Friday, December 30, 2005

Felt gone bad

monster feet

I went to felt the last damn pair of felted clogs that I was ever going to do. When Mr Yarn heard screams coming from the basement it was just me taking this last pair of clogs out. What is with this? I did the exact same thing that I did to the others. I swear that someone is playing an evil trick on me. So what does this mean? I have to start knitting fast before Tim and Annie come home. These were for Tim.

Stupid shrek feet.

Thursday, December 29, 2005

New Shoes

You know I have a thing for shoes and boots. Well so does my family. My brother and his family bought me these new clogs for Xmas

new shoes

I love them.

Wednesday, December 28, 2005

Stuff

Paper Sheep

Last update on Mr. Sheep. I believe that he will collapse under his own weight.

I have been knitting and just to prove it I have some pictures.

Tims Slippers

The last of the slippers are done. I just have to felt these and then sew on the soles. These are Tims slippers and all others are finished.

I worked on the Jade Starmore sweater last night and realized that it is coming along. The picture does it no justice but it is really beautiful.

Jade Starmore sweater


Mr Yarn gave me another kit for Xmas so I better get knitting. He gave me Medieval Tapestry. I am doing the color scheme on the right.

medievaltap

I also finished the second pair of beaded cuffs I was doing at the shop and I am almost (ok, 1 and 1/4 sleeve left) done with Peters sweater. I will bring it home for pictures.

Tuesday, December 27, 2005

Weird sheep

Linda (hi Linda!) gave me the coolest hair growing paper sheep for Xmas

IMG_1199

I am a bit paper folding challenged so Mr Yarn had to try to help me. Of course I kept slapping his hand away so he watched me build the mutant sheep and just smiled (he is nice). So, after the sheep started to grow hair (like in an hour or two) it looked like this:

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A little of the hair fell off and the sheep is a bit cockeyed but I love it all the same. I woke up this morning and the sheep looked like THIS:

IMG_1207

So, I will keep you posted on the sheep. I just hope that Mr Yarn and I don't develop that mystery disease that comes from mold.

Saturday, December 24, 2005

Happy everything!

It is Xmas Eve and I just wanna say Happy Everything. May you have peace and love and all good things.

Thursday, December 22, 2005

This Xmas stuff isn't SO bad...

cool croc?

Monte and Peter bought me this vintage purse for Xmas. It is in perfect condition and they knew that I kept bidding on ebay but never got one. Inside the purse is the original stuff that came with it.

inside purse

It is a coin purse and a mirror.

Lori gave me something that I whined about all year. I always whine that I want new PJ's. Not only did she get me some in the size that I said I wanted (XTRA large) but they are beautiful as well.

New pj's

(yeah, an arm shot is always so sexy).

Then there was Auban's gifts. A beautiful set of rosewood knitting needles (I love you Aubie).

rosewood knitting needles

These needles will be my favorites forever.

Auban also bought me the lego toy that I wanted when I saw it online

new toys

I really wanted the little cats.

You are asking why I opened these already? Well, I swear that the people that gave them to me wanted me to. Shut up, they did. I changed my mind. I love Xmas.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Xmas dog

xmas dog

Hey, Lily just wanted to say "Happy Holidays". She isn't sure if that is ok or if she should say Merry Xmas. You see Nico in the background running away? She is no fool. Notice that Jasmine (yes, I have another cat) doesn't ever seem to be around? She usually is unless you want her to be.

Nico did come back for a head shot.

kitty

That was after pulling all the ornaments off the Xmas tree and batting them around. She thinks she is so smart.

Tuesday, December 20, 2005

Public Service

I found this on the internet. Mr Yarn and I bought stuff at Cost Plus where you just add wine, but lets all try this one out.


GLUGG
Ingredients:

1 liter of "wine" (red port, tawny port, or red wine)
1 liter of "spirits" (vodka, aquavit, or equiv.)
1.5 liter of water
.5 liter of "sugar" (caramel, brown sugar or plain sugar)

[I use California Red "Port" for the wine, Smirnoff Vodka for the
spirits, and white cane sugar]

Spices:

peel of one half orange, torn into pieces
approx. 16 cm of cinnamon stick (bark), broken into several pieces
8 green cardamom pods
3 tsp. sliced almonds
16 whole cloves
handful of raisins
8 whole allspice

Procedure:

In a 4 liter saucepan, bring the water to a small boil, add sugar.

When sugar is dissolved, add spices and continue at a small boil
for about 15 minutes.

Mix in liter of wine. Mix in liter of spirits.

Turn burner down to low, cover saucepan, and simmer for 15 minutes.

Turn off burner, and let steep for 2-3 hours.

Strain off spices and bottle. Spices can be reused *once*.

How to drink:

Warm gl|gg in saucepan. Do not boil. Serve in warmed glasses
with a couple raisins (and/or slivered almonds).

Monday, December 19, 2005

The time has come

Time to wrap

It is time to wrap gifts. Have I ever told you how much I hate wrapping gifts? I stink at it. Well, there is no more time to put it off because this is the only chance I have with no one around to do it.

On another grumpy note

more slippers

If I never make another pair of these slippers it will be fine with me. I only have one more pair to go.

So how are all of you staying so calm?

Friday, December 16, 2005

Friday

wrap

It is friday. I haven't shipped out Xmas gifts yet. I haven't even sent my sister her birthday gift (which was Dec 1st). I haven't wrapped anything. I haven't bought stocking stuffers yet. I think I am going to go back to being Jewish.

Thursday, December 15, 2005

The dog

the dog

You know Lily fills in for me when I have nothing to say. I guess that is where I am. I have nothing to say. I haven't been leading the fullest life with working 11 hours a day. I will be back to "normal" again soon. Just give me until January. Then there will be no stopping the wild and wacky stories. Yeah...

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

Yes, I do knit

cuffs

I am making these beaded cuffs out of a Japanese knitting book that I got at "Lacis". I think they came out great. I really can knit you know. I am going to wear these to the dreaded "Mr Yarn" work Xmas party. You know how much I love dressing up. So there are things I have put down to make this. In the wings are one pair of felted clogs to felt, one pair of clogs to finish, Peter's sweater, and of course the Jade Starmore (Zuberflote, did I spell it right?). I also bought more yarn and beads to make another pair of less fancy cuffs to wear every day.

I better keep knitting.

Tuesday, December 13, 2005

I did it!

Xmas tree

I actually got a Xmas tree and Mr Yarn and I put it up and decorated. I didn't think that it was going to happen this year because frankly I am feeling poopy about the holidays. It helped to cheer things up. I love the smell and how it looks with all the little electricity burners flashing.

Friday, December 09, 2005

I know that you care

IMG_1165

The burl is thriving. I can't believe that this one is still going. Could be because I actually water it and feel responsible to keep it alive. So it is looking like a little Avenue of the Giants. See Hulk Hogan for scale below

IMG_1168

So, I didn't kill the plant (yet). I am feeling pretty damn good about myself. Mr Yarn doesn't think that it is so cool that I warped the TV stand because I put the plant on there and it is wet, but I can't be good at everything.

Thursday, December 08, 2005

Ho...

Xmas

I don't know what it is, but it just doesn't feel like the holiday season. It doesn't feel like Xmas is coming up. I mean I have all the usual stuff in place but nothing seems to spell holiday. I started thinking that it could be because I don't work in a corporate environment anymore. I mean if I don't do all the holiday cheer it just isn't going to be there. I am not going to have a Xmas lunch because it is only me and Auban. Auban probably would think I went nuts. Then again, we could go to the "Lost Weekend" for a drink. Hey, yeah! Maybe that is what I will do. I will make Auban go drink with me so that we can feel like we have gotten into the Xmas spirit.

Is it just me?

Wednesday, December 07, 2005

Birthday gift

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My sis wanted these for her birthday. I am late. Her birthday was December 1st. I love these felted clogs, but they won't dry. They have been drying for three days now. Maybe I should put them in the oven ...just jokin.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

Mr. Yarn you are in trouble

Oh like he will even read this! Mr Yarn is wonderful, don't get me wrong, but he has this annoying habit of unplugging whatever *I* have plugged into the wall and putting his own crap there. That would be ok if he replugged my crap in but he doesn't. So, I have no pictures to show today because all the batteries to the camera are dead.

I finished 2 pairs of felted clogs (one pair is felted the other needs to be) and I have one pair more to knit. So, I will show pictures tomorrow after I have a "talk" with Mr Yarn.

Monday, December 05, 2005

Whine!

wine

We went wine tasting with Annie and Tim yesterday. We had a blast but really only went to one winery. Ok, I didn't need more wine and it was only one winery because the guy kept pouring and we kept drinking. At least it was my favorite winery "Meekers". We did stagger nextdoor to "Locals" to buy a case of Viognier and to pick up our club picks. Ok, yeah, I did need more wine.

Today I am sick and feel like my throat is sloughing off. I think I am going to go back to bed.

Friday, December 02, 2005

Blog babble

Nico

I thought that once in a while I should show the cats. Evan took this picture of Nico on Thanksgiving. It is actually very cute. I figure that since I had nothing to show a picture of the cat was as a good filler. Nico is a brat.

Knitting stuff : I finished Annie's green poncho. I finshed one clog and I am about done with the second, and I have the back of Peters sweater done and almost half of the front. Not bad.

Thursday, December 01, 2005

BBM3

IMG_1157

I was in a foodie secret pal group. This is what my secret pal sent me. Thanks, Andrea!! I got all kinds of Philly junk food. Tastycakes galore, and lots of other incredible stuff. Andrea made me macaroons (my favorite) and sent me a recipe for lamb stew.

My favorite part is

IMG_1158

they are little fish shape bottles. I am not sure what you put in them but I love stuff like this.

Come over for dinner Andrea!!

Hold the presses...
I just got this email from Andrea and it explains the contents better than I could

"Janis,

I'm so glad you liked the treats! Each of those snacks is a regional speciality. The chips are from Herr's, which is an old school Pennsylvania company to the extreme. They use twice as much flavoring in their chips as I've ever seen anywhere else. They even make an "Old Fashioned" potato chip fried in lard. I sent two packages of the barbeque because they're my absolute favorite. The Thin Mints are a Haviland product; I'm not sure they're available out west, but they're like the ultimate after dinner mint. Like Andes, but thicker and more chocolatey. The Tasty Cake is a Philadelphia obsession. They come in about a billion flavors; I tried to pick the ones without weird pink coconut for you. And, of course, Isgros cakes. Of all the bakeries I've been to (I split my time between New York and Philadelphia), Isgros is the best hands down. It's a tiny little shop right outside the Italian Market in south Philly. They make everything by hand, as they have for the past 100 years. And their cakes are amazing! I included plain and chocolate yogurt pound cake in your package.

The biggest holidays at my house were always birthdays, so all your goodies are junk food snacks. And my boyfriend's favorite cookies of all time are the almond macaroons -- he always gets a big batch on his birthday. The little plastic squeeze bottles are just kind of cute -- and if you ever take bento boxes to work for lunch, they're miraculous for their soy sauce toting abilities!

Enjoy!

Andrea"

Wednesday, November 30, 2005

Kick it up

Magic slipper

I am making these felted clogs (Fiber Trends) for my sister for her birthday. She saw mine and said that is what she wants. Now I see why everyone was knitting these. They are a blast to knit. Other than that I feel like I am knitting in my sleep. I just haven't had enough down time. Now the busy season is here and I also have gifts to do.

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

More knitting

poncho

This is the poncho that I am making Annie. It is a kit from Fleece Artist. I finished it once and had to rip out the entire thing because it was way too wide and short. I cast on less stitches and I think it will work this time. I love the color.

Hey, I forgot to tell you this but I pawned off the sweaters that I didn't want on my sister and mom. They loved them all so much that I knew that they were going to a good home. I even pawned one off that wasn't sewn up yet on my mother and she will finish it. I feel cleansed. I can start a bunch more projects that I will never wear. I found two enablers!!!

Monday, November 28, 2005

Wiped out

Doggy is done

This is how I feel. Mom is still here and goes home today. I am pooped. Haven't been doing much of anything other than working at the shop and cooking for groups of people. The house looks like someone dropped a wrecking ball on it. I hope that everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Funny how having the whole family around makes the dynamics go back to when you are about six years old. Ok, on to Xmas.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Lights

new lights

The lights in our backyard are almost all in. See the tiny thing to the right of the picture? Those are the new copper lights. The others are up in trees and you can't see them. We will have light for Thanksgiving. The weather is so good that we could probably eat out there but we won't. I want to pretend that it is cold and November like. Hell, if I had a fireplace I might even put it on just to make myself feel better.

So, tomorrow is the day that people start arriving from my family. Mom comes tomorrow and Wen is my sis and her family and Evan. I won't be blogging for the next few days. So, Happy Thanksgiving and have a wonderful time.

Friday, November 18, 2005

No news is good news?

Lily

So I don't have any news of any kind. This is why you get to look at Lily. I have the day off today and I really don't feel like thinking of anything clever. Like I ever do...

Thursday, November 17, 2005

Back to knitting

IMG_1128

So the sweater IS growing. It feels like it just inches along (because it does just inch along) but I am getting into it. I have other stuff going at work and I will take pictures and show tomorrow. Tomorrow I am going to Circque D' Soleil. I am not one to knit in public so the knitting will inch even slower.

I got my haircut yesterday. Annie said it was cute. Mr Yarn said I look like Pat Benatar. I say I look like I got electroshock treatment.

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

So I was so wrong

I apologize for speaking too soon. I have to say the Stones were amazing. Yes, Mick is old, but I have never seen so much energy in all my life. Not only that but since he started out so damn ugly he really hasn't aged. He looks the same. Not only that but any guy that can move like that at his age is ok in my book. I never had that much energy in my life. It also didn't hurt that we were sitting on the floor in section 14 and we were in 400.00 seats. The stage and the whole show was probably one of the best concerts I have ever seen (and I have seen LOTS of concerts).

Best part was when they sang "Sympathy for the Devil" I felt like I was back in time.

me

Ok, and I do dance like a white girl...

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

It's only rock n' roll

DN PERRY STONES17 BOYARS LD 6

Guess what? I am going to the Stones concert tonight. Shut up, I AM. I don't even want to go but I will be damned if I miss history. I will then be able to say that I saw the Stones and Paul McCartney before I died.

Ok, I will try to not embarass Annie and I won't try to dance.

Monday, November 14, 2005

Homey

Cranberry

I decided to can some chutney. I haven't canned anything since I moved from San Jose and all the fruit trees. I think I miss doing it. It is a lot of fun. This is a cranberry chutney that is spicy and GREAT! Here is the recipe:

From NPR article
Susan Stamberg calls this recipe "my truly favorite cranberry side dish." It's from Madhur Jaffrey's cookbook East/West Menus for Family and Friends (Harper & Row, 1987).

Garlicky Cranberry Chutney

Susan Stamberg calls this recipe "my truly favorite cranberry side dish." It's from Madhur Jaffrey's cookbook East/West Menus for Family and Friends (Harper & Row, 1987).

1-inch piece fresh ginger

3 cloves finely chopped garlic

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar

4 tablespoons sugar

1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

l-pound can cranberry sauce with berries

1/2 teaspoon salt (or less)

ground black pepper

Cut ginger into paperthin slices, stack them together and cut into really thin slivers.

Combine ginger, garlic, vinegar, sugar and cayenne in a small pot. Bring to a simmer, simmer on medium flame about 15 minutes or until there are about four tablespoons of liquid left.

Add can of cranberry sauce, salt and pepper. Mix and bring to a simmer. Lumps are ok. Simmer on a gentle heat for about 10 minutes.

Cool, store and refrigerate. ("It will keep for several days, if you don't finish it all after first taste!")

Friday, November 11, 2005

No name sweater

cable

This is the sweater that I am working on at the shop. Comes from the Holiday knits book. It is going fast and is fun to knit. I LOVE the Donegal Tweed by Tahki that I am knitting it out of.

It is Friday. One more day and I finally will have two days in a row off. Guess what I am going to do? Yup. I am going to knit and sit around. Of course I always say that and it never actually happens.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

You waited for this?

Z
So I got the camera to download (battery crisis is over) and I ended up with this substandard picture of a really beautiful sweater. Double click on it for more detail, but as it evolves you will see better photos.

So, nothing is really happening other than life is just too hectic these days. Seems that I never get to go home and just be a vegetable anymore. I miss my house. Lily is starting to not know who I am. Mr Yarn gives me a look like he might have forgotten too. The cats? they always acted that way.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Pffft

I did recharge the batteries to the camera last night but I simply forgot to plug in the charger. Ok, I will be the first to admit that I am losing it. So, you will have to wait to see the sweaters that I started (one at work the other here at home). The Jade Starmore sweater Zauberflöte is fun to do and is already beautiful. Alright, I only did about 10 rows but I can see it already. I will show you tomorrow. I swear.

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

I am a bore

The batteries died. I forgot to recharge the other ones. No pictures today and really not much to say. I am grumpy. I only had one day off this week and I am tired. So, I have nothing to amuse you with. Oh, wait...maybe this will do.

yarn

Yarn!

Monday, November 07, 2005

Lots of knitting

Well the sale was yesterday and I am pooped. The "Mohair Madness" sale went ok. I found out that I am more wild for mohair than most others. So, it was only an ok sale.

IMG_1117

I did finish the Karabella shawl. I didn't use Karabella Gossamer as called for. I used none other than Kid Silk Haze. I like how it turned out and it was a fun knit. I am now moving on to the cable sweater in Holiday Knits. Here it is (bad picture)

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I am making this out of Donegal Tweed by Tahki.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Happy Anniversary

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After all the times I probably embarassed you I doubt you read here but just in case you do:

Happy Anniversary, sweetheart!

It is Mr Yarn's and my fifth anniversary. I am the luckiest person in the world to have found him. I can't believe that there is another human on the planet that can put up with my crap.

Thanks Rich. I love you.

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Baa Humbug

Pooping sheep

Molly brought me a toy last night! It is a pooping sheep that poops Jelly Bellys. It only poops the cola and the butterscotch ones (for the sake of looking realistic you know). I love this toy. It amuses me to no end.

I started a new sweater that I will have to bring home to take a picture of. It is out of the Handknit Holidays by Melanie Falick and Susan Pittard. This book is great! I am also knitting a shawl from a Karabella pattern. I am not doing it out of Gossamer, I am doing it out of kidsilk haze. I will take a picture later and show you that too.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

The trash man is LOUD

Trash

I have never lived anywhere in my life that I was woken up by the trash man. I don't mean the dog barking at the trash man, I mean the trash man himself. He makes my life miserable. He yells to the other trash men, he plays his music so loud (are they allowed to do that?) that it is loud for ME and I am nowhere near it. If it were just the banging of trashcans I would say that he couldn't help it, but the stuff that is loud he can help. He wakes me up every wednesday and then I feel grumpy.

So if you come into the shop today and I grunt, you know why.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Its over

Frank

Another halloween gone. Damn, you would think that every child on the planet came to our door last night. They were all really cute and it was fun giving out candy.

On another note...

another birch

Here is the second Birch. This one is going WAY faster than the first one. I must have caught on (about time).

Monday, October 31, 2005

Knitting Day

Mo Jacket

This is the Mo Jacket by Fleece Artist that I am making for the shop. It is wonderfully soft mohair and really easy to knit up. I am really liking knitting on this.

Today is Halloween. It is my day off so I am going to sit around and (what else?) knit. I also want to cook up a spooky stew for Mr Yarn. He worked at the shop yesterday and it was really busy. I think it freaked him out. He did a great job though.