Blocking and filth.

Before we left Boston, I finished Hubby's sweater. The one I started in August. It's been a long ride, but I finally made it. Hubby tried it on when it came off the needles and it was a bit wonky and looked a bit like a homemade sweater. I decided to wash it and wet block it. Ah, yes the great blocking debate. Get it soaking wet or spray it? This yarn was so filthy that there was no way this could be worn without a bath. So here it is:


After only a little bit, I noticed this:


I hope that you can see the filth emerging from the interior of this sweater (ok, maybe I hope you can't). Ewwwwwww! I let the sweater make a filth stew for a while, then drained and filled the tub again, this time with some wool wash:

I think it went through four tubs full of water.

Ah. That is better. I laid it out in the basement on a blanket. I didn't need to pin it because it was naturally meeting the measurements on the schematic in the pattern. I just tried to flatten the wonky bits.

Hubby tried it on tonight. He claims the sleeves are long. He immediately rolled them up one turn. I'll try to get a pic of him in it tomorrow in natural light. I might have to wash it again. It smells basement-y.

Go Bucks!

We are home from a trip to Ohio to see my family. It was very nice to be back in the buckeye state especially a few days before the BCS Championship. There was OSU gear everywhere!

We split our time between my parent's and my sister's houses. The last couple times I've been home I haven't seen much of EmDog, so I spent a good portion of the visit chillin' at her pad with her and her fiancé. We did a little bridal gown shopping. We did a little chicken wing eatin'. Good times.

I did some cooking while at home. So much that I required two ovens on Thursday. I got a hankerin' for pot roast and put one in the oven early in the day.

Mmm. I just love me some pot roast. I think it's my favorite meal ever. It's my ultimate comfort food. As soon as I got this hunk o' meat in the oven, I drove 3 miles over to my grandma's house. There are a few things you need to know about Dot, my Grandma:

1. She's the mother of 6, grandmother of 8 and great grandmother of 5.
   
2. She just returned from spending her holidays in Dallas, TX with one of her sons.
3. She can crochet like nobody's business. Doilies. With like size O or P or S - so small I don't even know the size.
4. She walks everyday. If the weather sucks, she does laps around her house.
5. She's lived in the same house for 60 years. The house she built with my Grandpa. A cute, white concrete block house with a long narrow driveway and a killer rhododendron out front.
6. I'm pretty sure that she loves Hubby more than me. This recent visit pretty much confirms that.
   
7. She home for the month of January and then she's off to Vegas for another visit with one of her kids.
   
8. Some time after my Grandpa died (which was 21 years ago), my Grandma started doing this and it just kills me. She keeps the glass she's using to drink water on the counter with a plastic lid covering it. I really don't know why. I haven't ever seen a bug/animal/dust in her house ever. I find it endearing. It's always there.
   
9. She's 92.

I try to visit her as much as I can because ya know, she's not gonna be here forever. Even though she's jetsettin' all over this country. When I do get to see her I try to bring something to do. It's my general rule. I don't visit old people or young people without a planned activity. It's just better that way. You won't end up sitting, staring at each other. I love my Grandma, I mean love, love, love her, but if she pulls out the pictures of my uncle's renaissance faire costumes it's enough to make me wanna go wash my dogs or get a tooth filled or clean out my closets. So, I needed to make some cookies and seein' how my parents oven was stuffed full of pot roast, I packed up all my ingredients and headed to her house.

I got working with this mixer, which I don't remember at all, but Grandma says she's "had it for years." Vintage-y fun, eh?


It was all good until I had to clean this beater thing. Not easy. The beater are all one piece.

I looked for some vanilla and found this:

Vintage spices to go with my vintage mixer. I spun this lazy susan taking a quick inventory. What. Is. This???

Quaker curry powder? I asked Grandma. She thinks she's had it for as long as she's had her house. Could she possibly have had the same curry powder tin in her cabinet for 60 years? A quick google turned up nothing but the possibility that Grandma could make a big $26 or so if she put this on Ebay. The better question is WHAT is MY Grandma doing with curry?!?!? She's never made curry!!!

Anyhoo, I made cookies and they were good.

I don't think I've ever required the use of 2 ovens in 2 households before. All in all, pretty nice little trip.