Update the Look of the Traditional HBC Blanket with Bold New Colors

That iconic blanket, the Hudson Bay Company's Point Blanket, or Trapper blanket, with its green, red, yellow and dark blue stripes on a off-white background, is an iconic image in the history of trading posts in North America. The blankets first appeared in Canada in the 1700s and were very popular with uses as bedding, a kind of currency and robes. 

Sadly, rumors about the use of bedding to spread smallpox to indigenous populations created a dark side to the HBC blanket. Although research has not conclusively linked the blanket to this practice, the shadow of these rumors falls over all blankets and bedding traded during that time, especially in Canada.

As the picture shows, the look of the wool blanket is very appealing with its clean, bold stripes standing out from the off-white background. 

Now you can create a version of this blanket with traditional or 21st century colors. The blanket can be easily knit or crocheted. The pattern given is for knitting the blanket in garter stitch.

I was interested in updating this look with a new color scheme. I chose to use a gray background with off-white, yellow, red and blue stripes to give it a fresh new look.

The dimensions of this blanket or throw is 31" x 31". It was knit out of Berroco Vintage Chunky wool on size 10 (US) round needles. The main color choice was smoke gray (6106) and the contrasting stripes were mochi/off-white (6101), Kingfisher blue (6158), orange (6140) and Sunny/yellow (6121). 

The directions are as follows:

Cast on 118 stitches

Hint on row edge: Slip the first stitch knit-wise at the beginning of EVERY row for an edge with a tighter bump, or slip purl-wise WTYF (with the yard in front) for smooth edge.

Knit all the rows as follows:

Knit rows 1-20 in grey. Knit every row ending on a wrong side row. 

Knit next 10 rows in off-white.

Knit next 10 rows in gray.

Knit next 10 rows in mustard yellow.

Knit next 10 rows in gray.

Knit next 10 rows in orange.

Knit next 10 rows in gray.

Knit next 10 rows in blue.

Knit next 40 rows in gray (middle of blanket.

Reverse these rows to finish the blanket.

When buying wool, you will need at least two skeins for each contrasting color and five to six of the main gray color. If you want to make it larger or smaller, adjust the amount of wool accordingly.

Enjoy this project!

On the Edge in the Co-op

Edginess, here meaning offbeat or fringe, is a trait I admire.  Without people who think differently or perceive things in a different way, or in a 21st Century term, "outside the box," innovation would die. Where would we be without those thinkers who were seen as "out of the mainstream", like Albert Einstein and Charles Darwin or Florence Nightingale and Susan B. Anthony?

Take the modern cooperative--started in the 1970s--as an example of an edgy idea. A cooperative

Co-op Ideals

initially organized to get better prices on bulk items (flour, oats, etc.) for its members, which could be anyone, and any surplus was turned back to the members. These still are part of the modern cooperative, but the 21st Century cooperative now goes well beyond the basic ideas of banding together for better prices to include supporting organic farmers, beef farmers who feed their herds grass, sustainable fisheries, local entrepreneurs, and more.

When I first joined the Lakewinds co-op in 1990, I was one of the first 1500 members. In an area of tens of thousands of people, only 1500 had chosen to support the future of food--'clean' food unrelated to the greater "food industry." I cut cheese, re-filled bulk containers, swept floors, washed containers, and watched as more and more people rejected the American food industry and embraced the co-cop ideal.  Now, there are tens of thousands of members in the co-op system and Lakewinds has three different stores.

The 'edge' is also an important concept when shopping. At the co-op the other day--a store that I visit all too frequently--I realized why I like its small size and compactness so much: it's mostly an "edge" store. 

Co-op Foods

What's that you ask.  If you think about the layout of the typical American grocery store, the edge consists of produce, meat, dairy, bakery, bulk area, and maybe a deli or frozen food area. That's really all you need.

What comes in between those edges are freezers and aisles of boxes, bags and cans of, mostly, things we don't need and could easily do without.  Okay, maybe some cleaning products are useful, or olive oil.  But you see what I mean.  The edge is essential.  The middle of the store is mostly superfluous.

So hence the word "edgy" takes on another meaning when it comes to food and shopping.  I like to eat "edgy", to coin a phrase.

Whether in ideas, shopping or people, the edge may be what we need the most.

The Gifts of the Cold

The winter cold surrounds us and leaks in through the key holes and cracks in the window frames. Embrace the cold and consider its many gifts. Cold has cleansing power and opportunities for renewal. You know the crispness of air so cold that it stings--it brings a sense of raw purity.  

Cold lets you be. When my international students ask me what to do in the winter, I quickly present a list of outdoor activities from skating to snow-shoeing. But in the blessed sub-zero cold, you have to stop much doing and focus on just being. Enjoy the gift of limited choices and quiet periods the cold presents you. 

Cold brings us clarity. We respect the cold. During long periods at home, matters are clearly defined.  Is there enough food for another day? Will the car start? Are the pipes frozen? Should I bring in more wood for the fire? Have I fed the birds and deer who gather around my bird feeder? Do I have a good book and my knitting? Am I wearing wool socks? Beyond these considerations, life waits for spring.

Cold encourages you to seek heat. Consider that deer sleep in the day in a sunny spot and move more at night. Their metabolism slows to maintain heat. So we gather around the fire or find a sun-filled corner to restfully soak in the heat of the sun.

Cold created introverts. The cold of winter requires you to retreat indoors, and the long nights of winter propel you further inward. These long periods with only a family member or two, a pet, or maybe no one for company create the perfect climate for losing yourself in yourself.  Those from northern climes guard their emotions and speech while those from warmer, southern climates effuse about life. The cold shaped those self-sufficient northern personalities who depend on the isolation of the winter to recharge. 

A Russian friend of mine told about her friend who walks no matter the cold temperatures or wind chill. To her, there is no such thing as cold weather—only bad clothes. Similarly, to me, cold brings no hardship--only gifts of peace, clarity and renewal. Embrace the opportunity to hug the fire and your loved ones. Let the rays of the winter sun lull you to sleep in quiet revelry.

Lemoncello Almonds

Now, I've lived a number of years, maybe not all in the greatest culinary awareness, but the last 30 years or so, however, I've lived in a major metropolitan area in the United States, so I've had access to a great variety of ethnic groceries and specialty food shops.  I've also had a chance to travel to many countries, including Austria, Turkey, Egypt, South Africa, to name a few.  In that time, I've had a chance to sample a lot of food, main dishes, appetizers, salads, desserts, you name it.  I'm not one to shy away from trying out something new (unless it has been preserved longer than I've had my last toothbrush.)

Anyway, after all these years, imagine my great surprise that I have discovered a confection that ranks as my new #1 sweet sensation.  They are lemon confectionary almonds called "Lemoncello Almonds," and, to put it mildly, they are delicious.  The package describes the candy as "roasted almonds covered in white chocolate and lemon cream."  That's indeed how they taste. I found these in a modest little grocery near my home in a small display--not a specialty grocery or even a candy shop.

The makers of these lemony, white chocolate-covered almonds, the Sconza family of Italian descent, write a bit about their history.  The package explains, "Inspired by the fragrant lemon groves of Sorrento, Italy, the third generation of the Sconza family created this unique and delicious Lemoncello confection to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of their parnets, Jim and Carolyn. Our family promise to you has been the same since 1939, when Vincenzo made the first piece of candy in his kitchen."

Well, imagine that, 1939 and I just discovered them in 2014!  All those years wasted!  Well, at least I found them.  Hats off to Vincenzo who began a wonderful tradition.  I'm anxious to visit Sorrento and inhale some of that lemon aroma wafting through the groves! 

Honestly, this candy is just the right amount of almond, lemon and white chocolate.  If you've given up sugar, reconsider that decision, at least for one package of these.

Warning:  Don't open the package until you are ready to eat them ALL!
Buon appetito!

The Edge

At the co-op the other day, I realized why I like its small size and compactness so much: it's mostly an "edge" store.  Okay. What's that you ask.  If you think about the layout of the typical American grocery store, the edge consists of produce, meat, dairy, bakery, bulk (if it's a co-op) and maybe a deli or frozen food area.  That's really all you need.  What comes in between those edges are aisles and aisles of boxes, bags and cans of, mostly, things we don't need and could easily do without.  Okay, maybe some cleaning products are useful, or olive oil.  But you see what I mean.  The edge is essential.  The middle of the store is mostly superfluous.  So hence the word "edgy" takes on a whole new meaning when it comes to food and shopping.  I like to eat "edgy", to coin a phrase.

This is the question: To turn on the heat or not

Handknit wool socks

It's October in the eternally cold state of Minnesota (well, that's what we let them think.)  The dilemma among the ladies at the knitting group (yes, we knit wool socks to keep warm) tonight was "Did you turn on the heat yet?"  Only hardy souls like those in Minnesota would actually discuss whether it was cold enough to turn on the heat. (The low yesterday evening was in the 40's Fahrenheit.)  Actually, I haven't turned the furnace on officially even though my nose is cold and even my fingers are a bit numb as I type this.  Where does this hesitation to warm up the house come from?  Okay, I must admit that I have tried to warm up my immediate vicinity by making a fire in our fireplace the last two evenings to warm up the living room and then sitting in the easy chair immediately adjacent to it with my  knitting in hand . . . but the bedrooms are cold, for sure.  Let me make a stab at why this is even a topic.

Here is my thinking on the reasons:
We spend a lot of time sitting in natural gas-heated rooms--approximately five or six months or more (depending on whether you turn the furnace off in April or not--but that's another blog).  We just don't want to start drying out our nasal passages this early.
Maybe we just like to feel chilly so that we do have to put on all those self-striping wool socks and Icelandic sweaters that we knit. I quote a woman at knitting tonight, "I'd rather be cold than hot."  Spoken by a true Minnesotan.
Or could it just be that we like to boast that we have NOT TURNED THE FURNACE ON YET to our friends as a kind of badge of honor.  We like to boast that we are tough Minnesotans and can cheerfully endure endless months of cold and snow, no, deep cold and deep snow.  (Well, maybe I do exaggerate a bit on the "cheerfully" part.)  But you get what I mean.
I think I am putting an end to this as I just experienced an internal shiver while proofreading this blog.  I'm turning on the furnace; let the sinuses begin to dry up. Wait, maybe I could just plug in the space heater in the bedroom and wait until November to turn on the furnace?
Where do you stand on this quintessential question of this season?

Ramadan from a Minnesota Perspective

It is about half way through the month of Ramadan and I thought I'd post about the observance of this Islamic month--which many of you probably know as a fasting month.  Since my husband is Muslim, I have had an bird's eye view of the observance of this month from many different angles.

Okay--some of the basics to know.  Ramadan is actually the name of a month  in the Islamic calendar.  One of the pillars of Islam is the obligation to fast from sunrise to sunset during this month. Did you know observant Muslims who are smokers also have to abstain from smoking for that period?  This month also includes more donations to charities by Muslims as well as more social gatherings to break their fast and an opportunity for communal prayer.  These are called Tarawih prayers (taraweeh) and they happen at night during which long parts are recited from the Qur'an.   The pre-dawn meal that most Muslims get up to eat (if they want to function during the next work day!) is called suhoor and the meal to "break your fast" is called iftaar.  The lantern (fanoos) is the symbol of Ramadan (at least in Egypt).  This one is hanging in our porch and I light it at sunset.

If you have ever lived in a predominantly Muslim country during this month, you'll find that the whole month of Ramadan has a decidedly different rhythm from all other months.  Particularly, there are lots of accommodations to help people with fasting.  I noticed that people in Egypt would come to work later and leave earlier or maybe just move office hours to the evening--after the iftaar. Soccer games were scheduled for after iftaar, too.  Likewise with schools--the evening classes I was teaching at the American University in Cairo (AUC) were moved much later in the evening so that a late afternoon and early evening were set aside for people to get home to rest and enjoy iftaar.  This meant I was teaching until 11:00 p.m. at night!

The streets in Cairo come alive after iftaar. The evenings are the time for people to come out to do their shopping, visit friends, go to birthday parties, whatever couldn't be done in the day.  Or, if they stay home, there are specials on television--including serious drama series (like the life of Nasser or Isfahan, the singer) or game shows or stories of 1001 Nights (Alf Leila wa Leila).  Basically, the day gets tipped upside down with lots of activities simply shifted to the nighttime.  Streets are lit with colored lights, and special food is displayed and lanterns are hanging outside merchants' stores waiting to be bought.

Places like the bakery El-Abd would be flooded with buyers, too.

If you were living in a Muslim household (like I was), you fasted along with the family.  It would have been just too insensitive (in my opinion) to have eaten in front of everyone. The last two hours before iftaar were definitely the hardest for me--so I usually took a book and laid down during that period and usually fell asleep for part of it.  The food had been long prepared (Mama would have been up and cooking from early morning) and waiting to be devoured (the only verb that describes it!) Surprisingly to me, however, when the call to prayer came (if you couldn't hear the cannon blast from the Citadel--now on the radio), my husband's family didn't run to eat, but broke their fast with a couple of dates and went to pray in the street-side mosque by the building.  When they arrived back, however, the food would be inhaled!  There is a lot of food eaten during Ramadan--some of the Egyptian favorites that I like are the fruit soup you can use to break your fast (khoshaf), macaroni with bechamel sauce (macarona bilbechamela), and the desserts, especially qata'if  (no equivalent in English--but it's a small circle of risen dough stuffed with nuts (preferably) fried and then covered in sugar/lemon syrup.)  Rich, yes, but fabulous when they are still warm.

For most Muslims in Minnesota, the observance of Ramadan is largely a private, indoor occasion that is spent with family or Muslim friends at someone's home with occasional gatherings in community centers, apartment party rooms or at mosques for special dinners with programs or the Tarawih prayers. But if you want to get the 'street' atmosphere of Ramadan in Minnesota in a public location, it's almost impossible!  The closest thing is to go to Holyland in Northeast or the Marina restaurant on Lowry and University in N.E. Minneapolis.  At the Marina, the Egyptian owner puts up a big tent and serves a decent buffet of food from a variety of cuisines.  People sit around in the huge tent talking while children run around and the youth play soccer in the parking lot.  This is just a glimpse into the feeling of the nights of Ramadan.