Under the Mighty Oak!

There is nothing like an oak tree--and it is amazing that from a seedling it grows to be mighty and bold.  Having lived in Louisiana for many years, the Oak was a symbol of love and endurance.  There are so many lovely oaks around the state.

Edna Szymoniak Oak

35' 6" in circumference | #2072 of the Live Oak Society

A recent article in Countryroads Magazine caught my attention as we had a huge oak growing right beside our home in Gonzales, Louisiana.  William Guion is documenting Louisiana's most ancient live oaks--the oldest 100 Oaks in the state.  Take a stroll through his photographs and read the article on this project.  I watched our tree grow from a sapling to over 15 ft tall, but it is still growing and enduring.  Oh, the stories they could tell!  

Marshmallow Fluff!

Marshmallow Fluff --Yummy!  

We can't do fudge without it!  My mother said she ate so many peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwiches in her day that she had to swear off the stuff!

Nope, I'm talking about this Marshmallow Fluff knitting pattern 

from The Studio

Doesn't this look luscious and yummy, just like the real white stuff from a jar!  

Just need some chunky yarn, needles and away we go!

and it will be a quick knit too!

Are You Calling Me Chicken??

January must be the month to be called "chicken"!  So many recipes popping up with chicken as the main meat ingredient.  Do you know Erin?  Erin Chase runs 31 days of certain recipes--She is $5 Dinner Mom.

January she is featuring 31 Days of Rotisserie Chicken Recipes--Not that I want to eat chicken for 31 days straight, but these recipes can be saved for future reference.

Then I got my January Cooking Light Magazine and guess what?  It features chicken recipes too!  Is it a conspiracy?

Chicken 25 Ways!  

And Food Network Magazine has recipes for chicken wings!

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner--

excuse me--I'm getting hungry and going to search for some

CHICKEN!

Fleece to Finish Project

For those who have fiber animals, here is an opportunity for you to participate in an event.  Many of our past fiber study groups have done a similar project.   Each person in the group chose a sheep breed, did a study of that breed, collect the fleece to distribute to other members of the group.  Then there was the spinning of each breed for our own workbook.  It was a year long study with great results.  We learned about different breeds, quality of their fleece and how it could be useful for our needs.

A link to the actual discussion is here: FLEECE TO FINISH

INFO:, 
There will be an emphasis on 3 areas:

1. Washing/processing fleece January we’ll discuss the washing methods we all use and make up our very own booklet..
2. Plying February to April will focus on plying methods with a particular look at Andean plying so we can make our own document on plying too.
3. Finishing items eg knitting, felting, weaving or crochet etc March to April we’ll look at what we do with our processed fleece - ie end products- knitted crocheted felted woven.. Other?

Shetland Isles

Many moons ago, I was privileged to receive a couple of nice Shetland fleeces from a friend.  Shetland wool is extremely interesting to process--it takes some time and energy to get the locks just right.  Needless to say, I kept the fleeces in their lovely little storage bags until I decided it was best to pass them on to someone who would process them with the care they deserved.
Of course, now, I'm sorry that they went to another home!!  But, here is the skinny on Shetland sheep and their fleece.



• Shetland sheep are hardy, low maintenance animals, easy lambers and good mothers that fit with our 'no fuss' philosophy of animal husbandry,

• Shetland sheep produce a high quality fibre in many attractive natural fleece colours, that has a ready market and is also useful for our own fibre works,

• Shetland sheep can be used as dual purpose meat and fibre producers if required,

• Shetland sheep have distinctive personalities,

• Shetland sheep have a well run North American Registry   (NASSA), and

• Shetland sheep hark back to our own Celtic/Viking roots.

Susan Crawford  is publishing a book on Shetland.  Susan has studied hand-knitted garments and accessories from the 1920s to 1960s, which are held in the Museum's archives. She has chosen 25 pieces, recording their construction stitch for stitch then recreated them for the Vintage Shetland Project. These pieces – all with their own unique story to tell – have been developed into comprehensive multi-sized knitting patterns, complete with instructions, technical advice and illustrated with colour photography shot on Shetland. 

With an essay reflecting on the story of each hand-knit item this book is a treasury of Shetland knitting patterns and an insight into Shetland's rich textile traditions.

What peeked my return interest to Shetland fiber and knitting?  Hazel Tindall's blog!  I was reading through different Shetland knitting patterns and came across her blog with this cool "Benon Headband"

West Coast Fiber Arts has a super booklet on Shetland knitting project.

Shetland Fleece types

Here is a video on the processing of Shetland Fleece.  Wish I'd had youtube back in those days!  

Knit Along Socks With Lucy!

Even if you know how to knit socks, this is a perfect opportunity to study and knit along with

a world famous knitter, Lucy Neatby!

This is a free class on Craftsy.  If you are not a member, it's easy and free to join.

I'll be knitting along on these year long projects to knit

three different sock patterns--top down and toe up.

Join me on this project!

COLOR--Be Calm!

Did you get into the latest 2015 craze?  I wrote about this in another blog several months ago.

I have two or maybe three coloring books for adults.  On the other hand,  I must have (mumble, mumble) children coloring books!  Okay--I was into the craze loooooooong before the "adult" books came out.

It’s about “getting back to basics,” said Karen Larson, a Lathrup Village, MI graphic designer who has designed two adult coloring books.

Larson said coloring books offer an escape from today’s ever-electronic world and let you do something with your hands and be creative.

“It’s addictive, it’s meditative, it’s relaxing,” said Larson. “I find lately I’ve been really overbooked, so I take just a half hour to color and it does the trick. It soothes you, relaxes you. It’s that whole key of getting away from electronics.”

In her area of Detroit, there are even coloring workshops being held at Public Libraries!  Can you believe?!!  I would so be there!

I love love this coloring book that my friend Judy P gave me this summer!  It is designed by

her friend, Susan Schmitt.  I haven't taken the time to color though--it's such an entertaining book, I almost hate to mess it up.

Here is one of the pages from the book.  Did you know: Art has long been considered therapeutic. A 2006 Swedish study found that mindfulness art therapy for women with cancer helped significantly reduce symptoms of physical and emotional distress during treatment.

I found a wonderful coloring book at our local Sprouts Grocery store and here is

the display at the Barnes and Nobles!  Get on the band wagon--break out those

coloring books--whether for adults or children--get some wonderful coloring pens

and relax, mediate and enjoy your therapy!