Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Sweater is finished! I really like it. I've never worn a short sweater like this but it's nice. A fast knit and I will definately be wearing it quite a bit.
This is the sweater I'm casting on now. It's the Debbie Bliss sweater from Knitscene wnter/spring 2011. I'm knitting it in a pale green and I think it will turn out to be a nice spring sweater.

Although the red is nice as well.

Dinner tonight is warm mushrooms and cranberry salad with horseradish dressing. mmmm. Lunch was a lovely creamy portobello soup and homemade cornbread. Perfect for a chilly,overcast day!




Sunday, February 20, 2011

Been busy knitting away. Finished mom's vest (whew!) and decided to make myself a short-sleeved cardigan for spring. I had some Lion Brand Pound of Love lying around and thought I might as well get some use out of it. The color is Bubblegum and the pattern is from Lion Brand's website...it's called the Weekend Retreat Cardi and is knit from the neck down. So far I think I will really like it. A fairly fast knit and pretty mindless so I can watch videos while knitting.
Just finished watching PBS's "1940's House" and I quite enjoyed it.
Had some lovely weather this week, which is unusual for this time of year. My birthday was the 17th and I actually wore a short-sleeved teeshirt. Last year we had over 10" of snow. Got some fun things for presents....some yarn (gasp-what a surprise!) A skein of Noro Silk Garden and a pattern from a local designer for a funky, spiral-y scarf that looked really cool on the sales clerk. Very intriguing looking pattern. I'll keep you posted.
Also bought some Mango Moon recycled sari silk. I've been looking at it for years and finally caved. I found some shawl patterns on Ravelry for it and I think that I will make one of those with it.
Went over to Borders this morning. The really depressing news is that they are closing that store and they are having their going out of business sale.
I would have thought that this was the store they would leave open, out of the 3 they have here. It's the largest, most centrally located one but, no. I shop there all the time but no more. There is a Barnes and Noble right around the corner but I always preferred Borders. The rewards were free and they always sent really good coupons. I was going to go over yesterday and use my 33% off coupons but when I got there they were already having the discounted sales. 20% off all books, which meant I couldn't use my coupons :( . Plus (and I am not exaggerating at all) there must have been at least 150 people in line. They lined all the way from the front registers around all the stacks and through to the back of the store. No thanks! So I ran over this morning to be there when they opened. They told me the wait yesterday was at least 45 minutes to an hour. Some people were in line with just a magazine! I understand that they were 40% off but I wouldn't stand that long for just one little thing!
Well, the weather today is freezing rain today and chilly so I am brewing a pot of Blackberry Sage tea and I am going to try and finish my sweater. Keep warm!



Thursday, February 10, 2011

Mmmmm. Potato skins. Amanda made a bunch for her friend's Super Bowl party and she saved me the outsides and a bag of "insides" and I went home and whipped up some vegan skins. Yum. Sauteed some mushrooms and onions and mashed it all up with some "sour cream" and Daiya cheddar cheese and chowed down. Thanks Amanda.

No knitting pictures right now. I am knitting but it's a long sampler vest for mom out of Peaches and Cream cotton. I'm trying to get it finished by this weekend since the weather is warming up slightly. Today it was 27*. I know that we will still have some cold weather...it alway is cruddy around my birthday but some warmer wouldn't be amiss. Supposed to be in the mid-40*'s by the beginning of the week so that will be a relief. Although, I have to say, I haven't really minded the freezing temps so much. I've just hunkered down with alot of hot tea, knitting, dvds and podcasts. Oh and some cooking as well. Yesterday I made some vegetable tomato rice soup and a grilled ''cheese" sandwich with some Daiya cheese and it was the perfect cold weather lunch. As a matter of fact, I may have some for dinner tonight since it's supposed to go down to 9*. Brrrrr.
Stay warm and get some knitting done.

Tuesday, February 01, 2011

This is another pair of the two-color cabled socks with some more Cascade 220.
Ta-dah! Quant is done and I love it. I really like entrelac and can't wait to knit a pair of socks. I have the pattern and yarn ready to go but am going to finish what's on my needles right now before starting.
I am knitting another sampler vest for mom and finishing off the cabled socks so my socks will have to wait.

On the weather side.....gruesome. Ice all over and when it started to melt off the driveway we then started with the freezing rain. So now the trees and grass are covered. Let's hope we don't get much more.
But it's good knitting weather and definately baking weather.

These are crispy,chewy oatmeal cookies from "The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur" and sooooo good. I have been craving oatmeal cookies for a week now and what better time to make them when it's icy and a good day to be inside.
I also made mushroom fettucini and broccoli for lunch 'cause Amanda stopped by for lunch. Thanks sis!

Okay. Just made a fresh pot of tea-Blackberry Sage from The
Republic of Tea and I am going to pop in an audio book and knit.
Stay warm and safe and knit alot.