Posts from — July 2005

So yesterday while in the midst of my blog gorge (now that I am part of the RAOK group, I really feel the need to try to keep up with their blogs…there are 313 members:shock:) I ran across the Undercover Celebrity blog (not part of the RAOK group, I got a little sidetracked with some links). First of all, love the blog title. Second, she is damn funny. And apparently NOT crafty. Not there’s anything wrong with that I was entertained that she has a “no craft gene” thing going on while the main topic of my blog for the time being is knitting…and yet she still agreed to interview me

Undercover Celebrity:Well, Miss CK, thanks so much for visiting my site. It’s always so much fun to get comments from a new reader.

So, it is with great honor that I welcome you to the interview game. Below are your five questions — be sure to include the instructions in your post for the next interviewee. I’m assuming you live in Cincinnati… yes, I catch on quickly. Please share with us, your blog reading audience, your favorite thing to do in C-town. …something only a local will know.

Miss CK: Well, that is a tough one. I don’t think there are too many great Cincinnati secrets. Most of the “to do” things would be pretty obvious to anyone. However, there are two quirky little things I’ll share. Spring Grove Cemetary & Arboretum…a little bizarre, I know. But, it is an Arboretum that just happens to be the final resting place of many Cincinnatians. I took a horticulture class there when I went back to college at the ripe old age of 26. It really is beautiful and they encourage people to use it for walking, biking and running. It is particularly beautiful in the spring, when everything is in bloom. It is also a nice escape from the heat of summer (you know, all the trees…shade…duh)

Another little Cincinnati “quirk”: We happen to have one of the best golf practice facilities in the country. No, really, it was even rated in one of the golf magazines years ago. Meadow Links has a huge natural turf area, all kinds of short game practice and heated tees for winter. One of my favorite places to go when I am getting ready for a tournament.

Undercover Celebrity:What’s the most delicious thing you cook? (really, this question is self-serving since I have company coming over on Monday night and I’m looking for some ideas)

Miss CK:This one is easy! I am a great cook (if you can’t toot your own horn on your own narcissistic blog, where can you????) and love to create dishes based on the items I happened to purchase (I usually just buy whatever looks good or is a good deal and then figure out what to do with it later). Since you have company coming over on Monday though, I’ll give you my foolproof secret main dish. Pork tenderloin. It is light, tasty and EASY. I usually do it with an OJ/lemon/soy/wine/garlic/onion/salt/pepper/honey marinade. I also have a fool proof side that people love and it is soooooooooooo simple. Asparagus, olive oil, garlic salt…toss and put in a roasting pan under the broiler. Cook until desired crunch (or lack thereof) is reached. Add nice crusty bread, some brown rice and a bottle of wine and Voila…the perfect meal for entertaining. Everything can be done ahead of time and you can enjoy your guests while the tenderloin and asparagus roast in the oven. (btw, the roast usually takes around 30 mins…I use a meat thermometer and the asparagus 5-10 depending on thickness).

Undercover Celebrity:What is the one story you love to tell as the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
Miss CK:This is a hard one for me. I am generally not known for doing crazy things; although I guess everyone has a few. One that comes to mind is going to Scotland on a golf trip with 11 guys.

Undercover Celebrity:When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grow up?
Miss CK:An attorney. I spent the day shadowing one in 6th grade.
Undercover Celebrity:My favorite game: shag, marry, push off a cliff. Please put each of the following men into one of these three categories. Michael Keaton, Keifer Sutherland, and Tom Hanks.

Miss CK:Wow, you didn’t give me much there! I like the superheros one a lot better. If I HAVE to though…shag: Keifer Sutherland (this actually surprises me, but is pretty much the hottest of this particular group) marry: Tom Hanks cliff: Michael Keaton…it makes me feel bad though because I don’t really have anything against him. He just happens to be the last choice. Sorry Michael!

And now…my questions for the undercover celebrity:
1. If you could choose any job/career (with no regard to the amount of money it involves…pretend money is not an issue but you do still have to work ) what would you choose and why?
2. Tell me about one of the best books you’ve ever read.
3. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
4. You are going to be straned on an island, but only for a year. What 4 people (alive or dead) would you choose to go with you and why?
5. And…since it is your favorite game Shag, marry, push off a cliff: Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Toby McGuire.

_____________________________________________________
Want to play?
The Official Interview Game Rules:
1. If you want to participate, leave a comment below saying “interview me.”
2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person’s will be different.
3. You will update your journal/blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

I thought I’d kick off my new (an one of my real favorites) category with some very useful information…number of calories in a BOTTLE of wine. My personal favorite: Champagne, 531 calories. Click HERE to see the full list. By the way, could that possibly be right? Doesn’t seem like many calories for a whole bottle Thanks to Lelah for posting the link!

You are plastic.
Futuristic, milky, and silky, you are willing to go where no crafter has gone before. You can do just about anything, with strength agility, and pretty colors to boot! While you are good at slipping and sliding out of sticky situations, remember to stay where and when you are needed. Don’t overdo it on star gazing when there’s earthbound knitting to be done!

What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Hmmm…I’m Shetland Wool???

You are Shetland Wool. You are a traditional sort who can sometimes be a little on the harsh side. Though you lookdelicate you are tough as nails and prone to intricacies. Despite your acerbic ways you arewidely respected and even revered.

What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

I know you have all been so anxious to find out if Stiffy did the job. The answer is yes and no. It did make the hat brim stay in place. However, I don’t think the hat is at all “giftworthy” or for that matter, worthy at all in its current state. I am going to wash it again and try the drawstring bag idea. To satisfy your curiousity, here is the hat:

It is not necessary to adjust your monitor. The image shown is rated PG13. Now that I have your attention…

How could a post with this title miss? I mean come on…Stiffy? “Product?” you say. Yes. A product. For real. Not from Hustler.

This could quite possibly be the solution to my hat problem. I received lots of good ideas about what I could do with the hat. All of them, frankly easier and probably more sensible than using Stiffy. However, I am still determined to make this hat work.

There were other products with less “scandalous” names but I did choose this one for a reason (not just because it’s called Stiffy).

a) It’s water soluble. If this doesn’t work, I can just wash the hat and move on to plan b.

b) a.1) Related to a: I am a big clutz and likely to spill things. Water soluble is not just convenient in my case, but a necessity.

Stiffy process:

1. Prep area.

2. Place hat in bowl.

3. Pour on Stiffy and work into fabric.

4. Shape and leave to dry.

5. Pour a glass of wine and wait for hat to dry. Repeat as necessary.

After the “bad hat” incident yesterday, I did get some more done. You know, those Christmas presents don’t just knit themselves. So began another scarf. This is garter stitch on #19 needles in Lion Brand Fun Fur Stripes, color South Beach.

I almost forgot to comment on my first round of golf since the surgery. Ok, it wasn’t really a round, more like 7 holes AND it wasn’t pretty, but at least it was pain free!!! Didn’t score too badly either, which was a nice suprise.

So yesterday I am looking all over the place for a good bucket hat pattern. Hilde did find a good one (and free), but it wasn’t quite what I wanted. So, I thought, “no problem, I’ll just design one myself”. Never having made a hat, I guess, should have worried me a little. Nope! I plunged right in; that’s just how I operate.

Here is my version of the bucket hat:rofl::rofl:
Not quite what it should be, eh? The part below the mango color should be a wide brim that would either stick out 90 degrees from the hat part or at least 45.

I HATE to frog. I would really rather try to salvage this if possible. By the way, doesn’t it remind you a bit of Dumb Donald from the Fat Albert cartoon? My thoughts so far:

1. Isn’t there something like spray starch except that you could dunk the whole piece in it? Maybe that would make it stiff enough to fashion a brim that would stay in place. (hmmm, maybe some hat viagra?)

2. Wire? Thin? Threaded around the edge and under the stripe where the brim should begin.

3. Ditch the hat effort and call it a bowl cozy.

4. Oh, and ILOVE to felt, but this is cotton

Well it’s official, now the whole world (or at least people who read Lucia’s blog) knows that Chinni is the cutest kitty ever. :jump:

Chinni won the first annual “Cutest Cat Contest” by a convincing margin. I have won all bragging rights..so that is what I am doing! Thanks to all the people from KH for voting for my baby.

I just told Chinni (and Rocky, his fatter and just as cute brother) about his win. He is terribly excited, as you can plainly see. I hope he can still fit his head in when he goes in the covered litter box!