Eleanor

I don't know what kind of mind discusses cake because that is probably what I will be doing today.  I am baking my brother his 'real' birthday cake.  I am going to make another chocolate jam cake - glutenfree for myself to eat whilst everyone eats birthday cake.  August is a time of many cakes.  I used to make cupcakes and cakes with icing.  One year, I'd say we went through a serious amount of sugar and icing sugar.  I'm not going to lie.  I was buying the big 5kg bags of sugar.  My family and I had problems sleeping at night due to the crazy amounts of sugar.  Molly, the dog was given a teeny amount of cake and even she was up at night howling.  The icing recipe was too hard core.  I should look for another one.  I have just been making chocolate icing and cake since.

Can't wait to blend the mustard and see how that turned out.  I'll see if I can cut the mustard or not.

This bag above I sewed the weekend August 9-10, 2014.  I also made few other items.  I have a busy weekend this weekend.  Hopefully, I will get some sewing done on Sunday.  Might make some cushion covers if I have the right zippers in my stash.

Better start baking the 'real' cake.

Lao Tzu

Trying to think what to write!  Lao Tzu is a hard act to follow.  I'm telling you!  I am grateful for the love and support that I do get.  Also I think we can do the unthinkable when taking care of and protecting loved ones.

I did make the courgette loaf/zucchini bread and it was a hit.  Lexi tested a fallen raisin from a slice I was eating and she looked like she fell in love herself.

I'm making progress with the hand spun, raglan top down sweater.  I separated the sleeves from the body and am now working on the body of the sweater.  I'll share photos as soon as I take some.

A Creative Man

Sad news to hear about Robin Williams.  I adored Mork and Mindy growing up. Robin Williams had immense talent and it is so sad to hear that he suffered such depression.

Happy Birthday to my brother!

Let There Be Cake

Tomorrow is my brother's birthday and today, I am baking him a teacake - Chocolate jam gluten free cake.  It's actually Nigella Lawson's Store Cupboard Chocolate - Orange cake.  Don't think calling it chocolate jam gluten free cake would sell many slices.  I really like making it and using raspberry or strawberry jam instead of marmalade.  Never was that big into marmalade.  At the weekend, I am going to bake him a proper birthday cake.

Also we have a lot of courgette/zucchini on the go so, I would like to make some courgette loaf (zucchini bread).  I am going to use this recipe.

Must get a move on!  Hope your Monday treats you well.

Jumpstart

Sometimes, it seems that there is always so much to do.  I know someone who is near and dear to me and she says when she walks in a room she only sees what needs to be cleaned and tidied.  I will not compare myself to Marie Curie but I always feel that there is a lot that remains to be done.

I am going to start a hand spun, top down raglan sweater with this hand spun yarn, I dyed.  I think the wool is Falkland.  I'll have to check.  I love knitting simple sweaters.  Not smart to start new sweater, when I have so much to finish but I like to have a simple sweater on the go when I want some auto pilot knitting, especially when I am so tired.  I always like having a seamless, top down sweater on the go because when you don't feel like trying things on and figuring out when to stop decreasing for sleeves, it's great to knit these great big seas of stockinette stitch without worry.  I was so wrecked last night, I only managed to get a few lines of a swatch done before falling asleep.  My big feather cushion, that I sewed the cover for, was my accomplice.

I'm going to tidy up a bit then maybe do a little bit of sewing and then I am going to swatch for my new raglan sweater.  I will restart that scarf.  I'll work on the scarf in the mornings instead of socks until I get the scarf finished.  

Enjoy your Sunday.  I think I might need another cup of coffee to jumpstart me.

The Mountains

The mountains are calling and I must go. - John Muir

The socks that I am working on at the moment.  I dyed them and really like the colourway, more autumnal colours.  I love autumnal colours.  I used to get more socks done.  I guess we all go through phases.  Looking forward to wearing these.

This is the cardigan I am working on. It's a mon-petit-gilet-raye cardigan.  It is my second one and I already started a second one.  The blue is some vintage silk merino from Jaeger yarns and the maroon and smoky colour is Rowan Kidsilk.  It is like a soft cloud of warm coziness.  I am going to make another cardigan with whatever is leftover.  Will have to add another yarn and colour to make up a second cardigan.

Looking forward to finishing a lot of projects.  Might just concentrate on getting them finished.  Though I have to do that scarf and knit a few other gifts.  Wish there were more hours in the day.  I would spend them walking the dog, drinking coffee, reading, cooking/baking, eating, drawing, knitting and watching a bit of netflix/movies/tv.  Though on the tv front, haven't really found anything that I really want to watch.  I like to veg out a bit when we come back from a walk, I like to watch something and knit.  Should probably read instead.

I better get cracking and start drawing.

New prints are going up in The Ellie and Ada Shop.

I sent my Aunt a Ellie and Ada Birthday card.  She liked it.  I think my two grandmothers would have gotten a kick out of the fact that I named this venture after them.

Also new discovery!  I have found out that the most loveliest hat, nice slouch, smurfy- slouch, cozy hat style. The best hat for my head is a hat that I knitted John.  It was the first hat that I knitted him.  Need to make more!  In my favourite yarn, Studio Donegal!

Love All

I said Shakespeare's time would come.  I feel a little bit more interested in Shakespeare since finding out that my great great grandfather was from Stratford on Avon.  I've known for many years.  I loved English in school but I think if I knew while I had to study Shakespeare's plays, there would be even more enthusiasm. My cousin did some research and found out about our family history.  Our family owned a grocery store across from Shakespeare's birthplace on Henley street around 1860.  I should ask her more.

The photo is of me and Lexi Belle.  I noticed on our walk that we were kind of matching.  She has a purple collar and a blue lead/leash.  The black thing is the camera strap.  A large amount of my clothes are navy blue. 

Better get some work done before lunch.  Haven't touched the scarf but I have decided to rip the whole thing out and start again.