A Summer Quilt

This quilt is called Modern Rose Garden which seems an appropriate name for a summer project.  I bought this as a kit from Mad About Patchwork at the Creative Sewing festival last fall.  I think it is quite pretty.  I was a bit worried that my general inability to sew a straight line would show up more in this quilt than in others but I'm quite happy with how it turned out.

The diamond quilt is done

Several months ago, I posted the completed diamond quilt top.  This morning, put the last stitch through the binding and it is done!

I had been debating about getting a professional quilter to quilt it for me but really prefer to finish them myself if I think I can on my little machine.  I have a Pfaff that I won on a radio call in contest in Sudbury when I was in university and it is very sturdy but small.  It has few bells and whistles and does not have a big window between the main control panel and the presser foot.  So I always have to try to keep the quilt on the left side of the presser foot as much as possible.  I discovered that the quilting method I chose for this quilt made that a little difficult but I managed and only have a few areas that are a bit less than perfectly straight.   I used the walking foot to sew down both the inside and the outside of each diagonal row of diamonds further reinforcing the diamond shape.

In deciding my quilting method, I picked up the Kaffe Fassett book the design came from and examined his quilts.  All of his diamond quilts, I think I found 3 of them, were finished in the same way.  So I thought, if a guy who clearly knows what he is doing in this area has finished all of his diamond quilts in the same way, I probably can't go wrong in matching his approach.  So I did.  And I think it looks great.

More food and even more beverage from Southern Ontario

Vacation continues!  On Tuesday we did another tour of Southern Ontario and saw some more good things.

1.  First stop was Morningstar Mill in Thorold, an historic grist mill and saw mill.  I think this is better visited in the spring or winter when the leaves are off the trees.  The mill itself is pretty but there are some nice falls that can't be seen well due to the leaves.  The mill also links up with the Bruce Trail so a hike would go well with a visit to this location.  We walked for a little way but only had our sandals on so didn't make an outing of it.  Next time.  They also sell flour there.  If my pantry wasn't already full of whole wheat flour, some would have come home with me.  Again, next time.

2.  Next up, Lake Land Game Meats - another nice meat supplier.  In addition to farmed game meats, they also have chicken and beef from their farm.  In the store I met a man and his mother who were using the same book I was to tour around the area.  The highlight of this place was the dinner made when we got home of pasta with smoked duck and various veggies from the garden.  Yummy.

3.  Our first of two beverage stops was Hernder Estate Wines.  Someone had given us wine from this winery a few months ago and we really enjoyed it.  So we decided to visit and try some more.  This is a very pretty setting and, in addition to wine, they sell various wine vinegars and grapeseed oil.  One of the ladies who works there claims that a nightly application of grapeseed oil around her eyes makes all the difference in wrinkle prevention.  I would have to say that something is working for her - very few lines around her eyes.  I bought some but have so far only used it for the above mentioned pasta dinner.

4.  Inn the Pines is another farm with a road-side stand.  Since we have a lot of veggies ready to eat in the garden, I didn't buy too much here but could have.  Everything looked so good.

5.  We were going to drive by Nokara Farm in St Catharines but had the windows open in the car and got a smell of fresh baked pies on the way back so turned around and went in.  We brought lunch with us but hadn't packed dessert.  A perfect excuse to buy some mixed fruit tarts.  Yummy again!

6.  Upper Canada Cheese Company - this place is excellent.  They have their own and other local cheeses and have a great little tasting set up that definitely helps them sell their cheese.  I brought a tasting tray of 2 cheeses I picked up there and one from Longo's to a dinner party last night and we all enjoyed ourselves.

7.  Malivore Wine - Another very nice winery with very nice wine.  A few bottles were purchased here after a tasting.  And their Pinot Noir went very nicely with the smoked duck veggie pasta.

The things to see and do in Southern Ontario are endless.  I focused on food but the general scenery driving around is lovely.  You wouldn't know that densely populated areas are very close by when you get out into some of these areas.

Left over sock yarn be gone!

I've been wanting to make something to use up my left over sock yarn stash since I started accumulating it a few years ago but hadn't found the right project until I stumbled on this baby blanket in Ravelry.

What a great use for leftover sock yarn.  It doesn't use too much in any of the 4 row repeats but before you know it your leftover sock yarn stash is a fraction of it's former self.  And it's another gift for my depleted baby inventory.  I have a few future babies in mind for this one.  In fact, maybe I'll build up that sock yarn stash again and make a bigger one for me!

Southern Ontario Food Tour Part 2

Friday we decided to take in the Niagara region, mostly.  In terms of food finds, it wasn't as good as the first tour but we had a good time.  This time I used the Ontario Table and Niagara Cooks as guides, both written by Lynn Ogryzlo.  I bought the first one at Springridge Farm when I picked strawberries there a month ago.  I picked up the second when I went to a book signing by Lynn, also at Springridge.

Our first destination was Niagara-on-the-Lake which is always a nice spot to visit.  We stopped at Southbrook Vineyards, a place we have passed before but never stopped at.  They produce their wines biodynamically which means it is an organic farm but goes a step further to look at the farming process holistically - treating all elements on the farm - soil, plants and animals - as one living entity.  Their website explains it better than I.  And the wine is good.  We bought a couple of bottles of Chardonnay and a couple of Cabernet Merlot.  We will definitely return to Southbrook.

Our next stop, from the books, was Busy Bee Gardens, Ontario's only manufacturer of food grade essential oils.  They sell dried lavender, beauty products, food grade lavender and many other things.  I bought some dried lavender to make sachets, maybe for Christmas gifts, and some very nice lavender shave gel.

The Organic General Store was also worth a stop.  I bought some great looking dried cranberries and walnuts as well as some specialty flours that I've tried unsuccessfully to find locally in the past.

Other than a quick stop at Cheese Secrets, we didn't stop in the town itself but passed by to Kurtz Orchards which was ok but not my favourite kind of place.  They sell loads of different kinds of jams and other condiments.  While I'm sure a lot are really good, I've learned from One of a Kind Craft Sale experience that these tend to clutter up shelves in my house or, worse, get opened for an occasion and languish at the back of the fridge to be thrown out 6 months later when rediscovered looking less than appetizing.  That could be just me.

We continued on, picking up some peaches and plums at a road side stand, past Niagara Falls, to Ridgeway where we bought corn on the cob at Sexsmith Farm - thanks for the baker's half dozen - and then to Port Colborne.  Here we stopped at Muileboom Greenhouses, a hydroponic cucumber and tomato farm.  The tomato plants in the green house were amazingly tall and the tomatoes very tasty.  Our next and final stop was at Minor Fish for some fresh pickerel.

What did I enjoy about the day?  We saw some parts of Ontario we hadn't seen before, met some very nice farmers and enjoyed an outstanding dinner of fresh corn-on-the-cob, pan fried pickerel and Southbrook wine.  Simple and delicious.

On Vacation!

For the first time ever we don't have a big trip or a cottage veg-out planned for our vacation.   We have a sick cat who needs a sub-contaneous fluid treatment every second day so we don't want to go too far.  To non pet owners, and even some pet owners, this sounds a bit crazy but we have been accused of being a bit crazy (or at least I have) in the past so there you have it.

I took a trip up to North Bay for a few days at the beginning of this week.  Highlights included:

1.  The best butter tart I've ever tasted when I stopped for a snack in South River.  The cafe, whose name I can't remember, is on the north west corner at the stop lights.  Anyone who travels through there will be able to find it.  Very, very good butter tart.

2.  Dinner at the White Owl Bistro.  This place looks like nothing from the outside - just a little cottage.  But inside, yummy food awaits.  I had a wild boar tenderloin with a very tasty pommery mustard and cranberry sauce and basil mashed potatoes.  My only complaint - they insist on trying to feed me cauliflower!  Actually, one other complaint - their air conditioner either wasn't working or doesn't exist and it got a bit hot towards the end of the evening.

3.  Homestead Stitches - this actually used to be a favourite place but it, sob, has closed.  I loved this little store but I guess others must not have and it is gone.  I was so upset when we walked up to it and there were workmen doing renos inside.

4.  Stix and Stones - the local knit shop with the lovely dog Cusco.  This is a nice yarn shop and I really like her new location.

5.  Greco's pizza - while I had their Cannelloni this time, which was delicious, this place has the best pizza anywhere.  I'm not kidding.  A guy I know at the office has a friend with a plane and sometimes, they fly up to North Bay, just for Greco's pizza.

6.  Art on Main - I didn't go there this time but this is a lovely store that is an artist cooperative essentially.  A number of local artisans have lovely pieces for sale here and I've contributed to the local artists on a number of occasions!

7.   Zenone's - this is a clothing store whose name has changed to something else recently but it has nice clothes that fit me properly.  I have been particularly successful with shorts there lately but have picked up a couple of nice things for work too.

8.  The Ultimate Kitchen part of the Trans Canada Store has really good kitchen gadgets and I can spend a good chunk of time browsing there.

9.  Twiggs - this place has very good specialty coffees and other good looking stuff.  The only thing I've eaten there is the Hawaiian pizza, which was good, but they have other great looking things too.

10.  Leisure Farms - strawberries are done in Southern Ontario but not in Sturgeon Falls, just a 1/2 hour drive from North Bay.  We went picking strawberries and not only were they cheaper, they were bigger and sweeter.

That's a summary of the first vacation excursion.  More to come.  And the picture of the flower - just because.

Earth to Table Bread Bar

Yesterday, after Pam telling me about this place quite often, we finally went to the Earth to Table Bread Bar on Locke Street in Hamilton.  Pam took me there once before for a latte and brownie between curling games one Sunday but we hadn't been there for a meal.  I had a mushroom and fontina sandwich on their milk and honey bread and it was very good.  Just the right size of sandwich with enough mushrooms to fill it but not fall off.  Just enough cheese to be tasty but not overwhelming.  And a nice small side salad.

The other half had their riff on poutine but had them hold the cheese curds.  So it was gravy, mushrooms and green onions.  Quite tasty but too salty.

I had a great latte and shared some of the other half's brownie which I had forgotten was not one of my favourites.  It is the more fudge-like sort of brownie - very dense and very sweet.  I prefer brownies at the cake-like end of the spectrum without icing.

I would definitely go there again but stick to the main course items.  I think I might try a pizza next time. They had lots of good looking combinations.

I also reserved their cookbook at the library to take a look through.  I have been getting cookbooks from the library to spend more time with them instead of buying them outright.  That way, if I really like the cookbook I buy it.  If it doesn't interest me for very long from the library, I don't.  I still buy way to many cookbooks but found this has cut down on the obsession, and expense, considerably!

Neighbourhood Kitties

I worry about all of the neighbourhood cats.  Take this one, Silver, for instance.  He has absolutely no street smarts.  He likes everyone.  And he sits in the middle of the road.  He always wants to play and rolls around on his back until you pet him on his belly.  He does this with everyone.  No street smarts what-so-ever.

We have been fortunate in our cats because none ever had any interest in going outside.  Of our current cats, one is a complete chicken who was a stray which might have something to do with it and the other is just way too attached to us to be very far away.

So I worry about the neighbourhood cats instead.  I worry about Silver because he is too trusting.  I worry about Carmen because his people are always yelling for him for ages at night.  I actually thought Carmen might be gone because we hadn't seen him for so long but he was out this morning and his people were yelling for him last night.  And then there is the big black cat who stays well away from everyone.

I know I can't worry about all the little buddies roaming around the neighbourhood but I do.  I can't help it.  I love them all.

Rekindling my photographic imagination

I signed up for a photo course with Betterphoto.com recently and received the first assignment this week.  The assignment is to take three photos of anything in three different ways, varying whatever I want.  It is harder than it sounds.  I think I have three good candidates from this morning's efforts but the assignment isn't due until next weekend so I'll work on some more and see what I get.  I am defaulting to my favourite photographic subject, flowers, since the assignment was to shoot anything.  In case future assignments are more specific in terms of subject, I wanted to make sure to get some flowers in.  It is also a good warmup for me since the camera has only been used for snapshots of crafty projects lately.

I don't think I blogged about my latest Flour recipe.  I made the Strawberry Shortcakes a couple of weeks ago and would have to say that the biscuits were the best I've ever had.  No exaggeration what-so-ever.  I did use one too many eggs in the cakes because I didn't read the instructions fully before starting so I'll have to see if they are as good with two.  The strawberries are marinated in sugar and balsamic vinegar and were also very yummy.  Baking has slowed down for the summer but I love this cookbook so will be diving into it again in the fall.

Southern Ontario Food Tour

I recently bought a copy of a book called the Ontario Table  "featuring the best food from around the province".  As I was reading through it the other day, I was inspired to go visit many of the places mentioned so planned a road trip for yesterday.  Based on the success we had, we'll be trying to visit more of these over the summer and beyond.

Our first stop was Paron Cheese, 400 Hwy 20 in Binbrook.  This place makes various, no preservatives added, cheeses, including one called Montasio which when aged, they say is a good sub for parmesan.  Since I'm not even halfway through a Costco Parmesan cheese (which translates into - I will be using this cheese for another 6 months), I bought the milder version of the cheese and another butter cheese called Casata.  We sampled both in the store and popped open the Casata yesterday afternoon and enjoyed.  This is not a comfortable shorts and t-shirt environment.  The customers and the staff join the cheese in the refrigerator.  Brrr.  And they only take cash.  Fortunately, my dad was with me so could spot me the $5 I needed to complete my purchase.

Next up, Fenwood Farm in Ancaster.  This is an organic chicken farm with an on-farm market. They sell other meats as well and we bought a bunch, glad we had thrown the big cooler into the back of the truck.  The farm supplies a number of markets and restaurants including the Organic Garage in Oakville.  Buying directly from the farm felt great and without the markup that a store has to put on the products, was less expensive.  There was also a small veggie stand outside the store with garlic scapes for sale.  I haven't had these for a couple of years because our local farmer's market does not sell anything that doesn't look like the supermarket.  In fact, I'm pretty sure at least half of the booths at the farmer's market around the corner from us get their produce at the food terminal.  The bananas give it away.  Anyway, back to the scapes.  I made a very pungent pesto with these that I drizzled over roasted asparagus and then threw it all back in the oven for about a minute.  Yummy.  I still taste the garlic this morning so won't stand too close to anyone today!

Our final stop was Morden's Organic Farm Store in Dundas.  Most of the food is from local farms and one of their biggest draws is their gluten free product suite.  We picked up a number of game meats and some fish from this store.  They have a walk-in freezer that made the cheese place seem like a day at the beach.  Next time, I'll bring a jacket.

I think the bottom line of this kind of shopping is that we got to meet some really nice people either selling their own food or selling the food of their neighbours.  This made for a great day.

After way too many rip outs ...

... the Rock Island challenge is over.  I did notice after blocking that I had a little jog in the decreases in the centre but I don't care!  It is barely noticeable anyway and there is no way I'm ripping out any part of this shawl again.  Done, done, done.  Never to be made again.

I'm not entirely sure why I found it so difficult but my theory is that the rows were very long and my attention span is very short.  This resulted in my mind veering off into a day dream mid row and forgetting my place but not realizing it.  I was generally 3 long rows past the problem when I saw that things weren't looking right.  After this happened 2 or maybe 3 times, I wrote out the pattern for each row, made myself count every repeat in the row so I concentrated fully.  It worked and I'm done, done, done!

In terms of the finished product, I would have to say that I prefer the Bridgewater shawl that I made last summer but Rock Island is pretty.  Light and airy.  It is perfect for summer.

Barney's hat

I wanted to use up stash for Barney (see previous post).  The scarf was easy since I find Jared Flood's very simple striped scarf crazily addictive and had some leftover Silk Garden just waiting for a project.

Since I still had some Silk Garden left at the end of the scarf (one colour ran out, the other didn't), I popped on over to the Ravelry search engine to find some options.  And was happy to find this Jared Flood Turn a Square hat that not only used up the leftover Silk Garden, I was also able to dive into the stash and use some leftover Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran.  Excellent!  The colours were a bit closer together than they likely should have been but it looks good anyway.

Happy Canada Day!