Stormy weather today. I do like that it's been chilly lately so I can still wear my hand knit socks. 

This is what I did this week. Found a denim shirt for $3.00 and decided to give it a little cross stitch. I haven't stitched in a long time and I really enjoyed it. Plus I have a new shirt.

Did some cooking today. Made risotto and tofu "chik'n" marsala in the slow cookers and some oatmeal coconut cookies. It's always nice on a rainy, chilly day to have the cookers going.

Went up to Main Street Yarns the other day http://mainstreetyarnsmason.com/ and got this kit http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/butin-collar. I've been looking at it for quite some time and just decided to go ahead and buy it. I'll more than likely make a few of them. I like Laura Nelkin's designs and am taking her lace class on Craftsy.

Okay. I'm off to finish my Helleborus sweater so I'll be back soon.

See, I did come back!

Busy weekend for me ...lots of running around and yesterday and today were soooo windy that it's just exhausting to be out.

Let's see. Yesterday. Started out with a venti iced soy latte and newspaper from Starbucks (mmmmm) and then drove to the park to enjoy the beautiful morning. (This was before the wind really picked up). It was a lovely morning and the park was great.

Then we decided to go to Hyde Park and kick around there for awhile. Stopped at Fresh Market http://www.thefreshmarket.com/ to get some of their ciabatta rolls and some quinoa as they were having a very good sale on that. The rolls make great sandwiches so I got regular and multi-grain. Yummy.

Then went to Sur La Table to pick up a glass container for juice drinks. Oh yeah...a few weeks ago I broke down and got a VitaMix www.vitamix.com and have been making vegetable/fruit drinks everyday. I haven't used it for anything else but am working my way up to it. I tend not to use machines for any cooking if I don't have to but this will be good, especially for crushing nuts because it's so strong that I don't have to soak them overnight anymore. Also got a tiny whisk to use for mixing egg replacer as I figured it will work better than a fork.

Next we stopped at Popeye's because mom loves their jambalaya. I just sit and watch her enjoy it because there isn't anything there for me to eat but that's fine with me. After the latte I wasn't hungry anyway.

Next was a stop at Hank www.hankyarn.com to get a pair of size 7 dpn's. Now I know that I have some because I used them a few months ago but I can't find them anywhere! I keep all needles in the same place but it's not the worst thing because I didn't really like that pair..old and plastic ..so I bought a pair of HiyaHiya stainless steel's 6". Much better. I had to have them because the other day I inadvertantly shrunk (whisper that) one of my socks that I designed. *GASP*. I didn't realize that I had thrown it in the wash. I was surprised that it felted since it's a front loader but the good thing is that I had only washed one so I only have to reknit one. So now I have a lovely set of dpn's to work with.

Let's see....where did we go next? Oh yes...Coffee Emporium http://www.coffee-emporium.com/ to get some tea. I bought some Walnut green, which has pieces of walnut and  pineapple (I'm having a pot now), and a few other kinds. Plus they have a tea/coffee club where you buy so much and then you get 2 ounces of tea free and I think it's a half pound of coffee. So I got my free 2 oz of walnut green and now I'm set for awhile.

The last stop was Penzey's spice store www.penzeys.com which was great fun. We went a few weeks ago but I was running out of the dehydrated garlic (the Best!!!) and I was there so why not? Picked up some different spices and can't wait to try them.

The other day was so chilly that I stayed and did some slow cooking in the crock pots. Made some bean and cabbage soup and tempeh choucroute garnie which is basically tempeh and sausage with sauerkraut,potatoes, caraway seeds and juniper berries. Just delicious. I will definately make both again.

Just finished another kal for the solidsockknitters group on Ravelry. The theme was yellow and the yarn is something that I had in my stash. I made them for Amanda and I hope she likes them.

Okay. Off to make some more tea and knit. Have a great night. 

Went to the park today and saw this guy with his friend. Quite the big iguana but he had a great time at the park.

More tomorrow.

Thought I'd sit down for a few minutes and try and catch up here. I've been knitting alot but just haven't really sat down at the computer to do much of anything.

The weather has been crazy here the past few days. 83* yesterday and low 60*s today. At least we didn't have any rain and storms today. Although quite a bit last night.

Here's another shot of my finished mystery kal shawl. http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/knitting-like-crazy-mystery-shawl-2012. The name of the pattern is "Belle Haven" and I really like it. It's somewhat smaller than I would have liked and I guess I should've gone up a needle size but I still am pleased with it. I was glad that the weather was cool enough the other day that I could wear it. Just perfect for spring weather. Plus I have enough left over to make a pair of socks. The yarn is "Mandarin Lime" by Done Roving Frolicking Feet and I love this yarn. I made another pair of socks using another colorway and the yarn is great.

I'm doing another kal...the theme is "yellow" and I'm knitting socks (it's for the solidsockknitters group) and using a dk weight doubled for the pattern. I am making them for Amanda so I hope they are good and comfy. I had started another pair with them but got to the foot and decided that I just didn't like them at all. So I ripped them all out (don't read that part Amanda!) and started the new pair which are much better.

This was the original pattern that I knit but it just didn't work with this yarn. But I am definately going to make it again. Not my favorite yarn but it was the only yellow that I had. I'm trying to finish everything on the needles so I can start on my Rowan piece "Holly"

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/holly-14. I have done colorwork  before but I'm nervous about this one. I don't know if it's the large charts or the fact that this is the most I've spent on yarn for a project. I have a lovely box of Rowan felted tweed that silently reproaches me everytime I look in it's general direction. Or maybe that's just my imagination.

Did some cooking this week. This is the most delicious french toast I've ever eaten!!

It's called "sticky carmel baked french toast" from "Vegan Junk Food" and ohhhhhhhhhh myyyyyyyyy. Served it with some lovely fresh sliced strawberries and it was fabulous!! I also made some of her "chicken" salad today. I haven't made one thing that hasn't been wonderful from the cookbook. http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Junk-Food-Sinful-Snacks/dp/1440528977/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1333583818&sr=1-1. I highly recommend it to anyone, vegan or not.

A few weeks ago we drove up to Dayton to HealthFood Unlimited http://www.healthfoodsunlimited.com/ because they have items there that they don't carry here. And it's fun to poke around. I found Tofutti's Ricotta  that I'd been looking for and bought a few containers as they were so obliging as to have it on sale! And am I glad that I did. It's really creamy and so good and here are the stuffed shells that I made using it and also some sauteed kale and made my own sauce (fancy,no?)

Yummy.

Okay, the laundry is done and I have to go switch the load and watch season 4 of Chuck (thanks Target for having it on sale!!).

Have a great week and keep on knitting.

I know, I know. But here's partly why. 

And I'll be back in a day or two.

Been busy trying to catch up on the mystery shawl knitalong! The 4th clue was just released and I'm still working through the 3rd clue. But 2 more rows and then I can start on the last clue! 

It got to go to the park today for awhile.

It's been ridiculously hot here this week. Yesterday it was 86* and it broke a record. Just crazy. I was not ready for spring yet, much less this kind of heat. I still wanted cold and dark nights and one good snowstorm that closed everything for about 2 days. Certainly not shorts and sandals. And I was not ready to stop wearing my handknit socks :(

Here's something that is not knitted. Bought a few denim shirts on clearance and added some embroidery on one of them. I'm corss stitching on the other and am really enjoying it. I love to cross stitch. Have so many huge pieces on the walls so often did alot of jackets and clothes.

Made some stuffed shells the other day and used the new Tofutti ricotta cheese in the filling. Absolutely delicious. Added some sauteed kale and made my own tomato sauce. I will definately be using the ricotta again.

Just monkey-ing around here.

Okay. Off to finish the clue 3. Have a great night all.

Lookie what came today! My "loot'' from the gift certificate from http://www.dreamweaveryarns.com/catalog/. I got that from getting my sock pattern published in the upcoming Planet Purl book release. Fun stuff. Plus I got  a set of blocking wires since I'm starting to knit more lace shawls. The yarn is Malabrigo sock yarn in "terracotta''. I've never knit with the sock yarn but the worsted weight is lovely. I'm pleased to have the KnitPicks dpn's 5" set so more sock knitting will ensue.

Speaking of sock knitting....here's my finished set of Bilbo socks.

I love them.

The yarn is Trekking Art in the colorway "Jamaika". The only thing that I did different on sock 2 is on the highly cabled row I went up a needle size because the cables pull in alot. But I really like the pattern and will probably knit it again. I definately want to buy the rest of her patterns as well.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/fellowship-of-the-socks. They are in my Ravelry library for a someday soon.

Okay, off to knit on my mystery shawl kal and enjoy this crazy 75* weather!



Lots of knitting here!

Socks I knit for Amanda that were for a knitalong on Ravelry for the solidsockknitters group. This is the Hocket pattern http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/hocket-socks

and they are knit with Plymouth Encore worsted in brown. They came out really nice and I think she'll really like them. Considering I had her try on the first one when she stopped the other day and then could barely get it back, I'm pretty confident she wants them.

This is the start of the mystery shawl kal http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/knitting-like-crazy-mystery-shawl-2012 and the yarn is "mandarin lime" from Done Roving Frolicking Feet. I enjoyed the kal last year and so far haven't been disappointed! I have been slowly working on it because, as usual, I have overcommitted on kals.  But I finished the sock so only 2 to work on.  This is the other that I'm knitting...http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/bilbo-socks for the Claire Ellen Design group. It's the "We-hate-waiting-along" and I got the Bilbo pattern. I must say that I'm loving this pattern and the yarn. We are also having a read-a-long of "The Hobbit" at the same time.It's much farther along and I will be working on it tonight.

Been doing some cooking also.This is the pasta fazioli from one of Robin Robertson's cookbooks and a grilled "cheese" sandwich made with Daiya "cheese". It was a great meal for a cold winter day.

This is the red,red stew from "Everyday Happy Herbivore" with rice and fried plaintains. Absolutely delicious. Has black eyed peas and I quite enjoyed it and was so easy to make. I also made a tempeh loaf for lunch today that's wonderful.

Went to Lambikins on Sunday because they were having a sale. Bad, bad knitter. I shouldn't have spent any money but some things were such a good deal that I did anyway. Got some yarn to make socks for Amanda and also will be able to use them for some kals. So she will have to wait for some of them. Also got a lovely skein of Brown Sheep lace weight with 1500 yards on it for $12.00 in the colorway "pinot noir" for something for Amanda. I'm not sure what to make. Any suggestions?

Okay. Off to make a pot of tea and do some knitting. Have a great week!

I can't believe that I've let so long go in between posts. My only excuse is that I've been busy knitting. This is the Newton scarf made from Haruni yarn. About 650 yards on a skein so it was alot of knitting but I really like the scarf. The colors are a little muted ..it's quite bright.

 Finished these for a knitalong. They are "Rivendell" from "The Eclectic Sole'' and the color doesn't show great but it's a beautiful fushia. It's Cascade Heritage sock yarn and the color is "Hyacinth". These were for the Solidsockknitters' group on Ravelry. The theme this month is "spring" and the color is perfect for spring.

I did finish the "Supernova" sweater that I was knitting but...it really didn't turn out well. Everything was to gauge and it seamed up beautifully but when I tried it on the armpits were almost at my waist. What?? And if I pulled up the sleeves the hexagons that make up the top bunch up like a particularly unattractive leg-o-mutton sleeve. As if there's an attractive version of those. I was really disappointed. But my neighbor is a seamstress and I am going to take it up there this week and see if she can figure out how to fix it. Since it's wool I should be able to cut it to fix the underarm. At least I hope so. I like the sweater alot and would really like to be able to wear it.

Went up to Dayton today for a small road trip. Amanda drove and we stopped at the "whippydip" in Springboro to get some of their spicy fried pickle spears. I was surprised to see that it was open but yah! for us. They were delicious!

Then we drove to the big health food store -Health Foods Unlimited- and had a good time shopping and poking around. They have products that I can't find here, even at Whole Foods or Jungle Jims. I was most excited to find some Tofutti "ricotta" cheese and it was on sale. Woohoo for me. Plus they had The Tea of Republic's Comfort and Joy tea on sale for $3.99 a canister. Hooray! I love that tea and since it only it released around the holiday I usually get 2 cans and then try and make it last for as long as I can. So I picked up 2 more of them and I can have plenty throughout the year. I have a cup right now. So good.

Then we went to Dorothy Lane Market and picked up a couple of items...although now that I think of it I didn't get anything there. Mom and Amanda bought some things though. Oh. I did get a cup of coffee from the Boston Stokers kiosk there....snickerdoodle. It was good but my favorite is their Highlander Grogg. So tasty.

Okay. Off to get some more knitting finished. I'm trying to get a few things finished before I cast on something (or somethings) new. Have a great night.

Nothing going on here but some knitting. Snow showers tonight and tomorrow but COLD! Good thing wool socks are nice and warm.

These are the Rivendell socks from "The Eclectic Sole" and they are for a knitalong for the SolidSockknitters Ravelry group. The photo of the skein is a more true color. I don't know why my camera won't take true photos of purple or blue. I started another pair out of the same yarn but it didn't want to be that pattern because it just wasn't working in that pattern. This one is going great though.

Finally got to Knit On in Monmouth/Newport, Ky. I hadn't been since they  opened their new location but had a great time. 

These are just a few shots of their stock. It was rather overwhelming when you first walked in but had to take a deep breath and just throw yourself in and start looking.

Bought a few things...

This is a discontinued yarn that Amanda loved so it is going to be a shawl for her. It is this....http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Antalee/frosti-english and I  think it will be lovely.

Also went to The Spice and Tea Exchange in Rookwood. www.spiceandtea.com.

We had fun poking around and bought a few things. Got a lovely coconut oolong tea and some different spices. It was an interesting shop and we probably will go back again.

Well, I am trying to finish a sweater so I am going to go and have a cuppa and pop in a dvd (found the series "Sports Night at the library) and try and finish some of it. Keep knitting and stay warm!

Yes, yes, I know. Bad blogger. But I have a really good reason this time. These are my socks that I designed and back in October I submitted them to Planet Purl (www.planetpurl.com) to be published in their upcoming book "American Gift Knitting/American Sock Knitting" and they were accepted!  These are my first design and I was rather surprised. Actually, I was gobsmacked! They sent me the yarn that they wanted me to knit them with...Ella Rae Heathers and it was a lovely yarn. It's hard to tell but it's a nice light blue. I just sent them in to them today as well as the pattern and when they receive it they will send me a $100.00 gift certificate to www.dreamweaveryarns.com. And 2 copies of the book when it's released. So yah! for me.

Also finished this. It's called "The Key to Warmth" and I LOVE it. It's knit with KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Currant and Tumeric and a really fast knit and so warm. Of course, now it's 67* out and much too warm for wool. But I'm sure it will get cold again. My birthday is almost always icy and awful weather. But there's about 2 weeks left before that so we shall see.

New mug! You know how much I "loves" me some mugs. I found it on clearance at my local grocery store (they have a Starbucks' kiosk there) and it was only $2.19. Score!

I have the green one with the holly on it so now I have a little matching set. I'm easy to please!

Here's my other treat. I got this for under $20.00.  It's over 4000 yds of a lovely worsted weight and I'll be able to get at least 2 sweaters out of it and maybe a cowl or something else. It was quite a deal. I got it at http://www.discontinuedbrandnameyarn.com. They have such great deals. I especially like their Cherry Tree Hill sales.

Okay, off to try and finish the sleeve on my sweater. What sweater you ask? I'll tell you next time!

Ice,ice,baby. What a mess outside! We had freezing rain and sleet and ice starting last night through early this morning. My driveway (and everyone else's) and lots are beyond crazy. I needed a rope and crampons just to get to the mailbox. There was just a little piece of the front porch that didn't have ice on it that I used as a jumping off point into the grass to bypass the driveway. Which was completely covered at the bottom with more ice and piles of icy slush that refroze from the snow plows scraping the street. I was glad to be inside with my cuppa and knitting.

I spent the morning cooking so I have a full refrigerator now. Used the crockpots for some stuff. Made "Chick'n and dumplings" with chickpeas instead of tofu and used a gluten-free baking mix so mom can eat them also. Also made a "cheesy chorizo" black bean dip kind of thing and some portobello sandwich filling with peppers and onions. I got those recipes from " The Vegan  Slow Cooker" http://www.amazon.com/Vegan-Slow-Cooker-Intensely-Flavorful/dp/1592334644/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327185143&sr=1-1. Delicious. I am enjoying the slow cookers alot.

I also made some pecan pie bars that are very good.

The recipe that I've enjoyed most the past few days is "Hard Cider and Cabbage stew" with apple- sage "sausages" in it.  So good.

 Here are some socks that I've finished lately.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/spanish-dancer-socks.

These are Spanish Dancer socks and they are a worsted weight. I love them. So comfortable and fast to knit. I may make this pattern again.

These are sparkly! http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/st-andrews-cross-socks. I entered these in the Vanna White contest. It's hard to tell from the photos but the color is called "Moonstone" and it's a grey-brown with lots of sparkles.



Right now I'm working on some Cookie A. socks and a sweater.

A lovely chocolate truffle brownie with soy whipped cream. Mmmmmm. Great with a cuppa tea.

Off to make another pot of tea and knit. Stay warm and safe!





Sorry that I haven't posted in awhile but I've been busy knitting and cooking. I just got a slow cooker and some wonderful vegan slow cookers cookbooks. Needless to say I have lots of food. Which is too bad because it's a rainy,chilly day and perfect for cooking. Although tomorrow is supposed to be very cold and snowy so maybe I'll make a cake and something else.

This is the knitting going on right now.

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/knitsensei/st-andrews-cross-socks.

The yarn is "Vanna's Glamour" which is a sport weight, although it doesn't look like it to me. I'm knitting them for the Vanna's Contest and I'm almost finished with the first one. They are taking awhile although it's a fairly fast knit.

Okay. Off to make a pot of tea.



Spanish Dancers are done! Very comfortable and I really like them.



Getting ready for the January knitalong.

These are going to be....wait for it....wait....socks! Where you surprised? Nah, probably not. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/spanish-dancer-socks.

The kal is for the solidsockknitters group on Ravelry...http://www.ravelry.com/groups/solidsocks. The theme in January is black/white/grey and this is what I had. A nice worsted weight that should knit up quickly. I don't have many solid colors in fingering weight that I can use for this group.

But I do like having the knitalongs because it gives me a deadline to work with.

Just staying home tonight (which is actually what I've always done on New Years' Eve because I don't really care to go out anyway) in my pink jimjams with polar bears and penguins (I'm quite the fashion-plate!) with a pot of Trader Joe's Candy Cane green tea ...peppermint with vanilla...so good and my knitting. Right now I'm working on this....http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/supernova-pullover. I am almost finished with the back so it's moving right along. I'm using Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool and I just love the color.

Well, I hope that everyone has a blessed and safe New Years and happy knitting!

Been busy knitting socks. For the Vanna White contest.



Hahahaha! See. It really exists!

The Celtic poncho in all it's "glory". I had to hide it because it was a gift.....

But she was totally surprised because I told her that I had torn it out and wasn't going to finish it. Teehee. Whew. Glad it's off the needles and I WILL never make it again.

I hope that everyone has a blessed and wonderful Christmas!

(This isn't from here....nothing but sun for the next few days.)