my heart belongs to the snow

There's a distinct possibility that I've been the happiest person in Chicago for the past two weeks.  The cold and the snow are delightful, and they remind me of my Minnesota childhood. Blue skies, the sun reflecting off the frozen tundra, steaming mugs of hot coffee... perfect.

my new coffee mug from Jennie the Potter

I credit my mother with my love of winter. She strapped me into ice skates when I was 2-1/2, took me sledding, helped me build snow forts, and always had hot cocoa waiting when I came into the warm house with my rosy cheeks. Mom grew up ice skating even on week nights; she was especially enamored of the aqua skating costume my grandmother made for her -- complete with her initials embroidered with pink pearl beads!

Anyway, here's a wintry mix to cheer you up. It's bookended by the Decemberists, with a little hint of spring at the end.

I would have included the Fairways' "Winter Song," too, but I couldn't find it on Grooveshark.

P.S. Apparently the jonquils are beginning to come up in London, as reported by a friend who's in the UK on holiday right now.

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Many of my fellow grad students at the university come from warmer climes, and they're miserable when winter hits. I think a lot of it has to do with not having proper winter gear (especially warm coats -- a cute wool coat from J. Crew just won't cut it, nor will cheap acrylic gloves).  This post has some great ideas for how to keep warm; I would add a few things:

buckskin or elkskin chopper mittens

L.L. Bean carries some very posh choppers, but you can buy them at a substantial discount at almost any farm & fleet in the upper Midwest. Mine are 20 years old and still going strong.

down throws

So warm and cozy! We have some in pretty much every room in the house. The cats love snuggling up in them, too, and they're machine washable.

warm boots

Bogs and Sorels are my favorites. My Bogs are completely waterproof and warm, and the fit is great.  The Sorels have great traction and are also toasty warm! Plus you can buy replacement liners if they wear out -- or just keep a spare pair to switch out.

P.S. I'd also add an automotive category: good tires, a decent battery, a real snow shovel to put in the trunk, a winter emergency kit, a big snow brush, and a serious ice scraper. In terms of more expensive investments, 4WD or AWD make life so much easier, as do antilock brakes and ESC/traction control. These aren't just silly add-ons dreamed up by greedy car company execs. Heated seats, while delightful, are an added bonus.

constant as a northern star

The Packers' Super Bowl victory saw much rejoicing around here.  We woke up to yet another winter wonderland scene on Sunday:

We donned Packers gear, braved the snow, and headed north to Milwaukee to watch the game with Paul's family.  It was intense!

 

I'm not the biggest sports fan, but I love how the Packers are owned by the community, not by rich fancy-pants big wigs, and the enthusiasm from Green Bay fans is just amazing.

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Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so I'm listening to this:

The Magnetic Fields' alternately bittersweet and incongruous 3-disc magnum opus, 69 Love Songs.

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I'm knitting a Hap Blanket as a sample for Sarah. The yarn is just lovely -- The Plucky Knitter MCN Aran.  It's light, lofty, and soft, and the colors are gorgeous. What more can you ask for?

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The weekend wasn't just filled with football (and plumbing problems, but this is not the place for woes). I spent Friday night at the Riviera Theatre with one of my favorite bands:

Great show, aside from a maddening avant-garde extended riff on "Chimbley Sweep"! Many songs from the new album, The King is Dead. For me the highlights were hauntingly spare versions of "January Hymn," and Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You."

my heart belongs to the snows of Buffalo and Chicago, and all the dirty cities along the way

Eric Johnson and the Fruit Bats returned to Chicago for a show at Lincoln Hall (Schubas' slick new larger venue) last night. I'm just enamored of this band -- this is my 3rd time seeing them this year! Johnson's also in the Shins (which don't get me wrong, I quite like), but the folk-rock-melodic pop vibe from Fruit Bats is just amazing.

Here's the band playing "Tegucigalpa," a song Johnson wrote when he was homesick for Chicago:



for more, see here and here

Their best show I've seen took place at Schubas in March 2009, and you can download the whole thing at archive.org. Enjoy!

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It really was quite the weekend, as we also hit the Chicago Beer Society's Day of the Living Ales yesterday.

crammed into the loading dock of Goose Island Wrigleyville

44 types of cask-conditioned ale! In my book, the big winner was Surly Darkness, a complex Russian Imperial Stout, a bit reminiscent of 3 Floyds Dark Lord, but maybe even better. And where's Surly Brewing Co. located? Minnesota, of course. ;-)

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Cocoa Swap 3 just drew to a close! Elizabeth sent me the loveliest parcel:
Such soft and cheerful red merino yarn, along with delicious cocoa from a local coffeeshop, chocolate covered hazelnuts, among other goodies. She knit this cute little creature for me out of her own hand-dyed yarn! What a nice treat at this time of year. Kate sent me a book and some awesome glittery Dream in Color Starry yarn, too:
Many thanks to both!

if you leave...

Ism's, in my opinion, are not good. A person should not believe in an -ism, he should believe in himself. I quote John Lennon, "I don't believe in Beatles, I just believe in me." Good point there. After all, he was the walrus. I could be the walrus but it still wouldn't change the fact that I don't own a car.

John Hughes' death last week marked the end of an era. I have watched 16 Candles and Ferris Bueller's Day Off so often that the dialogue is permanently emblazoned in my brain.

the ever nerdy yet dreamy Colin Meloy

Much to my delight, the Decemberists reeled off an impromptu version of "If You Leave" at the Metro on the eve of Lollapalooza. They were fabulous! One of the best Decemberists concerts I've attended, and I've been to quite a few. They did not play The Hazards of Love all the way through (which is pretty much standard on this tour), but rather they played a set-list voted on by fans on the interwebs. "Red Right Ankle," baby! Two rather decorative-seeming girls were on stage for much of the show, clapping rhythmically, swaying strangely, singing some background vocals, etc. They seemed quite unnecessary and distracting... until they got to a cover of Heart's "Crazy On You." Yep, Shara Worden and Becky Starck can really sing. I had to eat my words, and they must sing a lot more in the full-on Hazards shows.

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A feather and fan scarf is in the works to coordinate with my Beanpole Beanie.
The yarn's Malabrigo Merino Worsted in Pagoda, and the pattern's Misty Garden from Scarf Style. Not that you really need a pattern for a feather and fan scarf...

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PSA: If you somehow acquire a sofa that's upholstered in Schumacher cut velvet (whatever that means), be prepared to cover it up with a quilt pretty much 24/7. Sigh.

blogiversary + various sundry

Holy cow, it's my third blogiversary! Has it really been that long?

Art is long, and time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still like muffled drums are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

On that cheerful note... how about a contest? I offer up two books -- The Gentle Art of Domesticity and Mocha:

a little something handknit by me out of heather green alpaca:
and perhaps some yarn.

Just leave a comment on this post if you'd like to be entered. I'll pick a name via the random number generator this Sunday, August 9. ETA: US and Canada only, please, due to shipping costs.

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My knitting circle holds an annual Christmas in July party, and I really lucked out at Yankee Swap and ended up with some gorgeous Malabrigo that I cast on immediately:

Pattern: Beanpole Beanie, by Rachel Weaver
Yarn: Malabrigo Merino Worsted, Pagoda, .75 skein
Needles: US 4 circs, US 6 circs and DPNs, US 3 DPNs

Notes: Great, clear pattern, fun to knit, plus it was designed by a fellow Chicagoan (not that I know her personally, but I support the Upper Midwest in a general sort of way). This was my first time doing bobbles, and some of them are a little wonky, but that's just fine with me.

This style of hat is a little "wild" for me, but I'm going to try to branch out from my usual plain ol' stocking caps and try some new things this winter. Rose Red, I'm looking at you!

I worked on this while sipping an almond latte at the cutest and friendliest coffeeshop in Portland -- the Dragonfly. A woman still in her running gear came over to me and wanted to talk knitting -- turns out she had knit with this exact colorway of Malabrigo and had just loved it.

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I just got back from Portland, and everyone else is gearing up to head there for Sock Summit. A few highlights:

- Jade Teahouse & Patisserie
- Tilde (I found a wonderful Orla Kiely handbag on sale there)
- Ken's Artisan Pizza
- Caffe Mingo (mmm... prosciutto e melone)
- Dragonfly Coffee House

Knittingwise I met up with Sarah (Blue Garter) and Jodi (who made the trip down from Seattle! so great to catch up) at Knit / Purl, which is a very elegant knitting shop with a carefully edited selection of beautiful yarns. Lots of Shibui, of course.

I also made it to Abundant Yarn, conveniently near Jade Teahouse and Tilde in Sellwood. They have a wonderful, wide selection of yarns, and it's nice and roomy, with a coffeeshop inside. The ambience, however, leaves a bit to be desired. [I'm probably just spoiled by the atmosphere at Nina here in Chicago and Lakewood Fibers in Madison.]
While driving up to Mt. Hood from the east, I noticed a little sign on the side of the road for Cascade Alpacas and Foothills Yarn. I managed to sweet-talk Paul into taking a little detour (best. husband. ever.), and we followed the signs through a few turns to get the loveliest alpaca farm and yarn shop. The alpacas were darling (I got to feed them), the workers were friendly, and the shop was pleasant, stocked with some handspun and micro-mill-spun alpaca yarns, amongst others.
Paul has informed me that if we ever get an alpaca, he's naming it Samuel L. Paca. Love it! Too bad I'm allergic to the cuties.
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on the hi-fi

NPR is featuring some great free downloads from the 2009 Newport Folk Festival:
- Neko Case
- The Decemberists
- Fleet Foxes
- Iron & Wine

We're passing on Lollapalooza this year (too much heat + sun + crowds + expense), but are seeing both the Decemberists and Fleet Foxes at pre/aftershows at Metro this weekend. Should be great!
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in the kitchen

The Maroni meatballs were OK, but the sauce was a real dud. Not a rave review... perhaps these recipes are too traditional for me? I'm a big fan of cayenne and bold flavors. I will, however, give a rave review to this five minute tomato sauce recipe, which is very versatile (and easy). It's even great on pizza.

Neko Case fans, unite

Neko Case releases her new album, Middle Cyclone, next Tuesday, and I'm enjoying all the build-up. Fox Confessor Brings the Flood was pretty much the soundtrack to 2006-07 for me (as well as countless others). - you can stream all the songs from Middle Cyclone from NPR
- Greg Kott and Jim DeRogatis talk to Neko on today's Sound Opinions (a local Chicago affair)

I'm still absorbing the new album -- a different feel from Fox Confessor, full of love songs and paeans to nature. Only "Never Turn Your Back on Mother Earth" strikes me as a dud (insipid lyrics and backing vocals). Paul and I have tickets to her April 24th concert at the Chicago Theatre. Can't wait!

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After a rather light-on-the-veggies January, I've been trying to get back into the habit of incorporating oodles of vegetables into our meals. Here's a recipe from last weekend that was a success.

This is one of the few recipes I really like that isn't as good leftover. Alas! But it's wonderful right when it's made, and it's easy as can be. The simplicity of the recipe showcases high-quality ingredients, so it's worth splurging on flavorful feta (not Athenos or whatever comes pre-crumbled in the regular cheese section at the supermarket) and olives.

Conchiglie with Roasted Vegetables and Feta Cheese
(adapted from Jeanne Lemlin's Main Course Vegetarian Pleasures)

Serves 6 (maybe 4 if you're serving only famished burly men who are accustomed to Olive-Garden pasta portions)

3 large bell peppers, any color combination, cut into 1-inch dice (I used red, orange, and yellow)
3 medium-large tomatoes, cored, seeded, and cut into 1-inch dice
1 medium-large onion, cut into 1-inch dice, sections separated (I used red onion)
2 celery ribs, thinly sliced on the diagonal (optional)
5 garlic cloves, pressed or chopped
1 tsp. dried basil
1 tsp. dried oregano
4 T. olive oil
1 lb. conchiglie (shells)
1 C. (4.5 oz) crumbled feta cheese (use good feta for this -- the flavor is really showcased in this recipe. I used a Bulgarian sheep's milk feta from Whole Paycheck)
20 black oil-cured olives, halved and pitted (once again, it's worth buying good olives for this)
salt to taste
freshly ground black pepper

Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees for the veggies.

In a large bowl, combine the peppers, tomatoes, onion, celery, garlic, basil, oregano, and 2 T. of olive oil. Toss to coat the veggies thoroughly. Spread the veggies on a baking sheet (or 2) so they rest in one layer. [Lining the baking sheets with foil leads to easier clean-up, but is a bit wasteful.] Bake for 20 minutes, or until the peppers are tender. Toss with a spatula once during baking.

Once the water starts boiling, drop the pasta in and cook until tender yet chewy, about 12 minutes. Drain thoroughly in a colander and place in a large bowl. Spoon the veggies onto the pasta along with the remaining 2 T. of oil. Sprinkle on the feta cheese, olives, salt and pepper (be generous with the pepper), and toss.

Random Monday

The little pink "5-hour" (ha!) baby sweater (that I knit a while back) was a big hit at a baby shower over the weekend. I included one of Franklin's darling "Knit for You" cards with washing instructions, as well as a copy of Sandra Boynton's Belly Button Book! My friend actually had tears in her eyes when she realized I had knit the sweater, which really surprised me. I had hoped to finish hand-quilting a little stroller quilt, too, but life got in the way.

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While not something I usually read, Mother-Jones featured an interesting critical article on self-deprivation as a mode of self-discovery.

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Check out this great Fleet Foxes concert available at NPR -- you can either stream it or download it. Even if you're not too into recent music, the Fleet Foxes are worth a listen. I'd describe the sound as a mixture of the Beach Boys and Simon & Garfunkel.

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My MIL gave me this lovely cookbook as a Christmas gift, and just paging through it is a joy. The photography is beautiful, and it's incredibly charming. My only complaint is that the typeface can be hard to read -- the font is a bit odd and thin, and the ink is grey rather than black.

Kiros' Tomato Risotto recipe was a hit on New Year's Eve. I made a few minor modifications, and I served it with a green salad and pomegranate champagne cocktails. Perhaps not the most authentically Italian combo, but very yummy! It was the first time I actually made the broth for risotto; this was a bit more labor-intensive. On the flip side, Kiros calls for much less work during the actual risotto prep than I'm used to -- none of the constant figure-8 stirring.

Tomato Risotto
Adapted from Apples for Jam: A Colorful Cookbook, by Tessa Kiros

Serves 3 as a main dish

Broth:
1/2 red onion, peeled
1 small carrot, peeled
1/2 leafy celery stalk
3 parsley stalks (or 1/2 tsp. dried parsley)
1/2 small tomato
5 C. water
salt

2 T. olive oil
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled but left whole
pinch of dried chile flakes
1 C. arborio rice (risotto rice AKA short-grain rice)
1 C. canned whole tomatoes, pureed (use just the tomatoes from a 14.5 oz. can, not the juice)
2 large basil leaves, torn
1/4 C. Parmesan cheese, grated
2/3 C. fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (I like BelGioioso)
grated Parmesan cheese, to serve
freshly ground black pepper, to serve

For the broth, put the onion, carrot, celery, parsley, and tomato in a pan with 5 cups of water. Add salt (or even a little veggie broth concentrate, like Better Than Bouillon, especially if you don't have celery, parsley, or carrots on hand) and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 min., then turn the heat down as low as it will go and leave the pan over the heat. You can discard the solids.

Heat the olive oil in a wide heavy-bottomed pan (a Dutch oven works). Saute the onion and garlic over low-medium heat for about 5 min., or until lightly golden. Stir in the chile flakes and rice, and cook for another minute. Add half the tomato puree, half the basil, and 1.5 C. of the hot broth.

Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the rest of the tomato puree and the remaining broth, and simmer for 10 min. more or until the risotto is cooked. If it needs another few minutes or a little more liquid, just use hot water. Remove the garlic cloves and throw them away. Stir in the 2 cheese and the remaining basil. Serve as soon as the mozzarella starts to melt, with extra Parmesan and black pepper if desired.

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While we're on the subject of recipes, I could use a little help. Paul's doctor prescribed a bland diet for him for a month. The list of prohibited foods includes red meat, anything greasy/fried, caffeine, chocolate, alcohol...

The worst part? Nothing spicy! No spices or extra seasoning. Anybody have any links to good recipes? I'm not big on cooking meat, so veg is best, but I can handle seafood and boneless skinless chicken breasts. This is proving a true challenge for me.

ubiquitous

knitting :: Pam's February sweater

listening :: Vampire Weekend

watching :: Incident at Loch Ness, The Secret of Roan Inish

What else is in store?
A trip to the Green City Market, a show at Second City, and a rooftop party. All in all, it's shaping up to be an excellent weekend.

Also noteworthy:
I met the Yarn Harlot last weekend! She was down-to-earth, very funny, and just plain awesome.

A friend gave me this fabulous button:
She bought it here.

FO: Kanoko Pants

Done and dusted! A very fun knit, but the finished project is a little bit odd. All the Ravelry pictures that show them in use are very cute, though.

Project Details

Pattern: Kanoko Pants, by Yumiko Sakurai
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton-Ease, Terra Cotta, 1.25 skeins
Needles: US 5 bamboo 16" circs and DPNs

Notes:
I forgot to bring the pattern to knitting night on Wednesday, so I decided just to wing the stitch pattern on the legs. My memory is better than I thought, as they turned out pretty close to the pattern!

I knit an i-cord instead of a crochet chain for the drawstring (crochet's not my strong suit, even just a chain). A cute ribbon might be a better way to go, or just inserting an elastic waistband.

The top half of the pants could maybe use a few more rows for length. I have trouble seeing a diapered baby bottom fitting in there!

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Here's a shot of a Brea Bag in progress. That Norah Gaughan is a genius! I'm using Cascade 220 doubled, and it's so nice to knit with good old-fashioned sticky wool again, rather than all the somewhat yucky superwash and cotton blends I've been knitting of late.

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The Colin Meloy show was great! We managed to get very close to the stage. :-) For me the highlight was "The Engine Driver." He played "O Valencia!" as if he were tiring of it (alas... star-crossed lovers are always my favorite). The tour CD ("Colin Meloy Sings Live") is nicely done; I was not impressed with his Sam Cook covers EP, though. The Park West is a marvelous place to see a show -- good acoustics, climate-controlled, very civilized.

Saartje's Bootees

The fruits of my test knitting for The Plucky Knitter, using her fabulous merino fingering weight yarn. So soft, so easy to knit with. These booties knit up very quickly. They still need buttons.

Pattern: Saartje's Bootees Yarn: The Plucky Knitter, 100% Merino Single Ply Fingering colorway unknown ~ I'd call it "Woodland Brown" Needles: Knit Picks US 2 circular (metal) Size: large

Next up? A Vine Lace Baby Hat to match, already on the needles. Cute so far, but YOs at the beginning and end of DPNs -- what a b^&*$. Magic Loop knitters would probably enjoy this knit more than I do.

Apparently I've been living in a cave. I had been strangely resistant to Neko Case for a long time (even despite Paul's love of The New Pornographers). I have no idea why. On a whim,I picked up a copy of Fox Confessor Brings the Flood last week, and it has been in heavy rotation ever since. I *heart* Neko Case. That voice... the thoughtfulness of the lyrics... the storytelling! I would love to hear her sing "Long Black Veil", my favorite Johnny Cash song.
I haven't been this excited about any music since I first heard The Decemberists. Speaking of which, Colin Meloy's old band, Tarkio, is great, too. Much more alt country -- finger-picking, violin, etc. There's still the storytelling element, but it's not quite as literary. Sometimes it's a bit forced (I'm thinking of a particularly painful line about Albert Camus).
Omnibus is, as you would expect, a compilation album.

Any new music suggestions for me? Other new-to-me things I've been enjoying lately are Matt Pond, Cat Power, and the tribute album to Elliott Smith. I have tried using Last FM, but I can't get into it. Maybe I need to rate more music or something?

The Flaming Lips show last Friday was great fun, despite the 100 degree heat. Wayne went off on some long-winded, non-specific political rants that detracted from the show a bit. Be concise! Just being disgruntled doesn't set you apart from the crowd and motivate people to act.