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Have you ever had a so-called interior decorator step into your home and shake your hand gravely with a look of "Oh you poor thing! This is your home?" In most cases, I would have thrown her out almost immediately, free estimate or not, but I was not buying from her. If she really was an accomplished interior designer, what was she doing measuring blinds and taking orders for Costco?

Cream Caress, 25% mohair yarn. For a scarf for a friend.

She looked me up and down and brushed the lapels of her jacket to draw attention to her clothes. Me? I had struggled to stuff myself into my jeans when I had heard her car pull up. I had brushed my teeth but I am not sure the hairbrush had had a close encounter with my hair yet. But, you know, this is Boulder. Millionaires and hippies abound; and the homeless guy with the cardboard sign on the Table Mesa exit off Boulder Turnpike is probably better dressed than most of them. I am neither but we can pretend.

She went clomp clomp all over my house with her thick ankles and fat feet that were pouring out of her high heeled shoes, insisting on giving me a quote for windows I wasn't interested in. I think she just wanted to see the rest of the house. She insisted on calling my living room 'the fam-i-ly room.' I corrected her but she still put it in the order as the family room. I don't have a formal living room or a formal dining room, for that matter. I wanted it that way because I think those two rooms, in particular, are a huge waste of real estate. They would need to be adorned with expensive furniture that we would hardly ever use.

The Hunter-Douglas sale was upto $100 off per window. She offered me only $25. The blinds that had $100 off per window were too expensive, she said in a condescending tone. I was very close to asking her to leave but Costco rates were far too attractive and the end of the sale a little too close.

The yarn has a lovely feel to it. It even has a shine.
It is not, however, of a consistent thickness
making my knitting look uneven.
Still there is a lovely charm to it. Medha does not agree.

A ridiculously high quote for our bedroom window made my husband finally agree to try out cordless Redishades that were selling at Costco, again, for $29.99. They aren't the greatest but they are a lot better than what we were living with currently. I did however almost bust an artery when I saw my husband cutting them to size with my best and most expensive knife. It was a gift from a dear friend who had made a sheath of cardboard held together by duct tape so that I could store it in a drawer and not risk slicing my fingers every time I reached in for something else. He figured that since it had been put away thus and he had never seen me use it, it was fair game to be used as a tool. If you've been a reader of this blog for a while. you might know that this is one of my pet peeves.

The pattern is called Wisp and is the most delicate pattern
I have ever knitted. I should have used larger needles than US8
because this looks nothing like the pattern!
Medha feels it looks untidy.

Madam Interior Decorator arrived, after much back and forth, to finally take the order. She had that look of abject pity on her face again because I had whittled down the order to the absolute essentials. I had also let go of the dream of having a remote for the blinds in my kitchen. Homes in the US are not made for those petite in stature and just like I cannot comfortably reach beyond the first shelf of my cabinets, I cannot reach the wand or the string for my kitchen blinds. My husband had installed an extra long wand to which was attached the cover of a pen into which was hooked a small Christmas ornament. I tucked this through my knife block, making sure that the knives kept it in place. I could only tilt the blinds. If I needed to pull them up, I had to get onto a stool to reach for the string. And let's just not talk about opening the window. I had dreams of using a remote... but never mind.

She showed her impatience by tapping her ugly nails on my beautiful smoked glass dining table. I know that many women spend a lot of time on their nails but I'm sorry I find those fake nails rather repulsive. They remind me of claws. And, claws should be on animals. The continued tapping of her nails as I gave my credit card details to the clerk at Hunter Douglas over the phone began to annoy me. I usually have a very thick skin but her general demeanor and attitude had started grating on my nerves.

As she left, I told her that it must be a pain to carry that around everywhere. Oh! I'm used to it, she said, lifting her heavy portfolio bag in acknowledgement. I just looked pointedly at her extra large hips, straightened my trousers around my own, smiled and said: Oh, I wasn't talking about that. Good bye!

I have been agonizing over it, not knowing what to do next.
I need to complete it and have it in the mail by October 31.

She may have the last laugh though. The last date for mailing in the damned rebate forms was October 13. I thought it was tomorrow. I proved once again that I am stupid and that rebates are for better people than me.

So what do you think I should do? Frog it?

Handmade Love

The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be held from 7th to 13th February 2009 in Boise, Idaho. These games are expected to draw at least 3,000 athletes from over 100 countries and 6,000 volunteers.

Coats & Clark, makers of Red Heart® Super Saver® yarns, is sponsoring a project to provide each athlete with a scarf created in white (311) and delft blue (885). The goal is 5000 scarves. And that's where we - knitters and crocheters, hobbyists and professionals, novices and experts - come into the picture.

Completed scarves should be sent to:
2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Scarf Project
3150 West Main Street
Boise, Idaho 83702
and must arrive before January 15, 2009.

Personal notes from knitters and crocheters who want to send their best wishes to the athletes are encouraged and should be firmly attached to the scarves, which will be handed out before the Opening Ceremony.

The pattern can be anything from basic stitches to complicated colorwork and stitch patterns. But remember that only delft blue and white must be used.

And no, Coats and Clark is not giving away the two skeins you will need to make this scarf - you will have to buy them. At approximately $2.97 per skein, you will be short less than $7 and some of your time.

What's in it for you? Knitting and crocheting are very relaxing activities. Just like stirring. Anita will agree with me on the former even though she decries the latter. You will have donated to a very worthy cause and an athlete could be wearing the scarf that you made to keep them warm during the 2009 Special Olympics. These scarves will be handed out during the Opening Ceremony and I am sure Bee will volunteer to take pictures for us all.

You need patterns? Here are some to start you off:

1. Coats and Clark has two patterns, one for knitting and one for crocheting.
2. The Crochet Dude has a lovely ruffled pattern
3. The Scarf Directory for simple and complicated patterns.
4. Bev's Special Olympics Winter Games Scarf (novice)
5. Eyelet & Garter scarf by Piece by Piece (average difficulty)
6. Many Loops by Cindy Carlson (free download for Ravelry members)
7. Special Scarf from Crochet Today (pdf)(average difficulty)
8. Love Scarf from Crochet Me (average difficulty. This scarf uses 4 colors but can be adapted for 2 colors.)
9. Garter and Stockinette Scarf by Piece by Piece. This pattern can be color-blocked for blue and white by changing colors midway through the garter stitch section.
10. Two Tone Scarf by Nancy Livengood (pdf) (average difficulty)
11. Knit your Bit 2008 patterns from The National WWII Museum
12. Super Saver Scarf patterns on Ravelry
    

There are innumerable more free patterns for scarves on the Internet. Or make up your own!

So! Who's willing to throw in their hat and make a scarf? I am definitely in! The only problem I have had thus far was laying my hands on the yarn. I couldn't find the delft blue at Michael's. I'll have a gander in Joann's and then head for the nearest W-store.

If you do make the scarf, take a picture before you mail it off and indulge in some show-and-tell on your blog. If you don't have a blog, email me your photo with the name of your pattern and where you found it and I'll be happy to post it for you. I will be a really happy camper if you do this before October 31 and I think we all know why!

Happy Stirring Knitting and Crocheting!

Snow and Afghans

We woke up to between 3 and 4 inches of snow today.

We went from a warm and sunny Monday with a high of 77F to snow on the ground on Wednesday with a high of 30F. I don't think the kids care how cold it is though. Whoever is left in the 'hood is outdoors having snowball fights, while I hug my ginger tea and shiver indoors!

Thoughts of winter sent me scurrying to pull out my current 5 year project, a crocheted airy diamond afghan.

I started this on the California Zephyr in July last year so I am well over a year into it. About two-fifths of it is done. It takes me about an hour to do each row of 273 stitches. If I keep up this pace, it might be ready well before its time!

I am not cooking for Thanksgiving this year as we were invited to our neighbor's for the meal. I guess tandoori-style cornish hens will just have to wait a while.

I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving!

The California Zephyr

We love trains and train rides. For the scenery and for the vacation it spells for us. We are able to spend quality time with each other without any engaging ring tones or emails. We are also lucky that Medha enjoys it as much as we do. She basks in the 100% one-on-one attention she gets when we travel by train.

We took the California Zephyr from Denver to Chicago on one of our innumerable trips from New Lenox to Louisville last year. It was supposed to take just 14 hours but took almost 17 hours. Since Amtrak does not own the railroads, they are at the mercy of the railroad companies whose freight trains get first preference. We don't mind the delays as we give up all semblance of control and enjoy the train ride. However, I was a little apprehensive as that was a year ago and the route from Denver to Emeryville, California is 36 hours long. But it was so much fun that I would do it again in a heartbeat.

The bedrooms were sold out so we booked two roomettes instead. Luckily for us, these were across from each other so we were able to hop over from one side to the other whenever the scenery changed!

The train glides through the Front Range into the Rockies and the spectacular scenery begins...

We crossed the Continental Divide when we went through the 6.2 mile Moffat Tunnel, at an elevation of 9000 feet.

The Colorado river then joins the route and runs alongside the train through most of the route in western Colorado...

...with views of the river basin...

...and white-water rafters, who gave us the Amtrak salute, if they were rafting through calm waters. It was Medha's first exposure to mooning and she just kept yeowing, after the initial wide-eyed jaw-open silence.

...and mesas and canyons...

...through rocks from a hundred years old to over a million years old.

I felt like I was looking into a set for Mackenna's Gold.

The Colorado river bade us farewell near the Utah border and the relentless desert of Utah began.

The lack of scenery and the fading light outside allowed me to teach Medha how to knit. She took to it rather quickly, having woven potholders with looms before.

I took the opportunity to finish the scarf I have been knitting for about five years now and started on my next five year project, a crocheted airy diamond Afghan.

The Sierra Nevadas started soon after Reno...

We also passed the exquisite Donner Lake area that nestles in the Sierra Nevadas.

The gradual descent and the approaching signs of civilization signaled that the first truly relaxed and amazing part of our vacation was over. We reached Emeryville, California with a renewed respect for Mother Earth and her natural beauty.

We stayed for a week, camping at Big Sur, checking out Slow Food in San Francisco and experiencing the city. We flew back with a stop at Las Vegas, which I have awarded the dirtiest and most horrible airport in the USA. The landing and take-off at Vegas were very bumpy. So bumpy that the landing at Denver seemed rather smooth in comparison. We reached home so exhausted that we felt like we needed that proverbial vacation to recover from the last one. But it was really just the last leg that drained us. If I have to do it again, I will fly out to California and return by train, relaxed and rejuvenated! But, it's good to be home again.

I will be posting pictures of the rest of our vacation on Inner Lens. These will include pictures of our camping trip at Big Sur and the city of San Francisco.

Knitting and Kolmbo (sambar)

Professional Development Day or Teacher's Work Day tend to turn into daytime nightmares for me. And it seems like the school district knows this and revels in the fact and therefore keeps dishing them out for free every couple of weeks. There was one on Feb 17th and then before I knew it another one hit me squarely between the eyes this past Friday. When the child in question is grounded, it's pure hell. It means no-one can come over; worse still, she can't go anywhere either. So out come all the kids activities and this last Friday, the knitting wheel was pulled out. It might have been a breeze if the packaging had not been hastily ripped apart and discarded and the instructions for weaving a hat were not lost.

My daughter got into weaving when she weaved potholders when we drove across the country a couple of times during our move from Chicagoland to Louisville, Colorado. Then she moved onto knitting tubular scarves using a small 4-peg wheel.

She did a pretty good job and her tension was quite consistent for one so young. This large knitting wheel, however, posed a problem. It's used to make hats and while I could start her on the project, I had no clue how to cast off stitches to taper the hat as it grew. I Googled for instructions but to no avail. Then I remembered that my friend frangipani is an avid knitter. But unfortunately, she's so skilled at crochet and knitting that she doesn't need the crutch of a knitting wheel.

I finally found a site that has some semblance of instructions on how to make a hat. But we're working overtime and through the weekend to beat a deadline that it looks like this will have to be the project for the next time that Boulder Valley School District decides to give the kids a break from school. I am hoping to get some of my own knitting done. Like this pink scarf I have been knitting for the last 5 years!

My husband returned from a long 4-week stay in India that seemed like an eternity and we welcomed him with the traditional welcome meal: idli-sambar. Except that this time, I thought I'd try a different type of sambar: Shilpa's Kolmbo, a Konkani sambar made with coconut. It was a great hit, even with my daughter who generally steers away from anything with coconut in it. I adapted the kolmbo to our tastes and, to the die-hard purists, it may not be the way Konkani folks make it but we loved it.

Kolmbo

Spicy Konkani Sambar with coconut

• 1 cup tur dal
• 1/4 packet frozen grated coconut
• 2 tsp chana dal^**optional
• 2 tsp coriander seeds
• 1 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp cumin seeds
• 1/2 tsp methi (fenugreek) seeds
• pinch asafoetida
• 7-8 fresh curry leaves or kadipatta
• 1/2 roll of cinnamon
• 6 cloves
• 6 Kashmiri red chillies
• 1/2 bag of frozen mixed vegetables
• 1 tsp tamarind concentrate^**optional
• 3 tsp oil
• few sprigs of cilantro
• 1/8 tsp turmeric powder

1. Cook the tur dal in a pressure cooker. General rule of thumb is to add 3 times as much water as there is dal and pressure cook for at least 4 whistles (pressure releases).
2. On a griddle or small frying pan, heat 1 tsp oil and fry the coconut, chana dal, coriander seeds, mustard seeds, cumin seeds, methi seeds, asafoetida, half the kadipatta, cinnamon, cloves and the red chillies. Fry while constantly stirring over medium heat
3. Allow this mixture to cool and grind in a blender to a fine paste using about 1/2 cup (or less) of water. For quick cooling, drop a couple of ice cubes onto the pan and use less water while grinding into a paste.
4. Put the cooked tur dal in a pot, add the frozen veggies, tamarind concentrate and the masala paste from the previous step and salt to taste. Add water to make the kolmbo less thick. About 1 cup is adequate. Use more or less depending on how thick or watery you like your sambar. Cook over medium-high heat until the veggies are cooked.
5. Just before serving the kolmbo, heat 1 tsp oil in a small fry pan or tadka/phodni pan and add mustard seeds. When they crackle and splutter, add the remaining kadipatta to the oil
6. Add this tempered oil to the kolmbo, garnish with cilantro and serve hot with idlis or rice

I served it with idlis. This is the second time I am making idlis here in Colorado and it just doesn't seem to be working. The first time I did exactly what I used to do in Chicagoland but the batter just did not ferment. I've made the most fluffy and spongy idlis in the middle of a Chicago winter without any problems. I was known for the idlis I made. But suddenly, none of the old tricks work anymore. Some of the factors that are probably coming into play could be the altitude (Louisville is about 5200ft above sea-level whereas Chicago is at sea-level) and the extremely dry weather here. But, persevere I will!