Long time coming...

Yes, yes, I know, I know, I'm sorry it's been so long...again. All I can really say is...that intern/externship took a lot out of me.

On the upside, it's nearly autumn, my most favorite season of all, hooray! Autumn puts me in the mood to knit, to bake, to read, to cuddle under the covers, to get all bundled up and go jump in some freshly raked leaves (so beware, neighbors!)...

As an update to my knitting, I am still working on my green shrug, nearly done with the right half of it. Never fear, I am committed to wearing it on my birthday, which is in October, so it better be done by then. Yes, I am threatening myself, don't question me!

Hopefully, by my next posting, I shall be gainfully employed and done with the shrug!

Until then, "Wear the old coat and buy the new book." ~Austin Phelps

It's been a while...

Aaaaand I'm back.

It's been too long between posts for my tastes, but I caught some wicked cold and between illness and working, I was just too pooped to post. But I'm feeling better now!

Haven't gotten nearly as much knitting done as I'd like, what with the yucky cold and all. But I've chosen my next project, because when you have two projects on the needles, it's definitely time to start looking for a third.

Check it out. It's the Suri Dream Throw from those amazing people at KnitPicks. Now I just need to decide what color to make it. I love those kinds of decisions.

So back to baking.

Today I worked in the kitchen at Sarah's. I made a bunch of Almond Moon cookies and oodles of truffle centers and I prepped a ginormous (yes, it's a word, don't question me) batch of pate sucree. My neck and feet are aching like crazy, but I feel lucky. Some of my classmates are having rough times in their internships.

I'm going to see X-Men: The Last Stand tomorrow night after work. Then I work Saturday morning, then go to the Cubs' game, then a cookout. Then I have Sunday and Monday off, yay!

In a complete non-sequitur, here are some pictures of my sexy kitty, Jules:


Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Day Off!

Tomorrow I get my first day off from the internship...yay! Very excited to sleep in. I'm planning on using my time to sleep, knit, clean, and catch up on my tivo.

Here's the pic of my dad's nearly finished pillow-that-ate-Chicago that I promised:


And here's a shot of said pillow with a standard size paperback book for scale:


Like I said, pillow-that-ate-Chicago...but a pretty one at that.

Thanks for all the lovely comments everyone's been sending me. Gives me the warm fuzzies, if I could and if I didn't think it'd take me until 2020, I'd send each of you a hand-knit scarf and some homemade chocolatey goodies.

Until next time...
"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."
--Mark Twain

Cubs Won!

Cubbies won last night. Yay!

Today at work I did macaroons, cut out turtles, and helped with toffee and carrot cake muffins. Stirring toffee is quite a work out! I also got to play more with the tempering machine, my new best friend. I'm also making friends with the fancy-schmancy espresso/latte/cappuccino machine.

Tonight I hope to knit more on the Panobo shrug while watching the finale of Top Chef.

If you get a chance, check out Care2, you can sign all sorts of petitions regarding various issues.

Go go gadget-activism!

First Day as an Intern

Well I survived my first day as an intern (I'm not calling myself an extern, it's dumb) at Sarah's. I frosted cupcakes and piped little chocolate filigrees to top the cupcakes with and made lots of coffee. It was fun and I adore working with their chocolate tempering machine, it will completely spoil me by the end of my internship.

It turns out I didn't need to get up at 4:30 am to get there in time, I was very early. Live and learn. Tomorrow I get to sleep in until 5:30 am. Woohoo!

Tonight my boyfriend and I are going to the Cubs game, they play the Nationals who have a worse record than they do and Zambrano is pitching, so I have hope.

Hopefully, I'll get a little knitting in before bed tonight.

In the meantime, here are some pictures of stuff I did at school.

Mini-Apple Tart in Puff with Warm Cranberry Compote and Sugar Boink

Tempered Chocolate Box with Confectionery

Pulled Sugar Basket with Blown Sugar Fruits

Just a sampling, I need to get my artsy creative sister to take pictures for me, because I kind of suck at it.

Go Cubs!

Wilkommen! Bienvenue! Welcome!

Just because I didn't have enough to do (see below), I decided to start a blog. I imagine this will be primarily knitting- and dessert-related, but who knows what else might sneak its way in.

So.

What I'm doing right now:

1. Starting my externship (yes it's the same thing as an internship, no I don't know why my school calls it that) at Sarah's Pastries and Candies - a delightful little shop in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago, stop by and buy something delicious! This means I get to get up tomorrow at 4:30am...YAY!
2. Going to Cubs games and hoping desperately that they win.
3. Knitting Berroco's Panobo shrug in a glorious green color...

1. Finishing my dad's Hannukah present (sorry, Dad) a pillow-that-ate-Chicago from Melanie Falicks' amazing Handknit Holidays. It's been on the needles since December '05 ~shudder~ I just need to stuff it and seam up the last side...pics to follow.
   
2. Trying to keep my tivo below 90% full.

So as you can see, starting a blog now = brilliant idea.