bean&noodle

Anticipation (box with a smile)

  
This morning I was faced with a decision... wash my hair or do the dishes? Some mornings are just like that. For any of you that have worked in the magazine publishing industry, fall deadlines are tough, really tough. So today, because I feel frazzled, exhausted and perhaps a little bitchy... I started to plan a vacation for next month to Northern California. Ah, I feel better already.
And to put a cherry on top of my day, I tracked my amazon order and it has been delivered. Few things make me happier than knowing there is a box from Amazon waiting on my front porch. A smile on the box! I mean how freaking amazing is that logo... really? I ordered  a couple new knitting books. It's been a long time since I curled up with a book full of yarn porn. Cannot wait. I read knitting and cookbooks like novels, don't you?

Remember when I didn't like to knit socks? Well, I knew I couldn't force things... it had to happen organically. I am almost done with my third pair of these I'm a clog girl, and these are perfect for wearing with my Danskos. Since I now love knitting socks I treated myself to this book and because the holidays are approaching, this book.

I need to get a new pair started so I have something to knit on the bus this weekend.... more about that tomorrow.

Oh, and my decision? My hair is up in two goofy side buns, but I do get to go home to a clean kitchen.

I Got Lucky in Kentucky

Not that kind of lucky, but the kind of lucky when one finds another great LYS. I was in nearby Glasgow, Kentucky for a press okay and set a spell and knit at  Crafty Hands in Bowling Green both ways to the airport. If I had NOT swung by on my way home I would not have found these great new patterns from Churchmouse Yarns & Teas. This shop is on Bainbridge island near Seattle and am still sad our schedule did not allow a visit when DH and I were in Seattle. Sigh. I'm pretty much in love with all these patterns and showed them to my hometown LYS so she would order some for her shop.

I spent an awful lot of my downtime in Kentucky listening to this while working on yet another Clapotis, and driving around the beautiful countryside.

 
Close enough to finishing Clapotis to justify starting a new project, Turkish Bed Socks. This one is way fun, perfect little socks for my clogs. First time knitting with Koigu... love it. Picked up a couple skeins of Santa Fe, think it will work nicely for these socks too.

Yarn: Koigu KPPPM
Colorway: 334
Quantity: 1 skein
Size Needles: US 3 DPN

See? Dangerously close to finishing.

Yarn: Malabrigo Sock yarn
Colorway: Aguas
Quantity: 3 skeins
Size Needles: US 6

Tobacco country

Feeding People

I am still savoring the Southern Food Issue of Oxford American. It's so good I'm afraid if I gobble it up, there'll be no more.  I mean where else are you going to read an article about eating dirt? Yes, you heard me, dirt? Beth Ann Fennelly's story about Geophagy is fascinating.

 

beans and squash will be ready to pick soon.

Rainbow Chard

Romaine Lettuce

 
Spinach

Since I don't use pesticides... I must be sure to wash off all spiders and dirt.

Yesterday I delivered a donation from an other home gardener along with spinach, chard & lettuce from my own garden, to the Community Cupboard. I was lucky enough to be working from home and was able to visit with the volunteers for while and watch as the two arm loads of home-grown produce went home with happy recipients.

 

Ruth, a longtime volunteer helps bag the groceries for clients

Venison donated by hunters

 Eggs and tortillas...this is Texas after all

A few weeks ago I cooked up and idea, not an original idea, but a good one none the less. I wanted to encourage local residents to simply plant a little extra in their gardens and donate the food to the Community Cupboard. I've called this A Row to Share and have started a blog about the program. I have a couple contributors now, but hope it grows into a larger project that I can let someone else take over. I inquired at the high school to see if any of the agriculture science classes would be interested in planting a garden and donate the harvest. Becky Maass's 4th period Horticulture class was game. They planted their garden with okra, peppers, strawberries, tomatoes and corn. I had the pleasure of visiting them yesterday. See their peppers below.

Because there's never enough to do SXSW week in Austin...

Tuesday there will be a book launch party for this Blurb book. May be a good reason to show up late to council meeting. While I love the idea of blurb... I do work in print, so am obviously a bit ambivalent about it.

Last week I received my first Greenling delivery. I live too far out of Austin for home delivery so I have it delivered to my office. My box was full of beautiful locally grown late winter veggies. All I have left is a turnip and some cilantro. I'm glad my delivery day is Thursday so there's more of a chance I will cook what I receive. Wouldn't it be great if there was a site much like Ravelry where you could punch in, "hey what can I make with three rutabagas, a pear and some yak jerky?", and a whole slew of recipes would be available from other members. I'm just sayin' it would be cool, no? Or does it already exist?

I'm looking forward to meeting Amanda for pizza and a trip to HCW. A friend gave me a gift certificate that has been burning a hole in my pocket. I want to find some bulky yarn to knit a bulky shrug. I am close to finishing the body of February Lady. Next up? Either the previously mentioned bulky shrug (just because it's quick) or Leisl, or Diminishing Rib Cardigan.

Sunday I am taking a beginning crochet class at Yarnorama. Susan was kind to schedule a class. While I learned to knit from books, I have a hard time wrapping my brain around this crochet thing. I may have talked a co-worker into coming too. FYI, Yarnorama always has a great selection of Malabrigo (worsted,lace and sock).