Sunday, November 29, 2015

Finals Week is Coming

Starting this next week, I'll have a final or final project due for each of my classes until December 11.

Ughhh....

Back to sleep. Hoping I can get enough done this week to stay sane.

Sunday, November 22, 2015

Adventures in Pear Butter

I've been invited to Thanksgiving at a new partner's house with is extended family. I made pear butter. I wanted to make plum butter, but I could not find plums anywhere. I swear three weeks ago everywhere was lousy with plums, but when you specifically go looking for them ...

I got lucky and found pears, an orange, and orange juice at Grocery Outlet.

Pear Butter Recipe

Six pounds of pears - peeled and cored
Zest from most of a large orange
A good bit of freshly grated nutmeg
Cinnamon to toss and cover the pears
One cup of sugar
1/2 cup of orange juice
1/4 to 1/2 cup of agave syrup

I started the pear butter out on in the slow cooker, but eight hours on low left it pretty soupy. I tried taking off the lid and turning the slow cooker to high. No love.

So, I switched over to using the stovetop and a large pot. Stirring continuously over medium heat for about fifteen minutes, I cooked until most of the pear chunks were gone. Then I used a stick blender to make it lovely and smooth.

It tasted good! I hope it goes over well at Thanksgiving and I don't forget it at home.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Knitting Project Out of Timeout

I had a New Year's Resolution to knit at least two patterns from books, patterns, and yarn I already owned. When I started unpacking at my current one-bedroom mother-in-law suite, I realized how hard it is to downsize from a three-bedroom house into a one-bedroom space.

The truth is I get seduced by the potential for things and the possibility of things rather than the practical use for something. So, I have a lot of yarn because I think of all the possibilities for that yarn and how much money I'm saving on that yarn right this very minute, rather than thinking about what pattern or how much yarn it would actually take to make something I would want to own or gift.

The result is bins upon plastic bins of yarn. Realistically, I own more yarn right now than I could try and knit up in a year or two. A lot of the yarn is acrylic, which is very common for beginning knitters to accumulate.

I'm still knitting the pink monstrosity of a baby blanket. The baby's been born, but at this rate, I'll never get it done in time and I'm just wanting to get it done and over with so I never have to see it in a project bag again.

About three or four weeks ago, I had a major setback with my Drachenfels. I skipped a line in the pattern and after I had finished the entire stripped section, I counted my stitches and was so far off that I could really understand what had happened. Even missing the increase in every row would not have left me as off as the stitch count was. It turns out I missed an entire solid section increase in Part A.

I had to rip back 30 rows. The project has been in timeout ever since, mostly because it was so stressful to tink back so far. It needed some time off.

I'm trying to finish up the Drachenfels so I can start on the Honey Cowl for my grandmother for Christmas. I did promise her a few months ago. I've picked out a lovely, dark blue yarn for the project. I think the Honey Cowl should be a quick knit, but I also don't want tons of unfinished projects laying about the house.

I wound one skein of the yarn for the Honey Cowl. I debated doing the second, but I also don't want to set myself up for disappointment. I think I'll get together all the stuff for the Honey Cowl and start casting on tonight. I doubt I'll finish an entire skein of yarn in this pattern tonight. If I do, I'll switch over to my Drachenfels.

In my personal life, my parents met my main lover today. It went well. I went on a date yesterday to the zoo and went with my main lover to the zoo today. Met a lot of his friends. It went well. It's his birthday tomorrow, so I'll be popping my head in to wish him well on his 21st. Yes, I'm aware of the age difference. Hush now.

Sunday, November 8, 2015

Taking my finger back

I had a whole, elaborate blog post in my mind, but I'm about to take off for a grownup sleepover, so I'm going to make this quick:

I bought my own damn ring for my own damn hand with my own damn money.

That's right. No more engagement ring. I bought my own Tiffany ring for my right hand middle finger. It's to remind myself I don't need the fairy tale marriage to make myself happy. To make myself "fit" into this world.

I'm done wearing a mask to do what is right, to do what society expects.

I'm wearing a ring on my middle finger to remind myself that I gave him the wrong one and that I let society tell me that chasing and hoping for marriage was something I should want.

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Knitted Chainmail - Review Time

I knit chainmail for my Halloween costume (Lagertha from the TV show Vikings). I used sock-weight yarn, which was nice and soft, but didn't hold up to being worn all day. Unfortunately, it got snagged in a few places and I ended up with some holes.

I think the folks on Ravelry who knit their chainmail with worsted weight, acrylic yarn had the right idea. I think the nylon/acrylic blend of the sock yarn wasn't enough to stand up to the rigors of being worn around the office all day.

That being said, it looked really good and authentic. I'll write up the pattern later this month and put it up on Ravelry.