Books, Yarn, Cake (Brack)

 This morning/early afternoon was the last yarn group meeting of the year and as always, it was such a fun time. I'm so glad the librarian decided to start the group to see what would happen, hoping people would show up. We're a small group--there were 5 of us today--but knowledge is shared, conversation is never lacking, and I've made some new friends. Upon my arrival today my first stop was the circulation desk where one of the three wonderful librarians was holding down the fort by herself. I picked up a book for myself and one for Bill. Then I settled in for some Tunisian crochet, a wee bit of knitting instruction later on, and of course, the delicious tea brack made by one of the women. She called it cake. I don't know if the terms are interchangeable as I've always seen and heard it called brack. She also brought some of her ginger tea, which is a big hit. Ginger doesn't agree with me--makes me feel like a hole is being burned through my stomach--so I don't have any. I've been bringing my travel mug full of chocolate peppermint coffee, but there is always tea and coffee available at the library too.

Brack--I guess I would know it as a quick bread. It's made with raisins or sultanas which are soaked overnight in very strong tea. Then as she described the process of making it, it sounds like a basic quick bread with some spices like cinnamon. Baking powder is used to get a rise, not yeast. It's very dense. This one was perfect in terms of sweetness even though she didn't add any sugar. It can be eaten as is, with butter, or even, apparently with what they call custard here, which is to me like a runny pudding. I've had this custard with apple pie, but never with tea brack, but I bet it's good. She gave me a couple pieces of to bring home so Bill could have some.

Back at the beginning of the group, I taught one of the women to knit. She took to it quickly and watched videos and things as she practiced. She's made several pairs of fingerless gloves. She'd expressed an interest in learning to knit in the round so she can make a hat. I rummaged around and found some circular needles of the right length and a set of long double points, both in a size that'll work for the yarn she wants to use and gave them to her. Today she cast on and I showed her how to join her cast on into a circle so she can start knitting around and around. In between eating brack, drinking coffee, and showing her that, I worked on a blanket wrap I'm making using odd balls of charity shop yarn, some wool and some mohair, in Tunisian crochet. It's going to be so nice and cozy! 

Time flew by as it always does and soon we were packing up our stuff to go home and leave the librarian free to go to lunch. When we meet again, it'll be a new year. 😐😬😮Not sure where the time is going. 

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