Dandelion Picker

Here’s a pic of the gorgeous yarn Kara and Katie got me for Christmas! Isn’t that multi-colored one pretty!?

Here’s my question for you knitters…
That yarn is lumpy and bumpy (its actually called that too!) and its a bulky weight. I’ve never knitted with anything like it. What kind of projects are best for yarn that’s different weights like that? It would make a beautiful scarf, or maybe a hat…is it good for a hat project?

Thanks again Katie and Kara! I know I’m a little late with the Christmas postings, but I love it!

I was soooo looking forward to getting some stuff done this weekend! Yesterday I did some running around and went to JoAnn’s and Michael’s to blow my gift cards. Here’s some of the after Christmas take:

Then I ventured over to Whole Foods…I hadn’t been there yet and I wanted to check it out. I really liked it, I just wish there hadn’t been so many people there, it was so busy I just wanted to get out of there. Afterwards I went to my local grocery store and when I came back out, I found that my trusty “buy a Honda, they’re so reliable, they never break” Accord wouldn’t start…for the 3rd time in 2 months. Thank goodness my friend Marie came to rescue me (and my groceries). The car is still sitting at the grocery store waiting to be towed (hopefully tomorrow morning). I’m so glad Marie was home and I was so close to home myself!

I spent today at home…duh…making soup and cookies and knitting. I should have gotten a lot more done but I’m in a bad mood cause of the car.

So I was watching PBS (I LOOOOOVE PBS) and I saw this Carrot Soup recipe

so I made it. Matt LOVED it and I thought it was pretty damn good myself. The only thing I changed is that I used vegetable stock and I didn’t add the hot sauce or lemon juice…cause it sounded weird to me.

Then I made Pastina and Egg Soup with Spinach but I didn’t add the eggs. Its still pretty good though.

And of course every soup needs some crusty warm bread so I made Crusty French Bread.

And Steph from She’s Foxy and Crafty made these cookies the other day so I decided to try them too. They’re chewy and yummy. I replaced the eggs in this one with some silken tofu…you’d never know!

Now, I should get back to my Christmas mess that I haven’t found place for in my closet:

but instead I think I’m gonna keep working on that sock of Aunt Beth’s!

Sorry for the crappy pic. I know you can hardly see the pattern, but I really like them so far! I hope she does too! I think I’m really getting into this sock-knitting thing!

Well it was a nice vacation from work, but now I gotta go back.

Christmas was nice. I went to Toledo and ended up staying there longer than planned cause I was having so much fun. I stayed with Wy and Mike at Mike’s house (Thanks Mike!) cause he has an awesome house…and his guest room has the best damn mattress in the world.

So, there was a lot of this going on:

Guitar Hero…my new favorite thing! Along with some sleeping, eating out, catching up with my cousin Katie over lunch, seeing Amy and the kids, and day-after-Christmas shopping.

SO everyone’s talking about New Year’s resolutions. I don’t make resolutions. I haven’t made them in years. Maybe this year I will…here goes.

First off, I’m not making resolutions I know I won’t keep…so lets just skip over the “lose weight”, “eat healthy”, “exercise”, and “stop shopping” routine and move on to the do-able resolutions, shall we?

1. Get one of those 401K thingy-s

2. Make a quilt. I saw the book Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts and I loved it so much it’s inspired me! I think I’m gonna have to make that color wheel one. I know someone who’d love it. (I hope I don’t screw it up. My sewing skills leave a lot to be desired.)

3. Knit a sweater. I’m terrified of knitting sweaters. I don’t know why, I just am. So this year, I plan to get on with it.

4. Get rid of extra crap around my apartment…I’ve already made a list for ebay.

5. Stick to my vegetarian diet. I actually enjoy being a vegetarian and I can’t say I miss meat one bit! Also, learn to cook more vegan and vegetarian food.

6. Spend more time with my sister…even if it does mean going to Toledo more often.

7. Lay off the sugar.

8. Open a savings account that will contain only “Buy A House” money. (I’m not sure this will help, seeing as the “Vacation” account has a continuous balance of $10.01, but hey, I’ll try.)

9. Learn to dye and spin yarn.

One more -

10. Stop cussing so much - really, its gotten out of control!

In knitting news, I’ve cast on my Aunt Beth’s socks. I’m using the Hedera pattern and so far I love it. I’ve gotten as far as the heel. I’ve never knit a sock before, so I have no idea what I’m going to do with this long heel thing next, but hey, I followed the directions so we’ll see! Hopefully I will have at least one finished sock pic this week!

Nana got her shawl and loved it. I’m so glad! Now, Nana if you’re reading, I need you to send me a pic of you wearing it for my website!

I’ve never blocked anything before, I didn’t even know you were supposed to do it. So, hopefully I’m doing this right.

There’s Nana’s shawl. I finally finished it this afternoon. I hope the blocking ends the curling up problem. Overall I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

I’m steam blocking my mom’s alpaca cabled scarf right now. It really seems to be helping the curling of that one.

I still have presents to wrap and packing to do. I didn’t get anything done today!

Matt wanted to get a new hat so we ventured downtown. I wanted to have lunch at Vivo so we walked over there afterwards, but they’re not open for lunch on the weekends. So we ended up at Abuelo’s instead. Then we went to World Market and I found some Christmas ornaments and a tree skirt for half off. Oh, and some stockings too! I’d post a pic, but I already packed them away for next year since we don’t have a tree or anything this year.

We stopped at the Salvation Army on the way home. I found two cute sweaters that I’m going to make into star ornaments (check out Through the Loops she’s so crafty and its the best blog!) and I found a great wool sweater that I’m going to thrift the yarn from. I’ve never done that before, but I like the idea. One sweater = $4.99…which will turn out to be more than a few balls of chunky wool in three pretty colors…not bad!

Ok, I’m off to wrap presents and get packing! Merry Christmas everyone!

Well here’s the Christmas cookie update. This is what I have done so far. I have no pics of the bread cause Matt has graciously scarfed it all down.

Yes, those apricot and almond ones are supposed to be Kolachki but I didn’t roll them, instead I did them thumbprint style, because, yes, I’m a lazy baker and I wanted to get back to the knitting!

Speaking of the knitting…

Nana’s shawl is half way done. (Don’t mind those clothes on the bed, they’re clean and the closet threw up). Here’s a closeup of the pattern. I wouldn’t suggest it, its a pain. But it is pretty and I hope she likes it. It needs to be blocked badly.

And finally, I went and picked up the homasote I needed to make the blocking board so I can finish up this stuff! Man, does homasote STINK! Its finally airing out in here. I covered it and ended up getting three pretty big pieces about 34″x48″ so that should be sufficient for blocking whatever.

I like the fabric too! I read that if you use something checked it helps with lining things up.

I’m supposed to be cutting out the sugar cookies right now, but I’m procrastinating. I like doing it, I’m just tired from work today.

Matt and I went to the late show Saturday night and saw “Dan In Real Life”, yes I know, its been out forever. It wasn’t as funny as I expected it to be, but it was a good movie. This weekend I’m dragging him to the “Alvin and the Chipmunks” opening. Yes, I’m serious. It looks cute and I don’t want to see it alone!

Saturday I ran into my friend Marie at the garden center. Seems great minds think alike because she was out doing the same thing I was…checking out the stores to see which ones had the best Christmas decorations so we know where to run the day after Christmas to buy what we want at 75% off!

So that was the weekend. Next to come…more cookie pics!

Christmas Meme
Until I feel like taking pics to post, here’s something to keep you all reading…

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Gift bags, its just so much easier.
2. Real or artificial tree? I love real trees, unfortunately I live in an apartment and I’m not allowed to have one for fire-safety reasons. But when I get my own house (and insurance), it will be real.
3. When do you put up the tree? The day after Thanksgiving.
4. When do you take it down? Right after New Year’s
5. Do you like eggnog? Not so much, unless its of the Silk variety.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? I remember being *really* excited about getting a bike one year. I’m not sure other than that, I always got lots of cool stuff.
7. Do you have a nativity scene? Um, NO
8. Hardest person to buy for? My sister or my brother.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Me! Duh!
10. Worst Christmas present you ever got? Bibles, Luggage and Tupperware from my mom when I was like 16 (I think she was trying to tell me it was time to move out), matching sweaters for me and my sister (not so bad right? well, it wouldn’t have been except that I was 14 and she was 5).
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? As much as I love email, I snail mail them cause its just not the same!
12. Favorite Christmas movie? Definitely National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation!!!
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? October
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? I don’t think so
15. Favorite thing to eat on Christmas? My aunt Kathleen’s Christmas cookies…especially the meringue mushrooms
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear. I like traditional or “old Christmas” decorations…no plastic blow up Santas, thankyouverymuch.
17. Favorite Christmas song? I know you’re not going to believe this, but, O Holy Night! LOL, followed closely by The Chipmunks singing the Christmas song.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Travel, but someday I’ll start having it at my home…after I buy one.
19. Can you name all of Santa’s Reindeer? If I sing it.
20. Angel or star on top of tree? Star
21. Open presents Christmas Eve or morning. Depends - my dad’s side on Christmas Eve, my mom’s side on Christmas.
22. Most annoying thing this time of year? Rude Christmas shoppers, especially the ones that leave their carts in the middle of the aisle while they shop.
23. Do you decorate your tree in any theme or color? My theme is: no ugly plastic crap, other than that I like pinecones, cranberries and popcorn strings, red bows, pretty bulbs, etc.
24. What do you leave for Santa? Cookies and Silk

Okay, so I’m not the best roommate sometimes. Sometimes I leave dishes in the sink, sometimes I complain about taking out the trash, and sometimes I open mail that’s not addressed to me.

I came home from work today to a box from JoAnn Fabrics, and although I didn’t remember ordering anything from them, it didn’t stop me from ripping into it because hey, if I didn’t order it, but they sent it anyways its fair game, right? Well, after pulling out the packing slip I noticed that it wasn’t really addressed to me, it was for my brother.

And YEAH I got a new yarn swift and ball winder for Christmas!

Just been a busy bee! I baked all last weekend. I was hoping to have some pics for you, but I don’t…just yet.

I made Buckeyes (what’s Christmas without some yummy buckeye cookies!?), cinnamon raisin walnut bread, banana bread, Oreo bark, peppermint bark…and my Christmas casualty - coconut wreath cookies, which turned out NOTHING like they were supposed to.

On the cookie sheets this weekend:
Cut out cookies
Rice krispies
Meringue mushrooms
Kolachki
Koulurakia (I have no idea how to spell that but they’re Greek and they’re delish!)
and those yummy cherry in the middle cookies that I have no idea what they’re callled.

Tonight I made rosemary focaccia…its pretty good for my first attempt.

In knitting news:
I’m STILL working on Nana’s shawl. Ran out of yarn and had to place another order.
Beth’s sock yarn is trying to be delivered to me via UPS but I’m not home to sign for it

That’s about it for now. I’ll post again this weekend when I have pretty cookie pictures to share

Which is why I only post about once a week…but this is much more interesting, isn’t it!?

So it looks like I haven’t gotten much done, but in reality, I did. That scarf took another two skeins of yarn this week, and I finished the bag part (still need to do the handles) of my Noro project. I didn’t follow the pattern exactly. I liked the eyelets so much (this was my first time doing them!) that I did lots! Both projects need to be blocked badly, but I need to go make a blocking board first…that’s my next project, hopefully I’ll get to it this weekend. I think I’m going the homosote route that I read of. Sounds good and cheap!

So, here’s mom’s Christmas scarf

I think I actually got a pretty good picture of it. You can see the cables and everything. I just love it. Hopefully the blocking will stop the corners from curling.

Here’s the Noro bag

Aren’t the eyelets so cute?! So now I have to decide on a long icord handle or wooden store bought ones. We’ll see if I feel like making icord or not!

So on the needles this weekend will be:
Nana’s surprise
and Wy’s hat (and the same one for me cause I love it)
I also hope to cast on Beth’s socks. I really need to get those started. I’m just afraid of doing socks cause I haven’t done them before!

I’m off to Toledo in the morning for Thanksgiving. I just finished making my Aunt Kathleen’s recipe for Brussels Sprouts and Chestnuts. Since my mom has the slowest computer in the free world, you won’t here from me till at least Sunday. So… HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Well after doing all my errands on Saturday - grocery shopping, cleaning, ironing, all that fun stuff - Sunday I finally got down to work.

I finished my mom’s Christmas stuff for the kitchen.

I finished my purse. And I hated it. So I pulled it out. Did I mention that I hate sewing? Really, I hate it. I’m not good at it. It irritates me to death. Anyway, so I learned a little about making purses in case I ever decide to attempt it again. I have an all new respect for those people on etsy that make handmade bags, its hard! Mine looked like a 6 year old did it!