Luckily there is still time...

- to do some of the thing I really enjoy whilst trying to project manage everything that are going on around the house.

I have finally had time to finish off my new hand towels for the kitchen (I only started when we went camping in July...)

It's interesting, because last night when I was reading Jo's post about why I read other blogs it made me realise why (apart from being nosy of course :-): To get inspiration. Sometimes it's for specific things and sometimes I just come by things I like the look of. And then I take a little bit from here and a little bit from there and end up with my own version of something. And that's what I love about it.

And this is exactly what I have done here. When we went camping in the summer I wanted to make something I could sit and do at night when the girls were asleep. So I found this post from Tusindfryd with the titel "Turn off your brain knitting" and just knew I was on the right track. I loved the way she'd she used the contrasting colours round the edges and was actually excited about trying to crochet...

So on our arrival I found this local yarn place called Isager where I got the wool for my towels - in the three contrasting colours I wanted in my kitchen: Turquoise, Green and Petrol.

Using a double seed stitch (2 knit, 2 purl instead of one of each) I started with 70 stitches. I made them as long as I found suitable and finished off be crocheting a border using the pattern of a granny stripe.

And this is what I ended up with, using a leather strap as a hook:

So now I have added a few more items to break the whiteness of my very white kitchen.

And with that I wish you all a lovely weekend.

Gitte x

Novembers project...

- has now been kick started, why rest on our laurels and get bored 
:-) And let's just say that we are no less ambitious this time than we were with the window project.

So the plan is to revamp the living room and hall - with a goal to finish no later than 1 December for Christmas to kick in, so no pressure...

This, among other things, means strip off old wallpaper, take down a wall, redo the electrics, brick up old doorways, break down the door to the basement, get the painter in to do up the walls and ceilings, get the floor man in to sand down the floors etc. etc....

We have of course cheated and started already, and then today we realised that the electrician we wanted wasn't going to make it... Not good when you have booked the painter to start on Monday :-)

Luckily we are not the first ones in this area who have done up a whole house (perhaps the most optimistic and unrealistic, but haven't we all been there...), so we called one of our lovely neighbors and knowing what we are going through, he was here fifteen minutes later. So even though my husband definitely thinks I am slightly mad, I am still optimistic :-)

So here's the starting point - and then you just have to wait until 1 December for the result (I wish...)

So until next time...

Gitte x

Project Window Done...

- I still can't believe how quickly they have managed to put in 9 windows, 3 patio doors and a front door.

The transformation is amazing - both inside and out. 

The lack of draft and noise from the windows has made such a difference - it's quite nice not getting a cold breeze on your neck and back when sitting on the sofa knitting :-)

I thought some before and after pictures was appropriate, so here they are:

Before

After

So whilst preparing the next project, I wish you all a lovely day.

Gitte x

It's raining outside...

- so what's better than having a great afternoon indoors, with hubby on the guitar, the girls playing with LEGO Friends and drawing on the walls (next room to be done up) and myself knitting kitchen towels.

Not bad at all :-)

I wish you all a lovely weekend.

Gitte x

Apples Apples Apples

The apple season is over us, and I have been given lots of cooking apples from a lovely neighbor - like two shopping bags and a big bucket lots :-)

The thing is - I just can't turn down an offer like that, so what to do...

I have tried to do different thing with them - diced and halved some for the freezer, ready for crumble and pie, cooked some with sugar and vanilla to serve with crushed macaroons and whipped cream and finally I made 2.5 liters of apple squash, which is different but nice.

So tonight, since the in-laws are here and it's the girls autumn half term, I found a recipe for apple pie here, but since it's in Danish I thought I'd just translate :-)

Sweet pastry
You need 2 portions, one for the base and one for the lid:
100 g butter
150 g flour
1½ tsp sugar
pinch of salt
½-1 egg

Mix butter, flour, sugar and salt until crumbled, then add the egg and bring it all together. 

Filling
5 apples, halved
4 tbsp sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
egg for egg wash
sugar for sprinkling

Roll out one portion of the pastry for the base. 

Place the apples on the pastry, round side up. Mix sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over the apples

Roll out the lid and place over the apples and join with the base at the edge. Cut some holes to allow the steam from the apples to get out.

Finally, bake for 25-35 mins. on 180 degrees and Ta-daaa...

Enjoy :-)

Gitte x

It's amazing...

what you can achieve when you have family and friends - and someone who knows what he is doing - around you.

All the windows and doors on one floor are already in - and only with one broken glass (on one of the old windows...)

The big moment was when they managed to lift out the big front windows without braking it. It took 4 grown men - and 4 girls of various ages to cheer - to do it. It is now up for grabs for free, as long as you take it away yourself... With about 400 lbs and a measurement of 113x62 inches I really hope someone bites as I don't how else we'll get rid of it :-)

Before                 During                        After

         




I can't believe what a difference it has made to the house, both inside and out. I absolutely love it and can't wait until the last four goes in next weekend.

And with this photo and with the smell of hot chocolate and waffles I wish you all a lovely afternoon.

Gitte x 

It just took me back...

Hi all

Having taken the girls to school and nursery and walked the dog I sat down in my favorite chair with a nice warm cup of coffee and my phone - so nothing new there...

The only difference is that I pressed the Pinterest button on my phone, which I haven't done for a long, long time. And suddenly I was back at Louise's, sat in her kitchen with Sarah, Karen and Jackie, Scrapping and chatting (normally mainly chatting...), realizing that I haven't done ANY since we moved back to Denmark last year.

Don't get me wrong, it's not that I haven't done anything creative at all. I've starting sewing again and in the winter I love knitting. This means that the girls have a constant supply of new clothes and my dear husband has finally got his Icelandic Sweater he's wanted for years.

- Oh, and then there are obviously all the things round the house.

And suddenly, for some strange reason, I felt the urge to some blogging, not that I have previously been very consistent or anything... So here I am, back at the computer sharing with you all the project that I am filling my life with at the moment.

Making an anorak for my husband, using his dad's old Tenson one from the 70's as a pattern. 

(Slightly worried that it will turn out looking a majorly home-made)

Getting our new utility room ready for painting by scraping off all the old terpentine based paint so the walls can breathe 

(not my favorite job, but very excited about getting it done)

Putting in all out new windows and doors that arrived just yesterday.

(VERY excited about that one)

So as you can probably guess I am not bored...

Have a lovely autumn day everyone.

Gitte x