My girl climbs rocks now (Red River Gorge). How cool is that?  

It’s been said “life is what happens while you are making other plans.” But, that’s not to suggest it’s not helpful, prudent even, to make lists, notes and, well, plan. So I’ve decided to  ask myself (go ahead, ask yourself too)….. What’s working for me? What’s not  working for me?  What do I want to accomplish? What do I find helpful (or not so helpful)? What makes me happy (unhappy)? All good questions, wouldn’t you say? Here begins my series of Notes To Self. Bear with me while I think outloud ~

• It’s just a fact of life. After September, yarn just takes longer to dry here in the Midwest. Summer dyeing hours are soooo over. Must start the dyeing process at least two days sooner than I normally would. Fall in the Midwest  = rain. Lot’s of rain.
• Must take pics while the sun is shining. Period. Drop everything  and take pictures. If not it could be days  before there is decent lighthing to be had.
• Hmmmm. Maybe if I ask Bob (being the swell guy he is)  he’ll investiage a better light box/lighting solution. By January we’ll be doing good to see any sun at all.
• Scheduled shop updates  work and I love them (though they tend to get a little crazy). But, so do random ones and I love those too.  It’s so fun when  I’ve had a sneak update and people get so excited because they were able to nab a skein (or two or six) that they wouldn’t have (or haven’t) been able to nab before. Sort of levels the playing field a smidge. Which brings me to…. I’m thinking that  I’d like to have one sneak update a month. How  I’m thinking it will work is: I will go in and  make an update  and then l’ll post in The Plucky Knitter Group in Ravelry and  on my website here  that I’ve done a sneak update. What do you think? Do you like that idea?
• I have the best customers/blog readers/yarny friends. Ever. Thank you.
• Really want to knit another sweater. I’ve started a second Ingenue….. but now I’m thinking something different. Something reddish/pink…..

Makes Me Smile –   Plucky Knitter100% Cashmere Aran

Pumpkin Latte – 100% Cashmere Aran Weight to appear in the next shop update.  

Thank you! Thank you! For your overwhelming interest in this round of sign-up’s for Plucky Classics! I had to shut the sign-up’s down early as it was filled up, but no worries, there will be more. I promise!

The first weekend of Fall – sounds like a time to cook, doesn’t it? Here’s a recipe I just love….

Apple Crisp ~ this recipe is a somewhat modified version of a family recipe.

• Peel, core and slice 4 to 6  medium, tart cooking apples (Rome Beauty, Golden Delicious, Granny Smith)
• 2/3  cup packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup flour
• 2/3 cup either quick-cooking or old-fashioned oats
• 1 stick butter (there have been times where I’ve had to add a little more butter).
• 1 tsp cinnamon (or more to taste – I like mine nice and cinnamon spicey so I usally add just shy of two tsps).
• Heat oven to 375 F.
• Grease bottom and sides of pan – either an  8×8 or a pie plate works great.
  Arrange apples in pan. Mix remaining ingredients. Sprinkle over apples. Bake about 30 minutes or until topping is golden brown and apples are tender.
• To mix things up a bit – I’ve been known to throw in dried cherries. Or to get really decadent – caramels. And, in the interest of full disclosure – I double the crisp portion of the recipe. People love love double crisp.

So, tell me… what are your favorite comfort foods? Favorite Fall foods?

Comfort knitting  = Socks. Really? Is there anything else?

And, finally got a finished photo of the National Park Socks.

 To sign up and for more information….

It’s that time again! I’ve opened up a few spots in the Plucky Classics Club – won’t you join us?

The.Best.Ever. Be sure to add more tabasco.

It’s a shop update tonight….. 8:00 p.m. EST.

Storm The Castle – MCN Fingering

Florin – Merino Superwash

Brute Squad – MCN Fingering

Miracle Max – Single Ply Worsted

Phew ~ I’m so glad to  be home (though I could totally see myself living in Seattle – who knows? Maybe someday….). I missed my Sam, my bed and, well, keeping up with all of you. And, if you can believe it,  I was  itching to get back to the dye pots. So, let’s have a little re-cap, shall we?  

Bear with me while I go in and  out of chronological order with my trip pictures. You’ll still get the feel for it, I promise.  **Warning – Picture Heavy Post**

First, there was Mt. Rainier

First full day after Bob arrives and we decide to venture to Mt. Rainier. I envision a nice drive through the park, stop and take a few pictures, lunch and coffee in the Lodge, that sort of thing. Bob envisions something all-together different. So, off we go on a six mile hike, or so he tells me (later I find out it was more like 8 miles – either way, it was long). And, of course, being that I am a flip flop sort of gal, I had the wrong shoes.  No worries though because Bob, being the uber prepared hiker that he is, had an extra pair of shoes for me – so I cinched them up tight and off we went. (I wasn’t about the have a repeat of this).

Something funny happened along the way – I fell in love with hiking. Total love. Think it was a combination of the incredible scenery, the great exercise, all the great photo opportunities and, of course, watching Bob have all sorts of fun. Those that know me well are completely scratching their heads upon reading this…. really guys, Bob and I are planning a hiking trip. Hey, Ben and Whitney – you guys up for it?

Hollowed out tree. Apparently we weren’t the only ones that liked it – it was covered with carvings and initials. We left without leaving our initials, but had to take a peek inside.

Just because I love this shot.

Next up – Olympic National Park - Hurricane Ridge area

More hiking, this time at Olympic. And, this time, Bob didn’t have to give me a hard sell – I was ready to go!

I felt like such a Von Trapp.

This just made me laugh.

We actually saw a bear – about ten feet from the front bumper of our car. Of course, the one time I don’t have the camera attached to my left eye, I miss it – MUCH to Bob’s dismay. I’ll never live it down.

After the bear photo fiasco I wouldn’t put the camera down and was able to snap a pic of this little guy – right outside my car window.

This trail was at quite and incline – but very clear, so it lent itself nicely to some on-the-go knitting.

In his defense – it was very sunny. But, that’ll teach him not to wear moisturizer with an SPF. He looks a little like Emperor Palpatine.

Perfect end to a long day of hiking. Paddy Coyones. A little out of the way (took the long way back from Olympic to Seattle) but Bob said I earned it. Soda bread alone is worth the drive. That and the Smithwicks.

But, what about all the yarn-y stuff?

My intrepid guide (and ever so gracious host and knitting teacher extraordinaire)  to all that is yarny in Seattle – the dear Naomi. But, wait, I had other guides too~

Naomi, Ellen (the fastest knitter, either side of the Mississippi, sweet Amy  and the ever so helpful Deb (Bob will be eternally grateful for the hiking advice)  at Village Yarn and Tea – Spin Night.

Trophy Cupcakes. Be sure to check out the video of her appearance on The Martha Stewart Show – I want, no MUST make the S’more Cupcakes. (Beth – I think we need to make these in November….. just putting you on notice).

I know there is more that I’m missing, but land sakes this is  a long post. I’ll be back with more,  lots more.

Anyway, long story short, we LOVE the Pacific Northwest and are already dreaming of our next trip. If you haven’t been, you should.

And came home with some Ruby Slippers  (from a kicky shoe store called Market Street Shoes).

Hi there everyone! It’s been so long – so much to catch up on and so much to share. So much that I better break it up into a few posts. And, because the re-entry from a trip is suh a bear, let’s start with an easy one. Pretty shoes and a knitted sweater.

And I finished Ingenue!

• Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca – 4 skeins
• Needles: Size 9 (5.5m)
• All together, this took about three days to knit. Granted, I did have a lot of time on the airplane. But, still, that’s some quick knitting and you just can’t beat that.
• Verdict: Go start one, you’ll  be  so glad you did! And, I love it so much I want to make another.  

Stanley Park – Vancouver, BC

Off to do laundry and get ready for a busy week of dyeing. Back soon with a recap.