"I have never felt that anything really mattered but the satisfaction of knowing that you stood for the things in which you believed and had done the very best you could." - Eleanor Roosevelt

Friday, March 28, 2008

Saucy Knitters Hot Sauce Swap Questionnaire

Hot Sauce

1. What kinds of sauces do you like? Do you like ‘em hot and spicy or more toward the sweet? Do you like four alarms going off at once, or a heat that builds? - I like 'em more sweet and whimpy. I want to be able to savor them instead of crying from the heat.

2. Do you have any sauces that you do not like at all? - No, because they all have a purpose.

3. What do you like your hot sauce on? - I like it on greens (collard/mustard/turnip) with a good piece of cornbread. most of all.

4. What kinds of recipes do you like to work your hot sauce magic with? Do you BBQ? Throw it in take-out? Put a dash into your eggs in the morning? Do you like to cook, or do you prefer to just dress up a good take-out dish? - I do cook with it in the winter in soups and chili, and I add it to BBQ sauce for chicken.

5. Do you have any particular food allergies that should be avoided when picking out a hot sauce? - Nope.

6. Recipe you would like to share? - I will have to edit this to go find the link, but there is one for the Kentucky Derby that I like.

Yarn

1. Do you knit or crochet? - Both, but more knitting than anything else.

2. What are your favorite types of yarns to work with? - I like natural fibers most of all, but with the humid Houston weather I have to be mindful of the "breathability" of the yarn as well. I use acrylics for people that I know would not be able to handle hand washing anything. And for blankets for new mommies too. They don't have time for hand washing of any kind.

3. What do you have on the needles (or hook!) right now? - This could take a long time....I have Cherie Amour, Haruha Scarf, Clementine Shawlette, RPM socks, and 10 UFO's that I track on the UFO blog.....

4. What are your favorite colors to work with? Are there any colors you wouldn’t want caught dead in your stash? - Blue, blue, blue, and did I mention blue? I also love royal purples (amethyst), pinks as long as they aren't too girly, and earth/neutral tones. NO Orange for me please....

5. Any preference in your hooks/needles? Prefer bamboo over plastic or aluminum? You’re good with whatever you’ve got to work with? Let us know. - I use aluminum crochet hooks mostly because I like the way they feel. Knitting needles are a bit more tricky. I tend to pick the needle after I pick the yarn. Some yarns work better for me on Bamboo and others work better on metals. Not much plastic except in the JUMBO needles and hooks.

6. Notions. C’mon, let us know – if you get one more measuring tape, will you run screaming from the room? Or are you the type that loses stitch markers constantly? What notions do you love and loathe? - With 13 UFO's, I never have too many notions. I love stitch markers, especially when they are natural stones and or pearls. I always misplace my tape measure, so they are handy. I don't have a project bag like I have seen everyone getting, so that would be a fun thing to get.

7. Any fiber allergies we should know about? - None that I know of.

Stuff

1. Are you a snacky type of person? Do you like candy? Chocolate? In between hot sauce applications, what would we find you snacking on? - Pretzels, chocolate, Necco wafers, or pita chips would all be safe bets.

2. Are you into recipe magazines? Knitting mags? What kinds of quick, stash-it-in-your-knitting-bag reading do you like to have on hand? - I have a subscription to Cook's Illustrated, and it is in my briefcase all the time. I love to have the latest Interweave with me as well. I plot out patterns or dream about making stuff. I also always have a word search or a cross word puzzle book with me. Helps to keep the brain sharp.

3. What cheers you up? - My bloggy friends entries, walking Onyx, being in the back yard with the family, Wifey, and a good pattern with the perfect yarn. I almost forgot to mention a perfect martini.

4. Do you collect anything other than yarn? - According to Wifey and the kids, TOO much. We collect Hull pottery, Depression and Elegant Glass, buttons, jewelry, and old/vintage knitting and sewing patterns.

5. Do you have pets? - Not counting the human daughters, we have one dog, Onyx, and two cats, Sassy and Eraser.

6. Any other allergies? - Artificial Sweetners (all of them, including Splenda).

7. Are you a swap newbie, or have you done this before? Any good advice for newbies you’d like to share? -Seasoned Veteran. Please take the time to PRINT and READ your partner's questionnaire. Troll through their blog ALOT and OFTEN! If they are on Ravelry, troll through their friends, look at their queue, looks at their stash, look at the library, and look at the groups that they belong to. You can have so much fun if you invest the time in getting to know the person. You can truly make long lasting friendships if you are an active participant with your partner. A swap should never be a drudgery. It should be fun and exciting, like Christmas.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Onyx would like to show Exhibit A









Onyx would like to present Exhibit A as to why Nina needs to return to her own house. Look what she managed to get off of her grandmother's desk.

Grandma picked up all the baskets that she keeps her left over yarn balls in so that Nina could not get them. But guess what grandma didn't know.....Nina can climb. She climbed into the chair and had a field day with the yarn balls. Grandma was able to tackle all of the mess except for two skeins that need more room and patience than grandma was able to devote to them at the moment.

I personally cannot believe that grandma let her live.....

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Doggie Tag

(Not So) Cynical Knitting Gal Gracie tagged Onyx so here goes:

What three things would you do that you have never done before, if you knew you wouldn't get caught, get in trouble or suffer any consequences?

Dear friends: I have included a more recent picture of myself, as I have finally gotten my luxurious fur coat in and have gained the weight that I was missing.



Now, on to the answers. I would go back to my previous owners' house and soundly bite their hineys for all the abuse and neglect that I suffered. I would agree with Gracie and host an all you can eat buffet - just for me. Finally, I would sit on my niece, Nina, and keep her still long enough for Eraser, Sassy, and I to get some rest. I know that she's a puppy, but for heaven's sake she is loud and we need some sleep.

I tag my furry friends here. Woof, Onyx

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Fred and Ginger Contest Prize

I got home last night to discover that I had received my prize from CKG for this contest.


Check out these goodies:





I got a roll of my favorite, Necco wafers, a whole bags of Necco Sweethearts, a wonderful key ring, a wooden lamb that is perfect to add a magnet to, four of the most beautiful skeins of KnitPicks yarn in the most fab blue, a very adorable note pad which bears a strong likeness to Onyx, and an adorable puppy's tail hook. We will be installing that hook for all of the girls' leashes.

Thank you so much CKG! That was a wonderful treat to come home to. Now I just need to figure out what I will do with that yarn.......

Monday, March 3, 2008

I wish I had some one to make this for....



If ever I wanted to make something for a little one's birthday, this is it. I found it here. According to the post, "The food-grade silicone is able to withstand the heat from a 500-degree oven, as well as the radiation from a microwave, prodding from a metal utensil, and the chilly temperatures from a freezer. And it's only $14.99 from Linens 'n Things."

Linens 'n Things is one of my favorite places for the new and unusual. This qualifies as that. So, if you have little ones of your own or you are able to influence some one's little ones, get this and tell me how much fun it is. I will live vicariously through you until I have human grand kids.