Soapnuts

This is just a quick post to tell you about Indian soapnuts. I've discovered them a few weeks ago watching a program on TV5 (the french channel around the world) about environmentally friendly products. The shell of these nuts are covered with saponine which is a natural washing detergent. I've decided to give it a try and I am really pleased with it. The soapnuts have a vinegar smell but the laundry does not smell after the wash. I gave some to friends to try and so far the feedback is excellent. I promise, I am not paid by any company to say that ! I bought 1kg, it is suppose to be enough for a year if you do 3-4 washing machine/week.
For people living in the UK, I bought mine there. I am sure you can find them easily anywhere.
We can all do a little something for the environment ! :0)

Juliet

This morning I finished the Debbie Bliss jacket I was making (for myself). I just need to find a nice wee button.

I have started a lace project. The pattern is from the book, Victorian lace today. It is the third time I am starting it. The first time the wool was a bit hairy and as every row is patterned, it was a bit tricky. Then I started with that wool (I bought it from Louise, she had some spare, and you should see what she is making with it!) but realised that something was wrong (Initially, I thought it was my knitting skills). Thansk to Ravelry, I got the errata for the pattern. Now I am doing OK, I think. I've done 4 repeats of the pattern, 36 more to go and the border. That one will keep me busy for several months.

This morning I was in the mood for starting a new project and I decided on that one. Otto the Owl from Lucinda guy book.
Today, the weather was nice in Dundee, although very windy, but we decided to go cycle to Tayport before lunch. 1h30 of cycling was just what we needed! I forgot my camera and I was trying to dig out some pictures from the computer when I found these ones. It was a wool shop on the West coast of Scotland, near Skye.

A weekend in Paris

Our weekend in Paris was great, as usual. Very tiring as well, as we always try to make the most of it so we end up doing too much! The weather was gorgeous so we spent our time outside during the day. However, as soon as the sun was low on the horizon we were rushing inside because it was freezing.

On Saturday, we made our pilgrimage to "la FNAC" (compulsory each time we go to France) and in the evening we went to see Zazie's concert. It was the best concert I've ever been to. Zazie was great, the audience excellent and the concert hall small (only 900 places).

The next day we just walk all day. In the evening we went to the cinema and then to another show.

I let you enjoy the pictures.

View from the hotel room:

Some lights:
pantheon:
Eiffel tower:
Moulin Rouge:
Canal Saint-Martin:

This shop sells and repairs bikes but also serves hot chocolate and homemade patisseries. It was too early on Sunday to stop for a chocolate and a cake, it is a shame, it was smelling very good... It is located along the canal St-Martin, next to this building above (I forgot to take note of the address).

Le Louvre:

Bridge Alexandre III:

Orsay museum:

Grand Palais:

Parc des Buttes Chaumont:

Family picture

Stephane had fun yesterday evening. It made me laugh when I woke up this morning so I wanted to share it with you....

Off we go, train at 10.50 toPrestwick and then the plane to Paris is at 15.55.
Enjoy your weekend.

018

Just a quick post to show you our new addition to the family: pigeon 018. Diane purchased one (number 015) and I fell in love with it. So I ordered one (here) and gave it to Stephane for Valentine. We still have to find him a name though, and I have to buy wool to knit him a jumper.

Tomorrow we are going to Paris for the weekend and he can come with us as his passport is valid !

Baby knit

We are having a kind of baby shower for Allyson on Tuesday night at Isabel's. I am not sure she will be opening the presents for the baby as she didn't wanted to, so it will be more a girl night out.

Anyway, yesterday I've knitted something for the baby: a mouse (Lucinda Guy pattern).

I will also give her a wee fabric bag. I've made several of them last summer to use instead of wrapping paper.

Yesterday, it was our monthly Newburgh knitting group (Thanks Louise for the lift). It was extremely quiet without Diane (in Berlin for the weekend) ;0). I manage to not buy any wool but I found a silk Lantern Moon needle case in the bargain corner (half price!).

In the afternoon, I spent few hours updating my projects and my stash on Ravelry. I am addicted to it now. Luckily, I am not working on my computer at the moment at work, otherwise I would be too tempted.... and at home I have to share it with Stephane.

The new world terror threat

I wanted to post this picture for a long time but I've always delayed it. It is the picture of our knitting group at Borders, Dundee. It has been on display on a big poster at the entrance of the shop for a long time. The staff always add nice comments about us on the board. At the moment, we are the new world terror threat. This photo was taken donkeys ago and there are a lot more of us now and we are getting bigger. Maybe they are right after all, we are the new world terror threat... ;0)


Yesterday, I have received my invitation to ravelry. I've already spent a lot of time uploading pictures of my projects, my books, needles... and I will have to spend more time to explore it. This is great, I love it !!!!

Olivia's blanket

This weekend I managed to do quite a lot of knitting. I have finished the blanket for my niece to be. It took me ages to knit the border as I decided to pick all the stitches at once (600 stitches plus the increases at the corners) and knit it in the round.

I am still working on Maeva's jumper. The back is now done and I am on the first sleeve. I still have a lot of tidy up at the back and the embroideries but I am getting there.

Finally, I've started something for myself: a Debbie Bliss pattern from her book, rialto.

I've bought the wool at Christmas. I've choosen 100% merino from Katia. It is really soft and much cheaper than the Debbie Bliss. The whole body is worked in one piece to the armholes. I've just started on the second ball. Although I did the sample for the tension, I had to start again 3 times to get the right size. I am going to make it a bit longer as I find it a little short.

I've done something else with the lopi but I don't think I should put it on the blog just now as the person it is for might see it. It needs a little finishing touch anyway...

Flognarde

Last Sunday we had a farewell lunch for Jane at Louise's. I've baked a flognarde and it was appreciated. It is not a very sweet dessert so you'd better double the amount of sugar if you've got a very sweet tooth. It is very light and easy to make.


Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:
4 big pears (or 2x400g cans of pear in juice, drained)
Lemon juice (if using fresh pear)
4 eggs
1 litre of milk
90g flour
100g sugar
40g butter
5cl pear alcohol (optional)

Grease a deep tin.
Boil the milk with the sugar.
Sieve the flour, add the eggs and mix. Keep beating, and then gradually pour the hotsweet milk into the egg/flour mix. Add the pear alcohol.
Peel and seed the pears. Spray them with some lemon juice so they won't go black.
Then, put them into the greased tin. Pour the dough on the pear.
Spinkle some butter on top.
Bake for 40 minutes at 190 C.
You can eat it warm or cold. It is suppose to be delicious with some red fruit jam.

Bon appetit !