attraverso il mare

Ben is across the sea, in Rome, in good spirits but exhausted. He reports that he loves the pizza. He is staying in the Grand Hotel Dei Cesari, situated on the seafront of Anzio, just a few minutes from the city center. My anxiety level has decreased significantly. I realize this morning, after a good night's sleep, that much of my anxiety is work related. Everyone has assured me that Ben will be fine ... now I just need some assurances about work!

Leaving On A Jet Plane

Ben left today on his grand adventure. The last communication I had with him was at 1:43 pm when he texted me from the plane in New York: "I'm off to Europe!" Craig took him to PDX, where all the security measures really take the fun out of seeing someone off at the airport. Craig reported that he seemed a bit panicked, but then seemed fine when he called after landing in New York. The decision to get Ben a cell phone with international capabilities was a wise one. For Ben and me. I am experiencing high anxiety, similiar in intensity to the levels produced by the Mt. Hood climb when Ben was 9 and Peter was 11.

Two Dresses

You can miss a lot when you don't open your mail. Like invitations to baby showers. For some reason, no one got the mail and when the box filled up, the post office quit delivering. I finally decided it was time to pay bills, went to the post office last Saturday and picked up a tub of mail. Along with the expected bills, there was also an invitation to Michelle's baby shower ... today. Knowing I would never finish the blankie I had started to knit by today, I decided to make matching dresses for Bailey and Baby R. I can sew much faster than I can knit. Oddly enough, I was not able to find the same pattern in both an infant and toddler size, so I improvised. I used this pattern for Baby R's dress, and this one for Bailey's dress. I used the collar from the baby pattern for the toddler dress, and also used buttons for the back opening rather than a zipper. The fabric is from Mill End, who--by the way--takes competitors' coupons and has the nicest selection of cotton dress fabrics. Their yarn department is not bad, either. And they have the nicest/most knowledgeable staff I have ever encountered.

One Finished, Another Started

I finished the baby blankie for Baby K, although not in time for the shower. I like the pattern, which I got at All About Yarn, but am not crazy about the yarn (Bernat Satin). It is soft and cushy, but a bit too stretchy. Or maybe I should have used smaller needles. The pattern instructed to finish the edges by picking up stitches every other row, then casting off on the next row. I like this type of edge and will try it more often. Although, when I finish with a blanket, I usually want to be finished, not picking up stitches and making a nice edge. Maybe I'm not the most patient knitter.

The pattern is called Thermal Blocks, and the blanket is thick and warm but uses only one strand of yarn.

I have started the blankie for Baby R, who is a girl, and I find it much easier to knit for a known-sex baby. Don't ask me why. I'm really liking this yarn, Plymouth Encore Colorspun. I searched for a pattern for weeks (and I have a huge pattern stash) and finally chose a pattern from the first knitting flyer--Fiber Trends Easy Knit Baby Blankets Collection 2--I ever bought. This flyer has three patterns and I have knit the other two (the hearts are my favorite). Though I was unsure about the pattern at first, I really like it.

So many patterns, so little time.

First Strawberries of the Year

When I brought strawberries home, Ben--the newest member of the produce police--immediately demanded to know where I got strawberries in February. Reassured that these strawberries traveled from only as far as California, Ben decided that the first strawberries of the year should be celebrated. One of the boys' favorite desserts is Strawberry Shortcake ... not just any shortcake, but Brown Sugar Shortcake. Using a traditional biscuit dough, I roll it out cinnamon-roll style, spread a paste of brown sugar and melted butter over the dough, roll it into a log and cut into 1 inch slices. Bake on a parchment covered cookie sheet (the brown sugar makes a mess) until lightly browned. Cool slightly and cover with sliced strawberries and a bit of whipped cream. You'll never eat plain shortcake again.

Valentine Treats (and Costco advice)

First, the advice: Never go to Costco when you are hungry, unless you don't mind coming home with a few extra purchases. Though I have a fine selection of cookbooks and though the internet provides more recipes than one could bake in a lifetime, I HAD to buy the Martha Stewart Cookies book. For this recipe. Which, I later discovered, is here. The recipe is definitely a keeper. I baked these Surprise Cookies for the office (and the boys) for Valentine's Day. The 'surprise' is a marshmallow melted in the center of the cookie, then covered with frosting. I used my new King Arthur Flour cookie scoop and wonder why I waited so long to buy this handy gadget. The cookie scoop was almost a necessity with this recipe, as the dough is very sticky--like a very thick cake batter. Parchment-lined cookie sheets were also a necessity: the cookies are very fragile until they are cool. I forgot to sift the cocoa for the frosting and ended up with tiny bits of cocoa powder, which no amount of whisking or whipping could disperse. No one complained, but still. For perfection, sift the cocoa.

Annual Boondoggle

Why is it when you mention going to a conference at a five-star resort people smirk and whisper "boondoggle", nodding knowingly? Our annual conference was held over the weekend at the Salishan Spa and Resort and it was fun, informative, and inspiring. And not much time for boondoggling. The federal update was a bit, er, overwhelming: 1200 pages of new legislation and a 200 page Dear Colleague letter issuing guidance. My presentations went fine, although I'm exhausted from fretting over them. And an added bonus ... a Sticks and String networking session was offered for the first time, allowing fellow knitters to have an organized time to get together. Helen showed me how to knit two socks simultaneously on a circular needle and I can't wait to try this technique. I have never knit socks because I feel so awkward when I use double pointed needles. Note to self: Must finish baby blankets first. Matt's and Amy's baby shower is the 10th.

I really don't think I want to live anywhere else in the world. I've often thought it would be fun to live in Billings, Montana ... or maybe even Helena. But no. I could never be more than a two hour drive from the beach. I love the beach at any time of year, but today was perfection: sunny, warm, and no wind. In February. I love Oregon.