Funny...

I finished 1 sock for boyfriend. Had him try it on a bit to make sure the fit was just right - and it turned out great! Anyway, he's hilarious. Since I'm only 4 inches into the foot on the 2nd sock, he's been wearing the single sock around the house as a mis-matched pair. His comment, "hurry up and finish it because this is really nice."

Granted, he was taken aback when he learned his new pair of socks was about $30 for the yarn!

Smile.

And it's supposed to snow today. Still waiting for that to happen, although the internet has been sporadic since Sunday when I got a new computer! Hard to set up the computer when there's no solid internet connection. Damn Comcast! OOOOOOHHHHHH, flakes are now starting to fall as I write this.

1.5 projects DONE & What I Want For Christmas

So, I finished the shawl. Blocked and ready to be wrapped up for Christmas!

Once I got the stupid thing started, it was a pretty quick and easy knit. The overall project was pretty cheap too. Like I said earlier, I used 2.5 skeins of Frog Tree Alpaca.

And the other project? Socks. What pattern you ask? Widdershins from knitty.com summer 2006 issue. Plain pattern though - no cables. This is going to be BF's first pair of handmade socks so nothing too fancy. Help with picking up the wraps via misocrafty's tutorial. BF has big feet - 7.5" before I started the heel.

Glad this is toe up! I also realized it's not good to try and pick up wrapped stitches at night in a fairly dark room with inadequate lighting. So, after ripping the stuff out umpteen times last night, the heel went VERY quickly once I was able to see what I was doing.

And this is what I want for Christmas:

A greyhound from Vermillion Greyhounds. As I posted earlier, my puppies, including my other dogs, were awarded to my husband in my divorce. I miss my dogs more than anything in the world. These greyhound puppies are SO beautiful! And they're lines are amazing! Strong coursing/hunting backgrounds and because they are AKC/NGA crosses, more likely than not, they'll turn into some substantial dogs! White brindle or white parti are my favourite colors, followed by the blacks and light reds. Voila - an adorable light red puppy boy!

Note: this photo is taken from Vermillion so they get all the credit & props!

Update from T-Day and our TREE!!!

Thanksgiving was good. BF's family came over. Nice dinner - I thought the turkey was a bit dry, but everyone else seemed to enjoy it. It cooked super fast and I probably should've pulled it from the oven around 1130am [we weren't eating till 2pm] but didn't believe it would be done that early!

As for the menu: heritage turkey, mashed potatoes [instant, though everyone thought they were real!], stuffing with cranberries, asparagus, broccoli/cauliflower/carrot medley, herb rolls and homemade gravy. Best damn gravy too!

The one "slice" of disappointment? His family was in charge of dessert. He asked me at one point what he should tell them to bring - I don't care as long as it's apple. Apple pie, apple crisp, etc. Guess what? No apple anything. Pumpkin pie only. Blech. I don't like pumpkin pie. The only good news is that I was SO full from dinner I couldn't even attempt to eat it anyway but still...

There was no pear chutney because when I mentioned it to BF, it was followed by "WTF is pear chutney?" So..... the night before, MY parents came over for dinner. I mixed up the pears I had with some dried cranberries, splash of orange juice, cinnamon, brown sugar, nutmeg, etc. and used the Pillsbury pie crusts I had & made individual "tarts."

Very clever I must say. Just take a pie crust, cut it in half [so you get 2 tarts], spoon some filling on one end, fold it over & trim off excess dough, pinch the seams closed & cut some slits in the top. Put on a cookie sheet covered in aluminum foil to catch the drippings & bake for about 30-40min till golden. Voila! Individual pear/cranberry tarts. Very cool. My mom thought it was clever too!

As for the sticky buns? They turned out pretty good. I followed the recipe but they severely needed more cinnamon/sugar mixture in the "filling" so they didn't seem so doughy but otherwise very good.

And this past Sunday we went & cut down our tree! It was the best time. BEAUTIFUL TREE - it's a Grand Pine. Really thick, curly branches make it so full and beautiful. All the ornaments are from Ikea with a few suprises here & there. All red, silver & black. And the black ornaments actually look good. There's even little Danish flag garlands - both paper and handmade fabric - around the tree as BF is Danish. [If you click the link above, it goes to Wikipedia & gives this great story about the history of the flag!]

Wishing you & yours...

Recipe & dinner updates will follow! Hope you all enjoy your day!

T-Day Menu Countdown [part 2]

Fresh Pear Chutney

[again from Cooking Light & another great resource for recipes http://www.myrecipes.com/ which is great when you remember the recipe but can't seem to find it anywhere!]

I did this recipe several years ago as well. I actually think the caramel pecan bun recipe came out about the same time. Either way, LOVE pears. I normally omit the onions - or cut them extra big just because I hate onions but the flavor is ok.

Yield
3 cups (serving size: 1/4 cup)

Ingredients
1 cup chopped red onion
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup currants
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
3 cups chopped peeled pear

Preparation
Combine first 8 ingredients in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes. Place in a medium bowl; stir in pear.

Nutritional Information [ok, pears are healthy and a fruit, so this is important...]

Calories: 55 (3% from fat)
Fat: 0.2g (sat 0.0g,mono 0.0g,poly 0.1g)
Protein: 0.4g
Carbohydrate: 13.8g
Fiber: 1.5g
Cholesterol: 0.0mg
Iron: 0.3mg
Sodium: 4mg
Calcium: 14mg

From Cooking Light November 1998

T-Day Menu Countdown [part 1]

Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns from Cooking Light.

I made this recipe several years ago and it turned out REALLY well. I'm going to give it a try again this year instead of our usual monster breakfast fare.

Yield
16 servings (serving size: 1 roll)

Caramel:
1/3 cup packed dark brown muscovado sugar or dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons butter
4 teaspoons light corn syrup
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons chopped pecans

Dough:
1 package dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
1 2/3 cups warm water (100° to 110°)
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
5 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, divided (about 23 1/2 ounces)
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, softened

To prepare caramel, combine first 3 ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat; stir frequently until butter melts. Continue cooking until mixture thickens and becomes smooth (about 1 minute), stirring constantly. Remove from heat; pour into the center of a 9-inch square baking pan; quickly spread caramel onto pan bottom using a spatula coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle with pecans; cool to room temperature. Lightly coat sides of pan with cooking spray.
To prepare dough, dissolve yeast in warm water in a large bowl; let stand 5 minutes. Stir in salt.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Add 5 cups flour to yeast mixture; stir until a soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 8 minutes); add enough of remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to keep dough from sticking to hands.

Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, the dough has risen enough.) Punch dough down; cover and let rest 5 minutes.

Combine granulated sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl; set aside.

Roll dough into a 16 x 12-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface; spread 2 tablespoons of softened butter over dough. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Roll up rectangle tightly, starting with long edge, pressing firmly to eliminate air pockets; pinch seam to seal (do not seal ends). Cut into 16 (1-inch-wide) slices. (A) Place slices, cut sides up, in prepared pan (rolls will be crowded). Cover and let rise 30 minutes or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 375°.

Bake at 375° for 20 minutes or until rolls are light golden brown. Cool in pan 5 minutes on rack. Place a serving platter upside down on top of pan; invert onto platter. Serve warm.

Nutritional Information [really, they're sticky buns - do you honestly care about nutrition?]

Calories: 232 (21% from fat)
Fat: 5.3g (sat 1.9g,mono 2.1g,poly 0.7g)
Protein: 4.5g
Carbohydrate: 41.7g
Fiber: 1.4g
Cholesterol: 9mg
Iron: 2.1mg
Sodium: 249mg
Calcium: 14mg

From Cooking Light 2005.

FOR SALE just in time for Christmas

Addi Turbo needles for sale. Sizes are listed below. Plain & simple, I'm not that enamoured with them. Yes, I've spent a !@#$%^&* load on them, but, after using the KnitPicks needles, I really don't like the Addi. So, my loss is your gain!

[Note, the needles are sold AS IS and all together only. That means no picking them apart to get just one! And for the record, I take really good care of my things so do rest assured the needles are in very good condition.]

24" 3mm US2 [bamboo]

24" 3mm US3 [bamboo - though cable says US2 it measures a on my gauge a 3.25mm = US3]

24" 3.5mm US4 [bamboo]

32" 4mm US6

32" 4.5mm US7

32" 5mm US8

32" 5.5mm US9

32" 6mm US10 [markings have worn off cable]

32" 6.5mm US10.5

And...

16" 4.5mm US7 [BAMBOO CLOVER]

24" 6.5mm US10.5 [BAMBOO CLOVER]

32" 12mm US 17 [BAMBOO CLOVER]

Now for the price. Addi's on average are approx $20 each new. Hell, one web site I recently found has the US10.5 for $20.50 regularly & at that price for all the needles, it would be $185!

So... for everything, including the Clover bamboo, $100 + shipping [US priority mail to your address] unless you're military to an APO then free shipping. My guess is shipping won't be more than $10 or so in the US. Tell your friends. First one to email me [just reply to this post] so I can give payment info wins!

Enjoy

New Knitting

I promised & promised to give deatils on my new project & here it is: Fiber Trends Leaf Lace Shawl. The sample looked really pretty in the shop - in a light greenish, mint-ish, blue color. I'm doing mine in navy:

Frog Tree Alpaca fingering weight - color #59 [navy]

Problem is that starting the pattern sucked. What a stupid way to start a pattern:

"Begin w/provisional cast on. Using a crochet hook about the same size as your knitting needle & waste yarn, chain 4 sts. Using shawl yarn & knitting needles, knit up 2 sts in back bumps of crochet chain. Begin shawl on these 2 sts. "

...it took forever to figure out how to rotate, knit up, remove the waste yarn, etc. I even went to the local yarn shop [www.hilltopyarn.com] to have them help me get the damn thing started. Ugh. I guess a new knitting project of lace work isn't ideal when I haven't knit in forever b/c of the carpal tunnel diagnosis last year but eh, why not?!

And on a side note, yes my personal drama is somewhat waining. Not 100% solved, but hopefully not as dramatic. It's quite true, that old saying, when it rains it pours.

I Surrender

I quit. Period. Stick a fork in me - I'm done.

How many times must a person get the shit kicked out of them? Seriously. As I've stated earlier, this year hasn't been the best for me for a number of reasons. Lately, there have been a TON of fabulous things happening - things that have made me think - gee, ok, things were a bit rocky for awhile, but look, everything is turning around; life is good, etc.

So now, I'm reaching the top of the mountain. I can see the top of the mountain. It is clearly within reach & is beyond fabulous. Just as I'm about to reach my hand out to grab on & pull myself up to a point where I've been CONVINCED it can't get any better...WHAM!!!! A foot comes out of knowhere & kicks me in the teeth. I have now spent the better part of today tumbling ass over tea kettle down the mountain.

I am sick of being bumped and bruised. I am sick of getting my ass kicked for no reason. For all the crap I've been through this year, I was even slowly coming to terms with everything & accepting how things would and are going to be. I have a great boyfriend, a great house, Evie, etc. I know there are people in this world who clearly have things worse than me - so don't get me wrong but in my 60 square mile universe - I am at a loss.

I am SO SICK of trying to pick my ass up because I keep getting kicked in the teeth. For the past four years it's seemed like this vicious circle that has intensified in the last year. My health - and I'm not that old - has gone to shit. Severe weight loss [which actually has helped in some areas :-O ] - clumps of hair falling out - infections - and much more that's not right for publication seems to be killing me. My stress level is out of control.

I simply give up. Blech.

Fall in PNW

Evie has a bone spur. Basically like a knot on her wrist. She's getting around ok but limps alot after running hard. Annoying because I know it hurts her & can only do pain management at this time. Good news though is EVIE TURNED 8YRS on 10/17....whooohooo....

Picture of boyfriend, Evie & Tara enjoying a bright, sunny fall morning taken last Sunday. It was unusually dry and sunny! We'll take what we can get as it's better than drying off muddy feet. The girls had to go to the dog wash afterwards because they were covered in sand and mud - and we were too lazy to do it at home & clog up the bathtub.

And a photo of a nice fall scene - on the Snoqualmie River - taken on our walk this past Sunday. Again, unusually dry & sunny. About 60 and quite crisp out. Better than rain!!!

Oh! I also slowly started to knit again. Working on a shawl for boyfriend's mom for xmas. I am SO looking forward to the holidays with him! His family is coming to the house for Thanksgiving - and we're doing everything! So fun. He's never had his family to his house & he's lived here 13yrs! Against my own holiday rules of ettiquette, we even bought new Christmas ornaments when we were at IKEA the other day [I really hate anything Christmas - or any holiday for that matter - that's 'out of order' - i.e. no Christmas decorations before Thanksgiving, etc.] There were some really cool black ornaments I got but I may return them; combined with the red ones I'm either thinking deck of cards or I don't know what...hmmmmm

Updates

I had promised I'd be better this year about posting to the blog, but alas, that hasn't happened.

Sad news has also filled my life for the past few months & I'm just now starting to get back on track. I went through a horrible divorce - good in many ways - and bad in so many others. Long story short is there was a custody "disagreement" over the dogs and all except my little baby greasil Evie now reside with my ex. I use the term disagreement loosely - but let's leave it at that...

Evie and I are doing ok though. We have a wonderful new house and wonderful new things going on in our lives which - dare I say - have left me unbelievably happy! Honestly I can't remember when I was this happy last [sans the puppies being born...see below]. It's a true, genuine happiness that people should experience if not daily, then at least once in their lives. I'm not a religious person my any means, but I feel absolutely blessed to have everything in my life right now. I wish I had the other dogs -and I can't stress enough how much I miss them terribly & think about them daily - but in the larger scheme of things, I think WE'RE going to be ok.

Actually, it breaks my heart on an almost daily basis not seeing or being with them. But they're all tough pups & all I can do is remember them & how special they are & hope to all ends they are being loved & cared for in their new home.

More pictures & things will come soon - I promise -and regular posts again.

AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO'S SAID SUCH WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT MY DOGS. I TRULY APPRECIATE IT. And happy bday to my dad today...

FURminator

Ok, I've spent lots of crazy money on things for my dogs--some worthwhile & some wasted. Spending $35 on a comb for a GREYHOUND, which is essentially a nek'kid dog, seems ridiculous right? And of course, everyone thinks "greyhounds don't shed." [They shed like you wouldn't believe, but that's a story that will be coming this spring]

On the advise of my friend, who's also my vet, and who so wonderfully delivered all of Cherry's puppies, he said he got one at a conference & used it on his greyhound. No way would it work, I said. Ahh, but the fur comes out in thick clumps--more hair then you'd ever imagine a greyhound has.

So, we bought one. OHMIGOD does it take the hair out of several of my dogs. Doesn't really work on Star, as her coat is very sleek & fine. But tons of hair comes out of Evie, Boone, Colt & Newell... A heavy, weighty comb it doesn't feel like you're wasting your money. The cats even love it too--and talk about getting 10 new cats after they're combed [and to Gizmo's dismay, not real cats]!!!

Get a FURminator. Go to http://www.furminator.com/ & find out where they're sold in your area. Your pet will thank you--and it's pretty cool to have all that hair/fur come out of them!

CuteOverload.com

will be absolutely jealous when they get this pic!!!! Under the cute rules, there is no better picture that this most perfect bitty puppy 'tock view! There is also perfect scale between the bitty puppy & mama! And don't forget the tail action & pink puppy toes! Enjoy baby Colt at 2 days old...

Since this IS supposed to be about Greyhounds...

As I mentioned the other day, we had a beautiful litter of 9 puppies back in September 2007. We kept 2--the white/red parti male & a red female. Their formal names are Rainier Colt Forty-Five and Rainier Stella Artois. Colt & Star are absolute joy & fun! They are the most beautiful babies and are growing into fabulous looking adults! I can't believe they're going to be 5mo old next week!!!

YES WE CAN!!!

I'm totally on the Obama kick now! He is racking up delegates and wins all over the country! Appears that he will take Virginia, Maryland & DC tonight...won Maine on Sunday, and Washington, Louisiana & Nebraska PLUS the US Virgin Islands on Saturday!!!

I think his message is not only positive, but inspiring for people across the country. No, all of his solutions may not be 100% right in the beginning, but I certainly believe that we can change this country & unify it because of this election! I hope you'll consider voting & making a difference!

Hawaii & Wisconsin are the next states with primaries...Pennsylvania, Texas & Ohio will come soon after so PLEASE VOTE & support! Regardless of who you choose [though I hope it will be Barack Obama], make a difference & VOTE!!!

WA Caucus

Hahahah! Now for the political topics...

I have always voted for whomever I think is the best candidate for the job--never really aligning with a particular party as it's the person, not the party, who will end up doing the job. And really, who ever agrees 100% with every idea/position that a candidate has?

Well, I'm tired of the same old boring politics as usual. I think most people are. I want to take a chance on someone who has some new ideas--someone who's willing to try something new. Granted, he may not get it right the first time--but I think it's better than re-hashing & re-spinning many of the same, tired rhetoric that's been bounced around for years.

I also like the idea of someone who can be inspirational among a multitude of backgrounds [race, gender, age, etc]. I want someone positive to try to change this country...

So, as you can see by the logo, I think '08 is the time for Barack Obama. Visit http://www.barackobama.com/ for more information--I hope you'll agree too...

Can we change America with this election? YES WE CAN!

So Many Changes...

So many changes have happened in the past year, I don't know where to begin.

We lost our beloved dog, Oliver, on June 1st, 2007 due to a freak accident. He was just 3yrs old. The event devistated our family and has caused a great deal of heartache. Even writing about it now breaks my heart.

On the sunny side though, our other dog, Cherry, got pregnant this summer and we had a FABULOUS litter of puppies born on Sept 19/20, 2007. Well, one was born naturally on the 19th and the other EIGHT were born via C-section on the 20th! We had 7 boys & 2 girls, all with fabulous & fun beer names! Colors were 4 black boys, 2 white boys [one white/red parti & the other white/black], 1 red boy & 2 red girls.

I'll have to get all the pictures of the babies out [who are now 20 or so weeks old] so everyone can get their belated puppy fix!

I was also diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrom in BOTH hands! So, needless to say, no more knitting for a while. The doctor actually told me that the best way to correct the problem without surgery --"quit your job." Wonderful in theory but not practical...but on a better note, I did get a better job--I'm just waiting for it to start sooner rather than later!