Finally- a winner!

One of my new year's resolutions was to cook one new recipe a week, and so far it's going really well. I made a pot roast in the crock pot using the seasoning from James Beard's American Cooking and the process from Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann's Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook- pretty good. I made the Pan Seared Salmon With Avocado Remulade from Elise's Simply Recipes- meh (generally, though, I've had great luck with her recipes in the past....)

But last night I found a real winner- the Snapper with Zucchini and Toasty Garlic mojo from Rick Bayless' Mexican Everyday. It was fast, easy, flavorful, and deeeeeelish. Makes me want to try a bunch more recipes out of this cookbook!

Bananahead Hat- my new go-to baby pattern!

I am so smitten with this little hat! (Pattern: the Bananahead Baby hat (Ravlery link and PDF Pattern link)



A well written, cute little baby pattern. Yay!

Well, It's Official!

I started my first ever attorney job this week. I love it. It is overwhelming. I have great colleages, an awesome assistant, my own office with windows, and three cases that I will probably refer to (and think of for the rest of my professional life) as my babies. It's good.

I am really glad I have worked for 4 law firms, though. Helps me breathe as I feel like an idiot, because I understand that I am a new attorney- they know I'm a new attorney- and they don't expect me to know much. I know that the new job jitters come with each new position and will pass soon enough. And I know, without a doubt, that law is what I'm meant to do. I'm glad I'm not in private practice, because the people are friendlier, the hours are better, and we get 17 (SEVENTEEN!) paid state holidays a year. All in all, I think this is going to be really, really good.

So, that's why it has been quiet this week. I did finish the ADORABLE baby hat, and will take a picture on Saturday before I deliver it to the mom-to-be on Saturday night. Not much knitting this week- I've been fried- but as a weekday routine develops, I anticipate getting into a regular habit again. It'll be so nice!!!

A Realization

I just finished listening to this week's podcast from David Reidy, aka Sticks and Sting. It sparked a couple thoughts...

The theme for Show 50 is "We choose"- he referenced JFK's speech about choosing to go to the moon NOT because it is easy but because it is hard. David challenged his readers to return to the challenge of knitting, because accomplishing something difficult is really, really satisfying.

Last Christmas (2006-2007) I got my BUTT kicked by the Frost Flowers and Leaves shawl from "A Gathering of Lace" by Meg Swanson. (Eunny's version is gorgeous, and here's a link to the book photo). I also Eunny's Bayerische socks and got smacked around by them as well. (Maybe the lesson I SHOULD learn is to stay away from Eunny's spectacular but very challenging projects?!?!?!)

I realized, listening to David's podcast, that every project I knit in 2007 was a reaction to that spectacular failure- I knit safe, relatively easy things. No cables, not much lace, just stockinette and simple socks are far as the eye can see.

Maybe it's time to take another stab at the Frost Flowers. I love that thing, and succeeding would feel fantastic. Hmmm....

Farewell, Spin Stash!

I have officially given up on spinning. It's not that I didn't enjoy it- I did - it's just that I would rather spend my time knitting. So, through the marvel that is Ravelry, I found a local gal who was interested in buying all my spin stuff. I think she got a smoking deal (at the price I suggested!), and I hope she enjoys it! This lucky lady got my Jim Hockett Mesquite wood bottom whorl drop spindle, my Maggie mid-whorl spindle, my 80/20 llama/tussah silk blend roving, my crayola wool roving, my red with sparkles batt, a bag of red Colorado corriedale roving, and two books on spindle spinning for the low low price of $25. (Each of the spindles cost that....) And I am so glad to have that much more room in my yarn chest!

Mmmm. Silk makes EVERYTHING better.

I'm behind on baby knitting (is 2008 going to be one of THOSE years where everyone I know pops out progeny?) which resulted in a bout of baby startitis last night.

Ravelry introduced me to the Bananahead Baby hat pattern (Ravlery link and PDF Pattern link), which is adorable. I cast on using Debbie Bliss Cathay, that delicious 50 cotton/35 viscose microfiber/15 silk blend. LOVE THIS STUFF. Alas, I do not love the color- mommy requested purple (not plum, not lavender, not anything good, just plain old grape juice purple). But man, does this stuff feel good in the hands. The baby shower was Saturday- doh! Fortunately, the hat is going really fast.

A childhood friend of Mr. C's is also expecting her first child in March. He picked out Berocco Plush in yellow and orange for a cuddly baby blanket for her. I started that one last night, too.

I now have 6 projects on the needles- it has been a LONG time since I've had more than 2 or 3.... Here's hoping I don't get too distracted!

(Midnight) Sunrise Circle

I have finally experienced complete sweater success- I love my Sunrise Circle!



Pattern: Sunrise Circle by Kate Gilbert, Interweave Knits Spring 2006
Needles: Addi Turbo size 8
Yarn: Cascade 220, 6.5 balls, in Jet (charcoal gray)



While it is a little larger than I intended, it works perfectly as a jacket. Love it!

I've even had people say "I love your sweater" without then saying "Did you make it?"

Success!

A Very Happy New Year Indeed

2007 was quite a year- it included:
1. A new job for Mr. C.
2. Knee surgery for Mr. C.
3. Our wedding.
4. The end of law school.
5. A honemoon in Tahiti.
6. A move to Austin.
7. Studying for, taking, and passing the Texas Bar Exam.
8. Getting stung by a sting ray (not on the honeymoon....)
9. Adjusting to married life.
10. A trip to New York.
11. A trip to Florida.
12. Two trips to New Mexico.
13. Two trips to Arkansas.
14. A new job for ME!

Yes, I found out on December 20 that I will have gainful employment as an attorney in 2008. I start January 14- woohoo!

While 2007 was really amazing, it was also exhausting and brought a ton of changes for me individually and for us as a couple.

I hope 2008 will be a year of routine- settling into a daily routine with Mr. C, settling into a daily routine at work, getting back into the eating reasonably/working out regularly/reading more habits.

I haven't really fleshed out resolutions this year- I have more general goals, which include:
1. Getting healthy- eating lower fat/lower refined sugars, exercising 3 times per week for at least 45 minutes each time, drinking 8 glasses of water each day.
2. Cooking more- making one new recipe per week, cooking from at least 26 of my cookbooks this year (I have a massive cookbook collection).
3. Reading at least 6 fiction books- it was easy to skip this in law school, but I love to read and want to get back into literature.
4. Posting to the blog at least twice per week.

I hope your New Year's Day was filled with as much gratitude for 2007 and hope for 2008 as mine was- here's to a great new year!