Deb on the Web

In the mail, on the needles and food stuffs

I've been participating in Marisol's Kitchen Swap for the last couple of months.  We were supposed to send our pal two recipes, a kitchen gadget and yarn with a pattern for a kitchen related project.  I was thrilled to have Marisol as my partner.  Even though we already knew each other we've been learning more about each other's kitchen and cooking lives (quite different from our knitting lives).  My package is still in flight on its way to Marisol, but I received hers yesterday!  As I was hoping--recipes from Nicaragua!
Plus a great recipe organizer (I've never had one!).  Aren't those mug cozies great?  There is tea and chocolate covered espresso beans--be still my beating heart (no really;) ).  There is also Rowan soft 4ply and a pattern to knit a french press cozy.  That will be a fun little project.  Right between the mugs there is a great little kitchen gadget--a garlic roller.  Many a person has suggested these to me, but this is my first.  In the restaurant we just peel too much to keep one around.  I love cooking at home again:)  Thank you, thank you Marisol.  These are all such great gifts!  I can't wait to try some recipes:)

In the startitis category--I cast on for the Mystic Meadows mystery stole today.  This is the signature yarn from Brooklyn Handspun in Budding.  I mentioned that I'd be starting this mystery project for Summer a few days ago.  But I did start to have second thoughts as I have a few other projects calling to me.  But now that I started it I realize I have been missing a lace project.  I love playing with yarn overs and great merino yarns (using Addy lace needles too). 
In the frustrated knitting area--I am almost half way finished with the Slip stitch baby blanket.  I thought I should double check with the dad about colors...doh  Usually best to ask color schemes before going yarn shopping.  Yep, green and yellow are not part of the undersea adventure being painted in the baby room.  I didn't say anything--there are plenty of other babies being born that can receive that blankie.  But I gotta get a move on with a new idea!

On the kitchen counter today--I have taken a final leap into hippiness at the mountains sprouts for your sandwich?  How about some homemade yogurt? I haven't gone out and bought an birkenstokes if that's what your thinking, but I am planning on adding cheese making to this crowd of projects as soon as I finish reading Ricki Carroll's book.

Off to close the chicken coop, check on the rabbits and say good night to the pheasants...

Still no photos

Well I'm really starting the year off in a boring fashion. The sad thing is that I am surrounded by beauty today. It is sunny and 35 degrees. Still a little snow on the ground and we are cozy inside.

I've been crafty in the collage zone with a project I couldn't find the inspriation for until today. I started this as a source of inspiration for others several months ago and now I am finally getting back to it. Now I know you'd like to see some evidence and you will! Soon I say, soon. These spindles are going to a local shop this week. Hopefully they won't throw me out for having them so long. Really I will have something to show you:)

In the food area I have a question. We got a Turbot filet last night and decided to pan fry it. It completely fell apart in the pan. It tasted fresh, but seemed to liquify. I've never cooked this fish. Can anyone give me some imput?

As you can see I'm not participating in Project 365. I did think about it, but it seemed silly to give myself boundaries with something that I both will not be near every day this year and I like the flow of creativity that sometimes comes from me since I have never given myself rules about posting. One thing I did notice at the end of 2007 was that my photos of projects were not complete for last year. I forgot that this was the main reason I did start this blog. So I guess I have a second resolution for the year--documenting all projects.
Part of this I'd like to carry over to the garden project.

Okay, this next week will include some husband surgery (now that could be helpful;) ). Hopefully the pain will only get better (for both of us). I feel so bad for him, but man can I see his controlling side. He actually decided he was going to drive his stick shift today. Whatever!

In the knitting area, I am still on the sock obsession in 2008. I'm knitting away on the Duet XXL kneehighs. I decided to knit each foot seperately and then put them both on two circulars (a size up) and knit the legs together to make sure if I start to run out of yarn I have them the same length. As I am typing this I am realizing that I have one ball of yarn. DUH! I guess I'll be doing some rewinding before I get to the legs.
I am ready to get back to Mar'c Aran and finish up the MS3 from last year. I really want to start a new shawl but I feel like that has to be done first.

I love the new beginning feeling of January. I always get in this finish things up mode. I just wish I felt that way come February 1. By then I am ready for something new.

Where has this week gone?

Work swamped me.  Knitting engaged me.  Crewel has captivated me.  Friends stole me.   Yep, that about sums up the week.

{Some things deleted here as per husband's request}

Other things I did this week (besides the cooking part)--working on the Mystery Shawl still.  Yesterday the final clue was unveiled, but I am still a couple weeks behind.   HP and Sockapaloosa put me there, but I'm not complaining.  This has been a great Summer's worth of projects.  Here are a couple of MS3 photos This is the end of clue 4 and of the symmetrical portion of the shawl.  Now the last 3 clues add a wing to the Swan shawl This is half of clue 5.  I still can't see how it will sit across my shoulders, but I love knitting a mystery!

Last Sunday I took a Crewel class at Twisted.  As I was the only person that signed up for the class I was pretty excited to get one on one help and have a great time getting to know the owners.  They sell (and teach with) the Wool and Hoop kits.  I love her hip designs!  This is the one I'm working on from the class Twisted carries all the kits.  I will definitely be getting a few more.  I also had to order some of the beautiful crewel wool from Renaissance Dying once I realized I was hooked on stitching.  This came yesterday (5 day turn around) I love these colors!  And they were all naturally dyed.  I really wish I had a week in September to go over and take their class...dreaming and dreaming.  I foresee crewel on shirts, skirts and definitely socks.

Also doing just a teeny amount of spinning this week.  The August Spunky club offering My wrist and right hand were bothering me quite a bit this week so not as much done on any project as I would have liked.  But I have to say this colorway is turning out beautifully!  It is called "Celebration" and I am planning on Navajo plying it and then knitting a fall hat.  Not sure which pattern yet.

I did do a little reading this week.  Finished Bad Monkeys and got farther into Eat,Pray,Love.  I don't know if it was my wrist or just general antsiness that I couldn't settle down to the second book.  After a chiropractor's visit on Thursday evening everything seems to be a bit more settled down for me (he does energy work as well).  Anyway I am now loving this memoir by Elizabeth Gilbe.  I think it is just a trip out of my life I would want to take (without the divorce part though).

Oh and some cooking--It is pickling time some tasty little gherkins.  Off to work now.  I have some backberry, jam and vanilla gelato swirl to make.  Yum!! 

Tomorrow is the walk!!  I am adding my donation to complete the $500 goal.  So tomorrow afternoon I will choose two final winners from the pool.  You can still get your name in!!!  Check down to past posts for a link to the prize page:)

MS3 meetup

I finally remembered to take some pics of the Portland ladies that are working on the Mystery Stole.  Here we are for the group photo Each time we have met (3 so far) there have been a few new ladies.  I am loving the fact that I've made new friends along with learning a new pattern.  You can see our stoles on the table.  But here is a closer look They each look so different depending on fiber, color and needle size.  I love them all!  Here are just a couple of were working hard at it photos-- It was a great day.  I had to take my Sockapaloosa socks with my as I can not talk and knit lace at the same time and I am a bit late with my socks.  Luckily my pal is on vacation.  But I would love to have them waiting when she returns!
More on that tomorrow.

There will soon be some lace weight appearing on the prize page!

Distractions

I really want to finish my Sockapaloosa socks this weekend but I keep finding distractions.  Like this arriving in the mail yesterday.  Really, I was only going to read the first couple pages....
Then the 4th clue was posted for the MS3 This is at the beginning of Chart E.  I am loving this yarn.  Of course there has been a bit of other sock knitting and the beginning of an enterlac baby blanket.  It is too small to photograph at this point.
In the mail this week--Moo Cards have arrived!  Great quality.  So fun!  Also, I couldn't stay away from Marisol's yarn sale. Spunky Eclectic--Tye Dye.  This is really squishy yarn.  Marisol and I realized recently that we share the same birthday.  And it's coming up quick!  We are both Leos by a day (Tuesday-24th). It's funny that we really like a lot of the same yarns and patterns.  I haven't been finishing as many projects as she has lately, but I would love to knit any of them (especially the Yarnplay sweaters!).
I'm off to work on all of these projects and distractions;)
But let's not forget that Prize Page! 

New yarn site

Well, new to me.  I am probably not the first person to discover this, but I am so happy I did!
lace weight Malabrigo yarn at Handpainted Yarn.  I just ordered two colorways (as Summer always makes me want to knit lace) and some beautiful kettle dyed roving.  The great prices were what I couldn't believe.  880 yds of lace weight for 5.95!

Ravelry?  Yea I still love it!  I spent a good part of yesterday photographing and uploading my sock yarn.  I can tell I'll have to wait until next month to finish the whole stash as I am going to run out of space on my Flickr account very soon.

Oh I did it again--forgot to take pics at another MS3 meetup!  These ladies and some more met up at the new yarn shop in town.  I love Twisted!!  I will definitely put it in my travel path.  I unfortunately drank a french press coffee for breakfast after not drinking any coffee for a couple weeks.  I was so antsy I finally had to leave-waa.  I thought I'd go see HP last night, but I was so antsy I just did some knitting, spinning, cleaning, photographing....maybe I should drink more coffee;)

An unexpected weekend

I got hit very unexpectedly with a bug Saturday morning that just kept getting worse.  By 3p I was in bed.  I spent the evening and the whole next day with a terrible headache.  I am drinking some black tea chai right now in hopes that a bit of caffeine will keep it away.
At least knitting is a quiet activity. I finished Clue #2 for the MS3.  I really love how this shawl is progressing, but I have no guess to the title (theme) as yet.  There were only 50 rows in this clue.  Since I moved up to a size 5 needle it is knitting up quite quickly.
Even not feeling well I didn't want to keep DH away from a low key dinner party yesterday.  It was a lovely time.  A friend bought some entertainment (blues/blue grass duo) at an auction recently.  I was a little taken back to arrive and realize we only knew the two couples hosting.  I tend to shrink into the corner at these moments.  I'm great if I'm cooking for them, but without a utensil...pick up the sock knitting of course.  At first I got the looks of what is wrong with that person, then slowly the conversation and several people moved the circle around me and the discussion changed to different crafts each had grown up with. 
It was very therapeutic for this apartment dweller to have her toes in the grass, listen to good music, eat some wonderful Portuguese bbq and knit with old (and new) friends. 
I had planned to really fill up this day as there was a PDX knit bloggers meetup at Knit Purl in the afternoon.  I thought I could run down there, knit for a short time and make it back to pick up the husband and head out.  Did not happen and I have been reading about a terrific time on several blogs this morning.  I'll be there next time for sure!

Not just socks

Lest you think I am only on the sock knitting kick I have been working on some lace as well.  Here are the first couple of pics from MS3. Chart A and Chart B.  this is being knit on the bias and I chose a yarn that is a little heavier than some I've seen.  I really love the pattern and I'm looking forward to the next clue.  There is still time to join in.  The Yahoo group closes July 6.  I got together with a couple of local gals that are also working on this over the weekend.  Although we found it was hard to chat and knit lace at the same time it was great to see how very different each of our pojects are.  Great time Tammy and Cindy!
On the spinning front I joined the Spunky fiber club this month and this fun BFL roving in "Tulip" arrived. I wish I had thought to get a photo right out of the box.  It really had every color in a bright red tulip.  The finished product I started to ply it Navajo style last night and really didn't like it.  So I think I'll be knitting singles with this for a smaller Argosy.
And speaking of Spinning--yesterday was the spinning circle at AYD.  A group of ladies get together on the first Monday of the month dropping in anytime from 9-3p.  It was great conversation and spinning yesterday It was interesting how different each of our projects were.  (Left to Right) Pat was working on some natural dyed merino, Berlye on bamboo, Cary on something silky and jewel toned, Barb on silk.  Me-I was finishing up the tulip.  Pat and Berlye decided to join the M3 so we'll be comparing that next month as well.  The shawl that Cary is holding has an interesting story.  Berlye gave it to Barb as a surprise gift.  But Barb seemed very confused about it.  Turns out that she spun the yarn and gave it as a gift to someone who wanted Barb to have a gift in return.  She was very excited to have a "Berlye" shawl.
This was a great fiber weekend!
The week ahead is a bit of work and of course off for the fourth.  This is a traditional family day for me.  My dad's side always has a reunion complete with softball and hotdogs.  This year my aunties are getting a bit old and dad can't get over here.  it has been decided to have a mini picnic with just a couple of aunties and a few of us "kids" (I have 21 cousins).  I'm looking forward to it.  It's just not the same when you aren't eating hotdogs on July 4 (my one of the year). We are also really lucky where we live--DH and I will be walking down to the bridge in the evening where we can watch four different firework shows.  Great fun hanging with the neighborhood!
Here is a little yumminess I made at Nostrana last week. We had a lot of apricots this week.  Ice cream is from Marcella Cucina, galette from The Sweet Kitchen and apricot curd from Chez Panisse Desserts.  I have been slacking around here on the food talk.  This has become my release from talking about food all day/night at work.  Don't worry there will be more in the near future;)

Oh let's just have a small sock pic. Vesper (in a ? colorway) for a simple tv, car or office knitting.  This ended up being quite different from the way it looked on line, but I'm glad I got a chance to try it out.  This little sock is part of the smash the stash project I have for Summer of Socks.