Something new

I finally FINALLY set up my shop on Ravelry!  There are more patterns to add.  I cannot believe how easy it was and Joanne made it fun, as we were on the phone chatting as I set it up.  The first pattern is one I just finished today and enjoyed knitting--the Starry Java Jacket.  It is knit flat and the texture stitch is easy to work.  I went through my button stash and found some buttons the right color to go with the red and the star button was a bonus!

The blue buttons are the perfect size and color.

The Traveling Gnome approved the addition of a star button.

The button loops are worked in the bind-off.

There's change in the air

Yes, change in the weather.  I have a couple of small shrubs to plant and a larger shrub.  Dang, time has a way of flying by.

Shop samples are caught up for a bit.  I started Ariana's Shell with Rowan Felted Tweed DK.  It is lovely yarn.  It would have been really nice in my original color choice--Treacle--but instead there was more of the Carbon color, which is a dark blue/gray.  Right now I am working on a fun hat project called Round Dance.  I had a couple of skeins in the stash for some time and they were perfect for the hat.

I heard from a friend that she saw the 60 Quick Knits book in Washington state while visiting her daughter.  It is nice to hear from others how they like the hats.  I thought they turned out really cute.  The hooked rug, sample yarns, article, and photos arrived at Interweave Press.  That will take a bit longer to see, as the spring issue will not be out for a few months.

23.10.2013  I finished the Gnome Hat for my Halloween costume.  I retired the costume I made around 1982.  The only piece I needed for this costume was the hat.  Heck, why not make one I can wear when I cross-country ski?  Whether or not gnomes wear glasses remains to be seen, but this one does--I cannot see without them!  Maybe I can decorate them somehow to fit in with the costume.

The Paton's red is perfect for the hat.

Early morning light makes the red look pinkish.
The top photo's color is accurate.  

Over the weekend Jim and I had training.  He was inside and I was outside.    The participants made Little Reubens and Mountain Man Breakfast in the Dutch ovens.  Because we had only one hour for the session, the Reubens were finished quickly and finished off quickly!  I was too busy to take photos and wish I had taken one of Steve's troop when they brought their Dutch oven up from their campsite to show off their apple pfannkuchen.  It smelled heavenly.  I think that was wonderful for the adults to see the boys take pride in their cooking skills.  I can train people until the cows come home, but nothing beats seeing the boys in action.

The trees and the road looked pretty as I was leaving camp. 

Autumn colors.

Below are the recipes I used for outdoor cooking.  These are very easy to adjust.  Just remember:  You can cook food, but you can't unburn food!

Recipes:

Little Reubens

1, 8 to 10 oz pkg corned beef, chopped (or use turkey for Rachels) 

1, 32 oz jar sauerkraut well-drained (I use Frank's--it's my Ohio thing)

1 cup mayonnaise

2 cups shredded Swiss Cheese (or a bit more is better--this is not rocket science!)

Ritz crackers (The first time I tried this we had rye bread, but the Ritz crackers are really good!)

10-inch Dutch oven, matches, charcoal briquettes 

This cooks up in a preheated Dutch oven in about 20 minutes at 375 to 400 degrees F, 10 to 12 coals on top and 8 to 10 coals on the bottom of a 10-inch Dutch oven.  The amount of coals used vary when the weather is cold, or is windy and cold, which was the case on Saturday.

Mountain Man Breakfast

1/2 pound bacon (we used precooked sausage cut up)

1 medium onion, chopped

1, 2-lb bag of frozen hash brown potatoes

1/2-lb grated cheddar cheese

1 dozen eggs

1 small jar salsa

12-inch Dutch oven, matches, charcoal briquettes

This requires 6 to 9 bottom coals and 12-15 top coals.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Slice bacon into small pieces and brown with onion in  the bottom of the oven until translucent.  If using precooked sausage, thaw and then cut into small bits.  Stir in the potatoes and cover, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes.  Scramble the eggs in a separate container and pour over the potato mixture.  Cover and cook until eggs start to set, about 10 to 15 minutes.  Sprinkle grated cheese over egg mixture, cover, and continue cooking until eggs are completely set and cheese is melted.  Serve hot with salsa!  

Something else I love when camping is Philmocha--coffee with hot chocolate, which tastes so good on a chilly morning or evening by the campfire.  

This week I received the designer's copy of the book and was excited to see my pattern in print.  I will enjoy my 15 minutes of fame to the hilt!  Too bad the Twins did not do well (yet again).  It would be nice to wear the original hat to a game--I only went to the stitch and pitch game years ago the first season the ballpark opened.  

It is nice to see not only my name but Amazing Threads, too.

On the road with Jim and the Gnome

We enjoyed our weekend with Ben. Gosh, I miss him...but I'm glad he's doing well in school and loves college. It rained a bit and was chilly, but we did have a good evening on Saturday for the football game and casino night. Gnome began his adventures on campus and will go to Ireland with us. He particularly enjoyed meeting the "laughing Lincoln" statue.
Today I have lots to do in prep for our trip. I finished the Baktus scarf on the road and have almost a pair of socks finished. Now to choose needles and some starter yarn for the trip...

Top 'o the evening to you!

May I introduce Seamus O'Gnome? Ta-da! Thanks to Margie for giving him a name. I think it suits him just fine. Coco Gnomette is smitten and there's romance in the air as Valentine's Day approaches. I've been busy picking up some more hours at the shop. It's time to sleep...zzzzz...

Oooommmmm...

I'm still in the yoga zone. I wore earplugs today. I think the music's too loud. I can still hear, though. I also took off my glasses, which helped me focus on my positions and not my reflection!

The Montauk is coming along fine. I added a couple of rows to the beginning of the body. The chunky yarn is perfect for the small, I'll get a little more room for the girls without it being over sized. I gave up the Kilimanjaro because I was drawing a blank knitting the lace, and it's really easy. It's okay, I'll get to it soon. St. B. is a big hit and I'm wearing it to coffee tomorrow so Zinnea Bouquet can see it.
Gnomette's friend, Seamus O'Gnome, is knitted but needs his felting bath today.
Today's the first day in a long time I don't have to be anywhere! Yea!

Little projects

Gnomette made her debut when I went to Friendship Friday at the LYS. The mushroom was a hit, too. I'm making her a friend. It was really cold again today, starting out at -22. When I left the shop it was +7 and snowing.

We have the weekend to ourselves. Angelika is in New York for the long weekend. I'm catching up on some housework and such.
My second spinning class is set for February. I'm anxious to do that again.
I finished knitting a friend for Gnomette. He's dressed in dark green. I'm thinking he might be a little bit Irish...

It was so cold...

It was so cold...Starbucks was serving coffee on a stick! Brrrr...it is cold. I was on my way to yoga when the temp on my car mirror read -21. That was the low. It's -11 and I can feel a big difference--NOT. Just kidding, for me heat is worse than cold. We have a mini-thaw next week and I figure with temps in the 30s we'll have to break out the summer clothing and grill some burgers and brats!

I finished my red Aran Tam II. I love it. It's just warm enough and so soft. My Mom said the old ladies used to make them for kids when she was a little girl, which would have been in the 1920s.
I also finished knitting my gnomette. I hand felted her in the kitchen sink and it went quickly. I'm shredding some Lamb's Pride bulky for her hair. I'll needle felt that on and then fix her face. I Swiss darned a heart on her hat before I felted her. It looks cute. The Valentine in the photo is one I got as a kid.
Time for jammies and knitting!