Productive

The weather is forcing me to become productive. Small projects give you the feeling of accomplishment. Quickly. Which is nice. These were all done in the last week or so. I know you sorta saw the dogs, but see their cunning initials?











We went to a party last night that friends we haven't seen in absolute dogs ages threw. It was in my pals in-laws house which was the most awesome. house. ever. Know why? Cause it looked like Buffy's house. All craftsman-ly and full of wood. Sigh. I also took the (very soon to be famous for me) cupcake bites. I was certainly the belle of the ball with those! They look so much more complicated than they are.

Cold on the outside

Although the weather outside was frightful, we had the most delightful weekend. Considering I fully intended not to leave the house, that plan was quickly squashed by my dearest husband. But first, we had to contend with a few things, you know, like snow!






Chris shoveled like a trooper on Saturday morning. It was COLD* but he struggled through like a champ. See? He even carved out a prison yard/maze for the dogs in the back do poor little Max could pee without getting his belly wet. Speaking of I knit them matching sweaters this weekend. Oh. My. God. I am officially one of *those* people. You know, the crazy ones. If I knit Chris and Jake matching ones, just send me out behind the shed ok?





I also knit a pair of mittens, a hat, and half a scarf that I didn't like so I frogged. Ah the impermanence of knitting! I hit an amazing sale at American Eagle and got a whole bunch of new snuggle wear (sweat pants! thermal t! hoodie!) for uber cheap.

On Sunday we went to a movie (full price! That NEVER happens!) and it was so full of awesome.. well for us it was. The Punisher! It was so over the top violent/bloody/gross/fun/full of crazy/heads getting shot off that I couldn't believe it. I haven't had that much fun in a movie for soooo long. I wouldn't recommend it for the more erudite of you, but for us? PERFECTION. Then last night as Chris went to his final poker tourney of the year (and won it.. came home with 6 shiny $100 bills!) I watched the season ender of Dexter. Ah.. what a fabulous wind down.

Speaking of Chris and $, his old company has finally gotten their collective poop in a group and are ready to pay him out for the shares he is still holding this week. It should be a pretty huge chunk of change that will allow us to be completely debt free (aside from the house of course.. but have I mentioned we hope to have it paid off in the next 5 years? We are thankful everyday that we bought when we did!) with a monstrous amount left over. And a good portion of it will be in American funds. A bright spot with our dollar being in the dumpster. We feel really fortunate and blessed.




This pic is for Miss Morgan who is off to balmy Argentina this week. If she finds the Malabrigo factory, and she knows whats good for her, at least ONE** sweaters worth of yarn better be on its way to me. Travel safe my sweetie.















*about -25 without the wind chill. Today its -30. Again, without the wind chill. gross.

** Two.

About waiting

Sometimes waiting is a great thing. It heightens the pay off. And then there is the complete and utter opposite. Like when you wait 17 years for a certain album to come out. And it drops. And drops is the right word. Ugh. Mr Rose. The only place that album (CD? MP3s?) should drop is in the toilet. Thanks.*

Its supposed to get cold this weekend. How cold you ask? How does -40 avec wind chill sound? It sounds like crap to me! We have plans dammit! NO MORE SNOW. Of course we are looking at 15 cm or so. ARGH.

Here is a picture of the dogs bed. Where Pickles goes to snit. They go there when they think I am getting ready to go out. And to sleep at night of course.











Know what? I have no mittens! I have lotsa fingerless ones, but real proper mittens? NOPE. Seriously? Seriously! I found this out this week as dog park visits and snow shoveling** were colder than usual due to this over sight. You know I have like eleventy twelve bazillion hats and scarves right? Will get on that right away.

The woman who does my nails is named Truly. Is that not the cutest thing EVER? This is NOT her, but it did give me a big need to re watch Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Now chut up.




*But I did discover how much I LOVE Lily Allen. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Her bouncy sweetness tempered with subject matter and swearing? I LOVE HER. Late to the party but at least I made it ok? Now shut up.

**If I don't do it, it won't get done. Thanks percocet.

Grinching along...

I'm pretty sure everyone who knows me IRL (in real life Dad!) knows I am not a huge Xmas fan. This wasn't always the case. When Jake was small I took great delight in this holiday. Making big fake candy garlands, decorating everything in sight and generally being almost as excited as he used to be. As he got older I had a few bad Xmases in a row, and now particularly that he isn't living here, I pretty much wish it was over before it begins. It may also have to do with the Christmas Creep that started well before Halloween this year. I mean COME ON. Sheesh.

Having blorked that out, I felt a tiny stir in my Xmas parts this year. Wow that sounded dirty didn't it? So with very specific conditions, we actually got and erected (haha) a tree. Now these conditions were VERY VERY EXPLICIT. The tree must be tiny. The tree must be tinsel. The tree must be PINK and it must be under 20.00$



Thanks Sears! You had it on the button. I *decorated* it with some yarn pom poms (another condition that had to be agreed on) and Voila!



Chris has always wanted these lights. The hurt your eyes blue kind. Here they are! Note we didn't put them outside, cause Chris couldn't see them there. Screw everyone else! Pickles was scared of the lights at first but has now gotten used to them.




This was what we saw last night out of the back door. The dogs are alternately thrilled and horrified by all this snow.. I think its pretty and hides all the dog shit in the backyard! Driving however.. FREAKSHOW. Looks like I'll be staying in today.

SCHWAG!

Look what showed up yesterday!

Three skeins of baby alpaca, three of alpaca silk! Sweet project bag too! Thanks Blue Sky.

Then.. this....

I swear I can't pull out the camera without Pickles hopping in frame. He is such a bugger.

How can you get mad at this face?

Then of course Max gets all wound up not wanting to be left out. Oh dogs!

Dogs in sweaters melt your heart don't they?

On a sad note, Forrest J Ackerman died today. He was the man behind Famous Monsters Of Filmland magazine and the guy who coined Sci-Fi. Without him, there would be no Rue Morgue and sad little gorehounds like me would be worse off in this world. We'll miss you Uncle Forry.

A few of my favourite things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens....

Oh wait, this is me remember? More like zombies in basements and dismembered house guests..

But really? In no particular order:

Flexeril
Coffee
The felted colinette socks that Dana gave me. Seriously. I LOVE them. Best. Socks. EVER.
New flannel pj's. Um OMG. I have retired the tired old ones and have ALL NEW JAMMIES!
My husband who lets me draw on him. And the toe that is bad.




New felted slippers.




Guess who?





Buttercream Cupcakes which I love with my whole heart.
Flexeril
Spinning through it all.
Good friends.
Flexeril.
My fake ass nails! Girly! Pretty! Strong!
Pretty much being done my Giftmas shopping.
Oka Cheese!

Have I mentioned the Flexeril? It seems that maybe chiro wasn't doing the job I had hoped. In fact I think maybe it was the pain pills. Especially when they ran out and the chiro wasn't doing much of anything. So back to my MD who gave some of this stuff. It makes me SLEEPY, but it also makes me better. And really isn't sleepy just an excuse for more coffee? Why yes it is! I am hoping this resolves soon, but since I have no nerve stuff going on (thanks Voodoo Man!) there isn't a whole lot to do about it. And since 90% of this kind of thing usually naturally does resolve itself.. lets hope I'm in that percentile ok?

Stay warm possums and be happy.

Senses working overtime

I have to tell you, I haven't been spinning lately. My back was in a world of hurt and I just didn't want to risk it. BUT.. with a little help from my chiro guy Dr Grant (who I accused of voodoo and being a witch doctor. He laughed then we talked about UFC and our dogs. Could I have met a better guy to allay my fears about the chiropractic? I think not), the odd pain pill and the EMS unit I ordered and got in 3 days.. I am spinning again! GO ME!!!

All that downtime was not really downtime though..

I managed to knit a mini clapotis out of one skein of Noro Kureyon Sock:



This scarf gets so many compliments.. its crazy!



A drop stitch scarf from some hand spun:





And a Lion Neck Cardigan! This is done out of some merino/seacell I spun then dyed. I modded the sleeves a bit and changed up the neck.



It is so snuggly and sqooshy. I heart it so berry berry much.



Oh and I got a haircut and changed the colour. And got me some nails did. Chris has his company Xmas party this weekend and since he is an EXECUTIVE* now.. I reckoned its not a bad thing to not have dye stained raggedy ass hands. You know, for once. :)



*Did I mention he got a promotion to head of Mechanical Engineering after only 6 weeks? Oh yeah. He did. They even gave him a parking spot in downtown Calgary! He's still taking the bus though. And getting paid out for it. MOVE OVER JEFFERSON'S. WE IS MOVIN' ON UP.

Almost Famous

I got a really cool email the other day. From Blue Sky Alpacas. They wanted to know if it was ok if they featured my sock pattern, Betty Cable on their site? WELL HELL YEAH! So holy Hannah.. here it is! WOWSERS!!

Dudes.. I couldn't be more pleased.

Shill

Up these went into the shop today! Hard to part with ones too..

I'm off to the Chiro this afternoon. Of which I am more than a little freaked out. My back has been exceptionally terrible this week. My Dr recommended him (and gave me some good stuff) to see if this will alleviate some of the noxious pain I have been having. Wish me luck! And have a good weekend all!

Who wants a cookie??

That's what I yell to get the dogs to come in quickly. It ALWAYS works. Well.. except when Mr Pickles Houdini Chewbacca finds a hole the size of a soup can and manages to squeeze his fat ass through it into our neighbours yard*. If you've met Pickles, you know he is booty-licious, but still managed that. Damn dog. Anyways, I was thinking of making them up some of their own cookies and came up with this:

Peanut on a pumpkin puppy paws. (OMG I am so going to hell for that stupid name)

Oven at 350

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup pumpkin (not pie filling, the plain stuff)
1 cup milk (divided in half)
1 tsp cinnamon
2 cups flour
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 tbsp baking soda

Mix pumpkin, peanut butter and half the milk until smooth. Mix the dry ingredients together then add to wet alternating with the last 1/2 cup milk. The dough should be pretty firm. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet (the dough doesn't spread much so they can be pretty close together), press down with a fork (to make them look like the cookies you used to eat when you were little, isn't that cute?) and bake for about 15 minutes until they are lightly browned on the bottoms. Let them cool and freeze them! Defrost what you need or give them to the doggas frozen.. they don't care. I LOVE DOGS!








*And bless Max's' old tattletale barking heart for ratting out the escapee. Max is getting old but he still knows whats the what. Well.. mostly.

The Smallest

Things are sometimes the most full of awesome.

-long weekends
-puppy cam
-a lapful of my *clean* snuggly puppies
-a new hoodie
-finishing a hat/scarf/mitt set for Chris
-home made pumpkin chocolate chip loaf
-finally getting a picture of my sweater (even if Chris did a shit job as I was interrupting his video game time)
-toaster ovens that work
-finishing a bobbin of lace weight
-awesome friends that come visit and praise my barista skillzor (see what you are missing assholes?*)
-nothing exciting politically to charge me up**
-hairdye
-sleeping in







Mmm.. sweater goodness.




* And no I haven't been back to you stbx. We are through. YOU HEAR ME THROUGH!
**A tip of the hat to the USA. This goes a long way to assure me that despite your shitty chocolate, private health care and GOD hates Fags people, you guys rock. Good job.

More Squash, Less gross.

So the last experiment with the squash was only moderately successful. It was.. erm.. less than fantastic, but for sure mostly edible. I wasn't put off by that, in fact it made me more determined than EVER to have a yummy squash recipe in my retinue. I have used spaghetti squash before, but really not for many many years. Like maybe when Jake was a baby. EEK! So I set off to re-experience this pasta substitute. Chris is amused by my obsession with faux foods right now. Whatever.. after you hit 40, its harder and harder to keep weight off. So nuh uh pasta. Hello squashes. I am pleased to report that this foray turned out fantastic.

Serious Sausage Squash Soiree.

You'll need:

4 Spolumbo hot Italian sausages (or whatever. Mr Spolumbo makes the BEST. SAUSAGES. EVER. If there is a Mr Spolumbo. If you want something else do it. I ain't your Mom.)
Half a white onion chopped.
A whack of garlic.
2 14 oz cans of chunky tomatoes
A glug of olive oil
I heart of celery chopped
3 giant carrots (or 5 normal ones) chopped. Make the celery and carrots approx the same size ok?
1 spaghetti Squash
Parmesan cheese, say 1/4 cup or whatever.

Roughly chop your sausage into bite size pieces and saute in olive oil in a nice big pot until brown. Add in onion and garlic. Now because the sausage I used is seriously perfectly spiced I used no other seasonings. For reals. Nothing. Why mess with perfection right? If yours isn't, I suggest salt, pepper, some cayenne and whatever else floats your boat. I know there is a little fennel in the Spolumbos so maybe try that? I dunno. Saute until the onion is translucent. Add in celery, carrots and tomatoes. Simmer for a couple, three hours. If you start to reduce too much add some chicken stock so it doesn't burn.

Turn on your oven now ok? Say 350? Sounds good!

Now you gotta cook your spaghetti squash. I cut mine in half, cleaned out the seeds and membranes and put it in the microwave in a covered dish with some water (cut side down) and nuked it for about 10 minutes per half. Then you take your squash (half at a time) and shred out the flesh into an oven safe dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese on the squash then layer half your sausage mixture on top of the squash. Repeat. Pop this in the oven until Chris gets home say an hour or so.

Dig in! Seriously, this was amazing. And makes at least 5 servings or so. Very good for you, mostly veggies with a hit of sausage goodness. Mmm..

Regarding knitting and the loss of mojo-ness..

Sometimes I feel bad cause I'm not finishing something. I have seen how startitis is running roughshod through the internets lately (and around my circle too :P) but I love me some finishing. I started knitting Ingenue from the awesome new book and I knew as I was knitting it, the fabric was coming out a little.. um.. firm. But you know when you have that ah fuck it anyway moment and try to convince yourself that if you just get past the sleeves, it'll loosen up? Yeah. It didn't. So a frogging I went. BALLS. Do you have any idea how annoying frogging yarn (hand spun natural BFL YUM) that has been held doubled is? Well I mean I guess its not *that* bad, but separating those plies are. I have a noodley mess on my craft table that will just have to stay in time out until I am good and ready to ask for help.

I also have a mini clapotis on the go and and really hopeful that it will be long enough when done. The food scale says yes.. but we'll see. We'll see.

I did finish the most awesome sweater EVER. Its warm, cute and I have worn it a million times already. I used the Blue Sky Alpaca worsted that I reclaimed from a cardigan that just got too big. It killed me to see that huge whack of unused expensive yarn, so huzzah for recycling! Now it lives again in a better life than ever before. I will take pictures of it asap and show ya'll.

I am all about the warm utility sweaters these days. Which is why I was in total denial about the FIRM. Ah well..

In spinning news. I have been going pretty nuts. I got 24 oz of pin drafted Cormo (from an awesome Raveler for 25 $$ including shipping!!!!!) that I almost peed my pants over. I had to get Dana to come and touch it. Like Oh My God! I have been working on the merino seacell roving (and is this spinning up to be the squishiest most lofty yarn!) and maybe will be motivated enough to dye some stuff up.

I went and saw a physio guy last week too. He explained exactly what was wrong with my back and was pretty shocked at how much damage there was. Then when I told him I was 40, he was a little less shocked*, but still said its very significant and good for me for coming in before it gets worse. As it will. Quickly. He basically has me doing kegels right now to tighten the tiny little muscles holding my spine up. Jesus.. that's gross isn't it? Anyways, since I have been doing them, my back hurts more. GREAT. But to be fair, and under used muscles when being worked hurt. Blergh. I go back and see him tomorrow. He couldn't believe I knit. Like only grannies did or something. Silly goose.

Today I am going to try baking some acorn squash. Lets see how THAT goes too.. with some meatloaf? Sounds good.







*He thought I was 28. I told him good answer.

Meme along

I was tagged by the adorable (even without lady shoes) Dana to tell you all six quirky yet boring and/or unspectacular details about myself. Well strap in:

1. Although there are days when I can barely remember what I ate for lunch let alone my kid/husbands/dogs/my own name/s, I can clearly and without a beat remember lyrics to songs I haven't heard in 20 years. Why do I know all the words to J Geils Centerfold, AC/DC Dirty Deeds Done Cheap and pretty much ANYTHING from the 80-90's? I mean this has translated over into inane music trivia as well. Chris' theory that memory only has a finite amount of space is scary if its true. And if it is, I hope he likes hearing all this garbage (oh Shirley Manson, that first album was DIVINE) cause Its all I'll be spouting when I'm old.

2. I hate side seat drivers. Ok hate is a strong word. Strongly dislike. Is that better? I mean I LOVE people who navigate. HUGE DIFFERENCE. Telling me what lane I need to be in, good. Telling me to watch out for that plastic bag? NOT GOOD. Of course this stems from Chris' inability to know where we are at any given moment. Seriously, the guy could get lost within 6 blocks of the house. I have gotten very good at navigating as he needs one. Can I just say the GPS on his Blackberry is a miraculous thing.

3. I believe in Crystal Light cause it believes in me. And it is tasty! All artificial and chemmy.. mmmm... raspberry ice...

4. I am almost incapable of knitting from a pattern. They usually seem wrong to me. Having said that I bought a knitting book! Custom Knits by Wendy (Knit and Tonic) Bernard! Its the best knitting book EVER. And even I am knitting a sweater out of it . But have changed it already :)

5. When I make up my mind about something its very hard to change it. I can totally do it, but am resistant to the end. NIKE? Bad business practices/sweatshops/bad things in my mind all around. I cannot bring myself to buy any products from them. No matter how cute the shoe, how nice the shirt etc. When did I decide this? Um Grade 11. :) HELLO 23+ years ago. Now I just walk past and feel weirdly smug. Go figure.

6. I really want us to evolve a third arm. Or maybe I could graft one on. Or a prehensile tail. Man, so much would be made easier with a third arm. You could read and knit. You could clip the dogs nails. Just think of the possibilities! Sign me up!

Now I'd really like to see Dana, Morgan, Suzen and Alanna as I think none of them blog enough.

Get a buffaload of this!

Seriously close to good for you.

Buffalo pie. (I'd call it shepherds pie but no sheep were involved.)

You will need:

1lb of ground lean bison. I get mine at our local Co-op. In fact I buy it by the whack and freeze it.
1 head o cauliflower
3-4 tbsp of non fat sour cream (or use the good stuff I don't care)
a tsp or 2 or butter/margarine. Whatever floats yer boat.
1/3-1/2 cup of beef stock
1/2 large white onion
couple shakes (or more) of cayenne pepper.
salt and pepper.
1 tsp or so of cornstarch in a few tbsps of h2o. Cold ok? Don't cook this.

Pre heat your oven to say 325-ish.

I did this all in my cast iron fry pan so I would have less clean up. LAZY should have been my middle name.

Chop your cauliflower into florets and steam the ever loving crap outta them until they are super soft. Drain, add sour cream, butter/marg, salt and pepper and ok... this is seriously wack.. use your immersion blender or regular blender (but what a pain to clean. Go get an immersion blender. They are cheap ok?) and blend this stuff until it resembles mashed taters. GET IT?

Chop your onion. Brown your bison with that onion. Add cayenne/salt/pepper. Brown until it really is a lovely brown and getting a titch (TITCH MIND YOU) dry. Add beef stock. Mmm.. taste it! Add whatever else you want. Add cornstarch mixture so it thickens just a bit. Spread evenly in your cast iron or whatever you are gonna bake it in.

Now you are going to take your mashed cauliflower (faux tatoes) and spread them over the top of your bison mixture in a nice even layer. Pop this sucker in your oven for I dunno until Chris gets home? Like maybe an 60-90 minutes or until your faux tatoes are browned and its all pulled away from the edge of your pan and the smell is driving you nuts.

Don't tell your husband what the top is so he won't make that poop face until he agrees whatever it is, its divine and then is all shocked when its cauliflower. Enjoy, feel virtuous and make sure your frozen snicker bar with almonds is hidden well in the freezer.

Makes 4 servings. Yay dinner for 2 nights!

Don't fence me in!

Charter members of the We Hate The New Fence Club.



President Pickles and Minister Of the Interrier Max.

You know its kinda funny.. I applied for 2 jobs this past month on a whim. I was offered both of them. One I turned down because I got the hinkies (and a wise woman told me TRUST YOUR HINKIES) and the other I turned down because they asked me to take out my nose ring. Um. For a part time job? AT A COFFEE SHOP*? Seriously? The manager and I hit it off immediately, we chatted like old friends in fact. She asked me about a dress code, no problem right? Except their corporate policy doesn't allow any facial piercings. For reals? I asked. She looked crestfallen. She also explained that she has had a lot of people turn down the job for that reason. Ah well I thought.. I finished my Americano, wished her luck and left. Stewing.

Then her district manager called me to see if I would reconsider. Well I had been considering.. all frikkin night and was royally pissed off by that point. I explained to her how let down I felt that I would be precluded for a nose ring. That in the employmentally challenged microcosm that is Calgary it is cutting off your nose (hahahaha) to spite your face and that although I have been a loyal (nay FANATICAL) customer for years, I was now reconsidering that as well. I think she wasn't expecting any response like this I tell you. You know, if I was from India we wouldn't have even had that conversation. Unless they won't hire anyone whose culture has nose rings? Dammit if I didn't forget to say that. But anyways.. she was shocked at the response I gave her. I mean I know its not her fault, but WELCOME TO THE MODERN WORLD DICKHEADS. I think after I use up whats left on my card, I am done. Now I need to find a new source for my crack coffee problem.

I can tell you that latte I had today didn't taste as sweet as it usually does. And I don't think the lack of Splenda was the problem.






*oH COME ON YOU ALL KNOW ITS STARBUCKS RIGHT??

PIctures of things

Flowers from my sweetie..

Pickles being cute

Then not.

Scarf for Chris.

Sweater for me.

Happy T-day ya'll.