Go Dogs Beat GT

Ok one more post. I finished something, although it wasn't the allusive sweater:



Bird In Hand Mitten #1, modeled by my lovely fiance. I'm using Cascade 220 in Burgundy and Cream colors.

I finished this while watching my Bulldogs beat the pants off Georgia Tech.

One member of the household was less than enthusiastic.


OK, last post for real. See you in 2008!

Year In Review

This will probably be my last post of 2007, an epic year for the history book that is my life. This year, I:

A) Bought a house
B) Got engaged
C) Traveled to the East Coast for the first time
D) Became a Dog Owner

and last but not least,

E) Roasted an animal over an open fire

I'll remember that last one until the day I die.

These last few days of the year have been quite exciting as well. Want to see what's new in pictures?

You got it. I've been:

Playing with new toys (I feel like I can get married now - I am now the proud owner of a Cherry-Red KitchenAid mixer! My first batch of cookies turned out STELLAR.)


Trying to seat 375+ people at 42 tables. YIKES.


Cutting 4 inches off my hair - First time it's been this short in 9 years!
BEFORE:


AFTER:


AND

ALMOST finishing a sweater that I have been working on for almost TWO YEARS. Lame, I know. I may have to post tomorrow if it's finished. (Sneak peek here, on a typical night @ Persimmon Lane)

Anywho, just in case I don't because Matt and I have too much wine tonight and pass out at 9pm, have a HAPPY and SAFE New Years!

Obligatory Holiday Knitting Post

What an INSANE last few weeks. I swear to god it was just Thanksgiving last weekend (a few outdated shots, if you are interested). There just doesn't seem to be enough time for ANYTHING (HELLO wedding in 34 days!!!!) If you've posted here and I haven't replied, I'm sorry. Can I claim Bridzillaness???

However, a couple Monday mornings a month I head into work 2 hours later than normal, and it's such a lovely, indulgent way to start the week. This morning, I got up, jogged with Katy for about 20 minutes, sipped my coffee slowly instead of guzzling it down, and finished up the button bands on a piece of Holiday knitting I am doing for co-worker. I also took some nice photos that I promptly forgot to upload to flickr. Whoops.

I'm not doing much holiday knitting this year, since I find that gifts that are specifically requested are always much better received than those I decide on. My list this year is:

1. Scarf for a girlfriend braving a Michigan winter. - 100%
2. GO BEARS / GO AGGIES! Hat for dad. - 0%
3. Little Boy Cardi for co-worker. - 90%
4. Citrus-Freeze scarf for future-brother-in-law (so he doesn't freeze while he's out protecting oranges.) - 40%

However, I strategically forgot to bring one of those to work today, so I am back to the 1st sleeve of Thermal. I also started a pair of Bird In Hand Mittens on Saturday (don't ask why... or how... it just happened....), and somehow found a renewed interest in the hibernating A-Line Jacket (OMG, Have I really not touched that since March?!?!). I really don't want that motivation to go away because I will have such a load lifted off my WIP list with that thing FINISHED.

---

All this is fine and dandy since I am on a spending HALT until the wedding, but I have allowed myself one prize for finishing ALL holiday knitting and A-Line:


Flo, by Kim Hargreaves
My head is about to explode over how great that cardigan is. I want it exactly as photographed. I am not even thinking twice about it the minute I cast off that last item.

The Only Thing Left is 2.5 Kids

Internets world, meet our newest family member:



This is Katy. She's a Border Collie / Australian Shepherd Mix Blue Heeler (thanks for the comments!!!). And what a ball of energy! I think we've walked her about 5 miles in the last 36 hours and she's always ready for more!

This is Matt's early Christmas gift (Merry Christmas, babe!) He's been wanting a Dog for ages, and I basically enabled him to bring her home. I've always been a cat person (never actually 'owned' a dog!) but I am warming up to her.



My only condition when Matt picked out a dog was "no desire to eat Viva". So we are working on introducing them. So far they just seem curious of each other, but then again they haven't gotten any farther than peering at each other through a sliding glass door. This should be fun.



Next WIP: a Doggie Sweater.

More Soup

I made another yummy, YUMMY soup tonight:


Smokey Tomato Soup (modified from a recipe I found in Rachel Ray's Magazine)

Chop 1 small white onion and cook in olive oil over med-high heat with 3 cloves smashed garlic and 1 T. Thyme leaves. Chop 1 Chipotle Chili in Adobo sauce and add to onions, along with 2 T. of the Adobo sauce. Stir in 2 cans of whole roasted tomatos (14.5 oz) and 3/4 can of chicken broth (or Veggie broth to make it Vegan) and 1/4 cup white wine. Simmer for 15 minutes, then puree in a blender.

Serve with Guyere Toasts (top sliced sourdough bread with cooking spray and shredded Guyere cheese, then broil until cheese bubbles).

Super-simple, and worthy of serving to guests.

In the meantime, I finished the body of Thermal in between planning and executing Matt's 30th Birthday (here we are practicing for the wedding!) this past weekend and writing like 90 thank you notes from my showers:



I hate it right now, because it makes me look WAY too boobalious, but everyone says the blocking wortks wonders so I am keeping my fingers crossed (also: rockin my favorite BEATLES tee-shirt here)

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas....


Insert witty ending to post here.