Crochet and Knitting and Nature, Our Flag Means Death, and Dessert!

ow!

After years and years of saying I'd like to learn crochet, I've finally gone and done it!

Things are progressing slowly, of course. I've been crocheting a single granny square over and over, trying to get it to look less like a circle, ha ha.

In between, there've been beach days, and desserts!

I went to a coffee tasting!

I hadn't known before that there's another variety of bean out there, besides arabica and robusta: liberica!

The first time I ever made more than a simple chain!

Getting there...

Working on my tension...

My first ever solid piece in crochet!

Whew, need a rest!

Olive oil gift from a friend

Wee Canada flag under the Switzerland one!

Ship flags

Making eggs and hackey sacks...

Sugarless banana bread!

Knitting while watching an Our Flag Means Death convention

My wee thermal printer!

Trying to knit gloves...

Starting all over again...

I did it!

Aww

Knit with wool from Turkey that I bought in Ireland!

Wool that I want, at a new shop in Geneva!

I wrote a wee story, in zine format!

Have you picked up a new hobby recently?

Our Flag Means Death Baking Fun and Other Adventures!

ur Flag Means Death baking adventures!

We made key lime pie and chocolate mousse, yum!

A gift of chocolate!

I made brownies!

Mother's day pie!

A gift for me -- Blackbeard cookie cutter!

Key lime pie ingredients

Samba Schutte, our host!

Yum!

More gifts for me, from a dear friend -- a crochet scarf, bead earrings, and Australia stickers

Allll the editing I've been doing!

Fun items from the Our Flag Means Death craft fair!

A piece of crystal from one of the lanterns on the Revenge, as used in season 1 of Our Flag Means Death!

What's a recent favourite recipe of yours?

The Latest Hodge Podge, No. 16

odge-podge time!

 

I haven't done one in a while!

 

The last one was Hodge Podge No. 15, and a while ago I collated the first 10 Hodge Podge posts.

 

First up, we have a new book by Kait Nolan!

 

Beyond Highland Sunrise

The last thing I need while trying to make a success of my outdoor adventure company is a beautiful distraction. It takes all my focus to fight off the demons that remain from the injury that ended my career as a Royal Marine and deal with the clients that make me want to climb the nearest mountain and never come down.

But Parker Lawrence walks into our office, takes over a phone call, and changes everything.

My desperate desire to keep her close has nothing to do with the fact that she's sunshine personified—sweet, capable, and completely unfazed by my grumpitude and total lack of charm. She’s also hiding something. I should mind my own business, but this bright Southern belle has gotten under my skin, and I want to save her every bit as much as it feels like she's saving me.

When her secret catches up to her, I'll do anything to keep her safe, even if those overprotective instincts risk driving away the best thing that's ever walked into my life.

 

I love visiting this town!

Not only to catch up with characters from previous books -- but to catch up with the canine members of the families, too! And I've got to say, reading about Parker bringing order out of chaos at Callum's Out of Bounds adventure business is very satisfying. Colour-coded filing supplies, drool...

Seriously, though, their love at first sight but trying to deny it story is a great read! 

 

More hodge podge!

Since I took this screenshot, I've reached 640 days of Finnish on Duolingo. Have I learned anything? Well, I can say "good dog" to Mountie, and I think I can order a cup of coffee... I can also say "groove like a moose" and "the shamans live in the forest".

Lunch!

Yarn chicken!

I actually should have had some more knitting projects to show here, another baby blanket and a pair of mittens, but I've been not-knitting in favour of writing...

Coffee, anyone?

Here's one of the writing projects -- I hosted an Our Flag Means Death writing event, with lots of prompts! I love scrolling through prompts and seeing what kinds of story ideas strike me.

If you need more story prompts, I have Never Have I Ever and Ask Me Anything questions!

Do you like to write from prompts?

A Wee Crafts In Progress Post, including OFMD

rafts!

I'm knitting a baby blanket and a pair of Our Flag Means Death mittens and suddenly also have an excuse to knit a cover for a hot water bottle. Cosy knits in the current damp weather!

I also tried to knit a little sailboat on something -- and made a frame for an Our Flag Means Death print I coloured in!

Are you crafting anything new?