…open it!!!!!

I received a soft smooshy package in the mail today:  Opal sock yarn from Lynne.  Last week she had a contest and I won this skein of Opal sock yarn.

Now to find the right pattern…

I will probably have to knit it up and see what a swatch looks like before I decide what to do with it.

Tammy is hosting a cookie recipe swap and I have decided to participate. 

These are my favorite cookies of all time.  It took me a couple of years to develop and perfect my super secret cookie recipe, and I have never given it out before.  Bon Apetit! 

WARNING:  You cannot eat just one of these, so baker beware!

Heather’s Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies 

¾ c. butter, softened.
2 c. brown sugar
1 banana
1 egg
½ tsp vanilla
1 c. white flour
1 c. wheat flour
1 c. Quaker old fashioned oats
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ginger
½ tsp salt
1 c. semi sweet chips
1 c. pecans

Cream butter and sugar.  Add banana, egg, and vanilla. Blend well.  In a separate bowl, mix flour, oats, baking powder, ginger, and salt.  Then add to creamed mixture.  Add chips and pecans.

Drop by rounded tablespoon (I prefer Pampered Chef’s medium scoop – you get consistent and perfect cookies with no messy fingers) onto baking stone (preferred) or greased cookie sheet.  Bake at 350 for 10-12 min.  Cool on wire rack.  Makes 4 dozen.
 

Both Pink and I were celebrating finished projects last night.  We got together for our customary Thursday night Knit Night, which always includes knitting, conversation, and – of course – Starbucks coffee. 

Pink modeled her finished Icarus shawl from the current issue of Interweave Knits.  It is finished, but not yet blocked.  I think that color of blue is lovely on her – it really brings out her eyes.  She knitted it out of Kid Merino by Crystal Palace.  It is a great yarn to knit with (but horrible to frog) and very warm for the weight. 

I finally finished my Ugly Socks.  I do not plan on ever making another pair of ugly socks again.  I had to make myself finish them.  They were knitted out of Trekking (which I would not use again because it irks me when the color striping does not match on both socks) in a red/green colorway.  I liked the blend of colors in the skein, but they are rather garish in the socks.  Oh well…live and learn!  I have a very warm pair of socks to wear during the Christmas season.  I still really want to make the Ebossed Leaves Socks from the winter 2005 Interweave.  Now I just need some solid colored sock yarn…

The next pair of socks I plan to make is a pair of these footy socks that Camille made (scroll down to her August 31, 2005 post).  My sister bought me some Knit Picks Gossamer in Caribbean, and I think it would make a lovely pair of footies. 

I had not posted any knitting progress in a while, so here is a little progress report. 

I finished my Flapper Cloche and took a pic of Pink wearing it, but the picture did not turn out very well.  (Pink did not like it.)  Well, that was about ten days ago, and I still do not have a new pic so the old one will have to suffice.  I wore it to the Mad Hatter Tea Party and even won a prize for it!

My “sneak peek” project is nearing completion, all that is left is finishing.  I have to seem it up, add the lining and handle, and then it will be finished.  When finished, it will be this chic little bag.

And my ugly sock…is still ugly.  I am almost finished, I just have to finish the instep and toe. 

And since laugter is the best medicine, be sure to visit Mrs. Blythe’s site for your daily dose. 

I have to take this opportunity to thank Lynne for the contest that she offered and for her generosity.  She took a picture of a chair full of yarn and asked for guesses on how many skeins.  I actually won with a guess of 30 skeins.  (I have never won anything before, so I am amazed.)  The prize was a skein of pink Opal sock yarn.  Now I just have to find the right pattern for it…lol.