminds me of everything people think they hate about wool: this yarn is definitely not comfortable, and it is itchy, "Silk Garden" in name only.

My usual scarf aversion hasn't kicked in much, which has been a pleasant surprise.  It was an even bigger surprise when I didn't lose my knitting mojo while unknitting and re-knitting several rows.  The texture held together what was a dropped stitch, making the rows on top of it off-pattern (moss stitch instead of rib).  It was a bit of a pain to fix, but somehow I didn't really mind.  I also miraculously didn't mind ripping it all out (you heard me right!) when I could not reconcile myself to the width (I perceived it to be perfect for a man's scarf, but too wide for a woman's scarf).  So, today was my restart date, casting on 35 stitches this time instead of 39.  And yes, those 4 stitches made the difference I wanted.  Happily trucking along again.  (The picture was taken before I pulled it out.)

Recently, I've been enjoying and learning from the book Buddism for Mothers by Sarah Napthali.  It's not pedantic or high-brow.  It's very accessible, very realistic, and very applicable to my life.  The lessons and messages are deeply resonating with me at the moment.  Combined with my (finally resumed!) yoga courses, I'm really taking in the message of mindfulness and being present in the moment.  Please don't think I'm crazy when I tell you that this Noro scarf has been almost like a meditation for me.  I've noticed that I make mistakes or feel impatient with it only when I allow my thoughts to stray.  Straying to stressful or negative subjects makes my stitch tension too tight and mistakes more frequent (and annoying to un-knit); even straying to future thoughts of different projects causes problems and makes me impatient with the task at hand.  When I focus on this project as it is, stitch by stitch, I enjoy it in full.  Even when I have to rip it out and start over, something I have never before had patience to endure (that was always a sign to change projects), I am still enjoying the process.  Marvelous.

The power of a genuine apology

Just to follow-up on my last post, I did call all involved parties and try to make good.  I got through to the gardener first, and I apologized for what was an overly harsh criticism of the work being done here.  I explained better what had been my intention, but the most remarkable thing happened: it didn't seem necessary.  He was really nice.  As soon as I uttered the words "I apologize...", he too back-pedaled and offered that he was too defensive and takes his business too personally.  We talked for a while about what both of us needed to do and what the estate agent required of us both, and the phone call went really well.  Later, the estate agent called me back, and I also apologized to her.  I told her (honestly) that I'd had a really bad day that day, that I'd sent the email off in haste, and when I re-read it, I realized it was a lot more negative than I'd intended.  She, too, was really nice.  Our conversation also went quite well.  And do you know why?  It was because I apologized.

So often, I complain that so many people nowadays do not take responsibility for themselves or their actions.  Think of that big dent or scratch in your car door and no note (I've collected a few of those on my mom mobile).  I think the people I called interpreted my email to mean that I was a big complainer and the problem.  When I called them and took responsibility for my lack of diplomacy, I think they were both really (and pleasantly) surprised, enough to change that perception back to where I'd hope for it to be.  I felt a lot better too.  I don't like offending people, especially when it could have been easily avoided.  While I'm still anticipating that first inspection to be a bit too white-glove for comfort, I feel much better about how I've come across and where the situation stands.

Take-away lesson: If you could have handled something better, admit it.  There's nothing wrong with eating a little humble pie, and it could make something right.

Status update

I don't care for facebook, but if I did, my status update right now would be "is feeling abashed."

The other day, I sent off a quick email to the estate agents of the house we are renting, giving a poor report card for the lawn and garden service who had been here that day in my absence.  It was a hard day here and I didn't give myself any time to write diplomatically.  The estate agent forwarded the email to the gardeners, who were, of course, defensive and responded that the problem is us.  Now, I'm just feeling very frustrated with myself.  If I had taken the time to be more diplomatic and less blunt, there would have been a lot less room for bite-back.  Also, I succeeded in coming across as petulant and increased the likelihood that we might indeed be regarded as the problem (especially since we're new tenants here).  This could further bite us because there are regular rental inspections in which the company is meant to check for any damage being done to the house but are often used as white-glove inspections of one's housekeeping.  Any opportunity to tip the agent's inclinations towards the latter are unwise and unwelcome, and I think I just did that.  

Rather than give the agents and owners a heads-up about a cursory lawn service at their expense (which was my intention), I am now figuring damage control.  I am so annoyed with myself!

Take-away lesson:  Emails written in haste should be drafted or left unwritten.

 

And more scarf knitting

I finished the scarf for my sister-in-law!  My mother-in-law is visiting, and she was scheduled to fly back to Germany today.  My goal was to finish the scarf on time for her to hand-carry it back.  As it turns out, she opted to extend her stay, but I still met my finish date!  The scarf is now on its way to Germany, only by post instead of in person.  I sure hope it gets there.  The last important package I mailed to that address never arrived.  I've been wary ever since.

 

(I cannot explain the photo styling with the fig tree.  I just like the fig tree.  The fact that it doesn't particularly showcase the scarf is not my responsibility.)

Of course, to keep the knitting mojo flowing, I had to cast on for a new project immediately...but what?  Today is made up of a lot of 1s (1/11/11 or 11/1/11, depending on where you live), so I'm thinking it's time to knit 1 for me.  I cast on for the Noro Striped Scarf, and the mojo is workin'!  That's a good thing too, because thus far the colors that are evolving from the Noro skeins are a bit, well, vile.

 

I hope that will change.  It should.  We'll see. (you never know with Noro, which is, of course, part of the fun)

In related news, there is a small-scale crafting challenge going around facebook.  My gorgeous friend gail hooked me.  The first 5 people who leave a comment to the craft challenge status update will receive something handmade by me sometime in 2011 (gives me a big window, ensuring I'll actually do it!); the catch is that each person must in turn hand-make something for 5 commenters on their own status updates.  I'm thinking that having the whole year to work with might just make it possible to knit something for each of my first 5 commenters, on top of the projects I already had in mind.  I like a challenge, especially an achievable one!  I wonder who will reply.

Scarf knitting

I don't know if you've been monitoring the weather in Europe, but it has been bitterly freezing cold.  My sister-in-law in Germany who rarely asks for anything has asked me to knit her a new scarf.  I am happy she asked and was excited to get started...until the temperature here spiked to a humid 40 degrees Celsius on Christmas Day, only a couple of days after her request.  Yarn clinging to my fingers in such hot, sticky weather did not inspire, and knitting was put aside for days.  Feeling guilty for poking along at such a rare request, I resumed knitting.  Slowly, the scarf grew to about 18 inches long, and I lost inspiration again.  As much as I love the warmth and love of a hand-knitted scarf, I do get rather bored knitting one.  Humph.  There it sat, taunting me, until the weather suddenly cooled down to a very civilized 26 degrees with breeze and my knitting mojo returned.  Now, the scarf is growing steadily (I'm a relatively slow knitter), and I hope to have it in the mail soon!

 

My sister-in-law's winter coat is navy and dark grey, so I think the colors in this yarn will be perfect.  The feel of it...YUM.  Malabrigo worsted is so buttery soft!  Even my wool-hating husband had to admit it feels pretty darn nice.  I'm knitting it up into the Scrunchable Scarf found on Ravelry (my notes here).  I am really enjoying it now, and it has actually revved me out of my "I hate knitting scarves" attitude and into daydreaming about a new scarf for me!  At the rate I go, my own scarf might be ready by the time it gets cold here (six months or so from now).  It's Jared Flood's Noro Striped Scarf, and I have two colorways of Silk Garden that I am very excited about knitting!

I know you are questioning my commitment.  I would be too if I were you.  I am not a scarf knitter.  I am a garment knitter by preference.  But I am such a slow knitter for what I'd like to achieve that my list of projects grows much faster than my list of accomplishments.

This past week, Amanda of SouleMama posted about her 14 (maybe more!) sweaters she knit last year, and I was truly inspired.  She has four kids with another on the way, homeschools, recently bought a farm and is learning that life, has published two books and completed a third this past year AND did all that knitting in addition to various other crafting adventures.  While I wonder how much she sleeps, I cannot help being terribly impressed.  Since she is neither super-human nor well-staffed, I have to assume that she is enabled by serious dedication and a profound sense of purpose.  I am inspired by her achievements, and it's given me that little push I needed to get back my knitting mojo.

 

Thank you art

Today was our first day back into some kind of routine after almost two weeks of holidaying at home.  Papa went back to work, and I had two girls on my hands who needed constant entertaining.  Mostly, all went well.  During Wee One's nap, I played some learning games with my big girl and then she was ready to create some art.  We still haven't written our Christmas thank you notes, so I decided we'd make some up first.  We dug out the printmaking supplies and dove in.  I was a bit too ink-covered to snap photos of the process, but I am delighted with the results!

We followed the same process we used the last time (ages ago!), and it was really fun.  This time, we added in the use of tracing paper to aid writing backwards.  I took two semesters of printmaking courses in university, and I enjoy it as much now as I did then.  I am so pleased with the finished product.  She is particularly proud of her last-minute inspiration to create "snow" by poking the foam sheet all over with a pencil. In an age of easy replication with scanners and xerox machines and photo-quality printers, there is something almost magical about the feel (and noxious smell) of ink on thick, gently textured art paper.  My girl will be sending these little works of art out into the world, but I may just have to squirrel one away for myself first...