Chocolate Cupcake with Coconut.

Some days, I feel guilty for eating my feelings.  

Today, I just really, really needed a cupcake.  

FO: Vanilla Socks.

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted anything related to knitting.  I am still knitting away, but there's been a bit lot of start-it-itis lately that's prevented me from any sort of ta-da moments.

Pattern-  Yarn Harlot Sock Recipe  (Project Link)

Yarn-  Hello Yarn Fat Sock in colorway Plunge

Needle-  Size 2 (2.5mm)

 I never use a pattern when I knit socks.  I use the general guidelines that the Yarn Harlot outlines in Knitting Rules, and just relax into the glory that is knitting every stitch of every round- after I'm done with the ribbing, of course.  I'm in love with these socks- the light teal green with the rusty reds and oranges and blues and greens all mashed up into one sock makes me so so happy!

There's a lot of fear associated with knitting socks, and it does look like socks would be super challenging to knit.  But socks are just like any other knitted item- you just follow the pattern, step by step, and at the end you'll have something at least resembling with you set out to knit.  My grandmother challenged me to knit socks right when I first started knitting, and I took her on.  I'm so happy that she encouraged me to push my skills and try to try different things.

Seriously.

I'm so fucking done with this winter.  Sick of it.

That is all.

Eleventh hour pizza.

Feeling a little quiet lately.  I'm just so ready for spring.  The winter is really getting to me- I just want the snow to go away!  Mister and I have been staying in all the time.  Tonight we were struggling to figure out what to make for dinner- neither of us wanted to go to the grocery store.  I offered to make pizza dough if he came up with the toppings and assembled the pie.  I found this really simple, really wonderful dough recipe.  He made a Gorgonzola white sauce and topped it with chicken, bacon, tomatoes, onion and a *generous* grating of cheddar cheese.  It was one of the best last minute meals I've ever had.

I would totally just eat cereal or toast in lieu of a proper dinner, but mister really likes a nice meal.  What do you do when it's crunch time and you don't know what to eat?  Do you have any ideas for quick, simple meals?  I'd love to hear what you eat when you just don't feel like cooking!

Introducing...

My friend Heather of Implausible Yarn and I have been busy.  A while back we talked of a place to trade Kindle books. We searched the interweb high and low, and couldn't find what we were looking for- and decided to create a space of  own.  We are so excited to introduce e-book swap!

We've been thinking about this for a while now, and the site is in its first stages- there might be a few kinks that need to be worked out of the system.  We would love to have you stop over, check it out, and join if it seems like something you might put to use.  Please let us know what you think- we'd love to hear your comments and suggestions.



The basic idea is that Kindle users could post books that they have available to loan and could also post books that you want to read in hopes that another reader is able to loan it out. So if you have a kindle and are interested we encourage you to come check it out and let us know what you think.

Books Books Books!

I recently bought myself a Kindle, which I love.  I live out in the middle of nowhere, so it's really convenient to be able to download a book whenever I want.  I was a bit put off by the price, so I decided to commit to reading 52 books in 52 weeks.  I'm not usually one to make New Years Resolutions, but this one seemed to be pretty do-able.  So far I've been reading a little over a book a week, and keeping track of what I've read, which is more of an achievement for me- I'm a terrible record keeper.

Most of the books have been pretty fluffy, which is fine with me.   All I read in college was textbook after textbook, so light reading feels really lovely to me right now.  I'm into all sorts of books- fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, sociological, media studies.

So this is the part where I ask you all to tell me what you've been loving lately!  I know I've asked before, many times actually, and that's exactly why I'm asking again.  I've read some really great books that were recommended by readers of this blog!  Your recommendations don't have to be for fluffy books- to be honest I'm trying to get away from the extreme fluff in which I have been indulging.

So please, let me know what you have read lately!

What are some of your all time favorite books?

Is there a book that you have read over and over again?

I can't wait to read your comments!

Vitamin C Cold Blaster Juice!

My Mister and I have been sick.  Achy, tired, runny nose, headachy and just kinda cranky sick.  Neither of us is good at being sick, so I've been trying to eat as well as two sick people can eat to make us well fast! Each morning, I force myself to get out of bed and make some juice.  It's really not hard at all, but when you're sick, getting out of bed is an achievement.

The color of the citrus fruit is lifting my spirits.  

Seriously easy recipe:

Two grapefruit and two oranges, peeled.  Juice on a low setting.  Turn to high and juice a three inch knob of ginger- I prefer more, if you're not a huge fan of ginger use less.  Then juice the lime with the skin on.

This can easily be made without a juicer, juicing the fruit by hand and grating the ginger with a microplane.  Although, juicing by hand when you're sick would totally suck.

We've become very close.

Shovel and I have become very close.  We've attacked feet upon feet of snow together, strengthening our bond.  On grey, stormy days the yellow brightens my outlook and makes my S.A.D. turn glad.  Shovel tells me "Yes You Can" remove the vast amounts of snow littering the walkway.  I am encouraged on those days where all I want to do is curl up with my knitting or a good book, to go out and exercise and play with my lovely friend, Shovel.

I can get through the long, cold, snowy winter, knowing that I have Shovel helping me along the way.