Sticky Buns

stickybuns, originally uploaded by maryjanemidgemink.

Look what Sian and her kids brought us this morning...they were still warm...we tried to save some...but they were too good!

Road Trip

This is the US side. More later with Cana-da-da-da!













The best part of this house is the giant carving around the door stating builder and date:1858
Click on it for a bigger picture.












I alway forget which town this is...It's kinda scruffy and has a toothpick factory.













And quite a mix of architecture.
Later: found out it is Stratton, ME.

Tagged Thinking!

I was tagged! As a Thinking Blogger! A surprise from dear Miss Frugality, one of my favorite artists going. I'm rather pleased if a bit puzzled! I say it makes me feel..lofty!! so it is my turn to choose 5 blogs that make me think. I love to go back and see other peoples choices, its a great way to find new blogs!

1. My dear Ms. Jane's super famous blog started out just like all the rest, all by herself 2 years ago writing her thoughts. See how she's grown! Firedoglake.

2. Santos at the scent of green bananas, who never disappoints in making me hungry and gets me thinking about what to eat next!

3. Petula Darling who is currently galavanting around Europe! and blogging at the same time!

4. Megan, at the scent of water who is a constant inspiration! Pictures and prose in harmony.

5.Susannah, at ink on my fingers, who has a gift for words and always gets me thinking.

So go have a visit, I'm off to Montreal!

Excellent Viewing

See how handy wristers are for viewing, in all kinds of light? I suppose there would be those who say: keep your eyes on the road!
Those people would not like driving with me...especially when I'm taking pictures!

Split Personality

When I experiment with color, I like to knit wristers (wristlettes?). They are handy little articles of clothing that actually keep you warm. Truly. They are also a small enough project to whip up at odd moments. And no risk really. Not much yarn "wasted". My problem is a very usual one for me: I never like to make the second one of anything, be it wrister, sock or sleeve. With a wrister however, having mismatched ones can be a fashion statement, much easier to take than a one-sleeved sweater.

And the title of my post? I don't gradually move from one color scheme and delicately morph into another...I've got that Jekylle and Hyde thing going.

What Do You Pack?

When you go away for four days, what do you find absolutely essential to take with you? I thought so. I mean maybe I'm just a tad bit extreme with my yarn toting habits. And don't kid yourself, that smaller bag on the right isn't toiletries, God no; needles.

Meet Nurse Ratched

I'm back from places south. It was wonderful seeing my dearest friend! Not the best of circumstances brought me there, but it was nice and fun all the same. Sweet Jane underwent her third chemo session and I was her assistant! It is a lot of work, this staying well while undergoing chemo, and Jane does it with such style and determination your head spins. My job was to be Nurse Ratched. I made sure the 3-4 liters of water were drunk, the daily mile-long walk was walked, and the separation of carbs and protein was enforced!

I must say I was tempted at times to say, oh just forget the walk, take a nap, or never mind the water... but nope, not possible, not if we're going to clobber the nasty cancer and keep Jane strong.

We started every morning with a Howie Breakfast pictured above, named for the friend who introduced it to her. Its important to have as many colors of fruit you've got the gumption to cut up. Squeeze a little lemon juice on it...Yummers! We had lots of meals with colorful veggies using the same principal of multi-colors. We had filet of sole, rolled up with watercress and poached; sear-roasted salmon served with asparagus and thinly sliced carrots; Mediterranean Fish Stew; and Borsht with a dollop of Greek yogurt. My Kale Salad was Jane's favorite, so I'll share it with you too.

Kale Salad

Kale
Cider vinegar
Red onion
Red bell pepper
Safflower oil
Sesame oil
Soy sauce (if soy is ok in your diet)
Toasted sesame seeds
Salt if you want it

Take a big bunch of Kale, remove the woody stems and slice thinly. Put it in a big bowl and toss with cider vinegar, enough to coat it but not pool on the bottom of the bowl. You can let it sit a bit while you do the rest, the vinegar will "cook" the Kale, wilt it
really.
Now slice a little red onion, and red pepper in thin little pieces. Add enough of each so the salad looks pretty, but still predominantly green. Next add a little oil, I use safflower but canola is fine. Not a lot, a tablespoon at most. Add a good bit of sesame oil, especially if you like it. Splash in some soy sauce (unless you can’t have it because of the estrogen). Mix it all up, I use my hands.
Sprinkle on sesame seeds for the final touch!

Yum, I could eat it all day.
Till the cows come home.

The best part of the trip was just being able to spend time with Jane, like we used to long ago. We watched a great BBC mini series called House of Cards featuring a
ghoulishly corrupt politician, that had us saying: "You might say that-I couldn’t possibly comment" . We had such a nice slothful time that we watched the 2 sequels too, To Play the King and Final Cut. We enjoyed Kombucha, a fermented tea drink that gives you a little pep and tastes like fizzy vinegar only good. I promise. Jane’s 3 kooky Standard Poodles, Katy, Lucy, and Kobe led our walks. We watched ebay live auctions! And although I was the Water Nazi and The Mighty and Fearless Mouse Killer, they were 4 wonderful solid gold days.

Mouse Killer? Did I forget to tell you that story? The Glamorous Life of the Chair? Knitting? Are there lots of other stories to tell...?… You might say that-I couldn’t possibly comment.

Away from my Desk

I'll be away from my desk for a while. I'm heading south to Connecticut late this afternoon. I get to see one of my oldest and dearest friends! She's the one I've been making hats for, not fast enough, I might add, with too many things interrupting the most valuable time of all, time spent knitting! Valuable, because you can do it surrounded by loved ones. Or during a needed bit of solitude.

The day has started out clear and shiny! I'm wiggling with anticipation!

Warm Hats Needed....Still...

Sorry no bloggy...but internet Woggy...

Still cold, making more hats.Using pretty spring colors to cheer the day up. I've got a road trip on Wednesday so here's hoping the expected 10 more inches of snow don't arrive!

Spring? What Spring?

More like winter wonderland...overnight. (April 4th and 5th!) How much snow did you get? I heard they had 17 inches in Monroe. And the rest of you out there, what signs of Spring or Fall have you had? Migrating birds? Crocus? Growing or diminishing wood piles? Here in Maine its cold around 25F(-4C?), and dazzlingly sunny.

Yarnburst!

How would you like to get that in the mail?
I am so excited I'm frozen. Knitters block. I sort and re-sort them. I place them in little groups. I walk by them slowly, then re-arrange them into new little groups. I squint at them and make them blur together. I sneak up on them and surprise myself!
I will probably just grab my favorite at any given split second and begin, take off to a new adventure!
Rauma Finullgarn, 100% wool, 50g=175m(191 yds) available at Nordic Fiber Arts

Now for Their Close-up

I realize my last post was a bit of a tease! Though I am smug and happy about how my friend dreamed up mittens to match my bag, I didn't offer a very clear picture of them. Even this shot doesn't do the colors justice, making them appear blocky in a way they aren't in real life. In real life the snowflakes dominate. I call attention to another favorite feature, the pointy bits at the beginning of the palm pattern, like little ferns.

As you see , I'll need them today. Poor little crocus, all freezy now.


Does anyone know why the comments won't turn on sometimes? Like in this post?

Gifts!

I'm a lucky lucky girl! Look'it what my friend knit me! Fantastic fair isle mittens! See how beautifully they match my favorite bag? What a stunning, styling gal I shall be. So although I would normally be bummed by the forecast of sleet and snow all week, I shall be cheered by my beautiful mittens. Do you see how she sneaked my initials into the patten band just above the corrugated ribbing?

I must proudly add that The Artist was taught to knit by moi, and introduced to fair isle knitting by yours truly as well. The bug has bitten so hard, that we now share a stash and my former pupil regularly checks the Jamieson & Smith website. We are planning an adventure to Fair Isle. Hopefully in the not to distant future.