Tickled Pink

This week we received our first order from Green Bean Delivery. What is Green Bean Delivery you ask? From their website:

Green BEAN Delivery connects Midwest food producers with Midwest communities through its year-round home delivery service. Our direct line to organic vegetable producers and local artisans guarantees our members the freshest organic produce and groceries on the market.

They deliver fresh produce and other items to your door! This is the box they delivered in and it kept the produce inside nice and cool until we could put it away.




This is what the ordered consisted of:

1 Each	Apple, Fuji
1 Each	Avocados
1 6 oz.	Blackberries Local
1 Pint	Blueberries
1 1 lb.	Carrots, Baby
1 1 lb.	Green Beans, Local
1 Each	Limes
4 Each	Peaches, Yellow
1 10 oz.	Peas, Snap -
4 Each	Plums, Red,
1 24 oz.	Potatoes, Red Local
1 8 oz.	Spinach, Baby
1 1 lb.	Strawberries

This is a green smoothie that consisted of blackberries, carrots, strawberries and spinach. Yummy!



I love sandwiches but I don't like all the calories that go along with bread. I have found another use for my kale growing in our garden. Kale wraps. This one is ham, cheese, hummus and kale. Yummy!



I finished my first BFF sock. I am tickled pink how cute this sock is.



Poo is getting older and sometimes he just doesn't get his body completely into the liter-box to do his business. A neighbor gave me an idea to use washable rugs under the liter-box. I had recently found a way to use cut up old t-shirt to make knit rugs. I solicited my Facebook friends for stained up t-shirts they wanted to get rid off to make a few rugs. I picked up this monster, size 19 and 47", needle to knit it with. YOZA that is a big needle you have there.



I started cutting up the t-shirts. Here are a couple of the "yarn" balls ready for knitting.

10,000+

I knew it was going to happen soon and I have been very excited about it. I was trying to figure out a way to have a contest for the 10,000 person but I couldn't figure out the logistics of proving they were the ONE! By now you are probably like UGH what is she babbling about now..... My blog has officially had over 10,000 hits. Thank you so much to everyone that has come to my little space and read/commented. I appreciate you all.

I have a Poo update. This week his Pemphigus (read about it here in an earlier blog post) flared up so hubby took him to see his Vet. He is back on some medicine to see if we can knock it back into remission. We are going test his blood sugar daily to make sure he doesn't need an insulin dose change. He is still running around the house and he spent some time out on the patio this morning before it gets to hot. We are hoping he gets better quickly, as has been the case in the past.

This is a photo of the affected skin.



Attention Harry Potter fans you will love this. I went to Knit Knite last night and had a blast. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time. I am pretty sure we were very close to be evicted from Panera. One of the Knit Knite ladies, Ann, knit a Golden Snitch. I am also very jealous of Ann as she is going to Sock Summit next week. I wonder if she is taking the Golden Snitch with her? Maybe she can take me instead?



Here is an update for my 2011 finishing project. This is to be a donation blanket, It is the only project remaining that was started prior to 1/1/11. I better getting knitting. Actually Molly has said to pass it on to her when I am done knitting on it and she will finish it up. I may take her up on the offer.



Here is the progress on the first BFF sock by Cookie A. I need to get cracking and finish these socks.

Poo is still a Rockstar!

Poo's fan club, Ria, Twittered me yesterday asking for a Poo update! Poo is only too happy to oblige. A couple weekends ago we took Mr. Poop, as his loving Vet calls him, on a road trip overnight to my MILs.  Here Poo got behind the wheel while Daddio went into the gas station.





Here is our nephew, Mr. Ham, with Poo. It was their first time meeting each other but you would think they live together. Poo is not shy. If he likes you he will pile up in your lap immediately. Unlike our other villain, Kiki. Poo is doing good. He is still diabetic despite no longer taking steroids. He gets a shot every 12 hours. He has good days and great days. As long is they are good or great we aren't complaining.



I pulled this beauty out of my garden this morning.



I sliced it up and tossed it with a very light coating of olive oil, sea salt and pepper. The slices then went into the dehydrator. I am hoping they will be perfect with some hummus tomorrow evening when I attend Picnic with the Pops with a knitting pal.



Speaking of knitting.... This is a progress shot of my Radian Yoke by Wendy Bernard. The yarn is Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in the mustard colorway. I was aggressive by going down an additional size when I cast this sucker on but I think it might be ok as I just posted to Facebook the following:

Ummm I think I need new jeans because I was just able to pull the ones I have on down without unbuttoning/zipping.

I am so grateful for the loving support of my friends and family (you know who you are). This last year has been difficult but I wouldn't change it for the world and with all of you I was able to get through it. Thank you!

Tip, Watermelon and heart melt.

Do you have a pet? If so, do you notice how they have this way of doing the cutest things? Over the weekend we were out on the patio and Poo piled up for a nap on my foot. Our cats have this uncanny ability to make our hearts melt on a daily basis and I wouldn't trade them for anything. :-)



I subscribe to Rawmazing, which is a whole raw food blog. The other day Rawmazing posted a recipe for Strawberry Watermelon Lemonade. For some reason I had to make it ASAP and make it I did. Let me tell you it was so amazing I have made it a second time. I cut the recipe in half both times since it was just me and my hubby. The first time I used the Agave as directed but the second time I used Truvia because I wanted to cut down on calories. Delicious! If you are interested click on the link above and get blending. I highly recommend.



So as a knitter I am required to repair my hand-knits occasionally. Last year, I think, I created a little box for a small amount of yarn for each of my completed projects. When I finish a project I toss a bit of the yarn in the box so that when I need to repair something I have an exact match.






I do believe I have I identified that I am a sentimentalist. Every time I open this repair box I am fondly reminded of all the various projects each little bundle of yarn is tied too. That makes me very happy.

Kiki Catnip Bed

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

OK here it is.... The Kiki Catnip Bed

I finally got her to hold still long enough to get a picture. It is the best of the bunch I took. She is a wiggly kitty!

2011 Finishing Project - 2/6/11 Update

Here is an update for 2/6/11

Blanket # 2 (2011 Finish # 1) - resurrected this project into a Kiki bed. She is loving it. Pictures soon I promise! 

Swirl Shawl (2011 Finish # 2) - I have decided I am not going to finish this. Not sure if I am going to turn it into some sort of art or frog it.

Nicky Love It (2011 Finish # 3) - this was frogged

Shadow Shoulder Shawl (2011 Finish # 4)

EZ Surprise Jacket (2011 Finish # 5)

Midnight Tea (2011 Finish # 6)

Stonewashed Sport (2011 Finish # 7) - FINISHED prior to 12/31/10

Secret Project (2011 Finish # 8) - FINISHED prior to 12/31/10

Nermal Thermal (2011 Finish # 9)

Square Me Some Simple Reading Knitting (2011 Finish # 10)

Maize Emmaline (2011 Finish # 11) - Most of this has been frogged. Having trouble locating the end, since I wove it in so well, to frog the yoke and shoulders. 

to be a scarf (2011 Finish # 12) - FINISHED prior to 12/31/10

Mittens (2011 finish # 13) - FROGGED

Gary's Beanie (2011 Finish # 14) - FINISHED prior to 12/31/10

Bean Counter's Baudelaire (2011 Finishing # 15) - I am stuck on the foot of the second sock. I am not motivated to finish these at all. 

Secret Project # 2 (2011 Finishing # 16) - This project was finished 1/22/11 :-)

Kiki's Catnip Bed - Finished (Blanket # 2 (2011 Finish # ))

Kiki's Catnip Bed is finished but I have yet to get a good pic of her with it. The ones I took were blurry so I dumped them. Stay tuned!

Nermal Thermal (2011 Finish # 9)

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

I started the Nermal Thermal on January 17, 2010. It is the Thermal pattern, which was published in the Knitting Winter 2006 issue.

I give anyone knitting kudos that finish this project. Yesterday while working on this I decided to estimate the number of stitches I had knit to that point. I estimated it was around 65,000 ~ let me say that again ~ SIXTY FIVE THOUSAND stitches. OMG That was only to somewhere in the button placket rows. I still have the shoulders/neck and sleeves to knit. Oy vey

In all honesty I am very excited again about this project. I can't wait to wear it. I think I may be almost monogamous with it until it is done. Well I want to finish Kiki's kitty bed this weekend. Did I tell you I am going to sprinkle my homegrown catnip inside with the fiber fill? I am evil like that......

Kiki bed?

So the other day while "tossing" my stash this project saw the light. I stepped away for a few minutes and when I came back I found Kiki burrowed into the fabric. She was making a sweet cooing noise too. It got me thinking perhaps I could resurrect this project into a squishy kitty bed.

I have some negative feelings towards this project. I knit it while on Federal Jury Duty a couple summers ago. We returned a guilty verdict in the murder trial and I can't help but think about that time when I look at this project.

As as side note the judge sentenced him, a 29 year old, to 40 years in federal prison. We were told that in the federal system there isn't parole. He will be 69 years old when he is free again. 

Conquering Intimidation!

My husband surprised me with a Nikon Colorpix 7000 for Christmas. Quite honestly I have been scared it. I would take it out of the case, take a couple pictures and put it away, which isn't how I normally roll. I take pictures of everything.  

I had some serious intimidation going on with this camera. I am glad he didn't purchase the full on SLR because I might have broken out in hives or something. 

A couple weeks ago I met up with a friend at Barnes and Noble. While there I purchased Digital Photography For Dummies. I have been reading a few pages a day and I think it's slowly sinking in. 

Confession: I didn't have the guts to show my friend the book because I was feeling very dumb . She takes awesome pictures with her SLR camera.  

 This past week I decided to embrace my inner child and let myself enjoy the process of taking photos and learning. This morning I took this picture.  Its of a tomato plant growing in my Aerogarden.  I love the detail of the tiny fibers on the leaves and branches. Yep that is a baby tomato growing there too.

Yesterday was craft area clean-up day. Poo and Kiki love when Mommy plays in her stash. Kiki liked the bowl from Global Gallery where I keep various yarn balls/hanks acquired until they are incorporated into stash. 

Its pretty rare to be empty and she didn't miss a beat to fill it with her sexy self. Poo on the other hand had fun making a bed out of the 9+ hanks of Tahki Donegal Tweed. The two ball/hank of red were left over from my Sonya's Susie Hoodie. The other 7 hanks were a gift from a friend. I am searching out a pattern for a sweater to use these 9 ball/hanks. 

This yarn is amazing!

Mitts Finished!

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

Woohoo! I finished my mitts. Poo approves of them. :-)


Pattern: iPhone Mitts by Julie Ridl
Needle: US 2 - 2.75 mm
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Sock
How much?: (Approx) 0.33 skeins = 145.2 yards (132.8m)
Colorway: Lettuce
Purchased at: The Yarn Shop in Columbus, Ohio

Poo says "meeeeeoooooow" Dr. Chanan

Krazy Kiki

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

I had just taken a vest off the blocking mat and stepped out of the studio to hang it up. I found Kiki up on the blocking mat rolling and rolling and rolling. Today was one of those days I wish I had the iPhone G3S so that I could have video recorded her rather than just taking her picture. That kitty cat is LOCO!

P.S. I am glad I put the pins away intp the little red heart box because I actually considered leaving them to clean up later.

Poo and Hedgie.....

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

I can't stand how cute this picture is!

Finishing Christmas Gifts Knit-Together

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

Heather hosted a little knitting get together on Saturday. She had asked me to help her finish a hedgehog she was knitting for her niece and I had another I was working on too.

Kristie and Heather knitting away on Christmas gifts.

Even Heather's kitty Squeak modeled Duchesses Calorimetry.

    

Joanne was quite festive with her Christmas hat.

By the end of the evening both Heather and I had the knitting finished on our hedgies. We had great food, Christmas music and wonderful conversation. Thank you Heather for opening your home to us. I had a GREAT time!

Santa has been busy.....

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

Making catnip toys!

An evening of gross

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

Ever wonder what trace germs are on the money in your pocket or in your hand? I had this $5 bill in my pocket this evening and it took a nose dive into the toilet. I was left with the decision to flush it or pull it out. Well I went after it. I proceeded to scrub the bill along with my hands. I still feel like I need to have a scalding shower though.

Later when I arrived home I discovered my angel kitty Kiki puked on our kitchen table. Now you will never, well 99.9% of the time, never see her on any of our counters/tables. She only does this when we are not home but normally there isn't proof. Today she left proof. I know it was her because of the black fur ball tucked nicely into the puke (see the upper portion of the pile).

Why am I sharing this with you? Well in the name of transparency I don't want you to feel left out! Hey I have to share this crap with someone so why not you?

Waist Shape Done

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

Poo is just as excited as I am to be finished with the waist shaping. :-)

Let me in Daddio.....

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Originally uploaded by bean counting knitter

I received this picture from Jimmy today. He is in a training class behind closed doors in his home office this week. This is a picture of Poo trying to scratch (without claws) into his office from outside. How frigging cute is that?

Poo says, "Oh Darn"!

Darning socks again......