AHH! Tomatoes

All year long I purchase tomatoes in little plastic clam shells. Usually I choose either tomatoes on the vine or romas at Trader Joes. Sometimes I go for the little grape ones. All of them serve the same purpose. To give my cooking color, texture, and a certian ketchup type of flavor to my food.

Then some time in late winter I decided what types of tomatoes I would like to plant this year. I had great plans to start all of my tomatoes this year from seed directly in my garden. It all started out well at first. They popped up from the ground in plenty of time. Then after a brief moment the snails found those juicy little sprouts and my crop was over. I tried this a couple of times and the only plant I could save was a Japanese Triffle heirloom. I finally went and bought a Black Cherry plant, and a Momotoro plant.

Time and patience have prevailed and the tomatoes are coming on now. The other day I made a salad with the first "Black Cherry's" I had picked. I got one in my mouth not really thinking about it. The next thing I knew I did not care what else I put in my mouth at that meal I just wanted the tomatoes.

Now when we go to the park every day I pack some tomatoes as part of our snack. Talk about natures candy. My life is good with a home grown tomato. The most expensive restaurant could not do better.

Torchon Lace German Spider

This month at the Freeway Lace Guild meeting the program was on the Torchon German Spider. I always like doing spiders in Torchon Lace. You take one group from one side of the lace to the other side, switching places with the same amount of threads from the other side. Then you take them all back again. Simple, straight forward, and the hardest part is getting the tension right.

This spider is different in the fact that instead of it being in the center of ground work it extends to the outside edge of the lace. I usually do all of the ground around a spider first. Then work the spider. Then go back to ground work. On this particular pattern that process just does not work. You have to work a section. Then do some ground. Then work another section. Then work some edging. Then work on the spider some more.

You have to constantly be rechecking where you are in the process. One of the tricks that helped a lot in the project was to color code the diagram to help keep track of where the pairs were to go next. Taking your time and focusing was also a must. I personally think a glass of merlot along side was also a plus but since we meet at a church that was not to be.

As you can see from the photo I am not very far along, but, hopefully by the end of next week I should show some progress. I just have to really find focused quiet time for this one.

The pattern for this spider is from Alex Stillwell's book, "Drafting Torchon Lace Patterns".

Tatted Beginings Part One

When I was 9, almost 10 years old I went to live at my Mother's Parents house with my Mother and my Sister. I was suddenly in a new suburban environment which was very different than my rural one. I adapted quickly especially since there were next door neighbors exactly the same age as myself, and there was also a small creek on the property with a bridge. The creek had its share of frogs, crayfish, and water skimmers so I had plenty to keep me busy.

I had always, at that point enjoyed doing handwork with my Mother and when I saw my Grandmother doing tatting I was immediately intrigued. My Grandmother agreed to show me how and at the age of 10 or 11 (I am not sure which), I realized that I did not yet have the patience to figure out the knot. It just kept locking up on me and in my frustration I would try to pull and pull, ultimately making the whole thing worse. Needless to say the whole thing ended in frustration.

I soon decided to quit trying but deep down I knew that I would revisit it one day. I knew that I just was not ready. The time would come when I would learn but that is a story for another day....

Bobbin Lace in the Park

At the last Freeway Lace Guild meeting that I attended I found out how important it is for us to demonstrate lace making in order to support the IOL and our Guild.

So this week I have been spending my time at the park working on my Lace. India gets a chance to play and I get a chance to work with wonderful natural light. The only thing to worry about working outside is to stay out of the direct sunlight, but lucky for me this park has lots of great shade.

Most people ignore me and what I am doing, but every so often someone expresses some interest. I know that if I keep it up long enough more and more people will begin to realize that there is more to do at the park than talk on the phone while their kids play.

Since I took a long break from lace making and never had gone much beyond an advanced beginner I have decided to work on some simple patterns just to get my rhythm up. The pattern I am working on only takes eight pair and is from "The Torchon Lace Workbook" by Bridget M. Cook. I can see using this simple lace on something for my daughter or one of her dolls.

Fresh Air and Lace what more could I ask for.

Dorset Wool

This big ball of fluffy wooly goodness is actually only one third of its original size. When I received it, it was just shy of 15 ounces. My mother sent it to me from Ohio. It was some wool raised on a farm near her and the neighbor sold it to her already processed into roving. When it arrived in the mail I could not help but think that I had just received a lovely base of a snow man. I don't miss the cold but an occaisional snowman certainly would be nice from time to time.

At this point I have all but 5 ounces spun into a "worsted" weight yarn. I then plan on dying it into about 3 different colors of young girl friendly shades. I plan on making my daughter a granny square vest for her to wear this coming winter. I not long ago was re-introduced to the granny square and just can't resist doing my part to revive such a tried and true design.

Swiss Cheese and Mushroom Quiche

Tonights dinner was one of my favorite dishes to make. The recipe comes from the Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen.

This dish is a very simple quiche that has a real French cuisine flavor. The ingriedients are simple. Butter,flour, milk, eggs, onion, cheese, Thyme, dry mustard, salt, pepper, and paprika. Almost everything I have on hand at all times. The only thing I really have to think about is the mushrooms.

One of the main things I believe in doing that makes my life simple is having the ingredients on hand when I need them. If I have to run to the store to get something that I only use on that dish I find I am doing little more than wasting time and money. For the most part most French style receipes revolve around some basic delicious ingredients. Butter, butter, and butter. It's worth it.

Navajo Churro

WOW! I just cannot pass up fleece. This lovely 10 lb fleece is from a Navajo Churro named Shiloh. This great sheep resides at the Santa Anna Zoo in their petting Zoo area.

I have no idea what I am going to make with it yet. I was so excited that I had to hurry up and skirt it down in the parking garage. I now have a bit scouring in the sink. Hmmm, I wonder how long it will take me to clean this huge fleece one colander full at a time in my kitchen sink.

Just a reminder that not everything that goes through my kitchen should be nibbled upon. He He He I always have to warn my husband.