CarmelKnits, etc.

I not only cracked out that no bake peanut butter pie... Next came a batch of Canadian Whiskey Brownies using espresso and special dark cocoa powder... They are delicious btw's I also threw together a pan of lasagna for us to have in our lunch tomorrow! D seems to think that the whiskey in the brownies is to strong and can't be served at work... I don't know if they are that strong but I think they'd make Monday a lot more fun...

And organized my catch all pantry instead... The pie isn't hard. I don't even have to bake it. But I opened up pandoras closet and well... A part of me feels much better... The other part of me is whispering 'That no-bake peanut butter pie ain't gonna mix itself Ginger' And here I am talking to the blog instead as I feel the ingredients about to stage a coup and spill all over my counter... Back to it... Happy Easter Everyone!

And I captured some of the best pictures of my dogs ever... Oh and I'm blocking the beret I knit last week in Phoenix...

I miss my mom. There. I said it. I wish I could see her more often. But, for the times in between, I have pictures like this of us and they make me smile... Isn't she pretty? Happy Friday! (The shawl I'm wearing in the photo is designed by Kimberly Delacruz and the pattern name is Virginia Shawl..)

This project was started June 2009. The summer it hit over 100 degrees here in Seattle for one week. Knitting on this was lovely sealed in my room with the sun blacked out with blankets and four fans circulating the stifling air. Since then it's been worked on here and there but because its been four years from the start it takes me a few rows to figure out what the F I was doing. Plus after looking at it some more I found that its not going to be what I imagined it to be... I decided today to rip it out. Did you faint? I'm a little light headed at the thought or maybe I'm hungry. Yes. I'm going to rip it out. I am going to make a lap a lap blanket using the same colors but in a basic, comforting, pick it up and knit whenever style. Sorry old girl... The beauty of knitting, as is with life, you always get do-over's if you choose to take them... The truth is, you get as many do-overs as you want that's how you discover what you...

Last week was spent soaking up as much Arizona sun, baseball, and mom time as I could manage. It was wonderful. So wonderful that when it came time to come home neither D or myself wanted to leave. We could have easily stayed another week, possibly another two... who am I kidding, I'd stay there forever. As we were settling in to bed the first night I did one last check of my email and as I was glancing thru and deleting I saw I had received an email from my Arizona LYS Jessicas Knits. all I saw was Sale and March 17. I guess we all know what Mom and I did Sunday... The best part was that since it was St. Patricks day the sale involved drawing a coin from the lucky bucket and on the coin would be your discount... I drew the 25% - the highest amount available! WOOHOO I made a haul which will have to be explained and photographed later... Needless to say vacation was off to a good start.  just a couple girls headed to the yarn shop There was a lot of ...

as happens with any time off all my grand plans of knitting crazy quick things falls apart. I knit one Bunny Nugget on the plane. One. Uno Un that's it that's all sorry kids... Maybe next year Aunt Carmel will come thru and crack out a dozen or more and hide them but this year some Magenta Scrumptious yarn took control and you know I never fight the fiber. I knit what feels right... good night

Well not really, but I have been outside of my normal routine. I'll return shortly. For a teaser I have this for you... Every year I visit my mom in March (with the exception of 2011) We go to a yarn shop or two. (obviously) We buy yarn (again, duh) I always buy a skein or 10 of something wonderful to make a project... Turns out it's the same project each year that I want to make in March... in 2010 I used Tye Dye Worsted Weight Cotton in 2012 I used Eco Wool with a border of Noro in 2013 I am going to use... Any guess what I it turns out I make each year? This will require some searching thru the archives...  I'll post the answer tomorrow (maybe) or Monday (more likely) Happy Saturday...

Pattern by Rebecca Danger The incredibly talented to knitter/designer! It's a free download on Ravelry Uses scrap yarn and leftovers... I do one modification, I leave the bottom one and unstuffed thus making it a finger-puppet! This little Bunny Nugget is going to go home and entertain BW but I will be making more and leaving them in random places :) I made the tail just wrapping the yarn around my fingers... I really need to get my hands on a Pom Pom maker.

I am that person. I sort my Reese's Pieces by color and then eat them from least amount to highest... For obvious reasons I do not do this at the movies. At those time I prefer the pour and shovel technique.

Inside my project bag... Interim knitting really... D's slippers are all knit just waiting for a rumble in the washing machine which will have to wait. I'm making another Milanese Lace Topper in Zara Plus Merino... I'm going to make it a bit more slouchy than my last one which I love but is very snug and tends to ride up on my nugget. I also purchased a pattern today by Ysolda Teague. A knit doll pattern that is absolutely charming. I'm going to make it for Miss A. Not much new here... Oh and I nixed the plan to knit four bunnies for the kids, just plain ran out of time. I am however hatching another bunny related plan that I plan to put into action starting tomorrow... Happy Wednesday!

For whatever reason Mr. Brown loves to groom Gabby... He's as thorough as a mama cat and much like a kitten Gabby tolerates it, I think she even enjoys it a little. Not as much as Mr. Brown enjoys doing it, because he really really enjoys it. Sometimes he'll sniff her head when she lays down next to him and he'll pull back quickly as if she stinks, then he just dives right in and starts cleaning. I can safely say however, his breath does not smell better than the top if her head. I've watched him groom her till she passes out. He uses that method more frequently when she has the bone he wants... All I know is that I love when I'm able to catch a moment like this and then share my crazy love for my dogs with the rest of you! Happy Monday Fiber related love coming soon!

Thursday was spent recuperating and snuggling in bed with Mr. Brown. He's a very good caretaker. Thursday afternoon I discover Lake Frigidaire in my kitchen and that essentially the polar ice cap that is my freezer had defrosted, along with all the chicken and misc fish fillets. Nothing bounces you back from feeling crappy faster than a dead fridge. Thursday afternoon was spent cleaning the freezer side... Today is cleaning the rest of it to get ready for removal when the new one (which is still only a dream at this point) is installed... To top things off Mr. Brown yarked all over the hallway and now wants more kibble, and both of them are squirrelly by the change in routine... (Me cleaning the fridge, well me cleaning is enough to cause anxiety in them) Needless to say I haven't knit a thing since Tuesday... The upside is that today's sunrise over the Everett Boeing plant was beautiful with the fog... The light was amazing! Happy Saturday!

Even though I am sitting here coughing and sniffeling into tissues, some of which have made it into the waste basket some haven't yet... (i'll grab them all up before I leave) Despite the fact that if you saw a picture of just my eyes you would swear I was an extra from the Walking Dead, I am giddy as a girl getting a pony for her birthday... Why am I so excited you ask? Well, I'll tell you... One of my very best dearest friends just told me that her and her son are coming for a visit in May! EEEEK I can't wait! There is so much to plan!  Megan and I circa 1999? in Monterey California  Now, back to those tissues... they won't pick themselves up!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled knitting blog in order to deal with a nasty virus coursing thru my system right... I didn't knit a stitch yesterday. Not one. I came home, took a detox bath, ate my Virus Killing Spicy Ramen from the local teriyaki joint and climbed into bed. I did reach over and touch my knitting last night as I drifted off to sleep. I don't feel horrible, except when I cough, talk, or swallow. Yesterday I sounded like Bobby Brady from the Brady Bunch in the episode where he went thru puberty. Today I sound like Phylis Diller after a carton of Lucky Strikes. Plus, I have adverse reactions to cold medication so I currently feel like I'm vibrating on the inside which makes it difficult to read.... not to mention someone kindly turned on the faucet in my nose. bleh Happy Wednesday. Will return shortly once I've kicke this nastiness to the curb.

This is quite possibly the biggest of the BBBB's I've made... Super-Bulky yarn, size 15 needles and my favorite color combo for a little girl. I knit this for our friends daughter-in-law who is expecting her first child, also the first grandchild for the family. We've become good friends with the whole family this past year during the WHL hockey season. Meeting for dinner before each game, hanging out between periods and really just having a great time. The little one isn't due till June and I can't wait to meet her! Details: Pattern: Big Bad Baby Blanket from the book Stitch 'n Bitch Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease thick and quick in Raspberry and Grass. Needle size: 15 I love it! It's actually quite a perfect lap blanket... I might have to make one for myself.

It's what I am. I don't deny it. Call it habit, call it routine For the most part I maintain the same pattern every day. Get up between 3:30 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. Feed the dogs make the coffee crack out two breakfast smoothies pack up our lunches (usually leftovers from the night before) grab a cup of coffee take a shower blah blah blah out the door by 5:00 at the latest and on the road to work. Now, toss into the mix an early morning trip to the dentist. Instead of getting up at 4:00 I got up at five. I didn't have to leave the house till 7:15. I was able to drink more than one rushed cup of coffee before leaving the house (three cups) The dogs thought it was the weekend and couldn't understand why I wasn't getting back in bed with my coffee for snuggle time with them, or why I wouldn't play ball, or why I was actually dressed in 'going out' clothes and not still in my jammies... (they probably didn't put that much thought into it but ...