Sew, what have you been up to?

So, several weeks ago I went to Joann Fabrics and bought a pattern for pj's and found some cute cotton.  I couldn't really find what I wanted for the top, so I picked up some stretchy poly-something that I thought might work.  This is my beginning attempts at sewing garments so I didn't want to spend a lot of money on fabric and PJ's make for a nice first project.  Usable, even if they don't come out great.




The bottoms came out well, although they're a little baggy.  Next time I will go down a size.  The top came out ok.   Sadly, at the very end, as I was topstitching the hem, I had a machine malfunction.  (My machine never gives me a problem, so really, what the heck?)  My top got caught in the machine and I ended up with a hole.  

Since I've never had a DPN grab my knitting and put a hole in it,
I'm going to console myself with some sock knitting                                   
Medallion Lace Socks (Rav link). And maybe a margarita.
A large margarita.

      

PIGS and Eggs

While pulling out my stash for Flash Your Stash Day, I found a Pig (project in grocery sack).  A Noro Striped Scarf a la Jared Flood (Ravelry link)  that I had started ages ago.  I'm using the Noro Silk Garden Chunky and bigger needles. The main colorway I'm using is color 11, and I'm currently using colorway 5 with it. I don't know what the first colorway I used with 11 is.  I've long since lost the ball band, and never entered the project in my Ravelry project page.  I'm finding the k1,p1 very soothing and I'm easily amused by self-striping yarn.
       
                                                               
Today's culinary adventure took me to Scotland.  Scotch Eggs . The recipe is from Allrecipes.com.  I baked the eggs in a 400 degree oven for about 30 minutes instead of frying.  Even with baking instead of frying, it's not the healthiest recipe, but it is oh so good!

                                    
Music by Enter the Haggis

Ok, so I know they're from Canada but it's good music. If you're a traditionalist, how about Scottish Moods.  Happier?

Drive By Posting

I haven't abandoned the blog. I just got sidelined with a bit of a cold and then a couple of bad headaches.

April 1st was Flash Your Stash day.  Dutifully, I opened up all my storage totes and laid everything out on the floor.  First side by side.Then, after realizing that there wasn't enough room, one nestled on top of another. Again, not enough room.  So, towards the back they ended up 2 and 3 deep.   

Knitted Monster knitting

I present to you, the kotamonster:

   The pattern is the-thrifty-critter by Nikol Lohr.  Very cute.  For the knitting needles I used bamboo skewers that I cut in half and put these little jewel-like things that you can stick on something.  For the yarn ball I used a small styrofoam ball and wound some yarn around it.

St Patrick & the knitted monster

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Some people celebrate their Irish heritage by hoisting a glass of Guinness (yum).  Me? I eat.  And knit.

My monster is nearly complete.  All knitted up and just awaiting some eyes. I'm making a stop at Joanne Fabrics this evening after my violin lesson so I can finish him up.  Meanwhile, I'm working on my Cassidy cardigan.  I had the left front nearly finished when I realized a row of cables were crossed on the wrong row. rrrrrip!  I really can't say enough good things about this pattern (ravelry link).

The eating part.  Homemade Irish Soda Bread, Corned Beef, cabbage & champ.
























The corned beef recipe I used is called Kilkenny Corned Beef.  My mother has made it for years, and it's my absolute favorite.



Kilkenny Corned Beef with horseradish sauce
about 3 hours

1 piece corned beef
Boiling Water
1 tablespoon mixed pickling spices (usually packaged in with the corned beef)
1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup prepared mustard

Preheat oven to 325.  Wash corned beef brisket & place in roasting pan.  Cover with boiling water & add pickling spices.  Cover pan with aluminum foil..  Bake @ 325 for about 2 hours.  When tender, allow to cool in cooking liquid.(This can be done the day before).  About an hour before serving, drain corned beef  from liquid, put in roasting pan & cook @ 325 for 30 min.  Prepare glaze by combining the brown sugar & mustard.  Spread over corned beef & cook for an additional 30 minutes.

Horseradish Sauce 
Prep time about 5 min
Total Time:  2 hours

8 oz container of sour cream
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
2 tablespoons horseradish.

Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate for a couple of hours to let flavors blend.


And since you know I don't cook without music, here's a list of some of today's favorites:

Carrickfergus - Lisa Kelly
Fiddlers Green - Noel Mcloughlin
Green & Red of Mayo - Saw Doctors
The Wind that Shakes the Barley - Loreena McKennitt
The Blacksmith - Liz Knowles
U2



So, since dinner is ready, let me just end
this post with an Irish toast:


May those who love us, love us.
And those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts;
And if He doesn't turn their hearts,
May He turn their ankles, 
So we will know them by their limping.

Monsters in the House

I'm working on a knitted monster for an on-line friend that's going through a rough patch right now. I'm not the only one. There's several of us from, from all over. I raided my stash of left overs and was hoping to find some green or blue worsted weight. No such luck. So I'm using some Cascade 220 in an orange-red that I had left over from my Origami Cardi. I usually use dpn's when I knit in the round, but for some reason I kept twisting the yarn. So I tried magic lop for the first time. I'm not totally converted, but wow.

Since I've just joined the ranks of the unemployed, I thought this may be a good time to explore some cooking from other regions and countries. Maybe a new place once a week or so. Kind of like Julie & Julia, with knitting. And without the movie deal at the end.

Since tomorrow is Fat Tuesday, I decided to try my hand at making Gumbo. 'Cuz really, nobody does Fat Tuesday better than New Orleans! So I put on some music to get me in the mood and got to cooking. The aroma is wonderful. I used this recipes from Allrecipes.com. I did cook my roux longer than the recipe suggests, used about 1/2 of the salt and no file powder.

ETA: I'm not sure why Blogger wants my picture on top when I want it under the paragraph that it relates to. I'm tired of arguing with it so I'll leave it there .

2011 - Tranquility

I'm a fan of the Knitmore Girls podcasts. Jasmin has talked about having a theme for the year which I think is a great idea. Resolutions = epic fail for me. But a theme, something I can work on and explore. Well, that may work. So after a lot of consideration, I picked tranquility as my theme. Tranquility through balance and a healthy dose of acceptance. So for the past couple of weeks, when life gets crazy, I pause and think what a tranquil life means. And in those few moments it's been helping me to prioritize and let go of those things that are less so.