A shawl, a scarf

I started out knitting the Vine Lace Shrug (free download on Ravelry), aiming to use up some stash yarn, Classic Elite Bam Boo. The pattern is based on Barbara Walker's "Vine Lace" (from her Treasury of Knitting Patterns) and looks gorgeous in the Bam Boo.

As I knitted away, using up the stash, I realized the length wasn't quite right to sew up the shrug--it's a gift for a dear friend who's shoulders measure the same as mine, but her arms are shorter, since she's only ten years old!

So I made a fastener, so she could wear it as a stole, sewing a covered button and a long, tube "button" together, and inserting them into one of the lace holes:



It slips in and out without deforming the lace, so if she wants, she can take the fastener out, and wear it as a scarf:

Refining the crackers

I've made the crackers dozens of times now, and found that they're even better if you roll them out twice as thin. That is, the recipe tells you to divide the dough in half and roll out two large squares--I've found that they're even better if you divide the dough in fourths, and roll out four large squares. You have to remember to pay attention to the ones in the oven--being so thin, they can brown too much very quickly, but they're so much better thinner. They brown evenly, and each and every inch is crisp.

I've also given up on the scoring and trying to get them square--we just crack them up into pieces. It's faster to the table that way!

Crackers

"White Crackers" recipe from The Fannie Farmer Cookbook, 13th ed., edited by Marion Cunningham.

These are amazingly delicious with red wine--just enough sweetness and saltiness to enhance the flavor. I substituted agave syrup for sugar (so I could eat them), margarine for butter (for vegan & husband friendliness), and rather than measuring the salt, just sprinkled the amount that I'd want over them, and they're incredibly delicious. They're also really easy to make--just a few minutes to throw them together and get them in the oven--they're as easy as pie.

Tomorrow we'll have them with soup. Can't wait.

Cedric at Point Bonita

Cedric had a wonderful time visiting Point Bonita earlier this month. Although it was foggy, it wasn't too foggy--the views were spectacular.

On the Alma

Cedric got to go sailing on the Alma and had such a wonderful time. We sailed around Angel Island, and got to see the Immigration Station and Fort MacDowell from the water. The sun even came out for a while!

Baguettes

These are my best looking baguettes yet. Granted, they're not gorgeous, but they're so much prettier than the previous ones!

I was never successful following the King Arthur Flour's recipe's instructions, "make three diagonal slashes in each baguette. Hold the sharp knife at a 45° angle to the bread, be quick, and use firm strokes." I couldn't get cuts that would open. The sharpness of the knives wasn't the problem, but I couldn't master this "45° angle" technique.

So I turned to Julia Child, From Julia Child's Kitchen, which had been of immense help with poached eggs: "Immediately make three lengthwise slashes in the top of the dough with a razor, cutting almost parallel to surface, as follows..."

That was the ticket. "Almost parallel." Worked like a charm.

Parking Sign Cozies Have Appeared!

Some absolutely delightful parking sign cozies have appeared in our neighborhood! I think they may be the work of a blogger I always enjoy reading, Streetcolor, but I don't know for sure. This one is on Solano Ave. in front of Pegasus books:


And this one is down the street, nearer to Peets:


I just love them--such darling colors & festive stitch patterns--I hope more appear!