A Saturday afternoon...

After running around all morning,
I got my yarn out...
Out into garden that is!


The temperature has been perfect today,
still not to hot...
And the animals loved it too...

Jeff made dinner,
I had a glass of wine.
Hope tomorrow will be as good as today!
Have a nice weekend everybody...


Etter en travel morning,
med riding, handlerunde og planting av blomster,
tok vi oss en velfortjent pust i bakken.
Garn og pinner kom ut,
et glass vin og godstolen...
Dagen var perfekt!

Det vokser votter i hagen!

I am growing mittens in my garden!
Inspired by the beautiful colors outside,
and yet again from the book "Poetry in Stitches",
I used one of the patterns to create these mittens.
It will probably not be the last pair emerged from this book...


Mye vakre farger å velge i for tiden.
Inspirasjonen kommer fra fargene naturen,
og jeg koser meg sånn med boken "Dikt i masker".
Link lenger nede på siden..
Mønsteret her er "lånt" fra en av jakkene der.
Det blir helt sikkert ikke det siste paret!

På pinnene akkurat nå..

er et nytt par med votter.

Ikke helt ferdige, bare nesten ferdige....
Ble så inspirert av et mønster i boka "Dikt i masker".
Denne "blomsten" er brukt på en nydelig barnejakke,
og jeg fikk brukt litt reste garn...


I got inspired by a pattern
in the very beautiful book "Poetry in stitches".
I used some of my left over yarn.


And did I mention that the Hibiscuses are blooming...

Hawaii rosene blomstrer i hagen.
De kommer i mange farger
og er nydelige!

Another pair is done....

I don't have sun here this morning,
so the picture isn't as vibrant as it could have been...


The color of these mittens are quite different...
I don't know how I came up with this color combination,
but now when their done,
I like them.
I decided to make the thumbs with a pattern,
different on each one,
which was fun.


The pattern on the wrist is from a pair of mittens I found on Knitty.
Further down on this blog I have made another pair
using the same pattern from Knitty.


Solen er borte nå på morgenkvisten,
så bildene er ikke så skarpe som de kunne ha vært.
Fargesammensetningen på disse vottene ble ganske uordinær,
var ikke helt ening med meg selv,
men resultatet ble OK synes jeg.
I tillegg brukte jeg mønsterborden fra vristen
på tommeltottene (kjekt ord..),
forskjellige fra hverandre.
Deler av mønsteret kan finnes på Knitty.
Et annet par fra samme mønster,
kan finnes litt lenger nede på denne bloggen.

More mittens...

Making this pair of mittens,

I got inspired by both Selbu mittens
and a small border used in one of Solveig Hisdal's patterns
from the book below.
I enjoyed making a pattern,
instead of a rib,
on the wrist part.
That is the way it's made on many Latvian patterns,
and I will probably make more of these,
- at least similar ones...


Disse vottene er en god miks av mønster,
inspirert av Latviske votter,
Selbu, og av Solveig Hisdal's mønster i boken under.
Akkurat nå synes jeg det er gøy å strikke mønster ved vristen
i stedet for den vanlige vrangborden..

Poetry in Stitches

I ordered this book from Norway, mine is in Norwegian,
but it comes in English also.
Title "Poetry in Stitches".
It's one of the most gorgeous knitting books I have ever seen.
The patterns are inspired and designed
from pieces of old clothing and paintings,
and have the most vibrant colors..

You don't have to be a knitter to enjoy it,
the pictures are just beautiful!

One of these days I will probably try to make one of the jackets,
it's hard to choose,
they are all so pretty!

Bestillte nettopp denne boka fra Norge,
Hillesvåg Ullvarefabrikk
og den er bare helt skjønn!
Har sittet her og bladd i den,
og man trenger slett ikke like å strikke
for å kunne kose seg med disse bildene!

Easter eggs

God Påske alle sammen!


Tomorrow morning we will hunt for eggs,
even though the weather is wet and cold...

Yellow chicken scarf

This was pretty fun to make,
although a tiny bit boring at times,
since I had to knit up a few inches...
49 cm to be exact...
Dale Baby-wool, again,
about one skein yellow,
plus a little left over red.


Dette var kjekt å lage,
selv om det ble litt kjedsommelig en liten stund
da jeg strikket i vei for å nå de 49cm som var full lengde...
En del ble strikket på biltur,
vi har venner på besøk fra Norge, og farter litt rundt forbi nå i påsken.
God Påske til alle sammen!

Hat is finished

I still have some yarn left,
so one of these days I will make socks and mittens.
For now, this is it,
and I am on to something new...

Jeg har litt garn igjen,
så etterhvert så blir det vel sokker og vanter tenker jeg.
Men akkurat nå så har jeg lyst til å strikke noe annet...

Pillows

I normally don't show any of my customized sewing,
since most doesn't really belong to me,
but I just felt like putting these pillows on the blog.
They are redone,
with a rusty/red silk and tassel cord,
to fit a new bedroom..

Puter for en klient.
De er omsydd og pyntet opp
med silke og bånd i en rød/rusten farge.

I am working...

...with the stuff that's not so fun.

Weaving in all the threads,
cutting up the front and arm openings,
so that I can attach the sleeves
and knit the edge around the neck and front opening.


The hat is almost done, I had to redo it,
I didn't like the way it came out even though I followed the pattern.
Maybe I'll make some socks and/or mittens also.

Holder på med å feste trådene på den lille jakken.
Lua ble for stor synes jeg,
og fellingen ble ikke noe særlig fin.
Fulgte mønsteret,
men likte ikke resultatet.
Har rekket opp, og er nå nesten ferdig.

Treat from Norway...

Yesterday I received I great gift!
"Seigemenn",
some sticky, Jello like, sugar dipped candy.
Don't know how to explain them,
but they are gooood!
At home,
most people spend their Easter vacation in the mountains skiing,
so for this occasion,
the "Seigemenn" where formed with skies on their feet,
adorable!
I also got my favorite chocolate from Freia,
milk chocolate and milk chocolate with walnuts.
Yommy!!


Fikk seigemenner og sjokolade fra Norge i går.
Det var en kjempeoverraskelse!
Mor og datter spiste nok litt mer enn det som er regnet for sundt....

Monday this week...

was 2 years ago since I lost my mother.
What can I say, my heart is still broken...

Today, driving my car, I was listening to this song by IL DIVO.
It is so beautiful, I just have to share it:

Mama thank you for who I am
Thank you for all the things I'm not
Forgive me for the words unsaid
For the times I forgot

Mama remember all my life
You showed me love, you sacrified
Think of those young and early days
How I've changed - along the way

And I know you belived
And I know you had dreams
And I'm sorry it took all this time to see
That I am where I am because of your truth
I miss you, I miss you

Mama forgive me the times you cried
Forgive me for not making right
All of the storms I may have caused
And I've been wrong, dry your eyes

Mama I hope this makes you smile
I hope you're happy with my life
At peace with every choice I made
How I've changed - along the way
And I know you believed in all my dreams
And I owe it all to you, Mama

- and yes, I miss you

Stripes and lace

I added a couple of small details,
and the jacket is done.

I didn't have a pattern for this,
but the size came out OK,

probably 3 months.


I thought it need to be tied on the inside also,
and the lace-edge is crochet.


Jakken er ferdig,
knyttet både på innsiden og utsiden.
Hadde ikke mønster til denne,
men den ser ut som ca. str. 3 mnd.
Heklet kant rundt til slutt.


Here is a cute little top I bought in Mexico.
Its so fine, the fabric is thin cotton,
just like old fashion handkerchiefs.
Around the neck and sleeves is this delicate crochet edge .


En nydelig liten baby trøye,
kjøpt i Mexico.
Stoffet er som i et "gammeldags" lommetørkle,
tynnt og delikat.
Den har en fin heklet kant rundt ermer og halslinning.

I am soooo exited!

With a lot of help from Coffeelady and Hege,
I changed the language on my computer,
and can finally write the letters: ÆØÅ
In Norwegian we have these three extra letters
just to make the language a little more complicated...
Thank you, both of you!

Endelig har jeg funnet ut
hvordan jeg kan få skrive norske bokstaver på dette tastaturet.
Etter at jeg skiftet fra Mac'en til laptop,
fikk jeg det bare ikke til.
Så nå er det slutt på knotingen håper jeg.

Buttermilk and Cinnamon cake

Yesterday I had a group of Norwegian friends visiting.
There is quite a few Norwegians in Houston,
due to the oil business.
Groups has formed in different areas of town,
forming new friendships and making the transition easier.
In my group everybody brings a little something to eat.
We meet in each others homes,
and yesterday we where about ten girls here.


I made this very easy cake,
it has no eggs,
and here is the recipe:


1 liter buttermilk
4 cups sugar
6 cups flour
4 tbsp cinnamon
1 cup melted butter (margarine)
3 tsp baking soda (mixed with a little buttermilk)
350F for 45 min.

Alternate wet and dry,
and mix well,


poor into a lined large oven pan.

In preheated oven,
cook for 45 min - 350F

When done, let it cool about 45 min - 1 hour
before putting the "chocolate-glaze" on:

Chocolate topping:
1 tsp vanilla sugar (vanilla concentrate}
1 tbsp cocoa
1 stick softened butter (about 100gr) I use margarine
250 gr powdered sugar
3-4 tbsp coffee

Sprinkle coconut on top.

It is very good warm!
Enjoy!!


Jeg hadde 10 norske jenter paa besoek i gaar.
Det er mange av oss her i Houston pga all olje virksomheten her.
Forskjellige grupper moetes i forskjellige omraader av byen,
ettersom hvor en bor.

Vi samles av og til hjemme hos hverandre,
og pleier ta med oss litt hver til aa "bite i".
Her er oppskriften til kaka vi spiste,
veldig enkel, ingen egg:

1 liter sur melk
4 kopper sukker
6 kopper mel
4 ss kanel
1 kopp smeltet smoer (margarin er ok)
3 ts natron (mikses i litt av surmelken)

Miks alt godt sammen,
alterner toerrt og vaatt.

Stekes paa 180 gr C i 45 minutter

La kaka sitte litt foer du tar paa fyllet,

Sjokolade fyll:
1 ts vaniljesukker
1 ss kakao
100 gr mykt smoer
250 gr melis
3-4 ss kaffe

Sprinkle kokos over

Kaka smaker veldig godt naar den enda er litt varm...
Lykke til!

OK,- en vott er ferdig...

Det var visst paa tide...
Jeg har nok garn til et ekstra par,
men kanskje snur jeg litt paa farge kombinasjonen.
Disse vottene er stoerre enn "vanlige"votter
som jeg har strikket tidligere.
Vristen en en god del lengre.
Her er moensteret.
Garn: Cascade 220.


One mitten is done,
and I really like the colors if I may say....
I also have quite a bit yarn left,
so maybe I will make a pair
with the green and turquoise as the main color...
This shape is different from any mittens I have made before,
its quite large,
especially the piece from the CO to where the thumb begin.
Here is the pattern.
Yarn: Cascade 220.

Paa jakt - hunting...

Just had to post this picture of my daughters cat Simba...

She is a good photographer!

And by the way....

The vacation is over for now,
and we are back home,
getting ready for Easter
and visitors from Norway!

Just wanted to show this last thing, it's so cool...


These are real flowers,
Hibiscus (Hawaii rose).
The maid picked flowers every morning,
and decorated our pillows after making the bed,
- every day!!
I thought it was very creative..

Ull votter i varmen...

I found this pattern at Knitty.
The colors are a little different,
I was trying to use from my stash.


Fant dette moensteret hos Knitty.
Liker i grunnen begge farge kombinasjonene,
men jeg proever aa faa brukt noe jeg hadde liggende,
og ville ikke kjoepe nytt.