Quiet's Corner

Blankets For Badges

2012-01-18T18:40:00.000-08:00

The challenge in finding a pattern for this project is that it must be simple, but not so simple that I'm bored silly. I have to be able to pick it up and put it down constantly, without losing my place, and I have to be able to work on it at 3am.

This is Squares Lap Robe by Ann Gallentine. The finished square is approximately 12"x14".

And For My Next Stunt.......

2011-12-12T15:33:00.000-08:00

Chickens. Just a small flock, half a dozen birds or less, for eggs and meat. It should be interesting, if not entertaining. I'll keep you posted.

Blanket for Badges

2011-11-17T04:29:00.000-08:00

Much to my surprise, I was tagged on Ravelry a couple of weeks ago and invited to join Blankets for Badges. They put together blankets for the families of fallen law enforcement officers. I'm looking forward to breaking out the stitch dictionary, and it's a great excuse to use up mom's stash. I'll be getting started after the holidays.

What Just Happened?

2011-10-17T10:54:00.001-07:00

I've been wanting to write a post-wedding update, but it's taken me quite a while to sort things out. It's not that it was bad; quite the opposite. It was much more wonderful than I'd planned.

This is our second trip down the aisle. No big deal, right? Been there, done that, got the scars to prove it. The practical aspects were easy. It's the emotional aspects that caught me completely off guard.

My parents have been deceased for some time, and I still miss them. I knew that certain things were going to be difficult, and I was not disappointed. Grief came to smack me upside the head at the most inopportune moments.

I had it all together until the week before the wedding, when I became a hyperventilating mess. What if nobody showed up? What if everybody showed up? What if nobody had a good time? Would they think the venue was stupid? Would they understand?

Saturday, we took our officiant to the zoo, where we hung out for the day. We toured the aquarium, showing him the space and working out exactly how things were going to go. As we stood there watching the sharks, I heard him say, "I get it." And he really did. I started to feel a little bit better.

I didn't expect to feel excited, but I was. Joyful? How about over the moon. Nervous? Absolutely. I had to concentrate on breathing, so I wouldn't pass out. For the next several days after, we would look at each other and squee, "We got married!" And our relationship is different, somehow. A little bit deeper, a little bit richer, and I didn't expect that at all.

Re-Direction

2011-10-09T20:01:00.000-07:00

One thing that has been noted about the Occupy Wall Street movement is that it doesn't appear to have a direction. That no one has articulated any demands. Well, I aim to rectify that situation.

This movement is misdirected. And, when the people who can be on scene physically figure it out, Washington D.C. should be afraid...very afraid. Because the space people need to be occupying is right in front of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

So, how did we get here?

1. Congress repealed the Glass-Steagall Act, which was put into place after the Great Depression, to keep banks from putting us into this situation, again.

2. Congress repealed several Wall Street regulations and weakened the oversight agencies, turning the stock market into the biggest crap shoot outside of Las Vegas.

3. Congress wrote the tax laws in such a way that corporations pay no taxes on income earned overseas. Wonder why the jobs left?

4. Congress revamped campaign money rules in such a manner that corporations can donate as much as they want, without having to disclose who they are or how much they have given.

WHAT DO WE WANT?

1. Put the regulation and oversight back into the banking industry.

2. Put the regulation and oversight back into Wall Street.

3. Enforce meaningful penalties for violations of the above.

4. Tax corporations on all profits, no matter where they are earned.

5. Put the limits back on how much corporations can donate to candidates and full disclosure as to who, and how much.

Congress needs to LEGISLATE on behalf of the 99% who have elected them to office, not the 1% who have bought them.

At least, it's a start.

Lazy Girl Throws a Wedding

2011-07-06T19:43:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm not really lazy. However, I do have a high-stress job that requires me to work long hours on rotating shifts. Therefore, I really don't have the time and energy to put together a wedding extravaganza like you see on the Website-That-Shall-kNot-Be-Named, or magazines, or TV or anywhere else. So, here are my tips for putting together a relatively stress-free wedding.

1. Choose a venue that is so awesome you don't have to decorate. We're using the South Pacific Aquarium at Point Defiance Zoo.

2. Find an awesome venue that has a caterer. Lancer Catering does the catering for Point Defiance Zoo, and their food is wonderful. Dinner with the sharks, anyone?

3. Lock down your venue, caterer, and officiant early. These three items are the ones that usually are booked fastest, so the sooner you can get yours locked in, the less you'll have to stress about.

Oddly enough, the invitations had me stressed out. Trying to find something that was simple (without being plain), elegant, and not cartoon-like was a bit of a challenge, as well as the verbiage. We're both well over forty, and my parents are deceased. None of the standard language applies. My partner really stepped up to the plate and helped to find invitations we both liked and wording that wouldn't make anyone barf.

The last thing I need to do is write my vows; everything else is in place.

Cancer and My Latest Project

2011-02-18T00:18:00.000-08:00

Cancer is a bitch. She's taken my father and several of my friends. Therefore, when the call came out that one of the hospitals was low on hats for patients undergoing chemotherapy, I immediately went to look to see how I could help. This is the Pi Chemo Topper, and it's the perfect project. It's portable, can be completed quickly, and it doesn't require a lot of thought.

Unfortunately, my camera can't capture the correct color of this, as it's not nearly this bright. The color is darker, a beautiful African violet color.

Of Weddings and Babies

2011-02-03T22:32:00.000-08:00

My summer has gotten infinitely more interesting.

First, there is the wedding. I work a high-stress job, and I hate being the center of attention. This is the second marriage for both of us, and we agreed that we wanted it to be low-key, low stress, and low maintenance. To that end, we found a great venue that doesn't require decoration and includes catering. Really, the only things left to do are invitations, find a photographer, a cake, and pick up flowers from the Pike Place Market. And it all works, unless you're me.

Arnie's daughter is also getting married this summer, and the only date their venue was available was the weekend before our wedding. It's no big deal; it just means that, between travel and trying to pull last-minute stuff together, the week before our wedding is going to be more hectic than originally anticipated.

However, my daughter has informed me that she's pregnant, and she's due the end of July.

Now I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to be in three states, supporting the people I love, all at the same time.

Cougar

2011-01-06T14:31:00.000-08:00

The night before last, I got to see a cougar, as the man who shot it brought it by the center to show. I would guess it to be approximately 8 feet long, from nose to tail, and he said it weighed 160 pounds. It's paws were slightly larger than the palm of my hand, and the claws approximately 3 inches long, and sharp. The fur was somewhat rough, but soft. He was a beautiful, beautiful animal, and I am glad I didn't meet him in the woods.

Update

2011-01-05T16:54:00.000-08:00

Well, last year's resolution to find something to blog about at least once a month sure went out the window. It's not that I wasn't busy; it's that I was almost too busy! So, a catch-up post.

Last year, I made two more checkerboard blankets--one cream colored and the other blue--given to others.

In July, I got engaged! Wedding set for this August--let the panic attacks commence!

I started another pair of KISS socks in a wonderful green colorway from Black Trillium. This first is done and I'm halfway through the second. It was interrupted for the following Christmas knitting:

Fetching: a pair of fingerless mitts in pomegranate Comfy Worsted from Knit Picks for Stephanie. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture before giving them to her. She indicated they were a little large, so she threw them through the washer and dryer, and they stretched out considerably. I'll be trying this pattern again.

Shady Beanie: one in Coal/Thyme for Charlie, one Coal/Midnight Blue for Chris, and and one Bittersweet Heather (brown) and Evergreen for Arnie. Arnie's is a little longer, as he likes to roll the bottom of his hats. Charlie decided his was too long (it just covered his ears), so he put it through the washer. It felted and shrank to half the size. Chris took one look at it and decided his hat was just right.

I'll be getting back to the other sock in a week or so.

Oh. My. Gauge.

2010-04-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

While I certainly understand the concept of gauge and it's importance, it is something that, up until recently, I've been able to blithely disregard. Since nearly everything I've been making is flat, it's not nearly as important as it is when you are making something to wear.

Since making something I can wear is my latest goal, gauge has become more important, and I've had to do a lot of reading. Is gauge something you get when you knit a swatch before it's been blocked? After it's been blocked? Do you need to use bigger needles or smaller ones, and which direction does that send the gauge? Does it increase it? Decrease it?

And if that weren't confusing enough, there was the question posed by a woman whose gauge was off half a stitch, and she wondered how that was going to affect her completed project. Believe it or not, it was going to make a large difference by making the item larger. It's one of those things that make sense when you read the explanation, but leaves you scratching your head when you don't have the explanation in front of your face.

My current project is the Multnomah shawl. In trying to obtain the proper gauge, I've knit the first bit of yarn off the ball nearly to pieces, and once again, I've thrown the gauge out the window. I'm using the needles that got me closest to it, and I'll simply eyeball the rest. However, my next project is a sweater, and I've got to get this matter figured out.

The Lesson of the Ugly Green Sweater

2010-02-28T19:34:00.000-08:00

My mother was beautiful, with an indefinable something about her that made people take notice. She loved clothes and was always well attired, which is why the ugly green sweater upset me so much. It was made of teal jersey, lined with the same material in a teal and white stripe, and featured something called a funnel neck. While I actually liked the color, it was too big, the cut was awful, and it was the most unflattering thing I ever saw her wear. To my frustration, she wore it all the time.

After she died, I tried on the ugly green sweater to see why she liked it. I discovered that it was soft, warm, and felt like a hug. It was the perfect weight, somewhere between a sweater and a jacket, and it looked just as bad on me as it did on her. I wore it at work for several years for just those reasons and to remind me that things aren't always as they appear to be.

KISS* Socks

2010-01-30T00:30:00.000-08:00

After I bought this yarn, my first impulse was to go straight to the back of the book and start working on a pair of fancy cabled or lace socks. However, since this is my first pair, I had to remind myself to "keep it simple, stupid," thus the name of the socks.

It's not bad for a first attempt; they are reasonably the same size. Although I did decrease the foot from 16 to 14 stitches to try and fit my skinny feet, the ankles are still a bit big. I'm going to wash and block them, and then see how they fit. If they don't fit me, they may very well fit someone else in the house, as we all wear about the same shoe size.

The pattern is a simple knit three, purl one rib, and the feet are straight stockinette. The pattern is based on the 7 stitch per inch sock in Getting Started Knitting Socks, by Ann Budd.

On Fearlessness

2010-01-27T00:07:00.000-08:00

One of the things I admire most about my boys is their absolute fearlessness in trying new things. Compose music? Make movies? Create computer-generated characters? Write stories? Draw? They have done all of these things and more. Not only has it never occurred to them that they "can't," but their reaction if they fail is to shrug and move on to something else.

It is this that I am learning from them: Go ahead and try. If you fail, shrug and move on. You really have nothing to lose.

My First Sock

2009-12-16T19:28:00.000-08:00

If you are looking to start knitting socks, I highly recommend Ann Budd's Getting Started Knitting Socks. The directions are not only easy to follow, but there are also pictures of each step.

The toe looks kind of funny:

But, although a smidgeon short, it looks and feels like a real sock!

Figuring out how to use double pointed needles has opened up a whole new world of knitting to me. I am no longer limited to knitting things that are flat!

Double Pointed Needles

2009-12-13T19:55:00.000-08:00

I have always been intimidated by double-pointed needles and those knitters who had mastered them, knitting fabulous things beyond my ability.

I recently bought my first set of dpn's. Quite frankly, I was in danger of putting my eye out, with needles flopping this way and that. I could not make sense of what I was doing, until a friend (and fabulous knitter) gave me the hint she received when trying to figure out dpn's herself:

"no matter how many needles you have dangling, you are still only knitting with 2 needles at a time. Learn to let them dangle and only focus on your working needles."

The lightbulb went on, and I managed to knit something that looked like a small sleeve. I am now in the process of figuring out how to knit socks. Wish me luck!

The Man Makes Cheese

2009-11-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

If I ever really needed proof that I should just stay out of the kitchen, it was handed to me this weekend. There were five gallons of goat's milk in the refrigerator, waiting to be processed.

I processed two of the gallons, making one ball of lemon cheese that seems promising, two balls of red and black pepper cheese that are good, and a ball of raspberry cheese that is a complete failure. None of the flavor came through, and I managed to create a ball of pink cheese that leaves seeds in your teeth.

One of the advantages of living with a geek is that he will find things you didn't, such as Dr. David Fankhauser's cheese page:

http://biology.clc.uc.edu/Fankhauser/Cheese/cheese.html

He successfully processed a gallon of milk into two balls of cream cheese, one raspberry flavored (take that you kitchen incompetent).

The next one I'm going to try is the recipe for Neuchfatel, which looks like it will have the texture I am trying for. Everything I've done so far works really well for cheese crumbles, but not well at all for anything else.

Onward and upward!

Notes on Goat Cheese

2009-11-22T09:41:00.000-08:00

Just very brief notes on the goat cheese I made November 3, 2009

First batch: 9 cups of milk, eyeballed the amount of chives, and a little shy of a tbs of salt. Forgot and poured the vinegar in too fast, so really small curds. Also had a problem with curds getting stuck btwn the layers of cheese cloth, so not all of it got flavoring and salt

Second batch: 9 cups of milk, more chives, and a full tbs of salt. Poured the vinegar in slowly, so cottage cheese like curds. Still using cheap squalmart cheesecloth, so have to be really careful about mixing stuff in. So salt and chives may not be evenly distributed through the cheese

Third batch: 7 1/2 cups of milk, and bit shy of a 1/4 c vinegar, still more chives, and about 3/4 tbs of salt. Found real cheesecloth at Superone, which made a big difference in being able to mix everything together. May actually turn out to be the best batch.

Used cider vinegar for all

Actually, all three batches turned out fine, although the second batch was a bit too salty. I discovered that the "fresh" herbs you get at the grocery store still do not have the flavor of the chives I pulled out of the garden. I will have to make a better effort next spring to get those harvested and dried. As it ages, the flavor mellows, so that it's quite mild. I still like it best crumbled over salad.

Decorating Genes

2009-10-19T08:47:00.000-07:00

The wife of the man who roofed my garage is an interior designer. I was admiring her work and getting to know her a little better, because I'm going to eventually need help. As I explained to her, I don't have whatever decorating genes women are supposed to be born with. She put her hand on my arm and said, "But you must be good at other things, right?"

I was so dumbfounded, I couldn't think of anything.

She leaned in and said, "But you are good at something, aren't you?"

Now, when I've explained my lack of decorating skills to men, I usually get a laugh and some commiseration, because they know. Even joking with the women I work with, they understand. This reaction was completely unexpected and, three days later, I'm still wondering what in the hell I'm good at.

Nephew

2009-10-06T13:56:00.000-07:00

My nephew arrived early, on the afternoon of September 30, after he and his mother scared us all nearly to death. He's doing wonderfully. Due to a rare complication, my sister's recovery will be quite a bit slower.

Second Auntie Blanket

2009-09-21T22:40:00.000-07:00

I've cast on the second auntie blanket for my nephew, who should put in an appearance sometime next month. This one is a simple checkerboard pattern, and is going much faster than the first blanket.

My next challenge is socks. I have a pattern for baby socks, and it's far past time for me to get over my fear of double-pointed needles.

Final Notes

2009-09-14T06:49:00.000-07:00

Final notes on this weekend's great goat cheese caper:

9 cups of goat milk to 1/4 cup vinegar has worked best, so far.

Letting the milk continue to boil while adding the vinegar seems to help.

I need to research whether or not you need to add all of the vinegar, once it starts to separate.

This is goat cheese with basil.

Cheese!

2009-09-13T03:59:00.001-07:00

A second attempt at goat cheese appears to be a success. Or, certainly more of a success than the first attempt.

This time, I followed the instructions in the video posted at wholefoodies.org. I found that heating the milk to boiling seems to thicken it slightly, while continuing to stir after you've added the vinegar seems to help work the curds into, well, more curd-like shapes. Still no cottage-cheese-like curds, but much better, bigger, and more recognizable than what I had in the first batch.

I used 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and chopped up some chives from the garden to season it, although I'm bound to be teased for not getting them chopped fine enough. I twisted it in the cheesecloth, using the spoon to help squeeze more of the liquid out, but not taking out as much as I did the first time.

It's edible! Very mild, with a mild chive flavor. Texture is firm, though you could crumble it, if you wanted. Very good in salad - greens, chopped up chicken, and tomatoes.

Just a Note

2009-09-12T05:03:00.000-07:00

Thursday, I turned the cheese out of the cheesecloth, putting it into a small plastic bowl and covered it with plastic wrap. Last night, I again tasted it. The texture has improved, as has the taste, with the afterwhang not being nearly as strong. It looks more like feta, rather than the incredibly dry, flaky unrecognizable stuff of a couple of days ago. There may yet be hope.

Adventures with Goat Cheese

2009-09-10T15:01:00.000-07:00

The man has a client who has been bartering for computer services, which has resulted in dozens of fresh eggs (yay!) and goat. Roast goat is oily; however, goat curry is a big improvement!

One day, I came home to find a half gallon of goat's milk sitting on the counter. It sat in the fridge for a couple of days, and then I had a flash of inspiration: goat cheese!

Tuesday, a search in the internet yielded this:

How to Make Goat Cheese (E-How)

Step 1 Make a grocery list and obtain the basic materials needed to make the cheese. The list includes goat milk (about 1/2 gallon), lemons, kosher salt and cheese cloth. Also, you may also add buttermilk for an extra creamy flavor, if desired.

Step 2 Heat the milk in a stainless steel/non-reactive pot to at least 185 degrees (or low heat). Allow to simmer, watching carefully to avoid boiling or burning.

Step 3 Remove the milk from heat and allow to sit. Add lemon (or vinegar), stirring until the curds separate from the whey. The mixture should look like large clumps of cottage cheese when properly separated. (I used lemon juice.)

Step 4 Line a colander with several layers of the cheesecloth. Ladle curds into a strainer, discarding the whey.

Step 5 Allow curds to cool, squeezing as much moisture out of them as possible. Put curds in a bowl and season with sea salt. You can also add other seasonings of your choice, such as Herbs de Provence or whatever else you desire.

Step 6 Press curds into the bowl to make a block, or wrap in cheesecloth. Place curds in the refrigerator for at least 1-2 days before removing and tasting.

Seems ridiculously easy, right?

So I followed the directions, but I certainly did not come up with cottage-cheese-like curds. I came up with very fine, thready curds. But I finished them off and set them in the fridge to cure.

A further search on the internet yielded this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J01mYJfds2U (It's a video by Whole Foodies.org on how to make goat cheese.)

Well, it was pretty plain to see that I hadn't done this quite right. I'm not entirely certain, but I think I added the lemon juice too quickly.

Today, I opened the cheesecloth and sampled the contents. For the most part, it's very dry and crumbly and tastes pretty strongly of goat. Where you can taste the lemon juice, the texture and the taste are better. So I have concluded that I took too much moisture out of the cheese, and it really needs to have something mixed in it to give it some flavor.

I now have a gallon of goat's milk to experiment with, and will be making another attempt this weekend, following the steps in the video. I'm going to make one batch with lemon juice (because I liked the taste of it) and one batch with vinegar to see what happens.

Summer Vacation Part IV

2009-09-07T14:31:00.000-07:00

Wednesday and Thursday were spend exploring Rocky Mountain National Park, and all I can say is that being outside in the mountains is exactly what I needed. It did my soul just as much good as my visit with my friend, Deb.

We took a narrow, winding dirt road up the backside of the park, not only in hope of escaping the maddening hordes, but also to see part of the park we bet not many people saw. There were more people headed up that way than we thought, but it was all pretty cool. Everyone just kind of moseyed along, stopping where they weren't blocking traffic to get out, look around, and take pictures.

The weather was pretty nice, until we got to the top. Then a thunderstorm blew in up one valley, and a snowstorm blew in up the valley we had just arrived from. Despite huge warning signs about lightening being one of the major causes of death in Colorado, groups of people were still hiking up the lookout cairn on top of the peak. At 11,000 feet, it's above the treeline, and everyone was exposed.

I expressed my disbelief that people are still hiking around on a bald mountain, with lightening crashing all around them, and the man commented that they weren't very bright. My youngest responded, "But they will be, soon!"

Snowstorm over the appropriately-named Never Summer Mountains:

One of the gorgeous Alpine Lakes we hiked to:

We didn't get a chance to explore nearly all that we would have liked to, so another trip is definitely in the works.

Summer Vacation Part III

2009-08-31T12:10:00.001-07:00

Sunday, we wandered around Estes Park, as the thought of crawling into the car to drive anywhere was more than any of us could stand. Typical tourist town in a gorgeous location.

Tuesday, we took a day trip to Colorado Springs to see The Garden of the Gods. The story is that, upon seeing the area, a pioneer said he thought it would make a great beer garden. His friend replied that this was, indeed, a garden fit for the the gods, hence the name of the park. It's probably good that no beer garden was ever built there, otherwise tourists would be looking for Broken Ankle Rocks.

The area around Colorado Springs is some of the prettiest I've seen so far. Right up in the mountains, and the trees are all down through town.

We accidentally stumbled upon the location for Tesla's Colorado Springs laboratory, which was pretty cool.

Summer Vacation Part II

2009-08-31T12:03:00.001-07:00

We stopped at the Little Big Horn battlefield. Oddly enough, the battlefield didn't hold my attention as much as the view from the monument. You could see for miles in every direction, which lead to the nomination of the theme song for this year's trip - I Can See for Miles.

The plains of southeastern Montana and northwestern Wyoming are amazing in that they are not nearly as flat as I thought they would be. They roll a little, but it's more a matter of clefts and ravines.

However, the stretch between Casper and Cheyenne was much flatter and endless. Not only could you see for miles, but there was absolutely nothing to be seen. The soil is very different from the area of the country I live in. It's thin, hardscrabble, and doesn't appear suitable for farming. I can definitely see why this is prime cattle country.

I can never completely get away from work, as I looked at all that country and wondered how on earth you would ever find someone who was lost out there.

"What do you see?"

"I see rocks.....and grass....and sage...."

Summer Vacation, Part I

2009-08-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

To the college student in Missoula, where we stopped for breakfast: I do not want to hear, over breakfast (or any other meal, for that matter), how your mother pooped out five kids, but yours was a 37-hour ordeal that split her open like a walnut.

I also do not want to hear how high you were the last time a state trooper stopped you. Given the litany of substances you had on board, that trooper should have had the right to shoot your dumb ass on the spot, leaving your flesh for the carrion feeders and your bones for fertilizer. The next time you are that stupid, I hope you are in your vehicle alone, not wearing your seat belt, and that you go careening off a one-hundred-foot high embankment.

How Cool Is This?

2009-07-28T02:47:00.000-07:00

Franklin Habit, of The Panopticon, is teaching a beginner's lace class in Spokane, in September!

Do I get to go? No. Why? Because it's a logistical nightmare. Thirty-six hours of getting my butt kicked at work over Labor Day Weekend, four hours sleep, over an hour's drive to get there, a three-hour class, and then over an hour's drive to get home, dodging deer, moose and drunks. I have to keep reminding myself of this, because the urge to buy the ticket and make it work is nearly overwhelming.

Don't Fear the Quiche

2009-07-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

So, we're nearly at the end of the two-week Atkin's cleanse, and I find myself surprised by a couple of things. I never thought that eating food with that much fat in it would taste good, and that I would feel good after eating it. I also didn't expect to lose anything during this first two weeks. Mostly, it's been water, which is something I experienced the first time I went to an all-fresh diet. But I just feel better, all the way around. I'm looking forward to continuing on with the plan.

As for quiche, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, although texture is still something of a problem. Lots of quiche this last week and a half. I've decided that the invention of quiche went something like this:

Man drags himself into the house, after working in the fields all day, and is trying to decide what to make for dinner that won't be a lot of work. He looks into the fridge and decides if he dumps a bunch of shit into a pan, covers it with eggs, and throws it into the oven for an hour that should work. Voila! Quiche is born.

My only problem so far is trying to get rid of the chocolate cravings at work. It's my cure-all for stress there, and a work-around is going to have to be found. We'll get it figured out.

First Meal on the New Diet

2009-07-13T20:39:00.000-07:00

Color me pleasantly surprised. Dinner consisted of salad (hooray!) and chicken covered in salsa and cheese. I was really leery about the salsa and cheese, but it tasted pretty good!

I'm still afraid of the quiche, however.

Eat, Drink, And Be Merry, For Tomorrow We Diet

2009-07-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

The man in my life has decided that he's not happy with the way he looks and the way he feels. I haven't been happy with the way I look or feel for quite some time, now. So, the pair of us are going on a diet. I've never dieted with anyone else before, and I'm really hoping that we can make this a permanent change in the way we eat.

I've done Body for Life before, which I really like, while he's familiar with the Atkins Diet. Since he's in charge of the food, we'll be starting off with the Atkins cleanse. As far as I can tell, this involves eating everything I don't like for two weeks - eggs, cheese, cream, and various and sundry other fatty, greasy foods. I think I see where the cleanse part comes in, and I have a feeling that I'd better not stray too far from the bathroom (which should make work an interesting challenge). But it's only for two weeks, and then I've been assured that the menu will shift in a direction that is a little easier for me.

I also signed up for a wellness program sponsored by my health insurance plan, and today, my pedometer arrived in the mail. I'm going to get that set up and start monitoring my steps, as well as resuming my weight training, as soon as I no longer have to live in the bathroom.

This should be interesting.

Falling on my Face(book)

2009-06-21T07:30:00.000-07:00

I finally joined Facebook, and now I see why it is so wildly popular. I can catch up with everything and everybody, all in one place, in a format that is much easier to read than Myspace.

However, Myspace is still more intuitive in terms of setup, and I apologize, if I've spammed you while figuring out what I'm doing on Facebook. I'd like to combine the two so that you have the same ease of setup and ability to customize your page as Myspace, with the news feed style of Facebook, in such as way that your customized page is what you see. One of my peeves about Myspace is that I customize my page, but never get to see it, unless I specifically ask to do so.

On the knitting front, I'm approximately three-quarters of the way done with the Hoover Blanket. It's the warmest, most boring thing I've ever knitted, and I'll be glad when it's done.

Whomever's Got Talent

2009-05-28T11:51:00.000-07:00

By now, much has been said about Susan Boyle's appearance on Britain's Got Talent. Much has been made about her ordinary appearance, her age, her awkwardness, etc., which was completely overshadowed the moment she opened her mouth to sing.

With the cost of a college education rapidly rocketing out of the reach of most people, I would submit that there are many talented people both here (and in Great Britain) who will remain hidden because they simply cannot afford the piece of paper so many employers are demanding. Perhaps it is time to look at ability, as well as education.

Mother's Day Adventure

2009-05-14T13:26:00.000-07:00

I unintentionally participated in my very first 5k on Mother's Day. By unintentional, I mean there was no planning, no training, etc. How does something like this happen?

It happens when your runner son says, "There's a Mother's Day 5k tomorrow; can I go?" You tell him to find out when, where, how much, and then tell him that you'll get him where he needs to be in the morning. All arrangements are made and then, a short while later, your SO brings him back into the room and says, "You'd better tell her." This is when it dawns on you that he wants YOU to participate in this madness.

So, I went. I found a couple of friends to walk with and turned in a fairly respectable time. It actually turned out to be fun, and I think we're doing the Father's Day 5k in June.

Progress

2009-04-29T07:49:00.000-07:00

The blanket is starting to come together nicely. I had my doubts about this yarn, as I didn't think it would be soft enough, and I didn't like the drape, compared to the yarn used to swatch the pattern with. The further along I get, the more I like it. It's going to be fluffy and warm, and the contrast in texture between the border and the doubled part is interesting.

Decisions, Decisions....

2009-03-26T00:50:00.000-07:00

One of the fun parts about anticipating a new baby (especially since it's not mine) is pouring over patterns, deciding which baby blanket I'm going to try next. Someone on Ravelry posted a link to the Hoover blanket. I swatched it last night, and it's a definite keeper. The idea sounded a little intimidating, but it was not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. Now, it's just matter of finding the right colors.

Link to pattern: http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall03/PATThoover.html

Stop The Needles!

2009-03-17T10:00:00.000-07:00

All projects are currently on hold, while I decide on a pattern for another baby blanket. This one is different, though, as it's for my sister. I'm going to be an Aunt!!

Jewelry as Art

2009-03-06T06:35:00.000-08:00

Every so often, in my nocturnal wanderings across the web, I'll find something that absolutely takes my breath away, and this jeweler's site did just that. The artistry is unbelievable, and you'll have to look at it for yourself. In particular, take note of Ring No. 1004.

http://www.vancraeynest.com/

I'm Easily Entertained

2009-02-28T06:45:00.000-08:00

It was cold when I got off work this morning, and the windshield was lightly frosted. Being a bit impatient, I used the wiper fluid to clear it and then watched in amazement as dandelions of frost bloomed across the windshield. Needless to say, I did it three or four more times just for the beauty of it.

Road Trip

2009-02-22T06:29:00.000-08:00

I love road trips with my kids, because you just never know what's going to come sailing out of the backseat. Yesterday, it was the alphabet according to infectious diseases. We made it up to "J" and then had to open it up to disease in general. We managed to take the alphabet to "Q" before we were completely stymied.

The Key Rule

2009-02-19T16:13:00.000-08:00

Providing two children with one key to the house will ensure that the child without the key arrives home first.

Harry Magnuson

2009-01-27T06:50:00.000-08:00

Harry Magnuson was known to everyone and was affectionately referred to, in my family, as "Uncle Harry." We're not related, and he would never have known me from Adam, but his presence was everywhere.

One of the feats that he is most remembered for is taking on the government in federal court to stop the I-90 project from going through the middle of downtown Wallace, which would have wiped out it's historic architecture.

In the early 1970's, State Highway 10 wound through the middle of every small town from the Washington state line to the Montana state line. I-90 bypassed every single one of them, and they all shriveled up and died. Even Coeur d'Alene was not immune, and even now, it's downtown is not the vibrant place it once was.

Taking advantage of the newly-passed 1969 National Environmental Policy Act, Harry Magnuson sued the government, claiming that an environmental impact statement had not been filed for the project, and he won a favorable decision in federal court. He and the late Nancy Lee Hansen then proceeded to obtain National Historic Register status for the entire downtown area, keeping the entire matter tied up until 1986. Up until that time, Wallace was known for having (among other things) the only stoplight on I-90 between Boston and Seattle. The stoplight was taken down with great ceremony and is currently located in the mining museum.

The man is a true Idaho Legend.

The Passing of a Legend

2009-01-27T06:36:00.000-08:00

MAGNUSON, Harry Frank (Age 85)

Passed away on Saturday, January 24, 2009, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Washington.

He was born on March 14, 1923, at Providence Hospital, Wallace, Idaho, to Mary (Sala) Magnuson, a second generation Italian American, and Harry John Magnuson, a second generation Swedish American, in Wallace, Idaho. Harry was the eldest of three sons.

Harry was a lifelong resident of Wallace, spending summers at the farm of his grandparents, Louis and Margherita Sala, in Harrison, Idaho. He graduated from Wallace High School in 1940 and went to work for Hecla Mining Company as a telephone operator. In 1941, he enrolled at the University of Idaho in Moscow where he became a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

When World War II broke out, he transferred to the University of Idaho Southern Branch at Pocatello, where he became a member of the United States Navy in its V 12 program. Through the program, he attended Harvard Business School, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Upon completion of the program, he was commissioned as a lieutenant of the United States Navy and served as a supply officer in the Pacific through the end of World War II. After the war, he returned to Harvard Business School and obtained a Masters in Business Administration.

In 1947, Harry returned to Wallace and again went to work for Hecla Mining Company. Shortly thereafter, on December 29, 1947, he met Colleen Burns, the love of his life. They were married in St. Alphonsus Church in Wallace on July 22, 1950, and were married for almost 59 years. After a year at Hecla, Harry founded his own accounting firm, H. F. Magnuson & Co., which he continued to operate for 60 years.

Harry learned the value of hard work and a good education from his parents. He was profoundly committed to community service. He practiced those virtues his entire life, which improved the well-being of countless others.

Harry and Colleen raised five children in Wallace. In 1963 they acquired Glen Eyrie on Casco Bay, Lake Coeur d'Alene where the family moved for summers thereafter. He loved to spend time there among his beautiful flowers and old growth Idaho timber. In 1982, Harry and Colleen built a winter residence at Mauna Kea, Kamuela, Hawaii. Harry enjoyed spending as much time there in the winters as possible and commuted between Wallace and Hawaii for many years.

Harry loved all things Idaho and served on a number of community, state and national boards. He was very generous with his time and his opinions were well-respected. He grew up in a small town with small town values which instilled in him an unending drive to succeed and give back to his community. He was such a humble and gracious man that no one who met him would likely recognize the breadth of his successes and the number of awards he received over the years. The awards, though many, were not his motivation.

Harry was one of the first three lay trustees appointed to the governing body at Gonzaga University in 1969. He served as a trustee for 41 years and served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees from 1970 to 1975. In May of 2008 he was given the Desmet Medal by Gonzaga University. In 1984 he received an Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Gonzaga University. In May of 1989 he received an Honorary Doctor of Administrative Science Degree from the University of Idaho at its centennial commencement. From 1987 through 1991, he served as the Chairman of the Idaho Centennial Committee, which celebrated Idaho's first 100 years. In January 1991, the Idaho Statesman designated him as Citizen of the Year for 1990 and praised the accomplishments of the Idaho Centennial Commission. In May 1991, he received an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws from Idaho State University. He was one of the Idaho State University's first honorary degree recipients. In August 1996, he was inducted into Idaho's Hall of Fame in recognition of a career in business as well as service to his community and the State. In October 1999, he received the "Esto Perpetua" Award from the Idaho State Historical Society in honor of his significant contributions to the preservation of Idaho history. Many of the historic sites of North Idaho are preserved as a result of Harry's work. The Cataldo Mission was especially close to Harry's heart. He worked for years to bring about the completion of Sacred Encounters, a permanent exhibition of Indian artifacts. Harry was highly honored by the Coeur d'Alene Indians and received the Cataldo Medal in 2003.

Harry will always be remembered for his selfless generosity and absolute love for his family. He is survived by his wife, Colleen, Wallace, three sons, Harry James and his wife Nita, Coeur d'Alene, Thomas Robert and his wife Melissa, Spokane, John Magnuson and his fiancé Holly Houston of Coeur d'Alene, two daughters, Kathleen Magnuson Sheppard and husband Burton of Spokane, and Mary Elizabeth Magnuson of Seattle, grandchildren Jimmy and Clancy Magnuson, David, Daniel and Flora Sheppard, Wei Wei Magnuson, Tyanne Ward, Frankie and Emily Magnuson, and Jessie Graves, two younger brothers and their wives, Richard and Elsie Magnuson of Wallace and Bob and Elinor Magnuson of Spokane, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A Vigil Service will be held at St. Alphonsus Church in Wallace at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, January 29, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Aloysius Church in Spokane, Washington. The family deeply appreciates the outpouring of love and support from people throughout the Northwest. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Harry and Colleen Magnuson Scholarship at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, 502 E. Boone Avenue, Spokane, Washington 99258, or to the Wallace Civic Auditorium Association, P. O. Box 469, Wallace, Idaho 83873.
In honor of Harry, give someone less fortunate a hand up.

"To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die." W. W. Campbell
Please read Harry's memorial and sign his online guestbook at hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.

Prepping Projects

2009-01-25T05:23:00.000-08:00

One of the problems with knitting at 3 a.m. is that the pattern chosen must be one that is not too complicated and can be easily picked up if the knitter is interrupted fifteen times in five minutes. So, I'm currently testing out the Maja shawl pattern in the winter Knitty. The sample swatch had to be ripped out, because I didn't quite understand the pattern. I hope to get it figured out this week and then a good start on the shawl sometime in the next two weeks.

This is the first project that I'm doing for myself, by the way. I've given away absolutely everything else I've ever made.

The mosaic coasters are also in the prep stage, as I'm getting the tiles cut to the proper size. They should be done in the next couple of weeks as well.

In Case You Wondered

2009-01-06T17:59:00.000-08:00

Just in case you wondered about the tarp situation, Mother Nature took care of it for me. We have at least three feet of snow. It's not going anywhere until June!

Okay, Girl Wonder, Now What?

2008-12-12T12:25:00.000-08:00

I have a 26' motorhome. Every winter, it gets covered with a big ubiquitarp*, except for last year. The ubiquitarp had shredded and I couldn't find a replacement.

Trying to find a replacement that didn't cost an arm and a leg was something of a challenge, compounded by the fact that I had no idea how big the old tarp was. (If you're male, stop reading now. I will not be responsible for your eyes sticking to the back of your head.) Measuring would have been the smart thing to do. Obviously, I did not do the smart thing. All I knew is that I needed a BFT (big fucking tarp). So, I bought one that is 40x60.

I now have enough tarp to cover the motorhome twice. Or, in the alternative, cover the motor home and create an awning across the rest of the driveway. I can't bungee the thing, and I'm thinking I'm going to have to sort of double it up and sew it shut through the grommets. The neighborhood should be highly entertained by my attempts to figure this out over the course of the weekend.

(*large blue tarp seen on woodpiles and roofs across the country.)

Of Mortar and Mayhem

2008-11-14T13:23:00.000-08:00

Spreading out newspaper on the kitchen counter, I assembled everything I thought I would need. Bag of mortar, smooth spatula, sponge, gloves, the glue bottle and gluing stick (in case a tile popped off).

The instructions on the bag state that it's seven parts mortar to one part water, or one pound of mortar to two-and-a-half ounces of water. That's right, ounces. That sent me scrambling through the kitchen looking for something that would measure that little liquid, as no measuring cup I own measures less than four ounces. I managed to dig up the baby medicine spoon, which is measured in millilitres. Back to the computer for an ounces to millilitres conversion, and we were on our way. I mixed one half pound of mortar to 37.5 millilitres of water and set it to cure for 10 minutes

That's when the kitchen faucet gave up the ghost. Thankfully, it was not spraying all over the place; it just would not shut off. At all. I crawled under the sink to turn the water off, and could only turn off the cold water feed. The hot water feed would not budge and I was afraid I was going to snap one of the pipes or valves, if I continued to work at it. Head under the sink, I give directions to my son: Grab the phone. Dial this number. Tell him that the water won't turn off, and I can't get it to turn off under the sink. I'm sorry, but you're going to have to come home

While water streamed out of the faucet, I worked the mortar in between the tiles, doing my best to follow directions and the picture of what the finished pot is supposed to look like.

It's obviously not perfect. The white tile was a bad choice, as it disappeared once the grout was dry. But it's not too bad for a first attempt.

New Project

2008-11-10T17:52:00.000-08:00

It's time to learn something new. I got to thinking about things I like to do, and things I might want to work with, and I came up with mosaic. I love jigsaw puzzles, and I've always been fascinated by glasswork. Seems logical, yes?

Yesterday, I started my first project, which was a free-form pattern on a 4" clay pot, and it was harder than I'd anticipated. I had failed to take into account that I am somewhat OCD, and I had an awful time just letting go and letting it flow, so to speak. It was difficult not to make it too orderly. I succeeded, I think, but my neck and shoulders were in painful knots by the time I was done.

Today, I get to put on the mortar, and we'll see how well it comes out.

Powell's City of Books

2008-10-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

When my sister told me Portland had a three-story bookstore, I immediately put that at the top of my must-see list. I confess, however, that I was expecting something that looked like Barnes & Noble, only taller. Barnes & Noble it is not.

I have never seen anything like it, and I'm not sure I can adequately convey the size of this place. Barnes & Noble's books are divided into sections; Powell's book sections are divided into rooms - huge rooms. I have never seen so many books in one place in my life. New books, old books, used books, and books that have been out of print forever. Their technical books are in another building. It is a gigantic wonderland of books.

Powell's is an hour's plane ride away, which is probably best, as I could do a considerable amount of damage there. They also have a fabulous website: http://www.powells.com . If you are fortunate enough to live in the Portland area, you can order your books online, and then simply stop by and pick them up. How cool is that?

Six Words

2008-08-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

Smithmag.net issues the challenge of writing your life story in six words. Unable to resist, I took up the gauntlet and discovered that, while I can describe aspects of my life in six words, I am unable to completely sum it up. Some of my attempts:

Married. Divorced. Not looking; found love.
Wanted to help; now hate people
Not what I had planned. Much better

What would your six words include?

All A-Twitter

2008-07-28T15:18:00.000-07:00

Although I'm something of a hermit, social websites intrigue me. I once joked to someone that they allowed me to be social AND alone, which earned me an eyeroll.

First, it was Myspace vs. Facebook. I looked at both, tried them out, and decided I liked Myspace better. It was more intuitive, and I liked the layout. It appeared friendlier, and the clincher was that I found one of my best friends from school, right off the bat.

This week, I'm trying Twitter. I'd heard about it in connection with the student who was arrested in Egypt. He was able to alert friends and family by sending the word "arrested" from his cell phone. I don't imagine that anyone is going to be interested in what I'm doing on a daily basis, as my life is pretty quiet. However, it may come in handy in an emergency.

It's a Boy!

2008-05-30T07:30:00.000-07:00

This young man arrived May 28, around 9:30 p.m., and weighed in at 8.1 pounds. Isn't he gorgeous?

The blanket should be done by the end of this weekend!

Yay, Pictures!

2008-05-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

Finally, I can show you what I've been working on. It's a little over half done and will be finished by the end of the month, which is good, because the baby is due to arrive next month.

The stitch is from a dictionary and, other than making sure there are enough multiples, I simply eyeball the rest in terms of width and length.

'Tis The Muddy Month of March, Oh Joy

2008-03-09T07:46:00.000-07:00

Spring in the great Pacific Northwest revolves around dirt. The traction sand that you were so grateful for in winter now hovers in a big cloud over town, and the closest you get to the beach is the 50 yards of sand you've swept out of the kitchen. And then it rains. It's a wonder the kitchen linoleum still has a pattern on it.

Dirty, crusty snow melts to reveal dirty, bedraggled yards, as well as bits of trash that passersby have so graciously deposited. The deer have eaten the shrubbery down to sticks, and it appears that nearly all of them will have to be replaced. Everything is either frozen or sodden.

It is no wonder then, that my mind turns to thoughts of turquoise waters and white, sandy beaches. The South Pacific has always captured my imagination in a way the Caribbean never could. Tiny bits of land scattered throughout miles of ocean, Islanders in outriggers, even a tribe that uses stone coins as large as wagon wheels.

Looking at various trips online, I have decided Bora Bora needs to be added to my list of places to visit. Huts suspended on stilts over the water, turquoise water so clear that boats appears to be floating in air, beautiful flowers, and white sand stretching for miles. I can already feel my frozen bones thawing. But not just yet.

Ah, March. In like a lion, out like a lamb; it doesn't matter. Either way, it's a bear.

Arrrgh!

2008-02-06T01:14:00.001-08:00

This project isn't going so well. The majority of the problem is that I only get a chance to work on it between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m., and my concentration isn't what it should be. I've had to rip this out again and have vowed that this is the last time. One more foul-up, and I'm going to make another checkerboard blanket. You don't really have to think about the pattern, and it's very easy to see where you've made a mistake.

Tension

2007-12-29T01:02:00.000-08:00

I can be a bit tightly wound, at times. Although it may not always show in my manner, it will nearly always manifest itself through my hands. From occasional hand wringing, to handwriting that is small and nearly illegible, to doilies that are half the size they are supposed to be, controlling the tension through my hands can be a bit of a challenge.

I have, once again, ripped out this afghan and started over, as it was rippling and waving in a most unattractive manner due to uncontrolled tension. I just need to take a deep breath, find my happy place, breathe, and knit. Oooohhhhmmmm.....

A Slight Revision

2007-12-03T01:53:00.000-08:00

Every so often, a project just doesn't fall into place, and so it happened with this one. Merely a change in stitch, as I did not like the way the Feather-and-Fan stitch was shaping up. So, It's still blue, it's still frilly, but with a fern stitch instead.

My First Post

2007-11-17T06:33:00.000-08:00

Welcome to my blog! I am a complete novice at this, so it will be a while before it really begins to take shape. This is a companion blog to my Ravelry page, and is intended to journal my current crafting projects.

I am currently between projects, having just completed cards for a Christmas card swap, and finished my third (!) baby blanket this year. I don't have pictures of these, but will post pictures of future projects.

In the hopper is yet another baby blanket. I'm considering Caron Simply Soft, in Light Country Blue, using a feathers-and-fan stitch. That way it's frilly, if it's a girl, and blue, if it's a boy. Good thinking, right?