Doesn't everyone soak small items like this :) I looked at my counter the other day and thought it looked funny
Thursday 12 November 2009
Blocking
Doesn't everyone soak small items like this :) I looked at my counter the other day and thought it looked funny
Sunday 8 November 2009
GF Caesar Salad
Since going gluten free I've been missing Caesar salad dressing. Everything I've seen in the grocery store has wheat. So when I found the following recipe on a box of GF croutons, I had to try it.
From the back of a box of Gluten-Free Pantry Olive oil and garlic croutons was a Caesar Dressing recipe that I tried and enjoyed
Dressing (beat to combine)
125 ml (1/2 c) extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 medium lemon (about 2 Tbsp)
15 mL (1 Tbsp) gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
5 ml (1 tsp) gluten-free Dijon mustard
125 ml (1/2 c) grated parmesan cheese plus extra for garnish
1 anchovy, mashed
2 cloves garlic, crushed
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Notes: I didn't have gluten-free Worcestershire sauce, luckily I checked the stuff I had and it had soy sauce. I didn't put the anchovy and I may have put extra garlic (which was possibly a bad choice, and I like garlic). So I made it a bit different from the recipe and it was still quite good. It seems to be missing a little something which I'm figuring is likely the Worcestershire sauce so that is now on the grocery list.
The croutons? Not so great, very dense - but they give the illusion of a full caesar salad...
From the back of a box of Gluten-Free Pantry Olive oil and garlic croutons was a Caesar Dressing recipe that I tried and enjoyed
Dressing (beat to combine)
125 ml (1/2 c) extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 medium lemon (about 2 Tbsp)
15 mL (1 Tbsp) gluten-free Worcestershire sauce
5 ml (1 tsp) gluten-free Dijon mustard
125 ml (1/2 c) grated parmesan cheese plus extra for garnish
1 anchovy, mashed
2 cloves garlic, crushed
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
Notes: I didn't have gluten-free Worcestershire sauce, luckily I checked the stuff I had and it had soy sauce. I didn't put the anchovy and I may have put extra garlic (which was possibly a bad choice, and I like garlic). So I made it a bit different from the recipe and it was still quite good. It seems to be missing a little something which I'm figuring is likely the Worcestershire sauce so that is now on the grocery list.
The croutons? Not so great, very dense - but they give the illusion of a full caesar salad...
Wednesday 28 October 2009
GF Cream Puffs
Cream Puffs from Gluten-Free Baking Classics by Annalise G. Roberts - same cookbook that I used for the bread I posted about a month or so ago. Definitely yummy and they tastevery similar to the original glutenous versions I made. The recipe was wonderfully detailed.
I've also tried the Chocolate Chip cookies but those were an epic fail 3+ times... I will try again at least once more, just not right now.
Saturday 17 October 2009
FO: Mitered Square Blanket
You know a project has taken awhile when it feels weird to think that it is done. I've finally finished my Mitered Square Blanket from Mason Dixon Knitting! I started it back in January 2008 and finished it yesterday. Some delays were due to laziness (especially towards the end), heat (also towards the end - who wants to knit the edge on a blanket in the middle of summer), running out of a colour and Michaels not having it because Patons changed their colour line (found a place online that still had them, luckily), and needing more colours (found them in Kelowna). There were also a few extra squares made because I knit them before I figured out the pattern that I wanted... They went to my mom's knitting group who knits blankets for charity - I figured they'd fit in somewhere.
There are 80 miters in this thing - 13 colours - and 9x4 rows of garter stitch in the border (9 colours, 4 rows per colour). I knit some icord to cover the seam at the corners because the seam was messy and I couldn't stand not being completely satisfied given the time investment in the blanket.
Ellie and Cory have both claimed the blanket.
There are 80 miters in this thing - 13 colours - and 9x4 rows of garter stitch in the border (9 colours, 4 rows per colour). I knit some icord to cover the seam at the corners because the seam was messy and I couldn't stand not being completely satisfied given the time investment in the blanket.
Ellie and Cory have both claimed the blanket.
Wednesday 30 September 2009
Wordless Wednesday: Vancouver Island #2
This quick trip has provided me with pictures to post for the next little bit
Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS
19/9/2009
Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS
19/9/2009
Monday 28 September 2009
More Finished Objects
I don't quite know why but I'm drawn to more of these small projects - I do one of them and then settle in for knitting on a project that takes more time.
I finally finished the Embossed Leaves Socks that I started back in April - the hang up was that I didn't want to spend the time casting on (or so it seems). So when we went to visit Cory's relatives it was all I brought and I wouldn't let myself cast on with the sweatermaker yarn until the Embossed Leaves Socks were finished (including weaving in the ends). Worked like a charm. Here is a photo of the first sock - I haven't taken a picture of the pair yet - but trust me they are done like dinner (well not tonight's dinner but let's not get too picky).
I've knit two mini-sweaters - the second one is a mini-baby surprise jacket. I swear, Elizabeth Zimmerman was a genius to come up with the original (which I intend on knitting).
I made another one of the knitted flower things with a button in the middle. I meant for this one to have 6 petals but ran out of yarn after 4. It is adorning my knitting basket for the time being.
I've had a spurt of bookmarks this past weekend... Not quite sure what I'll do with them but they were enjoyable.
Backbone Bookmark
Gertrude Bookmark (ravelry link)
and the Sylvia Bookmark (ravlery link)
And finally, I've cast on the SweaterMaker Socks using the Yarn Harlot's Basic Sock Recipe from Knitting Rules!
In terms of blogging - that's all I got, pictures and not a lot of words. I've been a bit under the weather for awhile (sore throat that comes and goes) but it has gotten worse this past weekend. Still just a cold, and a mild one at that (knock on wood) - but enough to cause me expend all of my energy on a paper that I'm writing for a class and not leave me enough to think of much to type here. As always, yardage requirements etc. are on Ravelry. If you aren't on Ravelry and want details on where to find the pattern, yardage etc send me a comment and I'll get the information to you.
I finally finished the Embossed Leaves Socks that I started back in April - the hang up was that I didn't want to spend the time casting on (or so it seems). So when we went to visit Cory's relatives it was all I brought and I wouldn't let myself cast on with the sweatermaker yarn until the Embossed Leaves Socks were finished (including weaving in the ends). Worked like a charm. Here is a photo of the first sock - I haven't taken a picture of the pair yet - but trust me they are done like dinner (well not tonight's dinner but let's not get too picky).
I've knit two mini-sweaters - the second one is a mini-baby surprise jacket. I swear, Elizabeth Zimmerman was a genius to come up with the original (which I intend on knitting).
I made another one of the knitted flower things with a button in the middle. I meant for this one to have 6 petals but ran out of yarn after 4. It is adorning my knitting basket for the time being.
I've had a spurt of bookmarks this past weekend... Not quite sure what I'll do with them but they were enjoyable.
Backbone Bookmark
Gertrude Bookmark (ravelry link)
and the Sylvia Bookmark (ravlery link)
And finally, I've cast on the SweaterMaker Socks using the Yarn Harlot's Basic Sock Recipe from Knitting Rules!
In terms of blogging - that's all I got, pictures and not a lot of words. I've been a bit under the weather for awhile (sore throat that comes and goes) but it has gotten worse this past weekend. Still just a cold, and a mild one at that (knock on wood) - but enough to cause me expend all of my energy on a paper that I'm writing for a class and not leave me enough to think of much to type here. As always, yardage requirements etc. are on Ravelry. If you aren't on Ravelry and want details on where to find the pattern, yardage etc send me a comment and I'll get the information to you.
Friday 25 September 2009
ECF: Sweatermaker Yarns
I somehow restrained myself at Uptown Yarns - I got two skeins of hand dyed sock yarn - Simply Sock by Sweatermaker Yarns. I've already wound the top skein into a ball and am swatching. If anything it is even more beautiful in a center-pull ball... I'm going to just do a basic sock out of Knitting Rules! by the Yarn Harlot. I am so excited about how this will knit up that I barely want to take the time to type this. I've already scoped out how to obtain more of this awesome yarn without travelling back to Vancouver Island - it appears to be available at Fun Knits (this link is as much for me to remember as it is for you guys - right now there is some lace weight available)
Wednesday 23 September 2009
Wordless Wednesday: Vancouver Island #1
Canon PowerShot SD1100 IS
17/9/2009
This is just the start of the beauty that is Vancouver Island...
Wednesday 16 September 2009
Sunday 13 September 2009
The One With a Lot of Finished Objects
Just over a month ago one of my childhood best friends, that I've managed to stay in contact with over the years and across a distance, had her first child. This summer I had meant to knit a stockpile of things but the summer flew by (where did it go? I start TAing tomorrow!) and all I got was a list of queued and favorited items on Ravelry. So the kiddo was born and I had nothing knit! I dropped all of my current projects and knit a little set of accessories - booties, legwarmers, mittens, and a hat. I mailed it off on Friday - I hope it all fits him. I don't know baby sizes very well - and I don't know how well he fits the averages...
I also made another set of booties but they look like they will fit a doll so I sent them home with mom for the doll that she is dressing for a church bazaar or donation or something
I worked on and finished a lace scarf for one of Cory's aunts - it is the Trellis Scarf from Interweave knits. I think she'll really like it - we go to visit her this Wednesday in Comox
And you may remember that in May we re-did the floors. Well my favorite red chair kept loosing it's felt pads so I made some booties for it and they stay on. At first they seemed really noticeable but now they seem to belong.
Winter is coming so I made myself another hat. The colours are so off in this picture that I almost don't want to post it but I might as well. Anyone have tips on photographing red? Anyone know why it seems so difficult?
And then I got on a kick of knitting small things - started this Friday and may continue today too. Essentially I wanted to tidy my stash in Ravelry of small quantities of yarn but I have some arbitrary idea that the amount has to go below say .1 of a skein before I'll designate it as all used up - when I suppose I need to change that to some yardage amount. Anyway, small items.
Coffee Cozy the first - don't like it so much
So I made another one - Coffee Cozy the second - I like this one much better. I needed at least one of these cozy things because one of my travel mugs heats up a lot if you put a hot beverage in it. Plus it had a logo on it that I didn't like and that was peeling off. So I made the cozy to go over it.
The madness continued in the form of two stash busting flowers - not sure what I'll do with them - perhaps put a magnet or a pin on them...
And finally, something that was supposed to be a coaster that turned out too big. Which really isn't that surprising because the pattern was for a trivet and I should have either used a thinner yarn than called for or cast on a smaller number of stitches. Will do the next time. Now it is under a pot in my study and looks great there. What I really liked about this pattern is that it shrinks equally in width and length because it is knit in the round - so I didn't have to guess how many more (or less) rows I had to make relative to the width so that it would felt square.
I'm lazy so I'm not putting up pattern and yarn details - those interested can either email me or look on Ravelry (username: Catiecat). I have explicit details there about yardage etc because I weighed the items so that the requirements are accurate.
Still knitting on the epic mitered square blanket - but it is large so I can only work on it on days that are pretty cool.
Oh and I finished another sock - the mate to this one.
I haven't weaved in the ends or tried it on - I'm scared, plus the first one didn't fit well. The instructive part of the project is that I now know that I much prefer a gusset to a short row heel. I need more space in the instep and at the ankle than a short row heel provides. The project had bad mojo or juju or whatever - it took me a good month just to bind off after completing the ribbing! Oh well, it is done and over with.
And to end, I've been watching a lot of Buffy episodes - somewhere in season 6 now - because I can't stand most of the summer television stuff. Luckily shows start soon and hockey too.
ETA: and in all this I forgot another finished object (that's what I get for not posting these things as they were finished - or at least in the week they were finished...) - some more feline dim sum for a friend's cat - apparently I've got good catnip and Dixun had killed beyond repair the last one I made. How could I say no to such a request?
I also made another set of booties but they look like they will fit a doll so I sent them home with mom for the doll that she is dressing for a church bazaar or donation or something
I worked on and finished a lace scarf for one of Cory's aunts - it is the Trellis Scarf from Interweave knits. I think she'll really like it - we go to visit her this Wednesday in Comox
And you may remember that in May we re-did the floors. Well my favorite red chair kept loosing it's felt pads so I made some booties for it and they stay on. At first they seemed really noticeable but now they seem to belong.
Winter is coming so I made myself another hat. The colours are so off in this picture that I almost don't want to post it but I might as well. Anyone have tips on photographing red? Anyone know why it seems so difficult?
And then I got on a kick of knitting small things - started this Friday and may continue today too. Essentially I wanted to tidy my stash in Ravelry of small quantities of yarn but I have some arbitrary idea that the amount has to go below say .1 of a skein before I'll designate it as all used up - when I suppose I need to change that to some yardage amount. Anyway, small items.
Coffee Cozy the first - don't like it so much
So I made another one - Coffee Cozy the second - I like this one much better. I needed at least one of these cozy things because one of my travel mugs heats up a lot if you put a hot beverage in it. Plus it had a logo on it that I didn't like and that was peeling off. So I made the cozy to go over it.
The madness continued in the form of two stash busting flowers - not sure what I'll do with them - perhaps put a magnet or a pin on them...
And finally, something that was supposed to be a coaster that turned out too big. Which really isn't that surprising because the pattern was for a trivet and I should have either used a thinner yarn than called for or cast on a smaller number of stitches. Will do the next time. Now it is under a pot in my study and looks great there. What I really liked about this pattern is that it shrinks equally in width and length because it is knit in the round - so I didn't have to guess how many more (or less) rows I had to make relative to the width so that it would felt square.
I'm lazy so I'm not putting up pattern and yarn details - those interested can either email me or look on Ravelry (username: Catiecat). I have explicit details there about yardage etc because I weighed the items so that the requirements are accurate.
Still knitting on the epic mitered square blanket - but it is large so I can only work on it on days that are pretty cool.
Oh and I finished another sock - the mate to this one.
I haven't weaved in the ends or tried it on - I'm scared, plus the first one didn't fit well. The instructive part of the project is that I now know that I much prefer a gusset to a short row heel. I need more space in the instep and at the ankle than a short row heel provides. The project had bad mojo or juju or whatever - it took me a good month just to bind off after completing the ribbing! Oh well, it is done and over with.
And to end, I've been watching a lot of Buffy episodes - somewhere in season 6 now - because I can't stand most of the summer television stuff. Luckily shows start soon and hockey too.
ETA: and in all this I forgot another finished object (that's what I get for not posting these things as they were finished - or at least in the week they were finished...) - some more feline dim sum for a friend's cat - apparently I've got good catnip and Dixun had killed beyond repair the last one I made. How could I say no to such a request?
Wednesday 9 September 2009
Cat Blasphemy
I wasn't going to post today but Chris's post made me reconsider - Urlesque Announces a Day Without Cats on 9.9.09
Seriously? All I have to say on the subject is:
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
23/04/2009
On another note - iPods confuse me. 3 years ago I thought my mini had kicked the bucket so I bought an iPod video - which I use a lot and which now has kitty teeth marks thanks to Zoie carrying around the knitted case while the iPod was still in it. A month or so ago, out of curiosity I plugged the mini into the computer and it started charging (didn't do that 3 years ago). Then yesterday it seemed like the iPod video was having issues - the center button was stuck. I was all set to open the sucker up tonight (voiding any warranty that it might have - but I think I'm out of warranty because I don't remember getting the extended warranty) and I looked at it this morning and it was working again - the button is still slightly depressed but it works... I don't understand but that doesn't matter - it works.
In other news, I am knitting away - mainly on baby items because my best friend (who I've known since we were about 5 years old) had a sweet little boy. I don't want to post pictures yet because I don't want her seeing - though I don't think she has a reliable internet connection... Still slogging away on the blanket and some other things - my ravelry page is up to date (username Catiecat). I hope to mail the stuff to her this week and post lots of pictures by the weekend. We'll see if this actually happens though.
Seriously? All I have to say on the subject is:
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi
23/04/2009
On another note - iPods confuse me. 3 years ago I thought my mini had kicked the bucket so I bought an iPod video - which I use a lot and which now has kitty teeth marks thanks to Zoie carrying around the knitted case while the iPod was still in it. A month or so ago, out of curiosity I plugged the mini into the computer and it started charging (didn't do that 3 years ago). Then yesterday it seemed like the iPod video was having issues - the center button was stuck. I was all set to open the sucker up tonight (voiding any warranty that it might have - but I think I'm out of warranty because I don't remember getting the extended warranty) and I looked at it this morning and it was working again - the button is still slightly depressed but it works... I don't understand but that doesn't matter - it works.
In other news, I am knitting away - mainly on baby items because my best friend (who I've known since we were about 5 years old) had a sweet little boy. I don't want to post pictures yet because I don't want her seeing - though I don't think she has a reliable internet connection... Still slogging away on the blanket and some other things - my ravelry page is up to date (username Catiecat). I hope to mail the stuff to her this week and post lots of pictures by the weekend. We'll see if this actually happens though.
Saturday 5 September 2009
Things Are Looking Up...
I made the Basic Sandwich Bread from Gluten-Free Baking Classics by Annalise G. Roberts. It turned out amazing (on my first try!) and I'm hopeful that I will have good gluten-free bread that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
At the start of the cookbook she gives you tips and tricks to help make your attempts successful - and she doesn't just give you recipes, she tells you why the different flours are necessary and what they do for the taste/texture/etc. so that you can, with experimentation, adapt your favorite recipes to be gluten-free.
Personally, I'm going to attempt to make my Grandma Gross' Peanut Butter Cookies and her Sand Tarts. Come Christmas I will miss the Sand Tarts. If/when I do figure out the adaptations I'll post both the original and the adapted versions here.
I'll definitely be trying more from this cookbook, and will let you know how it goes - but honestly, if I only ever make the bread recipe I will still consider this cookbook money well spent.
Wednesday 2 September 2009
Wordless Wednesday: I've been knitting and I'll show you more later this week or next
28/8/2009Canon Powershot SD1100 IS
Friday 28 August 2009
Tuesday 11 August 2009
Ten on Tuesday
This week is supposed to be 10 Fads You Just Don't Get - but I missed last weeks topic and it is so much more interesting so I'm doing that one instead.
10 Favorite Characters from Television
1. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) of The Big Bang Theory
2. Kaylee Frye (Jewel Staite) of Firefly
3. Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) of How I Met Your Mother
4. Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter) of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (I like the ditzy high school Cordy more than the Cordy from later seasons of Angel)
5. Spike (James Marsters) of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
6. Dr. Temperance 'Bones' Brennan (Emily Deschanel) of Bones
7. Winifred 'Fred' Burkle (Amy Acker) of Angel
8. Topher Brink (Fran Kranz) of Dollhouse
9. River Tam (Summer Glau) of Firefly (she plays crazy so well!)
10. Joy Turner (Jaime Pressly) of My Name is Earl (I don't know why, normally I don't like this type of show at all... but I love My Name is Earl)
Okay, well the theme/pattern is pretty clear - I love me some Joss Whedon characters. The topic almost could have been list your 10 Favorite Joss Whedon characters seeing as only 4 of the 10 would have to be changed. And it would have been easy to name 4 more of his characters - Billy (Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, Neil Patrick Harris), Anya (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Emma Caufield), Oz (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Seth Green), Hoban 'Wash' Washburne (Firefly, Alan Tudyk).
10 Favorite Characters from Television
1. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) of The Big Bang Theory
2. Kaylee Frye (Jewel Staite) of Firefly
3. Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) of How I Met Your Mother
4. Cordelia Chase (Charisma Carpenter) of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel (I like the ditzy high school Cordy more than the Cordy from later seasons of Angel)
5. Spike (James Marsters) of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel
6. Dr. Temperance 'Bones' Brennan (Emily Deschanel) of Bones
7. Winifred 'Fred' Burkle (Amy Acker) of Angel
8. Topher Brink (Fran Kranz) of Dollhouse
9. River Tam (Summer Glau) of Firefly (she plays crazy so well!)
10. Joy Turner (Jaime Pressly) of My Name is Earl (I don't know why, normally I don't like this type of show at all... but I love My Name is Earl)
Okay, well the theme/pattern is pretty clear - I love me some Joss Whedon characters. The topic almost could have been list your 10 Favorite Joss Whedon characters seeing as only 4 of the 10 would have to be changed. And it would have been easy to name 4 more of his characters - Billy (Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, Neil Patrick Harris), Anya (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Emma Caufield), Oz (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Seth Green), Hoban 'Wash' Washburne (Firefly, Alan Tudyk).
Saturday 8 August 2009
Update
I haven't posted in a ridiculously long time. A lot has happened in that time including
- issues with doctors - still no diagnosis and a long wait is occurring before I will get to see a specialist - prior to the referral I changed doctors, the one on campus was frustrating me.
- our 3rd wedding anniversary - went to shakespeare in the park again but got rained out, had a lovely time none the less.
- British Columbia is having a horrendous forest fire year. Two fires broke out near my home town (Westbank - they call it West Kelowna now but that just sounds weird to me). A lot of people were evacuated (over 10,000 evacuated, another 7,000 or so on alert - the town is only about 40,000 people...), and the apartment that my parents were buying was put on evacuation alert.
- We went to Penticton for a wedding of some college (undergrad) friends. Saw a lot of old friends and got homesick for the Okanagan. The dream is to move back there some day. The issue is that there aren't many employers for me...
- Cory drove home and I stayed to help my parents move - what a gong show that ended up being. Since I was there for longer I saw some more friends - one that I hadn't seen in years and another that I don't see much of. Also spent time up at the cottage and saw a niece and nephew and brother - brother I saw within the last year (still good to see him though), niece I hadn't seen in 2 years, and nephew I hadn't seen in 3...
- introduced said niece and nephew to the wonder that is the Ames Brothers and Rag Mop (my happy song - I should go see if iTunes has it - okay I'm back, they do and so now I need to go buy a copy - also a fan of Sentimental Me on the other side of the record) via my grandparents gramophone. I've been told that my grandpa Gross had this gramophone while he was courting grandma Gross.
- While in the Okanagan I cast on the Trellis Scarf by Evelyn A. Clark (Interweave Knits, Spring 2006) for Cory's Aunt Paula. She saw the scarf I made for his Nana (branching out, pink kid silk haze) and requested one. I think she'll really appreciate it so I'm knitting the Trellis for her in KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud - Peppermint. Love the yarn and pattern - am about 7 repeats into the pattern, but it doesn't seem very long - I have a spare hank of the yarn if need be. The cats are "helping" and unfortunately are somewhat interested in the ball of yarn - not sure if it is the alpaca (they like merino for sure) or the way it is wound.
- wound the ball of laceweight by hand because I was at the cottage. Luckily I bought my mom a swift for Christmas this year. I swear it took 45 minutes or more. Niece and nephew found the whole process very interesting for almost the whole time - and laughed hysterically at me when I would drop the ball and it would roll on the floor.
Okay, well that about does it for the past month. I'm feeling pretty fatigued lately and sleeping a lot. Also watching a new-to-me show that I find hilarious - Big Bang Theory. I just wish I could relate less to the geeky scientists...
- issues with doctors - still no diagnosis and a long wait is occurring before I will get to see a specialist - prior to the referral I changed doctors, the one on campus was frustrating me.
- our 3rd wedding anniversary - went to shakespeare in the park again but got rained out, had a lovely time none the less.
- British Columbia is having a horrendous forest fire year. Two fires broke out near my home town (Westbank - they call it West Kelowna now but that just sounds weird to me). A lot of people were evacuated (over 10,000 evacuated, another 7,000 or so on alert - the town is only about 40,000 people...), and the apartment that my parents were buying was put on evacuation alert.
- We went to Penticton for a wedding of some college (undergrad) friends. Saw a lot of old friends and got homesick for the Okanagan. The dream is to move back there some day. The issue is that there aren't many employers for me...
- Cory drove home and I stayed to help my parents move - what a gong show that ended up being. Since I was there for longer I saw some more friends - one that I hadn't seen in years and another that I don't see much of. Also spent time up at the cottage and saw a niece and nephew and brother - brother I saw within the last year (still good to see him though), niece I hadn't seen in 2 years, and nephew I hadn't seen in 3...
- introduced said niece and nephew to the wonder that is the Ames Brothers and Rag Mop (my happy song - I should go see if iTunes has it - okay I'm back, they do and so now I need to go buy a copy - also a fan of Sentimental Me on the other side of the record) via my grandparents gramophone. I've been told that my grandpa Gross had this gramophone while he was courting grandma Gross.
- While in the Okanagan I cast on the Trellis Scarf by Evelyn A. Clark (Interweave Knits, Spring 2006) for Cory's Aunt Paula. She saw the scarf I made for his Nana (branching out, pink kid silk haze) and requested one. I think she'll really appreciate it so I'm knitting the Trellis for her in KnitPicks Alpaca Cloud - Peppermint. Love the yarn and pattern - am about 7 repeats into the pattern, but it doesn't seem very long - I have a spare hank of the yarn if need be. The cats are "helping" and unfortunately are somewhat interested in the ball of yarn - not sure if it is the alpaca (they like merino for sure) or the way it is wound.
- wound the ball of laceweight by hand because I was at the cottage. Luckily I bought my mom a swift for Christmas this year. I swear it took 45 minutes or more. Niece and nephew found the whole process very interesting for almost the whole time - and laughed hysterically at me when I would drop the ball and it would roll on the floor.
Okay, well that about does it for the past month. I'm feeling pretty fatigued lately and sleeping a lot. Also watching a new-to-me show that I find hilarious - Big Bang Theory. I just wish I could relate less to the geeky scientists...
Monday 6 July 2009
A Sheep-Shearing Good Time
On Sunday we went to the Calgary Stampede: the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Since last year I've wanted to see the Sheep Shearing Competition - but last year I couldn't go because my thesis was behind schedule (or something like that). So we didn't go - but for the past year I've been talking about going this year. Was it worth the build up? Was it awesome? Yes and yes! Cory thought it was okay - he liked that I was so happy I suppose.
My only regret is that I didn't have my good camera with me - but it is always so crowded that Cory thought the small point and shoot was a better idea. I think next year I'll bring the faster camera because it was medium-low lighting and fast movements.
There were "official sheep shear-leaders" and a "shear-off" and piles of wool at the end of each shear-off. It. Was. Wonderful.
My only regret is that I didn't have my good camera with me - but it is always so crowded that Cory thought the small point and shoot was a better idea. I think next year I'll bring the faster camera because it was medium-low lighting and fast movements.
There were "official sheep shear-leaders" and a "shear-off" and piles of wool at the end of each shear-off. It. Was. Wonderful.
Wednesday 1 July 2009
Tuesday 30 June 2009
Some Days I Realize That I Should Have Just Stayed in Bed
Yesterday was one of those days. It started innocently enough - Ellie even let me sleep up to when the alarm went off... But from there it went downhill. I don't tend to blog about non-knitting problems but yesterday was too much to not tell.
I strongly suspect that I have Celiac Disease, and I've suspected/feared this for awhile. A few weeks ago I went to the doctor for a prescription renewal and some blood work. My symptoms were worsening but not too bad. Instead of my doctor I got a resident - which is fine, normally, I'm all for helping educate the doctors of tomorrow. I let interns come in during my appointments all the time. I didn't realize that my normal doctor wouldn't also be there but whatever - it was a prescription and me telling them that I needed a specific blood test, not difficult. She listened to my symptoms and family history (2 siblings diagnosed, 1 niece, 1 nephew, 1 cousin, 1 cousin's daughter - plus 1 niece with the appropriate DNA and 1 cousin's daughter with the appropriate DNA) and said that it was likely that I had Celiac Disease and that she wanted to check for that and some other things it could be - sounds good to me so far. And she said that given my symptoms and family history, if the test came back negative she recommended a biopsy - the blood test is usually accurate but just in case, the definitive diagnosis is a biopsy - sounds great to me. So I got the tests and waited for my annual (which is next week).
But the symptoms have gotten way worse - and I couldn't wait the extra week. Until I get the diagnosis I have to keep eating gluten. So I went to the walk in yesterday and found out that the resident FORGOT to order the CELIAC test! Sorry for the yelling but seriously! So the other doctor ordered the test and I got it done right away. I've had a copy of the results sent to a friend's sister (who is a doctor) so that I can get the results faster than from my regular doctor. I'm pretty stressed about the results - I want a Celiac diagnosis because if it is negative then the doctors start from scratch trying to figure out what is causing my symptoms. I'll let y'all know when I know.
So I went home early - I was feeling pretty sick, hopefully because I'd had gluten the day before. And then as I was flossing I popped out the filling I got last week! At which point I decided I should have stayed in bed. Today is going better so far :)
I strongly suspect that I have Celiac Disease, and I've suspected/feared this for awhile. A few weeks ago I went to the doctor for a prescription renewal and some blood work. My symptoms were worsening but not too bad. Instead of my doctor I got a resident - which is fine, normally, I'm all for helping educate the doctors of tomorrow. I let interns come in during my appointments all the time. I didn't realize that my normal doctor wouldn't also be there but whatever - it was a prescription and me telling them that I needed a specific blood test, not difficult. She listened to my symptoms and family history (2 siblings diagnosed, 1 niece, 1 nephew, 1 cousin, 1 cousin's daughter - plus 1 niece with the appropriate DNA and 1 cousin's daughter with the appropriate DNA) and said that it was likely that I had Celiac Disease and that she wanted to check for that and some other things it could be - sounds good to me so far. And she said that given my symptoms and family history, if the test came back negative she recommended a biopsy - the blood test is usually accurate but just in case, the definitive diagnosis is a biopsy - sounds great to me. So I got the tests and waited for my annual (which is next week).
But the symptoms have gotten way worse - and I couldn't wait the extra week. Until I get the diagnosis I have to keep eating gluten. So I went to the walk in yesterday and found out that the resident FORGOT to order the CELIAC test! Sorry for the yelling but seriously! So the other doctor ordered the test and I got it done right away. I've had a copy of the results sent to a friend's sister (who is a doctor) so that I can get the results faster than from my regular doctor. I'm pretty stressed about the results - I want a Celiac diagnosis because if it is negative then the doctors start from scratch trying to figure out what is causing my symptoms. I'll let y'all know when I know.
So I went home early - I was feeling pretty sick, hopefully because I'd had gluten the day before. And then as I was flossing I popped out the filling I got last week! At which point I decided I should have stayed in bed. Today is going better so far :)
Wednesday 24 June 2009
Spindle Acquisition
We interrupt your regularly scheduled posting (Wordless Wednesday) for an important announcement - the newest addition to my spindle collection arrived today - an Art Nouveau Filigree Golding RingSpindle! I decided that since I didn't buy myself an present when I finished my masters I was entitled, or cleared to purchase this beauty. Now when I want to buy another one I'll have to come up with another excuse. I blame my weakness on the Spindler's group on Ravelry.
And this is Ellie inspecting my spindle stash - the other spindles are a large Schacht spindle (2 3/4 oz), a smaller Schacht spindle (2 oz), a small unfinished (for now) Louet spindle (1 3/8) and a Tiger Mountain Cascade Spindle (less than 1/2 oz)
Now I have to go play with my new toy - but what to spin? I ordered some fiber from an Etsy seller (FiberOptic) but because it is coming from the states AND was ordered the day after the spindle - it hasn't gotten here yet.
And this is Ellie inspecting my spindle stash - the other spindles are a large Schacht spindle (2 3/4 oz), a smaller Schacht spindle (2 oz), a small unfinished (for now) Louet spindle (1 3/8) and a Tiger Mountain Cascade Spindle (less than 1/2 oz)
Now I have to go play with my new toy - but what to spin? I ordered some fiber from an Etsy seller (FiberOptic) but because it is coming from the states AND was ordered the day after the spindle - it hasn't gotten here yet.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)