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I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude this week.  These meditations have been fueled by webinars, conversations with friends, and reading.  In this episode, I share some of those thoughts, as well as the details of my finished Bressay, an acorn squash recipe that is makes a special addition to any fall menu, and some new stitching projects.

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THE BACK PORCH

Oh, I love this sweater.  Complete, and I mean COMPLETE details can be found on my Ravelry entry for this project.

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EVER-EXPANDING SKILL SET

Acorn squash with coconut custard filling — fresh out of the oven (above) and drizzled with cider syrup (below).  This dish is dynamite.  I love the sweet and savory notes; hint of sage, vanilla, and orange.  It is very special and plates up delightfully!

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AND SEW FORTH

Shisha stitched ornaments will be going out to special friends and family this holiday season. I was fortunate to learn this technique from a TATTER class.  Check out their offerings, as well as the quarterly journal which launched this weekend.  Issue 1: Isolation. So visually compelling and containing lots of inspiration.

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OFF THE SHELF

“In Transit” by Naomi Shihab Nye

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In this episode, I there is sock talk, progress on my Bressay, lots of ideas for fall cooking, and some stories from our getaway to Beacon, NY.  I close the episode with a new-to-me poem by a very accomplished American poet and editor.

The Back Porch

Ribbed socks (RAV LINK)  in Lichen & Lace Sweet Potato colorway. I love this yarn and intend to purchase more! These socks knit up as quick as can be. Ribbed socks make a great gift as the fit is quite forgiving.

Yarn Lover at Large: 24 hours in Beacon, NY

My haul from Beetle & Fred in Beacon, NY.  It’s all sewing-related but I swear there is a good selection of yarn there too!  I adore this shop and I’m looking forward to working with this gorgeous double gauze.  I think it will become another Mississippi Avenue Dress. I plan to make another Mandy Boat Tee from the knit fabric.

• Dia: Beacon
• FILM: Levitated Mass

Ever-Expanding Skill Set

• Acorn Squash with Ricotta and Pomegranate Seeds
• Acorn Squash with Coconut Custa
• Boiled Cider / Cider Syrup how-to
• Uses for Cider Syrup!

Off the Shelf

• “A Tale of a Poem and a Squash” by Reed Whittemore

 

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Project updates, poetry, making sense of meal planning, and the enigmatic influence of goddesses.

THE BACK PORCH

Toe-up socks (RAVELRY LINK)  knit from a sock blank dyed by Maria of Ninjachickens.

All the colorwork on my Bressay sweater (RAVELRY LINK) is complete, thanks to an assist from Marybeth with the colors Eau De Nil and Pale Oak!  Now, on to the Mulberry!

EVER-EXPANDING SKILL SET

I can highly recommend this 5-ingredient apple cake recipe for dessert, snack, and especially breakfast!

Chicken Normande recommended by listener Sue (studionoodling) No photo but the brandy cream sauce — yum.  I will definitely continue “playing fast and loose” with this recipe.

Spilled Milk episode on Meal Planning

OFF THE SHELF

Teri Ellen Cross Davis is my new favorite poet.  Find YOUR new favorite poet by participating in the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival — running through November 1.

“Goddess of Cleaning” poem text

“Goddess of Cleaning” video of poet reading

“Knowledge of the Brown Body” video of poet reading

bio and more poems

a more perfect Union — coming February 2021

 

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Since receiving my stenciled fabric from FiberTrek Sarah, I’ve been in a stitch trance. In this episode, I talk about starting my first Alabama Chanin-inspired garment.  There’s a bit of knitting, a recommendation for a tile-placement game, and poems by Nobel prize winner Louise Glück.

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Savory Dishes with Apples

• Chicken Normande
• Waldorf Salad
• Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

 

I’ve been enjoying the work on this sock blank from Maria (ninjachickens) and knitting on my Blackthorn dpns.

Here is Amy jumpsuit #2, drip drying after another dip in the walnut dye bath.  I’m trying to correct some streaking that occurred on the left front panel, right at the crotch area.  It seems that the problem may be caused by an imperfection or inconsistency in the fabric.

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LINK to Cascadia on Kickstarter

This product has been fully funded and the fundraising targets are making it better and better.  Plus, there’s a single-player game to try online!

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Nobel Prize in Literature Awarded to Louise Glück

• article in The Atlantic
• “October“
• “Visitors from Abroad“

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We went apple picking near Kerhonkson, NY.  Determined to remember what we picked, I asked Samuel to photograph apples with their markers.  The Cox Orange Pippin was new to me and a tremendous find, with sweet and tart in each bite and a very nice texture for eating out of hand.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month.  Use your social media platform to share healthy messages, amplify the posts of others, or make a contribution by taking meaningful action.

THE BACK PORCH

After quite a bit of un-doing and re-knitting, I got a good fit on the Tokonatsu sweater (RAVELRY LINK) designed by Bernice Lim.  I love wearing it with this very special shisha necklace.

THE FRONT PORCH

This eco-printed sock blank dyed by ninjachickens has been sitting in my stash for a few years.  It’s the first time I’ve knit from a sock blank and I took out my Blackthorn dpns for the task.  I’m enjoying the colors — like knitting the clear blue sky with colorful leaves falling in the breeze.

EVER-EXPANDING SKILL SET

• Sheet Pan Dinner with chicken, apples and Brussels sprouts

AND SEW FORTH

I finished the Moon Phases Cloth Book I’ve been working on all summer, and dyed up some linen in a walnut bath — destined to become a second Amy Jumpsuit.

 

 

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It was an adventurous weekend, with crafting ups and downs, and a new pattern release.  Thank you so much for joining me. Pictured here is my first piece of shisha embroidery, thanks to the teaching of Shanaz Khan and her online course at Tatter!

NEWS & EVENTS

• Deep in the Forest cowl — NOW AVAILABLE! (Ravelry link)
• Tatter online courses
• Yoga classes with @meldurga

ON THE PORCH

• Tokanatsu by Bernice Lim

AND SEW FORTH

• Amy Jumpsuit by Closet Core Patterns

OFF THE SHELF

• “The Mothers at Seventy” by Sandra M. Gilbert