Whole Foods has bundles of bittersweet vine in now. I think I need to plant some of my own next year, I love it so much.
The green sweater would be finished if I had not obsessed so much about the shoulder seams. One side has been stitched and unstitched four times using different methods. Since this sweater is a solid color, it stands out if it's not right on. I even went to the yarn shop to see how their sample sweaters were sewn but that way didn't work either. Ended up with this. Almost there.
I made a big pot of beef stock. It simmered for about 30 hours total. Then I made a batch of French onion soup with some of it and froze the other 4½ quarts. The finely-chopped carrot in the soup is a nice addition -- the recipe is from The Grassfed Gourmet Cookbook by Shannon Hayes. I haven't decided what to do with the tallow yet but it won't be wasted. I'm thinking the birds might like it mixed with some birdseed.
A new 3' blue spruce made it through its first summer, a hot and dry one at that. Such a brave little tree. Even though we've already had icy temperatures and snow, many plants in the garden haven't given up yet. Today I realized a potted jasmine vine was still out on the patio. It looks fine -- not blooming, of course, but nice and green. Does anyone in Zone 5 or colder over-winter jasmine?
Thanks for coming by and happy weekending. xo
Love that shade of green youve used. I have winter jasmine blossoming right now, November here is the start of our winter and jasmine often flowers thru and after xmas. there are 2 types far as I know, Ive always known them summer and winter is yellow whereas, summer is white flowered. What colour does your plant have? I guess you must get prolonged lower temps but we often have snow and my plants have always made it through over here.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with yours anyway.
Maybe if its in a pot you could use bubble wrap, round it and beneath it and maybe trial it over winter?
I have a jasmine vine that I have over wintered in my cold frame, which provides little warmth. Mine is the kind with the leathery leaves and white star flowers that smell good in the spring. It will loose its leaves, but always comes back. An idea a friend who has bonsai is to place it in a plastic garbage can with lid surrounded by leaves or crumpled newpaper. We typically get to the low teens or below every winter. The biggest problem is the lack of moisture here. I love your sweater and the bittersweet looks so pretty next to it. Wishing you a beautiful weekend.
ReplyDeletei understand your dilemma about stitching the shoulder seams. i just recently learned about 'the short row bind-off' which makes for a smooth finish. here's a video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur30NRtsB4U
ReplyDeletei'm going to try it next time.
Love the green sweater! That shade is so lovely. What kind of yarn is this, I don't recall if you've said. The french onion soup sounds yummy. And the little owl pair is so charming. Am I to understand that can use the open area with a measuring spoon or close and shake what you need right out?! If so, very clever!
ReplyDeletethe greens and oranges here are just beautiful. finishing a sweater almost always does me in. & love french onion soup, we used to live in michigan & there was a restaurant i would go to for my birthday each year for the onion soup. yours looks wonderful.
ReplyDeleteLovely...
ReplyDeleteI love your salt and pepper pots so much, and the onion soup of course!
Lyn & Jeannie, thanks so much for your tips. Mine is the white-flowered. I will try some way to over-winter it, for sure. It just grew like crazy over the summer, cut it back just to move it closer to the house.
ReplyDeleteDeanna, thanks for the video link, I've learned so much from your findings!
ReplyDeleteNancy, thank you about the sweater, that yarn is a Debbie Bliss DK. Those s & p holders seem to have a little side notch that a tiny spoon must've fit into? That's all I can figure. They're really little though, too small to get your fingertips in even. I bought them at an estate sale a while back.
Thank you, Cindy. I'm glad to hear that finishing work does other people in, too. It's still not done. Dang. It's like a neverending project. I still have 4 more inches of collar left. ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Trish, thank you -- the s & p pots are very tiny and very heavy. Some heavy metal :) I guess.