I couldn't wait. Between canning a couple of small batches of jam, Lupine and I hopped on our bikes and headed to our local yarn shop on Saturday in search of some black wool that was softer than what I had in my stash. My girl needs a sweater. Now. I have four sweaters to knit in the coming months, and I figured hers would be the smallest and fastest so she's up first.
Instead of black Lupine found a dusty aqua with silver sparkles. Can you see the sparkles? It is, in her words, "As soft as a fairy" and, um, sparkly so I know she'll love it. I've been knitting with passion for the past two days and loving this transition into cooler days.
Having a fresh project on the needles is so motivating. I am stealing moments throughout the day to knit a few rows (or stitches) as I can.
And yes, canning is still happening nearly every day in the kitchen, and my garden is winding down for the season. The jams above are ground cherry, or husk cherry. Lupine and I made two batches while Sage was away – one with chamomile and vanilla and one with orange and ginger. I look forward to opening these shining jars some dark and cold winter morning!
What's on your needles and happening in your kitchen?
I’m making sock for the first time, following a pattern, it’s so exciting.
Those jams look very good.
I love the photos of your knitting…I have a sweater on my needles that has been there for, well, months…I too love the cooler weather and the opportunity to work with fiber again. Look forward to the finished sweater pics from you.
I recognize that sweater! I am knitting a grown-up one for myself right now. I am loving the pattern. So simple and clear. I am in the part where I am knitting (what seems like miles) of the stockinette for the body. A couple more inches and I will be knitting more stockinette for the sleeves. Mine doesn’t have sparkles though…Lupine will definitely be more magical than me!
Reading this post just set the tone for my day….thanks for informing me (again) on the peaceful, creative, home-centered way of living that I so strive for:)
I have those same needles! LOVE them. Feel so nice on the hands. And that husk cherry jam looks great. I’m trying to steal away for knitting too (and Charlie even asked me to teach him today!) although my washcloths aren’t nearly as fun as sparkly blue sweaters.
I’m drying chilies, and have put away 12 jars of raspberry jam and 17 of blueberry. 8 jars of pickles. I have a bun in the oven due any day now and am desperately trying to keep up with the plethora of squash from my CSA basket. I think I’ll do 3 batches of zucchini muffins and freeze them. Maybe some zucchini chocolate chip cookies as well… I just started up on the sweater I began for my daughter last October. I want to finish it before she’s two so I have until this October! Toddlers sure keep you busy.
I’ve been hankering for a new knitting project as well, but I want to finish my daughters birthday sweater first. The fingering weight wool seemed like a good idea at the time, but now I crave something more squishy and full.
So sweet. Thanks, Li.
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Is there a recipe source you could share for the two batches of ground cherry jam you canned? They sound wonderful! Hopefully, I’ll have enough ground cherries this year to make some.