cooking rut & summer breezes…

I’ve been in a cooking rut lately and I’m so glad to have found this AWESOME blog.

Polka-Dot Apron !!!  I made the Good Salad, loved it!  You really should check it out.  I found several recipes I want to try.  I think this was just the site I needed to find to give me a kick start in the right direction. 

I can’t wait to make the cute little Easter Pastel White Chocolate Pretzels.  I think I’ll use Hugs since I happen to have a bag of them.  If you scroll down and look at all the wonderful recipes you’ll see some pretzels with Kisses and Hugs and red and green M&M’s!  Simple and wonderful… my favorite kind of treat to make and take!

OK, other than cooking (or making salad) we opened the pop-up today.  It is so warm, if I didn’t know what day it was I would swear it was Washington Coast summer!  66 degrees!!!  (and a very light breeze)  So now I WANT TO GO CAMPING!!  Big surprise huh!  Another happy surprise was that there was no mold, moisture or bad smells in the pop-up.  It is crying out for us to go camping.  Maybe soon, we’ll see.

For now I’m back inside and need to keep knitting to finish this cute little Vine dress by Thursday.  I love pressure.  And yes I have a back up plan, but don’t want to do it.  So I’ll check in later to let you know how it’s going!

It was a long week…

So what am I knitting on theses days?

I have started a couple of things. 

• A Hemlock Blanket for my brother. 
• And a Vine Flower dress for Tawna’s baby that should arrive in late June. 
• Oh, and I have a Color Swap knitting project that I have started twice to make something.  I’m about to start the third try to make something wonderful for my swap partner.  I just wasn’t in love with the yarn and pattern together on the first two tries, so I’m really hoping that the third time will be a charm – it’s a Good Luck cowl!   

Our view is changing… we no longer have a beautiful lot across the lake from us… well it’s still pretty, it just has a weekender house being built on it.

A new weekender house being built directly across from us.

I guess I will get used to it, I did the other one.

The lake still looks muddy and cold, even on a sunny day.

I was just thinking it is so beautiful out today what am I doing in the house?  So I think I’ll take the dogs for a walk.  Be back later.

 

7 things this Sunday…

Look what I got!  If I had been paying attention I would have noticed and posted sooner.  The amazing and very talented Lyndsey (She Blogs)  sent me a blog award.  Thank you so much Lyndsey.

Rules – List 7 things I love, and award 7 Blogs I love.

7 things I love… (not in any order mind you.)

• my husband
• kisses from my dogs (and my husband too)
• my ever growing family and friends (is that too vague?)
• yarn (and knitting)
• coffee (iced, just a touch of Irish Cream)
• the sun shinning on me, when it’s windy and brisk out – like today
• the sound of the wind in the trees, and the ducks talking on the lake, and the birds chattering as they fly by.

I guess that’s 7ish! 

Now 7 blogs I love…

• Sherri Knits
• Knitted Gems
• Celadon Pool two
• gibknits 
• The knitting blog by Mr. Puffy the dog
• the Akamai Knitter (she is soooo talented, be sure to visit her etsy shop too)
• almost all buttoned up (be sure to check out her Deep Forest Scarf/Shawl – available on Ravelry too)

Wow, are we at seven already!

I will post more stuff later.  Until then go knit something, finish something, dust something (at my house of course), or just hug someone you love!

Swell Hats & a courthouse rabbit…

A couple of weekends ago I went to Maple Valley to see my family.  My nephew and one of my soon to be nephews were in a play.  Annie!  The boys did a great job and I was very impressed.  (I am a very proud aunt!) 

Anyway, I brought with me… hats!   Well not just any hat… I brought with me 6 knitted Swell hats. All different and designed for each boy.   (They are all posted on my Ravelry projects page.)  I had put the long hang down ties on two of the hats, and then asked each boy if they wanted the ties or not.  All said no ties.  Then one by one they each looked at how cool dad looked in his hat with ties and they each asked for ties!  They are so cute.

This all happened on a Saturday night.  I left late and drove home, but my mom spent the night with them.  She told me the next afternoon that when the boys (all 5 of them) got up the next morning to get ready for church they were all wearing their hats!  This made me smile – real big!

The hats in various stages of adding ties.

 

OK, now the courthouse rabbit story.

It just so happens that on the Friday before I went to see the Swell hat boys, a rabbit was visiting were I work.  I came out of the building to go home, and there it was.  Just eating and hopping around.  He was so cute I just had to take a couple of pictures.  No, I don’t always have my camera with me… but I had the chicken sisters with me and I had been taking pictures of them!

Too cute.

Soon after I snapped this picture a small child began chasing the rabbit and he quickly departed. 

It's starting to look a little like spring at the Grays Harbor County Courthouse.

Update:  This week someone mentioned that two rabbits have been sighted around the courthouse lawns.

I’ll blog again soon.  Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Three Sisters…

I have lots of posting to do.  So lets see… I think I’ll just do several over the next couple of days.

First up… The Three Sista Chickens!

Last month I started knitting chickens for the Grays Harbor County Fair auction.  In the past I have donated themed gift baskets and this year I wanted to knit something fun.  So when I saw the pattern for Knit Chickens by Susan B. Anderson - how could I resist.

Everyday the pattern and yarn went to work with me and at break and during my lunch I would knit on them.  Soon Stripe the littlest chicken was done.

Little Sista Stripe

Now, even with stripe done, she came to work with me each day, and traveled around with me where ever I went.  She inspired me to keep working on her sisters.  People at work from different departments started coming to visit the little Stripe chicken.   Soon we had another sister chicken… her name is Flower.

The girls and I visiting Sherri at The Yarn Corner.

 Now with Flower done, her and little sister Stripe decided they needed to go out and explore.  So I took them to the library with me in Montesano.  They waited for me in the flowers.

Stripe and Flower waiting for me at the library in Montesano.

This was fun and the sun was shinning (a rare treat) so we went to the beach in Ocean Shores on the way home.

Camera setting got messed up while we were at the beach.

Now with auction time getting close, I pressed on and picked up the pace and soon Dot the third sister was done.  It was time to go back and visit Sherri at The Yarn Corner for one more photo shoot!

The girls visit The Yarn Corner sheep.

 

The girls watching it rain outside.

 

The sun came out for a minute and the girls look into the shop at yarn!

 

The girls already to go to work with me.

The sad day when the girls left to go off to auction finally came and I wrote a letter to send with the photo collage I put together.  This was to remind them of all the adventures we had together and to tell them that they were going to continue their life adventures with someone else. 

The Three Sista Chickens collage.

Saturday was the auction and they went to a very good home for $110.00 in the live auction!!!!!!  I was very proud of them. 

So now people at work ask me if I miss them.  Well of course, but guess what?  I’m going to make cousins!

OK, enough for now.  I’ll post again a couple of times this weekend.

Where did February go?

I have been a bad blogger.  I didn’t even post in February!  No excuses… I’ve just been busy knitting!

But today I must take time away from my knitting to say a huge Thank you to Natalie.

Natalie, my Knitters Coffee Swap 4 partner made this awesome box for me!

First… the box arrives at work on Thursday, a very busy day for me.

No matter how busy I get at work, I am never too busy to open a box of goodies, especially when I know there is coffee and yarn inside!

Knitters Coffee Swap 4 - Everything I could ever want!

Included in my box (the center picture was taken at work on my very messy desk)… It would be hard to say what my favorite thing is for sure, but the highest on the list is probably the most beautiful stitch markers ever ( the two sets are pictured on the far left)  I LOVE THEM!  the pale blues, and green remind me of beach glass, and I love beach glass.  And the red stitch markers can be used from either side… and they are RED!  

The yarn… Malabrigo!

I have always wanted to try this yarn, so this is very exciting for me and I love the beautiful blue, it’s called Impressionist Sky, but it looks like denim to me. 

Chocolate… yes, I couldn’t hold back and ripped into the best chocolate bar ever… I’m almost drooling thinking about it.  (too bad it’s all gone). 

I also received two others, but I’m pacing myself and will indulge later this next week.

I have several times picked up the book Knit 2 Together and then put it back, opting for more yarn instead.  I am so happy to have it now.  There are so many fun things to knit and read in this book.  It reminds me a little of the Mason Dixon Knitting books, because it has fun stories and patterns both.  And it’s not your run of the mill standard stuff.

Also included in the box COFFEE!  I just happen to be enjoying some now. 

Pacific Bay Coffee Co.

I’m enjoying the Guatemala coffee today, with just a touch of non-fat milk and irish cream syrup.  Not too sweet just right, and the coffee – PERFECT!  I believe this is from a local roaster near where Natalie lives.  I love the local and small roasters. 

Moving right along… Natalie included in my box of goodies, a package of Soak, a very cut blue Eco-Sheep bag, a flip flops candle and the stitch marker holder (in red) that I almost bought for her!!!  How funny is that.  I couldn’t believe it, I saw the shape of the package and thought, No, it couldn’t be… and yet, yes it was!!!  You know what they say about great minds thinking alike.  I hope I haven’t forgotten anything.  I really loved this box.  It was an awesome swap. 

Thank you again so much.  I am blessed to have gotten you for a swap partner.  And I love reading your blog too.  See you out in Ravelry land, and take care.

I’m off to knit!  I hope everyone has a great week.

Knitters Coffee Swap Four…

I’m very excited to be a part of the Coffee Swap 4.  My favorite things… knitting and coffee!!!

Here we go with the answers to the questions:

1. Whole bean or ground? Whole bean
2. Fully-loaded or decaf? Fully-loaded for sure!
3. Regular or flavored? Regular
4. How do you drink your coffee?  Iced latte – non-fat milk – and a dash of flavored syrup – but don’t like it too sweet.
5. Favorite coffee ever? Sweet Espresso from Longbottoms coffee
6. Are you fussy about your coffee or will any old bean do? I’m open to new coffees, love to try local roasters.
7. Favorite treats to have with your coffee? Biscotti – my favorite is from Longbottoms English Toffee Twist or anything chocolate, or peanut-butter.
8. Anything else about your coffee preferences?  I tend to be drawn to the medium roasts mostly.
9. Yarn/fiber you love? Bamboo, wool, cotton blends, silk blends. Love the Koigu sock yarn, and Cascade Dolce.
10. Yarn/fiber you hate?  anything all acrylic, hairy, novelty or generally not nice to touch.
11. What’s on your needles? socks, socks, baby blanket, a couple of cardigans, and a lace project or two, I’m sure there is much more, but I don’t want to embarrass myself.
12. Favorite colors? RED, blues, browns, greens, plum or blackberry colors are good too.  I’m not a fan of yellow or ivory or anything along those lines.  Bright orange would be cool for socks.  
13. Allergies? Not a one!
14. Anything you really love, really don’t like, or just need to get off your chest?  I love earthy and natural fibers and bags/totes of the same.  Love unique sock yarns from locals.  I guess my Ravelry gives away a lot about what I like to knit, and I have a million things in my favorites, and my queue!  I just can’t help myself.  I also have a wish list at Amazon and Kaboodle… I think they are linked somewhere here on the side of my blog?  

Newest favorite thing to knit – cowls!  I think it’s because they are quick, don’t take much yarn, there are a million patterns out there and it’s easy to design your own and they make great gifts.

 I am dblyouxwhyz on Raverly.

OK, I have read my swap partners likes and dislikes and I can’t believe how much we have in common.  I can’t wait to get started. We (Patty, Julie and I) are taking Friday February the 13th off of work to go to the Madrona Fiber Arts Winter Retreatin Tacoma.  I’ll pick up some wonderful yarn there and then get everything into the mail on the following Monday… I’ll be cutting in close, but I really want to find something wonderful at Madrona to put in the box.

I’ll post more later.

E Gad!

So last night I was buzzing along on my Arch-Shaped socks and I got the part where you begin the arch shaping, well actually it was the final row of the gusset… the set up row!   Round 5!!!  I read it maybe, ummm, 10 times!  Then decided to just jump in. 

OK, things seemed fine and I merrily knit away.  It wasn’t long before I realized I wasn’t making the M1 correctly (a dumb mistake that I know better than to do this) but I did WRONG!  and what happens when you do it wrong?  yep!  holes!  This picture looks like the toe of a sock, but it is the heel!

So why did I keep knitting if I knew it was looking like this?

But Shanda just kept knitting, thinking to myself “I can fix this later”.  I tried them on anyway, and love the way they fit, however holes on the bottom of my foot in my socks is not a good thing.   Did I mention that I was so involved in making these socks I almost forgot to eat dinner… Almost, I said.  I’ll show you the rest of my beautiful sock pictures, so you can see how pretty they are.

 

 Leg Done… still loving this sock.

Inside heel flap done, still feeling the love.

Outside heel flap, looking good, and knitting up fast!

What a cute little heel cup!

So this brings us to real time.  Time to back up and start this little cutie again at the beginning of the gusset.  One reason I think this will be easy is because I’m at the part where the pattern says I have two choices on how I continue the foot of the sock… and so I say “E GAD”. 

Rick was on duty all night last night and is sleeping so I’m off to the grocery store and then back to do some quiet knitting… or tinking, un-knitting, frogging, whatever! 

Floods, No Work & an Ocular Migraine…

Floods… are NOT a “good thing” as Martha would say. 

Last night when I left work early, around 3 pm, there was tons of roads closed and many getting very high.  This morning I got dressed and headed for work, stopped at my favorite coffee place and found out that I couldn’t get to Montesano (the town where I work).  Good thing I stopped for coffee!  I called my knitting co-worker Patty and she confirmed – No way in to Montesano.  Then on the way back home my boss (the county auditor) called and told me that the radio stations would be announcing that the courthouse and county administration building would be closed today.  This time I wasn’t half way to work and I was able to happily take my coffee back home with me.  So you know what that means… more knitting time.  (and maybe a little house keeping too)

No sooner than I sat down to start this entry and BAM! an ocular migraine got me.  It usually comes on gradually and then grows in size to the point where I can’t focus on anything around the swirling spot.  If you haven’t ever had an ocular migraine or know what it is, it can really freak you out for the first time.  I got my first one at work one afternoon.  I was so glad that someone else knew what it was.  Then a few months ago someone I know got one for the first time and I was able to tell her it would be OK and what it was.  So I’m going to post a little about it what they are so just in case you should ever have this happen to you, you wont freak out.  Keep in mind they only last a few minutes, usually less than 10 or 15 minutes.

Usually, an ocular migraine is not cause for concern. But ocular migraine symptoms can interfere with daily activities, such as reading and driving. These episodes, also called migraine aura or optical migraine, occur without a headache and are relatively common. During an ocular migraine, you may see:

• Flashes of light
• Zigzagging patterns
• Blind spots
• Shimmering spots or stars

No one knows exactly what causes ocular migraines. In some people, it’s related to eating certain foods such as chocolate, nuts, shellfish or artificial sweeteners such as aspartame. Others may have ocular migraine episodes brought on by caffeine or alcohol. Some believe that tension and fatigue are linked to this condition, but researchers have not found a consistent link.

It’s possible that you may have several ocular migraine episodes in a short interval of time, and then not experience any for months or even years before experiencing additional episodes. If ocular migraines persist, worsen or become accompanied by a migraine headache, talk to your doctor to seek appropriate treatment for your condition.

OK, health class is over!

Let’s talk knitting.  I have been working on my bear claw blanket during breaks at work and I’m getting close to having my first one done.  This is fun knit so far, I like seeing it grow and  I really think I might actually be able to stick with it. 

1st block almost done!

 

 

HOWEVER… I do want to say that I saw this awesome pair of socks that someone  (Rav name: quesselchen) made and I just had to start a pair last night.  So I’ll show you my progress so far.

1st cuff done - Norwegian cast-on (first time doing this for me!)

This pattern is called Arch-Shaped Socks by Jen Showalter / Mean Girl Design (check all of them out on Ravelry – love the orange pair I saw there)  The pattern is a free PDF.

The yarn is something I got when I was out on a day trip with a co-worker.  It’s called ONline supersocke 100 I think the colorway is 1058 – it’s self striping and I love the colors, ya know pictures never show how wonderful the colors really are, but this is close.

 

 

ARCH-SHAPED SOCKS PATTERN, YARN & CUFF OF 1ST SOCK

The pattern is written for DPN’s or Magic Loop and I’m doing the Magic Loop because they are the only size 1 needles I have free!  When I first thought about this pattern I was going to do the whole sock in ribbing, but then changed my mind and decided to let the yarn do the work.  I haven’t done an all knit sock since the first pair of socks I learned to knit. 

Well it’s early enough for me to get started knitting, so I’m off to knit.  I hope you are all staying warm and DRY and that this winter isn’t taking a toll on you or your family.

What’s New?

NEW FOR 2009…

It’s a new year… so now what is on the needles?  Well I’m so glad you asked!!

PATTERN: Bear Claw Blanket by Veronik Avery, from Interweave Knits, Spring 2005 (also available as PDF for $6.95 from the website.)

YARN: Cascade Sierra – 80% Pima Cotton and 20% Wool - Worsted/10 ply (9wpi) 191 yards per 100 gram skein – gauge is 18 – 20 = 4″ on size 7 needles.  COLORS USED:  Green 048 – Pink 16 – White 01 – and Pale Yellow 07

NEEDLES: US 4, US 5 and US 6 – clover bamboo circulars

So why this pattern?  Our local fairgrounds is having an auction in March to raise money for numerous things.  One of those things is that you can designate where you want the funds to go for the item you donate… this item will have the proceeds go toward the awards for Knitting/Crochet Crafts.  I work for the county so I know how important it is that they get as many volunteers as possible for this event.  We are a small county and I want to support them in a way I love… Knitting!

I don’t have a picture of my progress from today, but I can show you where I started out at this morning.

Starting the second claw

The green doesn’t seem to photograph very well.  It’s actually a bit brighter.  

Another view of the first claw done

I am weaving in the ends as I go, so I don’t a lot of strings hanging around. 

Keeping the back side clean.

I’m not sure if I will be putting a back of fabric on this blanket or not.  So I am trying to keep the back side clean and neat… I’m trying!

We had a couple of inches of snow late this afternoon and the DISH stopped worked… thought Rick was going to go nuts!   I just kept knitting and watched a movie on my laptop through Netflix.  It’s raining hard now and the wind is really kicking up, and howling!  Snow is all gone.  (Oh, and DISH is working again too)

OK, it’s late and I need sleep.  I’ll post more pictures later.