September

Can it really be almost the end of September?  This has been a very strange year and, like many of you, I will be glad to see the back of it.

I’ve hardly posted on my blog in months and my total posts for 2020 only amount to about the number of posts I would normally write in a month.

I have been busy, for the most part, studying by distance learning, which kept me fully occupied for the better part of five months.  I set myself a goal and I’m well on the way to achieving it.  This all started before lockdown, but it certainly helped to pass the time productively.

We have been very fortunate here, as there have hardly been any cases of Covid-19 and all those who were affected had travelled internationally, didn’t require hospital treatment, and all are fully recovered.   For this, we can be very thankful.

Wherever you are in the world, I hope that you stay safe and well.

Knitting Yarns

This has been a stressful year for many reasons, so knitting has helped me to maintain my sanity.  My big project was this aran cardigan, which I finished in the summer, but it took me a long time to find buttons to match.  I ended up ordering vintage Italian buttons from Etsy and they were the perfect choice.

I like to have a Christmas project in mind and work on it during the summer, to avoid additional stress of trying to complete it in December.  This year’s choice was a shawl, in seasonal colours, which I will be able to wear throughout the winter.  I’m delighted with the results.

 

In the Sewing Room

One of the sewing projects on my list was a sewing machine cover.  I bought the lining fabric in a sale more than two years ago and already had the Amy Butler fabric earmarked for this purpose.

I’m pleased to say that I finally found the time to complete this and I’m delighted with the result.  Now, I can cover my machine when I pause during other sewing projects, rather than having to put it away with its hard case.

Summer Harvest

One of the joys of early summer is the arrival of fresh, locally-grown strawberries and rhubarb.  Yes, they come into season at the same time in this part of the world, so I’m able to make my favourite rhubarb and strawberry jam.

There is something quite therapeutic about chopping fruit and stirring it as it simmers gently.

The end result is a beautiful red jam, capturing the flavours of early summer.

It is lovely to have a few jars put aside for later in the year, though they may not last that long, as I’ve already finished one jar.

However you are spending your time this summer, I hope you stay safe and well.

Another Sewing Project

My sewing machine has seen quite a lot of use lately.  I had a request for bike stem bags, which I had no idea how to make.  A pattern was found online and the required fabric and notions were purchased some weeks prior to lockdown.

They were challenging to make, as the directions were written by someone who clearly wasn’t a sewer, but I eventually managed to work out how to assemble them.  My machine didn’t like the nylon thread I had to use - it is required because it doesn’t rot if exposed to moisture - but I managed to get it all sewn together.

It has been hinted that additional bike bags would be useful, but I’m not in a hurry to make any more at the moment.

Spring

It has been a strange few weeks, not least because of the lockdown, but also because spring seems to have kept us waiting.  It isn’t much more than a week since we were having sleet yet again, so the opportunity to get out for some fresh air last week was very welcome.

There are some new additions to the bird house collection down on the boardwalk.

It was a very windy day and the white caps of breakers could be seen a long way offshore.  The wave action stirred up the PEI red mud, making the water look a strange colour.

We saw a few birds, but most of them were too fast for me to get a photo.  This Blue Jay came down for peanuts, which had been left for them.

A red squirrel was perched up there, but wouldn’t come down for nuts, as it already had more than a mouth full.  

In the Sewing Room

I started this project a few weeks ago, so it has taken me a while to get it completed.

The first stage was the cutting out of all the different pieces.

Then, I had to quilt the three main pieces - back, front and pocket,.

After this, the pocket was stitched in place on the front panel.

The zipper was particularly challenging because it had to curve at the corners, which they don’t normally do.

After this, I stitched the bag together along the sides, then made quilted handles. 

This afternoon, I finally finished stitching the handles in place and I now have a bag for my laptop.  I’m really pleased with the results and it was worth the effort, especially as this fabric was leftover from a bag lining of a knitting project.

Keep Calm...and Bake on...

As lockdown continues, I’ve been spending some time in the kitchen baking.  As we needed a change of taste one Saturday, I baked pizza three ways.  The first was feta cheese and tomato on a hummus base; the second sausage with spring onion on harissa and the third, pepperoni and goat’s cheese with red pepper, also on harissa.

Good Friday found me in the kitchen baking Hot Cross Buns.  These didn’t last long!

And my favourite Easter treat - chocolate cupcakes with a chocolate ganache and mini eggs.  (I managed to save some of these and had one, complete with a candle, on my birthday, which was Easter Monday.)

Yesterday, I made a marzipan fruitcake from a Nigella Lawson recipe - I’ve made this before and it’s a favourite.  Then I tried a new recipe for malt loaf.  This was absolutely delicious still-warm from the oven with butter.

I managed to save the marzipan fruitcake until this afternoon, when I served it with a cup of Yorkshire Gold tea.  

How are you getting through lockdown and what are you baking?

Spring

According to the calendar, today is officially the start of spring, though it certainly doesn’t feel like it in this part of the world.  And what a strange world it has become.  Who would have thought only a few weeks ago that we would be facing this unseen and, in some cases, deadly virus, for which there is, as yet, no cure?

Prince Edward Island declared a state of emergency at the beginning of the week, since when almost everything has closed - schools, colleges, universities, sports’ centres, restaurants, hair and beauty salons, dentists....the list is endless.  Panic set in amongst many and this was reflected in crazy scenes of long queues to buy everyday items and shortages of essentials (why are people stockpiling toilet rolls?).  Cash is now unacceptable in many businesses and contactless payment is the order of the day.

I rarely buy magazines these days, but I saw Country Living when I was food shopping earlier this week and decided that I deserved a treat.  I also have The Almanac, which I’m enjoying dipping into.

In an attempt to maintain a degree of sanity and calm my frazzled nerves from working in direct contact with patients who are stupid enough to present at the surgery and then say, ‘I hope I haven’t got Coronavirus’ - after describing the classic symptoms, I’ve turned to knitting.

Winter’s Frost may not be a very seasonal knit, but it is a pretty pattern and I’ve had the yarn set aside for this project for quite a while.  If you are a knitter and would like to try this pattern, it is available free here.

My mug was a bargain from the thrift shop a few weeks ago - I paid 75 cents.  Now seems like an appropriate time to get it out and make a cup of tea.

My blogging has been a bit sporadic for quite a while, but I have a lot going on in my life - even before the present situation developed.  I hope you are all well and wish you continued good health in the coming days and weeks.

A Long Winter

A welcome sight on a snowy day.  We are fortunate that we get our drive ploughed after a storm, which cuts down on the amount of snow clearing that’s left, though we’ve had so many storms that the piles of snow are growing.  The photo above was taken a month ago...

And this is how it looks at dusk this evening.  The weather has been so cold that I haven’t been able to go for walks outdoors.  It was minus 17 C this morning, with a wind chill of minus 27 C.

Winter Light

The sky at dusk, viewed through the icicles on the front of our house.

All is calm...

Well, the New Year has seen quite a bit of snow and tomorrow, we are expecting severe cold with a risk of frostbite (minus 28 C wind chill is forecast).  Yet another winter storm is on its way on Sunday, so it will be a good day to stay indoors and keep warm...except for the fact that someone has to do the snow clearing and Mr C is still not mobile after his surgery in November.  Now where did I leave the snow shovel?

Welcome 2020

Well, Christmas came and went and somehow, I didn’t manage to get back here and post anything.  I hope you all had a lovely time and wish everyone a very happy New Year.  

My little Christmas project was finally finished on Saturday - in time for Twelfth Night, if not for Christmas - better late, than never.

This cushion cover has been in the planning stage since I bought this fabric more than two years ago. I got all the bits together - trimming, wadding for quilting, lining fabric, but never quite found the time to get started, even after I bought a cutting mat and wheel last summer.

I must say that I’m delighted with the end result and if any of you want to make your own version, the link to the pattern is here.