Year: 2020

bring lemon cake to the party

Published by fairfaxhill

I’m not sure what it is about lemons, the color, the flavor, the scent… I love it all. Things may be different now, but when I was growing up in Costa Rica, you couldn’t find lemons anywhere in San José. We had limes — tons of limes — and at our house, we drank limeade almost daily with lunch, dinner, and with pretty much everything in between. I loved that, too! It wasn’t until I lived abroad that I finally got to taste lemons — and then, quickly, I fell in love with them. For me, lemons symbolize spring and the start of warmer weather. So, as soon as spring gets near, I start to crave lemon everything (even in the color of the clothes I wear). Since the beginning of February, yellow colors are popping up everywhere: daffodils, acacia trees, spring fashion in store windows, and all sorts of lemony cravings in my head! So, when about two weekends ago, I was asked to bring some dessert to one of our family dinners, understandably, …

knitting rowan’s “kate” cardigan

Published by fairfaxhill

I may have mentioned that I started working on a new project, a ROWAN pattern called “Kate”. I started it a few days ago. It’s a very basic sweater. But that’s okay; I like basic.  Ever since I finished the sleeveless purple top, I’ve only worn it once. It’s still chilly around here, so I need something to throw over it that isn’t too bulky and that won’t clash with the rib pattern, so I hope this works. 🤞🏻 I should be making the sweater in green like the photo from the “Rowan Loves.. kidsilk haze & felted tweed” magazine, which has 9 designs by Sarah Hatton. I love emerald green! (Oh well, maybe next time.) I’m loving the yarn I picked out: Folio by Berroco yarns. I hope it doesn’t behave too differently from the Kidsilk Haze specified in the pattern. Normally, I would have gone with the recommended yarn. I love Rowan yarns. But Berroco had the color I needed, and I didn’t want to wait for an order to be mailed to me. Although, Kidsilk Haze in …

flowers in a vase

my sweet valentine

Published by fairfaxhill

My sweet valentine came a little early this year — a whole week early, to be exact. The florist screwed up the delivery date and showed up at my office last Friday. I was very confused—as were my co-workers, all women. They knew it wasn’t my birthday, and they definitely knew it wasn’t Valentine’s Day – yet! It was all so odd. Before opening the package that came with the flowers or even reading the note, I emailed Patrick. Did you send me flowers??? He explained what had happened and after work we laughed about the whole thing. All week I’ve been indulging in the chocolate bon-bons that came with the flowers… Addicting! I just wanted to capture this moment because I am impressed that the flowers are still holding up! Just like us, babe! (Thanks, Patrick Grubb and Happy early Valentine’s to you, too!)

kombucha

Published by fairfaxhill

Kombucha is a funny word. I swore I would never try the stuff. But as the saying goes, never say never!

It all started at Comforts, a nearby café/restaurant/deli (not sure what to call it), about two weekends ago. I was grabbing a couple of their famous Chinese chicken salads for lunch, when the person behind me in line made some silly comment about whether he was next. I forget exactly what he said. It was a joke about cutting in line… Somehow, I rarely leave a place without exchanging some words with at least one person in a store. (It just happens!) People seem to always want to chat, and I tend to chat back. It drives my husband crazy. He’s not much of a chatter.