is trying to get Joomla extension to recognize PEAR SOAP package & failing miserably. FRUSTRATION.
is going out for a much-needed run.
Just completed a 6.12 km run with @runkeeper, check it out http://bit.ly/py3Y1 #runkeeper
RT @chrisgander: just heard our smash-hit Mobile X-Ray Scanner application was mentioned on ROVE last night…. Did anyone catch it?
is wishing the Snook good luck on his first day at #geekdom!
B.A. Baracas Sock Monkey. As an accomplished sock monkey artist myself, I have to say that’s one of the best ones I’ve ever seen! I’m all about people who push the sock monkey medium.
is starting second half of marathon meeting, fortified with tea. I’ve run out of yarn tho, so it’ll be more tweeting & less knitting.
is losing the will to live. Let’s wind it up, ladies! Brain dribbling out my ears…
is finally relaxing on the couch with some yummy stew and fresh bread. Loooong day. Jumper turned out great tho: http://tinyurl.com/c3lg8z
is twittering in the dark. I wish the only candles we have didn’t have competing scents. #earthhour #sydney
@crumpet Same here! I looooove changing the sheets. I swear I sleep better.
@ljc Hold up. There exists a clothes dryer that finished a load in 15 minutes?? Does it require rocket fuel or something?!
@randomknits You’re the knitting juggernaut of 2009. I’m just glad you didn’t enter an Aran too! Congrats… 🙂
is starting second half of marathon meeting, fortified with tea. I’ve run out of yarn tho, so it’ll be more tweeting & less knitting.
is losing the will to live. Let’s wind it up, ladies! Brain dribbling out my ears…
has refilled the tea. We’re on to the infamous Archives issue now. Yikes.
is finally relaxing on the couch with some yummy stew and fresh bread. Loooong day. Jumper turned out great tho: http://tinyurl.com/c3lg8z
is twittering in the dark. I wish the only candles we have didn’t have competing scents. #earthhour #sydney
Earth Hour has started! The only light in the house is coming from two candles and two laptops (on battery power).
The Snook and I watched the “Barley” episode of Good Eats last weekend, and I became obsessed with his lamb and barley stew. I picked up the ingredients Monday night (one lamb shoulder, one bag pearl barley, three carrots). I soon realized I had a problem. The original recipe actually calls for barley grits. Well, neither Coles nor Harris Farm had that. Snookums did some research and found this recipe, where someone in the same dilemma decided to make her own. We decided to follow her advice. (You can’t just substitute plain pearl barley, as it takes a lot longer to cook.)
Thursday night Snookums roasted the barley in a pan on low heat for an hour, stirring occasionally. Then he whizzed it up in our spice grinder (an old coffee grinder) to chop it up a bit. Meanwhile, I went to town on the lamb shoulder with a big sharp knife. We browned the lamb in seasoned flour, then combined the carrot, lamb, barley, and chicken stock. It then cooked for about 35 minutes. I was worried that with so few ingredients, it might be bland. I WAS SO WRONG. It was all nutty, roasty, lamby goodness. I couldn’t get enough of it. It’s so warming and filling. This is the perfect recipe for winter. I highly, highly recommend it, especially if you can find the barley grits pre-made. But I’d say it’s still worth the extra work even if you can’t…
It’s finished! I dragged the Snook out for a photoshoot this morning. There’s a slight visible line from my drying rack across the front, but I’ve already steamed it out for Show delivery. The light was too nice not to go for the photographs right away.
As I said on Ravelry, I kinda feel like crying a little bit, like when I finished my first half-marathon. This WAS a marathon. Getting to the finish line is just such a relief. Regardless of whether it wins anything, I think this may be the knitting project that I am most proud of. Thanks to all you guys for your great comments, advice, and encouragement.
More photos are on my Ravelry project page and on Flickr.
The pattern is “Na Craga” from Alice Starmore’s Aran Knitting. Unfortunately the book is out-of-print and used copies sell for hundreds of dollars. Luckily a kind Raveler was willing to share hers with me so I could knit it.
I ended up using 19 skeins of Naturally Harmony 10ply. The last skein (used for the collar) is a different dye lot, but I can’t spot the difference at all. The twisted ribbing was done on 4.5mm needles, with the body and sleeves being done on 5mm. It took me nearly four months to do the actual knitting, and then the sewing up took another two weeks. It’s being entered in the 2009 Sydney Royal Easter Show Arts Competition in class #119 (Aran Knitting). I’ll update if/when it wins a prize!
@randomknits Woot! Na Craga is blocking at home as we speak. Did you spot any worthy competitors on the tables?
@wookie_man Some random chicks: http://twitpic.com/2hfex. You only just missed out though!
@kellymcmahon You forgot to add: “Also, I’m in love with her.”
is lamenting that my blog seems to be momentarily borked. Will give the host a few more minutes before blasting off a support ticket.
is a fan of Quadrahosting, really, but I’m getting sick of support msgs that assume I’m a complete dumbass. THE SITE IS DOWN FOR A REASON.
@knitness I told you it was an addiction! Socks are like the crystal meth of the knitting world.
@acatinatree Well, you’ll have one more newbie on Monday, finally! Although if you can get him to sign up to Twitter, I’ll eat my hat. 🙂
is happy that my site is back up. Enquiring minds need to know the potential perils of not shampooing and the merits of pet goats.
is drinking beer and contemplating which Guitar Hero song to perform. Friday arvos rock.
@randomknits @knitabulous Seriously? An all chick rock band is a personal dream of mine. I claim bass or vocals.
is relieved that both of my fears were unrealized. Na Craga is nearly dry and ready to be delivered. And my hangover is manageable. WIN.
is at first meeting of new Guild Exec meeting. Trying to keep my head down and avoid drama!
is lamenting that my blog seems to be momentarily borked. Will give the host a few more minutes before blasting off a support ticket.
is a fan of Quadrahosting, really, but I’m getting sick of support msgs that assume I’m a complete dumbass. THE SITE IS DOWN FOR A REASON.
is happy that my site is back up. Enquiring minds need to know the potential perils of not shampooing and the merits of pet goats.
is drinking beer and contemplating which Guitar Hero song to perform. Friday arvos rock.
is relieved that both of my fears were unrealized. Na Craga is nearly dry and ready to be delivered. And my hangover is manageable. WIN.
is at first meeting of new Guild Exec meeting. Trying to keep my head down and avoid drama!
is cringing. Appointing Secretary is turning into a major bugbear.
is relieved that Kate is in. Phew.
Hooray! Mikey Filmmaker (who won this year’s Oscar Contest) has finally received his Batman and Joker sock monkeys. I’m glad they went to somebody who truly appreciates them! 🙂
My name is Kris. I’ve been blogging since the 90’s. I live in Sydney, Australia, and I spent most of my career in the tech industry.
No AI used in writing this blog, ever. 100% human-generated.
Woot, my knee-jerk don’t-overthink-it pub-quiz answer was Iran which seems to be [✓]. I ‘knew’ it was more populous than…
Congrats and to many more 🙌🏽
My home economics teacher taught us to use “J cloths” as press cloths. (Cellulose cleaning cloths). The upside of using…
Special thanks to Matt Hinrichs for the site logo!
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