Pick and choose

So you know when you have soooo much to say you get all confuzzled like an old terrier barking at pieces of crap blowing past the back fence* then you forget what you were doing in the first place and all the stuff you wanted to say just goes clean out of your head and you are left wondering why you are staring at the back yard and go and sit down and finish spinning that awesome alpaca silk you were working on?

Yeah that.

So I got a new awesome camera! Its this one!!


Pink and everything! HD BITCHES! SAWHEET! 10 mp pictures! Pistol grip! Now when I figure out how to get the pics off of it I reckon I'm golden..

My iPod keeps playing Guns & Roses. Is it trying to tell me something? See me hit you.. you fall down HUH!

So this summer has been less that great weather wise here. We had something like our entire months worth of rain in the first week. :/ Lame.

I did go join our local knitting guild though! How not like me huh? But I missed all my knitting gals.. and everyone was happy. My social-ness feels really good! I have missed Alana, Michelle, Trish, Marilynn and everyone else. It was full of win to be welcomed back into the knitting scene again. <3!

We went to IKEA yesterday and I think we started the ball rolling on our long awaited kitchen reno. Its almost like I don't want to say too much about it lest I jinx it somehow. Be prepared though... its a comin'.






*MAX. I am looking at you. Bad Dog.

Almost summer....

Summer strawberries in a robins egg blue bowl. Is there anything prettier? My lust for vintage inspired linens is reaching a weird fever pitch and thankfully Chris doesn't mind twee rosebuds and pink. Whatta good man huh?




We had to get the fans out! Normally I would grouse somewhat about this, but after the shitty winter... BRING IT ON.

I have truly been on a lace knitting TEAR. I can't seem to get enough. Crazy is as crazy does. My back has been a nightmare, and doing intricate (yet semi-mindless) work seems to distract me. Well that and big pharma. Oh big pharma.. how I lurve you.







Plus I have been dyeing a little. Inside. Ha ha! But seriously. This is organic merino I got from Shuttleworks. Scrummy, soft, dreamy to spin. And now? Beautifully colourful.


Things I love right now:

xenergy energy drinks especially big apple!
organic strawberries.
chicken on salad.
cotton nighties.
new slippers.
my flat iron.

More to come..

Dyeing for spring

Pickles and Max* would like to welcome spring. And line drying dyeing. At least if Pickles wasn't scared of it and wigged out when he first saw it. He is fine now. But still that first line dry... terrifying.

Sometimes I forgot there are people who aren't on Ravelry. Sorry. I have been knitting! See? Pretty huh? Drops alpaca scarf. Yummay.




And some not so great photos of eyes wide shut us but its the only one I have of my smokin' boots, so tough. The sweater I knit out of black Malabrigo, its like butter. But better. We were on our way out to a fancy dinner for our 10th anniversary. Swanky huh?




Still goofballs after 10 years. And could I maybe have covered up that bra strap? Oh my!

Right now I have a cobbler in the oven and am waiting for Chris to finish his remicade infusion. Then its the beginning if birthday weekend** extravaganza. And by that I mean I booked and appointment for Chris to go to a posh spa for a massage (I am having some back issues.. again so no thanks) and that's about it. EXCITING HUH? :) Happy birthday also to our Angie. It must have sucked sharing a b-day when you were kids. But now? Who cares eh?

I have some optim to spin, and am happy to sit very still and do so. Careful now. Easy does it.

Happy weekend all..



*See his teeny tiny head on the very right hand side of the picture? Poor Maxy had to get a loose tooth pulled the other day. I am happy to report he came through like a trouper and is much happier for it. Also my vet rocks. He didn't even charge me for a vet visit. I LOVE YOU DR TORRENCE.
**Chris is 37 on Saturday. I am 41 (gulp) on Sunday. It helps to never forget being that close.

Raindrops on roses

You know, one of my favourite things? But don't push it rain, you are welcome for only so long.

More of my favourite things?

Mmm scratchy Japanese washcloths that make you silky smooth! Jake LOVES it! He is such a funny monkey. He actually used mine before I did. Good thing I bought one for everyone. From this seller on Ebay. She was awesome! Superfast and very communicative!




Greek yogurt! I haven't been able to readily find the real thing, so have been making my own. I use fat free (that's just how I roll) Astro (no gelatin) Balkan style, or Annie's (if I get up to the natural market) plain yogurt. Put it in a paper towel lined strainer, sit it in a bowl and let it sit overnight in the fridge. It drains out all the whey, it usually reduces by 1/3! OMG! Then you have the thickest most delicious yogurt KNOWN TO MAN. I just pop it back into its original container. I have been having mine with some:

Mmmm.. agave goodness! Like honey mated with maple syrup! Tasty!

I also add some Vanilla Bean Paste:

Which is heaven in a jar. I got it from Williams Sonoma in Chinook Centre. Pricey but sosososososo worth it. It is also spectacular with homemade jam.

I am also on a coconut oil bender. I have been making these to die for scones with it.



Its good for you. Honest!

Scones of deliciousness

2 cups flour
2 tbsp sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tbsp cinnamon*
1 tsp nutmeg*
1.5 tsp citrus zest of some kind. I have used lemon, clememtine and orange. ALL GOOD

Whisk these together in a bowl.

Add 1/4 cup coconut oil. Mash it with a fork until it looks like sand. Coconut oil is solid at room temp. Or you could use butter.. but why? WHY? Smell how good that is? Oh yeah.

Now you'll need:

2 beaten eggs
1/4-1/3 cup milk. Less if you are going to put some kind of fruit in it. I have used frozen raspberries.
1 tbsp vanilla. See that stuff up there? Use that!

Add wet to dry and mix. Stir in:

1/2 cup fruit. Dried chopped apricots, cranberries, raisins**, frozen raspberries.. I dunno, experiment. I am!
1/2 cup nuts
1/2 cup chocolate chips. Use good ones for goodness sake. Mini dark ones are especially good.

Or any combo of the three. Ok?

Mix until its a soft sticky dough. Shape into 2 rounds and cut them into 6 or 8 pie shaped wedges. Bake on a greased cookie sheet for 13-15 minutes (longer if you use fresh/frozen fruit) or until golden brown at 400 degrees.

You can glaze these if you are so inclined. I use a couple of tbsp of whatever citrus zest I used juice (fresh squeeze please!) and about a cup of icing sugar. Mix and drizzle while scones are still hot. I suggest being judicious when using fresh/frozen fruit as they can get a little wet-ish if you go nutso.

Serve and impress your friends. I did.

Answer man time:

Shower curtain? Got it at Home Outfitters. I think it was 40$. They have matching accessories!
Toilet? Painted behind it it when it wasn't there. My Momma didn't raise me to be a fool.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go wipe off wet dogs. Damn rain.

Oh and happy 10 years to my fabulous husband. May is a month full of stuff to celebrate, but really? 10 YEARS!?! We rock my love. We really do.











*or add your own spices. I love these two. they make me happy
**Chris hates raisins. he says its a perfectly good way to wreck almost anything. :)

hell-o reno.

It all started with a leaky faucet. Isn't that the way it goes? The night before we left for Vegas the taps in our ONE BATHROOM house decided to shit the bed. GREAT. Fortunately, my parents are the good sport types and used the kitchen sink for everything. Good thing its a whopping 10 steps away.

So we come back from Vegas. Taps. Argh. Go to find a replacement cartridge (not a washer type this POS. Nope. A cartridge. L.A.M.E.) and the nice dude at Rona gives us 2 for free! Delta has a lifetime warranty. You know, if they fit that is. Which they don't.

Off to buy a cheap replacement faucet. BUT whats that I see? A super cute vanity? For like 100$? Well that of course leads to better taps. Which leads to a new floor as the old one just won't do with all that new floor space. Which leads to a new toilet* (super small! super efficient! 2 flush sizes!) which leads to new paint which leads to a new bathroom.

We only had to call the plumber to attach the sink as we have NON STANDARD plumbing. But you know.. its pretty smokin' if I do say so myself.

Now if you ever hear me volunteer to paint another bathroom.. you know there is something really wrong with me. Cause that ain't NO FUN AT ALL. Really though, scraping up ancient flooring isn't either.

The awesome? We have more room, and its pretty and fresh and clean. And we learned that NO WAY IN HELL could we ever do our own kitchen. NOPE.**


















AND Chris got to smash the old toilet with a hammer! Fun times!




*Chris calls it the Hello Kitty toilet it's so small!
**But I have a sneaking suspicion it will be done :)

Neglect

Oh poor bloggy.. you have been so neglected lately haven't you? Well I wanted to blog about our trip to the Vegas, but was sidetracked by an impromptu renovation that took hold. But I reckon chronological is best isn't it?

The Vegas.

We stayed at Planet Hollywood again. Just so you know, the sandwich* totally works and a 20$ tip got us upgraded to a way bigger room with a strip view. Oh yeah.






We made some new friends:











And an old one:



We saw beauty queens and a show:









The Amazing Jonathan was AMAZING. Ok not really, but he was bloated, completely not PC, vulgar and not just a little bit drunk. We loved it. He was raunchy. I think he used to be a magician, but the only things I saw him make disappear was some shots and a beer. Not for the faint of heart.

We saw Volcanoes, fountains and so. many. kids.






It was weird to see so many people pushing strollers. Why? Vegas=not for kids. Although Chris and I found it hilarious to see a 7 year old boy picking up the hooker trading cards the snappers hand out while his 5 year old brother was laughing. Oh Vegas!


We ate too much, drank too much, and had too much fun!













Next up... RENO. HELL.


*Front Desk Tip It works. For reals.

Snose goes away please...*

I have a black thumb. Its true. I planted a HUGE garden when we first bought our little duplex. I broke the ground, rototilled the soil**, planted little seeds, weeded and cared for it. Then Chris ended up in hospital that fall and while I managed to get a few things out of the ground, it was left to go to seed. The backyard has since reclaimed that piece of land and I buy my veggies. Screw you gardening.





House plants have NEVER fared well in my care, but I have had a lucky bamboo stick that is seeming to be ok*** so I have branched out. A tiny terrarium! With a very small plastic deer! Did you have any idea how hard it is to find tiny plastic animals? Well it is. I really wanted a sheep, but didn't find one. So deer it is. Lets see how long it lasts. Hopefully a long time.




The flick carded cormo locks spun up into some lovely yarn didn't it? And of course.. Mr Takemypicture is right there. Aways there for impromptu photo shoots. Little bugger.



The little baby sweater sure knitted up fast! Not having done a whack of baby knitting I can say with certainty, it is FUN. Like instant gratification fun.




Not that I'm a good friend. This sweater does have to be hand washed. Like new Moms have time for that right? STILL EVIL.




*what Pickles looks like when he comes in after the snow. You know EVERY DAMN DAY. Ugh. GO AWAY.

**and got 3rd degree sunburn for it. Ugh.

***leave it alone and apparently it works.