I Know this is a Knitting Blog...

BUT...

I've had a cookie breakthrough! Yes, that's right a cookie breakthrough. You may not have known this but I was a quest for a chocolate chip cookie that did not end up looking like this and I found them and even made them myself. Now I'm sure those cookies actually taste pretty good. In general, I find that cookies taste good no matter what. But I think we all know that they taste so good because of all the butter, sugar and CHOCOLATE that is in them. And, if they look "bad" who cares. Right? Right.

But I still wanted to be able to make cookies that look like they could have been purchased at a sea level bakery. Anyone who lives at this altitude knows that baking is not exactly easy. But this recipe worked.

See!

Not only do they look good; they taste really great, they're not greasy, they're super moist, they have NO BUTTER, they require NO MIXER!, and they only took 45 minutes (from pulling all the ingredients out to shutting off the oven), no kidding.

Here's the link to the recipe I used. And my list of altercations (of course i made altercations!):

I used 1/2 c. whole wheat flour in addition to the 1 1/2 c. flour suggested

I added 1/4 c. plain yogurt (I mixed it in with egg, sugar etc.)

You can add these or not but I do think the yogurt adds to the overall super moistness of any baked item. Just be sure to add more flour (whether it's wheat or not doesn't matter, i just like the taste of wheat flour) if you use the yogurt.

MMM! They are delicious!

and because this is a knitting blog :)...this is my most recent project, almost finished. Do you think it has anything to do with my quest for the perfect CHOCOLATE chip cookie?

Craftivism

That's what we did last Monday night. The CVS at UW hosted a KNIT-IN to benefit one of the elementary schools here in town. The purpose was for knitters and crocheters to make as many scarves, hats, mittens, and other wintry items as possible in 4 hours. I cheated and started ahead of time, as I think many people did.

It was a great event. Every table was full of people knitting or crocheting for a cause. And, apparently many thought it would be a good place to learn to knit or crochet because I ended teaching about 6 people how to knit.

This left little time for me to finish my project,

which I ended up turning in a few days later. Although I did finish Dan's project which was also a beanie that I forgot to photograph...oops!

In other knitting news: I forgot to mention that I finished Dan's slippers (in January, I think). These were on that large list of items I wanted to get done by March.

Side note: I love that my husband knits!

They turned out pretty nice. They fit and all. I think I've finally tweaked that slipper pattern enough to make them work with cheaper yarn than the pattern calls for. And, I guess I was in a hat mood after all that craftivism so I knitted up this little ditty for a co-worker's new baby.

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Barely Knitting...Or Anything Else

Famous last words: "I haven't been sick in at least 2 years! Can you believe that?"

This said two days(!) before the worst cold in a decade hit me like a ton of bricks. I even went to a doctor. That is a big deal for me. Okay, well, the real reason I went (get ready to laugh just like my dear husband did) was because I saw a mouse in our garage in October, I think, and wanted to rule out Hantavirus. Yeah, I know. Laugh it up. The doc couldn't do anything, kind of laughed at me, and told me to start a Vitamin D regimen (he was realllllly into Vitamin D).

Today is Day 6 of stated illness and I am at about 60%. I thought I would be 100% by now but I was wrong. Who ever heard of a cold lasting more than 3 days?? This is ridiculous. Thankfully I worked out my practicum schedule so that I have Mondays off "to work on my research." So I am not missing yet another day of work.

The knitting has entirely slowed down. I only finished 2 things over this long period of time on the couch. One of the projects was not on the list but I squeezed it in for a friend's birthday gift.

Blanket #2 of 3. I like the stripes:

And Katie's present:

In other news: my husband is great! he gave me many presents for my birthday, as seen here and most of them had to do with knitting...what a man!

Maybe This is Possible

Two projects down on that list mentioned in the last post.

A wild baby blanket. If you knew the parents you would agree this is perfect for their new daughter.

And a cozy shawl for my Grandmother.

I even started working on that black sock for Dan. What else did I have to do while I sat in the midst of my first 7 hour custody trial? Apparently observing court will be part of my practicum. This is intense stuff and the knitting definitely took off some of the edge.

Did I mention this...

Out with the Old...

This week was my first week not working at the treatment facility in four years. It is a welcomed change. I am currently embarking on a four month hiatus from my job, not necessarily by choice but because it is required for me to receive my master's. I hope to return in June in a new/different position but for now...

I am currently working in the Agriculture Department at UW (yeah, that's right) under the counselor for the department So far, it is quite slow. This is FINE with me. I will also be working, some evenings, with the Drug Court Program here in Laramie. Along with these duties I will be writing my final paper (a non-thesis, thesis. Yes, that's weird)

Part of that non-thesis thesis will be conducting a knitting club with the kids in treatment. I am trying to "prove" (in some ways) that knitting has a positive effect on mood in children with behavioral problems. It should be really fun and hopefully give me the results I want. We'll see.

On the knitting front:

2 baby blankets on the needles, 1 almost finished the other just started.
1 prayer shawl on the needles, almost finished.
1 black sock for Dan, just started and neglected for the past 3 weeks. (one sock is done so...)
1 prayer shawl, still just a ball of yarn
1 baby blanket, yarn not yet purchased (what are some good boy color combos that are not blue or yellow or green???)

1 pair of slippers for Dan...FINISHED! but in need of a hot bath (okay, so not really finished yet)

I really want to finish all of these in the next 3-4 weeks but that may be impossible.

I also am feeling inspired to start designing my own clothes. Yep, crazy. I have barely made any real clothing items so I think I should hold off and maybe use someone else's patterns for awhile.

Here are some of my inspirations, just in case you're wondering:

Norah Gaughan
Kate Gilbert


Both brilliant designers if you ask me...I can't look at their designs without wanting to knit them and wear them.

Happy New Year!

So far, 2009 has been wonderful. I am fortunate enough to be on a break from both school and work and have been trying to soak up every second. Dan and I returned from a great visit to Casper and are enjoying our time off together (something that rarely happens). This time has consisted of staying up very late, sleeping in, watching the various DVD's we gave each other for Christmas (including Old School Sesame Street and the Original Star Trek), and, of course, knitting (both of us actually, yes, my husband is a knitter).

I tried to "not go crazy" on the knitted gifts this Christmas but did end up giving quite a few hand made items as presents. Here are some of the recipients...

I am most proud of the sweater that I made for my Mom. It fits her perfectly and she really likes it!

I was glad to get a good picture of at least one of the two-year-olds wearing their hat and mitten set. I got lucky with this picture of my niece Katherine. And the one of my nephew Cody, well, at least he tried it on for 2 seconds.

I had to show a picture of the two of them together. I think it is a little unusual to have a niece and a nephew from different sides of the family, who are the same age, and who actually know and play with each other. It is a nice blessing for Dan and I.

My 9 month old niece, Alissa, was much more cooperative with the picture taking.

Now my focus has turned to the UFO's (unfinished objects) that I have promised Dan. I almost completely finished the slippers yesterday and then ran out of yarn. I am also almost done with one of his socks. I also started a new baby blanket for a friend (this is one of three that I want to make before the end of March...all 3 of these babies are due within 2 weeks of each other!) I am also working on two prayer shawls, one for a friend and one for my grandmother.

Needless to say, the knitting continues...

Crunch Time

Sometime in October I decided that I would not go crazy and knit gifts for everyone this year. I had made a few pairs of mittens here and there for friends and that was going to be all I did. It was a nice thought.

Today I found myself in the kitchen knitting (and cooking) another pair of mittens and telling myself that I could squeeze in one more pair along with a hat all before tomorrow.

It is now 12 noon (and I'm on the computer which makes it difficult to knit) and I still think I can do this, along with the last minute shopping, packing, and cleaning we need to do before we head to C-town for 9 DAYS!

I did, however, finish this gift for my mom. I love it! The yarn is Silk Mountain by Noro. It is a boucle, which is not fun to knit with and the reason that I "banned" this sweater for quite awhile (I think I started it in October and just now finished it). However, it turned into a lovely sweater that I hope my mom enjoys.

Yes, that is Dan modeling a woman's cardigan. Pattern (roughly) from Creative Knitting. I didn't use the suggested yarn or color and had to make maaaaany adjustments. But for my first adult sweater, I think it turned out pretty great. At least it looks good on Dan.

I also decided to knit all the little munchkins gifts that are some variation of the following combo. Soft, warm, and durable. I came up with the mitten pattern out of my head so I hope they fit and don't get immediatley lost (that may be wishful thinking). The hat is 2X2 ribbing on size 7's to head measurements. All in Lamb's Pride worsted weight wool/mohair.

And I continue to make socks. This is my 3rd pair and I've started a pair for Dan. Which is on hold until I finish up my 1 1/4 pair of mittens and another hat before tomorrow. I think Dan is on to me. I always put his projects aside...but I will finish those slippers and the socks over the break, mark my words!

On a non-knitting note... here are a few pictures of our house for our first Christmas (married)...and my hand at baking cookies (that didn't come in a tube) for the first time.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!