Ramblings

Me and Grandma Clara Thanksgiving Day ;0


Black Friday?
What insanity is this? Stores opening at 7am! 6am! 5am! 4am! Holy Cow...cash cow...at least that's what the retailers are hoping for. I've never felt the need to spend spend spend for the holidays. Mostly because we really didn't have much in the way of extra money when I was growing up. Don't get me wrong, as children we always had gifts under the tree. We were encouraged to handmake as much as possible though, and gifts of quilts, knit and crochet'd afghans and slippers, hand embroidered pillowcases and dishtowels, candles, and macrame' plant holders (i know...my age is showing again).
The Thanksgiving holiday was the grand opening for the season. My family would spend the long weekend at my Grandma Lynnie's home where any number of her 14 surviving children and their assorted families congregated. Hams, turkeys, gravies, homemade biscuits, side dishes up the wazoo...desserts beyond counting as Lynnie's daughters and daughter's-in-law (or out-of-law wink, wink) tried to outdo and one-up each other in the down-home country cooking department. Dozens of cousins ran screaming in and through and out of the 2 bedroom clapboard house. The screen door was always slamming. The plastic over the windows (to help keep the propane heat bills down) seemed to breathe in and out all day. After the meal, the aunts and older girl cousins washed and dried dishes. The boy cousins fed plate scraps to the pigs. The uncles lay around in the living room watching TV, or just yammering while the radio played twangy country music a' la Conway Twitty, Porter Wagoner, and miss Tammy Whinette......Later, a few would head to the pond to catch fish....some would head to the fields to hunt....some would just nap. The rest of the Thanksgiving holiday would pass in a blur of food and family and we'd sleepily pile into the car for the 2hour drive home, remarking on the Christmas carols suddenly playing on the car radio. No when...no where during that time was there "shopping".

Yesterday, during our small family feast, DD was invited to camp out with a friend at Best Buy, as the friend's parents were planning some major holiday purchases. DD looked at me with a mix of confusion and disgust...ugh! no way! She's planning to stay home and make bead jewelry for gifts, and watch a movie with the fam. I'm going to knit and work on some other homemade gift projects. I just shake my head at the whole Black Friday phenomenon. I guess that's fun good times for some folks....just not my cup of tea.......

Well, now that you've read my blather....here's a tiny bit of knitting content...I'm just "this" close to finishing Cobblestone. I would be completely finished except I lost/misplaced my pattern for about 36 hours! And it was a critical point of the shaping decreases after the short rows so i didn't want to wing it! Luckily, i found it under the sofa yesterday afternoon(as i was picking up shoes) and now hope to have it ready to block this evening sometime! Here's where I was before I lost the pattern:


In the interval, I opted to start on Grandma Clara's present. She asked for a shawl with buttons and pockets. I liked the look of the Library Wrap in the Cascade 220 pattern book, but as that's loaned out, decided to make-up my very own pattern for a rectangular shawl with a fat cable running down the middle and pockets at both ends (for Grandma Kleenex you know!). I'll then crochet two or three loops and add easy to grip buttons to keep it held together in the front. I'm making it with easy care Lion Brand Jiffy, which will be easy to wash up. The color is a deep ruby red, the grannymeister's favorite!


And lastly, just to give everyone a chuckle, a couple of the furkids got haircuts last week. Pearl underwent her every 8month shavedown. Despite her expression, she actually loves rubbing on everyone and everything and purrs and drools with absolute ecstasy for a couple of months until her base grows back in! Don't worry, the groomer left her a nice tail tuft that Pearl can groom.


Well kids, other than turning other local knitters on to Ravelry, and validating their yarny "splurges"...that's about it these days....hope everyone had a warm, cozy, and fulfilling holiday. Knit on!

news, weather and knit..

help..help...i'm stuck on sleeve island....Cobblestone's body is deliciously complete...as is sleeve 1....i'm about 10" into sleeve 2....yawn. nice soft squooshy warm cozy lovely knit.knit.knit.knit.knit.knit....zzzzzzz...oh, huh, oh yeah...

what else is new...we had our first big snowfall for the year on Tuesday. About 6" total. Of course lots of accidents on the highway. I left clinic at 5:22pm...and got home at 9:18pm. Some of you who know Anchorage will appreciate that it took almost 3 hours just to get from Tudor through Muldoon and onto the Glen Highway. There's only one road north...no alternative route. Always gotta have food, candles, blankets, snowgear and knitting in the vehicles these days. Thank goodness for Cobblestone in the car. That's where i finished the body and much of sleeve 1. Elann.com's Sierra Aran is just truly luscious.

I found this little YouTube series the other day. Very interesting and inspiring craftiness if you ask me. Kinda edgy and youth oriented but still some excellent crafty ideas..i.e. that cuff, instead of fabric scraps...howzabout yarny scraps...or a mixture...hmmmm...watch...i think you'll like....




ok...i gave you weather, i gave you knits....ok...here's some news...I GOT NEW BIFOCALS....but i can't take a decent photo of them lately so no pics. Well, that's all there is for today. Knit on!

It's Thursday!

Which means a day off during the week this week. Very nice. It's mostly been laundry catch up day, but there has been a bit of knitting too! I was able to finally make a good start on Cobblestone for DH the other day. I'm working it with Elann.com's Sierra Aran (a soft cozy wool/alpaca blend) using my KnitPicks Options. I swear this thing is knitting itself. Slides around the needles/cables like buttah! And the color...swoon! This is "Lichen", a soft greenish brown with flecks of orange to purple throughout. It totally changes colors in different lighting. Under fluorescents it was very blah...but in natural daylight or regular incandescent bulbs, the colors blend and flow. I'm about 8" into the body so far. It's a very comforting knit.





Just off the blocking head (otherwise known as the blockhead...hehehee)is another gift hat. Foliage from knitty.com's fall issue:



The Yarn: On Line Gaucho, a superwash worsted tweedy wool, purchased through elann.com about a year ago. Used 1 entire ball and a bit more, however, next time, I'd probably do one fewer pattern repeat just to keep it from being so long, and you could easily do that with just one ball. The yarn is a bit scratchy when working with it, but softens up very nicely with a soak in Eucalon.

Needles: Doublepoint bamboos in 5s and 7s as per pattern instructions. I really liked the fabric I got with this, the laciness is there but still dense enough to keep your head warm.

Overall, I thought the lace pattern was very easy to memorize and made a "totally adorable" (to quote a local 16yr old) hat. I can see myself making this again in the worsted weight.

Well, the dryer's buzzing..gotta go fold clothes ;0
Have a totally knitterly day!

Drops 103-1 and Cake!

I made a new sweater.



No...i don't have hepatitis...and NO! My new sweater is NOT see-through. It is however, adorable; wonderful; i love it and finished it yesterday and wore it to work today and got A TON OF COMPLIMENTS...UNSOLICITED..and the whispering...the sly sidelong glances..the overheard words..."you know, she knit it herself"...gasp...stunned silence.."reeeeeaallly"....yes...IT is that good! So good in fact that I am totally posting suck photos because I'm jest so darn proud of it!

The Specs: Drops 103-1

The Yarn:Elann.com Peruvian Highland Wool Chunky in Coffeebean Brown (purchased Nov 2005..gotta love that knit from stash)

The Needles: Knitpicks Options size 10

Modifications/True Confessions: I knew that 10s would give me a loose fabric with the HW Chunky, so I opted to go with the flow and make the 2nd smallest size...and blocked it hard to get the proportions and drape uniform. I also shortened the collar so it wouldn't be quite so "bunchy" arouond the neck. This is probably also the very very best seaming/finishing I've done on a garment. No ends anywhere. All seams are "invisible" and even.

Happy Factor: VERY VERY HAPPY. It has just the right amount of drape and substance to not be sheer or see-through at all, yet it's just the right warmth over a camisole or tee shirt. The buttons were perfect finds from JoAnn's and echo the rusticity of the pattern and yarn.

I'll try to post a natural daylight photo later in the week, but here are some details you might enjoy!



A close-up perhaps?



By the way, the man thoroughly enjoyed the wishes you've sent him! Thanks! He said I could share his (made from scratch of course) World Famous Chocolate Fudge Birthday Cake with you.



have a knittery day.

Happy Birthday Russ

In 1990 I threw you a surprise 40th Birthday Party, in Nashville, TN. All the Channel 5 TV crew came. There were black balloons, lots of 'over-the-hill' jokes, a cake with a tombstone on it. You were really only 39. And you didn't let on to anyone about my little mistake...that i tried to backpedal and cover by calling it a practical joke. Fast forward 17 years and so many life adventures later.......



You were born to be my soulmate. Getting older, parenting, everything...is better with you in my life. Thank you...and Happy Happy Birthday! mmmmmmmwwwwwwwaaaaaaaahhhh!


Leave the man a birthday greeting if you are so inclined!

DOGS IN KNITS!

It's 'Dogs Modeling Handknits' month all over blogland. Not really, I just made that up. But it should be. Sheesh...take a look at Cass's Pippin modeling the Calorimetry...(scroll down to her entry dated..oh..around october 31, nov 1st..and enter her contest. Scads of FABULOUS prizes. Tell her I sent you...and that Grace sent me! Back to the doggie action..have you checked out our Minnie's Sadie in her graceful Clapotis...My sweet boy Tucker was feeling left out, so he got to model the latest "Churro" (Amy Singer pattern) earflap hat in Lorna's Laces Superwash Merino worsted...soft and yummy!

And best of all, that little flash of brown knitting your seeing is the very last little bit on the Drops Cardigan 103...it's blocking time! Whoo...a big FINISHED OBJECT that is not Christmas Knitting will be posted this week. Stay tuned. I know Tucker will be ;0



And just as an aside, that AMAZING crochet'd afghan that you see in the background..the one with a zillion colos and patterns...was MADE FOR ME as a gift from one of my favorite patient/friends ever. She's had 10 (no typo..ten..) babies, and I've been able to catch the last 5! It's the most wonderful gift I've ever received and something I absolutely treasure. She says crocheting is what keeps her sane with all those children...i don't know when she can find the time! Hugs to you Linda!

octoer 27, 2007

it's been a challenging week on the home front. i'd heard from experienced parents about teen angst and the crazy level of influence...often not so great...that teen peers can have....but've never really had it rear it's ugly head TOO badly here at home. Sigh. All I can say is that I am getting paid back in full for my own misbehavin' at that age. And all one can do is hang on for the ride sometimes. I've heard that eventually it gets better. And I know from taking care of former patients that it can be so very very much worse. But wow...they can sure suck the wind from your sails at times. Guess it's all part of life.

And I am so grateful for the partnership i have with my husband, and for the friends I have, who've given immeasurably supportive words and reassurances. These are both on-line and in-the-flesh friends. You know who you are. I send my thanks.

This morning one of those friends showed up to go for a BIG walk. It was the lovely and talented BFF MaryKay (yes, like the cosmetics). I've blogged about her before. We've been BFFs since our girls were barely walking. Today we made the short and easy mile+ hike to Thunderbird Falls. The weather was sunny and a brisk 23 degrees, but we were well bundled. (Why yes, those are interpretations of Amy Singer's "Churro" hat)



The trek back is steep and hilly at times, and there are lovely overlooks into Thunderbird Gorge



and directly at the Falls themselves (which were very low at this time due to our lack of much in the way of autumn precipitation).



Then we followed the VERY steep trail down into the gorge to the actual river. It was so beautiful and crisp. We reminisced about many other hikes and road trips we've made. We used to do this one with the kids in backpacks, and past pets on leashes. It was early enough in the morning that we didn't encounter another soul until we were almost back to the trailhead. A nice hour of outdoor exercise and conversation with a dear friend. Now there's Chicken Tortilla Soup simmering on the stove for dinner, and a bit of knitting to be done. I think the storm is over for a bit. I am feeling very blessed.

Let the Knitting Begin

Holiday knitting has started off with a BANG! DD asked for a hat and matching fingerless mitts for Christmas. Because she's a bit on the picky side with hats, i showed her the top 20 hat patterns on Ravelry. She chose the Odessa, but wanted it with no beads so she can wear it under her riding helmet. She also went shopping in the yarn room when i was trying to do stash inventory and glommed on to the Nashua Woolly Stripes Tweed right away. The Odessa was a very quick and easy knit and the only modification I made was a different yarn weight (heavy worsted instead of DK) and made the hat 6 1/2" before starting the crown decreases (because we are a big-head family and like our hats to cover our ears). Same size needles, same # stitches at the caston. Loved the pattern! And the man was kind enough to model it for the blog photo...although he's incognito wearing the Hollywood shades lol! Seriously, a great, quick easy peasy knit hat pattern. It will be made again.



Here's a shot of the crown....so pretty the way it all swirls around ;0



To match, I'm using the other ball and a half for Fetching fingerless mitts....quick and easy...here's less than an hour of fast knitting action.....



Started my new job this week. I cannot tell you how much I love it. You'll just have to imagine me getting up cheerfully each morning, and coming home cheerfully each evening (or morning, depending on the call schedule) but knowing I won't get another call because I'm off...blessedly, totally, 100% OFF when I'm not clocked in...is just heaven. I feel like the weight of the world is off my shoulders....and my patients...oh my gosh...it's amazing when you're working with people who actually are trying to be healthy, and are cheerful about their pregnancies, and aren't chronically mentally or emotionally ill.......It seriously improves MY emotional health and well-being I must say! Thanks so much to everyone for your support and well wishes while I made this enormous change. All your positive energy and input helped both with the decision making and the transition. I hug you ALL!

Needle Ho'

Bets initiated a lil discussion about needles the other day and it got me thinking that maybe, just maybe....i might have a bit of a problem.
I learned to knit on aluminum needles and didn't know there were any other types for years and years....until i started knitting with a vengeance again about seven years ago. During the past seven years, i've tried out and collected a VAST assortment of pointy sticks. Today was the first day I really LOOKED at what I've collected. I think...i may have a problem.
First of all.......when i started knitting again....I started back with Brittany straights.....oh, they held my stitches so well, providing just enough drag that even slippery stuff didn't just jump off and drop itself....hence, an almost complete collection of Brittany straights.....



But sometimes, i didn't have/make time to go to the LYS for the Brittanies....so i'd pop into JoAnn's or Michaels and pick up Clovers....not quite so pointy, lots of friction/drag for slippery fibers....relatively inexpensive...and they came in CIRCULARs..whoowhoo..I was hitting the bigtime with the knitting by then....and with multiple WIPs (or FTPs...failure to progress)this small collection was amassed....



Then...socks and other things that were worked in the round, but had diameters too small for circs (don't even get me started on two-circ knitting..i hate that!)and a nice collection of DPs came into being...and of course there are multiples of the 1s, 2s, and 3s....maybe say 3 or 4 sets of each....silly me...
oh...and the BIG jar of needles, well lets just say that, between my compulsion for thrift stores..and a nicely recovering ebay habit.....the jar ran out of room...but there are lots of interesting foreign made needles in various metals and plastics there...yes, even one pair of lightup loser needles purchased for hairsticks at a knit in public night. This is really pathetic.







Here's a close-up of my favorite thrift store score...an intact, mint condition, vintage Boye Needlemaster set...that i got for a buck and a half! I still get all excited thinking about that surprising find! And no, i've never used a piece of it...but i do take them out and fondle them once in a while ;0



Currently, I am never without my favorites....the starter set of sz 4-15 KnitPicks Options interchangeables.....i love these needles and now only use the others for super slippery yarns.....or if my KPOs are stuck in a WIP...



I didn't show you all the needles in the WIP pile...because that would be just...not so good...and really really embarrass me ;0

So what's next....well, I really want a set of the KnitPicks Harmony interchangeables for Christmas. According to those in the know...they are wonderful and pointy and smooth and of course the gorgeous colors appeal to my aesthetic sensibilities....when I asked the man to put these at the top of the Holiday gift list...he said OK but looked puzzled....I asked him what that look was for....and he just gestured around the room to the little piles and bundles of tools scattered about....and gently asked...."do you think there might be a problem here?"

hmmmmmm.....i don't want to go down that road. I'm just going to say that at this "point" in time...i think i have a needle for every fiber....but you never know what you might need in cable lengths....or with the next fibery goodness coming from the mills...gotta stay on top of the technology...right?

Check it Out!

You all MUST go check out Allison's Pacific Waves Shawl (she's linked over there under knitbuds)....you know the one...directions are "cast on 541 stitches"...541. Well that would stop many people dead in their tracks. me included. then she posted it as "the shawl that never ends...and it goes on and on my friends"....don't think that inane tune didn't go through my mind for hours and still pops in at random....but HOLY COW! that's amazingly beautiful. And she takes some of the best pics too!

Finally, A Day Off......

Whew, she says...flipping the sweat from her brow with a brisk motion of her fingertips.....i have worked 4-20 hours a day...every day...for the past 16 days. Last night...beginning at 8pm...began the first >24 hour stretch at home. aaaaahhhhhh....transitioning from one job to another involves a lot of very hard work in the short term......

But it's not terrible at all. I love what I do. And even when it's hard, wretchedly hard, it's still rewarding. There is no place else, no other time, when Hope, and Joy, and the greater mystery...all can come together. Every once in a while, you see it...it shines like glittering golden dust motes, slowly swirling around, faster and with more energy as the mothers' efforts coax their babies out.....until a semi-visible cone of light focuses itself on the brand new face in my hands...culminating in a shockwave of joy exploding through the room with the first intake of breath and indignant howl.
I am a tired, yet content midwife this morning. Sitting in flannel jammies and sweatshirt, sipping a cup of tea.

But I have an agenda today. I decided the Scroll pattern was not what I had in mind for the Devon. It was frogged and is now turning into the VanDyke Check pattern, a simple textural that has a nice effect with this yarn. Lace patterns and Texture patterns..this yarn knits up both beautifully....Anyway, I want to finish this swatch and see how it blocks out before this evening.



The rest of today will also be dedicated to finishing up the HUGe project! It needs to be in the mail by Friday. I started it about 2 weeks ago when I had 16 hrs at home..and it will need a 3-4 hour stretch to finish up today (i'm estimating..hah..not necessarily good at that sometimes)...Pearl has been protecting it from the nosy canines......



I ordered the Sierra Aran from Elann.com, in Lichen, for the man's Cobblestone. He likes how it feels and it will be worn over a t-shirt and it doesn't come up on his neck...so he SHOULD wear it! (unlike the Galway turtleneck from a few years back..oh well ;P )

I really wanted to order some of that Lang Moon in their blowout sale..$25.00/bag...wow...but I'm gritting my teeth and behaving because I don't need more stash enhancement at all right now. Wow, me excercising self-control and discipline...what a concept. I'm anxious to get started with the Christmas knitting.
We had our first bit of snow yesterday morning. About a 1/2" to 1" in East Anchorage/Muldoon area to the hospital...it was gone by noon...but the snow has quietly crept down the mountainsides this past week, and full winter will be here before we know it. Stay warm and knit on.

Ssssswwwwappin Goodies!

i got spoiled! my knit1tea2 super secret swap buddy spoiled me ROTTEN! She's been leaving me sneakygirl emails every couple weeks or so since the swap started. i got a little obsessive and tried to figure out who she was through her 'voice' on her blog...and then eliminating those who'd already sent goodies and all....but i really had no clue! Caryn in Philadelphia..you ROCK totally!
All wrapped up in this apparently innocent gift/photo box....



is a plethora of goodies.....



Blackberry fruit spread...mmmmmm..mmm..my very very favorite ever!..Numi Breakfast Blend organic tea...Honey Sticks..which are VERY hard to find in Alaska... Green & Black's Organic Bittersweet Dark Chocolate..(to which the man piped up and said.."hey, that's for me right..something for the DH's who provide the support for this knitting/blogging habit huh?" pphhhttttb..not on your life!)
A beautiful Saffron and Clove Soy Wax Candle..it smells divine!..a handy dandy magnetized note pad to help keep me organized...and beautiful pettable Misti Alpaca Chunky in a rich dark chocolate color...mmmmm...i think i know already what this will be when it grows up....and last but certainly not least..for the handcrafted part of the swap...this adorable green tea towel that she embroidered a way cool kitty design! very handy and perfect for my kitchen crafty self. This was my first swap ever and I have to say it was everything I'd hoped for and then some! Thanks so much Caryn.

Ssssswwwatchin'

Grandma Clara thought this was entrelac, but it's really a nifty easy lace pattern from Barbara Walker Treasury #1..the blue book...called Scroll Pattern, pg 220. The yarn is Devon from Elann.com in Rosewater...the needles, US 3s. I think this would look great in a worsted or aran weight self striping for a shawl. Definately hoping/thinking the irregularity of the sides will sort itself out in the blocking process. Devon is so nice to work with but I don't think i can/will do anything large on this size of needles...lovely soft hand the Devon has..very nice to knit with...too bad Elann's not going to restock it.
knit on!

Awwwwww....

For some reason or 'nuther, knitbud Joan was unaware that chez midwife was home to not just Pearl the perfect Persian and Butt the Ear-Sucking Cat.....along with a couple of large yard livestock....but doggies too! This little snuggle bum is Spirit. He's my constant companion. Follows me around EVERYWHERE inside, outside...on the bed...on the couch...you get the idea. Total klingon. But he's very sweet. He's a Miniature American Eskimo, about 7 years old now. He was 'gifted' to me for DD as a tiny 6 wk old puppy,by a co-worker who breeds them. These pups are too adorable...hand size powderpuff! Anyway...if you get any yarny goodness from me with long white hair on it...that's Spirit's contribution.

Not any new knitting to show. Working on a project that can't be shown at this time...yarn shopping for the man's Christmas present. I'm making him the Cobblestone and thinking of using Elann.com's Sierra Aran in Lichen. Any other ideas for soft,tweedy, heavy worsted-lt aran weight would be welcome.

The Alaska State Yarn Council Expo IV starts today with classes taught by Lily Chin and local talent. No classes for me...but i hope to visit the Vendor booths and see the fashion show Sat or Sunday.

Well that's all i've got for today....knit on!

ch..ch...ch...changes....

Well i did it....i really really really did it. i interviewed for two new jobs. i turned one new job down...even though there was more $$$$....and no night or weekend 'on-call'. i accepted the new position in the corporation i currently work for...same mediocre pay...same awesome benefit package...same insanely enormous amount of paid leave..been with the corporation so long i accrue 12 hours paid leave every 2 weeks...crazy eh...BUT...effective october 15...i will be working for our MEDICAL SERVICES division, instead of being bossed around by non-medical folks in the BEHAVIORAL SERVICES division of the corporation. Basically what this means is i still will be able to see 'my' mental health/substance abuse patients for their prenatal, postpartum, birth control, routine women's health, STD stuff...and i'll be assigned a full panel of routine prenatal care patients..but i don't have to be on-call 24 hours/day. in fact, i'll only be on-call in labor and delivery 24 hours each WEEK including a 12 hr day shift and a 12 hr night shift...and i'll be assigned to fly out to the village of Sand Point, AK in the Aleutian chain every 3 mos or so.....I am very very excited about this new change. it will mean a lot to have medically trained support staff. it will mean a lot to have immediate access to colleagues to bounce things off of instead of always waiting for phone calls back and looking up things all the time in texts or on the internet.......it will mean entire blocks of time in which i can drink wine or other adult beverages and not worry about having only one...or if so-and-so is going to go into labor or not....or if i'll have to reschedule one of DD or grandma clara's appointments. i feel like a huge weight is off my shoulders. this has been a loooooooong time coming. i'm so glad! and it may very well mean MORE KNITTING TIME...WHOOOO HOOO....

Friday 'Date Night' and some Fingerless Mitts

oh for heaven's sake, pull your minds out of the gutters! puuuuhhhlllleeeaze!

Friday evening, the man and I took a short trip north to Talkeetna,
the charming little town Northern Exposure's ,'Cicely', was modelled upon. Less, than 2 hours from home, Talkeetna offers great sight-seeing, flight-seeing-it's the launch point for most Denali expeditions-and fishing of course! But Friday's trip served a purpose. WINE. The beautiful Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge hosted its annual wine dinner, featuring selected pairings for each of the 6 gourmet courses! We've tried to go every year but missed out on tickets for one reason or another the past two. Needless to say, we were very excited to see what Chef Felix Zollinger, featured on The Food Network, was cooking up!
The drive was spectacular! It was one of those glorious golden-leafed autumn afternoons with a clear blue sky and every color of gold, orange and garnet flanking the highway. Denali was out and spectacular, shamelessly flaunting her snow capped peaks. The temperatures were in the low 50s upon arrival, and dipped into the mid 30s during the night....so much so that i had to get up and close the windows in our room. We arrived early enough to shower and dress 'Alaska Fancy'...which basically translates as clean jeans/slacks and a casual comfortable stretchy dress.....key word...stretchy...with all the food we were getting ready to eat. We positioned ourselves outside the dining room with the other 248 ticket holders. Tummies were rumbling, nervous laughter tinkled about, and new friendships were struck. At last the doors were opened and we were seated next to two women, both stay at home moms, who had opted for a 'girls night out'. Coincidentally, one woman was mom to a school friend of DDs, and her husband is an AirForce RN who moonlights in ICU at my hospital. There's an old saying that in Alaska, there's only 2 degrees of separation between everyone....i honestly believe it's true. The other woman's husband has worked with the man during media training exercises....Alaska is its own small small world. And, our dinner companions were highly entertaining. Having visited the bar before the wine/dinner event, the first woman was insistent that we hear all the details about her recent series of surgeries. She started out with the gastric bypass, then the tummy tuck, and lastly...her breast reduction just three weeks ago. I must admit, she looked fabulous, and told her story with a comedic flair. But the highlight of the evening was the food and wine pairings.........here is the menu which featured both Flora Springs reds AND whites as appropriate.

Artichoke Tart.....lovely herbed pastry crust with calamata olives, red onions, artichokes and montrachet goat cheese paired with a light and sweet Flora Springs Pinot Grigio
i gave this course five stars.....the sweetness of the pinot grigio was a perfect accent to the savory saltiness of the tart! yummm.....

Radicchio and Butter lettuce with hazelnut oil and garlic chips....paired with a Flora Springs Chardonnay. I have to confess that I'm all about the Chardonnays and this one did not disappoint. Very buttery, subtle oak overtones.....another excellent pairing. I could've gone straight to dessert from here....but i didn't...and i'm very very glad!

Parmigianino-Reggiano Tortellini with Dungeness Crab and Tarragon Butter....paired with the Flora Springs Soliloquy...the tortellini with crab was sheer heaven on the tongue...sweet, rich...everything it should be, very well accented with the tarragon and just a hint of nutmeg. The Soliloquy was nice, but i much preferred the Chardonnay to the Soliloquy, especially in pairing for this course. ok...that's a full meal for me....and after three glasses of wine...i was a happy gal.......but of course, there was more.....

next up, an interesting palate cleanser...Kaffir Lime Sorbet.....very tart and refreshing...and i say interesting because it was blended with a nice vanilla base, flecks of vanilla bean throughout the sorbet....the two flavors seemed to war with each other in my mouth...i kept searching out the sweet floral creaminess of the vanilla only to be thwarted each time by the tang of the lime......interesting, but not a favorite that's for sure. no wine for me this course.....i needed a breather to let my head clear....

On to the main course.....Pan Roasted Minnesota Elk Loin with Elderberry Espagnol, winter vegetables in 'Beurre noisette' and a Lemon and Trebbiano Risotto. mmmmm....paired with one of the BEST Cabernet Sauvignon's i've ever had the privilege to enjoy....Flora Springs Hilltop Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Folks, I am not into cabs at all, the tannins tend to give me a headache and i don't particularly enjoy the astringent feel of them in my mouth....but this one was literally incredible....almost a caramel undertone, incredibly rich and complex. I couldn't believe how very much i enjoyed this one! And the elk....so tender you could cut it with a fork.....less 'gamey' even than caribou ...my fav game meat...and the risotto was sublime. The vegetables included parsnips and rhubarb...but were cut on such a fine dice that it was difficult to pick up with a fork...very tasty, very nice...and an excellent pairing with the cab.

Dessert, sadly, did not live up to the dinner. French Vanilla Cream Crepes with Kiwi-Raspberry filling paired with the Flora Springs Napa Cabernet Sauvignon......First of all, some of the raspberries and most of the kiwi in the crepe were not ripe....and the tartness of the unripe fruit competed fiercely with the french vanilla cream....not in a good way...and this cabernet had so much 'grapefruit and pineapple' overtones that the lovely vanilla was immediately excised from the palate. A nice shot of Harvey's Bristol Cream Sherry would probly have been a better idea at this point!

All in all, i give the evening a 9/10.....with a point off for the dessert crepe. Everything else was divine! We spent the night in our comfortable room and returned back home early Saturday morning. And i was able to finish my Knit1Tea2 swap buddy's handknit gift of fingerless mitts from my huge stock of OnLine Linie 124 Gaucho....one of my favorite superwash wools. I made a size medium....sure hope she likes them!

ok...anyone know how to move the pics down to where they are SUPPOSED to go.....changing the browser has gotten me a little confused here!

Box is taped and ready for mailout in the morning!
I have another overnight at hospital tonight so maybe will get time for my 'prayerful square'.
Have a great knitterly day everyone and let's catch up later this week.........i still need to get yarn for Joan's Entrelac-tober!

Voyager in Action

Thought you might enjoy seeing the Voyager in action as it were. I wore her to work today and received many nice compliments, and she kept me warm and cozy until the sun came out this afternoon.

I'd love to show you my progress on the Monkey socks, but not much there due to super secret knitting for my Knit1Tea2 downstream buddy. I need to finish that up tonight so it can be mailed off by Monday. Pics after mailout! more later this weekend!

Travel, Ravel, a Wedding & some Monkeying Around

It's awfully nice to go....and well....I'm back :) As some of you may remember from a few weeks ago, we had received a wedding invitation from one of my cousins who lives in Kenai. Kenai is a very nice small town right on the Kenai River, about a 3-4 hour drive from Anchorage. Her wedding was in Laughlin, Nevada.....just a few hours from Las Vegas. The man and I decided it would be a perfect opportunity to take a little family vacation (we haven't had more than a couple of alone together times other than a few overnights in the camper at a campground less than an hour from home in the past 4 years!) Our DD had another commitment, a very successful memorial fundraising barrelrace and kind friends offered to keep an eye on everyone. Another plus, my very favorite Aunt, Uncle and some of my cousins also planned to attend. I saw a few of them a couple of years ago on my last trip to Oklahoma, but others I hadn't seen in 11 years.... It would be an opportunity to reconnect, and what the heck, it's Vegas baby, there's always something to do!

I had just received my RAVELRY invite and had no time to do anything but reply to a few friends and look at how my "notebook" and "bookshelf" and project links work. I can't wait to do some serious uploading this weekend. I can see myself using this for all sorts of project ideas and information links. Even the man was impressed with it and clicked around a bit (and that's sayin' a LOT!) couldn't believe it was a public service donated by some really nice knitting folk...again...impressed. Anyway, I decided to pick a portable project and following the crowd, I chose the Monkey sock pattern from Knitty and some Tofutsie from stash. I made it this far before we hit Seattle.



The flight to Vegas was shorter but rather bumpy...and my accursed air sickness hit again. Oh well, glad it was a short flight. The man and I checked into our hotel, The Monte Carlo,
and grabbed some lunch, did some walking around, and called it an early night. The next day, we went to see Bodies the Exhibition and the Titanic Artifact Exhibition (the man is quite the Titanic buff). Both of these, I felt, were very interesting and overall worth seeing. Later, my favorite aunt & uncle and cousins showed up!

My wonderful Uncle Paul & Aunt Gloria. Shhhhh....don't tell anyone, but Aunt Gloria loooooves to gamble!


My baby cousin Mandy (the youngest of "my generation" of cousins) was married on Saturday on a Celebration Riverboat Cruise on the Colorado River! It was a really nice time and wonderful to see everyone. When I was a little girl, Mandy's mom, my Aunt Frieda, used to dress me up and take me to church on Sundays. On Saturday nights, though, I'd sleep in the bed between her and my Aunt Faye and listen to them talk about all those "teenager' things. When they would talk about things they didn't want me to ask about or repeat inadvertently (usually boys or sex or something), they'd let me listen to the transistor radio with their earphones! I told DD that story and she asked "what's a transistor radio?"......generation gap! When I was older, Mandy's dad, Uncle Larry, fixed me up with one of his younger friends and we dated for a while. I wonder whatever happened to Tootie? (yes, that was his name...)

Uncle Larry, Aunt Frieda, new Cousin-in-Law Ted, Cousin Mandy, Ted's mom.



You may have noticed that my cousin Mandy is stunning. It's true. She's even prettier in person. And she's sweet and spunky as she can be. That's my baby cousin................



Hmmmm......my pics are out of order and I'm too lazy to change them around....so, the night before the wedding, my Aunt Gloria, Uncle Paul, Cousins Holly & Sara, and I went to see Cirque du Soleil "O" (go to the link for "O" under Discover our Shows and watch the video for a temptation!) at the Bellagio. First of all, the Bellagio is incredible! The Chihuly glass ceiling is gorgeous. I felt very much like a peasant accidently walking through a sumptuous castle gawking and turning to see everything! Cirque Du Soleil's "O" was enchanting as well. I could easily see it time and time again because there's no way your mind and eyes can attend to everything happening around the stage! Seriously, if you have time, check out the link to it! New life mission...see all the Cirque Du Soleil shows. Just loved it!

Cousin Sara, Aunt Gloria, Cousin Holly & Me at the Bellagio getting ready to see "O". Hey Barbara, recognize that shawl from San Francisco? Sigh......I lost it somewhere in the parking lot or casino the day of the wedding, so lightweight it slipped from my arm or bag and I didn't even know it was gone. Oh well. At least it wasn't one of my knitted ones, right?


Like, I said, the photos are out of order. The Colorado River was pretty choppy on the wedding day. There was a casualty. One of the flower girls, (the next generation....I guess that makes us a second cousin?) got a little seasick. Poor sweet girl!


Now, I don't know if this picture is blurry because the boat was moving or blurry because I'd had a few too many champagne toasts, but this is bride Cousin Mandy with her older brother and sister (Twin Cousins Lori & Shawn). Lori is mom to seasick flower girl. All in all it was really a lovely wedding and nice to spend time and renew relationships and reconnect with folks. I guess that's what it means to value family, making the effort to maintain the connections...regardless of the outcome. Maybe they'll head north to visit now that Alaska has claimed two of Lynnie's Granddaughters (as we are generally referred to by the very elderly in the family).

It was really a nice trip, but Vegas is not someplace I want to spend more than a few days. Too stinky with cigarette smoke, too surreal with lovely women dressed like hootchie mamas drinking cocktails in casinos at 6:30am.....too much stimulation. There was one true disappointment ,however. I LOVE roller coasters...or I think I used to LOVE rollercoasters. I haven't been on one in over 15 years! But I promised to ride the roller coaster at the top of the Stratosphere with cousins Holly & Sara. This roller coaster is 900 feet above the ground.
Here's a lil' YouTube link of someone else's ride:
Sadly, the roller coaster was demolished over a year ago...and far more extreme rides were erected in its place. Not for me. So we all went over to NewYork NewYork for the rollercoaster there. Let's just say....maybe it was a hot flash at the end, maybe it was the two marguerita's in the couple of hours preceding the ride....maybe I'm just too darn old for this stuff anymore...but my knees were shaking and my legs were wobbly as I got off after the ride, and I was ugly sick within about 15 minutes. I think that'll be the last time I pay $14 to throw up thank you very much.

I did get quite a bit done on the Monkey sock all considered. I turned the heel and am cruising on the gusset right now!




I'm needing to go do laundry and take stock of what groceries are needed....knit amongst yourselves til I get back!

Happy Autumn

We're officially making the change into fall around here. The air has a definite nip to it at night. I had to get up and close windows last night and put an extra blanket on the bed. There's termination dust (visible snowfall in the mountain tops)on the Chugach Range as well as the Talkeetna mountains visible from my windows. The High Bush Cranberries are ripening nicely with a brilliant splash of scarlet leaves, the birch leaves are turning yellow and falling in golden swirls from the trees. The somewhat spicy, somewhat skunky smell of fall hits my nose as I shuffle through the undergrowth. I love the change of seasons...I treasure the jewel of Alaska autumn. It is so very brief, hardly a month before it will all be covered by snow. Definately time to pull out the deep colors and soft woolens. (Gee, can you tell I've been reading EZ's Knitters Almanac? She puts me in such a poetic mood! Can't believe I've been knitting this long and just finally obtained a copy of it!)

I'm heading to the hot weather for a family wedding (yeah...decided to go after all) and little vacay for a few days. Received my Ravelry invite today too! Almost missed it in the wash of other emails! I look forward to joining in the fun when I return. Still have no idea what project to take with me...maybe the unfinished Luna?...maybe some Monkey Sox? maybe both....I'll pack later this morning. I'll be out of touch for a bit. Hopefully will have lots and lots of photos when I return. Hope the rest of the week brings everyone lots of goodness. Knit on!

"Isn't That Just the Berries"

I have NO IDEA what that means...but the lil' grandma Clara says it all the time, along with "lawzamercy" and "good grief charlie brown"....but it seems fitting to say something about the wayward Coachella.....



otherwise known as crap, crap, crap!

1) Great yarn sub for Berocco Suede. Check: Artfibers Ballet (discont'd.) 25%nylon/75% microfiber
2) Gauge. Check: 18st/4"spot on size 9s just like the pattern called for. (I never get row gauge so adjust accordingly)
3) Read through pattern and viewed other folks' interpretations. RACHAELLA was so bella!
4) I even tried it on once I was 10 rows below the armholes...just like the pattern says....and to assure appropriate length
5) I knit my freakin heart out this weekend because I want to wear this in Las Vegas Wednesday.
6) What I forgot to take into account...............i'm down from a 14/16 this time last year....to a 10 (and even...gasp...an 8 at last week's clothing sale shopping spree).....and yep...you guessed it....I made the wrong freakin size again. I like my clothes loose. Some folks even say baggy. I know this top is supposed to have negative ease. I figured if I made the 37" size it would be clingy and accent the curvature...did I measure the boobage on myself? Of course not! I've been the same size for years right? Did the fact that my bras haven't fit right (i.e. I'm always tugging them back down) for the past 2 months or so even enter my brain....of course not! Well guess what. I measured "the girls" afterwards....hah! 36"...no negative ease there.....



Maybe that's why the cowl hung down so low that wardrobe malfunction was guaranteed. I tried a quick fix....see the cute little crochet'd cord drawstringing the neckline up to a less censorious length.....but it really is just overall too big. CRAP!



So...the good news...1) I know I am now down to officially a size medium for most things. 2) I now know exactly what my measurements are....and they came as a delightful surprise....3) I know why I need new clothes....4) I LOVE the way the fabric knits up and the pattern in the correct size will be gorgeous and very wearable ....5) I have enough yarn left to make another in the correct size....6) and I'm going to gift this one to busty work buddy Barbara D.
You live....you learn.

Now....I need to figure out the travel knitting....maybe it's time to start on the holiday giftees eh?