you can't get more green than this

For real, right? I got this yarn a while back - luscious two-ply laceweight cashmere. Except I never knew what to make with it, because it was this hideous olive drab. Who makes cashmere in camouflage colors? I guess if my Army Reserves friend had ever been shipped out, and I was a nicer person, I could have given him a color-coordinated scarf - but that's not what cashmere was made for (sorry Droo!)



I finally got around to dyeing it. Green on green, like three times. And I got something useable, maybe, if you like green. Me, though, I always think I like it more than I actually do. This is pretty, but it's not my shade (that would be olive drab, and now we've come full circle - I couldn't bring myself to spend time on a cashmere scarf in such an ugly color.)



I didn't get a before picture, but trust me, it was not good. Kind of like this, but yarn:



I took another picture, just for fun.



It's on Etsy, right here.

gluten-free log, hour 56

I went with my super cool friends Aundria and Rachel to the People's Food Co-op last night - it's an awesome place, with tons of bulk items. Sitting outside sippin' on smoothies from Sip, a dude approached us with a huge Rubbermaid bin, and offered leftover pretzel buns. Really? Worst timing ever, dude. Aundria took one and, I confess, interwebs - I had a nibble of a corner. Just enough to whet my appetite for gluten again. While my super cool friends enjoyed this pretzel bun right in front of me, I simmered in sullen silence (by which I mean, I vocalized my hatred of them...I take gluten seriously, interwebs.) So then I got proactive and Googled "gluten-free soft pretzels," and lo and behold, the interwebs is full of recipes! I used this recipe for Jules Gluten-Free Soft Pretzels, and ran back into the co-op to search for ingredients. They only had Bob's Red Mill All-Purple Gluten-Free Flour, which was almost better, because 1) I love Bob's Red Mill; and 2) it's LOCAL! (Does it count if they are national? I don't care.)


I only made one revision to this recipe: I used yeast that had been expired for three years. Thank Geoff for that one. The pretzels came out ok, but I would still use unexpired yeast next time, because it's really hard to purchase stuff that old anyway.

Oh, and I made another revision: Bob's Red Mill flour calls for xanthan gum. So I added a teaspoon of that to the dry ingredients. I also sampled a little bit of it dry, and it made my lips stick together.


Here are the little pretzel friends I made and then covered in olive oil. Yum!


Then I boiled my friends noooooooo


Then I baked them. The recipe warns not to overcook - this is for real, guys. I left them in there maybe a minute or two longer and they got shriveled. Keep a close eye on your pretzel friends!

I'm a fan of these, because the flour imparts a slightly nutty taste. And they have a really good texture. Would you guys believe it, this is my first foray into GF baking? I know, I'm kind of awesome.

gluten-free log, hour 46

Gluten is probably my favorite food group (next to bacon). So last October, when a naturopathic doctor suggested I go gluten-free to improve my thyroid function, I died a little inside. If that was the cost of being healthy, I'd take my chances side-by-side with wheat products.

But my very knowledgeable and highly-esteemed friend Jennifer (of Temo and Jennifer) is very adamant that gluten is not good for anyone to eat, especially people with hypothyroidism. For a while, I used my fancy selective hearing that my mom has always accused me of having, but there is scary research all over the interwebs. Granted, internet information should always be taken with a grain of salt (much like the naturopath, who prescribed me $8 sugar pills for panic attacks), but I don't have health insurance and my complaints seem to be going in one ear and out the other when I manage to get in to a doctor. So I'm taking matters into my own hands. I can do that.

Surprisingly, cutting out gluten doesn't seem to be as impossible as I previously thought. Fortunately for me, I have not been diagnosed with celiac, so eggs and dairy are still viable options. And, in Portland, gluten-free substitutes are everywhere (except at Ken's Artisan Pizza and Pine State Biscuits). Also, relying once again on my trusty friend, the interwebs, I've discovered a treasure trove of GF recipes at The Gluten-Free Goddess. (Yeah, I purposely linked to the cupcake section there.)

Unfortunately, I made this decision on Monday afternoon, before allowing myself time to 1) rid my home and office of gluteny foods, and 2) stock up on GF things to eat. I also made the mistake of getting a little drunk at happy hour last night and found my resolve whittled down to its very last shred. How I managed to avoid that Maple Bacon Bar, I will never know.

In conclusion, if this doesn't work I am going right back to gluten with my tail between my legs, and I will beg its forgiveness. Because there is no sense in being tired all the time AND craving wheat. But in the meantime, if anyone has any other great gluten-free tips, please share them! I've got two boxes of quinoa flour to use up.


(I don't like posting blog entries without photos, so here you go.)

happy surprises!

Ok, this one is a little late, so some of the mystery has worn off. But my enthusiasm has not! I came home from Seattle on July 4th to a box in front of my door, with three little plant starters in it - two species of jasmine with very scientific names, and one leafy vine plant marked "bonus" that I can only assume is a bonus. I spent the rest of that night trying to puzzle out who would know to send me jasmine plants. Just before falling asleep that night, in one of those moments of clarity (you know, like when you suddenly understand the meaning of life, or that you left the stove on), I pieced it together: it was Heather, who had drawn up planter diagrams for my windowsill just a few weeks earlier. It seems that Heather, aside from being as much of a Lush addict as I am (or perhaps more?) is also a plant aficionado. And she knew exactly what types of plants I was seeking next.


Last night I noticed I had a little blossom, but today I found it on the ground! What's up with you, jasmine?


It's still got a couple more little buds on it, though.


The two jasminums together. I can't recall the scientific names off the top of my head, and they are outside, so...


While we are talking about plants, lots of flowers are sprouting up on my tomatoes! Perhaps soon I will have salsa. Will I be able to eat my plant babies, though? Only time will tell.


And, just because I want to link to Clark and Angie's wedding photos, here is Heather and I, immortalized forever. I'm the one not showing any teeth (imagine that). And she's right next to me!

Thanks, Heather. These plants are the best surprise.

more unknitting

Rachel took me to this rad clothing swap a few weekends ago. I scored four sweaters and got right to work unravelling them. The first was this sweet lavender cashmere score, and the second was a periwinkle silk - both size large! Oh yeah.


The cashmere sweater took about two full days to unravel, plus some time to reskein it for dyeing. It's really cathartic.






After all that was done, it went into a pot to soak overnight, by which I mean all weekend while I was in Seattle.


I used some red and purple to enhance the original lavender, hoping for a plum/wine color. I think I achieved that.


Here's the comparison shot. I didn't use any blue, at all, but there seem to be hints of it in the finished product.


Perhaps it just seems more blue next to the red and purple? It's a really interesting effect. I don't like purple, but I like this color combo.



I have three skeins, all 2 oz apiece of ultra-soft, super lightweight lace cashmere. $20 on etsy! Kind of a steal, if you compare it to virgin cashmere. And, it's all recycled and sustainable! Double bonus, I did not use any slave labor in unravelling. Unless you count myself. I'm a slave to yarn.


Blurry. But at least I'm not making a stupid face?

Now, the silk sweater is the real excitement here. I've never found a 100% silk sweater before. It's a strong fiber, and didn't break at all during the unravelling process. I was so impressed with it.


(Well, I wasn't impressed with the sweater itself...just the fiber.)


It came apart so easily. It still probably took about two days, mostly due to the amount of fiber. I got nearly a whole pound of yarn from this beast!


I was able to unravel while reading (A Feast for Crows, in case you were wondering, in anticipation of the upcoming release of A Dance with Dragons!)


The color is off on my phone camera. I swear, it's periwinkle!


Here's a more accurate representation of the color.


So this got thrown in a pot to soak, too. Although I had some trouble with this one. I didn't soak it long enough, and I didn't use enough vinegar (not by a long shot) so the first dye just washed right out. And when I say "right out," I mean it took three days to get all the color out. Oh, silk, you are so finicky.


Comparison shot. There is not a whole lot of difference between the original color and the dyed yarn, but I enhanced the blue a little bit, and it has some purple/white shimmer in places.


It's heavenly. Smooth, soft, cool to the touch. I think the color complements this nicely.


The best part is, it's two-ply! So it's all doubly thick! (Sadly, it's not plied, so it's more comparable to holding the yarn double.)

This stuff is rad. I'm going to be sad to part with it. I have two 4 oz skeins and one 3 oz skein - $30 and $22, respectively. All the same dye lot. But you shouldn't need all three to make something awesome.

yarn-loving internet users, get ready

Drying in my shower currently I have something like 2 pounds (dry weight) of yarn.





It's been a productive day.

never go hungry in portland again

I have been requested to share this Google document full of delicious food options. The internets, you are welcome.

morgan-sitting

My friends Temifer (that's Temo and Jennifer, combined) allowed me the privilege of "baby-sitting" last week. Morgan is 12, almost as tall as me, and super rad. My payment was pork shoulder, courtesy of the best chef I know, and dessert from Papa Haydn's. And I got to do crafts with Morgan and her friend Charlotte. (Jennifer knows the way to my heart.)

Morgan is living the life we all want to: a non-traditional education composed of things she is interested in, and very talented at, such as drawing, knitting, painting, etc.


(Disclaimer: I don't normally like or get along with kids at all, so this was pretty much my first kid-watching experience. I think I did a pretty good job. Standing on Geoff is a normal and safe kid thing to do, right?)




I brought over a bunch of Wilton's cake food colorings, and Morgan and Charlotte went nuts dyeing yarn.


Charlotte made this beautiful concoction - but sadly, the yarn was acrylic, and the dye didn't hold. All I have to commemorate it is this picture.




We rolled the yarn up in Saran Wrap like sushis, and steamed it for some amount of time.




They reenacted some stunts they saw on Cirque du Soleil videos. Again, totally safe, right?


Morgan is very good at drawing with her feet.


While the yarn steamed, everyone huddled around Geoff's computer to watch him play Terrarium (nerd cred!).


And here is Morgan's final result. I don't think she ever actually put pink dye in this yarn. The magic of dyeing! I am really impressed by it.

In conclusion, I think I am pretty much the best Morgan-sitter ever.