poppydawn

Garam masala's pretty easy to find. It's an Indian spice blend that's often the base of curry blends. Grocery store brands like Spice Islands are available. Even better - if there's an Indian grocery near you, they'll have it and it'll probably be fresher, tastier, cheaper, and probably available in bulk so you can buy just a little bit. I spent two years working for an Indian family in their home, a year and a half in culinary school, four years writing for a food magazine, three years running a catering company and two years teaching culinary classes. This is the first time I've encounter

That's so fab, Kate! You know about last year's Red Scarf Project, right? If you can make a color chart for those of us who are colorwork impaired, I'll gladly make a scarf and spread the word. Tomorrow morning, my hungover friends and I will be hitting the fabric store sales. I've got grand ambitions of making curtains for my entire house. Can't wait to see what a great job I do with measuring my windows tomorrow morning.

You've got one brave, strong little guy there, Edie. I just want to give him a huge hug.

True. I would never let being stood up in any way prevent me from going to a show I want to see.

I'm so sorry, Edie. It sounds like his long life was interesting and filled with a lot of love. My thoughts and heart are with you and your family today.

Two years ago, a now-former friend bought tickets to a Wilco show for us. I wound up being really busy and I had a case of the flu between the purchase and the show, and she got herself in a snit because I wasn't paying enough attention to her. I Paypaled her my share of the ticket money, nicely asked her to send my ticket to me because I didn't know what time I'd be able to meet her at the show (in-laws were in town, so this was completely true). The next day I got an express-mail package from her with her ticket and mine, with a Post-It that simply said, "Take someone who'll enjoy the

My friend didn't do any ties; she just serged the edges. They would have been even better if they'd had some sort of quilting, though. After so much use and a zillion trips through the laundry, the fabric has shifted and puckered a bit. If you want to see the blankets up close, I should have time today to take pictures of them. Just let me know.

Edie, I hope your day is the beginning to a wonderful year. Happy birthday!

Sewing doesn't involve math, but it involves geometry which is even worse! I need to drag out the sewing machine. I need to make dog beds, and I'm considering a curtain-making attempt.

I'm going to be there, too! Saturday's definitely reserved for the Country Music Hall of Fame. That night we're going down to Franklin for dinner and visiting with some friends. I know several people who live there who want to show us the sites.

That was taken in downtown Belleville. I think they were on the roof of City Hall. The building behind Mike houses the local newspaper's office. It's about 20 blocks from where they lived. The shadows behind me were most likely from the warehouses/former brewery. I should have gotten some shots of it. Next time. Well, thank Cod we cleared that up!

The inhabitants don't like that. I might try to sweet-talk my way in, one of these days.

It's a weird layout, because of the closed brewery. Some of the buildings were torn down, so there's some mighty big, gravely lots that serve no real purpose. The neighborhood's a blend of desolation and industrial stuff.

Here ya be, despite your Larry the Cable Guyism. I'll try to add photos as I find more locales.

Join us, Lys! Join us! I'm also a visual learner and it took me forever to get the hang of knitting. Debbie Stoller's "Stitch and Bitch" book was the only thing I could understand. The website Knitting Help has free little videos that demonstrate every single knitting-related step you'll ever need to know. I still refer to it all the time. Or, just hang out at a yarn shop. Loiter long enough and someone will teach you.

My secret Santa rocks! I got a stash of beautiful handmade glass beads, including one that looks like a big-assed naked lady (my favorite kind) and a gorgeous pair of earrings. Once my camera batteries are recharged, I'll post photos.

I was lucky enough to start college at the U of Missouri in 1991, where Uncle Tupelo was a fixture on the live music scene. I feel like I've grown along with the music, which makes me somewhat of a dork. A happy dork who happened to be in the right place at the right time. I don't know if I would be such a huge Wilco fan had I not first been a UT fan and a Wilco fan from the beginning, but that's just me. YHF and everything that's followed doesn't sound like anything else I listen to. I don't think they necessarily would have grabbed my attention without the history I've had, even though I l

Turns out it's really easy to start a Ravelry group. I just started one for us called, originally, "Via Chicago". I'm sending invites to Reni, Natalie and Austrya, since those are the only VC Ravelry member names I have. If I missed anyone, just join the group. I'm on my ma's computer and my time's a little limited, so we don't have any snazzy graphics or banners. If anyone wants to whip them up, go for it!

When I get home tonight, I'll start a group! My Ravelry name's poppymom. That eyeball yarn would make the coolest hat ever! I'm thinking a 1920s-style crochet cloche.

Here's to a year filled with successful golden retriever and poon Google searches! Thanks for giving me a chuckle damn near every day.

Just sickening news, but not surprising at all. What a brave person she was.

Here's wishing you a great year of new beginnings. Cheers!

If I remember right, "Stitch and Bitch Nation" has instructions for making your own colorwork charts.

You need a new knitting project. How about this? I just did some yarn-shopping on Etsy, even though I'll be hitting my favorite yarn shop's annual pre-inventory sale Friday morning. I have a yarn acquisition sickness and I need help. But how could I not get Blue Lagoon and Magical Pavement? Pretty pretty pretty!

Latvian mittens make my head explode, but they're so beautiful! My mom's intarsia purse was a big hit, as was my dad's scarf. I was kind of surprised by how excited he was about it. From here to the beginning of the year, I'm only knitting stuff for myself.