weekend baking

Sunday, January 31, 2010


i had the urge to bake both days this weekend. i am chalking it up to the nesting instincts kicking in, which means that the bean is on his way. well, not at the moment, but in the next 3 weeks. there are a plethora of cooking blogs on the internet, way too many for me to follow. but there are two that i do follow smitten kitchen and rookie cookie. i found the recipes for both of my baking adventures this weekend from these two blogs.

the photo above is rookie cookie's recipe for banana muffins. see, i am trying something other than cookies. i had some bananas that were, well a little too brown for my liking, so i thought i would use them for muffins. these were very easy to make, and taste great. not an overwhelming flavor of banana nor are they too sweet. it does make 24 muffins, great for freezing or company. i told precious husband we should freeze some and his reply was "don't worry, they wont last long." i guess they passed his taste test.


i think there are is no better combination than peanut butter and chocolate, so when i saw the recipe for peanut butter and chocolate cookies, adapted from a recipe from magnolia bakery in nyc, on smitten kitchen, i was well smitten. these are divine! chunky peanut butter, peanut butter chip, and chocolate chips, whats not to love! they are definitely keepers.


precious husband is very focused on getting every last bit of dough out of the bowl, which he then promptly put in his mouth.


bean's room... the artwork

Saturday, January 30, 2010


here is your second peak into the bean's room. when i started thinking about how i wanted to transform the nursery, i knew i wanted to have the walls full of artwork. we did not have artwork on the walls for cooper, not sure why, and filling the walls with fun, whimsical art would help to make the space new and different. i spent alot of time online searching for the perfect prints. the goal was to find pieces that were kid friendly but sophisticated at the same time. prints that could grow with the bean.

the classic story of the tortoise and the hare with a modern twist by ink and wit

the giraffe ( seen here) and the snail (in the first picture) can be found here. and the "c is for chatterbox" print is from this great shop.


these two prints are from olli and lime, the place where i purchased the bedding. i couldn't resist these.


there is one more piece of artwork, perhaps my favorite, but i cant show you until the bean is born. it has his name on it, but i can tell you that it came from this shop.

and if you are observant, you will notice that i did give you the bean's initials. only 3 more weeks till you know his name.

spilling out

Friday, January 29, 2010

until about 10 days ago, if you walked into our house and i was not home, you would have no idea that we were going to have a baby in less then a month. yes, tiny clothes were washed, folded neatly in drawers and hanging in the closet. there was artwork hanging on the wall, new bedding in the crib and blankets waiting, but unless you went up the stairs and into the nursery you would not know.

there is so much gear that accompanies having a baby. most of that gear has lived in the basement or the nursery since cooper died. i have been reluctant to let it leave those two places. maybe because i am cautious. or maybe because there is a part of me that fears something will go wrong. or maybe its superstition, that until the bean was here and i know that he is fine, i couldn't let it spill out into the house. i remember asking someone after cooper died, what do i do with all the stuff. walking back into our house the day he died, there were reminders every where, reminders that i could not escape. i think my reluctance to let the stuff spill out of the nursery and basement is a way to protect myself and reminds me that my heart is still very tender.

but my need for organization kicked in. and if you walked into our house today there are subtle signs that a baby is on its way. it started with the pack and play. setting this up required some furniture rearranging and since this occurred in my craft room, i wanted a say in what was rearranged. this move got the ball rolling. now, there is formula in the pantry (no i am not nursing, another post for another day), bottles in the kitchen cabinets, monitors in the appropriate rooms, and precious husband had the car sear installed yesterday. there is still some gear in the bean's room, like the hammock that cooper loved so, but i don't think that will spill out until the bean is actually here. and the stuff in the basement, we wont need that for a while.

yes, there is still a part of me that is nervous. nervous that we will come home from the hospital with empty arms and broken hearts, but i think that is a normal fear regardless of whether you have experienced the loss of a child or not. despite my fear, i do have hope that the bean will be healthy, trust in my doctors, and faith that cooper is watching over his baby brother.

2 for 1

Thursday, January 28, 2010



i am not found of writing on onesies or bibs for wee ones. sayings like "grandma loves me" or "what happens at grandma's stays at grandmas'" or "mommy's little cutie" or "here comes trouble" or........ i could go on and on about the sayings that companies put on baby clothing and accessories that make me cringe. seriously, it make my skin crawl. just because babies are cute, small and snugly doesn't mean they cant have some style. i know some people like it or they wouldnt make them, but its not my thing.

that being said, i am very picky about what i buy for the bean, but don't feel bad for him, he has a plethora of clothes and will be a very well dressed child or at least while i have control over it. i was this way with cooper as well, but did let some things slide. this time, not so much.

as you know, i needed another project, so i decided to make some bibs for him. i am not ready to commit to another quilt. i do; however, have some ideas brewing in my head for a new quilt. and it seems that my brother would also like one. but for now, i am making bibs. they were simple enough and very quick to make up. and my brain started turning in the middle of the night of how i can make these my own and put them up in the shop. that is what i am working on today. better yet, i figured out how to install snaps, with a little help for precious husband.





this bib is my favorite of the bunch. it was made with a left over log cabin square from the bean's quilt. so you have a sneak peak of what his quilt will look like, or at least the fabric i used. it should be finished this week, so stay tuned...

tuesday tidbits

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

**it was 50 degrees here yesterday. today it is back to winter.

**my feeling is that if it is going to be grey and cold, there should be snow on the ground.

**i am still sad that the vikings lost. i will be routing for the colts in the super bowl.

**precious husband and i started cleaning and reorganizing the basement yesterday.

**i have been wanting to do this for a while, he suddenly got the urge.

**i think we need to pack a suitcase, just in case the bean comes early.

**we did not do this with cooper, and trying to pack in the middle of the night, after your water breaks is not so fun.

**i need a new sewing project, but don't know what i want to make. maybe a another quilt?

**still waiting for the rocking chair i ordered to arrive, as well as the new flooring that is going in the tv room.

**i have eaten way to many rolo cookies this week. they may be the best cookie i have ever tasted.

in 4 weeks

Monday, January 25, 2010


it seems to me that this pregnancy has been the longest gestational period in the history of mankind. so it is a little strange to me that in 4 weeks, or maybe sooner, the bean will be here. that we will know what he looks like, who he looks like, be able to count his fingers and toes, see his personality in action and smell that intoxicating baby smell.

and while i am over the moon excited to meet the gremlin that has take over my body, i am anxious. there is a beauty in not knowing when you are going to go into labor, you have no control over the timing and you have to let the process unfold. it is spontaneity at its finest. you lose some of that when you have a planned c-section. and while it was my decision to have a repeat c-section, i am secretly hoping the bean comes early (i will still have a c- section). i think it will take some of the anxiety out of the process.

i know intellectually, that the anxiety is natural. our birth experience with cooper was not the norm and i have every reason to believe that the bean's birth will be the norm. but i know that the process will be intense, emotional and overwhelming. and that despite our joy, there will still be some sadness and grieving that takes place. how could there not be?

not knowing what those moments will be like when we are first together as a family unit seems to occupy my thoughts lately. i also know that until the bean lives longer than cooper, i will be very protective and guarded of our little family. we are blessed to have friends and family alike who are so excited about the bean and want to share in our joy. but in those first 3 weeks i don't want alot of visitors, with exception of immediate family and our closest friends. whether or not people understand this need makes me anxious and occupies my thoughts when i cant sleep at night.

i try not to dwell on my anxiety, but its hard, given all that we have been through. but i know that despite my anxiety and worry, things will unfold as they should and i will look back and wonder why i worried so.

and that in 4 weeks, we will be a family and the hole in my heart will not be as big as it is today.

sunday baking

Sunday, January 24, 2010


for the third sunday in a row i made cookies, seems as if sunday baking has become part of our sunday ritual, along with pancakes( made by precious husband) and walking the dogs. although, i suspect that once the bean is here i wont be baking much, and will need to refrain from cookie eating.

last week, darling alyssa, sent me a link for this rolo cookie recipe. she gave it rave reviews, so i thought i would give it a try. it was a little more time consuming than the past two weeks' recipes, but these cookies are delicious!


inside each little round ball of chocolate dough is a rolo.....



which creates another layer of chocolate and a yummy caramel center when baked. seriously, what's not to love. precious husband and i are trying hard not to eat all the cookies today while watching football.




bean's room... the crib

Saturday, January 23, 2010


i thought over the next several weeks i would share with you the bean's room, as we await his arrival. 4 more weeks! can you believe it....

the goal with designing this space was to use existing furniture and wall colors to create a whole new look and feel, essentially to reinvent the space. cooper did not spend a whole lot of time in his room when he was alive. he preferred to be held, and since the doctors did not want him to get upset, he pretty much got his way. this being said, i did not have a whole lot of strong emotional attachments to cooper's room, but knew that i needed to create a whole new space for the bean. it is only fair.

i am not a fan of traditional nursery's or colors and i tend to like to play with different color combinations. you will either like the color combo or you wont. thats ok. i happen to love it!

i found the bedding here. they had all kinds of accessories to match the bedding, but i wanted a more eclectic look and feel. i am not a huge fan of stuffed animals, but managed to get quite a few as gifts. i think they work. the bean has two blankets, one on each end of the crib. one is the one i knit for him and the other one is a cashmere blanket his yaya bought him. i swear the kid owns as much cashmere as his mother. the bedding set did come with a matching quilt, it is tucked away in the drawer at the bottom of the crib.







stay tuned for more glimpses of the bean's room......

practice, practice, practice

Thursday, January 21, 2010


practice makes perfect, the saying goes. and after all the practice, i think i finally got it. got what you ask? well, a quilted kindle cover.

my mom has a kindle, she loves her kindle, and i thought it be fantastic if she had a stylish travel cover for her kindle. instead of the boring black one she has. little did i know, what a creative journey i would travel down on my quest for the perfect kindle cover. the above picture is all my different attempts, envelope style, clutch, velcro closures, button hole closures, and zipper installation.

i finally settled on a quilted cover with a zipper closure. its perfect for the kindle, but also for ipods, cameras or anything else that needs a whimsical bag to call home. i loved this creative exercise because it forced me to try new things and become more comfortable with my sewing machine. it has also allowed me to experiment with color, fabric, and machine quilting. i have become quite proficient at quilting wavy lines, next up swirls. and i have been able to work through some of my fabric stash and use scraps, which allows me to buy more fabric, guilt free. you see the pattern here, right?

now, on to more sewing......




**i love this little frog

outside my window

Wednesday, January 20, 2010



tuesday tidbits

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

** i had my 34 week check up today. all is well with the bean.

** we assembled the pack play yesterday in the computer/craft (mostly craft room). it did not takes nearly as long as it did the first time.

** i am hoping that brett favre makes it to the super bowl. maybe they will stop talking about his age and talk about what a good player he is.

**installing zippers are much easier with a zipper foot. i bought one today.

** last night i thought my skin was going to rip open.

** i am sorely disappointed in the new head coach for buffalo.

**the new anthro opened. i am so excited, but am refraining from going until after the bean is born.

** i will be adding some new items to the etsy shop this week. check them out.

** i have been very good about not buying fabric and using what is in my stash, but i did order some new fabric last week and it arrived today in the mail. i love anna maria horner.

** i am trying to get out and "smell the people" at least once a day, but some days they really stink.

** 34 days until the bean is here. i cant wait to meet him.

its official

Monday, January 18, 2010


i believe you can never have too many tubes of lip gloss.

i used to be a lipstick girl, back when i was teaching and had a regular 9-4 job. i would collect different shades of "stick," as i called it. i am not sure why i loved it so, maybe because i didn't have to reapply a million times during the course of the day. or maybe it made me feel older. or more sophisticated. we had a pretty good run, my lipstick and i. and then one day, we just stopped talking and needing each other.

ok, lets be honest. i cheated. i discovered stila lip glaze and was in love. it was an instant love affair. i was drawn in by the packaging, the colors, and the way it sparkled on my lips. with names like plum fairy and pinkle twinkle whats not to love?

so its official, i am now and forever a lip gloss girl. i don't think i even own a tube of lipstick anymore. lip gloss has the power to make me feel younger, not so made up and it has the ability to change my attitude about myself.

tell me, are you a lipstick girl or a lip gloss girl?


thoughts on baking

Sunday, January 17, 2010

generally speaking, i do not like to bake. i feel like the precise nature of baking stifles my exploration of flavors, i much prefer to cook. i can add and subtract flavors and i do not have to follow a recipe exactly, its more of a guide or road map.

i also do not bake because i do not like having sweets in the house, for the simple fact that i have no self control and am liable to eat all 4 dozen cookies in one afternoon.

however, my precious husband loves sweets. now i need to explain that when we met he did not need or want dessert every night. this changed when i was pregnant with cooper. he began asking every night what was for dessert or if we had anything sweet in the house? ( i don't buy sweets either). his craving for sweets at night has remained.

for the past two sundays i have felt the urge to make cookies, maybe its that nesting urge kicking in or maybe its because it makes precious husband so happy. after all, he has been cooking, doing laundry, and cleaning since he has been off work (ok, he always cleans, but i am very thankful i don't have to). i have stuck with cookie making, last week chocolate peanut chip and this week oatmeal butterscotch chip, nothing too fancy. and they are not all the same size or color. some are a little more crisp than others. but.....i have already eaten way too many cookies for one day.

which do you prefer cooking or baking?

stretched

Saturday, January 16, 2010

no, this is not a post about how my skin has stretched beyond comprehension, during the final weeks of pregnancy, so you can breathe a sigh of relief.

it is a post about in the last two days i have stretched my sewing skills.

up until recently, i have been fairly comfortable with sewing in straight lines. in fact, i have become quite proficient at sewing in straight lines and have been perfectly content letting someone else quilt the 4 quilts that i have managed to make since june.

but i got this design idea in my head, and it has my brain working on over time. i cant share it yet, as it is not perfected, but not to worry, its almost there. being the perfectionist that i am this idea has implored me to the following in the last 48 hours.

** buy a darning foot for my machine, so that i can attempt to free motion quilt.

** learn how to make a button hole on my machine.

** teach myself how to sew in a zipper.

** and become acquainted with the fancy stitches on my machine.

by last night my brain was on over load and i realized that free motion quilting is really hard, sewing in zippers is not as scary as i thought it would be and technology/ electronics really suck sometimes. my machine and i had a knock down drag out fight over the button holes. i finally won. and that despite my frustration yesterday, i am proud of myself for pressing on and figuring it out. it will serve my creative mind well.

now, i have to get back to that design idea......


wearing shades

Thursday, January 14, 2010

i have a thing for sunglasses. they bring out my inner celebrity. there is something about a fabulous pair of sunglasses that can make you feel like a rock star, even if you are simply going grocery shopping.

unfortunately, like many things in my life, i have expensive taste in sunglasses. and not to be a brand whore, but prada sunglasses are my eye accessory of choice. ok, who i am kidding, i am a bit a of brand whore. i have two pairs, one i bought several years ago, i think i used grocery money, because i had to have them (don't worry i was single and could afford to skip a few meals) and the second pair i got a few summers ago in greece ( they are much cheaper in europe, even with the awful exchange rate). i love both pairs equally. and would like to add this pair to my little sunglasses family.

today, for the first time this year, i wore my sunglasses because the sun was out and it was bright (the grey skies have returned). when you live in a place where the winters are long and grey you rejoice when you have to wear your sunglasses. it is a happy day when the sun glares into your eyes off the white snow. and somehow, when the sun is shining the cold does not seem so bad. and for a brief moment i was a rock star, or at least i was in my head.

requests

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

i have gotten some very specific requests this week from readers ( i love it, keep them coming), so i thought i would oblige.


**many of you want to know how precious husband has 12 weeks of paid vaca in the winter. he works for a wholesale plant nursery. we are very blessed that he is paid year round, many who work in the landscape business are not paid during the winter and either snow plow, pick up odd jobs, or go on unemployment. precious husband works hard from the end of march to mid- december, so he deserves a little r and r. and he will be home for about a month when the bean arrives.

** the color of the paint in the bean's room is called sea kiss by valspar and we purchased it at lowe's.

** and the empanada recipe, i found it in the the holiday issue of real simple. they have great recipes, by the way.

ingredients:
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 pound of ground beef
1/3 cup of golden raisins
2 tablespoons of ketchup
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
kosher salt and pepper to taste
2 store bought refrigerated rolled pie crusts
1 large egg beaten
** i added 1 cup of diced sweet potato

**heat oven to 375. heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally until soft, 5-6 minutes. add the beef and cook, breaking it up until no longer pink. stir in the raisins, ketchup, cinnamon, salt and pepper.

**using a 2 1/2 inch round cookie cutter, cut out circles from the pie crust. ( i used a bigger circle than called for, it was just easier that way, but it wont make as many or you will need 4 pie crusts) divide the beef mixture among the circles, brush the edges with water, fold in half and press with a fork to seal. transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and brush with the egg. bake until golden, 20-25 minutes.

** enjoy!


tuesday tidbits

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

**its snowing here, again!

**i am trying to be as productive as i can in the creative department over the next 6 weeks.

** this means i am knitting and sewing like crazy, trying to turn my ideas into actual items.

** i had the "come a parts" last night, the bean was brutal and i was being a wimp.

**sometimes, this waiting for his arrival makes me feel unproductive.

** precious husband told me i am productive, like a crockpot, slowly cooking the bean till he is ready.

** hmmmmmm....

**winters are weird, because we are both home.

** precious husband gets 12 weeks of paid vaca in the winter.

** so the days blur together.

** after finishing all 5 seasons of the wire, we started the shield this week.

**it's homemade pizza night. precious husband is the pizza maker.

**back to sewing... working out a new design for the etsy shop.

cooking adventures

Monday, January 11, 2010


i have this memory from my childhood, of standing around the island in our kitchen and watching my mom cook dinner on a nightly basis. my mom loves to cook and is a very good one. my parents often had dinner parties and the holidays always consisted of friends, family and food.

so it is no surprise to me that i inherited her love of cooking, which goes hand in hand with good food and good wine. oh, how i cant wait to have a big glass of red wine after the bean is born, but i digress. i love read cookbooks and i plan out a dinner menu for precious husband and i each week. i try very hard not to cook the same thing over and over, but we do have some favorites that make it into the rotation every couple of weeks.

saturday night i met up with some of my girlfriends for a night of food, friendship and conversation. we have gathered over meals for a few years now, and while the makeup of the group has shifted over time, the theme is the same: make something you have not made before. i volunteered to make an appetizer and saw a recipe for beef empanadas in the holiday issue of real simple. they looked tasty and seemed easy enough.

so saturday afternoon, i set about the task of empanada making. i followed the recipe for the most part, but did add some chopped up sweet potatoes that i had leftover from the previous night. i had a bit of a size issue, the recipe called for a 2.5 inch round cookie cutter, which i found to be too small and tedious when assembling. so i opted for a larger size, i actually used a large cup as my cookie cutter. once i started making them bigger it was much easier.

the empanadas were a hit at dinner that evening and we had the leftovers yesterday while watching football. i will be making these again in the future. and better yet, i think they looked as good as they tasted.....

a sweater and a winner

Saturday, January 9, 2010


yesterday i finished the bean's first sweater, i figure i should knit as many as i can before he decides that they are not cool. and yes i know i have some time......i used the spud and chloe sweater yarn, which is great for babies and kids because it is machine washable and it is a blend of wool and cotton. i think it is around a 6-9 month size. i say think because i played with the gauge a bit to make it bigger, eliminating the need to redo the knitting math.

i think it is as cute as can be.

and yes, this was photographed in the bean's room, so you have a little sneak peek of the wall color.

__________________________________________________________
and now for the winner of the pure knits book giveaway.

precious husband picked a random number and the comment that corresponded with that number belonged to bonnie m. yay bonnie! so bonnie, send me your mailing address so i can send you your book.

and if i don't hear from bonnie, by the end of the weekend, i will have precious husband pick another random number.


musings on pregnancy

Friday, January 8, 2010

i am not one who "does" pregnancy well. don't get me wrong, i am thrilled about the bean and about being a parent. i am acutely aware of how fertile i am and the ease with which i can conceive. but i don't like being pregnant. i see it as a means to an end.

i have heard so many women say that they love being pregnant. to be honest, i don't get what all the fuss is about and quite frankly i think its all a load of shit, like they feel bad if they say they don't like being pregnant.

lets face it , besides the mere fact that we as a race can procreate, there is nothing really wonderful about being pregnant.

** you spend the first several months feeling like you are on a permanent hangover, except you cant have a drink to take the edge off. or you are hugging the toilet and puking your guts out. either way it is not a pretty sight.

**women rave about their hair during pregnancy. well i have news, if you are blessed with a thick head of hair, pregnancy makes it unbearable. i have the constant urge to cut it all off, fortunately, my hair dresser knows better than to go down that path. i guess that's why he gets paid the big bucks.

**lets talk fashion. yes, maternity clothes have come along way, but fashionable clothes come with a hefty price tag. and who wants to pay a small fortune on clothes that you wear for a few months. so, you splurge on a couple of outfits, and by the time the baby comes you are ready to burn them all because you cant stand the sight of yourself wearing them. seriously, i can not wait to get rid of maternity clothes.

**and tell me what is pleasant about having a small gremlin take over your body? it is not fun, pleasant or exciting to have someone punch your crotch all day long.

**or how about waking up in the middle of the night with a wet shirt because your boobs have leaked.

** or you cant bend over to put on your winter boots or tie your shoes without help.

** and don't even get me started on hormones and the effect they have on your body or emotional state. one minute you love your husband because of what you created together and the next minute you cant stand him for getting you knocked up and are telling him to look into getting snipped as soon as you deliver this baby. ahhh, hormones.

and women say they "love" being pregnant. really? thankfully, none of my friends share that sentiment and we can commiserate together. i am very excited about meeting the bean, but i think that i am equally as excited about his arrival marking the end of my pregnancy.

then comes the fun part, losing the baby weight......good times......


dreaming of a national championship

Thursday, January 7, 2010

my parents great pyrenees bella with her longhorn stuffed animal

so, tonight is a big night. in case you don't follow college football, its the bcs national championship game between the texas longhorns and the alabama crimson tide. while i am excited about the big game, i am also sad, because this game signals the end of the college football season.

my family is nervous about the game. texas is the underdog. a number of people in the college football world feel texas doesn't have a chance and some don't think they should be in the big dance at all. and there is the report that oklahoma coach bob stoops was a "special guest" at an alabama practice. whats that all about? there will be alot of pacing and nail biting in my family tonight, spanning from the south all the way to alaska.

my brothers and dad were at the game 5 years ago when texas beat usc, and they are all wearing the same outfit they wore then, for good luck. and me, well i am watching the game with the same friends i did in 2005, although we will be at our house, instead of a bar. they have a newborn and the thought of being 8 months pregnant in a bar, is well exhausting. hopefully, the stars will align one more time for the horns.

the only one who doesn't seem to be nervous is bella.

hook em horns!

Pure Knits Book Giveaway

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

remember this post? and this one?

well, when my mom was here in october, we were at the bookstore and bought a copy of pure knits.

this evening, the ups truck delivered another copy of said book to my doorstep, compliments of the publisher. and well, since i don't need two copies of this book ( despite my belief that one can never have too many books), i decided to do a little give away.

if you would like your own copy of pure knits, leave a comment by midnight on friday. precious husband will pick a number on saturday. who knows it could be you.....

this is really a great book with projects for all levels of knitters.

happy commenting.....

tuesday tidbits

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

** we have alot of snow. i think that a lake effect snow band is sitting over our house.

** when we got home last tuesday, there was no snow on the ground, today there is probably about 30 inches.

** i am not joking.

** it is starting to make me feel a little claustrophobic.

** i am having a bout of creative ADD. there is so much in my head and i cant get it all out.

**so i started the bean a sweater, not a little cute baby sweater, but one that is more like a cute 6 month old sweater.

** our cord blood collection kit arrived today.

** this makes me feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel.

** we are putting the finishing touches on the bean's room. pictures to come.

** the bcs national championship game is thursday.

** i hope i can stay up for the entire game.

** only two weeks until the new season of 24 starts.

**if jack bauer shows up on your doorstep, don't open the door.

** waiting for precious husband to bring me a tea from starbucks.

and two for the bean

Monday, January 4, 2010

this weekend while watching football, i made two hats for the bean. i used my knot baby hat pattern and played with the stripe pattern. i really like the vertical stripes. i think that will be his "coming home from the hospital" hat. both hats were made with spud and chloe yarn, which is great for little ones because it is machine washable.





snow = one happy dog

Sunday, January 3, 2010

the snow has really piled up over the last 24 hours. and this my friends make b very happy. he has waited very patiently all day for his dad to play in the snow. after almost giving up hope, he finally got his moment. he is the happiest dog in the world right now.









lots of cashmere

Saturday, January 2, 2010

during my time in santa fe, i managed to knit two new hats for myself. i found both patterns on the purlbee and both are knit using jade sapphire cashmere. i think my hand are now forever spoiled. ( side note, cooper LOVED cashmere. we will see if the bean does as well.)

the first hat is called simple pleasures hat. it is knit using jade sapphire cashmere and silk, along with rowan kid silk haze. i have loved wearing this hat. it is lightweight and super warm, and better yet it doesn't give you hat head.





the second hat is called the dimple hat. it is knit with the jade sapphire 6 ply cashmere. it is a more refined look and fits more like a skull cap. i absolutely love the color of the yarn. the stitch pattern looks complicated, but once you get into a rhythm its all good.




i do love knitting with cashmere, if only it didn't cost so much, but these are great projects that don't break the bank. and were a nice indulgence for someone who has 7 more weeks of being pregnant.

next up..... a couple of hats for the bean.

final images of 2009

Friday, January 1, 2010

we spent the final evening of 2009 with family, good food and some belated christmas gifts. wishing you a healthy, happy and peaceful 2010!