I want my MTV

Posted on March 9, 2004 by mariko

Well, not really, since I don’t watch MTV, but I do watch CBS, and our access to it has been yanked because of some dispute between EchoStar (owners of dish network, which we subscribe to) and Viacom, mega media company that owns CBS, MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Channel, and countless other stations, no doubt. Ideologically, I suppose I am against TV, and for many years we only had access to one channel because we didn’t want to pay for cable or satellite. Now, though, I watch a crapload of TV. Knitting in silence just doesn’t do it for me. I wish I could say I only watch PBS or the History Channel or something, but no, I actually watch a lot of trash TV (though I can’t stand reality shows or any of those fake news shows like Dateline). So here is my dilemma–do I just embrace the TV and get digital cable and a digital television recorder and pay a small fortune each month, or do I cheap out and get basic cable? Or should I give satellite another chance? Or should I smash the TV and read books (no, wait, I can’t read and knit at the same time, so that’s out).
Okay, time to go knit and NOT watch CBS. I’m hoping to finish the 2nd (well, fourth, actually, if you consider the two sleeves I already knit that I’m not going to use) sleeve of peppermint candy this evening. Knitting these sleeves in the round is hurting my hands. Does that happen to anyone else?

Posted in General | 33 Comments

the spices of life

Posted on March 8, 2004 by mariko

penzeys.jpg
I frequently go on and on about how much I love Penzey’s, the spice store. Sadly, I have never set foot into a Penzey’s store, and many of you who do not live in the Midwest probably haven’t, either. Well, now is your chance to change all this. If you live in a city with a population of at least 300,000, you could have a Penzey’s in your city by the end of the year! HOW, you ask? Well, Penzey’s is having a contest. You just have to send in a postcard stating you would like a Penzey’s in your city. Get your neighbors and friends and relatives and hairdresser, trash collector, vet, yarn store proprietor, ANYONE and EVERYONE to send in a postcard, and you might win. Wouldn’t that be exciting? Since I live in a town of 25,000, there’s no chance of a Penzey’s landing here, but I am going to vote for my hometown of Portland, OR!

Posted in General | 6 Comments

spring has sprung

Posted on March 7, 2004 by mariko

Inspired by the unseasonably warm, convertible-driving weather, I sewed this little purse today:
bikini purse.jpg
I used the bikini fabric that Mrs. H gave me along with some scraps from a little somethin’ for Melissa (and don’t worry, Melissa, I didn’t put dingleballs on your stuff!)

Posted in sewing | 15 Comments

a dentist’s worst nightmare

Posted on March 6, 2004 by mariko

Current sweets inventory:
– Frango dreamsicles
– Frango lemon lime
– Girl Scout Thin Mints (Peter’s pick)
– Girl Scout Animal Treasures (shortbread with chocolate)
– Girl Scout Peanut Butter Sandwiches
– Reese’s foil-wrapped peanut butter eggs (golly but I love the seasonal candy aisle)
– Mini Cadbury Eggs (eating a whole one makes me feel ill, so the mini ones provide just enough of the gooey, sickly sweet experience without pushing me over the edge)
– Marshmallow Fluff
– Marshmallow Strawberry Fluff
– Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cream (locally made)

Posted in General | 10 Comments

(b)limey!

Posted on March 5, 2004 by mariko

frango lemonlime.JPG
What’s this? No, I haven’t been playing around with graphics programs and changing the color of my Frango box. Carolyn said that she “may have accidentally” sent something else, and today this landed on my doorstep: LEMON LIME Frangos. Can you believe it? I think this is the best accident that’s every happened! Merci beaucoup, Carolyn.
Please listen to CarTalk this weekend! My friend Janice’s husband Christopher (ooh, say that three times fast!) is going to be on talking about the problems with his Saab. He is also going to be on Stump the Chumps, which means he’ll be on again in a couple of months!
Thanks for the group therapy session on my peppermint candy sleeves. I have been doing the M1s correctly, but I must have some special powers that are causing them to form in an undesirable loopy manner. I will do my best to boss my knitting around, but alas, I am no Bonne Marie! Off to work on that third sleeve now …

Posted in General | 5 Comments

candy

Posted on March 4, 2004 by mariko

I will begin with some knitting content. I knit both sleeves of the peppermint candy 2x2x3x1 ribbie, but I think they’re both going to the frog pond. I already frogged one sleeve once because for some reason all my M1 stitches created these single, large, loopy stitches. You can see them on the right sleeve there (the one that has yet to be frogged), but don’t look too carefully, because I am DISTRESSED and EMBARRASSED by my lame M1s (yes, so why did I point them out to all of you, because now you will focus on them. It’s like when you have a pimple, but nobody else notices, but YOU know it’s there, so you mention it, and then everyone cannot help but stare fixedly at the pimple). Okay, photo break:
candy sleeves.JPG
The patterning is kind of scary, huh. Anyway, I changed the numbers of the pattern a bit because my gauge is off, but it’s hard to tell what one is supposed to do because of the ribbiness of it. I know the sweater is supposed to be close fitting, but the sleeves have to be pulled on, and they sit right up against my arms. Shouldn’t there be at least 1/8″ or so of breathing space between my arm and the sweater? It’s driving me crazy, so I have decided to knit a third sleeve and just follow the pattern. That way I can see if I want the looser sleeve or the tighter sleeve. Is anyone still reading?
And, voila, another nested photo!

Yes, those are Frango dreamsicles courtesy of the one-and-only Carolyn! They are quite delicious and remind me of those orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream cups. I have always loved those. And creamsicles. And orange cream soda. Sigh.

Posted in knitting | 18 Comments

would you like s’more?

Posted on March 3, 2004 by mariko

Campfire? We don’t need no stinkin’ campfire! You can make a perfectly delightful s’more in the privacy and comfort of your own home with the aid of a toaster oven.
Ingredients:
– 2 graham cracker squares
– marshmallow (or Fluff, which is what I used. You can also use a Peep)
– chocolate (you can use pieces of a candybar, chocolate chips, or the mint chocolate UFO chips from Trader Joe’s, which is what I used in this instance)
Pre-assembly preparation complete (the foil is highly recommended for ease of transfer):
smore1.JPG
Ooh, bakin’ in the oven! (Toast on the lightest setting and keep an eye on them. No scorching allowed!)
smore2.JPG
Tadaaaaa!
smore3.JPG
Now that we have the snacks out of the way, I wanted to thank everyone for helping to track down that Rebecca issue for PJ. Here’s what PJ wrote regarding the overwhelming response: “Thanks to the power of the internet and the generous spirits of many knitters out there, I have just ordered my very own copy of Rebecca #22! I may soon be knitting the ribbed peplum cardigan that I fell in love with and was too lazy to try to design on my own! I must say that I admire each and every one of you who establish and maintain weblogs. I spend too much time each day just reading them, but I have learned a wealth of design tips from them all.” A pat on the back to you all! Rock (and knit) on!!!

Posted in baking | 18 Comments

heed the call of the desperate knitter!

Posted on March 2, 2004 by mariko

Hello out there. Has anyone seen this?
rebecca22.bmp
It’s Rebecca #22. I got an e-mail today from PJ, who is DESPERATE beyond belief to get her hands on this issue. If you have a copy of it or know where she can obtain it, please contact her at pjmarty(at)mindspring(dot)com. She would be most appreciative!
Also, several of you asked about the subscription information for Rebecca. Call Wild West Wools at 866-500-9276. They are located in Montana and handle the US subscriptions. Get on the Rebecca bus, and you, too, can knit little hotpants!
I voted today. Did you?

Posted in knitting | 11 Comments

flufforama

Posted on March 1, 2004 by mariko

Well, what’s this cocooned in a protective shroud?
mystery package.JPG
Click to see the beauty within!
Thanks to Eklectika for sending this nugget of goodness and beauty! And I’d also like to thank the Academy, no, wait, er, I want to thank Kerstin for explaining how to have nesting popping images (though I couldn’t figure out how to resize the image properly. Sorry).
On another high note today, the mailman brought stuff that will once again distract me from my knitting. Not only did he bring these,
mags to read.JPG
but he also brought the latest ReadyMade magazine! [To others who got Rebecca–who dares to make the little hotpants on page 24?]

Posted in General | 16 Comments

magknits lives!

Posted on February 29, 2004 by mariko


Most of you are by now aware that MagKnits is online! Congrats to Kerrie and her band of hard-working and talented helpers. There are a lot of cute patterns in there that I can’t wait to make! I am definitely going to make Alison‘s soccer mom sweater. It is very sporty and cute, and as Peter can tell you, I cannot resist a zipperneck. I also love the little pom pom socks by Gwyn and the chunky and fun hat by Leigh. I don’t mean to sound cheesy or fawning, but I am honored and rather surprised to be among such amazing company!

Posted in knitting | 10 Comments