A Night Under the Stars

I went to a class reunion although it wasn’t mine. Stephanie and Sonya went to their Columbia University class reunion. I had a reunion with Jim, her husband, and the twins, Otto and Marta. I did join everyone on Saturday for an evening under the stars. As demonstrated in these photos,  evening galas with swing music always resemble that capsized scene from the nautical disaster movie “The Poseidon Adventure.”

We had such a great time on Saturday. The mini heatwave broke giving us a delightfully cool evening. The kids found a playmate, a woman who sat near us entertained them with stories. Marta shared her gummy Bears in exchange for the glitter stickers that she gave them, Otto danced for her. We slit a six-pack on Columbia’s library steps, sitting above the main event. This was a much more pleasant experience and better way to catch up with friends... until the guard took our beer away. At a certain age saying “Oh, you mean this beer?” doesn’t work as well.

The night before, on Friday, I joined Jim and the kids for pizza and calamari at V & T. “I didn’t recognize you, you’ve changed quite a bit.” said Otto. Maybe it was the glasses and the  Memorial Day sun burn? While Steph and Sonya attended first night of the reunion, Jim and I caught up. His novel “Victims of Circumstance” is on Amazon, and sales are moving along. Sonya’s job as a foreign diplomat is taking them to Mexico this summer. The kids didn't seem to excited about it. We have an open invite to the Yucatan.

I told Jim about my iBook/applt project: “Kimcheelicious—A Korean Pickle for the American Table and Grill.” Jim loves Korean food, he worked as a correspond in Korea and misses all that delicious food that one generally can’t get unless you are totally in with a Korean family. I’ve been working on my Kickstarter.com launch... so much to do. He told me that the kids still love that funny backpack I made for their stuffed moose when we paid them a visit up in Maine. They never mention Mr. Magic Lamprey though, not a good kid toy.

Otto entertained us with riddles such as “What has many branches and leaves but no bark?” My answer was “our congress” but the real answer was “a library.” Marta picked her head up from her Kindle and proclaimed “This is the worst pizza I’ve ever had in my life!” I said “Tell me that when you come back from Mexico.” Crankiness meant bed time and our evening was coming to an end.

A New Star in Our Constellation

Is it summer already? After an unusually mild winter, Brooklyn’s transition from spring into summer seemed rather unceremonious. But our extended family has much to celebrate. Meet the new star in our constellation of friends, Luna Benjoya—what a beautiful little girl she is. I finally delivered my Ea Z. Baby Quilt to proud parents, Dave and Deike.

Their cat, Ann Richards, took a liking right away, and so far Luna seems to like it too. Here she is stretching her legs after feeding and a long nap. Don’t you just wanna pinch those chubby legs?

I used a combination of luxury yarns to make this feather-light quilt: blue and gray in Lang “Zoom,” a merino cotton blend; green in Aslan Trend’s “King Baby Llama & Mulberry Silk.” It’s ultra-soft, perfect for a newborn’s delicate skin.

The modular design was inspired by single-celled organisms called “diatoms”—microscopic phytoplankton encased in walls of glass (silica). Each have qualities that are as distinct and beautiful as cut gem stones.

This modular quilt grows with the baby. Next year I’ll add another row.  I wouldn’t call this quilt reversible, but I did carefully weave in all ends to make the back more presentable.

Although we’re already into summer Weather or not, I think they’ll get some use out of it. Our evenings have been so oddly chilly after blistering days. Congratulations to Dave and Deike on their healthy, new beautiful daughter.

Last BBQ of the Season at Freddy’s Bar — September 5, 2011

A mountain of food magically reappears— this is round three.

The Memorial Day BBQ is the last one of the season — a toast to the official end of summer. Pat O'Shea and I grilled afternoon into evening at Freddy’s Bar. As the days grow short and the leaves fall, may we all recall the good times and the wonderful flavors of summer: Ellen’s wasabi potato salad, Josh’s potato and bacon salad, Diane’s famous fudge, Clara’s deviled eggs, Anna’s BBQ chili chicken, Rick James’ jerk chicken patties... corn on the cob, grilled pineapple, fresh anchovies, veggie dogs and patties, German bratwurst, Polish Kielbasa, kimchi relish... great weather, grilled food, old and new friends, good times.

The grill calls and a crowd assembles.

It’s not a dive bar unless you have a decent-size backyard shark.

I can caramelize a pineapple with EVO but what can one make from "UVU?"

People wait patiently for a burger as Clara shares her delicious deviled eggs.

Jer, Freddy’s partner Matty Kuhn, and Tom are at the front of the line.. again.

Dogs, bratts, burgers, kielbasa, BBQ chicken....

Of course we had a few vegetarians...

Will spiced things up with freshly brined anchovies and Polish mustard.

This little sneaky fella is waiting for something to stray from a plate.

Trilby — A Study in Clothesline Crochet

This Trilby hat is a study in a corded crochet technique better known as “Clothesline Crochet.” This technique is actually the basic building block of Irish filigree crochet, where in a stiff cord is carried along a single-crochet row. Here’s a link to a quick tutorial.

The hat is eponymous with the tone-deaf heroine, Trilby O’Ferrall, from the George du Maurier novel (1894). Originally worn as a woman’s hat, it’s retro-popularity was resurrected by the likes of leading men Frank Sinatra, James Bond, of course The Blues Brothers and my favorite shady pathologist, Dexter.

The Tribly is similar to the Fedora but with a firm shorter brim up-turned in the back. I made this crochet hat with a more prominent grade to the front and an oblique oval crown instead of a classic teardrop.

This Trilby is made with Classic Elite Provence (100% mercerized cotton). I came up with a modified single crochet stitch that I call “Straw Braid” — it really does resemble the fine braid used on straw hats. The Clothesline Crochet technique keeps the crown and brim firm — a thicker cord on the crown than on the brim.