I have to admit that winter has arrived (either that or it's suddenly late autumn and winter is around the corner). We have had 2 frosts in a row, and it poured with rain all weekend. Drought breaking rain - we had 76mm of rain in 3 days. Farmers were dancing.
I have turned over the clothes, the children are in their winter uniforms for school and I have rediscovered my spencers and skivvies. I may have to do some knitting.
This is my first proper week of unemployment, and yesterday I went to the Sheffield spinners and weavers with my wheel and started to learn to spin. They were lovely and welcoming ladies, but strangely, most of them didn't knit (or crochet). I didn't actually ask them what they did with their handspun, but I will next time. I now have 3/4 of a bobbin of rather overspun alpaca and merino (90/10). Apparently the overspinning was only partly me. The tension on the wheel wouldn't stay set, so running repairs were carried out by a little old lady with fishing wire and a red Post Office rubber band. I also found I am a much better spinner if I don't look at what I am doing.
I spent the wet weekend teaching the Princess to sew, and we made this:
Here is the proud creator.
So, that is the wet Saturday. On Sunday, Princess made a chocolate cake, mainly by herself (under supervision), so she is inordinately pleased with herself (and I am very proud of her).
I have been cooking more exciting wintry type food too. Last night I attempted to recreate a lovely dish I had at Brown Brothers Epicure restaurant, chorizo, potato and tomato. I used the roasted tomato sauce (will it see out the winter, or should I try and make just one more batch?).
I fried off the sliced chorizo, and drained it. Cooked some dutch cream potatoes then fried them in a little olive oil with sweet paprika, smoked paprika and hot paprika. Returned the sliced chorizo to the pan, added the roasted tomato sauce, tasted it, added a little more seasoning - nom nom! Not a bad recreation - maybe a little more hot paprika next time!
It's nice to have a bit more time for cooking and meal planning.
I have almost finished the body of the gathered pullover, and hope to start the sleeves in a day or two. Still need to finish Cherie (just not feeling the lurve), and the plain toe-up socks. then I can get on to some more things. Winter is coming - we need to keep warm!
12 comments:
Princess did very well with her sewing (and baking - yay!). Mmm now I want chorizo and potatoes too...
oh gosh. chorizo. say no more. princess is inordinately cute too! glad the unemployment thing is kind of ok xx
Being unemployed does have its perks, doesn't it? More time with the family and more time for stuff you like doing. PS: Princess did a pretty nice job sewing! :)
-Imee
Yay for a handy Princess!
and where's the pic of your spinning skillz??
Oh, look how cute she is! And she bakes cakes, too! She's a keeper! ;)
Nice sewing and baking from Princess! She's a superstar like her mum, obviously.
The chorizo recipe sounds delicious. Chorizo and potato together is one of my fave things to eat.
Enjoy the unemployment! It's good that you're seeing it as positive! (I'd be seeing it as positive too - only one month to go and I'll be unemployed too. Can't wait. Freaking out, but can't wait.)
What a cutie. She deserves to be proud of hewr first sewing project. Tell her to keep up the good work.
I was trying to figure what to have for dinner and you reminded me I have some chorizo in the freezer. I can make some red beans and rice. It's rainy and cold and that would be a good dinner.
I am inordinately happy to see the word inordinately!!! Oh it is below zero and there is ice on the car and the little creek is half full: Happy Cold days indeed!! Some more knitted things are looking good!!What do the spinners do with their wool??UNspin it and start again?
The Princess's flower is beautiful!
Yay Princess - what a lovely age!
It sounds like your relaxing into your new lifestyle!
Sounds like you were plenty employed! (Now if they could just arrange to pay us for that kind of employment.)
My mouth is watering. It's chilly and raining and anything hot sounds yummy!
(And my verification is "oveniu", hmmm.)
Very nice work, Princess! And spinning... ah, you spinners are making me wish for my children to leave my house so that I have room for another hobby. (The big one is just taking up space--he wouldn't mind.)
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