Yesterday's knitting group was fun. The library hadn't set up a leader, just a room, table of reference books and a visit or two to see how it was going.
Four people, none of whom had met before, one a complete beginner, who learned to make her first knitted row, which I promptly commemorated with a picture.
For the total beginner, I cast on some stitches for her, another person guided her through knitting a few rows. Then she unraveled, learned to cast on, and undertook to knit a square to show us next week!
So I learned a new to me cast-on, and with any luck, we'll continue. The library had only set up for the month of January, so I expect they're looking to see if it gets established enough to continue. If they're not assigning staff time, it's easier for their schedule, though the other participants did ask for a group leader to teach new members. We did okay without one for that session. We'll see.
Then home to a New Year visit from Handsome Son, bringing shortbread, to complete the New Year rituals. With a pot of tea, and the walnut/cheese square things I'd baked, we were all set. We always talk about many things, politics, the economy, his current electronic DIY project, the latest shenanigans of our various neighbors, food, it's all good.
After he'd left, I wondered what to have for dinner, remembered the shrimp in the freezer, and ended up with shrimp, penne, cauliflower all baked in a cheese sauce. Plenty of black pepper.
It turned out very rich, and worked quite well. I wonder if it's one of those recipes I think I invented, but which turns out to be some classic pasta vol au vent crevettes fromage turducken or something. Anyway if it has a name, please let us know.
Meanwhile, today I'm returning to the skirt with possibly woven panel inserts, though the woven sections may end up being something different, we'll see. I'll unearth the skirt fabric and see. You know how some people like to choose a word or phrase of the year as a kind of mantra? I think either "we'll see" or NADM will be mine.
And here's someone who knows how to enjoy her knitting adventures. Get that cable panel! The fringes! This is one of those "knit stripes to record a year of weather temperatures" projects.
Happy day, everyone, safe travels to the people traveling.
Better days ahead for people suffering in war zones
Good mentoring by you and others in the group.
ReplyDeleteJust lovely friendly exchange.
Deleteglad the new knitting group is off to a good start. and the temperature scarf is probably long enough to wrap her whole body in. I know a woman who has crocheted a couple of temperature blankets and they are huge.
ReplyDeleteYou need a lot of different colors, too. It's a big project.
DeleteSounds like the new knitting group might turn into something pretty sweet. And yes- I did notice the magnificence of that scarf with the cable panel and so forth. It's gorgeous! As is your cheesy shrimp and cauliflower casserole. I would definitely eat that.
ReplyDeleteYes,I'm hopeful about the new group. And the new dish is pretty nice. Very filling!
DeleteWell, your knitting group sounds promising! I love the fringe on that colorful scarf. Blogger "Bug" (Dana in North Carolina) makes temperature blankets that are similar, as maybe you've seen. The cauliflower dish looks yummy, but you can leave the turducken out. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's a blogger I don't think I know. Must check.
DeleteI think the name of that dish is YUM! I do hope this new group continues, it's good to have another group of pleasant, like-minded people in your life.
ReplyDeleteMy hope, too. They're nice women.
DeleteThis group seems like a lot of fun. Ohhh and that casserole looks so good. Have a nice day today.
ReplyDeleteYesterday definitely had high points.
DeleteMay that new knitting group prosper. Sounds like a nice mix of abilities and ages. I've just learned of a knitting group at our library branch - now all I have to do is liberate Wednesday afternoons.
ReplyDeleteAnything with cauliflower in it is a great dish, IMHO. With paprika!
Chris from Boise
Try to get to that group! They vary, but when they're good, they're very good. This dish is for me a new way for cauliflower.
DeleteSounds like a fun group!
ReplyDeleteIt is. I'm hoping it continues
DeleteMary G on the iPad,... I am signing in because the dratted thing does not seem to know it's me. Our library has a knitting group. I likemyour report and my venture to see what our group,is like. I have so many ends of wool left from past projects that a multicoloured scarf is a brilliant idea. And, wow, would I be brilliant; the grandkid loved purple for many knit projects.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely try the group. Maybe you'll enjoy it. Worth a try!
DeleteI did a similar cheesy pasta dish last night...having some thin sliced london broil to either - you know...so it turned into Havarti, beef chips and peas with noodles casserole. The left overs do look promising too. I'm pretty sure this never has been done before, and therfore is nameless! I would have loved a bite of your shrimpy one too! Glad to hear first knitting group turned out so well.
ReplyDeleteThis was an easy recipe, mainly assembly!
DeleteThat looks delicious! Probably the most luscious dish I ever make is cauliflower baked in cream and gruyere. I don't make it often, because the ingredients, though few, are a bit spendy. But it is just SO good!
ReplyDeleteIt does sound good. Cheese, after all!
DeleteNADM? I had to Google. It probably isn't North American Drought Monitor, more likely to be Never A Dull Moment.
ReplyDeleteI had footnoted it in an earlier post you probably missed, with all your gadding about! Your second guess is right.
DeleteThe new group sounds like fun. I hope it continues!
ReplyDeleteSo do I. Especially in winter.
DeleteA new group with lots of possibilities
ReplyDeleteYour dinner looks very nice indeed.
Here’s to a year of new adventures
Yes, new adventures sounds good.
DeleteIn all of the several craft circles I've been in, there never was a teacher/leader. We taught each other.
ReplyDeleteThese groups are largely social, with no focus on teaching. A bit of learning happens but that's not the focus. I've always been in groups with leaders, very important when people get free lessons, before vanishing forever or try to dump off elders for daycare, both of which I've seen, both tackled by the leader, an employee of the organization hosting the group. Since they're in public buildings, this is a vital safety issue, too.
DeleteA new group will lack the cliques that often develop. How lovely that there was such diverse experience. Could you not be the leader? Or does it have to be someone from the library?
ReplyDeleteI have no interest in being the leader! Btdt! they need official authority if troubleshooting is needed, so, yes, an employee.
DeleteI've never been in a group that meets in a private home. I expect they run quite differently, since you wouldn't get casual droppers in,or people taking advantage.
I thought this initial meeting went fine, so I'm content to see how it unfolds.
I just read your respons to Joanne!
ReplyDeleteYour knitting group sounds like fun. What a lucky beginner to have the rest of you to help!
ReplyDeleteIt's not usual that someone comes to a knitters social group who can't knit, but she got lucky.
DeleteSome groups can survive without a designated leader if there is someone on the outside doing the admin (arranging place, time, and lock-up afterwards). What do you think was more important on the day, the knitting or the chat? That might determine the extent to which it survives or even grows.
ReplyDeleteThe new connection between people was the point. The knitting and skill sharing is what supports it. That and the library promoting it.
DeletePretty good turnout for a first-time group! Hopefully, word will spread and the group will establish a firm foundation.
ReplyDeleteThis often happens with a first meeting. Then, unless there's a continuing presence of a leader, it can fade away. People often don't come back for a couple of weeks, then find there's no group! This is an area with a comparatively small population. It takes a lot of doing to establish a group.
DeleteDinner sounds excellent!
ReplyDeleteMphm, mphm,yesh it wash..
DeleteI think it's a great turnout for there to be 4 there. Now it's to be hoped they all continue and that the word spreads and entices compatible joinees.
ReplyDeleteI think if I were doing a temperature scarf I would do the average temperature for a week rather than daily because obviously it makes it huge!!
I thought similarly, a weekly average could still yield a big enough scarf. And need fewer colors.
Delete