curious yellow

While our friend Alec was visiting from Brooklyn, he asked me to knit him the same hat I had knit for Brian earlier this fall. Brian's hat was a test, and came out kind of wonky, so I was quite surprised Alec wanted one too. I worked on the pattern and although it is almost identical, I upgraded the yarn to a 100% Peruvian wool. 

The great thing about this hat is that it stretches to fit small and giant heads alike. Which is important since Brian and I are giant headed people.

Special thanks to Clinton for modeling and Alec for this photo :)

captured

Moments like these melt hearts.

first loaf

I've been reading The Kind Diet and really enjoying the idea of exploring a vegan lifestyle. I've been off pork and red meat for four years now, and decided to give up poultry for the new year. I can't call myself a vegetarian just yet, because I'm still consuming seafood, which will be the last and most difficult hurdle to overcome, but I'm taking baby steps to get there. As I read The Kind Diet, it's shifting my thoughts towards food and weening me away from processed foods as well.

One type of processed food I find particularly upsetting is bread. Brian and I both enjoy our share of peanut butter sandwiches and bahn mi, and after reading the ingredients for something as simple as a hoagie roll, it was quite discerning. So last night, I finally took my hand at bread making, something I've shied away from due to the complexities with baking at higher altitudes. Any how, with the combination of several recipes, I baked an 'artisan' bread using just four ingredients, all vegan.

Brian and I ripped through the bread, enjoying it fresh from the oven. It was surprisingly delicious: crispy on the outside and chewy inside. I couldn't be more pleased with the results and am excited to start exploring other types of breads, particularly raisin cinnamon varieties.

happy 2012

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday week! I spent a majority of the holiday teaching my mom how to knit socks, eating with family, and visiting with friends. I also managed to finish up this pair of wool socks. So much sock making this year, I'm ready to obsess over something new.

hello happy

On Monday morning my mom adopted this cutie, Happy. She came from a small litter of teacup Chihuahuas my mom's friend had. I always encourage people to adopt from shelters, and so I gave my mom a quick lecture on how difficult it is to raise a puppy and that it would have been a more sound decision if she had adopted a mature dog. But minutes later that was all out the window as I immediately fell in love with little Happy. She is so darling and such a great little puppy. Her first day was hard, lots of crying and separation anxiety. I held her all day Monday, Tuesday and knowing my mom would have a busy day today, I brought her home with me. We have really bonded which means I may have to keep her for myself!

I love her to pieces and enjoy caring for her. Kaly seems to like her as well, and is incredibly gentle as they play and lay together.

morning doughnuts

Woke up bright and early to take Kaly for a short stroll and to make old fashioned doughnuts for breakfast. Hope everyone has a pleasant weekend!

project bag

One of the fun things about returning to mom and dad's house after years of living on your own, is finding your stash of left behinds. I found bags filled with fabrics I had purchased three-plus years ago. It was like shopping what was already mine, bliss.

However, my tastes have changed, and all those Amy Butler fabrics I once spent wads of money on, are now just folded up remnants of past failed sewing attempts. I was into some pretty kitschy things back then.

I haven't sewn in years, at least two. But I lugged all my fabric back home with me and decided today I would sew something using this basic tutorial, and that's what I did. A project bag. For all those times I have tossed knitting projects into my purse, allowing them to get tangled with keys, lip glosses, and coins. No more dismantled rows; I now have something to transport them in.

I'm pretty proud of this zipper installation. I'm not an experienced seamstress.