A Day for Staying In

The rain is alternating between pattering and sheeting down my window. I'm declaring it a "hunkering down" sort of day, filled with warm and soft things, like knitting, and rice porridge with apple bits and dried cranberries.

I have to admit, I'm not a fan of winter. At all. So I constantly have to remind myself the things I actually enjoy about this dreary season. Like Satsuma mandarin oranges. Lots of soup. Having the spouse home for weeks while he's on winter break from the colleges. Knitting:



My first attempt at making dishcloths with cotton yarn. The pattern is from Kris Knits, which has a wide selection of lovely themed patterns. These are from the "Winter Wonder" Set. The little one on the right is supposed to be a snow flake. It was made on size 3 needles, and I have to say, my fingers were killing me after I was done. So, I made the next one on size 8 (which were the only ones I had with me at the time), and it came out a little too loose. It's hard to see the Capitol Building with the star on top (or "winter hat," as the pattern calls it). I'm making another dishcloth from a different pattern, and using size 7. I think that may be the ticket for me.

Another thing I like about winter: cooking and baking cheesy, stick-to-your-ribs dishes with impunity, like this Cauliflower and Carrot Gratin:



I've been experimenting more in the kitchen, partially due to my new, more relaxed schedule...which means a smaller budget to work with as well as more time. It's also due in part to the new "Grub Box" I've signed up for through The People's Grocery, who delivers a box of fresh, local produce to my office building twice a week. The veggies in this grautin came straight from the box, and I have to say, tasty as it was, it was almost a shame to cover the delicious veggies with sauce. Next time I may just steam 'em. But that's what experimenting is about, no?

Today, amidst my crafting and cooking, I will also take a few minutes to remember why today is special. Happy Birthday, Dr. King. Your dream helped tranform America, and has inspired generations to continue your work towards a more just and peaceful world for all.

Today's Top Story: Cookies

Happy 2010! I hope everyone had a wonderful and safe holiday season.

I just returned from a nice, long trip down to Southern California, to visit family and friends. It was definitely an eventful trip, with the "Holiday Goblin" -- that little bastard that ensures maximum holiday chaos -- working overtime. Despite his best efforts, though, the husband and I managed to have a lovely time, with much good company, gaming of all sorts, and oodles of tasty treats.

Speaking of...

In 2008, I participated in a holiday cookie swap on Craftser. Like many other swappers, I made my package, I send it off, posted pictures on Flickr, and moved on to the next swap. Imagine my surprise, then, when a year later I have an editor from CNN asking me to share my photo -- and the story behind it -- on their new social networking site, iReport. Shortly after, I'm contacted for an interview, and now...

My holiday swap cookies are part of a bona-fide CNN report.



Not a bad way to end 2009! Definitely better than how I ended 2008, and I'm optimistic things will keep getting better from here.

Striped Scarf of Awesomeness

Behold! My striped scarf of awesome is complete!

It started small:

But it grew mighty with hours of stitching!

This is my first foray into ribbing, a simple K2 P2. It's also my first attempt at adding different colors. I'm kinda bursting at the seams that I was able to pull it off.

It's original intention was as a scarf to wear to those chilly SF Giants games, but the season is over, and now even Halloween is passed.

Oh well. A girl doesn't need a special reason to wear black and orange, does she?

Halloween, in a Nutshell

For many folks, Christmas is the busiest holiday of the year. The baking, the decorating, the company, the spiritual observance, the activities, etc. For me, it's the Halloween/Samhain season, and this year's was a non-stop, action-packed, three week period filled with friends, food, theater, film, games, and so much more.

Let's recap some of the highlights, shall we?

Exhibit A: "At the Opera Tonight..."

The festivities began the weekend before Halloween, with a weekend trip to the state capital for the Sacramento Horror Film Festival. This was purely a pleasure trip (I hadn't submitted my film this year) to see a screening of Repo! The Genetic Opera, with cast and creators in attendance.

It was a great evening (though it was preceded by a nauseatingly bad pre-show), complete with shadow cast performances, audience participation, and a lively Q&A with Terrance Zdunich (co-creator/"Graverobber"), Darren Smith (co-creator/"Opera Maestro"), Alisa Burket ("Henchwoman 1"), and Andreja Punkris ("Henchwoman 2").

I waited in line to get autographs from them all, and was quite pleased that I didn't make an ass of myself. I usually tend to put my foot in my mouth when meeting artists or celebrities, so this was a step up!

Exhibit B: "Holy Sugar Cookies, Batman!"

Like I mentioned before, baking is integral to my Halloween season. And when I bake...I BAKE:

In one evening, I made over 100 sugar cookies in 3 different colors of dough and flavors of sugar topping: orange leaves and pumpkins with real Wisconsin maple sugar on top, white ghosts and bones with vanilla sugar, and purple-black cats and witches with purple sugar.

I think, out of all the cookies this year, I am most proud of my Batman cookies:

You see, my video game of the season was Batman: Arkham Asylum, and I had to commemorate the occasion in cookie dough. *nods seriously*

The reason for so many cookies? I made enough to ship to friends and family, share with co-workers, take as my contribution to a play-reading/potluck party, and have enough left over for my own guests at a Rock Band party. Even with all that, we still didn't finish the last cookie until two days ago.

Exhibit C: Making Halloween

Of course, what Halloween is complete without crafts?

I didn't have much time, but I did manage to get a little stitching in:

This wee ghostie was made using a free Annie Oakleaves pattern I snagged last year. I made him using back, satin, and long-and short stitches.

I tried to finish a little friend for him:

But I didn't quite make it. Perhaps next year!

Now it's time to switch gears. Though my favorite holiday is over, there's still two big, special events right around the corner. That being said, I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks of mellow-time before we kick back into holiday mode!