The List for Today.

Today was a busy day. I had a Doctor's appiontment, made supper, did laundry, baked cookies and baked bread. While I was pondering possible blog topics for today, Em, my eldest offspring suggested "Ten Uses for My Children". Since they actually have way more than ten uses, I have modified the idea a little.

Top 5 Reasons I had Children.

1. I always wanted to be a Mom.
2. They make good back scratchers.
3. Without children, the world would be full of crotchety old people.
4. Someone needed to clean the cat box.

And last, but certainly not least...

5. I needed someone to pass along to, my love and knowledge of cooking and most things crafty.


And on that note, I am off to ready for bed.

Another List.

Today's list, top ten things I want to knit. To clarify, this is a list of items that I want to knit, if we lived in a perfect world. However, since we don't, due to time and funds they may not all be completed before being bumped off the list. This list also does not include things others have asked for, unless of course they happen to ask for something I actually really want to knit. I am listing these as the top ten, but there is really no specific order in which I want to knit them.

Top 10 Things I Want to Knit.

1. Lucie, an awesome sweater I would like to knit for me.
2. Coachella, another me, not sure how flattering it might be, but it looks fun.
3. Cleaves, for Em... it's funky & I can live vicariously through her,
not sure it would work with my rather ample bosom.
4. Tubey, in a solid for me and stripes for Em.
5. Bondok, larger & in a darker colour.

We are now at the half way point. In case you're dizzy from all the linkage, maybe you'd like to warm up your tea, or grab a cookie.

6. Skuld, I love this, this one has a shot at actually becoming reality.
7. Hug, one for me, one for Em, one for Meg.
8. Sedona, for Meg... they look like fun and I think she'd like them.
9. Charles, for Meg, she'd adore it, and it looks so easy.
10. Socks, no link, 'cause I haven't decided on a pattern
Honestly, I've never knit socks and they scare the heck outta me.

Honorable mention goes to...

Celia, I absolutely love this and think it is incredibly sexy, it only gets an honorable mention for two reasons. One, it's crochet and not knit, a technicality. Two, the sizing isn't large enough for me, and there is that ample bosom thing I mentioned earlier.

NaBloPoMo status - Two down, twenty-nine to go.
Think you're up for it? We'll see if I am.

Movies to Knit By.

Here we are the first day of NaBloPoMo, and I'm off to a great start. "Lists" is the theme for March's NaBloPoMo, so I've decided to share my list of ten favourite movies to knit by. First let me note that I do have some criteria for a movie to knit by. It can only be action packed if I have already seen it before. I admit to trying to knit during Casino Royale in the theatre, I didn't get much done. Could have been the navy blue yarn, could have been the action. Other criteria, they have to be good, and since that is strictly based on personal opinion, it may not count as criteria.

I do often knit in the movie theatre but the list of movies I'll be mentioning here are ones I own on DVD. This is only a general order, they often move around the list according to my mood.

Movies(DVD) to Knit by:

1. Pride & Prejudice, the A&E mini-series version.
2. 10 Things I Hate About You.
3. Shaun of the Dead (aforementioned action rule applies here).
4. Dangerous Beauty, I love this movie, I especially love Rufus Sewell. I knit an entire Christmas gift for a friend watching only this movie while I worked on it.
5. Gladiator, much of the Bee hat was knit during this movie.
6. Serenity
7. Pitch Black
8. The Wedding Date
9. A Knight's Tale
10.The 13th Warrior

Honorable mention for another movie that I love to knit by, and for that matter
love in general but do not own on DVD,
Transformers.

There you have it. What you expected? I'll admit there are others I like to knit by, but these are the tops.

It May be Contagious

First off, let's pretend that it has not been almost two months since my last post. We (meaning me), are going to overlook that little detail and move ahead.

Anyone who knows me well, and probably a few who don't know me so well, know that I love to cook and bake as much as I love to knit. I often think this blog looks more like a cooking blog that a knitting one, but they're both a part of me.

Well...

I think I may have contracted a new addiction. Bread making. My Foodie Girl, aka: Kelly, and I discussed this book, a while back, then she went and bought it. She kindly shared her experiences and the recipe formula, and now I too have the "Bread Making Disease". Yeah, 'cause there weren't already enough carbs in my life. Although, in my own defense I have already shared my bread making results with my children, my friend Kim, neighbours, and several co workers, so at least I am not hording. The first batch of dough never even made it in to the fridge. The second managed a whole 12 hrs or so before being delved into to make a few cheesy, herby rolls.

I have had to slightly modify my cooking method from what the recipe suggests. I don't have a baking stone, so I have utilised the method from another no-knead bread. I place my Grandmother's cast iron dutch oven into the oven, and allow it to pre-heat. When the dough has rested and the oven is fully pre-heated I carefully plop the semi-shaped dough into the pot and place on the lid. I then let the bread bake and turn into a much desired orb of yummyness. Works pretty well, the crust is crispy, yet not to tough and the bread is light and moist without being either too dense or too wholey. I definitely think this will become a problem. Between, cookies, cupcakes, biscuits and now bread, I may need a part time job just to supplement the costs of baking supplies, not too mention the knitting supplies.

Speaking of knitting, it's been a little slow. I have been experiencing some hand an wrist troubles that occasionally get in the way, and I'm still busy playing with the new oven. I did however manage to finish a hat for little Charlie Girl, requested by her Mom. A Bumble Bee! I love the way it turned out. It is exactly as I imagined it, and it was very easy. A simple, striped , rolled brim hat with i-cord antennae.


One more thing, Kelly has coerced me into attempting to partake in National Blog Posting Month or NaBloPoMo as it is more commonly known. It is apparently going monthly. I will try. However, I don't always have access to the internet on weekends, so I can't make any promises.

A Most Excellent Gift.

My final 2007 Christmas gift arrived January 3, 2008. I love it and I have to say, it is one of my most favourite gifts ever. Actually everyone in the house loves it, well, maybe not the cats. It was first used late the day of it's arrival, though not for very long. Today, I put it to proper use. Wanna see?

Here's how things progressed.




You may need a napkin for this part. Here is the results of my toil.

Have you guessed my gift yet? Those who know me I'm sure have, but just in case here it is, posing for a couple of photos upon it's arrival.


It's not fancy, but it's mine and works wonderfully. After almost 2 years without a working oven, I am over the moon, and the moon sparkles just like a sugar cookie made with real butter.

Btw, the cookies are an adaptation that began with a no-frills peanut butter cookie recipe from my Grandmother's Five Roses Cookbook, which I have named Peanut Butter Sugar Blossoms.

Holidays & Such.

Christmas is always busier that I expect, though this year I did manage to not overwhelm myself with a never ending to do list. I decorated a little. I love our cute feather tree, which managed to not be eaten by a certain kitten. I shopped for what was needed, I made goodies only for a select few and kept the knitting gift list to a minimum. It made for an enjoyable and relaxed holiday. I plan on keeping New Year's, and all of 2008 for that matter, on a similar course.

The Christmas goodie preparation, although a little later than I had planned turned out well, and all recipients at least feined pleasure, which is good enough for me. Here's a peek at them all wrapped and ready for gifting. My kiddles did finish all of the extra goodies, so I'm sure they were indeed good.

I even managed a post-Christmas batch of toffee. It began with an online recipe which I modified into Double Toffee Almond Crunch, no feedback as of yet(the kiddles are away), but I find it pretty tasty and look forward to making many versions and adaptations in the future. It is also quite pretty to look at.


Now I will share my favourite photo from this year's Holiday celebration. Let you know that my last gift will be arriving on Thursday, and all y'all are gonna love it. Okay, I'll love it, and those I love will love it, maybe not everyone will love it.

Finally, I hope that you have enjoyed my musings on this humble little blog, which isn't updated nearly enough and would like to wish all a Happy and Peaceful 2008.

Live, love, laugh, enjoy. (my new moto)

Long Awaited Update..?

Update.. definitely. Long awaited.. maybe, maybe not.

This is actually a mini update, I don't currently have all that much to share. There were a few hats knit for the Christmas charity drive at work, ... but I forgot to take pictures. There are a couple of other knits I'm currently working on. Some are destined to be Christmas gifts and therefore I probably shouldn't blog them, but I might when they reach a more photogenic stage. Today, I'll be sharing foodie bits and my eldest's (aka:Tall Child) cooking talents, obviously inherited from her mother.


Tonight's supper, pierogies, artfully prepared by Em (aka:Tall Child), under the watchful eye of her Mother (that's me). They were fabulous, and
downright delicious. Photographic evidence.