Hi Everyone :)
Here is my Year of Projects update! I knitted another hat. You Ravelry people have created a monster !! :) I even did some more work on my Beach/Fall Cover Up. The weather is so nice I've enjoyed porch-knitting every day! :) I also found a Canadian based online yarn company and am happily waiting for an order of yarn and needles!! I can't seem to stop now! :) I want to make some socks and I have some fall decorative knitting in mind too! And I might make another hat...one colour for each of my moods, lol!!! :)
All of my other projects have slowed down for now. No cheese making because I was waiting on an order, which I received on Friday! These are my Camembert molds.
And my Camembert moulds. :) This is my next cheese and if I have time this week, I'll make a few. Alex and I have some errands in the "big city" this week, gah....we hate driving to Montreal...but we'll grin and bear it. Heck, we'll even sneak in an authentic poutine while we're there to soften the blow lol!
It was Jack's birthday yesterday!! Our little fella is eleven years old. We don't know his real birthday so we celebrate on the anniversary of the day we adopted him!
I made the Spoiled Dog Cake again and we cut a little piece for each dog after dinner. We have to cut Jack's up in small pieces or he'll swallow it whole!
The dogs wait patiently as Alex says "take your place"...they are ready to pounce as soon as he says "okay!"...the cake was gone in less than 7 seconds...I counted! :)
Alex and I celebrated four and a half years together last week too. :) I try to make a fondue once a month on our special day. This one was AMAZING...and perfect for fall. Smoked Cheddar and Apple Fondue. Wow...we had an apple cider with it, so nice! We had to go for a long walk after dinner to help us digest! One thing about Quebec...they do apples right. There are so many orchards here and a few spots that make ciders, apple ice wines and apple liqueurs.
The fondue called for Apple Butter so I decided to make some. I made it very bland since I didn't want any spices in it. It's just 8 apples (peeled, cored and sliced), tossed into the crockpot for 8 hours with a sprinkling of brown sugar and a pinch of salt. I blended it after and it made about 2 cups. Delicious! Since apples and pears are in season now, we're going to try to load up when we go out so we can store some...and so we can try making some apple and pear liqueurs!
The weather is PERFECT!! Each morning it's cool, around 10 degrees Celcius...when I walk the dogs up the mountain, it's been foggy every morning. I love it! Then the afternoons are hot and humid so I can sit on the porch and enjoy what's left of summer. I always take a photo of the lake to show you the view...
...and here is a photo from behind me. This is the top of the "Green Peak" where I live. It's nice that there are some benches there but unfortunately I often see cigarette butts and empty beer bottles. At least when I go early in the morning, there is nobody around.
September promises to be "Indian Summer" here in the Laurentians and I couldn't be more thrilled! My tomatoes are ripening on the vine finally! :)
What a lovely place you live. You are living my dream. I always wanted to live in the mountains away from people with my hubby and critters. So I will live vicariously through you lol.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you are enjoying knitting. You do a nice job. As for cheese.......yummy stuff for sure and you are getting quite good at it.
Jack is a spry 11 year old. Your dogs are gorgeous.
Thanks Marsha :) Alex and I gave up a lot to move up north...and we plan on moving even MORE remotely in the woods in a few years. If we didn't ever have to leave the house, we wouldn't!!! Jack is in great shape for his age! He was spoiled ROTTEN yesterday lol! Thanks for all of your encouragement with the knitting! I'm really enjoying it and my hands are doing well, I used to have so much hand pain when I used to knit so I gave it up. But I have a new pain killer and I can really enjoy it again! :)
ReplyDeletePool at you in your hat - well done! Your fondue sounds gorgeous and the scenery is glorious. I see you are about to start knitting socks as well, now there's another obsession!
ReplyDeletePool? Silly predictive text - was supposed to say look!
ReplyDeleteLOL...Lucy, pool at you too! Hee hee, that made me laugh, but it's funny how we always know what the person means anyway! I think socks will become an obsession too, if I can handle the DPN's...I have to look up the "Magic Loop" knitting because I've heard good things about that too. The fondue was really amazing. I recommend it! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Rain : ) it's a lovely part of the country you live in. Blimey, you read a lot of blogs. I don't know how you do it. I know I couldn't read that many. Say "happy birthday" to jack from me. You sound like you're having a heatwave there at the moment. It must be great knitting on the porch in that weather That photo of you in the red hat looks great. It really suits you.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Jack! His cake looked good!
ReplyDeleteWow...you are so handy in all you make. I love that you make cheese and now I find you make apple butter! Nice. I recently decided to scale down on my crafts...they were taking over the whole craftroom. One items I scaled down on was yarn. I gave bags and bags of it a way. I love the hat. That is a beautiful color on you. Rain, is that your given name? Sorry...being nosey! Happy blated Bday Jack. Dakota will be 11 in Feb. He was showing it until I got him Lily. She keeps him young.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to Jack.
ReplyDeleteThanks for putting my blog on the list of blogs you read.
I love that hat you made. I bought something like it.
Sometimes I wear it to bed if it's cold. I take it off
later when I'm warmed up.
Happy birthday, Jack! :) Looks like you've been having a lovely week. LOVE your red hat. :)
ReplyDeleteYou do, indeed, have beautiful territory in which to hike/walk. The colors are gorgeous this time of year.
ReplyDeleteEvery time you talk about making fondue I think I really need to get back to making it once in a while. Used to do it with regularity, but haven't done it (for some reason) in a long time.
Love the picture of the dogs in "take your place" mode. Jack looks like he's in a half crouch so he can get to his treat as fast as the other two. Happy Birthday, Jack! And many more to you!
You are obviously a red head who can wear red well. Nice new hat! I've been going to knit a powder blue winter hat to match my main winter jacket for a couple of years now. Maybe I'll get on that as soon as I finish this darn, slow second sock I've had on the needles all summer!
Happy birthday Jack!
ReplyDeleteAh smoked cheddar, I tried to smoke some once but couldn't get it lit. Hahaha, I crack myself up.
Look at you with the hat knitting! So cute on you too! I can't wait to see your yarn and your camembert (sp?). You master whatever you set out to do....amazing what you have accomplished! Your colors are changing there! Beautiful views. We have some color changing but not that much and it is still warm here. I'm going to have to make that dog cake for the girls. Do you do anything for the cats? Happy Birthday to Jack and all the rest of your crew. They are all so darling!
ReplyDeleteGlad your tomatoes are ripening on the vine....so tasty that way! You can always ripen the green ones too in newspaper or make green fried tomatoes....my FAV! Have you ever watched the movie or read the book Green Fried Tomatoes....it's also one of my favorites! Enjoy your Fall, your delicious apple and pear harvests and all your yummy food! Enjoy your trip....at least you're together and make it a fun day for the 2 of you! Happy Anniversary! Hugs to all ~ Sam
Happy birthday to Jack! What a fun way to celebrate. Love how the dogs are poised ready to pounce. HAHA So cute!
ReplyDeleteAnd happy 4th to you and your honey bunny. Wishing you many more wonderful years together.
How far are you from Montreal? It takes us about an hour to drive in. I like visiting the big city once in awhile but I'm always happy to get back to our smaller area. I lived in the big city for the first 44 years of my life and that was quite enough :)
Look at you with that pretty hat. You are adorable! Your knitting projects are as fun as your cheese projects. And speaking of cheese, very exciting about your recent order that came in. I bet you're looking forward to new cheese adventures in your secret lab!
Happy birthday Jack! The dogs sound very well trained. My sister's cats have to be fed in separate rooms as her ginger cat is very aggressive about food and will eat both portions!
ReplyDeleteHappy anniversary you two! With a Dutch background, I am all about apple butter or "apple stroop" as we call it. On flat water days we paddle up the river and pick apples. I've been making pies and crumbles, but maybe I'd better find a recipe for apple butter. Looks like there's going to be a crazy amount of Bartlett pears this year too.
If you enjoy making hats, there are plenty of charities that collect them, particularly for the homeless. Just keep knitting what you enjoy :)
Oh, Jack of the lustrous eyes! He is so dreamy! LOL! Poor Lovey - Miss Loaf-of-Bread - is on a diet, so we will have to delay her birthday celebration until a few pounds come off. I love fondue! You are such a source of good ideas, recipes and inspiration! Can't wait to see how your camembert turns out!
ReplyDeleteHi! I like your hat!! Happy Birthday to Jack!! I have never made apple butter but yours looks healthy and delicious! Nancy
ReplyDeleteI love that photo of the dogs waiting patiently!
ReplyDeleteThis time of year, with the leaves changing, makes for excellent scenery. Lovely!
An 'Indian Summer' would be nice though!
Happy Birthday to Jack! Our Tucker turns 10 on Thursday :)
ReplyDeleteLove the hat! I just bought yarn and needles for a Pokemon scarf for a Christmas prezzie. That's next on my GID (get it done) list. :)
You live in a very pretty spot!!
Good luck with the Montreal trip but just think, poutine makes everything better!!!
Most of my pumpkins are orange and ready for harvest! I just gotta cut them off the vines and store them until the Special Day.
Not long now!!!!
That red looks terrific on you. Ooh...and you're making Camembret?! I want some. Me and my dames love that.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Jack !!!
ReplyDeleteThat hat looks fabulous and it's the perfect color! Happy Birthday Jack! Do your dogs know how lucky they are to get that special cake? Something about a fondue just seems so romantic to me, so it's the perfect treat for an anniversary dinner. Hugs...RO
ReplyDeleteHi Terry :) I know...my blog list is huge! But I do read all of them at least twice a week and comment on most of them too. I love reading what others are up to. :) And thanks! I do love those hats and I guess I chose the right colours! I think I might make a black one next...maybe gray...not sure! :) We are in a heat wave, which is really nice, I just wish it had happened in July!! I would have had a better harvest from the garden!!
ReplyDeleteHi Christine :) Yeah, that cake...it looked good enough to eat, except for the pupperonis lol!
ReplyDeleteHi Pam :) You can be nosy! Rain is my real name yes :) And thanks, usually I can't pull off red, it makes my face look too pale, but I guess it's on my head so it works :) Aw that's sweet that Dakota has a buddy to keep him young...Jack has so much energy, I think the pack we have works really well, they all play together, though Jack is a grumpy old man at times!! You're at the point of scaling down the crafts...I'm just beginning! :)
ReplyDeleteHi John :) Thank you! :) I wear hats all winter long in this house. We're renting and it's just so badly insulated...not much we can do about it. We try to keep the heat down because Hydro is outrageously expensive. So we bundle up!
ReplyDeleteHi Alexandra :) Thank you! I love my red hat too! :) The last week was really lovely and this one is just as good so far! :) Just a little foggy today but the sun should be back out tomorrow. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Mama Pea :)) We do have our issues with the PEOPLE in the village, but you can't beat the nature aspect. I LOVE the mountains so much...when I moved to Prince Edward Island back in 2009, I was so homesick. It's a beautiful province right by the ocean, but I needed to be in the mountains, so I didn't last long there! When we move, Alex and I will stay on the mainland so we don't miss the mountains too much.
ReplyDeleteYou should pull out that fondue pot!!! It's such a treat!!! And that fondue I made, oh my gosh...it was so delicious. Lol...at the sock on needles, I feel like my beach cover up will be on needles all winter long. I got my yarn order and I'm going to try making some socks maybe next week. The needles look so tiny!!! I hope I can get used to it.
Funny about Jack, I noticed in the photo he looks maniacal waiting for his cake! That little guy is FOOD DRIVEN. The smell of peanut butter drives the dogs crazy...he was definitely in the "get set" stage of the race!!
Ha ha ha Gill, you slay me lol! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Sam :)) Thank you! :) I love those hats, thanks so much for bringing that pattern to my attention! It's so easy, though I don't like the seed stitch much because I really have to pay attention to what I'm doing lol...but they are quick and turn out so well! I hope you find the right sizes.
ReplyDeleteYes, the Camembert is ripening as I type this! I can't wait to see how that turns out, it'll be my first "bloomy white" cheese!
I have seen Fried Green Tomatoes! I loved that movie! Great minds think alike :) But I've never eaten them. Oh for the cats, we celebrate their birthdays all together in August. They each get a can of tuna :) It's hard to bake for the cats. I tried once to make little tuna treats, but they didn't like them, they picked all the pieces of tuna out lol...
Hi Martha :)) Oh trust me, they pounce! Sometimes we tease them a little and say "Oh!" instead of "Okay!" and all their butts go up but they're good, they keep the eye contact and stay lol...I taught that to them, we even managed to teach Pavlov when he was staying with us in June! I started that when I had my pugs because they were little pigs when it was dinner time, I had to slow them down a little ha ha.
ReplyDeleteWe're between an hour and a half to two hours north of Montreal. On a good day I can make it in about an hour and fifteen minutes...but it's the dreaded 15 to the 40 that slows everything down. Our appointment is in Pierrefonds, so I can avoid that bottle neck and take the 13 right to the 40. That city is a mess for traffic. I'm already looking forward to being home lol...
Aw thank you! :) I love that hat! I was wearing it all day until I couldn't take it anymore in 31 weather lol! My secret lab lol...I have the Camembert ripening now, I'm really excited about this one! I spent a lot of time chatting with cheesy people on the Cheese Forum and I got lots of good advice! I think in about 2 weeks, I should see that nice white mold forming around the cheese, at least I hope so! :)
Hi Lynn :) Oh gosh, that sounds familiar...when we did our "blitz" of the shelter, we adopted the three dogs and one more cat in a period of three months...it was ROUGH. If we didn't have Jack on a leash, he would try to steal the other dog's food and they would always end up in a growling match...I even taught him to sit when he finished eating (always the first), and he has to wait until the girls are done before he can go over and lick their bowls clean lol...I love training them. Alex even taught them left from right! He says "give me the left" and they lift their left paws. They are very intelligent creatures! :)
ReplyDeleteApple stroop, I like that phrase! Your outing sounds so nice, paddling up the river to pick apples! I love that! I hope we have time to get to the orchards this week, if not, we still have all of September to pick apples. I want pears this year too.
Hi Susan! :) Lol...Jack is dreamy with those eyes, let me tell you! :) He gets what he wants and he knows how to manipulate me lol...Poor Lovey...I hope you make her that cake when she drops the weight! :) Well, I should know by Thursday if the Camembert is doing well!! I'll post some progress tomorrow! :) Thanks for always being so sweet Susan :))
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy :) Thank you! The hats are so easy to knit! I can get them done in two afternoons on the porch :) The apple butter is healthy but you can definitely omit the sugar, it really doesn't need it if the apples are sweet to begin with! We had some on toast this morning, yum! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Jenn :) I think we are having that "Indian Summer" I remember swimming in the lake last September, I hope we have a chance this year. We just have to go during the week to avoid the tourists...I'm sure the lake will be horrible packed this weekend though! Hibernation time on the porch lol! The leaves are really changing and they look gorgeous! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Dianna :)) Oh Happy Birthday Tucker!!!! :)) Are you making the cake? I love your GID list :) Mine is so willy nilly...I see something I like, I knit it. I want to see that Pokemon scarf when you're done!
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous of your pumpkins...I'll blog about this tomorrow, but I realize I only have two that grew after all! Not long until the day!!! :) And yes...poutine makes everything better, I just hope the stress of the day doesn't interfere with my eating ability...food always gets stuck for days after we have to go to Montreal...I'll be drinking chamomile all morning and doing yoga before we leave. My silly esophagus takes the brunt of my anxiety every time!
Hi Stefanie :) Yes! Camembert!! First attempt! :) And thanks, I really love the red, I'm not usually a red-colour wearer...I tend to stick to neutrals, but I feel so fancy with that hat on lol...
ReplyDeleteThanks Nik :)
ReplyDeleteHi RO :) Thank you! :) Ha ha...I think our dogs SHOULD know how lucky they are to be living here period!! :) We rescued all three of them, and if we had more money, we would have so many more. We can't walk into a shelter anymore! Yeah, the dinner was very romantic, that's why we have it every month on the date of our anniversary :))
ReplyDeleteYou're looking good, Rain. Country life agrees with you. I like the photos of your area, it looks like it isn't so dissimilar to us here. I told my wife how you were getting all ready for Halloween. It used to be her favorite "season" when the kids were home. She would go the whole hog, made their costumes and fixed up the house with decorations. We used to take them to town so they could "trick or treat."
ReplyDeleteThank you Harry! :)) I LOVE the country life! I will never go back to the city...country/mountain life does agree with me in so many ways :) And I think that your mountains are much bigger, the Laurentians are hills compared to the Blue Ridge Mountains (if I remember correctly that's your area)! It is very beautiful here. I love that expression "whole hog"...I'm definitely going whole hog this year!
ReplyDeleteYou do live in a lovely place, Rain. My favorite "get away" destinations are in the mountains and forests here in the midwest US. Somehow when I drive into these places I feel I've come home. It seems like I wrote that recently on yours or many someone else's blog. If I didn't, I was thinking it. I love the glimpse into your life this last week. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Becki :) I know that feeling of "being home" when I'm in the mountains! I love it. I'm glad you enjoyed my post! I do feel pretty lucky to live here. :)
ReplyDeleteYou had me at canadian yarn company - do tell.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary-Anne :) The company is yarncanada.ca, they are based in BC. I found them by chance doing a search. So far it's been a good experience!
ReplyDelete