A Virtual Toast to the New Year

May the New Year be without financial fear,
May all that is dear to you heart be safe,
And may all the news we hear be good.

Seasons

In this case Celestial Seasonings. A friend and I went on the tour yesterday. It was lovely day for trip to Boulder. We got up there in time for the 11:30 tour as part of the peach group. Turns out the tour tickets were sample packets of their tea, a different type for each time. I really enjoyed the tour. The mint room was a bit overwhelming with spearmint and peppermint bales stacked to the ceiling. The menthol was very clearing. If you get a chance this is a really nice tour. I have my souvenir hair net and this cute individual tea pot I picked up in the gift shop.

Our guide suggest some other free tours near by. We headed over to the Western art museum at Leaning Tree. The whole collection is owned by one of the founders of Leaning Tree. A lot of museums and art galleries probably turn green when they see. The art starts outside with bronze sculptures and then there are three galleries inside.

And of course there was a stop at Shuttles, Spindles, and Skeins. Another skein of yarn followed me home along with a book.

Day After Christmas Shopping

I tend to be crowdaphobic but the only way to have a choice on engagement calendars is to head out after the day after Christmas. We always get one or two calendars for Christmas but never know what they will be. So, I fill in the holes after Christmas and brave the crowds.

The calendars were flying off of the shelves when I went to the store. Something about 50% off was working its magic. I found a Dilbert engagement calendar for by the phone and a tiger wall calendar. These were added to the trout wall calendar, DUH, Naughty Cats, and Knitting Page A day calendars.

After the line in the store, I thought I would grab a snack in the food court. Once, in the food court, I decided I didn't need to stand in another line.

My fun piece of shopping was before the mall trip. I stopped in a Knitted Peace and used my gift certificate towards Nancy Bush's 'Knitting Lace of Estonia' book. I have been eyeing the book before it was distributed. Any bets on how long it takes me to do a project out of it?

Stash Knit Down 2008 Didn't Work

I joined the Stash Knit Down 2008 Group on Ravelry this year around August. At that point, I think my stash was at a high number. It looks like no matter what I do, it is going to end higher by about seven items.

Here is why:
1. Purchase card - who can resist adding the last $20 dollars on a frequent shopping card and then using it? Obviously, not me. I have been trained well by the merchants.
2. Sales - I do better with this. I manage to not go to the stores about 70% of the time when I see the sale notice. When I do go to a sale, yarn follows me home.
3. Coupons- I believe I only use them when I am already planning on something. This maybe slightly delusional, maybe the coupons make me think of things to buy.
4. Enablers - Yes, every so often someone shows off a 'got to have'. I take advantage at the next opportunity.
5. Lack of Guilt - I don't feel I need to hide my purchase from anyone unless it is a gift. Honestly, if I can not afford it, I don't buy it. I like food more than yarn amongst other things.
6. Exchanges - I have trouble parting with my yarn. If there is an exchange, I go buy something for it and then have more yarn.
7. Gifts - People give me yarn. I am not going to turn it down. Who doesn't want something that gives them hours of fun.
8. Spinning - My roving isn't officially part of the stash until it can be knit. If I am spinning, I am not knitting. I really don't think this should count but it does.

The pictures are my two new stash items. They are the result of number 6 and 7.

Maybe, next year the stash will decrease and not explode out of the closet.

Recipe Review

I have tried three recipes over the past few months.

The first was Salmon "Bulgogi" with Bok Choy and Mushrooms out of the June Bon Appetit. I skipped the Bok Choy and Mushrooms. Our vote was that "The Best of Alaska" has better recipes. If we ever do a repeat of the recipe, I am skipping the sesame oil or replacing it with olive oil. We thought it brought out a faint fishy taste.

The second recipe was 'Braised or Broiled Pork Chops' out of "Capitol Cuisine Recipes from the Hill A Bipartisan Cookbook" . The sauce and smell are good but the pork chops dried out.

'Dakota Bean Stew' out of Capitol Cuisine is a keeper. I will have to admit to modifying the recipe. I dumped more beans, celery, onion, and pepper in than it called for. If I am chopping I add the whole bell pepper not just part as a general rule. Also, trying to divide 14 ounces out of 20 ounces of beans just isn't something I do. The liquid got reduced. I think there might be a mistake. I don't see how that much liquid fits in a Dutch Oven. It is good and worth a try.