tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35399628949801026752011-12-28T17:32:33.812ZBaking, knitting, gardening--but no hockey--at least not yet.kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.comBlogger3071100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-13715160367416656192011-08-27T18:24:00.082+01:002011-08-29T17:53:13.331+01:00

Heading out to Wisley on Wednesday, it seemed cool enough to wear my new wool socks,knit in madelinetosh Tosh Sock in Nostalgia, a glazed, semi-solid colorway mixing purples, beiges, and grays. But luckily I wore my cotton socks, as Ali and I soon warmed up, wandering up Battleston Hill, through the woodland gardens, and out amongst the trial beds,where we discovered fabulous fields of dahlias.

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-34001130630756458882011-08-20T16:31:00.127+01:002011-08-22T16:17:03.368+01:00

Early Friday morning, under the brightest of blue skies, G and I escaped to East Sussex. We made a brief detour to the Birling Gap, where the chalk cliffs drop dramaticallyto the long pebble beach below,then doubled back on the A27 to Charleston, the country home of the Bloomsbury Group:Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant moved to Charleston in 1916, and over the next 50 years transformed the

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-49982794462116619682011-08-16T10:06:00.067+01:002011-08-17T15:03:13.981+01:00

Even after a year of monthly visits, Tracy and I still don't know what lies behind every door at Kew,but on Monday we did manage to sneak into our favorite secluded (usually gated) garden:While there were lots of fiery reds and oranges, there were a few purple flowers too,including purple waterlilies in the outdoor pools:I'm still marvelling at Alice's balance as she leaned way over the water

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-36901572648347282122011-08-15T08:39:00.048+01:002011-08-16T12:12:45.041+01:00

And here are the anniversary socks I knit for G,using madelinetosh Tosh Sock in Cider (which I now see perfectly matches our front porch!) and the Basic Boy Socks pattern from Purls of Wisdom.I made two mods to the pattern, replacing the stockinette heel with a slip-stitch heel and lengthening the foot by three rows. But next time, I'd also use smaller needles for the ribbed cuffs to make them a

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-42717878124027042152011-08-09T08:26:00.021+01:002011-08-10T10:33:24.258+01:00

G specially requested a pair of brown hand-knitted socks for our anniversary. So it's rather hard to explain how I ended up with a pair of brown hand-knitted socks:Obviously the pull of the Parade pattern and Quince yarn (in Driftwood) was just too great! But G did get a pair too. And it was actually quite nice having two sock projects on the go: no second sock syndrome. Though I suppose you

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-65019372139777582722011-08-08T11:26:00.095+01:002011-08-09T08:57:01.957+01:00

The weather was not-so-great this weekend: showers both Saturday and Sunday. But cantaloupes were on special at Waitrose, so I stuck to my plan to make Paletas de Melón (Cantaloupe Ice Pops):One small cantaloupe is pureed with sugar syrup, fresh lemon juice, and a pinch of salt, then poured into the molds to freeze. The result is sooo refreshing! Paletas has definitely been my best book buy this

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-62207672097348641472011-08-04T08:48:00.160+01:002011-08-07T18:50:13.294+01:00

It was a week of succulents and roses: first at Wisley, then at Miller Harris, where Rachel and I popped in for birthday tea and cake.Outside the shop, there were fabby rock plants on sale:And inside the shop, there were roses in the perfumes and roses in the tea.We ordered a pot of Miranda's favorite Thé Pétales, blended with rose absolute from Turkey. It had just the right hint of rose--not at

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-80782327629466244522011-08-02T08:48:00.106+01:002011-08-04T08:46:16.346+01:00

Here's a less melty Yogurt Pop with Berries,a quick treat before heading out to RHS Wisley. It'd been quite a while since our last visit, when we made the mistake of going on a jam-packed Grow Your Own Weekend. But despite the overflowing car park, it didn't feel too busy this time round.We admired the succulents in the Model Gardens and Glasshouse, which seemed appropriate on such a scorching

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-81231294091134586812011-07-31T21:45:00.039+01:002011-08-02T12:37:37.971+01:00

The weather has turned super-steamy, and the blackberries have ripened super-early, so we celebrated both this weekend with Paletas de Yogurt con Moras (Yogurt Pops with Berries) from Paletas.Greek yogurt is blended with a lemon-infused sugar syrup, then poured into blackberry-filled molds. Very easy and very tasty.The only disadvantage of these otherwise fab pops is they seem to melt faster than

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-27838894944922800892011-07-14T12:27:00.056+01:002011-08-02T10:43:20.389+01:00

The weather is very hit-and-miss now. But when it's sunny, we dive straight into the freezer for more pops from Paletas, this time Paletas de Pay de Limón (Lime Pie Ice Pops):These are super lime-y with 3/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice and 2 teaspoons lime zest. They should be rolled in crushed graham crackers (American) or Maria cookies (Mexican), but with neither available in Teddington,

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-84456170187125291762011-07-07T07:47:00.012+01:002011-07-14T10:04:24.540+01:00

While we were in Norfolk, I finished two new pairs of sKNITches socks, this time in Denim Fade, a variegated colorway custom-dyed for me in stripes,and Breathmint,which I'm hoping will keep my feet smelling minty fresh! Though in this heat, woolen socks probably aren't so conducive to sweet-smelling feet...

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-45472478071668192232011-07-01T10:49:00.062+01:002011-07-01T14:44:59.730+01:00

Super sweltering weather last weekend provided the perfect opportunity for making more ice pops, this time Paletas de Aguacate (Avocado Ice Pops),the creamiest, dreamiest ice pops yet! Ripe avocados are blended with sugar syrup, salt, and lime juice for a burst of Mexican flavor. The recipe is in Paletas, written by Fany Gerson,author of the amazing My Sweet Mexico (for which she spent an entire

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-52264594062242123992011-06-25T11:30:00.093+01:002011-06-25T17:37:20.091+01:00

There are so many good reasons to pop into Petersham: the chicly distressed displays,the fabulous flowers,and of course the cakes and croissants! But on Tuesday, Sarah and I went for the tea, specifically an oolong tea tasting with Jennifer Wood, founder of the Canton Tea Co:Oolongs are my favorite teas, and having sampled the Canton Tea Co's Anxi Rou Gui with Bee a few months ago, I was keen to

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-52094809120188625842011-06-23T11:48:00.003+01:002011-06-24T09:18:41.035+01:00

While my favorite Norfolk walks are round Cley, I do love the long walk through Sheringham Park too, which passes through dense woods into rolling fields then onto steep cliffs dropping down to the sea:And we timed our walk just right to see the North Norfolk Railway come steaming through:A bit of old-time train spotting was followed by a bit of Old Town shopping in Holt. Old Town Clothing

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-20871354236603285202011-06-20T13:11:00.017+01:002011-06-21T08:45:00.306+01:00

While our holiday included two stately homes, we didn't actually enter either. We made a quick stop at Audley End on the way up, where we toured my favorite bit, the restored Service Wing to the side of the house,then headed out for a very wet walk round the Organic Kitchen Gardens:Sadly the glasshouses, where we'd spotted such amazing tomatoes and figs last year, were closed. But luckily the

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-81908083915901968752011-06-19T14:38:00.164+01:002011-06-20T11:14:38.592+01:00

Just back from our annual week in North Norfolk, where we walked along the beach at Cley-next-the-Sea,an unbroken swathe of sandsuper for seaweed spotting:We also traversed the salt marshes--our favorite walk from last year--where we indulged in a spot of amateur bird watching. And the best bit: just a few paces past the end of the marsh path, hidden up a forested track, is the Wiveton Farm Café,

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-83589821004208816592011-06-06T08:37:00.050+01:002011-06-06T09:43:56.321+01:00

We were back at Petersham on Sunday, not just to try the new baguettes (though that would be reason enough)or to admire the arrangements of peonies,but to visit the private garden of the Nurseries' owners, Gael and Francesco Boglione. Sunday was this season's second Petersham House Garden Open Day, raising funds for the National Garden Scheme.While their magnificent house and garden are adjacent

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-77442182009046320842011-06-04T14:32:00.180+01:002011-06-04T19:15:25.779+01:00

I usually find the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition disappointing. But as we had the invite and I'd marked the date on the calendar, it seemed a shame not to go. And I'm so glad we did.There were still some truly awful pieces, but the standard seemed higher than in previous years. The redesigned print rooms featured works by some of my favorite artists, including Larch by Angie Lewin:But it was

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-13966854513054565332011-06-02T08:48:00.134+01:002011-06-02T20:54:42.820+01:00

Last week, Sue and I visited the Rose Garden at Hampton Court Palace. Then later in the week, there were the roses at Kew. And this weekend, I discovered seven beauteous bushes right behind our building. How did I miss these?Thinking of roses, there's the temptation to pull out a flowery puzzle:But it seems a shame to stay inside when we could be out in the sun eating ice pops!I used our

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-81346777820758914032011-05-30T13:23:00.082+01:002011-06-01T16:02:09.907+01:00

It's important to start the day with a good breakfast: lots of fresh fruitand perhaps a croissant as a treat, made even better with a big pat of butter and homemade apricot jam.Or you could have crunchy granola,though you'd have to wait till you got home, as sadly it's no longer on the Teahouse menu. But the lush surroundings more than make up for the missing cereal:And if you're still hungry,

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-22368383100348047172011-05-29T18:37:00.064+01:002011-06-01T07:53:01.284+01:00

I've been unfaithful.After years of steadfast devotion to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and his shortbread recipe, I've had my head turned by Lorraine Pascale and her Dreamlike Shortbread from Baking Made Easy:And it is indeed dreamlike: simple to make and yet so tasty--somehow light and moreish at the same time. So while I'll still make Hugh's Lavender Shortbread with our flowers from the plot, I

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-26148412449983002412011-05-27T08:55:00.069+01:002011-05-29T09:58:55.467+01:00

It's been a week of color: first at Loop, then at Kew. On Wednesday, Tracy, Nancy, and I met for our most colorful visit yet. There were bright blue skies and bedfuls of orange and yellow roses, many as lemony in scent as they were in hue.But there were plenty of rosy-coloredand rosy-smelling ones too,and other pink flowers,including the most marvellous peonies, some in budand some in bloom,in a

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-414163333594805432011-05-26T13:31:00.128+01:002011-05-27T08:53:36.427+01:00

I did a double loop this week with not one, but two visits to Loop! While I'd shopped many times at the old Loop in Cross Street, I'd yet to visit their new location in Camden Passage.The new shop is bigger and brighter--a really lovely space, where dishes of custom candy are far from the only temptation.With yarns from three of my favorite companies--madelinetosh, Quince, and Juno--there's

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-62755057513527928332011-05-20T14:48:00.055+01:002011-05-21T11:25:12.483+01:00

I've just finished my first pair of non-stripy, non-stockinette socks!The pattern is Parade, a download from the Spring/Summer 2011 Twist Collective, which looks more complicated than it really is: the cables are formed by knitting stitches out of order rather than by using a cable needle.And the yarn is Quince & Co. Tern, a blissful blend of wool and silk. These socks are knit in Back Bay, but

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-82692672013038117362011-05-19T21:52:00.049+01:002011-05-22T21:26:41.450+01:00

We didn't have long to wait. While the Alice berries are still just blushing, the Honeoyes have ripened to a bright and cheery red:The skies have finally brightened too, so I could make the ice pops. But Ali's scones and Jane's cake look mighty tempting...

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-55137517187132045812011-05-18T09:48:00.084+01:002011-05-19T08:35:08.262+01:00

Jo and I are terribly keen to have a beehive on the allotments. We still have some obstacles to overcome, but we've been learning as much as we can over the past few months from experienced beekeepers and stacks of books:Having soaked up the theory, we figured it was time for some practical experience. So on Sunday, we attended the first session of the Kingston Beekeepers' Fast Track Beginners

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-7022756082734242452011-05-17T13:32:00.066+01:002011-05-17T16:53:09.267+01:00

It suddenly seems we're in the pink, both on the walk to the allotments...and in the allotments themselves, where the poppies on Sarah's plot are literally humming with bees.And all those bees have been good for the fruit. Our strawberries are blushing pink too,which means its nearly time to pull out the special ice pop tray--woo hoo!Though we may want to wait for some warmer weather...

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-45474829529150308432011-05-12T15:48:00.025+01:002011-05-17T17:30:48.781+01:00

The allotment plot next to ours is sporting the most magnificent irises--dark purple spikes unfurling into big, floppy frills:Sadly, the closest I've come to cultivating such splendid specimens is putting together a Pomegranate puzzle:And likewise, despite years of allotmenting, I still feel far more confident with my Packets of Promise puzzle than I do with real packets of seed:Perhaps I'm just

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-54583018803586130792011-05-11T09:00:00.058+01:002011-05-11T13:17:17.462+01:00

Blue skies on Monday provided the perfect excuse for making more ice pops, this time Lemon-Buttermilk:Made with fresh lemon zest, lemon juice, and pure buttermilk, these pops are super tart and tangy. I might try whole-milk yogurt next time for a slightly milder flavor. As is, these are definitely adult pops.But then again, they are quite refreshing, and surely we adults deserve some

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-85572432108350140762011-05-09T13:24:00.009+01:002011-05-09T13:40:00.151+01:00

Sheltering under umbrellas (for the first time in months!) we headed into London early Saturday morning for a brunch demonstration at La Fromageriewith Jojo Tulloh, food editor of The Week and author of East End Paradise:Having loved Jojo's book (published last year as Freshly Picked) I was looking forward to hearing more about her allotment and gathering new ideas for using our own plot

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-13815025752517825452011-04-25T15:28:00.058+01:002011-04-25T18:32:34.988+01:00

Such wonderfully warm and sunny weather obviously calls for even more icy treats. So we have a tub of fresh Lemon Gelato chilling in the freezer too, though I don't think it'll be there long...I've been on the hunt for the perfect lemon ice cream recipe for ages, and I reckon I've finally found it in my Ciao Bella book.The author's wife loved it so much she insisted they serve it at their wedding

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-31882792962881806152011-04-22T17:03:00.041+01:002011-04-22T20:37:34.695+01:00

We have five very productive rhubarb plants on our allotment. And our season started extra-early this year with our first forced rhubarb, which we promptly turned into a big batch of Barbie-pink compote.We've now moved on to ordinary outdoor rhubarb, and as the weather has fast-forwarded from April to August, I've churned a tub of our favorite Rhubarb Ice Cream.But inspired by Sue's ice lolly

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-64950998326944030902011-04-19T12:45:00.164+01:002011-05-26T21:44:52.204+01:00

While the house fronts, walls, and fences of Teddington are dripping in wisteria,nearly every other blossom has come to an end, carpeting the streets and sidewalks in pink and white:So I was rather worried Tracy and I had already missed Kew at its blossomy best. But on Monday we still managed to track down a bit of blossom holding tight,as well as more magnoliasand other flowery finds:And to

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-56815618629197470072011-04-12T11:08:00.035+01:002011-04-12T12:10:27.281+01:00

Our orchard is suddenly bursting with blossom, blushing pink appleand bright white pear:We have bounteous blossom in the fruit cage, too, on the sweet and sour cherry trees:While our branches may not be as chic as Jane Packer's stems, they do have fabulous dessert potential. My thoughts are already racing ahead to compotes, ice creams, cobblers, and cakes--oh my! But must remember patience is a

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-43068934395934433392011-04-10T13:20:00.103+01:002011-04-11T16:56:01.354+01:00

While we were in Marylebone, we also popped into Jane Packer, very conveniently located between the new branch of the Nordic Bakery...and The Wallace Collection, our final destination. Though I do think I could have happily stayed in Jane Packer all afternoon, arranging posies with the lucky students in the back of the shop.The pretty flora-filled benches outside...gave way to even more marvelous

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-612741004917783852011-04-08T17:47:00.138+01:002011-07-07T08:52:01.761+01:00

My latest sKNITches socks, this time knit in Nest Egg, usually a variegated colorway, which Sam custom-dyed for me in stripes:While we've been awakened by exuberant bird song every morning this week, we've yet to see a single nest or egg in Teddington. But today Miranda, Donna, and I spied a crate of the most exquisite praline chocolate eggs in Marylebone,which reminded me that soon it'll be time

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-77191578618615249202011-04-05T13:07:00.060+01:002011-04-06T09:33:01.946+01:00

My guilty secret? I absolutely adore Rice Krispies Treats. I packed them in my school lunches, and later on brought them in my office lunches, much to the chagrin of my more sophisticated colleagues.As the British Rice Krispies box inexplicably lacks the original recipe, I now make Nigella's Marshmallow Crispy Squares,minus the glitter and sprinkles, because one must draw the line somewhere! But

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-72957022192452917052011-04-04T12:26:00.123+01:002011-04-04T17:49:44.392+01:00

While it's starting to feel a bit too warm for cowls outside, it was definitely cold enough for cowls inside Ham House this weekend, where I had my National Trust induction (livestock training starts in the Meadows next week).So two new Honey Cowls, both in madelinetosh Tosh DK, the first in Teddy Bear,which really is the color of a well-worn mohair bear, and the second in Well Water,which

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-47984135433998602902011-03-31T08:26:00.017+01:002011-03-31T17:34:09.238+01:00

Soon Anne and I will be looking after Fluffy...in our new posts as Meadow Wardens in Petersham Meadows!Until recently the Meadows (once part of the Ham House estate) were managed by the Petersham Trust. But last year the Meadows were handed over to the National Trust, which is recruiting volunteer wardens to maintain the fields and herd.I'm very excited, but also rather nervous, as the only large

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-38617586442101184652011-03-29T10:08:00.070+01:002011-03-29T14:10:38.349+01:00

Saturday morning, G escaped to the allotment just as a bevy of bloggers arrived for a workshop with the lovely and talented Emma, jeweler extraordinaire.Emma had come early to arrange our tool kits and set out baking pans and sweet tins brimming with antique, retro, and modern beads and bits:So we were soon settled round my tiny table, where Emma taught us to use pliers and cutters, wires and

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-4167734406141639832011-03-25T14:18:00.034Z2011-05-26T21:43:52.055+01:00

Yesterday, Tracy, Nancy, and I met for our monthly walk round Kew. This being our first spring visit, we were hoping for bounteous blossom. Sadly, there seemed to be more blossom at Kew Gardens station than in the park itself.But the dearth of blossom was more than made up for by the magnificent magnolias, literally towering over the park, in every shade of white and ivory,peach and pink:I do

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-21015272714888965462011-03-22T08:52:00.085Z2011-03-22T12:08:01.612Z

Long time, no see! But here I am, right back where you left me at Petersham,proving the more things change, the more they stay the same (except for my hair, which is still recovering from the most horrific haircut).And while I returned from America last month, Petersham is having its own American moment, with cabinet-fuls of Ball canning jars and table-fuls of retro pop bottles:But Bee and I

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-74306720293191639422011-01-04T09:48:00.049Z2011-01-05T22:37:10.197Z

After a splendid tea and wander with Sarah and Stanley,it's once again time to fly away home.Just wish I'd saved one of Petersham's fab flapjacks for the flight, as the catering on United really doesn't compare.

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-40232457496892186492011-01-03T21:37:00.255Z2011-01-04T17:55:14.427Z

Despite my lofty ambitions and best intentions, I only managed one handmade gift this year: a new tie for G, knit in Rowan Cotton Glace using the Moss Stitch Tie pattern in Purls of Wisdom.A quick knit, I finished the knitting and blocking in a single December weekend when G was out-of-town. Now just hoping its handmade nubbiness will fit in with the office's dress-down dress code...and, most of

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-36460409974002979522010-12-31T17:36:00.118Z2011-01-01T10:57:24.959Z

C is for Collins. C is for Christmas. And C is for Crockery, as spelled out in my much-longed-for present from G: Emily Sutton's latest alphabet print!And while my present from G was virtual crockery, my present to G was actual crockery, thanks to a well-timed hint from The Coffee Lady:This winter we've rediscovered our love of porridge, topping it with demerara sugar, maple sugar, maple syrup,

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-32260553860279300972010-12-30T11:04:00.127Z2010-12-30T14:32:57.027Z

Though I'll never be as rapid a reader as any of the book bloggers, one of my resolutions this year was to read 50 books. I came just short with 46. But undeterred, I've made not one but two reading resolutions for 2011: to read 50 books and to finish half my Persephones.Luckily, I have a jump start on the Persephone project. There were two duds this year (It's Hard to Be Hip Over Thirty and

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-43954504044755809802010-12-24T14:18:00.081Z2010-12-24T16:02:34.877Z

This morning, G and I nipped into Petersham for the ornament sale, hoping to find some shiny silver maple leaves. While there were a few decorations left,including a spectacular pinecone sadly much too big for our table or tree,there were no leaves to be seen. But we soon found solace in free Christmas coffees and a slice of lemon and poppy seed cake, which was so deliciously more-ish I forgot to

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-22392124097922203832010-12-22T15:53:00.078Z2010-12-22T17:29:42.093Z

G had to dig the Seed Store Café out of a snowdrift, but we still managed to open on Sunday for our annual holiday party.The café was sparkly with both tinsel and ice. Even with two kettles on the boil, it was a frosty affair.The polar conditions didn't deter the customers, though, who came in for coffee and cake, then headed back out to stand round the brazier, where the chestnuts were a-popping

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-63872718167572915122010-12-15T16:07:00.156Z2010-12-19T09:00:01.087Z

When I do finally get round to making gingerbread men, at least they'll have someplace to live: their very own gingerbread cottage, complete with winter garden and sanding sugar snow!Hannah and I baked the pieces last week, then decorated and assembled them on Tuesday.It may look conservative here, but the house really glistens. We brushed the sugar paste leaves and roses with luster dust,

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-48571738037364869092010-12-14T11:51:00.113Z2010-12-15T14:27:34.503Z

London at the holidays may be manic, but at least there's Fernandez & Wells for a quiet break from the madding crowd. And even better, their sandwiches have gone festive! Here's the turkey and rocket with an extra big dollop of homemade cranberry sauce:We've had festive food at home, too, with Rachel Allen's Cardamom Sour Cream Cake. The recipe gives the option to use crème fraîche, but don't be

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-63642445906646138842010-12-09T10:56:00.152Z2011-05-20T14:35:52.923+01:00

More Jolly Hockey Socks, this time in sKNITches' signature sKNITch colorway:Purple and green, these socks definitely deviate from my usual beige and gray, but they do coordinate (more so in person than in the photo) with our new Angie Lewin print, By Green Bank:I fell in love with this print last year but assumed it had since sold out. So I was over the moon to see it at St Jude's in the City at

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-24503425604322972292010-12-04T16:46:00.117Z2010-12-05T15:45:52.463Z

Before Thanksgiving and the Holiday Season set in, Bee and I rendezvoused at the London Review Bookshop:The London Review Cake Shop inside is the perfect meeting place, serving super strong cups of Monmouth coffee at its big wooden table. But even under the influence of caffeine, I managed to leave without any new books.Which is just as well, since I already have plenty to read, including several

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-39716343023314898992010-12-03T14:49:00.050Z2010-12-19T14:36:37.042Z

After envying our northern neighbors for the past week, we finally have snow!Of course it's not nearly as much, but it's something. At least it makes a good excuse for a new cowl: the Chunky Cowl from Purls of Wisdom in Blue Sky Alpacas' Bulky.I love the way the cowl reduces in circumference toward the chin, making it extra warm and cosy. And the yarn is sooo thick and soft. It does shed like the

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-85575097728849393292010-11-25T11:50:00.061Z2011-05-20T14:40:02.193+01:00

I think Jane of At Upper Pond and I must have a psychic knitting connection.I happened upon At Upper Pond just as I was finishing the first of my Jolly Hockey Socks, only to discover Jane had knit the same socks in the same yarn in the same colorway and likewise christened them Hockey Socks!Then, the very day I completed my second pair of sKNITches socks,I logged on to find Jane had just finished

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-37365225593414571982010-11-11T14:27:00.156Z2010-11-14T11:45:56.685Z

I enrolled in a sock knitting class many, many moons ago. But because the yarn we used was so hideous--really and truly--I could never bring myself to knit the second sock once the class was through. And then, of course, I forgot how to knit socks at all.But a recent visit from Jordan, who handily knits socks between drafts of her dissertation, prompted me to try again. And aided by advice from

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-63798910200141048592010-11-09T15:19:00.118Z2010-11-09T17:40:17.397Z

It was a wet and windy weekend in Woodbridge, but there were some sunny spells, during which we walked along the River Deben to see the Tide Milland the boatsand drove over to Snape Maltings for a tramp through the reed beds:Luckily Lilla Cottage was cosy,with comfy reading and knitting nooks,and it was just off Market Hill, where we happened upon the highlights of our visit: the Wild Strawberry

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-68875528316364570162010-11-02T15:50:00.067Z2010-11-03T15:21:10.662Z

Petersham wasn't all grays and greens this weekend. There were plenty of pinks, too: in the Murano glass, in the mercury glass, and in my cheeks, when, in the narrow passageway between the Nurseries and River Lane, we ran into Valentine Warner. image © Martin Pope (Telegraph.co.uk) I was struck dumb and just smiled inanely. But silence was probably better than any of the silly and

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-83260585638505139662010-11-01T16:36:00.097Z2010-11-02T17:41:47.047Z

The rain was streaming down the greenhouse windows at Petersham on Sunday. But other than the insistent patter on the roofs, the Nurseries were eerily quiet. Suitable, I suppose, considering the day. There were a few nods to Halloween, with ghostly gray wreaths and acid green books: But there were also grays and greens of the Christmas variety: Petersham is one of my best sources for mercury

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-1683069436380749072010-10-31T16:01:00.118Z2010-11-01T09:06:10.401Z

There's definitely a chill in the air, which is of course the perfect excuse for a new cowl! Luckily just a few nights of sofa knitting are all that's needed to make a Honey Cowl in madelinetosh Tosh DK:The only modification I made was to start and finish with the slip stitch pattern rather than the rolled stockinette edge.The color pooled in places: a very dark gray stripe sits uncomfortably

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-43091415604904438412010-10-27T09:13:00.041+01:002010-10-27T10:04:22.339+01:00

G used to enthuse over my homemade ice cream. But now he's more excited about what we're putting on top: the Toffee Sauce from Rachel Allen's Home Cooking. Just five ingredients weighed into a saucepan and five minutes of bubbling and stirring produce over a pint of liquid heaven. Poured on warm, it quickly sets into lovely gooey strings: It apparently keeps for months in the fridge, but I don't

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-55075800576256895552010-10-26T09:30:00.016+01:002011-05-26T21:42:45.707+01:00

As with most blog events, I seem to have missed autumn color week. But there's been plenty of color about, including rich browns at Petersham, and more flamboyant reds and browns at Kew, on the trees and in crispy piles below, perfect for a good shuffle: There's been orange, too, including bushfuls of berries on the way home from the station and pumpkins and butternuts piled high on the

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-51325296043599096092010-10-16T18:04:00.084+01:002010-10-17T17:11:25.771+01:00

It may have been cold and dank this afternoon, but Petersham still had sprightly greens in its glasshousesand in the Teahouse:And the main shop, unlike the sky, was suffused with blue. The tables were laden with Murano glass,including Scavo glass, crafted to resemble vessels excavated from ancient Roman ruins:I was captivated by the sensuously smooth wooden pots, too:But this is what really set

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-13283519967130229172010-10-08T09:10:00.133+01:002010-10-09T10:26:45.498+01:00

Just as I'm the only blogger within reach of London to have missed Origin, I fear I'll be the only one to miss the Knitting and Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace. Sigh.But it's not the yarn stands I'm bothered about, as the wonderful Mrs Moon is just down the road, and I really do have plenty of skeins stashed away. I'm sad about missing milliner Deirdre Hawken, who has an artist's stand this

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-66861661541749042942010-10-07T17:19:00.116+01:002010-10-08T09:02:23.586+01:00

Ginger & White was heaving yesterday morning, so rather than elbow our way through, Miranda, her mum, and I headed down the street to Gail's, where I discovered true bakery heaven. The cinnamon roll of my dreams-- really a cinnamon-sugar croissant--to eat in and a bag of two-inch-high English muffins for breakfast the next morning. After browsing through the books at Waterstones, we headed to

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-45732423407367725422010-10-01T15:44:00.006+01:002010-10-01T15:48:13.517+01:00

G and I just managed to catch Sargent and the Sea at the Royal Academy on Sunday. My mum, who'd seen the exhibition in Washington, had insisted we mustn't miss it. There were crashing waves, decks and rigging, beaches and coves, tide pools and fisherfolk: John Singer Sargent, En Route pour la pêche (Setting Out to Fish), 1878, oil on canvas, 78.8 x 122.8 cm, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington,

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-2871986797950263422010-09-30T14:26:00.031+01:002010-10-01T08:29:44.430+01:00

Moving on to things more autumnal, the old orchard in Langdon Park is once again groaning with apples, which means there's plenty of opportunity for picking, and even with the schoolboys using them as missiles (!), there's more than enough for batch after batch of fresh applesauce: This year, I've been using the recipe from Forgotten Skills of Cooking, which has worked perfectly. The ratio of

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-55647679899297221162010-09-29T10:44:00.073+01:002010-09-30T09:45:45.948+01:00

I couldn't finish a summer sewing session without a new pair of Lounge Pants!I know I have too many already, but when I spied this fabric by Tanya Whelan, I couldn't resist. And the name, Darla Ditty, just made it that much more irresistible. When designing the Darla collection, Tanya was apparently inspired by the 1930s and 40s, freshly laundered sheets hung out to dry, flowers on a kitchen

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-83169698585096047232010-09-28T13:20:00.030+01:002010-09-28T14:05:24.066+01:00

We also made two summer dresses from Amy Butler's Anna Tunic pattern. Unlike the tops, the dresses are fully lined and have slim belts to knot at the waist. Really pleased with how they turned out, but not so pleased with the photos. Sigh. So until it warms up enough for another photo shoot, here are the matching flowers, in Dandelion by Patty Young and Lindy Leaf by Heather Bailey: Because you

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-14227727947572128342010-09-27T08:40:00.002+01:002010-09-27T08:41:34.279+01:00

I did do a bit of knitting this summer. But knitting in the summer in Virginia never seems quite right--even with cotton yarn, even in the artificial chill indoors. So my mum and I immersed ourselves in summery sewing instead. There were the requisite allotment aprons, but there were summer tops, too, made using Amy Butler's Anna Tunic pattern: Heeding the advice of bloggers who'd sewn the

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-46526481782393867202010-09-26T13:18:00.044+01:002011-05-26T21:41:53.953+01:00

Before Tracy and I purchased our Kew memberships, I never would have dreamed of going on a damp day. Kew visits were reserved for sunny days, which meant G and I rarely went, as those were also our allotmenting days! But having cancelled our last Kew visit due to threatening rain, which never actually fell, Tracy and I decided to brave it this time. The rain did come, but between showers we

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-77584275030095918592010-09-22T14:30:00.014+01:002010-09-23T13:08:27.708+01:00

Here I am! Back in England and back to blogging after an unexpectedly long time away.But before beginning the inevitable essay on what I did on my summer vacation, I'll start with what I did before my summer vacation, because the day before I flew home to America, I met Tracy and Diana for tea and coffee at Petersham.Unfortunately, the Teahouse had been taken over by a fashion event, and as much

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-82333511644880079252010-06-07T21:25:00.069+01:002010-06-09T18:00:11.939+01:00

Heading home bright and early Thursday morning, and this time I'll be staying right through the Fourth:I'm so looking forward to all the festivities: barbecues and balloons,sparklers and fireworks. Better stop puzzling and start packing!

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-32072372097864401042010-06-06T22:10:00.071+01:002010-06-08T13:22:56.657+01:00

We're still mourning the end of asparagus season and my very favorite dinner, asparagus white pizza. But we seem to have lots of artichokes coming along in the next bed,which makes me wonder if artichoke white pizza would be worth a go.It'd be far more fiddly to prepare, but it just might tide us over till courgette white pizza time!

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-46193303560096860362010-06-03T15:41:00.097+01:002011-05-26T21:41:08.471+01:00

These spring-into-summer days seem to be slipping away. So much time lost to housekeeping and errands. But there have been little joys, too.Like yesterday, G found a new friend...Tracy and I managed to meet and soak up some sun at Kew (where we ran into Ali, too!)...and for dinner, G and I tucked into our first home-grown lettuce of the season:So even with seemingly endless errands, life is good.

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-84448706514850652852010-05-31T09:51:00.069+01:002010-06-01T16:42:29.401+01:00

The Baktus pattern has been making the Ravelry rounds for quite a while now, and rightly so, as it's an ideal way to show off a single skein of super-special sock yarn.To make a Baktus, simply increase every fourth row until you've used half your yarn (as determined using a digital scale), then decrease every fourth row to create a triangular scarf.My first Baktus, knit in madelinetosh tosh sock

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-14538087794250785662010-05-29T23:08:00.089+01:002010-05-31T10:33:55.809+01:00

A wet start to the Bank Holiday weekend, but what else is new? Luckily, Petersham is equally divine rain or shine.The tables outside were flooded,but the greenhouse seating was warm and dry. And with no crowds, there were plenty of cakes to choose fromand time to linger, discussing what we would be doing in the garden, if only it weren't raining...while really feeling just-that-bit relieved by

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-65539682804386540332010-05-28T08:11:00.089+01:002010-05-28T10:24:13.214+01:00

The Cabled Throw having found a new home, we were much in need of something to hide our very well-worn couch. So we now have two Stitch Cushions, knit using the pattern in Erika Knight's Classic at Home, one in the rib version...and one in the cable version,and finished with handmade ceramic buttons from Mrs Moon.Mrs Moon, my favorite knitting shop, is run by two lovely sisters (Susan and Karen),

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-88298229057338127722010-05-26T07:44:00.028+01:002010-05-27T10:30:35.318+01:00

I love Peter's Yard Crispbreads. But while we were at La Fromagerie this weekend, I spied a new Swedish crispbread, and I couldn't resist:Containing wholegrain rye and wheat flours along with linseeds and sunflower seeds, Malmo Nordic Dining Crispbreads are baked by Joakim Yngdén according to his great-grandmother’s recipe.They're completely different from Peter's Yard Crispbreads. More

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-59041981837079739632010-05-25T09:29:00.009+01:002010-05-25T09:38:05.507+01:00

I bet you didn't know I could knit sweaters! It has been quite a few years since my last one,and I did need help with the finishing, but I'm still so pleased not only to have knit a sweater, but to have knit one I know I'll wear! I particularly love the neckline,and I think it will look even better with a tighter, lower-necked tee.I used the Cap Sleeved Top pattern from Debbie Bliss' Cathay

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-43162019120728422682010-05-24T15:37:00.022+01:002011-04-22T17:14:58.459+01:00

I must admit I'm not as keen on rhubarb crumble as I should be, considering we have four very prolific plants. But all is not lost, as I've finally found a rhubarb recipe I love, Rhubarb Ice Cream:Based on a Delia recipe, this ice cream is nothing short of amazing: the perfect balance of sweet and tart and so easy to make. And unlike most ice creams made without eggs, which set terribly hard in a

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-12834440566284416392010-05-23T14:18:00.135+01:002010-05-23T19:16:37.731+01:00

While I may have been too tired to run the allotments cafe this weekend (see seedling sale) I'm never too tired to visit a cafe! So bright and early Saturday morning, G and I caught the train into London and made our way to La Fromageriefor Spring Brunch with the fabby Australian (now London-based) chef, Bill Granger.He made his signature Scrambled Eggs on Sourdough Toast; Ricotta Hotcakes with

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-50314471500889582352010-05-21T09:25:00.061+01:002010-05-21T14:34:36.514+01:00

More time on the plot has meant no time for blogging. With loads of help from Jo (and her heated propagator and greenhouse) we've been raising and planting out rows and rows of seedlings.Sunday was also our annual Seedling Sale:And despite an iffy weather forecast, it turned out to be our most successful sale ever. We sold a terrific number of tiny plants,as well as seemingly endless mugs of

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-72403517310661256142010-04-29T08:27:00.015+01:002010-04-29T13:28:04.963+01:00

Another Soft Drawstring Pouch in Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca and Silk ready to wing its way to America:Just need to decide what to tuck inside. If only I could bag up some blossom...

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-25656264049297013992010-04-27T11:41:00.053+01:002010-04-27T14:08:09.110+01:00

The blossom in Teddington is fabby:But I'm more excited about the blossom in our apple orchard...and in our fruit cage, where after weeks of worryingly bare branches, the cherry trees have finally turned up trumps:Because while not so showy as the blossom down the street, hopefully it'll be productive. Unlike myself at the moment. Better get back to the plot!

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-46111035111200880902010-04-25T12:47:00.046+01:002010-04-25T17:35:15.233+01:00

On Friday, G and I played hooky to spend more time in other people's gardens: this time our old favorite, Petersham Nurseries. There were trays and trays of bedding plants in the central greenhouse,and the outside beds were bursting with blooms:After a good wander round, and a long pause for coffee and slices of crumbly-syrupy lemon-almond-polenta cake,we headed into the shop, where we discovered

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-14481453897219462792010-04-21T22:10:00.043+01:002011-05-26T21:40:32.657+01:00

Yesterday, Tracy and I met for our long-planned rendezvous at Kew.We were meant to be crocheting in the cafe, but we couldn't resist the lure of the sunny blue skies,blossom,and magnolias, including this spectacular specimen:With Heathrow closed on account of ash, the gardens were blissfully quiet. That must be a bird or bug in the corner...because there wasn't a plane in the sky.And as for

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-60809928751931942902010-04-20T09:03:00.043+01:002010-04-21T15:50:28.545+01:00

Saturday dawned so bright and sunny--the sky such a deep cobalt blue--it seemed an ideal morning for exploring. So we headed to Savill Garden, a woodland and ornamental garden created by Sir Eric Savill in the 1930s.There were still a few daffodils blooming,plenty of frothy blossom,and some magnificent magnolias:After a leisurely wander, we had lunch on the terrace of the Savill Building, just

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-16962862633413248972010-04-19T08:32:00.025+01:002010-04-20T08:42:18.531+01:00

The bulbs may be more photogenic, but these were the real highlight of our weekend:Our first asparagus spears of the season--hooray!

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-56625942042233375322010-04-16T16:49:00.068+01:002010-04-19T15:37:26.636+01:00

Much to the dismay of some of the old-school allotmenters, we have three beds of bulbs on our plot. While the beds aren't as full as they used to be (must replant this autumn), the muscari are still going strong,as are the tulips, purchased ages ago from Sarah Raven:And they coordinate so nicely with the cover of my current book:Not that I'd ever be caught reading on the allotments: what would

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-34794235597303424732010-04-11T14:46:00.028+01:002010-04-12T21:38:07.082+01:00

Ali once joked I knew all the best places, but this is completely untrue: it's Miranda who knows all the best places! And she's just introduced me to my new favorite cafe, Ginger & White, on a quiet side street in Hampstead:image: Ginger & WhiteSeated at the rustic communal table, we've enjoyed tea and coffee, served in Poole Twintone, with the fabbiest elevenses. The peach and pecan muffin I had

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-65009705780992705682010-04-10T17:53:00.040+01:002010-04-12T17:51:17.380+01:00

Despite the sunny afternoons, the mornings are cool and misty, and Jo even spotted some frost on her plot this week. All of which means I still have time to wear my new Ruffles!The scarf is knit in Debbie Bliss Cathay (a cotton/silk/rayon blend, now sadly discontinued) from a pattern in Scarf Style.I was nervous casting on, having read several Ravelry posts from knitters who'd found the pattern

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-65079348552737212242010-04-08T09:34:00.056+01:002010-04-08T19:36:45.813+01:00

I thought we were the only Londoners who had yet to see The Real Van Gogh: The Artist and His Letters at the Royal Academy. But judging by the line outside and the hustle-and-bustle inside, we weren't alone. Thank goodness for G's Friends card!There were some old favorites, including a painting owned by my former employer and another I remembered from school trips into the city,Vincent Van Gogh,

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-2439983063985074142010-04-06T10:34:00.031+01:002010-04-06T11:55:22.169+01:00

This weekend, G and I visited The Ministry of Food exhibition at the Imperial War Museum London, organized to mark the 70th anniversary of the introduction of food rationing in Britain:While smaller than I was expecting, the exhibition was wonderfully presented, with a garden greenhouse (that I'd give nearly anything to have on our plot), a 1940s grocery (stocked with many brands still

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-58190863691077828562010-04-04T14:54:00.040+01:002010-04-04T16:20:58.129+01:00

My favorite fabric and pattern designer, Amy Butler, has taken up my favorite hobby, knitting!G picked up a copy of Midwest Modern Knits for me yesterday, and the patterns are fab: straightforward yet fun, just as you'd expect from Amy.I'm head-over-heels in love with the Pretzel Scarf,but I'm rather worried by the fact it requires 20 balls of yarn. Yikes!While I quite like the Sleeveless

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-6693256370102313892010-03-28T12:45:00.075+01:002010-03-29T10:08:02.127+01:00

This year, instead of Easter baskets, we have Easter bags,knit in Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca and Silk using the Soft Drawstring Pouch pattern in my favorite knitting book, Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.The Blue Sky Alpacas yarn is blissfully soft, and the three-needle bind-off was a revelation. The only pattern change I made was to skip the tassels and lengthen the I-cord.Filled with speckledy blue

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-3236974979451974592010-03-25T10:48:00.033Z2010-03-25T17:18:17.934Z

More signs of spring,and more spring-y pajama pants,this time in minty green and blush.G insists I need matching pajama tops, but I have only a bit of fabric left. So I'm eyeing the Silk Camisole in Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, as I still have a few skeins of Debbie Bliss Pure Silk in--unbelievably--pale purple and minty green!

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-12280087855630127412010-03-21T15:37:00.037Z2010-03-22T17:07:38.915Z

The spring flowers have finally appeared,which means it's time for some new pajama pants in spring-y colors,made using fabric from Amy Butler's Love range and, as always, the Wide-Leg Lounge Pants pattern from In Stitches.Now if only it were warm enough to stand outside without my clogs on!

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-8764090606011442042010-03-19T09:02:00.017Z2010-03-22T11:54:15.777Z

Teddington is definitely warming up: I switched to a lighter jacket just after these photos were taken. But the mornings and evenings remain mighty chilly, so I'm still wearing my Pashmina Cowls, including my newest one in Musk:As with the first two, I used Joseph Galler Pashmina and the pattern in Joelle Hoverson's Last-Minute Knitted Gifts.I actually started this one on a transcontinental plane

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-83499925559070911672010-03-18T14:53:00.042Z2010-03-19T08:55:05.302Z

The snow may have melted, and the snowdrops may have faded, but I've finally finished my Snow Queen Scarf from The Most Sublime Accessories Book. Knit with eight balls of Sublime Baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK, this scarf can be wound round and round: I adore the stony color and soft, drapey cables, but it's most definitely a scarf for a very cold day. So it'll be tucked away til next winter,

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3539962894980102675.post-35641174844446759852010-02-19T16:54:00.055Z2010-02-23T11:46:49.507Z

Midweek it seemed spring was on its way. But by Thursday, we were back to thick cloud and soaking rain. So I pulled on my wellies... and headed into town for tea with Miranda. We met at one of her favorite haunts: the Miller Harris Fragrant Tea Room, tucked into the back of the Miller Harris shop on Bruton Street in Mayfair. It's the perfect spot for a cuppa...or two... In fact we wiled away

kristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14892467118097087057noreply@blogger.com18