Your heart is full of unwashed socks.

"Oh, really?" you say. That is just another, more eloquent way of saying - you're a crab cake.

Just in case your puzzler is tired - Enjoy this clip from "How the Grinch stole Christmas." I can't rouse myself to give you anything more . . .

Friday again?

 Tuesday evening was the Minnesota Knitters' Guild presentation on Norwegian knitting. We were lucky enough to get Sue Flanders, one of the authors of Norwegian Handknits: Heirloom Designs from Vesterheim Museum along with Janine Kosel.  She gave a great talk and power point show about how they wrote the book and the designs. When we originally set up the program, we didn't know if we could get the authors so we decided to bring along something made from one of their patterns and steek it.

Since I didn't have time to knit up one of their great sweater designs, I took the sleeve design from the book's kids Voss Sweater and turned it into a neck warmer design. Luckily, our author's program was excellent so I didn't need to break into a steeking song and dance. I finished the neck warmer this week anyway. I steeked it and picked up and knit a garter stitch border with buttonholes.

Today I picked up three buttons and - ta da! - I have a neck warmer.

I also started knitting a pair of Bella Mittens for Middle Daughter. I'll probably finish them before I get the chance to see "New Moon" - all those teen girls can go before me!

In honor of those mittens, take a peek at this Friday Film: This is a talented set of teens!

More Friday bites

Graveyard Book Cake - Top
Originally uploaded by twokingsconfections

It if tastes half as good as it looks - we're in trouble. This is the grand prize winner of the The Graveyard Book Dessert Challenge over at needcoffee.com. I didn't make this and (in fact) I didn't know anything about this contest but every prize winning entry looks delicious.

In honor of the contest, take a look at this:

Countdown to Halloween!

A short film from Katy Towell's Childrin R Skary

The Little Girl Who Was Forgotten By Absolutely Everyone (Even the Postman) from Katy Towell on Vimeo.

Enjoy - or perhaps, "RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!'

Friday night bites

After yapping about the delicious looking Mini Savory Cheesecakes over at Eat to Blog, I decided to use my afternoon to make some. It actually took very little time - mostly spent looking for the ingredients! - and we'll be having them on top of spinach salad alongside Mr. Daisy's home made pizza.



After whipping the cream cheese, you simply add in the other ingredients. Except the blue cheese! After I took this picture I had to fish out the blue cheese I crumbled up. It was North Country Blue from Wisconsin and I used a little more than the recipe called for - about 1/2 cup instead of 1/4 cup.



I did remember the bread crumb coating but I used Ian's Panko Bread Crumbs instead of making my own.



My oven seems to run a little low so my mini cakes cooked about five minutes longer than called for. They were still quite runny in the middle when they came out.




We each ate one of the "sad" looking ones right out the pan but we'll have plenty for salads to come. The red pepper is one of the last ones from our CSA and it was some sort of cross over between sweet and spicy - delicious with the blue cheese and a beer!

I think today's Friday Film should reflect food: Enjoy!

Snow, anyone?

I wish I had something more interesting to show you - perhaps a shot of my Multnomah Shawl or some socks - but all I've got is a film with some real snow:



Some of the best short films are on YouTube as part of the British Film Institute's National Archive.

BFI says about this film:

Comprising train and track footage quickly shot just before a heavy winter's snowfall was melting, the award-winning classic that emerged from the cutting-room compresses British Rail's dedication to blizzard-battling into a thrilling eight-minute montage cut to music. Tough-as-boots workers struggling to keep the line clear are counterpointed with passengers' buffet-car comforts.

Friday films - from my sisters to yours

We are heading out of town to Mr. Daisy's college reunion - we both went to the same college but it's not one of "those" years for me.

He was a few years older than me and I first heard of him when he asked one of the girls across the hall from me Freshman Year to go out to a concert. She was pretty but - dim. It colored my views of him for a long time - thank goodness I got over it!

Unfortunately, his fraternity doesn't seem to have much online but the lovely ladies from my own sorority (a local group but lots of fun!) does have this film online. Let's hear it for the TAs!



Enjoy your weekend and don't forget to go to Knit Out!

The Minnesota Knitters Guild will be hosting the 6th annual Twin Cities Knit-Out on Sunday, October 4th at Southdale Center.

This celebration of knitting will take place from 12 – 4 p.m. in the Macy's Courtyard. There will be free knitting lessons, door prizes, hourly fashion shows, a fastest knitter contest, community service knitting projects, expert knitters to answer questions and local yarn shops displaying the latest in yarns, patterns and tools.

Happy Friday!

A rainy Friday evening with just the four of us at home. Mr. Daisy is making homemade pizza (I make the dough ahead of time!) and since we had a lovely visit to the Saint Paul Cheese Shop, it's time for a snack.





Hard cider, Z Crackers, a little Cabot Clothbound Cheddar cheese from Vermont and some cherry tomatoes from the CSA. I highly recommend the blue cheese cheese cakes as well!

And in honor of our music choices this evening, a little Genesis:

A Friday film for 9/11

I don't know about you but it's been a busy week and I just need a little down time. I'm sure you've heard about Father Mychal Judge but this is a very interesting look at 9/11 and the people involved. Time for a cold drink . . .

Friday films with the muggles

All I can say is, those wizards must have big heads! I knit the smallest size and got gauge but I still had to make a seam in this Wizard Hat. Despite the inch taken in, the hat is a little roomy. He loved it anyway and ran all over the neighborhood with his hat and wand.

"Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic words properly is very important too -"
-- Professor Flitwick



Here he is mixing up a potion. Perhaps a boil cure potion? Or a Hair-Raising Potion?



And casting a spell! "Aparecium!" says the boy wizard.

In honor of Harry Potter and little boys everywhere, tonight's Friday Film is - Harry Potter does BananaPhone!

Rainy Fridays make me hungry.

Being stuck inside today apparently made me hungry. I'm roasting a chicken with fresh Yukon Gold potatoes and new green beans. We also used up some of our (purchased, alas - I am the only being unable to grow squash) zucchini for muffins.

Following up on this theme, today's Friday Film:

Friday Movie Night with the Phasers set on "Limp."

Every so often, we've been trying to spend Friday nights as Movie Night at our house. We've been working through the Harry Potter films and now, we're branching out into the Star Trek films.

Tonight is "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn." Unfortunately, I forgot this is the one with the subplot involving bugs in the ear. Luckily, Youngest Child went upstairs to brush his teeth at that point . . .

I've been working on Mr. Daisy's Gentleman's Sock - while I loved the cable pattern on the leg - I DO NOT like the heel turn and instep. Alas, now that I've gotten this far, I will need to make Second Sock just the same. Drat.



The heel of this sock is quite wide and deep - it looks a little odd laid out flat - but it appears to fit Mr. Daisy.



Look for Second Sock to appear in theses pages. I promise not to complain - much.

Today's Friday Film has a Star Trek theme. I'd love to see Eddie Izzard in real life - this is a bit from one of his shows. I will warn you that some of his language is not "Family Appropriate."

And don't forget to set your Phaser on Limp!!

Frustration and Fridays

My laptop is looking much drier but I still can't light it up yet. So, I've been spending my time working on the Lillie's Little Sweater (moving onto the sleeves now!) and the Gentleman Socks. I so want to start a new project but I don't think I could spare the sleep.

Tomorrow is an early running day and if the weather holds, I can get Mr. Daisy on the road as well. Cleaning and knitting will have to wait . . .

In honor of the newest Harry Potter film (which I am hoping I can get Mr. Daisy to go see tonight!), how about some Wizard Rock for your Friday Film?

Vactioning on the first Friday in July

Hey, I'm on vacation. Watch this and enjoy. It's a little slice of the past!



I am part way through a several state long car trip with two teens and the Youngest Boy. I don't think I was ever so happy to see Indiana before.



It took almost three hours to get through Chicago!

After finally getting to where our hotel for the night is, we had a late dinner. Right next door was this store:



Classy.

We'll be dong nothing more exciting on the rest of our vacation than a trip to the dirt track races and a brass band concert on the 5th of July. Hope your summer is turning out well!

Fridays leave me exhausted.

Everyone wants something - the car, a ride to work, a trip to the outlet mall, time to work out, make me some dinner. That was basically the whole day so far. To which, I say:

"We need lounge chairs."

Summer should be relaxing but so far, I haven't seen that aspect. I did have a great time at my race last Sunday - a slow time, mind you but a fun time - but unfortunately I've come down with a wicked case of swimmer's itch. Which isn't much fun during this hot, muggy weather.

I can only hope you are being entertained in a cool, quiet room at your end of the Internet.

In the meantime, check out this Friday Film: Consider it a breather at the end of a busy week!

My life as a yak washer

Found this message at my house today.



Here.



Second face cloth finished - third on its way. Big Grad Party in about two hours. Bye!

Slowing down on the knitting, gearing up for the graduation!

Only two of the three besties were hanging out in my kitchen today. They dashed in after graduation practice, dirtied up a sink full of dishes and then dashed out. Tonight is their school's graduation dinner where they have a tradition of a speech being given by a teacher about each student! Who the teacher is and what pictures they use is a big secret - we can't wait. Middle Daughter is planning on buying waterproof mascara today . . .

Any way, I'm on my way to GF Melissa's house to MAKE SOAP! I'm hoping to not be the Mom at graduation with lye burns but she's got a lot of experience (ask her about her Bacon Soap!) and I think we'll have a good time.

Next week, anticipate more face cloths and possibly the end of the Swallowtail Shawl. Also, I'll be live and in person at the Manitou Triathlon in White Bear Lake on June 14 so stop by, I'll let you run my leg!

In the spirit of graduaton, whether it is Middle Daughter's high school ceremony this weekend or Youngest Boy's kindergarden graduation on Monday, I thought this would make you smile. It's no one that I know but I'm sure the laughs and tears are the same all over.

Friday films

Okay, so I am a bit disorganized right now. Oldest Daughter is temporarily at home while she gets her summer apartment put together. Middle Daughter has almost graduated but seems to have taken it all to heart and is either weepy or very grumpy. Youngest Daughter is looking for a job. Youngest Child just wishes school was out! Me, I think I need a vacation already!

In the meantime, I've been taking advantage of the good weather and biking a bit more to get ready for my June triathlon. It's in that spirit that I present:

The Bike Race.



I do wear a helmet as well as a safety I.D. bracelet. Just like the MG motto: Safety Fast! Or to take it down to my level, Safety Middle of the Pack!

Things that gross me out.

I was standing in line at my local grocery store this afternoon when I looked down at the feet of the girl standing in line in front of me. She was a teenager, standing sullenly behind her parents who were chatting with the store check out clerk.

She was in her stocking feet. No shoes. Just socks. No shoes in hand. She had to have walked through the parking lot and into the store that way. All I could think was, "Yuck - o." And, "If she was my kid, I wouldn't let her get back in the car like that. She'd have to ditch the socks."

Another thing that disgusts me out is that one of my wristlets is a little longer than the other. I didn't notice this at first as the hand spun was very active - kind of "roll-y" in fact. Now, this means cutting the cast on edge and removing a few rounds and then binding off. This just - well, you know what it is. Hrumph.

I can only wish my shopping was like this Friday Film:



As she says, "Could anything be simpler or more convenient?" I think I would need to buy a suit, high heels and hat before I could go shopping.

Just because it's spring

I'm not sure if I can get some asparagus this weekend at the opening day of the Saint Paul Farmers' Market but I sure have a hankering . . .

This Friday Film helped a bit!

In the meantime, I'm working on a Swallowtail Lace Shawl for a friend. I know, I know, I said I wouldn't start something new. I blame Susan Rainey. I ran into her at Yarnover and she seduced me by placing her Swallowtail Shawl on my shoulders. I was lost.

Enjoy your weekend!