Sweater Sampler

I joined a yahoo group, a while back, that concentrates on knitting a project each month from Elizabeth Zimmermann's book, 'Knitter's Almanac'.

For the month of October you had a choice of knitting the October project, from the book, or knitting the Sweater Sampler from 'The Sweater Workshop' by Jacqueline Fee.

Here's my sweater sampler.....but mine was done some time back so I'm done for the month.

I really want to knit some leggings! They were last month's project.

I have many loves of knitting and one of them is EZ's works.

Fresh Corn Tortillas

Well, there's the assembly line to make corn tortillas.
Masa, a little salt and water make up what's in the bowl covered by a damp towel. The damp towel keeps the mixture moist.
Then to the right of the bowl is my press. I place about a tablespoon of the dough, slightly flattened, between a Ziploc bag with 3 sides cut off. I have my cast iron pan, hot with low-medium heat and use a metal spatula to turn them.


This picture shows what it looks like when it's flattened. It comes off the plastic bag real easy.








I melted cheese on the corn tortillas and ate them with my own salsa.

I have a feeling I might wake myself up in the night with garlic/onion breath.....but ohhhh, it was worth it!

Did anyone know I was gone?..and The Road Trip

I left Washington to live in Northern Arizona for a few months ~ mainly during the holidays last Wednesday. Why? To spend time with my college son. :)

I got to my destination Friday afternoon.

First stop: filled the tank up at Woodland, WA so I could drive straight through Oregon. Price was $2.859/gal.

Second stop: Yreka, CA to fill up after 363 miles at $3.359/gal. While I was there, I saw a quaint looking place to eat called Grandma's House. So, instead of a fast food chain, I opted for this place. I am so glad I did! The atmosphere, hostess, waitress, food and other customers were all wonderful.

Third stop: it was going to be Redding, then Red Bluff. It ended up being Corning, CA. I stayed at the Best Western Inn. Once again, I was greeted with a friendly atmosphere and Shannon who checked me in. The room was very nice and breakfast was available from 6-9 a.m. In the morning, I spent some time with the help and Karen, who gave me my receipt. I don't have all their names but they were all so nice. I also met a few people that were displaced by the fires.

Fourth stop: Westley, CA to fill 'er up after 337 miles at $3.059/gal if you paid cash.

Fifth stop: Newberry Springs, CA to fill 'er up after 360 miles. This was an emergency one since I thought I was going to run out of gas and the most expensive at $3.499/gal.!! I ordered a burrito and ate it in my truck.

Sixth stop: I couldn't resist stopping when I saw a Pilot Travel Center advertising gas at $2.739/gal. So after only 146 miles, I filled up.

Seventh stop: Best Western Kings Inn & Suites in Kingman, AZ. Here's another time where the clerk was very pleasant, my room was nice and it was late....11 p.m. They provided breakfast from 6-10 a.m. Very, very nice.

I was up early and arrived at my destination by noon. It feels good to set up house and have some of my favorite things around me......like.....what else but yarn! :)

Pictures are of Mt. Shasta with a hint of sunset on the top; The full moon; the full moon and Mt. Shasta; and then the blood red sun setting in Barstow.

I hope I was missed.

I'm back on line now and happy to be blogging!

A new book, mug and something special

The Art of Fair Isle Knitting by Ann Feitelson is my new book. It's been around for a few years but it's new to me.

Then there is this mug that DH got for me. It's beautiful. I love it!

Now for something special and very dear to my heart ~ the scarf my son knit for me. I can't even remember the name of the thick -n-thin yarn I picked but it took 2 skeins.

Not only did he hold one needle under his left arm and knit it continental style (the way I taught him), he remembered how to cast on with the long-tail method. His tension was loose but even. When he was near the end of the first skein, he came to me as asked how to add the next skein. I showed him and he left to do that.

He finished knitting it and asked how to cast off. I showed him and he left to complete the scarf. The next morning, he proudly presented the scarf to me.

It's beautiful.

It's warm.

It's perfect.

I can't even find the ends he weaved in.

What's more amazing is he hadn't touched a knitting needle five years before this project. He just picked it up as if he had always been knitting.

My 3 Scarves are HOT!

Well......they're hot to me. :)

The first one was made on my CSM for my son who is attending college in a cold climate. I used Austermann Step and oh, is it silky feeling. I have to make a matching pair of socks to go with it.

(Jalapenos given to us from a grand couple we know, who grows them....and they are hot and delicious!)

The next two scarves I knit for my hair dresser. She isn't a knitter but, while on vacation in Canada, stopped at a yarn shop called "Mad About Ewe" and fell in love with the color and texture of these yarns.

The multi-colored bronze yarn spoke to me right away. The blue was holding out on me for weeks! I tried lace knitting but it got too stiff. I tried tiny 2-stitch cable knitting - no good. I went for the drop stitch pattern again but with a little twist.

Using US sz 15 needles, I cast on 15 stitches and knit 6 rows in garter. Row 7 is k1, yo....all the way across, ending with k1, turn; Row 8 is k1, drop yo.....all the way across, ending with k1, turn; Rows 9 & 10 - knit; Row 11 is where you repeat Row 7; Row 12 - repeat Row 8.

Here is what you must remember when knitting a drop stitch pattern: keep the plain rows (whether in garter or stockinette, etc.) knit in even numbers or your scarf will be lopsided. The yo's must be knit as an odd row.

Well, that's it for now. Did I tell you all that you make my day when you leave a comment or email me about knitting? You do and I thank you. :)

A Double Rainbow

This is exactly the way the sky looked a couple of weeks ago right off our front porch.

Isn't it supposed to bring good luck when you see one of these?