Monday, October 02, 2006

Outdoor Blogging-October Edition

My freezer is filled with broth, I have squash to roast, and it's...a high of 80 degrees today. But after our cool September, a few warm days are welcome, and the cats and I are soaking up some sunshine out on the porch. Some of the trees are starting to turn colors.

I recently acquired a pregnancy pillow (these have great names like Snoogle and Boppy, and even though mine is Boppy brand, we call it a Snoogle, because, well, it's a fun name), and discovered that the cats love it as a napping spot when I leave it under the covers during the day. (This prompts entertaining comments like, "Mirando's snuggling with the Snoogle!") Sometimes, there will be one cat on each side of the Snoogle. There haven't been kitty pictures in a while, so here you go. Kitties snoogling.


Knitting: I should finish the Softwist scarf today. Michelle, Softwist is 5 stitches to the inch. I also have another gift scarf figured out, using Lorna's Laces Heaven in Watercolors, which I think will be very pretty. I've added another two scarves to my "gift" list. I have also decided I'm ditching Christmas knitting this year, and I'm so much happier. I just don't have time, and I want to use my knitting time mostly on Butterbean projects. This means I may actually have to go (gasp) shopping this year, or maybe people will get Christmas cookies/candy. Hmmm...there's an idea....

Reading: Hard Eight by Janet Evanovich. This is not my favorite Plum book, but it's totally justified by the hilarious attack-goose scene, which makes me laugh so hard my husband thinks I'm choking. I've also been reading Harry Potter book 1 out loud to Butterbean. It's hard to say if she likes it or not. I wait until she's awake and then read for a while, and she usually moves around the whole time.

Writing: Chapter 7...non-boring edition...starting today.

Cooking: We had kind of a lot of food in the apartment over the weekend, so I didn't really cook anything interesting. Plus, it's too warm for my soups, stews, and curries I'd had planned. And Matt requested that I not bake anything else until we'd eaten at least some of the scones, biscotti, monkey bars, and bread I've made. He has a point :) I may do some practice Christmas cookies/candy before too long. I have been looking around for recipes, especially cookie recipes I can use in the cookie press I got for Christmas last year. I've talked before about my lack of decorating ability, and it'd be kind of nice to make non-ugly cookies.

6 comments:

Stefaneener said...

I have fantasies of Martha Stewart-esque sugar cookies, of flooding royal icing across a perfect surface. . . my family and friends are getting honey this year. If it ever gets warm enough to extract, that is.

Butterbean is lucky already.

I'm waiting for our warm spell. When you're done with yours, send it along, okay?

Marie said...

Hee...snuggling with the Snoogle...hee! The cats are adorable as usual. :)
It's so neat that Butterbean moves around the whole time you are reading!

YarnThrower said...

I just found out that my LDL level is 40% higher than it should be, and my total cholesterol is 10% over where it should be.....so that puts a bit of a damper on my thoughts for making cute pumpkins with my cookie press -- so much butter in them..... I am just wondering if you might know of where I might look for a cookie press recipe which has less satuated fat in it..... You seem to always know where to look for eating healthier, even when it comes to dessert....

I can't wait to buy your mystery book so that I may have you sign it at the local Barnes & Noble, so I'm glad you're re-working the boring parts :-) It's fun to hear about your progress on the book!

Rain said...

The cats look so content.

I think it's lovely that you're reading to butterbean already.

KnitPastis said...

First, that is such a beautiful color you are knitting the scarf in! I was in a scarf knitting mood and just got finished knitting a scarf as well in Lorna's Sheperd worsted yarn. I am still on this book I started back in the late summer and very eager to get started on Stephanie Plum series book one. I just baked a moist carrot cake. I always look forward to seeing what your menu is for the day and what you are reading!!

Anonymous said...

Good for you for saying no to Christmas knitting! People will appreciate any gesture, and you certainly have a great excuse this year for that gesture to be something other than handmade gifts. Enjoy the Butterbean projects!