Still the World Turns

Yup.............. blogposts have been few and far between as I struggle with a full plate. Looking around the blogosphere I see that there are many of us with the same issues.

Still no photos of Liesl and Cable Luxe while finished is waiting impatiently to be blocked. Personally I don't know what her foot stomping rush is, I mean she waited long enough to be DONE, didn't she?

After a long search to decide what to knit next I've arrived at an answer. With a stop at the lovely Kirkwood Knittery (a happily open on Monday knit establishment here in St. Louis) knowing without a doubt that I wanted to knit the Chevron Ruana by Iris Schreier, from Lacy Little Knits. But after finding that some dastardly knitter had snagged the book and I couldn't come to a conclusion about yarn anyway one thing was abundantly clear to me. This was simply NOT the project at this time. I've found in my life that things need to 'line up' as it were, and when roadblocks are in front of me this means that this is not the route to take. So after bidding a fond adieu to the helpful ladies in the shop I dropped back to reconsider.

And reconsider I did. Surrounded by all of the latest fall knit mags and my Ravelry favorites in front of me I read and pondered, oogled and considered. After long thought, and a row or two on Pi Are Square I have made a decision.

I can't wait to cast on for "Wisteria" by Kate Gilbert, found in the new Twist Collective!


I love the shaping, and those fabulous twisted cables on the lovely neckline, hem and sleeves are gorgeous. After purchasing the pattern late last night from the Twist Collective website I sniffled a bit at the challenge before me. Challenging because I am a big fat wussy and do not read charts. At all. Wisteria is full of charts---------- sigh, moan, groan. I guess it is time to cowboy up and get on with it. Learn and grow and move on.

As my time out and about has come to a screeching halt and another job has landed on my desk this morning I'll be availing myself of yarn that comes to my door, delivered by my always cordial mail lady. Wisteria will be knit in KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Amber Heather, a yummy golden brown.

While I wait impatiently for the doorbell to ring I'll plod away on Pi Are Square and get Cable Luxe blocked. I might even do some quilting, it has been far too long. The reality is that I will do little of either and merely put my head down and work on the website(s) that are not getting done nearly fast enough.

This blitters, is the story of my life.

Madness, Knitting, More Madness

In a totally surprise move, there is actually knitting. Really! Being glued to the computer working on websites has taken it's toll and I'm officially drooling on myself---- and knitting has proven to be a lovely respite for mind and soul. So have M&M's but that is beside the point.

So here she is............... Liesl! Finished and lovely! This is her front...... minus the button. I bought a great button and now I can't find it. I've looked everywhere, high and low. As blame must be attached, I'm chalking it up to the fact that I can't find much of anything right now and so it goes. I've worn her anyway over a cute little white t shirt and closed her there at the top with a fun pin.

And here is her back, do you just love that feather and fan stitch? Looks pretty great. I know a photo actually WEARING her would be wonderful, suffice it to say that I'd have to take a photo of myself and that would just stir up a whole other thing that I'm not in the mood for. So you will have to enjoy her gorgeousness on the sewing room door.

And check THAT out wouldja???? Cable Luxe in all her glory! I have finished the gussety things and merged them to the underarm area of the sweater. I've also spent lovely mindless hours joining the underarm seam and weaving in the ends. I work from the right side, not the wrong side when I seam and this particular sweater is quite lovely although it does kind of look blobbily shaped while lounging on the chaise! The last bit is that the yoke has been picked up and the lovely bit of garter will march its way up to the neckline. Well, soon enough.

For the moment I'm back to the website, more drooling to come. I have made a vow to myself that real food will come out of my very own kitchen tonight. That seems to perk a girl up if you know what I mean. I'm thinking panko crusted chicken breasts, a medley of fresh veggies, some rice pilaf and a nice green salad. It might make the difference between drooling forever and being able to turn the tide!

No Photos to Prove it!

No photos of Liesl. Which is finished.
No photos of my Ravelympics WIP, Cable Luxe----- which actually LOOKS like a sweater with both arms completed on the lovely cabled body.

I'm ready for the yoke and the yet to be completed gussety thing to be devised for the underarms.

Back to the two websites under construction.

Knitting Olympically..... or something....

The best laid plans always trip me up. Almost every single time! It was my plan to run home yesterday, run through the butcher's for his signature cheddar burgers for the grill, cook and be in my seat in time for the opening ceremonies from Beijing by 6:30. Needless to say, I managed to sit down at 8. So it goes.

I did have a fabulous afternoon yesterday, my 'niece' has moved into her first home alone and it is just cute as pie. We went on a scouting trip for fabric for the window treatments (which I will be making). Once I got her to commit to a color palette she loves for the house that all coordinates together, we finally found great fabrics for the living room, her bedroom, the bathroom and the kitchen is still to come. The problem was that she needed CHEAP and that is not always easy to pull off. Being the queen of cheap decorating I was able to pull out a trick or two and she came in on fabric at less than 90 dollars so we were thrilled. Over lunch she filled me in on her life and once again I am very glad not to be 23. It's just too hard and very complicated!

I'm a proud member of Team St. Louis for the Ravelympics and WILL complete my gray cabled sweater in the WIP Wrestling category. Again, in the best laid plans--- I wanted to sit down with it last night and begin to tackle it but didn't have a chance to knit on it until this morning while watching the US women take on Japan in volleyball. Great game, 1 inch accomplished! There is not a huge amount left to do on the sweater, I just knew that I wanted to finish it, and couldn't handle the stress of a huge project hanging over my head for the next 17 days, too much other stuff on my plate.

Saturday means it is a wedding day again, and we'll be out in winery country on a pleasant day. There of course will be a knitting bride with any luck at all.

What are YOU doing while watching the Olympics?

Chit Chat No Knit

photo RAC Public Art

We had the opportunity to attend the St. L*ouis M*agazine's S*oiree last evening, held to launch their latest issue. I have to say we had a fabulous time, it was so nice to be able to connect with old friends and vendors and meet new people as well. Normally, I absolutely hate events like that---- bad food, people trying to be something they are not, and the endless chit chat that goes on forever when I could be home in my jammies knitting or something! Perhaps it was the wonderful venue, or maybe the free wine I'm not sure---- what a nice night! The wine was indeed provided by a vendor, and while not my favorite certainly not in the category of swill or anything. I confess to having enjoyed 3 glasses so how bad could it have been? The food was provided by two local caterers and on the table were skewers of ripe cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, one large shrimp in a shotglass of a spicy tomato bisque rimmed with pepper (fabulous), a little turnover of sorts stuffed with black beans and potatoes with a mint coulee, and my favorite of the evening an outstanding and wonderfully garlicky white gazpacho. Nothing like a little nosh to soak up a bit of booze.

The best part (for me, the history freak) was that it was held at the Old Post Office here in St. Louis. The building is nothing short of spectacular and showcases an enormous sculpture in the center atrium. (photo above) This extraordinary work is "Peace and Vigilance" by Daniel Chester French one of the most notable of American sculptors. Begun in 1879 and completed in 1882, then sent to Philadelphia to be taken from the mockup to the final magnificent piece it was shipped by rail to St. Louis. Initially the original was outside of the Old Post Office until 1990 when the entire building was rescued. The statue was recreated and the 'new' statue is now outside with the restored original hanging inside the structure. It is incredible, as is the entire building itself, a real must see in St. Louis. There is a nice museum about the restoration on the second floor of the building if you are into that sort of thing. The sculptor created this piece and went on to become very well known, among his creations is Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C.

In the no rest for the weary category is the report that at soiree's end, there was no jammies and no home. Certainly no knitting. We met family at dinner, late dinner that is, and paid the check. Sigh. It is Wednesday and Liesl is getting no closer to completion. I am in fact my own worst critic!

Knitting Bride on Fire

Okay..... not exactly on fire. Last week's knitting bride (yet another non-knitter) is now married to a firefighter. They naturally had to have photos taken on the fire truck---- so where better to have a knitting bride??
She's holding Liesl. Still. I do have hopes of getting it off my needles before knitting olympics Ravelry style kicks off this Friday evening. That is ridiculous, but still I hold hope.

Ignore my blathering I have two new websites to work on before they go live next week and I'm seriously brainmush.

National Girlfriend Day

Did you have any idea that August 1st was National Girlfriend Day? Me either! And in the name of fair play I think we should expand that to International Girlfriend/Boyfriend Day! I'm all about equality y'know! Happy, Happy IGBD!!!!!!!!!!!

I've spent IGBD catching up on paperwork, making a zillion phone calls, getting ready to launch two new websites next week (no pressure there) and preparing for tomorrows wedding. I even waxed the hardwoods at o'dark'thirty because I was in a non sleeping mode last night.

Doesn't THAT look yummy? Pretty simple fare, and nourishing the body as well as the soul; Coconut Crusted Tofu with peach mango salsa. Delish:

For those of you that would like to celebrate IGBD with me the simple recipe follows.

• 1 package panko breadcrumbs, toast gently in a dry sautepan, stirring constantly until lightly browned
• 1 block firm tofu, drained and sliced into 1 inch planks. Drain on weighted toweling for half an hour
• 1/2 cup coconut
• 1 egg (sorry vegans), beaten
• 1 ripe peach
• 1 ripe mango
• red pepper flakes to taste
• 2 tbs. red onion
• 2 tbs. chopped parsley or my favorite, cilantro
• a squeeze of fresh lemon
  
• 4 tbs. good quality balsamic vinegar

While the tofu is draining, mix the panko and the coconut. Into the egg, dredge the drained/tofu. Then dredge through the panko mixture, coating both sides well.

In a saute pan with 'just enough' olive oil, saute the tofu, fast enough to give it a nice crust, slow enough not to cook too quickly and become really tough. Maybe 3-4 minutes a side on medium.

While that is sauteing cut up the peach and mango in to small dice and squeeze a lemon over to keep them from browning and adding a little tang. Finely chop the red onion and mix well with the parsley and red pepper flakes to taste. I use 1/2 tsp. Splash on the balsamic and give it a turn in the bowl.

When the tofu is done, arrange on a plate with the salsa and have a go at it. This should serve 4, with a nice salad and maybe some brown rice you've got it made. Personally, I'm not wild about leftover tofu when it has been sauteed; I think the texture goes a little wonky, but that is just me. So share!

Slowly, Liesl is progressing. My plan is to knit her as long as I have yarn. Since it was stash yarn and quite vintage there is no hope of getting more but I think it will be quite perfect just wherever it lands. There are 4 50 g balls left, each ball seems to add about 2 inches.


Because it will be 97 tomorrow with heat indexes approaching 110 for the weekend and into early next week I think there is plenty of time left to wear a cap sleeved sweater over a little tank--- ever so it is time to Get Knittin'!