Caramelized Onions Made Easy

Some may argue that caramelized onions are the easiest thing to make.
I agree, so long as they are thrown into a slow cooker. Whenever I
attempt these on a stovetop, I fail due to my inability to leave
cooking food alone.

A scattering of salt and a few drizzles of olive oil is all it takes
to convert raw onions into a kitchen staple. They freeze really well,
too.

Another Oddity

Since I'm on the topic of odd, here's another one for the files.


The boy snapped this blurry picture last night before retiring to bed. Since Mingus recently chewed up the last dog bed (we used to have 3), we've been laying down old towels for the dogs. Apparently, our efforts at providing a place for them to sleep were rebuffed in favor of our laundry basket full of (formerly) cleaned bedsheets. While I'm used to this trick from the cats, it was one of those "I have to see it to believe it" moments for me in regards to Mingus, hence the boy's picture.

Mingus is a little big for that basket, don't you think?

Odd and More Odd

I had quite a scare this morning. I woke up with a jet black tongue. Even though I did take a picture, it's gross, so no visuals of said tongue from me.

It was with the utmost dread that I started doing web searches on what could be wrong. Doing a web search for "black tongue" came up with really bad things. Then, I searched "black tongue pepto bismol." Bingo.

PSA, if you've had any wine, chew a couple of Pepto-Bismol tablets, and then go to bed, you may wake up with a jet black tongue. Before I had the nerve to google what was wrong with me, I showed the boy and it made him scream "Whoa, you need to see a doctor now!", which in turn made Vespa come over and start licking his face. Who needs coffee on a morning like this?

The worst part of my newly black tongue is that it could last for a few days. Seriously? Am I not supposed to open my mouth in the next few days? I look like a lizard mutant.

The more odd piece of news I have is Rear Gear. Yes! A "Mr. Brown Eye" cover for pets! I'm somewhat tempted to crochet something like this for Mingus or the cats, but then I think about the logistics (will I have to wash it after each use? who wants to wash that?) and I decide against it. But if you're feeling saucy, you should craft one up, put it on your pet, and then send me a pic!

Pressure Cooker Beef Stew

At the opposite end of the spectrum from slow cooking is super duper speedy pressure cooking! I made this recipe today and it tasted as if I had stewed the meat on low heat all day long. Since I added quartered potatoes, which in retrospect should have been whole potatoes, there is no picture. The potatoes turned to mush and made a very unsavory looking (but savory tasting!) dish.

Anchovies and oil cured black olives (please, no watery black olives from a can) in a beef stew was a revelation. I'm such a salt fiend!

The Plume is Gone

Mingus's tail spent quality time with the Furminator. He's upset that I took away his plume. However, I don't like to vacuum said plume on a daily basis. Rip the bandaid off fast, I say.

Don't call him "rat tail," not even as a joke.

Unexpected Sheep

I am watching a wacky car race, and up pop the sheep. Too bad I left
my shears and spindle at home!

Scrubbie Dots

My buddy, kim-chi crafts, is off to Colorado to start a new adventure. I sent her off with some of these Scrubbie Dots (Ravelry download - must have an account). These are addictive to crochet, and the results are so stinking cute that I couldn't stop!

I need to make a second batch. So, so cute.

Boteh

I guess this means I am a crocheter.

I finished my first wearable object, and I managed to wear it proudly coupled with the owl sweater today. After work, I met up with a friend who fondly mentioned how often she wears a store bought scarf I gave her when she was in my wedding. It grated it on me all night that I gave this Very Important Person a store bought scarf, but in my defense, I've only been intoxicated by yarn fumes for the past 3 years and I've been an old married lady longer than that.

At the end of the night, I gave her the scarf. I love this scarf, but I can always make another one. She was kind of shocked, as was I (did I mention how much I love that scarf?), but it felt right.

If you want to make one, too, the pattern is Boteh Scarf by Kathy Merrick. This Boteh was made with Dream in Color Smooshy in the Spring Tickle colorway. I found the yarn a little squeaky to work with, but it was nice and soft against my neck and it seemed like a hard wearing yarn.

Curtains

This is an unusual scene. Usually, Greaseball would have the window all to himself. He doesn't share, but perhaps he's allowing Mingus to rest here because he knows that this is the last of the sunshine for the next week.



Or, perhaps, Greaseball is stoned off his gourd from his secret stash of catnip. Yeah, that must be it.

Hoot Hoot!

I finally finished my Owl Cardigan, and it is as cozy as I hoped it would be! I used the owl cable pattern from Kate Davies Owls pattern, and the sweater was a modified Tangled Yoke Cardigan. This time, I used RYC Cashsoft Aran. Since this is the second time I knit this pattern, I shortened the arm length and took the arm circumference in by about an inch for a better fit.

These owls are so stinking cute. I opted to not add the button eyes since 1) I dislike sewing buttons (I did mention how this sat around forever just because of those 11 buttons I had to sew for the ribbed band), and 2) it makes the sweater busy.

I found these sweet wooden buttons at Discount Fabrics in Berkeley. They were just the right size and only had 2 holes (less sewing).


The ribbing along the sides reminded me of tree roots. Very fitting for an owl sweater.


Yoked sweaters seem to fit me the best around my arms and shoulders. The only thing I don't like about yoked sweaters is that I have to make them bottom up instead of top down. I know there are top down yoke sweater patterns out there, so if anyone has one that they've used with success, please let me know.

Now, what sweater should I knit next? I have some gorgeous jade green baby alpaca/wool yarn that is calling to me. I think I'll do a pullover since I want to knit in the round. Perhaps Rusted Root? I really dig the poofy sleeves. Or maybe I can riff off of something in Custom Knits.