It's a good day to be an Idaho Vandal!

Now that is what college football games are all about!
                                                                         
The University of Idaho Vandals won their second bowl game today, the Humanitarian Bowl. I was at their first bowl game 11 years ago with some of my favorite Vandals (my sister and Sara). Tonight, we were all scattered all over the country but still watched the game and cheered together thanks to texts and cell phones!

With 38 seconds left and down seven points - after a back and forth leading game - the Vandals made it down the field to score the tying points. Then with 8 seconds left, instead of going for a field goal to tie the game and force it into overtime, they went for two points. And made it.

What a game - final score 43 to 42! What a day to be a Vandal!

2009: Holiday of the Hats

The holiday of the hats has come to a close. It was a close one this year as I just finished the last hat. I seemed to have spaced out the fact that I didn't get a gift for my bestest friend. Not sure how that happened but luckily, I am a knitter so whipping up a last minute gift isn't that stressful. Rebecca offered up a pattern sugesstion: ButtonTab Knit Hat, a free pattern that is super cute and super easy. I highly recommend it. In fact, I may be whipping up one of these for me because is so cute! And really, you can never have too many cute knit hats now can you?

Project: Button Tab Hat from ilikelemons

Yarn: Cascade 220

Color: Merlot

Christmas Classics

It seems all of the magazines this time of year have dozens of different types of cookies splashed across their pages. They are all pretty, mouthwatering and no doubt incredibly yummy. As a cookie connoisseur myself, I would love to bake them all. Despite all the new fancy recopies, I always come back to this staple in my family’s house: the sugar cookie.

My mom, sister and I have been making this recipe pretty much my entire life. When I was 3, my preschool teacher asked my mother if she’d make some cookies for our Christmas party. She gave her a recipe. And a tradition was born. Every year the three of us would make these with my dad acting as the official taste tester. It’s a rough job, but someone’s gotta do it.


Sugar Cookies


1 C butter

1 C sugar

1 C powdered sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1 C vegetable oil

4 ¼ C sifted flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cream of tartar

1 tsp vanilla


Mix all the dry ingredients together with a wisk. Mix butter, sugar, eggs, vanilla and oil. Add dry ingredients to the wet ones and mix well. Drop by teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet. Sprinkle with colored sugar if desired. Bake 9-12 mins at 350. Makes 7 dozen.


Or you can let them cool completely and frost with powdered sugar frosting.


Powdered sugar frosting


Heaping Tbl of soft butter

2 C powdered sugar

Add milk slowing to make right consistency

1 Tbl vanilla

Mix with mixer at high until just right.


From my family to your, enjoy the treats of the season!

Foliage redux

The holiday season of hats continues. Of course, it took a slight detour the first time I knit the Foliage Hat for my sister (on the wrong sized needle). But now it's finished and I'm quite pleased with it. And if I do say so, it looks quite cute on me. Maybe Lindsay won't get the hat after all.....

Project: Foliage Hat from Knitty

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Some Summer Sky

A Hand-me-down with love

Two years ago, I knit one of my first baby sweaters for my dear friend Jen who was expecting her first baby. She and I had both moved away from Boise and were now, quite literally on the opposite ends of the country; she was in Richmond, VA and I was in Seattle. I wished I could be there to throw her a shower and to go shopping for cute baby things the way we had shopped for single girl things - a new lipstick, cute top for a hot new date, shoes. But I couldn't. So I did the next best thing. I knit her a baby sweater for her first born. I knit it with love. There are a few mistakes in it. And I swore at it along the way, but Jen knows that about me and still loves me so it's ok. Not only did Jen love this sweater, my first sweater, but her baby girl Isha loved this sweater.

And you know what? Isha baby sister now loves this sweater. And I couldn't be happier. Ok, I could be if I could be there in person to meet Diya, hang out with her, Isha and Jen.

Sweater: Child's Placket Sweater from LMNK
Yarn: It's been a while and I can't remember, but I'm pretty sure it's the same as the yarn called for in the pattern.

Just one photo...please?

Clearly getting both Olivia, 2, and Hannah, 4 in a picture with their new hats is a tall order for an aunt.

Hannah likes to sit for pictures, but this one was a little blurry. Probably because Auntie Megan was still laughing about the picture escapade that occured moments earlier.

I finally managed to score this picture of Olivia only after she was strapped (and trapped) in her car seat. She and baby George wanted to go for a ride in Uncle Matty's Jeep. Baby George did not get a new hat.

They did finally get together for a picture with Rudolph, but only one was wearing their hat. But it's still a super cute picture!

Craft Show Season

Confession. Another reason I so love the holiday season is becuase of all the holiday craft shows that seem to pop up every where! I just love buying gifts for people at various craft shows. It's a great way to not only support local artists, but to also find a really unique and wonderful gifts for the people you love!

While I was in Boise last weekend, we hit an Etsy show in the Pioneer Building. Boise has always had great craft shows, but they've recently started having Etsy shows and Indie art shows which are a little bit hipper then a few of the things you may find at craft shows. I did a little holiday shopping...ok, it was all for me, but still. I met Heidi at Pepperberry Knits. I picked up patterns for her Hannah newsboy hat which after I saw it over at Living Senses knew that it had to be mine. I also picked up the pattern for her Jodie Fingerless Flap Gloves. I may have picked up a few other things, but shhh.....it's a secret.

My sister also picked up the cutest baby gift from Mockingbird Clothing Co. I will be hitting her Etsy page for a little holiday shopping for the neices!

If you're in the Boise area this weekend, you must check out the Hip Holiday Market at the Flying M Garage in Nampa. Pepperberry Knits will be there as will Sew Happy Jane!

If you're in the Seattle area, this weekend is the Holiday craft show for the Urban Craft Uprising! I checked out thier summer sale and it was fabulous! This is a must hit holiday show.

I won't be able to go to it because the hubby and I will be in N. Idaho for my sister in law's wedding. I can't wait to see what you all get from these fabulous shows! Craft on my friends!

Thanksgiving recap: 2009

A pictoral review:

I met Macie Marie, daughter of my lifelong (literally, I've known my entire life) best friend Kelli.

Her big sis Cameron loved the hat I made her. And she graciously tried on a hat my mom was making to test it's size out for another little kid.

I also got to hang out with sweet little Jossy and rock star Kellan and their moms. It was a fun night!

This is what happens when I ask my sister to hold my camera for a moment. Clearly we're still 7 at heart.

And wine tasting with my mom and sister at Indian Creek Winery in Nampa (they are owned by Idaho Vandals). They make the best Reisling! If you haven't been on the wine tour in Canyon County I highly recommend it! We hit 5 locally owned vineyards and had a great time!

It was a great trip to Boise as always! Although, I didn't get any pics of our fabulous Turkey dinner. I guess we were too busy cooking and then eating to bother with a silly little thing of a picture.

#$%@*!!!!

Always listen to your inner knitter.

That is the moral of today’s lesson.

Why you ask? Good question.


I had been so pleased with myself and the Foliage Hat I was working on for my sister’s Christmas Present. I finally had some time to work on it this weekend and I was happily knitting away. I was enjoying the project as it was just coming together so beautifully, much better than the first time I knit the project about 2 years ago. I was thinking that I’ve really progressed as a knitter since this time around was so easy.


Boy was I freakin’ wrong.


As our plane began the descent from our flight back to Seattle, the little nagging knitter voice inside me was getting a little louder: this hat looks small. Really small for my sister. Then when I was just 7 rows from finishing, I really listened to my inner knitter: these needles also look a little small.


But the plane was landing so I just shoved the knitting and my inner knitter aside and went home.


Then, after the bags were unpacked and laundry churning away in the machine, did I dare open the knitting. I pulled out the project. And I pulled out my needle guide. Then I realized my mistake: the size 5 needles were actually size 3!!!


How could this happen I yelled (among other things I also yelled)? The empty size 5 needle package was also in the knitting bag. So where are these needles I wondered aloud? The hubby called this the Great Needle Thanksgiving Mystery.


I called it Really &%*#*%^ Annoying.


Now it’s all about the ripping out and starting over. Only this time, I’ve got the right needles. I’m sure of it. I just bought news ones instead of searching for my missing ones. Nothing like a little retail therapy to ease the knitting nerves.

A random list on a “short, easy holiday work week”

The hat I made for the hubby’s birthday was too big. Thanks Rebecca for the suggestion of washing/drying it. It’ll either shrink enough to fit either him or myself. I was on the verge of ripping it out and starting over. Not good.

 I’m annoyed/insulted that the car dealership only offered me $200 for my beloved car. So it’s only a1999 Plymouth Neon, but it’s been well taken care of, it’s super clean on the inside thanks to my Type A skills and it’s been loved much. They so don’t deserve Leon the Neon.

 If anyone one in the greater Seattle metro area needs a used car that runs well and has a cd player, drop me an email.

 I’ve lost the recipe for the one dish I was signed up to make tomorrow: homemade cranberry sauce. I know it calls for cranberries, sugar and apple cider vinegar. The rest is a bit of mystery.


Note to self: Google cranberry sauce. Don’t wing it for a family holiday dinner (that last quote courtesy of the hubby.)


Got another massive work project dumped on my plate yesterday.


I may be getting an intern next year to help me out. Am thankful that my boss has recognized that I’m beginning to get just a wee bit overwhelmed with work.


I have to write a show script, find a location for another show and deal with a few other fires before my plane leaves in just a few hours. No problem.


Here’s to a happy, healthy Thanksgiving with not so questionable cranberry sauce and a good bottle of wine to recoup from this “short and easy holiday” week!

Happy Birthday to the Hubby!

Today is the hubby's birthday!

But what do you get the guy that eats your "experimental" recipes; puts up with your vegetarian/crazy hippie cooking; installs a new headlight in your car that turns out to be way more complicated than we both thought; doesn't mind when we go to a bar to watch football and I bring my knitting and helps clean the house on a regular basis?

Nothing but a little hand knit love in the form of a new hat:

And an XBox 360 football game. But shhh....it's a secret!

Pattern: Kim's Hats from Last Minute Knitted Gifts in men size
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy worsted in Jungle Cloud

luv.

I am in love with my new yarn. I bought a skein of Malibrigo sock yarn in Stonechat. It will soon be cast on to be become my Ishbel.

That's what all the cool kids at Purly Girls are knitting. I'm loving their Ishbels so now it's time to get my lace knit on.

Fingers crossed. You know my history with the lace knitting. We're not BFF's. More like frien-enemys to say the least.

Some are keepers; others go straight into the compost

For the past few months I’ve been loving my new subscription of Everyday Foods by Martha. I read it on the bus (yes, that’s how much of a cooking nerd I’ve become, I read cooking magazines on the bus). I’ve tried dozens of new recipes and they have all been delicious and quite easy.


So imagine my surprise when I tried the latest one from the November issue called Beef Stew. As you know, I’m a sucker for a soup recipe and I figured I’d try a meat one for the hubby. But I gotta say, I had my doubts from the beginning.


Now I will admit here, that some of this is partly my fault. I forgot to take the stew meat out of the freezer before going to work that day. I tried to thaw it out before I started cooking it, but I only got part of it thawed and it was getting late. The recipe does take a while so I figured what the hell, and just started cooking. That wasn’t the only problem. The stew base was really a soup base and just so watery. I tried adding garlic. This recipe didn’t call for any garlic and that should have been my first clue. I’m always skeptical of any recipe that doesn’t have garlic because it’s so good….why not have it? I also tossed in some of my standby soup seasonings. Nothing. Didn’t help.


The hubby came home. I explained my concern. He was now concerned as he’d never really seen me this concerned over a meal that I hadn’t even eaten yet. We talked about alternatives. There really weren’t any and besides, I was determined not to let this recipe get to me. I powered on and made the rolls to go with the stew. The same rolls I make all the time. For some reason, they turned out not finished on the inside, and after tossing them back in the oven, I nearly burnt them trying to finish them.


We sat down to eat dinner, both of us filling up on the unburnt portion of rolls. The stew meat was chewy and bland. The “stew” was even blander. The hubby dumped a bunch of his favorite seasonings in his bowl which didn’t really help my self esteem. Or the soup.


In the end, we called this recipe not so good to say the least. Neither of us finished our helping. I was feeling bad for all the time, money, food spent on the recipe, but really, it wasn’t good.


But I managed to cheer myself up with a big bowl of popcorn and by watching Glee that night. And those two things made for quite the tasty dessert.

For Hannah and Olivia

Project: Kim's Hats

From: Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy

Color: Butterpeeps

For Hannah

For Olivia

Raveled project here.

Out of whack

The work life balance has been a little out of whack lately to say the least.

But, my big work project that has consumed my life for the past month is finally finished and behind me (and it was a HUGE SUCCESS if I may say so)!

Now, it's time for a little R & R, catching up with old friends that luckily are very patient with me and understand when my life gets ahead of me. It also happens to be getting into one of my favorite times of the year: holiday season. I'm ready to cozy up on the couch with a warm blanket, a cup of hot chocolate, my knitting and the hubby (ok, so he really doesn't like to get cozy when I'm knitting....something about errant needles....).

I'm ready to get back in touch with my life, my family, my friends, my knitting and my home.

Thanks for your patience everyone.

I've missed you.

I call it the Quick-Easy-Healthy-Homemade-Soup-Despite-Not-Much-Cooking-Time

Or I call it the Haven't-Eaten-Enough-Veggies-In-A-While-Soup.

Whatever name you use, this soup rocks! It's super quick to toss together, even when you've got a totally crazy schedule. All you need are a few pantry/fridge staples and a little creativity and an appetite and you're set!

2 cans of Low Sodium/Fat Free Chicken Broth
1 can diced tomatoes
1 can white beans
a bunch of carrots cut up
a few Yukon Gold potatoes cut up
1 or 1/2 of an onion (I like the sweet ones, but really any kind work)
handful of orzo
a few crushed/chopped garlic cloves (or if you're really pressed for time - toss in some garlic salt)
salt/pepper/seasonings to taste

As you can see, I'm not big on measuring. It really depends on how many are eating the soup or how many days you want to take this to lunch. The thing I love about this soup is how versatile it is. For example, I've made it with Veggie Broth and tofu; zucchini makes a lovely addition as does chicken, sausage, whatever you've got on hand or are craving. Tonight I also tossed in a handful of spinach just for some extra goodness!

Serve sprinkled with parmesan, warm bread and enjoy!
*Sorry for the crappy pic, but my camera died when I went to take the pic. Since I didn't want it to get cold, I just used my camera phone. It doesn't take the best pics.

'Tis the season

I've got two cute pumpkins picked out. Hopefully I'll find the time this week to carve them.

I'm planning on picking up some candy for all the trick-o-treaters later this week (can't get the candy early due to my total lack of will power).

So that can only mean one thing: I'm already way behind on my holiday knitting.

This year, it's the year of the hats. I'm hoping they'll be quick knits that will super cute on the recipients.

I'm going to make 2 hats for my nieces in N.J. They will be getting the Kim's Hats from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. They hubby will also be getting one of those hats (albeit a little bit bigger and a little less pinker than the girls hats). My sister will also be getting a Foilage hat from knitty. Every time I wear mine, she's always coveting it. I often have to do a double check to make sure I've still got it when she leaves. She's sneaky like that.

Now, to get knitting. Christmas is two months away from today!
Is it too early to put up my tree?

Mmmm...meat....

That is not a phrase often uttered from my mouth. In fact, I don't think I've ever uttered that. I could easily be a vegetarian if it wasn't for my love of Hawaiian pizza (ham & pineapple) and the fact that every once in a while I want a good BBQ hamburger. Other than that, I'm good.

But the other weekend the hubby and a friend took an 8 hour BBQ class at this BBQ restaurant. He loved it. He came home with the best "homework!" The class was taught on several types of BBQ's: gas, charcoal and one other kind that I can't remember. It gave him the chance to figure out what kind of BBQ he wanted (we needed a new one anyway). So now we've got a brand new charcoal BBQ.

And today we tested in out: ribs with homemade BBQ sauce. He made the sauce in a double boiler. There was some serious BBQing going on the kitchen today. It was my job to make the cornbread, because really, what is BBQ without cornbread?

The verdict? The best ribs I've ever had. The best ribs his friend from Tennessee has ever had. It was really good. I will be requesting this again.

Sometimes you need a little encouragement from a Junior High Gym Teacher

Monday night I went to Purly Girls. I was happy to be there and working on my socks. I finished turning the heel but I had no desire to pick up the stitches and work on the gusset. I just didn't want to do it. My other project was a lace project (more details to come later) and I can't work on that one and be social at the same time, well I can, but it's riddled with mistakes if I do.


So I sat there, staring at my sock, mentally willing the stitches to pick up themselves. Then Jean and Molly chimed in words of encouragement and tips. They were sweet. Amanda just laughed at me. Monica told me to get to work. But Katie, she had a different approach. She channeled her inner Junior High Gym Teacher. You know the one. She yelled at you. A lot. She yelled at you to run faster. Jump higher. Don't be afraid of the ball even though it was flying at you at a freakishly fast rate of speed and you followed every natural instinct in your body to duck. I mean, I'm just guessing that's what she said.

Katie told me I was bigger than the sock. She threatened to yell at me to get me to knit. It was slightly frightening, but it worked. I picked up the stitches. I figured out the pattern. Then I went home and ate ice cream with chocolate sauce. It was slightly traumatic.

But the heel is coming along just nicely.

Apple Season

I love fall. I love the crisp days. I love the color of the leaves. And I love to bake with apples!

I volunteered to bake an Apple Cranberry Pie for a charity auction a few months ago, and this was my month to deliver a sweet treat. I like to make my Apple Cranberry Pie because it's just a fun twist on a traditional apple pie. I've had this recipe for ages and it's never failed me:

• Take 5 Golden Delicious apples, peel and cut into 1/2 inch slices

• Mix with 2 cups of cranberries

• 1 cup of sugar

• 1/3 cup of flour

• 2 tbs of melted butter

• 1/2 tsp of ginger (I never seem to have ginger so I just toss in a bunch of cinnamon)

Dump it all in your unbaked pie crust then take a second crust and make a pretty lattice pattern. I like to brush my top crusts with some melted butter to give it a nice baked look. Plus, let's be honest here, butter just tastes good.

The hubby requested an apple pie as well. I wanted to use up the rest of the cranberries but he really doesn't like cranberries. Since he was in the garage changing the front light bulb on my car, I figured I could make the pie he wanted.

Serve warm with ice cream and enjoy! We did!

An F.O. of mom's

Last weekend when my mom was here visiting, we got to do a little knitting together. She was able to cast off and finish her project!

She finished a pair of fingerless gloves for her.

Unfortunately, I don't have the name of the pattern or yarn that she used, but she did use two types of red together, that I do know.

I also know that last year she knit my sister a cute apple green pair of these gloves. And now she has a sassy red pair of these gloves. So I'm thinking there's a pair in the works for me somewhere!

Weekend Highlights:

My parents came for a visit to see the house for the first time. We had a fabulous time hanging out and enjoy the beautiful fall weather.

With the help of my dad, we finished up a few odd projects around the house.

The Idaho Vandals won another football game, making them first in the WAC - yes, first place. As in better than the BSU Broncos.

I beat my hubby in our fantasy football league landing me in first place.

I'm back to working on socks for the hubby and am nearly at the heel.

All in all, a prefectly wonderful weekend!

For June

Pattern: One Row Scarf from the Yarn Harlot

Yarn: 2 skeins of Manos Del Uruguay in the most lovely verigated purple color

For: my dear friend June, who will wear it knowing lots of love was knit into this scarf

Orcas Island

Yes, it's that pretty and relaxing.

Off to Orcas Island!

The hubby and I are leaving for a quick weekend getaway to Orcas Island in the San Juans! I've never been there before so I'm excited to see it.

There will plenty of pictures to be posted when I get back. I've been a slacker (or really busy....I seem to run in two modes these days...superbusy/stressed to slacker/lazy as I try to recover) so I'll post pics for sure.

(It was another chaotic day and I don't think that last sentence makes sense but I honestly don't really care.)

Surviving September

About mid-August I took a look ahead at my work to-do list for the month of September. It scared me. Like really scared me. My job isn't your normal 9-5 gig so sometimes the workload varies depending on the day and story. But this month wasn't pretty. I decided instead of stressing over it, I was mearly going to embrace the challenges ahead and run with it. At least that's what I kept telling myself.

Throw in a few busy weekend (a trip to Boise to see the family and a visit from the in-laws to see our new house) it all just kind of made for some really exhausting days. And nights. Hence the few and far between blog posts. And the even fewer and farther between knitting projects. And my sewing machine? Yeah, there's a layer of dust on it. Which is really too sad because while I was home my mom hooked me up with some very cute sewing projects!

But luckily for me, the knitting waits, the sewing maching is oh-so patient with me (even when I'm not patient with it) and my friends and family are supportive of my seemingly constant complaining about my work load. When the truth be told, I'm lucky to do what I do, and even luckier to have a job (unlike a few of my coworkers who didn't quite survive September and our surprise layoffs that came a few weeks ago.)

So here's to October! Here's to a new month full of possibilities, new projects and most importantly - so freaking time to just relax!

Julie, Julia & Meg

This summer I read Julie & Julia and My Life in France. They both made me laugh. They both made me hungry. And they both made me want to cook.

But with record high temps outside and in my kitchen (there were several days where it was at least 84 degrees or higher in my kitchen) and that pretty much wiped out my desire to cook.

But it's cooler now and I'm ready to tap into that inspiration. I think it has something to do with fall. The cooler temps and colored leaves make me want to bake and make soups.

I got a little creative with the mass amounts of tomatoes I got from the garden. I decided I was going to whip up a sauce for our pasta. So with a couple of handfuls of tomatoes, some green onions from the garden and chives from the herb pot, I tossed them into the pan and cooked them down to a delightful topping.

And then I heard the peaches calling my name from the farmers market. So I whiped a tart from an old receipe (that I've saved forever but never actually made). It's from Real Simple. It calls for a pre-made pie crust, and while I do love baking, sometimes, you just need to fake it and use a pre-made pie crust, know what I mean? I also didn't have enough peaches so I improvised with a handfull or two (don't you like my great measuring systems?) of fresh raspberries.

I have to say, both dishes were quite divine. I think the ladies would be proud.

Here's to a return to the kitchen.

Bringing in the heavy artillery

I know spiders are a good thing. I just can’t wrap my mind around that fact when they seem so confident strutting through my TV room. Or bedroom. Or bathroom.

They are really big ones too. Seriously freakishly big. And I’m done with them. Tomorrow, the exterminator arrives to help me rid the house of these unwanted arachnids.

And they really have no one to blame but themselves. The other night, as I was getting ready for bed, you know where this is going right? Right, as I was getting ready for bed, something caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. It was brown and moving and on my bed. I screamed and grabbed the comforter and flipped it off the bed. Of course, in doing that, I also flipped the spider. But I couldn’t ever find the spider. And we looked. And looked. And shook out the bedding. No luck. It was after 11 and the hubby was tired of indulging me and went to bed.

And so did I. The next morning I found – what I’m telling myself – is the same spider in the bathroom, and squashed him and flushed him. I killed three others just like him that same day. Seriously, this is stopping.

To illustrate this post, I thought I’d share a few photos of some of the spiders that have taken up residence outside. While they’ve never made it in the house (yet) their friends have entered, only to never be heard from again…..

The latest crop

The first carrots of the season are here.

Too bad my fabulous lettuce crop as decided to stop producing. There go my dreams of a totally home grown salad.

Figures.

When a yarn store shuts down

It's always a sad thing when a yarn store closes their doors.
It means no place to go for help with a project.
No place to sit and visit with fellow women who you may not know when you walk in, but are friends when you leave.
It means no place to just stroll and look and touch the pretty, pretty things.


But....


It also means a SALE!!! The store in question is my mom's favorite yarn store in Eagle, Idaho: Handmade. It's a fabulous store in a beautiful custom made log cabin house with over stuffed chairs, couches and shelfs filled to the rafters with yarn.

Thier sale: 50% off everything. EVERYTHING! Unfortunately, I didn't know about this sale before I came for a long weekend visit. I would have better prepared myself for upcoming projects. Instead I just grabbed some pretty yarn that I'm rather fond of.


I purchased 5 skeins of Dream in Color Classy in Worsted Weight. One skein of Some Summer Sky (which will become a Foliage Hat for my sister for Christmas); 2 skeins of Cloud Jungle (to become a hat for the hubby); 1 skein of Butter Peeps just because I love the color. They were all sold out of the Dream in Color sock yarn but this is still quite the steal!


If you're in the vicinty of Boise, Idaho, I HIGHLY recommend a side trip to Eagle for this fabulous sale!

Whew!

I'm trying to catch my breath here.

For the past few weeks, work has been totally crazy. Like insane crazy busy.

Between work stress and a busy vacation to N. Idaho, I haven't had time to catch up with knitting, blogging, reading, and sometimes life.

This weekend I'm off again, now to Boise to visit my family and see from friends and get some r & r! Well, the r & r is in the plan but we'll see how that goes too!

A blog update to come complete will all vacation pics and hopefully a few more knitting projects finished!

Lucky Winner!

I was a lucky winner for one of the Blue Book Guide to Canning from the blog Canning Across America. It'a great blog founded by very talented cooks, writers, canners and many others from right here in Seattle. It's full of great culinary stories, tips and links! Check it out, then start planning your next canning party. That's what I'm doing!

Lovey Dovey

Pattern: Lovey Dovey Top by Spud & Chloe

Yarn: Spud & Chloe in Watermelon & Firefly Sweater

For: a sweet little baby beach girl