All Over the Map

All my peeps, this is going to be a lengthy post because I'm just "All Over the Map" with great news, FOs, Yum-O treats, and anything else that sneaks into my post.

Breaking News
If you haven't already read or heard from "Scout" followers like me, is that Scout from "Scout's Swag", has signed a book deal to share, inspire, and teach all inquiring "dye-minds" about the "Dyeing" process. That is taking pure undyed wool and dyeing it into your own unique colorful yarn.

I've actually known about this for awhile, but I had to keep my lips sealed until Scout made the secret news public. When I took Scout's dye class awhile ago, she revealed the great news to her dye class students, and asked that we keep it on the down-low until her announcement, which came this past weekend. She announced it during a Y-Knit Podcast, which I have to say is a very good one. WonderMike & Stephen really are just wonderful with their Podcasts and Scout's Podcast has alot of good info in it, as well as info about her upcoming book.
Although we will have to wait awhile before we can get our hands on her book, expect it out in press around 2010, and if I'm lucky, I'll try my best to get my own signed copy. I'll end this by saying that Scout is very nice and very customer-service oriented, and great at her craft. Visit her at http://www.scoutj.com
Did I also mention that she is a photographer? She takes the most beautiful pictures too.

It's "Knitta" time
I did it! I finished my "Knitta Project 08" this weekend, and "knit tagged" my tree in front of my home. I know really that I should've of knit tagged
something out in public, like a stop sign pole, but I really wanted my 1st Knitta Tag to be in front of my house. I had such fun with this project, in all aspects. First I got to use my lighted knitting needles, and I got to take part in a tradition held by the Knitta Gang from Texas, and I got to use up some scrap yarn, and I got to display to my neighbors and passer-byers that there is a "Knitta Gal" living in my house. When I put it up earlier, I really thought my husband would think I was crazy, but
as always he appreciated it and liked it himself. Now onto my next knitta project, hmmm....

I'm just getting started
As I am an avid knitter, crafter, everything, I'm extremely passionate about cooking & baking, it is one of my favorite things to do. Before knitting, I spent alot of time researching about food prepping, food storage, food combinations, savory vs. sweet, traditional vs. modern, you name it. Some of my favorite chefs are, in no particular order:

~~Alton Brown "Good Eats"
I enjoy Alton because he really breaks food down into a science, and makes you understand the
physics behind food & he's goofy funny.

~~Giada DeLaurentis "Everyday Italian"
Giada's food is just perfect. It's always simple, elegant, and tasteful. I've cooked her recipes time and again, and there always delicous. I'm Mexican, but Italian is really my other love, right next to Mexican food.

~~Rachel Ray "30 minutes Meals"
What can I say, I just love Rachel. I've met her in person about 2 years ago, she was totally
nice and when I met her do you know what she said to me??? "Hello Gorgeous", such a compliment
from her! I was star struck, I didn't know what to ask her or tell her, all I could muster was
"I love your recipes". Her recipes are quick and Yum-O!

~~Ina Garten "Barefoot Contessa"
Hmm... Ina is just an all around faboulous chef. She has great ideas, and can mix up some
awesome drinks to go with her dishes. I love her methods, and her presentation.

~~Martha Stewart from ALL Marthas shows
This is the Queen herself, what can't she do?? My idol, who I strive to be, someday, even if
only in my dreams. Her recipes, methods, ideas, resourcefulness, I could go on and on

So now that you know my other passion, what I mean by "I'm just getting started" is that the holiday season is not far away, and during that time, I do a ton of baking and cooking. I'm at my happiest during this time of year, really I am, I'm just happy inside. I enjoy the smells, the feeling of warmth, the beautiful array of colors that nature takes on, the ambiance that the holiday's bring. I'm like a kid when I visit Michaels, because I just love seeing all the props for the holidays, and the scents. I'm starting to test out new recipes for baked goods and entree's, and this weekend I tried out a Chocolate chip Oatmeal Bar" recipe. I was a little skeptical on how these would taste, but boy, "YUM-O", they came out great. It's funny because normally when I make anything with Chocolate Chip morsels, its just all around sweet, but the Oatmeal ingredient in this recipe, really balances out the sweetness of the Chocolate Chips. When I eat one, I don't feel as guilty as if I'd eaten a cookie. And, after having these, I have all kinds of ideas of other combinations I can spin-off into, so I can feel myself just getting started for this upcoming holiday season 8-)


FOs from the past
I knitted the "K & K Cap" from Purlescence Yarns awhile ago, it was my first hat/beanie that I knitted. I used Cascade Cash Vero yarn in Black, and was just really proud of how it came out & how comfortable and soft it felt. Another fave of mines is this "Baby Purl Beanie" that I knitted using Lorna Laces Angel yarn. I can't remember the color, but it's just precious. I gave this as a present to my close friend/family for their new baby girl.

Whew.. now that's the end of this post.

P.S.
Tell me what do you prefer, short or long posts? Or are you in between? I prefer long, I read all sorts of blogs daily, so I like to have something to read, it's my version of the "morning newspaper".

With everything that I've wrote about, I had to provide pictures, so here yah go.....

Things happen fast!

I've been out of work since the beginning of May 2008, a result of a merger with my former company, left my former work headquarters obsolete, thus everyone was out of a job. On one hand it was nice to get a break after 7 years of service, on the other hand, I would've liked to have been able to keep my $$ from my monetary packages I received, but it didn't quite work out that way. I've been actively searching for work, been on many phone interviews, on-site interviews, questionnaires, etc., I've been doing it. Each time coming oh close to landing a job, but never actually panning out in the end.

Early last week I got contacted by an agency for a 3 month contract job, with strong possibility for extension and/or permanent status, and was told the job could literally be needed the next day. I was eager and ready, I really hate not having a purpose everyday, although I really forged ahead in the knitting/fiber adventures 8-)...anyways, I got a call the next day from the agency to find out that another agency beat them out, thus I being their candidate was A** out. And I thought I was going to have something to celebrate for 4th of July.

This was the Wednesday before the 4th, then late Thursday, Kathleen from the agency calls to tell me everything fell through with the other company, and turns out they'd like to meet me, but since the next day was the 4th, they felt sometime this week would work. So, I had alot to look forward to over this holiday weekend. Plus, the job was almost right in my back yard, Palo Alto, only about 30 minutes from my home.

On Monday, I felt that I would sleep in for a bit, until about 9:30 a.m., usually I get right up with my husband and never go back to sleep. So I set my cell phone timer, and in the middle of my dreams, I kept hearing my phone vibrate. I have a Blackberry, so I kept thinking, who's emailing me? I check it out and it's Kathleen to tell me that the company would like to meet me before noon! I rushed, got ready, and was on-site for an interview at 10:30 a.m. sharp. The interview went good, and I was told I would hear something soon.

Now, I can tell you, I've been through my share of these types of interviews, I feel there the worst because everything goes good, but yet you never hear anything? So Monday is over, Tuesday comes, and about 9:30 a.m., I get a call, they want to hire me and asked if I could start same day! I'm happy, yet annoyed because I'd like to be prepared. After it all, I made it for my first day of work, noon sharp on Tuesday. Today, was my official first full day of work, and the IT Lead for the site I'm supporting is going on vacation for a week starting Friday, which leaves Lil'O me for a week on my own after only being on board for 2 1/2 days. It's a nice biotech company, and the people are nice too. I'm liking it and only hope that I can handle the job solo while Bob (my co-worker) is out on vacation.

With all this going on, my knitting has taken a back seat for the first time in a long time....but I had the best presents waiting for me at home, courtesy of my local Mail Man. My VillageSpinWeave order for my Large Umbrella Swift & Ball Winder, arrived!!! I love these! So awesome! There are many projects that have been deterred because I didn't have a winder to make a yarn cake out of my skeins. I didn't care how hot I was, I set everything up, and picked up the Black Malabrigo skein, destined to be a beanie for my husband, and started winding! I purposely bought the Large Umbrella Swift for my frequent purchases of those large skeins. I took some pics of my new tools, and I know there a good investment for a yarnaholic like me. And I'll listen to Marisol good advice and not get "yarn cake" happy. 8-) I can't say which is prettier, the skein or yarn cake form? What do you prefer?? Why? I'd love to hear?

Stay cool everyone...literally!

~~Rocky