Shoveling, Freezing, Knitting and Baking (not necessarily in that order)

And none of which has produced any blogworthy posts.

Last week I did go sled-riding in my car down our driveway (about a 45 degree angle). Really it was ice-riding and I was relieved to have remembered which way to turn the steering wheel when I was going backwards. A smash into a giant maple tree and a roll into a sloping field was averted.

It's cold. It's snowy. While I'm not fond of it all, I'll refrain from complaining because I realize that there is at least a month and a half more to endure and I don't want to be complaining that long. I prefer to complain when I know there's an end in sight.

I baked and apple pie filling cake in the wrong pan. The internet told me I could use a 10" springfoam pan instead of a bundt pan. The internet LIED. The batter fit but it ended up soggy where the bundt hole would have been. I ate it anyway. Mr. Sophanne did not love it. What's not to love about eggs, sugar, flour, oil, cinnamon and apple pie filling? He's not a cake with stuff in it kind of guy. That didn't bother me much.

LisaBe displayed a finished shawl on Fbook. I loved it and copied her. It's Clockwork by Stephen West. Ooh La La. In terms of color play it reminds me of Brooklyn Tweed's Noro Scarf. I'm doing it in some chocolate malabrigo sock yarn and some STR from this year called "the fiber with no name." It's brought back some knitting mojo. I'm going to go out on a limb and say a good pattern with luscious yarn will always do that.



In the continuing effort to rid myself of the mounds of cascade that was purchased with delusional thoughts of knitting fantasies, I've started a log cabin afghan. I'm hoping that I stick with this one- the multi-colored babette just wasn't doing it for me in terms of stash busting.



I like the mindless knitting involved in this. It's also very interesting to see what happens to colors when you put them next to other colors. Generally, they become less offensive.

If you're looking for a soundtrack for this post, insert a "little bit sick" husband who believes he might be the sickest person ever.

Every now and then...

...you get a second chance.

a self declared snow day

Yesterday morning I spent about 2 hours worrying about driving home from school in the snow today. I took matters into my own hands. There is a reason they give teachers personal days and that reason is called SNOW.

There is a most competent retired teacher (who also has much less of a drive and a good 4wd to get home) as my sub teaching kids to double dutch and play with lummi sticks. And since she is the sympathetic fearless sort who took me home during the last snow, it's only fitting that she get paid something for my psychosis.

I am watching the snow fall, baking brownies, and playing with paper and pen. The book Totally Tangled by Sandy Steen Bartholomew arrived yesterday and while not surprising, it is amazing what a little guided inspiration can do.

Tangle Number 2


Happily I had plenty of various weighted pencils and was able to add some shading. Those were some of the items on the fence during this summer's purge. I'm so glad I hung onto them. Like any creative endeavor, the book suggests to look for inspiration/design possibilities everywhere. Henna tattoos, Japanese kimonos- I also pulled a little something from the Sundance Jewelry catalog I received yesterday. Warning to people who feel their lives can be fulfilled by a piece of jewelry!! DO NOT CLICK ON THIS SITE. It will suck you in like nobody's business!

The goal to it all, as I read it, is to become completely mindful of the lines you are drawing. I really had a battle with my brain while doing this (it's snowing-I'm not at school-I wonder what my ex from 20 years ago is doing- I wonder when I should start shoveling- I wonder if this is too much shading- I wonder why the dog is whining-I wonder if there will be a real snow day tomorrow-I wonder if I post this on facebook if people will think it's the best thing ever- I wonder if I am secretly a master zentangler waiting to be discovered...ad nauseum). But... every now and then there was a moment of nothing. Just me and the paper and the feel of the pen. Of course as soon as that happened the brain went "LOOK THERE IT IS! THERE IT IS!"

it looks like it should

Thanks to a recipe from Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cookery #2 we have the German Coffee Braid.

Several do-overs were required that don't bear repeating here. The only known error is that I didn't put a few drops of vanilla in the confectioner's sugar glaze. Seriously- with all the sugar, butter, and cinnamon in the bread, I don't think anyone will miss it.




There's something about that top picture that makes me think turkey-legs.

pen and paper and baking

The first baked item appeared last night in the form of brownies from a mix. No need to start too eagerly. It took only 5 minutes for the oven to preheat (as opposed to an hour) and they were done when the package said they would be. Success.

New pots are t-fal non-stick inside and out.

German cinnamon braid is rising (I hope) as I write. I think I may still have a few many things to learn about yeast and how to make it work.

I've always loved pen and paper. The perfect present for me pre-yarn was any kind of writing utensil and a blank sketch book. So a new favorite thing is the idea of zentangles. I've seen them on line. I ordered a book. Pens arrived before the book and I played around using some of the ideas I saw when I googled zentangle images.

Let the Baking Games Begin!

We have a new stove. Here is Mr. Sophanne with it. After I took this picture he complained that he "wasn't ready and didn't get to pose."



Now he's ready.



There is about 4" of snow outside. The steep driveway was covered. The old stove wasn't out of it's space yet. The delivery guys said they were coming between 9:30-11:30. At 7:30 Mr. Sophanne began spazzing about the fact that we needed to hurry. I refused to spazz and tried to get another 1/2 hour of sleepy time. Before I could I said to him "quit making yourself crazy. It will all work out." He said, "Your being relaxed is what's making me crazy." If that's the worst thing I'm accused of, I'm o.k. with it.

Then the delivery guys arrived early and we didn't have everything shoveled and the stove was delivered anyway.

I think I may have to label this post nyah nyah nyahnyah boo boo.

He was wise enough not to argue with me when I said we were getting rid of the pots and pans from our single days (most of the bottoms scraped and/or burned) and buying a new good set.

Whether you ride or wear a toboggan depends on where you're from

Unchecked internet research available here

The Fisherman's Yarmulke

(and yes I did have to check the spelling of yarmulke

Mr. Sophanne was shopping for a toboggan (another word I had to spell check-they say that spelling is the first thing to go) at a local crap store last week and couldn't find one. I said it's stupid to buy one when I can make you one that is warmer and fits better. He looked skeptical (maybe it was the sharpie adult surprise sweater that had him worried.)

I presented to him three shades of Cascade from the stash and he picked a dark maroon/brown sort of color. Last night I had him try it on to see how much more length was required and as I began to knit again he asked if I could make the top a different color and did I have any lavender. It so happens I did and the finished object looks like this-




He's pretty tall so I doubt anyone will see the color change when he is standing up. He thinks it will be a fashion statement. I have no comment-I was just happy to change colors during all of that k1p1 ribbed hat (Charlene Schurch's fisherman's cap)

Done and Done

Ha! Now what do I do with it? Mr. Sophanne says it looks like a tablecloth but alas our table is rectangular.

Cast off time?

FOUR HOURS



Queen Anne's Lace by MMario (free ravelry pattern) done in Malabrigo lace weight. A few pictures before blocking. The book shelf is 5 feet tall if that's any indication.



Malabrigo felts upon itself- there's a good bit of this in the center. I should have used a bigger bag to store it.



I quit playing the 10 in 2010 game after I saw I could make it. This would have been number 10 (I never photographed number 9 and would have still been disqualified) I say with a knit this big I can take the rest of the year off!