Adjusting.

So far the animal utopia I envisioned has been slow coming. We did accomplish a name for the kitten: Sprinkles. I love that it is a wonderfully ridiculous name for a cat. Office fans might notice that Sprinkles is the name of Angela's cat who met a sad demise when Dwight, deciding not to give her anal rash cream, put kitty in the freezer. I normally wouldn't name a creature after pop culture references, however, SHHH secret part-- WHN is not an Office fan. In fact, I think he wants to not like it because everyone does (sad attempt at him being a cool outsider, whatever) Once Sprinkles sticks as a name, I will let him know where the name comes from. So yes, Sprinkles is getting her name as a cruel joke to WHN. In fairness, I know he saw this episode, though probably doesn't remember the cat's name. But come on, as he said when I suggested the name, "That's a good name because Sprinkles are always good!" Well we shall see, WHN, we'll shall see.

I don't know if Sprinkles knows what the ferrets are, but she's not liking them. She swats, and they freeze (ferrets must suck in the wild) But they are really really trying with her. I think we are making progress.


Unfortunately, more meetings are like this.


Babette, has this weird wanting to be submissive thing about her. We know Tif is the alpha ferret, but we didn't realize how easy it is to be the alpha with ol' Babs. Babette is more interested in Sprinkles than Tif is. She follows Sprinkles around just to get smacked. My sweet simple Babette is getting something out of it though-- look how she poofs up. Ferrets poof when they are excited-- good, bad, whatever.

Look at that tail!

We must be very vigilant because this submission thing, her name, and being in Vegas, she might end up on the pole if we aren't careful.

The bigger animals are taking Sprinkle's existence and the extra attention she requires in stride.

NEW KITTEN!

I know what you are saying. She has a tenuous grip of control over what animals she has now! Why is she throwing a kitten in. We got sucked in. Her mom, a teenager herself, got into a family way while her owner was away. The story is the kitty sitter didn't know that she wasn't fixed. Her mother is a mottled orange/black cat. The babydaddy unknown. The litter was full of mixes of blacks, gingers, and calicos.

I'm trying to come up with a name. So far Aisling, Penelope, Daphne, and Pleasejustusethelitterboxonce are in the lead.

My initial thought was that the ferrets have always wanted to play with Fred, but he rejects them. I thought a kitten, would just think they were funny looking kittens and want to play with them.

Fred, being between 12-15 yo, having only 2 teeth and a limp, I thought could use a young strong lieutenant out there with him when he makes his rounds outside.

I thought that her and the ferrets would be fast friends given that they are the same size. So far, she is spitting at them. Toonsters, my pride and joy is growling at the scared, tiny 8 week old kitten. Way to go, dog. Fred, well, I am sure eventually it will work out. But in the interim, I am learning a whole new range of sounds that he can make.

Springs Preserve Knitting

A knitting group at the Springs Preserve meets on the 2nd and 4th Thursday each month. The group founders, Jessica and Sarah, picked a perfect day/time because the Preserve is buzzing with a farmer's market from 4-8 and Wolfgang Puck's Cafe (where we met) holds seasonal events on this day too. Half way into our group, we had prime seats for the Mozart & Mojitos.

Happily knitting and crocheting away.


Our view- the Farmers Market in the courtyard (that is faux grass!). The background is downtown Vegas and the north end of The Strip in the background.


Jessica would not let her mojito drinking interfere with her knitting... or was it the other way around?

They have FANTASTIC gift shop. All items are from sustainable sources, or recycled materials.


Such as newspapers (they also had purses made from tires)


And of course I could not not take the picture of the knitted socks called soul mates (ie similar but mismatched socks) could this be a result of the sock knitting craze and the creation of fraternal twins socks?


A balsy little rabbit that insisted I take his picture.


If you live in Vegas and haven't checked out the Springs Preserves - GO! Thursday is 2 for 1 admission for the exhibit halls, a great bargain. The trails are free all the time. Check out their website for the tons of events they have.

Prom season in Vegas

Casinos, especially off-Strip properties are not just places to gamble, many have movie theaters, bowling alleys, and other amenities that you might not necessarily think of when you think of casinos. Though I have learned to take much of this for granted, sites that are quotidian to most Las Vegans, still stand out to me.

Tonight, while we used our 2-for-1 buffet coupon at Red Rock Canyon Casino we found prom kids. I loved seeing the mixture of fanny packs and formal attire.



To get this picture, I said I was a tourist from Oklahoma.

I'm sure that all regions have their own take on what a prom night entails. In Los Angeles, I can guarantee that you will find prom goers in limos hitting Pink's Hot Dogs.

In recession gets felt everywhere news, the only fish at the buffet tonight was fried catfish. Normally, you can find salmon and halibut at the very least. I read that other buffets are now adding a surcharge to the crab legs that have become popular buffet fixtures.

But who cares tonight! It's prom in Vegas!

When was the last time I blogged?

WOW! It has been a long time. Some of you know I have some icky deadlines so I have self-imposed internet limits for myself. I've only allowed myself Ravelry and CNN and 2 Vegas news sites in 10 min bursts a couple times of day. It's been tough. I miss blog reading! However, I saved a little time, by going uninformed so I could do a quick post.

I have a couple FO's to share, both hats knit for a 12 year old, hence the colors, though I think by 12, I had completely switched to my all black all the time wardrobe. Both hats are for the same child, who is currently going through chemo. People are trying to organize lots of hats for her because bad enough going through chemo, but having to do it as a tween girl.

I knit a good portion of these hats at a new knit group here in Vegas which meets midnight at McMullan's Pub. You Vegas people should come and check it out. We meet 12:30-3:30am. No traffic to/from, and it's a great time!

Fellow midnight knitter, Maddiehatter models both hats. WHN saw the pics and complimented me not showcasing in the shot the fact that I am taking pics of a kid's chemo hat in a bar. I reminded him that I am class and discretion all the way.

The first is a slouchy beanie.

I think on a kid, and worn further back it will be slouchier. Also, I'm thinking it will slouch up because I used cotton yarn.

The second hat is Verity. I knit size small using Rowan All Seasons Cotton.

This is the second time I have knit this, and both times it has come out more tam than beret, hopefully she will like it. I was sadly reminded that if she doesn't, she probably has a whole new set of friends that need hats.

I noticed on the Ravelry group, there were a few questions on knitting the band onto the hat. I took pics as I went on, because it was a fun technique.

First step was to knit the 1.5" of tab that overlaps and the button will be sewn on. Once done, I slid the tab (12 st I think) onto the needles that held the hat, with the inside of the hat facing me. The band will be knit onto the hat in the opposite direction that I knit the hat.

Tab ready to slide onto needles holding hat


Great thing about needle kits, I could knit on the needles and then connect to the cord holding the hat.


I knit in the band pattern but the last stitch of the band, I knit together with the closest hat stitch. The first couple of connecting stitches were loose, but easily pulled together tight.


The vertical row below the needles is the connected band. To the right is the band itself going and to the left the live hat stitches waiting to be connected.


Both hats were a quick satisfying knit, which sadly, is the only kind of knitting I can do right now. I'm knitting more for relaxation than for the challenge for the next few months, but hey, knitting is knitting!

Beware of the Ides of March

My birthday on Saturday was forgotten. It was kind of funny. I don't want to name names, but I'll give some initials to indicate how deep this amnesia went--> WHN!

But luckily for me my birthday was not forgotten in Germany or Japan! I was quite proud of myself because normally when I get a box, I tear it open like a hyper 2 year old. Instead, I put them in the closet and waited 20 hours, 10 minutes, 7 seconds before I tore into them. WHN ofcourse was cruising nearby because he knows Sibille always sends candy. He says something like wow you got 2 boxes how random. I am used to his lame jokes, so I am nonplussed. Thankfully Rachael includes a card because the look on WHN after he made the mistake of asking to see it was beautiful. You know, when you actually see the evidence on someone's face of their brain clicking into gear. AWKWARD. I won't bore you with the lame excuses. Just trust that they were unimpressive.

But enough of his trifling! Onto what I actually got!

From Sibille in Germany, I got an awesome shawl, the Mystic Waters Lace Shawl! This was knit during her sock hiatus. I am always thrilled to get knits from her. I will get much use out of it, though I think Dani is thinking right now, "yeah it will go great with the old sweats you always wear to knit night." I was thinking that too! Actually I think it will be really nice in the casinos where it can be ultra cold while the outside is very warm. Plus seeing the effort that went into this shawl made a certain WHN feel like an asshole (as a former Spanish teacher liked to say EXTRA BONUS!) She also sent some Easter candy (gone) and vegetarian gummy bears (also gone, save one bag) as well as a cute sheepy guy that will go into my craft loft.


The day before I was eyeing a glove book that I hadn't seen before. Somehow Rachael and I were on the same wavelength because THAT book, Knitting New Mittens and Gloves was in my gift box from her. She also sent me candy, including Japanese chocolate that I am bit worried about because their chocoreputation is nosogood. But this beats the insects that she has been eating of late, so I am not complaining. She did include Pockies which I LOVE LOVE LOVE. The yarn is Malabrigo silky merino. I am looking forward to playing with that. She also sent me a hat pattern, probably because she was sick of me sending her WHAT ABOUT THIS HAT emails. You will also notice some really pretty chopsticks behind the card (with the cake) that says, "hope WHN spoils you or I will kick him." So not only did he get to feel again like a jerk, but he also has a good dose of fear because he knows how feisty Rachael can be.

THANK YOU BOTH!

Interesting (at least to me since it is my bday) I share my day with the death of Julius Caesars in 44 BC (condolences, Julius) I would also like to extend birthday wishes on that day to FABIO and Michael Scott in Scranton.

March o'recipe: brown bread

In honor of March, I am sharing a very Irish recipe- brown bread. This is a fabulous quick bread that is hearty, dense, moist on the inside with a crispy crust on the outside. It is easy-peasy to make, so give it a try. No special bread making skills or knowledge required. I can't think of an American equivalent to it. I will be offering 2 versions (the second one later in the month) so you will be able to compare.

1/2 lb white flour
6 oz oats
2 oz bran
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
3 tsp baking soda
2 beaten eggs
1/2 pint water
1 pint buttermilk
3/4 lb whole meal flour
2 oz wheat germ

Optional: sesame or poppy seeds to sprinkle on top (I don't bother)

(I know you have to weigh the stuff... always meant to do the conversions, but this is more authentic. They don't use cups etc as measurements in Ireland. If I would have put out this recipe in Feb, then I would have had to do the conversions, but since it's March, pogue mahon.)

Pre-heat oven to 390 degrees.

Mix dry ingredients, add egg, then buttermilk and water. Mix very well by hand and spoon into 2 well-greased loaf pans.
Smooth surface and sprinkle seeds if you want at this point. Bake for 1 hour. Pop out and enjoy.