I love you, Sweetheart.

2011 was good to me.  I started working from home (sweet!), we went to Alaska (sweet!), and we returned to Maine (way sweet!).

While I don’t know what all 2012 may have in store for me, I do know a couple of things:

• We will be going to Hawaii (soon, actually)
• I will be starting (provided they accept me) a grad certificate in Composition Studies so I can teach more English courses

You’re probably not supposed to use bullet points on less than three items, but meh.  I have plans to continue eating better, getting back into exercising regularly after the ankle injury (I was on a great streak, too!), and using up stash yarn and fiber I’ve had forever.  My grandmother left all sorts of things in like-new condition because they were too ‘nice’ to use.  But you don’t get any enjoyment out of those things.

I’ve been trying to finish up lingering projects also.  Here’s the first project finished in 2012.

I started this afghan in December 2008, worked on in through January 2009, then stopped.  No idea why.  Probably something other new shiny thing grabbed my attention.  My goal is to work up all the languishing projects or rip them out.  I want to work on a regular project, a sock project, and a spinning project each month.  According to Ravelry, I have four projects ‘in progress’ and three in hibernation.  There are five more I have listed in hibernation, but those are just waiting on buttons/zippers/pictures of their finished state.  However, I’m afraid I haven’t been entirely truthful with Ravelry, and there are more.  Eeep.

Well 2012, if you’re ending on December 21, I’ve got a lotta knittin’ to do.

So today I was in the Mart o’ Walton (name changed just in case they try to sue me) . . .

Yes, anti-social me was in the Mart o’ Walton two days before xmas.  And no, I was not buying last-minute gifts.  You see, we were out of bananas . . . anyway, my trip was not holiday-related, but there really wasn’t a better time for me to go.

I was looking around at the various gift sets of this and that when it struck me – these are Gifts of Desperation.

Don’t believe me?  Quick, name someone you know whose life will be endlessly enriched by 48 shades of inexpensive eye shadow.  I don’t need 48 shades of eye shadow.  (I don’t even need one, but that’s another story)   Look at most of the ‘gift’ specials.  Would you really want any of it?  In another store, we saw Chia Pets.  Yes, they still make them, and yes, they are still trying to foist them off as ‘gifts’.

If you’re scrambling at the last minute, this is not the finest hour for decision-making.  You can start shopping in December, but to be successful, the consideration probably needs to be constant throughout the year.  Christmas is not a surprise sprung on us.  It happens every year.  It’s going to happen next year, too.  (Well, unless the Mayans are right, then you’re off the hook.)  And I don’t mean stock up on eye-shadows 90% off a few days after xmas.

Remember, gift-giving is Not About You.  It’s about them.  My mom’s friend shops with the idea of just buying ‘whatever’ and if the person doesn’t like it, they can take it back.  Really, she thinks it’s a gift to make people stand in those return lines?  Is she insane?   (the answer to this is yes, for lots of varied reasons other than the one I just mentioned)

We’ve stepped off that crazy train a few years ago and started giving gift certificates or flat out cash.  Impersonal?  Not as impersonal as that ‘champagne bottle’ of bubble bath I received one year.   Do I ever take bubble baths?  No.  Did the person know that?  I’m pretty sure she couldn’t be bothered with such mundane details.  Our society seems to be caught up in the ‘must give something, anything‘ mania.

Gift cards (or cash) I like to think of as the Gift of Possibility.  When you give a person a gift card, it’s still a surprise.  What will it be?  It could be anything.  And the best part is, the person will love it because they picked out what they treasure.  Even the most diligent friend may not be aware of things we covet.  And some things just need to be picked out by the person who will own them.

Just step away from the Snuggie.

Last week, I made one of our new favorites.  This was inspired by the tri-color potatoes that are sold at the folksy fairs.  I didn’t have three kinds, but I did use russets and sweet potatoes.  Sliced, salted and peppered, touch of oil, then fried.  Excellent.

Then last weekend, we were introduced to Great Harvest Bread Company Tomato Bisque Soup.  Oh my.  I needed a recipe.  And I found one.

I didn’t have celery on hand.  But it still turned out really good.

I also used less chicken broth (3 cups, I believe) and used a large can of crushed tomatoes.

Then after pureeing it, I added evaporated milk instead of the heavy cream.  I tossed in a bit more sugar and some red pepper flakes.

Then what goes great with soup?  Bread!

This is pretty much the standard Dill Casserole Bread recipe.  This was my first attempt at a yeast bread, and I’m happy to report I successfully channeled my champion-bread-baking grandma.

I used regular cottage cheese since I had it on hand and wasn’t interested in buying the creamed stuff.

I didn’t get to let it rise quite as long as I would have liked, but it still raised a respectable amount.

Both recipes received rave reviews.  Yay!

Now to get back on track with the knitting.  Crazy planets.

These are socks made with yarn from Maine (squee!) by Done Roving.  It’s Frolicking Feet in “Starry, Starry Night.”   I think it replicates the night sky rather well.

There’s also been some xmas knitting, and xmas ripping, and more xmas knitting, and xmas flinging back into the yarn room for a time out.   Less said the better.

Okay, so we are redeemed on knitting content.  Now let’s get to the food.  I’ve tried to love brussel sprouts.   I love broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, asparagus, and almost every other green thing there is.  The one exception has been the sprouts.  I believe it was partially a flavor issue, but more of a textural one.  If I don’t like the texture of a food, it’s not going to happen.  No how, no way.  But what else can you do to brussel sprouts but boil them to death?   I feared they were too compacted to steam well, turning to mush on the outside before the inside would ever be tender.  Cut them in half.  Eh.

Cue Elsa and her magical recipe blog.  How does she know exactly what I need?  Roasted Brussel Sprouts.

Crunchy on the outside, with structure remaining on the inside.  Flavor that doesn’t need to hide behind any butter.

Now, I wonder if she can hook me up with a great tomato bisque recipe?  We headed south this weekend, and our lovely hosts introduced us to the wonder that is Great Harvest Bread Company (GHBC) Tomato Bisque soup.

It really was a fantastic food weekend.  Friday night goulash – the perfect warmth for the cold evening.  Saturday lunch at GHBC – another restaurant to add to the favorites list (of course, the nearest one is about 60 miles away).  Saturday evening – a christmas ham feast prepared by our hosts.  Plus two awesome breakfasts.  Always a great visit, and we can’t wait to return the favor.

I know, I’m way early.

Well, it seems appropriate this time of year, don’t you think?  This is something I make every year.  It’s also the thing I completely forgot about making until Mom mentioned it last weekend, requiring the fourth trip to our Megamart (you know the one) in two weeks.  Sigh.  Anyway, the original recipe was in a rural electric news magazine years ago.  I gave it a try, and it became an instant Thanksgiving classic.  The tartness really helps cut through all the richness of the food.  Of course, we lost the recipe, but I’ve been making it from memory ever since.  My mom did find the original one a couple of years ago, and I think I tried following it, but liked my off-the-cuff take on it better.

Holiday Cranberry Slush

1 can jellied cranberry sauce

1 can frozen apple juice concentrate (not mixed up, just as is)

Cinnamon – I don’t know how much, I just shake a bunch in – let’s say somewhere around 1 t. depending on your personal love of cinnamon

1 t. lemon juice

Your favorite lemon-lime beverage

Mix first four ingredients together (hand-mixer, blender, food-processor – whatever you like) and freeze.  Stirring periodically during the freezing process helps a lot.  When ready to serve, scoop two large spoonfuls (probably about 1/4 – 1/3 c.) into a tall glass and fill with your favorite lemon-lime soda. Stir or enjoy as is.

On a knitting note, I’ve spent today partially updating my yarn stash on Ravelry.  Eee.  Houston, I might have a problem.

Sugary Goodness

Well, not so much ‘give’ as ‘make you stare at them until you can’t take it anymore and bake some yourself’.  And if you would like to make some, the recipe is here.  Visiting her blog is a dangerous thing.  I’ve made this and this (really, really outstanding) as well.  And there are plenty more tempting things there.  Like the PB&J muffins right below the sugar cookie recipe.

Oh well, before it left, there were more socks.

The pattern is Stansfield 304 from one of the Sensational Socks books (lazy, not going to Rav to look it up) in Biffle Sock Yarn “Goblin Eyes” by Spunky Eclectic. Would you like to know where Spunky is located? Huh, huh, would ya?

MAINE!!!!!!

I’ve gone just a bit ’round the bend about the state.  I lurve it and all yarny goodness from there.

What else?  Well, this weekend I did quite a number on my ankle.  Just standing in the driveway.  That’s right, standing perfectly still, I somehow managed to get off-kilter and had my ankle fold on me.  All the way over, 90-degree fold.  Owwie-owwie-ow-ow-ow.  It was the worst pain I’ve put myself in by spraining an ankle.  I thought I was going to pass out, so I sat down.  Then I thought I was still going to pass out or maybe throw up, so I decided to lay down.  After a few minutes to compose myself, Ramblin helped me to the house, got me to the recliner, then swapped out frozen bags of broccoli for the rest of the evening.

There’s been some knitting other than socks, but I will have to get pictures of it.  There were a couple of projects that will be going elsewhere, so now I’m back to my own knitting.  November will be UFO month.  My goal is to either finish, get progress, or rip out my current on-going projects.  If I love it and there’s not much left to do, it will be finished.  If I love it and have a lot to do, I will at least start working on it again.  If I don’t love it, why on earth am I knitting it, and it will be repurposed to a better project.

Heh, speaking of on-going projects, there’s another project that has lingered for far too long, and it’s time to end it.  Long-time readers of the blog know what I’m talking about.  Instead of NaNoWriMo, it’s going to be NaNoWriLikaMoFo. (sorry for delicate ears that were offended)  Really, I’ve let myself become far too intimidated by this.  I’m just throwing words on paper and hope it makes sense.  I plan to go back and make sure it does, but the paralysis I’ve suffered because I don’t think I can do it has got to end.  I’ve read that procrastination is a symptom of perfectionism – not that I do things perfectly, but I that I want to and know that it won’t be, so I avoid being imperfect (read: in my head – awful) by doing nothing.  It’s not easy being this weird.

So dear readers – what do you hope to still accomplish before 2011 scoots out of here?