New friends, new recipe

Yesterday's knitting group was fun. The library hadn't set up a leader, just a room, table of reference books and a visit or two to see how it was going.  

Four people, none of whom had met before, one a complete beginner, who learned to make her first knitted row, which I promptly commemorated with a picture. 

Third participant was self taught and well into a lace baby blanket. The fourth participant used to knit, crochet, embroider, and had forgotten how, so long. But in no time she got back her knitting mojo and was very happy.

For the total beginner, I cast on some stitches for her, another person guided her through knitting a few rows.  Then she unraveled, learned to cast on, and undertook to knit a square to show us next week! 

So I learned a new to me cast-on, and with any luck, we'll continue. The library had only set up for the month of January, so I expect they're looking to see if it gets established enough to continue. If they're not assigning staff time, it's easier for their schedule, though the other participants did ask for a group leader to teach new members. We did okay without one for that session. We'll see.

Then home to a New Year visit from Handsome Son, bringing shortbread, to complete the New Year rituals. With a pot of tea, and the walnut/cheese square things I'd baked, we were all set. We always talk about many things, politics, the economy, his current electronic DIY project, the latest shenanigans of our various neighbors, food, it's all good. 

After he'd left, I wondered what to have for dinner, remembered the shrimp in the freezer, and ended up with shrimp, penne, cauliflower all baked in a cheese sauce. Plenty of black pepper.

Paprika on top, beautiful color

It turned out very rich, and worked quite well. I wonder if it's one of those recipes I think I invented, but which turns out to be some classic pasta vol au vent crevettes fromage turducken or something. Anyway if it has a name, please let us know.

Meanwhile, today I'm returning to the skirt with possibly woven panel inserts, though the woven sections may end up being something different, we'll see.  I'll unearth the skirt fabric and see. You know how some people like to choose a word or phrase of the year as a kind of mantra? I think either "we'll see" or NADM  will be mine.

And here's someone who knows how to enjoy her knitting adventures. Get that cable panel! The fringes! This is one of those "knit stripes to record a year of weather temperatures" projects. 

Happy  day, everyone, safe travels to the people traveling.

Better days ahead for people suffering in war zones