Yet another sad event in the summer of suck

Well... I must say I haven't had the best summer and I'll be quite glad when I get on with life as usual (for me that's mostly good with a little bit of not good).

Yesterday we (my mom, dad and I) had to put down our dear old dog Buster. Buster Tea Bear Junior, if you please. Buster had an exceptionally large tumor on his spleen causing massive internal blood loss. He had 10% of the normal red blood cells. He could barely walk and was having significant trouble catching his breath. We took him in to the vet on Monday when he stopped eating and found out on Friday about his blood work and he was in the hospital on Saturday for x-rays then back to us Sunday and Monday for goodbyes.

I can't really talk about it any more than that. It was so so so hard and I have been very very sad for several days. I haven't knit a stitch or looked at my sewing machine and can barely get a pan to the stove. Hopefully I'll snap out of this in a day or two... or a week... whatever. I'm going to go get some lunch now and try to think about happy things.

Rockin' Spicy Catfish!

I made some really good Catfish last night and I wanted to share.

1 lb catfish, cut into 1" strips

Marinade:
2 cups buttermilk
1 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
1 tsp chili powder
2 tsp Horseradish
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tbsp dijon mustard
Place all ingredients in a plastic zipper bag and squish around to combine, then add catfish and throw in the fridge for an hour or so

Using another zippered plastic bag, combine 1cup breadcrumbs 1/2 cup corn meal and 1 tbsp kosher salt, and mix to combine.

Add the catfish to the breading mixture, and just like shake n bake, shake it up to coat.

Heat 1-2 tbsp vegetable oil in a heavy skillet and add fish, don't crowd the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side and then place on a rack to cool and drain off excess oil. Serve with potatoes and ceasar salad, make extra.

What shoes?

So there's this color that i have been seeing in stores for fall. It looks kind of like this:

That picture is from Fashion Fabrics Club and the call it "Dark Taupe" which is as descriptive a name for this particular color as any, I suppose.

My question, if you purchase a dress, or suit or jacket in this color... what shoes would you wear? Surely not black, as Taupe is in the "brown" family... and despite what some people say, I still believe there are rules about such things. But a real chocolate brown? No... that would never do.

What do you, oh wonderfully fashionable person reading this blog, think? The only thing I can think of is maybe gold? But that's a little... loud for everyday wear. Red might work if you had something else that was red in the outfit, like a belt or scarf.

Do chime in.

Fun Times

So I went to my embroidery class on Thursday. It was scheduled to have four students, and one teacher, so five people total... two showed up (including me) and neither of us was the teacher.

After a half an hour Emily at Twisted said she had no idea where the teacher was (she had tried to reach her but couldn't) and she was really really sorry, and she rescheduled us for the next class plus gave us a 10 % off coupon. I felt bad for her because it's obviously not her fault that the teacher didn't show up. I just hope everything's okay.

So then I went shopping. I told myself I could get some Yarntini using my KnitWars gold pieces ($1 per piece of gold). I was chatting with Emily, debating between "Home" and "Cosmopolitan" for my yarn choice, and she was showing me the Schaefer that they got in just yesterday. Including the Schaefer Andrea. Oh goodness... it was so soft guys, and PRETTY... and well... I just couldn't resist. I bought the "Diane Fossey" colorway in greens to make something lacey for my mom for Christmas. I'm not going to say how much it was, but you can probably look it up pretty easily on your own.

*edited* So I was discussing with my mom what shawls she likes in my Victorian Lace Today book and when she pointed one out I said "and of course you want green" and she said "no, fuschia" My mother wears green... not fuschia... count on her to pull one out of left field like that but hey it's her shawl. I'm going to see if I can exchange my Diane Fossey this week.

Today I have passed on the knits! One of my coworkers brought her daughter in today and I taught her to knit, she brought two colors of acrylic yarn and size 15 plastic needles. I showed her the long tail cast on and how to make a knit stitch, I taught her neither continental nor english style but told her to hold the yarn in the way that it felt most comfortable. She naturally went for English, which seems normal for a child's (10 years old) level of dexterity.

Here's her little swatch of garter stitch (we haven't tried purling yet).

I'm very excited to be teaching the goodness. It was easier than I thought, I never thought I could teach someone to knit since I knit right to left (mirror knitting, for obstinate lefties) but as I showed her how to make a stitch I just reminded her that she would be using opposite hands and she did fine.

Some links that have entertained me:
Paris wants to reproduce, run and hide! (Details in October's Elle)
A rant about kids today and their flip-flops which I enjoyed
I want to make this dress... despite the knowledge, deep in my heart, that it would look like barf on me. Somebody shake some sense into me (Starting with "Alexis, you are neither 6 feet tall nor willowy, so stop it right now!" would probably help.)

I have good friends

So two of my good friends from my previous job came over last night for turkey burgers (I did not plate, mostly because one most fix one's burger the way one would like it) and wine and conversation. They also brought me birthday gifts because they are too kind.

Here is one of my gifts:

(you can't actually search inside, I just hotlinked from amazon... they make a lot of money, it's okay, don't worry about their servers)

And this is the other one:

Both of these books were on my Amazon.com wishlist, however, being the dork that I am I forgot that and I cooed over my gifts "oh my God! How did you know I wanted that one? I've been thinking of buying it myself!" my friend proceeded to roll their eyes and then it occured to me "oh... these were on my wishlist huh?" and we had a hardy laugh.

The moral of the story is, if you get me something from my wishlist because you aren't sure what to get me, then I'll just think you're very very clever and not realize that you are simply sneaky. Keep that in mind friends.

I would also like to send a big shout out to Mia for sending me a box of goodies! I was very remiss in thanking her earlier, because I am simply a bad interwebs friend. She sent me some really lovely ribbon yarn from her stash, as well as this very neat papery yarn and a couple other skeins that I think shall be quite useful for the CHRISTMAS KNITTING (which I am naturally pretending isn't there). Thanks Mia!

I also long-ago received my Sockapalooza socks but I haven't photo-ed them yet (I have worn them though) Weebug Knits sent me a terriffic pair of, I believe Trekking socks, along with some bath goodies, a couple great skeins of alpaca yarn, and a kit for a dishcloth, and other goodies that escape me at the moment. So much thanks! (P.S. that whole me thinking you were Midgeling thing... sorry!)

To plate or not to plate?

Thank you very much for your kind words. I am quite well and am sure that in a few weeks my little drama will have been downgraded from "red-alert catastrophe" to "minor inconvenience" I'm just dramatic like that.

Nothing to report knitting or sewing. I haven't felt well enough to hunch over a sewing machine (perhaps I should not hunch...) and my knitting continues as discussed, I am finishing the gusset of my second pair of Bearfoot socks and working on MS3, which looks far to much like yarn puke to photograph.

Tomorrow I take an Intro to Embroidery class at Twisted. I will be embroidering a tea towel with a pattern from Sublime Stitching the theme is "Swanky decor" which goes just great with my midcentury kitchen. I'll see if I can't capture some images of my embroidery efforts.

On to my query, when I make dinner for Joel and I to share I always plate our food on our two plates and bring the plates, sans extra servings to the table, either indoors or out, which has already been set with napkins and silverware.

This weekend I hosted a wee brunch for my friends and I set the table with plates and brough the food in serving trays to the table for everyone to dish as pleased them. I'm not sure why I did it differently, perhaps four people is my threshold for plate dishing? Maybe since I can easily carry two full plates to the table but must make two trips for four this seemed like the right way of doing things?

What say you? do you plate or do you bring food to the table? I suspect that especially with children it is wise to just fill your own plate, since they can be so picky and also hungry. Plus asking for things to be passed and the act of passing helps teach good manners doesn't it?

I'm curious, do respond.

3 things and some links

Okay... so I started a post yesterday that turned out sounding bitter and cruel... I'm going to try to be a bit more diplomatic and kind today.

*note: Yesterday, when I was bitching to my mother on the phone she said "so what are you going to have for dinner? I mean besides a kitten"

I replied "F*** kittens, I hate kittens" that was the kind of day I had.

We will take part in what a counselor I once had called a B.S. sandwich... *good thing, bad thing good thing repeat from *

1) I have made marvelous progress on my latest pair of socks.

Pattern: Plain stockinette with a German Heel (from Knitting Vintage Socks... Nancy Bush... natch) and a round toe (same).

Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot in "Mountain Tango" this yarn is so amazingly beautiful... every time I pick it up I'm just giddy to see what the next color will be. I love you yarn.

Progress: Just about to turn the heel on the second sock

2) The reason I have been so prolific... having just started these two weeks ago (besides that they are easy, and the yarn is a bit thick, worked with only 60 stitches) is that I was in a car accident last week and my car was totalled. I am now taking the bus.

Due to a variety of economic and environmental circumstances, I will not be getting a new car. Besides, no car could ever be what Doris the Taurus was to me.

I have been quite childish about the matter. Yesterday I said that I did not want to take the bus and my boyfriend, being ever so f---ing level headed responded "so ride your bike" to which I retorted "No! I don't wanna ride my bike, I want to drive Doris" and then I folded my arms over my chest and proceeded to pout. Because I am now 25 years old and it is well past time for me to act in such a dignified manner, don't you agree?

3) I have something mysterious and wonderful on the horizon which I cannot talk about. I'll give you a hint though...

It has nothing to do with knitting, but if it happens the way I'd like, then it would be totally awesome if I finished my MS3 before it begins. Here's some random person's finished Mystery Stole:

Mine will be in black... and is coming along famously thank you. No... I cannot recall right now how far along I am. Thanks for asking

(Thanks to Quietknitter for letting me swipe your really wonderful picture *kisses*)

I would like to leave you with a quote from "Miss Manners Guide to Excruciatingly Correct Behavior"

DEAR MISS MANNERS:

Who says there is a "right" way of doing things and a "wrong"?

GENTLE READER:

Miss Manners does, you want to make something of it?

Bonus!

I should really save this post for tomorrow since who knows if I'll have anything to talk about... but I don't care. I live on the edge!

The Interweave Knits Fall Preview is up. I'll definitely be purchasing a copy once it's available.

Here's some of my favorites... which I will probably knit someday.

And this one that I will not knit, but I like to look at anyway:

I believe that knit dresses should be approached with caution. As with knit skirts. Not that they cannot be cute or flattering, but odds are that you should probably say no if the urge strikes you to knit a dress. In case you're about to say "but _____ is really cute" I will remind you that knit dresses are, in fact, sweater dresses (usually) We all remember that time don't we? Does anyone really want to return to the era of the sweater dress? Don't answer that.

Okay... that's my knitting pr0n for today. Y'all come back now, y'hear?

Birthday Meme

So I didn't actually get tagged with this, but I saw it on Mia's blog and it looked like fun.

Here's the rules:
You go to Wikipedia and type in your birthday month and day only. Then post 3 events, 2 births and one holiday that occurred on your birthday, then tag 5 friends.

August 18:
Events:
293 BC The oldest known Roman temple to Venus was founded.
1920 AD The 19th ammendment was ratified
1958 Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita was published in the United States

Births:
1774 Meriwether Lewis
1904 Max Factor

Holidays:
Buhe (Ethipian orthodox)

I'm not tagging anyone, but I do hope if you participate you'll leave me a comment so I can go see :)

Be very very quiet...

We're hunting knits.




Aha... Caught one!




Stats:

Name: Sockapalooooza sock
Pattern: Kinda sorta Dublin Bay by Ryan Morrissey
Yarn: Lisa Souza Sock! in What A Melon
Needles: Crystal Palace DPNs size 1
Mods: Well... I didn't really follow the pattern at all... I just kind of looked at the picture and thought "hey... I can knit that" and so I did. The heel is slip stitch, the toe is the "French Toe" from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks

We'll see what else I can hunt down in the wilds of my craft room tomorrow.

When not knitting...

Well... knitting hasn't been non-existent. But it's been difficult to hunt the wild knits in their natural habitat to photograph them.

I thought I'd tell you about some of the other ways I've been recreating.

I read this on Saturday (and a little bit of Sunday):

No spoilers of course... but I'm really happy with how the series has closed. Although I wish it wasn't over *frown*

Also I have this checked out from the library:

It makes my brain tingle with the possibilities. It's a small quick read based on an article from Wired by the same name.

Maybe I'll get some knitting content soon... maybe not... I guess you'll have to wait and see. Is the suspense killing you? I thought so.

A Casserole (R)evolution

I've been experimenting with the classic tuna casserole. The classic dish is simple, complete, and when properly prepared, delicious; not to mention it freezes like a dream. I thought I'd share my results (because they are delicious) with you all.

So, to refresh your memories if you haven't had a tuna casserole since 1987 here's the premise, or "proto casserole" that I used as my jumping off point:

2 cans chunk light tuna

1 can peas

1 can cream of mushroom soup

3/4 cup cheese, shredded

1/2 lb cooked pasta like penne or farfalle

Combine in casserole dish (oddly enough) cover and bake on 350 (d) for 30 minutes.

Remove, let cool, devour.

what's awesome about this classic:

Easy Peasy, that's what's awesome. Aside from cooking the pasta there is nothing on the stovetop and assuming you can set the timer on your oven, it's pretty hard to screw up.

The downside:

SALT... cream of mushroom soup, at least the can that I had (Fred Meyer brand) has something like 800 mg of sodium, and that's not counting the cheese and the canned chunk light tuna that always tastes like a salt lick to me anyway.

Texture... I find canned peas about as appetizing as dog food really. They're gray and mushy, it's just unnatural. And the chunk light tuna basically disappears in the mixture so that you don't really get any solid bites of tuna.

Solution:

1) Come up with a subtitute for the cream of mushroom soup.

2) Use fresh vegetables

3) Don't use the canned chunk light tuna

After some experimentation, this is what I came up with:

Ingredients:
1 head chopped broccoli - blanched

2 cans Solid White Albacore Tuna

1/2 lb cooked pasta (like Farfalle or Penne, cooked al dente)

1/2 cup Mayo

1/2 cup low-fat sour cream

1/2 cup Buttermilk

2 eggs

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 cup cheese

Several crumbled crackers, like Saltines (a handful)

Preheat oven to 350. To a large skillet on medium heat add your desired form of cooking fat (butter, EVOO, Canola oil) add the tuna, broken up in bite size pieces, and broccoli. Cook just until heated through.

Add Mayo, Yogurt, Buttermilk, cook for a minute or two until hot, then add eggs, seasoning and half the cheese. Cook until thick and bubbly, a few minutes.

Remove from heat and pour into a casserole dish, add pasta and stir until combined. Sprinkle remaining cheese and the crackers over dish. Cover, bake for 30 minutes. Uncover for last 5 minutes to goo-ify the cheese on top.

Try it... it's good. And Gooey.

Yuck!

20 days since I've posted? What a slouch.

And probably a few more until I get a real post together.

In the mean-time, How many presidents can you name in 10 minutes?

I got 39... but I totally should have had 40... I'm just dumb. (goes without saying)

I *have* been knitting, and I've been sewing and cooking, just like usual. I just can't seem to force myself to stay indoors any longer than absolutely necesary to put a post together.

Some new (non-knitting) toys:

Fabric Depot has a 40% off sale this weekend... I am totally there. Any suggestions on fabric for my new babies?

New Discovery!

I have found something WONDERFUL. I'm probably the last person on the planet to find it, but I don't care.

Goodwill has an auction site. Did you know this? It's spectacular, much better deals than EBay (IMO) at least in my short perusing time. See I'm looking fora cast iron skillet. I had not yet been able to find one actually at the goodwills near me, so when searching the web (not working) I found the Goodwill Auction site.

It is a lot like a Goodwill store... there's no real search feature although items are categorized and sorted by auction end time, but you really have to "dig" to find stuff. There is yarn there peeps... among other crafty supplies.

I now have 4 bids and a bunch of watched items... I really need to put it away before I get crazy :)

The only downside is the shipping on larger items. Like this 68 piece dinnerware set currently going for $11 but weighs 82 pounds total. Too much to ship, unless you live in St Paul and can pick it up... that'd be awesome!

Anyways, go, have fun, waste time. Remember it's reduce REUSE then recycle.

P.S. I watched a great movie last night "Her Highness and the Bell Boy" 1945, Hedy Lamarr and June Allyson. if you like old movies you should watch it, it's adorable.

Imagine the Knitting!

I did something very awesome this weekend, but I didn't take pictures so I guess that means it didn't really happen?

I cast on for a practice run of what will be matching mittens for myself and two of my best friends as Christmas gifts (Yes, I'm starting Christmas knitting in June... on December 22 when I have everything done and wrapped and you're trying to build a time stretcher... we'll see who's laughing).

The knitted item is the Pirate Mittens from Hello Yarn. I'm making them with Knit Picks Telemark in Snow Leopard (background) and Aubergine (skulls). Thank god these are not on sale now because I would have just died. Although it's not like they use a lot of yarn so maybe I just shouldn't be such a cheapskate.

When I bought the yarn I thought the Snow Leopard was more blue than gray. I was wrong. It's a lovely pale gray... quite reminiscent of the sky at this moment (because you can all see my sky) It's a lovely color, but paired with the aubergine that make the mittens maroon and gray... my high school colors (Franklin Quakers!).

But the big news about these mittens is that they're my first stranded knitting project! Hurray! I have all but finished the first one (had to rip out the thumb... it was bad). They went super fast and I think I may be hooked on stranded colorwork... super happy fun time. They look great (IMHO of course)

I have so much stuff to take pictures of and upload, but I swear I'll do it... eventually. I did join a new knitalong yesterday. The "Mystery Stole 3" run by Melanie of Pink Lemon Twist. If you're interested check out her blog and then sign up on the Yahoo Group... signups close July 6 so HURRY.

P.S. boy is taking his LSATs today, right this second as a matter of fact, wish him luck. :)

Buster & Aspen's Meme

Midge tagged me for the 7 things Meme, which I already answered. However two other bloggers had their pets answer memes so Buster and Aspen asked if they could do a joint one. (Buster & Aspen refer to my mom as "Mom" and me as "girl")

Aspen:
1) Mommy & Girl got me from pet store when I was a baby 10 years ago. They say they wouldn't get another pet store dog because of all my health problems, but they still love me lot's which is nice because I get really sick sometimes and mom says stuff about $300 trips to the vet. I don't know what that means but she doesn't sound happy about it.

2) Some of my health problems include chronic ear infections, a torn knee (they fixed that but then mommy was yelling about $1200 for a stupid knee), fatty deposits, and last year I had a hematoma (I don't know what that is but it hurt) in my ear and had to have surgery and then I shook my head too much 'cause it was itchy and I tore the stitches.

3) I like going to the vet because they give me treats and tell me how pretty I am. Some dogs (I hear) don't like the vet. They must not be very pretty.

4) I like to be petted more than anything. People like to pet me, but sometimes they forget that they can, so I put my head under their hand to remind them that it's okay to pet me.

5) Sometimes we go to the beach and I think that's awesome. I can run in Tide Pools (Girl yells stuff about delicate ecosystems... whatever that is) and roll in dead things. I think dead things are the greatest thing to roll in. After we go to the beach I get really itchy though and I need a bath.

6) I liked it a lot when girl lived here because she would spend all day Sunday making special food for me because of all my allergies. She'd roast chicken and yams and green beans and turnips and carrots like my vet told her and I'd eat that all week. YUM! But girl doesn't live here anymore and mom is too busy to cook for us so now I eat prescription dog food from the vet. It's good... but I liked girl's food better.

7) Katz R Dum.

Buster:
1) My people adopted me from the Golden Retriever Rescue in Utah when I was 7 (2002 I'm told) The rescue place was okay, because it was on a farm, but I really liked coming to a forever home.

2) I am not a dog. I'm a rare wolf/bear hybrid and I'm very dangerous. My people think I'm a golden retriever. They're really stupid and don't even know what a wolf/bear hybrid looks like (they look like me). I was born in the wild and captured and raised like a dog.

3) When I lived in the wild I ate bacon a lot from the bacon bush. I tell my people this all the time and that they should give me bacon because it's my natural food but they don't listen to me.

4) I don't like children. I'll growl at them and might even try to nip them. Children make me really grumpy. The people keep children away from me and that's the way I like it. Children are stupid.

5) Sometimes I get grumpy if people get too close to my face and I'll growl. No one's really scared which pisses me off because they don't even know that I could tear their throat out (since I'm a wolf/bear hybrid).

6) My favorite thing to do is nap on the couch with my dad.

7) I think puppies are stupid.


As you can see Aspen & Buster are two pretty special dogs. Buster does have a bit of an attitude problem, but he's old so we let him get away with it.

And she's back

I'm back!

Friday was Grandma's service in Newport and it was beautiful. I didn't think I would cry because I had already done so much crying and I had been to the viewing earlier and cried a lot then and I was really just feeling unemotional. Then one of the hymns was "On Eagles' Wings" and I started bawling like a little baby (when you get to "take you to the breath of dawn"). Stupid songs.

Joel and I drove home late that night. I was a little tipsy from dinner so I slept some of the way. Saturday I went to the Portland Farmer's Market at PSU where I purchased some tasty sweet sugar snap peas, new carrots, asparagus, and some delicious Hood strawberries. They're a little tart so I think I'm going to mix them with pineapple for some pineapple-strawberry muffins. yummy! Saturday night I julienned the carrots and tossed them with the sugar snap peas with olive oil, blasamic, salt/pepper and crushed red pepper flakes. It was delish.

But the best part was the salad bowl. A large pot with six varieties of lettuce, I can't remember them all right now, but there was two types of romaine, two red leaf, Butter lettuce and regular Green Leaf. I set it in the full sun of our back porch and can't wait to have some tasty garden fresh salads.

Sunday I baked Banana Bread Muffins (using Alton Brown's recipe in I'm Just Here for More Food) and laid around the house like a bump on a log. It was great.

Now here I am back at work, back in the groove. I rode my bike again today and as usual it was great. I think this Friday I'll take some pictures on my way in so you can all see what I mean. 5 of my 7 mile ride to work are on a bike trail along the river, I see all sorts of herons and ducks and geese and stuff.

Anyways, that's all, I hope everyone had a great weekend. See ya tomorrow.

In Memory

Margaret Timms Franklin Saety

July 17, 1927 - May 27, 2007

Grandma, not a sweet grandmother in the traditional cookie baking sugar giving, spoiling rotten sense. But a woman who loved constantly.

Besides her children, and grandchildren she also loved;

Music - playing the piano, seeing the opera and the symphony

Ballet

Shoes - dozens of pairs, especially red ones, oh if only she didn't have such tiny feet.

She is survived by her sister Imogene, daughter & son-in-law Barbara & Kerry, son Don, grandaughter Alexis and grandson Jason.

If you have a second to think a nice thought about a really topnotch ladt today, please do.

I can sew! (50th post woohoo!)

Joel's grandma gave me her old sewing machine.

It's not very fancy, it can't do zig-zag stitch or button-holes or any of the cool stuff that even an inexpensive modern machine can do. *but* it is exceptionally cool looking (that counts right?) it was so sweet of Joel's grandma to give it to me, and it was *free* which is my favorite price. I moved it into the craft room last night. Hopefully when I go home today (I'm at mom's right now) I'll get some sewing done.

Like most things in Joel's family the machine has been exceptionally well cared for and it runs like a dream.

I'm just happy that all my belly-aching paid off this time. The funny thing is that I don't think I even mentioned to Joel how much I wanted one. I may have said something in passing but as he doesn't really understand my drive to craft and create, I usually don't tell him stuff like that.

Maybe I was just sending "get me a sewing machine" vibes into the universe... it's The Secret! It works! hehe



In honor of this being my 50th post I decided that what I really needed was a kitten heel red patent leather shoe. How else do you celebrate 50 posts I ask you? So I went to target.com and purchased this:
psst... click on the picture to get yourself a pair

Okay so I didn't really buy them because of 50 posts... but it sounded good right? I bought them because they remind me of my grandma (grandma loves red shoes) and I thought they'd look nice with my navy dress... even if red shoes are played out.

I will do something in honor of the 50th post though... I'll have a CONTEST.

It's easy, leave me a comment (say something nice... or maybe neutral) and I'll use one of them thar random number generators thingies to pick a name. I'll send you some yarn. Because I love you. Good yarn too.

I guess we'll say leave a comment by 5:00 pm Pacific time on Tuesday. Thanks.

Purchases!

I went shopping yesterday. I bought some Soak Citrus (I love the Soak woolwash, you should try it)

I also bought some Cider Moon yarn from Sheri @ The Loopy Ewe. It's Icicle - Taos, but it's all gone now, haha.

And some of the Lane Borgosesia laceweight (also from Sheri) in Black... to make a shawl to go with my dress to wear to Carmen this fall. maybe I should start that once it arrives huh? I'm still debating what pattern... more on that later.

So after I spent $50 at Sheri's I strolled on over to Knit Picks where I purchased 6 skeins of Telemark (3 Snow Leopard and 3 Aubergine) to make 3 pairs of of Pirate Mittens (arrgh!) for myself and my 2 homegirls. Rather than putting the year I will put "Lex" "Sha" and "Jess" on the palm of everyone's respective mittens. Clearly this yarn does not count since it was purchased for gift making.

Ditto for the 11 skeins of Wool of The Andes (Grass and Chestnut) purchased for felted clog making (a pair for my mom and a pair for Joel... say it with me now *awww*) I was going to do a contrasting sole on them, but then I decided to put leather soles on.

Then I bought Victorian Lace Today from which I hope to find a shawl to make for Carmen.