2008 – The Year That Was

It’s time for that bloggy tradition — the year in review. Last year I set some lofty crafty goals. Let’s see how I did….

I said, Knitting wise I’d like to make more socks using a variety of techniques.

and maybe you can count these:

A pretty pathetic showing, I must admit. It seems that 2008 was instead the year of the mitt:

I said, I’d like to conquer a lace projectand I did just that, not once but twice!

I also said, I am going to knit a sweater for Papa. and it didn’t happen. I’m not even sure why it didn’t happen but I did finish the sweater for my brother which I hope will be the largest sweater I ever make:

I wanted to continue to improve my garment-making skills and I think the proof is in this picture:

Those were some serious garments made with some seriously annoying fabrics. I really feel like I’m starting to understand basic garment construction.

And I was hoping to conquer my fear of knits which didn’t really happen. Maybe 2009 will be the year.

I said I also want to make a bed-sized quilt top — I’ll probably send it out to be quilted. And that is exactly what I did:

At 68″x68″ it isn’t the size of any bed but is comparable in square inches to a double bed quilt. There are so many reasons I love that quilt.

I wanted to tell you more about some of the great food we’re eating and I think I did, if not here than on flickr.

and I said I really want to try to compost less of our CSA share each week which I’m pleased to say happened. Preserving was the key. I canned more than I have in many years but very little of that was from our CSA share. Instead I started freezing portions of green beans, chard, celery, roasted tomatoes, herbs, and ratatouille.

In fact 2008 was the year I started thinking of our farmer’s market as our grocery store. We’re lucky to have excellent local sources for beef, cheese, chicken, butter, eggs, and vegetables and in 2008 we really started taking advantage of that.

So not too bad 2008, but I have a feeling 2009 is going to be even better. If you are interested in seeing all that I finished in 2008, take a look at my flickr set.

Our Harvest Home

Come, ye thankful people, come;
Raise the song of harvest home.

All is safely gathered in
Ere the winter storms begin.

God, our maker, doth provide
For our wants to be supplied.

Come to God’s own temple, come,
Raise the song of harvest home.

I hope this Thanksgiving you find your thankfulness is overflowing.

CSA 2008 – Week 24

Twenty-four weeks of local veggies. Yum. I’m always sad at the end of the season and this season is no different. Now I have to get to the farmer’s market at the crack of dawn to make sure I get eggs and the best pick of veggies. Oh well, that’s what eating with the seasons is all about.

CSA Bag Contents: sweet potatoes, salad mix, Greenleaf lettuce, Choi sum, turnips, celeriac, thyme, cauliflower, honey

See what we got in CSA 2007 – Week 24.

CSA 2008 – Week 22

CSA Bag Contents: cabbage, cauliflower, greenleaf lettuce, escarole, daikon radish, salad/stir fry mix, potatoes, persimmons

See what we got in CSA 2007 – Week 22.

CSA 2008 – Week 21

The season is winding down now. Just a few more weeks of our share left. The good news is that means there are lots of extras that end up in our bags. Like those radishes, and the celery too.

CSA Bag Contents: romaine lettuce, sweet potatoes, garlic, collard greens, salad mix, celeriac, celery, sage, radishes

See what we got in CSA 2007 – Week 21.

CSA 2008 – Week 20

CSA Bag Contents: potatoes, turnips, napa cabbage, red and greenleaf lettuce, salad toppings, broccoli, red pepper

See what we got in CSA 2007 Week 20.

CSA 2008 – Week 19

CSA Bag Contents: sweet potatoes, red Russian kale, mei qing choi, butternut squash, sage, head lettuce, kohlrabi, pumpkins, crookneck squash, 1/2 doz. eggs

See what we got in CSA 2007 – Week 19.

CSA 2008 – Week 18

CSA Bag Contents: sweet potatoes, celeriac, salad mix, cilantro, celery, napa cabbage, peppers

See what we got in CSA 2007 Week 18.

CSA 2008 – Week 17

CSA Bag Contents: peppers, eggplant, kale, mizuna mustard, cherry tomtoes, roma tomatoes, arugula, thyme, 1/2 doz eggs

See what we got in CSA 2007 Week 17.

CSA 2008 – Week 16

CSA Bag Contents: eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, rosemary, spaghetti squash, cherry tomatoes, juliet mini-roma tomatoes, beans, okra, sweet potato greens, 1/2 doz. eggs, flowers

See what we got in CSA 2007 – Week 16.