Friday, October 30, 2009

I hab a colb

Scratchy throat.
Clogged, itchy insides of ears.
Slight sniffle.

The day before Halloween! I was always sick for Halloween when I was a kid. Ugh. I'm warding this off with Airborne (yes, PC I took it!), Dayquil, tea and lozenges.

Anyone got a homeopathic recipe that works very well?

(note; I'm allergic to kiwi)

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Noodles and Rem-dogs



Pattern: Little Liza Jane, by Alison Green Will, the Twist Collective Spring 2009
Yarn: Cascade Superwash 220, just shy of 2 skeins of a lovely plummy purple.
Needles: US 7 circs and straights
Recipient: Noodle, for her Thanksgiving dress
Comments: Love this pattern, am casting on again for a smaller version, knit with sock yarn. Only modifications I have made are as follows:
  • Knit at a larger gauge, so made 12-18 month size using 2nd sizes' measurements.
  • Crocheted edges of dress.


Pattern: Snowman Hat by Susan B. Anderson, Itty Bitty Hats
Yarn: Wool Ease (red and black) & White acrylic
Needles; US 6 circs and dpns
Recipient: Rem-Dog, my nephew... this is one of his winter hats.
Modifications:
  • I made the hat a bit denser by knitting to a smaller gauge.
  • Did a striped scarf
Comments: Love this cute little pattern. He's going to look adorable in it! :)


And because I never show you what's on my needles... this is a bat! Someone's coming to trick-or-treat... and this will be his treat!

Off the needles as well... a Pumpkin hat for my nephew, Jackson. It had to wing it's way to him before Halloween.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Gluttony

Yarn gluttony.

Saturday, I 'refreshed' the stash with some more yarn. A lot more yarn. I'm okay with it, but I have to say, the idea of yarn shopping anytime soon is gone. good bye LYS buying. The WEBS trip netted:
  • 3 skeins Ecological Wool in lavender (Starsky for my mom)
  • 1 ball of sock yarn (PC)
  • 4 balls of Cascade Fixation (socks for mom--- she loves these socks)
  • 10 skeins of Nature Wool in orange (february lady for me!)
  • 2 skeins Poem in pink
  • 2 skeins Poem in blue
This is the year of knitting for me and PC... and not too many others. I've been knitting for some of the small ones, but they are simple 1-2 skein projects.

Has anyone else felt like this?? The over-fed stash sort of just staring at you???

On the needles:
  • Little Liza Jane (Alison Green Will) for Chloe
  • Girl Friday for me
  • Socks that Rock for me

Friday, October 16, 2009

Contest, but no Rhinebeck.

After a careful 3 way emailing scheme, it was decided: too rainy-cold-damp to go to Rhinebeck. Now, this wouldn't normally be an issue, but a week of feeling 'eh' and a long week at work, being cold and wet is just not worth the yarn shopping. It's a bit sad b/c Erika was really ready to go. But, Erika, there will be a bed at the Hampton Inn with your name on it next year, I pinky-swear. And, I'll see what I can do about going up on the Friday. :) But, Amy, Erika and I did not say "well, we'll stay home and watch it rain." No! Hi, ho, it's off to WEBS we go! It's such a great shop and 100% Amy's suggestion, so we're packing up and heading out Saturday a.m. We'll go to Webs and Northhampton Wools. Oh, and since Erika's a vegetarian (A very flexible vegetarian: she can find meatless food anywhere! and that can be tough in Mass!), we haven't told her we are taking her to vegetarian heaven: northhampton. So, tell me your fave restaurant in Northhampton and if we eat there tomorrow (must be open for lunch), the girls and I will send you a little something for your troubles! Entries end at 11:30a.m. Saturday.

Note: I will be calling the Hampton Inn and booking for next year though, have no worries.

Friday, October 09, 2009

Gratulerer med dagen!

(Happy Birthday in Norwegian)
Pink Cake Box Cake

Happy Birthday to me!
Happy Birthday to Sylvie!
Happy Birthday to me and Sylvie!
Happy Birthday to we!

Today is me and my best friend's birthday. :) Imagine having your birthday with your best friend? It's as great as it sounds. Now, PC has really pulled out all the stops on tonight's festivities: I have been surrounded in the perfume of IsseyMiyake, L'deau Issey, and will dine tonight at Lumiere.

Tomorrow is dinner/cake with friends and family at our house. Yup, throwing my own birthday party b/c c'mon, do we really need a reason for a party? :)

PS.. how awesome is that cake up there?

Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Stream of Conscience

  • I woke up w/ a headache, stuffed ears and the sniffles
  • PC gave me a birthday present last night: owl pajamas!!!
  • I'm wearing them now
  • The milk turned
  • I found out the hard way
  • Must.find. breakfast.alternative.
  • Hotel for Rhinebeck is booked.
  • Amy and Erika are my companions for the trip.... look for a midget flanked by two tall women.
  • I don't think my sweater will be done.
  • We're staying in Poughkeepsie
  • I'm not planning on buying yarn
That last bit is a shock, right? I might pick up a skein or two, but I'm not going to shop. Nope, I'm going to visit. :) Also, my yarn 'habit' is a bit on the obscene side right now and I'm feeling awkward about it. Several me-knitting projects and a refusal to knit for Christmas this year will probably help. My FO basket is getting full.

Sunday, October 04, 2009

Countdown

Countdown to what?
  • my birthday: 5 days
  • my birthday party: 6 days (thank PC--- he's the love of my life for a reason)
  • knit night: 1 day
  • Rhinebeck: 13 days
I'm knitting... I just haven't photographed my WIP: Girl Friday. She's delicious and I am loving knitting her. Do you think she'll be my Rhinebeck sweater?

We'll see.

And, here's a recipe for you (Erika: pay attention: this one's vegetarian)

Curried Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

2 large butternut squashes, split in 1/2 and seeds scooped out
2 tbsp butter, in 4 pieces
salt and pepper
2 boxes Trader Joe's low sodium veg broth (about 10 cups)
1 tbsp curry powder

Put squashes, flesh side up, on cookie sheets, add piece of butter to each, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast 1 hour at 400 deg F. Remove flesh from skins, discard skin, and add to stock pot. Add 5 cups of broth and cook for 20 minutes on medium heat. Blend w/ immersion blender and add additional 5 cups of broth. Stir. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.

This works out to be a high fiber, low fat, low sodium soup. Since PC's cardiac event, he's been on a low sodium diet, but he loves the butternut squash soup from TJ's. This is my version for him. :) It made 6 containers for work lunches... about 1 1/2 cups each.

Nutritional Info:
154 calories, 2.1 g fat (the good kind!), and 8.4 g fiber, 300 mg of sodium.