Wednesday 30 May 2012

Green Tea, Cold Comfort Farm, Lace leaf cravat and Sophie Dahl's potato pancakes.




The weather is wonderful and knitting hasn't been a curled-up-on-the-sofa cosy pastime but a kicked-of-shoes sitting cross legged on a rug in the garden one. Whilst sipping ginger or green tea with honey to comfort a summer cold. Happily propped up with an armful of books from the library, where I'm finding myself spending lots of time and borrowing more than I'll ever be able to read before they're due back.


I've been pouring over the pages of 'from season to season' a lovely recipe book from Sophie Dahl.  I not only like her style of cooking because of the ingredients she uses but also for  the thread of family anecdotes woven through the recipes. The cosy memory of family and food. I can't wait to try out the coconut and crab rice with lime and coriander, for a special supper.  I've already made potato pancakes. Although we didn't have them with salmon and cucumber/dill salad. But the way SD remembers having them every Hogmanay in Edinburgh with her Scottish nanny's parents for breakfast with fried eggs and mushrooms, although with poached for me...scrumptious...well I thought so  but 'A' wasn't so keen. I think he prefers pikelets and commented on how "I do like to experiment with new recipes don't I ?"


I'm also reading Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons. Published in 1932 and for some reason reminds me of my favourite 'I Capture the Castle' by Dodi Smith...Maybe because the main protagonists are young women of the same social standing and both novels were set and written around the same time in crumbling historical buildings and recently impoverished circumstances. I also think that there's an element of trying to solve others problems that I really like.  Obviously written with tongue-in-cheek involving lots of stereotype. I'm enjoying the gentle humour and accounts of idyllic, as well as  not so idyllic rural life. 


Knitting has been using up odds of yarn to make lovely lace leaf cravats. It's a sweet little scarf pattern in Teva Durham's 
Loop-d-Loop Lace book, also from the library.  It takes one hundred gramme skein of yarn and knits up really quickly. I made mine a little longer adding on the reapeat pattern in the main body of the scarf.  The pattern called for Cascade 220 100% wool. I can't decide whether to get the straw or turtle...maybe both..so meanwhile have made a couple with oddments of wool left over from other projects.  Another winning stocking filler pattern.


I'm linking over to join with Ginny's yarn along again today...are you coming?




12 comments:

  1. I definitely understand taking out too many books at the library. I seem to constantly do that :-) Some weeks I will get a lot of reading done, and others I will not even touch a library book. I love the colors you are working with. They look lovely.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I get spoilt for choice Heather but I'm interested in so many different topics. I forget that I can get them out next time...

      Thanks they are lovely soft yarns too, so lovely to work with.
      D

      Delete
  2. Debby, I hope your summer cold is on it's way out as I think they are the worse. Reading your post made me want to grab a blanket and sit in the garden with you knitting, sipping tea and chatting the afternoon away. Your lace knitting looks lovely and I think will make a beautiful scarf.
    Wishing you many healing thoughts and a beautiful day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Much better thanks Tracey.

      Oh yes, that would be perfect...!

      Hope you have a good day too.
      D

      Delete
  3. We're just getting over the summer cold here and they are no fun! I totally understand taking out too many books to read before they need to be returned! I'm glad I'm not the only one who does that!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh seems lots of people are suffering...glad you're over yours now.
      Have a good day Jen.
      Deb

      Delete
  4. i'm sniffling away, too, as I write....trying to convince myself this is just allergies...with a pile of library books that I'll never get through....love the idea of the little leaf cravats--i'm needing some quick stash busters ideas. thanks for sharing this one!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh dear...I hope you feel better soon. I think the local honey I've been taking in herbal infusions has been good...it's supposed to help with allergies too steph.

      The lace leaf cravats will be good because they are so quick and fun to make.

      Get well soon.
      Deb

      Delete
  5. Oh so many things you mention are my faves too! Love Sophie Dahl's cookbooks, and "I Capture the Castle" is one of my all time favorite books. Ever. Love your pretty cravat knits, and your kitchen is so charming and cosy! Feel better soon!
    Blessings,
    G

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh a kindred blogger spirit...how nice.

      I'm much better now Gigi...thanks.

      Have a good weekend.
      D

      Delete
  6. I've just found your blog through Ginny's Yarn Along & I'm so glad! Lovely space you have here. I hope you feel better soon... xo

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh thank you. I know I've found so many lovely blogs thanks to Ginny.
      Much better now thanks.
      I hope you have a fruitful week.
      Deb

      Delete