Monday, April 11, 2016

Dessert Yarn

So I started another South Bay Shawlette.  Meredith is making one too, and when I told her I was thinking of making a second one, she said why don't you join me?  And just like that I did.
You see I'd just received a ball of yarn from Two Black Sheep.  It's a fingering weight, hand dyed ombre merino in the color You Had Me at Hello.  The name alone was enough reason for me to order some.  It comes all nicely wound up for you, just like in the picture.  You can pull it from the middle or from the outside, your choice.  Strangely enough, that little ball of yarn with it's dark berry colored center makes me hungry for two childhood desserts.

Dessert number 1
When I was a kid my mom often made us tapioca pudding.  She'd serve it in a little glass dish with a teaspoon of strawberry or raspberry jam plopped into the middle.  I remember pulling a little of that jam onto my spoon along with the pudding as I ate towards the center.  I'm quickly crocheting my way to the jam blob in the middle of that skein.  It's quite motivating.

Dessert number 2
When was the last time you made a jellyroll?  My mom and grandma made them often and they were always a treat filled with the same aforementioned jam.  However, no one could make a jellyroll like Olga's mom.
Years ago, when I was a young single mom living in the San Francisco Bay Area at the foot of the San Mateo bridge in a very windy town called Foster City (it was always a challenge to try and light the barbecue there let me tell you) there was a family from Czechoslovakia that lived in the apartment next door.  The kids, Olga and Thomas, were about the same age as my girls and they would play together after school. To this day I can't remember their mom's name.  Heck I don't think I ever got it right back then either, because it was difficult to pronounce and it often embarrassed me that I couldn't grasp it.  My kids just called her Olga's mom and it stuck.  When Olga's mom realized I had no husband, was raising two kids on my own and working full time, she went into complete mother hen mode.  The jellyrolls began to arrive at my door almost weekly.  Here was a woman who barely spoke any English, was alone in an apartment all day in a strange country, taking care of her own husband and kids, and she wanted to take care of me too.
 No wonder those jellyrolls tasted so damn good,  They were full of kindness!
I made one the other day, from the beat up pages of my old Betty Crocker cookbook and thought of her.  Hey Olga's mom?  If you're out there somewhere - this shawl is for you.


16 comments:

  1. It's such a pretty shawl! I rarely meet anyone who grew up with tapioca. I live it. Sometimes my mom made it with cocoa added and sometimes vanilla with a tiny bit of syrup.
    It makes me want some.

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  2. Oh my... I wish I was Olga's Mom... I WANT that shawl... and I want that jelly roll too, come to think of it ;-)

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  3. Thats a very nice story!
    KATRIN W.

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  4. You know, I am not an overly religious sort. I don't even go to church very much. But I believe. And I believe Olga's Mom was placed in your life for a reason. How wonderful to have such kindness near you, and I am sure her jelly roll's were amazing!
    Now, let's talk shawlette......I need a knitting project!
    xo Kris

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  5. That yarn does look delicious! Happy stitching. Your baby quilt in the previous post is very sweet. I've always liked those blocks. Enjoy the rest of your week. I spied the pool in the background of one of your pics. Sigh.........

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  6. I printed this pattern and I'm going to make one of these shawl eventually too... it's too pretty to resist. I just need to find the right yarn. I'm looking forward to seeing that gorgeous eye candy of yours when it's done.

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    1. You should make one! It's a lovely pattern :)

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  7. Love the story about Olga's mom, how wonderful. And I love the yarn you are using for your South Bay Shawlette. Might have to make one myself - as soon as I can figure out which colorway to choose. Just wondering if I can start another one before finishing the first one? It still needs some kind of border.

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  8. that's a lovely story. And the yearn looks scrumptious. I'm looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

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  9. I love that story, how kind that wonderful woman was to you and your family. She deserves a shawl, or a shawl named after her. I am so glad you are joining me making the Southbay Shawlette. Thank you for mentioning me!
    Meredith

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  10. We used to make jelly rolls occasionally when we were kids. This is making me want to find my recipe!

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  11. Dear Olga's Mom: You are a very good egg. What a lovely thing to do. :)

    That yarn had me at Hello, too. Working towards the jam center on such a lovely shawl as that sounds like a great way to spend an afternoon. Have fun!

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  12. I saw food too, but a sort of yoghurt / posset my grandmother used to make with (probably) cream and blueberries, yum!!!!

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  13. Food baked with kindness is always delicious. I love the yarn for your shawl, such pretty colours. I'm very tempted to make another one myself, it is such a lovely pattern.

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  14. The South Beach Shawls that you and Mere are making are inspiring me to crochet -- but I can't take on a new craft right now -- things are too crazy at work! One of these days, though...
    My mom never made tapioca pudding, but I love the stuff so my kids grew up on it. It is the best comfort food.

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You guys are awesome! Thank you for the comments!