Deb on the Web

When you're supposed to be cleaning

and packing things like this happen to me And still I can't manage to get rid of any of my refrigerator magnets.  I did however manage to throw out three year out flour (five different kinds).  Somehow this whole packing up and throwing out project is making this place look even messier.

On the knitting front I learned a valuable lesson about my current project With this kind of wrap and drop pattern you really have to make those wraps loose.  I spent over an hour on one row!  I had my stitches so tight I had to beg them to inch up past the needle join.  Note to self--need addy turbo lace needles for this project.  Now that I have it all figured out I think I am back on schedule (7 day project).

Of course I'm not sure I can say that about the cleaning...

I've watched with vicarious pleasure every time anyone received a Scout's Swag--Indie Club package over the last few years.  And now it's time to sign up again!  I am not going to sign up for this (too much traveling this year) but I can still live vicariously:)  And help pass the word.

All soup all the time

Not such a catchy book title but it warms my stomach.
I love soup!  Really at any time of the year.  But of course when it's cold I do tend to eat more of it.
Last week we headed to our neighborhood pho place for some chicken pho.  The next day we were at a nearby Japanese restaurant for ramen noodle soup.  So much better than those packaged varieties we all grew up with!  But still we didn't get our fill of soup for the week.  This weekend I made a batch of ribolitta.  No photos here--we ate it all!  This is not a soup with which you can jump up and say let's have it for lunch today.  This is actually changing one soup into another.  You start with your favorite minestrone recipe.  After you make this let it sit over night (well, definitely have a bowl first).  The next day you take the crust off a good loaf of bread (ciabatta is best), cut thick slices and toast it (plain) in the oven.  You then drizzle some olive oil on the bottom of a pot, add some soup, lay slices of the bread on top, drizzle liberally with extra virgin olive oil and repeat.  Put on a lid or cover with foil and put in a preheated 400 degree oven for 30-40 min.  Serve with oil drizzled on top and a good crack of pepper.  We have a great herb infused salt we like to sprinkle on as well.
The minestrone that was our base this weekend had white beans (soaked ahead), onion, garlic, carrot, savoy cabbage and whole tomatoes (without their juice).  Since we finished it with the the herb salt I didn't add any oregano or rosemary.  I liked the nearly white soup. 
Ribolitta works great with any kind of minestrone of course.
Lolly has a great soup that I'll be trying this next weekend. 
hmm what will sound good for lunch today?

Next

"Misty Garden" Scarf is finished I'm never sure about different yarns used this way, but this really has turned out nicely.  And sooooo soft!  I love all the angora--which luckily isn't shedding everywhere.  As I knit this I realized I have a couple of other ladies that will need gifts on this trip.  We have a friend in Tuscany that is working hard to find us a summer home.  I am now working hard to create this for her The yarn is 50%merino/50% silk from the Woolen Rabbit in Elderberry Gold.  It is soooft with a beautiful shimmer from the silk.  The pattern is the Sara Blanch shawl from Folk Shawls, by Cheryle Oberle.  I've had this book for a while and knit the Kimono shawl for the Knitting Olympics.  Somehow I had overlooked this simple but elegant project.  I am hoping for a 7 day finish.  We'll see how it goes.
Weather at the mt house has warmed like everywhere in Oregon.  But there is still a bit of snow on the ground.  Here are some photos from yesterday's walk through the woods and meadow. This was a magical spot
 

Weekend project

I've really been into these two day projects the last couple of weeks.  Yesterday afternoon had a bit of this and a bit of this A fuzzy angora (from Spain via my sister) and Blue Moon's Bliss-wool/angora in Metamorphic (my favorite BMFA colorway).  This is becoming a little scarf for my sil's mother in France.  She is hosting us for Easter.  This is where we are today The pattern is Misty Garden from Scarf Style.

Something fun

A fun meme Nathania had on her blog:

1. Go to www.photobucket.com (don't sign in)
2. For each question below, type your answer in the "search" box and hit ENTER
3. Use only the first page of hits that come up and select a picture. If no matches are found to your search query you can revise your answer.
4. Copy the html for the photo you select and paste it in your post.

 1) What's your first name?

2) What's your favorite food? 3) Where did you go to school? 4) What's your relationship status? 5) What's your favorite color? 6) Who's your celebrity crush? 7) Who are you listening to right now? 8) Favorite movie? 9) Favorite book? 10) Favorite Disney Princess? 11) Favorite drink? 12) Where's your dream vacation? 13) What's your favorite dessert? 14) What do you want to be when you grow up? 15) What do you love most in life? 16) One word to describe yourself? I had to add a few questions to even this out at twenty.  It is too much fun to try to find something from some of these words! 17) One word to describe your style? 18) What's your ideal home? 19) What's your favorite mode of transportation? 20) What are you passionate about? Who's next for this little meme??

Great knit links

Every once in a while...oh who am I kidding The Daily Chum has links every day that I want to follow.  Today however, I was interested in them all!  Especially the article about my LYS!  Congrats to Heather, Stevanie and crew for the props.  And I had no idea they just got the Rio di la Plata sock yarn in.  I've been wanting to pet it:)  That's all..just petting!
But this is a great little leftover sock yarn project that I didn't want to get away from me.  Linking for later!

Research

I love Knitty!  Who doesn't really?  But I never read the articles.  Earlier today someone from a group I'm on posted a link for an article on bind offs.  I love it!  Now I'm on the technique research track.  Here's a link for a tubular bind off.  I think this one is a different tubular bind off.  It may just be explained differently.

Actually I think I am just plain in research mode.  So far today I have been looking to prove that the husband's great-grandfather never gave up his Italian citizenship.  There are so many documents out there it has opened a whole new area to me.  I've found that Ancestory.com is the most useful site for what I want.  I've researched the best web designer to use for our new business.  Best to go with recommendations for that one.  And I"m trying to find a cater for a friend.  It is so nice to have a bit of extra time in the day!

I've also gotten back to making lists.  One for what needs to be done before I leave town.  One for what I want to get rid of from my apartment.  Actually I have way too many lists started right now.
But it gets me back to this list Let's take a look at where I am right now--

1. Knit second Lenore sock
2. Knit second Flower Power sock
3. Get sock yarn stash below 100 (ahem… I think I’ll have to knit or give away at least 10 skeins this year)--working on this
   
4. Finish knitting husband’s aran sweater (half body is finished, sleeves not yet designed)
5. Finish knitting Debbie Bliss silk shrug (back is finished)
6. Finish knitting MS3 (on second to last clue)
7. Choose a pattern and knit another lace item to bring down the stash a notch
8. Keep up with 2008 RSC projects--working on this
9. Finish spinning current Yarn Wench fiber on wheel
10. Keep up with Spunky spinning club fiber--working on this
11. Choose a random skein from the “old bin” stash and knit something from current pattern collection
12. Knit knee highs from yarn I dyed in a class last year.      

A very busy few days

I am happy to say that there will be blogging from the mountain from now on!!  My bil to be (sis got engaged on Vday woo hoo) set us up so hopefully I'll be quite a bit more regular on my posts.  Holidays could bring unexpected delays;)  Yea that and when I got nothin!
Today I got a few somethings though.  The spinning bug bit me and how this week.  I finished what was on the wheel I finished these singles of fakland wool from Yarn Wench and plyed them on themselves for this this is now washed and ready to become a hat when the pattern that fits it turns up.  Next to jump up was this month's offering from the Spunky Club.  I've gotten a bit behind on these as I just didn't feel inspired, but this icelandic wool was calling out!  I loved spinning these long fibers, but this is a bit rough for something like a hat or gloves.  I'm now spinning this corredale/silk combo from Crosspatch creations to ply with it It has a touch of blues and greens like the icelandic, but also some yellows and all that white silk.  I think this will combine well for a pair of simple mittens.
Lest you think I didn't pick up the needles I did in fact finish up these Valentine socks They are off the needles now.  I had to find my size #3 needles to give this a looser bind off.  Yarn is Duet-Middy in cupid.  They are knit toe up with short row toes/heels on size #2 needles.  I really love knitting with this Middy yarn! This link is serious temptation as Angela uploaded lots of new colorways today;)
In other life news...bought our tickets to Europe today!!  We are flying into Barcelona on Mar 17th and just staying a few days.  We have to be up in Nantes, France for Easter with my BIL (husband's youngest) new inlaws.  We will then be heading to Reims and then the Rhone valley for some wine business and on to Italy for another 3 weeks of business.  Yes, very excited here!!
And speaking of Italy...a relative of my husband's did some geneology on the family recently.  As I was looking through the papers and doing some internet searches (I love this thing sometimes) I realized that his great grandparents never became US citizens.  This means that the husband and many of his relatives can apply for Italian citizenship.  You never know when a vacation just isn't enough;)

Trying to be good

I know that I need no new yarn.  I know I need no new yarn.   argh!  I know I need no new yarn!!
But look at these kits!  I'm being good (I want two shawls and two mitts).  I didn't buy anything, but you will notice that I just linked the page for future reference;)

Oh heck, let's link this page too;)

Happy Valentine's Day?

I know, a day late and a dollar short...story of my life;)
Unemployeed does not mean I get out of working at Gino's on a holiday.  Vday is always a huge restaurant day and last night was right up there in the most busy day of the year catagory.  As such we didn't really do any celebrating.  And going into the weekend of the husband working I think this year we are just going to have to let this one go.
But I did get a valentine...from Woolgirl! This is the last installment of the 2007 Woolgirl sock club.  I am sad to see it end, but was thrilled to have the timing coincide with VDay.  I haven't used the Zen Garden yarn before (in fact every yarn in the club was new to me!).  This last package includes the yarn in "Blush" with two patterns, a stitch marker, a project bag and a stitch marker container full of m&ms!  What a great present, Thank you Jenn!