a lack of yarniness, but lots of indecisiveness

I just realized that since I finished my crochet bag, I haven't even touched any yarn. None. Haven't even had an urge to play with yarn. I have been spending more time of late on photo-based ventures however so maybe that's the cause. I've also been cooking a bit more - vegan lasagna anyone? Yum! I'm sure my knitting- and crochet-mojo will return once the temps start to dip once again.

I've also started to pack... though I still haven't completely decided exactly where I'm moving. I can't decide. Seattle area? Portland/Vancouver area? Both areas have so many pros on the list and really, very few cons... they balance each other out. The weather's even pretty similar (and I don't really mind the rain). I just can't decide! Every time I think I've made a decision, something pops up and makes me lean the other way. I think the hardest part is that I know I could be very happy with either choice. So what to do? Pick one out of a hat? heh Seriously, any advice would be greatly appreciated!

5 days... what a difference!

I spend 5 days a week in front of my computer for work. Toward the end of every week, I am tired, I am bored, I am yearning for it to end.

I spent the past 5 days sitting in front of my computer watching a live photography workshop broadcast from Seattle. At the end? I didn't want it to end and was yearning for more. This is the fourth workshop I've been able to watch online this year and I just. can't. get. enough.

There's a big lesson there.

I'm working on a 6-month plan with a LOT of changes in the works. I'm excited. =)

Extra tofu?

Make mousse pie!

I used only 1/2 cup silken tofu for my lemon bars and since a package is 16 oz, that left me with a whole lot of an open container to use. I wasn't in a smoothie mood so... I pulled out my favorite vegan cookbook of late and searched for recipes calling for silken tofu. Chocolate mousse! Seriously, YUM! I subbed peppermint extract for the vanilla called for and use the chocolate brownie crust recipe from the same cookbook. The crust was only okay. I won't use it again without some serious tweaking, but the idea was good. A simple chocolate graham crust would have worked wonderfully had I doubled the mousse recipe. Next time. =P

Weights and measures

I can weigh yarn... and anything else up to 5lb.

Why it took me so dang long to break down and buy a scale, I'll never know. lol But I finally did. Saw one on sale at Kroger (of all places) walking down the baking aisle. Should I want to use this for cooking, that front readout portion actually extends forward to compensate for larger bowl/container overhang and of course, there is a tare function. Unlike the small postage scale I had years ago, this one also has replaceable batteries so I won't have to chuck it when the batteries die (as I did with #1). That's one thing I try to remember to check before buying any electronic gadget these days. =) So, no more eyeballing the remnants of skeins of yarn trying to figure out how much I used or if I have enough left for a particular project - yay! Funny enough, of the ones I weighed today, I guessed pretty dang close on nearly every one! Hmm, maybe I didn't need to spend that $20 after all...

Something you have to see

In case you haven't already found this blog on your own...

check out WooWork.com.

This guy is so creative with a bit of yarn and a hook... and a sense of humor. =)

Sweet, tart and a little twisted

I finished the bag I'd started in my last post. No finished pics yet though. The bag itself has been done a couple weeks, but I still need to find a strap for it. Just haven't made it to a store that has that sort of thing quite yet.

I also started a scarf.

I'm about halfway done and planning to make a hat and gloves with the same yarn. It'll go well with my chocolate brown wool coat. =)

I also baked just a bit.

A little sweet, a little tart... lemon bars! Haven't had these since I was a kid so when I saw these in The Joy of Vegan Baking, I just had to try 'em out. Seriously, good eats! =)

Chik'n... from scratch! (and a little crochet)

To add to my "comfort food" weekend... I tried the chik'n seitan recipe from Vegan Comfort Food.

How have I not made this before now?! It's so incredibly easy! Just vital wheat gluten, soy flour and some water, then cooked in a broth. I actually breaded and baked these for oven-fried chik'n (recipe from the same cookbook). I'll tweak the seasonings in the breading a bit next time, but it was good as written. Definitely another winner!

I also started something new on the yarny front...

details to follow when it takes more shape. =)