French steak et autre choses..

It is quite strange basking in the sunshine (16.5 C this moring), when the reports from friends and family in the UK are reporting such a prolonged spell of snow and ice. This photo from our old neighbours in the Highlands brought back memories of the many times we had to dig a track for ourselves before heading out to work. Very ofter we were both at our desks before people living in the city too!
Delighted to report that the Christmas sweater fits! And he's pleased with it and it is being modelled as I write at the Petanque club in Port Ste Foy.
Our New Year's Day dinner is traditionally steak pie, which has posed a problem since moving to France as we have never found French beef to live up to the quality of Scotch beef. (Duncan Fraser's butchers in Inverness comes high on the list of things I miss...). The other issue is the different names for the cuts. I have been doing some internet research over the last few days and 'paleron' steak came highly recommended. This morning we set off to Castillon for a bit of pre holiday shopping and found some nice looking paleron at the butcher's counter in Leclercs. It is lean and will need either long slow cooking or pressure cooking. I just hope I can get it tender and it has some taste. In France the don't hang their beef very long, which I think is the issue regarding taste; but this is supposed to be a tasty cut. Time will tell.

Rooster scarf

This was a quick little project worked while watching festive TV.

Back to normal...well nearly

Christmas is great, but it is also lovely to get back to nomal after all the festivities. After 4 days of socialising and overeating, yesterday we returned to simpler fare, which was quite comforting in a funny sort of way. We have been enjoying really mild weather and as the rain cleared up yesterday G got a chance to test out his new set of boules. Today the weather is even more pleasant at 16 C and I have managed to catch up on some washing.

G's jumper was nearly finished for Christmas - and I have managed to sew it up over the last two afternoons.

Christmas cooking

Yesterday we were back in Libourne to collect my permanent card which gives me permission to sell at markets - only around half an hour to wait this time. Then a bit of pre Christmas shopping and we popped in the the Comptoir de St Genès for lunch on the way home.

The weather has changed to pretty miserable rain; no petanque, so someone will be still crazy pretty soon.. I’ve spent all week looking for quail’s eggs (I know this sounds trivial), and normally they’re easy to get here, but they must have gone off the lay as none to be found. I wanted them for my Boxing Day starter (bah humbug). Trying Delia’s fallen chocolate soufflé with Armagnac prunes – it’s in the oven just now and house smells V chocolately. We’re on our own Christmas Day but we’re having our friend Margaret on Boxing Day (hence the quail quest.. and cake cooking.)

Not sorry to be missing the shopping madness in the UK, very little hype here and although a little busier than normal, very civilised.

PS The soufflé has souffléd! I’m off to watch it fall….

The new fairy

I started this little lady in the summer, and she was all put together apart from the candles. I thought it would be a five minute job to finish her off, but as ever things take longer than you think. A very sticky and fiddly job, but she does look quite happy perched on the tree. We're have Christmas drinks this evening and I need to dash to finish off the nibbles..

Marché de Noël, Eymet

This week we had our office Christmas party. Because we don't have any co-workers, we went with Liz, Taso and Margaret to make it a bit more fun. We had a tip about a relatively new restaurant at St Genès de Castillon, Le Comptoir de Genès and we were not disappointed. A very refreshing and modern take on eating out in this area - the tables are set in between the cases of wine for sale. There is a menu at 14 euros, which includes a glass of wine which is great value. We all plumped for the a la carte as it was a special occasion and were delighted. The wine is at chateau prices, plus 6 euros corkage which is pretty reasonable. We would love to fit in a nother visit before they close on 31 December, so fingers crossed...

How cold can you be! Well, VERY. It was -4 C when we set off for Eymet yesterday morning and really never got above freezing (lots of fun for the kids; they were sliding on the ice and practising their moonwalking). We were pitched in the square, in front of Santa's cabin, instead of under the arcades where we expected and had not taken our new tent with us. In some ways, it was better as we tried to follow the sun round the square to thaw out slightly, but my nose and toes did not thaw out until we got home. The morning was quite busy, but in the afternoon most people were just out for a stroll and a chat. G says it his last market - we'll see...

Marché de Noël St Emilion

I am so lucky living in such a beautiful part of the world and within half and hour of a World heritage site like St Emilion. I hope these pictures give flavour of the village and our stand. The weather was very cold and crisp, and on our way home there were flakes of snow...
All tucked up now with full tummies and the woodburner going to keep everyone, especially Smokey, content.

St Emilion

Just back from an exciting (but very cold) two days in St Emilion. What an experience!

Alba Yarns goes to marché

In my absence yeaterday, our market stall was delivered and a top up Origin order. This morning was spent on a trial run with the tent, which went up pretty easily on the terrace. Time will tell how it will work out in market place at Eymet. We hope to go tomorrow - so watch this space...

Sock wool

This was my second attempt, which is a lot more pleasing to the eye. In fact, I really like it. This was dyed using logwood and my organic walnuts. It will make an interesting pair of socks.

Dyeing day with Melinda

Yeaterday, I spent a really interesting day with Melinda and two of her friends doing some natural dyeing. It is all very 'hubble bubble' and I had to dash off to pick up my Sterling Shopping order and leave Melinda with the cleaning up.. This was my first (not very good) effort, using turmeric and cochineal. Sadly, it is felted. Maybe someone out there will have an idea how to use it - collage anyone?

The chicks go to market...

A much improved stall went to the Pessac sur Dordogne market to support the Telethon (the French equivalent of Children in Need). Unfortunately, there were very few customers. We had good business from the other stallholders, but some people had few or no sales.

Spot my lovely chicks! I only sold one.....

My flock of cute chicks

These girls (I think there are girls...) are for the Christmas Telethon fair on Sunday in Pessac sur Dordogne, where I will have a stand. They are doorstops and are filled with wheat and my own dried lavender. I may have time to make some more with a bit of luck.

origin' has arrived

My first small order of the new BERGERE de France origin' range has arrived. The yarns and very luxurious and the designs are just amazing. The pattern book is so fabulous and will be gracing my coffee table. Anyone who has seen this range has fallen in love with it and I have a customer visiting tomorrow to collect her book and decide what she wants to knit - a difficult decision as there are so many delicious designs.

Le marché

We set off at 6.45 am for our first day at market at Eymet. It was raining when we set off, but the sun came out after dawn and it turned out to be a lovely day. The other stall holders said it was really quiet, but we were quite pleased with our first outing and have plans to improve the stand for future visits.

I love deliveries

I have two orders expected this week. Today, the Bergere de France order arrived, while I was at La Poste with my parcels. A wasted journey as it turned out as it was closed with a sign on the door - 'greve' (strike). Bah humbug!!!
All systems go on my return to get the new stock photographed and on the website as soon as possible. There are two new magazines 149 and 150; the first for kids and the second for all the family. I am so tempted to keep the yarn that arrived for me (Teddy and Eclair) for the pattern featured in VOGUE knitting, but I'm not even halfway through the Christmas sweater.....

The second delivery arrived at lunchtime and it's been all systems go to bet it all checked and photographed. The King Cole yarns are for the value range and we will be taking these on our market trips. We're hoping to get to the market in Eymet on Thursday.

Soap packing

Yesterday, I packed up some of the soap I made in September on Melinda's soap making course. They are wrapped in tissue and then pretty fabric tied with ribbon. These are destined for Jo and Brigitte to thank them for the walnuts. And the black and white one went to Margaret for her help with the picking.

Il fait beau!

The wether has been glorious today and yesterday, in stark contrast to the UK. Amazingly for November, G found two ripe figs still on the tree this morning. The pyracantha hedge is looking at its best with the sun shining too.

I have plans to use some organic walnuts to dye wool and my friend Margaret ans I set off this morning to pick some that were left over from the harvest. We picked a huge bucket full and as a bonus some lovely field mushrooms too.

At last!

Much excitement last night when we discovered that we have at least two hedgehogs visiting the garden. G heard their funny snuffling noise and at first thought someone was trying to saw down the hedge (what an imagination!). Any way, then he spotted the little chaps rooting around and this morning the grass bears the evidence where they have been digging up worms. It must be too early or not cold enough yet for them to hibernate.

Success (well in a temporary sort of way)! After trip number 5 to Libourne - 325 km/200 miles, this morning I got a temporary card to authorise me to sell at markets. It is valid for a month and would you believe it, I've to go back in a month to collect the 'proper' one. C'est la vie française!

Still no card...****

We had another trip to Libourne today to get the market selling card. Only waited half an hour this time - but guess what? They wanted nother piece of paper I did not have with me. How difficult can (French) people make this? Anyone in business here deserves a medal. Determiniation has set in and we are going back tomorrow. Third time lucky, I hope.

Anyway, a little pic of the first ECO wool sleeve to cheer me up..

This cheered me up...

The quest for my official card to sell at markets continues. After waiting for an hour in the queue at the sous prefecture in Libourne - they wanted a piece of paper I didn't have with me. They never make things easy here.
I was cheered up by the arrival of a promotional package from Bergere de France yeasterday. in fact I can't stop looking at the contents as they are so gorgeous. They have launced an new lxuxury collection of yarns with a superb collection of patterns. A ball of cashmere for me! I would love to stock this, but need to work out terms. The range is called Origin' - more about this later.

French bureaucracy

After the delights of yesterday's weather, 'le temps anglais', as they say round here, has returned with a vengeance. As we had an appointment with the Chamber of Commerce in Libourne it didn't matter much. I had hoped to take some photos of the Pomerol vineyards, as the CCI is right in the middle of them, but they were not looking their best today.
However, I can now take my wares to market since I got the appropriate permissions! At least once I get to the Prefecture for my carte de commercant ambulant. I managed to go and get the obligatory photos taken, but will need to head back to the prefecure another day.

The sun has returned!

After a week of rain and wind, it was pleasant to wake up to the sun this morning. It made my stroll to La Poste very pleasant. (No bike today - too many parcels).

The main street of the village is looking wonderful, now the new road surface has been laid. We have had two years of work, but the village is looking superb.

In French class this afternoon we covered character traits, which was useful. "Je suis une tricoteuse".....is not a trait I was told!

Friday Night Knitting Club

As most people will know, Julia Roberts was was of the earliest celebrity knitters to 'come out'. I'm sure it must be a suberb way of killing time between takes. I have just discovered that she is starring in the film version of 'The Friday Night Knitting Club' by Kate Jacobs, which I loved when I read it.
I can just see Julia as the lead character, Georgia. The film is due out in 2010 - I'm counting the days!
PS Julia, if you are ever in France and need wool, let me know.

Gary's Christmas sweater

Now the wrap is finished I have made a start to Gary's sweater (hopefully for Christmas?) Becacuse he does all the photography for the websites, and as a result he has a wish list of yarn that takes his fancy. This is my first project from the Knit Naturelle stock - it is important to test it out!

Finding a pattern is always a bit more tricky! Anyway he finally settled on the diamond cable sweater from the Sirdar Eco wool III book. Made a start to the sweater last night. The Sirdar ECO Wool is lovely and soft to work with and will produce a really warm garment; it will be ideal for playing petanque in the winter!

Everyway wrap

Thank goodness Smokey is a bit better today; yesterday was terrible. He could hardly stand and was the personification of the term 'spaced out' after the injection the vet gave him. This morning he was HUNGRY and his voice has returned. What a relief!

My everyway wrap is finished. Knitting is great therapy and it has helped take my mind off poor Smokey's troubles. He also likes it when I'm sitting down; although knitting and cuddling don't mix - he needs my full and undivided attention!

Anyway, I'm not surprised this has proved such a popular pattern as it is so easy once you get to grips with it (check for the errata though; error on the chart), and such a versatile piece.

Vet visits

Our poor cat Smokey, who is now 16 has not been well. Just back from our second visit to the vet this week. He has an enlarged heart and it is beating way too fast. He needs pills every day (he's getting used to that), but sadly the water pills he was also to take were making him sick. Today, he got the works, temperature - so undignified!!; blood test and then an injection to stop him feeling sick. He's now on a special diet too, which he seems to like thank goodness. He came back limping and feeling sorry for himself, but hopefully if the woodburner is on tonight that will make up for everything.

Knit Naturelle est arrivée!

At last the new website has gone live. The trouble with selling wool, is that recently I've had no time for 'me' knitting! The swatches are all finished and we even went to take some pictures at the Post Office yesterday for the new site. We thought it would be quiet on Sunday morning, but it was like Piccadilly circus, and we got some very funny looks...

Swatches, swatches, swatches

Holidays are great, but it has been back to work for me this week with a vengeance.

Two bid orders arrived last week. One from Sirdar and the other contained my organic merino wool and baby alpaca. I needed to do tension swatches for the whole range and prepare sample packs before it goes on the new website. I'm on the last one today, so nearly there... It is sooo lovely!

Scottish holiday

I got back on Saturday from my short break with Tracy in Prestwick. The weather was lovely (although has gone down hill since my return). In my absence there were two huge deliveries and now I need to get back to some serious work for the new website. Gary has done sterling work in my absence and it looks great!

Monty, my 'grandcat' really approved of the Noro 'everyway wrap' - see photo in earlier post - but it proved impossible to continue knitting!

Smokey, our boy, has missed me too and I've had lots of cuddles and purrs since my return. Mind you he is not so popular when he tries to 'help' when I'm at the computer.

Another prize!

Before I left for my short break in Scotland last week, Gary had more success in the petanque competition. He got through to to semi finals and returned home at 7.30pm with this huge piece of pork! We managed to get it chopped up small enough to put away in the freezer. The piece we tested on the grill was delicious.

Wrap of many colours

This is one of these clever patterns with reversible cables from the fall Interweave Knits. The NORO is very effective and also lightweight. The finished garment is deigned to be worn in lots of ways.

Our prize!

We went to the Mairie yesterday afternoon for a reception to all the residents who had won a prize in the 'gardens' awards. It is not a formal competition, but prizes are awarded to the gardens that improve the look of the village. We were delighted to win and our street did well, with a total of three winners. We enjoyed a a buffet of mini gateaux and sweet wine, after the Maire said a few words and we had been awarded our prizes of winter floral arrangements.

It has been a busy week here. Work needed on my PC meant I had a backlog and then when it returned from PC hospital – it crashed and had to go back in! It is back now but there are still a few problems with the new wifi set up. Oh, the joys of IT..

My cross stitch kit order arrived, and is now all checked off and ready. The Sirdar sample books also arrived and I have been working on an order for them. Two highlights this week (one woolly; one not) were the arrival of my un-dyed yarn samples, which are delight, particularly the baby alpaca. Can’t wait til the full order arrives as I want to use the organic merino aran for the Everyway wrap, from Interweave autumn magazine.

The non woolly excitement was when a letter arrived from the Mairie telling us we have won a prize in the village completion for our garden. All credit has to go to Gary, as he does all the hard work. The prize giving is next Saturday.

Work has started on the new website and it is looking very nice – but it all very top secret at the moment.

Taso’s Christmas scarf is finished and the extreme hood progressing. This afternoon, I have been working on a pattern which will be a freebie for the new website. My first pattern!

If we are organised and the weather stays dry, we intend to take stands at the markets at Eymet and Ste Foy next week.

(Quite) Extreme knitting

This is a little project for a hood/snood (yes, it is 30 degrees here today - but I'm thinking ahead!) Worked in four strands of Bergere's Alaska and size 20mm needles. It is quite hard work actually, but it looks good.

More soap

We also made liquid soap - but it does not make for an exciting photograph!

Last week was really different. I want on a soap making course with Melinda Coss in her house in Larocal. Melinda is the acknowledged expert on this subject having started a business initially from a hobby in her kitchen progressing to large industrial premises where she and her staff made superbly natural soaps and toiletries for Harrods, Tesco, Safeway, Asda and Sainsbury in addition to supplying exclusive shops and hotels in the UK and in France. Melinda is currently involved in setting up soap making units in rural Tanzania & in Cape Town to encourage and enable young people to run their own businesses.

http://www.makesoap.biz/

Over the years Melinda has written books on just about every craft you could imagine, but it was our common love of knitting which made the week extra interesting.

My lovely soap! I just have to wait 4 – 6 weeks now until it cures. Lots of lovely Christmas presents…. They smell divine – I can’t wait to use some.

During the week, we had lots of time to talk about making soap as businesses and other ideas focussing on development of Alba Yarns. I left with my head buzzing! This week has been busy following up leads, so watch this space for news of developments!

Tomatillos

I had never heard of Tomatillos until I bought a new book by Jamie Purviance to go with my Weber Q grill (you really should get a cookbook with these grills WEBER..). Until the book came along, the grill had not been used to its full potential. Mr Purviance is a genius!

Anyway, I was intrigued by his tomatillo salsa, acquired some seeds from the US and grew them. This week we had enough to make the salsa. They are funny little things, and start off with a little coat like a cape gooseberry.

After all that, I guess they must be an aquired taste - too bitter for both us. So sorry Mr tomatillo...

I like the tailored finish of Marion's designs, the close fabric (although it does take more yarn - 15 balls of Jaeger Extrafine Merino in this case), but this will be a lovely autumn/winter garment with the right smart/casual feel that I like.

Marion Foale finished despite the heat!

Pretty much the hottest day of the year today, but managed to complete the sewing up of my Marion Foale jacket. It won't be getting worn for some time, but I am very pleased with the finished article.

Rowan Windsor update

This is a monster! Rowan must have forgotten to mention that you need a circular needle for this once you arrive at the sleeves. This pic shows it on an 80cm circular - impossible on regular needles.

It's hot, hot, hot!

Busy old day today. Badly needed haircut this morning and a quick whizz round the supermarket. In my absence, Margaret had delivered a basket of beautiful plums. Too many to eat so this afternoon involve unscheduled plum sauce making (fab with duck...) and roasting/smoking the chickens for tomorrow's little lunch party with my French class. Too hot for cooking really, but has to be done.

Work continuing on the Rowan Windsor. But given the sleeves and back are knit in one piece, progress is now slow...

Bergere bolero

The sun is shining today, after a miserable, wet and cold Easter weekend. So I completed the sewing up of my bolero outside. It is worked in Cotton 50 from the Bergere 08/09 Collection. Fewer problems to report than with the jacket, thank goodness, although you need to keep your wits about you with the shaping of the fronts with the increases at both edges. There was quite a bit of late night ripping back, but at least the fronts are little. I also knitted on the front band with a cicular needle, as I'm not too keen on sewing bands on - the finish is never as neat. Very pleased with this cute little garment and think it will be practical too.