just so green

It just so happens that my new project is green.  
And it just so happens that one day this will become
this.  One day.  
Have yourself a wonderful weekend!

green.2

Oh, green.
You are just so easy to spy in my kitchen.
Having two out of three kids that will eat this makes me pretty darn happy.
Now if only I could spy a little green outside.  Soon, I can feel it.  

home

So, I am home from Utah with a few more laugh lines and a bunch of great memories.  The skiing was fantastic.  I have never skied in Utah and now may have a new favorite spot; Alta Ski resort.  It is absolutely beautiful with wide open slopes and NO snowboarders.  Don't get me wrong, I think snowboarders are some of the coolest dudes out there.  But it was just so nice not to have the roar of that board flying up from behind you.
I got stuck in that Nor'easter on the way home.  I flew into Atlanta on Sunday with no chance of getting out of there for a day or two.  I checked into a hotel feeling a bit sad and guilty for not being home.  Ready to burst into tears at any moment.  Fifteen minutes (okay two) later I was feeling like Iris (Kate Winslet) from The Holiday.  You know the part when she crawls into Amanda's fluffy bed and in her fabulous british accent says, "thank you, Amanda"!?! Well, I sort of felt like that.  Instead, I crawled into a fluffy bed and said "thank you, snow storm"!!  I stayed for 48 hours and it was a treat.  A huge treat.  I did a mud mask, a moisture treatment on my hair, read, slept, watched tv, went back to the airport to eat and walk around, slept some more, cleaned and organized every bag I had with me, made lists, lots of lists, and of course, knit. Made a baby hat, one toast and then ran out of the merino for my kusha kusha scarf.  I'm thinking the yardage on my merino cone was off.  Way off.  And will have to order more. 

Emily is hosting green week.  I love searching for color in my everyday living.  
Go ahead, look for a little green in your life.

some cookies before i go

It was Andrew's pick for our cookie of the week. He asked for black and white and I am pretty sure he meant these after seeing one at the coffee shop.  But, um, no thanks, not this week.
Instead I made these.  So much easier and they all loved them.  
Another slice and bake.  Perfect.  I wasn't exactly sure if I was doing the yin and yang correctly, but I think it worked.    
My husband will be holding down the fort over here while I travel west.  I am leaving early in the morning to meet my sister and a friend for a little ski trip.  So excited.  I packed a few party favors for them.  Chunky beanies, fetching and Rosebud salve. (Have I ever told you how much I love my Rosebud salve?)  I also have the Habu packed.
Airplane knitting.  My favorite.
I'll see you back here sometime next week.  

habu love

Besides the obvious reasons to cast on for a kusha kusha scarf, my boys came up with a few others......
-to talk on a habu phone
-to build habu towers
-to be a habu pirate
I think my boys are just as intrigued with this "yarn" as I am.  They can't believe that I am knitting with "string".  They must not know the word "thread".
I cast on for this back in November, however haven't knit on it much at all.  Picked it up last night while watching the Oscars and although I had to throw it down several times to watch Hugh Jackman (how great was he?) I managed to make some progress.  I have officially told the boys....hands off the habu!
Have a great one.

spotted

I wasn't going to commit to Erin's yellow week. Just decided to instead peak in on the flickr group to add a little bright spot to my day.
So there I was, minding my own business, sautéing mushrooms and shallots and I saw it.  It can catch your eye even when you aren't looking for it.  Especially on a grey February day.
Have a great Wednesday.

libby

knitting
Remember the libby sweater?
Well, I finally put together the pattern for it. However, I am completely nervous in doing so. I cannot guarantee that there are not mistakes. I really wish I would have had someone knit a test sweater. But then I thought, well, the first person to make it will end up being a test knitter. I also wish that I could have offered it in other sizes besides the size I made (which I am assuming is a 10-12 year) however I just couldn't get my brain wrapped around the numbers.
With all the stitches, increases, decreases, measurements, and my substandard notes, this was the best I could do. (I'm thinking that there is a program that could do this for me, but I do not own it.) I apologize for those who were waiting for other sizes. However, I am sure there are those of you who can use this as a guide and resize it to fit your little one. Please e-mail me with any questions.
The pattern is on ravelry and over there, in my sidebar.
.
Have a fantastic day!

simple

Loving:
-Balloon heart garland.  Inspired by birds and trees after seeing hers.  Made out of card stock, hung on twine, a little tippy so I added twine to the bottom.  Floating heart balloons.  
-Flour on my jeans.
-Strong coffee.
-The post office.
-All of your wonderful comments and suggestions on my honeycomb cardigan.  Thank you so much.
I am sure there are a few simple things that you are loving.
Have a great one.

honeycomb cardigan

Well, after much stretching,  I can fit into my honeycomb cardigan.  When I first put it on I like it, and actually think it fits fine.
See, not too tight across the back.
However, after I have it on for a while, (a minute or two) it pulls across the chest.  Mistake #1: since I raised the neckline, I should have also added more buttons.  Darn.  But, I figure that I don't always have to wear it buttoned.
And if I want to wear it buttoned?  Presto.  Cover it with a scarf.

All in all, I really like this cardigan and am sure it will get a lot of wear.  I prefer sweaters that can be worn as a coat.  
Size:  Small (Mistake #2, should have made a Medium)
Yarn:  9 balls Moorland 2576, bark by Classic Elite
Needle: Size US 6
Modifications:  I actually did a few and will post them on ravelry.  If you are not on there and are interested in my modifications, I can let you know through e-mail.
And for those of you who think that I should just go ahead and give this to my sister, I would if I could.  However,  a much smaller sister also has much shorter arms.  :)
Enjoy your day!

hearts

I had a heart shaped cookie request for this weeks cookie. Ugh. I guess my children haven't realized I don't really like doing the whole cookie cutter thing.
Then I remembered that the barefoot contessa has a shortbread recipe, that I made in the past, where the dough is just right for cutting.  You know, doesn't get misshaped moving it from where you cut it, to the cookie sheet.
In her cookbook, she dips half of the heart in chocolate.  Really, really delicious and pretty.  I think a stack of those wrapped in a cellophane bag, tied with a ribbon, would make a really lovely little gift.  Just a thought.
I am currently blocking (stretching the you know what out of) my honeycomb cardigan.  I'm not exactly sure but I am thinking it may fit.  (Sorry, Lis!)
Have yourself a wonderful weekend.

compulsive

While making dinner {saute onion, garlic, mushrooms in olive oil until tender, add sun dried tomatoes, add white wine, simmer, add half & half, and cream cheese, cook until thickened, throw in some peas, let those cook for a few minutes, add cooked pasta, campanelle are good, toss all together, garnish with shaved parmesan } it dawned on me that I have never made fetching and should really change that.  
You all do this too, right?

spread a little love

We are in full valentine making mode around here.
We saw this idea over on the purl bee and immediately Libby started tearing the card stock.  (Which has now become her least favorite part.)
She was able to cut all of the hearts out of scraps of fabric.  
To make it a little easier I made "half a heart" template and she cut the fabric on the fold.
Instead of sewing on the hearts, she is glueing them on using a glue stick.  I am doing the sewing (it is unusually rewarding to sew on card stock) and Libby is doing her favorite part....writing the names along with a special message inside.  Spreading a little love.
Happy Wednesday.

all about....

Hello, Saturday. Sunny, cold, eight inches of snow on the ground, cookies for my breakfast, Saturday.
Brian mentioned that he made these, and the next thing you know, I was too.  Another slice and bake...love that.  My kids think the best part is when they bite into a chip.  Clearly I did not put enough chips in them.  Also, my dough was a little too crumbly.  I ended up adding 13 tablespoons of butter instead of 11.
I also had a wonderful surprise last month that I have been meaning to mention.  Carolynn sent a box filled with the most amazing things. Homemade cookies in a vintage tin, homemade soaps (and the supplies to make our own felted soap), a knit washcloth, scrubbies that I LOVE and stitch markers.  All made by her.  Along with a signed Stephanie Pearl-McPhee book and some lovely buttons.  Thank you so much Carolynn!
Can you believe tomorrow is February 1st?! 
Enjoy your weekend, everyone.

snow day and a yarn basket

We are currently having a snow day. But not for the good snow.  Freezing rain...not even good for sledding.
Maybe you are, also.  And perhaps looking for something to do with your kids. Libby did this over the weekend with a friend, and they loved it. The idea came from the book Rosie O'Donnell's Crafty.U. Most of you probably have the three basic items in your home.  Yarn (yes!) glue (maybe) balloon (hopefully).
The older kids can actually do everything. Be forewarned though, it is a little messy. 
Inflate the balloon to the size of your liking. Place it on a bowl.  Cut strands of yarn. Oh, about 8-10 inches long.  (A worsted weight probably works best.  This yarn was variegated.)  Soak the yarn in a bowl of white glue. Place the yarn onto the balloon layering the pieces and leaving the bottom of the balloon bare.
And the hardest part?  Waiting for it to dry.  It actually took about 48 hours until it was hard enough to pop the balloon.  (Remember, we keep our home pretty cold.)
And, voila!  Something to hold Libby's headbands.  Just what we were looking for!  :)
Enjoy your day! 

on my needles

I mentioned a while ago that I started something for myself.
It is the Moorland Honeycomb cardigan from Classic Elite.  I have changed the pattern a bit.  I didn't feel like doing the 1x1 rib for 6" at the beginning, so I changed it to a 1" garter edge.  I am also going to make the neckline a little higher.  
Have you ever worked on something and thought that it was too small? Yep.  Me too.  I will be shocked if this thing fits me.
However, I started the right front.  And if nothing else, my sister will inherit another sweater.
Have a fantastic weekend!!!

chunky knit beanie

knitting

Guess what one big ball of Cascade Magnum will get you?
Two chunky knit beanies!  A hat that looks a little like Kirsten's Thorpe hat, minus the ear flaps, Erin's Rose Hill, minus the bobbles, Sarah's garter brim hat, only chunkier, and one that Keana made, the Banana Republic hat, minus the flap and button. A really quick knit to make you feel like you accomplished something.  I know a lot of you could wing this pattern, but I wrote it down to make it easy.
Yarn: Cascade Magnum.  Sarah, at Knot another Hat sells this, and her shipping time is amazing!
Needles: size US 15
The pattern will be over in the side bar, too.  
So, go ahead.  Get yourself some chunky yarn, and get knitting.  Your head will be so happy.
Have a fabulous Wednesday.

stripes and plaids

My current favorite scarf from Boden.  I am patiently awaiting my spring '09 catalog.  My sister thinks everything in there is cute.
A photo taken in November, wearing my plaid coat, that I don't wear nearly enough.  Plaid is good.  Especially on flannel pajama pants.
Enjoy your weekend.  Stay warm.
Next week, knitting.

pink

The color pink. There is so much pink located in one room, I didn't know where to begin and where to end.
So I asked the little girl, who owns all the pink, to pick her favorite thing in the room.

-"Don't count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count." 
-anon   
Tomorrow, plaids and/or stripes.

yellow

The color yellow.  It caught my eye all day today.  Everywhere I looked, there it was.  I must have taken, well, I am embarrassed to say how many photos I took today.  Lets just say I took a lot of yellow photos.
We have a yellow bathroom.  Yellow tile walls and a yellow tile floor.  And two other rooms are painted yellow.
You can guess whose room this is.  Funny, she would love to paint it purple.
I think it is the happiest crayon in the crayon box.

Tomorrow, pink.

purple

The color purple. I had no idea how hard it would be to spot in our home. Libby's sigg bottle is purple. But that was in her lunch box, at school. I spotted a purple comb and a purple brush.  But didn't feel like photographing those.  And a purple ribbon from a swim meet.  But that was it.  And then I walked by my desk.  And there sat a plum colored pair of toast waiting to be given to a friend.

Pattern: toast
Yarn:  One ball Classic elite, charmed, heathered plum.   A super nice yarn, for a super great friend.

Tomorrow, yellow.

time well spent

Have you tried any of the Martha Stewart Collection available at Macy's?  Well, it just so happens that she has a cast iron pot perfect for making winter meals.  Perfect for making bread.  And the perfect thing to use your gift card on from a Christmas gift.  
I have seen a lot of bread floating around out there.  Sarah made some.  Erin made some.  And Molly made one that I have been wanting to try.  Molly even did it without a cast iron pot.  
Since I have never tried this before, and really wanted it to turn out, I followed the directions to a T.  And I treated it like a baby.  Seriously.
I slept with it next to our bed.  Because the directions say to let it rise in a 70˚ room.  Well, our downstairs is colder than that. (Much colder.) And since heat rises, I decided to bring it upstairs, with specific instructions to the kids not to jump on the dough.
The dough has to sit for 12-18 hours. After that amount of time, you punch it down, form it into a ball, and it looks like that.  Up there. (That whole timing thing always gets me.  But, starting it at 4:00 on a Saturday afternoon, seemed to be great.  I didn't touch it again until noon the next day. 20 hours?  Oh, I know, but things happen and that was the earliest I could get back to it. It was ready for dinner on Sunday night. Seems like a long time to wait for a loaf of bread, huh?  Really, you do little while waiting.  I promise.)
I resisted the urge to swaddle, and just folded the towel back over the top.  And let it sit for 2 hours.  
Popped it into the pot and then into the oven. When I removed the lid it looked like that.  Just like the recipe said it would.  You should try it.  You won't be sorry.  Just sorry you didn't have more.

Oh, and Leya is hosting color week.  Today's color is/was blue.  So grab your camera and try to find a little color in your week.  Tomorrow, purple.

enjoy your grind

I have been wanting to get to this space all week.  But to tell you the truth, I don't have much to say.  I've just been busy doing what I do.  Finding room for everything new.  Trying to get rid of a bunch of old.......without anyone noticing.   I've been baking cookies and blaring music. Cleaning closets and doing laundry.  Playing referee, psychologist and chauffeur.  Making meals and making coffee.  The daily grind is all good.  
I did start a new project early this week; something for myself.  

Is it too late to wish everyone a happy new year?  I think not.
Happy New Year........happy weekend!