All My Flabbers are Gasted...

He is really desperate to NOT have his name exposed in those Epstein files, isn't he? Now, all of a sudden, Bill and Hillary are his BFFs and he thought Bill "always understood me," and Hillary went from "Lock Her Up!" to "a very capable woman." 

I'm pretty sure Bill DOES understand him. But not in a way that's complimentary. 

That stuff must be worse than godawful. 

For both Bill and Hillary to come out swinging - I'm actually interested in watching that hearing. They're demanding full cameras-and-gallery hearings, not behind closed doors. They're gonna eat Comer's lunch, and they've already put a big dent in the SCOTUS "total immunity" thing. Because him being a former president and her being a former Secretary of State -- that sets the precedent for dragging that entire Junk Drawer Cabinet in front of Congressional hearings. No immunity for you! 

And then there's "the post" about the Obamas. We'll just not give that any oxygen. But it would be nice if mainstream media would -- do its job. This is not "Oh, you know how he is." 

Yes, we do. 

And we're scared witless that a demented, diaper-loading old fart has the nuclear codes when he can't complete a full sentence. Who has more than certainly sold our classified security information. Who stored documents he should not have had in his gilded bordello. In the bathroom. 

This is "Weekend at Bernie's" on steroids. I want to know what they're pumping into him to make him even marginally coherent. And who's pulling the strings behind the scenes? Although I think I already know that. 

I'll leave this here for your enjoyment. When we had someone competent and capable and free of scandal in the Oval Office. 

The Baking...

Do you have "Two Banana Syndrome"? I can't be the only one. There's always -- ALWAYS -- two bananas left. No matter how small a bunch we buy, and it's only the 2 of us - there are always 2 leftovers.

I've made banana bread; with nuts, without nuts, with raisins, with protein powder, with yogurt, with sour cream. 

I've made banana cookies with protein powder - the bigger ones, like for a breakfast cookie. 

I've made banana cake, topped with powdered sugar. 

I'm sick of bananas. 

Today, I made another version of a banana bread with chopped dates. We had the big Medjool dates, which were sticky to cut. I added some hemp hearts and pepitas for extra protein. 

It was a bit of a different recipe, where you literally froth up the eggs first, then add the sugar, vanilla and butter. My butter was softened, but still chunky, which I did not like. And the frothiness? I thought it would overflow my largest loaf pan, so I split it into two pans. 

Bad decision. It didn't rise as much as I expected with all the beating. So now I have two small, flatter loaves. Which is fine for me; I'll eat them for breakfast. But they're not exactly coffee-hour ready, if you know what I mean. 

If you're out there and want to help a gal out -- what do YOU do with those extra bananas? 

I'm not even posting a picture, it's so...not good. 

The Knitting... 

I've been knitting the Melt the ICE hat. I have a list of 4 people who want me to make one - and one of those said, when her hat was just about done, "You can just make me the little badge..." Too late - you're getting a hat. I'll work on those badges AFTER the hats are done. Both patterns are available on Ravelry. Go check them out. 

It takes me about a week to do one. I did frog the first one; I had to tink it back because the decrease instructions didn't make sense and I was decreasing at every marker. You do what I can only describe as a "sock toe" kind of decrease - out of the 4 markers, N, S, E, W, (using compass points for reference) you'd decrease only the North and South ones. You just slip the East and West ones. 

Well. That made a world of difference. But Cascade Superwash Sport is a VERY soft and slippery yarn. As I was tinking back, I dropped a ton of stitches and it was just easier to frog, even the ELEVENTY BILLION rows of 1x1 ribbing, and start over. 

So, the Nerdy Notes on this hat: Cascade Superwash Sport in Colorway 893. There are 136 yards to a hank and this took one hank with some leftover. The pattern calls for 200 yards - mainly because that's about a standard ball or hank of yarn. I used size 6 (16") circulars with the corresponding DPNs at the top. 

I've started on #2 and this one is using Paton's Canadiana in "Cardinal" colorway. This is more of a worsted weight, though it says size 7 needles, I went up to a size 8. The Cardinal is rather a bright red, which is nice. And it's an acrylic, which is what the person requested. I have one more to do in Red Hat Soft, in a worsted weight in a dark wine color, another acrylic request. And then another in the Cascade Sport -- though I'm wondering about maybe doing that and holding it double so that I make it worsted. I have that in my stash, so while I think I have a sweater-quantity, I'm not much of a sweater knitter, so I can take what's left and do a lovely lace shawl or something. So I can afford to hold this double for a hat. 

And then mine... I picked two colors and while one isn't quite as red as I wanted, it's lovely. It's from Wicked Tint Yarns, and it's hand-dyed. It's a superwash merino (which I'll show you next time) and it's called Melt Ice Red - while it's actually kind of a maroon tonal. Very pretty, very definitely worsted. I actually found her on Threads, so social media can do some good! She's dyed up a limited number of this colorway and said she'd do more if folks are interested. Check her out. Support a woman-owned business!

And there's this one from Expression Fiber Arts, one of my favorite dyers. This is their Dewy DK line, which is 70% superwash merino, 20% nylon and 10% silk. This colorway is called Scarlet, and it's not quite as red as the Cardinal - more a pinky-garnet color. The label says needles sized 6-8, so I might actually do a swatch on this one... Be still my heart, right? 

The beauty of Expression is that there's such a wide range of bases and colors. And her patterns are from a variety of designers. And she has really nice tutorials in video form. 

My friend M, who's a basic knitter, has started her own, in a gorgeous Caron wine-colored yarn, and she calls this one an "in your face" color. Which it is. Kind of reminds me of the "victory lipstick" worn during the war. I won't wear lipstick, but I'll wear this! 

And I'll have to look for a nice shawl for the rest of the Cascade. It's a good workhorse yarn, and the one sweater that I actually made was in a Cascade cotton blend. It wore ok, but I found that I just prefer to knit baby sweaters. 

I have to find the second color for another wedding afghan. I have the green in mind but I have to find a complementary color unless the groom tells me what the bride's favorite color is - and then we hope that it works together!

I'm still pending on my mom's second Sophie hood, but at this point, I may still have enough winter left to get it done. And I have a shawl out of some Opal sock yarn, the plain Be Simple version (I already did the lace version) which is a "mindless knit" project. And the various Windy Valley projects: a hat, mitts with beads... And the single socks that need mates. 

Again, I'm thinking 2026 is going to be my "year of knitting stuff," because at this point, knitting is keeping me sane. 

I helped my friend R fix a problem for a pullover she's knitting for her granddaughter. The yarnovers were confusing her. She's an experienced knitter, but she knits Continental (the kind of knitting you see on classic movies) whereas I knit English - I hold the working yarn in my right hand, and she holds hers in her left hand. The Continental folks are "pickers" so they grab the yarn with the needle. The English knitters are "throwers" - we throw the yarn around the needle. It's a thing. 

She always looks like she's about to drop a stitch! But it's said that that style is easier on your hands. I may have to try it again. I took a class. Hated it. But maybe I can play with it. 

Life Goes On...

I had the weird experience of seeing 3 people in the obituaries that I knew. I know a lot of people; I've lived here a long time, and you get to know folks, and who's related to who. But this is the first time that THREE people I knew - as in, knew in some capacity personally - have died. One was my English professor in junior college (she died at 101, God love her), one was an acquaintance from my convent days, and one was the parent of one of my kid's best friends - the kids aren't taking it well, which is a position I understand. 

You know when you first "grow up" and people die and you know them? Like, when my friends had parents who died as we were in our 30s and 40s. That's where the kids are now. And I understand that. 

My thing is, these folks (except for my professor) are MY contemporaries. They're not some "older folks" like my friends' parents. It's a weird dichotomy when those folks who died are closer to my own age. 

Now I kind of know how my mom feels. She just had a friend from high school diagnosed with dementia. Which is a kind of living-death, in my opinion. 

So, one funeral this weekend. The other two had private services. 

Random Picture...

So I lied. I actually have a sweater-worth of yarn and a Nord Drops pattern. I'm hoping that this happens this year. But I've also heard that Drops patterns are a pain in the butt. You'll be knitting along, and turn the page and then see, "while knitting this, simultaneously do that..." So the only advice I have been given is "read the whole pattern before you start."

I guess that's good advice overall. Read the pattern so you understand what's going on before you get in over your head. 

I wonder if I'd have frogged the first ICE hat if I had read the pattern instead of assuming, "I've knitted a dozen-plus hats - how hard can this decrease be?" 

I do love this peacock-blue-green shade. I can't wait to get started on this one. But first... more hats. 

What's on your needles? 

The Club Nobody Wants to Belong To...

Do you know what I'd want for my birthday? What would be the absolute best gift? It would be for the doctors to say to my sister, "This is treatable, and you'll be fine."

I'm not sure that's going to happen. We were supposed to get together last weekend, and we were told, "Nope." She hasn't answered a single text of mine. 

Don't they look pretty? Pretty evil...cancer cells under an electron microscope. Makes them look almost like works of art. I'm not sure if these are what's in my sister's body. 

All we know right now is that her cancer is "rare" and "aggressive." BIL wants to take her for a second opinion. A relative has offered to fly them to Mayo Clinic (about a 45-minute flight as opposed to a 10-hour drive). My sister is said to be considering it, and I would agree, if she was asking me. Even if the news is the same, a second opinion in this kind of situation is something that I think is valid. 

The plan is to visit at some point, but I'm not sure when. She's scuttled a few visits already, and what's troubling is that I'm not sure we have a lot of time. 

It's not a situation I've ever wanted to manage, but in several instances in my adulthood, I've had to be the "Angel of Death" and tell people the absolute worst news. I don't like being in that situation, and I'm hoping that I don't have to. I just don't know. 

The Kitchen...

So, one of the best tools to have in your kitchen? A ruler. A standard, plastic ruler. I've used it when I've made Japanese Milk Bread. I've used it time and again to re-measure a pan. I've used it for tons of things. It's so helpful, and we don't often think of it. 

I've seen fancy measuring devices like silicone sheets you roll dough on, the board scrapers (only about 6" of length there, and I don't often feel like adding!), those strips you put on either side of our rolling pin... Nothing beats a 50-cent plastic ruler. 

Easy to clean, easy to use. Comes in lots of colors! So technically, you could have a green one for pastries, and a red one for meats? Why not? 

Made chicken soup the other night; and I added some dried seaweed to it. Aside from the mineral benefits and a bit of salt, it added a nice crunch to the top of the soup. It also adds a nice green bit to a soup that can be kind of "beige." 

I used a standard recipe: dice up a chicken breast and saute till lightly browned, and remove it from the pan. Then saute some chopped carrot, stir around on med-hi heat for about 5 minutes, add chopped celery, stir another 5 minutes. Cover your pan and lower your heat. Stir occasionally for another 6-7 minutes. Then, remove lid, add chopped leeks and a couple cloves of garlic (diced) and stir that around for a few minutes, just so the garlic gets golden. (NOTE: Nothing worse than burned garlic!).

In the meantime, have a soup pot ready, with about 6 cups of water in it. Add a Knorr Veggie cube for every 2 cups of water, and start it boiling. Add your meat & veg. Add some fresh ground pepper, add a bit of thyme, maybe some marjoram if you have it. Parsley, for sure, either fresh or dried. Let it come to a gentle boil, then add half a package of No-Yolks egg noodles, bring back to a boil and let it cook for however long the noodle bag says - about 6-9 minutes. 

There you go. Easy soup. 

The Knitting...

Still working on the blue striped sock. Told my yoga class that I had to rip the other one, and there was one student who said, "Wow, that would fit MY foot!" We all laughed. I think she might've been serious. 

I guess if I was ambitious enough, I'd have them all trace their feet and measure their shins. But I'm not that ambitious. Washcloths, maybe. Not socks. 

As you can see from the picture here, I'm using a silicone blister bandage. It lasts for about 3-4 days, and keeps me from puncturing my index finger, which is my "pusher" finger. It works better than just about anything I've found. And it's not obnoxious-looking! So I can wear it for a few days, and it doesn't get grimy. 

And as I pulled out my knitting to settle in with episodes of "A Place to Call Home," I did...just about what I do every couple times I knit socks. I pulled out the WRONG needle. 

No picture of the ACTUAL incident -- I was busy stuffing the live stitches back on the needle. Thankfully, the wool was "grippy" enough to not drop down a bunch of rows! It happens regularly enough that I don't freak out (as much) but I still react kind of quickly so as to not lose the stitches. 

As you can see, the top needle was the one I planned to pull out to start knitting. But...I pulled out the bottom one. 

I can tell you the first time it happened. I was working on a sock in a gorgeous fall-like colorway, from Lorna's Laces. That yarn? Stunningly smooth. Not grippy. And thus the downfall. As the NEEDLE slipped out of the stitches (this time, I didn't pull the needle out - it FELL out!), the little buggers droped as I was watching them. PLINK, PLINK, PLINK...(at least that's the sound that they make in my head, rather a gleeful sound, as as my heart makes a sound like THUNK, THUNK, THUNK...while it drops faster than those stitches do) By the way, I frogged that entire sock, stuffed the yarn into a bag and put it in time-out for a while. 

Funny thing happened at the oral surgeon's office. I had to go get some paperwork to drop off to my dentist, and it was a bit of a wait. Apparently, they couldn't find something...so I sat there knitting. After a while, one of the techs said, "Oh, look, knitting!" and I commented that I was also wearing hand-knitted socks. This tech literally lifted my pant leg (I was in the chair already), and petted my sock... I was a tad taken aback. Nobody has ever asked to pet my socks. 

All the girls at the front desk then wanted to see the socks I was wearing, as well as the ones I was knitting. That was probably the most fun trip to the oral surgeon ever!  The picture to the right is the pair I was wearing and the ones I'm knitting. 

Incidentally, the pair I'm wearing in this picture to the right? They're about 5 - 7 years old. Opal yarn. Wears like iron. Now, I just wish they'd come out with some variegated, like they used to. I love the self-patterning, but I'd like to get back to the variegated like these pink + green ones. Sometimes, you don't want a lot going on. You just want a plain sock that's sort of mindless. I mean, obviously, the blue stripe is mindless - I'm just knitting and letting the yarn do the work. But with a variegated yarn that changes colors every so often, it just seems simpler. 

I bought myself a birthday gift... Yarn. Of course. I bought Expression Fiber Arts North DK and I'm making the Gofleidio shrug/sweater/cardigan pattern. I'm not sure what you'd call it, but I know that I can knit it, and that I'll enjoy wearing it. It's been years since I've knit a sweater. 

So I changed up the colorway a bit. I kept the grey tones: Penguin, Midnight Snowfall, Peaceful Hush... But I changed out the pinks. Instead, I did Enchanted North (dark blue), Wintering North (medium blue) and Solstice North (yellow). Yeah, I don't normally wear yellow, but that as a "pop" with the greys and blues? I thought it would spark it a bit. I've always liked grey with yellow, and blue with yellow. So hopefully, that will work out in this garment. 

Random Picture...

Well, it's January. And strangely enough, we've had an insane amount of ice. Including sub-zero temperatures, so that the icy-melt stuff doesn't work. 

We live where there are alleys. You drive up the alley to get to your respective parking area and then you drive down the alley to get out to the street. Very few houses have front-loaded driveways in our neighborhood. It's older, the streets are narrower, and there's just not a lot of front-yard space. The houses are long, rather than wide. 

So it was pretty nasty getting into and out of the alleys for a few days. Mind you, the sparkly layer of ice on the snow, the glassy finish on the sidewalks -- beautiful. And so incredibly dangerous. Even trying to use Yak-Trax, people were sliding all funny. Folks walking their dogs cut straight through yards, because it was safer than trying to walk on either the sidewalk or the road. Nobody minded; it's easier to pick someone up off your lawn than off a sidewalk so slick that you'd never gain footing. 

Finally, after almost a week, it began to melt. Thankfully. I'm a big fan of winter, but ice? I don't bounce like I used to. 

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