Agatha May Read..................

Another Agatha for May--Hercule Poirot to the rescue!

"Poirot, disillusioned by the "senseless cruel brutality" of modern crime, pays no attention to the sad case of Mrs McGinty, an old woman apparently struck dead by her lodger for thirty pounds that she kept under a floorboard. When, however, he is asked by the investigating officer to take another look at the case to stop an innocent man going to the gallows, he realises that things may not be as simple as they first appear to be."

What shall we knit to this mystery?  I don't know......

Maybe, book mark--simple and sweet

No Wrong Side bookmark by Katherine Vaughan

Another one by Katherine titled Jewel Cross Rib

Don't think I've ever knit a bookmark!

A Belfry of Hats!

Here comes the Kentucky Derby tomorrow!  This blog is about hats--a free study of hats all year long--not the traditional Kentucky Derby Hat, like this one......

but, woolen hats you can create all year long for the winter cold months.

I know it doesn't seem right to be knitting wool hats in the hot summer

months--what better time though?  You'll have a belfry of hats for

gifts or for charity or just for yourself.

check this out---

A month by month free hat pattern from Kelbourne Woolens--

of course, they are selling their yarn to go with the pattern...

I'm just a few months behind finding this site, but the patterns are

there beginning with January

January

February

March

April

Each of these patterns have different techniques--a learning experience for sure!

Let's Knit!

Socks inspired by the Women Warriors or Shield Maidens of Viking Lore

This pattern has been designed by  Adrienne Fong and can be found 

free on Ravelry.  Adrienne designed this for Sock Knitters 

Anonymous for the May-June 2019 Lace Challenge.

It is meant for solid or semi-solid, tonal or gradient

colorway, which will show off the lace.  Clues will be released weekly-

beginning today!  Then May 9 -15- 22--pattern is both charted and

written.

If socks aren't your "thing" how about this?

Beaded cushions and throw knit along, designed by Martin Storey for Rowan Yarns.  This KAL begins May 13 and can

also be found on Ravelry.

A Gorgeous!! lace shawl designed by Mary-Anne Mace is also

free pattern through Ravelry--have I told you how much I love

RAVELRY??!!

Biophilia is top down crescent shaped shawl that represents the affection for the

natural environment.  The  Motifs represent filament strands of

entangled seaweed billowing in the ocean currents.  Beads are worked at the

edge and drip from each picot.

The pattern has both written directions and charts.  Lace is on

right side and wrong side is purl.

T

Hill Country Film Fest

This past weekend we have been attending Hill Country Film Fest in Fredericksburg, Texas--This is our seventh year to view some outstanding films--some of these films are released to the public, so watch for them; although the films might not play on the big screen, sometimes, you can find them on the small screen.

Here you not only see the film, but there is Q and A with

the film maker and sometimes, the actors are in the theater 

to answer questions.  This year it was David Arquette with

his film--"Amanda and Jack Go Glamping"  

Our houseguests had their photo taken with David after

the movie.

There were over 80 short films, 17 feature films from 12

different countries.  Nothing was shown twice.  you just needed

to check the program to decide what you wanted to see and

when.  sometimes it was a conflict--but decisions had to be made.

Another film, 1989, shown was "Great Balls of Fire" starring Dennis Quaid--

really interesting to hear him speak about the film and Jerry Lee Lewis!

Five years ago, this large screen was set up in the Marktplatz where we viewed some of the short films nominated--a great experience!

How To Wear a Kilt!!

Recently we were at an outdoor event and I met a young gentleman wearing a kilt--that is something you don't see often in United States. We got into a discussion about his clan and the tartan--Each clan has their own


tartan--I've done extensive research into tartans; have numerous books too--our name is related to MacFarlane tartan but since our name is Mc--that means it's Irish--that's whole other topic. I've woven several tartan swatches--never a complete yardage of tartan!

Wearing of the tartan is always an interesting topic--so when I came across this video--I had to share--wait to the end--you might find out the answer to another questionable topic--what do they wear under their kilts??

A kilt (Scottish Gaelic: fèileadh [ˈfeːləɣ])^[1] is a type of knee-length non-bifurcated skirt with pleats at the back, originating in the traditional dress of Gaelicmen and boys in the Scottish Highlands. It is first recorded in the 16th century as the great kilt, a full-length garment whose upper half could be worn as a cloak. The small kilt or modern kilt emerged in the 18th century, and is essentially the bottom half of the great kilt. Since the 19th century, it has become associated with the wider culture of Scotland, and more broadly with Gaelic or Celtic heritage. It is most often made of woollen cloth in a tartan pattern.

Although the kilt is most often worn on formal occasions and at Highland games and sports events, it has also been adapted as an item of informal male clothing in recent years, returning to its roots as an everyday garment. Particularly in North America, kilts are now made for casual wear in a variety of materials. Alternative fastenings may be used and pockets inserted to avoid the need for a sporran. Kilts have also been adopted as female wear for some sports.

Weaving with Natural

My loom has been warped for months now with another set of

handspun cotton dish towels.  I had finished one set last year and

thought it would be great to use up all my handspun cotton that

has been in my stash.  Besides, I could just tie on another

warp and pull through--lazy me!

There are small bits of this and that--some brown cotton

plied with white.  Some with white cotton and hand dyed

indigo cotton.

And then--you would think there would be enough yarn

for the loom--but, my brain doesn't function that way--

I thought I had enough--and I did to WARP but

not for weft--oh bother!  There are times more needs to 

be spun--here is a small ball of handspun brown and

blue dyed cotton--don't you have any idea how long

it takes to spin a bobbin of cotton?  Neither did I--

of course, I'm an optimist and yes, there was enough

in the stash for weft--NOT!  

it takes time to spin and ply what is needed... 

Here is woven areas--looks great!  Loving the feel 

and the pattern that is generated just with plain weave.

A bobbin of handspun white cotton ready to throw

Behind the loom there still seems to be miles and miles

of unwoven warp--does it multiply during the night or

when I'm away from the loom?

Eggs! Eggs! Eggs!

Here it is couple days passed Easter and we still have several

hard boiled eggs in refrigerator!  If you are like me before the big

Easter day, you boil eggs for dyeing--I did a dozen and half--

I use my Instant Pot--great way to get all the eggs

finished at the same time and they peel so easy!

Anyway, now I'm left with all these eggs--so what do you

do with them?  Of course, I deviled some--then my brain

went off the deep end--why are they are called

deviled eggs when they taste so good?  Everyone has

their own special recipe to make these delicious foods.

But, deviled they are--here's what Chowhound states:

"It turns out, the history goes back further than you think. The first documented usage for the word “devil” as a culinary term dates back to 1786 when, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, it was used to describe a “(highly seasoned) fried or boiled dish.” By 1800, the term “deviling” caught on and was primarily used to refer to the process of making a spicy or condiment-laden dish, like ham or even kidneys, as was common for the time.

The OED claims,”the term was presumably adopted because of the connection between the devil and the excessive heat in Hell.” This association makes sense. Even while the spice level of deviled eggs can definitely vary based on filling ingredients, they certainly have the potential to pack heat. I mean, you can literally put anything in a deviled egg. Beyond mustard, mayo, and paprika, you can throw in cayenne, kimchi, and even wasabi to kick it up a notch. At their mildest, they are still heavily seasoned and chock-full of condiments, so the original “deviled” definition still holds up."

Okay, that answers that question--but, you know what?  No one has ever asked me why they are called 'deviled' when they are digging into that richness!

Before Easter, I was having a discussion with a friend who said they were attending a potluck in their community--"what are you bringing?" I asked.  "Pea Salad", she answered--"it's what I always bring for potluck".  She said a friend was bringing funeral potatoes--"what are funeral potatoes?" I asked--

She replied "a potato casserole of shredded potatoes, sour cream, cheese,

and condensed soup--topped with crushed potatoes chips"  Never have

I called them "funeral potatoes"--the name comes from these casseroles

being served at funerals--or they sometimes are called Moman potatoes

since the dish is very popular in Utah and brought to many LDS functions.

Okay, folks-- my brain is back to so called "Normal"!!

and I'm back to deviling the rest of the eggs!