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February 29, 2008

Eye Candy Friday

I know what you're thinking: Pink tulips, again? But these are very special pink tulips. You see, they were a gift from my father-in-law to thank me for making the cream puffs on Valentine's Day. This gesture just about melted my heart, I tell you.

And now you know why Dale is so thoughtful. He learned it from his dad.

Posted by Carole at 6:45 AM | Comments (36)

February 28, 2008

Aspen Grove Shawl: In Progress

Back in the days when I did counted cross stitch I would wake up early in the morning and immediately think about cross stitching. Often I would be so excited about stitching that I would hop out of bed, grab a cup of coffee, and curl up on the couch with my current project. It was my quiet time before the routine of the day kicked in.

I'm finding myself feeling the same way now and it's the Aspen Grove Shawl project that's making me feel this way. I started last week and thanks to Margene I mostly didn't have any trouble. I got stuck on row 5 (pathetic, yes?) but it was because I failed to follow Margene's advice and check the errata. Then I got stuck on row 30 for over an hour - again because I failed to check the errata. By the time I got to the error on row 79 I was ready. Slow learner's school? Me?

Miriam's pattern is wonderful as always. The few errors in the pattern were from the very early releases of the kit and all is fixed now. The design is brilliant - 4 wedge shapes that make up a half circle shawl - and it's a different shape than I've knit before.

I'm on chart 2 now and feel like I'm cruising along. There are rest rows on the backside of this chart and that certainly helps to make things go faster.

Not that it's a race. Right, Margene?

Posted by Carole at 6:45 AM | Comments (36)

February 27, 2008

Blogless Sharon's Shawl

The observant among you may have noticed that in yesterday's SPA photo of Blogless Sharon, she is wearing a lace shawl. This does not make her unique at SPA. After all, SPA is a showcase of hand knit shawls, sweaters, scarves, mittens, hats and other wooly things. What makes this photo of Sharon unique, however, is that the shawl she is wearing is her first ever lace shawl. And, while I had nothing to do with her succesful execution of the pattern, I did block it for her.

Now, blocking is not one of my favorite things to do. I think it's a royal pain in the ass, frankly. However, when Sharon - who took spinning lessons with me, who drives me to every fiber event we attend, who hosted Winebeck and Rumbeck with me, who is basically always there for me - asked me to block her shawl, well, I was not about to say no.

And while it was in my possession, I did happen to snap a few photos of it.

The pattern is Susan's Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl and I think Sharon did a marvelous job, don't you?

Posted by Carole at 6:30 AM | Comments (55)

February 26, 2008

SPA 2008

I can sum up SPA 2008 in one word: perfect. See, the great thing about SPA is that it's all about doing whatever I want. And last weekend I wanted to hang out with my friends, spin, eat, and drink.

I did 'em all last weekend - some of them simultaneously! And I have photographic proof.

Cheryl and Diane spinning on their Rick Reeves' wheels. I think Diane's wheel is the cutest wheel I've ever seen.

I just love this picture of Julia. I took it at The Jameson Tavern on Saturday night. Twenty of us had dinner there and it was terrific. I'm not doing a link fest but I can tell you that it was a case of rounding up the usual suspects. I'm grateful for every person that was part of this dinner.

I brought my Reeves wheel, too, and spun up a Crosspatch Creations Paint Pot and this "kaleidoscope" roving from Dave. I love how colorful it is. Don't get all excited - Dave wasn't there - but spinning his roving made it seem like he was. You know?

It was Lucia's birthday. We got her a slice of blueberry pie with a candle and we sang. More good times.

It wouldn't be any fun for me without Blogless Sharon. That's her on the right, spinning with Martha.

There were wheels everywhere. It's so great to be among my people.

Does that give you an idea of how perfect it was? I may not have a lot of pictures but they are certainly representative of the good times I had. Next year seems like a long time away!

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (36)

February 25, 2008

Recovering

I promise a proper post tomorrow but today I am recovering from

1) SPA

2) The Oscars

3) Possibly bronchitis. Last week Dale and I shared a scarf. This week we're sharing bronchitis. Ahhh, the joys of a close marriage. Ahem.

I will talk to you all tomorrow. Mwah.

Posted by Carole at 7:14 AM | Comments (36)

February 22, 2008

Eye Candy Friday

I have always said that if I ever won the lottery - and that would be a true miracle since I don't actually play the lottery - that one of the first things I would do would be to set up weekly flower deliveries. I adore fresh flowers, they make my world a better place. The roses are from the bouquet Dale gave me for Valentine's Day. He makes my world a better place, too.

What makes your world a better place?

Posted by Carole at 6:01 AM | Comments (30)

February 21, 2008

Dale's Dreamy Socks

I finished a pair of "man socks" last week and you all know what an accomplishment that is. They were worth it, though, because Dale is absolutely in love with these socks.

He says they fit better than any socks I've knit for him before. I attribute it to two things: 1) my knitting skillz and 2) the yarn.

Dream in Color Smooshy Sock. This is good stuff, people. Really good stuff.

I was worried that I wouldn't get both socks out of a full skein so I did a contrasting toe with some Louet Gems I had lying around. But honestly, I didn't need to do that. Got that? You can get a pair of man socks out of one skein of this yarn.

I call them Dale's Dreamy Socks. A play on the yarn name and a tribute to how Dale looks at me whenever I knit something for him.

Man Socks. They might just enhance your relationship.

Posted by Carole at 6:20 AM | Comments (54)

February 20, 2008

Baby Knits

I spent some time last week knitting up a couple of baby gifts. I don't think the recipient reads this blog but, just in case, I'm not going to tell you who they are for. I will, however, show them to you. They're just too adorable!

First up, socks:

The yarn is Socks That Rock lightweight, colorway Titania from the 2007 Rockin' Sock Club. The pattern is Baby Cable Rib from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Knitted Socks. I cast on 32 stitches on size 1 needles and they make a very nice baby sized sock.

Second up, a hat:

I just adore this little hat and it was as simple as can be. I cast on 80 stitches and just knit around and around and around until it was 3 inches. Then I decreased evenly and called it a day. I think it took less than 2 hours to knit. Talk about instant gratification!

I hope the mom-to-be is as happy with them as I am.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (38)

February 19, 2008

Noro Silk Garden Striped Scarf

Our long weekend concludes today and we are going to make the most of it. So far our only plan is to go out to breakfast but I'm sure we'll find fun things to do afterwards - even if it's just loafing off at home.

In the meantime, I've finished the Noro Silk Garden Striped Scarf. Say that 10 times fast, will you? And even if you get tongue tied it will still be faster than knitting one of these scarves! Don't get me wrong - I loved it - but boy was I ready to be done with it last week.

And I am. Done, that is. I even have proof.

Honestly, the colors are so beautiful and the combinations all so different that I couldn't stop taking photos. Either that or I was just so happy to be outside in the sunshine that I lost track of time.

Suffice to say, it's gorgeous. I wasn't sure who would be the recipient but Dale and I both really love it so I think we will be sharing the wearing of this scarf.

Posted by Carole at 6:45 AM | Comments (36)

February 18, 2008

Weekend Update

It's day 3 of a 4 day weekend here at Carole Knits. Yesterday we drove Hannah, Jessica and Patrick to the airport in New Hampshire so that they could fly to Florida to be with Brant, Heather and Ambrynn. All reports are that they are having a great time. Hannah in particular is loving the warm weather. She must get that from me.

After leaving the airport we headed into downtown Portsmouth to meet up with Cheryl for lunch. I had the world's largest Bloody Mary.

Yes, that is a sawed off Grey Goose Vodka bottle. Please note the inclusion of the beer glass for scale. Let me just say: yummmm. My sandwich was good too but really, the Monster Mary was the star of my lunch.

Dale and I will be enjoying having the house to ourselves for the next few days. I'll check in again tomorrow but in the meantime, be well.

Posted by Carole at 8:13 AM | Comments (25)

February 15, 2008

Eye Candy Friday

Mmm. Cream Puffs. Hope your weekend is sweet!

Posted by Carole at 6:45 AM | Comments (30)

February 14, 2008

Random Thursday

I have some finished knits to show you but the gray skies and rain we've had around here certainly don't lend themselves to photo shoots. That stuff will just have to wait until next week. In the meantime:

~A few of you expressed interest in the Chicken With Mushroom Sauce recipe from Monday night's squirrel/dinner story. It came from About.com and you can find the recipe here. I couldn't get cremini mushrooms at my grocery store so I used regular white mushrooms and it was fine. Also, I didn't add the Dijon mustard. We had the chicken with rice pilaf and asparagus and it was delicious - squirrel be damned.

~I am almost finished with the Noro Silk Garden striped scarf. And that's a good thing because I am so sick of it I could scream. The color changes are entertaining and all but enough already.

~Test knitting for Sock Madness 2 continues. I've got one left to do and then I think we're good to go. We had 86 people return from last year to compete again. Sign ups for everyone else start tomorrow.

~Finally, Happy Valentine's Day. Or, as we say at my house, Happy Cream Puff Day.

Posted by Carole at 6:45 AM | Comments (39)

February 13, 2008

In Da House!

I have a story for you. It's a funny, although slightly disturbing, story. Allow me to set the scene. Monday night we were just about to sit down to our weekly family dinner - the one where Jess and Patrick join us. I had set the table with a tablecloth and candles in celebration of the upcoming Valentine's Day and I had made a slightly fancier meal than normal. Dale was helping me put the chicken with mushroom sauce on the serving platter when I heard Jess, who was in the living room say:

Dad. Squirrel.

The two of us ran into the living and sure enough there was a SQUIRREL sitting on the arm of the couch. Dale immediately grabbed the dog (who was sound asleep in front of the wood stove, about 3 feet from the intruder - some watch dog) and instructed Jessica to put him outside. At this point I am in a panic and yelling, "Where's the cat?!? Where's the cat?!?"

The squirrel took one look at all of us and jumped down off the couch and turned to run up the stairs. That's when I heard the cat hiss at this squirrel louder than I have ever heard Mason hiss before. And then he literally knocked the squirrel back down the stairs. The squirrel tore back into the living room, raced up the wall, jumped on the wood stove, raced into the dining room, the bathroom, the office . . . you get the idea.

In the meantime I shut the door between the living room and stairway and went to find the cat. I was quite anxious to make sure that he hadn't been hurt by the squirrel. And he was absolutely fine. He was pumped, quite frankly! He had defended his turf and he was proud and he was strutting around the upstairs.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the living room door the squirrel continued to race around the house. Patrick was in the kitchen by himself when the squirrel suddenly came running in there. Poor Patrick - he ran through the kitchen, through the dining room, through the living room and up the stairs before he even stopped to look around. The poor little dude was really frightened and I felt so bad. I calmed him down and we went downstairs and I opened the door a crack to see what was going on.

Are you ready? The squirrel was still in the kitchen, perched on top of a curtain rod. Dale was standing in the dining room/kitchen doorway brandishing my grandfather's Masonic sword at the squirrel. He used the sword to jab at the squirrel and finally got him to run out the kitchen door. My hero.

After a lovely dinner Dale and I went searching to figure out how the squirrel got into the house. Turns out he either fell down or climbed down one of our chimneys (we have 3) and then popped open the chimney plate that was covering an old opening in the chimney from when there was a coal stove or something in the guest room on the second floor. I think the cat must have been right there when the squirrel landed in the house and that's why the little rodent came running downstairs the way he did. Go Mason!

So, the hole has been blocked and the chimney will be getting a wire covering. Thank Maude we were home when this happened. I shudder to think about what could have happened to Mason and Dixie had we not been there.

Let me just say that I've never been frightened by a squirrel. They hang out at the bird feeders and I see them outside and I never give them a passing thought. But when one is in your house? Holy crap is that scary! At least I got a good story for the blog.

Freakin' squirrels.

Posted by Carole at 6:45 AM | Comments (83)

February 12, 2008

A Sweater? Really? Yes! Really!

How is it that I can knit 4 pairs of socks since the start of the new year but it takes me 4 months to knit a simple cabled sweater? I don't know either.

Whatever the reason, I finally finished the Child's Cable Sweater for my adorable (step)grandson, Patrick.

He chose the color green and I chose the Peace Fleece. I love working with Peace Fleece. The colors are terrific, it's warm and it wears like iron.

Patrick wanted cables so this pattern, the Child's Cable Sweater by Yankee Knitter Designs, was perfect. I knit the largest size and added about 10 stitches for an extra bit of width. It's a bit roomy through the neck and shoulders but we wanted him to have some growing room.

It's a very simple sweater and an excellent pattern. Really, I have no excuse for taking so long to finish it.

Patrick is quite pleased with the sweater and he was perfectly thrilled to model it for the blog on Saturday morning.

He was even more thrilled when he took 2nd place at the Pine Wood Derby later that afternoon. I think he had a pretty great weekend.

Posted by Carole at 6:45 AM | Comments (52)

February 11, 2008

C is for Cat

Of course, C is for Cat. You all know Mason, right?

Isn't he beautiful?

I've always had a Siamese cat, even before I was born. You see, when my oldest brother was 11 he started begging for a cat. My parents agreed and sought permission from their downstairs neighbor and landlord. The landlord said okay but only if they got a Siamese cat because that's what they had. My mom went out and got a book on Siamese cats and the search for the Siamese kitten began. It wasn't long before they found one and they named him Simba, after a champion Siamese cat in the book my mom had purchased. Please note this was way before the lion king - this was 1964.

I came along in 1965 and Simba lived to be 18 so I really did have him my whole life. I was devastated when he died of old age as he really was the most wonderful cat. My parents eventually got another Siamese but I was in college then so I never really bonded with him. When I got married, of course, I wanted my own Siamese cat and we got Maxwell. He was wonderful and friendly but rather independent. I know, I know, he was a cat and that's their nature but Max just never really needed people all that much.

When I married Dale I brought Max along with me to the marriage. He got along fairly well with Dale's dog but I worried about him a lot because he was a cat who was used to going outdoors and we now lived on a very busy street. My worst fears came true when Max was hit and killed by a car. I shall pause for a moment now for all you cat lovers to collect yourselves.

I grieved for Max for a long time and it was over a year before I was ready to let another cat into my heart. But then came Mason. We got him on Valentine's Day, 2002. He was so tiny he could sit in the palm of my hand. I was sewing a lot in those days and he loved to lay on the arm of my sewing machine, right under the light. He was truly the sweetest and cutest kitten I had ever seen.

And he has grown into the most wonderful cat. He sits with me while I knit and he sleeps in the crook of my arm - under the bed covers - most nights. He is quite vocal and has whole conversations with me about what he does all day when I'm at work. He is my buddy in every sense of the word and I love him far more than any woman should love a cat.

C is for cat. A cat named Mason.

Posted by Carole at 6:45 AM | Comments (54)

February 8, 2008

Eye Candy Friday

It's been gray and rainy here all week. Time for a little sunshine and sand, yes?

I wish you a weekend of blue skies!

Posted by Carole at 6:30 AM | Comments (29)

February 7, 2008

Jury Duty Or, Don't Come Between a Knitter and Her Knitting

I realized the other day that I never told you about my experience at jury duty a few weeks ago. Being without much knitting to show these days, it seems like a good time for this little tale.

I got my jury summons a few months ago and was not thrilled with the whole idea but knew there was no way out of it so I resigned myself to going. Then, about 2 weeks before my date I received a letter telling me I was on "standby" status. All I had to do was call a phone number after 3 pm the day prior to my appointment and find out if I needed to report or not. I was hopeful that I wouldn't have to go because I've never had to before but it wasn't meant to be and when I called the number I heard a recording telling me that all jurors had to report.

When I got home from work that night I set about starting a sock to bring with me to the court house. I wanted something very basic and the preppy socks were born. I had no worries about not being allowed to bring my knitting in with me because I had been to this very same court house just a few weeks earlier to attend an open house at the law library and while my camera and my tiny scissors were confiscated my sock-in-progress was allowed. So, even though I anticipated a long day of hanging around I was happy at the prospect of lots of knitting time.

You can imagine my horror the next morning when I got to the court house and the security officer told me I'd have to leave my knitting behind. I stared blankly at her for a few minutes and then we had a conversation that went like this:

Carole, the Innocent Knitter: What do you mean I can't bring my knitting inside? I've got jury duty and that's how I'm going to pass the time.
Bitchy Security Guard: Nope. You can't bring it. It's against the rules.
Carole, the Innocent Knitter: But I was here a few weeks ago and brought my knitting in with me.
Bitchy Security Guard: A few weeks ago? Why were you here?
Carole, the Innocent Knitter: I'm a librarian and I was here for the law library open house. I specifically asked the (nice, friendly) Security Guard at the time if my knitting was okay and he said it was fine.
Bitchy Security Guard: Well, he was wrong. It's not allowed.
Carole, the Innocent Knitter: But you can bring them on a plane!
Bitchy Security Guard: Planes are different. You are dealing with criminals here.
Carole, the Innocent Knitter: But I'm not a criminal, I'm just here to do my civic duty. (Self righteous indignation setting in)
Bitchy Security Guard: Knitting needles could be used as a weapon so you can't bring them in.
Carole, the Innocent Knitter: A weapon? What am I going to do? Give someone a splinter? Did you see these needles? They are teeny tiny pieces of bamboo. (I was losing it a bit at this point. Panic over the prospect of hours and hours with no knitting was beginning to set in.)
Bitchy Security Guard: Ma'am, you'll have to move along now. Leave the knitting here and I'll call upstairs and ask the woman in charge of the jury room if you can have your knitting. I'll bring it up to you if it's allowed.
Carole, the Innocent Knitter: Yeah, fine. Whatever.

So I went upstairs and stood in another line to be checked into the jury pool. The woman in charge up there was friendly and I had a pretty good feeling that the Bitchy Security Guard from downstairs wasn't about to ask about my knitting so I spoke up.

Carole, the Innocent Knitter: I brought some knitting with me and the Security Guard (yes, I left off the part about her being bitchy) downstairs told me I couldn't bring it up here.
Friendly Woman In Charge of Jury Room: What!?! (shaking head) I don't know what's wrong with those people down there. We go through this all the time. Of course you can have your knitting. Go on back down and get it.
Carole, the Innocent Knitter: Oh, thank you, thank you so much! I'll be right back.

Downstairs, back at the security check point:
Carole, the Innocent Knitter: Excuse me? The lady upstairs told me to come back down and tell you to GIVE me my knitting. (I was trying to be calm but I was definitely gloating)
Bitchy Security Guard: Oh. Of course. Here you go.

And I headed back upstairs and spent the next 4 hours knitting on my sock and waiting for something to happen. Nothing did. We were all sent home without serving.

And when I walked back by the Bitchy Security Guard on my way out I showed her how much knitting I had done while waiting. Then I flipped her off. Inside my coat pocket, of course.

Posted by Carole at 6:30 AM | Comments (78)

February 6, 2008

Ravelry Stashing

Last night I dreamt of Ravelry again.

Who can identify the inspiration for that sentence?

I blame it all on Ms. Alarming Female. She sent me a Ravelry message last week asking why I didn't have any stash on Ravelry. Seemed she wanted to see my handspun. Always one to oblige, on Saturday I started photographing and uploading my stash. I did more on Sunday and more on Monday. What's there now is almost all of the sock yarn. I've still got a bit more sock yarn - things like Trekking and Opal - to add, plus the laceweight stash and the odds and ends stash and the Peace Fleece stash and, of course, the handspun stash.

I'm not sure why I hadn't done it before now but now that it's done I do really like seeing it all there. It's so pretty and looking at it almost feels like shopping. Almost.

I've already traded off a duplicate skein of Vesper and I've listed just a couple of other yarns that I'm not crazy about on my trade/sell page. As I add the other yarns I expect there will be more I'm ready to part with, things that I just don't have a need to stash anymore.

In the meantime, every night I dream about Ravelry and adding more of my yarn stash. It's addicting, this Ravelry business.

Posted by Carole at 6:55 AM | Comments (54)

February 5, 2008

Super Bowl Chili

Any Super Bowl hostess worth her weight in salsa knows that the menu for the big game ought to include chili.

At our house, chili starts with this:

It's got all the spices you need and it makes a great big pot of beefy tomatoey chili. However, when one of your guests has an allergy to tomatoes, you need to take a different approach.

Enter this:

Ruby Tuesday's White Chicken Chili

6 C. Chicken stock
1 lb. Bag Great northern Beans (soaked in water overnight)
2 medium Spanish Onions, chopped
6 C. diced cooked Chicken
2 Jalapeno peppers, seeded diced
2 diced chili peppers
1 1/2 tsp. Oregano
2 tsp. Cumin
1/2 tsp. Cayenne Pepper
2 Garlic cloves, minced
1 C. Salsa
1 Tbsp. Vegetable oil
Salt to taste

Simmer beans, half the onions, and half the garlic for 2 hours in the chicken stock or until the beans soften, stirring frequently. Add chicken and salsa. Sauté pepper, spices, and the remaining onions and garlic in the oil and add to the chili. Simmer for one more hour. Garnish with Sour cream on Monterey Jack Cheese.

It's wonderful and delicious. And yes, there is salsa which contains tomatoes. However, it's such a small amount of tomatoes in such a big batch of chili that it's not enough to bother my friend with the allergy.

Give it a try. And you don't have to wait for the next Super Bowl, either.

Posted by Carole at 6:55 AM | Comments (36)

February 4, 2008

Things I Did This Weekend

In no particular order, this weekend I:

~Added lots and lots of sock yarn to my Ravelry stash. This sure is time consuming and I've only done one shelf so far.

~Played games with Dale. Aggravation - he won more but I won the first and last games and that's what counts. And Rummy - he won again but I gave him a run for his money.

~Watched the Super Bowl with Dale, Blogless Sharon and her husband Al, and Lois and her husband Don. There was chicken chili. And many other snacks. Oh yeah. Thank goodness the food was good and the drinks were plentiful given the outcome of the game.

~Decided to ignore all the blog awards for Make My Day and Make Me Smile. I love you all for nominating me and I'm thrilled that you really like me but I'm not passing this one on as I think it's a bit overdone at this point.

~Finished the pair of socks I was test knitting for Sock Madness 2. Of course I can't show you but it's a pretty cool pattern.

~Started a Noro Silk Garden Striped Scarf. Hello, bandwagon.

~Chose a winner for the Blogiversary Brownie Contest. The random number generator chose 47 and the 47th comment was left by Norma. Hooray for Norma! And hooray for all of you for entering.

There was more, of course, but those are the highlights. What did you do this weekend?

Posted by Carole at 6:55 AM | Comments (35)

February 1, 2008

Eye Candy Friday

Bunch of tulips: $5
Hoya 52mm Close-Up Filter Set (thanks for the advice, Maryse!): $30
Having fun with my camera: Priceless

There are more pictures of this simple bunch of tulips on my flickr page, if you're interested. Here's something I know you're interested in: Have a great weekend!

Posted by Carole at 6:45 AM | Comments (29)