Wednesday

OMG - Peeps for Halloween.....look here.  I am a sucker for Peeps products and with Zoe right at 19 months now, Halloween this year will be even more fun!  And with the recipes, I could have even more fun.

It may be hard to tell from this picture, but there are green eggs in this carton.  The top two on the left are white, so that could/should help.  I bought them from a lovely woman that meets with us on Wednesday's at the Upstairs Studio.  She raises several different species of hens and each lays uniquely colored eggs.  They are all range birds and get natural feed, so their yolks are beautiful.  I made a three egg omelet with them and it was divine!  So much so that I picked up some wonderful bacon, cheese and spinach to fix another one this weekend.  I hope she has more of them today when we get together...

One more thing before I go today.  Friday is October 1st.  October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Please do whatever you can to support the local and national organizations as they raise monies to fight this deadly disease.  It affects both men and women and the research is vital.  My mother is cancer free for the fifth straight year after her diagnosis and treatments.  Let's see what we can do together to beat this and eradicate it from our lives.

Tuesday Temptations

I thought I would lead this post off with a few pictures.  The first two are of Eraser and Sassy.  For some reason they both slept this way with one paw shielding their faces.  Odd but they are cats, so they do things that we humans do not understand.  The third one is a glimpse of the Red Hot front and back pieces blocking and drying so that I can assemble them at some point today.  The second sleeve is almost done so I can block them for assembly as well.  The fourth one is of some roses that SF gave me on Valentine's Day 2010.  I selected three of the buds from this arrangement and hung them upside down to dry out.  When I am sad, down or frustrated I just need to see them on the side of the bed (retreat room) and they make me remember that it will all be okay.  The fifth and final one is of a Mourning Dove that was sitting on the fence outside the kitchen window last week (Friday the 24th) during a very heavy downpour.

As for the temptation portion...well, I have been culling my recipes and putting them in order so that I can find them faster.  I want to start using the crock pot again and that is what prompted the actions.  Fall equals crock pot cooking to me, so I needed to get ready.  I love coming home to the smell of dinner that is ready.  Crock pot cooking is hearty and most of the food sticks to your ribs.

There will be more later today, I just wanted to get this portion up and off my mind....

Monday

I posted these two recipes on Ravelry in response to question number two of the Scavenger Hunt Swap.  I decided that I should share them here as well, because they are just too good not to share with more people.  For my non-knitters and those not participating in this swap, what are your favorite Fall recipes.  Please, share with me, as I am a sucker for cooking in the Fall.

Potato Leek Soup
3 large leeks, cut lengthwise, separate, clean (Use only the white parts and pale green parts) and chop
2 Tbsp butter
2 cups water
2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for vegan option)
2 lbs potatoes, peeled and diced into 1/2” pieces
Dash of Marjoram
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme OR 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme
Tabasco sauce or other red chili sauce

Cook leaks in butter with salt and pepper in a medium sized sauce pan. Cover pan and cook on low heat for ten minutes. Check often. Do not brown or burn! Add water, broth and potatoes. Bring to a low simmer and cook for twenty minutes. Scoop about half the soup mixture into a blender, puree and return to pan. Add marjoram, parsley and thyme. Add a few dashes of Tabasco sauce or chili sauce (to taste) and some freshly ground pepper.


Banana Pumpkin Bread
2 ripe bananas mashed
2 eggs
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 1/3 cups canned pumpkin puree
1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup white sugar
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup raisins (Optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. In a large bowl, stir together the mashed bananas, eggs, oil, pumpkin puree, honey and sugar. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, pie spice and cinnamon. Stir into the wet mixture until just combined. If adding the raisins, do so now. Pour into pan. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the loaf comes out clean. Cool the loaf in the pan for 10 minutes before moving to a wire rack to cool completely.

Finally Friday

Just pictures, not too many words.  First picture is the Fred Hartman Bridge as seen on the way home from Upstairs Studio.  The second picture is a sneak peek at the SWTC Xie Bamboo thread that is the test knit shawl for the Upstairs Studio.  Let me tell you, this stuff is YUMMY!  The next picture is the back of the Red Hot.  The front is almost to the neck divide and I am hoping that it will be finished before the end of the month so I can enter it into the KAL.  More on the later.  The last three are of the Sockhead Hat done up with one skein of Wool In The Woods Twin Twist.

Enjoy this first weekend of Fall!  I promise an over load of posts next week with FO's and Fall goodies....

Almost forgot to share this

I almost forgot that I wanted to share this with ya'll....Lizzie and Clarice had me laughing so hard last week I almost spewed water from my nose and mouth at the same time....ENJOY!

Monday

Well, we survived a wet weekend here at Chez RubyRingz.  What about ya'll?

Friday was fairly low key here as the work week drew to a close.  Saturday was already laid out and "scripted".  Sunday was Texans football.  I would love to say that I did something really awe inspiring or fantastic either of these two days, but I did not.  Pure and simple, I sat, watched football and knitted!

I started the front of the Red Hot and I will upload those pictures later today.  I really do like the way that the Calmer feels while I knit with it and will definitely try it in more patterns.  It is not as addicting as the Cascade 200 Superwash was to me but I do love it.  I also finished the pink and white versions of the USS Migration Sock.  They have been soaked and are now blocking, so as soon as they are done I will add their pictures as well.  I started the USS Lehmus-huivi with the SWTC Xie Bamboo thread.  I initially thought that the US Size 3 was too tight so I went up a needle size.  HATED the results so returned to the lower size and I am now ready to start on Chart 2 of this shawl.  I will try to get some pictures taken today at some point but it is so overcast that I cannot get the correct lighting.  I also wound the yarn for the Upstairs Studio Sock Contest into a cake.  It is a wonderful blend of Cashmere/Superwash Merino/Nylon that Lizzie hand-dyed.  I have settled on the Shur'tugal sock pattern from Socktopus.  I cannot wait to cast on for these.  They will need to be finished, soaked and blocked AND back to the store by October 9th at 4:00 PM CST.

Pictures?

The first four are all of the blend for the sock competition.  The last two are of a special color-way that Lizzie and I decided married up with some Crystal Palace Sparkle Plenty that screamed to be used in a shawl.  For those of you not familiar with the Sparkle Plenty, it is a metallic thread and the colors in mine almost mirror this skein perfectly.  And the odd part is that I had no clue that Lizzie was making this colorway and she had never seen the skein I had before either.  Fate!  It will become a Traveling Woman once I have finished some of the other projects listed above.

I had to share these two with you:

Sassy decided to lay right beside my left foot Saturday morning while I was drinking my coffee and knitting.  She has gotten overly protective the last few weeks and guards me from some unknown/unseen force.  She is my lover kitty and I enjoy my morning time with her when the house is quiet and she wants some special lovin' from her momma.  Of course she also was in love with the sock yarn blend, as she has a penchant for cashmere.  She knows where it is in my knitting bag too.

Fall TV shows premier all this week.  Are you ready?  I think we are but I never know.  Fall is hard on me, as the sun begins to be a bit more unavailable when I get up and when I get home.  I am one of those people that needs a good dose of sunshine, so I can get cranky when I don't get my daily dose.  Just like coffee...




I know exactly how this guy feels....

Have a great Monday!

Finally Friday

Yes, we have survived another week and made it to Friday!

Looking at the NCAA Football Schedule for tomorrow, there are a lot of games that I want to watch.  There is WVU, Ohio State, Marshall, Longhorns versus Red Raiders, Volunteers and then SFASU and SHSU, which are not on TV.  There are other games that hold promise but SF and I will negotiate which ones will actually get to be viewed.  Gotta love Fall and College Football!

Saturday September 18
Time (ET)	Visiting Team	Home Team	TV	Weather
12:00 pm	North Texas Mean Green	Army Black Knights
12:00 pm	12 Arkansas Razorbacks	Georgia Bulldogs	ESPN
12:00 pm	Northern Illinois Huskies	Illinois Fighting Illini	BTN
12:00 pm	Iowa State Cyclones	Kansas State Wildcats	FSN
12:00 pm	Massachusetts Minutemen	20 Michigan Wolverines	BTN
12:00 pm	Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	North Carolina Tar Heels	ESP3 ESGP
12:00 pm	Ohio Bobcats	2 Ohio State Buckeyes	BTN
12:00 pm	Kent State Golden Flashes	22 Penn State Nittany Lions	ESP2
12:00 pm	Ball State Cardinals	Purdue Boilermakers	BTN
12:00 pm	Connecticut Huskies	Temple Owls	ESP3 ESGP
12:00 pm	Maryland Terrapins	21 West Virginia Mountaineers	ESPU
12:20 pm	Vanderbilt Commodores	Mississippi Rebels	ESP3 ESGP
1:30 pm	East Carolina Pirates	Virginia Tech Hokies	ESP3
3:30 pm	Hawaii Warriors	Colorado Buffaloes	FCS
3:30 pm	1 Alabama Crimson Tide	Duke Blue Devils	ABC
3:30 pm	Brigham Young Cougars	Florida State Seminoles	ESPU
3:30 pm	Colorado State Rams	Miami (OH) RedHawks	ESP3 ESGP
3:30 pm	18 USC Trojans	Minnesota Golden Gophers	ESPN
3:30 pm	Air Force Falcons	7 Oklahoma Sooners	FSN
3:30 pm	Washington State Cougars	Southern Methodist Mustangs
3:30 pm	10 Florida Gators	Tennessee Volunteers	CBS
3:30 pm	8 Nebraska Cornhuskers	Washington Huskies	ABC
3:30 pm	Arizona State Sun Devils	11 Wisconsin Badgers	ABC
4:00 pm	Central Michigan Chippewas	Eastern Michigan Eagles
4:00 pm	Troy Trojans	UAB Blazers
4:30 pm	Baylor Bears	4 TCU Horned Frogs	VERS
5:00 pm	Indiana Hoosiers	Western Kentucky Hilltoppers	BTN
5:30 pm	Louisville Cardinals	25 Oregon State Beavers	FCS
6:15 pm	Portland State Vikings	5 Oregon Ducks
7:00 pm	Clemson Tigers	16 Auburn Tigers	ESPN
7:00 pm	Marshall Thundering Herd	Bowling Green Falcons	ESP3 ESGP
7:00 pm	UCF Knights	Buffalo Bulls	ESP3 ESGP
7:00 pm	Akron Zips	Kentucky Wildcats	ESP3 ESGP
7:00 pm	Mississippi State Bulldogs	15 LSU Tigers	ESPU
7:00 pm	Navy Midshipmen	Louisiana Tech Bulldogs	ESP3
7:00 pm	Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders	Memphis Tigers
7:00 pm	San Diego State Aztecs	Missouri Tigers
7:00 pm	Tulsa Golden Hurricane	Oklahoma State Cowboys
7:00 pm	Northwestern Wildcats	Rice Owls
7:00 pm	Furman Paladins	13 South Carolina Gamecocks	ESP3 ESGP
7:00 pm	FIU Golden Panthers	Texas A&M Aggies
7:00 pm	Toledo Rockets	Western Michigan Broncos
7:15 pm	Maine Black Bears	Syracuse Orange
8:00 pm	Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks	Arkansas State Red Wolves	ESP3 ESGP
8:00 pm	Notre Dame Fighting Irish	Michigan State Spartans	ABC
8:00 pm	14 Utah Utes	New Mexico Lobos	TMTN
8:00 pm	Southern Utah Thunderbirds	San Jose State Spartans
8:00 pm	6 Texas Longhorns	Texas Tech Red Raiders	ABC
8:00 pm	Fresno State Bulldogs	Utah State Aggies	ESP3 ESGP
8:00 pm	3 Boise State Broncos	Wyoming Cowboys	CBSC
9:05 pm	New Mexico State Aggies	UTEP Miners
10:30 pm	9 Iowa Hawkeyes	24 Arizona Wildcats	ESPN
10:30 pm	UNLV Rebels	Idaho Vandals	ESPU
10:30 pm	23 Houston Cougars	UCLA Bruins
11:15 pm	Wake Forest Demon Deacons	19 Stanford Cardinal	ESP2

We will also be visiting the hair dresser.  I have two specific new pictures in mind that are more reasonable for the length that my hair has grown out to at this point.  We will have to see what the hairdresser thinks.  Hopefully a full year of growing this out has gotten me to at least one of the two.  This mop needs to be tamed and shaped.  You have no idea how out of control it has become.

Knitting is at a fast pace as well.  I am finishing up on the USS Migration Version Two socks.  They are the exact opposite of the first set.  The pink yarn became the main color and the white the pattern.  Again, I did one on the US Size 1 needles and one on the US Size 2 needles so that they marry up with the other set.  I am done with the back of the Red Hot and will be casting on the front this evening.  I am also working on a shawl for Upstairs Studio with some SWTC Bamboo.

That's all I can show now but you will love the next set of pictures...

There is also some sock knitting with a cashmere blend and a Traveling Woman started as well.  Pictures of everything will follow later this weekend!

Everyone loves cupcakes.....

Sharing this from the Wine Harlots:

Cupcake Vineyards Riesling Mosel Valley 2009

“When you look at cupcake, you’ve got to smile.”  –  Anne Byrn

Everybody loves cupcakes.  And as it is with Cupcake Vineyards.  Wine Harlots were smiling a lot when they were quaffing Cupcake Vineyards Riesling from Mosel Valley.  The favors are nuanced and elegant.  Citrusy and bright with a hint of minerality.  The wine is great for drinking without food, but the perfect pairing for this is a white fish, we suggest trying Rick Bakas’ Sautéed Halibut with Celery Root & Truffle.

Packaging matters.  I’m a sucker for cobalt, so the blue bottle with the yellow trim is festive and fun – perfect to bring as a hostess gift, whether it’s a bottle or a case (and at this price point, you won’t be breaking the bank.)

The details: 10.5% alcohol.  Screw-cap closure.  Appellation:  Mosel, Germany.  The retail list price is $12 USD.  Savvy shoppers can find this for about $8-10.  This was a wine sample that was procured from a winemaker dinner with Adam Richardson of Underdog Wine Merchants, facilitated by Folsom & Associates.

The music match is “Blue Monday” from New Order from the album Power, Corruption & Lies.  If you’re feeling blue on Monday, have a Cupcake, and you’ll have to smile.  Guaranteed.

Red Hot

Okay, so I am working on the Red Hot as part of the Sexy Knitters Club Third Quarter Kal.  The last time I participated in one of their KAL's was for the Sahara which I posted about here.  It has been a while since I was able to join in, even though I have wanted to for some time now.  When I saw the designer I began to troll around and found the pattern for Red Hot calling for Calmer.  I had originally purchased it for Fifi, which was another Sexy Knitters Club KAL but things with SWCNLBN got in the way, I gained weight, lost weight and moved two times so Fifi has been hibernating.  I ripped out what little had been started and cast on for this on 09/11/2010 after I had finished up the Topi.  I will go back to Fifi later, as I will need to remeasure to make the "new" size.

This one is working up quite quickly.  I am already at the point where I begin to divide for the back neck.  I hesitated on making this initially because I HATE seaming.  I think that the pattern has convinced me that I will be just fine.  I am knitting or purling the first and last stitch of each row in the opposite stitch to make the edge easier to sew and it is looking quite clean.  Calmer has a bit of a give to it, so I measured carefully and continue to measure it against my numbers.  I don't want any surprises.  It needs to be finished by September 30th, so I will be working hard on it as much as possible.  Thankfully college football season has started and that provides me with a lot of time in front of the TV.

The pictures below are of the first yarn cake of Calmer and the lace start on the size US 7's.  The decreases in the lace are a bit tricky at first but I devised a plan and the stitch count was right on target.  after the decreases, you switch to the US 8's and stockinette stitch.  It goes fast too.  So far I love the yarn and the pattern.  More pictures will follow later this week.

Topi

I finished the Topi!

Details:

Started : 09/09/2010
Finished: 09/11/2010

Yarn Used: Cascade 220 Superwash - Color 811 (Como Blue) - One Skein
Needles: US Size 7 DPN's and Circulars AND US Size 5 DPN's

The whole thing took about ten hours of knitting.  Give or take, as I didn't actually time myself.  I know that I did the majority of the knitting while we watched college football Saturday.  I started it late on Thursday, as I procrastinated over the size 5 needles needed because my DPN's are only 4" long.  I ended up using them by placing a needle point protector on the right end of the needle so that the stitches would not slip off.  I used them on both ends once I was done with a needle and moving on the next.  Quite clever if I must say so myself.  It really flew along and I could see the design literally unfold as I progressed.  I had to go to Michael's to get some canvas for the brim and after it soaked and dried yesterday.  She will get the brim insert and be whip stitched closed later today.  I plan on wearing it this week, so I'll see if I can get some action shots.

Overall, this is a super quick knit and can be made to fit any head size if you do the math.  I have already started a test one for Zoe with the leftover yarn from mine.  I'll probably add buttons or decorations to hers but mine will remain plain.

Make one for yourself!

Banned Books Week

I almost forgot to mention that Banned Books Week is coming up.  Grab a book from the Banned List and READ!

94% Dixie. Is General Lee your grandfather?!

My sister sent me this link.  It is a real hoot!

Thoughts on Thursday

Warning in advance...this will have pictures, rants, raves, and general commentary....I'm in that frame of mind.

This golf ball sized thing is my first attempt at hand-spinning.  It was done entirely at Upstairs Studio with Jordan as my teacher.  We drafted, spun and then plied the roving into this wee bit of yarn.  Art yarn at best, as it is all wonky and not really usable at all.  But, I do have the bug a wee little bit.  I have roving (see below) and a loaner spindle.  It is in time out at the moment, as I got frustrated with it while trying to work on the USS Migration and the Topi.

Speaking of the USS Migration socks...they have been a real treat.  That is both sincere and facetious all at the same time.  I love the yarns and I love color work.  The challenge for me seemed to be the pattern.  The designer called for a US Size 1 needle, standard for sock yarns.  I happen to like using a US Size 2 for socks but in the true spirit of sample knitting I went with the designer's specs.  BAD Choice.  The first sock is SO small that I could never get it on, EVER.  I cast on with my favorite needle size and the second version is MUCH better.  It looks large when lying alone but when I slip it on it fits like a glove!  I have already cast on with the pink as the main color to create a reverse of the original.  It will have white as the "design" element.  I have affectionately named these the Valentine's Socks.  The pictures below are all of sock two (US Size 2 Needle).

I am excited to get these to Lizzie, as she has some wonderful yarn for a lace shawl that I will be knitting up for the next sample piece.  I have picked a beautiful color and will post more about that project once I get going on it.  In about two weeks I would guesstimate.

Yarn pron follows....

What are these beauties?  Well, image one is Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in CW-520 Caribbean Sea - First Cake for the Caribbean Gable (Green Gable Pattern).  Words cannot describe this blue.  I am instantly calmed when I pick this up.  It has been cast on and I will have progress pictures later.  Image two is Rowan Calmer in SH-487 Refresh - First Cake for the Red Hot.  I had cast on with Calmer before for a Fifi that is hibernating.  It will most likely be ripped and re-started, as I have lost a few inches and pounds and it is a very fitted piece.  The Red Hot is a wonderful v-neck sweater that I decided I needed.  It two has been cast on and progress pictures will come soon.  I hesitated on this one, as it is done in pieces, blocked and then assembled.  I hate seaming but I think I'll be okay.  The third image is Cascade 220 Superwash in 811 Como Blue - One Skein for the Topi.  Yep I am making a hat for myself.  Not a cap that you pull over your head.  A real cap that sits on your head.  I did the required math, cast on and am loving this yarn.  I can see what all the fuss is about and why people love it.  Not to mention that it comes in a gazillion colors.

I am working on all of this, plus hats for preemies, hats for Amy (which I need to get the first batch to her), some holiday gifts and two baby gifts.  All of them seem to scream for my attention so I devote time as equally as possible.  Not easy to do.  I am thankful that SF really does enjoy watching me knit as we sit together on the couch.  It is such a comfort to know that she doesn't mind that I am not the least bit interested in what she watches on TV as long as we can be together.  I am not banished to another room or ridiculed for knitting.

The City of Pearland has decided to finally hold a parade for the Pearland Little League.  It will be held this Saturday.  This is the press release for the event.  I am pleased that the City is hosting this event; however, it is slated to be in a very small part of town and doesn't even go near any of the businesses and places that donated LARGE sums of money and held viewing parties.  I am aware that these are young boys that are trying to get caught up after missing a week of school, but they deserve more.  They have been treated to being on the sidelines at the Rice versus Texas game in Reliant Stadium and the Astros, courtesy of Craig Biggio, will host them when they return to town from their road trip.  It seems sad that the City could not include both halves of Pearland and the businesses that supported them in this event.  They can rest assured that as a voter I have begun to take notice that the West side of Pearland is still the red headed step child and I don't like this attitude one bit.

I am enjoying the sun again after that last tropical drenching that we received.  I love rain but we got enough for a week or so.  We drained the pool a few times to keep up with the levels that we received.  That means that we will be checking the chemicals this weekend and getting them stabilized so that we can enjoy the remained of the swimming season and no have stuff grow.  Funny how algae can "leap" into the pool when the chemicals get a little off kilter.  The joys of owning a pool.  They far outweigh the work in our opinion.  It is so relaxing to sit poolside in the evening and enjoy the sounds of the water and the calm of the evening.  Not to mention the sun worshiping that is so much more fun when a pool is available to cool off in.

I'm still in that dreaded hair growing out phase that happens when you go from short to long.  It is a bit too short to pull back/up but too long to hang.  It makes workouts a real challenge.  The drying part is a pain too.  I have to use a few products to manage it and I HATE product in my hair.  Hopefully when I go next week the hairdresser and I can get to stage three of four.  I have been at the breaking point a few times the last two weeks and have almost cut it back short....almost.  Send mojo to keep me from cutting a year's worth of growth....

Okay, enough for now....there could be another post later today.  It has been lurking in my mind and has been in draft form for a little while...we'll see how I feel about it later, after lunch.....

Friday Fill-Ins #192

Happy Labor Day weekend to all who celebrate it. And...here we go!

1. Family can be your greatest gift or your biggest nightmare.

2. Good conversation is like tennis, back and forth.

3. I love a rainy night.

4. Rice with butter makes a good meal.

5. I've got the itch to learn how to use a drop spindle now, thanks to Lizzie and Jordan.

6. See above photo : wth!!!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to doing absolutely nothing, tomorrow my plans include riding the motorcycle and swimming and Sunday, I want to finish the USS Migration socks and get more of the Red Hot sweater finished!

Scavenger Hunt Swap Q&A

• Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft? - Both.  I have been crocheting since I was ten (38 years) and knitting since I was twelve (36 years)
  
• Do you spin? What type of spinning do you do? - Not just yet; however, the gang at Upstairs Studio has been tempting and teasing and I may just have to give in.  The shop owner's husband made some that they sell for $12.00 each and that is a reasonable cost to get started.... I can blame this on Amy... :)
  
• Are there any other crafts that you participate in? - Interesting segue.  Yes, I have been known to work up counted cross stitch pieces at random times and I love to sew but haven't done so in about three years, so I am getting that "itch".
  
• What are your favorite yarns/fibers? - I love the way that superwash merino feels as I work with it but I also love thinks like sugar can and bamboo.  I love combinations like cashmere with cotton and silk with cotton.  The humidity here mandates that yarn have a certain breathing capacity, so I am always on the lookout for new yarns and love to experiment.  I still like the classics for shawls, scarves and mitts but sweaters need to go with the climate.
  
• What are your LEAST favorite yarns/fibers? - I don't really have a least favorite.  For whatever reason, I think that all yarn has a purpose and sometimes you just need to work with things like acrylic.  I'm weird like that but I know that a new mom could not handle a blanket that has to be hand-washed , especially if she is not a knitter.  Function will at times dictate the yarn I choose.
  
• Are there any types/brands of yarn that you are dying to work with but haven’t gotten a chance? - I've never used Madelinetosh, Cascade 220, Spud and Chloe and a host of indie yarns that I see my fellow knitters rave about.
  
• What are your favorite types of projects to knit/crochet? - Crochet usually is utilized for baby blankets these days because I love how quickly they work up and how warm they are.  Favorite knitting projects lately are shawls/shawlettes and socks; however I've been experimenting with a few cap patterns and may break out and knit up a slew of them.
  
• What are you currently working on? Anything you plan to start this autumn? - Currently I am working on the USS Migration socks for Lizzie at Upstairs Studio, the Green Gable for myself and the Red Hot for myself.  I have the Multnomah ready to cast on as well as a pair of fingerless mitts from the remaining Cathay skein.  I also have a test shawl for Lizzie waiting on me when I finish the socks.  I'm also making my mom a few cowls for Christmas and my dad a few hats for Christmas.
  
• Are their any knitting/crochet techniques that you would like to learn? - A few still elude me.  I have never done anything in entrelac or had the courage to steek.  I'm sure that there are more but these two haunt me a bit.
  
• Do you have a yarn winder and/or a swift? - Yarn winder, yes.  Swift, not yet but working on it.
  
• Where/how to you keep you needles/hooks? - I have a vintage Martha Washington sewing cabinet that houses all of my knitting and crochet needles/hooks as well as all my other supplies.  The two side pockets are perfect for the needles and yarns and the two drawers hold a myriad of things.  The top opens up and I have stitch holders and all sorts of goodies there.
  
• Do you collect anything? - Hull Pottery, Pocket Dragons, wind chimes and pint beer glasses.  More than enough things if you ask SF.
  
• What is your favorite type of music? Are you MP3 ready? - I don't have a favorite.  I love almost all forms of music and have a very eclectic assortment on all of my MP3 devices.  Absolutely ready!  I have three different iPods and a Sony Walkman MP3 player.
  
• Do you like sweets? What are your favorites? - YES!  Favorite hands down is chocolate.  I also love jelly bellies in most flavors and silly thing like Circus Peanuts, Orange Slices and Necco Wafers.  I don't like coconut or nuts all that much.
  
• What is your living situation like? Any pets? Children? - I have two grown daughters, Stephanie (27) and Megan (24), a son in law, Jack, a furry grand daughter, Nina (part chocolate lab and part Catahoula) and one grand daughter, Zoe who will be two on February 1, 2011.  I have two cats, Eraser who just turned eight (half Maine Coon and half American Bobtail) and Sassy who turned five in February (half Burmese and half Siamese).  I live with my partner, affectionately called SF in the blog world and her two French Bulldogs, Ambre and Frankie, who are both five.  We have a lovely home with a salt water pool and enjoy riding motorcycles when the weather permits and we love music and sports, especially the Lady Vols!
  
• Are you allergic to anything? - Artificial sweeteners but I don't think anyone will send me those.  Other than that nothing, except I hate the smell of cigarette smoke.  Don't mind cat or dog hairs at all.
  
• Do you have an online wish list (Amazon, Etsy, Loopy Ewe, etc.)? Please include links for your swap pal. - Not really but I should.  I see so many things that people love from Esty shops and I bookmark them but never create a wish list...
  
• Is there anything else that you would like your pal to know? - I'm an open book.  Just ask if you have a question that I didn't cover.  I like surprises from places where my spoiler lives.  It adds to the fun of the swap. 

And because Amy forgot, colors:  I have a long running love affair with blue (just not neon or baby shades) but I am using a lot more purple and have been looking at green.  I am a sucker for a good red and anything with the name Ruby in it.  I tend to avoid almost all shades or orange, unless they have a lot of blue undertones.  I avoid neon colors and pastels unless they are specifically requested by the person that they are for or unless it is a baby gift.  Otherwise, I'm game to try anything, especially if it has been hand dyed.

USS Migration

Just to prove that I am actually making progress on a color work project....

These were taken after I had completed row 23 of Chart One.  I have completed through row 32 now and I am ready to continue in row 32 until the foot is the desired length to start the heel.  I have affectionately started to call them the Valentine's Socks, as the combination of the pinks and white remind me of the colors encountered at Valentine's Day.

My tendency to be a tight knitter has caused me a few issues, one of which is that I had to rip and start over a few times to get the sock to stop puckering.  It still looks like it is but I think that will relax when they get a good Eucalan soak and blocked.

Stealth Dandy

This lovely piece was finished a little while ago but I was lazy and did not soak and block it until a few days ago...here she is, the Stealth Dandy made from Patons Stretch Socks in colorway Mineral.  I used two full skeins.  I would never use the yarn for socks myself but since I received it in a swap and I am stash busting it was perfect to whip this up.