I should be knitting,

but I wanted a break. The Shawl I am working on is over half done and Hubband and I will be spending two or three hours in the car tomorrow, so I figured I could take a bit of a break. (It might actually be done if I hadn't been been distracted with cooking yesterday and errands and cleaning the porch today, but hey....) Plus I missed you guys and had swap reports to deliver.
So, as I said, on Tuesday I got my WhoDuKnit Trick or Treat package from Patty, who did a great job with the cute wrapping thing.
(I fear that my wrapping jobs may leave something to be desired some days!)

 

She sent treats that included chocolates, warm and fuzzy socks, Halloween music, and some autumn candles.

 

Of course there was yarn and books as well, since this is an online Knit and Read group! Three great sounding books, at least one of which Hubband will probably read when he is done with his latest Terry Pratchett. There is some really pretty Peaches and Cream dishcloth cotton with a pattern I haven't seen before, and some great looking fall colored sock yarn with a pattern as well.
Thank you Patty! This was a great treat and I am looking forward to making the dishcloth as soon as my shawl is done (which means it will be going on our trip tomorrow just in case).

 

Then on Thursday, My All Hallows Eve Dishcloth Swap box came from Brenda,which of course was another cute wrapping job.

 

She sent a great Halloween glass (which I have used twice for dinner already), beautiful "Strawberry-Banana" sock yarn, chocolate covered raisins and cocktail peanuts. She also sent that cute witch, who is still guarding my peanuts in the pantry.

 

Since this is a dishcloth swap and all, she went above the call of duty and sent not just one, but two great Halloween dishcloths. The bat one is one I have been wanting to make for over a year, so it is great to have one without having to wait any longer, and the ghost one is really great too. There is some goat's milk soap and the Chibi was inside the spider bag. It is wonderful to have a second one as I don't always remember to move the one I had from bag to bag. Thank you so much for such a great package!
We had two groups of Trick-or-Treaters tonight. The fist one was the twins from down the street around six, and the second one was their neigh or and two of his friends around seven. Hubband thinks since we get so few every year we should give out something more exotic than candy. Something like a canned ham. I am thinking if he wants to do that next year, he is on his own.
Well I guess I shall go back to the knitting.....

All Hallows Eve Dishcloth Swap

Questionnaire
Knotting Yarn
1. Do you knit or crochet? For how long?
Knit, since 1998.
2. What sort of needles or hooks do you enjoy using the most? Are there some you've been dying to try out and haven't?
I love my Harmony DPs, Harmony circulars, and my clover bamboo circulars.... I have kind of been eyeing the new Harmony straights; I am thinking they may just be pointy enough to make me happy, and no matter what, they are pretty!
3. What kind of projects do you most enjoy? Small things you can take with you, or big complex ones that are just gorgeous when they're done?
I always have several projects going at once. I have small portable things for taking with me; larger things for working on at home; easy, mindless, no-thinking-involved projects; something complicated that takes paying attention to. Yes, there is a certain amount of cross-over, but sometimes there is more than one item per category too.
4. List one pattern for a dishcloth that you love to make, or just tell us about one you've made or received that you loved.
I really like making the Ball Band or DW.
5. What are your 'must have' notions? Are there any notions you need or can never have enough of? Any that might make you cry if you owned more?
I use my fold up scissors and Chibi needles on pretty much every project.... Well, except when I forget to move them from knitting project bag to the next and to the next. So they really are my "must haves" and I get frustrated with myself when I forget them.
Petting Yarn
6. What are your favorite yarns to work with? Any you hate or are allergic to?
Soft yarn, pretty colors. I don't like scratchy or squeaky yarn very much.
7. What colors do you like to use in projects? Any we'd never catch on your needles?
I am open to most any color or combination there of. I love to stretch the color envelope, even if it is mine.
8. Any cottons you'd like to try you can't find by you, or just haven't gotten around to getting?
I just learned that Malibrigo makes a 100% cotton, but I can't get that around here. (Which I guess makes sense in a sad, sad way, since I can't get any Malibrigo in town.) I have also never tried Pattons DK cotton
Halloween, Fall, and General Stuff
9. Do you like to use bar soap or shower gel more? What kinds of scents do you love? What kind do you hate?
I mostly use Cetaphil in the shower, but occasionally use a vanilla or lemon gel.
10. What's more 'Halloweeny' - Ghosts, Pumpkins, or Witches?
Witches
11. What's your favorite Treat to get? Sweet or Salty? Anything you're allergic to or just hate?
I don't particularly care for licorice at all. I like chocolate covered raisins mixed with salted peanuts.
12. What was your favorite Halloween Costume as a kid? As an adult??
My favorite costumes all fall into the "As an adult" category. That is because they would be the ones I made for my kids. I think my top three would be a pile of leaves, a loaf of bread, and a Pixie on a toadstool.
13. Are you on Ravelry? What's your ID?
CoffeeYarn everywhere I go.....
14. Anything else you'd like to be sure your pal knows?
Not that I can think of.

Swap box in the my mail today!

I got my Keepin' Cool in Summer Dishcloth Swap box today. Anita sent some wonderful things; some for me and some for me to share. She did a great job of keeping herself secret, even when posting as her real self for Whiskers on Wednesday. She has Jasmine, who for all the world looks like she could be Oribel's sister or something! Of course they both think they are Queen of the World, so I am not sure they would want to share space in the same house!

 

She sent treats for the dogs and toys for Oribel. (Who has carried one of them off and hidden it away already.)

She also sent some hand wash, "I'd rather be knitting" pencils, and a notepad. It seems like we can never have too many of those!

 

She also sent some awesome knitting treats! KnitPicks CotLin (two balls each of two beautiful colors),stitch markers, a cute sheep tape measure, and some Harmony needles with appropriate cables! Very cool! The beginnings of circulars to match my favorite sock needles!

 

Last, but not least, there were two beautiful dishcloths! I love them both and am thinking I could work on lace this way. Miss Oribel is still running away with my yarn too much for me to trust her with lace-weight yarn just yet!

Keepin' Cool in Summer Dischloth Exchange

It's that time again, just in case you are wanting to join in the fun and are wondering where to find it. Registration is open now through June 6th.

The Questionnaire
1. Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long?
I knit and having been doing so for about ten years.
2. Do you enjoy using metal, wooden, or some other kind of needle\hook?
I usually use bamboo circulars for my dishcloths and either metal or wood circulars for most everything else. Except socks, for those I love my Harmony double points (not that I have tried Harmony anything else, I might be converted...).
3. What are your favorite types of yarn? Any you just can't stand?
It is easiest to say what I don't like. Scratchy yarn, squeaky yarn, stuff like that.
4. When it comes to cotton, are there any brands you'd love to try and haven't?
I keep hearing about Blue Sky Alpaca Cotton and have never used that, so that would be fun to try. Or CotLin.
5. When you make Dishcloths, do you use them yourself, or tend to give them as gifts?
Both! I use them, Hubband gave some to his poker buddies for Christmas, and I have given them to several other folks.
6. Do you have a favorite color? Any that you dislike?
I really like most any and all colors. There aren't any that I can think of that I really don't like. There are some that I don't use or buy very often but I love to stretch my "zone" so am always open to different ones than I normally get myself.
7. What color(s) (if any!) are your kitchen and bath decorated in?
My kitchen has black counters and a black and white tile floor, so we use a lot of color in it. Our bath is dusty rose, grey, and sage green.
8. What are your favorite scents around the house?
Clean. Well, I like lemon, mint, and vanilla.
9. What is your very favorite thing about summer?
Sunshine, knitting on the deck before it gets to hot, and homegrown tomatoes.
10. What is your least favorite thing about summer?
Humidity. Tornadoes.
11. Do you use soap or body wash in the shower?
I use Cetaphil cleanser.
12. What scents do you enjoy in the bath?
Very few.
13. What is your favorite dishcloth pattern?
I really enjoy the interplay of colors in the ballband and how color works in the slipped stitches of the DW. But there are other ones I like as well.
14. What sort of treats do you enjoy? Sweet or Salty?
Both. I actually love chocolate covered raisins mixed with salted peanuts.I think it is a great contrast of sweet and salt as well as textures.
15. Imagine today is one of the hottest days of the year - what do you do to keep cool? Or are you one of those folks who loves the hot weather?
Go camping in the high mountains (think over 6, 000 feet).
16. What sorts of hobbies do you enjoy besides knitting or crocheting?
Cooking, baking, reading, beading, sewing, weaving,gardening.
17. Do you collect anything (besides yarn!)
Some hand thrown pottery, some cookbooks.
18. Are you on Ravelry? If so, share your ID!
Yes, CoffeeYarn.
19. Do you have any allergies?
Yes, strong perfumes/scented items, dust.
20. Do you have any pets?
Yes. Two bassets and one cat.

Life distractions

It has been a bit busy around the home front, but in a laid back kind of way. DTE came home late Saturday night for a shortened spring break. She had to leave this morning to get back to school, even though classes don't start back up until Monday. She needed to be back for Pep Band at Women's Frozen Four. If any of you out there follow Collegiate Women's Hockey, I am sure you have heard of this team more than once. If you have a favorite team that isn't UMD, you probably tremble a bit at the mention of Bulldogs. I will add that DTE is a bit disappointed to be going to nationals in the same town she spends most of her life in these days. She is hoping the team does a repeat next year and they'll be "Band in Boston."
Mostly we were busy hanging out together, cooking, watching a movie, etc. You know, weird family bonding things that distract me from writing a blog. I knew it would still be here after she left.
There was knitting involved while she was home (by me, she doesn't knit). I made her a DW facecloth, but it was not allowed to be photographed. Maybe its owner thought it was shy or something. I also made one for the kitchen, since the first one was claimed by Hubband. (I am not entirely sure what he is going to do with it besides look at it on top of his radio.) Once again, I am drawn to yellow and sage green. I am guessing the West Desert of my childhood isn't blooming yet, but the colors remind of what is to come.

I finished up the last of my Knit For Lent hats. I used red and blue held together until I ran out of the blue and had to finish up with just red. It wouldn't have been my first (or even second or third) choice of how a hat looked/turned out, but since part of what I wanted to do was use up some yarn that I didn't have other plans for, it worked out. Plus, if the yarn is used up, it won't be something I would choose again! All twelve of my hats have been squished into a box and mailed off. I do still have some yarn left, and since they collect hats through out the year, I probably will be knitting some more.
I also knit up the dishcloth pattern/yarn that I got as a prize for my Three Bags Full entry over at WhoDuKnit. Not that my entry was necessarily the best; the prizes are given as a "random draw" from all the entries in any given month. Though some months there aren't very many entries. (I didn't knit anything for the February book, but you can stop in over there if you want to see some one's knitted DNA.) For those of you wondering about it, WhoDuKnit is fun. Great book suggestions, a lot of them that I never would have heard of otherwise, fun swaps and contests, and it is run by a really great lady! It is always open to new members, so feel free to join us!


Oh, I guess you might want to see the dishcloth from another angle.....


Just reminder that since today is the first day of spring (according to the calender anyway), registrations for the Spring Fling Coffee (and yarn) Swap are open from now until the 25Th of March. Short window of opportunity but I am guessing there will be quite a few folks involved.

Homage to Jessi

Yesterday Hubband and I went for a car trip for the day. I am sure you all know this means knitting time! I took along the yarn and needles Jessi gave me a while back. I had decided to make the "Darrell Waltrip" dishcloth that I had seen on her blog. How could I not do something to keep with the Jessi theme? I have to say I agree with her about her about the whole Nascar part, but I also agree that it is a really great pattern.

 

I have a feeling this will soon be my second favorite/"go to" dishcloth pattern! It is a really fast and easy knit and it looks awesome! (Just in case you wanted a close-up of the stitches.)

Dishcloth links

For those of you wanting the sheep dishcloth patterns, here are the links/info. Out Like a Lamb Dishcloth, is the natural colored one.
The black one is by Terri Brimm and I found it in the file called "Terrb's patterns" in the Monthly Dishcloth KAL. I have found several cool patterns there, some that have worked out well for gifts/swaps. (I think it is worth the sign up for the pattern access; I am on the digest mailing and it goes to my Yahoo account.)
This is Bobbles, another one that I thought about doing, but didn't get done before the “project deadline.” Of course, that doesn't mean I won't still make it!

Knitting pictures

January's WhoDuKnit book was Three Bags Full, your basic "flock of sheep try to figure out who committed the murder" mystery.




These two dishcloths are my project for it. One can never have too many dishcloths after all!



I think I will be able to post pictures of some of my gift knitting soon. I know my Defeat the Winter Doldrums downstream has gotten her package, but I am going to let her post first.
I have my second Lenten Hat almost done. I finished the first one on Wednesday and cast the second one on afterwards. I think I will finish up the second so that I will have a new one for tomorrow.

I knit a lot of dish cloths

Seriously, I knit a lot more of them than I actually mention here. I make them and then they tend to get given away, rarely with their picture taken. I make them out standard stuff like Sugar 'N Cream, inexpensive and great colors. I use a few other yarns on occasion, but that is what is readily available. I don't generally call them dish rags, that would be what they turn into after they are well used and rather tattered. Operative word would be "rag" here. Hubbband has been known to call me a "Dish cloth machine" but he likes to give them away too.)
I also knit what I suppose could be called a face or wash cloth. I differentiate that from a dish one on how soft the yarn is. Sugar 'N Cream is OK for faces, but Cottontots is super soft. It is lacking a little in the great color variety department, but softness makes up for it. I will be mixing these into my "mindless dishcloth knitting" a bit more for a outreach ministry started by Patty. She is calling it Posies and Lemon Drops. It is an ongoing quest for super-soft knitted or crocheted face cloths for a women's shelter. I am really excited to have another place to share my knitting in a way that will make a big difference in some one's life. Check out the link and please think about making a face cloth or two as well.
The other "big" thing that I keep thinking about regarding dish cloths, "Why can't I find US #6 circular bamboo needles?" I have looked at every store here in town that carries knitting needles as well as several in the Twin Cities and one in Duluth and no one has them! #6 straights in bamboo, got those; #6 metal circular, they have those. I am not looking for something that complicated, I know they are made, just no one here has a spot on their racks for them. I never dreamed I would have this much trouble finding such a common knitting needle.

It's that time again

It is time for me to post another questioner. (Hubband hates it when I do this. Sorry honey. At least you aren't reading it today and might get lots of some other posts to read all at the same time.) It isn't like I didn't give you all a bit of a hint after all, when I told you the seasonal "Defeat the Winter Doldrums" dish cloth exchange was coming up. So now is the time to post the information about me, knitting, dish cloths, and "stuff." Also another reminder that if you are a knitter and haven't been in one of Anne's swaps, now is the time to check it out. Remember you can't go wrong this time.
1. Do you knit, crochet, or do both?
Knit
2. What types of needles do you enjoy using for making dishcloths?
Bamboo circulars
3. What types of cotton do you enjoy using for making dishcloths? Is there any that you've been wanting to try?
Sugar'n Cream or Peaches'n Cream, and sometimes CottonTots. Not that I can think of for dishes.
4. What color(s) are your kitchen and bath decorated in (if any)?
Umm, the kitchen,none. It's base colors are black and white, so everything. (As an aside, I did notice Oribel matches the chocolate brown rug better than the pink one.) Oribel's bath is a sea blue motif and our bath has fixtures of a color Hubband would rather ignore.
5. What are your favorite colors for yarns? Least favorite?
Seriously, when it comes to yarn I don't dislike any of them.
6. Do you like Winter, or do you count the days until it ends?
I love winter. It gets a bit old when we don't have snow. (Don't believe everything you hear about Minnesota winters. They must be talking about up north. I would swear we had more snow in any given winter the last ten years we were in Utah than we have had all together since we moved here. But up in Duluth where DTE is in school? They get snow! So much that they once spent an afternoon jumping out of the third floor dorm room windows into snow drifts. That is serious snow! Lucky girl!) I absolutely love it here when we have fresh snow and it is a clear night on a full moon. We get some breath taking shadows of our oak trees that I love!
7. What's your favorite way to brighten your day when you're down in the dumps?
Reading a book, knitting, weaving, hanging out with Sadie or Oribel. (Simon is seriously Hubband's dog and really doesn't leave his side when he is home. When he is gone, Simon sulks and is sad. Yes, you can tell when a basset is sad, they look different than normal.) Cooking often works as a drug of choice too.
8. What is your favorite treat to indulge in and when your down in the dumps?
Reading or knitting. Drinking a cup of tea or coffee.
9. Do you drink coffee? Tea? Cocoa?
Yes.
10. If you could take a vacation starting tomorrow and go anywhere for one week and money were no object, where would you go and what would you do?
I would absolutely love for Hubband and I to pack our girls up and take them to Rome. Show them all the cool places and things we saw.
11. Do you have any allergies or aversions your pal should be aware of? Strong perfumes, cigarette smoke.

Latest updates

The laundry has been supervised and washed, store runs are all completed, Oribel has helped with the packing, the dogs have figured out something is up, the Mp3 players are loaded to the gills, all the needed information is printed, and whatever else they needed to do except for the actual drive to the airport and plane boarding. Of course, that part doesn't happen until tomorrow morning, but other than that they are ready to go! They seem to be pretty excited and happy, to say the least!

I have been so busy helping them get ready to go that I haven't gotten the mystery solution posted for Jessi yet, but it will happen either on Sunday or Monday, I promise! I know she is dying of curiosity and has been for a couple of weeks now. This is a mystery that I don't know the answer to and she has volunteered to help me with it. She just can't help until I do my part.

The last thing for now is to mention that Anne and Holly are hosting the newest seasonal dish cloth swap. "Defeat the Winter Doldrums" registration opens January 11 and they have a pre-registration contest going on. If any of you out there have thought about joining a swap but have worried about it not going well, I promise they run an excellent swap. If you decide to join on my recommendation and it goes south for you, I will make it up for you. Kind of like those rare times when the "Wait, Wait... Don't Tell Me", Not My Job guest offers to do the answering machine message when they loose and the person they are playing for doesn't get Carl Kasell's voice on their answering machine. (The loosing part isn't rare, just the offering to do message to make up for it.) "Wait, Wait" is my standing 2 PM Sunday afternoon date. I don't take phone calls between two and three or go anywhere unless it is an absolute emergency. No cooking is involved in that hour either. Just radio, a comfy couch, and knitting. And a lot of laughing. Seriously, if you have never heard this radio show, check out a pod cast on your computer (since you have one or wouldn't be reading this, but you don't need an iPod or any poddy thing at all), or check your local NPR station and listen to the broadcast. Just please don't call me during my broadcast time to tell me how much you loved it. Call me before or after 'cause I take some of my addictions seriously. Like knitting dish cloths. So anyway, check out the dish cloth swap. Can you really go wrong if you have a promised back-up?

FIADS finial topic of the week

The finial week's question for the Fall Into Autumn Dishcloth Swap is about our experience in the swap, if we enjoyed the new folks we met, and what we received in our swap box.
Well, I had a wonderful experience, once again! I continue to sign up for swaps because i have enjoyed meeting new people and getting to know them over time. I liked having topics to write about and being able to read what others in the swap had written as well. I think it helped a lot in the "Getting to know each other" department. I have also really enjoyed the items that Stephanie went overboard to make for me. I have been enjoying using both the soap and candles.

Swap packages at my door!

I have gotten a couple of swap packages in the mail in the last few days.
Jenn is my partner for the Mystery Theme Swap. It is straight across swap and she seems to have it together more than I do. I got my box from her the other day and I am not even done putting hers altogether, much less taking it off to the post office! She works full time and goes to law school to boot! What is it they say about if you want something done, ask a busy person?

The deal with this swap was to list three items or themes for the partner to work with. Jenn was able to interweave several of my themes and other information we shared over emails in a really amazing way! She used an Italian theme for me because I told her about Hubband's and my vacation there a couple of years ago. She sent me Italian Roast coffee that I have already used in my press style travel mug a couple of times, some chocolate covered coffee beans (always yummy!) some Shepard's sock yarn in the "Gold Hill" colorway because "Tuscany has rolling golden hills, and those colors reminded me of the sunsets in Italy" (way cool as I have been wanting to try Lorna's sock yarn!), a cute sheep measuring tape, sock needles and a sock pattern. She chose the Giotto pattern by Anna Bell.



She also sent me some information about Giotto, a Florentine painter and architect to go with the pattern. You can read the same information she sent me here. She also set me a print-out of his "Flight to Egypt". I hope I can do as good of a job on her box as she did on mine!

 

The second box revealed Stephanie as my Super Secret Spoiler from the FIADS. She sent me a very cool Jack-O-Lantern face dish cloth as well as some other fun treats. She made the two bars soap she sent as well as the two soy-based candles. Both the soap and candles have coffee in them! She also sent yarn, candy, and bubble-wrap for Oribel.
(No picture of the bubble-wrap in action as it won't hold still long enough!)
What a great Dish Cloth Swap package! All that hand-made goodness plus the up-dated blog look! Thanks so much for your hard work!

SP #11 Contest 4

Well, I am supposed to post a picture of my first finished knitting project and my most recent one. I am also supposed to discuss how I feel I have improved over the years.

Well, I may be out of the running from the get go, as I have no picture of my first finished project. I'm not even sure I can remember what it was! It might have been a dish cloth, but I seriously don't remember.
My most recent finished object (or twelve) would definitely be a dish cloth. How have I improved? Well, I am a lot faster now and confidant in the knowledge that no matter what, it can be fixed if there is a mistake. Yes, occasionally I loose some yarn in the process, but I seem to be able to figure out most all of my knitting issues. The one that I am still having issues with? Figuring out if I have gauge or not. I started the Fake Isle Hat for DTE last night. Did I gauge swatch first? No. It is in the round, and I have learned from previous experience that you can't make a flat, back and forth gauge swath and have it then translate to an "in the round" project. So, I am going to knit the whole hat, measure the outcome, and see if it is "gauge." I already know if it is smaller than gauge, I will be making a second one; the large size sample at Yarn Harbor just fit her. If this one fits, very cool, if it doesn't, I guess I'll have to make a new one in a different size needle, or add a pattern repeat.

Why all the dish cloths? Well, exchanges, presents, and instant gratification. I am not the most patient person in the world (one of the big reasons why I knit in the first place) and when I make a dish cloth I have something done. Unlike the ten to twelve feet of scarf I keep working on along with those dish cloths! Yes, I have made something besides Ball Bands, but I gave them all away!

A last minute FIADS Topic of the week post

Topic of the week:
Flash your needles and other items you use to make your wares. Dpns, circs, straights, hooks, tape measures, darning needles, favorite stitch markers, needle holders, cases, the works!

So here are the boxes that hold most of my stuff.

 

Here is what they look like on the inside.

 

Since I am running a bit behind on this post (it was supposed to be up way before now since we get our new topics on Mondays!), I am only getting in some of my needles and markers. I am not getting in the ones that have stuff on them, bags (or suitcases as needed)that hold said WIPs, or any of those other needed add on items, like the all important tape measure and scissors. Not much I can say about why this topic post is so late, other than I have been a bit distracted!

 

Maybe more than a little.







It is amazing that she held still this long!

Today's mail is full of presents!

Today I found several packages in my mailbox.
Unfortunately, Hubband is gone for the afternoon and has the camera with him. So, I will have to give you photos later of the beautiful COFFEE BEAN (!!!!!) stitch markers from Angela, as well as the Portland post card.




Due to the camera being out for an excursion, I will give you pictures from the Internet of the other two packages content. I will post pictures of my own as soon as possible. The second package was this book from Jane, over at WhoDuKnit. It was my "Mystery Prize" for solving a riddle.

 

The last package I got was from my Secret Pall 11, known to me as Secret Ann. She sent me this book, that had fallen into the "I have checked it out three times" category. Now I can update it on my Powell's wish list.

 

I will leave you with a picture of the missing dishcloth that I mentioned the other day. I think it turned out pretty cool as it looks good from either side.

Weekly FIADS Topic

This week's FIADS topic is about fall cooking and favorite recipes. I love fall cooking; different kinds of chilies, soups, and squash in many forms. I also love baking breads; French Onion Soup Bread, Boston Brown Bread, and corn bread. Today I will share a couple of my favorite fall foods and maybe I'll share bread recipes in the future. Is my corn bread recipe a family secret?


Baked Pumpkin and Onions
Pumpkin Slices, peeled, 1/2 inch thick
yellow onions, peeled and sliced
salt and pepper
olive oil or melted butter
Brown sugar

Arrange layers of pumpkin and onions in a buttered baking/casserole dish. Add a bit of salt and pepper and repeat layers to desired amount. Tip with a few spoonfuls of brown sugar and a drizzle of olive oil or melted butter.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° F for 30 to 45 minutes, or until fork tender.
Butternut (or other hard) squash can be substituted for the pumpkin.

Cranberry Nut Pie
Oven 325° F Buttered non-metal pie plate
1 1/4 cups cranberries, washed
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans (lightly toasted if desired)

1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup flour
1/3 cup butter, melted

Put cranberries and nuts in prepared pie plate, sprinkle with brown sugar.
Mix egg and white sugar, blend in flour and melted butter. Mix well and pour over cranberry mixture. Bake for 45 minutes.

BTW, somebody is having a birthday tomorrow, and it isn't me. Check in and I'll tell you all about it tomorrow! (Well, Blogspot is in a different time zone than me I guess. I am still on Oct. 3, but this looks like it will come up on the 4th as its posting date. The birthday is the 4th, so I will tell you about it after I get up.)

A smattering of dish cloths

Anne, over at The Bag Lady and the Pro, is having a Dishcloth Contest. I am running late on letting you know about it (but I figure most of you that might want to know that read my blog probably already do know!), but I have had the dishcloth done for a few days. I just haven't posted the picture until now.



I used Bamboo circulars in a size seven. The pattern calls for a size six, so that might account for why mine seems to be a bit bigger than the "expected" results. But hey, isn't a dish cloth really just a good-looking usable gauge swatch? I knit in the "English" style. I will toss the nominee "Leaving Kansas" into the "Name the Pattern" hat.

I have also made this funky dish cloth from the Monthly Dish Cloth KAL. "Funky" because it is so different from most anything I ever make, but it was kind of fun to watch it turn into an apron. I will say, "Yes, I know there are strings hanging off of it. It isn't done yet." I am supposed to crochet around the "neck" and add crocheted ties on the shoulders. Do you all remember that I don't know how to crochet? Thus, why it isn't done. I don;t even know if I am supposed to cut the strings off, so I am waiting until I go to one of my knitting groups this week and see if someone can help me. Hmm, I guess that means I am going to have to find a crochet hook and remember to take it with me.



I have made another dishcloth this week that is for my spoilee in the FIADS. This is the first view.

This is the second view. I finally did a piece of shadow knitting! I think it is pretty cool!
I actually made another dish cloth this past week, but just realized I forgot to take a picture of it. I'll work on that tomorrow when it is daylight and I am not falling asleep.

Odds and Ends of Stuff

Well, for starters, I am so glad I made a fair number of you smile at my humor. Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed my question and for letting me know that I have readers out there!

I heard a story from my Grandmother a couple of years ago about a pet that someone near and dear to me once had. She told me that this said relative had a pet owl that he carried around in a tin bucket. Now I have to take this story with a grain of salt as she was given to flights of fancy, even more often as she got on in years (or maybe flights of dementia, depending on who you ask). Anyway, I sometimes wonder if this story is true, and if so, what kind of owl was it? What was its name? And how in the heck did you convince it that a tin bucket was what it should hang out and be carried about in?

The other night Hubband and I watched Stranger Than Fiction at the recommend of DTE. I loved the "I brought you flours" scene. It was very sweet and thoughtful of him to put such thought into a gift for Ana. I could totally relate to a present like that filling my cupboard. Plus it would be used.

Last item for odds and ends of the day is my answer to the "Topic of the Week" for FIADS.

Autumn has now officially begun here in the States!! What is your favorite thing about Autumn/Fall? Why?
The cool nights without the humidity, because I can finally sleep with the windows open.
The angle of the sunlight coming in the windows that the animals search out all day long.
The crunch and smell of the leaves as I walk through them.
The honking of the geese overhead.
Fall produce.
The changing colors. The colors are different here than in other regions of the country where I have lived, but I have always lived somewhere that gets definite seasons. I wouldn't want it any other way. (For those of you out there who are now saying, "What about the time you lived in Texas?" I will say that Texas was a rest stop in the road, but we never really lived there.)
What is there not to love about Autumn in the northern part of the US?

Dishcloth Swap Topic of the week

Here is the latest installment of the "Getting to know your dishcloth swap partner" postings. (Which I think is really a great idea and very helpful!)

When you knit dish clothes, wash clothes or face clothes, what do you use?Well, I have been using a lot of "Sugar'n Cream" lately, with a little "Peaches & Cream" thrown in.
What size needle? A size seven Clover Bamboo circular. (I think it is about twenty four inches long.)
Why do you love that needle so much? Well, for starters, because it is a circular. That means I don't have to worry about where "that other needle" has been set or rolled off to. Also, I can just push all the stitches to the middle, shove it in the bag, and be good to go. For this weigh of yarn and the way I knit, I like the density of the resulting fabric. Not to tight to knit, and not to limp when it is done.
Is there one you are dying to try? Well not that I can think if at this time. I have a lot of the afore mentioned cottons and managed to stumble upon a bunch of Cotton 100 that was hiding in my basement. This yarn was discontinued long enough ago that it doesn't show up in Berroco's list of discontinued yarns. I plead the "It was on the $1.00 table at my LYS in Salt Lake City years ago." (Read, we moved to MN in 1999.) Hey it is soft and all cotton and will soon be turned into dishcloths (or maybe dishtowels or a bathmat).
Is there a particular yarn you love and use all the time for clothes? The previously mentioned Suger'n Cream or Peaches and Cream.
What is so special about it? Good sturdy all cotton. Knits up quickly, machine washable and dryable, and comes in a ton of both variegated and solid colors. All that and the price. It runs about $1.50 or less as the regular price and goes on sale for just over a dollar at Hobby Lobby on a fairly regular basis. I can get two BallBands out of two skeins with a bit leftover. I have made a couple of smaller than "standard" Chinese Waves dish clothes out of some leftovers. I also made a couple of Mandy's Candy bags out of the leftovers.
I will say that I have used 100% cotton chenille a lot in the past and really liked it a lot, especially for face cloths. It is very soft and holds up well in the wash.