baylie bear cowls

I normally make most of my family hats for Christmas.  The Tall Short person said no to that this year.  Then she pinned Baylie's Bear Cowl.  She rarely asks for me to crochet her something.  She has liked things I have made her but actually ask?  That is far and few between.  I bought the pattern.  And I made myself one!  

This is mine.  I put it in my work bag and get the oddest looks.  But it makes me smile and it is smaller then carrying a wool shawl around.

I have four more Baylie's to make.  The Tall Short Person's is purple.  My Best Friend's is the blue.  Small Mister gets his favorite orange.  My Beloved gets a different brown from mine.  They are easy to make and perfect for sitting in front of videos.  I just have to count because I have a tendency to drop and add stitches.  Oh well.

I am confitting duck right now as I write.  Drinking tea and eating cookies too, but I hope the duck turns out well so I can write about it.  It is another one of those things that takes much time but is simple to do.  I think that is the story of my life.  

Time to start sourdough!

homespun, crochet hood

My best friend works in Colorado, both indoors and outdoors, in all kinds of weather.  When I was putting her hat together this year, I was wondering what I could do differently.  I used yarn I spun.  Some is dyed.  Some is natural.  I decided on a hood because I thought she could hide in it from the wind.  And it would cause the people she worked with to smile.

See how it looks on my model?  Small Mister had fun.  I hope she does too.  It might end up in her work someday.  The blanket I made for her might!

pumpkin killer!

My Beloved had decided to make me a knife for Christmas.  He had picked out two sets of scales for the handle and asked me which I liked the best.  Then he asked me what type of knife I wished.  I told him that I wanted a knife that I could use on pumpkins.  Not a cleaver but a big knife.  I needed something with a good tip to get through the rind on the first cut.  Last year, we grew thirty pumpkins and I damaged knives cutting those all up for canning.  

Then, we rewatched the Lord of the Rings trilogy.  We both really liked Aragon's knife.  

This is my PumpkinKiller! 

It is close to Aragon's but not the same.

And see what a beautiful handle it has?

It just makes me smile.  Pumpkins, here I come!

Small Mister's favorite soup

I have been trying to make a lentil and pumpkin soup that I like all autumn and winter.  I finally found one.  Small Mister thinks it is the bestestest!  He eats it hot and cold.  My Beloved will not always heat it up for his lunch and Small Mister shares.

The first time I made it a fancied it up with plain fried scallaps and homemade purple potato chips.  Every time since it has been simple.  It is good both ways.

red lentil and pumpkin soup

6 cups vegetable broth (or a mix of pumpkin water and vegetable broth)

1 cup red lentils, well rinsed

3 cups of pumpkin

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 onion, chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon dry thyme

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 small potatoes, peeled and diced

Make your life easy, put the pumpkin and lentils with the vegetable broth in a slow cooker and cook for four to six hours or until done. 

In a large pot, heat the oil.  Add the onion and let cook until translucent.  Add the garlic.  Let cook until the garlic is a little bit brown.  Add the potato, thyme, pepper, salt, lentils, and pumpkin.  Bring to a boil.  Turn down to a simmer and let cook until the potatoes are done.  Take an immersion blender to the pot and blend until smooth.

This is the fancy version with the potato chips and scallops.  Quite lovely.  I go the idea form Small Plates and Sweet Treats.  I changed the recipe again due to what was in the house!  What else is new?

a bit of fun for my best friend

I decided my best friend needed a bit of fun in her life.  I decided to play with the nightgown I always make her for Christmas.  I put many yards of ruffles on it but not as many as I thought about.  I thought about putting ruffles all the way to the floor from her hips but I figured she can always cut these off and she would still have a nightgown.

I added some beaded lace, just cause.

Now it just needs to be shipped.  After I finish one more cowl for her!  The newest cowl will have ears.  Like I said, more fun!