Light in the Darkness

I particularly enjoy taking the kayak out late in the day...right before the sun sets over the lake. Getting caught up in the rhythm and swish of the paddles in the water is a great way to unwind at the end of the day.

Last week the darkness wasn't quite as relaxing. A storm rolled in, uprooting trees and downing power lines. I was very grateful not to be out on the lake at the time. I was without electricity for nearly 48 hours, which also meant the pump for the well water didn't work. I was able to knit by the light of a kerosene lamp...very Little House on the Prairie.

Freedom on the Water

Here is our newest purchase for the cottage...a kayak!

It was driving me crazy to see the lake from the cottage window and not be able to go out on it unless someone else was here to go in the canoe or paddleboat with me. Now I can go out on the water whenever I want. The irony is that while we've been waiting all summer for it to rain, it finally started raining the day we bought the kayak and it pretty much hasn't stopped since.

From Dirty Fleece to Gorgeous Yarn

My mom and I went to the Michigan Fiber Festival today. What fun! Imagine rows and rows of colorful yarn, raw fleece (dirty, smelly wool straight from the sheep), hand-dyed roving (to spin into yarn), and beautiful books with more projects than any one person could ever accomplish. We fondled fiber from sheep, alpacas, llamas, and angora rabbits. I'll upload more pics later, but with dial-up it is SO SLOW!!!

A Different Kind of Burger

Barbeque season isn't over yet. In fact, it is getting better with the occasional cooler afternoon...here in Michigan anyway. Tonight I made Sate' Burgers for my folks who were here for the day. Try them...they are YUMMY! Check back on Sunday for a report on our trip to the Michigan Fiber Festival this weekend. I can't wait!!

Sate' Burger

1/4 C finely chopped unsalted dry-roasted peanuts
1/3 C finely chopped onion
1 1/2 TBSP brown sugar
2 TBSP lime juice
1/4 C ground flax
1 1/2 TBSP fish sauce
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp Tobasco sauce
4 cloves garlic, minced
3/4 lb. ground pork
3/4 lb. ground turkey breast

Combine all ingredients, except meat. Mix in meat with your hands. (Squishy, squishy!) Form into patties and cook on the grill. With a fresh tomato slice and some garlic-herb cheese...yum!

Wool and Water

I finished a pair of felted wool mittens using some yarn that I bought at Marr Haven Farm, not far from the cottage. I used the mitten pattern from Felted Knits by Beverly Galeskas and a non-felted cuff from Knit One, Felt Too by Kathleen Taylor. I don't know why I didn't just knit the mitten pattern that went with the cuff, but I didn't. I am very happy with the finished product, although I had to send them through about 5 wash cycles before they felted down to the right size.





Last week I met up with a Minnesota knitting friend in Chicago. It was great fun to check out a yarn shop downtown and to just catch up with her. Hopefully she'll forgive me for sending her on a bit of a Metra train fiasco...it all turned out okay in the end. Last night I hung out with my nieces and they took me to their local sprinkler park. Every town needs one of these!




I also helped my mom with a quilt she is making for my youngest niece. It is adorable, but I decided that I'd better stick with knitting.

The Flash Girls and the Little Guy

I had lots of company last weekend. My brother, sister-in-law, 2 nieces, my cousin, his wife and their 2 kids, my sister-in-law's mother and sister and niece, and my parents (just during the day). We had great fun!! The girls played with flashlights the first night and started calling themselves the Flash Girls.

Even when the fun turned from flashlights to frogs, they still insisted they were the Flash Girls. My cousin's little boy was allowed to play along a few times.

Berries, Berries, Everywhere...And A Few Tears

Well, it's been awhile since I've posted. I have worked about 5 days at my new job and I love it!!! I will get to visit some families who are migrant farm workers and will be able to practice my Spanish skills. People around here seem to think it is pretty funny that my name is Bonita but I don't speak Spanish.




Last week I visited my family in Illinois and we made 5 batches of jam: blueberry/raspberry, blueberry, triple berry, blueberry apricot and strawberry.



If you're looking for a great cookbook for making jams, jellies and preserves, check out Gourmet Preserves by Chez Madelaine. We made the Blueberry Raspberry Preserve recipe which was more labor intensive than the other batches but it's very yummy!

We spent the weekend at the 50th anniversary celebration of Community Mennonite Church in Markham, IL. The church has weathered 50 years of demographic changes in the community and racial tension within the church -- especially in the late 50's and early 60's. Although there are pieces of church history that some might rather forget, Community Mennonite has sustained itself through difficult times and remains a place where people who may look different on the outside can worship together and serve the community with joy. They are my family and it always feels like home when I return. It was an emotional weekend of laughter and tears with old and new friends and such a blessing for the 150+ people who attended. Check out my childhood friend's blog for a picture of me with 2 of her adorable children on the weekend. I may post other photos later but I used an ancient camera that takes film...remember film?