Oops!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Mario Batali's chocolate biscotti
I made this one Friday night. I had this insatiable desire to bake
something I had never baked before, and settled on this recipe from
Food Network. It was a big sticky mess to roll out the dough so I used
two layers of parchment paper to sandwich the dough, while I rolled
over it with a rolling pin. I had to keep asking DH to flour my hands
every time I touched the dough, but it all turned out really well and
very yummy. I brought a bunch to a supervision meeting I have twice
monthly, one such time is from 8-noon on Saturday mornings. It was
popular and a good way to snack through a meeting.
something I had never baked before, and settled on this recipe from
Food Network. It was a big sticky mess to roll out the dough so I used
two layers of parchment paper to sandwich the dough, while I rolled
over it with a rolling pin. I had to keep asking DH to flour my hands
every time I touched the dough, but it all turned out really well and
very yummy. I brought a bunch to a supervision meeting I have twice
monthly, one such time is from 8-noon on Saturday mornings. It was
popular and a good way to snack through a meeting.
Yummy thai chocolate River Chocolate
From the Farmer's Market. It had ginger, coconut, lime, and chili in
it, all under a thick outside coating.
it, all under a thick outside coating.
I got a new sewing machine!
On the left is my new Singer machine, on the right is my Aunt's old
Singer machine. Mine is all electronic, and it is wonderful. The fabric
samples demo what all it can do. The coolest things it does are thread
the needle automatically, and it measures buttonhole sizes
automatically to create the perfect fit buttonhole. Oh, it sews on
buttons too. Now I can do some mending and altering that has been
waiting for 1-3 years since my other two sewing machines refused to
work for me.
I did open pant surgery on some coffee print flannel pj pants that I
made a few years ago. Their elastic had worn out elastic. I opened up
the casing and reinstalled new elastic. I also found about four holes
that I was able to mend with the multi-stitch zigzag on my machine.
Singer machine. Mine is all electronic, and it is wonderful. The fabric
samples demo what all it can do. The coolest things it does are thread
the needle automatically, and it measures buttonhole sizes
automatically to create the perfect fit buttonhole. Oh, it sews on
buttons too. Now I can do some mending and altering that has been
waiting for 1-3 years since my other two sewing machines refused to
work for me.
I did open pant surgery on some coffee print flannel pj pants that I
made a few years ago. Their elastic had worn out elastic. I opened up
the casing and reinstalled new elastic. I also found about four holes
that I was able to mend with the multi-stitch zigzag on my machine.
Getting it all laid out
The biggest part of the project was removing the grass. That part was
really hard work. It took us a few days of work to get that part done.
Then we had to dig a few inches down, I think 4-5 inches, to allow for
three inches of mulch of wood chips. For the plants we went down to the
Farmer's Market and found two different places that sold native plants,
and we cross-checked their suitability on our two lists of rain garden
plants. Two main type of plants are required, super hardy drought and
wet resistant plants that go near the top of the rain source (gutter)
and at the lower point marshy type plants are required.
I was trying to attain a natural kidney-bean shaped planting, and it
turned out to look more like a koala head, or Stitch's head from Lilo
and Stitch. This week I added three coneflower plants along the upper
back to create a little backdrop for the garden. It's been fun to watch
the rain collect and absorb, and the little plants are growing a little
bigger day by day.
really hard work. It took us a few days of work to get that part done.
Then we had to dig a few inches down, I think 4-5 inches, to allow for
three inches of mulch of wood chips. For the plants we went down to the
Farmer's Market and found two different places that sold native plants,
and we cross-checked their suitability on our two lists of rain garden
plants. Two main type of plants are required, super hardy drought and
wet resistant plants that go near the top of the rain source (gutter)
and at the lower point marshy type plants are required.
I was trying to attain a natural kidney-bean shaped planting, and it
turned out to look more like a koala head, or Stitch's head from Lilo
and Stitch. This week I added three coneflower plants along the upper
back to create a little backdrop for the garden. It's been fun to watch
the rain collect and absorb, and the little plants are growing a little
bigger day by day.
storm
The left side shows the hail that went down the gutter, and the big
back-up it is causing. To the right is our newly planted Rain garden.
It acts as a reservoir to contain excess rain water instead of taking
it down the yard to the sewer system, thus preventing run-off of lawn
chemicals and fertilizers and such, from polluting our streams further.
It's an eco-friendly yard solution you can do at home in your own yard.
back-up it is causing. To the right is our newly planted Rain garden.
It acts as a reservoir to contain excess rain water instead of taking
it down the yard to the sewer system, thus preventing run-off of lawn
chemicals and fertilizers and such, from polluting our streams further.
It's an eco-friendly yard solution you can do at home in your own yard.
hail storm #2
A few Saturdays ago, I think it was the first Sat. of the month, there
were two hail storms within a few hours' span. The second storm had
slightly more hail. I was talking to my Aunt on the phone about sewing
machines and virtually shopping for them with her when the storm came.
These are my basils, 2 sweet basil, and one thai basil, they looked
salted with really big Kosher salt, or water softener salt but it's
actually hail.
were two hail storms within a few hours' span. The second storm had
slightly more hail. I was talking to my Aunt on the phone about sewing
machines and virtually shopping for them with her when the storm came.
These are my basils, 2 sweet basil, and one thai basil, they looked
salted with really big Kosher salt, or water softener salt but it's
actually hail.
because I just hadn't posted this yet...
It's been done for awhile now. It is warm and wearable, and mostly
fitted and shaped, though I over-flared the bottom part. I
overestimated my hips. oops. The neckline is doing something a little
strange that I haven't figured out yet. I am trying to think of it as a
design feature, rather than a flaw. Maybe more blocking could help it
out.
fitted and shaped, though I over-flared the bottom part. I
overestimated my hips. oops. The neckline is doing something a little
strange that I haven't figured out yet. I am trying to think of it as a
design feature, rather than a flaw. Maybe more blocking could help it
out.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Candy shop with koalas, and palm tree reflection
This is at the Aloha Towers shopping area in Honolulu, the first place
we went after we landed. There was a cute candy store there with
chocolate, and koalas.
we went after we landed. There was a cute candy store there with
chocolate, and koalas.
boredom- problem solved
I knit this uber stylish bracelet (thanks Shelly for the yarn) while
waiting for a delayed plane trip to the Big Island. I had all my other
knitting in my checked luggage- for fear they'd be taken away, so all I
had to knit with was this mechanical pencil (thanks Elzbieta for these
cool pencils- they were a party favor at my grad party for my MA
degree) and this sparkle pen. I thought it turned out pretty well,
though it wasn't very easy to knit due to the dull points and the
plastic ridges.
waiting for a delayed plane trip to the Big Island. I had all my other
knitting in my checked luggage- for fear they'd be taken away, so all I
had to knit with was this mechanical pencil (thanks Elzbieta for these
cool pencils- they were a party favor at my grad party for my MA
degree) and this sparkle pen. I thought it turned out pretty well,
though it wasn't very easy to knit due to the dull points and the
plastic ridges.
Will's foot post sea-urchin
Way back in April, of 2007, I know, not so long ago, we were in Hawaii
with Will and CarrieAnn. DH got to know Will at college, Michigan Tech,
and they've been friends ever since. Will married CarrieAnn, and DH
married me, so now all of us know each other. We went to Hawaii with
them for about 10 days. Will's main goal was to go surfing. He both
learned to surf, and stepped on his first sea urchin in Waikiki Beach.
What a souvenir! He had to have the big spine removed via microsurgery
in a small clinic in Waimanalo, and most of the other spikes have been
working their way out on their own. CarrieAnn also went surfing, but
fortunately didn't step on a spiny beast.
with Will and CarrieAnn. DH got to know Will at college, Michigan Tech,
and they've been friends ever since. Will married CarrieAnn, and DH
married me, so now all of us know each other. We went to Hawaii with
them for about 10 days. Will's main goal was to go surfing. He both
learned to surf, and stepped on his first sea urchin in Waikiki Beach.
What a souvenir! He had to have the big spine removed via microsurgery
in a small clinic in Waimanalo, and most of the other spikes have been
working their way out on their own. CarrieAnn also went surfing, but
fortunately didn't step on a spiny beast.
Monday, June 04, 2007
I've been tagged
Connie tagged me, once upon a time, so here we go.
Rules:
1. Each player starts with 8 random facts about themselves.
2. People who are tagged write a blog post about their 8 random things and post the rules.
3. At the end of your post you need to tag 8 people and post their names.
4. Don’t forget to leave them a comment and tell them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.
Eight Random Things about Me:
1. While my husband and I were dating I journaled on each day I spent time with him. I gave him all those journals on our wedding day.
2. I learned pretty much all I know about gardening with a retired police officer, Larry McDonald, who taught Rebecca Kohls about how to maintain her rooftop garden. Remember that piece on the news when she'd give the weather report from the top of the roof? Oh, and I ran into her at the Yarnery in St. Paul, buying yarn for her next knitting project.
3. I have swung from a vine, eaten "lemon ants" and swam in a pool at the base of a waterfall in the Amazon Rainforest, in Ecuador near the Napo River.
4. I have seen Blue-footed Boobies, and the elusive Red-footed boobies while studying ecology and biology in the Galapagos Islands.
5. When I was a kid I got the back of my earring stuck in my earlobe, and my Mom and I had to go to urgent care to get it fished out on a weekday night. And my Mom couldn't believe the back of my earring was stuck in there!
6. I have walked on crumbly lava, warm with underground activity. I also steamed my leg by accident while I was there in Hawaii on the Big Island. This was one of the most exciting things I have ever done, and I plan to do it again sometime.
7. I have pretty good intuition. I dreamt my friend had her baby and woke up mad that she hadn't told me. I got to work that day and got a call from her around 10am saying that she'd gone into labor in the middle of that night *while I was dreaming in my bed.* Another time I sensed another friend was going to have her baby, and she declared she was fine, and comfortable that evening when asked. About an hour later she went to the hospital and the nurse checked her and found that she was in labor already.
8. On 9-11 I woke up and for some reason felt like I should wear black. I usually wear more than 2 or 3 colors at a time, and seldom wear black. I dressed in black and felt like I was dragging through the early morning. Then I heard the sobering news.
9. That was such a downer I had to add a ninth post to the eight post meme. Hmmm. DH and I used to exchange e-mails with large vocabulary words as their subject. Often the words we selected were totally unrelated to the e-mail.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Excuses
Why I haven't been blogging...
been knitting-lace leaf socks, an Elizabeth Zimmerman percentage system sweater (raglan-style) of Patons *washable* red tweed yarn, the body is knit to the armhole, and one sleeve is up to my elbow, and swatching for my Aunt's cable Araucania nature Wool Cable cardigan
finishing- the blue sweater- finally done a few wednesdays ago
cleaning- the linen closet with all my bath, body etc. products, let me tell ya' I have a stash full, just where do they all come from?
planting- three kinds of basil, sage, rosemary, oregano, osteospermum, coral bells,
digging- to put a rain garden in our front yard
recovering- from a nasty virus/cold/cough that nearly kicked my butt, I even went to the Dr. to confirm it was a virus
watching- Season one of Gray's Anatomy (I hadn't seen it before), the new version of Pride and Prejudice
drinking- Sierra Mist, tea, water, more tea, more water
researching- cable-system deck railing, oh, the kitchen on this page is quite like ours, even has the same wall paint color the text just kept highlighting so I left it this way
planning- to build a new deck this summer to replace our existing/rotting/too old deck, dog park date with friend and Golden Retriever, Sydney
composting- compostable stuff
exercising- on our new elliptical machine (this one is way better than the last)
working- on paperwork, it never ends
painting- my toenails red
going- to church and Jimmy John's- that was all the energy I had due to aforementioned *virus*
frustrating- that I had to write this post in words instead of pics as I'd planned, due to the fact that my computer e-mail sending program is refusing to send pics to my blog!
been knitting-lace leaf socks, an Elizabeth Zimmerman percentage system sweater (raglan-style) of Patons *washable* red tweed yarn, the body is knit to the armhole, and one sleeve is up to my elbow, and swatching for my Aunt's cable Araucania nature Wool Cable cardigan
finishing- the blue sweater- finally done a few wednesdays ago
cleaning- the linen closet with all my bath, body etc. products, let me tell ya' I have a stash full, just where do they all come from?
planting- three kinds of basil, sage, rosemary, oregano, osteospermum, coral bells,
digging- to put a rain garden in our front yard
recovering- from a nasty virus/cold/cough that nearly kicked my butt, I even went to the Dr. to confirm it was a virus
watching- Season one of Gray's Anatomy (I hadn't seen it before), the new version of Pride and Prejudice
drinking- Sierra Mist, tea, water, more tea, more water
researching- cable-system deck railing, oh, the kitchen on this page is quite like ours, even has the same wall paint color the text just kept highlighting so I left it this way
planning- to build a new deck this summer to replace our existing/rotting/too old deck, dog park date with friend and Golden Retriever, Sydney
composting- compostable stuff
exercising- on our new elliptical machine (this one is way better than the last)
working- on paperwork, it never ends
painting- my toenails red
going- to church and Jimmy John's- that was all the energy I had due to aforementioned *virus*
frustrating- that I had to write this post in words instead of pics as I'd planned, due to the fact that my computer e-mail sending program is refusing to send pics to my blog!
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool
Is today! This will be the nicest day that I have seen for the S &W Fest, on the Lake Elmo Fairgrounds. The last two years it has been rainy, and quite mushy and wet in the grass, which is where most of the knitters trample as there are few gravelly paths.
Last night while watching Gray's (what a cliffhanger BTW), I completed sock number 2, just in time for a typical cold sheep day. But it looks quite pleasant out there. Like all socks that I make I feel like they have stretched longer than my foot, the longer I wear them the longer they get. Does that happen to everyone?
My sweater is done, minus the sleeve border, and the buttons. I have to find a suitable button-sewing on acrylic yarn to sew them on to the button band. Then, it will be done. It is wearable now, though. At long last. Next project will be my Aunt's cable cardigan. I have a pattern this time, and I want to sit down my my TI-85 and block out all the measurements on graph paper first, so I can make it best fit my Aunt. She gave me another sweater she likes to use its measurements, but I am trying to encourage her to make it a little more fitted to fit her better.
Well, it is time for me to go, I have to get to the ATM and get spending money for all the yarn and roving I'll buy. I plan to get colors to coordinate with my dogs, and do some type of needle felting of them, whether it is 2d or 3d I am not sure yet.
Oh- the Segways were great, and so were the Anniversary lunch and dinner out. Lunch was at Jax Cafe on their garden patio surrounded in tulips and a small stream, dinner was in a glass-blocked and White cement walled restaurant, JP Bistro. For dessert we had chai tea creme brulee. Yummoliscious is my new word- and it was for sure.
Last night while watching Gray's (what a cliffhanger BTW), I completed sock number 2, just in time for a typical cold sheep day. But it looks quite pleasant out there. Like all socks that I make I feel like they have stretched longer than my foot, the longer I wear them the longer they get. Does that happen to everyone?
My sweater is done, minus the sleeve border, and the buttons. I have to find a suitable button-sewing on acrylic yarn to sew them on to the button band. Then, it will be done. It is wearable now, though. At long last. Next project will be my Aunt's cable cardigan. I have a pattern this time, and I want to sit down my my TI-85 and block out all the measurements on graph paper first, so I can make it best fit my Aunt. She gave me another sweater she likes to use its measurements, but I am trying to encourage her to make it a little more fitted to fit her better.
Well, it is time for me to go, I have to get to the ATM and get spending money for all the yarn and roving I'll buy. I plan to get colors to coordinate with my dogs, and do some type of needle felting of them, whether it is 2d or 3d I am not sure yet.
Oh- the Segways were great, and so were the Anniversary lunch and dinner out. Lunch was at Jax Cafe on their garden patio surrounded in tulips and a small stream, dinner was in a glass-blocked and White cement walled restaurant, JP Bistro. For dessert we had chai tea creme brulee. Yummoliscious is my new word- and it was for sure.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
The Corgi Masters are four today!
The posts have been few and far between. I mostly finished my blue sweater, it fits pretty well, better than before. I have to sew on the buttons, and do a little knit trim on the sleeve hems, then it will be done. While I was weaving in the tails I was already thinking aboug what sweater to do next.
I am still working on my second sock, but that is nearly done too, just a few inches of the top ribbing left.
This week is the Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool fest. My mom came last year and enjoyed it, and she wanted to go again- so we'll be going to that Sat. Perhaps it will be the best weather for it in the last 2 years that I have gone.
Work is pretty crazy as far as intensity of the people's experiences that I am working with. That is pretty much all I can say, but most of it makes the Dr. Phil show people look like a walk in the park. Especially when Dr. Phil can hook them up with their own therapists, and just follow up on them until he decides to give them a free vacation, or a diamond ring, or whatever. I just work with what I have, and it can be quite stressful. I want my kids to do well!
Last but not least- DH and I are celebrating our four year anniversary. We are going on a Segway tour in St. Anthony. He hurt his ankle Tuesday, so I hope it won't be bothering him much. It looks like a beautiful day. A great day to work for the morning only, and have fun in the afternoon which is what we will be doing.
I am still working on my second sock, but that is nearly done too, just a few inches of the top ribbing left.
This week is the Shepherd's Harvest Sheep and Wool fest. My mom came last year and enjoyed it, and she wanted to go again- so we'll be going to that Sat. Perhaps it will be the best weather for it in the last 2 years that I have gone.
Work is pretty crazy as far as intensity of the people's experiences that I am working with. That is pretty much all I can say, but most of it makes the Dr. Phil show people look like a walk in the park. Especially when Dr. Phil can hook them up with their own therapists, and just follow up on them until he decides to give them a free vacation, or a diamond ring, or whatever. I just work with what I have, and it can be quite stressful. I want my kids to do well!
Last but not least- DH and I are celebrating our four year anniversary. We are going on a Segway tour in St. Anthony. He hurt his ankle Tuesday, so I hope it won't be bothering him much. It looks like a beautiful day. A great day to work for the morning only, and have fun in the afternoon which is what we will be doing.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Hi from HI/MN
HI,
I am no longer in HI, Hawaii, but I was. But not before I got sick. It was a little bit of a whirlwind trying to get my work done before I left on a Wed. while I was battling a virus. But I did it. It just meant that there wasn't much blogging.
I have been back from HI since a week ago Monday, and it was a great trip. I will have lots of pics to share.
Some highlights:
-visiting Aloha Yarn and meeting Nanea, and getting materials to crochet a lei
-eating at Todai, and eating too much sushi after hiking and doing some swimming to get extra hungry before the huge buffet
-Finding the secluded Polihale Beach in Kauaii by driving down a narrow visciously pot-holed road surrounded by 12ft high sugar cane
-Watching the "Spouting Horn" dragon sounding blowhole shoot water 20 ft up in the air
-Hiking on one of the few active volcanos of the world, Mt. Kilauea, and seeing steam vents surrounding me and feeling the heat of the ground change as we hiked closer and closer to the lava
This is my first full week being back. I did some sock knitting while I was gone, and have been working on sock #2 to match the other toe-up sock. I am not sure if I will like how they feel on my feet, since I am used to cuff-down socks. They might grow on me though once I finish the second one, and can wear the whole pair at the same time.
Also, I am still, yes, still knitting on the blue sweater, it must be invincible to keep surviving all this time and energy. I pinned the first sleeve into the armhole, and it fit great. Then I compared sleeve two to it, and found that sleeve two was 2 inches longer than sleeve one (the one that fit really well). So there was frogging in order, and I ripped back 2 inches before the sleeve decreases, so I could add the 2 st increase that the other sleeve had, and documented all the pattern for the good sleeve. I am either 12 or 16 rows away from the end. Then, I will actually have 2 sleeves to set in, and then sew on the buttons, weave in the tails, and I will have a new sweater, ready early for fall. Next fall that is, or one of these cold evenings.
I am no longer in HI, Hawaii, but I was. But not before I got sick. It was a little bit of a whirlwind trying to get my work done before I left on a Wed. while I was battling a virus. But I did it. It just meant that there wasn't much blogging.
I have been back from HI since a week ago Monday, and it was a great trip. I will have lots of pics to share.
Some highlights:
-visiting Aloha Yarn and meeting Nanea, and getting materials to crochet a lei
-eating at Todai, and eating too much sushi after hiking and doing some swimming to get extra hungry before the huge buffet
-Finding the secluded Polihale Beach in Kauaii by driving down a narrow visciously pot-holed road surrounded by 12ft high sugar cane
-Watching the "Spouting Horn" dragon sounding blowhole shoot water 20 ft up in the air
-Hiking on one of the few active volcanos of the world, Mt. Kilauea, and seeing steam vents surrounding me and feeling the heat of the ground change as we hiked closer and closer to the lava
This is my first full week being back. I did some sock knitting while I was gone, and have been working on sock #2 to match the other toe-up sock. I am not sure if I will like how they feel on my feet, since I am used to cuff-down socks. They might grow on me though once I finish the second one, and can wear the whole pair at the same time.
Also, I am still, yes, still knitting on the blue sweater, it must be invincible to keep surviving all this time and energy. I pinned the first sleeve into the armhole, and it fit great. Then I compared sleeve two to it, and found that sleeve two was 2 inches longer than sleeve one (the one that fit really well). So there was frogging in order, and I ripped back 2 inches before the sleeve decreases, so I could add the 2 st increase that the other sleeve had, and documented all the pattern for the good sleeve. I am either 12 or 16 rows away from the end. Then, I will actually have 2 sleeves to set in, and then sew on the buttons, weave in the tails, and I will have a new sweater, ready early for fall. Next fall that is, or one of these cold evenings.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
The Yarn Harlot's new book, with my sock
Yesterday I was supremely frustrated with this sock. It has a short row toe- which I completed, and then knit on to the heel. Then I was stuck, over and over I tried to pick up the wrapped stitch and got a hole in my knitting. Over and over. Kelle tried to teach me a short row with a backwards yarnover, and I almost caught on. Almost.
Last night I tried again, giving myself one last try before bed. No luck. This morning I tried again, before going to work. No luck. Same pesky little holes. I would have left them and kept on with the sock but I wanted the sock to last longer than that, and to be knit right.
I went to the dentist this afternoon, then napped. When I woke I tried again on the short row. I ripped back to the start of the heel, rearranged all my stitches on the needle, then gave it another try, slowly doing all the wrapped stitches over again. Then, magic happened when I picked up my wrapped stitches (while carefully reading the directions, one time for every wrapped stitch). And then, it clicked, and I sighed a big sigh of relief. I had made it happen after try after try, it clicked.
Last night I tried again, giving myself one last try before bed. No luck. This morning I tried again, before going to work. No luck. Same pesky little holes. I would have left them and kept on with the sock but I wanted the sock to last longer than that, and to be knit right.
I went to the dentist this afternoon, then napped. When I woke I tried again on the short row. I ripped back to the start of the heel, rearranged all my stitches on the needle, then gave it another try, slowly doing all the wrapped stitches over again. Then, magic happened when I picked up my wrapped stitches (while carefully reading the directions, one time for every wrapped stitch). And then, it clicked, and I sighed a big sigh of relief. I had made it happen after try after try, it clicked.
To ooh and ah at the Harlot's magnificence
She knit this, on very small needles I might add. Pretty much breath-taking. It's called Bohus.
Look! It's a Yarn Harlot!!!
Not a monogamous knitter- project wise. She is married though. She just can't keep her hands off multiple knitting partners, I mean projects.
And she came to St. Paul last night.
I told my Chiropractor I was going to see the Yarn Harlot. He seemed amazed that there could exist such a person. He also laughed at the amusement of going to see a Yarn Harlot, as the world of knitting knows no boundaries. My Mom and Aunt came too, and had some good laughs. They also enjoyed the eye candy- knitted amazing sweaters, shawls, berets, socks of course, but I did not see any ponchos. Hmm. I wore my Vogue Knitting purple sweater with the mohair ruffle trim. I was roasty, toasty warm in a room jam-packed with knitters in costume.
And she came to St. Paul last night.
I told my Chiropractor I was going to see the Yarn Harlot. He seemed amazed that there could exist such a person. He also laughed at the amusement of going to see a Yarn Harlot, as the world of knitting knows no boundaries. My Mom and Aunt came too, and had some good laughs. They also enjoyed the eye candy- knitted amazing sweaters, shawls, berets, socks of course, but I did not see any ponchos. Hmm. I wore my Vogue Knitting purple sweater with the mohair ruffle trim. I was roasty, toasty warm in a room jam-packed with knitters in costume.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
The new faucet
We love it, and I especially love not having a big pool of water on the
counter which was provided by our leaky faucet. Cleaning the sink
pre-small group tonight was a breeze. Thanks FIL and Dh!
counter which was provided by our leaky faucet. Cleaning the sink
pre-small group tonight was a breeze. Thanks FIL and Dh!
new knit 'baby' sweater
It's done!
I knit it on size 4's, using Bravo Fun by Schachenmyr Nomotta. I gave
it away tonight to a church friend's baby from our church small group.
It was admired by all, including the recipient. She had been tired and
fuzzy till she saw it and then she smiled a big smile and held it. It
was really sweet to know that it is already appreciated by the 6 m
baby!
Now one of three projects is done, and my sweater is really close to
completion. I sewed in a sleeve but I don't know if I did part of it
right. I am not sure how it is supposed to look. I am also still
working on my sock #1, and soon that will be my only project- sort of.
There are others waiting.
I knit it on size 4's, using Bravo Fun by Schachenmyr Nomotta. I gave
it away tonight to a church friend's baby from our church small group.
It was admired by all, including the recipient. She had been tired and
fuzzy till she saw it and then she smiled a big smile and held it. It
was really sweet to know that it is already appreciated by the 6 m
baby!
Now one of three projects is done, and my sweater is really close to
completion. I sewed in a sleeve but I don't know if I did part of it
right. I am not sure how it is supposed to look. I am also still
working on my sock #1, and soon that will be my only project- sort of.
There are others waiting.
Dirty dog Sydney
This is my friend's dog at the dog park near the airport. It was our
first time going to this park and it was really fun. It was like dog
world with dogs of all breed, shapes, and sizes. Sydney found some mud-
our dogs stayed nearby us and remained clean.
first time going to this park and it was really fun. It was like dog
world with dogs of all breed, shapes, and sizes. Sydney found some mud-
our dogs stayed nearby us and remained clean.
new colors
the blue curtains are actually sarongs I bought in Australia on our
honeymoon. They were put back up for the time being until I decide on a
different type of curtains for this room. I was thinking maybe
chocolate brown to add some subduedness to the the room, or pink or
orange to spice it up. Any suggestions? The colors are very true to
life in this pic.
honeymoon. They were put back up for the time being until I decide on a
different type of curtains for this room. I was thinking maybe
chocolate brown to add some subduedness to the the room, or pink or
orange to spice it up. Any suggestions? The colors are very true to
life in this pic.
square
This is all that remains of my former paint job. I was going to have
more than one square, but I could only find this one area of the wall
that I really liked, so I saved it by itself.
more than one square, but I could only find this one area of the wall
that I really liked, so I saved it by itself.
new layout
This is how it looks now. That is the quilt I made with DH's grandma's
help. We had to put our nightstands at the foot of the bed, since there
wasn't room for them on the sides of our big new bed. It works fine to
me, plus it protects the front of the footboard wood from dog
scratches.
help. We had to put our nightstands at the foot of the bed, since there
wasn't room for them on the sides of our big new bed. It works fine to
me, plus it protects the front of the footboard wood from dog
scratches.
First sock
Using toe-up construction. Shelly Kang introduced me to this method in
a way that made sense, with lots of hands on instruction. It's almost
spooky how it comes together so well. It is pictured atop my new King
size sheets of 320 thread count, and the "cloud" mattress. Three happy
makers in this pic.
a way that made sense, with lots of hands on instruction. It's almost
spooky how it comes together so well. It is pictured atop my new King
size sheets of 320 thread count, and the "cloud" mattress. Three happy
makers in this pic.
mug n' honey
Grandpa Bert does not use this mug anymore, but I do. When I use it I
think of him and I like that. These are two things that make me happy.
Remembering Grandpa Bert and his Dutch heritage and all my memories of
him, and this crystallized honey. I had lost this honey for about a
year, and found it back on the Happy feet penguin saturday. This is
really the best honey. My Dad buys it for me from Roland Nelson from
Hutchinson. He has his own bees. UMMM!
think of him and I like that. These are two things that make me happy.
Remembering Grandpa Bert and his Dutch heritage and all my memories of
him, and this crystallized honey. I had lost this honey for about a
year, and found it back on the Happy feet penguin saturday. This is
really the best honey. My Dad buys it for me from Roland Nelson from
Hutchinson. He has his own bees. UMMM!
V-day flowers, way after v-day
Another happy thing is when flowers from Valentine's day last. DH
outdid himself for sure this year, and gave me three flower
arrangements. One was some cute flowering daffodils, this blooming
Begonia, and a dozen beautiful yellow and red edged roses. We stayed
overnight in a hotel in Minneapolis and he surprised me by having
placed all the flowers in the room earlier that day. It was really
beautiful, and this is the last one of the three that is still
flowering.
outdid himself for sure this year, and gave me three flower
arrangements. One was some cute flowering daffodils, this blooming
Begonia, and a dozen beautiful yellow and red edged roses. We stayed
overnight in a hotel in Minneapolis and he surprised me by having
placed all the flowers in the room earlier that day. It was really
beautiful, and this is the last one of the three that is still
flowering.
Happy feet, happy treat
I know some people really didn't like this movie, but I really enjoyed
most of it. It made me think about kids that I work with who are
different than others, especially kids with ADHD as Mumble the penguin
had some very energized feet. It made me see the beauty and the
purposes of differences between one person and another. Granted, it
felt like it tried to make too many statements which left me somewhat
confused about the director's intent, but overall I appreciated the
message.
Dh will attest to my positive movie-going experience with this flick. I
rarely discuss movies right after seeing them, as I need time to
process my thoughts.
So, the pic here is a happy moment of a Saturday morning when I opened
my last box of Happy Feet specially marked cereal and found that I had
gotten the singing amigos. I put my toys together to form this train.
Those amigos actually sing, too.
most of it. It made me think about kids that I work with who are
different than others, especially kids with ADHD as Mumble the penguin
had some very energized feet. It made me see the beauty and the
purposes of differences between one person and another. Granted, it
felt like it tried to make too many statements which left me somewhat
confused about the director's intent, but overall I appreciated the
message.
Dh will attest to my positive movie-going experience with this flick. I
rarely discuss movies right after seeing them, as I need time to
process my thoughts.
So, the pic here is a happy moment of a Saturday morning when I opened
my last box of Happy Feet specially marked cereal and found that I had
gotten the singing amigos. I put my toys together to form this train.
Those amigos actually sing, too.
Monday, March 19, 2007
New faucet
I was going to try and get a pic of our awesome new faucet up tonight before bed, but I was stopped by my DW - being male, I did not stop to think about cleaning off the faucet (it's new, how dirty can it be?) before taking pictures, and Corgimom would not allow anything short of perfection to go on the blog. So hopefully there will be some pictures soon which will do it justice!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
not enough time in the day for just plain fun
There haven't been many posts lately because I have been busy. Busy with all kinds of things like shopping for a new bed and mattress, repainting the bedroom since the nearly four years ago paint job, working, knitting, working. Did I say working? Too much of that has been going on.
So much that I can barely find enough time to recharge my own living batteries for the following day. I have the ritual down. I come home, and plug in my MDA (my Mega Data Assistant is what I call it, to others, it is a smart phone), then I hunt down my Blue Tooth, and once I find it, I plug that in too. I might get a chance to check my e-mail in the day for a few moments, or like tonight I check it when everything else is taken care of. I also find my RAZR phone, and plug that in to get ready for the next day.
I try not to think about my next day's appointments, or worse yet all the appts. I have had lately. I try to think about my dogs, my family of DH and my dogs, knitting, playing my piano, exercising when I have energy/time, and sometimes reading or doing the pre-bed word search. I know, it really gets me ready for bed to hunt and find words, and cuddle with my fam'.
Then, I go to the "Cloud." I believe DH coined this term for our new ultra luscious, I just can't get enough of it mattress. Fittingly enough, we have become Care Bears, because we sleep on a cloud. As Care Bears, we have continued to use our alarm clocks, and have familiarized ourselves with "snooze" quite well. I hit it a few times before rising from the cloud to greet or survive the coming day.
It is almost time to go to the Cloud, but before I go I have a few short little knitting-related snippets.
I am once again knitting on my blue will-I-ever-get-this-done sweater sleeve. One sleeve is done, the second is about an eighth done. I also have now hunted down all the necessary buttons for it. This process took a few weeks, as I had to go to two different JoAnn Etc. stores.
I also resumed knitting on a baby sweater for a baby that was born in September. Fortunately she is one of those long babies- but not very wide. It will still fit here when it gets done. It's a seamless baby sweater and I have completed all but one and a half sleeves and sewing on its buttons.
Lastly, I must say thanks to Shelly for availing me of her time last Friday,to her daughters for sharing their mom with me long enough to teach me how to correctly cast on for Shelly's toe-up socks, and how to seam in half mattress half Kitchener, a skill I will use when I get my second blue sleeve done.
Pics will follow, I promise. I took a bunch on Saturday, then busyness took over, and I'd rather visit my Cloud than do all the work to upload them.
So much that I can barely find enough time to recharge my own living batteries for the following day. I have the ritual down. I come home, and plug in my MDA (my Mega Data Assistant is what I call it, to others, it is a smart phone), then I hunt down my Blue Tooth, and once I find it, I plug that in too. I might get a chance to check my e-mail in the day for a few moments, or like tonight I check it when everything else is taken care of. I also find my RAZR phone, and plug that in to get ready for the next day.
I try not to think about my next day's appointments, or worse yet all the appts. I have had lately. I try to think about my dogs, my family of DH and my dogs, knitting, playing my piano, exercising when I have energy/time, and sometimes reading or doing the pre-bed word search. I know, it really gets me ready for bed to hunt and find words, and cuddle with my fam'.
Then, I go to the "Cloud." I believe DH coined this term for our new ultra luscious, I just can't get enough of it mattress. Fittingly enough, we have become Care Bears, because we sleep on a cloud. As Care Bears, we have continued to use our alarm clocks, and have familiarized ourselves with "snooze" quite well. I hit it a few times before rising from the cloud to greet or survive the coming day.
It is almost time to go to the Cloud, but before I go I have a few short little knitting-related snippets.
I am once again knitting on my blue will-I-ever-get-this-done sweater sleeve. One sleeve is done, the second is about an eighth done. I also have now hunted down all the necessary buttons for it. This process took a few weeks, as I had to go to two different JoAnn Etc. stores.
I also resumed knitting on a baby sweater for a baby that was born in September. Fortunately she is one of those long babies- but not very wide. It will still fit here when it gets done. It's a seamless baby sweater and I have completed all but one and a half sleeves and sewing on its buttons.
Lastly, I must say thanks to Shelly for availing me of her time last Friday,to her daughters for sharing their mom with me long enough to teach me how to correctly cast on for Shelly's toe-up socks, and how to seam in half mattress half Kitchener, a skill I will use when I get my second blue sleeve done.
Pics will follow, I promise. I took a bunch on Saturday, then busyness took over, and I'd rather visit my Cloud than do all the work to upload them.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
I love a good espresso drink
But I most always say "no" to the whipped cream ( this is an interesting scientific link I found on the electron micrographic image of whipped cream, but a bit graphic) offered on such drinks. These drinks are usually high in sugar and calories, and at times, on good days, I try to be a little healthy, so I usually order the smallest size. I figure I can save a little money, and ingest a few less grams of sugar this way than if I'd ordered the medium (which my best friend says I should always do, it makes the drink more worth it she says).
I also say no to whipped cream when I am having a good day. On a bad day, pile it on, its a coping mechanism of mine. I usually have an espresso drink on Wed. at SnB. About 90% of the time it does not have whip cream, since I've only worked a little by then, and haven't really had a bad time, yet.
So I should have known I was asking for trouble when I said "yes" last Wednesday to whipped cream on my Dunn Bros. caramel latte macchiato. Oops.
After I drank my medium sized whipped cream topped drink I began having a baddish day. It wasn't entirely bad, but it was certainly chaotic, and not without its challenges. That day I had talked with Beth of Beth's blue room blog and she was telling me about how her little daughter takes deep breaths while upset. I was so impressed that she had learned this skill at such a young age. I found myself taking many, many deep breaths on Wed. , all post- whip cream. There were lots of crazy drivers on the road, ( here are some road rage tips and info from psychologists) and I found myself creating an operatic song with lyrics to like "don't merge till it's too late, that it's the best time to merge", and "don't worry about being a stinker- go ahead, and don't use your blinker." "You know they'll call you bad names, it's true, they always do (call you bad names)." It was actually an amusing way to handle the infuriating driving time I had that day.
So there were countless deep breaths, as cars merged past their lane lines into spaces too small for them. There were other times were out of state cars puttered along in the slow lanes, while semis merged on in small spaces at approx. 80 mph. It was a super fun day. Sarcasm detected.
I really do blame the whip cream. It must have been my subconscious, or my intuition, that told me to use my coping mechanism prematurely- to enjoy the whipped cream before I earned it. Oh, did I mention there were work crises too?
And just the day before I had driven about 135 miles, and had a severe leg cramp in my right knee. The driving was painful on the way home, and I found myself wondering if I'd get pulled over for speeding as I tried to speed up my long drive home. At a stop light near the end of my drive I was alongside a cop car with a K9. I tried to stare in the back to see it, but the sky was dark and the roads were tinted. I was a little disappointed. I figured if it pulled me over for speeding I could at least see it, and by the end of my day I thought it would be fun. But I didn't get a look at it, not even a peek. Disappointment.
I also say no to whipped cream when I am having a good day. On a bad day, pile it on, its a coping mechanism of mine. I usually have an espresso drink on Wed. at SnB. About 90% of the time it does not have whip cream, since I've only worked a little by then, and haven't really had a bad time, yet.
So I should have known I was asking for trouble when I said "yes" last Wednesday to whipped cream on my Dunn Bros. caramel latte macchiato. Oops.
After I drank my medium sized whipped cream topped drink I began having a baddish day. It wasn't entirely bad, but it was certainly chaotic, and not without its challenges. That day I had talked with Beth of Beth's blue room blog and she was telling me about how her little daughter takes deep breaths while upset. I was so impressed that she had learned this skill at such a young age. I found myself taking many, many deep breaths on Wed. , all post- whip cream. There were lots of crazy drivers on the road, ( here are some road rage tips and info from psychologists) and I found myself creating an operatic song with lyrics to like "don't merge till it's too late, that it's the best time to merge", and "don't worry about being a stinker- go ahead, and don't use your blinker." "You know they'll call you bad names, it's true, they always do (call you bad names)." It was actually an amusing way to handle the infuriating driving time I had that day.
So there were countless deep breaths, as cars merged past their lane lines into spaces too small for them. There were other times were out of state cars puttered along in the slow lanes, while semis merged on in small spaces at approx. 80 mph. It was a super fun day. Sarcasm detected.
I really do blame the whip cream. It must have been my subconscious, or my intuition, that told me to use my coping mechanism prematurely- to enjoy the whipped cream before I earned it. Oh, did I mention there were work crises too?
And just the day before I had driven about 135 miles, and had a severe leg cramp in my right knee. The driving was painful on the way home, and I found myself wondering if I'd get pulled over for speeding as I tried to speed up my long drive home. At a stop light near the end of my drive I was alongside a cop car with a K9. I tried to stare in the back to see it, but the sky was dark and the roads were tinted. I was a little disappointed. I figured if it pulled me over for speeding I could at least see it, and by the end of my day I thought it would be fun. But I didn't get a look at it, not even a peek. Disappointment.
Watch out for this little rascal!
Her eyes nearly match the snowflakes! Her "deer in headlights pose."
a sweater to knit for my Aunt
I have been waiting to start this until I finish my blue sweater. That
could be within two weeks if I keep working on it. The wool is really
pretty with its subtle variations. i can't wait to see how it knits up.
could be within two weeks if I keep working on it. The wool is really
pretty with its subtle variations. i can't wait to see how it knits up.
shapely sweater of my own design
This is our guest room bedspread, with my "blocking rug". The rug is textured and from IKEA. I will have to see if blocking on a textured surface alters my knits in any way. Has anyone done this before?
My sweater and Noro kureyon Mistake rib scarf are blocking here. The scarf used to be pretty short. I would fold it in half and loop the two ends through around my neck, and it would end at the top of my chest. Now it is probably about a third longer, and super soft. I washed it in Eucalan after I subjected it to some smelly environments without thinking ahead. Oops. I am quite happy with how my sweater is turning out too. I better be happy with it for all the frogging and tinking it has received thus far. It will have buttons to go with the buttonholes, once I can find some more of the same design I picked out, and another button band for the buttons to be sewn onto. I was just going to leave it as is, with just the one button band, but it didn't look balanced enough. Also, my collar trim looks like it ended too soon on the right side, and needs to be extended. I might thicken the other button band too, it looks kind of narrow in the pic.
My sweater and Noro kureyon Mistake rib scarf are blocking here. The scarf used to be pretty short. I would fold it in half and loop the two ends through around my neck, and it would end at the top of my chest. Now it is probably about a third longer, and super soft. I washed it in Eucalan after I subjected it to some smelly environments without thinking ahead. Oops. I am quite happy with how my sweater is turning out too. I better be happy with it for all the frogging and tinking it has received thus far. It will have buttons to go with the buttonholes, once I can find some more of the same design I picked out, and another button band for the buttons to be sewn onto. I was just going to leave it as is, with just the one button band, but it didn't look balanced enough. Also, my collar trim looks like it ended too soon on the right side, and needs to be extended. I might thicken the other button band too, it looks kind of narrow in the pic.
my new sleeve knit in the round
This is not an accurate color representation, the real blue is brighter. This is a comparison of the knitting in the round gauge and the knitting the sleeve flat. Notice how uneven the stitches are in the bottom piece when I was knitting flat. The red sweater is a J Crew sweater that I have had for years that fits me really well. I am using it for a comparison.
My gauge kept coming out uneven when I was knitting flat. I tried switching needle sizes every other row, trying to knit tighter on one row, usually the knit row, and looser on the purl row, taking breaks and focusing on being relaxed while I was knitting, etc. to no avail. Until another SnB'er, Anne, asked why I wasn't knitting them in the round. Then I wanted to do it that way, so I gave it a try. I was very pleased with how the sleeve has been turning out.
My gauge kept coming out uneven when I was knitting flat. I tried switching needle sizes every other row, trying to knit tighter on one row, usually the knit row, and looser on the purl row, taking breaks and focusing on being relaxed while I was knitting, etc. to no avail. Until another SnB'er, Anne, asked why I wasn't knitting them in the round. Then I wanted to do it that way, so I gave it a try. I was very pleased with how the sleeve has been turning out.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
And the best new thing- is the quilt
Dh's Grandma made us this koala quilt from a book she bought off Ebay.
It is really awesome, and we thank her for all the hard work and
thought she put into it. We will love it forever. One funny thing about
it is the koala eyes. They are actually black buttons with the Tommy
Hilfiger logo on them. Such attention to detail!
It is really awesome, and we thank her for all the hard work and
thought she put into it. We will love it forever. One funny thing about
it is the koala eyes. They are actually black buttons with the Tommy
Hilfiger logo on them. Such attention to detail!
this is new too- an old piano
We bought it for cheap under 100 dollars through keys-for-kids.org. It
was a great deal and has really good sound. This organization takes
unwanted pianos, fixes them up, and sells them. The proceeds go to Mpls
public school's music program.
was a great deal and has really good sound. This organization takes
unwanted pianos, fixes them up, and sells them. The proceeds go to Mpls
public school's music program.
new art room lights ala space station
The lights style works really well with its placement in the sky.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Doggy Belly
It's been a while since we've had some gratuitous doggie pics, so here's a classic Genevieve pose.
The Lights!
It's been too long, mainly because we've spent most free moments in the new art room. Here is the long-awaited picture of the spacey lights.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Things are finally comin' together
I think it's so good to know, this.
Thanks to my helpful family for offering some more design help as far
as where to place my furniture in my art room. This is really coming
together now.
Thanks to my helpful family for offering some more design help as far
as where to place my furniture in my art room. This is really coming
together now.
The art room's first yarn mess
This skein of "yarn" a fiber named sunbrella from the sheep and wool
festival was the first yarn mess to happen in the art room.
festival was the first yarn mess to happen in the art room.
Hooray for Dh and the marvelous Christmas present he gave me!
That's right. A ball winder and swift. What fun I'll have with these!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)