Go Team Nature!

This story in my local newspaper makes me surprisingly happy. Despite all odds (hello urban sprawl!), nature is taking back the neighborhood.

It's kind of cool to think that areas that seem so settled are still, really, quite wild.

Get On the Chain Gang!

The Food Chain that is!

I am really excited to announce that I have been chosen to participate in the Blake Makes Food Chain. Thanks Blake!!

What's happening is this - Blake has asked bloggers throughout the country to take a video camera (that he is generously sending around), tape a food story that is meaningful to them and then pass the camera on to the next person.

My turn is coming up in March. I don't know what I'm going to do yet, but have some ideas percolating in my head. Stay tuned and check out the Food Chain page for some great food videos.

My Favorite Things - Part 2

This is actually a new favorite thing, but wow! where has it been all my life.

I am talking about the Amano Artisan Chocolate Jembrana bar. Mmmmm . . .

I was fortunate to be able to sample this delight through a giveway on Blake Makes. Prior to receiving the Jembrana bar, my main chocolate loves had consisted of the Lindor Truffles and Kit-Kats (don't judge me!).

I had never really tried "artisan" chocolate and was not so sure it would be anything special. Boy, was I wrong. The texture was smooth and thr flovor was rich without being bitter. A very easy treat to enjoy. I would definitely class this as an indulgence, but well worth it for special occasion (or really bad day) imbibement.

Get thee to the store now and try it. You won't be dissapointed.

My Favorite Things - Part 1

The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory at Como Zoo in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Nothing helps kick the mid-winter blues like spending time in a super warm and humid space surrounded by green things and blooming things.

Brrr!

Greetings from the frozen tundra! Okay, not really, it's just Minnesota which only feels like the frozen tundra today.

I listen to the news in the morning while getting ready. Today, they kept saying things like "coldest day in 5 years" and "schools closed" and "the end is nigh". All of which made me think that I needed to assess the situation for myself.

I first checked the super cool digital weather station that we have (the top line is supposed to be outside information).

Hmm . . . it doesn't seem to be reading any temperature at all. Odd.

So then, I checked the gauge outside the back door . . .

Well that's not promising. Crap, but it is pretty old.

So, I resigned myself to my fate, put on my warmest coat and mittens, grabbed my purse and headed out the door for work.

I knew it was really cold when the car complained about starting. And it's new. Ugh. As I sat there shivering, I remembered that I have an outside temperature reading thing on my dash. Well, there's still hope. It can't possibly be that cold. let's just see what that says . . .

Yeah, I guess it really is as cold as they say.

I'll be here huddled in my warm coat until the thaw, maybe in June. Send yarn! And firewood! Ooo! And one of those dogs with the little barrels of brandy on its collar would be awesome too. Thanks!!!

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas . . .

I have decamped to the Pacific Northwest for the holidays and am enjoying tons and tons of snow. While we in MN are very well equipped to handle this, Seattle and Portland are not. We are doing a lot more walking than driving and enjoying the cities just the same.

I've never been to either city before and am doing my best to enjoy them despite the poor weather conditions. I am a Starbucks addict, so we made a point of heading down to Pike's Place Market in Seattle to visit the flagship store.

And you know I hit some knitting store out here too. I heartily recommend Hilltop Yarn in the Queen Anne are of Seattle, Twisted in Portland and the Dublin Bay Knitting Company, also in Portland. Thank you so much to the gracious staff/owners I met in each. I hope to return one day soon.


Also on the knitting front, I finished and blocked all of my Christmas knits before we left - hooray!!!!! I hope my family and friends love them (or at least humor me and pretend to).


Today, we are in Portland and tomorrow we are heading out of the city a ways to spend Christmas with my husband's family in a town called Dufur. In-laws . . . think happy thoughts for me.

Have a wonderful and joyous holiday season and stay warm!

The World's Cutest Pug Strikes Again

Updates on holiday knitting coming soon (spoiler - I finished!!).

For now, I give you this: