Saturday, December 31, 2016

Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  Looking forward to much Knitting fun in 2017!

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

For Sale

Not quite three years ago we bought this house in a very pretty neighbourhood near the ocean.  We've now decided that it is time to move on (again).  This time we're thinking about a small home on one of the southern Gulf Islands.   So the house is for sale and I'm sure I'll miss it.  We put a lot of work (and money) into renovating and re-finishing it to our taste.  I hope the next family who lives here will enjoy it as much as we have.









Monday, January 12, 2015

Cheerful Reminders of Summer on a Grey January Day

Front Garden 

Riverside knitting

All that's needed is coffee and a book 
gardens near the beach

Sweet peas - reminds me of my Granny

Glorious 

Dreaming of Italy (again)

Preparation

Riomaggiore - my favorite village in the Cinque Terre

Fresh seafood for lunch

San Francesco in Volterra

Nothing like spending the morning sight seeing then coming back to a cool swim

Countryside between San Gimignano and Volterra

Ancient fountain in Volterra

There really is something about January that makes me dream of Italy.  These are a few photos from our trip last June.  We spent some time in the Cinque Terre, Bologna & Tuscany (near San Gimignano).   Those days spent on the beach were truly unforgettable and among my happiest travel memories.


Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Tartine

I have two memories of Avignon that will stay with me - one involves a lost / stolen bag and the other one involves a tartine.

Here in Canada we'd call this an open faced sandwich.  That really doesn't properly describe it though. A tartine is so much more than a slice of bread with something smeared on top of it.  It is a large crusty piece of good bread - toasted and than embellished with any number of different toppings - but the key is that it is toasted and broiled in the oven.  And, don't forget the fromage!  

The bar at Ginette et Marcel
My homemade tartine
On our day in Avignon we stumbled upon Ginette et Marcel.  Ginette et Marcel is the kind of bistro you imagine when you think of France.  It is quirky, colourful, elegant yet casual.  It is quintessentially French.  If I ever opened an eatery I'd want it to be exactly like this.  I loved the old wooden tables, the stemless glasses for wine that you see all over France (cheap there and super expensive here), the bar with all the bottles of French liquors lined up, and the glass case containing the tempting and beautiful pastries.   I was somewhat surprised when I fist saw the menu and realized that the bulk of the options were "open faced sandwiches".  Then I saw the tartines starting to come out from the kitchen and I knew we were in a different land - oh yeah, France of course.  

Once back home I kept thinking about the magical tartine.  I looked on foodgawker a lot for tartine recipes and found very few.  Finally after more than a year I decided to just wing my own tartine - "recipeless".  You know - its pretty darn simple.  The biggest factor is good bread.  Dense, crusty bread - preferably home made.  I used Jim Lehey's recipe for no knead bread.  First I toasted the bread in the oven for a few minutes and then I loaded it up with mashed squash which I had heated along with some  blue stilton and walnuts and voila - tartine.  

Thursday, September 26, 2013

What's New Pussycat?

New Car:  Electric that is!  No gas ever again for us.  Nissan Leaf I love you (her pet name is Eva)

Birkenstocks for the winter.  Shoes are so ugly they're cute.

Happy Birthday to my Keith. 
Hanging out with my two handsome sons at Starbucks.  #1 is gone again - playing trumpet on the high seas, #2 is in grade 12 this year!

So thrilled to finally be in construction on this amazing church reno / addition.  Ladner United Church, Delta, BC

The most beautiful weather this summer and its drawing to a close.  

Finally overcame my fear of colour work and knitted this awesome Icelandic sweater.  So much fun and a real thrill to see it come off my needles.  Pattern is "Strokkur" by Ysolda Teague.
Next up:  another sweater for me - this one is called "Toast and Tea with Jam" but Im renaming it Toast with Rosemary because Im hoping to do a knit along with my buddy, Rosemary.

So, what's new with you?
Fi


Monday, August 19, 2013

What's with all the baby knitting?

Honestly I don't know what's gotten into me. Too old for more babies and too young to be a granny but I really am having fun knitting baby clothes. Here is the  latest project. http://www.ravelry.com/projects/MichelleDonald/rio-dress

Knitting, Reading and Drinking Tea.



I am really enthralled with Edward Rutherfurd's latest book "Paris".  I can't remember the last time I got so absorbed in a novel.  Unfortunately I had to buy a copy for us because this one is due back at the library tomorrow.  And speaking of books, we went to the book sale hosted by the local Rotary Club last weekend and picked up a whole lot of reading for very few $$!


Lots of reading ahead.