Knit Postings

I do feel I have been lax in posting knitted objects. Part of the reason has been my photography. I recently started using Jim's camera and I must say it takes excellent pictures. I am totally amazed how cameras have evolved!!

This is my Dressage Vest from Sublime using Malabrigo worsted. I got the yarn at Shabby Sheep in Dallas before moving to California and the vest has been done for a while I just have never put it on and had someone to photograph it. It's very cute.

Pyromania

I think my husband had become a pyromaniac. And I don't think it's eco friendly.

On a Happier Note

Jim and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary today, so I cooked. We started with some boiled shrimp and a spicy cocktail sauce, the recipe from the Barefoot Contessa. For the toast we shared a bottle of Mumm DMV 2001 champagne. We followed with a Caesar salad. The entree was grilled salmon with a crispy risotto cake in a Cabernet sauvignon sauce. I got that recipe from a new cookbook I got in Napa the other week entitled "Decanting Napa Valley - The Cookbook". To drink with our dinner we had a 1999 Napa Valley Silver Oak. While tasty it was not off the charts.

The greatest thing being married to Jim is the fact I can be me. He is a wonderful man and I love him with all my heart!! I hope to drive him crazy for many more years to come.

Rain

Today marks the 10th day of consecutive rain in "sunny" California. The record is 16 days. I do realize that California has been in a drought situation for many years but do the water levels need to be increased all at once? It is really hard for me and Jake to go walking. Yes I know that is not more important then the economy of California but we do need our exercise. I did try today and just after we left the house it started sprinkling. We walked for about 10 minutes hoping it would clear up and it didn't so we headed home. I don't mind a little wet but I was starting to get cold from being wet. We'll try again tomorrow.
To top off this wonderful weather it was announced on the news that yesterday was considered the most depressing day of the year. No details were given as to why. The upside is that the last Friday in June is the least depressing, so we all have something to look forward to.

Napa

Jim and I headed out to Napa today to meet up with his niece Leslie and her friend Lindsay from Washington. This is a group picture of us at Crocker & Starr. Myself, Jim, Leslie and Lindsay.

We started out our morning at Crocker & Starr which is a wonderful "boutique" winery. Only in the valley do you start drinking at 10:00 a.m. We had a wonderful tasting with Wendy of a 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, 2007 Cabernet Franc and a 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon. We do drink a lot of Cab at our home but I really did like the Sauvignon Blanc. It had a wonderful body and I would highly recommend it. Next we were on to Chapellet.

We got there a few minutes late as we had a hard time finding them. Chappellet is very much in to word of mouth and not a lot of signage. They believe in being a part of nature and avoid chemical pesticides. They have recently installed solar panels to take care of the winery's electrical needs. The tour by Daniel Santos was great and we are now a member of their wine club.

We then met up with Matt, one of the 4 brothers of Buonchristiani. This is our second visit to their "cave". The first time we were their we had brother Erin. The cave, above, is still under construction but they hope it to be finished by the end of the year. Their wines are awesome and Robert Parker tends to agree.

We had a wonderful day!!

Kumo Stole

I am not a happy camper. I have been test knitting the Kumo Stole for Krystofer Dixon http:/queerknits.blogspot.com/2009/12/kumo-stole.html since Christmas and was almost 75% done when I happened to notice that the first part of my stole looked faded. I am using two skeins of Schaefer Anne in the colorway Michelle. The skeins came in to the shop in the same order at the same time and I bought them with the intent to make a shawl. Unfortunately the skein I started with on the right is not knitting up the same as the one on the left. I did however want to see the effect of the pattern once I dropped the stitches between the cables and I do think it will make an awesome stole. Just not with these two skeins.

Yep, it's getting frogged. I looked at it all afternoon and couldn't get over the color difference.

Knit PIcks

So who out there put me on their mailing list since I sure didn't ask to be included. I tried to take my name off online but that would mean giving them my email address. More information then I think they need. I will wait until tomorrow when their customer service line is open to get myself removed. I will keep you posted!!

Resolution vs. Plan

According to Webster's dictionary a resolution is a resolve or determination: to make a firm resolution to do something. A plan is a detailed program . I do think there is a fine line between them. I, being the person I am, do not make New Year's resolutions. Instead I have made a knitting plan. I have in the garage and in the house several UFOs. I also have in those various and sundry places projects to start so the plan is....for every new project I start I must in turn finish a UFO. Sounds like a plausible plan to me. Let's see what happens.