Consider the Cross Coat

This is the infamous UFO of Shame: the Cross Coat.

It's an intarsia sweater in a Greek Cross pattern with 11 (yes, eleven) color changes.

When I started knitting this, it was 1991 and styles were quite different.


About a week ago, I re-read the pattern and took some measurements and, frighteningly, I am knitting a medium. Which translates to the 50 1/2 inch size. This sweater is also 35" length and a drop-shoulder sweater

The Cross Coat was my first major colorwork project. For some reason, the women teaching the class told me I needed a medium. I didn't really understand sizing then. I'm only 5'2" on my tallest days. I know we wore things big and floppy back then, but 50 inches seems a bit egregious, even for 1991. I knit mostly smalls these days so it will fit quite differently than my normal knits.

I am faced with a dilemma. The pattern does require time and effort to get all those color blocks right and the eleventymillion ends woven in. I have a back and one front complete. I spent a boatload on the yarn - mostly Manos. It's a nice sweater. But is it a nice sweater for me?

Do I put in the time to finish the sweater, knowing that I look best in set-in sleeves and a closer fit? Or do I felt the damn thing and make a fabulous bag out of it? There are a lot of knits out there. Do I stick with this one? Or, do I get a divorce from it and start my Color on Color from Scarf Style (now there would be something for the Knitting Olympics)?

Is there a point at which we should abandon process for practicality? Or should I just suck it up?

Anybody know where I can find a pair of skinny black leggings to wear under this sucker?

Burnt Peeps

I finished the first Jaywalker sock!

I really like the sock. The pattern is no harder than a basic stockinette sock, but it really pays off in making the most of variegated sock yarns.

This one is Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in the Old Rose colorway.




I also cast on for another pair of Jaywalkers. They are like potato chips - can't have just one...

I have been itching to cast on the wild Koigu that my Better Pal sent me.

I had a feeling this colorway would work with the Jaywalker pattern and I was right.


The colorway I can only describe as Burnt Peeps. Bright, almost neon; turquoise, pink and yellow interspersed with variegated blacks. I'm loving it! Talk about your 80s "punk" sock. This one hits the mark pretty well. I'm going to break out the Go Gos to dance around in these when they are finished!

Not a finisher

I have three projects waiting for finishing:

1.) Cabled bag. Needs a lining. Then must be seamed and handles attached.

2.) Hip Hop Coat. Seam shoulders and knit collar. Knit endless button bands. Seam damn huge sweater. Find fsking buttons. Attach buttons.

3.) I don't remember what three is but I remember there is something evil lurking in the depths of my knitting basket. It might be Fiery Bolero. The ribbing on that sucker makes the Hip Hop Coat button bands look like a walk in the park.

For some reason, I have no desire to finish any of these projects quite yet.

In the last week or so, I have seen a number of discussions of process vs product, knitting motivations, etc. on various knit blogs. I think this is a normal sort of "New Year's" evaluation of one's knitting progress and what we'd like to change versus what we like just fine.

I have always been the kind of knitter who had to have a number of projects going at one time. Lately, I have one sweater and one sock going and that's it. Sort of a shock to my system. I think that is why I can't finish anything. I'm suffering from an advanced form of startitis. Project finitum interruptus.

Is this an honest evolution in my knitting style? Or is this just a temporary shift in my universe? I have a feeling that February is going to be for Finishing and that March Madness will include startitis the likes of which the knitting world has rarely seen.

Even wierder, I haven't pooped out on the Stashalong!

Yet.

That's a big bottle

A is for alcohol! For the ABC-Along.

This is a very large bottle of sake (2 litres) that was presented to us on December 30th after we went to dinner at our favorite sushi bar.

Barbie is included for scale. Beverages that dwarf Barbie are a bit scary.

We now have to figure out a meal to go with the sake and a large number of people to invite over because, while I could probably put a large dent in that bottle by myself, I don't really want to spend the next day or so waiting for my head to 'splode.

The knitting frenzy seems to have abated a bit. I'm not sure who's needles I was channeling, but boy howdy did I get some knitting done over the last 5 or 6 days. Oddly, my hands do not feel as if they might fall off. I'm going to work on one of the sleeves for Pipkin a bit today, but I also have lunch plans with my husband and am going to just poke around a bit before picking up Bean. I've got cards tonight so I'm doubting that I'm going to accomplish much in the knitting vein. However, I did get alot done in the bill-paying vein, so it's not a wasted day...

Gauge schmauge

I was merrily knitting along on Pipkin and had just started the armhole decreases when I decided to check my gauge.

Hmmm.

It's a bit wide.

To be honest, it's about an inch-and-a-half wider than it should be. Which means that the whole sweater is going to have around 3 extra inches of ease.

I should go down a needle size, because I'm already knitting the smallest size of the sweater, so I can't decrease that without actual math and I don't feel like doing math today.

To complicate matters, my size 7 needles are currently occupied by the back of the Tinkerbell sweater for Bean. I had completed the hem, knitted part of the back and not liked the fabric, so I ripped it back and switched down to 7s and abandoned ship. If I'm going to co-opt the needles for another project, the least I can do is finish the back.

Mission accomplished.

So, I do the responsible thing and swatch on 7s for Pipkin. And I can barely get the needle through the fabric. Way too tight. And the fabric looks like hell.

Crunch time. The responsible knitter says rip the sucker and do the math. The Bad-Ass Knitter says, "Heckwithit." and completes the back so she can compare it to a real-life sweater she likes. Because I don't trust that damn measuring tape.

Five Easy Pieces

I finished knitting the pieces of the Hip Hop Coat this weekend.

And, no, I did not spend the whole weekend knitting.

I even threw a dinner party Saturday night!


This was one of those knits that just flew off the needles. Said needles being size 10.5 didn't hurt but I think the size of the needles was compensated by the hugeness of the coat. I still have a boatload of finishing to do so I think I'll work on Pipkin and the Jaywalker socks for a bit before moving back to Hip Hop.

Hip Hop Coat. A sleeve and a front. I'm starting the back today. I am knitting in sort of a weird order because I wanted to make sure I have enough yarn and that my slightly smaller gauge won't pose a problem.

The colors are fairly true with the exception that one of the blues is really almost black.


I finished Cat on Wednesday, but have not yet taken a picture due to an attack of uglification upon my person. Sleep makes one much more attractive. No sleep, well, you get the idea...

Catapult

I'm making huge progress on Cat. I should finish it today. This is a fun pattern and I'm loving the Noro Iro. It's soooo soft. I wish they made a lighter weight version. It's much nicer than Silk Garden.


The pattern picture used a colorway with more color variation but it had quite alot of green in it which did not appeal to me. This colorway has more brown and less pink than I originally thought, but I like it alot.


Once Cat is complete, I cast re-start the Hip Hop Coat. I'm moving up a needle size on that one.

And here is the progress on the first Jaywalker sock. Hopefully, I'll finish that one this weekend! Despite my dislike of green, I like these socks. Just don't ask me to put green next to my face!




Hopefully, it'll be sunnier tomorrow and I can get some better photos than these dark and dingy ones!

No one expects the Stashquisition!

I decided, since I have purchased a veritable s**tload of yarn in the last couple of weeks of the year, that I should join the Stashalong.

Here is the list of projects I hope to work on. Notice that the word "complete" has not been mentioned.

Project: Hip Hop Coat from Winter 05 IK
Yarn: Muench Naturwolle in Bombay
Yarn purchased: I think it was March 05

Project: Jaywalker socks from Magknits
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock in Old Rose
Yarn Purchased: Fall 05

Project: Cat from 05 Naturally Noro book
Yarn: Noro Iro color 6
Yarn Purchased: December 31, 05 (BYS - Big Yarn Sale)

Project: Tinkerbell Sweater from Miss Bea's Dressing Up
Yarn: Cotton Ease in bubblegum pink, pale pink, and white
Yarn Purchased: Spring 05 - right before Lion Brand discontinued CE

Project: Pipkin from Naturally Noro
Yarn: Noro Blossom color 6
Yarn Purchased: BYS Dec 31

Project: Leftovers vest from Knitty
Yarn: Mostly Araucania Nature Wool in various colors
Yarn Purchased: at various points over the last 2 or 3 years

Project: Vintage Velvet from Scarf Style
Yarn: Touch Me
Yarn Purchased: 2004

And the biggie:
Project: Cross Coat
Yarn: various including lots of Manos (11 colors)
Yarn Purchased: 1991 No, that is not a typo. This is my oldest UFO and by God I'm going to finish it this year if it kills me.

I think I'll be busy...

Last Minute Liz

Friday, I decided that I really didn't want to just stay home on New Year's Eve, so I called a few people and threw a little New Year's Eve party. 6 adults + 5 children + 3 bottles of champagne + 2 temper tantrums = 1 damn good party.

While I was at the grocery store on Saturday, I ran into a friend of mine and invited her and her husband and their daughter to dinner tonight.

I love last minute parties. I think I need to write a book called Last Minute Entertaining with menu ideas and things you can throw together for a reasonably low cost and minimal effort but maximum punch.

Tonight's menu:
Steamed dumplings with 2 sauces (a soy-sesame sauce and a sweet chili sauce)
Edamame
Pad Thai
Lemon Tart

If you have any kind of Asian market near you, you can buy a huge bag of frozen dumplings for under 5 bucks. They make a great appetizer and are worth keeping on hand for appetizer emergencies. Same with the edamame. The sauces are also commercially prepared as well and can be used as marinades or sauces for stir-fry.

Pad Thai
Super easy. I've posted the recipe before. The most labor intensive part of the whole effort is peeling and deveining the shrimp. And, since I make my husband do that part, it's really a snap!

Lemon Tart

OK, that requires a bit of effort. However, my grocery squeezes juices in store, thus giving me access to fresh lemon juice for only about 50 cents more than it would cost for me to buy lemons and juice them myself. So, again, the hard part is done for me. I do believe that if you are going to put forth some effort into a meal, the biggest payoff is dessert. Nothing impresses people more or tastes better than home cooked desserts.

Add a couple of bottles of wine and, for around $60, you have a really nice meal for 6 people. (Yes, that's including the wine.) You can throw a dinner party for less, but I find that I'd rather spend an extra $10 or $15 and have to not work as hard than slave all day and be exhausted by the time the guests show up. Nothing poops a party faster than a host who just wants everyone to go home so she can go to sleep!

I did have a huge Christmas Open House one year where a hardcore group of guests pretty much set up camp in my living room. The stated hours of the party were 5pm to 9pm. At 10pm, I cleaned up all the food and drinks and they didn't get the hint. I made coffee. I turned off the music and most of the lights. Finally, around 11pm, I put on my pajamas and went into the living room and loudly announced, "Thank you for coming and thank you for going!" They got the message at that point.

The Year of the Sock

I've been knitting alot the last few days. I finished the Wavy Wrap (blocking), the last pair of Gardening Mitts (given), and a really cute cabled bag for me. I also started the Hip Hop coat from the Winter IK. Yes, I should post pictures, but I'm all about lazy today and it's simply not going to happen!

I've been thinking about New Year's Resolutions. I rarely make them because I am not too upset with how my life goes. Yes, I have as many flaws as the next person and, yes, I try to improve on them, but it's sort of pointless to make a RESOLUTION to improve. It'll either happen or it won't.

I also thought about knitting resolutions. I've been doing a pretty good job of not adding to the stash. That's not to say that I don't make alot of new yarn purchases. But, I've been knitting the new projects as soon as I buy them. I'd like to get a few big projects out of my stash and, hopefully, not add anything else big as replacement.

I think it's going to be The Year of the Sock. I learned how to knit socks last year and am really finding them to be excellent projects. My vow for the year is to always be actively working on a sock. Actively meaning that I work on it at least once a week regardless of the other projects I have on the needles.

My other knitting goal is to knit more things for The Bean. She's getting old enough to really be interesting in my knitting.

My only other resolution is to hope that this year is just as much fun as last year with a large reduction in the pain-in-the-butt aspects of last year!

I'm awake

No, really.

I'm up.

Just let me lay here for a minute and get myself sorted for the

dazzzzzzzzzzzzzz......

Sleeping Sickness

Today, my body decided that I had done quite enough and it was going to sleep whether I approved or not. I stayed in bed until around noon, but, even now, I don't think I'm really quite awake.

I'm working on the Wavy Wrap and will hopefully finish the damn thing today. For some reason, I've turned into a one-at-a-time knitter rather than my usual method of cast on eight things and knit them at will. The only other project I have on the needles is Jaywalker socks that I started about a month ago.

I'm jonesing to knit a pair of socks out of some of the beautimous Koigu my Bestest Pal sent me but I want to finish at least one of the Jaywalkers first. I have a feeling that the Jaywalker pattern would be gorgeous in the bright colorway so I need to make sure I'm knitting the right size sock and then, gangbusters! I'm also wanting to cast on for the Hip Hop Coat in the new IK. I've got enough Muench Naturwolle for the project and I think it will be pretty fabulous.

But maybe I'll go back to sleep first...

Christmas Amusement

This year, when my husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas, I told him it was up to him but I absolutely wanted two things: a box of ginger-scented bath delights from Origins, and Sweaters from Camp. I even sent him a link and the title of the book and the cost of the book and the phone number at which to order the book. So he could get the right book.

Yesterday, we're running one last errand and he turns to me in the car and says. "You didn't want that book for Christmas, did you?"

Um, no, I guess not.

I am going to order the book tomorrow and make him write, "You didn't want that book for Christmas, did you?" in it. This one has legs. We're going to be laughing over it for quite possibly every Christmas from now on.

So, I hope all of you got whatever you wanted for Christmas. And remember, if you didn't get what you wanted, it's probably gonna be 60% off tomorrow morning!

Merry Christmas!

And what to my wondering eyes should appear...

But a really amazing package from my Better Pal.








First of all, a big thank to her from The Bean.

My Pal took the time to get some fabulous Princess stuff for The Bean.

As you can see, Bean is really excited.

There is a fabulous feathery fan, a tiara, a magic wand, and bracelets.



Then there are the goodies for me.

And Oh MY! Koigu!

Four skeins of Koigu.

I'm a bit overwhelmed.

Two skeins in a fun, bright colorway with hot pink and turquoise and orange and yellow and blacks and grays. And two skeins in a really lovely sort of autumnal colorway with dark rosy reds and more muted blues and oranges blending into browns. My pal really nailed my taste.

And, to top it all off, two of the prettiest Christmas ornaments I've ever seen packed in gorgeous silk and velvet boxes. They are Chinese ornaments created by someone painting the inside using a miniature brush through a small hole in the ornament. They suit my tree perfectly.

Thank you Better Pal. I'm truly stunned by your generosity. Not to mention your fabulous taste!

The eyes have it

Mom is fine. She can already see out of the new eye! We teased her that it's green instead of brown but she figured that trick out pretty quick once the drugs wore off.

Of course, since I can't seem to function without looming disaster, I decided on Tuesday night to put books on the top shelf of our new bookshelves. One of them, a murder mystery natch, decided to leap to its death and whack me on the bridge of the nose. And whack my eye.

Yes, gentle readers, my mother had a cornea transplant on Tuesday morning and Tuesday night I sympathetically scratched my eyeball with a book. I have paper cuts on my eye. Mostly it just stings. They gave me some nice eyedrops and tried not to make me feel like a total idiot.

I seem to have the wackiest accidents. One time, I busted my ass. Literally. Coccyx go boom. And they can't cast that one.

The mitten knitting is all done and wrapped except for the last pair, which don't have to be completed until some time after Christmas. Or maybe Christmas day if I decide to give that pair to someone else and knit yet another pair of the damn things for the original intended recipient. I even had time to knit a scarf which is also already wrapped. So, no pictures.

The pattern is from the Louisa Harding accessories book and it's the Gardening Mitts. Very quick and fun to knit. Lovely yarn. Makes me itch. I loathe angora!

And what to my wondering eyes should appear today? Husband never shops until the absolute last minute. However, he gives pretty good gifties. There is a Little Blue Box under the tree now. Of course, it's gonna have to be pretty good because he's get season seven of The Simpsons and a PS2 from me!

Sleep of the Damned

I have this little problem with insomnia. Last night, no sleep until around 3.30am. Bean awakened me at 7am. You do the math.

Mom came through the surgery fine. Now it's just a waiting game to see how well the transplant heals.

Outlaws arrive today. I'm actually very lucky in that my inlaws are, generally, very nice people and we get along fairly well. I'm planning on sleeping very late tomorrow!

There was so much sitting and waiting yesterday, that I finished the knitting part on two more Gardening Mitts.

Lavendar pair: One complete. One needs ends woven in and flower applied.

Pink and orange pair: One needs ends woven in. Knit and apply flowers for both.

Blue, black, purple pair: Both need seaming and all other finishing. Second mitt is in back bedroom and I'm not fetching it.

I need to have the lavendar and blue pairs really finished for giving tomorrow night.

This whole experiment has taught me that I'm not so sure about angora. I was thinking of ordering the kit for the Sugarplum Sweater from Handknit Holidays from Kimmet Croft, but the angora is really starting to make me itch. My only saving grace may be that while the Louisa Harding is 70% angora, whereas the Softie is only 25%. I'll continue to think about it.

Tomorrow, COOKIES! If you're nice to me, I'll give you my fabu rum ball recipe.

2 mitts, 4 mitts, 6 mitts, a dollah

I have one mitt complete completed and three more ready for seaming. Hence, I've added another pair to the mix.

My mother is having a cornea transplant today, so I'll have plenty of knitting time while waiting around. She had the other eye done last year, so it's not anything we're terribly afraid of but it is surgery so I'm a bit nervous. The babysitter arrives in about half an hour and then, because I am completely insane, I invited a friend over for dinner. He's in town on a last minute business trip and we haven't seen him in probably 15 years, and tonight is the only night I have free. So...

Pernicious Pony Parade

A little something for Lee Ann.


Bean has been gifted with numerous ponies. I think they all came from the nefarious Happy Meal. How we ended up with 11 of them, though, is a puzzle.

Bleh. The beverage in the background is fortification for playing with ponies.

Losing my mind

Whine whine whine
Bitch moan
Whine
Crabby crab crab

In summary: Bleh

So sue me already

The Christmas knitting that was supposed to be finished last night? Yeah, well, it's in exactly the same state as it was in the last picture I posted. Although the little sweater dealies were attached to my gifts and are now gone so I don't have to think about them any more.

The latest development in what is rapidly shaping up as an Interesting Christmas is that Bean has a cold. To the point where she actually *requested* a nap.

The sucky part is that the school pagent is tomorrow and I'm really hot on her attending because her class is singing "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and Bean's favorite way to sing it is in the style of Dean Martin. I'm thinking of getting her a tiny martini glass she can hold while she sings...

O Christmas Wrap

OK, yesterday I did an ode "O Den-M-Nit" to the same tune on Kay's blog, but I'm going to reuse the tune today.

O Christmas Wrap
O Christmas Wrap
How I've come to loathe thee

O Christmas Wrap
O Christmas Wrap
How I've come to loathe thee

The tape that sticks to fingers small
The ribbons wound up and down the hall

O Christmas Wrap
O Christmas Wrap
How I've come to loathe thee

This piece too small for this big box
Not e-nough left to wrap some socks

O Christmas Wrap
O Christmas Wrap
How I've come to loathe thee

The dog has eaten half a roll
The helpful child doth take her toll

O Christmas Wrap
O Christmas Wrap
How I've come to loathe thee

Forget this crap, I need a beer
That will restore my Christmas cheer

O Christmas Wrap
O Christmas Wrap
How I've come to loathe thee

More Like Itt

Forget being possessed by IT. I am possessed by the Cousin Itt of Holiday Knitting. No, I don't have the hair for it (now about two inches long, but hardly in the qualifying races). But I'm beginning to babble incoherently.

Exhibit One
Two "Gardening Mittens" unseamed without flowers and without alot of yarn left.







Exhibit Two
Two little mini sweater ornament things and half of the ribbing for the first of the second pair of Gardening Mittens. I need them by tomorrow night. Granted, they don't take long, but I'm going to be lucky if I finish the mittens. I've aborted the idea that I might have 6 more mini-sweaters to join them. The ornaments are now package decorations.



Exhibit Three
A little project I'm referring to as The Mess but which shall be referred to as the Wavy Wrap when it's complete.

Two hundred stitches long.

Occasional rows of the Old Shale aka Feather and Fan lace pattern to give it some oomph.


Random changes between Mohair/Wool regular yarn and a small mohair loop yarn.

My swatch indicated that it would be somewhere around 6 feet long and 20 inches wide but then I went up a couple of needle sizes and I think I have plenty of yarn, so it'll be done when it's done.

Alcoholidays!

Because the Twelve Days of Christmas
Are just two six-packs awaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

IT happens

I never do holiday knitting.

I rarely engage in gift knitting of any sort. Knowing that I "have" to knit something makes me never touch it again.

And, yet, I find myself possessed by IT. Utterly consumed.

I decided that I wanted to knit little holiday mini sweater ornaments for everyone in my card group. I need 8 of them. And two pair of "Texas Mittens" from the Loiusa Harding pattern from Kimono Angora for a couple of friends in the card group.

I decided this yesterday afternoon.

I need all this by Wednesday.

Today, we are having my parents over this afternoon for a tree decorating party.

We are also having a dinner party tonight.

We have plans tomorrow night.

We have a big dinner party to go to on Tuesday night

Think I can make it?

Frenzy

Not much knitting but alot of cleaning and shopping and wrapping going on. My mother is having her second cornea transplant on the 20th and the outlaws will get in town on the 22nd, so I'm going to have enough going on then that I thought to myself, "Self*, get going!"

Surprisingly, I have been doing just that.

I have also discovered the IT that Stephanie refers to. But we'll discuss that later.

I had a teacher in grad school (one of the three times I've been, exhaustingly enough) who used to refer to herself in that manner. She also called herself Anna all the time (yes, it was her first name) which discombobulated us enough to occasionally slip and call her Anna rather than Dr Whatsit. She hated that but it was her own fault.

The weather held long enough for me to get a nice haircut (damage control mostly because there wasn't much hair to work with) and get home with the Bean. It's been sleeting on and off since then.

What the?

Two days ago it was 89F.

Today, not so much.

And the mercury is falling.

Yes, I'm happy that I can wear my woolens, but there's this whole sleet thing going on that is a total pain.




I'm supposed to have my hair cut at 1pm. It's taken me TWO MONTHS to grow my hair out to where it's over an inch long. Seriously. The nutjob who cut my hair last time was, clearly, a nutjob. So, new guy cutting my hair today, I'm all psyched and lo and behold - sleet. It had better hold off until after I get my hair done and pick the Bean up from school. Or I'm going to be Not Pleased.

In the plus column, I got alot of Christmas shopping done today. I loathe Christmas shopping.

To hell with Dorothy Parker

I got these on Friday.

Going from no glasses to progressives is a bit of an adjustment. Nevertheless, they do rock. And the inside of the frame is purple. Baby!

Wait 'til you see the sunglasses.

I was a little bit busy over the weekend with a church Christmas party. The Bean had fun.







As promised, Nykvarn:

Still Life with Pre-School Foot











The main color is much less variegated in person. I had to start a new ball of yarn for the ribbing around the neck and arms, and it is a bit darker than the other two balls. I was a bit perturbed but I got over it.

The original pattern called for the fair isle section to be the same on the front and back. I felt that on me, it would be a bit much - I'm short enough without a pattern cutting me in half. So, I took one motif and put that in the center back. I'm very pleased. Overall, this was a fun and quick knit.

The pattern is from Araucanian Moments by Cornelia Tuttle Hamilton. The yarn specified was Nature Wool Chunky. I used regular Nature Wool and also added waist shaping. The only issue is that the shoulders hang over mine a bit, but it's not an actual problem. More like something I'd think about for the next vest I knit but not worth ripping this one back.

I bought this today. Bad, bad Liz. This stuff is like crack.

One skein of a mohair loop and one of a mohair and wool. They are from Lonesome Stone in Colorado. The colorway is Hot Rod Red. I think a more accurate name would be Lipstick since it's reds and pinks but, regardless, it's pretty stuff. I have an idea in my head but what really happens may be another story.

The best knitted thing EVER in the world

Really.

No, REALLY!

A pattern for a Flying Spaghetti Monster Hat!

Pastafarians Unite!

Toast

As in me.

I just got home. I spent all day decorating the great room at the church for Cookies with St. Nicholas on Sunday. Now, I just have to bake and decorate 4 dozen or so cookies on Saturday. And confirm the power supply issues for the bounce house. Because a Christmas party needs a bounce house. After saying "No" to serving on the party committee, I suddenly found myself serving on the party committee.

I finished Nykvarn last night and, so, was able to wear it today. Pictures tomorrow. There are a few minor quibbles I have with the finished product, but, considering that I deviated fairly substantially from the pattern requirements (beginning with the fact that I am a woman and not a teenage boy), I'm happy. It certainly was a lovely thing to wear today. I'm thinking that wool vests may become the new Texas Sweater (kind of like the fingerless mitts are Texas Mittens). I can knit with my beloved wool, but I have half the warmth of your full size sweater, thus enabling wearage on more than the three days a year it is actually cold!

I sent my husband a link to the Schoolhouse Press web site today and told him to order me a copy of Sweaters from Camp. Given that he usually waits to do any Christmas shopping until the 24th, we'll see what reality brings ;>

Achoo!

It's windy here. This means my nose is is trying to sneeze the rest of my body off.

In other news, several months ago, the people who live catty-corner to us sold their house. To some mysterious someones who have the yard mowed but have done nothing else. Nothing includes doing something so predictable as moving in. Last week, we found out why. They started cutting down trees. In our fair city, this means one thing - "Remodeling".

After listening to the dreamy sounds of chainsaws all last week, I was quite relieved when the tree-killers left. Then, it came to me in a stunning burst of clarity. I'm going to be living across the street from an effing CONSTRUCTION SITE! Just what I wanted for Christmas.

I don't begrudge the people their add-on - the house is about 1900 square feet (remember, in Texas we don't have basements) which is on the exceedingly small side. They'd just better not have construction people parking in front of my house for months. (OK, maybe there is a bit of grudge as I'm going to have to listen to it.)

No, I'm not on the neighborhood welcoming committee. Why do you ask?

Cate

There once was a sweater named Cate
Who suffered a terrible fate
She sat in a drawer
'Cause her seams were a horror
But now that they're fixed Cate is great


Stopped February 2005.
Finished November 2005.

Seaming ribbon yarn is a miserable thing



ETA: Cate is from the Colinette book La Belle Vita. Knit in Giotto. I think the colorway is Raspberry.

Thankful

Bean came home from preschool yesterday wearing a "necklace" of the thing she is thankful for. To wit:

"I am thankful for Cinderella, and Mommy and Daddy. I am also thankful for all the lions in the whole wide world."

My child rocks.

Daddy is on vacation this week, so today we played Pretty Pretty Princess. I'm thankful for being married to a man who can play Pretty Pretty Princess and honestly have fun doing it. I'm also thankful that we have a babysitter tonight so we can go to dinner and then we get to GO SEE A BAND! Actual live music. Something we used to do all the time and now do almost never. Some friends are playing at a bar not far from out house so...

Further Feral Follies

The back of Nyuck-nyuck (howeverthehell you pronounce it) is supposed to feature the same enlarged fair isle pattern as the front. Now, I'm not too sure that's going to be flattering on me since it will just cut me in half, so I'm just going to put one diamond in the center of the shoulders for some flair and leave the rest of the back plain.

I was kind of hoping I could wear the new vest on T-day, but I have to go to the store, make a pie, and I have not yet cast on for the back of the vest. Also, there is alot of finishing on the vest due to all the ribbing. So, we'll see.

Meanwhile, there has been some more finishing going on. Norma commented on the quantity of FOs in yesterday's post, but most of it was due to lazy picture slacking. Greensleeves was finished a couple of weeks ago and I finished Kepler I think on Thursday of last week. The mitts were quick. So, while yes, it was a bit of fast knitting on Nyuck nyuck, that's about it.

I'm going to go take a nap. Happy Thanksgiving where ever you are. It may be next week before I post again. There is a bit of familial stress regarding the festivities and, to be completely honest, I'd rather sit at home at cook my own damn dinner rather than participate but I guess we'll suck it up and go. At least it's early and we can come home and have fun in our own house.

Warning, there are pictures of me ahead that were taken *before* I'd had a cup of coffee. Plus, My husband somehow seems to think that taking pictures from underneath a subject is somehow flattering.

Kepler

Rowan Summer Tweed

Kepler is a small and a half. I didn't quite get the row gauge, but the sweater fits beautifully. I knit to measure rather than being a slave to the pattern.

I'd love to be able to be a perfectionist knitter and figure out everything ahead of time, etc. But there is a certain headiness to rushing in headlong and saying To Hell With It. Especially when it seems to work out in the end the majority of the time. And, it's not like I'm afraid to rip if I don't like the results.


Greensleeves

The Three-Skein-Kludge (lifted from the OSW)

Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran

Lousy picture, but the back is a tad longer as well. I also changed the seed stitch border to ribbing.







Soooooo, what do you do when you finish two KALs?

Texas Mitts

aka Gardening Mittens by Louisa Harding.

Impressions.


Friday, the yarn was purchased for this. Which, I think, fits with the new Norwegian Knits-Along. OK, it's actually Swedish and it's Poetry In Stitches, but I want to knit it anyway. I've discovered that the key relationship between me and KALs is to start the project and then see if there is a KAL that fits it. Nevermind the fact that I don't know how to pronounce Nykvarn, that it's a guy's vest, and that I purchased Nature Wool rather than Nature Wool Chunky because I'd like to be able to wear the damn thing more than twice a year (unlike Lara which is Too Darn Hot).

Here's where I am.

My husband has been walking around all weekend talking about my "feral sweater". No, I am not making this up. I had to speak slowly and clearly at which point the lightbulb went off over his head and he finally Got It. I know I'm from Texas, but my accent is not even close to being that bad. Sheesh!

Baby, it's cold outside.

OK, it's really only 54 but, considering it was 74 this time yesterday, I'm having trouble adjusting.

I completed Kepler but, as I would like to post a picture of a garment with me actually inhabiting it, pictures will have to wait. It's still pink.

I also completed one of the Texas Mittens (aka the Gardening Mittens). Fun to knit. Off to knit the other one. Yes, I probably could manage to take a picture of my hand by myself but, when the weather blew in so did a massive allergy attack. I'm a bit bumfuzzled by too much Benedryl so I think I'll lay around with Bean and watch Schoolhouse Rock and knit "glubs".

Under the weather

In a literal sense. We woke up to a balmy 75F. It's now 61. The temperature has fallen two degrees since I sat down at my desk a minute or so ago. The low is supposed to be 36. We've (obviously) already had the high. This is typical Texas weather but it always stank when I was working because I'd forget to look at the forecast and it would be nice when I left for work. I'd walk out to my car after work and about get frostbite because I wouldn't have a jacket (or, commonly, because I'd left my "emergency jacket" in the car). On one hand, it's going to be sweater weather so "Yay"! On the other hand, could we at least have some fall? Because this will last a couple of days and then it's back to the high 60s.

Kepler is almost kemplete. Just need to seam one side and then attack the pesky neck. I'm having the card group to my house tomorrow, so I have some motivation for a new sweater.




Gardening Mittens from Louisa Harding.

Love the pattern, but it's meant for someone with much longer hands and fingers. I left out the last two rows on the thumb and it's still going to be too long, so I'm going to rip it back another two rows and repeat the bind-off.

I'm also reducing the remaining length of the hand by half.

Sake does not improve your knitting

Yesterday night, I started the Gardening Mittens in the new Louisa Harding accessories book (allowing me to join the Warm Hands KAL with no pain). I'm doing them in the same color of Impression as The Bean's hat rather than the recommended Kimono Angora. I'm not a bunny fan.

Kepler seaming and collaring was further derailed by sushi.

Never complain about running into a group of cardiologists (who have just come in from Japan) at your favorite sushi bar. Your culinary experience will be richly rewarded and your bill will not reflect that experience.

Derailed

I managed to pick up the stitches for the second sleeve of Kepler yesterday, but that's about it. My husband had a late meeting at work (because management really endears people by scheduling meetings at 5.30pm on Friday), so the Bean and I went to my parent's house for dinner. We are getting ready to leave and I am looking forward to a long evening of knitting when J. calls me and tells me that his clients are taking him to dinner at a very swanky steakhouse. And I'm invited. My mother immediately talked Bean into spending the night at their house. I went home, did a quick change, packed a bag for the Bean and we popped back by to drop that off and went out for steak. We weren't even seated until 9pm. On the one hand, that stinks for everyone else. Lucky for me, that meant that by the time dinner was served at 10pm, I was ready for a snack ;>

One of the guys was asking me about Texas wine and I told him that there is one winery that is producing some amazing stuff. Becker. Lo and behold, the wine list has the exact wine I was raving about so they ordered a bottle. Everyone was really shocked at the quality of the wine - it beat out the Super Tuscan and Chateau Margeaux that were also ordered. All in all, it was a fun night and now we are on our way to pick up Bean.

And then I get to partake in a bit of personal improvement that I've been needing for a while - glasses.

I Wanna Be Sedated

I may have put the matches away a tad early. Although the Summer Tweed appeared to be fine as I knit the individual pieces, the final product is looking like it would have benefited from some wool content. Ah well, I had the yarn in stash and I'm less than thrilled with the color as well so it'll be a good knocking around sweater. And give me the excuse to buy wool with which to knit another one!

Don't get me wrong. This will be a nice sweater. But, if I have a lesson learned to impart to y'all, it's that Rowan Summer Tweed works really well for the designs in the Summer Tweed booklet and not as well for anything else. The seaming will get you on Kepler. A yarn with some stretch would have made fitting the pieces together a snap.

It was a close thing.

A very close thing.

But, I did, indeed, finish the *^@$&%@$#* sleeve bands for Kepler. All I have left is some stockinette and that nasty applied I-cord and I'm done. Oh, and seaming. But I lurve me some seaming so that is the part I look forward to!



Still Life of a Weekend.
That's a huge bucket of mix for frozen Cosmopolitans (and some damn nice bourbon that snuck it's way into the photo).Those Cosmos taste like a lickered up Slurpee. I won the bucket playing Bunco. As the worst Bunco player that night, I won the booze. Not an unhappy moment but I paid for it by having to play Bunco in the first place. Nuff said about me and Bunco.


Back to Kepler. I'll be dipping into the Cosmos during Survivor tonight.

Lobotomy

The Ramones song of the day!

I've been in a grumpy mood for about the last week. (No, it's not PMS.) I think it's just a fall thing. The weather is still pretty warm (80s) and I have to have the air conditioning on at night because I've been having some pretty major hot flashes. Which might account for the grumpiness ;>

I have knit. Namely, a One Skein Wonder that turned into the Three-Skein-Kludge (TSK). I extended the sleeves to elbow length, knit the back a bit longer, and changed the edging from moss stitch to 2x2 ribbing. Knit from Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in my favorite chartruese.

Now I am going to get back to Kepler. Because the Knitting Gods are NOT PLEASED. I have started about three other versions of Purple People Eater because I am obsessed with knitting artic-ready clothing despite the very real fact that it's going to hit 90F today. None of them took. Today, it hit me. I keep straying from Kepler to knit other things and most of those other things are turning out very badly.

Sparkle Socks? Too small.
PPE? No love.
River? Have to tink a few rows.
Even the TSK is a bit on the tight side in the sleeves. Not so much I can't wear it, but definitely about as small as I can take.

Ahem.

So, I am going to do my damnedest to knit only on Kepler until she's done. I have one sleeve band, two sleeves, and the finishing. Not that much. I'm going to try to get the sleeve band completed today. That leaves two simple stockinette sleeves which shouldn't take too long. Finishing will be sort of a bitch because I loathe applied I-cord, but I'll get over it.

I have to finish Kepler or I'm doomed to a life of crappy knits.

Busy.

Very.

The Bye-Bye Sweater

Purple People Eater is no more. PPE was a bulky zippered cardigan with deep ribbing knit from Muench Naturwolle. I was about two inches from finishing the final sleeve. Now, it's bye-bye.

I wasn't feeling the love.

I designed the pattern correctly.

I seamed all of the sweater minus that final sleeve to check fit. Perfect. It would have been a very nice sweater. And I would have never worn it. Something was bugging me about the sweater. I think, at the end of the day, a short person has to be extremely careful about bulky yarns. Otherwise, you look like a fireplug.

I checked my gauge to see what other patterns might be available. 11 1/2 sts over 4 inches. Hmmm. I looked at Josephine from the Fall Knitty. The gauge is off a bit, but I think I could make it work given that it's an oversized sweater. I don't have quite enough yarn, but remember the short. I can easily delete a few inches from the length. But all those cables. And the woman modeling the sweater seems to be on the taller and thinner side. I'm on the short and average side. Not sure those cables are going to do a damn thing for me.

How about Blackberry? The cutaway style looks great on me. I can omit the bobbles (loathe bobbles - great on children but not for me) and I end up with bulky cables on my skinniest part (arms) and a figure-flattering sweater everywhere else. Plus, given that it's not that cold in Texas and this is warm-as-hell yarn, there isn't so much coverage for the sweater that a grand mal hot flash is going to take me out the second I put the sweater on! We have a winner!

What did I do this weekend? A hat. That fits! If you knit any of the hat patterns in the Louisa Harding accessories book, keep in mind that the hats are teeny. Good thing I didn't knit it for me.

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

Chicken Licken

Chicken with Leeks and Corn

2 leeks (white part only) sliced thinly
1 cup corn (I used frozen and I didn't measure it so this is a guess)
2 chicken breasts
glug of white wine
glug of half and half

Saute leeks until soft and then add corn and cook until starting to brown a bit. Turn off heat and reserve. Cook chicken breasts. Heat up corn and leek mixture. When hot, add white wine and simmer until some of it cooks off. Add half and half and cook until it thickens a bit. Put chicken breasts on plate and cover with sauce. Devour.

I served this with zucchini. Shredded zukes and drain (like you would eggplant) for half a hour or so. Squeeze every last bit of water you can out of the zuke shreds and then put in a pan and saute with a bit of olive oil. Add a pinch of thyme and lemon zest. Cook until hot or shape into patties and cook until browned and crisp on the outside. If zucchini is large, scrape out the seedy part in the middle or it's going to be wet rather than distinct shreds. Mmmmmmm.

Tonight: empanadas with mushrooms, red onion, carrot, anise, pine nuts, and a bit of ground beef. Served with a salad with tomatoes and cukes and whatever the heck else I need to use up!

Deleted

OK, posted something whiny and deleted it.

Summary of last 24 hours:
Rained last night
Still need to water lawn
Received $200 water bill. Not fun but replacing lawn more expensive.
In-laws back in Iowa
Did 6 loads of laundry (washed, dried, and put away thankyouverymuch)
Have groceries but left desire to cook at the store

Went clothes shopping for Bean. WIth Bean. Because she now has Opinions. Came home with really cute robe, slippers, and jammies with a design of kitties playing with balls of string (see, this post is knitting related!) that I am now hoping she will forget about so I can give them to her for Christmas. (The hood of the robe is a kitty face. So cute it will kill!)

Now hoping that fall weather holds off until I can find fall clothes that fit child and that child will agree to wear!

Oh, and we bought cookies.

Because that's the most important part of shopping!

Ahhhh, the first days of fall
When the temperature gets crisp (98F with 60% humidity)
And the leaves turn brown and fall off the trees (from drought)
It gets to be sweater weather (if you turn the air conditioning down low enough)
And thoughts turn to fall dishes like stews and soups (who wants to cook when it's this hot and humid?)

Maybe at Christmas...

I have caught the Bean's cough, my husband will be in meetings until 8pm, and my in-laws are visiting which means that, instead of declaring it "sandwich night", I have to cook dinner.

MMMMmmm, cranky-Liz.

I am so tired I can't stand it.