Knitting, Singing, the Universe and all....

I have to admit - I've been knitting like crazy trying to assuage my absolute horror... contempt?..... general malaise.... disbelief.....get the picture? about what's going on in America at the moment. Frankly, if the Election is as close as reported, about half the people I see each day on the street have left their minds under the bed this morning! You might be able to guess who I think has a better chance of turning the world around....... meanwhile, a word from our sponsors!

Last weekend, Jon and I joined about 70 other Missoulians at the new Cafe Dolce Restaurant for an evening "in Italy". The Five-Course meal was prepared using locally grown/farmed foods by several renowned Missoula chefs. And, everything, from the lovely space to the ingredients to the preparation and clean up, and silent auction items were dontated so that all the funds raised could go towards Marion Halsell's scholarship fund to attend the prestigious "University of Gastronomic Science" - housed in a castle! -in Northern Italy for the next three years. Only 5 U.S students, of 15 non-Italian students, are accepted each year. Anyone who knows Marion (a friend of Stella's since grade school) has benefited from her culinary interests. In fact, she made the wedding cake for Jon and my wedding!! My earliest memories of Marion involve observing Katie-Stella bargain with Marion: "I'll provide the musical entertainment - piano? violin? and you make the c...

Apertivo preparato di: Jason & Ana Willenbrock of Posh Chocolat: Seared Honey Polenta with mushroom ragu. Served with Range Rider Red, Ten Spoon Winery, Missoula Zuppa preparato di: Doug Smith, Good Food Store Classic Wedding Soup with a marriage of greens and meats in a rich beef broth Served with Range Rider Red, Ten Spoon Winery, Missoula Jon enjoying the Zuppa! Wine Glasses line up for the count... Piatto di Pesce preparato di Ray Risho, Perugia Pesce in Umido "Slow-simmered Fish" : a firm Halibut fillet simmered in a sauce of sweet peppers, tomatoes, capers, balsamic, olices, Madeira and herbs. Served with Range Rider Red, Ten Spoon Winery Slicing the Timpano Pasta Principale Pasta Principale preparato di: Matt Cornette & Dominick Martin, Red Bird Timpano l ayers of hand-rolled garganelli pasta, apple-fennel pork sausage, duck, chicken and pork ragu, and housemade ricotta, garnished with farmers market salad. Served with Reignac Cuvee Speciale Bordeaux 2003 Dolce...

For our thoughtful review.....

Am feeling more confident with my ability to look at a knitted object and just "figuring it out". So, I decided to try to figure out the stitch needed to create the lovely Chevron Scarf that is so popular on Ravelry. After knitting, frogging, re-knitting and finally figuring this out, I went ravel-surfing last night I discovered Kary's Chevron Scarf which is essentially the same as this, as well as the Chevron scarf from "Last Minute Gifts" - just using differing amounts/types of yarns..... I'm not sure if my 2 yarns have enough differentiation. I'm going to keep knitting for a few more inches and then decide whether I like it or not!

Obama/Biden or McCain/Palin Click the link below (it's real, not weird or fake...) answer 3 or 4 questions and get a good estimate of your possible tax break/payments under these two plans. Guess who helps us "middle and lower class" tax payers? http://alchemytoday.com/obamataxcut/

Here's how we made them! Start with some lightly buttered muffin rings and a good english muffin or scone recipe. Make muffins, either "English" and baked, or as Welsh Griddle cakes on the stove top (we baked them last night). Toast those muffins!! Poach those eggs!!! Top it with a great Chile-Lime-Gouda!! Better than "those other mcmuffs" anyday :))) A *funny aside* Have you seen the entryway rug that says "Well, butter my butt and call me a buscuit, look who's here!!"? This morning, in an attempt to be mildly funny, Jon's interpretation was, "well, turn me over and butter my muffin". I decided he should get 5 stars ***** for being far funnier than he could've imagined :)

Here are some actual pieces of knitting that I have recently been working on....... Top is my "Colorimetry" headband - red, orange, pink, brown twist -it's much prettier than the picture. Bottom : a lovely sagey-lime greenish tweed - re-creating the origami elf slippers of Stella's childhood, all the while writing instructions in attempt to document how to make these really simple,cute little slippers.... Both projects were choosen for simplicity because I needed something to work on while yelling at the Repugnatin National Convocation speeches. Yes..... I watched them. One. Must. Know. the. Enemy. .....even if it means drinking and knitting.

Some political subtext to some of these, most not, but just in case anyone missed it: The Washington Post’s Mensa Invitational once again asked readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new definition. Here are this year’s winners. Read them carefully. Each is an artificial word with only one letter altered to form a real word. Some are terrifically innovative: Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people, that stops bright ideas from penetrating. The Bozone layer, unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near future. ...