I’m just taking a breather between baking post baby shower cookies and re-packing my life in a bag for MONDAY at the desk.

Thought I’d give you a play by play of knitting a tiny elephant:

Happy Sunday!

Have a great week!

I just needed to do some sprints really.

So far this week I’ve been really good about doing SOMETHING for exercise.

I’ve done yoga; I had a dance party with JJ; I’ve walked on the treadmill, I’ve done Pilates and yesterday I did sprints.

Not to mention I’ve stood at my desk a lot this week.

I just stand until my legs ask for a break.

I also stand a lot behind my desk, minus some shoes.

Admiring my stripey sock that make me laugh.

I have absolutely no fashion sense.

Anyways, I did my first  lunchtime  treadmill run/sprint 5K after my late summer break, today.

I sure as heck didn’t lose any speed during my sabbatical.  I’m just as stinking slow as ever but it felt good to jog/runlikeacheeta for the first time in a while.

I ran barefoot too.

The whole time. (except the sprints.)

Yes, it was shoe off/shoe on/off/on/off…you get the idea.

Ridiculous I know but I didn’t think I could handle a fast run in my socks.

I was thrilled I managed the 40 minute run, minus the sprints, barefoot.

My legs may have words with me later but thus far I feel great.

So you can check off my run for the week.

Easy street from here on out: yoga, moving garage sale stuff, more yoga

Something super cool happened today too:

One of our board members was in today (okay all of them were in) but one in particular stopped by my desk, said hello and my shawl caught her eye.

Of course she knows I knit and she even knows I spin yarn and the first question she asked me was if I spun the yarn for it.

I said no but explained how I made it and how I’d finally learned to block, like a blockhead.

We spent a few minutes talking yarn.

She’s probably 30 years my senior.

I actually inspired her to pick knitting back up a handful of years ago and so often she would sneak to my desk and show me something she made.

Talk about bridging a generation gap.

We are talking about an accomplished business woman, and a retired Marine.

We never had anything to talk about except maybe her needing my help with administration type things.

I’ve known this woman since I began my 20+ years at my job.

We never talk about anything other than the usual pleasantries.

But every once in a while she is as in awe of something I did as I am of her years as a business woman and Marine.

Felt good.

YAY for knitting.

Well, I am in some dire need of yoga.

That barefoot running woke up my shins and calves more than I figured at first.

Hope you had a beautiful Saturday.  Ours was SUNNY and WARM.

I was off Monday because Hubs had some medical appointments to attend too.

I was back to work Tuesday.

Than off Wednesday again, because I had already planned to have my usual, here and there, day off to play stay home Mom.

(Explains all the playing, cooking and knitting yesterday).

But I was back at work today.

My head still thinks it’s Monday, or Friday… or Saturday.

I just can’t keep it straight.

Oh well.

There’s worse things, no?

It’s been a yo-yo week for sure, but nice nonetheless.

My Garden View Shawlette is done, just not yet blocked.

Until now.

The most detailed blocking I’ve done thus far in my life involved a towel and me fussing over said piece until it dried.

Mostly scarves and sweaters.

This was the most detailed shawl I’ve made yet and it deserved some mad blocking skillz.

lots a pins....lots and lots of pins

Debbie to the rescue.

I got my blocking 101 lesson today.

and now you know why my co-workers look at me funny while I am on my breaks

Totally rewarding to see the tiniest of details pop after all that work.

It’s not so fun to find you dropped a stitch.

oopsie

It only takes a billion pins and a half a billion push pins, when you run out.

So much fun.

Why I shy away from processes that seem scary is beyond me.

I mean, I shouldn’t  spend hours knitting something elaborate and not show it off!

Right?

(I’m talking to me here in case I sound preachy).

I’ll be sporting my new shawl tomorrow.

Wanna see?

What's with this funky beam of light on my laptop cam?

Hold on… let me clean the lens.

ohhhh, special effects

Okay, okay.  I’m done goofin’.

glug glug...

sorry.

Believe it or not, I don’t drink.

Voila

Well, I thought I’d wait for the self photo instead of the self photo at work with my camera.  I had no idea Mr. Beam of Light was going to pay me a visit.

Here’s Deb’s Shawl

At least you can see her detail in daylight. STUNNING DEB!

You know, it will be the perfect Tuesday/Friday/Sunday shawl!

What the heck day is it anyways?

At least I am eating well.

MMM

Be happy!  It’s almost Friday!

But not before a hearty breakfast.

Before you can build the perfect peach pancake you need the perfect complement of toppings:

Peachy Syrup

If you take a jar of sliced peaches and drain some of the juice, setting it aside, and place it in a warm skillet, let it simmer down.

Add a bunch of cinnamon.  Add some Disaronno.  Add a pat of butter or coconut oil.

Take a few slices of peaches and mush them up and take some of that peach juice and use that as the little bit of sweet in your pancake mix.

Add more cinnamon.

A lot more.

Next, whip up some home made whipped cream.

Cream, vanilla and stevia.

MMMMMMM

Now finish griddling your cakes and layer away.

Make sure you spoon out some of that cinnamon syrup at the bottom of the peaches.

Now it’s raining pretty good.  Perfect tea and socks weather.  Perfect candle weather.

Since it’s a stay home day, I have a pretty big lineup of foods to cook up.

Another batch of Biscottis.

Warm up your coffee so you can make sure these are perfect.

It’s time to stock up on these.  It’s also time to make up some more almond flour.

While these are baking, twice, we’ve still got pinto beans simmering on the stove.

The house smells like heaven.

Savory beans, peaches and cinnamon, and baking almonds.

These are tasty…

and these are tastier still.

Round one of cooking day is over and I am ready for a sit break. Plus dishes need to be done; and I’m full.

Why don’t we cook up some tiny fun?

Okay, enough of the sillies.

One last dish I wanted to try was Paleo Dirty Rice .

I’ve been meaning to sample a faux rice dish with cauliflower.

I over pulsed the peppers and celery in my food processor so it’s not so colorful as it should be…

I’ve been sampling all day.  Happy Tummy.

This was outstanding.  Guy also loved everything I made today so WIN.

VERY FLAVORFUL.

Plus it has the texture of rice so WIN WIN.

Whenever I get a chance to cook ahead I make sure to package it all “Now and Later” style.

I have some in the fridge and some of the freezer.  Maybe now that it’s not triple digits I can replenish my stock of healthy foods for those busy work nights.

I’ve been so down on myself for eating less quality foods some nights.

Probably we’ll bake up some dessert for the boys before the day’s up but I’m hankerin’ for a Starbucks run.

As gross as it is outside I love to feel fresh air on my face.

Yoga is next on my list, as is more knitting on a sweater I’ve put away earlier this summer.

Happy Wednesday Universe.

Here, have a bite!

If you missed it, JJ broke out in  Dance Fever last night.  Go see!

Plus it didn’t hurt that it was cooler.

My recipes to experiment with are stacking up so up first was Lemon Almond Biscotti.

I have been using almond flour almost exclusively for any baking this past month.  I bake a lot less, but when I do, thus far, the almond flour has not disappointed.

after baking the first round

Personally I ADORE a crispy biscotti with my coffee.  I used to buy them quite often but seeing it was an almond biscotti made with almond flour got my attention.

So while my biscotti loaf was cooling I prepped recipe #2…also from Elana’s Pantry; Herb Stuffed Mushrooms.  

Thanks to my last Costco run I had a large package of Crimini mushrooms and another equally large roll of goat cheese calling my name.

I had to make quite a few substitutions here, namely I didn’t have chives, or parsley.  After blending the cheeses and herbs Elana stated the cheese would be tinted green so I added in some spinach, and instead, used thyme and oregano.  Lots of garlic was used and everything else was status quo.

before going into the oven

You can’t tell, but the cheese WAS indeed tinted green!

EASY recipe for sure.

We are having dinner guests in a few weeks (YAY) so unless my guests don’t like mushrooms, I am totally serving these!

It’s 4 pm and I am dying to sip on coffee and try one of my now ready biscotti.

Very dainty, no?

This is a false representation of my usual coffee consumption.  It’s more like a mug with some snarky saying and not on a linen napkin.  But pretty biscottis need pretty cups.

WOW is all I can say.  Crunchy, almond-y, and absolutely NO GLUTEN.  The only sweet in here is a little bit of honey instead of Agave.

Even Guy loved this!  I’ll be making these in bigger batches for sure.

here, enjoy a cup~

JJ was jealous I was hogging up the coffee and pretty tea cups.

MMM, the mushrooms smell good, I better go get them out of the oven now!

Moist and full of flavor!

getting a pic without your teenager digging in optional

Earlier today I enjoyed a leisurely trip to Target to mostly browse.  Do you like to do that?

Almost always trips to stores are in/out and done.  I miss just getting to walk around and looking at make-up or stuff.

I did have a short list and I did need to find a few last things for my baby shower gift for tomorrow.

JJ was very helpful.

He picked a toy bear for the baby…and promptly decided it needed to be named “bird”…or “bwoid”.

Good thing I speak JJ.

I instinctively knew, without the use of a universal translator, what “bwoid”. meant.

My bigger issues was…why, WHY do you need to name the bear….BIRD?

“cause it’s silky on da bottom”.

I couldn’t make this stuff up peeps.

Tiny Alien

Tee hee.

LOVE Teeny Tiny Mochimochi!

TRUST ME.

I’m here…I’m reading and even commenting.

Maybe I’m stuck in some alternate space between reality and non.

Maybe there’s some filter weeding me out.

or

Maybe I am just a big fat comment fail.

xoxoxoxo

he’s not an angry chicken…more like annoyed.

like me.

Tiny Bunny came to see if Annoying Chicken needs a hug.

The whole comment thing may stink but tiny chicknes and bunnies don’t!

xo

She is taller than me; hence she walks faster; hence it was a brisk pace.

Happy.

I stand all morning at my desk and most of the afternoon before I am happy to go grab my lonely chair.

Still getting funny looks.

Legs feel well appreciated.

Pumpkin Smoothies don’t hurt either.

Happy.

Just hit the half-way mark on my Garden View Shawlette I am co-knitting with Deb.

Waywayway adorable.

By the way, here’s a new trick I learned:

When you are ready to change yarn, and if you are lucky enough to be working with a  wool blend you can felt your two ends together and voila…nothing to weave in later.

Abbra Cadabra

Fixicus-Yarnicus

Presto!

HAPPY.

I found this tiny plastic pouch lying around in my der stuff and decided tiny knitting needs a tiny knitting bag to tote things around in it.  As it turns out I have a boat load of  ity bity balls of yarn stashed so I had a lot of colors to choose from.  Most of it is leftover stuff I’ve spun myself or bits of sock yarn and even samples of yarn I’ve accumulated in my travels.

So I pakced this tiny bag with my :

Tiny size 1 dpn (double point needles), scissors, one stitch marker, different colors of yarn and a handful of fluff, black yarn for those adorable eyes and a yarn needle.

Since I had a tiny stocked bag with me today, I whipped up a tiny volcano to blow JJ’s mind away.

Complete with lava.

Complete with sweetness.

Completely Happy.

So let’s see: a lunchtime walk, well fatigued muscles, a new knitting trick, a new tiny pouch and a new tiny toy.

Yup.

Happy

oops

Tiny Saturn got left out.

Sorry.

You see, I’m a knitter.  (der)

I’m a knitter and a Mom.  (doi)

I’m a knitter and a Mom with a young non-toddler who is still a toddler.

Because of blogging I have found so many creative and talented souls like Anna who inspire me to do more than just knit scarves.

I had caught on her blog, last week that Anna from Mochimochi Landwas bringing her exhibit to LA.

So close but too far to squeeze it into our weekend.

I really should make more effort to leave my zip code to meet people I adore!

It wasn’t enough to learn late on Friday that my friend Debbie was actually going to Vogue Knitting.

It wasn’t enough that I made her PROMISE to go find Anna’s exhibit and say hi for me.

I made her promise to gush all over Anna and tell her how bad I wanted to meet her.

That was Friday.

I was dying to get to work this morning, down a cup of coffee…log in and pretend like I was busy working long enough to run to her desk and hear all about it!

But no.

Not only did Debbie drive to LA, and visit Anna’s Exhibit and actually meet her and talk yarn with her and see all her teeny tiny Mochi universe ….

But she brought me a picture.

pictures of pictures aren't the best way to post things I guess

Of her and Anna.  (I’ll just insert my face later).

Could you just die?

I did!

Debbie showed me the amazing AMAZING yarn she found there and I coveted all the sparkly fall colors.

I spent a good portion of the weekend knitting with some equally drool worthy yarn she already gave me Friday.

All of a sudden this was put on my desk.

THIS

Teeny Tiny Mochimochi.

I tried to win it.

I want to buy it.

It’s on my list for sure!

But you know me and my need to be thrifty and principled when it comes to my yarn habit.

THIS book is sitting on my desk and I am caressing it.

I opened the cover, you know just to smell that freshly printed amazing-ness.

And I saw THIS.

THIS THIS THIS

The book was for MOI.

And it’s signed.

I could die!

I could.

Just.

DIE.

I am not going to get any more holiday knitting done now.

Oops.

Thank you Deb.

I have no words at your kindness.

None cuz I’m DEAD!

I showed JJ all the pictures in the book.

Here was his reaction:

He knows what is coming!

JJ needs some knitted planets, and HEY maybe I can create a knitted UARS Satellite like the one we never saw!

Happy  Monday World!

And it was nice almost meeting you Anna!

I am.

Pull up a chair, a napkin and a fork.

Grain Free Cookie Bar

Sorry, I love to start with desserts.

Do you like cake batter?

Cake Batter Truffle?

I made these as a total splurge for me weeks ago, but the Men found them and went GAGA so I may be making more for them.

It is made with a box of vanilla cake mix and almond milk.  Chocolate coating is a must.

Sinful.

Mere hours before my bout with food poisoning we sipped on smoothies.

The last meal....for a week

A lot of this is going around here too

I had stashed a fresh box of this and forgot about it

My Shari treat is double the amazement when I realized months later I’d hidden it for a special day.

raw almonds soaking in water

I keep a small baggie of raw almonds at my desk all the time. Lately I’ve been soaking them for some easier noshing.

When they are done soaking I put them in a dish for nibbling and back into the fridge they go.

A little fresh fruit after lunch keeps my sweet tooth at bay.

Mahi Mahi baking on the grill.  Spinach, mahi, asparagus and marsala wine.

Of course you met my Paleo Bread

this is keeping the bread monster in check

Friday we kicked off Fall with Pumpkin Smoothies at the office.

Full of vitamin A, protein and no sugar.  They put Pumpkin Spice Lattes to shame!

Lunches have been simple.

Huge tomato topped with seaweed salad and a cut up cheese stick.

Best fast food ever!

Talk about drastic change in the weather, today was COLD until late afternoon.

I actually had long pants on too but you get the idea

Did anybody catch a glimpse of the UARS satellite that was supposed to fall to Earth last night?….JOAN?

According to my tracking Nasa App, it passed right over So Cal (but we missed it by minutes), later passed Washington and of course a billion other land masses in it’s path.

We stayed up till admittedly way too late to see it or find out where it finally hit ground or water.  Nasa, or the Government, is claiming they are not sure of it’s location.

Don’t buy it.   NOT for one second.

The Government knows every click of my computer and can see a pimple on my forehead from space but they can’t keep track of a 6 ton bus sized satellite entering the atmosphere?

No wonder the Vulcans haven’t made first contact yet!  Were too stupid.

It was very anticlimactic because JJ was about to go to bed when it was supposed to be in it’s final landing pattern, and I absentmindedly said he could stay up till it crashed.

I have never seen anything so kept under the radar as this.

Kind of like that record breaking rig carrying the retired nuclear power generator from So Cal. to Utah last month.

We are all tired today.

No one more than me JJ.

Next time we will let him miss it so he can have a better night’s sleep.

Twas a good day to relax in the chill air and…

knit leafy fall shawls.

This pretty shawl I am sneaking in between holiday knitting and another baby shower hat I need to crank out.

I’m not myself this weekend.

That’s for sure.

Stinking Nasa.