Tatto talk... and more camera troubles.

Why oh why does technology fail me!? My lovely father works for IBM, I get free tech support, nice techie gifts, etc. But HOLY HELL everything effs up on me. My camera card reader (that would be the brand new one, folks) was fried my one of the ports on my laptop, dammit, and now I need another one. So no pics for a while.

But I have tattoo art! Kristin of Silver's Sock class fame, KBelle on Ravelry, designed me an ambigram Knit/Purl tattoo. *swoon* I love it! I just need to go get it done now.

I am not posting a pic of the art, cause, well, I don't want you to steal it. lol.

Mwah!

...on going Gluten Free

Ah. French Bread. Bagels. Whole Wheat toast when you are sick. A Reuben sandwich. Beer.


Or, being able to order out at restaurants without an intimate knowledge of the kitchen.....


Apparently I must say goodbye to (most) of these things. At least without a lot of prep and alterations. I have recently come to the realization that I am at least gluten intolerant. (Lets face it, I am willing to be in the dark on whether I am intolerant or actually have Celiacs Disease. Damage is Damage, and gluten causes it in me)

So the past month or so I (and my family) have been on this little foray into the world of Gluten free cooking, gluten free living, and gluten free outings. It's been interesting, to say the least. I have, in about a month...

~Discovered that two local liquor stores carry a gluten free beer that is made out of sorghum and tastes delish.
~Discovered that approximately 50% of the gluten free breads out there available to purchase taste like crap. But, thank the bright stars above us, Whole Foods has an entire line from their Gluten Free Bakery (they have a Celiac baker, guess they didn't want to lose him...) that is amazing! Cheddar biscuits, scones, mmm. I can't wait to try the pie crust.
~Fumed and flustered about over the fact that while my dear son flourishes on a GF diet (behavior problems, gastrointestinal issues, and skin "stuff" led us down the path to gluten free in the first place) he backtracks quickly when he has consumed gluten (among various other lovely food choices) at my ex husbands house...
~Hosted a dinner, and a girls night "in" at my house with entirely GF menus, to the delight of all. Apparently Brie and Fig Jam on crackers doesn't need gluten injections, no matter what hubby says.
~Made acquaintances with some new and old friends, like Quinoa, Teff, Millet, Tapioca, and Rice .
~Stumbled deliriously upon a GF alternative foods store literally less than a mile from my house, that has been there for ages. I think the owner there is a little worried for me, as I hugged her with teary eyes the first itme I went in...
~ Felt better than I have in years and years.

My list of heroes now include Danna Korn, founder of R.O.C.K. (Raising Our Celiac Kids) and the author of several books, including Gluten Free Living for Dummies. Along with The Gluten Free Girl.

It isn't nearly as hard as it sounds, and sometimes it is every bit as hard as it sounds. But I feel great, and more than that I know that even a "little cheat" can cause damage, leading to other immune problems, disorders, even cancers later in life.

So, my house is now gluten free. (except for hubby's shelf. And the gluten injector I promised him for Christmas. He feels his apples may be tastier with a little glutenization)


Shell

Christmas List,,,

So I have a list a 60 in circular needle long to knit, for the kids, the spouse, and friends. I thought I would type it all out and keep a bit organized...

Addie -

1 pair LTK felted mocs - DONE
1 pair Knitty Knucks in Lion brand wool ease
Hermione doll with Crookshanks (if not more HP characters. If anyone has a pattern for this so I don't have to cobble my own thing together, I would love to hear it!)
Head wrap, maybe a calorimetry, or something

Riley -

1 Pair LTK Felted Mocs
1 pair Knitty Knucks in LB Wool Ease
Hagrid Doll, a dragon (He wants Norbert to be able to come out of an egg. Yeah, my kids think I am super wonder knitter....) and Fluffy the three headed dog. Sigh. They would like a whole slew of characters, but I want to at least give them a bit to get started with the promise of more to come.
That hat with the face thing on the latest knitty. What the hell is it called? Riley LOVES this.


Bodhi -

1 pair LTK Felted Mocs - Halfway done
A wee gnome in Peace Fleece or handspun scraps
Maybe a bulky sweater, if I have the time. But as he won't really "get" Xmas this year, I am more focused on the older two. Jason and I decided to wrap a couple of empty boxes with shiny stuff and that will be more fun than anything I could knit. lol


Jason -

LTK felted mocs. Jason has these old, worn Homer Simpson slippers that he loves but they are so holey. He wont give them up but I am going to make some anyway for when he actually needs something warm. I might even try for a Homer face on the top. Because I, apparently, am crazy
I don't know what else he and I are doing for each other for Xmas. Money is tight and I just don't think we need to really spend money on each other. We plan on using Xmas money to buy a family membership to the Frank Buck Zoo.

Lindsay and her fam

Neener. I am not telling, because Lindsay, you are probably the only one who actually reads my blog. So there



Seriously if anyone has a pattern for the HP characters I would LOVE to know. Right now I plan on Kimberly Chapman's little dude pattern, modified. But Norbert? Crookshanks? Fluffy? Holy Hell.

A Wee Little Sprite

I knit this little gal for an MDC mama. I am thinking about selling then on my Etsy store, waddya think?

I have in mind needlefelted artwork on the hat, stars, flowers, vines. hmmm.

Oh and apparently, this little elflet liked my spinning wheel.

The Mullet Hat

Awww. Well, it wasn't supposed to be a mullet, so much...

I used Caron "Black Magic" I think.
Top down, Magic Loop, made it up as I went along...
And, um, a Short Row Mullet
Cute little top knot head
Gratuitous Tooth Picture.


***No part of this post is meant to endorse the use of Mullets, knit or otherwise***

LTK Picky pants.... Again

Yes, more cloth diapering stuff... Awww. look at his cute tushie!

I knit these in (kind've) a size medium, 1x1 rib waist with crochet drawstring (yarn held double for cord), icord bind off and a simple cable running down the leg. Used just a hair over 2 skeins of Peace fleece in the Ancient Fern. Took me forevah to complete them as I have been spinning a lot, and babe doesn't want me to do housework, let alone knit!

Hey look ma, I'm Spinning!

So, I've been busy....
This is my current favorite.... "Fresh" is a navajo plied domestic wool. I first acid dyed the top, then spun a freakishly large amount of single, then navajo plied it. This is my bestest navajo ply ever. The color changes stayed true and separate through the whole thing with occasional wisps of twisting together. It's gorgeous! "Nagini" is a bulgy, thick and thin single, domestic wool

"Berry Sweet" is a two ply, domestic wool, very squishy! Mmmm.... BFL..... This Stuff Is AWESOME. Super silky, hand dyed in my "Harvest" colorway, then spun into a two ply skein of gorgeousness....
"Rainy Day Tweed" is a tightly spun two ply sock yarn. I plied a charcoal single with a blue/silver/ivory single to make a shadowed semi varigated. It's so cool.

What else. Mmmm. I knit Lindsays daughter a wee little gnome. Its her favorite birthday prezzie apparently. And she named it after my husband. LOL. Jason the Baby Gnome. Classic.

I will see if she has a picture, because I (ahem) knit it up the day before her party. Crap, where did that pattern go???