Tuesday, December 28, 2010

New Hobby

Look what my folks sent for Christmas. An Ashford Traditional - Double Drive wheel, there are 2 width orifices and 4 bobbins to go with each and a lazy kate. 2 sets of carding combs, a giant niddy-noddy and a whole bunch of fiber. (They said 7 pounds, but the fiber content is an unlabeled mystery). Some of its natural creams to browns, others are dyed in blue, green & yellow. And a couple of books. I've got my work cut out for me in this new hobby, but I'm so excited to get started.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

2010

Yeah, I'm not so good at the blogging. I think really I'm not very good at creating lasting habits, but that's not to say I'm not staying entertained.

Matt Smith brings some new energy into Doctor Who. Then there are Haven, Warehouse 13, Eureka , Psych & Stargate Universe (which has apparently been cancelled) staying on our must watch list whenever possible.

Knitting, of course always knitting, gaming: Minecraft, World of Warcraft and a variety of casual games from BigFish Games)

Or maybe reading. I've just finished listening to the audio-book versions of the Terry Pratchett Discworld series, caught up on the most recent installment of Wheel of Time (a series I discovered by way of my favorite audio-book narrator Kate Reading) carried on by its second author in a nicely written way. I've read 2 1/2 of the 3 Mayfair witches books... so addicted to books lately. Oh, don't forget Thursday Next & Dresden Files are in there too.

Need help building up your print or audio book libraries? Check out Paperback Swap, and Audible . For access to some free classics, you may like LibriVox & Project Gutenberg

This year's we spent a little more time in the theater than usual too. In person watching my old highschool friend Phil Putnam sing. The movies: Despicable Me (oh how I wish I could spend more time with Eunice and the Minions), Harry Potter 7, Rifftrax, Tron (at IMAX 3D) and even Captain EO at Disneyland once again, the theater has been a lot of fun, you tube as well. Have you seen Up and Over It, they're amazing.

This year has also brought some new cooking experiments with new ingredients; playing with dairy alternatives, gluten free and new spices. Aarti Sequeira gave me the inspiration to use cardamom with her Huggy Buggy Bread Pudding & I Ain't Chicken Chicken, that spice is itching for more experiments. Then there was my Thanksgiving truffle experiments... yumm Vegan Truffles, Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Truffles, Chocolate Orange Truffles & my favorite, Sesame Truffles. Oh, and I almost forgot, carrot cake Cake Pops (those were frustrating to make, but still really fun), or my first Challah bread loaves.

I'm hoping for 2011 to bring me just as many new things, continuation of old favorite things,and maybe even some more time with my adorable nieces & nephew who I have spent entirely too little time with in their lives so far.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year to all of my friends and family

See you soon.