It was all about the yarn.
And, knitting with my new friend, Leslie.
My friend, Keana.
All in my favorite yarn shop.
While at home, my new sweater arrived in the mail.

I read Abby's post, saw these cookies, and the next thing you know I was in the kitchen making them. You probably have all the ingredients in your pantry. If you are like me, you can get started now. Instead of making them giant, I made them "normal" size. And, I did them as a slice and bake, cause I pretty much love making cookies that way. Cut off a few. Sure. Cut off many. Sure. Cut off the ends and eat the dough. Absolutely.
I recently purchased a jar of vanilla sugar (vanilla beans mixed with sugar! genius!) from penzeys spices. Sprinkled it on the top. They were so good. Will definitely be making these again. And again. And again.
Libby's new girly mitts designed by the very talented, Ali. Libby loves them and I loved making them. Go ahead, see if you can find a "girly" and yarn in your stash. (My "girly", age 12, was almost too big for this pattern.)
Of course, Libby didn't want cookies after school. Instead she wanted a bagel. With cream cheese and jam. I wanted pics of the mitts I made for my friend, Noreen. Uh oh. Sort of dangerous to photograph them with that food. But they made it through. Completely unharmed. I LOVE this pattern. For both mitts I used cascade 220.

It was one of those weekends. Where the beauty was all around and the skiing was fantastic. Where fires where made as well as hot cocoa. Where the knitting needles clanked in the morning over coffee and in the evening over wine. And now, I am ready for it all to go away. For the snow to melt and the flowers to bloom. I would be happy to put the skis away until next year. Yep, I'm ready for spring.
At the beginning of February, I made a mental list of projects I wanted to complete. Mostly knitting for others. However, on that list was my kusha kusha habu scarf that I started last february. I told myself that I was not going to let myself cast on for anything, for myself, until that was finished. And then I really thought about it. And I decided that I really didn't want to work on that project. Why knit on something you don't want to? Life is way to short. And there are SO many things I want to make.

I knew of someone that would love a thorpe. So, I made her one. I know you've seen this pattern a bunch, but I just had to show this color combo. I love it so. I think this yarn is perfect for this project. (Priced right, too.) Color combo: Admiral and Tree Frog.
There has been a lot of baking going on around here. I think I could make chocolate chip cookies in my sleep. I wonder if I will ever forget the recipe.

I've had the knit 2 together book for quite sometime, loving many patterns in there but never making a single one. Until now, that is.
The santa cruz hoodie. It looks a little big here, but I actually made it to fit a one year old.
I forgot how much I loved knitting little knits. Little knits on big needles out of really wonderful yarn. And I hope the little guy that will be wearing this plays ALL spring in it. And eats a lot of messy foods. And hides tiny treasures in the front pocket. Maybe even a half eaten cookie. Cause his mommy can throw it into the washer and the dryer. Perfect.
I loved the look Abi gave her tags, so I antiqued a few, too.

This unexpected February break (the kids did not go to school one day last week....nope...not one) kept us very busy around here. Doing important things like drawing with jello in the snow.

Just wanted to let you know that Sarah is hosting her winter olympics again. I'm not sure if I will be participating, as I have a bunch of little projects I want to finish this month... my own personal challenge... but I do love a personal challenge. (2 more inches before midnight?) The challenge: start a new project during opening ceremonies on the 12th and have it finished by closing ceremonies on the 28th. And, if you are already participating in the ravelympics, you can easily join in with Sarah. Plus, Sarah is offering a chance to win a gift card to be used in her shop. Bonus.

21.1" is fun outside...
and inside.

I received a comment this week that said, "Interesting blog. I'll come back whenever I am in the mood for headless portraits and cookie pics". I laughed out loud!
I am SO happy this sweater is finished. I mentioned the finishing being a major problem for me with this project. I actually think that I would have mentally preferred if the shawl collar would have been in a category all to itself. You know what I mean? Because, by the time I make it to the FINISHING section of a pattern, I feel as if I am nearly finished. Not that I have another week (at least) to invest in a project. I know you know what I mean.

So, that little guy saw his shadow, forecasting six more weeks of winter weather.
As a knitter, you've got to admit, that isn't so bad.

This weekend I:
::watched the sun set::slept in, twice::had friends for dinner::ran into a dear friend::skipped yoga

Good morning last Saturday in January. Nice to see you.
I spotted these cookies over here and they have been calling my name ever since. Again, in an attempt to satisfy all cookie lovers in my family, I doubled the recipe and divided it in half. Half the dough got regular semi-sweet chips and a roll in raw sugar. The other half got mint chocolate chips and a roll in confectioners sugar. I feel like I say this a lot, however, these were AMAZING! And the dough? Well, let me just say that this dough is some of the best dough I have ever tasted. Which is huge because if given the choice I always choose vanilla over chocolate. The melted butter, along with the other ingredients, results in warm, melt in your mouth, absolutely can't stop eating, cookie dough.
I pulled out the sewing machine on Thursday and it felt really great. My sister asked if I would make her bible study girls tissue cozies. (Thanks, Julie! :) ) I make a small change to the tutorial...I like to overlap the top piece.... so I cut two 6x4 pieces and two 6x4 1/2 pieces. I sort of drug my heals at this request but after I got started, loved it. It was the perfect little project to bring back my sewing mojo. Although, I will not let myself sew another thing until I finish this sweater.

Dear Self,
It is no secret that you love to knit sweaters. In fact, it is your most favorite thing to knit. You love to knit a front, a back, and two sleeves, sew the sweater together and wear the sweater. However, in the future, I would like for you to pay special attention to the FINISHING section of your pattern before starting a project. You like patterns that give a few directions, like: block, sew seams, weave in ends. You actually don't mind if it says to sew on a few buttons. So, please pay close attention to the "size" of the FINISHING directions. If the directions to FINISHING take up an entire page (almost) then chances are you will probably loose some sort of steam and it will seem like a "chore" to finish that project. Even if you remember trying on the sweater and LOVING it and spending the next few weeks thinking of nothing but that sweater. And even if the yarn you are using is some of the most delicious yarn you have used.

I don't have one of those fancy ball winders. I love them, but have always thought, hey, my mom has wound countless balls of yarn for years, why can't I? So, I wind. And multi-tasking becomes a little more creative. I answer the phone. I cook dinner. I write e-mails. I bake cookies. I wear my yarn as a necklace and throw my ball into my pocket. Sometimes I walk around like this for hours. It works.
And speaking of cookies. I saw Rosemary made these, and Melana made these, and then I had to make these. I doubled the recipe, and then divided the dough into fours. One plain, one with raisins and walnuts, one with raisins, and one with chocolate chips. A cookie that fits all tastes in my family.
My favorite? (ABSOLUTE new favorite, as in can't WAIT to have for breakfast favorite?) Hands down, raisins and walnuts.

I'm sure you have been talking about it. And I am sure, like me, looking at those faces makes you feel helpless. I am also sure you have heard of Craft Hope for Haiti, but just in case you haven't, take a look here. 100% of the proceeds from the shop go to Doctors without Borders. I donated that pair of toast mitts. They may not show up in the shop for a while as the list of donations is quite large. How awesome is that!

A great friend of mine e-mailed me a recipe for persimmon cookies. The next thing I knew I was on a hunt for persimmons. To tell you the truth, I had no idea what a persimmon even looked like. Honestly.
The recipe calls for a cup of persimmon pulp. Three persimmons ($1.50 each!) yielded a little less than a cup. It took them about a week to ripen, although I did read that if you want them to ripen quickly you can pop them into the freezer for about 24 hours.
Persimmon Cookies:

Do you know what I dislike more than getting gum stuck in hair?
Getting silly putty stuck in my knitting.

January 11th already? That is really crazy. I'm not exactly sure what I have been doing (knitting, yes) with my time, but I am thinking the school delays and cancellations haven't let me find my "new year" rhythm.
We have been waking up to winter wonderland a lot around here. It's been really beautiful. The snow clothes have been put on and taken off so many times I can't believe they aren't worn out.
And their new thorpes have been well loved for the last week. The yarn was great to work with. No complaints about them being itchy like the last ones I made. If you haven't made a thorpe yet, you really should. Easy, fun and cute to boot. I did have to re-teach myself the half double crochet stitch using this helpful video.

Here's to 2010. Here's to... projects to knit::dreams to dream::friends to meet::waters to swim::recipes to try::cookies to bake::quilts to make::projects to knit::trails to hike::lessons to learn::hugs to give::books to read::moments to capture::projects to sew::sunsets to see::kisses to give::wine to try::bread to bake::tears to cry::picnics to take::music to hear::hugs to get::laughs to hear::projects to knit::thoughts to think::coffee to drink::sunrises to see::movies to watch::times to treasure::beaches to walk::kisses to get::bikes to ride::friends to see::projects to knit::photos to take::people to meet::things to learn::memories to make::places to visit::letters to write::food to eat::life to live.

So, I saw Kim's post and the next thing I knew, I was buying this pattern searching my stash for this (shepherd worsted) yarn, and casting on.
I ended up giving it (reluctantly) to my mother in law. ( I really wanted to keep it.) If you are a first timer to cables, this is the project for you.
We use our cookie press to make cookies every Christmas. Just as my mother did for us and her mother did for her. Always using the camel, the tree and the wreath disc. This year we tried another disc after seeing a friends.
You press it into one long strip, sprinkle with the nonpareils, (which just by chance are small enough to get caught in the ridges and don't roll off your cookie sheet!) and then cut it into the size of the cookie you want. (All before baking.) These were a great addition. I also think these would be great for a birthday party.