Fishy Found his Home

Well, my cocoa swap package swam through the East Coast’s freezing rain to my downstream pal.  JoAnn and Scoochie were delighted with Fishy, as I’d hoped, and as many of you predicted.  I’m eager to knit up some for a mobile for the beach house, but my knitting - and crocheting - bags are already packed for four days of yarn and sand.  (Nosey, aren’t you?  Secret projects, Sissy’s crochet snuggle, not including the yarn I’m buying Friday morning for the baby blanket, due March 8th.  Thank goodness Michelle turned me onto the pinwheel blankie!) 

I hope everyone is having a nice cocoa swap.  JoAnn and I met over the summer in another swap, but it was fun to have a series of emails exchanged and to learn more about her.  I’m also enjoying my spoiler, and I hope her hubby is getting well.  I’ll be thinking of her and her cool kid tomorrow and on Sunday.  (The NASCAR fans get it Jessi.)  

I’m basically packed, but Sissy…  Mugsy and Fred just pout(ed) when I pack.  Not Sissy.  Never having experienced that a suitcase means I’m leaving for a while, Sissy just thinks it’s a big toy box.  She likes knitted dishcloths, not that I have them in my suitcase, but the girl has a clean, folded laundry fetish.  Sweet Mugsy has taken Dadaw at his word, and/or knows what the doggy duffle bag looks like, so he’s nice and calm, just watching Sissy with mild annoyance.  (I did tell y’all about the Knight teaching Mugsy “beach” in November, didn’t I?)

Since so many of you are north of me, just to make sure you hate me…  the Knight is packing shorts.  Saturday, it won’t make 50 degrees, but Friday and Sunday it will be in the 60s.  I’ll take pictures, and maybe even get sunburned for you, okay?

This just in!  While I was grabbing Fishy’s photo, the Knight began attempting to catch Sissy and take some foreign object from her mouth.  This in itself is hardly noteworthy, as it happens about a dozen times each and every day.  However, it cracked me up that the soggy mess extracted from her mouth was my luggage tag, the paper part anyway.  Maybe she gets the suitcase’s leaving you behind aura after all.  The best part though?  The Dog Whisperer as friends and relations call the Knight had to admit that “She doesn’t listen to me.”  Ha!  After twelve years of being outnumbered sometimes as much as four to one, girl power is at work.  I simply said, “Sissy?” and she launched herself over Mugsy, plowing into my left side and the Knight’s frustrated hands.  Good girl.  She’ll get a reward for that later. 

Cocoa Topic of the Week

What is your most memorable vacation? Where did you go? What made it memorable?

I would have to say my most memorable vacation would be our honeymoon.  We went to Arizona.  We flew in and out of Phoenix, but in between visited Sedona twice, and the Grand Canyon for a few days too.  We loved Sedona so much we seriously discussed moving there.  We went to the NASCAR race in Phoenix, and that was my first race. 

What made it memorable was the scenery.  Very much a four-seasons, East Coast couple, I was shocked at how much both the Knight and I loved the desert.  The red rocks were breath-taking, and we actually preferred Sedona’s brand of natural beauty over the more famous Grand Canyon.  I would be remiss if I didn’t toss out the Knight’s opinion on the matter.  “Have you seen National Lampoon’s Vacation?  Yes?  That’s about all of the Grand Canyon you need to see.”  I think had we been able to do the mule ride or a helicopter flight (I was due for back surgery but we traveled anyway!), we might have been more impressed with the Grand Canyon.

Oh, and the food!  I know Phoenix pretty well, and there’s some of the finest dining in the world there.  One of our favorites though is Pinnacle Peak.  The Knight adored the “no neckties” rule, and the steaks were as good as any.  There’s also a little hole in the wall that serves the best, authentic Mexican going, and while I could take you there, I don’t know the name.  However, in Sedona, we ate at the Red Planet three times and loved it.  Their spiked apple cider was incredible.  We also had breakfast at Enchantment, where the views are truly breath-taking and the food is worthy of the scenery.  In fact, I don’t think we had a bad meal in either “town.” 

Sigh.  We are we leaving for the next one?! 

Cocoa Topic #3

What is the most ‘random’ memory you have from your childhood? I know it’s not knitting content, but I love learning about the little quirks and interesting things about people!

Most random?  Singing on the back of the truck as we drove over the mountain one night.  We lived on one side of the mountain, and good friends of my parents lived on the other.  It was the 1970s, so riding in the bed of a pickup truck wasn’t illegal or even irresponsible.  It was a dark summer night, and my sister, my mother and I were all riding in the back, singing silly songs (John Jacob Jinglehimersmith, Ann!), and a bat buzzed my mother’s head.  My sister screamed, Daddy stopped to find out what was wrong, and I reported that a black bird had flown at Mom’s head…

Answers

First, there’s the weekly cocoa swap topic:

Now that we’re in the thick of ‘Winter’… has your knitting changed to match the season? Are you moving on from dishcloths, and tank tops to afghans, hats and mittens? Has your yarn changed from silk or cotton to wool, superwash or heavier cottons?

Sorta’, kinda’, maybe, but not really.  I did try cottons and bamboo and soy blends over the warmer months, but socks are socks and almost always on my needles.  I knit what I “need” to knit regardless of the season, although I can’t see doing a big wool sweater in August.  A cotton dishcloth is still a quick, fun project, just as wool socks are manageable in the heat of summer. 

Then, Michelle tagged me with this:

These are the rules:
List seven habits/quirks/facts about yourself.
Tag seven people to do the same.
Do not tag the person who tagged you or say that you tag “whoever wants to do it”.

Well, like Michelle, it’s hard to come up with seven unique things I haven’t already mentioned, but here goes…

1.  I don’t like different foods on my plate to touch, with rare exception.  I’d be perfectly happy to eat from a grade school cafeteria tray forever, if it keeps my lima beans away from my mac ‘n cheese.

2.  Cheese is a food group.  I blame it on  a couple of generations of dairy farmers in my blood. 

3.  I don’t like necklaces. 

4.  I don’t like to share cups/glasses/utensils even with family.

5.  I like things to match.  For instance, all of Mugsy’s leashes are red or dark green.  All of Sissy’s are purple.

6.  I don’t know how to use the voicemail at home.

7.  I would rather speak to a crowd than sit in a crowd and listen. 

I’m not going to tag anyone, but if you want to play along, have at it! 
 

Plans

I can’t show you any knitting yet, but I’ve got plans.  Today’s been a good day for knitting plans.  I have a blues busting buddy planned for my Hot Cocoa Swap downstream.  I have plans for all of my PiF projects.  I have yarn selected for Megan’s hat.  (Well, Sissy selected it, but anyway…) 

Now, I need your help.  There’s a baby shower in the Knight’s family in a few weeks.  I can’t do a blanket, because I didn’t do a blanket for the cousin (I wasn’t knitting then, but if you have inlaws like mine, you understand).  Booties will be outgrown quickly, so what else can I do quickly that will have more than a few weeks of use?  I also have a baby blanket to knit for a good friend, but she’s due April 15th, and we decided tonight that 4-4-08 is a really “cute” birthday, so either way, I have plenty of time to pull of the blanket I admire most off for a special, first-time mom.  I need your help here too.  What’s the best yarn to use?  I’ve always used acrylic, but I read a good article the other day about wool not being flammable, so now that’s on my firefighting mind…  This is a mom to be up to handwashing, if that matters.

Shhh…  don’t wake *MY* baby. 

 

Oh - and don’t forget to swing in and check out Michelle’s random contest!

Cocoa Hunting

I’m late to the party, but vow not to cheat, because part of the beauty of swapping is getting to know the other swappers…

1. Who’s favorite animal is an Otter?

JKR!  Oh… wait… She’s not in the swap…  Anne K

2. Name someone who prefers whipped cream with their hot cocoa

Angela T

3. Find 3 people who live outside of the United States

Ana, Lesley, Alex E.

4. Name a fan of Harry Potter

Ooh, oooh, pick me!!  Seriously, Michelle, and I don’t have to look to confirm that.

5. Name someone who crochets

Mary - another no-looking answer. 

6. Name someone who DOES NOT have a healthy supply of notions

Ana
7. Name someone who has NOT put up their questionnaire yet (just put a date with your answer in case they put it up after seeing their name listed somewhere )

Angela AH (1-7)

8. Who likes to have Kahlua, Baileys, or Peppermint Schnapps in their cocoa?

Annemarie (even best friends don’t know SOME things…)

9. Name someone who knits fingerless gloves as a ‘quick knit’

Rachel C

10.Name someone who’s looking forward to gardening this spring.

Does planting flowers count?  Amanda R!
11.Who’s favorite way to drink cocoa is with a gorgeous Frenchman, while overlooking the eiffel tower from a French Cafe? (I’m right there with you… well at the table next to yours!)

Kris L

12.Name someone who’s favorite animal is NOT a dog or house cat

Amanda D!
13. Name someone who’s favorite treat is NOT chocolate.

Becky M

14. Who plays Candyland?

Criquette, my awesome KVVS spoiler!

15. Name someone who DOESN’T get the winter blahs

Bea

Cocoa Swap Questionnaire

Cocoa:
1. What is your favorite way to drink cocoa? Prepared with milk? Water? from home made recipe or store bought?, In a tea cup, or big mug?

For some reason, there’s nothing like homemade hot cocoa, made with milk, in a sauce pan.  It is served in a hug mug.

2. Marshmallows or whipped cream?

Marshmallows, the tiny ones!

Yarn/Knitting/Crochet
1. What is your favorite type of yarn? In what colors?

Sock yarns, in any colors.  I’m not crazy about yellows or oranges, but they’re fine along with other colors.
2. Do you knit or crochet (or both)?

Knit ONLY.

3. What are your favorite type of needles, would you like to try something new?

Depends.  I’m loving my new wooden straight needles, but my current project is on my trusty KnitPicks Options, in the metal version.  I also love my Bryspun straights, my KnitPicks Harmony needles…  And sure, I’d like to try something new!

4. Do you have a healthy supply of notions?

I do, but that doesn’t mean you can’t share your favorite with me, and I’d love a new tape measure from Anita…

5. What one thing do you keep thinking you need to buy for your knitting habit (outside of yarn)?

I think I’m pretty well set, so surprise me!

6. What is your favorite ‘quick knit/crochet’ pattern (quick gratification)

The Doily Cloth 

Miscellaneous
1. What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter?

Wear my sweaters???

2. What is your favorite animal?

Dogs, in the pet category.  I also collect roosters…

3. Do you get the ‘winter blahs’?

Check back with me in late February.

4. What is your favorite way to beat the blahs?

Head to the beach.  Play with Sissy and Mugsy.  Eat some dark chocolate.  Brew a pot of good tea.   Go out to dinner and/or a movie with the Knight or a girlfriend.

5. What is the thing you are most looking forward to this spring?

The first crocus, which usually pops up in the driveway, near the top of the front walk.

6. What are your favorite treat?

Loaded question.  Dinner and a movie with the Knight is a treat.  A pedicure is a great treat.  A good glass of a crisp, semi-sweet white wine in a simple, crystal goblet qualifies too.  I LOVE cheese straws.  A great pot of tea after a long day is a treat, no matter how often it happens.  Candy coated sunflower seeds are a new vice.  A pen that writes like a dream always makes me smile. 

7. What is your favorite board game?

Monopoly.  The Knight collects the novelty versions.  I used to love backgammon, and would like to refresh my memory on how to play.

8. Do you have any children (furry or human)?

Prince Mugsy, the aged Jack Russell and my constant companion for 12+ years, and Sissy, the Princess of Joy, the impish basset hound who just joined our fold.

9. Do you have any allergies or special considerations you partner should know about?

Nope!  I’m sure I’ll like whatever you pick for me.  Thank you in advance!