A Beginning...

It's early and I just completed the first step in my sock-making attempt. I messed up yesterday but Sarah motivated me to valiantly press on with my new adventure. It took a little time to get used to the tiny needles. Before this the smallest I'd gone were US7s.

I'm really looking forward to seeing it take shape!

Hooray for socks! Hooray for knitting buddies!

We All Scream For Ice Cream!

I did it! I made ice cream!

I made two types. The first batch of yummy frozen deliciousness was made the traditional way with whole milk and heavy cream (all organic). I made Banana Chocolate Chip with some very ripe bananas. Yum!

The next batch was an organic, vegan ice cream inspired by Freshtopia and Raw Food, Right Now!. It's pictured above and full of fresh organic raspberries. I used the base recipe, adding a little more agave syrup to balance the tartness of the raspberries. What a tasty treat! I'm neither a vegan nor a raw foodie, but I'm always looking for healthy alternatives. And this vegan alternative really hits the spot! Yum! Yum!

Making America Beautiful!

Perhaps the beautification of the entire country is a bit ambitious. So for now, I've narrowed my focus to the local area. My latest contribution? Helping my father-in-law plant the city pots in downtown B.G.



The first day the temperature rose to 90 degrees and sunshine brightened every corner of the city. The second day the wind blew cold and the clouds hid the sun. And even though both days were completely different, I enjoyed them equally.



Least interesting item(s) found in pots: cigarette butts (lots of them)
Most interesting item(s) found in pots: Melted ice cream with crushed cone and a rusted old hammer head



I wonder if the pots would look even better with a lovely knitted pot cozie? Mmmmm. ;o)

Happy Mother's Day!!!

We celebrated Mother's Day all weekend. We spent Saturday roaming the streets of Ann Arbor, enjoying the amazingly, beautiful day!



We also filled our tummies with some delicious Banana Fudge Pie at Michigan's little gift to ice cream: Kilwins!



And speaking of ice cream, Freshtopia has inspired me to try and make my very own. More on that later...

Today was filled with conversation and games at my parents' home. All and all, a wonderful weekend.

Oh! And my mom loved the purse!

Blueberry Gelato for Mother's Day

My very first felt!




It all started the evening of the yarn tasting. As I wandered around the Yarn Haven both Karen and Sarah mentioned how a certain yarn would be great for a felted purse. Having entered the shop without any solid project plans, I easily came to the conclusion that a purse would be a wonderful Mother's Day gift. Thus, I left that evening with two skeins of blue yarn and a pattern for a lovely little bag named after dessert!

I knitted all weekend and spent a late night at Sarah's finishing the straps and felting (thanks!!!) and "Voila!" a tasty little blueberry concoction was created!

Happiness all around!

Bag Stats:
Approx. 1 1/2 skeins of Kraemer Yarns Mauch Chunky in Iris
Size 11 circular needles
10 1/2 double points (the store I went to didn't have size 11--I recommend going with 11)
FiberTrends Gelato Bag Pattern
One groovy button from the Yarn Haven
Magnetic purse snap
Friend support

Yarn Never Tasted So Good

Sarah and I went to a Yarn Tasting at the Yarn Haven; these are all the lovely yarns we sampled. Yum!