Last Days in Newport

Ahh, the carefree days of summer are here. Carefree for just a little bit, that is, until we move next week. It is with joy and many fond memories that we leave our home of the past year, Harbor View. We will miss the sunset walks at the water's edge, Fidget's home made swing in the yard, the friends we've met, and the places we love here.

But you can't wish yourself somewhere. Even if we stayed, many of our friends are moving on as well. This is why we send out a newsletter every few months. Keeping in touch makes it bearable. 

We have rented a tiny loft down in southeastern Virginia and the Pres and I are trying to figure out what we'll need and how we'll get it there by July 2. In January our renters will be gone and we'll be able to move the bulk of our goods from storage to our lovely old home in Portsmouth. 

But for now there are teas parties and circuses on the lawn, last play dates and goodbyes with friends. We are so very thankful for our time here. God has blessed us greatly. 

If you are among those dear to us who we are leaving behind, do not fret. A newsletter will be coming out in the next few days with our new address and more info on what we've been up to and what we expect to do next. You remain in our hearts. God has encouraged us with your friendship, and you with ours, we hope. We do not plan to lose you!

Rosy Hedges and Rosy Outlook

Update on my Pink Hedges socks, from Jane Cochran's pattern Jane's Hedgerow Socks available on Knitter's Review. I finished these last night and will be blocking today to send them out shortly after. Unfortunately I cannot give such an optimistic update of the Pres' Father's Day socks.

Here is as far as I got before I tried it on myself to try estimating how long to make the foot. The sad news is it barely fit my foot. I guess the nylon in the yarn is making it tighter than normal yarn. I discovered this two days ago and have not known what to do. I considered making the pair and giving them to someone small. But I picked this yarn for the Pres and think he would get a lot of use out of socks from it because of the muted masculine colors. So this morning I decided to frog it, that is, take it all apart, and start over with larger needles. There's no way I'll finish by Father's Day but at least I will still get to give him a thoughtful present fairly soon. 


Yesterday I had a knit and bake day with dear friends from Bible study. I will miss them when we move but am so happy I get to store up memories of sweet fellowship before we go. God is so good.

A few things we're up to at Harbor View

 Baking as usual. Baking lots of breads and trying new things like a scrumptious Banana Bread from Bon Appetit. I have also made chocolate chip cookies and oatmeal cranberry/cherry cookies this week.

Visiting the Newport Mansions. I am pretty sure this one was Marble House. Though after awhile they all run together. It is really annoying that you're not allowed to take pictures inside. That did not stop one woman on our tour of Chepstow this morning. That annoyed me even more.

This one is called Chateau sur Mer because when they built it they had terrific views of the ocean and bay. Sadly no more since the area has been built up over the past hundred and fifty years. Because of its roof Fidget and I said it would be a prime candidate for filming a haunted house movie. We imagined bats flying out as we walked up to the door. But we enjoyed the tour.

Staying inspired with heavenly yarns (color 3820 Raspberry Print). This one actually has aloe vera in it! I am making spa socks for a friend. Not to take to a spa, but to feel like you're giving your tootsies a spa just by wearing the socks. 

This yarn (color 9807 Blue Multi), which is a sleek 50% acrylic and 50% nylon, is turning into Father's Day socks for the Pres. They are shorties for cycling. They're not getting done quick enough, is all I know.  I am not sure they'll be finished in time. I'm still on sock 1! But I will be keeping busy right through our house hunting.

Celebrations of Beauty and Life

Here are some of the latest things to come out of Harbor View studios, interspersed with  some local experiences we've had lately. This one is for a baby named Alyssa (color, Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky, Victorian Pink). And those are some Mother's Day rhododendrons Fidget picked from the yard.
 

We've had a good bit of rain but lately the sun is coming out and we've explored more of our temporary island home. This rugged beauty is at Beavertail State Park.

As I've mentioned, God has given me the grace to truly enjoy and celebrate others' babies so I have delighted in making several of this little sweater for some precious babes. This one is for David Judah. Color: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky Sable.

Tide pool at Brenton State Park. 

For Averie. Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Antique Mauve.

Irises in the patio bed. The peonies have just begun to pop too. Everything looks so fresh and colorful after the recent rains.

 

For Peter. I tried to make this one an inch or so longer, as he was already a few weeks old when I got going on this one. Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Blue Magic.

And, the shoreline scene is finished! I am meeting my friend and client on Thursday. I do hope she is pleased. I am so thankful God has blessed the work of my hands. I continue to marvel at what He does through me. 

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 
I Corinthians 10:31

The Elms

I am finally getting wise. The Pres has a Daddy-date with Fidget once a month on her birth date. Yesterday I thought, why can't I do that too? Sure, I'm with her every day, all day. But so what. We're going to go out and enjoy, whatever day it is. She brought her purse with her so she could be a big lady. But I was proud of her when she didn't squander her money at the gift shop.

So, we did our school work, and then we went to the Elms. It's one of Newport's big mansions and Fig has wanted to go there since her auntie and I went there in March. Photos aren't permitted inside so we took a few out in the gardens before we stopped by Katrina's Bakery for a giant glazed ladybug cookie and then home for tea and reading. 

I've got lots of friends having babies lately. Last week I made four baby sweaters. I found a pattern that was so cute, I wanted to make one for everyone! I will show those sweaters next time. Three are on their way to new little ones. I can't wait til they get them.  God has given me such joy for others. And such contentment, praise Him. I am happy for my friends, and I'm enjoying this little girl while I've got her. Thank you, Lord.

Work in Progress

This shore scene in oils is due June 15. I am pleased with how it is starting out. I am working with umber and bleached titanium in the rocks, and predominantly Prussian blue,Bonnard blue and sap green in the water.We are scheduled to move at the end of June so this may be my last painting in Rhode Island. Today we get to pick up Fidget's Christmas painting from the local museum where it's been in a show for several months. She is looking forward to getting it back. I am beginning to look forward to our next house and thinking about the paintings I'll hope to do there. 

It was such a gorgeous day yesterday, especially for a Mother's Day. Fidget and the Pres rigged a hammock up for her in the yard, and he did some studying while I painted. Then he grilled some country style spare ribs and we topped it off by biking into town for gelatos. I am so blessed to have this family. God is good. 

Rejoice and Be Glad- Harbor View's 2nd Annual Appetizer Weekend

I recently realized it had been over a year since our family's first annual Appetizer Weekend. It was a smash with our family and helped me focus on celebrating our family. Lately I've been busy making lots of baby booties for friends' babies, and this causes me to think about our family as well. God made our family, each of us, to be here together, and these people are such a blessing to me. I want them to know I am pleased to be the wife and mom that God made me to be. So, naturally, that means it's party time!

Here are the mini crab cakes before frying. The recipe said it made 32 but it made more like 40.

Rotel cheese dip (Fidget's request) simmering in back and in front pan, ground pork for steamed dumplings and spring rolls.

Hot stuffies (stuffed quahogs or clams- see this month's Martha Stewart Magazine, p. 140, for the recipe I'm going to try next time) from Anthony's of Aquidneck seafood market. Delicious!

Mini crab cakes frying in a few tablespoons of butter. The recipe I have looks like it came from Bon Appetit, but it isn't listed in their online recipe index.

Steaming the dumplings. A recipe I picked up on one of those twirly racks in the produce section at Walmart probably 10 or more years ago. 

The first of the golden shrimp and pork spring rolls.

Here is one of the Spicy Asian Lettuce Wraps. I couldn't find chile paste anywhere in town, so I used hoisin sauce and these were so good I am going to make them again soon.  

Here's the menu from this weekend's Harbor View 2nd Annual Appetizer Weekend: 
Fresh Cut Veg with ranch dip
Hot Stuffies (stuffed clams with chorizo sausage)
Mini Crab Cakes
Steamed Dumplings
Spring Rolls
Artichoke-Stuffed Mushrooms
Spicy Asian Lettuce Wraps
Spinach-Parmesan Dip with Bagel Bites
Rotel and Cheese Dip with Nacho Chips

 I love to practice hospitality. And I love giving. In all that I don't want my family to get lost in the busyness of serving others and showing them the love of Christ. So though I make dinner every day, sometimes I like to practice hospitality on my family and show them how special they are to me.  

Seize the day, I say. After all, This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24

Harbor View Bakery Days

A new friend came to bake a couple weeks ago. She came for tea this weekend and we decided to have another baking day this week, with knitting lessons. Here are the first bake day photos which she took and emailed me later. We had such fun and it was sweet to both our souls to have this fellowship. God is good!

First, our wholesome bagels. The key to them is King Arthur Flour's Non-diastatic Malt Powder. The bagels lost their center holes as they rose but they were delicious.

Basic white bread with a little wheat.

Cinnamon Swirl Loaf from my Fleishmann's Yeast Cookbook. I got it years ago with a couple proofs of purchase and a dollar or two shipping. It is one of my best cookbooks. I love the streusel crust on this bread, and it makes wonderful cinnamon sugar toast or french bread.

Glazed Orange Rolls. These are like cinnamon rolls only with orange glaze. Such a fresh change from cinnamon. 

Next time, photos from today's baking- knitting lunch!

Spring Showers

Hello again from Harbor View. Yesterday and the day before were rainy but the sun is back and with it the wind. We've taken a break of sorts here, as family came in town and then I threw a spring tea this weekend. Now it's back to school for me and Fidget, and though we like the routine I also want to be spontaneous. Yesterday we took a mid-morning walk to a nearby bridge to feed fish some of our vanilla madeleines that were tea party leftovers. 

I was trying a new recipe. It made so many, we had plenty to share with ladies at tea, then fish, seagulls, and finally we squashed a bunch of the little sponge cakes in our birds' suet feeder in the yard. I wasn't sure how they'd go over, but they're gone today. Since I still hadn't shopped for suet (and my attempts at home made suet were disastrous) I put the last quarter of a loaf of white whole wheat loaf in- and so far no complaints.The recipe is for white bread but I like to add a cup of whole wheat and some wheat germ or flax seed meal.

I've also been knitting in between other activities. Here is the scarf for our WWII Navy submariner vet friend Joe. Not that he'll want it in spring...but I need to send it before we move because who knows if it will get lost. I'd rather it get lost at his house. Yarn page here.

And my second pair of Hedgerow socks with a wool/nylon blend. 

Meanwhile I'm once again behind on baby presents. A friend's baby has come before I expected (probably not before she expected) so I will post a picture of their little gift soon. For now, it's time for a blustery day bike ride.

The Latest Things

Here's a look at what's developed at Harbor View Studios lately. A mohair sweater (a 6-week project), which someone liked enough on Ravelry to offer to buy it (sold!), 

 
some booties for a friend's daughter,

more booties for a friend from Bible study,

and fingerless gloves for a new friend's birthday.

 Since I slipped and fell down the stairs last Thursday at noontime, I have been recovering and it's been great to have these little projects going. I am getting around better every day, but I am not back to the gym yet and it is still painful to sit, stand or bend.

It is surprising when I found myself sidelined by pain and Fidget simultaneously getting sick I was content to be at home knitting. Even booties, which can be a sad thing to knit if they are not for you and you've always wanted more children. But God has given me real joy. I notice I am not often still to hear His voice unless I am sidelined for a time, and when I am I find Him faithful. This is how I know He is real: He gives me joy in the un-joyful of life, somehow. He makes me want to celebrate others' blessings as if they were my own. And I find that laying down what I wanted gives me a freedom I didn't have when I was so hung up in my desires. He is good.

A Friend at the Elms

Here are some pictures I took at The Elms this weekend, a historic home in Newport, RI. One of my very oldest, dearest friends came for a short visit and we jammed all we could into our time together. We got to knit (she made a sock, I worked on the Whisper sweater), cook (steamed dumplings, minestrone, roasted red pepper calzones, spinach manicotti) and bake together (ethereal bread and cinnamon- blueberry turnovers), and I was finally able to give her the painting of the Belgian post box that I recently made for her. 

She is a photographer and yet she didn't bring her camera. So she is going to have to put up with my snaps of the Elms and anything else I got in focus while she was here. 

Here is the stable, I think. After we left the fine old home we wandered the grounds and there were no signs telling us what was at the back of the property. We imagined being stable hands and living at the top of the building on the right, looking out the verdigris window of the slate roof.

We thought this whole thing made a super setting to a mystery we haven't written yet. We are always imagining mysteries. But now that she is a professional and I am a home schooling mom, we don't write as many stories as we used to. 

What memories we made, listening to the self-guided audio tour and cracking up as we hit the buttons at the exact same time so we could hear everything in tandem.We spent a good time in the butler's pantry, imagining just how we would have liked it- or not- working there, on constant call, choosing the dishes for each gathering and doing all the other tasks necessary for the 8-12 weeks the Elms was open each year. No photography was allowed in the house, unfortunately. But outdoors was another story. We were fascinated by the circular tradesmens' entrance which was covered from above by wisteria vines so residents of the house would not have their view spoiled. 

I hope the fountains will be turned on when we return. I am going to take Fidget for a field trip one day soon. Her eyes are going to goggle when she sees this place. I am sure mine did.

It is already springlike here. I imagine the garden will look even better when the lush bright greens of spring return.

What a blessing is a lifelong friendship. I am so thankful for this week together. It was such a happy time. Fidget cried almost all the way home from the airport after the drop-off. We do hope our dear Aunty visits us again!