Knit Together

Integration

2008-06-05T16:40:00.001-07:00

I really live at a different blog, and now that I'm a mom I've decided to integrate all my facets into that blog. I will no longer be writing about knitting or domestic arts here. Instead, all of my projects and other bits of my life will be recorded at my main blog.

Please update your links to reflect this. It is called A Mindful Life, and the url is http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/.

Nearly all the posts from this blog (minus the quizzes) and the resources in the sidebar have been transferred there, and the blog roll followed too.

I hope you will join me over there!

(If you read this via an RSS feed, here is the new one to use: http://www.kathrynpetroharper.com/mindfullife/feed/)

That Giant Sucking Sound

2008-05-29T21:12:00.000-07:00

That sound you hear is me being whisked into the world of Ravelry. It is teh awesome!

Slubby Stash Yarn

2008-05-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

2 balls of Aurora yarn, 62% Nylon, 31% Wool, 7% Acrylic; 49 yards per ball, colorway 203, on size 13 needles. I may donate this.

Claire's Pillow

2008-05-19T23:27:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in the last post, here's a photo!

New Project

2008-05-18T21:05:00.000-07:00

Claire is fascinated by buttons. I inherited a collection from my mother. I bought an ugly pillow (on clearance for $1.50 from Linens n Things) and scrounged a discarded black shirt from my husband. I'm cutting and sewing the fabric to fit the pillow; then I'll sew a bunch of buttons on it, and then I'll stuff the pillow into the cover. Voila! For almost no money, a new toy! When it's done, I'll take a photo of it.

Working Through The Stash

2008-05-18T08:07:00.001-07:00

I inherited some odd bits of yarn when a relative decided she isn't a knitter. The amounts are small, so I'm making the usual (scarves!).

This was made with 2 balls of Lion Brand Incredible yarn, 100% nylon, 110 yards per ball; colorway 208, on size 13 needles. It's going to be donated as a prize for a charity function.

Eight Months

2008-05-08T20:46:00.001-07:00

Claire is 8 months old today! She's a beautiful child, a light spirit, inquisitive and active. Very social, loves people. She is almost crawling; she's been rolling, pivoting, and commando crawling all over the place.

It Is What It Is

2008-05-08T20:42:00.000-07:00

I inherited a little bit of Crystal Palace Musique. Not enough to make a "summer shawl," so I made a lightweight blanket for Claire to use in the summer when it's chilly around the edges.
3 balls of Crystal Palace Musique, 45% acrylic, 40% wool, 15% cotton; 65 yds/50 gram skein, size 19 needles.

Repurposed

2008-05-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

I originally knit a baby hat and an adult hat. Decided to see if they'd felt and firm up well, even though it wasn't bulky yarn. It was good ol' Cascade 220 on size 8 needles. I used starch to help firm them up a bit. They are now small felted bowls! These will be donated to a non-profit event as a prize for a raffle.

[cross-posted at A Mindful Life]

??

2008-04-04T12:11:00.000-07:00

You Are a Question Mark

You seek knowledge and insight in every form possible. You love learning.

And while you know a lot, you don't act like a know it all. You're open to learning you're wrong.

You ask a lot of questions, collect a lot of data, and always dig deep to find out more.

You're naturally curious and inquisitive. You jump to ask a question when the opportunity arises.

Your friends see you as interesting, insightful, and thought provoking.

(But they're not always up for the intense inquisitions that you love!)

You excel in: Higher education

You get along best with: The Comma

What Punctuation Mark Are You?

via Eden the Comma

At Last, A Finished Object

2008-03-30T11:12:00.000-07:00

Knitting hasn't exactly been a priority in the past half a year. However, I finally finished something.
Two balls of Rowan Cashsoft DK (142 yards), colorway SH510, lot10N4 on size 8 needles

My Child. Let Me Show You Her.

2008-01-03T21:18:00.000-08:00

This is why there aren't many posts in recent months. Claire will be four months old January 8. I earn my keep 'round here these days.

I did knit one thing, a scarf, as a gift for the holiday, but I forgot to take a photo of it before sending it off. Ah well.

Now tell me, isn't she the most beautiful girl you've ever seen? (No bias here!)

If I Bring It

2007-11-21T13:15:00.000-08:00

Long ago when I started baking, I decided to make it a point of pride to learn how to make pie crust from scratch. My crusts never come out perfectly, but they do the job well enough. However, I have never had a massive failure -- that is to say, I've never had dough that was too flaky, gooey, or dry to handle. I've always managed to get it rolled out large enough to cover the pan and topping (if it's a two-crust pie) with enough to crimp the edges. You know, a proper pie crust.

Today I experienced pie crust structural failure. I made the dough last night and refrigerated it. Perhaps I measured the ingredients incorrectly. (Although how can you mess up something that's made from flour, salt, shortening, and water?) I rolled out the bottom and barely got it into the pan. I patched the broken spaces. Then I tried to roll the top. Ugh. Flakes everywhere. It fell apart under pressure. I tried briefly warming the dough in the microwave, thinking the shortening might soften up. It actually started to cook the dough. In the end, I decided to stop fiddling and just deal with what was in front of me. I didn't have the energy or heart to make more dough. I still have stuffing to make.

So I decided to plop the partial top crust onto the apples and call it avante garde apple pie. My friend (who's hosting a bunch of us) had stopped by to watch Claire while I prepped, and he said it'll taste good anyway. Apples and sugar and spice. What's not to like? He made me promise to bring it. Do you think if I bring it, they will eat?
[cross-posted at A Mindful Life]

Daily Shower Cleaner

2007-10-14T07:45:00.001-07:00

I hate cleaning. I especially hate cleaning the shower (it's huge). Yet nothing is more gross than showering in a scum-filled, mildew-ridden cubicle. The point is to get clean there, right?

I use a daily shower spray to help, and it really does work. But damn, I go through a lot, and the refills aren't cheap. I found a recipe to make my own that works.

Mix together and put into a spray bottle:

One-half cup of hydrogen peroxide
One-half cup of rubbing alcohol
Six drops of grease cutting dishwashing liquid
Two teaspoons of liquid spot-free dishwasher rinse
Twenty-four ounces of water

Use daily.

Here's Hoping I Passed It Along

2007-10-14T07:41:00.000-07:00

Silly quiz. It's what I've got brain capacity for at the moment...
Am-I-Dumb.com - Intelligence Test

Adjusting

2007-10-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Still here! Claire is three weeks old now and growing fast.

Time doesn't allow for multiple blogs, so if you'd like to know what's up in my life (and not just knitting or cooking which are nonexistent right now), pop on over to A Mindful Life.

I'm Officially a Mother!

2007-09-08T03:09:00.000-07:00

My daughter was born!

Claire Georgia Harper
Date: September 8, 2007
Time: 12:49 a.m. PDT
Weight: 7 lb, 1 oz.
Length: 20 in

At this time I don't intend to publish photos of my child on the blog for the whole world. However, I will upload photos to my Flickr account, which is http://www.flickr.com/photos/mindfulone/. Photos of my babe will be given a designation so that only friends and family can see them. This means you need to:

create a free account on Flickr if you haven't already;
designate me as a contact by going to my profile and in the upper right corner, clicking "add Mindful One as a contact";
which triggers an email notifying me, and then I'll make you a contact with the correct status. It might take me a couple days to get to the email, so please be patient.

Such an amazing miracle this is!

(note: This is being published by her friend Mark. Just wanted to note that Baby, Mother and Father are tired, but healthy and headed to sleep after a long day. We wish them a quick recovery and sweet dreams!)

Still Waiting

2007-09-06T21:56:00.000-07:00

For anyone curious about what's up with the baby, you can read about it here (my other blog).

Once she's born, I've got a post ready that a friend will publish with particulars.

Tick Tock

2007-08-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

No baby yet. She's late! Have I been stood up?

It's been in the low 90s. We have no air conditioning at home. Our roof is being replaced, which has required keeping windows closed during the day to fend off debris and dust.

I've been sick with a bad head cold for the past five days. I've become a mouth-breather. I cough like I have emphysema.

I'm enormously swollen. I'm very tired of being pregnant.

Soon, soon. An induction has been scheduled for September 6.

A Heart of Scone

2007-08-15T23:10:00.000-07:00

American scones that I have typically enjoyed are triangular in shape and sweet. Usually when I meet a friend at a café I buy one. Since I'm staying home more now, though, friends are coming to visit me, and I like to offer them a goody. This recipe makes a simple, sweet scone that bakes up firm but not hard; it is soft to chew and not overly sweet, so it's good with coffee or tea.

Simple Scones
2.5 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
8 Tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut up
1/2 cup granulated white sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2/3 cup milk (whole or 2% is best)
Ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 425F. Put flour, baking powder and salt into a large bowl; mix well with a spoon. Add the butter pieces and cut in with a pastry blender or rub with your fingers until the mixture looks like fine granules. (I start with a pastry blender but usually switch to fingers to really work it in.) Add sugar and mix. Mix vanilla and milk together in a measuring up. Add the milk to the bowl and stir with a fork until dough forms. Using your hands, form the dough into a ball. On a large cutting board or flat surface, pat the ball into a 6-7 inch circle. Cut the circle into 8 triangular pieces. Place the wedges on an ungreased cookie sheet, slightly apart for crisp sides, touching for soft. Sprinkle white sugar and ground cinnamon on each scone. Bake about 12-14 minutes or until light brown on top. Makes 8 scones.

Kit Knit

2007-08-15T19:06:00.000-07:00

My stiff, swollen fingers and tingly hands completed a very basic project: a blankie for Stella. My true intention is to protect furniture from her hairball eruptions and general shedding. But oh, how she loves this! I put it on the chair last night and she kneaded it for half an hour. I'm content to have made it, and she's content to have it. Stella is the perfection of contentment. Now I need to figure out what to do with myself until the baby comes. Don't want to overdo the wrist stress.
3 skeins of Lion Brand Thick n Quick, color Spice, on size 11 needles.

WaitWeighting

2007-08-09T17:18:00.000-07:00

I'm 37.5 weeks pregnant and feeling the doldrums that result from being heavy, bulky, itchy all over, and hot. My doctor's visit today revealed no change from last week's visit. I believe this little one will probably end up being a September baby. Her due date is August 27, but I think she takes after her father, who is not so schedule-oriented as I.

Reading doesn't appeal. I've run out of steam for drawing and collaging, though I did have a surge of that in July. I had not knit in three months because of the pregnancy carpal tunnel, but the other night I became desperate. Since the cat barfed on the furniture recently, I decided to use fat yarn and needles to knit a blanket to put on the chair for her. That way I can easily clean up whatever ends up there. My husband says my mood has improved dramatically since knitting again. My hands still tingle (but they do almost all the time anyway), but there's not pain or numbness. I'll take breaks so as not to overdo it.

The warm afternoons make me queasy and sleepy; my best time of day is between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m. It's time for a nap! Get sleep while I can, right?

Please Help

2007-07-12T09:26:00.000-07:00

This post has been updated; see below for new information.

Liora is a blogging friend of mine. Recently she discovered a lump in her breast; the biopsy indicated it was cancer. This post describes just how aggressive the cancer is. The news is not good. To make matters worse, she's had a hell of a time getting responses in timely manner from caregivers. After a disastrous first encounter with a rather "out there" doctor she found a good oncologist -- but there have been snafus along the way as well, such as being told he'd start her on chemo a week after the surgery, only to learn on that week from the receptionist that he went on a long-planned two-week vacation and oh, by the way, forgot to tell her. Moreover, Liora is single, and like many folks, has a small social circle. Family lives far away. She's been coping with all this pretty much on her own. One reason her situation resonates with me is that she is only 39; I had a scare with a couple cysts when I turned 40, and it could easily be me in this situation. My heart aches for her.

The recent news about her prognosis has made her aware that she needs more support going through this. If you would, please pop over and read the entry. In the end she asks readers what they have done to cope during times of crisis, and your suggestion might be helpful. Beyond helpful ideas, though, I believe just knowing there's an ocean of compassion available to her is supportive and healing. That's something the blogging community (readers as well as writers) is very good at demonstrating.

Liora's blog is called Steeping, and the particular post I'm referring you to is titled Triple-negative.

Update: Liora's blog requires you to create a log-in to leave comments. If you don't want to do that, please leave your suggestions here in the comments and she can read them. Thanks.

[cross-posted at A Mindful Life]

Goo

2007-07-02T13:06:00.000-07:00

I haven't been knitting, I haven't made "real" art in awhile. Nope. The last few days have been focused on nesting in the baby's room. You can see the set (14 photos) on Flickr; the set is here. All the decorations on the wall were made with love by me and many friends.

Only eight more weeks!!

Another Flavorful Side Dish

2007-06-25T17:55:00.000-07:00

Shirl asked for pea recipes because her garden is overrun with them. So here's one I hope you'll like!

Braised Lettuce and Peas with Scallions
1/4 cup butter
4 Bibb (Little Gem) lettuces, halved lengthways
2 bunches scallions, trimmed
14 oz. shelled peas (about 2 1/4 lb. in pods)
1/2 cup water
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Melt half the butter in a wide, heavy pan over low heat. Add the lettuces and spring onions. Turn the vegetables in the butter,then sprinkle in salt and plenty of freshly ground black pepper. Cover and cook gently for 5 minutes, stirring once. Add the peas and turn them in the buttery juices. Pour in the water, then cover and cook over a gentle heat for 5 more minutes. Uncover and increase the heat to reduce the liquid to a few tablespoons. Stir in remaining butter and adjust the seasoning. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Summer Salad

2007-06-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

Tomato, Bean, and Fried Basil Salad
11 oz. cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
14 oz. can of mixed beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 cup of fresh basil leaves
5 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Put the halved tomatoes and rinsed beans in a bowl. Tear the basil leaves and put with the oil in a small pan. Cook gently on medium heat for about a minute, until the basil sizzles and begins to color. Pour the basil and oil over the tomato bean mixture, add salt and pepper, and mix them all together. Cover and leave to marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. You may top with fresh uncooked shredded basil leaves if desired. Serves four to six.

The Last Thing I Knit

2007-06-15T16:40:00.000-07:00

I knit this little scarf in May on my trip to Washington and Oregon, before the carpal tunnel became too severe. I think it's okay if I take a little knitting break; it's darn hot here these days!Rowan Kidsilk Haze, 70% super kid mohair/30% silk, colorway 596, one-half of a 229yd/210m ball and 1 skein of Patons Classic Wool (merino): 223 yards. I used the Yarn Harlot's one-row pattern; size 8 needles.

Well, Now. Ahem!

2007-05-28T22:50:00.000-07:00

You Are the Middle Finger

A bit fragile and dependent on your friends, you're not nearly as hostile as you seem.
You are balanced, easy to get along with, and quite serious.
However, you can get angry and fed up with those around you. And you aren't afraid to show it!

You get along well with: The Index Finger
Stay away from: The Pinky

What Finger Are You?

Meme followed thanks to Nathania The Index Finger Apple.

Back Again

2007-05-21T21:22:00.000-07:00

I'm home, but still catching up with life.

The trip was wonderful and relaxing. Also exhausting (if that makes sense). A little knitting got done, but very little. The carpal tunnel tingling and numbness seriously compromises my activity in that regard.

Soon I'll pop in to my usual hangouts to catch up with folks. I missed you!

A Little Vay-kay

2007-04-30T17:17:00.000-07:00

My husband and I are taking a vacation (our honeymoon, finally)! I'll be offline until May 17.

Happy knitting until then. :)

Nesting

2007-04-30T12:06:00.000-07:00

We are starting to accrue the furniture for Little One's room. Yesterday we purchased a rocker/swivel chair, crib, and changing table. To see examples, visit here.

Burning Through the Stash

2007-04-30T11:50:00.000-07:00

Another bowl, only larger. Finished size: 3.5 inches tall x 5.5 inches diameter (18.5 inches circumference). Made with two strands held together of a skein of Cascade 220 (220 yards, 100% wool) and a two strands held together of a ball of Crystal Palace Aran Marl (102 yards, 100% wool, color 3005) on size 15 circular 24" needles and size 15 dpns. Used the pattern from One Skein.

Quickie

2007-04-27T12:23:00.000-07:00

Part of one ball of Rowan Calmer (75% cotton 25% acrylic/microfiber), colorway 482; size 6 needles using this pattern. I'm using up my stash of random yarn.

Cute Little Bowl

2007-04-26T13:21:00.000-07:00

Finished size: 3 inches tall x 3.75 inches diameter (16 inches circumference). Made with two strands held together of a skein of Cascade 220 (220 yards, 100% wool) and a two strands held together of a ball of Crystal Palace Aran Marl (102 yards, 100% wool, color 3005) on size 15 circular 16" needles and size 15 dpns. I forgot to take a "before" photo. Used the pattern from One Skein.

Whirlwind

2007-04-26T12:46:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling a surge of creativity, almost a compulsion, to finish things I began knitting. Below is a felted bag that I began last June. The handle was too long (instructions weren't clear and I'm still getting the hang of shrinkage percentages) so I modified it a bit. I want to make another!
Noro Kureyon, 100% wool, 100 meters (50 grams): 4 skeins, colorway 147, 153, and 2 others (I lost the label); 1 skein of Crystal Palace Fizz, 100% polyester, 120 yards (50 grams), color 7122; knit on size 11 needles. Pattern used: jag-bag-knits.blogspot.com/

Shades of Nerdiness

2007-04-23T19:17:00.000-07:00

What Be Your Nerd Type? Your Result: Literature Nerd Does sitting by a nice cozy fire, with a cup of hot tea/chocolate, and a book you can read for hours even when your eyes grow red and dry and you look sort of scary sitting there with your insomniac appearance? Then you fit this category perfectly! You love the power of the written word and it's eloquence; and you may like to read/write poetry or novels. You contribute to the smart people of today's society, however you can probably be overly-critical of works. It's okay. I understand.
Social Nerd
Artistic Nerd
Science/Math Nerd
Musician
Gamer/Computer Nerd
Drama Nerd
Anime Nerd
What Be Your Nerd Type? Quizzes for MySpace

via fellow literature nerd Shirl

Felting Magic

2007-04-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

On March 29, while I was going crazy with anxiety awaiting the amniocentesis results, I went the Purlescence Yarns to hang out and help tag merchandise. I didn't bring my current knitting. (Danger! Danger! Entering a yarn store without supplies!) I didn't want to go home after I finished the task, so I ended up buying a skein of Malabrigo and a circular needle and casting on. I had no idea what I would make; I just needed something to do. After working it for a few days, I decided it would become a felted bag, because I had two random skeins of Malabrigo that I'd no idea what to make with because the colorways were so bold. Well, I finished it today and felted it. (Working diligently on it this week helped me cope with the loss of my dear kitty.) Wow! I was a little worried it would remain huge, but I kept it in the washer a little longer (checking it frequently) until it was a size I liked. It's very firm and sturdy. The handles aren't perfectly aligned, but it's a small quirk. I made this without a pattern, and I'm super pleased with the result. Look see!

Malabrigo Kettle Dyed Pure Merino Wool, worsted weight, 216 yards per skein: 3 skeins of #186 Buscando Azul, 1 skein #7 Cadmium yellow, 1 skein #97 Quartzo purple; knit on size 10.5 circular 29" needle.

How Can This Be?

2007-04-16T23:05:00.000-07:00

Around 9 p.m. Husband found Sophie lying on the floor, not breathing, without a pulse. She just died. Sophie May was not quite eight years old. She was born September 1999, one month before I met Husband. I knew Sophie from her birth since a friend rescued her pregnant momma. Now she's just...gone. I am crazed with grief, anger, bewilderment. There is a Sophie-shaped space in our lives now, and we'll feel it keenly for a long time. She loved to nap in sun spots.

I love cats because I enjoy my home; and little by little, they become its visible soul.

--Jean Cocteau

[cross-posted at A Mindful Life]

Got An Itch For Brownies?

2007-04-04T07:35:00.000-07:00

Here's a batch of from-scratch goodies. I will never buy a box mix again. I always have the necessary ingredients on hand. I just haven't ever tried to make homemade before. Vastly better! The recipe makes a fudgy brownie. For a more cakelike texture you can use 1/2 tsp. of baking powder. Homemade Brownies

1 & 2/3 cup white sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
2 Tbsp. water
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 & 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup of baking cocoa or 4 squares of unsweetened baking chocolate
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips or nuts (optional)

Stir together the sugar, butter and water in a large bow. Stir in eggs and vanilla. (If using chocolate squares, melt over low heat and stir into the mixture.) In a separate bowl, combine flour,cocoa, and salt. Stir into the sugar mixture and then add the chocolate chips or nuts. Spread into a greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 18 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out a little sticky. Cool in pan before cutting.

Dessert for Ten With Just Three Apples

2007-04-02T17:07:00.000-07:00

We were invited to a party on Saturday, and I was assigned dessert. (Wise choice by the host, as I love to bake. I also made from-scratch brownies.) I had only three large apples; not enough for a stand-alone apple pie. I searched the internet and came up with a recipe for apple-pecan pie. I modified a couple of things, and the recipe is below. One thing I'd do differently next time is not use molasses. The pie tasted fine; in fact, if you like mincemeat pie, the molasses is a plus. I'd like to try it without though and see which I like better.
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup dark molasses (next time I'll sub with an extra 1/4 cup corn syrup)
1/4 cup light corn syrup
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg, plus a sprinkle for the top
2 or 2.5 cups apples, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup pecans, chopped
1 9-inch pie crust, unbaked

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare 9-inch pie shell.

Cream the butter and sugar until smooth. Stir in eggs, molasses, corn syrup, lemon juice, and spices. Add apples and pecans and mix thoroughly. Pour filling into pie shell. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until the filling is bubbly and crust brown. Cool before serving.

My Latest Creation

2007-03-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

Many of you have probably deduced from my vague mentions about health that something is up with me, and it is: I'm pregnant!

The test for which I was not-so-patiently awaiting results was the amniocentesis. At my age there is a 1:23 chance of a chromosomal abnormality that can cause serious birth defects, and even death. Being pregnant hasn't been the absolute radiantly happy time I wanted. Until now. They called this morning to tell me the tests results are normal, and that my baby is a girl. She's due to arrive August 27. On Easter Day I'll be 20 weeks pregnant -- halfway through.

Here's the back story. In mid-November we saw the fertility specialist to discuss our options. Because of my age he strongly encouraged us to think of oocyte donation (getting an egg from a much younger woman), because the chances of my producing enough viable eggs and conceiving in a given month via in vitro were about 10 percent. On our own, the chances of conceiving in a given month were about 2 or 3 percent.

We went home and talked. I made my peace with the idea, because I really want a child, and I really wanted to carry a pregnancy to term. My uber-stressful job was over, so I relaxed and got to working out. (I even lost 12 pounds by mid-December!)

On December 13 (one month after visiting the doc) I noticed I felt puffy, tired, and had an increased need to use the bathroom. The next day I decided to use my one home pregnancy test left over, assuming it would be a waste, but what the heck. Imagine my fragile amazement when the test showed a slightly anemic but positive result. I told Husband and we agreed we shouldn't tell, that we should just play it down, since I'd never made it past 8 weeks before. (Of course I took another home test, and the results were even stronger the next time. We joked that the fertility specialist must be really good at what he does; all we needed was to talk with him.)

On December 14 we got the news that our landlords were giving the house to their son and were requested to move by mid-February. On December 19 we went to Syracuse for the holidays. We didn't officially mention it, but you know families; they have radar. They knew something was up, and they inferred what. Mostly I was exhausted, but I had insomnia at my parents'.

On December 29 we returned home, and on the 30th, on schedule, the morning sickness began. Except that mine lasted all day for six weeks. I didn't vomit often, but I often wished I would; I feel better after. And you might think that feeling nauseous would be a good weight-loss method, that no food would appeal, that you wouldn't even want to think about food. Not me. In my experience, hunger made the nausea worse, and yet so many odors (including food) also made me feel worse. So for six weeks I thought about food more than ever as I tried to find something I could stand to eat that would nourish my body. Add to that the fact that I slept 12 hours a day, and I was pretty much useless.

Except that's when we had to find a place to live and pack our home. So we'd go out, me with my ginger beer and Saltines, drive by properties and go in some. I'd go home and collapse into bed. Once we found a rental, the packing began. I could only manage a box or two a day. If our friends M & K had not come three weekends in a row to help, we'd have been in big trouble. All through this time I tried to take it easy on my body and not to stress mentally about the move. I was successful at that, too.

By mid-February that misery abated and I felt like a new woman. We saw the doctor February 1 and had the first ultrasound. There was a heart, beating strongly. We called the baby Little One. Little One was very wiggly. A good sign. At the March visit we heard the heartbeat by Dopper technology. Then came the amnio, which they cannot do until four months into the pregnancy. By four months, I was deeply invested emotionally and physically in this child. It's a long time to wait for such information. (A different test could be done at 12 weeks but had a higher risk of miscarriage, which we didn't want to take.)

While I realize there is no absolute certainty or safety, I feel confident enough to share this news with the world. Actually, pregnancy is just the beginning of realizing how vulnerable one is to the world. The gestation and birth might be fine, but there's a big world of risk out there, and anything can happen to one's child. As I once heard, "Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."

Yet I couldn't be more pleased.

[cross-posted at A Mindful Life]

A Need For Pacing

2007-03-22T00:21:00.000-07:00

Recently I've noticed a tingling, burning, and numbness in my hands, more the left than right, but definitely in both. I feel this when I hold a book or the phone for any length. I feel it when I sleep. I feel it typing (ironically, less so). And I feel it when knitting.

So knitting needs to happen more slowly. Alas, it's already a glacial pace in my life. I know the reason for this problem. It's carpal tunnel, but not due to repetitive motion. It has to do with the fact that increased weight and retention of fluid increase the pressure in the bony canal formed by the wrist bones on three sides and a ligament that runs across the wrist, and compressing the nerve that runs through this. Eventually (in about six months), this will abate (I hope).

In the Meanwhile

2007-03-11T20:19:00.000-07:00

While I'm busy knitting the short-sleeved top (which is inches and inches of stockinette), I offer you a new forum to explore.

If you like to cook or bake, check out Bake Space. Join and hang out in the kitchen! Link up as a friend by visiting my profile.

My sister-in-law is in town tonight for several days, so the knitting is taking a small vacation too.

Good For Me

2007-03-02T14:38:00.000-08:00

I just finished vacuuming the house. It's not fun when it's a three story town home with about 30 stairs, and it's all wall-to-wall carpet. But I made myself do it, so good for me! And it's good for me physically too.

I'm merrily knitting away on the tee. I went to social knitting at Purlescence last night, and it was sooo good to see folks.

Now, on to the next thing on my to-do list.

The Leap

2007-02-27T18:57:00.000-08:00

Today I knit a swatch to get gauge for a simple knit tee. My mother bought the pattern for me at Christmas, and I have yarn in my stash. After I got the gauge, I cast it on. Cheers for me!

It's not incredibly complicated, but it's several levels more complex than anything I've knit so far. If I can keep at it and just finish, it will help me break through my avoidance by perfectionism.

Bright and Simple

2007-02-24T15:19:00.000-08:00

The dish cloths I made in the past were too large, and I didn't like the stitch, so I made new ones this weekend. Knitting with cotton makes my hands ache. I used Sugar 'n' Cream yarn.

And I'll Hug You Back

2007-02-14T12:54:00.000-08:00

Your Candy Heart Says "Hug Me"

A total sweetheart, you always have a lot of love to give out.
Your heart is open to where ever love takes you!
Your ideal Valentine's Day date: a surprise romantic evening that you've planned out.
Your flirting style: lots of listening and talking.
What turns you off: fighting and conflict.
Why you're hot: you're fearless about falling in love.

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

Briefly

2007-02-01T12:46:00.000-08:00

Our move to a new home has some kinks to work out. Not much knitting or cooking happening right now. I don't even have Internet yet and have resorted to free access at the library. So, for fun:

Your Ideal Pet is a Cat

You're both aloof, introverted, and moody.

And your friends secretly wish that you were declawed!

What's Your Ideal Pet?

Cleaning Out

2007-01-23T13:49:00.000-08:00

In an effort to free up refrigerator and cupboard space (less to move!), I made vegetable stock this morning, and then I used it to make a barley lentil soup. I improvised, and it is delicious.

Lentil Barley Soup

2 medium onions, chopped
2 medium carrots, thinly sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
28 ounce can of diced tomatoes
10 cups of vegetable stock
2 tsp. dried oregano
ground black pepper to taste
dash of salt
1 cup pearl barley
1 cup red lentils

In a soup pot, sauté the onions, carrots, and garlic in the olive oil until just soft. Add the rest of the ingredients except the lentil and barley and bring to a boil. At boiling, add the barley and lentil and turn heat down to simmer; cover and simmer for 60 minutes or until the lentil and barley are soft. This makes a thick, hearty soup, about 10 cups.

A Full Belly and a Feeling of Peace

2007-01-22T20:02:00.000-08:00

Today was the first day I felt almost perfectly healthy since just after Christmas. I was able to make it to the gym for a 35 minute walk -- nothing strenuous, but enough to generate a light sweat. Then I arrived home starving and ate some leftover Afghani food (lamb, rice, carrots and raisins) and an orange before getting horizontal with the cats for a little nap. I awoke at 2:30 and popped into the shower, after which I ate another snack of rigatoni and tomato sauce and a banana. It feels good not to be nauseated, to feel hunger and eat with pleasure again. My hope is that this trend continues!

To get out of the house I headed to the library for a cup of tea in the café and to read my novel, The Master and Margarita. While I was there I looked up some soup cookbooks. I wanted to check out The Soup Peddler's Slow & Difficult Soups: Recipes And Reveries, but it wasn't on the shelf though it was checked in. However, I happened across two other books. An Exaltation of Soups: The Soul-Satisfying Story of Soup, As Told in More Than 100 Recipes has been on my list to check out, and I found a copy of Twelve Months of Monastery Soups by Brother Victor-Antoine d'Avila-Latourrette. My cousin gave me a copy of his other cookbook, From a Monastery Kitchen, in 2005. I sat for a couple of hours browsing these books and then checked them out. I love soup, and yet I eat it infrequently and rarely make it. The monastery cookbook is chock-full of seasonal recipes, and he has made an effort to ensure these are simple instructions. The other book has more elaborate concoctions that call for somewhat fussier ingredients, so I may not use as many recipes from it. When I drove home later, I felt suffused with peace and contentment that had eluded me for many weeks. For dinner I had soup -- from a can (Progresso), but it was warm and tasted good. Armed with these new books, I plan on making soup a daily food for at least one meal, and I'll make my very own.

We are moving next Monday, January 29. The packing is proceeding at a reasonable speed, and we are trying to eat foods from the freezer and cupboards. We hope to impose on our two friends one more time next weekend (their packing assistance has been invaluable the past two weeks) as we pack the kitchen and bathroom. And then? Then comes the nesting and unpacking, but I think that will feel less arduous, especially now that I'm feeling better. And since we're moving Monday, this means we won't miss the next episode of Rome! Small pleasures...

[cross-posted at A Mindful Life]

Step By Step

2007-01-11T13:35:00.000-08:00

I've been so ill lately. I'm extremely fatigued. I take a shower and need to rest. I make a meal, clean the kitchen, and need to rest. I nap. I'm queasy all day long, feeling close to vomiting much of the time. But we will be moving, and we must pack. I plod through the days trying to accomplish basic picking up just to set the stage for packing. So to encourage myself, in this post (and future ones) I'm going to write about what I do accomplish.

I gathered magazines from all over the house -- some over 2 years old -- and put them in paper bags for recycling.
I gathered all my yarn supply, needles, and miscellaneous balls into the large trunk for ease of moving. The trunk is hella heavy, but we're hiring burly men to move.
I cleared all the housing search paperwork from the kitchen table, the floor, and various other horizontal surfaces on which they ended up since December 14.
I washed the sheets and towels.
I am now washing blankets that I use to cover the furniture so the cats have a cozy place to sleep and help manage their shedding hair.
I put miscellaneous Christmas supplies (cards, bows, boxes) in the garage near the storage bing for it.
I moved a couple of items I need to return to a friend from the desk into my car so I can drop it off.
I threw away an old burned out candle stub.
I sent a thank you to someone who mailed me a gift of art supplies and put said supplies in the garage so I can sort it all.
I managed to sort some of the piles on the desk and reduce them.

I thought that would be a longer list. Doesn't seem like much, but it took me several hours to finish with lots of sitting breaks. There's more to do, of course. But now I need a nap, I think!

Home Sweet Home

2007-01-10T14:28:00.000-08:00

We found someplace to live. It's a town home in Santa Clara; 3 bedrooms plus a loft and 2 bathrooms, with a fireplace and tiny garden, and a decent sized kitchen. We'll take possession within two weeks. We have until February 15 to clear out of this home, and I'm not sure if we're going to push to be out by the 1st or not. Part of this will depend on my energy, which is very low. I'm also eating a different diet these days, foods which are supposedly soothing for hormonal gastric disturbances. Here are some of the foods I focus on:

Animal crackers
Applesauce
Avocado
Bagels
Cereal
Chewing gum
Frozen yogurt
Ginger
Ginger beer
Ginger snaps
Grapes
Lemon drops
Lemons
Mints, peppermint
Oatmeal
Potato chips
Potatoes
Puddings
Raspberry leaf tea
Rice cakes
Soda crackers
Sorbet, sherbet
Watermelon
Yogurt smoothies

There is a lot to do to get moved! I'm relieved the search is over.

Egad, We're in Trouble

2007-01-04T08:48:00.000-08:00

Tonight we crunched numbers for last year’s income and expenditures. We hadn’t done that in a long time. When both of us worked and with Husband’s extra income from his little software business, there was enough money for basics and extras. But it’s a new reality we are facing, and it was sobering.

The places we are looking at run from $2,100 to $2,500 (and believe me, they run much much higher too). The 3-bedroom homes we find less than $2,100 are often in poor condition and in neighborhoods we don’t like. If we were looking for a 2-bedroom abode, we could find nice ones for $1,700-$1,900. But we hope to start a family and still have room for guests for visit. The latest house — which we really like as it has been immaculately maintained, is spacious (1,600 square feet), and in a lovely quiet neighborhood, is $2,300 per month, not including utilities. This would be a 40% increase in rent for us.

I am not working, and we don’t plan for me to work while we pursue fertility treatments, and assuming I successfully bear a child, I’ll be a stay at home mother. So we did some math to see if we could afford this. Yes, Husband works in high-tech. Even so, most people here live on two incomes and that’s how they afford it. We can no longer count on the income from his software business, as this may go away (it’s been decreasing steadily over time).

I don’t know what we’re going to do. We either need to reduce the size of place we’re looking for and accept this, or we need to drastically reduce our hobby, entertainment, gift expenses, or I need to work, or some permutation of these. We tend to be really generous with charity and presents to friends and loved ones. And of course I spend more than I should on yarn and craft supplies. It’s got to stop. Especially if we have a child; our research shows it costs about $27,000 a year to raise a child from birth to 18 and then pay for 4-year public college. Time to simplify, pare down.

It’s really frightening, though, to have the kind of income we do and still learn that it may not be enough to live on.

[cross-posted at A Mindful Life]

Happy New Year

2007-01-01T12:09:00.000-08:00

It's a new year and we're off running, trying to find a place to live. We like our rental house, but the landlords decided to let their son have it. So we need to find a place to live, pack, and move by February 15. We have looked at 30 places so far, with limited success.

My days are focused on unpacking from our holiday trip to visit my family, putting new presents away, and starting to sort stuff for Goodwill. However, I do have a moment to post a really simple recipe from a holiday dinner. My mother found the beets and we tried a recipe on the package. I'm not a regular beet eater because I don't quite know what to do with them. This dish was savory and so easy to make. I didn't calculate the Weight Watchers points yet; given it uses butter and cream, it's not a low-point dish.

Red Beets with Thyme Cream

2 8 oz. pkg of Earth Exotics Diced Red Beets
4 shallots finely chopped
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 Tbsp. fresh thyme
4 Tbsp. butter
3 Tbsp. red wine vinegar
salt and pepper

In a medium sauté pan, brown shallots in butter, add fresh thyme and heavy cream. Add salt & pepper, bring mixture to a simmer, mix in beets. Let simmer approximately 8-10 minutes, finish by adding red wine vinegar.

You can probably use 2 cups of diced red beets that have been briefly steamed.

Toffee Goodness

2006-12-30T19:53:00.000-08:00

I made some this year and it turned out much better than last year's batches. Everyone said the toffee was more intense. I think it's because I cooked it to just a second before burning before pouring it out. I also used a fine 70% cocoa baking chocolate.

Toffee
1 cup butter
1.5 cups sugar
3 Tbsp. light corn syrup
3 Tbsp. water
8 oz. chocolate chips or baking chocolate
1.5 cups raw almonds, chopped or sliced

Place a sauce pan over medium heat and add the butter, sugar, corn syrup and water. Stir consistently as the temperature of the mix raises. When the temperature reaches 305° F, remove from heat and pour onto a buttered 9" x 13" cookie tray; you may also line the tray with parchment paper instead of using butter. Spread the toffee evenly.

While the toffee is cooking, melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler. Once you have spread the toffee on the cookie sheet, spread the melted chocolate on the toffee. Sprinkle with the almonds and allow to cool.

Serves 8-10

One a Day

2006-12-30T19:47:00.000-08:00

I made these dishcloths for my Mom for Christmas. I ended up making four (one a day) and she loves them. I made them from Rowan All Seasons Cotton on size 7 needles.

Six Weird Things

2006-12-18T21:34:00.000-08:00

Nathania tagged me, I'm it!

“THE RULES: Each player of this game starts with the ‘6 weird things about you.’ People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says ‘you are tagged’ in their comments and tell them to read your blog.”

1. I like to balance things out. For instance, if I scratch my left elbow, I need to scratch my right too. If I crack knuckles on one hand, I feel weird if I don't do the other hand too.

2. When I sneeze it sounds like an explosion. I've startled burly men with my sneeze.

3. I snagglepuss when I laugh hard, which is a sort of hissing/chucking sound. I've also laughed so hard I've broken down in sobs.

4. I don't like chocolate ice cream. I love chocolate (especially dark), I love chocolate in ice cream (such as chocolate chips) or on ice cream, but I don't like chocolate-flavored ice cream.

5. When we turn onto Bing St. to see our friends, I say, loudly each time, "Bing!" (like an elevator).

6. Once when I was six I was so mad I tore a button off my shirt and swallowed it.

I'm tagging Shirl, LaPeregrina, Endment, Diana, Gerry, and Songbird.

Soft and Rich

2006-12-18T09:59:00.000-08:00

Four 100-yard balls of Classic Elite Waterlily extra fine merino wool, colorway 1927, lot 6209, on size 9 needles

This will be a gift. I didn't enjoy the yarn as much as I would like, because it split so easily. However, the color variation gave it depth and the stitch texture is great. I'm pleased with the overall result.

--
Update: the lower right corner of the scarf looks a little faded. That's really a dash of sunshine!

Knitters Without Borders

2006-12-16T18:02:00.000-08:00

I gave. Read The Yarn Harlot and be inspired to do the same.

Mashed Potatoes With a Little Zing

2006-12-12T10:45:00.000-08:00

Years ago I borrowed my brother's copy of The Northern Exposure Cookbook (which, unfortunately, is only available used starting around $30). There were two recipes I adopted from the book. One is below.

Lightfeather Duncan's Mashed Potatoes

12 medium-sized red potatoes
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 large yellow onion
1/4 cup butter
1 cup sour cream
2 Tbsp. prepared horseradish
1 Tbsp. coarse-ground black pepper
2 tsp. salt
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 325F. Wash and quarter potatoes (don't peel). Place in a large pot and cover with water. Boil until tender (about 15 minutes).

While potatoes are cooking, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Coarsely chop onion and sauté until translucent.

Drain potatoes and place in a large mixing bowl. Add onion, butter, sour cream, horseradish, pepper, and salt. Using a hand-held mixer, whip potatoes until fairly smooth. (A hand-held masher works fine but won't be as smooth). Stir in cheese.

Transfer mixture to an ungreased casserole dish. Cover and bake for about 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Makes 6-8 servings

Quilt Pattern Inspiration

2006-12-11T21:13:00.000-08:00

I'm writing this post for archival purposes. The wedding quilt is considered a variation of the mariner's compass. The original inspiration for my quilt came from an image of a wall-hanging about 4 x 4 feet called the Megabyte Spikes quilt. (The website is defunct, but I saved a copy of the image below for my reference.) JoEllen generated a pattern to work for a queen-size bed.

A Most Satisfying Stew

2006-12-11T20:52:00.000-08:00

My cousin sent me a small cookbook last year full of simple recipes. Since he was visiting today, I decided to make him dinner from the book. It turned out to be so delicious, so simple, and thus rather elegant.

Saint Hubert Fish Stew

Makes 6 servings (6 Weight Watcher points per serving)

2 onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
6 Tbsp. oil of choice (I used olive)
1 pound cod or similar fish, cut into chunks
4 carrots, peeled and sliced
2 parsnips, peeled and sliced
3 potatoes, diced (leave skin on)
4 Tbsp. parsely, finely chopped
2 bay leaves
2 bottles beer (I used Shiner Bock, nice and dark)
4 cups water
salt and white pepper to taste (I used black pepper)

1. Sauté the onion and garlic in the oil in a stew pot for a few minutes.

2. Add the remaining ingredients, stir well, cover, and cook slowly over low to medium heat for 35-40 minutes. Stir from time to time so that the stew does not burn at the bottom Serve hot.

This is excellent with a crusty bread and butter.

Source: From a Monastery Kitchen: the Classic Natural Foods Cookbook by Brother Victor-Antoine d'Avila-Latourrette

Popcorn Trivia

2006-12-10T13:50:00.000-08:00

There are five types of corn grown around the globe -- sweet, Indian, dent, pop and flint corn -- and only popcorn pops. See more at the Popcorn Board.

I'm eating some (94% fat-free) every day while I focus on losing weight. It fills me up, uses few Weight Watcher points, and is high in fiber.

Yes, Virginia, There Is Such a Thing as Customer Service

2006-12-09T14:59:00.000-08:00

In July I bought five new Bali bras. I ordered them via Amazon and they shipped from Macy's. The entire expenditure was $182.30. (I'd used this brand of underwire minimizer for several years and liked it; a well-fitted bra is worth a little extra money).

Within days of wearing one, the underwire poked through the cloth and into my flesh. Then another, and another did it. I was dismayed, to say the least. The last two remained intact, but I decided to stop wearing them. I laundered the three defective ones gently in a lingerie bag, and in the process the wires came out and tangled around other clothes. Wrecked completely.

I put off dealing with them until two weeks ago. Some research showed that Bali is owned by Hanes (which, in turn, is owned by Sara Lee, in case business trivia interests you). I found the Hanes customer service address and wrote the following letter:

To Whom It May Concern:

Enclosed please find several bras and copies of the invoices reflecting what I paid for them. I bought the Bali bras in July and within a couple of months the underwire poked through the fabric. The last time I laundered them, the wires came out completely. Since I do not trust the quality of the material, I have included the bras I purchased that have not yet torn open.

I am deeply dissatisfied with the quality of the product. I would like a refund to my credit card. I purchased them with my American Express card, account xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, exp xx.xx. I will also accept a refund by check. The total for the bras (including shipping and taxes) is $182.30.

Please contact me if you have questions. My address and email are above. Thank you for your prompt resolution to this unfortunate customer experience.

Then I packaged the bras, letter, and copy of the original order and mailed it off on November 29. Today, in the mail, I received a simple letter:

Dear Ms. Petro-Harper,

Thank you for returning your unsatisfactory merchandise. We are sorry you've been unhappy with your recent purchases.

Enclosed please find a check for $186.35 to reimburse you for the merchandise you returned, your tax, shipping, and postage cost.

Ms. Petro-Harper, if we can be of future assistance, you may reach us at 1-800-225-4872, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST), or on the Internet at www.balicompany.com.

Sincerely,
Judi Steelman
Consumer Care Specialist

Awesome! I'm very pleased. In an era when it's almost impossible to reach a human being at a company, I'm reassured that in some places, the concept of service still exists.

German Potato Salad

2006-12-08T19:23:00.000-08:00

This is savory and served warm. Incredibly good.

2 lbs. red new potatoes
olive oil
caraway seeds
dill weed
2 bundles of green onions
1/2 stick butter
3 Tbsp flour
1 can of beef or chicken broth
3 Tbsp white vinegar
2 Tbsp spicy German style mustard
small jar of apricot preserves
salt and coarse ground pepper
1 lb. of crisp lean bacon

Fry bacon, cool, and crumble. Set aside.

Select good, firm small new potatoes. Boil until tender yet still a little firm. Slice with the skins left on. Sprinkle with oil, caraway seeds, and dill weed. Add chopped green onions (use the bulb too) and set aside.

Melt the butter and 2 Tbsp of olive oil in a skillet. Add 2 Tbsp of flour and stire. Add broth slowly & whisk until mixture thickens into a thin cream sauce. If it thickens too much, add water to thin down the sauce. Add vinegar, mustard, and preserves. Salt and pepper to sates. Pour small amounts of the hot thin cream sauce to coat the potatoes (there will be sauce left over -- too much will make them mushy). Sprinkle bacon on top and serve hot. If not serving immediately, keep warm in a 150 degree oven. Add some of the remaining sauce if the salad dries out.

Makes 12 servings. Weight Watcher points per serving: 6

Whole Wheat Baguette

2006-12-08T19:08:00.000-08:00

This recipe made two lovely baguettes. I got it from a Fleischmann's RapidRise Yeast packet.

2.5 cups all-purpose flour
2.25 cups whole wheat flour
1 envelope Fleischmann's RapidRise Yeast
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp salt
1.25 cups water
1/2 cup milk
2 Tbsp butter or shortening

Combine flours in a large mixing bowl. Reserve 1 cup; set aside. Add undissolved yeast, sugar, and salt to flour in mixing bowl; mix well.

Heat water, milk and shortening to 120F to 130F. Add warm liquids to dry mixture; mix well until well blended. Gradually add enough reserved flour to form a soft ball of dough. Turn dough onto floured surface.

Knead (with reserved flour) for about 10 minutes or until dough is smooth and elastic. Cover; let rest 10 minutes.

Divide dough in half. Roll each half to a 16 x 10 inch rectangle. Roll up length-wise, as for a jelly roll. Grease baking sheets; place each loaf on a baking sheet. Slash top of loaves diagonally about 1/4-inch deep and 2 inches apart. Cover; let rise until doubled, about 30-40 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400F. Brush loaves with cold water. Bake for 15 minutes. Brush again with cold Bake for 10 minutes more, or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks.

The Wedding Quilt

2006-12-08T10:19:00.000-08:00

The wedding gift from my husband's parents arrived yesterday. It was handmade by my mother-in-law's friend, JoEllen Thompson, in Port Townsend, WA.

It will go on the wedding bed (gift from my parents) over the top of our down comforter. Or maybe, because it's so delicate, we'll figure out a way to hang it on the wall above the bed to show off the piece of art that it is. Here are two close-ups.

And here it is on the bed.

Oh, Deer

2006-12-07T22:32:00.000-08:00

What is your Pagan Familiar

Your Familiar is a Deer. You are a free spirited person, and love to be with small groups of close friends. Trust in yourself, and open up to others a little more.
Take this quiz!

Quizilla |
Join

| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

[via Eden, whose familiar is not what she expected. Ssssssss...]

More Reasons to Get Knitting

2006-12-07T17:51:00.000-08:00

Two friends sent me Christmas presents early: books! Among them were The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges and The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges.

I've drooled over these for quite awhile. So happy to have them!

Behind?

2006-12-07T17:45:00.000-08:00

My husband is the elf for my brother this year (we each select one sibling to give to). However, he's insanely busy, as is my brother; my brother doesn't have time to think about what he wants and my husband can't go shopping. So, I'm making a knit object for my brother. I'm the helper elf (basically I manage all gifting in our relationship, except for his gifts to me). But I realized today just how much I need to get going for it to be ready by Christmas. And we're heading out in ten days; I'd like to have it finished by then.

I will not get sucked into seasonal stress, I will not get sucked into seasonal stress, I will not get sucked into seasonal stress, etc.

Sweet Potato Casserole

2006-12-06T18:12:00.000-08:00

This is almost a dessert, but I first encountered it as part of Thanksgiving dinner.

Ingredients:

1 cup sugar
1 can Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk (fat free)
1 stick margarine or butter
1 large (29 oz.) can sweet potatoes
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp cloves
2 eggs
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Pre-heat oven to 350F. Mash potatoes. Add the rest of the ingredients except for the pecans and stir together well. Pour in to a large, oven-safe dish and sprinkle the top with pecans. Bake for 50-60 minutes or until firm.

Thanks to my friend S who introduced me to this dish!

Ornamentation

2006-12-06T14:14:00.000-08:00

I started with Sculpey clay, a rolling pin, and cookie cutters.

Then I painted them on both sides. I'm glad I did, because they baked a little too hard on the side that had contact with the cookie sheet. It took several days to do this process because acrylic paint takes awhile to dry. Each piece has two coats of paint and one coat of translucent gold or silver paint (except for the candy canes which are simply white).

Today I added embellishments to both sides and painted the candy canes. Now they just need time for the glue to set.

Voila! Christmas presents!

Fast and Tasty

2006-12-04T20:54:00.000-08:00

I made a tasty shrimp dish from Fish: the Complete Guide to Buying and Cooking by Mark Bittman.

Roast Shrimp with Orange and Tarragon
Makes 4 servings
Time: 20 minutes

3 Tbsp. flavorful olive oil
4 sprigs of fresh tarragon or 1/2 tsp. dried
1 to 1.5 pounds large shrimp, peeled (I used Trader Joe's frozen)
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
Zest of 1 orange, finely minced
Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 450F. When it is hot, warm 2 Tbsp. of the olive oil in a baking pan on top of the stove, then add the tarragon; put into the oven until the tarragon begins to sizzle. Add the shrimp, then sprinkle with the orange juice and zest, salt, pepper, and the remaining olive oil. Roast until the shrimp turns pink, about 10 minutes.

You can also use crayfish or scallops in this recipe.

I served this with garlic and olive oil couscous and fresh steamed broccoli.

Even More Beautiful Than the Picture

2006-12-03T09:51:00.000-08:00

I would not normally have chosen this colorway. I had a yarn emergency (showed up for social knitting at Purlescence having forgotten my supplies). From first glance it looked boring. As I knit it up, however, it worked into a lovely, subtle array of earthy shades of brown, green, and purple. It will be a gift for someone cherished.

2 skeins (120 meters each) of Colinette Cadenza 100% DK merino wool, colorway Castagna (Nutmeg); size 6 needles; the Yarn Harlot stitch

Mmmm

2006-11-29T22:33:00.000-08:00

I made broccoli quiche tonight because it was so cold out. The trick with quiche, I’ve learned, is to use real cream, or at least half-and-half. It makes a custard that holds up well. It looked so darn good when I took it out of the oven that I took a photo of it. The crust is homemade as well.

Want the recipe? It's from the new edition of the Joy of Cooking, pg. 140.

Preheat oven to 375F.
Prepare a 9-inch pie crust

1/2 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2/3 cup broccoli florets
3/4 cup of grated cheddar cheese
3 large eggs, lightly beaten
1.5 cups of half & half or heavy cream
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
pinch of freshly grated or ground nutmeg

Sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil until soft. Blanch and drain broccoli florets. (I used fresh and microwaved them in a closed container for 3 minutes.) Line the pie shell with the onions and garlic and add the broccoli; top with the grated cheese. In a bowl combine the remaining ingredients and whisk until mixed. Pour over the contents of the pie pan. Bake for 25-35 minutes until the filling is browned and set.

Graduated to the Adult Table

2006-11-25T14:39:00.000-08:00

No more sitting at the kids' table!

This is my first sock! I'm really proud of it. I got a little teary when I was done; I was so pleased with my accomplishment. Now I can make regular socks (this one I'll use as an ornament). It was knit on size 6 needles.

In the Spirit of the Season?

2006-11-24T10:54:00.000-08:00

At 6 a.m. this morning in Times Square, a line of shoppers several hundred deep burst through the doors of Toys "R" Us and promptly formed a second, equally long line to buy the season's must-have product: T.M.X. Elmo.

The standard, morning-after-Thanksgiving retail behavior ensued -- pushing, shouting, grabbing -- until the dolls sold out and a frustrated crowd of Elmo-less consumers fanned out across the store in search of a substitute.

--Shoppers Mob Malls for Holiday Discounts

I suppose this is nothing new, but I'm always amazed (appalled?) at how the intended spirit of the season gets buried under an avalanche of greed.

As for me, I did get up at 6 a.m. to go to a store to shop. It was at Purlescence Yarns, which my friends opened October 14. It was called a Pajama Jammy-Jam sale. The staff did wore their jammies, as did a few of the customers. If you arrived between 6-7 a.m., everything was 30% off; 7-8 a.m. it was 25% off, 8-9 a.m. 20% off, etc. They weren't sure they'd get more than a handful of customers. When I pulled up at 6:20, the parking lot was nearly full and the store was positively jammed. (No pun intended!) They had coffee, tea, and spiced cider. Everyone was cheerful and courteous, discussing with complete strangers what they might make with a skein or two of a particular yarn, or exclaiming over the softness of the luxury yarns. I, um, didn't make it out of the store without dropping a bundle. (Shhhh, don't tell Husband.) But I did walk away having saved $73! I easily spent what I did on some clothing a few months ago, so why not yarn (and a book on Victorian lace knitting)? I've got yarn for five different projects: a hat, a lap blanket, a shawl, socks, and a scarf. All useful. Right?

I wavered quite a bit over what to buy, but fellow knitters are nothing if not addicts and enablers when it comes to fiber and anything related to it. I had plenty of encouragement. Resistance was futile.

It was an altogether lovely way to spend the morning.

[cross-posted at A Mindful Life]

Round and Round

2006-11-21T19:45:00.000-08:00

I'm a knitting teenager now. I've learned to knit a hat in the round! (Next week I'll learn sock knitting and then I'll almost be grown up.)

I learned how at my friends' store, Purlescence Yarns!

So Soft

2006-11-09T23:28:00.000-08:00

I had one 91-yard ball of Bouton d'Or Ksar 50% wool/50% camel hair, colorway 612 Veloute left over; I knit on size 9 needles.

Healing Shawl

2006-10-29T22:13:00.000-08:00

3 skeins of Lion Brand Homespun, colorway Corinthian; size 11 needles

Pretty

2006-10-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

1 skein of Patons Classic Wool (merino): 223 yards, color is leaf green; size 8 needles. I used the Yarn Harlot's one-row pattern.

It's a Baby... Hat!

2006-10-25T09:34:00.000-07:00

Made with the tail end of a skein of Cascade 220; size 7 needles.

Finally, Something Not Rectangular

2006-10-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

I made this tea cozy from Cascade 220 on size 5 needles. It fits a two cup teapot. Now I need to pop it in the mail to my sister-in-law, who has patiently waited for it since June! I used the Lily tea cozy pattern I found at Michaels. I varied the stitch slightly.

Cooler Weather = More Knitting Gets Done

2006-10-13T16:41:00.000-07:00

Another month, another Snuggle. Yay!

Homemade

2006-10-01T21:30:00.000-07:00

I made bread tonight. It feels like winter.

Imposter

2006-10-01T10:47:00.000-07:00

I must not be a true knitter, because I've not knit anything since whatever I last posted that I knit.

Ah well. There are seasons to my activities and the cooler weather is upon us.

The New Homemaker

2006-08-25T20:09:00.000-07:00

I've discovered a new blog and resource portal that will become a staple of my reading: The New Homemaker. I was doing research on the origin of "Susie Homemaker" (which I've not yet found because I wandered off into this new discovery). From the About page:

Who is the New Homemaker? She is the person who has discovered that having both partners in the work world is not "having it all." Children, elders and the community have been sacrificed for two generations to the crazy notion that households can run themselves. Well, they can't, and never have. Working parents have struggled valiantly to "have it all," but are increasingly saying "we've had enough"; someone has to be home. Even single parents are exploring ways to spend more time at home and less at work, or to work at home.

Unexpectedly at home, the New Homemaker now finds herself completely unprepared to run that household, with few resources to turn to. Skills and knowledge housekeepers took for granted for centuries have been lost in just 50 years' time. Traditional women's magazines are filled not with solid homemaking advice and resources, but with diets, celebrity interviews, horoscopes, romance quizzes, career advice, fashion spreads and the like. Where help is available it's frequently packaged with religious advice that may be appropriate for some women but hardly all, or even most.

I could print the entire manifesto here, but I won't. You should read it, however. It speaks sense.

Made in An Evening

2006-08-08T00:37:00.000-07:00

Two skeins of Lamb's Pride Bulky; 85% wool, 15% mohair; 125 yards / 4 oz; colorway M-04 Charcoal Heather; two strands held together, knitted on size 13 needles; strap knit on size 10.5 needles; mother of pearl buttons.

Little Red Scarf

2006-08-05T17:08:00.000-07:00

At last, I've finished! I'm looking forward to using it when the weather turns chilly.

Three balls of Cashsoft Aran: 57% extra fine merino, 33% microfiber, 10% cashmere / 50 grams / 87 meters / 95 yards each; colorway SH010; on size 7 needles

Insanely Busy

2006-08-02T23:58:00.000-07:00

But I'm knitting! Not much. Nothing fancy. But when I'm on Caltrain commuting from Santa Clara to San Francisco, I've got plenty of time. Sometimes I read. Sometimes I sits and knits.

How's your knitting?

Seems About Right

2006-07-24T22:08:00.000-07:00

You Are 51% American

Most times you are proud to be an American.

Though sometimes the good ole US of A makes you cringe

Still, you know there's no place better suited to be your home.

You love your freedom and no one's going to take it away from you!

How American Are You?

Snuggling

2006-07-21T13:43:00.000-07:00

The first meeting of the Snuggle knitting group happened last Sunday. It was a success! I finished my blanket and it's below.

I used one skein of Lion Bran Thick and Quick on size 13 needles. It's about 12x16" and will be donated to the Peninsula Humane Society. More to come!

Ribbed Scarf

2006-07-02T10:36:00.000-07:00

A very basic child's ribbed wool scarf -- Cascade 220 on size 8 needles -- for the Dulaan project. I'm moving away from plain garter stitch a bit more. (I know, I'm a slow learner.)

A Dab of Paint

2006-07-01T12:03:00.000-07:00

This item was used at the weddings of two sets of friends. It was originally painted white. Traditional colors associated with New Orleans are green and gold. One of the friends is a native of New Orleans, and the couples both attended Mardi Gras in 2006, so this is a fitting token of remembrance.

A Whole Passel

2006-06-30T20:21:00.000-07:00

These are what I knitted on my trip -- they are portable and easy to work on. Now my kitchen has fresh new cloths for washing and wiping. There's something very pleasurable in having made this mundane but essential item.

Early Birthday Present

2006-06-20T16:26:00.000-07:00

Husband wrapped presents for me last night and teased me that we'll have to wait until June 24 for me to open (that's my birthday). He knows how I love presents; I'm like a kid. So today he suggested I unwrap one of them.

I did, and I'm the happy owner of One Skein. Now I have ideas for using my stash!

Snuggle Up!

2006-06-19T23:15:00.000-07:00

Calling all needle artists! Beginning in July on a Sunday afternoon, Hands On Bay Area will start a new project in conjunction with The Snuggles Project. Join us to make small blankets and bring comfort to animals who live at the Peninsula Humane Association/SPCA. Please bring supplies including machine washable yarn. For more information on how to participate, visit here.

If you're not currently a member of Hands On Bay Area (it's free!), drop me an email; the address can be found in my sidebar. This project is good for folks who want to learn more about volunteering in their communities.

[cross-posted at Bay Area Knitters]

Toodles

2006-06-19T21:45:00.000-07:00

The day after tomorrow at 6 a.m. I will head to Austin, Texas. Yeeehaaa!

I'm taking along small knitting -- the dishcloths I've been working on. Simple, portable, quick.

I won't be posting much (okay, at all) until after the 27th.

Not Quite In the Bag

2006-06-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

This will become a felted bag. It may take me awhile, but it's delicious yarn and I'm looking forward to the result.

How Convenient!

2006-06-16T14:53:00.000-07:00

You Belong in San Francisco

You crave an eclectic, urban environment. You're half California, half NYC.

You're open minded, tolerant, and secretly think you're the best.

People may dismiss you as a hippie, but you're also progressive, interesting, and rich!

Where Does Your Inner Californian Belong?