It Snowed Last Night

So aside from running outside to get this picture, I've been enjoying the sunshine from inside the house - very cosy! I finished up a third pair of little mittens.




These all look rather narrow in the hand, but the ribbing is nice and stretchy. The largest pair fits around my hand, though of course is too short for an adult.


Someone always has to get into the act.

Molly Bee asked where I got the Pepparkakor. I found them at Cost Plus/World Market at Greenway Station in Middleton. But Ms Bee, I know you are a cook, so here is the very good recipe, from an old and dear friend of my mother's.

ORKEY BUDD'S PEPPARKAKOR

1 c. butter or margarine (use butter!)
3/4 c. brown sugar
3/4 c. white sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 T orange peel (or 1 1/2 tsp dried)
2 T dark corn syrup
1 T water
2 T molasses
3 1/4 c. flour
2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves

Cream butter and sugars. Add egg and cream well. Add orange peel, syrup, water and molasses and mix well. Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture. Mix well. Chill the dough while your mixing arm rests (a couple of hours at least). On a lightly floured board, roll out dough 1/8" thick (no cheating, the thinner these are the better). Cut with cookie cutters (I like stars and hearts). Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.

A Test Knitter "Thank You", plus some odds and ends

Hugs and appreciation to Caitlin, who proofread and test knitted the Just Spring socks pattern. She quickly and tactfully: caught an omission, spotted typos, suggested clarifications and overall helped me whip it into shape. It has been a total pleasure working with her.

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I finished the first pair of Soaring Eagles Project mittens today. They looked a little dull right off the needles (the color is darker and grayer than it appears in the picture). So I added a little bit of embroidery on the thumb. A second pair is now underway.


Knit in Plymouth Encore DK

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On Friday afternoon, I called the wonderful Penzeys Spices to place an order. Usually I would just order online, but I had a question about a particular item, and a somewhat out of the normal delivery request for a gift, so I phoned. What a treat. My call was answered almost instantly with no voice mail run around, no time on hold. It was so nice to talk to a customer service rep who was just across the state (instead of half way around the world). She was extremely helpful, took her time to get everything right, friendly... I actually enjoyed the transaction. To top it off, the portion of the order that was coming directly to me arrived the next morning (!). Granted, it only had to come from Milwaukee, but still, less than 24 hours. Woot.

socks, slippers and mittens needed, especially mittens

Thanks to a heads up on Kmkat's blog, I learned about a very worthy project that is in great need of hand knitted gifts for elementary school in Oklahoma. A very caring teacher, Rachel, is trying to make sure that every child recieves hand knit gifts this holiday season. There is more information (and links to patterns) at the Soaring Eagles Blog. If you can help, let Rachel know so she can keep her tally of what is still needed. The email address is on the blog.

This is a school where almost all of the students are below poverty level, and as you can imagine, many of the families are pretty messed up. Those kids need gifts, and they need to know that someone cares about them. If you can be that someone, please let Rachel know. The deadline for her to recieve items is Dec. 17.

I've just cast on for a pair of mittens.

Graphic blatently taken from Kmkat, I know she won't mind