Hey! I missed it!

This is my 201st post! You'd think I'd be more on it huh? WRONG. Oh well.

I have been up since 5am. I had to let the dogs out. Pickles sometimes has to go you know? And he lets me know by standing by the door and mooping. Very quietly, but still. Mooping. Or squeaking. Anyways I can usually fall back asleep but not today. Today I was tantalised by the thoughts of rice pudding. I guess that's what happens when you go to bed hungry huh?

Rice Pudding

4 cups of milk. I use skm cause thats what I buy.
1/2 c arborio rice. You know, risotto rice.
a few tbsp of sugar (I use splenda)
half a vanilla bean. Go on, even Safeway has them.
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract, cinnamon to taste.

Put your milk, rice and sugar/splenda in a heavy bottomed pot. Split your vanilla bean in half, and slit along the length to let out all the vanilla goodness. Scrape it out into the milk, and toss the whole thing in. Bring your mixture to a gentle boil and turn down to a nice simmer. Stir this. Alot. Don't go sit down and read the internets and let the bottom scorch. No, keep stirring. For like 30-40 min intermittently. You'll know the rice is done by tasting it. Arborio rice holds a lot of moisture and still retains its shape. Like risotto. Get it?

I like mine a little on the wet-ish side as I find if its dry, it doesn't keep in the fridge as well. And its creamier that way. Anyways, when it's done cooking, take off the heat and add the vanilla extract and cinnamon. I make this not that sweet on purpose, so you can sweeten it to your taste. The first batch I made I used 1/4 c splenda and I found it too sweet. The vanilla bean seems to add a lot of sweetness for me, but you know what you like so adjust accordingly. Store the leftovers in the fridge and reheat or don't. yum.

I eat this for breakfast, for afters, for fun. Seriously, its good for you! A nice big serving of calcium, some rice? All kinds of goodness.

My parents are in Hawaii right now. Not covered in slush and getting stuck in front of the house. I hope they are having a fabulous time.



I seem to have a case of the January blahs. So do the dogs. See ^. I have a whole bunch of stuff to put up, write up and photograph. Lets see how long it takes to get through it. Maybe I just need more coffee...

I gave in. (all about the stuff man..)

I did. I resisted as long as I could but in the end it was futile. I got an ipod. AND OMG HOW DID I EVER NOT ALWAYS HAVE ONE!?!? It is purple and shiny and when I shake it the song changes and it has games and I LOVEITLOVEITLOVEIT. Who knew 16g were this fun?

So um yeah.

Oh and I got some awesome new boots too. They have penguins on the bottoms! Very warm and good for Dog Park!

I finished a sweater, a hat, and a cowl. Pictures will follow. I hope. The sweater is simply amazingly snuggly. Why did I wait so long to be on the Rowan train? Argh.

We have had a bit of a debacle regarding Chris' new TV. He was disappointed, angry, sad and hopefully tonight, well on his way to actually getting one. Poor Chris.

I could go for some yam fries.

Post Holiday Breakdown. In a good way.

Things we did this holiday season (not in order.. not even close):

Drove up North for my parents 50th Wedding anniversary! Holy cats! 50 years! We got the whole family together (for the first time since Chris and I got married. You know.. almost 10 years ago?) for dinner. Its shocking when the wee little nieces and nephews are not so wee. When they are taller than me. And you know, adults. Able to drink the liquor and live on their own with a boyfriend and go to college. sigh. Of course not many good pictures were taken, but it was nice to see everyone. Time passages.




We saw Jake and took him shopping for many, many things. Clothes, Cd's, shoes. All in stores I would never have gone in. With loud hip hop music. And baggy pants that need to be belted about ones butt to be the ultimate in cool. Um yeah. We threw some gang signs*, hung out and had a good time. He is such a funny kid.



Gave the dogs a bath on New Years eve. I know, hold the freaking phone, the excitement never stops. I had a bath using a LUSH bubble bar and when I was done I decided to dunk the dogs as they smelled, well.. doggy you know? And I reckoned how could a geranium scented dog be worse than the usual? Impressed? Judge for yourself.









Went shopping. A lot of shopping. My husband really really REALLY apparently NEEDED a new TV so we have a new addition coming next week. Voodoo man knows where a 52 inch LCD will go, but since this means we can pretty much ignore the theatre from now on, I'll make do.

Found out one of our LYS is closing. That is a sad state indeed, but the owner told me she'd been trying to sell for a year with no takers and she wants out before the economy slows down even more here. High end yarn shops are hit hard with the looming recession and the Internet makes price shopping EASY and with no overhead? You do the math. She is right, but its sad to see it go. Upside? I found some awesome discontinued Rowan Soft Tweed. Enough for a sweater! Hoo-rah!

Saw some friends we hadn't seen in ages.

Ate a lot of bad for you but oh so good food.**

Bought 2 Giftmess trees! 2! Both pink, both tinsel! Go ME!

Watched all of Deadwood. I learned new and exciting combinations of curses I never thought of. I also am now pining for some resolution, but what can a girl do? C@*&suckers! Oh and got a thumping big crush on Ian McShane.

Shovelled the walks like fourhundredeleventybillion times. And its snowing now. ENOUGH ALREADY.

and how was your holidays?


*Good thing I got my nails done.
**Note to self. No buying any jeans until after the feeding frenzy ok?

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..