What a summer!

Boy, I can’t believe that July is almost over.  I’m not even sure where June went?!?  Growing up, June was always the glory month – not too hot, all the trees have their leaves, school was out, and you still had the whole summer ahead of you.  I’m dreading August…  Not because it marks the official “wind-down” of summer, but rather the day that I have to put my little guy on the bus for his first day of kindergarten.  I guess they have to leave the nest sometime, don’t they?

North Market

One thing that I am looking forward to is another North Market show on August 16th.   We’ve been having so much fun meeting everyone there!  We’re so glad that so many of you have taken the time to stop by and visit with us.

I finally downloaded the pictures of us getting our display together and thought I’d share them with you.  Well, I should really say that Gail’s husband, Brian, did all the work designing and creating our amazing wrought iron display.  When we first approached Brian with our request for a display, he completely immersed himself in everything Italian.  After hours of research, design, and reviewing hundreds of photos from Italy, he came up with the idea to mimic a typical Italian outdoor fruit market display.  Before we knew it, he was off to the races and we had ourselves a work of art to display our wares!

Cutting the iron

The sunflower...

Of course, we did have some slight disagreement on what to include in our display…  Much to Brian’s disappointment, Gail and I elected not to include the sunflower that he found in a river.  Now don’t get me wrong, the sunflower is a perfect Tuscan icon, but we just couldn’t get over the fact that the flower part is made out of plastic broom bristles.  Maybe we’ll give it a makeover and bring it with us someday!

The Final Display

Wow, has it been this long?

I can’t believe that it’s been so long since I last posted anything here.  Spring seems to have taken over my life.  It’s been hard to turn on the computer…  On the nice days, I feel the need to boost my vitamin D count and of course, the subdivision landscaping “wars”  have started.  Once one of the neighbors puts down that nice, black mulch, well… all of us lemmings  have to follow!  But, I’m happy to say that after 4 hours of edging and 5 hours of spreading 40 some bags of mulch,  I got the front yard done this weekend.   Not sure when I’ll get to the back.  Luckily we border state land, so maybe I’ll be able to put if off until mid summer!

On the rainy days, we’ve been busy getting ready for the North Market Artisan Sundays!

This year, we’re participating the third Sunday of each month from now through October.  We’re totally excited and honored to have been accepted into the show.  And, it’ll be our first official public “event”, besides trunk shows, that is!  If anything else, plan on stopping by to see the incredible display that Gail’s husband, Brian, is creating.  Who knew that he was a crafty one too like his wife?!?  I’ll have to get some pics of Brian in action up here soon…

Move over Thin Mints!

Have you noticed how many of our colorways are named after food?!?  We admit it… in addition to be inspired by beautiful yarn and fiber colors, we’re also pretty motivated by incredible Italian foods and are constantly trying new recipes.  We thought we’d share some of those recipes that influenced a few of our colorway creations and hope you enjoy them as much as our families have.  Bon appetito!

Mint Ganache Brownies

Mint Ganache Brownies

1 Cup butter flavor Crisco
2 ¼ Cups sugar
1 ¼ Special dark process cocoa
1 Teaspoon salt
1 Teaspoon baking powder
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
4 Large eggs
1 ½ Cups unbleached all-purpose flour
½ Bag (5 oz.) Andes Crème De Menthe baking chips
½ Cup heavy whipping cream
1 Cup special dark chocolate chips

Brownies:
Preheat oven to 350′ and lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch pan. In a large microwave-safe bowl, carefully melt the Crisco slowly, stirring occasionally between heating times. Add sugar to the melted Crisco and return to microwave until it’s hot, but not boiling. Stir into the Crisco/sugar mixture the cocoa, salt, baking powder, and vanilla. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and stir them slowly into the mixture until smooth. Stir in the flour and when thoroughly mixed, stir in the Andes Crème De Menthe baking chips. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake the brownies for 28 to 30 minutes until a toothpick put into the center of the pan comes out clean. The brownies should look set on the edges, as well as the center. When done, remove the brownies from the oven. Allow to cool completely before frosting with the mint ganache.

Mint Ganache:
Over medium heat, heat the cream until it’s very hot. Bubbles will begin to form along the edge of the pan (do not allow cream to boil). Add the special dark chocolate chips to the hot cream and stir until chips are melted. Mixture will appear soupy at first, but will thicken up shortly. Continue to stir until thick and shinny. Pour over brownies and allow to cool before covering and then refrigerate.

Mint Ganache Yarn and Fiber

Hello Spring!

Is it too presumptuous of me to declare that Spring has officially arrived here in Columbus, Ohio?!?  I’m knocking on, well, man-made material right now (since I’m too lazy to get up and head towards the wood) that we don’t see any more snow this year until December 24th!  It’s amazing how giddy I am this morning knowing that it’s going to be sunny and nearly 70′!

I had a nice little surprise too waiting for me this morning.  I don’t know why I didn’t notice these happy little “hello spring!” greetings until this morning.  By the looks of them, they’ve probably been up for a while.

When I see the arrival of the tulips, I can’t help but feel a sense of acomplishement and think “ah -  made it through another winter!”  I’m such summer lover…

So, in honor of this incredible Spring day that we’re going to have today, I’m skipping my workout class and taking my son to the park for a picnic lunch and some good playground time.

California Dreamin’…

All the leaves are brown

Tuscan Grove in Manhattan Beach, CA

And the sky is gray

But this Tuscan Grove skein

Got outta town on a plane

It’s now safe and warm

Cuz it’s in L.A.

California dreamin’

On such an almost spring day

Hmm... is this food?!?

It stopped at the beach it passed along the way

It got down in the sand

Next to the bay

The seagull doesn’t like the cold

He knows the skein is there to stay

California dreamin’

On such an almost spring day

Joanna – Thanks for sending in these pictures and inspiring new lyrics to an old song!

Fun Stuff!

Given that I’m crabby that Mother Nature decided to give us another nice little blast of winter today, I though I’d write about some fun things.  Maybe this will snap me out of my “I really want spring…NOW!” mood.

So, check out these socks that Gail made…

Aren’t they deliciously wacky!  I love the fact that they just can’t decide what color to be… They’ve got all the makings of  an awesome girlfriend: fun loving, adventurous, spunky, and crazy. I guess they do lean towards not being able to make up their mind, but let’s just forget that stereotype!  These socks were made with our Blind Date Superwash Roving.  Gail handspun the roving and then knit them using a basic sock pattern.  Way to go, Gail!

OK…  I’m actually starting to feel better now.  I’m still cold, but I started a fire and my Four Seasons Wrist Warmers are keeping my hands nice and toasty.  I don’t know how I ever survived without wrist warmers before.

Here’s another fun thing -

Amore in Bellagio

This is our Amore colorway.  It was created for the first month of our Stroll Through Tuscany Sock Club with Knitters Mercantile.  I love the way the colorway turned out…  it was perfect for those Valentine’s Day socks.   Wait to you see the other exclusive colors we’ve created for the club!  Of course, you’ll have to join the club for this colorway.
Yup, definitely feeling better now.  And this next picture really helps me get rid of the winter blahs, even though I’m a bit jealous of this lucky skein of Red Pepper Flake:

Even though the sun isn’t shining here in Ohio and the sky is gray, I’m pleased to know that these things still exist.  OK, so you have to travel to Phoenix like this skein did.  Poolside and soaking up some rays, this skein posed for a nice picture, didn’t it?!?  Thanks for sending the picture, Madelyn!

How ironic!

Check out the poem that I found today…

I twine for thee, far from my Tuscan grove
The lily chaste, the rose that breathes of love,
The myrtle leaf and Laura’s hallowed bay
The thousand flow’rs that bloom o’er Sappho’s clay,
For the, Callirhoe tho’ from love and years
I know, how Fancy wakes from joys in tears!
Round they fair tresses may the garland rest
Inhaling fragrance from they virgin beast;
And when thou’st find that youth and beauty fly
As heavenly meteors from our dazzled eye,
Still my the garland she perfume, and shine
While Laura’s mind and Sappho’s heart be thine.
Then o’er the urn where I shall find repose,
Far from my Tuscan grove, let drop a rose.

I guess it was fate that Gail and I named the company Tuscan Grove! Now, I guess I have to explain who Sappho is to my hubbie

OK… I’m ready for Spring!

Well, I almost made it a month into winter this year without pining for the sound of crickets, warm sunshine on my face, and the sight of colorful flowers poking their heads through the ground.  We’ve been in a deep freeze here in Ohio the last couple of days and thankfully, I think it may be reaching the end.  I can’t believe how warm 19′ feels after the negative numbers on the thermometer we’ve been seeing!  I know I have no room to complain, though…  We heard this week from Diane, one of our customers who resides in North Pole, Alaska.  She recently had 15 straight days of minus 40′F or colder!  I can’t even imagine.  Thanks, Diane – you made me (and my tired furnace) a lot happier about negative 14!

On the more global news side, this week marks a wave of events marking 400 years since Galileo’s  first landmark telescopic observations of the night sky.  Bet you didn’t know it was the International Year of Astronomy (IYA for those of you in the know!)?!?!   Needless to say, as Tuscany was Galileo’s birthplace, the region is planing quite the festivities.  The Tuscan initiatives will include the opening of a new museum, guided observations of the night sky, the laying of a marker stone commemorating the scientist and three exhibitions, among other things.  So, in honor of such a mometous occassion, we officially dedicate our “Galileo” colorway to, well…  Galileo! 

Santa is Coming!

It’s the eve of the big day and I think my son is going to burst at the seams he’s so excited.  Let’s hope he sleeps the night and doesn’t wake up with the birds!

So, I leave you with a couple of amazing pictures from Italy to help bring in the happy day….

 

 

This is the world’s largest Christmas tree!  Well, it’s actually not a tree, but 12 kilometers of lit decorations that go all the way up the slopes of Mount Ingino in the town of Gubbio, which is in Umbria.  The whole community has gotten together here to create a work of true Christmas spirit!

 

Here’s another amazing tree that can be seen in the Campo Santo Stefano square in central Murano.  Murano is an island in the Venice lagoon that is famous for its Venetian glass.  True to the island’s fame, this tree is made completely of glass.  Nobody throw any rocks !!

Merry Christmas from us here at Tuscan Grove!

 Gail and Laura

My new hat!

I had to show off the new hat that Gail made for me… 

 

 

Just in time for the lovely winter storm that is supposed to hit us tonight and tomorrow and “inhibit” the last shopping excursions I’d been planning.  All I can say is thank goodness for 4-wheel drive! 

 

 

 

 

Of course, it’s an Ohio State Buckeye hat.  After all, no other school colors make the appropriate fashion statement here in Columbus!  Gail made this hat out of two of our Tuscan Grove colorways, Carmen and Horseshoe.  I just love the little “Block O’s”:

Perhaps I can persuade her to write up the pattern for the site…

Anyhow, THANK YOU GAIL!!!