Wednesday, June 25, 2014

{Yarn Along} Halfway there


My shawl is coming along nicely and, thanks to much World Cup soccer kind-of-watching (I don't knit during games that really matter, and I did see the bite, despite knitting), I am att he point in the pattern where I start the eyelets. Very exciting. This project has come along so quickly!

 I am reading this same book little bit by little bit. It seems there is just not much time for reading, perhaps that is why the knitting is coming along! 

On audio, I am listening to A Week in Winter by Maeve Binchy. Have you read her books? This is my first one and I think I like it but I am struggling with the fact that I've only finished the first part and 30 years have gone by. The characters are just having a conversation and you think they are newly-weds and then someone says "for all these years," and then there is an 11-year-old!

I have also spent a bit of time in my Ball canning books, because I've been making jam! I really want to avoid store bought jam/jelly because it takes such a dent out of the weekly budget.  The brand we like (because it tastes homemade!) costs about $4 a jar and depending on what we eat in a week, we could eat a whole jar. I've got nine half pints put away for winter already - that's $36 saved!

What are you crafting and reading?  I'm joining Ginny and Frontier Dreams


17 comments:

  1. I have been knitting a lot during the world cup too, although sometimes it's a little intense and my knitting has to be put aside.
    I love to make homemade jams, that's all we eat here. Have you tried cantaloupe preserves? It tastes likes summer honey in a jar, a favorite in my home.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cantaloupe preserves sounds amazing! I'll have to try!

      Delete
    2. Cantaloupe preserves?? YUM! I need to try that!

      Delete
    3. What? Cantaloupe preserves? Sounds interesting!

      Delete
    4. Tracy, I think we all need a recipe!

      Delete
  2. Your shawl is flying off the needles! I saw the bite yesterday - what an animal! How is a grown man not able to restrain himself from biting people? Your jam sounds delicious - and economical too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was watching the Men in Blazers commentary (hilarious, you should watch) and they said parents everywhere know that there is always a biter in the bunch! It seems he just loses his mind out there. I get that he is into the game but the lack of apology or responsibility is unacceptable!

      Delete
  3. What a pretty yarn you are using for your shawl! I haven't read a Maeve Binchy book in years but I always remember enjoying them as a good comfort read:) Have a lovely week!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wonderful color yarn you are using for your shawl.
    I've been making Curd today - apricot, nectarine and strawberry. My husband is french and eats huge quantities of bread and jam every morning so I try and make most of ours too. I tried making strawberry freezer jam for the first time this year and it tastes amazing - think it's due to the fact that the fruit isn't cooked - unfortunately it takes up valuable space in the freezer.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, my aunt makes strawberry freezer jam by the ton it seems each year and nothing tastes better. Now your comment has inspired me to go make bread for my jam!

      Delete
  5. I haven't bought jam all year because I decided last year we were spending too much and jam really is so easy to make! I just started making more but our supply lasted us through the winter. Isn't it fun?
    Your shael is really gorgeous!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I never had store bought jam until I was in college. And as soon as I could I went back to homemade! Maeve Binchy passed away last summer, but there is one last book. You must read all of her books. The character development is wonderful and I feel like they are old friends. Thanks for dropping by my Random Thoughts today!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Your shawl is very beautiful so far. I love when the yarn does all the fancy colorwork for you.

    I've read "Circle of Friends" by Maeve Binchy and it was really good. The added benefit is that they made a movie based upon the book which was also really good. It features Minnie Driver and Chris O'Connell.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your shawl is quite pretty. I too saw the bite. I really hope he gets banned from soccer because obviously he hasn't learned from the previous punishments. Great job with all that canning. I think it would cost me more to can the jam than make it myself because I don't grow the fruit is so expensive in the supermarket. I don't grow my own. I do like homemade jam though. I have made it in the past.

    ReplyDelete
  9. The knitting looks great! Someday I will learn. =)

    ReplyDelete
  10. lovely knitting and that bite was seen by me from instant replay, again and again. Crazy. Jam making? I think you should send some here, ha ha ha.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your shawl looks great. I have read Maeve in the past and loved them, I haven't read this one.

    ReplyDelete