text:
Saturday, July 21, 2007
A Charmed Life and a contest!
For sharing a traumatic travel story (mine involved a giant pot of honey dripping on hysterical passengers on a bus in Morocco.), Becky sent me two skeins of Koigu:
Before you make any hilarious 'coals to Newcastle remarks', please know that they are two skeins that I actually have never seen, do not own, and adore. Read all of the entries, they are hilarious. Faith should have won in my book, but I'm not complaining!
Speaking of contests, Jen has a fabulous one on her blog and let me just say right now that I am hoping that the third time will be a charm for me, because the prize is unbelievable...greed is so unattractive, isn't it?
In other contest related news, my brother was nominated for an Emmy for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics!!! He wrote a song for MadTv called 'Merry Ex-mas', sung by the très gyno composite Tori McLaughlin. We are all very excited for him, despite the fact that he is threatening to permanently change his name to Emmy® Nominated Bruce McCoy™...
All of this good luck has motivated me to share the love and run a little contest of my own. My project for the Tour de France kal is the très compliqué Nancy Bush Canal du Midi socks and earlier this week, after just not being satisfied with the yarn--Mountain Colors Bearfoot--I frogged the hell out these babies. I restarted the project with the yarn I should've been using all along, my beloved Louet Gems. The stitch definition is so much better with this, I am so happy I bit the bullet on this one. There would have been a point in my knitting life that ripping wouldn't have even been an option. Can I just say how much I hate any mohair content in sock yarn? Blech. In any case, the contest:
Tell me how you are living a charmed (not necessarily knitting) life. How have you been lucky? What recent (not necessarily knitting) decisions have you made that you are happy about?
There will be two prizes for the randomly number generated winners, one will be two French Phildar knitting and crochet mags, the other will be a skein of Mountain Colors Bearfoot. If you're on Ravelry, I'll even let you choose it from my stash. Post your answers here on or before Thursday, and good luck!
60 comments:
- Kirsten said...
That is some pretty good loot! Lucky you! Good luck with the third contest.
I consider myself to live a charmed life because I was raised by two of the nicest people in the world and had the happiest of childhoods. Now as an adult I am charmed because my children, despite being teenagers, still love to spend time with their parents. A recent decision that I am happy about was to let my son go to Spain. He is learning, making new friends and having an experience that he will remember for the rest of his life. - 7/21/07, 10:42 AM
- gradschoolknitter said...
I think that my "charmed" life has come from the fact that my parents taught me to make the decisions that were right for me. In the last two years I have lived in 3 different countries because I choose to follow the path that would be best for me academically, although not always personally. Thus the bf and I have had our ups and downs but he understands that I needed to be in Spain for a year to do research for my MA and have an experience that would get me into my #1 choice for the PhD... and the fact that my #1 choice for the PhD means I'm at least 11 hours (driving) away has been ok for us too. But right now the most recent decision that has let me have a charmed summer is that I came home to live with him. We've never had the chance before to actually live under the same roof and we both knew that it could be wonderful or total disaster... and it has been wonderful. Unfortunately it's going to make it all the more difficult to leave again in a month but if the past 3 years have taught us anything it's that we can do the long distance and still be happy.
- sophanne said...
Charmed life?
I always seem to find the interesting people that I "need" to meet at a given point and the books that I "need" to read when I'm ready. - 7/21/07, 11:18 AM
- sophanne said...
Also please send much hysterical laughter from me to
Emmy® Nominated Bruce McCoy™ - 7/21/07, 11:19 AM
- TopHat said...
My life has an overabundance of charm right now. I get to meet a blog buddy this next Thursday. Also, my brother is coming to visit us for his last 2 days before he leaves to be a missionary for 2 years. After that, on August 16, I'll graduate with my BS in math, and my family is all coming to see me for that. My husband and I will then be celebrating our first wedding anniversary immediately afterwards.
But after all that, the most charmed part of my life is that a couple of weeks ago, my husband and I found out that on or around March 12, we will be expecting our first baby to be born! I've already knit its first baby hat. So exciting! - 7/21/07, 11:37 AM
- Karen said...
Pee on your plate - ha ha ha ha. My non-knitting life is charmed because I have finally figured out "what I want to be when I grow up". I'm deep into my web design classes and loving every minute. My knitting life is charmed because I "inherited" the SAM kal and I'm loving every minute of that too. Gee, I'm one lucky girl. :)
- Janet said...
My life, too, has been charmed. There are so many reasons, but I'll pick just one story to share:
A little less than 5 months ago, I was sitting at home, drinking wine (approximately 3/4 of a bottle, mind you, but I digress). An acquaintance sent me an IM asking what I was doing for my very last ever school Spring Break the following week. I confessed that I was being boring and going to Pittsburgh to apartment hunt. This acquaintance scoffed at my plans, and encouraged me to join he and a mutual acquaintance in Vegas instead. I don't know if it was the wine or serendipity, but I made a decision that night that completely changed my life. I booked a flight to Vegas. On that trip, the mutual acquaintance and I "hit it off" so to speak, and let's just say that not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!
Next month, that mutual acquaintance and my now-boyfriend is moving to Pittsburgh to live with me, and I could not be more in love with him.
I often think back on that night, the 3/4 bottle of wine, and the spur of the moment decision often, and thank heavens for how lucky I am. Truly Charmed? Indeed. - 7/21/07, 12:45 PM
- Heather said...
after growing up all over the world without any family (USAF brat) i now live in my dad's hometown, with 4 generations of family. i have a fabulous husband and 6 kids. we may not have the hitech paycheck we used to have, but we have a happier life.
although i swore i would never move back to california, i am very glad we did. - 7/21/07, 3:07 PM
Good move, your canal du Midi socks looks much better in the louet gems! Lovely winnings btw : )
My life is very charmed. Here's one example, 4-ish years ago my laptop has having monitor issues. The company that made it didn't exist any more. Asking my friends if they new someone who could fix it I found Mike. He fixed my computer and we started dating, its been a love story from there! I'm also lucky (as corny as this sounds) to have my kids. They fill my heart with love and they are a constant amusement! Never a dull moment over here : )
My best recent decision, buying the washer and dryer combo. My water bill is $10 less. And I've been doing more laundry! - 7/21/07, 4:06 PM
- James said...
My boyfriend freaking loves Merry XMas! He knows all of the words and sings it to me often. It's the little things. Tell your brother congratulations and that he has a gigantic fan in Chicago!
- James said...
oh! The contest. I have lived an extremely charmed life. My Father met a fairly violent ending when I was eight. The next few years were very difficult for me as I was an extremely angry, sullen and frankly morbid child. We moved to texas shortly after his death where I met our next door neighbor, Linda. Linda (a knitter btw) taught me that it was okay to have feelings and be different from other kids. She told me that the coolest person I could be was myself, however weird that turned out to be. Linda and my mom are still very close and we see each other several times a year. My mother remarried a few years later to the man I know and love as my Dad. He has been endlessly supportive and loving over the past 12 years. My dad is a conservative methodist but he keeps pictures of his tattooed and blue haired son and son-in-law on his desk. While he may not get my art (hence the weird), he boasts loudly to everyone he knows at work and at church about how his son is going to the #1 grad program in the nation (it helps that I told him that it's the Harvard of art schools.) Also, because he loves me and knows what an awful driver I am, he is taking a week off from work to drive a uhaul from Athens to Chicago. I never would have had such an amazing family or opportunity for my education if I hadn't hit some serious life altering bumps along the way. I am truly blessed. Sorry for the seriously long comment.
- Sonya said...
I love Louet Gems too and big congrats to your brother!
I live a charmed life because I live in an idyllic setting with my best friend/husband. I have hobbies and interests that keep me totally entertained and engaged. My parents are both still living and are wonderful people. It's a simple life, but I'm totally content. Oh, and I have yarn for the Kauni cardigan on the way! - 7/21/07, 8:19 PM
- Heddy said...
Charmed life, eh/ I don't know if it's charmed, but I am pretty darned happy to have found a "love at first sight" husband (never believed in it before I met him), I have a job I really enjoy, my parents, brothers, sister and ina-laws are all healthy & happy and we have beautiful nieces and nephews. I have a husband who understands that the need to "finish the heel of this sock" or knit"Just one more row" far outweighs the need to do housework -- I live a very fortunate life, and consideer myself very lucky to have the life I have.
I love that Merry Ex-Mas, especially the look on the kids' faces. Very nice touch!
Also, I agree that the pattern looks better in the louet. I applaud your courage to pull it out. (I'm still waffling, btw.)
I'm generally not super lucky, though not especially unlucky. But recently I've been dealt a couple of lucky breaks, namely selling my condo last year before the prices flat-lined and fell. If it hadn't been for our move to Holland, we'd still be living in this one bedroom flat driving each other crazy with no end in sight.
And backing up a few more years, I feel very lucky that I met my husband at all. We were both hanging out with people that we'd just met, so weren't in our usual element. He almost didn't go, and I almost brought a friend, which would have made it unlikely that I would have spent so much time with B. It's so amazing that we grew up half a would apart, and are still so compatible. It makes me think of how small the world really is when it comes down to it.
Oh and thanks for mentioning my contest. It sounds like you have a lot of good juju behind you. :) - 7/22/07, 3:17 AM
I consider my life being very, very charmed - due to the fact that I'm able to live it exactly the way I want it. I don't have to work and thus work only on a freelancing basis, doing jobs that are way more fun and hobbies to me than work (editing manuscripts for a publishing company, doing webdesign work) - and thus I have a lot of free time on my hands. This is the ultimate freedom to me, something I've always hoped for but never dreamed of really being able to achieve it. Plus, I've found a wonderful man with whom I've been spending the last 17 years in deep love (he even helps me with all kinds of knitting problems that I'm facing!) - we've decided not to have children but to travel the world instead, and that's what we're doing. Not a lot of responsibilities, but a lot of freedom and adventure - yes, I feel extremely lucky indeed and am very, very grateful for that.
- Kris said...
I'm not sure that most would consider my life charmed. My dh is in medical school and nearly died in November. The recovery has been long and stressful for our entire family.
That said, I feel so fortunate that he gets me. He is truely my compliment. I am a disorganized spaz and he is methodical. I am so lucky to have someone who can tolerate my "free spirit" and doesn't mind that our small home is over run with yarn and fabric and WIP and all of the assorted tools.
Because of the need for a creative outlet, I started a small business(www.shopbagatelle.com) and he is a huge part of its success. While I am a huge chicken when it comes to sales, he pushes me to step outside my comfort zone and to do great things. - 7/22/07, 10:22 AM
- teabird said...
My life has been charmed by so many things - even the antibiotics that were developed in time to save my life as a child, and the fact that I lived so close to medical care. I am charmed to have had the most empathetic and wise grandmother who taught me that heart is at least as important as brains. My mother taught me to knit when I was young, and that has brought comfort, pleasure, friends, and objects to give to my friends!
My best, most recent decision - knitting-wise - has been to get over my fear of knitting socks. Sometimes, the smallest things can lead you far along the path you want to take.
Beautiful socks, by the way! - 7/22/07, 1:45 PM
Great loot - enjoy!
I always think of myself as lucky - great hubby, great life, great home and the luckiest thing would be - I have 4 perfectly beautiful, healthy, strong, loving kids. I truly lucked out there. - 7/22/07, 6:34 PM
- schrodinger said...
I have a super-charmed life. I feel I have a very happy, fulfilled life. I'm in love with a man, who loves me, who is kind and generous and wonderful. My parents are both thoughtful, generous, loving, supportive people. My in-laws are wonderful. My friends are varied and all very special. My (relatively) recent change in positions has proven to be most satisfying and challenging in a good way, giving me a chance to work with incredible people and learn so much more than I could have hoped. AND I'm fortunate enough to play with my creative side. I'll shut up now, since this is just boasting now...
- ~Kristie said...
I love your blog! Your writing is funny, your photos are great AND you have contests. What more can a girl want?
I'm definitely living a charmed life because (queue sappy music), I finally realized I'm married to the perfect man ... for me.
By the way ... LOVE the socks, and you can never go wrong with Louet Gems can you? - 7/23/07, 4:23 AM
- knightlyknitter.wordpress.com said...
Thank you for the contest!
My charmed life?
* loving family, interesting childhood with lots of travel
* I found the perfect career for me - fun, stimulating, challenging, intellectual, social and creative
* my husband and I make an awesome team, balancing out each others strengths and weaknesses
* my 3 beautiful children are healthy, happy, intelligent, creative and loving
* we have enough for our needs and a little over for a few wants
* life is pretty bl**dy fabulous. - 7/23/07, 5:46 AM
- Ang said...
I love your socks! Nice yarn choice, it looks much easier to knit with.
Love the carrot and peas story too!
If any knocked peas onto the floor, we'd exclaim "I've pee-ed on the floor mum!"
Gotta write this quick because the twins are home soon...talk about charmed life...school starts at the age of 2yrs here (with 4 kids under the age of seven, it's so welcome) and while the older 2 are on summer holidays now, the younger 2 get to stay in school for another 3 weeks! Bliss,but more importantly, I get to spend time just with the older 2.
and that's just the recent stuff!
After a pretty tough childhood ( alcoholic mother tyrant father and child abuse and wotnot) I struggled to get through school, through college and university.
At Uni I got over a huge art of my childhood and found myself a husband, and despite all he had been through, we pulled ourselves together, together.
Leicester was rough and we decided to get away...we were lucky to get a council house swap (people that actually wanted to live where we were living has got to be rare!)
We now have 4 beautiful children and are living in an exceptionally beautiful part of the country, surrounded in beaches and mountains and birdsong (oh to hear birdsong in the morning)
Neither of us are rich, but we enjoy our work and share our hobbies (cycling and knitting).
And to be blessed with amazing friends (offline and online)is what makes a charmed life perfect. - 7/23/07, 6:16 AM
- Michele said...
Wow you have had good luck! I have had good contest luck. I have never won a blog contest before but I won 2 recently. My life is awesome right now. I got a great husband, job, friends. Who could ask for more??
- cbknits80 said...
I'm lucky right now because I've got the day off from work and I've spent the day knitting, reading and surfing blogs! Here's hoping I'm as lucky as you've been :)
- Laura said...
I'm so happy you like your yarn! :)
What an awesome question ... I'll say that I am leading a charmed life because I feel I'm currently in a very positive state of flux. I'm lucky because I have awesome family, fantastic friends, and wonderful kids, and I can't wait to see what will happen next! :) - 7/23/07, 1:29 PM
- Courtney said...
I'm living a charmed life because I make my living playing music. I've been lucky in that I haven't had too many days where I've been out of work. I don't make a lot of money, but I make enough and despite my occaisional complaints, I don't really feel like I ever go to work.
- knitseashore said...
I am married to a wise loving man who is also my very best friend...after 12 years we still have adventures together. Our latest was to move to a new house in the town we didn't think we could afford. It has room for all of our passions and is by the ocean, so we feel as if we're living in a dreamworld!
- ...Sarah said...
Your brother is brilliant. My favourite line was the bit about taking a leak in her egg nog.
On has to wonder where the creative inspiration for that piece came from? - 7/23/07, 11:29 PM
- Chris said...
I've won several blog contests in the past month. Also, although I found out I have to have surgery in October, I also have been finding out what very, very good friends and family I have as people volunteer to help me during that time.
- bellamoden said...
I can't say I live a charmed life, but I am fortunate that most days are spent with yarn and cats. And that I think to myself spontaneously, "happiness is being a Rebecca". And mean it. That's enough for me.
- Diane said...
I've always had a charmed life. I've never know a day without food, shelter, friends, a loving family, hobbies, and cat entertainment. Giggles have outnumbered tears 10000 to 1. And just when life couldn't get better I received grandchildren to smooch and play with.
The usual ups and downs but definately more ups than anything else. Life is good. - 7/24/07, 9:25 AM
- Just A Knit Wit said...
My life right now has been charmed in the best possible way.
After 2 years of waiting and financial issues I'm going back to school in August. My stress levels have been through the roof worrying if I'm making the wrong decision by leaving a good job to chase a dream. (A PhD in Victorian Literature so that I can be a college professor.)
While at the Renaissance Faire (of all places) I went to a psychic gallery reading (where the psychic just picks up on whatever from whomever) and halfway through the show he picked up on my major life change. Without hesitation he beamed at me and said "Yes, this is the change you are supposed to make. This is the path you are supposed to follow. The change, the move (I'm moving 5 hours away, but hadn't mentioned it to him!) it's all the right path for you now."
Aside from his mysterious encouragement, everything is falling into place so perfectly. I feel so lucky to have this chance to go back to school. - 7/24/07, 9:49 AM
The last few months have certainly seemed charmed to me in one aspect of my life: the fiber art of spinning. What began as an innocent thought, "maybe I should try drop-spinning" quickly began a quest, and after making several of my own drop-spindles I discovered the magic of taking pretty fluff and turning it into real-live yarn.
After another few weeks I had an acquaintance practically drop a spinning wheel into my lap, loaning to me something precious, something I had thought I'd not be able to try out for years. A whole Shetland fleece of my very own followed shortly after, and with that a great friendship over email correspondence with another novice wool-washer.
As another month went by, and I was beginning to mourn the fact that the wheel would have to be returned to it's true home soon, my best friend found a spinning wheel (on freecycle!) and, despite being a spinner herself, gifted the wheel to me! Likewise, my Father-in-law has taken this wheel and is currently giving it a complete overhaul, and is excited to be given an excuse to buy a wood lathe: so he can make bobbins and spindle whorls for me! And just last week another friend offered to mail me her infrequently-used hand-carders...
I don't know what I've done to deserve this sphere of friends and family and strangers helping me, encouraging my spinning and enabling me to continue to learn this craft that a few months ago I'd never tried, but now love wholeheartedly. I cannot imagine my life without spinning now, but I would be sadder still without these people that truly charm my life! - 7/24/07, 10:12 AM
I am charmed enough lately to have our Seattle office wanting me over for a 3 day meeting, that just happens to coincide with the Seattle Mariners Stitch and Pitch knitting night!!! I am soooooooooooooo happy!!!
- Victoria said...
I recently found out that I won 3 scholarships that will pay for my last year of college...and that I won a huge scholarship to help me in my last semester and my frist year of teaching. I find it lucky because it means that I will have no loans to pay back and I can use the money as a down payment for a house....straight of school...its a good position to be in.
- Donna Lee said...
I have often felt I live a charmed life. I am not lucky with money and do not often win contests (although I did win the tdf kal contest recently), I am lucky in the things that matter to me. I am married (25+ years)to my best friend and have three healthy and wonderful children who are the joy of my life. Everyday we find something to laugh at and my work as a social worker makes me feel good. However, I really wanted to tell you that i saw your sock on the tdf website and i think it looks gorgeous. What a great color!
- Turtle said...
Nice contest idea!
My life did not really start out charmed...divorced parents when very young, years of abuse from numerous males before the age of 18...but then I met my husband. Though not attracted to him in a "love" essense at first we became friends, then more. He is my best friend..and seriously knows me better than i know myself! We have been married almost 16 years, not always the easiest as he was in the navy and gone alot of the time! But we have survived and civilian life is wonderful! We have a 15 year old daughter who is my joy, beautiful and smart!! I make my own work hours and work with ladies who haven't a bad bone in their bodies. My husband tries to make life comfortable, secure and to fulfill lifes wishes and fantasies. I am happy and content with family around me....i'd say that's pretty charmed! - 7/24/07, 11:54 AM
- SheepsPyjamas said...
Charmed because someone clued me in to all these contests and the loot... yikes, getting ahead of myself here, and greed is unattractive anyway, didn't I read that somewhere? ;*)
Charmed because my dear MIL fortuitously planned a ton of events to keep my kids happy during what turns out to be the busiest summer I can remember. And charmed because having said kids so busy means I appreciate having them around that much more when they are! - 7/24/07, 12:03 PM
- Senora Fuerte said...
My husband just got a new job with a film company, and we got to go to our first Industry party this weekend... Very cool! It was at the boss's house. Beautiful!!! I felt like a movie star! (We also get to see lots of free movies, and with the price of movies these days, this is a GREAT deal!)
Just this morning, on the commuter train to work, I discovered I only had 3 needles in my current sock project. Fortunatly, the ink tube in my pen was a pefect size #2. Is that charmed or what?!?
- RheLynn said...
My entire life changed in January of this year -- and all for the better. After years of living a life I was unhappy in, I made some hard decisions and now have a wonderful husband and a baby girl on the way!
- Rosina said...
Wow! How great to hear so many positive reflections on life :) Right now I live in a house that is going to be purchased by a school district so that they can expand their school - and the whole negotiation/moving thing has been stressful... but it really helps to look at the big picture like so many other people did in their comments.
I do consider myself blessed. I have a wonderful family and am married to the love of my life :) Also I happened to sign up and get into Ravelry right when the buzz seemed to get started ;) - 7/24/07, 5:35 PM
- WonderMike said...
Howdy Sweetpea,
Since I am not Mr. Time Mgt as of late, I will do an ordered list:
1. Your brother better win. That song is hilarious. My partner is a DJ at UCBerkeley and I'm SURE he will be playing this on his show.
2. That Louet Gems is lurvely. J'suis tres fier de toi.
3. Charmed Life? Hmmmm. I'm pretty lucky in many respects but I wouldn't say charmed. Am i being bratty? Probably. - 7/24/07, 5:57 PM
- Kenyetta said...
Lucky you! I recently won 2 contests (and hopefully a 3rd) recently as well.
My charmed life has been because I have a job I like finally, my girls are healthy, happy, and wanting for nothing, my bills are paid, and things have been going well relationship wise also. - 7/24/07, 6:41 PM
- 5elementknitr said...
My inlaws moved in on Sat. I haven't cooked or cleaned dishes in four days!
- carrie said...
oh my gosh, your brother's song is hysterical. congrats to him!
let's see, charmed life. The boyfriend and I just signed a two-year lease for our place. After a year living together here, I love both the apartment and the guy even more. - 7/24/07, 11:04 PM
- ikkinlala said...
It's been the kind of day today when everything seems to go wrong (nothing really serious, just some major inconveniences like the washing machine breaking down), so I'm feeling lucky to have found all these examples to remind me of how things can go right in life.
I have wonderful family and friends, the chance to go to university, and a beautiful place to live with clean water and good food. My job isn't what I want to do for the rest of my life, but it's a decent summer job and it was pretty much dropped in my lap - I never even had to apply. And I have lots of time to pursue hobbies. - 7/24/07, 11:59 PM
- Paper Tiger said...
I haven't gotten any driving tickets or crashed my car. (Trust me. It's lucky.)
- Phoebe said...
First off congrats to your brother for the Emmy nomination! We are big fans of MAD TV in this house.
I actually have 2 charmed stories, one old and non-knitting and the other new and knitting.
Twelve years ago, I had GIFT (sort of like In Vitro but the mix occurs in the fallopian tubes rather than a petrie dish) surgery when the hospital that I had the surgery was in was closed for elective surgery and only did necessary surgery (and mine was considered a go because of all the hormones that I had to inject). Any how...GIFT was a success on the first try and we proudly have a son who truly is a gift.
Charmed #2...I was having all kinds of problems with Brigit for my sockapalooza pal and so I can totally relate when yarn and pattern don't quite connect. And so now the Solstice Sock is coming along perfectly! (Plus I'm also charmed that I haven't had to frog my Mystery Stole #3, knock wood).
Love those Midi socks! - 7/25/07, 7:30 AM
- Redheadskydiver said...
Well, I'm not feeling very charmed or lucky lately. I'm kind of going through a rough patch. But I am charmed overall in that I have good life, good job, good husband.
I too am knitting Nancy Bush's Canal du Midi socks with inappropriate yarn. I am probably at that stage in my knitting career where frogging so much of a tricky project is not an option, but bolstered by your example, I'm going to frog, and I'm just about 5 rounds away from starting the heel! Thanks for your bravery! Incidently, I was going to knit Canal du Midi while watching the TdF, but I quickly discovered the two were incompatible. I switched over to a simpler string market bag, but now that's done, and I need another mindless project to carry me through the last week of the TdF. I will NOT cast on for CdM until after Paris.
- Nikki said...
My charmed life is knitting related. I've met so many very wonderful people I never would've had a chance to meet if I didn't take up knitting and blogging and blog reading.
I have an uncle who is very near death and the love and support I have from these people, some of whom I may never meet in person is greater than some of my other (non-knitting) friends.
Plus they're some pretty cool people!!! - 7/25/07, 9:45 PM
- Unknown said...
I feel fortunate that my family is healthy and mostly normal. Every day it seems, there is someone you hear about having some terrible health problem. And some things can get in the way of your knitting!
- Sarah said...
Lately the charm in my life has to do with the fact that I'm about to marry the man of my dreams (38 days to go!) and it looks like most of our family and friends will be there to share in the big day!
- KnitPastis said...
Heheee, I can totally relate to the 1974 peas and carrots! Infact, just served it yesterday to my dad and husband. I just couldn't make myself eat it. I do like them seperately though. LOL Love most vegetables and fruits!
Oh no mohair here either. I hear ya girl!
On the living front...not feeling too happy these days. Sometimes life just gets that way. I thank God for knitting to relieve the stress. Thank God for knitting. I made the decission to not put off my mammogram and had it done today. Scared to hear the results as many of us probably are. So, just for now waiting on hearing the results, since I skipped last years. Those tests hurt:) Have my father here until the end of the week, then my hubby and I are headed for a much needed vacation. Now going to stick my head in a new novel and read for a few minutes before having to take care of the guys:) - 7/26/07, 4:53 PM
- Rachel said...
I'm drooling over your woolmeisse yarn - yum!! I've been trying to refrain from ordering some myself, but I may have to break down and do it.
My life is charmed because in the last 4 months, I married the love of my life AND finished the PhD that was making my life a living hell (the hate of my life?). A good few months! Now I have the summer off to knit, I guess that's another charm for me! - 7/26/07, 8:05 PM
- Gingersnaps with Tea... said...
I laughed myself silly at your brother's song--Xmas indeed--hope he wins. As for your contest.
Well, these days, I seem to be embracing the saying "If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all." So so much for that. In fact it's gotten to the point that a good friend signed me up (and is insisting on paying) for a course that "teaches you how to draw positive energy into your life". Yeah. - 7/27/07, 9:55 AM
- Elaine said...
Charmed life, charmed life. Well I was diagnosed with breast cancer exactly 3 years ago (this is the 3rd anniversary of my last of 3 surgeries - don't ask!) So that doesn't sound so charmed, but I'm a positive person and I figure, having survived chemo, radiation and 3 years of cancer, that's pretty good. And I just had a mammo and at first the radiologist thought he saw something evil but then decided it wasn't, and I had a second reading by the best radiologist locally (according to my oncologist) and he thought it was OK, so that's good. And I love my job, and I've been married to the same man forever, and my mother is 92 and still alive and healthy, and my daughter is a junior at Brown and a great kid so that's all pretty charmed, right? And I REALLY want to win the yarn!!! Like REALLY.
- peaknits said...
I think I lead a charmed life in that I have trwo healthy, beautiful daughters. Every day I feel blessed that they are healthy, even if they cannot find their "inside voices". I am happy in a crazy way - I am basically down and out on my back with a strain - because it has forced me to decide to me first before work - and now I don't want to go back - wouldn't that be a charmed life:) Since I have been in pain and getting pants on is a challenge, it's the little things I miss, not gee, wish i could sit at my desk longer!:)
- Dove Knits said...
I know I'm too late for the contest, but I'm feeling all mushy so I had to respond:
I met the man I fell in love with and married at 18. We've been together since I was 19. Seriously, how often does that happen?? What is it, if not a charmed life, that by 19, I was done with all the dating nonsense and heartbreak and ended up with a really great guy? (Whether or not he was equally lucky is still up for debate ;)) - 8/2/07, 11:52 AM


text:
Part Number: 601C2511-001 | Manufacturer: Goodrich Rohr |
Alternate P/N : 601C2511001 |
We are pleased to inform you that part 601C2511-001 is available for immediate delivery as described This part is manufactured by Goodrich Rohr. Please fill out the form to receive a quote for this 601C2511-001. You will receive a response within 15 minutes.
Note : We will not share your information to any third parties.
"*" Symbols for mandatory fields
BuyNSN.com is owned and operated by ASAP Semiconductor – a leading distributor of military and civilian aviation parts. We stock a comprehensive inventory of obsolete and hard-to-find aircraft parts, which are used by various aircraft carriers across the globe. Our inventory features over 10 million parts from over 5,000 industry-leading manufacturers supported by our strong delivery network with 2 locations in the continental U.S.A that is California and Nevada. We can provide the fastest delivery in the industry.
Your request for 601C2511-001 part quote will be answered by a dedicated sales executive in 15 minutes. You can call us now on our toll-free number +1-714-705-4780 to receive a quick quote. You can email us your BOM in excel format to firstname.lastname@example.com
All Orders are Fulfilled in the U.S.A.
All shipments must comply with U.S.A export laws.
No exceptions.
The only independent distributor
with a NO CHINA SOURCING Pledge
"We Proudly Support Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund that serves United States Military Personal experiencing the Invisible Wounds of War : Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress (PTS). Please visit website (www.fallenheroesfund.org) and help in their valiant effort".
We Hope You Will Remember Us the Next Time You are Looking for Parts.
Request for Quote

subset: commoncrawl


text: High quality multilingual fonts at a low price - for professional (non-english) designers with a small budget! CheapProFonts offers a wide selection of mainly display-fonts with a large character set supporting 65 languages requiring more that the basic A-Z: Afrikaans, Albanian, Basque, Belarusian (Lacinka), Bosnian, Breton, Catalan, Chamorro, Chichewa, Cornish, Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English ;), Esperanto, Estonian, Faroese, Finnish, French, Frisian, Galican, German, Greenlandic, Guarani, Hungarian, Icelandic, Indonesian, Irish (Gaelic), Italian, Kashubian, Kurdish (Kurmanji), Latvian, Lithuanian, Luxembourgian, Malagasy, Maltese, Maori, Northern Sotho, Norwegian, Occitan, Polish, Portuguese, Rhaeto-Romance, Romanian, Saami (Inari), Saami (Lule), Saami (North), Saami (South), Scots (Gaelic), Serbian (latin), Slovak(ian), Slovene, Sorbian (Lower), Sorbian (Upper), Spanish, Swedish, Tagalog (Filipino), Tswana, Turkish, Turkmen, Ulithian, Walloon, Welsh and Yapese. What I have done is to team up with several well-known freefont designers, and use their fonts as a starting point to make updated professional quality multilingual Unicode fonts - and then offer them at a very low price and with very generous licensing terms. All the reworking is done under agreement with the original designers, and they receive royalties from the sales. It is a bit more work making these fonts than first meets the eye - I do not simply make some generic diacritics, slap them together with the existing letters and generate the fonts. That would be sloppy ;) First I check the outlines of the existing letters, fixing any bad nodes, often normalizing the spacing and adjusting some glyphs. Then I take a close look at the kerning, improving it where necessary and preparing it for OpenType class kerning. Only when the basic font is OK do I start expanding the character set, always using diacritics that matches the design of the letters - usually all diacritics are totally redesigned. Finally I generate and test the fonts, make graphics and text for their presentation and prepare the files for download. I hope many "foreign language" users find CheapProFonts a valuable resource for cheap and cheerful display fonts supporting their specific language needs.


text:
When you're writing your next post, consider this: 80% of people will read your blog headline, but only 20% will stay for the rest.
So, if headlines are 400% more important than what comes after them (where there's already ever-increasing competition to attract eyes), you need to be more concise than ever to get attention.
The Importance of Title Length
A guide on the right length for your post titles
If you want to keep your followers' attention while conveying your brilliant wordplay, keep headline character counts as close as possible to 58 characters (including spaces).
Wait, did you even read this? Congrats, you're among the 20%.


text:
Maryland Case May Discourage Political Dirty Tricks
A little-noticed trial in Maryland could affect how many dirty tricks voters will see in the upcoming elections — things like anonymous fliers or phone calls telling people to vote on the wrong day, or in the wrong precinct, or that they can't vote at all if they have an outstanding parking ticket.
The tactics are often illegal, but it's rare for anyone to get caught, let alone end up in court.
The case in Maryland involves the 2010 rematch between former Republican Gov. Bob Ehrlich and incumbent Democrat Martin O'Malley. On Election Day, the Ehrlich campaign knew that things weren't going well. It was losing African-American voters in droves.
At around 3 p.m., Ehrlich's political director, Bernie Marczyk, sent campaign manager Paul Schurick an email asking, "What does Julius need to make the city turnout stay low?"
Julius Henson was a consultant hired to help the campaign with the black vote. The city was Baltimore, where many of the state's black voters live.
Two hours later, Schurick gave Henson the go-ahead to start making robocalls to about 110,000 registered Democrats in and around Baltimore. An unidentified female caller essentially said the election was over.
"I'm calling to let everyone know that Gov. O'Malley and President Obama have been successful. Our goals have been met," the caller said in the message. "Relax, everything is fine, the only thing left is to watch it on TV tonight."
In other words, don't bother voting.
A Difficult Charge To Prosecute
Schurick faces four criminal counts for, among other things, allegedly using fraud to discourage voters from going to the polls. A jury is expected to decide the case this week. Henson also faces charges for the phone calls, but his trial has been postponed until February.
Schurick says he never saw the political director's email and that he approved the robocalls because the consultant told him they were counterintuitive — that they'd encourage Democrats thinking about supporting Ehrlich to hurry up and vote.
Prosecutors say that defies common sense and the calls were clearly an effort to suppress the African-American vote. But according to Rick Hasen, an election expert at the University of California Irvine School of Law, the First Amendment gives a wide space for political speech, making such cases difficult to prosecute.
"There's all kinds of misleading stuff that goes on in campaigns and we don't want to criminalize people from engaging in sharp language and even potentially deceptive language that could, in fact, be constitutionally protected speech," says Hasen.
And he says it's a difficult line to draw. Indeed, Schurick's attorneys are already laying the groundwork for an appeal on constitutional grounds, if need be. Hasen notes that state laws also vary greatly on the use of deceptive campaign practices, and there's no federal statute against them — despite efforts by then-Sen. Barack Obama a few years ago to get one passed.
A Strong Message
Still, Gilda Daniels, a former Justice Department official, thinks the Maryland case sends a strong message that such tactics are increasingly frowned upon.
"Even if [Schurick is] not found guilty, I think the fact that there has actually been a case brought of this type is a victory. If he's convicted, then it certainly highlights it even more," Daniels says.
Former Republican operative Allen Raymond agrees, but he says people can do some crazy things in the fog of a campaign.
"Sometimes when people want to win, something sounds like a great idea at 11 o'clock at night at campaign headquarters, but in the light of day isn't such a great idea," Raymond says.
And he should know. Raymond went to prison for his role in jamming Democratic Party phone lines in the 2002 New Hampshire Senate race. Raymond says the real question is why the Ehrlich campaign would even bother, since there's little evidence deceptive tactics work.
"He wasn't going to win that race. ... It was a done deal, [it was] over," Raymond says. "How many people did they think who received this phone call were actually going to stay home?"
And indeed, one Democratic recipient testified that he was so angry when he got the call — and saw it as a trick to discourage him from voting — that he immediately went out to vote.


text:
Women's New Arrivals
Our dresses deliver down-to-earth elegance paired with uncompromising quality. New dresses from Splendid flatter your shape while fitting the way you've come to expect from our comfy designs. Feel confident in what you wear while working, spending time with friends for happy hour, or just taking it easy on the weekend in basic wardrobe essentials and more fashion-forward pieces.
We focus on creating well-made pants that fit you right. Find new classics and eye-catching designs that make high-quality, ultra-soft additions to any woman's wardrobe. Browse our selection of well-crafted pants and bottoms made to keep up with your busy lifestyle while maintaining a soft, simple elegance.
Fashioned from the most comfortable fabrics available, each of our tops enhance your look while offering unbeatable comfort all day. We design tops to fit your modern sense of style and effortlessly integrate with your wardrobe for timeless yet artful outfits that inspire joy, comfort and confidence.
Stay warm and comfy all season long in our new sweaters made with luxuriously soft fabrics. We combine tried-and-true materials with modern design for a more inspired style. Find the look and fit you love to make the most of cozy sweater weather.
Your feet support you on every step of your journey, so give them the cozy footwear they deserve. Shoes from Splendid are made to be worn in comfort and style, giving you the support you need in your day-to-day life. Feel at ease and look great in shoes that never fail to impress.
Your Source for the Latest Fashion
We make it easy to keep your wardrobe current. Shop new arrivals in women's clothing for a first look at all the latest offerings from Splendid online. Browse the new fashions you want and discover the new designs you didn't know you needed, too!


text:
Search by City
Search by Type
Country House Venues
Conferences UK has venue partnerships in place with 419 Country House meeting venues in the UK. In total there are 384047 Country House meeting rooms to choose from. Please contact us should you require any advice selecting Country House Venues. Our friendly team of experts are here to help you find the right venue.
Make an Enquiry
Expert venue Finder
Hi there, I'm Jayne and I'm available to help you find your next meeting or conference venue FOR FREE! Save hours by letting me do all of your venue searching for you. Call me on 0845 351 9917 or simply leave your details below.


text:
President Barack Obama sends his congratulations to Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team.
Obama calls the selection of Sam "an important step forward."
Obama says that from the playing field to the corporate boardroom, gay and lesbian Americans, quote, "prove every day that you should be judged by what you do and not who you are."
Sam was the Associated Press defensive player of the year in the Southeastern Conference. He was picked late Saturday in the third and final day of the NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams. Sam played college football at the University of Missouri and came out as openly gay in media interviews earlier this year.


text:
Vector_ noahs ark cartoons,Search Can Stock Photo for royalty free illustration, royalty free clipart, digital artwork, EPS vector clip art, stock illustrations, stock images, logo icon graphics, and cheap EPS format line art drawings. Can Stock Photo has the royalty free illustration, line art drawing, EPS vector graphic, or stock clipart icon that you need. Our designers and illustrators provide royalty free stock images, clip art, clipart graphics, and pictures for as little as 1 dollar. Buy photographs and get immediate image file downloads or subscribe for a low monthly fee. Can Stock Photo also offers stock photos, royalty-free stock photography images, stock footage, and video noahs ark cartoonsanimation clips.
Can Stock Photo includes: 6,210,518 stock photos and royalty free stock Vector_ noahs ark cartoonsfootage clips 197,036 new stock photos added this month


text:
Clemens: Joins the 350-Win Club. Now with eight members, it's more exclusive than the 3,000 (Hit) Club or the 500 (HR) Club -- but less exclusive than the 600 (HR) Club.
The Home Run Derby gets a boost: No, Barry Bonds won't be participating (if only he would!), but defending champ Ryan Howard – the reigning Face of Baseball – will be. (Phillies fans cringe at the thought of him injuring himself.)
Update: I realize I totally forgot MLB Studs/Duds today. I leave it to you, but also leave you with this: Ben Francisco! (Get on that bandwagon already!)
MLB All-Star, Cont'd: I just want to say that I sure am glad that the Commenters are here to deliver phenomenal MLB analysis when I can do no better than my usual shallow contributions. If you haven't looked through the (mostly) All-Star comments from yesterday's a.m. post, I highly recommend it. (Scroll past post to Comments section.)
Hargrove resigns, cont'd: I don't know about you, but I'm happy to embrace the various conspiracy theories floating around as to why Hargrove would quit the Mariners just as he was winning.
What's bigger news: That A-Rod injured his hamstring last night or that his wife wore a tank top with an obscenity on it on Sunday?
NBA Free Agency: I think Rashard Lewis ends up on the Magic – and that makes
UPDATE: Rashard Lewis to the Magic is apparently a done-deal, but Orlando is going to give him the MAX?! That's a stretch for a player who won't be the team's No. 1 star.
Oden signs contract with Blazers: Hat-tip to the NBA's rookie-salary scale, which makes signing easy. As does a low-key No. 1 pick.
More NBA: Ray Allen's veteran professionalism will really make the Celtics a more admirable Lottery team in 2008.
Here's to Derek Fisher, who was released by the Jazz and will now be able to spend more time with his sick daughter.
College Hoops Recruiting: Even AOL Fanhouse has picked up the amazing story of the 1-year-old who verbally committed to play college basketball for Florida.
Meanwhile, Billy Gillispie racks up another rising 10th-grader for
ProFootballTalk vs. Arena League: Hmm, that's kind of an interesting battle, actually.
Heads-up: The next installment of the Varsity Letters Reading Series is Thursday night in NYC! To consider: What is your own personal biggest "must-do" sports event for your lifetime?
Summer Fashion: The must-have T-shirts for the summer come from Mothering Hut. (My favorite is "DNP: Coach's Decision.") Check them all out here. (Yes, Mothering Hut was my collaborator on the Florida "&" T-shirts. No Gator fan should be without!)


text:
Οι Εξωγήινοι είναι εδώ | Sirius | Απίστευτο ντοκυμαντερ
Yekra Player
Yekra is a revolutionary new distribution network for feature films.
"Sirius" is a feature length documentary that follows Dr. Steven Greer – an Emergency Medicine doctor turned UFO/ New Energy researcher – as he struggles to disclose top secret information about classified energy & propulsion techniques. Along the way, Dr. Greer investigates new technology and sheds light on criminal suppression. He accumulates over 100 Government, Military, and Intelligence Community witnesses who testify on record about their first-hand experiences with UFOs and with the cover-up.
In the course of his research Dr. Greer is asked to look at an amazing find: a humanoid specimen, 6 inches long from the Atacama Desert. Not until 2012 was he given permission to take bone samples and DNA from the specimen. At that same time a pre-eminent geneticist, hearing of this find, offered to do DNA testing. He enlisted an MD from the same university,- world renowned for his work with skeletal anomalies, to view the x-rays and CT scans. Their expertise along with Dr. Greer's expansive knowledge of the subject bring more questions than answers. Where did this "Atacama Humanoid" come from? Are there others like it? What does it say about the origin of the human species?
While on this odyssey, the audience gains a whole new perspective on technology, human evolution, and clandestine organizations who have manipulated and controlled the public for centuries.


text:
Ravens QB Flacco signs NFL's richest contract
Published 1:51 am Tuesday, March 5, 2013
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Joe Flacco knows his stature as the highest-paid player in NFL history may not last for long, and he's OK with it.
What matters most to the Super Bowl MVP is that the Baltimore Ravens were willing to pay him that kind of money in the first place.
Flacco signed his new contract Monday worth $120.6 million over six years. He will receive a $29 million signing bonus, $52 million in guaranteed money and $51 million over the first two years of the deal.
The former first-round draft pick out of Delaware is the first starting quarterback in NFL history to make the playoffs in each of his first five seasons. He's led the Ravens to nine wins over that span, tying Tom Brady for most among quarterbacks in the first five years of a career.
Flacco threw 11 touchdown passes and no interceptions during the recent postseason and led Baltimore to a 34-31 Super Bowl win over San Francisco.
And it all made the Ravens willing to pay him more money than Aaron Rodgers, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees or any other of the great quarterbacks in the game today.
"When guys that are drafted in the first round, when guys that win football games for you, quarterbacks like that, when the time comes up for those guys to get paid, they usually become the highest paid guy in the league," Flacco said. "I'm sure in a couple of months from now, someone is going to sign a deal, and you guys are going to be talking to them about how they are the highest paid guy in NFL history. That's just the name of the game.
"I know that this isn't going to hold up for that long, but that's not a priority of mine to be the highest-paid guy. The priority of mine was to get that respect that I felt, that I feel now from this organization."
Flacco is the quarterback the Ravens have longed to have for years, and they weren't about to let him get away.
"We just returned from the (scouting) combine, and I remember the days of going there and studying and hoping that one of the quarterbacks could be our guy. … We've been out in that desert before," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "That all changed when we drafted Joe in 2008, and now we've secured him for many more years. He's a significant reason we've been to the playoffs five years in a row, played in three AFC championship games, and now, we are Super Bowl champs with Joe as MVP."
Flacco's performance this past offseason almost certainly helped him receive his record-breaking contract. But the quarterback thought he was good enough to receive all that money before he threw three touchdown passes against the 49ers.
"Listen, winning the Super Bowl, winning the Super Bowl MVP doesn't make me as valuable as I am," he said. "I think I bring to the table what I bring to the table. I think I'm an asset to this team, and I'm worth what I'm worth. The fact that we won the Super Bowl just comes with that. If we didn't win the Super Bowl this year, I still think I'm worth the same, and I still think I'm the same person to this organization. It may not be seen that way, but that's the bottom line. I still think I give the team the best chance to win moving forward."
By signing Monday, Flacco avoided receiving the franchise tag, which would have hindered the Ravens' salary cap in 2013.
"I know we have a lot of good players on the team, and I love to play with those guys, so hopefully it works out very good for the organization and we can keep as many people as we need," he said.
Flacco turned down a contract before the 2012 season that would have paid him roughly $15 million a year. His decision turned out to be a wise one.
"I thought I was worth more and didn't really see any circumstances where I wouldn't end up getting paid more than what they were willing to give me at that point," Flacco said.
That assessment was as precise as one of his many sharp spirals in the Super Bowl.
"The real risk is that I could get hurt," he said. "I always kind of had faith that we were going to get something done here no matter what. I didn't know if we were going to go win the Super Bowl and all of that, so that kind of helped the situation out, I think, a little bit."


text:
Some months ago, (and perhaps still now) one of the buzzwords bringing good fortune in the bicycle industry was 'high gas prices'. While the automobile industry was faring badly, the bicycle business was booming. Most prayed for lower gas prices, but the diametrically opposite people in the bicycle business secretly wished that it kept increasing. That seems like a cunning way of thinking, but in the end, business is business.
Now a bigger calamity might put all that to rest. Of course, you all know what I'm talking about! Just open the front pages of your newspaper.
But there could be a fair share of you who are still clueless about the breadth and depth of this huge financial mess. For the uninitiated in financial knowledge, just read this funny Subprime Primer put in simple stick figure terms.
Getting back, in the midst of such an issue of global proportions, I find it awful that very few in online bicycling circles (that includes publications, websites and blogs) are talking about the more pressing current state of affairs. Let's put Interbike 2008, Lance Armstrong and Britney Spears aside for a moment here.
The cold fact is that like all businesses, the cycling trade also depends upon such a thing as credit. And when credit stops flowing from markets, to banks, to businesses and to consumers, almost everything begins slowly heading downhill.
Now I'm not involved in the bicycling trade in any major way. Strictly speaking, I'm an outsider and that's the way I like to stay for now. But I did manage to chalk out a schematic of how money and goods and services flow in the bicycle business.
If you find anything out of place or not making sense, please feel free to correct me.
I'm not going to go into immense detail on every aspect shown in the graphic above. But just check out the overwhelming role that credit plays, not just in business but also in our personal lives.
Since the credit markets are at great distress, I see a lot of weaker brand names and small businesses having the possibility of being affected.
And the other funny thing is .... oil prices are falling as well, not rising.
I understand there'll be a good percentage of readers here closely associated with the bicycling industry. Here are some questions from me to you and to all in general to ponder over, discuss and intelligently comment on.
I think most of the questions, if not all, will be put forth from the perspective of those at the lower end of the supply chain. Bear with me on the train of thoughts.
How do you foresee the impact on the bicycling industry because of the global financial turmoil?
1. Will brick and mortar bike shops make enough money to sustain themselves? Will we see a lot of bikes selling for cheap just to get rid of excess inventory? And with lesser access to credit in order to get new line of bikes in, are we going to see some unusually empty bike shop floors early next year together with dwindling shoppers?
2. Will big brand names cut on the variety of lines of bicycles they offer to the public?
3. And what about the average consumer who won't be able to get a loan or credit with the same ease as in the past? With his buying power decreasing, what will the demand for bicycles be in the coming months? Don't you think the consumer mindset will be to hold onto money in these tough financial times? Shouldn't bicycle design itself change and strive to keep costs down instead of pushing for the high end bike sales.
4. And how on earth could we solve this? What can and should change in the way retail business is conducted today? Should the industry target more newcomers to cycling, as opposed to the ones who already have 400 bikes in the garage? Should bike shops focus more on service as opposed to emphasizing the selling of goods to make the margins? Should they charge higher prices on those services? And how will that decision affect the customer as a result.
5. Finally, as far as smaller brand names are concerned, how will they fare? Are consolidations of smaller bicycle companies by the bigger ones be the answer to saving them from possible collapse? The issue is in keeping the industry going, and maintaining people's jobs in these tough times.
Update : Oct 30,2008
Bruce Hildenbrand over at Active talks about Teamwork in the bicycle industry.
Thanks also to Bike Hugger for this video called Economy, Bike Industry. It looks like people are going to bring out more bikes from the garage to the shop for tuneups as the economy slumps.


text: About Kevin Fitzpatrick: The Immortal Kevin Fitzpatrick was born and raised in New York City, and that doesn't make sense. Kevin wears many hats, including actor, editor, and writer, but never yellow. The best things in life are Back to the Future, beets, Firefly and The Venture Bros. When not picking apart the minutia of pop culture in film and TV, Kevin can usually be found RIGHT BEHIND YOU.


text:
Friday, March 27, 2009
The Search for the Perfect Cream Scone
A good cup of tea with milk & sugar plus current scones served with clotted cream & strawberry preserves. It was definitely the pick-me-up we needed after a long day of sightseeing.
When we got back home I decided to surprise Matt & bake him some fresh scones. The recipe I decided to use was from one of my favorite cookbooks, Small-Batch Baking. This recipe called for cream, egg & a lot of butter, a ton of butter, when I check them partway through cooking they were sitting in pools of melted butter.
They were tasty but a little doughy & struck as being more like a biscuit than a scone. So, that set me off on the search to find a scone recipe that would make them like we remembered.
My next stop was Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook. I figured Martha would have the perfect cream scone recipe, because she's Martha after all. This recipe called for butter, though less than the other recipe, and cream but no egg (except a little as an egg wash).
These babies really rose (they had both baking powder & baking soda in them) though very unevenly, & were really flaky. They were even more like a biscuit then the last ones.
Next step was to check the web. I found this recipe which used only cream as the fat. It's almost exactly the same as the recipe used by Sara Moulton on the Food Network.
This dough was so wet & sticky it was almost impossible to work with. The finished scones were more like sweetened bread than anything else. So, the baking continues....
I've gotten a few other recipe suggestions from some fellow foodies on Twitter, including Dorie Greenspan's recipe. I'm thinking scone 1 was the closest but the recipe just contains just too much butter perhaps I just need to modify it a bit.
Do you have a favorite cream scone recipe?
If you are not reading this post in a feed reader or at http://agoodappetite.blogspot.com OR at http://agoodappetite.com then the site you are reading is illegally publishing copyrighted material. Contact me at katbaro AT yahoo DOT COM. All recipes, text and photographs in this post are the original creations & property of the author unless otherwise noted.
© 2007-2009 Kathy Lewinski
28 comments:
- Elle said...
Wow, what dedication! I'm impressed. I hope you find just the ones you're looking for!
- March 27, 2009 at 11:01 AM
- Dewi said...
WOW Kat, this is unbelievable! Your scones look so fluffy and delicious. I must admit that I never made it successfully. I am impress!
elra - March 27, 2009 at 11:13 AM
You should try http://www.joyofbaking.com/scones.html
I've made them a few times for my British Lit book club and they always turn out perfectly. Sweet, not overly buttery, dense but moist, not flaky or biscuity. - March 27, 2009 at 1:08 PM
Cook's Illustrated "The Best Recipe" has a great cream scone recipe- give it a try.
- March 27, 2009 at 1:18 PM
The Cooks Illustrated scone recipe is REALLY tasty!
- March 27, 2009 at 1:19 PM
My favorite scone recipes come from "Breads of New England" by Judy Gorman. Also, I've always made my scones in large round loaves cut into wedges, rather than the biscuit cut rounds.
- March 27, 2009 at 1:20 PM
- CaliGirl said...
You will love these, but yes, there is much butter involved: http://www.metrotimes.com/editorial/story.asp?id=7328
I like to add 1/4 c. dried cranberries, and forego the egg wash. They disappear at work within seconds.
Enjoy! :) - March 27, 2009 at 1:21 PM
- vanillasugarblog said...
I would love to know how the scones in london tasted? flaky and perfect? I bet you anything it's how they chilled the butter, then cut it up. I have a fairly good recipe for scones from CI, but they did not rise that high, but still the insides were light and buttery. I have to post them.
- March 27, 2009 at 2:45 PM
- kat said...
Thanks for the suggestions everyone!
Dawn - The scones in London were that perfect cross between flaky & caky if that makes any sense. Almost like a cross between the first two I made & the third... - March 27, 2009 at 3:06 PM
- Stacy and Brian's Adventures in Life said...
Kat, I posed a scone recipe on my website a few months ago. Here is the link!
It's a Cooks Illustrated recipe and I think their stuff is great! - March 27, 2009 at 4:45 PM
- Alicia Foodycat said...
Definitely no egg. My best scone efforts have been following a recipe with a bit of buttermilk as the liquid. Rubbing the butter into the flour properly and handling it lightly are the secrets once you've found a good recipe really.
- March 27, 2009 at 5:12 PM
- R.A. Beeker said...
I use the Joy of Cooking - Full cream recipe - no egg. Plus in a pinch - Costco World Market has a great just add water mix.
- March 27, 2009 at 7:13 PM
I stumbled upon your blog and thought you might like to check out the "Joy of Baking" website for their scone recipes, and the other thought was to look up the Savoy hotel in London. They are renowned for their cream teas and might have a recipe posted.
Lynda - March 27, 2009 at 8:43 PM
I want to be there for the tastings! Yum. Is there really such thing as "too much butter"?
- March 27, 2009 at 8:54 PM
- Gale Reeves said...
Barefoot Contessa (Ina) has the BEST recipe for scones!
- March 27, 2009 at 9:36 PM
- Beth (jamandcream) said...
Glad you enjoyed the traditional clotted cream tea. I always use a recipe for scones that i found on bbcgoodfood.com. It never fails
- March 28, 2009 at 7:53 AM
- k. said...
I don't know if you've heard of the chef James Martin, but his great recipe is here: http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/513117
He does some wonderful tradition British food, like scones, and is all over the telly here in the UK. - March 28, 2009 at 9:07 AM
- grace said...
i wish i could help, but i'm anti-scone. good luck in your search. :)
- March 28, 2009 at 2:19 PM
- Lori said...
Grace is anti-scone. That girl cracks me up.
I have always looked for the perfect scone recipe. Now I need to try the Cooks Illustrated version. - March 29, 2009 at 10:32 AM
- leedav said...
I want to try making the clotted cream!
- March 29, 2009 at 11:28 AM
- toontz said...
My favorite recipe: http://okaramountain.blogspot.com/2008/05/okara-apricot-scones-with-pecans.html
The original recipe is at the bottom of the post. - March 29, 2009 at 2:53 PM
- Sara said...
I admire your search. Good luck finding the scone recipe.
- March 29, 2009 at 8:40 PM
- Karen Brown Letarte said...
I use Sara Moulton's recipe and I love it because it's so simple and versatile. I always make a 1/2 recipe, perfect for the 3 of us. The trick I use for handling the soft dough is to pat it out into a round right on the baking sheet, brush with the cream & sprinkle on the sugar, then I cut the round into 6 pieces, like a pie, and wiggle the knife to separate them into separate pieces. They usually come out perfect and very scone-y in my opinion. If they seem too sticky, I add a little flour while the dough is still in the bowl.
I'll be interested in the results of your quest for the perfect scone! - April 3, 2009 at 4:56 PM
Hello! I just enjoyed reading about your scone-making adventures and thanks for the picture from London. I made blueberry scones for a Birthday Brunch for my daughter Elizabeth held just yesterday. I used a recipe I found on the internet. Several years ago I made scones using a recipe that said it was created by Martha Stewart. They were wonderful! Having lost that recipe I googled :blueberry scones by Martha Stewart and found the recipe. They call for cream and unsalted butter and not too much sugar. They were the talk of the party...and there was great food there! My aunts each asked to take an extra home and people raved about them. My daughter sent me a text today how one she took to work was "soooo delish, moist and blueberry-ish". Try them. They are easy to find and make. Make sure you put all the flour in and flour your board and hands before you turn them out to knead slightly.I experimented with the sugar on top, which you sprinkle after brushing with cream. Reg. sugar isn't noticeable and doesn't color the scones much. I mixed Demerara sugar and reg. sugar, which gave a little crunch and abit more color in later batches. I also added a little vanilla to later batches, but you don't have to. Next time I am going to look for the crystaline white sugar & try that.
Take care! Happy Baking & happy eating to both of you and everyone else. My children's grandparents lived in England and there Nana was Scottish, but I am Italian-American. Everyone enjoys scones! - April 6, 2009 at 4:53 PM
- Unknown said...
was that at The Wolseley?:)
- May 20, 2009 at 5:23 PM
- kat said...
Kassy - The top picture was at Fortum & Mason & the two smaller were at the Wolseley
- May 20, 2009 at 5:26 PM
Greetings from the UK! This is a good basic recipe: http://www.deliaonline.com/how-to-cook/baking/how-to-make-scones.html
If the dough is too flat they won't rise, and if it's rolled unevenly they'll be wonky - or 'homemade' as I prefer to call it. :)
We generally use self-raising flour here, which my American baking book adventures have shown me seems less common in the US.
One point on cream tea etiquette: coming from Devon, I reckon you spread the clotted cream on first, then add a dab of jam on top. Cornishmen would disagree, and reverse that order! More details here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A649235 - February 16, 2010 at 6:43 PM
I have made "Grandma Johnson's Scones" for several showers and a tea party, and everyone just raves about them. Not sure how traditional a scone they are, but they are definitely tasty...everyone online rates them 5/5.
http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Grandma-Johnsons-Scones/Detail.aspx - April 1, 2010 at 11:11 AM


text:
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Team Destiny vs. Team Domination.
Before the Bowl Championship Series is replaced next year by a playoff, No. 1 Florida State and No. 2 Auburn will meet in its last title game tonight at the Rose Bowl.
The Seminoles (13-0) ripped through their schedule on the way to Pasadena, winning each game by at least 14 points behind Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston.
"I still think our best game is out there," Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said Sunday. "I'm looking forward to playing it on Monday night, and our kids are looking forward to the challenge."
The turnaround Tigers (12-1) are the most unlikely group ever to reach the BCS championship game. Auburn went from 3-9 last year to Southeastern Conference champions in their first season under coach Gus Malzahn. It was a wild ride. The Prayer at Jordan-Hare beat Georgia. The Kick-Six beat Alabama. Destiny? Fate? Luck? The Tigers don't see it that way.
"Hey, I know we're a team of hard work, I know that," said tailback Tre Mason, a Heisman finalist who has run for 1,621 yards and 22 touchdowns for the No. 1 rushing offense in the country. "These guys put a lot of hard work in with me every day, blood, sweat and tears all year long."
Auburn is the first team to reach the BCS championship game after having a losing season the previous season, and would become the first national champion to start the season unranked since BYU in 1984.
After 16 years of the BCS, the routine is familiar the day before the big game.
The coaches hold their final early morning news conferences, and then take a few minutes to shake hands with each other, exchange pleasantries and pose for pictures with the crystal football trophy that goes to the winner.
On Sunday it was Fisher, the fast-talking West Virginian and Nick Saban disciple, and Malzahn, who has gone from high school coach in Arkansas to the national championship game in eight years, running the drill.
Malzahn, who was the Tigers' offensive coordinator when they won the 2010 national title, said Sunday he told his players before the season one of their goals was to make the biggest turnaround in college football. Done. Auburn has already matched the 2000 Hawaii team for most improved record in FBS history.
"Well, Auburn is a great program and used to winning championships, so I knew that we were going to get it turned around," he said. "I didn't know how quick. There was a lot of questions when we first got there. We did a lot of Dr. Phil-ing early, and our guys came together and they believed."
Malzahn's up-tempo, spread offense is a combination of deception and power that seemingly gets better every game. Against Missouri in the SEC championship game, Auburn ran for 545 yards.
"Well, you have to have eye discipline," Fisher said. "Any time you have moving parts, any time you bring something in front of you, just like when you're driving, if somebody flashes a hand in front of you while you're driving down the road it makes you blink, it makes your eyes distracted and you get off of what you're looking at and then at the same time they become very physical with how they play, and you get yourself out of position, they knock you out of the way, and there's a four, five, eight, 10 or they break a run right up the middle."
Fisher has put together the most talented two-deep depth in the country, a collection of five-star recruits and NFL prospects reminiscent of coach Bobby Bowden's best Florida State teams. The Seminoles won two national titles under Fisher's Hall of Fame predecessor and played in the first three BCS title games. The Seminoles haven't been back since 2000.
A prodigy led them.
Winston turns 20 Monday. The redshirt freshman became the youngest player to win the Heisman Trophy, setting FBS freshman records for most yards passing by a freshman (3,820) and touchdown passes (38). His only problems came off the field. In November, a year-old sexual assault complaint against him was investigated by Florida prosecutors. After three weeks, the state attorney announced he did not have enough evidence to charge Winston. A week and a half later, Winston won the Heisman in a landslide vote.
The Seminoles outscored their opponents by 42 points per game and have not trailed since Sept. 28. Winston and the rest of the starters have spent most fourth quarters relaxing. The Atlantic Coast Conference was no match for the Seminoles. Will the lack of stiff, four-quarter tests and not the most difficult of schedules put Florida State at a disadvantage?
The âNoles say nonsense.
"I can't help that another team can't keep up with us," linebacker Telvin Smith said.
Florida State is also trying to break the SEC's grip on the national championship. The streak is at seven, but never has the SEC team been as big an underdog (Auburn is getting 8 1-2 points from oddsmakers).
The Seminoles are fine being the favorites.
"I'm glad everybody's calling Auburn a team of destiny," Winston said, "because at Florida State we control our own destiny."
Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here's why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.
Send questions/comments to the editors.


text:
If you have experienced scratchy, irritated eyes that are easily fatigued, you may have a medical condition called dry eye. Dry eye is characterized by inadequate tears to lubricate the eye surface and protect it. While some people dismiss dry eye as a minor irritation, it can be a sign of more significant underlying problems with eye health, requiring appropriate optometry care.
Who Is At Risk for Dry Eye?
Dry eye can affect anyone, no matter what their age or circumstances. However, certain groups of individuals are more likely to suffer from dry eye. Increasing age, use of certain medications, long-term contact use, medical conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or diabetes, jobs that require lengthy computer screen use, and environmental factors increase your risk of dry eye.
Causes of Dry Eye
There is not one single cause of dry eye; rather, the condition may have multiple origins. The underlying characteristic of dry eye is a lack of lubricating tears protecting the eye. Tears are an essential component of eye health. Composed of water, fatty oils, and mucus, a tear film covers the surface of your eye (also known as the cornea). As you blink, your eyelids spread tears across the cornea, while excess tears flow through small ducts in the inner corners of your eyelids. Tears lubricate the cornea, facilitate clear vision, prevent infection, and clear foreign particles from the eyes.
A common cause of dry eye is inadequate tear production, a medical condition called keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Decreased tear production is associated with age, gender, and other risk factors for dry eye; however, damage to the tear glands may also cause this problem.
Another cause of dry eye is poor tear quality. Problems with oil gland functioning, water production, or maintenance of a mucus layer lead to changes in tear quality. This disrupts the ability of the tear layer to lubricate and protect the eye, leading to irritation.
Structural problems with the eyelids may also lead to dry eye by reducing the effectiveness of blinking. Additionally, staring at a computer or phone screen reduces blinking frequency and may cause dry eye. Other causes include exposure to wind, dust, or other environmental factors that reduce tear effectiveness and irritate the eyes.
If you suffer from dry eye, one or more of these factors may be the underlying cause. To receive appropriate treatment, consult your optometrist for a thorough examination. Being proactive about your eye health ensures that your eyes function properly for years to come.
Mayo Clinic (2012). Dry eyes: Causes.
American Optometric Association (2012). Dry eye.


text:
HARTFORD CITY, Ind. (AP): An attorney who habitually appears in court without socks faces sanctions including possible fines if he shows up without them again in one Indiana courtroom.
Blackford Circuit Judge Dean Young issued an Aug. 25 order directing attorney Todd Glickfield of Marion to wear appropriate business attire, including socks and a tie, in future proceedings in Young's Hartford City courtroom.
Glickfield appeared without socks in Young's court on Aug. 22. The order says that during a break in proceedings, the court advised Glickfield that he wasn't appropriately dressed as required by court rules. The order says Glickfield replied, "I hate socks.''
The order also states Glickfield previously appeared in court without a tie and with an open-collared shirt.
A message seeking comment was left Wednesday at Glickfield's office.


text:
I am reminded of this because a dip down to the bottom of my virtual mailbag brings this query from Joan:
As a US-ian, I've always heard it used as "goatee" pronounced (sorry for the non-technical notation) [go-TEE]. My department manager is a UK-ian, and he uses the phrase "goatee beard" rather than just the word "goatee," and pronounces the first word [GOAT-ee] as if it were spelled "goatey" or "goatie." Is this a real US/UK difference?The answer to Joan's question, like most of my answers to most readers' questions, is "Yes, but..." In this case, yes, the difference is dialectal, but while a goatee beard-sayer will be British (if the choice is only between British and Americans) not every British English speaker will say goatee beard. The one I live with says goatee without the beard. I suspect it's a generational thing.
Goatee is originally an AmE word, and in AmE to say goatee beard would sound pleonastic, and it would grate, like saying robin bird or bungalow house. Which is not to say we're pleonasm-free. After all, we say crossword puzzle and tuna fish. It's just to say that goatee beard sounds weird and redundant to Americans because it's not what Americans say--we just say goatee. I did a quick comparison of a couple of newspapers just to check. The Boston Globe website has four examples of goatee beard, all of which come from UK sources. The (London) Times Online on the other hand, has 99 goatee beards and more than twice as many just plain goatees. So, goatee beard is not necessarily the norm in the UK, but it's definitely of this place.
(I liked this quotation in the OED from Isabella L. Bird's The Englishwoman in America:
As for the pronunciation, I have only heard initial stress on GOAtee when I've heard it before beard (though I am not sure that everyone who says goatee beard stresses it in that way). The OED does not record the GOAtee pronunciation, just the goaTEE one. I can think of two (and a half) reasons why the stress might've moved in this case: (1) the British like to move the stress to the front of words, which is where most native disyllabic English nouns would be stressed (recall our discussion of beret, ballet, etc.) and (1.5) maybe this need is particularly felt when the word is compounded, since we expect the first element in a noun compound to be more heavily stressed, or (2) perhaps he is thinking of goatee as an adjective meaning 'goaty'--after all, it's a beard that's like a goat's. I'm leaning toward(s) (1). But as I have prove{n/d} time and time again, I'm no phonologist--so I hope that someone with a better insight will be inspired to write an elucidating comment.
1856 I. L. BIRD Englishw. Amer. 366 They [Americans] also indulge in eccentricities of appearance in the shape of beards and imperials, not to speak of the 'goatee'.)


text:
46th Street and Cedar Avenue, part of West Philadelphia, on Sep. 21, 2021.
Our daily newsletter rounding up all of the top headlines from the DP. Get it Monday-Friday in your inbox. Free.
Sign up »34th Street Magazine's "Toast" is a semi-weekly newsletter with the latest on Penn's campus culture and arts scene. Delivered Monday-Wednesday-Friday. Free.
Sign up »Penn, Unbuttoned is Penn's only intentionally satirical newsletter, giving you your weekly dose of comedy from Under the Button every Wednesday. Free.
Sign up »Quaker Nation is a weekly sports newsletter covering all things Penn sports. Delivered Monday mornings to your inbox. Free.
Sign up »Recruiter's Row is a biweekly recruitment newsletter that keeps you up-to-date on all things employment related. Get it in your inbox every other Wednesday. Free.
Sign up »I've already signed up
The Daily Pennsylvanian is a student-run nonprofit.
Please support us by disabling your ad blocker on our site.
46th Street and Cedar Avenue, part of West Philadelphia, on Sep. 21, 2021.


text:
Free delivery on all orders.Orders placed from Monday to Friday will be delivered within 2 to 3 working days. No deliveries are made on weekends or public holidays.Standard delivery time: 3-4 working daysExpress delivery time: Same day or next day delivery within Beirut.
You may exchange ordered items within 15 days from receipt of your order, either in store, or online with extra shipping charges, terms and conditions apply.
Swarovski crystal is a delicate material that must be handled with special care. To ensure that your Swarovski product remains in the best possible condition over an extended period of time, please observe the advice below to avoid damage:Jewellery & Watches:Store your jewellery individually in the original packaging or a soft pouch to avoid damage.Polish your jewellery frequently with a lint free cloth to maintain its original sparkling condition.Our recommendation is, to always place the jewellery on last, as a finishing touch to an outfit.And don't forget to remove your Swarovski jewellery before washing your hands, swimming or using products such as perfume, hairspray, soap, or lotion. Such products may harm the metal, cause discoloration or cause a loss of crystal brilliance.Avoid contact that may scratch or chip the crystal.Crystal Creations & Home:Polish your product carefully with a soft, lint free cloth or clean it by hand with lukewarm water. Do not soak your crystal products in water. Dry with a soft, lint free cloth to maximise brilliance. Avoid contact with harsh, abrasive materials and glass/window cleaners.When handling your crystal, it is advisable to wear cotton gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints.
2 years warranty is offered on products that present any manufacturing defect.
Make your gift extra special at no extra cost by selecting a gift wrap.Add a greeting card with a personalised message inside.Delivery to a different address: All the items will be beautifully presented in a single gift bag. The package will include a warranty, but no invoice.
Your details are protected and safe with us.
Free shipping
2 years warranty
Need help? Contact us
Crystalline Bp Pen - Ros Green
Adding product to your cart
Free & Fast DeliverySame, next day delivery in Beirut3-4 days outside Beirut
Secure PaymentPay cash on delivery or by card, payment is 100% secure
Need help?


text:
Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
Disclaimer: Coles online aims to include in the product list up to date pictures of the products and accurate ingredients, nutritional information, country of origin and other information. However, product detail may change from time to time and there may be a delay in making updates. When precise information is important, we recommend that you read the label on the products you purchase or contact the manufacturer of the product. For therapeutic goods, always read the label and follow the directions for use on pack.
Retail limit: 20
Promotional limit: 12
Code: 3980051


text:
Discuss all things runDisney! Offer support, training ideas, great places to run on property, and chat about upcoming runDisney events.
Use this control to limit the display of threads to those newer than the specified time frame.
Allows you to choose the data by which the thread list will be sorted.
Order threads in...
Note: when sorting by date, 'descending order' will show the newest results first.
Forum Rules