FIBERGUY

Everyone wants to see a picture of Juliette in her new sweater, and why not? So here she is in all her glory!

Juliette in her sweater

Tulip cardigan for Juliette

I bought this pattern at the Shepherd’s Harvest Sheep and Wool Festival last year over Mother’s day weekend. The Yarn Garage was sellnig kits of Dream in Color’s Tulip cardigan sweater and I was so struck by the colors, I just had to buy a kit. The sweater was fun, easy and fast to make. I think I want to make another one. Maybe an adult size this time.

Well, yes, as a matter of fact I am! And I have to tell you, it smelled so good baking I was just about ready to gnaw off an arm before it was done. If it wasn’t for the fact that it’s for company coming tonight (it’s my turn to host my quilt guild), I would have had at it already. There is almost a pound of chocolate in this beast. Doesn’t it just look dreadfully delicious? The recipe is called Mississippi Chocolate and Coffee Cake. The other night, just as I was trying to figure out what to make, I got one of my weekly e-mails from Cooking.com with a bunch of Mississippi mud cake recipes, and this one was pictured. I had everything I needed to make it, and we all love chocolate more than our luggage, so here we go. I’ll let you know how it tasted just as soon as I recover from the cocoa coma it’s bound to put me in.

Update: Just so you all know, it was every bit as good as it looked, and then some!

I took yesterday off to stay home with Juliette since our Monday babysitter is in Mexico on vacation this week and next. One of the secretaries grabbed her camera to make pictures. I thought you might like to see them.

Here are two pictures of a sweater my dear friend and quilt/knitsib Karen made for Juliette. It’s just cute as a button!

The sweater Karen knit for Juliette

The sweater Karen knit for Juliette - just ignore that avocado stain!

These were taken yesterday, at 7 months and 1 day, as she was on the bed playing with us after dinner, then as she drifted off to sleep and later got ready for bed. I figured today was a good day to share some happy, smiling pictures.

These photos came off of momma’s camera. I finally got around to scanning them.

These are for some dear friends in Norway.  The beautiful pink sweater was hand knit by Turid, and the lovely pink and cream socks came from Ellen, Jan & Berit’s daughter.  The socks are a perfect fit now, and there is much good wear in the sweater to come.  They are both family heirlooms now.

P.S.  Have any idea how hard it is to create a new blog post,with pictures, with a wriggling baby in your lap????

mjx ci=-vf 0mi c  k;kj  io 

(that’s what Juliette had to say!)

I know, I know.  It has taken me entirely too long to get these posted.  But better late than never, right?  There are some of my favorite pictures of Lady J in this set.  Enjoy!

My mom is coming on Wednesday for an extended visit and I’m so looking forward to it. What you see below is what I sometimes jokingly referred to as “the spa” – a bedroom in our basement that has never really been used for much. It was outfitted with a real Finnish sauna by the prior owner and the first year we lived here, we used the sauna several times, but no so much since then. So the room slowly involved into a catch-all junk room. But with the former guest room turned into the nursery, we needed a place for mom, who will be here until after the New Year.

It all started last week when we picked up the new mattress we bought the week before. We had to haul away the old sofa that was being stored in the room, along with some other stuff, on Saturday, move out one large cabinet that was in the room but wasn’t needed there anymore, etc., etc., etc. Outfitted with all new linens, a new bedside table and chest from Ikea, the sturdy old wingback from the den, and some carefully chosen artwork & gorgeous Finnish textiles that Harald brought back from there, the room evokes what I imagine is a very Scandinavian vibe (and I have it on good authority, too!). We’ve done a ton of other stuff to spruce up the bathroom, improve safety (read: replace old fire detectors with new fire/smoke/C02 detectors), and generally make it the most inviting space we could manage. And if you don’t mind my saying so, I think we succeeded. Yes, the sauna will come out one day – we will likely haul it up Lutsen and install it there. But for now, I think this is a pretty cozy looking bedroom for any guest.

Her new bed is ready and waiting.

 

A cozy sitting nook for reading or just relaxing (or knitting!).