6.22.2011

BBQ Pizza

We made a pizza!

We made it with the recipe we found here!

We added ("Gaby, what did we add!?") spices and fresh basil!

It was pretty good! (We used too much BBQ sauce, if such a thing exists. Be wary.)

We also drank beer! We found it here.

I had the California common. Gaby had the weizenbock. They were great! I think I'll have another...

6.21.2011

Super Duper Knitting Adventure Blanket! Part 2.

While Anders was busy writing a witty reflection concerning his mixed berry yogurt exploits, I knitted an ENTIRE SQUARE.  HA!  Okay, well maybe not an entire square...but I do have a new square to present! Also featuring a kitten. 


I think that you, Caroline, would be partial to this one as well.  :)





Here's the pattern - 


Color code:


     A: Pink 
     B: Maroon
     C: Green


Cast on 40 (or multiple of 10)


For the top and bottom Border:


     knit rows 1-3.
     purl row 4...


Start the geometric pattern on a right-side (knitted) row.  On each wrong-side (purled) row, repeat the pattern of the previous row in reverse (so the colors line up).

  1. k5B, k1A, k3Bk1A
  2. k1B, k3Ak1B, k5A
  3. k1Bk3A, k6B
  4. k1Bk3Ak1Bk3A
  5. k5Bk1A, k3Ck1A
  6. k6Ak3Ck1A
  7. k5Ck1Ak3Ck1A
  8. k1Ck3B, k1Ck3A
  9. k1Ck3Bk6C
  10. k1Ck3Bk1Ck3A
  11. k5Ck1Ak3Ck1A
  12. k3Ak3Ck1A
  13. k5Bk1Ak3Ck1A
  14. k1Bk3Ak1Bk3A
  15. k1Bk3Ak6B
  16. k1Bk3Ak1Bk3A
  17. k5Bk1Ak3Bk1A
Repeat the border (purl/knit) rows in reverse.  

Live Blogging Foods with Anders - Vol. 1

You come for pictures of the garden, you stay for Live Blogging Foods with Anders. In this section of WLGYLS, I will be taste-testing a new food, and describing that experience to you in real time.

Today's review comes courtesy of the good people at Yoplait. Now, I am not a Yoplait connoisseur. I'm your standard, every day Blueberry, Strawberry, and French Vanilla kind of guy. I buy them in bulk(!) and devour them the same way.

However, on a recent evening, I was met with a conundrum of sorts. We were running out of key ingredients for my weekly lunch, which needed immediate resolution. So, at the risk of running askew tradition, I stopped by my local grocer for the items in need. One of which, of course, was yogurt.

What I saw there astounded me. The fine people of Yoplait in fact make a variety of yogurt flavors! Like a sign from the heavens, I was dropped into a world of plentiful flavors. This regular old vanilla ice cream guy was going to expand his horizons -- maybe to vanilla ice cream with sprinkles! I tossed a few into my carriage and skipped down the aisle. And a recurring blog post was born.

So, without further adieu, Yoplait Original Mixed Berry Yogurt!

First: I have lifted the lid and a bit of yogurt has nested upon my thumb. A quick taste. Inconclusive.

Now for the full lick of the yogurt lid. Looking behind me, nobody watching. OKAY! Now we're talking. I am really tasting a mix of berries here, people.

A spoonful: Eh. It's fine. I mean, it's good. It's fine-good. Like, if they made a bulk(!) variety pack including Mixed Berry, I would be fine with that. As in, they're all good.

Rapid-fire spoonfuls: I'm starting to wonder, what mix of berries? A quick review of the label tells me: blueberries, raspberries*, strawberries, blackberries*. Okay, I see where you're headed with this.

*Side note: I do not care much for raspberries or blackberries by their lonesome. I feel like this is their moment to shine for me.

Last spoonful: A criticism -- lacking in the real fruit bits department. Caught myself a blueberry towards the end here, which is a nice treat. I feel like my bulk(!) yogurts are just a little bit fruitier.

Conclusion: It's fine-good. I would eat this yogurt again. (Unlikely. Unless they start including it in the bulk(!) pack.)

6.14.2011

Tea Corner

I just want it on record that this counter-space saver idea was allllll Anders. 

And also its ridiculously cool and I want ya'll to see it.  La and Lisa - Recognize those teapots? :)



Super Duper Knitting Adventure Blanket!





Hey guys!!


When I got sick, I got the idea of knitting a big cozy wool blanket - but not just any wool blanket!  I'm going to knit lots of 10-ish inch squares with all different kinds of knitting stitches, cables, patterns, and color-work.  So far it has been really fun.  Ten inch squares are just big enough to learn a new pattern or stitch and then start to get bored with it so it's working out really nicely. :)


I'm knitting with a few basic rules -


My current Paton's stash :)


>  I've only been using Paton's classic wool
>  I always use size 8 needles
>  and I always start with as close to 40 stitches as possible (never more than 40 stitches).


The size of the squares varies with each pattern, but I think it'll only add to the awesomeness of the blanket.  Also, once the squares are ready to put together I'll probably block them to get them closer in size.


Here are some pictures and patterns for what I've done so far!  If any of you guys want to do a square or two that'd be awesome (and it would add more awesomeness value to the blanket when its done <3 MOM - Don't even pretend like you don't have a 30 gallon size plastic container full of Patons Wool, hehehe).


Simple Basket Weave









annnnnnnd (drumroll!) here's the block I'm working on right now - 

It's a really pretty textured small blocks stitch that I got from my awesome "essential stitch collection" knitting book:



 I'm having sooo much fun with this you guys!  Stay tuned for updates! :-)