As Kat Knits

Gentle readers, it was The Most Amazing And Spectacular Saturday – The Most Amazing!

At dawn I was awake (after barely sleeping all night) to head out to meet Lisa.  We were off watching the sunrise as we raced over to Howell Michigan.

What, you ask, is in Howell that we had to leave so early?

Two things.

The Divine Miss B and Abby.

Okay, maybe I should say Abby and The Divine Miss B.

Lisa and I signed up for a spinning class – specifically Spinning for Socks.  Holy Cow.  Total brain overload.

I learned things that I never imagined I would ever learn – ever… and some of them were actually from Abby!

So, when there is the clear light of day I will show you pictures of the amazing things I learned today.

Okay, maybe not all of them – but how about the things that Abby taught us!

If you have not had the pleasure of visiting Beth’s Shop – you need to run, not walk, but RUN to see her.  She is fun, a great spinner, and she has more fiber than you can shake a stick at (even a spindle at!!).  If you have visited and you have not availed yourself to some of the classes she has, get yourself signed up!  Seriously.  She has amazing classes.

So – I am now heading off to bed to digest what I learned today and I will be dreaming of the fibers at her shop.

… on Cormo and Shetland, on Masham and Merino, on Dorset and Polwarth…

Sweet Dreams all!

I am a participant in Lynne’s Special Swap. And, we are in the midst of The Sweet Swap Round! I am lucky, Kimberly is my recipient. She is dear to my heart as she was my recipient in one of the Secret Swap rounds. That is how I got to know her and her fabulous family. Our Swap Mamma has us working a little differently this time. We are not receiving our package from the person we are sending to. Kind of fun.

So, Lynne asked us to post the answers to the following questions for our Swap Pals… So, Swap Pal, who ever you may be – here you go.

Kimberly was kind and reminded me that I needed to get this done – she posted hers today! Thanks Kimberly!

Well, without further adieu – here are my answers to Lynne’s questions:

1. What were your three favorite treats in your Halloween bag?

Chocolate and caramel, Chocolate and peanut butter, Chocolate and coconut – see the theme here?

2. What were the three treats that you would trade away?

Hmmm, it would depend on what I was getting. Licorice was not a big favorite of mine.

3. Do you bake?

Ummm, no – really not.

4. Do you order dessert in a restaurant? If so, what is your favorite dessert?

Look at me, do you think I say no to dessert??? Crème Bruleè mmmmm, my absolute favorite.

5. Tell me about your favorite Candy-colored yarns, and what candy are they inspired from?

Boy, I love autumnal colors – Candy corn would be the inspiration I suppose. Green candy – hmmm, not sure what green candy I can think of but I remember being in high school and getting those hard candy sticks – there was a green apple flavor that was the most divine color!

6. When you knit a special “icing on the cake” accessry for your outfit, would you knit …… socks, a scarf, a hat or a bag?

I love scarfs and shawls. LOVE them. In my opinion they are a “must have” for the knitters wardrobe!

7. Describe the perfect ice cream sundae.

It all starts with coffee ice cream, Matt Lauer, and one spoon… need I say more?

8. Are there any knitting treats that you would love to add to your collection?

Hmmm, of course there are! Who does not like to get treats! A book you would like for your library? I would love to get some stitch dictionaries. A knitting gadget for your notions bag? A row counter that could hang on a cord around my neck would be fabulous. A sweet yarn? Hmmm, there are so many sweet yarns! Maybe a skein of something I can knit into a cute summery scarf!

9. Think about the best homemade dessert from Mom or Grandma. Do you have the recipe to share?

Boy, my mother was so not a baker. But, I do remember baking with my nana. Her Banana Bread was so moist and delicious. I will gladly share the recipe with you here!

Nana’s Banana Bread:

1 C Sugar

½ C shortening (she used real butter)

1 t baking soda in

¼ C sour milk (you can make sour milk with by adding a bit of vinegar to milk)

2 well beaten eggs

3 mashed bananas

2 C flour

½ C chopped nuts (she used walnuts most often)

Combine ingredients. I do them in the order written, I cream together the sugar and the shortening. I then add the remainder of the ingredients.

Bake 1 hour at 350°F. (She also used greased, floured cans)

10. What local or regional treats would you insist your swap partner try if she visited your town?

Hmmm, it would have to be Pallazollo’s for Gelato. Oh. My. Heaven’s. Trust me – you will hear angels singing when you taste this stuff!

11. Cupcakes….talk amongst yourselves.

Sure, I like chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting!

Friday!  Specifically, my final Friday of unemployment!

As of Monday we will no longer be the “Home of the Gainfully Unemployed”.

Huge sigh of relief here, I can most certainly tell you!

It is also the final Friday of March – and here in West Michigan Frosty Winter is not giving up easily.  We had another inch of snow last night.  I am wishing for the Finish of Winter.  Even more I am yearning for the arrival of spring.  We have had fleeting moments with her, just enough to give us all a dose of Spring Fever!

F is also for felines – specifically felines who are foto-shy.  Excuse my  spelling, but I am in need of “f” words for the ABC Along!  I tried all week to get pictures of Maddie and Noel – and all I can say is that my cats are not like Crazy Aunt Purl’s cats at all.  I show you my best attempt!

Just seconds prior to this, she was laying next to Copper – it was a cute moment.  And, as for Noel, she sees the camera and disappears!

F is also for Flowers – Spring Flowers!  Here is one of the Tulips that the kids got me for Easter!

They are just gorgeous and a nice reminder of what is soon to come here in Holland – millions of tulips!  A truly lovely sight!

F is also for the Fibery Friend!  Sandy and Budd brought her to me as a thank you for taking care of Katie for them.  Don’t you just love her???  Oh, and the black and white photo behind her?  Yes, it is me (on the left) and my sister.  We were stylin’ babes, weren’t we???   Pixie hair cuts, sun glasses and jeans with big red patches on the knees.  Yowza, hot mammas, for sure!!

And finally – F is for this….

I introduce you all to Frederic Chopin – my new wheel.  As you can see it is the Kromski Sonata.  I sold Alice to a well deserving friend and welcomed to my home Freddie!  I am truly a Kromski girl.  I truly love the craftsmanship of their wheels.  And, for me, they spin like a dream!  Plus, I now have a bag to pack my wheel in for those times I need to travel to classes or spinning evenings with friends.  See what I have been working on… some gorgeous silk in summerly colors.  I know, I know – I need to remember to move my fiber around.  The problem is when Freddie gets going I am mesmerized by his song!

So there is my F entry for the Final Friday in March – have a great weekend all!

Panic is surely setting in here as the days of unemployment draw to a close.

How the heck can it be Thursday already????

I wonder if I find a horn and march around outside blowing it loudly that I can stop time for a bit!  Well, it worked for Joshua in Jericho – a girl can only hope, right??

I can hear you all muttering – insanity has surely set in!

Okay, maybe it has!

My good intentions for the week have gone by the wayside.  I have some cleaning done, but not what I want to have done.  I have some knitting done, but not what I wanted to have done.

I got sidetracked on Tuesday – major derailment people!

You see, it started out as a Good Samaritan Journey.  And, with those good intentions I headed off to A2 to get Sandy’s dear husband Budd.  Jail Break from The Joint, I was so into this plan!

The problem is what is between here and there…

There is of course Mecca and how can one but stop in Mecca – especially when you are on a Good Samaritan Journey?!? Plus, I had a gift certificate burning a hole in my hot little hand.

Okay, that was one the first detour in my Good Samaritan Journey.

Stop number 2 was a bit more dangerous.  It all started when I called The Divine Miss B and she answered the phone.  Darn her!  Bigger problem, she calls me back asking me for help in the purchase of a vacuum for her shop.  Oy.  Then she called again to let me know she and her darling daughter were heading right over to the shop to wait for me.  Double Oy!  She must have heard her cash register singing for joy.  So, on to Howell I proceeded.

Well, it is right on the way to Ann Arbor – I swear it is!!

Yeah, so I leave with much in tow.  New traveling wheel, new drop spindle, one of those adorable acorn spindles, a book…

All this on the Good Samaritan Journey – and then I arrive, finally, at long last, to spring Budd from the Joint.  (FYI, looks like they are having a special on Colon Cancer Screenings right now, just in case you are interested – just saying!)

With Budd, new wheel, and a wee bit of yarn in the vehicle we made a run for the border of Lake Michigan.

So, my questions remains – how the heck can it be Thursday already!?!

I am off, gentle readers, to find a horn to blow!  Photo’s of my mayhem to follow… stay tuned!