The Naked Greyhound

New year!

2012-01-16T14:31:00.000-05:00

It seems this poor blog gets forgotten about quite often. :-( Well, I'll try better to keep it up. :-) For the first post of the new year, here's a little something my friend and I did yesterday: Orange-Cardamom Curd.

After reading the comments of the post I saw that about a 1/4 c of zest and 1/2 c of juice was needed for the recipe. This is good to know since I was using Florida oranges. They're smaller than navel oranges but just as juicy. I needed the zest of three oranges, but only needed to juice two.

I really love how this came out. The recipe only makes a pint. I put it into two half-pint jars and one of those jars is already half-empty! It went great on the gluten-free cinnamon-raisin bread I baked. So tasty! Now I need to make some waffles or muffins for the rest of the curd.

Be warned! It took a long time for us to make curd. I think we had the heat too low. All the other recipes I've read for curd say that it should take 10 - 20 minutes to thicken. Ours took a lot longer than that. Even my friend said she remembers it taking quite a bit of cooking and stirring before her first effort at lemon curd thickened. I never made curd before and this was quite an experience. As tasty as it is right off the stove, I think letting it cool and thicken really brought the sunshine out on this treat. It's on my "to make again" list but you have to be someone really special to get a jar of it from me. ;-)

Nice to be back knitting

2011-03-22T08:20:00.004-05:00

I took a long break from knitting mostly because of how much pain I had in my hands. It's nice that getting away from gluten has helped that. I pretty much have no pain anymore. My headaches went down and so has my stomach issues. It's wonderful to feel better about something. I also have energy again! So here's what I've been knitting:

For my friend's niece: adorable baby sweater! No pictures yet, but I'm going to take some soon!
For myself: A simple vest with a little colorwork band. No pictures yet, this probably won't be ready until Autumn.
For my aunt: Socks! I promised her socks a long time ago, well they are almost done! so there! Here's a progress shot, it's part of the Ravelry group's Sock Knitters Anonymous March Mystery Sock challenge! I love how they are turning out! I may need to make a pair for myself!

Limiting Wheat and Gluten

2011-03-15T06:52:00.003-05:00

So I'm not allergic to wheat, that's the good news. I am however sensitive to it. From what I can gather it's a gluten-intolerance. I can eat some wheat, but once I eat something high in gluten, like pizza dough, I start getting tummy troubles. :-( Oh well, at least I don't have to completely cut wheat from my diet. Though I feel so much better without it. I don't really miss it either, which is a good thing. I guess once you stop eating something for a month you don't quite notice that it's gone. Though those donuts yesterday were mocking me....

We're still trying to find out what's causing my rash on my arms. I'm in the process of doing the skin patch test for contact allergies. It's not fun. :-( But so far I'm not allergic to any foods, oak, pollen, dust or the like. :-)

And you thought cats were bad...

2011-03-06T09:07:00.005-05:00

JJ had to be banned from the craft room. As I was trying to roll my yarn into a cake to use it a certain doggy decided to try and steal the yarn. I swear he thinks everything soft and fluffy must belong to him. He spent the rest of the time staring at the yarn through the french door and barking at it. Even after it was nicely wounded and sitting on the table, minding its own business, he sneaks up to grab it. Bad dog...

New Arrival!

2011-02-14T08:05:00.003-05:00

My newest addition to my family is JJ. He actually came to live with me a few days before Dugan died. He's become an official member and is just the cutest thing. He's 2 and a half and I've forgotten how active and puppy-like the younger ones are. He's certainly keeping me on my toes, but I love him to pieces. He's also slightly related to Betty. There will be plenty of adventures with my new boy, I'm sure!

A Sad Loss

2011-01-09T09:39:00.004-05:00

On Dec 7, 2010, I lost Dugan to cancer. It spread to his hind leg and he fell down. The old guy was in a lot of pain, so he was helped gently across the rainbow bridge. I miss my big sweet boy. He was one of the nicest, gentlest dogs I've ever met. Just before he crossed a new little greyhound came into my life. So with a heavy heart, but a new little one to take care of, I say goodbye to Dugan.

Duke Daddy

Dugan

12/3/97 - 12/7/10

Dugan lost his battle to bone cancer. He battled his cancer well, living almost a year after his diagnosis; a year I'm truly blessed to have. It's hard to imagine my house without the big guy lounging around. He was a big dog for a greyhound and most people couldn't believe how gentle and sweet he was. He was truly a gentle giant and his sweetness earned him the nickname "my little guy." He came to me as a foster and found a permanent home instead. He loved getting his ears scratched and his belly rubbed. He loved going for walks, and he made me laugh. I know he's running free with Betty and I'm sure between the two of them they're stealing someone's food somewhere.

I love you, Dugan, thank you for staying with me.

Love, Michelle

Back from a year break...

2010-08-14T10:23:00.004-05:00

Sometimes a lot happens in a year and you just really want to focus on those immediate moments. This past year, I moved full-time back into my parents house. I got promoted to full-time. I got depressed and tired. I found out my dog, Dugan, has bone cancer and COPD. My parents had health issues. I bought a new house. I moved out. My great-aunt, who was more of a grandmother to me, died. I had fun with friends and saw fireworks in St Augustine. It's been busy, and through it all I just wanted to stay offline and let myself live my life.

So this year, for some reason my years run from summer to summer, I got a lot more to look forward too. There's new knitting to be done. Quilts to be finished. And recipes to share! Let's see how well I keep this resolution! :-)

Stay tuned for Monday. It's canning day! And I plan on making some Garlic Jelly! Oh, yes, this should be fun! :D

For book reviews and library type stuff visit my Library Hound blog at: www.libraryhound.wordpress.com it's also a little behind...

In Search of Yellow Yarn, Part 2

2009-08-17T12:18:00.005-05:00

The packages arrived and I got to see my new little yarns up close and personal. I have to say, computer screens lie. I was not disappointed with the quality of the yarn nor the service from these two shops. And I will order from them again! But I sometimes forget that computer screens lie about what color you might be getting...

The Eat.Sleep.Knit. order came in first considering Florida's proximity to Georgia. So I opened my package to see what I got. The first one I opened was the Yarn Love as I was thinking, based on the picture on the website, this would be the best choice for the challenge. I was a bit disappointed when the yarn turned out to be more on the green side than the yellow side. It's very pretty and really soft and silky. But the color is a yellow-green with touches of yellow throughout. It's very spring-like. I still love it, but it's being set aside for another challenge, maybe something with lace. Here's a picture that I touched up a bit since the original pic looked really washed out (I think part of the problem is that this yarn doesn't photograph well):

Even on the Yarn Love website it looks more yellow than the green I got. But that's okay, I really can see this as some Spring Lace socks.

I then unwrapped the Pagewood Farms Golden. First off, this yarn is soft and just wonderful to touch! However, as I sat staring at my new acquisition, I was sad to see that this looked more orange than yellow. What really frustrates me is that this color was specifically recommended to me for this challenge. I still love it, but I'm now hesitating to use this for the challenge. To my eyes, it's orange. But if you hold it in the sun it looks more yellow. It has some great definition to it though. The tones range from very light to dark gold. And the yarn is a bit plumper than some sock yarns I've used. I still love it, and the yarn is really screaming to be cables. Maybe something from Yarnissima?

So now everything is riding on Fields of Barley.

In comes my last package. I rip into it, hoping that it'll be the yarn for the challenge. At first glance, it looked like this was it, but then, with further study...the yarn color looked very familiar. Yep, it was the same color as Pagewood Farms Golden. I was crestfallen. So I held both in the sun and hoped I can spot differences. It seems the FofB is more solidly dyed than the Golden and is not nearly as plump. It is soft and smooth with a nice smell. I also like that it is closer to the gauge I prefer to knit my socks at (8 sts per inch).

It was still that yellow-orange color that is making me think twice for using it for this challenge. I love the color (obviously since I bought it twice from two different vendors), I love that it is perfect for autumn, but the challenge is for yellow yarn. But I'm not in the mood to buy more yarn. (though it is soooo tempting!) I've see plenty of yellow yarns that will be just perfect, but then again I thought that for these three yarns as well. And I'm trying to lighten the stash load.

In my mind this is a challenge without too many rigid rules. It said yellow yarn. It didn't specify what kind of yellow. And surely a orangey yellow is just as good as a bright yellow or a neon yellow. I've decided that depending on the gauge of the mystery sock it's going to be either Pagewood Farms Golden or The March Hare FofB. Rumor has it that the yarn called for is going to be on the thin side. If so The March Hare is ready and willing to become knitted into a mystery sock!

In Search of Yellow Yarn, Part 1

2009-08-17T10:21:00.011-05:00

So on Ravelry there's a group called the Sock Knitter's Anonymous (SKA for short) and each month there's a sock challenge for a knitter to broaden their skills. Next month kicks off the new challenge year and there's a mystery sock being designed by Nancy Bush. (how cool is that?) So I'm all excited about this! The challenge of course was that the socks need to be knit in yellow yarn. That fine by me, yellow is not a color I normally wear though. My pale skin is better suited to cooler colors. But socks go on the feet and most people don't see them anyway ...so why not a understated yellow?

So began the quest to find an understated yellow sock yarn. Something that doesn't scream YELLOW at you, maybe even a gold color that envokes a rich field of sunflowers. So I got a few suggestions and went off in search of this elusive color.

My first stop was Etsy to find some indie dyers who might have yellow sock yarn. I found some gorgeous colors and dyers! After much browsing I came across The March Hare. She sells sock yarn and roving from her sheep, which is good because one of these days I'm going to learn to spin. I love that she has semi-solids. I have nothing against handpainted multicolor skeins, but they don't work for all knits. And lately I'm into semi-solids. Prices were very reasonable considering the price of some hand-dyed yarns and one skein is enough for a pair of adult socks. It is even wound up in a nice yarn cake for you (I wish my yarn cakes were this nicely wound). And for some reason I really like the smell of this yarn (yes, I said smell). It's very pleasant and sheepy. :-) I narrowed my yellow search to two colors, Summer Sun and Fields of Barley. Since I love autumn colors and next month starts autumn I went with Fields of Barley. So done and ordered, I continued to browse on for more options!

Continuing on the quest for yellow yarn I came across a new to me yarn shop called Eat.Sleep.Knit. out of Georgia. I live in a location where my closest yarn shop is JoAnn's and that is more miss than hit these days. So I'm always happy to find shops that specialize in sock yarn and hand-dyed yarn. There's something that is surprising and wonderful about hand-dyed yarn. Anywho, Eat.Sleep.Knit. has a nice selection of yarn from top dyers like Dream in Color, Pagewood Farms, Lorna's Laces and Shibui Knits. There's also a few I'm not quite as familiar with and all are absolutely beautiful. Prices are comparable to what you pay for these yarns at other locations. However, they do have a nice frequent buyer program to earn free yarn and stuff. Plus they ship with your order a scratch-off lotto-type card for a chance to win stuff. I got $5 credit! I had a hard time deciding on what to get. In the end, I settled on Pagewood Farm Alyeska in Golden and Yarn Love Elizabeth Bennet in Daffodil Butter. Both looked great and yellow to meet the terms of my search. So I ordered and waited to see what my findings bring.

Next: What you see is not always what you get...

Knitting Update and Personal Challenges

2009-07-12T09:08:00.002-05:00

Since summer is typically for planning the coming year (in school terms at least); I decided to set aside some time to determine what I want to challenge myself with this year. Part of this is because of a group I belong to on Ravelry called Sock Knitters Anonymous (SKA) which focuses on challenging yourself and broadening your horizons through sock-knitting. However, I'm expanding this out to all knitting challenges since I like to knit other things as well.

But first, an Update! Having languished in a box for years, and sat sad and confused in a closet, I'm happy to say that I finally rediscovered my Soliel shell sweater. The poor thing has been a work in progress since May 2006. It is almost complete. I've learned a valuable lesson from this: row upon row of stocking stitch is boring. On the plus side, I'm truly happy to see this near completion, and hope that I'll have it done by my birthday. This isn't the first time I've said this. This time, I mean it!

On to knitting challenges:
So what do I want to challenge myself with this year? Colorwork? Lace? Another sweater project? Yes!

Hopeful Knits list:

Lace wrap/stole. I've been fascinated by lace recently. I'm not very good at it though. This year, I want to try at least a lace wrap or maybe a scarf to start with. I know I want to knit a lace scarf for my mom in true laceweight yarn. I need to start this soon to have it done by Christmas.
Colorwork. Colorwork scares me. More than lace. Just the thought of playing with more than one strand of yarn at a time is enough to make me pause and truly decide if I want to knit the item. However, I've been wanting to make this really cute vest. I have the yarn, I have the pattern, I just need to give it a shot.
Cables. I have some bulky weight yarn that is just begging to big some big cozy oversized sweater that you snuggle into when temp dips to low. Considering how cold it got this past winter, this is getting moved up the queue!

So there are the knitting hopes for this year! Here's hoping for some finished projects!

Finally: An Update!

2009-06-17T08:47:00.002-05:00

So, I've been slacking on the blogs for a few months. Things have been kind of crazy. I finally sold my condo in Tampa (considering the market, this is a good thing!) and moved back in with my parents (which sometimes is nice and sometimes it sucks) as I get ready to determine what to do next with my life. I have a decent job, not full-time but hey you can't have everything. And though I lost Betty, Dugan is doing really well.
I've been doing really well with my knitting, getting lots of projects done and resurrecting an older project. I also started back writing again, so maybe I'll post some of that on the blog as well.
My goal is to still move back north, I'm not really a southern-type girl and I really miss the seasons. Other than that not too much going on. :-)

Knitting Updates!

2009-02-20T10:41:00.010-05:00

With the loss of Betty, I got behind on a lot of stuff. I got a stack of posts that I need to work through. I'm starting with the finished knitting objects as I finished quite a bit.

Let's start with:

Grey Coronet Cap:
Pattern: Coronet Cap from Knitty, Winter 2003
Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool in Grey Mix
Size: Medium
Fun and easy knit no alterations and the cable was very easy. The hardest part was picking up the stitches along the cabled band. That's also one of the last pictures of Betty, she was always such a great model!

Rosy Garden Dystopian Mitts:

Pattern: Dystopian Mitts of the Future (a ravelry download)
Yarn: Schaefer Yarn Co., Lola in a pink/green/purple colorway
Size: as called for but with negative ease to fit snugly
This was an easy knit and I love the yarn. I still have enough yarn for another set of fingerless mitts.

Little Grey Dumpling Bag:

Pattern: Dumpling Bag from Interweave Knits Fall 2008
Yarn: Paton's Classic Wool in Grey Mix with cotton floss embroidery
Size: as called for in pattern
This is felted after you knit it. I love how it came out with the embroidery. In the mag they suggest embroidering it before felting, but I wanted a more sharper look. Great little knit, you can whip these out quickly fr gifts and they are a great canvas for customizing!

Kiera Lace Socks:

Pattern: Kiera Lace Socks from knitting-socks.com
Yarn: Schaefer Yan Co., Anne in The Blues colorway
Size: as called for in pattern
It feels like I've been knitting these forever! I'm so glad that they're done. They came out great and I love them! There's some more great patterns on that site that I can't wait to get to!

Goodbye to Betty

2008-12-18T10:55:00.006-05:00

Last week I put my sweet little Betty to sleep. She was suffering from bad arthritis and nerve damage and it was difficult for her to get around. While her spirit kept up with everything around her, her body was worn out and in pain. It broke my heart to see her suffer like that so I made the most difficult decision and released her from her suffering. I miss her more than words can express. She made me laugh and taught me to love. She showed me that being alone did not mean being lonely. She kept me sane when everything seemed to be falling apart. More than anything she was a silent friend who made me smile. While I only had her a few years, those years were filled with love and laughter.

It was Betty who brought Dugan into my life. He came to us as a foster dog, but Betty laid down next to him and looked up at me with those big, brown eyes and asked "Can we keep him?" They were inseparable ever since. He misses her quite a bit.

I really miss seeing her sweet, white face. But I know she's running free and playing with all her doggy friends that have passed on before her.

Dugan's Doggy Coat

2008-11-17T12:08:00.004-05:00

I started this for the Ravelympics, but realized that the coat was too small when I was halfway through. I tossed it aside trying to figure out how to modify the pattern or to just frog it and start over. I was even making the largest size available, but Dugan is pretty big for a greyhound. The belly strap needed at least an extra two inches. I decided to plow on and compensate with adding another belly strap on the other side of the coat. If I had known at the time I cast on for the belly strap that I needed more width, I could have avoided some of this trouble. I also screwed up the rump shaping, but it's not too bad. If I had to do everything all over again, I'll start right off the bat with a longer gusset front and more stitches around the neck and chest. I would also do less side shaping and of course the larger belly strap. Other than that this is a really nice pattern for your greyhound! Here's some pictures of Dugan in his coat as well as the Specs:

Dugan Sidebutton Dog Coat
Size: XL
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted in Natural

Lacy Baby Blanket

2008-08-15T08:14:00.006-05:00

I started a baby blanket way back in December and never finished it. The poor thing sat around languishing and wondering when it will get done. Well it is finally finished. I haven't decided what to do with it yet, probably donate it to charity. Anyway here's a picture:

And a Close-up of the pattern:

Lacy Baby Blanket by Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Baby Soft Print
Colorway: Twinkle Print
Crochet
Size: 31in Square.
Started in December 2007
Finished: Aug 11 2008
More info on Ravelry

On Ravelry, we had the challenge of completing a project during the Olympics. What we were calling the Ravelympics One of the projects was to finish up a WIP. I chose this WIP and I was extremely glad to get it done. However, I was feeling kind of self-assured and decided to enter another project, Dugan's Side Button Coat. That one didn't turn out as well. Here's my badge for finishing in the challenge time!

Olympics? . . . Try Ravelympics!

2008-07-29T18:34:00.003-05:00

This is strictly a Ravelry thing, so if you're not on Ravelry, you're missing out on some super fun. In honor of the Olympics, there is a group, called Ravelympics, that started the challenge of starting and completing a project during the games. That's right, cast on during opening ceremonies and have a completed project by the time the flame is extinguished. Sounds challenging and because I really needed to challenge myself at the moment, I signed up. I'm entered in two events, WIPs Wrestling, which is to finish a WIP that's been hanging around for awhile, and as a new project, I'm doing a dog coat for Dugan. Can't wait, so stay tuned for progress updates. Go team, Go!

New Knitting Bag

2008-07-18T14:14:00.009-05:00

For my birthday I decided to get a new knitting bag. I didn't want anything expensive or fancy, just something to carry and store my bigger projects in. It must have a zippered top though. Over on Knitter's Review Forum, someone mentioned the site The Animal Rescue Site. That's where I picked up this cute little bag, called the Pink Diva Floral Duffel:

While the bag is made of vinyl, not what I really wanted but that's ok, it still feels pretty sturdy and has a nice size zippered interior, two end side pouches and a zippered front pocket. It also has two zippered slots in the back so you can either use them as a pocket or as a place to slide your bag onto a rolling case like this:

I like that the inside can hold my yarn-tainer and the baby blanket.

I'm quite happy with the bag! I also recommend this site for anyone who wants a unique gift and wants to support a good cause. It's not just for animal rescue either! On the website are links to other stores that raise money and awareness for breast cancer, world hunger, literacy, child health care, and rain forest conservation. A large portion of the goods sold were handcrafted or come from developing nations/regions that the website sponsors. And let's say you don't want to buy anything; go there anyway and click on the big button that says "click here." It costs you nothing and you're still helping to support these worthy causes. Consider it good karma!

Obligatory greyhound picture (Because Dugan is so cute wearing my socks):

Kiera Lace Socks

2008-07-10T10:16:00.004-05:00

The first sock is coming along quite well. It's knitting up really nice and the yarn is giving it a nice mottled look. I just hope it doesn't pool or do anything weird. I don't think it will considering how nice the repeats of color are spaced. You really can't see the colors to well in the photo. It's also knitting up real quick, which surprises me considering how fine the gauge is. Can't wait to see the finished results.

Branching Out - Frogged!

2008-07-04T17:32:00.003-05:00

Sometimes we just need to admit to ourselves that a project is just not going the way it should. While I love the Branching Out scarf and still want to make one, I think that my yarn choice sucked. It just wasn't knitting up the way I wanted it to. So it's been frogged. So now what should I do with my yarn? I found a really simple lace sock pattern, Kiera Lace Socks, that'll be much better. I think these will look great with this colorway. I really like the way the blue shifts through the spectrum.

Happy Independence Day!!!!

Branching Out

2008-06-15T18:49:00.004-05:00

So I needed something to knit to take my mind off my delayed move. I wanted something to keep my mind busy so I decided to work on Branching Out as most of my other WIPs are packed away (including my books and needles). Pulling from a limited amount of stash, since most of that is packed away too, I decided to work on the lace scarf with Schaefer's Anne in The Blues colorway. I don't have a swift and ball-winder so I knew I had to hand-wind the hank. I was doing pretty good with keeping it from getting tangled too. Until it hit a snag, which turned into a tangle, which turned into this:

After much fighting with it, I finally winded enough to start the project. I had to frog and restart because I did the cast-on too tight, but it's now looking pretty good:

I can't wait to see it all done and blocked.

Mic's Picks

2008-04-11T18:53:00.016-05:00

Starting today I'm going to randomly recommend three books/music/whatever to highlight some of my favorite things. I'll probably do this a few times a month or when I remember.

Presenting: Mic's Picks (hey that rhymes (note: I pronounce "Mic" as "Mick"; "Mike" is my brother)). I already love to share books that I truly enjoyed, though usually I prefer to give relatively in-depth reviews. So I decided to leave this space for 3 quick picks that bounce out of my head on the fly. Shall we get started?

1. Adventure/Action Book: You want non-stop thrills, death-defying spills and a grisly murder that needs to be solved? Well, look no further than the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher. The first book in the series is called Storm Front and is just a non-stop roller coaster ride of supernatural craziness. I guess that's what happens when you enlist the help of Chicago's only wizard for hire. I stayed up until 1 am just to see what happened next. I suppose it doesn't help that I have a small crush on the main character, Harry Dresden. Maybe he'll give me the special discounted damsel-in-distress rate if I should ever need him??

2. Offbeat Book: Need a book that's not like anything you ever read before? Looking for something different? Then I would recommend History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters by Julian Barnes. This book is a collection of short stories that turn everything you think you know on its head. The most well-known story from this collection is the first one called "The Stowaway" about a certain pair of critters that stowaway on Noah's Ark. Many of the stories reference Noah's Ark or are about the ship itself. While some of the stories aren't as strong as the beginning story, they are worth a quick read through. But the ones that really stick with you are the first story and the last story "The Dream," which is a quick look at Heaven. Another amusing and well-written story is "The Wars of Religion."

3. Fluff!: Like eating Marshmallow Fluff right from the jar, it's sweet and you know you shouldn't but the ending makes it worth it. Try The Shop on Blossom Street by Debbie Macomber. All about knitting and a gaggle of unlikely women coming together and becoming friends. Toss in a series of unfortunate and slightly improbable events and have all problems resolved in time for tea and you'll have a nice little beach read to go along with your frozen margarita. The ending wraps everything into a nice little package with a pretty bow that makes it hard to say no to this book. Includes a free knitting pattern!

Well, there you have it. Three quick picks by me for your reading pleasure. The Monkey has spoken!

...And we're back!

2008-03-14T13:47:00.004-05:00

It's been awhile since my last posting. Sorry about that! Many things have happened like trying to find a job and such. The pickings are quite slim here in Tampa so I decided that it's time to pack up and head for greener fields. Specifically Washington, DC. So I'm in the process of getting my place ready to sell and looking for a new job in the DC area. Can't wait to see what's in store for me up there. In the meantime here's some more books to read:

Magic Study by Maria V. Snyder: second in the Study Series, this book follows the adventures of Yelena as she learns how to control her magic. An excellent sequel to the story and another book I truly enjoyed. 5 out of 5 stars. The next book in the series is Fire Study. You can read a excerpt at Ms. Snyder's website, along with the in-between story Assassin Study: http://www.mariavsnyder.com/

Uglies and Pretties by Scott Westerfield: an sci-fi epic about the price of being pretty. These are the first two books in the Uglies series. The books follow the story of Tally, who wants nothing more than to turn 16 and get the operation that turns her pretty. The problem is her friend, Shay runs away and Tally is forced into helping the bad guys bring Shay back. Lots of twists and turns and interesting sci-tech stuff. This series is extremely popular with the teens at the moment. I give both books 4 out of 5 stars. The next book in the series is Specials.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

2007-12-21T13:39:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, nothing better than to relax with a good book. So this is one of those titles I found while shelving books one day. It looked interesting but at the time I didn't have a spare moment to read it. I finally had a chance to read it.

Synopsis: Yelena is about to be executed for murder but is saved from the noose by an offer. She is offered the job as poison-tester to the ruler of the land. She accepts and is immediately poisoned. If she doesn't show up for her daily antidote, than she dies a slow and painful death. After being trained on how to detect various poisons she is put to work. While she tries to escape her new dilemmas, it seems trouble follows her everywhere she goes. Yelena needs to figure out how to control her magical powers, before they get her killed, and uncover plots to overtake the country and start a war. She is forced to make many difficult choices and learn new things about herself. More importantly, she learns how much she overcame but finding love and new friends.

Review: It's very Shakespearean in a way, almost Romeo and Juliet. Yelena biggest obstacle to overcome is her lack of self-esteem. Years of torture and fear have robbed her of parts of her identity. However, her perseverance to always keep moving forward brings her strong allies and love. While at the end of the book she triumphed over her enemies, she is forced to flee the country or be executed for being a magician. She is forced from her love, but this seems to be a temporary problem.
What I liked about the book is that it had a nice flow to it. You weren't bounced from one story to another and the rhythm worked very nicely. It is told in first person, so you have only Yelena's perspective on what goes on. This is makes the story a bit one-sided but it works nicely. This is the first book in the series, so the story will most likely pick up where this one left off. As is typical for most series, there are many gaps that still need to be filled in. There are parts of this story that are heart-breaking. I stayed up until 2am just because I wanted to see what will happen next. That in a nutshell should tell you how much I liked this book. 5 out of 5 stars for being inventive and keeping me up all night! If you like fantasy, than you should give this one a shot, I look forward to reading Yelena's further adventures.

D-O-N-E!

2007-12-18T20:10:00.000-05:00

It was 10 o'clock on Monday night. I had just finished editing my final paper and was preparing it to be sent. I wrote a brief note to my professor and attached the documents. Slowly, almost hesitantly I pressed the "send" button. I was done! I had finished all my required coursework, I turned in my papers, I finished my projects, and I read my last textbook. I am finished with school! I walked in graduation on Saturday Dec 15th. I was so happy and beside myself. Though I do admit, I'm not "official." I'm still waiting on final grades, but I feel confident to say that I have graduated and obtained my Master's in Library and Information Science.
After I hit that send button, I started laughing. Hysterically laughing, like the kind of laughter that can only come when you reached the top of the mountain. I was giddy and nearly crying. My poor hounds thought I had completely lost my mind from one too many late nights. But I am satisfied at my accomplishment.
Now the tough part: finding a job...Anyone need a newly minted librarian?

Beer Beef Stew

2007-11-15T11:13:00.000-05:00

I got this recipe out of the Sandra Lee Slow Cooker Cookbook. She has it labeled as Guiness Beef Stew since she used Guiness beer. I tried it with a different variety and it came out quite tasty.

Beer Beef Stew

2 pounds of beef stew meat
1 10-oz package of frozen loose pearl onions
1 10-oz package of frozen cut carrots
1 pound of red potatoes, diced
1 package of au jus mix
2 tablespoons of tomato paste
1 bottle of beer (stout-style)

Mix everything into a 5 qt slow cooker. Cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Notes: Dark beer works best with this recipe. I used a dark lager and a dark ale with good results. Light beer just doesn't impart the same taste as a dark. Also if you can't find the frozen veggies (which makes prep so easy) then fresh works just as well. Lastly, some package au jus mixes contain MSG so it's best to read the ingredients before buying if you're sensitive to that (MSG is often linked to headaches and other health concerns).

Enjoy!

Socks are Done!

2007-11-13T09:12:00.000-05:00

I finally finished my baby-cable socks! Yay!!! They look pretty good for my first pair of socks, however they're a little big.
The Stats:
Yarn: Regia Tweed 6 ply (70% new wool; 25% polyamid; 5% viscose) color number 53
Needles: US 3 (3.25 mm)
Gauge: 7 st per inch
Pattern from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch

Betty checking out my new socks!
And this one is a close-up of the baby-cable pattern (I've also seen it called the mock cable or right-twist):

I'm starting on some embroidery kits that have been laying around for while. Though I'm searching for a table runner with a winter scene on it, which I know I have in one of these boxes, I did find a needlepoint pillow I finished a while ago. It's one of my favorite pieces so I decided to add it here for others to enjoy! Angel Playing Guitar pillow from a kit:
Here's a close-up of her face:

Returned Home from a Nice Vacation

2007-09-21T16:17:00.000-05:00

So last week I went on vacation to visit family in New York (Long Island). I dropped my babies off at a friend's house. I felt guilty about leaving them, particularly Betty, she's old and at times frail and I worry about her. Dugan is a tank, nothing seems to slow him down. So I left them with a hug and a kiss and told them I'll be back in a week. It's not like they could complain too much since they had a large yard to run around in and two other dogs to play with.

I had a wonderful vacation! It was just what I needed. I reluctantly came back home, missing my hounds very much. Of course when I picked them up I was happily greeted by Dugan! He must have missed his mom very much. Betty on the other hand gave me a very evil look and refused to greet me! She laid in the other room and didn't so much as whine a hello. After a few minutes she finally decided to come over a see me. I guess she's pretty mad I didn't bring her.
Here's a pic of Betty and her little friend Bonnet:
For something a little different here's a recipe of what I had for dinner the other night. It comes from the South Beach Diet Book, but I added the garlic. It's also ovo-lacto vegetarian.

Mini Veggie Quiche

1 package (10 oz.) frozen chopped spinach
3/4 c liquid egg substitute
3/4 c shredded reduced-fat cheese
1/4 c diced green peppers
1/4 c diced onions
1 clove garlic

Microwave spinach for 2 1/2 minutes on high. Drain excess liquid. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with foil baking cups. Spray cups with cooking spray.
Conbine the egg substitute, cheese, peppers, onions, garlic and spinach in a bowl. Mix well. Divide evenly among the muffin cups. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

These can also be frozen and reheated in the microwave. Get creative and change up the cheese and veggie options!

Betty Denied

2007-09-03T09:24:00.000-05:00

I do some volunteer work with the Greyhound Rescue group I got my babies from. Yesterday we had a meet and greet at a local dog expo. So I got ready and pulled out my greyhound shirt. Well both Betty and Dugan got really excited! They knew what that shirt meant! They love meeting and greeting people and letting everyone know how great greyhounds are. However, I was only taking Dugan to this event, since it was going to be all morning. I snapped Dugan into his harness and Betty got all excited, she was bouncing around (which was comical because of her arthritis). But she was so upset when I told her that she wasn't going. I loaded Dugan into the car and Betty just stood there pouting:

Betty: Why does he get to go?
Me: This event will be too much for you Betty.
B: Please bring me!
M: Next time, I promise!
B: That's not fair! You used to take me all the time!
M: You can't do these anymore because of your arthritis. I worry about you. Now take care of the house, I'll see you later. (kiss, kiss)
B: (BIG WHINE)

I just knew I was going to get it when I got home. When I went upstairs I found a plastic bag all ripped up and trash strewed around the den. Yup, she was mad at me. However, Betty still got the last laugh. Dugan got microchipped at the Expo. He came back all whiny and still slightly bleeding from where he got injected. My poor baby...

Dugan's Car Ride

2007-08-24T10:46:00.000-05:00

A little while ago I had to take Dugan to the vet. Thankfully, Dugan loves his car rides. So, into my SUV we go and headed off to the vet. He laid down in the back and got all comfy and such. While stopped at a red light, Dugan gets up and is sniffing like mad. He's looking out the window and whining like crazy. So I look over to see what the fuss is about:

Me: What is Dugan?
Dugan: whine, whine, WHINE! (translation: I want McDonald's!)
M: No, we're not stopping! We're already running late.
D: whine whine Whine! (But, they have a drive-thru!)
M: I said no!
D: whine whine Whine! (But I want a happy meal!)
M: I don't care if you want a happy meal! Look the light turned green, lay down and give it a rest.
D: whimper, whimper, WHINE! (You're so mean!)

So we arrived at the vet on time and I promised Dugan I'll get him a treat later. At the vet, I discovered that my big boy, is indeed a really BIG boy. He topped the scale at 95 pounds. Not completely unheard of for a greyhound, but it's not something you see everyday. Also found out that Dugan has extremely low thyroid levels, which means he's hypothyroid. He'll need to be on medicine for the rest of his life, but it also explains why he gained so much weight so quickly. Unfortunately, Dugan really didn't like going to the vet and gave me attitude for the rest of the day. He's such a brat!

A little love from Starbucks

2007-08-09T20:37:00.000-05:00

So the other day I went to get the mail and found an yellow envelope waiting for me. It came from Starbucks. I thought, "gee, I haven't ordered anything from them." So I raced inside and ripped it open. Inside I found a little card stating that they were very happy that I was such a good customer and for being so loyal and such, here's a complimentary CD. Which brought two very important questions to my mind:

Just how much money did I spend at Starbucks?? I love those rechargeable gift cards, they refill themselves like magic. (Only because I set it up that way, but please let me pretend.)
Who are the Low Stars??

I ignored the dreaded thought of what one needs to spend at Starbucks before being graced with a $15 gift and decided to focus on the CD. So I pop the CD into my car and took a drive. We do our best thinking in the car, don't we? Well, at least I do. So a couple of first thoughts on the music: very folk/americana type, nice and acoustic and early Eagles. Not that those are bad things, far from it since its such a nice departure from the some of the music that's clogging the airways today. Honestly, I don't really listen to the radio that much anymore. They are either playing crappy music, a commercial or flapping their mouths about the latest stupid celebrity. Anywho, this music is nice, soothing and has such a honest feel about that I was really surprised and happy that Starbucks selected it for me. I like surprises, especially good ones. So here are some more thoughts on the album, you can go to their myspace page to take a listen and learn some more about Low Stars: http://www.myspace.com/lowstars:

Keep a tissue handy song: Can't Live Without Your Love
Get up and dance song: Just Around the Corner
Favorite Sing-along song: Mexico
All-Around Best feel good song: Calling All Friends

Honestly, I loved the album and really like how laid back it felt. And while it there's a throwback feeling to the great groups of 1960s/1970s, you don't have to be from that time period to enjoy it. This is a group of musicians who obviously care about the music they produce, and that shows through on the album. That care and love of music is what makes this a good album.

An update and pic of Dugan

2007-08-04T16:55:00.000-05:00

So I'm lazy and I forgot to update the blog. :-( Not much going on in the knitting front. I'm still no further along on the Soleil and I almost got one sock done. I wish I could just get something finished, I really need that sense of accomplishment right now. On the reading front, I finished Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. I loved it! I won't go into detail in this post since I want to reread books 5 and 6 again before posting completely on the series. I'm not reading anything at the moment so it will be a while before the next book review, unless I find some time...
Speaking of relaxing and finding time, here's a picture of Dugan doing what he does best, sleeping:
Oh, BTW that green and white blanket is something I crocheted. The hounds love it and drag it all over the house. I'm so glad it's made out of Red Heart Super Saver. :-)

Stash Enhancements

2007-07-01T12:39:00.000-05:00

Well, I finally got around to taking pictures of my recent purchases. My new thing lately has been sock yarn. So I'll start with that.
First up from The Loopy Ewe: 1 skein of Schaefer Yarn called Lola in a very pretty colorway. This color is pretty much a one time only offer. The colors in the yarn are pinks, violets, dark green and a sort of light olive green. Very pretty. Can't wait to see how it knits up. Also from The Loopy Ewe, I got two skeins of Crystal Palace Panda Cotton in the chocolate almond color. It is new yarn made from bamboo, cotton and elastic nylon. I really can't wait to see how socks turn out from this. I heard that the yarn can be a little splitty, though. Also on the Crystal Palace website are some free patterns using this yarn. Also included in my little package was some free samples of Regia Silk and Regia Bamboo; a Loopy postcard and nifty needle inventory cards. Betty makes such a good model, doesn't she?

Next up, we have our really nice selection from Simply Socks Yarn Company. From there I got another Schaefer yarn, this time it's Anne, in the colorway called The Blues. Blue is my favorite color and this yarn has all of them in it, from the gray-blue to a pretty turquoise. I heard a lot of good things about this yarn so I had high expectations that were certainly met. Also included was a free pattern with the purchase. I'm a little bummed about the pattern though since it's exactly same pattern I'm working on right now! It's called a "mock cable twist" but in the Sensational Knitted Socks book it's listed as a "baby-cable." Also I bought Seacoast Handpainted Yarns Panda Sock in the colorway "truffles." This is such a pretty color: it goes from bright violet to a light brown/gray color. Aside from the free pattern I also got a free sample of Cascade Fixation. There's Betty being oh so useful again! :-)

Last but not least, I need to celebrate the birthday of my LYS, Knit 'N Knibble. They were celebrating their third birthday with a big sale. I really went there to get another ball of sock yarn for the pair that I'm making right now, but added a few extras on to the bill. Let's see I picked up 3 balls of Knit 1, Crochet too's Wick for a pair of socks (as seen in No Sheep For You, by Amy Singer.) Five skeins of On Line's Clip in a very pretty pale pink. This will be a summer top. And lastly, 7 balls of Cascade's Pima Tencel in a minty green for the Lacy Tank as seen in Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel. The best part was that they were all on sale! ;-) Many belly rubs to my model Betty!

All in all, a good stash enhancement. Now if only I can do some time enhancement and add a few extra hours onto the day to knit everything up.

Betty's New Collar

2007-06-21T20:27:00.000-05:00

My mom bought Betty a new collar for Christmas. Since it's Summer, I figured it was time for Betty to wear and show her summer colors. Doesn't she look cute!! She was sleeping when I took the picture and I accidentally woke her up.

Salsa Chicken

2007-06-20T08:11:00.000-05:00

Well, it was a clean out the fridge night. Here's a quick to put together recipe with some stuff I found in the fridge and pantry:

Salsa Chicken
Ingredients (Since it's leftover stuff there's no exact measurements):

Chicken Breasts (I had one package with 3 large chicken breasts in it)
Salsa (I had 2/3 of a 16oz jar leftover so probably a little over a cup)
Crushed Tortilla Chips (bottom of the bag crumbs, around a cup)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese (also about a cup)

Preheat oven to 375F. In a baking dish add a little salsa to coat the bottom. Place chicken breast on top. Top with the rest of the salsa. Bake 20-30 minutes depending on thickness of chicken. Then top with crushed tortilla chips and cheese. Bake for another 5-10 or until cheese is melted. Enjoy!

More Knitting Progress

2007-06-06T09:32:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm moving along with the Soleil tank, I'm working on the upper back and after that I just have the two front parts to do. I'll be so happy when this is done. In other news, I was working on a Log Cabin Dog Bed for the hounds but I wasn't happy with how it was turning out. I hated the yarn. So, I scrapped that and will eventually start it again when I find yarn more suitable for the project.
I'm now thinking of the next project to make. I'll probably start on the cable jacket so it'll be ready when the cooler weather starts. It takes so long just to knit something. But I might make some smaller items to take a break from a big knitted garment.

Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley

2007-05-27T16:09:00.000-05:00

I just finished Confessions of a Pagan Nun by Kate Horsley this morning. This is one of those interesting books that must be read with an open mind. The story's setting is Ireland during the Dark Ages (around 500 CE) as pagan ways were giving way to Christianity. The "pagan nun" in the story is Gwynneve, a girl raised as a pagan, trained as a druid and later turns into a nun with near-saintly status, much like the story of St. Brigit, which is the patron saint of the convent were Gwynneve lives. The story is double-folded, first it's a memoir of Gwynneve's life and upbringing and second tells of the events in the convent that lead to a unfortunate ending. It is also a love story and a story of world in transition, where two religions meet and inevitably one religion must give way to another.
What makes the book compelling is that it is a story of a very bright, intelligent woman who sees the world through both sides of the glass and is confused and vexed by it. On one side she understands the pagan ways and why they are important to the people of the land. On the other side she sees the need for change and wonders about this new religion. Her task at the convent if coping manuscripts from around the world and she often has running theology debates with the manuscripts writers. I think that Gwynneve's strength comes from that she understands so much more that she is given credited for. Her debates usually rage why the old ways can't coexist with the new ways and why there is so much hostility between the two groups. Towards the end of the novel you feel she is setting up the scene for Ireland's long history of "Troubles" where Christians fight Christians, upper class fights the lower class and many people suffer. By the end of the novel she has traveled her land and been many things to many people, including a wife to the man she loves, mother to the needy and comforter of the sick and dying. However, it is the Christians who she lives and calls her home that turn on her and brand her as a witch. In the end, Gwynneve, a pagan nun, is martyred by Christians as her story lives on through those who truly knew her kind deeds and she is often revered as an almost saint in the abbey she lived in. The story is both poetic and lyrical yet straight forward. I found myself agreeing often with Gwynneve over theology debates and how sad it is to see the worlds clash like they do. I think in the end, Gwynneve found herself the victim of knowing too much and not being afraid to teach all who would listen. And like so many times knowledge is power and there will always be people who wish to strip that power from you and dehumanize you. I will leave this post with one of many truths that Gwynneve found in her life: It is not that ignorance is bliss. It is that ignorance opens the door for one to become enslaved by another and never realize that they are being mistreated. It is up to teachers to free people's minds and allow them to realize all that they can be. "The truth will inevitably cause tremors in those who cling to power without honoring justice."

My impressions (or not just leaving this post yet): Why I liked this book is that I see myself in Gwynneve. I understand what it means to straddle two worlds. While I study literature, it is impossible for me not to take on parts of stories and find myself hiding within the lines of the work. I am every story I read and have written. But I also must live in the "real world" where I work and interact with others who don't have my unique views. I'm not religious nor do I consider myself a Christian or any other religion for that matter. But I was raised one and understand their history and the history of the world as it has come to be. So, I can easily see myself sitting next to Gwynneve at the dawn of a new era and understanding why words hold so much power over her. I can see how her heart aches for something spiritual and yet only truly half-believing that there is something else in this world. She is a liar like me. And yet, I hope I too possess such an inner strength that Gwynneve shows. 4 out of 5 stars.

Knitting List

2007-05-17T20:10:00.000-05:00

I decided to add a little list of forthcoming knitting. I tend to forget what I'm suppose to do and why I have two drawer-fulls of yarn. I've been trying to add progress bars like I see on so many blogs, but I keep doing something wrong with the coding, I'll figure it out though. Currently this is just a list of stuff I want to make, have the yarn for, but not yet cast-on.

The Lineup:

Felted Messenger Bag in Patons SWS
Cabled Jacket in RYC Soft Tweed
First Pair of Socks in Regia Tweed
Lace Shawl/Wrap in Lane Borgosesia Oceano
Microspun Top in Lion Brand Microspun (My own design!)

I've been playing around with the demo version of Knitware and for a demo it offers a lot that you can do. I designed a cute little top for the microspun yarn, which is so much softer than I expected. I normally rather not have a top of 100% acrylic, since it can get to hot and sticky. Hopefully it won't be too bad.

The bad news is that school started again and I'm taking a full load this summer. I won't have much time for knitting or much else of what I love. :-(

Knitting Progress and Wildfires

2007-05-12T15:33:00.000-05:00

Knitting Update:

I'm so happy to report that I'm halfway through the bust increases for the Soleil tank. I pushing to get this finished at least by my birthday so I can wear during the summer. I can't wait to see how this fits. I'm hoping that I don't have any fit problems, I would hate to rip this out. Next up on the knitting list is either a lace project with some beautiful yarn I just bought at Red Needle Yarns or another tank top/tee shirt with Lion Brand Microspun yarn. There are so many projects I want to make I can't decide. I also want to eventually get to a winter jacket and some socks, but these won't be until the end of summer.

Wildfires:

The smoke from the wildfires has been so bad here. The fires are mostly north of the Tampa Bay region and the wind is pushing the smoke down. It was sooooo hazy yesterday that visibility was down to half a mile. I had ash all over my truck, too. These conditions are horrible for my allergies. Yesterday I was close to having a asthma attack twice! I hope we get some relief soon. I hope this year's hurricane season is not to bad, but I rather not have a wildfire summer (like we did in '98). Rain please, Rain please!

Broken Coffee Maker and stuff

2007-04-27T22:10:00.000-05:00

Well my coffee maker broke on me. Well more precisely the grinder part broke. I'm pretty upset by this as I'm a huge caffeine addict. So....of I went and bought a new coffee maker. I got another Cuisinart, this one is just a plain coffee maker. I'm going to stay away from those grind and brews, the concept is nice but they sure are a pain to clean. I got a separate mill for my whole beans. Hopefully I have no problems with this one. Thanks Mom for the gift card! Sorry I didn't buy the dish set I wanted, but coffee is much more important!

As for the stuff...I've been working real hard on my knitting. Hopefully I'll have my top finished by my birthday. I also started a log cabin knitted dog bed since Betty loves to rip her fabric ones. No time line for that since I work on it when I need a break from the top.

Books: I finished reading the first 5 books of the series Keys to the Kingdom. I really enjoyed them. I can't wait for the next one to come out, which will probably be next year. It's a good series to get into, especially since Harry Potter will be ending in a few months. Lately I've been buying too many books. It's such a bad habit, I can't help myself. I'll go to PetCo for dog food and since Borders is RIGHT THERE I have to stop in and look around. I don't think I ever walked out without buying a book or magazine. Those books seduce me! They whisper in my ear and I just have to listen to them. Oh you naughty little books!!

Mister Monday by Garth Nix

2007-03-31T21:42:00.000-05:00

I always love it when I stumble on a new book or series that I thoroughly enjoy. This latest "addiction" comes in the form of a children's series called The Keys to the Kingdom by Garth Nix. The first book in the series is called Mister Monday. At first the books struck me with a curiosity. Lately I've been seeing the series everywhere. First I was unpacking several new books that arrived at work and there was one of the books. Next I was at the Borders and there was the newest book on display staring at me. I also came across it while checking in books at work and mentally placed it on my "must read" list. Well I finally checked the book out to read it, with all these little hints popping up I was afraid the book might attack me and force me to read it! I started it on my lunch hour at work on Friday and I had it done by Friday night. I could not put the book down!
One of the hallmarks to a great storyteller, and therefore a great story, is how the reader responds while reading the story. If the reader becomes engrossed with the story and clearly loses interest in the world around her, then it is obviously a really good story. This is how I was with this book. This is the first time I read a Garth Nix book though I am familiar with his other works more in passing than in actual experience. I know he is a very awarded author and respected in his field. I can see why. Mister Monday is a fantasy novel so those who aren't particularly keen on fantasy should look elsewhere.

I find that I stumble while trying to describe the book so I'll be brief and do my best. Arthur is the main character. He is an asthmatic seventh grader who is having a very bad day. While he is suffering a asthma attack, two strange men appear and give Arthur a key shaped like a minute hand of a clock, which both saves his life and puts him in great danger. After receiving the Key he is chased by weird people, sees a even weirder house and eventually ends up in an exceptionally weird world. This weird world turns out to be the records keepers for all of creation built by the Architect to keep records of what going on in the Secondary Realms (such as Arthur's). However, since the Architect is absent, the place is pretty much a mess and everyone is interfering with the Secondary Realms and making them a mess too. Arthur's job is to straighten everything out and see that the Will of the Architect is to executed. Does he do it? You need to read to find out. The age listing for the book is 5th to 8th graders. There's plenty of action and excitement. Those with sharp eyes for mythology will see many hints of it throughout the book. The sequel to this book is Grim Tuesday.

My personal thoughts of the book: I enjoyed it. I love any book that refuses to let me put it down to do other things (such as sleep or eat). There can be times when the book feels jumbled and you have to go back to reread what just happened but all in all I felt the book stood strong as an opening to a series. It laid the foundation for how Arthur's world works (since it is close but not entirely like our world) and laid the foundation for how the parallel world he visits also works. It introduced us to characters that will become more prominent as the series moves on and it laid a good foundation on who Arthur is. Arthur as a character is flawed but likable, though I can't help but feel there is still a lot that the reader doesn't know about him. In this book his major flaw, his asthma, is such a dominating force that other aspects of his character tend to get lost or forgotten about. It is the same with the other characters, there is one aspect about them that outshines all else. However, this also can be a strength when a reader or writer has such a large cast of characters to work with, this magnifying of on part of them makes it easier to trace the characters through the story. All in all I give the book 5 out of 5 stars. (I'm off to go get the rest of the series tomorrow!)

Knitting in Progress

2007-03-11T17:24:00.000-05:00

I uploaded some pics to the photo album of the Soleil tank top in progress. I just finished the lace part and now I am working on the decreases to shape the waist. Can't wait to see how this turns out.

The Knitting

2007-03-10T00:08:00.000-05:00

I love to knit. It relaxes me like nothing else. So, I'll post a little about what I'm knitting. Currently, it's Soleil from Knitty.com. I just finished the lace part of the tank. The yarn I'm using is SWTC Oasis. It's a wonderful soysilk yarn in a very pretty sapphire blue color. I'm looking forward to this when it's done, hopefully by summer since I'm a slow knitter. I'll have to post photos of it in progress.

The Kids

2007-03-10T00:07:00.000-05:00

I have two greyhounds. The older one is named Betty and she's 12.5 years old. She's a brat but I love her. I adopted her just before her 10th birthday. She's a retired racer and a retired brood (she has several litters of puppies out there). I met one of her puppies! He's a real sweet boy. I'll eventually post pics of them. My newest aquistition is Dugan. He turned 9 this past December and he's a real sweet boy, just full of life. While Betty is the serious one Dugan is the clown. He's always doing something that makes me smile. Betty has quite a way with him as well! She'll boss him around like nothing else! Particularly who gets which dog bed! Stay tune for pics!