Purple

Beans and mending

Confession time. I really don't like living in the city. This isn't really an big secret but for some reason I feel ashamed to admit it. I value indepence and quiet above most things in this world and the city just seems to be constantly pushing in around me.

We have a garden in which i planted herbs for medicine and Dan planted food. We can. I make tinctures and salves. I knit and spin and do less sewing than I'd like. But I have felt a lingering void since living here. I long for the woods and wild places. There are beautiful pockets of nature around me and I try to frequent them as much as possible. I still miss the wild openness of the landscape of northern vermont and the forests of southern new hampshire. I am very excited about getting a car in a few weeks. While I feel conflicted about it envirmontal impacts I know being able to escape the claustrophobia of the city is going to be the saving grace for my happiness and continued city living.

I am lucky to have a strange wild patch of hillside around the corner from my apartment. I've foraged mullein, plantain and lambs quarters just on my walks home from work. The other day I spotted a beautiful jewel on the hillside as I walked by. A crab apple tree laden with red fruit. There are four or five other wild apps trees on th hillside that I've been eyeing but only two bore fruit this year. I somehow missed the crab apple tree during my foraging last year.

Well I strapped on my pack basket and went for a romp. It felt lovely to be picking and munching. I felt so at home on that tiny patch of wilderness. I also went for a closer look at the two full size appletrees. One had wonderfully sweet red apples but most had already dropped or were much too high to be reached. The others were fairly bland but I'm hoping they might get a little sweeter as they ripen. They might make good sauce apples.

Underneath one of the trees I found a large patch on burdock. Some with green leaves and just a few with dead stalks covered in sticky burrs. I'm planning on going back in the next few days to dig up some burdock root for medicine.

Back home I cut those little crab apples up and set them to stew in water on the stove. I strained them and got four cups of sour crab apple juice. I combined the juice with four cups of sugar (although next time I'll do a bit less) and boiled until it hit jelly stage t 222 degrees F.  I've never had great luck making pectin less jelly or jam but this turned out ok! It's a little sweet and I could have let it boil for a few more minutes but all in all I'm pleased.

It feels good to make something delightful from something you've found. I love stocking my larder with treats to make winter brighter. In the next few weeks ill be making some simple medicine for the cabinet and I'll be sure to show you those too.

Right now I should be monogamous to my beautiful Brooklyn tweed fair isle sweater. I finished the sleeves but stumbled after twisting  my cast on stitches for the main body twice! What's a girl with a cheating heart to do?

Um cast on for a billion projects at once right? Right?

One boring afternoon many years ago when I was working at Harrisville Designs I decided to take all the leftover half used bobbins from old weaving project and wind them into a rainbow ball of yarn. I've been carrying around this strange ball for probably six years not paying much attention to it until I was falling asleep a few nights ago. My eyes popped open and I thought 'I have to use that yarn IMMEDIATELY!' I think all knitters have experienced that feeling before. So in the wake of my late night mania this hat was born.

I love it more than I imagined I would. I think it will be my go to fall hat. If you know me in person you know that as soon as the weather gets cool enough I am always wearing a hat. Inside and out.  So I really can't have enough sturdy yet lightweight semi slouchy hats.  Anyway Im smitten.

The grey was done with Knit Picks Palette and the colors are all Harrisville designs Shetland. I don't know which colors they are exactly as its been a number of years. Knitting this hat made me remember how much I love Shetland Style. It isn't exactly a fingering weight and it isn't quite sport. Its dense and coarse in an extremely pleasing way. I'm sensing a splurge on a large fair isle project in Shetland style coming up. Maybe a christmas present to myself?

The pattern can be found here. It's been in my ravelry queue since forever. Oh if you're on ravelry lets be friends! My user name is Redkate. What projects have you been working on these days?

Hello yes I am alive! After spending about a week in bed with a fever I feel refreshed. Isn't it funny how an illness can do that sometimes? I worked through some really productive fever induced contemplation and am enthused to take on the fall with a renewed rejuvenation. I love summer for its warm nights and it's ability to induce nostalgia for my careless youth. That being said there is a clarity that comes with the slip into fall that is unparalleled. I just want to roll up my sleeves and stock pile my apartment in a fit of antiquated winter survival instincts.

I'm not in full production mode as I'm just getting back on my feet health wise. If anything this week has made me realize how grateful I am for some little things in my life.

 these lovely rooster hankies my mom sent me for my birthday which I found stashed in my linen box

one of many hauls from the garden these past few weeks. Dan has made two amazing batches of sauce so far. Its been so delicious we've eaten it before we had a chance to can it. The next few rounds will get the old water bath routine.

THE BEST ice cream I've made so far. I got an ice cream maker for my birthday in July and haven't used it as much as I anticipated. I did make some interesting sorbets but then it sort of sat around for most of August. I got a bee in my bonnet yesterday and whipped up a batch of smores ice cream. I used this recipe. Seriously folks its so easy im pretty sure you wouldn't need an ice cream maker for it. I'm excited to try out some more recipes. I think mint chocolate chip or apple pie might be next. I'll keep you posted.

I'm so grateful for even this tiny amount of chamomile that my german chamomile produced before it kicked the bucket during a heat wave a few weeks ago. I have the toughest time growing chamomile. Any one else have that problem? I'm going to try to start another indoors for the winter. I'm thinking I'll add these beautiful flowers to my next batch of soap.

My favorite part of having a garden is always having flowers on the table. Even if its just a tiny sprig in a bud vase. I'll miss that during the winter. I have grand plans (as I do every winter) that i'm going to force  bulbs for Christmas time. I never seem to be overwhelmingly successful. My apartment has fairly horrible lighting and the plants just seem to wallow in the diminished winter light. Maybe this will be the year I'll get a light set up that I'm always scheming about.

I also finished a hat but its blocking so I'll show it to you tomorrow when I can take pictures of it. What are you grateful for this week?