Happy Holidays!

As a gift to you this season, I'd like to offer you one day of carbon neutrality. If you claim this gift, Brighter Planet will donate 136 pounds of carbon offsets in your name. These offsets help fund renewable energy projects and are an important part of fighting climate change. All that is asked in return is that you consider conserving where you can during the holidays. For conservation recommendations take a look at: http://blog.brighterplanet.com/2008/12/03/top-12-conservation-tips-for-the-holidays/

Once you claim your free gift, you'll be able to pay it forward to your friends, family and colleagues.

Best wishes!

Cowl Love

Seriously, I know you've seen cowl all over the place. I am officially declaring this the year of the cowl.

Well I am a girl who loves a fast knit so I whipped up a couple myself.




Pattern: Col GC Ravelry Google Docs
Yarn: Lion Brand Thick & Quick
Needles: 10.5 US, 6.5mm

Knit in one day for the Yankee swap at work.



Pattern: Col GC Ravelry Google Docs
Yarn: Lion Brand Thick & Quick
Needles: US11, 8mm
Modifications: Moved up in needle size to a US11 from a US10.5. Knit in the round instead of flat. Cast on 70 sts instead of 86.

I realized I will not have the Loop Shawl done for Solstice this weekend so I will give it to my stepmom for her birthday in February. Now she'll be getting a cowl for Solstice.

Only one more knit to finish before we open presents on Saturday...

Brrrrrrrr

I was excited when I woke up this morning to find it snowing. It been bitter cole lately with strong wind, the worst kind of winter weather. Unfortunately it only snowed a little, is still bitter cold and windy and now the roads are icy to boot.
Damn.

Yummy Tum Tum

This year on Thanksgiving it will be just S and myself. Friday we will grab the girls and go for a Thanksgiving/birthday (mine) dinner at my mom's but Thursday we are on our own.

I wanted to plan a meal that wouldn't feel too heavy but would also be somewhat special.

• Panko crusted boneless pork chops with Tonkatsu dipping sauce recipe
• Napa cabbage and rice vinegar salad recipe
• Cauliflower gratin recipe
• Cheese muffins recipe or gougères recipe (I haven't decided)
• Cheesecake recipe

I am super excited for all this food. It's a perfect time to make the cheesecake because we can take the leftovers to my mom's and not stuff ourselves silly... (He doesn't know about the cheesecake. It's his favorite so I'm making it as a surprise.)

I'll also be roasting garlic to make mashed potatoes for the Friday dinner.

I'm a Dood

(Via Gender Analyzer)

Mystery Revealed!

Secret's out! These were a sample I knit for Cookie A's new book, Sock Innovation. You can see a sample of the book here and you can pre-order it on Amazon here.

The Deets:
Pattern Name; Milo
Cast On: May 7, 2008
Cast Off: June 3, 2008
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock in denim
Needles: US1, dpn

Obama FTW!

VOTE

1 Year

One year ago today I lost the most generous and loving man I have ever known.

I met my dad when I was 7; he and my mom worked on the same film project. I had a hard childhood and the one lesson I had learned was that people didn't stay. I did everything I could to make this new person in our life leave but he never did. He was truly my dad and parented with infinite love and patience..

These are the things I learned from my dad.

1) People stay
2) It's OK to trust
3) Love really does conquer all
4) You don't need to sacrifice kindness and compassion to get the job done
5) A little sarcasm never hurts

I miss hm everyday. I constantly want to call him and tell him how my daughter is doing. I want to tell him I'm in love. I want to tell him how important he is to me. I want to tell him I need him. I want to tell him to stay.

Mmmmm, Cake

How amazing is this?
(via DFM)

Les peaux de lièvres

I can't remember if I posted this beofre or not. So here it is (maybe again) for good measure.

Autumnal

Happy first day of fall! The air is brisk and I want to knit sweaters. Following are the 4 projects I'd like to complete this season.

1. Baby Cables Rav Flickr
2. Button Me Up Rav Web
   
3. Something like this for my daughter Rav Flickr
4. Something with a boat neck for me (any pattern suggestions?)
   

What do you have planned for this season's knitting?

Finally, a Finished Object.

Pattern: Cabled Coffee Cuff (I can only find the pattern on Ravelry, contact me if you can't get your hands on the pattern.)
Yarn: Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Merino (left over from these socks)
Color: Brights
Needles: US 1
Time to knit: 3 days
Ravelry link

This was a super quick knit and fun to boot. It was the perfect project to get me excited about knitting again and the gears are turning.

Emily Who?

Remember me? I've been a bad, bad knitter and an even worse blogger. What can I say? I really only have 2 excuses...

Pantone Set

151
Originally uploaded by soundofdesign.

This is such a great idea. I can't wait to see more.

Wordle

Text cloud of my blog made over at wordle.

Free Mittens!

Want a free mitten pattern?

Want to knit something for someone this coming fall that will keep them warm?
Obviously you do because you're a knitter and you rock.

The pattern is here.

Aapplemint: Beat the Heat ....

Aapplemint: Beat the Heat ....
I so want a giant glass of that tea right now.

Koolhaas Luke

I bet you didn't think I knit anymore. Well I do but it's summer so I've been a slacker when it come to blogging. As always you can find me at Ravelry if you're really missing me. But don't give up on me yet...Look, an FO!



Pattern: Koolhaas
Yarn: Shokay Shambala
Color: Earth
Needles: US 6 & US 8
Time to knit: 17 days
Ravelry link

I love this hat. I made one for my sister this past Solstice and have been hanging on to the yarn to make one for myself. It waaay to hot to wear it yet but I'll be nice and snug come winter.

Prints

I could help myself, this is on its way to me.


And I am totally coveting one of these.

Christina Oh

Totally Fascinating

I want to make one of these for my town.

Show Me the Curry

How did I not know about this?

Indian Food Update

Thank you to everyone who gave me suggestions re: Indian food cookbooks. I bought Curried Favors and New Indian Home Cooking and am loving them both!

Prep is finally done!

I can't seem to stop making naan and I absolutely love the chicken vindaloo and the saag and, well, everything. I've been trying new recipes every Saturday and my beau, who loves Indian, really appreciates it. This weekend I planned the menu when I was hungry and ended up cooking for 2 hours... but it was worth it.

You'll have to forgive the quality, these are from my phone.
Tonight we had tomato and onion salad with yogurt, green beans thorem, potatoes with green bell pepper and shrimp with coconut milk which I served over rice. All of these recipes are from Curried Favors. Everything was delicious!

flickr meme

Doing a little thing I like to call the flickr meme.

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

And lest you think I don't actually knit any more, fear not. I'll have some knitting pictures for you soon.

Happy Father's Day

I miss you.

Gotta Dollah?

Many of you know that I've signed up to ride in the VT Cares Champ Ride on June 14th. I'm writing to ask you to please sponsor me and help raise money for HIV/AIDS research. Really, any amount helps.

Thank you for taking the time to check out my donations page and learn a little more about the ride. I appreciate it.

http://www.firstgiving.com/emilyspence

Emily

bookofjoe: Telephonic Sheep — by Jean Luc Cornec

Cooking Help

Hazara, Northern Indian food
Originally uploaded by AraiGordai.

I want to delve into Indian cooking and I have to admit that I'm a little overwhelmed. Can any of you reccommend a good Indian cookbook? Ideally it would be a book that did more than offered recipes to follow; I'd also like to have some sort of understanding of the cuisine.

Want to Win?

The go here and enter to win one of several fab prizes.

Thank You!

A photo thank you for Sandra who sent Elah this super cute ella-phant brooch. Go buy your own at her store!
Elah was so excited wheat a package came that wasn't for me and was actually for her. She also totally loved the ring pop inside. :)
Thanks, Sandra!

Embroidery in Helsinki

What's better than music I love? That's easy. Music I love + craft I love.

Architecture in Helsinki - Like It Or Not from helsinkids on Vimeo.

Sheep of Death!

The Rain

I can't handle the rain today. It makes me feel like this.

DÉJEUNER DU MATIN

Il a mis le café
Dans la tasse
Il a mis le lait
Dans la tasse de café
Il a mis le sucre
Dans le café au lait
Avec la petite cuiller
Il a tourné
Il a bu le café au lait
Et il a reposé la tasse
Sans me parler
Il a allumé
Une cigarette
Il a fait des ronds
Avec la fumée
Il a mis les cendres
Dans le cendrier
Sans me parler
Sans me regarder
Il s’est levé
Il a mis
son chapeau sur sa tête
Il a mis
Son manteau de pluie
Parce qu’il pleuvait
Et il est parti
Sous la pluie
Sans une parole
Sans me regarder
Et moi j’ai pris
Ma tête dans ma main
Et j’ai pleuré.

-Prévert

Uh Oh

I certainly didn't need another Etsy-like storefront. I'm hiding my wallet.

Lacking a Title

I can't come up with a title for this post.

I am finally done with the Baby Surprise Jacket I've been knitting for my daughter's new baby brother (due in 2 weeks). I loved the pattern and the yarn but it took awhile to finish because it was just hard to get into knitting something for my ex and his wife. But it made my daughter happy to have a homemade gift for her brother so I guess in the end it was worth it. I also made one for Elah's uncle and girlfriend but I still have 2 buttons to sew on.



Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmermann
Yarn: The blue is Rowan Wool Cotton
The orange is Reynolds Revue
Needles: US 6, Knit Picks Options
Time to knit: I don't know exactly but I'm going with 2 months.

Actual Knitting and a Small Velolution

Psssst, look, knitting! (Pardon the photo quality, my camera was out of batteries so these were taken with my phone.)



That's right, one whole complete sock. The pattern is Hedera by Cookie A, the yarn is Mama E (in saffron, I just love the color).

In other news I went to the bike shop on Sunday with the cutest boy ever and got a new bike!



There are 3 days a week (when I don't drive my daughter's carpool) that I can bike to work and in the summer I can bike every day. I'm excited to spend less on gas and more time outdoors. I also discovered that I am really out of shape so it's doubly good for me to get my ass on a bike.

Here's one last pic for you; new sock, new bike, old cat. :)

Best Font Ever!

How fucking cool is this font? It's been making its way around he interwebs and tumblr but I can't find the designer's name. The closest I can get, after chasing the trail of reblogs is this.

Tampon Crafts

Tampon Crafts

topherchris:

An entire site devoted to crafts that you can make with tampons. It’s so cool when you’re, like, needing a site that you don’t know exists and then you just happen upon it. God bless the interblag.

I'm Home

And I'm tired, tired, tired. I had so much fun I can't even begin to tell you about it until I've slept for a few days.
Pictures can be found here.

Happy Easter!

Here's the SFW version.























Here's the NSFW version.
link

Knits, Purls, Stump Socks and Outrage

I hope I'm this fierce when I'm grey.

Chicken & 40

After I get out of work and pick up Elah I don't have time to cook a proper dinner. The solution? I cook the night before, after she goes to bed so I just have to heat it up the next evening. Tonight it's chicken and 40 cloves of garlic.


Step 1
Season chicken and brown.


Step 2
Peel 40 cloves of garlic.


Step 3
Add chicken, garlic and thyme (I used fresh) to Dutch oven and bake at 350 for 90 minutes.
(You can also add a little white wine if you want.)

This dish is the 2 things I love most in a recipe; easy and delicious.

Creepy Chair

Clever

Do I even knit any more? Not really but I'll get back into it soon. I actually have an FO to show you but I need to take pics.

In the meantime, check out this site. I love clever people.

Get Out & Vote

Your Vote IS Your Voice
Originally uploaded by D.James | Darren Ryan.

It's Town Meeting time again and VCAM and CCTV are once again collaborating on the Vermont blogging project, Exit Voices.

Exit Voices is a Vermont blogging experiment. In November of 2006, Vermont Community Access Media and the CCTV Center for Media and Democracy joined forces to create an online public forum where Vermonters could discuss the issues and candidates on the ballot in that election cycle. The result was Exit Voices, a moderated community blog specifically designed to be a sounding board for voters who had more to say than just speaking with their votes. The blog featured posts by prominent Vermont bloggers, video interviews with voters exiting their polling places and comments by anyone who cared to participate.

On the evening of the 4th, CCTV (Comcast and Burlington Telecom channel 17 in the greater Burlington area) will include comments and video posts from the blog in its live election night coverage. CCTV's coverage will also be streamed live online at cctv.org.

Pure Genius

Sometime you come across a website that is so blissfully genius you can't help but fall in love. This site is like that.
via Unsprung

Tines!

OK, fuck the candy and the flowers and all the other bullshit that goes with Vanlumtime's Day.
But keep this part.





Seriously, to all of you.