Windy Weekend

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I spent as much time as possible this weekend indoors, out of the wild winds that whirled through Brisbane, only braving the breeze long enough to fight the flapping laundry. Instead I cleaned, baked, crafted, napped and nursed the sniffles. I finished the striped garter stitch blanket I've been working. After a wool wash it will be tucked in to my hospital bag. I also finished my first ever cross stitch, Alicia Paulson's Winterwoods ABC, which I am so pleased with. I do believe I will frame it and pop it on the picture ledge above my bed. I've pulled the half finished striped scarf out of my knitting basket now, and there's a few other projects still waiting in there once it is finished. 

I'm looking forward to a few more quiet, crafty weekends before the baby arrives.

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PS.  I'm offering a free upgrade to Express Postage in Australia, on any purchase over $50 in my shop. Available until Thursday, 8 May 2014. Just leave the word 'EXPRESS' in the notes section to take advantage of this offer and ensure delivery in time for Mother's Day.

This Moment - 36 weeks

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. - Soule Mama

My Creative Space

I started this 8ply cabled vest for Cohen on Monday, after convincing myself that I would just cast on and knit the ribbing before returning to the 4ply raglan cardigan. Just to see what the wool was like. But It's knitting up so quickly. And the raglan cardigan? Um, well...

Ravelry.

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More Creative Spaces here.

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In the garden...

The first tomatoes are appearing

The lettuce are ready to be picked as needed

The watermelon vine creeps on

The corn grow taller

The potato is in flower

More basil, awaiting more pesto making

Purple beans climb

Several snow peas are ready for picking each day

The weeds are taking advantage of my pregnant tummy's desire not to allow me to bend over.

More lettuce and pea seeds have been planted. 

Carrot and celery seeds are ready to go in this weekend.

What's growing in your garden?

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36 weeks. Another ultrasound today. Perhaps our last black and white visions of our little ones' internal world before we meet him/her in person. In the meantime, I've been distracting myself with cooking, knitting, reading and resting. Wondering all the while, nonetheless, how much longer it will be. One week? Four? And taking each moment as it comes.

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Basil. It is the one herb that thrives wherever we live. Or perhaps, the one herb I'm yet to kill. Our first basil came without fanfare by way of a small potted plant from the supermarket. Unlike the other herbs purchased at the same time, it survived it's time on the window ledge - which Dave calls my ledge of death - and was planted out in a pot and eventually into our garden. We have never been short of basil for pizza or pasta since.

Recently, I accidentally grew several basil plants from seeds, in a pile of dirt Dave had put aside for a project. I'd tossed the picked seed heads onto the pile without a second thought. Totally neglected, those basil grew quickly with all the rain we've had lately. This weekend Dave started and has almost finished building a retaining wall and that pile of dirt is about to be called into use. Thus, I picked my wild basil and made basil pesto for the first time, using a mortar and pestle. Enough to refrigerate for the week and more in the freezer (the recipe is the same, minus the parmesan.)

Tonight I am looking forward to admiring our finished retaining wall, making fresh pasta to accompany the pesto and a salad with lettuce picked straight from the garden.

What have you been making, baking or cooking this weekend?