Slipper pattern and a stubborn cat

I'm trying hard to finish Mom's slipper-socks. Does it take everyone a week to make a pair of socks? I feel like such a slowpoke. This is even in worsted weight yarn, that should be quicker, right?

In the meantime, I am already planning to make another pair of these. Maybe the second pair will go faster. I have written down some of the changes to the 'recipe' that I made. I am using the Socks101 instructions - but making a short, loose slipper out of it.

My mom and I both wear a size 10 women's shoe, which is large! So, if this slipper size in worsted weight yarn looks big... it probably is ;o) Here is the pattern, in my unschooled pattern-writing structure.

Slipper Pattern
built on Socks101 instructions

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Worsted weight yarn, size 4? dpns. Cast on 48, split to 3 16s.
Top, 2 rows of garter stitch.
K2P2rib, continue until count 12 stockinette stiches.
Split 22 for heel (wide heel), work 22 rows, turn heel.
Pick up 14 stitches at sides. Work one round.
*Decrease 1 st at each side of heel, knit around*
Repeat * until the # of stitches on the side needles are 15.
Decrease again.
Knit around 27 rows.
Start toe decreases.
Graft off when each needle has 15 stitches (boxy, roomy toe).

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My mom said no pointy toes... I hope she likes these boxy ones.

We have two new bookcases to put up this weekend. Cheap ones, from Wal-Mart. We had six of them at the apartment in Fargo, but lost all the pins when we went to put them back up here. A new set of pins cost almost as much as a new bookcase! (go figure) Hopefully once we can unpack some of the boxes of books we will find the one the old pins got thrown into.

Six months and we still 'live like monks!' (quote from someone we know)

Does anyone out there speak Cat?
I really need to learn how to say
'Keep your Butt OFF the Stove or Else!'

Our kittens are 6 months old in November. Willow is as stubborn as a mule. Once I tell her three times about something she understands that it's wrong... but if she wants to do it, she keeps doing it (and runs like the wind if I catch her at it). Lately I can't keep her out of the teapot on the stove - she just has to get into it and stick her whole head in...because she can. If one of the other burners had been on she would have to learn the 'paws burn' lesson twice! ***frustrated***

Knitting Weather

It's supposed to get cold this weekend! Maybe you can't tell, but I'm happy!

At least... I am now, before it actually happens ;o) The weather forecast for Sunday is a low of 35. Time for wool socks, my shawl, gloves, scarves and hats! And time for knitting! This is what a 100-degree-plus summer does to a girl from Minnesota! 8+}

I was painting boards in the office garage and really enjoying the 55 degree weather. A cup of coffee and a cotton sweater and I was happy. (Did I mention I LOVE coffee?, don't get me started... fresh dried peppermint and french roast coffee with a little bit of cream in it...)

Got to the middle of the second sock. I guess the rest will be tomorrow. Then I have to decide if I will mail them off next week or make something else to go with them. I rescued my other pair of dpns from an abandoned project... I can knit a teddy from 'Knitting for Baby', or try the booties.

I have a book coming in the mail - 'The Good Life', by Helen Nearing [Link]. It is a book about homesteading and living by your own means. This works in with the sheep and woolworks we want down the road. I still have to get myself spinning!

Baby Knits and truck cats

Got a new book! Knitting for Baby. (melanie falick and kristen nicholas) [Link] The reviews say it is not a book for beginners... but some of the projects look like things I can already knit! I knit little rabbits last year that look like the teddy bear. The little booties are really tempting! I should start stocking up for our own baby... But that is still a few years away, can I start anyway? ;o)

I don't recognize any of the yarns in this book, except for Manos. I'll have to do some major subtitution and swatching. Loked up some of the yarns — they don't seem easy to get ahold of.

Willowpede is 'mugging' me while I work on the computer. She is as persistant when she wants attention as she is in avoiding everyone when she wants to be alone.

Our cats usually go to work with us in the truck. They behave beautifully (knock on wood) except for when we are at gas stations. Willow is very scared of people she doesn't know. If someone talks to us at the gas station about us(and they often do), Willowpede crawls down to the floor and cowers.

We had to stop at a store this morning. To avoid cooking kittens in the 80 degree weather, they had to stay home. Tonight they are making up for all lack of playing and attention. J says we should set up a webcam to see what they do when we are gone. ;o) Do we really want to know?

Still working on the second sock, and getting to the 'I really wish my dpns weren't committed to this' stage. I'm sad to say I feel that a lot when making a project. Dreaming of yarn... and so many patterns. I have to focus on finishing.

I am so mean to Willowpede -- she is utterly fascinated with our DVD player. Every bit of it opening and closing she has to investigate. When we put a new disc in, she listens to it loading, and sits back to watch the screen light up and the header music start to play. We were using the remote to tease her tonight, opening and closing the disc repeatedly. She was so disappointed when we took the last movie out and the close-disc cycle didn't result in anything.
Movie Tonight : Metropolis 1927 silent film.

Super Secret Ebay Yarn!

Yay! I won my yarn!
Now I have to wait the long wait for the mailman to bring it ;o) **starts thinking about the projects 1000+ yards of this yarn will make** I see it is most likely hand-wash. Should it be a shawl? I haven't learned how to knit lace yet.
This isn't where I bought it from, but it is close to the gauge and type.

Black Cauldron, Socks and Salamander

Starring Salamander...

She is my vocal, social cat who sometimes sees imaginary bats.
'Sally' is short for Salamander.

We got NetFlix today! I mean, they came in the mail ;o) J and I had both seen The Black Cauldron a long time ago. We are also watching Full Metal Alchemist, an anime. It is better than most we have seen.

One sock done! Sorry no pics. The next is cast on. I still have a lot of room for improvement. Somehow I am just not getting the instep decreases to be even AND fit. Maybe it is just my foot. My mom is the same shoe size as I am - sizing her sock on my foot.

Had Chinese today. Is is normal for chicken teriyaki to be served on a stick? I thought that was chicken yakitori... but maybe that's only Japanese food. It was really good, but I didn't expect to be eating skewered meat for lunch!

Our fortune cookies.
'A nice cake is waiting for you.'
'You are tasting the sweets of success.'

Joke of the Day :

Two manx cats are sitting together.

First Manx : 'I have the world by the tail!'
Second Manx : 'Well — THAT explains a lot...'

Saw this on someone else's blog! ;o)

Wow! You would have been a pair of socks as long
as it's possible for socks to be before they're
tights - and all multi-coloured with pretty
patterns and detail all over the place - then
you could stand and admire your sock-self all
day!


What type of sock are you?
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Vegan biscuits and cake

Ok, I forgot to say, my husband is a vegan. This is a project that has been going on for two years. We've been married three years. So, I re-learned to cook.

These are probably high fat in the vegan recipe, but then, there isn't a lot he can/will eat... so he definitely isn't watching calories.

Baking Powder Biscuits - Veganized
2 c. flour (or 1.5 c. white flour, .5 c wheat flour)
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 c. unsweetened soy milk (skim milk non-vegan)
1/3 c. oil (we use 1/2 olive oil, 1/2 canola) (melted margarine, non-vegan)

stir dry mixture together in a large pan/bowl/wok, mix milk and oil together in another cup or bowl. Pour wet mixture onto dry, stir until combined. You might need to add just a little more flour if your dough is sticky. Roll into 6 or 7 balls, stretch each ball into a flat dough pancake. Put on a cookie sheet or aluminum foil in 400 degree oven for 15 - 20 minutes. Great with tomatoes, salsa and vegan gravy (store-bought :o(

Cake mix, veganized

Duncan Hines moist yellow cake mix
mashed banana or ground flaxseed as binder(eggs)
canola oil and water as mix indicates

Note: I noticed Duncan Hines moist yellow cake mix isn't vegan anymore! It has egg white or whey in it, I forget which. Double check your cake mixes -- but a banana is a good binder to use instead of egg. You could also look up a regular 'quick cake' from-scratch mix like this Applesauce Cake and substitue the banana for the egg.