Betsy Herschberg, Get Out of My Left-Brained Head!

Yep, I'm pretty sure she's been poking around in there somehow and reading my thoughts.  We were lucky to have Betsy speak at our monthly guild meeting last night.  She makes these amazing, one of a kind, knitted and beaded jewelry pieces but what struck me about her was having someone put a voice to all my 'way too analytical to be creative' self-doubt.  I related to every single 'I can't do this', 'I shouldn't be doing this', and 'I can't believe I'm doing this...and that people like what I'm doing' moment she shared with us.  Great speaker.  Very inspirational to me and at a critical point, I think, in my thought process.  I've been having these internal debates with myself about how much satisfaction I get from recreating someone else's design to the letter.  It used to be enough ~ that 'it's perfect' moment when I've followed a pattern down to the last bound off stitch ~ but I'm not getting that feeling to the same extent anymore.  I think that I'm at a turning point where I need to focus my time and energy a little bit towards seeing what I can do that screams ~ 'Not only did I make this awesome thing, but I imagined it from the very beginning and it's all mine!!'  Betsy did just that and found her voice and an outlet for a creativity that she didn't think she had in her.  Thanks, Betsy for helping me to affirm that I can at least try to see what I can do.  What harm can come of that?  You can decide for yourself if she's creative or not on her website, Studio B Knits.

I could go on and on ~ it's been a busy week but I'll sum it up with a few pics and hopefully not too many more words!  (Reminds me of my favorite line from the movie 'Amadeus' where the king tells Mozart that his music has 'too many notes'.....very funny!)

I met Snohomish Shepherdess a little before the meeting started last night so we could sit and visit.  Our first real chat.  It was good to get to know her a little better and spend some time knitting with her.  AND, when the evening was over, she generously gave me this from her bountiful kitchen: 

 Clockwise from upper left: Kiwi Jam, Grape Jelly, Apricot-Pineapple Jam and Red Pepper Jam
Thanks so much, Tamra!  My husband and I are looking forward to trying them all!

I did finish a few projects this week:

On the left are Bella's Mittens, a free pattern that I made with Rowan Cocoon.  These are a birthday gift for my sister.  On the right are Brushed Suri Mitts from Blue Sky Alpaca that I made with BSA Brushed Suri in Lollipop, a hot pink yarn that matches the highlights in my brother's girlfriend's hair.  They are her birthday gift and she's excited about them (I showed her the yarn before I started).

And I'll end the post with an update on Kelli and my top secret test knits that we did for Coralie Meslin this past summer.  They are officially in print in two of Tahki Yarns recent Spring\Summer 2011 publications.

Above:  Kelli's knit showed up in City Tweed, Tweed Collection 5th Edition ~ it's called the Boerum Hill Top.  I love this pattern!  I would definitely wear this!

Below:  My knit showed up in Kaleidoscope Cotton Classic 5th Edition ~ it's called Aqua Velva 1-Shoulder Tank.  A bit too daring for me but it looks smashing on the gorgeous model, don't you think?!  Thanks Coralie, for giving us the opportunity to knit up a couple of your new designs and getting the chance to see something that we had on our very own needles pop up in print.  So cool!! 

Happy Valentines Day

Here we are wishing and dancing a happy valentines to you!!!

Check out the cute socks I knitted for my husband...

Sunday ~

My date with Uncle Sam has dragged on into day 2.  Seems I didn't have a full deck with which to play cards ~ spent the day gathering up receipts from here, there, and everywhere.  Now I'm ready to sit down and work on our taxes in earnest, BUT, the get up and go feeling has done got up and left.  I'm breaking up with Uncle and maybe we'll try again next weekend.  What a fickle girl....

So, on to more important things....the attic has 1/2 a floor and my wonderful handy man of a husband is working on finishing it today!

Isn't it pretty?  The window trim and baseboards will be bright white and will look great, I think, against the green paint.  Last night my husband suggested that I get skylights installed to help with the lack of natural light....'um, ok?'.  Did you think I'd say no!?  How cool is that?  That's definitely an expense for a later date but to know that I'll eventually get them is awesome ~ and there's an added bonus of there being a sweeping view of Puget Sound on the other side of that darn attic roof......I can't wait!!!

Today I'm casting on a belated birthday gift for my brother's girlfriend ~ I'm making her these Brushed Suri Mitts with BSA Brushed Suri in Lollipop, a hot pink shade I know she'll love! 

My husband was very interested in this yarn when he saw me winding it this morning.  Lots of questions about what type of fiber it was....  Turns out he thinks this would be a perfect material to add to some of the flys he ties for fly fishing.  He's welcome to every last inch I have left over and I'll try to remember to post a photo of what he comes up with.  I still get tickled when I hear him talking about 'chenille' ~ a word I never thought I'd hear come out of his mouth but it is used alot in tying flies ~ and now he wants to raid my yarn stash.  I love it ;)
Melissa

A Date with Uncle Sam

He and I are huddling up around the kitchen table today to play a little poker.  I'm hoping I win ~ tax time ~ blech!  Decided to dress for the occasion so I'm wearing my new shawl for the first time.  Thanks everybody for knitting along ~ it's a great way to start the year, knitting alongside friends.  Here she is ~ man, it's hard getting a photo that does justice to all this work and tiny detail!

 

I'm really pleased with how this lace knitted up and thanks, AGAIN, to my friend Lucy for gifting me this amazing yarn!  I'll think of you every time I wear it ;)

~Melissa
I did check today and the pattern is still up and available for free download (at least for the moment!) so if you're inspired to take on this project, here's the link.

A Quiet Winter's Trip~

Way up in the Cascade Mountains in Washington sits a sweet little Bavarian style town called Leavenworth. My husband and I spent 4 days in quiet relaxing time.

What's that you ask? Yarn shops?~Oh yes. Leavenworth it self has a small one. Good yarns and a few beads. The cashier only looked up once as I purchased my hand-dyed Araucania,Ranco solid,olive shades wool, to agree I bought a beautiful yarn. So if looking for hositality don't shop there.
Cashmere Washington about 15 minutes away on the other hand has Cashmere Cottage! I was happily welcomed, and spent my time looking and chatting to Judith, the shop owner, while others came for her help, her grandaughter who didn't have preschool that day knitted and I think was wondering were's lunch? I purchased 2 hanks of Paca-Paints, #403 Mesa color,alpaca. Like I need more alpaca! She continued her kindness with a 10% discount!!! Highly recommend shopping/stopping by if you ever get a chance.

My husband popped in the local sportsmen store to find out what the fish where biting on. He fished a little, I knitted.

We'd watch Jane Austen movies along with whatever night time 'cop shows' were televised. Brought our favorite foods and enjoyed each others company. It was refreshing.

Time to rest...

the attic is painted except for the trim...


Oolong Tea



A room with a view



the shawl is finished (skipped day 23 and went on to day 24 ~ not enough yarn, boohoo)...

Day XXII

Day XXIV



and blocking....

I don't think it's quite long enough...

and Texas Chili Con Carne is bubbling away on the stove ~ a fitting meal since Dallas is hosting the Superbowl today.  Off to relax, watch the game, eat a lot and maybe get a little knitting done ;)

Melissa

(ETA: I did straighten and reblock the wonky edge in the bottom photo ~ I didn't realize how uneven it was until I posted the photo!  It looks much better now, I swear!!!)

Mexican Soup

I don't have many earth shattering recipes to share but since Snohomish Shepherdess inspires me daily with food from her kitchen, I thought I'd reciprocate and post one of my favorite recipes of all time, Mexican Soup.  I've shared it with just about everyone I know and it's a staple at family functions when my family gets together since it's healthy, easy and a 'build your own' type of soup ~ everyone can choose their own ingredients at the table.

Some of my husband's family used to winter in Baja California Sur in a house they built on the beach in a little place called Posada Concepcion on the Sea of Cortez, a few hours north of Loretto.  We took our first vacation as a married couple in 1996 and went to visit ~ it was my first trip to Mexico and we were treated to kayaking in the bay outside their front door, golfing (well, my husband golfed and I walked the course which was a great way to spend a day!), whale watching in Lopez Mateos, and a pig roast in Mulege.

 

One of the meals we cooked for ourselves was Mexican Soup.  We had the luxury of amazing farm fresh produce that periodically was sold from the back of an old pickup passing by.  It's basically chicken soup, with all the fixings for tacos, and it is Delicious!  I cooked a batch yesterday and we got the photo albums out after dinner and reminisced.  So, since one of the things about our journey down south that has stuck with me over the years is this soup, I'd love to share it with whoever comes across this blog post.  



 Baja Mexican Soup

Start with homemade chicken stock, or if you aren't lucky enough to have any on hand, here's what I did yesterday:

I used 4 quarts of chicken broth and boiled 5 lbs of bone-in skinned chicken thighs in the broth with a small handful of Mexican oregano until the meat was falling off the bone.  I removed all solids from the broth and set it aside to cool so I could skim the fat later on.  When the chicken is cool enough to handle, debone and shred the meat.  I actually froze 1/2 the broth and 1/2 the meat to make Chicken and Dumplings later on.

For veggies for the soup, use whatever you like in a taco.  We use lettuce, tomato, green onions, avocado, jalapeno, cilantro and lime.  After washing everything well, shred the lettuce and cut the other veggies into bite size pieces (they will be flash cooked in the hot broth when you build your soup so you don't want the pieces too big!).  I squeeze lime on the cut avocado to keep it from browning, and also put a squeeze in my bowl of soup before eating.

Cook a pot of rice, enough for about 1/2 c cooked rice per person.  I've tried just about every type of rice and my favorite for this soup is Basmati.  I love the nutty flavor with the lime and cilantro.  Last night we tried this organic brown basmati ~ I prefer the flavor of the white stuff but I know, I know, the brown is better for you, blah, blah, blah....  It was alright but not my favorite.

 

Now the fun part ~ when you're ready to eat, start with a scoop of rice in the bottom of your bowl, followed by shredded chicken, and then your choice of the fresh uncooked veggies that you've prepared.  Ladle hot broth over the top ~ the veggies cook just enough that they're warm but still crunchy.  If you like it spicy, you can add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce but I prefer mine with a squeeze (or two!) of lime, and served with Cheddar Cilantro Quesadillas and a Mexican beer.

This is one of my favorite meals and I hope somebody that hasn't had it before gives it a try and loves it as much as I do.

Melissa