One Scheme of Happiness

FO: Ben's Cloisonee Mittens

On a chilly day not long ago, Ben sprang it on me.

"I need some mittens.  Will you make me some mittens?"

It's  knitter's dream come true!  A real request for mittens!  In the dead of winter!  From someone who will actually wear handknits!!

So I knit mittens.

I checked my colors with Ben - he asked for all black, but that's beyond me.  I had to add a glintof silver at least.    And the stylish and adaptable Cloisonee had just been released, so what a natural thing for me to just knit right into it.

They were quick.  Easy.  I had some trouble getting gauge with my needles, but otherwise these were a breeze. 

I was so excited to hand them to Ben.

"Oh."

He said.

"I thought they'd be more like gloves."

FO: Mitered Crosses Baby Blanket

I've been working on little miter cross squares forever.  They travel well and they are addictive.  I haven't even kept up with how many I've made. 

But when I suddenly learned that I had about five days to come up with a handknit baby blanket, rather than panic I dove into my basket of squares.  We weren't sure of baby gender, so neutrals ruled.

I spent most of those five days fiddling with end-weaving.  What a mess!  But finally, finally I joined square after square and wove some more.

 And then I decided I needed a border.

So I woke at 4am on the day of the baby shower to scurry and create attached I-cord around the edges.

And finally it was done.

With no time to spare.

(Here, with hand for scale)

I haven't had a chance to wash or block yet, though, so I'm worried.  What if the colors run?  Oh, the problems with using light/white yarns!

Eating in Honolulu ~ Alan Wong's

I've had more time to cook these days, being home and on the bench, so I've been thinking more about food.  And thinking about food takes me back to some of the delightful meals we enjoyed in Hawaii. 

Traveling gives us such a wonderful opportunity to enjoy different foods cooked in novel ways.  It's one of the highlights for me, always.

One of those meals that lingers in my memory is from Alan Wong's.

This restaurant was one of the few not sporting a view, but we knew that.  You go to Alan Wong's for the food, the wine and the service.

It was late at night in downtown Honolulu.  Every corner of the restaurant (and of the island, for that matter) was decked out for Christmas.

From our seats, we could watch the goings-on in the kitchen.

Ben and I threw ourselves into dinner, as usual, ordering up the 5-course tasting menu (happily adapted to a no-meat version for me).

To start: Grown-up grilled cheese with tomato soup.

Such a succulent little treat!  The Sandwich - soft, melted cheese with a seared portabello (for me) or pig confit and truffle (for Ben).  The Soup - a swirl of red and yellow tomato soup, so thick and succulent!

Then: Mixed Seafood Lasagna.

The best of all the tastings!  A soft, giant noodle contained a creamy pile of shrimp, lobster, scallops and fish.  I can't even describe this dish to you, it was so amazing.

Course Three: Fish!

This was a delicate tilapia in a white wine sauce of some sort, with corn and scallions.

Course Four: More fish!

This one, a ginger crusted snapper, was a stronger, more robust fish.   At this point, I was totally full, but kept eating anyway!

Course Five: A Medley of Chocolate!

I'll admit, we had most of this course boxed up to enjoy later, when we didn't feel sick from all of the food.  What can I say?  It was rich, dark chocolate goodness!  Those little balls contained some sort of liquid nectar that exploded in our mouths.

Can't Stop Cabling in Color

I attended Vogue Knitting Live again this year, since I enjoyed it so much last time.  If you missed out...well you missed out.  It's totally a fun time, and if you live in NYC, you have no excuse not to be there for at least a few hours.

One of the classes I took focused on color cables.  And now I'm addicted.

Hopefully this will turn out to be something cool.   I'll let you know. 

Meanwhile, Doolin isn't enjoying the rain.

Rain, go away!

Mountain Moon Rise

Salt Lake City, Utah.  December 2011.

You Have to Love Hawaiian Bathrooms

Although I can't figure out why handicapped people don't get flowers and leis too.  It's discrimination, I tell you.

FO: Mom's Beaumont

The pitty-pit-pat of rain, that rap and tap and window slap that usually sends me straight off to sleep is keeping me alert and awake tonight.  As I listen to the knock of drops on the panes and watch the never-quiet night of the city streak by in the puddles below my window, let me tell you about my Mom's Beaumont.

This little number was a whirl-wind.  My Mom chose her yarn colors when she visited me in Chicago, way back in late July. We used the prescribed yarn and everything!  I finally situated myself with it and cast on in early November and finished this on December 6, just before we left for our Hawaii/Utah expedition. 

I couldn't tell you about it sooner because I dropped the ball and didn't get it in the mail until returned, and I didn't want to spoil the surprize of the finished product until my mom held it in her hands (and she lurks here these days, Hi Mommy!)

I had to overcome some major trust issues with this hat.  The needles seemed all wrong to me, far too big for this fine thread.  But I closed my eyes (not really) and knit on in spite of my doubts (really).  For once, that tactic worked out for me.  Imagine that.  

Somewhere between Chicago and New York, I finished up my first colorwork hat and shipped it finally to Kentucky, where it apparently arrived just in time - while we listen to rain bounce from the windowsills  (and thunder rumbles over the skyscrapers), Kentucky is wallowing in flurries (and can I tell you how glad I am to be rid of Chicago, just in time for the snow?)

More information about my Mom's Beaumont can be found here on Ravelry.   Maybe if we ask Mom nicely she will send us a picture of herself sporting her dandy little hat.

The Manly Bow

Someone went for a spa session today.

He's thrilled.  Can't you tell?

Plumeria

Each evening in Hawaii, without fail, I discovered a perfect Plumeria blossom waiting for me somewhere one the way to dinner.  Have you smelled these?  Delightful!

Something Else I Did in Hawaii

I knit!  A baby sweater, in fact.  See how happy little Doo is to model this for you?

Okay so maybe not so pleased.  But what a good sport!

This is the "Baby's First Christmas" pullover, in a hand-dyed, worsted mystery yarn! 

For details (not that there are many) see the Ravelry page here.  And this is what it looks like, sans pup: