Kale Salad

With the kale thriving in our garden right now and a bit of inspiration from a farm stand stop on our weekend getaway, I have a new fall favorite, kale salad.

Why didn't I ever think of this before?

Simply chop up your kale, add your favorite dressing combination, some finely chopped sweet pepper (we still have some green peppers hanging on in the garden, but red peppers would look pretty), and a bit of minced garlic and chopped feta.

Simple and so good for you.

Knitting and Reading

This is the finished baby bonnet - I did not capture the beautiful blues in this hand dyed yarn.

I have cast on for a baby sweater to try out a new pattern.  A friend copied it for me from a book that I am sorry I do not remember the title of, but the pattern is called Zane's Coming Home Sweater.  And like I often do when deciding on a pattern, I appreciate that it only requires a pair of straight needles.  The yarn is some wool I hand dyed with the children.

Finally, I am reading The Sweetgum Ladies Knit for Love - really just a so/so book - a bit of entertainment before falling asleep, but I am looking forward to reading about the book recommendations today at Ginny's Knit Along.

Nature's Beauty

I've been quiet here as our phone line was out for two days - we still have dial-up for our internet access:)  A bit of a blessing to not be connected for a brief time.

Early Sunday morning while doing the morning animal chores, 

I was in awe of all the beauty I saw - such a gorgeous time of the year up here in

northern Vermont.

Canning to Dyeing

After finishing up some more tomato canning last night I just couldn't waste a

 nice tub of hot water.

So I took out a new color I had recently ordered from Dharma Trading - Sage Leaf - and a skein of dk weight natural wool from Peace Fleece, added a few glugs of vinegar and....

I think I have a new favorite color.

Knitting and Reading

Still working on the simple Colin Vest for a custom order - the sizing looks as though it is coming out right this time.

I have started knitting a bonnet (like the one Emmy is wearing in the last post) for a little baby girl that is due to be born soon.  Our church is helping to support a single young lady that has decided to not end a life but to give life.    The yarn is some beautiful hand dyed soft wool from The Sitting Tree.  The pattern is from Vintage Knits for Modern Babies - my favorite knitting book for little ones.

I have been really enjoying the new issue of Taproot - it is truly a beautiful magazine and the stories are ones that I can relate to and enjoy.

Finally, my initial impression of If you Lived Here, I'd Know Your Name, has held true even through the end - a really delightful read about small town living.  

Looking forward to sharing with Ginny and everyone else today for the Yarn Along.

Simply Being - a One Year Old's Perspective

Enjoying each moment on our walk down the driveway even though we only made it half way down - there is just so much to see and touch!

and just playing in the garden.

Home Again

a few more snapshots from a nice weekend away

But it is really nice to come home and appreciate all over again our simple little home.