well played, knitting goddess, WELL played

Gisela left this comment on this post: Oh no! You know, this one sentence, "There are 19 whole days after all, what could there possibly be to worry about?", will surely call down the wrath of the knitting gods...Make an offering and pray that they don't read blogs --

Well, apparently the crabby wench follows this blog because she slapped me squarely across the back of the head. I'm going to show what I was making, I just won't say who for (honestly, I don't think the person getting it reads this but I'll leave some mystery to it). Here's what I was working on (notice the use of the word "was"):


That there lovely is about fourteen inches from the point to the top. See the yarn ball? That's all the yarn I had left. (That's Ella Rae fingering weight, really posh stuff.)

Yeah, that's what I said when I laid it out and saw it.

Thing is, the recipient is not twelve-years-old. Therefore this would need to be significantly larger and that just simply wasn't going to happen with what I had left to work with. So in a fit of intense grumpiness, I frogged it. (What's always a bit depressing about the frogging is that it took me such a long time to get it to where it was and then no time at all to erase it from existence. *sigh*)

I dug around in the stash and found some yarn that promised to be nicer to me, cast on and after only a few hours, I'm here with it:


That's Cascade Ecowool. (Forgive the cluttered photo. In addition to fabric and knitting ADD, I tend to read umpteen million things at one time so books tend to follow me around just like fabric and yarn do.) I love this yarn. Not only because its about ten times bigger then fingering weight but because its extremely cushy and warm and I think its actually a better choice for the shawl. Has me thinking about making one for myself once this one is off the needles.

I know they look pretty much the same but the difference is that I'm barely halfway through the skein of yarn and its longer then where I was with the other (if I hadn't been cussing like a sailor I would have had the good sense to leave the original one alone so that I could compare the two) so I have supreme confidence that yarn yardage will no longer be an issue. (Said very very quietly and while simultaneously knocking on wood...)

So I guess the score is fairly even. Knitting Goddess: 1, Lynn: 1.

We'll see if the balance remains, I have a feeling she considers a tie the equivalent of loosing so I won't be surprised if I find myself heading out to Macy's two days before Christmas for a replacement gift.

In addition to tackling the cranky yarn/goddess situation, I've invaded the kitchen for my annual holiday baking. I'm a cookie addict, love to make the fancy ones. I've added a few newcomers to the roster this year and after mixing doughs today I'm thinking several will become permanent members of the line up.

The whole bottom shelf of the fridge is jammed pack with containers just waiting to go:


I'm making kolachky for the first time. My grandma used to make something similar but unfortunately I never really learned how to make it. So I found a recipe online and am giving it a go, hoping to establish my own tradition with that one.

I'll start baking these off over the next few days. But tomorrow is for Potato Chip Cookies, can't mix that one in advance. I see you making that scrunched up face, now don't go judging it just yet. I found it in a magazine a few years ago and I was skeptical too but I tell you, its become a standard favorite and I make it every year. Its like a shortbread that isn't as dry as sawdust because of the potato chips.

Here, I'll prove to you its good. Here's the recipe, give it a shot:


Potato Chip Cookies

• 1 cup butter

• 1/2 cup sugar

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

• 2 cups sifted flour

• 1 & 1/2 cups crushed potato chips (I found Better Made brand works best)

• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans or walnut (these are optional, I've made it with and without and they are both good)

1) Beat butter, sugar and vanilla until light and fluffy.

2) Add flour, potato chips and nuts - mix well. Drop by teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet.

3) Flatten each cookie top by pressing with bottom of a glass which has been greased (I just dip it in the dough to grease it) and dipped in sugar.

4) Bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes

Makes about five dozen cookies.


Be brave, try 'em. I'm making a cookie this year that has bacon in it. Yes, bacon. Its either going to rock or be revolting, that's why we aren't doing a double batch of those.

I figure the next couple of weeks will alternate between the kitchen and the knitting. Not a bad existence really if you think about it. Dooley is intensely pleased with the kitchen activity. I accidentally dropped a chunk of butter and little man descended upon it like a vulture. Knowing that I couldn't possibly bend down and grab it before he sucked it up, I did the only other thing that was in my power: I stepped on it. While effective, it was rather messy so I don't really recommend it if you can avoid it.

So I guess you could say I'll be baking, knitting and stepping on butter for the next few weeks. Good times...