Good vibes requested

Nothing bad is about to happen, but there is an opportunity for something very, very good and I would appreciate anyone reading this sending good vibes in the manner of your choice. We could use them. You don't even have to comment. Just think a good thought for me and know that me and mine appreciate it even if we don't specifically know about it.

Spooky knitting tomorrow.

Hell, these days it's spooky if I am knitting.

No, really, I still knit, Just, well, not right now. Bean is ill with some nasty cough thing and, of course, the first doctor's appointment is at 4.50PM. Belh. Meanwhile, we are out of coffee. I'm thinking I'm going to have to pile us in the car and go get a drive-thru Starbuck's for me and one of those milkshake things for her. Milkshakes are always lovely when you are ill.

Yesterday, I bought the Louisa Harding accessories books and a few skeins of yarn. Hopefully, something little and pretty will get me out of my slump and back into Kepler. I originally planned to complete Kepler before November. I'm not thinking that's going to happen, now. I seem to have lost my steam on Kepler and River and, after casting on for the Sparkle Socks four times now (4!!!@(*&#&$^), and screwing them up an equal number of times, let's just say they are on my black list. I'm going to have to pull out the Opal and knit Grumperina's Jaywalker socks instead. (Yeah, poor me. ;>)

Keep your fingers crossed that Bean gets antibiotics or something lovely to help her feel spritely for Halloween.

Heh!

Bean got up the proscribed one time last night (Yelling, "Help me! Help m1") and behaved perfectly the rest of the time. She woke up this morning and told me, "I slept all night because I didn't want my dress-up clothes to go in time-out."* I told you it was something she could control if she had the motivation ;>

Still no knitting, although I bought three skeins of Kureyon yesterday which may become a felted bag. I also bought the Pattern-a-day knitting calendar. There are a few interesting patterns, but, overall, don't waste your money.

*We put toys in time-out more than we put her in time-out. Time-out for Bean just means that she sits in a corner and makes up stories and sings so it is to little avail. Putting toys in time-out seems to have a better effect. Especially when other children are over. If y'all can't share, the toy goes away. No discussions of being nice to each other, etc. You get one explanation of the rules and all subsequent squabbling leads to the removal of the object over which you are fighting. This works fairly well and allows me to enjoy playdates with a minimum of violence.

Braaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnsssssssssss

I've knit 4 whole rows in the last week and a half. Yes, 128 stitches. And that's it. I've been busy, but, mostly, I've had insomnia which means that I can't keep track of what I'm doing for long enough to do it. Then, just when I think I've got it kicked, Bean spends half of last night waking up with nightmares of being chased by a ghost "with pink glasses, three arms, a purple skirt and 10 wheels instead of feet." Granted, that might spook me a bit too, but not so much that I wake up every 10 minutes for two hours. She has the slightest trouble falling asleep and then refuses to go to sleep at all. No, "crying it out" does not help. Believe me we tried.

Must go fold laundry. Husband will not be home until 8pm. Then I will fall down and go boom and if my child does not agree to sleep, I am going to tell her that she's obviously not old enough for Halloween since it's scaring her so much. *That* will fix her little red wagon. She tends to pull these little manipulative stunts until you call her on it and then, suddenly and miraculously, she can sleep straight through the night or pick up her toys or eat her dinner without an accompanying interpretive dance. Because if I don't get some sleep soon, I'm going to turn into a zombie.

I cannot get a decent haircut. I'm going to someone new. First haircut with this guy was brilliant. This haircut - not so much. I have about half an inch of hair on my head. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

I'm rarely, really, honestly upset about haircuts. I complain about bad ones, but it's been years since I had one that I felt was traumatic. This one, however, makes me sort of want to cry.

Google your name and the word needs and see what comes up.

Here are my first ten results:

1. Liz doesn't need a boy right now... Liz needs a MAN!

2. Elizabeth Needs Protection

3. Liz needs catchy slogan

4. Liz needs to put a lid on it!

5. liz needs to be laundered

6. Liz needs to be given open board positions along with description of responsibilities/duties of the position

7. liz needs to mine her own business!

8. LIZ NEEDS TO GET AWAY FROM LUCKY THEY HAVE GONE SOUTH FOR ALONG TIME NOW.LUCKY NEEDS TO MOVE ON MAYBE WITH GIA

8. Liz needs to increase her food uptake to at least 2000 calories a day.

10. Liz needs economic costs (real, not inflated) of invasive species such as WNV.

And I completed the front of Kepler. It looks very much like the front!

Kepler Can Wait

You know that witch costume from Thursday's post? Yeah, well it doesn't come in the package all nice and neat like that. I just ironed all those lovely little petals so my sweetpea doesn't have to be the "wrinkly witch". What can I say? I'm a sucker.

Angels Wanna Wear My White Shoes

Yes, I will wear white sandals tonight. OK, they're really sort of off-white, but I'm fully prepared with my defense for the Fashion Police.

You see, it was 95 today. 95 degrees Farenheit. Warm. Sunny. I'm sure there is fall weather. Somewhere. But, if we're going to be Miami on the prairie, by golly I'm going to wear sandals! I was raised by a Southern Belle. All apologies Mom, but it's still summer. Labor Day needs to be rescheduled.

Yesterday, after a week of cool weather, I actually switched my footwear from summer to "winter"*. I forgot. It's only October! Growing up, we always had contingencies for our Halloween costumes. Because October 31st is either 50 or it's 85, and you never wanted to have to wear a jacket over your costume. Luckily, being a girl allowed me to put a leotard and tights under my costume, thus escaping the Parental Jacket Edict.

*I have two shelves in my closet and I can only reach the lower one. So, "current" footwear goes on the lowest shelf and the out-of-season stuff goes on the upper shelf. Shoes I wear regardless of season (cowboy boots, Docs, Birks) go on the shelf on the other side of the closet. I have tons of shoes, but I take very good care of them and tend to keep them forever. Example: these have come back into style. I saved mine from the last time they were fashionable...

Would you eat it?

This was left in a bag on my doorknob.

Now, on one hand, it's brilliant marketing to leave chocolate on people's doorknobs. However, I am not going to eat something left on my doorknob. Sorry Nutella. (And sorry for the lousy light in the photo. I swear I had all the lights on but it was really overcast and nothing made any difference.)


This, I would eat. And did. Pad Thai. Mmmmmmmm. And I get leftovers for lunch.

You would not believe how easy this recipe is. Perfect for a last minute meal. And, if you prefer, you can add chicken or shrimp instead of the tofu.




Pad Thai

1 package of dried flat rice noodles (about 12 ounces)
3 tablespoons Asian fish sauce
5 tablespoons ketchup
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon sirracha chili sauce or 1/2 teaspoon cayenne (or more if you are like me and like it HOT!)

Vegetable oil
3 large eggs, beaten lightly
5 garlic cloves, minced
4 shallots, minced (about 1/2 cup)
6 ounces of diced super firm tofu (not silken)
4 scallions cut into 1-inch pieces (white and green parts)
1/3 cup water

For garnish:

Crushed roasted peanuts
Fresh cilantro
Lime wedges
1 cup each bean sprouts, shredded red and green cabbage and shredded carrots

In a large bowl soak the noodles in cold water to cover for 30 minutes, or until they are softened, and drain them well. In a small bowl stir together the fish sauce, the ketchup, vinegar, brown sugar, and sirracha. Taste and adjust for personal preferences (you may want it a bit sweeter or hotter or whatever). Add water to sauce.

In a wok or non-stick skillet heat 1 tablespoon of oil over medium heat, add the eggs, and scramble until just barely cooked. Set aside in a bowl.

Wipe out pan and heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium high heat until it just begins to smoke and in it stir-fry the garlic and the shallots until the mixture is golden. Be careful as it will go from golden to burned very quickly. I generally let it just start getting golden and then by the time I add the other stuff, it's done. Add the sauce mixture and tofu and let the tofu soak up some of the sauce (maybe a minute). Add the noodles, the scallions, and the egg and cook the mixture, stirring, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until the noodles are tender . You will probably need to cover the pan with a lid for a few minutes to steam the noodles a bit.

Put on a platter, garnish dish, and serve.

Goes really well with a Santa Rita 120 Sauvignon Blanc.

Which witch is which?

At some point in early September, Bean decided it was Halloween. Halloween must have been discussed at school because I certainly hadn't even thought about it at that point. Bean decided she needed to be a witch. With a "pokey hat." So, the second my beloved SuperTarget got in their Halloween costumes, we sped over and bought a witch costume and a broom and the aforementioned pokey hat (even though the costume comes with it's own hat). I haven't let her wear it yet because, while there is a slightly tattered effect going on with the costume, I want that effect to be part of the costume rather than literal. Plus, I was hoping she'd maintain a sense of excitement about the whole thing.

Meanwhile, she's decided she wants to be a "purple princess".

Or a pirate.

And I'm smarter than I think I am because this is the costume I bought.

Looks like a purple princess- pirate-witch to me!

Knitting Content

Sockage!

Contrary to appearances, they are both the same size. I thought they were going to be very closely matched but I did not realize that the balls were wound in the opposite direction from each other. I was in no mood to frog the sock to match besides which it would have been useless since I had already used all the leftover yarn to make the dress for Tomatoes!

Keplerage!

The back is about two inches from completion.


Now, the next person who complains about lack of knitting content gets to tango with me wearing my pointy-toed boots. I do have boots with even more pointy toes, but they don't have the useful steel tips like these do.

ETA: The back of Kepler is now complete and I have picked up the stitches for the front and knit several rows. Yay for the long nap contributed by the Bean!

Bean was in Sunday School and, while looking at the illustration of Adam and Eve with all the animals, she commented that "The people in the zoo have to be naked."

Heh!

headache

Brought on by three glasses of wine Friday night. Except that I have had the headache off and on since Saturday and that's a bit long for a hangover. It might be gout in my head, though.

Last Thursday I receive a call from a dear friend stating that she had a problem. She's just purchased several hundred dollars worth of luxe foods (truffles were mentioned) to prepare this fabulous meal for a gourmand friend. For that Friday. When said friend would be out of town because (dum dum dum) she got the date wrong.

So, would I could I be a friend and come over and help them eat all this lovely food? I agreed to make the supreme sacrifice and help her out.

There was much feasting on fine foods and I ate my weight in pate, Roquefort and Morbier cheeses (two of my all-time faves - although I've never met a cheese I didn't like and yes, that does include Velveeta although it does not include any substance mentioning "cheez" or coming in an aeresol can), Beef Wellington with roasted baby vegetables and a lovely salad, tuiles for dessert, and the aforementioned wine.

The weekend continued in much the same vein with Hubster and I attending an Octoberfest on Saturday (sausages and brats) and going to brunch on Sunday (migas with a side of bacon). My pants are decidedly tight today. Calories from fat and alcohol: 99.67% (I ate an apple).

There was very little knitting. Hopefully, I can get a few rows in on Kepler tonight. It's stockinette for goodness sakes!

Tonight, I'm cooking Pad Thai which has lots of veggies and is very low fat. Otherwise, my arteries are gonna 'splode.

It was worth it.

Quiddity is having a sock contest. Post a picture of your completed socks!

Here they are.

All two pair.

I suppose I could include the Limbo socks, because I finished the second sock. but, by the time I found out about the contest, I'd already ripped back the first sock to reknit the gusset with decreases every row.


I think I probably have the least number of finished socks out of anyone. Ergo, I need a prize of sock yarn to induce me to knit more socks. OK, maybe not. But a girl has to try!

A rather blustery day

The temperature is a delightful 65F, however it's positively gloomy outside. Windy as all get out, overcast, and threatening rain. We won't actually get any rain because TPTB want me to keep paying to water my lawn rather than providing me with any natural assistance.

The fair will have to wait until next weekend. This weekend is Texas-OU weekend. The game is played at the Cootn Bowl which is on the fairgrounds and the fair will be taken over by the drunken, football-crazed masses. Neither of us attended either school so we're staying well out of the way.

Dinner will be steak, sweet potatoes and spinach sauteed with garlic and pine nuts. 1996 zin to drink.

I'm *hungry*!

Ain't no corndogs when she's gone*

Last Saturday, we went to the Corndog Festival.

It's sort of a neighborhood event, featuring dachsunds dressed up like corn. Really hilarious.

To continue the vacation corndog theme, we are planning to go to The State Fair of Texas today. Supposedly, a "cold" front and a bunch of wind are coming through this morning, and, while the cold isn't yet (it's 5am and still 69F outside), the wind is picking up a bit and that always means allergy trouble for me. Hopefully, it'll blow through and I'll get my Fletcher's fix (Fletcher's is the only brand of corn dogs to eat).

Texas is taking a branch from the Iowa State Fair and having a butter sculpture this year. I hear it's a butter Elvis. Alot of potential in a butter Elvis, but nothing will ever top the visit Dr. Pig and I made to the Iowa State Fair (he's from Iowa) when we got to see the life-size butter Last Supper. Yes, life-size butter Jesus. Butter disciples. Butter communion. No butter lightening striking us dead for laughing ourselves sick.

There has been precious little knitting, but what there is all seems to be socks.

The leftmost pair, I call the BroadBean socks. They are an adaptation of the Broadripple sock pattern for DK weight yarn and the 3-yr-old Bean.

The middle sock is the second (!) Limbo Mexiko sock. I have discovered that my very high arch means I need to decrease for the gusset every row rather than every other. This will necessitate ripping the completed Limbo sock back and reknitting it, but at least they will fit! The bit on the right is a sparkly Cherry Tree Hill yarn that I am knitting in a lacey pattern.

Kepler and River are getting short shrift, but I'll get back to them. KADD notwithstanding, I do like both of those patterns and love the yarns I am using, so I can't see abandoning them forever.

*The late, lamented Loco Gringos sang this hysterical rendition of "Ain't No Sunshine".

working on socks

husband on vacation

need coffee

time for Bean's ballet class

it's tutu day