knitigator

Ten on Tuesday

Oh, I love you bacon!!

This week's theme is 10 Reasons to Love Bacon.  Now, those of you who have been out with me are likely smiling because you know I don't eat bacon (or any other pork products or shellfish) in my house.  Out, that's another story altogether.  So, without further ado:

1. It's special because I don't have it at home.

2. It's perfect with avocado.

3. Or eggs.

4. It improves anything that it's with.  Grilled scallops are yummy -- wrapped in bacon and then grilled, divine.  

5. A turkey sandwich is just a turkey sandwich.  With bacon, it's a club.

6.  Just saying the word makes people smile and say "mmmm, bacon!"

7. It's equally good morning, noon or night.

8. It's an aphrodisiac -- remember the scene in Heartburn in which Nora Ephron seduces Carl Bernstein with her spaghetti carbonara.

9. It's salty and crispy.  And it's protein!  (I recognize it's not the lean protein that Dr. Oz advocates.)

10. It's just SO good!
 

Going All Random

Garter Ruffle Shawl, improvised pattern, Brooks Farm solo silk

Since it's been a while since I've been here, I'm going to follow my pal's lead and go all random.

• We're been on the road this summer and having a great time!  From New Hampshire and Southeastern Massachusetts over the Fourth of July to Vermont last weekend.  I told my husband that I didn't want to sit around this summer -- we haven't been and it's been FUN!

• I've been reading a lot -- mostly non-fiction and several memoires.  I've read "Making Toast,"  "The Happiness Project," "Game Change," "This Isn't the Story You Think It Is - A Season of Unlikely Happiness," and "Marriage and Other Acts of Charity" -- I enjoyed and recommend all of them.

• I've been knitting away on shawls.  I finished the knitting of Fog Lifter and just need to find some time to block it.  I'm currently knitting a garter shawl -- I'm about done with the main knitting and am going to add a ruffle.   

• I've lost and gained and lost and gained the same five pounds since April.  Grrrr.  On a happier note, I cut my hair much shorter and am loving it.

• I'm trying to kick the Nutrisweet habit.  I know I'll be healthier in the long run, but damn, that stuff is in SO many products.

• I haven't been cooking much, but think that I need to get back to basics.  What the healthiest (and yummiest) thing you've made lately? 

A Hug From Home

A few months ago, my pal Manise and I took a class on embellishing knits with Kristin Nicholas.  If you ever have a chance to take a class with Kristin, do it!  She's a wonderful teacher, an amazingly talented designer and a super nice, down-to-earth person.  We learned how to make our knits pop with little touches.  And Kristin brought a ton of items from her book -- wowza!

My sampler from the class.

Fast forward to this week.  My niece was leaving for overnight camp for the first time.  I wanted to make her something little, but special, to take with her.  I had the idea of a little felted pillow and was flipping through Kristin's book Colorful Stitchery (great book!) when I found just the thing.  First, I felted an old (grandmother's) cashmere sweater with holes.  Then I cut, stitched, stuffed and closed and voila, a little hug and kiss from home!

 

Ten on Tuesday

I love reading all year, but especially in the summer.  I also enjoy hearing other people's recommendations and often turn up the radio if the topic is book lists.  So, I suggested to Carole that this might be a fun topic.

If you hold on until the end, you'll get some recommendations.

1. The Help.  I've started this one and so far, so good.  I own this one, so the urgency to plow through it is less than the 14-day library books.

2. Game Change.  I'm currently reading this book -- if you like politics and want to read what really happened and the real deal about the candidates, this one's for you.  I'm greatly enjoying it.

3. To Kill A Mockingbird.  It's the 50th anniversary.  And I've never read it.

4. True Compass. How the world and Massachusetts have changed since Ted Kennedy's passing last August.

5. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  I know, so 2009!

6. The House on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet.  I heard a review of this book on NPR and it sounds like a tender book.   (Added later:  It's the Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet".)

7. The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake.  Read a couple of reviews and they piqued my interest.

8. American Wife.  There seem to be a lot of political books on my list this summer!  I enjoyed Prep and The Man of My Dreams, so I think I'll like this one by Curtis Sittenfeld.

9. Because I like children's books too, I'd like to re-read A Wrinkle In Time and read Becoming Naomi Leon.

10. And no summer reading list would be complete without a fluff read.  My choice this summer is Valerie Bertinelli's book Finding It.

And my recommendations.  I've read these books over the last few months and give them my summer thumbs up.

1. Making Toast.  An unbelievably sad and yet uplifting memoir.

2. The Happiness Project.  Easy read and keeps you thinking well after you've finished it.

3. Losing It.  The first Valerie Bertinelli book.  Really, I'm not a groupie.  But, I picked up this book after she finished the Boston Marathon.  I enjoyed reading about her life, Van Halen and her struggle with weight.

4. And, on the weight loss theme, When Food is Love, by uber-author Geneen Roth of Women Food and God fame.  (I think I'll read that one too!)

Happy reading!

Ten on Tuesday on Thursday

This week's new and improved Ten on Tuesday's theme is Ten Reasons to Participate in Ten on Tuesday.

1. Because you can do it on Tuesday.  Or Wednesday.  Or even Thursday.

2. Because my friends Carole and Jess are heading up version 2.

3. Because lists are fun.

4. Because blog fodder is good.

5.  Because other friends are participating.

6. Because it's fun to read other people's ideas on the same subject.

7. Because there's a cute button.

8.  Because coming up with ten of anything is usually do-able.

9. Because  Carole make a cool link to other Ten on Tuesday participants.  (Although the link is now closed, so perhaps I'll actually have to post on Tuesday!)

10. Just because.    

The New Chicken

I've heard it many times.  Yoga is the new therapy.  Knitting the new yoga.  Raising chickens the new knitting.  Well,  I'm think sewing is the new chicken. 

I LOVE knitting and spinning.  Tremendously.  But, let's face it, getting anything done, even something small like a baby hat, takes a lot of time.  I'm hoping sewing is a bit more instant gratification. 

Last night, I made my first sewing project.  From Erin's very clear tutorial.  Now I want cozies for everything!!

 

Rant Wednesday

I've been thinking a lot lately about age and change (or lack thereof) and excitement and middle-age and have composed many posts in my head to share and see your thoughts and insights.  But then I remember that this is not my living room, but, in fact is "out there" for more widespread consumption.  Not that it's the New York Times, but you know what I mean.   So, our discussion will have to wait until we see one another and can chat in person. 

Anyway, in an email rant to my husband this morning, I rattled off a number of things that I HATE.  Or, more accurately, that I'm hating today.   (And I'm mindful that hate is not a nice word, that it's very strong, that I don't like to hear my kids use it.)  That said, here's the list of things that I'm really not loving today:

- this time of the year (school-wise/sports-wise)

- my messy basement

- my car

- my weight

- deadlines

- strep throat

- point counting

- time keeping   

- forms

- traffic

(I promise we'll be back to my usually chipper, exclamation-point-laden posts very soon). 

Downtown Lunch Break

 

For my first sewing project!  Wish me luck!

And a Fog Lifter update -- I'm done with 14 repeats -- that's three soccer and two lacrosse games over the weekend!

That Kind of Week

It's been one of those weeks.  Not terrible, but uninspiring.  Our heat went out and can't be repaired until next week.  My days and night have been busy, but not necessarily super productive.  Monday morning was a sign -- while navigating the last bit of my commute, some icky birds crossed by path and mistook my windshield and hood for their WC.  Oh well, one of those weeks.

What's a girl to do to cheer up (after ample bitching, of course) -- start a new project!  (As an aside, I think Kim brought up a while ago that there is an absence of projects in progress on blogs these days.  I agree!  I'm too slow to just show finished projects.  Bring back the WIPs!!)

 
This will be Fog Lifter designed by my pal Susan.  I'm knitting it in Malabrigo Sock in Tiziano Red. 

I started it on metal 6s, then frogged and swatched on 5s.  I don't usually swatch a scarf or shawl, but, since it's an open, mesh pattern, I wanted to get a feel for what Susan intended with the design.  I'm back on wood 6s and am liking what I'm getting.

Hope you are having a better week!  What are you working on?

Ten on Tuesday

(Photo inspired by Carole's)

I can't believe I haven't been here in almost a month!  No better way to get back into it than a Ten on Tuesday post.  This week's theme is "Ten Places That Make Me Happy."

1. My kitchen.   Especially since we painted it pumpkin three years ago and re-did the floors last year.

2.  The bathtub.  Sometimes it's the only place I can get a few minutes of quiet.

3. The coffee shops of Metrowest where I meet friends.  I especially love independents  Karma and  Panache and Sudbury Coffee Works.  

4. Almost any "arriving" airport.  The initial travel is done and the adventure is about to begin.

5. Good Harbor Beach.  Especially in the late afternoon.

6. My in-laws patio.  Sunny, warm and since we are always there on vacation, very relaxing.

7. My office.  It's neat and I can call someone if my computer is not working.  (I wish I had a home "help" desk!)

8.Stearns Organic Farm, our CSA.  It's a gorgeous place.

9. A movie theater with my husband.  It's our favorite date.

10. The Rumney Village, New Hampshire house from my childhood.  My parents had a house and we used to spend weekends and vacations there.  Although the house is no longer theirs, it lives on in my memory.

And one bonus.

11. Okay, this one might sound a little wacky, but Trader Joe's.  Even more so on a Thursday when it's wine tasting night.   It's just a happy place.