News of Great Joy

"On Christmas night all Christians sing, to hear the news the angels bring/ news of great joy, news of great mirth/ news of our merciful king's birth." - the Sussex Carol

My family's indoor Nativity scene

I rarely go outside the realm of homemaking in my posts, but what with news articles abounding with stories of people (in the States, anyway) getting into physical fights over material goods and even canceling Christmas because they just can't afford it, I think a reflection on the true meaning of the season is in order.
During this Advent season, I've been meditating on the role that darkness and light play in Christmas. Today, lights are put up on trees and houses and turned on at night to bring light to the darkness. This is a remarkably good illustration of what Christmas means - a world in darkness awaiting the light and joy brought by the birth of Christ the Savior. Even if we are not able to spend a certain amount of money on our festivities, Christmas should be a time of gratitude, joy and peace.

Peace, Joy and a Merry Christmas to everyone!

Macaroons, Shortbread and Baby Outfits

"Sugar and spice and everything nice - that's what little girls are made of" - Nursery Rhyme

"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love" - Hamilton Wright Mabie

This year my family and I made two types of Christmas cookies, both new recipes for us, and they came out beautifully - I heartily recommend them.

The Peppermint Macaroons (see previous post for recipe) came out beautifully, and is sure to be a family favorite year after year.

The Orange Shortbread dipped in Chocolate is very tasty, and also sure to become a family favorite. The recipe we used comes from Fine Cooking magazine. To make the orange shortbread, add a tablespoon of orange zest when you add the vanilla extract.

Now for a knitting update: the vintage 1970's Patons Pram Set is finished, and had been shipped to the family who commissioned it. This was a delightful project to work on - just challenging enough to keep me interested, yet straightforward and simple enough that I didn't get too frazzled while working on it.

the whole set on the blocking board

If anyone is interested, I do knit on commission, and would be delighted to make this to order. Price is US$100, ships only within the U.S.

coat with buttons

pull-ups

Girl's Bonnet (Boy's Helmet has a pom-pom on the back of the head)

Mitts

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Recipes and Goodies

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." - Charles Dickens

The time has come to post about recipes and other tasty delights which will feature at my home this Christmas. So, let's begin with my list of cookie recipes:

• Shortbread with orange peel dipped in chocolate
• Peppermint Macaroons
• My top-secret brownie recipe

For multiple reasons, we're keeping our baking list small this year, and I've decided not to make Panettone bread, although it is delicious toasted with butter for Christmas breakfast.

This week I will be making Baked Brie for a church event. This is a rich, tasty appetizer that goes well at Christmas parties and events.

 If you are looking for a last-minute gift, Williams-Sonoma has this delightful Cocoa set that is sure to please the chocolate lover in your life.

There's not much to say right now concerning knitting - I am doing my best to finish the baby pram set mentioned in previous posts on time for Christmas delivery. It is competing with another knitted Christmas gift for a family member for my time. Hopefully both will be finished and under their respective Christmas trees by Dec. 25.

Merry Christmas to all!

Of Place Mats and Little Leg Warmers

"In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer." - Albert Camus

Today was the first day of Arctic wind here. All around the country, people have already had snow storms and freezing temperatures, and here we've been having balmy, muggy weather up until this week. Winter is not far behind.

To celebrate the arrival of cold weather (hey, if I wanted warm temperatures, I wouldn't be a knitter), I'm going to do a post about two very cheerful and warm knitting projects. 

First, I finally finished the first placemat in the set I am making to go with the china pattern I've been collecting, Pistoulet. I have 8 place settings, so I must make 8 place mats. It's tedious, tiresome work knitting a tightly woven mat, but the result is worth it:

The pattern comes from this book. One down, seven to go...

I also decided that I must make a pair of these baby leg warmers for someone's baby. ANY one's baby, really - the cuteness factor on these is too much to resist. Remember, I do knit for hire, and my prices are reasonable (shipping only within the U.S.).

Stay warm this winter!

Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." - I Thess. 5:16-18

It's Thanksgiving once again, and once again I will be cooking the feast (with a little help from my family now and then). Picking the menu is always a bit of a chore - everyone in the family has one or two dishes that they absolutely have to have on the table. So, here is the finished menu:

• Turkey in brine. I recommend the Apple Sage mix.
• Mom's Grand Marnier Chestnut Stuffing (sorry, top secret)
• Butternut Squash Soup with Cider Cream
• Gravy and Bread Sauce (the bread sauce is a British thing, from dad's side of the family)
• Cranberry Sauce
• Mashed Potatoes and Sweet Potatoes
• Glazed Onions 
• Parsnip-Pear Puree (be sure to scroll well down the page to get to the recipe)
• Brussels Sprouts with Apples

And then there's dessert. Last year I made pies for the first time, including apple pie. They were big hits with my family, and are making reappearances this year. In fact, I'm making a "dry run" of the apple pie for my church's Community Sunday meal this weekend.

• Rum Raisin Apple Pie. Absolutely seals the deal for a memorable Thanksgiving.
• Gingersnap Pumpkin Pie. A delicious variation on an Autumnal classic.

Good luck to all of the chefs who are in charge of cooking the feast!

What Would Lizzie Knit...

"If the knitter is weary, the baby will have no new bonnet" - Irish Proverb

Once again, I find myself drowning in yarn, with only my set of interchangeable needles to keep me from going under. Between the baby pram set I'm making on commission (see my last post for more details), a Christmas present or two, and some long-running projects for myself, my list of projects-in-progress is already groaning, and there are lots more waiting in line to be started. And then I went and stumbled upon this little gem:

Yes, indeed they did. A compendium of knitting projects inspired by the Jane Austen novels, as well as the movies based on the novels. The Chawton mittens, Evening Spencer and Northanger Abbey Hood patterns are among my favorites. A must-have for the Austenite knitter - I just picked up my copy today at the bookstore for US$15. Eventually, once I have more room on my knitting to-do list...

My Knitting Wish List

"When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true" - Jiminy Cricket


Compulsive knitter that I am, I love Knit Picks knitting supply company. They have beautiful, beautifully priced yarns, interchangeable needle sets, etc. In short, the Nordstrom of knitters. They are currently running a contest where we desperate, impoverished knitters can compile wish lists, share them with multiple people, and thereby be entered to win the contest. So, here is my wish list.

The yarn on my list would be used for these two projects:

These Paris Mittens. They seem rather tricky, but as I love knitting as well as Paris, I'm really looking forward to making them.

This Evenstar Shawl. Beautiful, ethereal, terribly complicated. Just the project the work on during the long winter months...

In other knitting news, I've recently been commissioned by a friend's mother to knit a 4-piece pram set for her new grandchild. The pattern is vintage 1970's by the Patons company, and is written using British measurements. It is Patons pattern #1410, "Sweet Traditions"

Wish me luck with the contest, and happy knitting to all!