Pablo!

Doesn't he look comfy?

Project Complete

So surprise. I actually finished something. I finished a pair of lace up gaunlets from the Alterknits book. Lovely color from malabrigo. Dark green it looks almost black. Used a very thin satiny ribbon to lace them up.

New old recipe: Scalloped Tuna and Potato Casserole

Okay okay I know this sounds really nasty, but for some reason I was craving tuna casserole. I decided to look up a recipe in one of my many old cookbooks. I decided upon The Good Housekeeping Cook Book circa 1942. This is a great old cookbook with lots of WWII/Depression influences such food stretchers, tips on not wasting food, an interesting take on weight loss and fat teens, use of the word cookery (which always makes me giggle), and lots and lots of recipes involving lard and evaporated milk. This is a great book I would recommend you buy if you see it in a thrift store or at a garage sale for under $5. Mine came with all sorts of neat cutouts from old newspapers and a few hand written recipes as well (Gram Whit's Lemon Pie sounds particularly tasty).

Anyway, I had this unholy craving for tuna (which is odd because I hate tuna). So plucked the 1942 GH from the shelf and looked up tuna. On page 305 was a whole myriad of tuna recipes, including Club Tuna Loaf, Tuna and Mushroom Casserole, Tuna Stuffed Peppers, and Scalloped Tuna and Potato Casserole. Although the Tuna and Mushroom Casserole seems the most likely candidate, I had neither the required mushrooms (surprisingly the recipe calls for fresh sauteed ones) nor the required bag of crushed potato chips (how wonderful is that?). Frankly, the Tuna Loaf sounded gross (and funny enough also required crushed potato chips), and the Stuff Peppers were also out of questions as I had no peppers. Turns out that I had everything for the Tuna and Potato casserole (except parsley but who needs parsley). I didn't even need milk as this version has an option for evaporated milk which I did have.

Scalloped Tuna and Potato Casserole

4 c. thinly sliced pared potatoes
2 Tblsp. butter or margarine
1 Tblsp. fat or salad oil
4 Tblsp. flour
2 c. bottled milk or 1 c. evaporated milk and 1 cup water
1 medium onion, minced
3/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. peper
1 Tblsp. minced parsley
1 7 oz. can tuna fish, flaked

Cook the sliced potatoes in boiling salted water for 10 min., drain. Meanwhile, melt butter and fat in top of a double boiler over direct heat. Stir in the flour, then add the milk, onion, salt, and pepper, and cook over hot water while stirring until smooth and thickened. Add minced parsley. Arrange potatoes and tuna fish in alternating layers in a greased or oiled 2 qt. casserole, pour sauce over all and bake in a moderate oven of 350 degree F for 45 mins. Serves 6. Salmon may be substituted for the tuna.

Now it is not the most appetizing looking thing in the world, but, like many a casserole, this dish much better than it looks. It basically tastes like scalloped potatoes, but with this interesting flavor added from the tuna which isn't the fishy nastiness that tuna usually gives off. The tuna also gives it some protein so it is hardy enough for a main dish (though I would suggest a salad or something to go along with it as this probably has very little nutritional value). I used only butter (no fat or oil), used thyme and some garlic pepper instead of parsley, and only boiled the potatoes for seven mins not ten but otherwise stuck to the recipe. I was worried that it would be too sloppy but the potatoes help thicken the entire thing so it was more the consistency of very thick mashed potatoes. This took a fair amount of dishes for casserole (double boiler, pot for boiling potatoes, knives, cutting boards, and a casserole), but at least I got to use my super cute double boiler. This also can be pretty messy with the tuna and white sauce.

All and all I'd say I would try this recipe again and perhaps even serve it to friends, provided any were willing to try it.

Baby!

My air plant is blooming! I totally thought it was dying. That means it will have a baby soon.

I love my aunt

Guess what my lovely aunt sent me for no-day?
She remembered me admiring the Latern Moon needle cases and baskets when she and I dragged my brother to a knitting store during my visit in May. She quite liked the cases herself (and well she has developed a taste for every thing Asian or Asian inspired recently), but as I was on a tight budget I didn't get one.
One popped up in the mail today out of the blue. She had already bought me my present so this is a great bonus. If I recall rightly, this one was even the color I liked best, black with greens and blues (not that it photographed that way ). Clever aunty. Even Pablo likes it (though he seems to like the plastic shopping bag it came wrapped in even more). Now all I need to do is dig around in one of the many plastic bins I keep my knitting stuff in and find those wandering loose needles so that they might go to their new home. Good thing I vaccumed today. :)
Thanks Reva!

Pablo!

I still have Pablo who was supposed to be a three week guest in my house starting last Fourth of July.

A year with el gato muy loco. I can't say that I relish the catbox odor in my apartment, but I do enjoy having him around (until he attacks and wounds me). He is awfully cute, even when he is disobediently sitting on the kitchen table.

Testing!

So I have had a little bit of thing with buying old cookbooks of late, I can't seem to stop. Really I am buying anything that reminds me of my grandmother's house from cookbooks to aprons to old kitchen gear. As I was picking up a pile of vintage phamplets at the East Bay Depot yesterday with Karrie, she asked when are you going to start making recipes out of these things? Today that's when.

For my first recipe I choose one of the phamplets that I got for 25 cents at the EBD, a Diamond Walnuts advertisement recipe phamplet with no publishing date but titled The New Walnut Cook Book. I would guess from the style of type and illustrations that it would be from the mid 1950's to mid 1960's. I am not one for walnuts myself, but the drawings in the phamplet were super cute, and there was one recipe that caught my eye, Old-Time Penuche. For those of you unfamilar with penuche, it is basically a brown sugar fudge. The penuche at the Fudge House on Pier 39 reminds me of some candies my grandmother used to make when I was a tot so I thought I would give this one a go. The "beating until it is creamy" method also brings me back to watching grandma making my favorite frosting for banana cupcakes, a recipe I have yet to find.

Of course I had to alter the recipe a bit as I had neither walnuts nor enough sugar in the house to make it. (Note that this page also contained one of Sarah's favorite recipes, Rum Ball.)

Here is the recipes in its entirety in case you wish to try it (or alter it) yourself.

Old-Time Penuche

1 lb light brown sugar ( or 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar and 1 cup brown sugar, packed)
3/4 cup light cream or half-and-half
1 Tablespoon light corn syrup
2 Tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 teaspoon grated orange rind (optional)
1 cup coarse chopped Diamond Walnuts

In a large saucepan measure all ingredients except vanilla and walnuts. Stirring constantly, heat to boiling, and boil gently to 238 degrees or until a few drops in cold water form a soft ball. (Don't worry if mixture curdles; beating will make it smooth.) Remove from heat and let stand without stirring until bottom of pan feels lukewarm; then stir in flavoring and walnuts, and beat with spoon until thick and creamy and beginning to lose its gloss. Pour into butter 8" square pan. Cut into squares while warm. Makes a little over 1 lb.

Of course right off I started messing with this recipe as I got rid of the walnuts (which kind of defeats the purpose of this cookbook but I like my desserts like I like my pets: neutered). I also halved the recipe as I didn't need that much fudge, and I didn't quite have a pound of light brown sugar. I also didn't add the orange rind, and I used whipping cream in place of either light cream or half and half. Oh and it didn't say salted or non salted butter so I used the unsalted and threw in a pinch of salt which most of the candy recipes I used before seemed to have. Also note that this recipe doesn't mention at all the temperature at which to cook it or any of the times involved with the activities. Again taking a hint from other candies I have made, I went with a medium to medium low heat. This still cooked up pretty fast, and by the time I got around to getting cold water bath to test the temperature, it was already at the soft ball stage. Of course this could also have something to do with the fact that I halved the recipe, and so the mixture got more contact with the cooking surface. I did taste the little ball of candy that came from the water ball, and it tasted exactly like these caramels my grandmother made when I was a child. I shall have to try this recipe again and make it hardball stage to see if they are similar. The part that seems to take the longest though is the waiting for the mixture to reach the lukewarm stage. I have already cleaned up all my prep dishes and have gotten most of the way through taking pictures and a post, and it is still a few minutes away from lukewarm.
When it was finally cool enough (20-30 minutes approximately), I started beating, and this stage was yet another part of the recipe that took forever (although I think it was only between 5-10 minutes). I had just about reached the point of composing a paragraph on just what I had done wrong when the gloss started to go away, and it finally stopped looking like a caramel and started looking like a fudge. And it also have the texture of fudge when I tasted it. I didn't cut it while it was warm like the recipes suggests. All and all I think this test went pretty well. I don't think there is much more I could have done better the results (which are quite tasty btw). I will note that the times I mentioned above will probably be longer if you do a full or double batch of candy. In addition to halving the recipe, not adding nuts made it so there is about a quarter of the pan full of fudge. This means I won't be eating an entire pan of fudge (again). If I were to try the recipe again, I might add some of the orange rind as that sound intriguing. I think I shall label this test a success and the recipe a keeper.
What should I try next weekend? I think I might have to buy MSG if I want to make most of the savory recipes from many of the cookbooks I have. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Breads are too much trouble for me these days as there isn't a good place in my kitchen to rise it. Perhaps another dessert, perhaps a salad. We shall have to see what the weekend brings but hopefully I should have something interesting to bring to the Firefly marathon on Saturday.

Happy cooking, and if you have a recipe for banana cupcakes that involves a white, hand-beaten frosting (which when slightly modified makes caramels), you will let me know right?

Hurrah Thanks Secret Pal!

Yes. I am a bad blogger. I have a great secret pal though, Brianna in Alaska of Mama Knits . I got this lovely hand knit purse (in PB&J). Several balls of yarn ranging from cotton to wool to some lovely alpaca wool. In colors from green to camel to red/orange to reddish brown to some lovely natural white so that I could try my hand at some dyeing. Also a cute little magnet and some lovely ribbon. All and all a great package.
Thanks Brianna!

Viva Vegas

Debbie is getting married by Elvis this weekend. I am going to go watch. Driving down with Karrie and Brent and Abby is going to drive back with us. Should be a grand old time. Though it is supposed to be 104 or higher all weekend. Glad my AC works.

See you in July. :)

First month nearly done.

One month of work nearly over. So much I didn't get done. So much left to do.
Commuting sucks. I nearly died today. I still am not put off enough to move to San Jose though.
I have done a lot of social things this month but it is hard to fit in things when I have to go to bed by 10 pm.

First paycheck!

Tomorrow. We are going to T-Rex from 3-6 this Saturday if you want join us. MMM cocktails.

Finished object

Very nice. Silk garden by Noro.

Portland

Here in Portland for Memorial Day. Down to Eureka tomorrow then back to Berkeley on Wed.
Using a computer at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry right now.

Coming to a city near you!

Well I am on my big tour of the Pacific Northwest again. Currently sitting in a cafe in Boise. Headed up to Salmon this afternoon then onto St Maries (and possible Spokane) then Seattle and Portland for Memorial Day weekend. Picking up my little brother in Salmon. He just turned 21 and this will be the first time anyone has driven the big circle with me. Going counter clockwise this year instead of clockwise so we can be in Portland for Memorial Day.
Then bro and I are going to check out a few things (read vineyards and brewery and bars) around the Bay Area until June 2nd. I probably won't be in contact most of the time.
Man I feel so yuppie. Blogging in a cafe. :)

Thanks Secret Pal

Little package from secret pal a couple days ago. Thanks!

First square.

Well not quite so little. The 4 inch square. Didn't do it it quite right and had to sew the edges. I have improved since then.

Weaving time...

More fun with Ebay. I got a couple of different mini weaving contraptions on ebay in the past couple weeks. The first two are Weave It's, which are both highly rated at eLoomaNation. The 4 inch is in excellent condition despite it being the older wooden version. The 2 inch is slightly more used but still is pretty good condition.
The third one is a Wonder Weaver and works a bit more like a real loom. I checked out the loom site to get a rating but didn't see it until after I had bid. Apparently this is not top rated because it tends to slip when you use it. I can totally see where that would be a big problem. Still going to try it out. Stay tuned for little squares which may or may not become much bigger objects.

Are you being watched?

Sometimes I feel eyes on the back of my neck. This is usually what I see when I turn around.

Lamb's Pride Scarf

I took the lamb's pride bulky that my secret pal from secret pal 10 sent me and produced this short scarf. It is in 1 x 1 rib about 12 stitches across using size 15 needles. I am not sure how I want to finish it. It is pretty plain and only about 5 feet long so I was thinking of edging it in some black yarn and then putting some fringe on it. I think I have some cascade 109 that is about the same thickness. I also have some fingering weight black alpaca yarn that also might look nice. I go back and forth. Until I decide this is going to stay in my almost finished pile. Any thoughts?

Botanical Garden Sale

This weekend was the university's annual botanical garden sale. We showed up right before the doors opened and headed straight for the carnivore plants. Karrie and I both picked up an abalone shell filled with tiny little bug eaters; mine was mainly sundews and venus fly traps.





Also in that general vicinity was all of the succulants along with a bowl of salsa and some Mexicana music. I picked up three, an Oscularia deltoides azioaceae, an Echeveria crassulaceae, and an Aeonium crassulaceae. It hasn't been that sunny since I got them so they are getting enough light.






Finally, I picked up two Tillandsia sometimes called air plants. I really like these little guys. We met one of the volunteers who cares for them, and she puts them on these neat drift wood pieces. One of mine is a butzii and the other is a caulescens.
I like all my new plants, and thankfully Pablo has not shown any interest on gnawing on them. I am keeping the carnivores well out of his way though.

Cooking on a Sunday...

I spent a good part of the afternoon with the oven on. It made the house nice and toasty. It also meant that I now have lots of tasty stuff to eat.

First off, I made bake some swedish meat balls from Ikea with some potatoes and cream sauce. Tasty.

Next, I made a recipe that came from a cookbook that my third grade class made as a class project for some holiday like Christmas or Mother's Day. The last time I went home I couldn't find the cookbook so I think it got tossed. That was too bad because there were some good recipes in there. This one one of two that I had digitally so they were saved (the other one is a fruit pizza from Buff Bills). It came from Fauna Woehlke, a friend up through highschool who I have seen not nearly enough since. There were no spices other than salt and vanilla in the original recipe so I added them. I omit the nuts because I like my desserts neutered . I made this one with big fat grains of sugar on top, but you can't really see it in the photo.


Banana Bread

3/4 c sugar
1/2 c oil
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup mashed bananas
1 3/4 c sifted flour
2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
1.2 c chopped walnuts

1/4 t. nutmeg
1/4 t. cloves
1/2 t. cinnimon

In a bowl combine salt , flour, baking powder, soda and spices. in another bowl
combine sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla, beat vigorously until frothy. Add
bananas and blend. fold into flour mixture until blended, pour into
greased bread pan. Bake at 325 degress for one hour until crust is brown.
Use toothpick to test for doneness. Remove from pan to a rack. Let stand
10 minutes and invert pan. Cut into inch slices.



Finally, I decided to play with my grandmother's recipe for rhubarb sauce.

In addition to the 6 cups of chopped rhubarb and 1 cup sugar and 1 cup water which I boil I added some zest and some nutmeg.
When it was a little further along than this (chunks beginning to disentigrate), I added an 1/8 of a cup tapioca. I boiled it for about five minutes and removed the pan from the heat. I let it cool 1 minute and added a half a teaspoon of vanilla.
This turned out a lovely shade of pink. I froze half of it and put the rest in the fridge. It tasted a little sweeter than normal. Now if only I had some ice cream I could eat it.

Vintage cookbook habit

It seems I have a bit of problem with buying vintage cookbooks (let's define vintage as more than 25 years old). I joined a vintage cookbook swap by pumpkinvine on swapbot a couple of weeks ago. I went through all my cookbooks and found I didn't want to part with with which qualified for required age of "older than 1975". The swap required sending books to two separate partners so I decided to buy a couple books to send. I went on ebay to find something suitable. I went into a bidding frenzy. By bidding on the wrong item, and bidding on too many items and wrongly assuming other people would outbid me on at least a couple, I ended up purchasing 30 books and phamplets. One busy afternoon. One of those turned out to be not what it was advertised as so the guy is supposed to be refunding me. That brings me back down to 29.

While all my bids were busy stewing, I was walking to and from Berkeley Bowl and spotted a pile of free stuff. I was able to pick up a cat carrier. I then noticed the cookbooks. I picked up all the guy laid out (5) along with a book on wine and one on gardening. This brought me up to 34 for that day. Two that I picked up were this cute phamplet on Hungarian cooking from 1965 and book on fondues which is more contemporary (1980).






I checked the mail the next day and what had arrived but my first vintage book from the swap. Turns out my secret swapper was none other than originator of the swap, pumpkinvine herself, who had gone above and beyond her own guideline and sent me one large color cookbook and two vintage phamplets. For those of you counting that is 37 books and phamplets in just 2 days. The quick dishes for the woman in a hurry is probably my favorite. Like the Hungarian one I found in the street, this one was published by the Culinary Arts Institute in Chicago. This one is from 1955, and nearly every savory recipe calls for MSG. Karrie seemed to like the Bisquick one from Betty Crocker (1959). The last book is from Better Homes and Gardens and is from 1963. I have a whole set of 20 of these large picture books from Better Homes and Gardens from 1958 coming in the mail so this one will have some company.

So I am waiting for one other partner to send me vintage cookbooks from this swap, a blank cookbook from another swap and the 40 books and phamplets which should be in the mail from ebay(I am adding in the ones I bought today). Most notable are one seafood from 1927, one from 1918 called Institute Cook by Helen Cramp, a 1931 Pet Milk recipes book and a first edition Ladies Home Journal Cookbook from 1960. Still trying to get that Meta Givens Encyclopedia of Cooking though. So perhaps soon it should be 41. Then I am going to stop buying them on ebay.

Note I didn't say that I would stop buying them all together. I think I am going to focus more on books from earlier than 1960 now though. And look more for them at thrift store and antique fairs. While I was able to get stuff pretty cheap off of e-bay, I would like to not have to pay shipping. While the joy of winning an auction is great it is no where near the joy of finding something great in a pile of crap at a yardsale.

First interview!

I got my first job interview next Friday. At a firm I thought had probably thrown out my resume like a month ago. Turns out that they didn't and they liked me and I am interviewing for a job that hasn't even been posted yet. *fingers crossed*

Hurrah, Thanks Secret Pal

I got my very first package from Secret Pal 10 today. There were a bunch of tasty little coffee candies and a couple bags of ginger tea. There were also two skeins of yarn, one ball of Lamb's Pride Bulky wool mohair blend in the color Kiwi and one skien of Rio de la Plata Hand Spun Kettle Dyed, 100% Wool in forest green. Not sure what to do with them quite yet but I think you will probably see they again as a hat or something of that nature.

Decadence Cake

I made a chocolate decadence cake for the Seder at Abby's parents house this weekend. It went over well so I thought I would post the recipe again. This picture though is from another party. This weekend we just had it with strawberries and nothing else. Very tasty. The texture was great this time.


Chocolate Decadence Cake
6 oz semi sweet chocolate (I use only Scharffen Berger or another high quality chocolate)
7 oz bittersweet chocolate (I sometimes use 8)
5 oz water
6 oz sugar
9 oz butter (softened)
6 eggs
3 oz sugar
12 oz heavy whipping cream (for decoration)
shaved chocolate (for decoration)

Preheat over to 350 degrees.
Butter and paper one 9 inch cheese cake pan
Chop chocolate finely.
Bring water and sugar (6 oz) to a boil. Remove from heat.
Stir in chocolate and melt completely.
Stir butter into chocolate mixture until melted.

Whip eggs with 3 oz sugar to ribbon stage (not sure what that means for whole eggs but I usually let them go for 3 minutes or so).
Fold egg mixture into chocolate mixture until completely incorporated. (this was more of vigorous beating more than a folding this time)
Pour batter in prepared cake pan.
Bake in water bath (about half way up) at 350 degrees for about 40 mins until top solidified.
Chill at least 2 hours.
Warm bottom of pan slightly before unmolding
Decorate with whipped cream and shaved chocolate or fruit. (I like raspberries, whipped cream, and dark chocolate a lot).

This also goes well with Bonny Doon Frambiose or with a nice port. It can serve up to 16 easily I think since we served 14 and had some left over on Saturday. You have to make sure you are dipping the knife in hot water and wiping it off after ever slice though. It is a bit sticky.

Two balls should be enough.

So the noro silk garden scarf I started is officially half way done. I think is is going rather well don't you? Just about three feet long and I am through with one ball of yarn. The transition between the two balls is going to be a little abrupt I think, but there is enough color in the entire scarf to handle it. Here is a blurry close up as well. It is pattern I made up on the fly.

Bloody Oranges

Trader joes has done it again! They just keep coming up with these great products that make me very happy. One that they had before Christmas that I absolutely loved but was gone in the stores I go to until recently was the Italian Volcano Blood Orange Juice.
This juice is tangy and refreshing. Great for breakfast or mixing up a cocktail. I have yet to try it with champagne but that would be a way to incorporate both breakfast and cocktails. If you haven't tried it, you should. In fact go out right now and get some and make some martinis.

Bloody Orange Martini

2 jiggers Gin
1 jigges Triple sec
3-4 jiggers Blood orange juice
2 cocktail cherries per glass
2 slice lime
2 slice orange
ice

Combine gin, triple sec, and blood orange juice in shaker with ice. Shake well. Place cherries in chilled martini glass and pour mixture over cherries. Garnish with slice of lime and slice of orange. This should make two cocktails or one large cocktail for one lucky person. You can also use vodka.

Antique Fair for April

It has become my monthly ritual. Get up early on the first Sunday of the month, hit Cole Coffee in Rockridge for a morning bun and some celebes roast, and head over to the god forsaken island to check out the Alameda Point Antiques and Collectibles Faire. Way too many things I like there all way above my price and space limits. I do however pick up quite a few small things every month, and this month was no exception.
I got this nifty little travel vodka kit. Apparently they used to make all sorts of portable bar sets designed to fit under the seat of a plane. This one has a carrying case designed to fit up to two standard fifth or wine bottles, four cups, a bottle opener, a wine opener, and a spoon for stirring. Makes me want to go somewhere and make martinis right now. Also found this lovely little ice bucket to continue in the bar theme.




As always I checked out the booth that sells old knitting needles and this time the woman had brought her "whole get up". I bought several pairs of needles (perhaps for swapping perhaps not) and some crochet hooks and a couple of old 1950's pamphlets. The book seller I usually buy from didn't have anything I wanted, but I did find a 1966 copy of Mastering the Art of French cooking by Julia Child et al. I had be meaning to buy it anyway so I went ahead and got this one. Forgot to haggle though. You should always haggle.


I didn't find any aprons that were in the price range I like but I did find some cute linens. One was an old hanky with spinning wheels embroidered on it and three napkins with a geometric design. I managed to make it all the way through the market this month. Went down every aisle, walked by every booth (some twice). Stopped at quite a few. Still have my eye out for a couple of things that have eluded me. Well, perhaps I shall find them next month. I think my aunt will be here and can go shopping with me.

Happy Gato

Pablo proves the point that even if the house in entirely clean and the only thing out is one jacket on the bed, he will find it, rub his face all over it, and sleep on it.

Pablo el gato muy loco is content in the sun.

Another scarf, thanks Secret Pal 9 :)

So I started another scarf using some of the yarn I got from Amy of knit exploits during secret pal 9. This is the teal/blue mix Noro Silk Garden. It is a bit brighter than I would have picked out for myself, but I think I really like it. That is one of the things I like about the secret pal swap. You get things that you wouldn't pick out yourself necessarily but somehow people can pick something awesome.
There are a couple colors that I can see on the ball that have not yet shown up on the scarf so it will get more interesting I think as time goes on. I am using size 8 needles that I got at the Alameda Antique Fair, one from each of two sets because I lost one on the train.

Well, I got pretty far into the first ball, and it wasn't even a foot long so I ripped it out and restarted. I think I might still try and buy another ball.

Why do I like it?

It that time again. Time to examine why I like the super bulky hat that Abby designed so much. Is it because it is one skein? Is it because it only takes a couple hours if that? Is it because I really like super bulky yarn? Is it because I suffer from a lack of imagination and don't really want to try new things? Is it because I have a shit load of superbulky yarn? Perhaps it is a little of those things. Any way I started a new super bulky hat with the last skein of mango I had from the great ebay debacle.
I decided to try to knit this one in the round instead of flat and sewing it up. Since it is in the round it wouldn't really lay flat for a good picture. I also decided to alter the pattern a bit. I started on 15's and switch to 13's about halfway through since my head is fat. I kept the main cable as is but made the bits in between a section of 2 purls, 4 knits, 2 purls. in the middle of the four knits I cabled the two center stitches the opposite direction of the main cables. I am not sure you can tell, but I think it will keep it a little tighter. I think it looks alright so far. I might rip it out and start over.

Knitter's ADD continues...

Spring break blogging. time to post about all my new barely started projects that I won't finish any time soon.
Two new scarves and a new hat. Not to mention the ton of things I want to start with all my new malabrigo.
Here is one of the scarves. Karrie, Sarah and I went to this lovely knitting store when we were in Melbourne, Marta's Yarns. We met Marta and her husband, and they were lovely people. They hand dyed a bunch of lovely yarn as well, and if I had more room in my luggage, I totally would have bought a kilo to make a sweater.
I got some of this lovely two ply yarn, one ply variegated dark orange, one ply variegated silver purple. Not sure what fiber it is since it was listed just with a price and was in the bargain bin. Decided that I would try the Mom's lace pattern with it since I liked it some much for my mother's scarf. I did try to use larger needles to begin so the garter stitch bit was the same width as the lace bit but I am not sure I really succeeded. I started with 5mm needles and went down to 4.5 mm. Perhaps I can block it out. :)

I am not sure how I like how it is coming out. It might be prettier as a yarn than as a fabric. I was worried about that which is why I choose a lacey pattern. Might just be added to the pile of stuff I started but didn't like and was too lazy to unravel. *sigh*

Dollar Store Swap

This is the swap that was almost stolen! Or not. Accidently got delivered to my neighbor who shall remain nameless. She thought it was one of her swap bot packages and figured out that it was mine when she couldn't figure out what swap it was from. Then she read the packing slip.



I got some pretty cool stuff. Playdoh, tiny tuperware, magnets, shrinkydinks, transfers, paper goods... very nice.

Schrodinger's knitting needle

So Mary and I took the BART over to catch some music in the park and an indie, green craft show in the Mission. I decided it would be a great time to bring my knitting out for some fun in the sun. We found a couple of seats next to a guy and his luggage who was trying to take up four seats all by himself. I whipped out the knitting and began. Now these were my new susan bates size 8's that I picked up at the antique fair in Alameda last month and they were a little slicker and heavier than what I had been using so I dropped them a couple times. After I finished my second row of the train, my lovely new needle spilled from my hands... and was never seen again. I looked for it, Mary looked for it, the two little Spanish ladies looked for it, even luggage guy glanced up from his PS2 down at the ground like he might have been looking for it. It was no where. We tore out the seat cushions (they snap on and off you know. We checked between the bits that didn't come out. Mary crawled on the BART floor, I crawled on the BART floor. No needle. It shouldn't have bounced, it had a flat top so it shouldn't have rolled. It is 14 inches long, 5 mm wide and shiny. It should have been right there. But somehow it was completely utterly gone. Absolute sadness. Only one thing could have happened. Just like that damn cat, two places at once, passed through the floor of the BART onto the tracks. I like to think it is roaming free somewhere, perhaps shorting out a track or two. Probably not but where could it possibly have gone? It makes no sense. Should I call lost and found?

If anyone finds a lone, size 8, aluminum Susan Bates knitting needle in a light blue on the BART, please let me know. Utter sadness. Was going to make some real progress today. *sigh*

All the way to 24th street we looked but we finally had to get out and hit the craft show at the Foreign Cinema which turns out to be an upscale restaurant not a theatre. While I saw a couple cool things that were for sale for charity, nothing was quite right to take home. What with the champagne they were serving, and all the yuppies with their too cool glasses and shoes, it was just a little too over the top for me. Marked the cinema as a place to try for brunch some day and we head over (on Mary's excellent suggestion) to Tartine a lovely bakery on 18th. It was well worth the 25 minute wait but I must say they should train their staff a bit better. When someone asks for something that seems to be a main menu item, the wait person should really now what that item is. I did not want an open face sandwich, I wanted the croissant with ham and cheese. That is what I ordered as did Mary. That is not what you gave us. We correct your error and then you did the exact same thing to the people behind us. And then they corrected your error. Learn your menu, lady. Awesome pastry though. Very glad I got the last iced coffee, and we totally snagged a table.

The park was lovely although I question the wisdom of holding an acoustic show directly under the BART tracks. Made me laugh everytime the train went by (which was like every 10 minutes). Got some knitting done on my back up project and quite possibility a bit a sun burn. Nice afternoon.

Finished off the day with some tacos. All and all a good day despite the magically needle disappearance.

If only the homeless guy had decided NOT to move into my apartment building stairwell, it would have been a great day. yuck.

Fun with Shopping...last weekend

So this is a little late but I had a good shopping weekend last week.
I started off by hitting up the little thrift store where I got about 35 post cards for swapping. Go swap-bot.

Then Karrie asked if I wanted to go to Laci's and check it out and I said hell yeah.

I was totally stoked to find that they have just about the best deals on scissors around and books on just about everything crafty though it mainly pertains to lace making, knitting, and crochet. Saw some things there that I'd never seen before such as pillows for tatting lace, the set of Susan Bates needles with case, and some very funky old purse handles. In addition to new things they have quite a few vintage items for sale as well as an entire lace musuem. I picked up some inexpensive scissors for swapping and some point protectors.

I had been planning on going to Daiso to pick up a few items for my swap-bot dollar store swap (150 yen store is good enough for me), and Karrie was all in, although I think had we known the traffic situation when we started out she wouldn't have gone. So a little over 45 minutes later we got to the mall and after stocking up on some vital fluids, we hit the store. It was much nicer this time around because we kind of knew where things were, and it wasn't mobbed because it had just opened. I found plenty of items for my secret pal and a few for me, including a sweater shaver that doesn't seem to work. The most exciting find of the day had to be that they had added a craft aisle for knitting and crochet. Lots and lots of $1.50 knitting needles and crochet hooks. Doesn't Karrie look happy to have found this aisle. She was a good friend and picked up some bamboo needles for a friend that just started knitting. I was selfish and pick up some very fat needles for myself. After another traffic filled trip back to the east bay, I was totally beat and ready for a nap.

The next day was the first Sunday of the month and that means Alameda Antique Fair. It was lovely weather and I was such a skilled fair goer that I was totally able to skip the line of traffic going into the parking lot. Once again it was totally different from all the other times I went. I picked up the usually vintage knitting needles (and FYI the woman said she is bringing her "whole set up" in April, whatever that means) and then hit my favorite book seller to pick up some 1940's cook books. After that I set about looking for stuff that reminded me of my grandmother's house. I really wanted a Fiestaware pitcher with a swirl on the side of it in aqua blue just like the one my grandmother used to make lemonade in on hot haying days. Looked every where for it. Went from stall to stall and while I found ones that were close, same shape wrong color, right color wrong shape, it was not to be found in the morning. I did however find some lovely things.









I found a great new apron. I found a couple cute pyrex dishes with lids for $2 each. I found 4 juice glasses like the ones my grandmother had when I was growing up. I also found a dish to match the ones I inherited from her as well as a present for my mother's b-day.

After lunch, I did finally find the pitcher I had been looking for all morning. It was $95. Looks like I will be going without for quite some time.