Autumn, Camel and Cookies

I finished up the Autumn superwash merino sample from Abstract Fibers this weekend. I soaked it and dried it this afternoon. I really need the smaller niddy-noddy for skeining up yarns. The n-plying kept the colors clean for the most part. I did get some muddying while spinning some of it and that still shows through. I think I would have liked a crisper purple color in it. The yellows, oranges and reds are pretty. I did have a bit of green but it didn't show well I think. I ended up with about 48 yards of fingering weight yarn to play with. Not sure exactly what, but nice to know that since it's superwash it won't felt!




I also started spinning the camel up. Boy this stuff is incredibly soft! Fluffy too!


I checked the back yard and the crocuses and daffodils are starting to peak their heads out of the ground. These are the crocuses, they'll be lavender and white streaked when they bloom:

While we were at the New Season's Chocolate Tasting on Sunday I found a cookie that reminds me of our family recipe called 'Wagon Wheels'. I have absolutely no idea why they are called this. New Season's calls them 'Crinkle Cookies'. A darker chocolate is used, or possibly less sugar but very similar to the family recipe. I can get a mini-fix with one or two cookies and not need to make a whole batch, or wait until Christmas and my stepmother bakes.....
Don't wear clothes that will show up the powered sugar sprinkles that you end up wearing. ;^)

More chocolate? Read on....

The Whole Foods in the Tanasbourne community area has the following upcoming events to enjoy:
"Thursday February 12th
CHOCOLATEFEST! PASSPORT EVENT
5-8 p.m. $5 donation
Chocolate Fest
ChocolateFest is a storewide tasting event featuring an array of decadent chocolate concoctions, and as an added benefit, supports your community!

Purchase a $5 "passport" ticket at the door, and enjoy exclusive samples of chocolate-inspired food and products found throughout our location. All proceeds from this event directly benefit ChristieCare, one of the oldest continuously operating non-profit agencies serving children and families in Oregon. A bonus at our location: Hand and Stone Spa will be with on hand to perform brief chair massages.

For more information about ChristieCare, please visit http://christiecare.org.

For additional information about ChocolateFest, stay tuned! Menus will be available the week preceding the event.

Friday, February 13th
Sampling Session: Sweets and Bubblies for your Valentine

12-3 pm Free
Looking for that last minute treat for your sweetie? We will be pouring from a selection of sparkling wines and sampling our best treats. Taste it first yourself so your Valentine will be sure to be satisfied."

I'm making it a date with the DH Thursday night event and checking out Friday's sampling for possibilities for the weekend.

New Season's chocolate: didn't like the coconut-curry chocolate but the chili and cherries was good! I liked the toffee and almond milk chocolate. Brandon liked the chai choclate too.

Pssst.....more chocolate opps

Sorry, if you're not local to the area and aren't fortunate enough to have a New Season's Market close by:

"If chocolate is one of your guilty pleasures then this weekend is for you. This is February, after all, and whether you’re single or taken, it’s only right to honor St. Valentine’s Day with a mouthful of chocolate goodness. Come join your fellow chocolate connoisseurs as we offer nibbles and noshes of more than 50 different types of chocolate. What are the taste and texture differences between two chocolate bars containing the same percentage of cocoa but made by different companies? Do single origin chocolates really taste better than their blended counterparts? Is white chocolate really chocolate? Our solutions staff will be on hand to answer these and other chocolate-related queries.

Still resisting temptation? Give in knowing that the flavanoids in dark chocolate serve as a beneficial antioxidant. High in iron, calcium, potassium and vitamins A, B1, D and E, chocolate is the multivitamin you can look forward to taking every day.

Do you need any other motivation besides FREE CHOCOLATE to join us this weekend? Of course you don't. See you this Saturday and Sunday, 11am until 5pm."

I think I know what I'll be doing this weekend since I'm not going down to Newport to spin.....

ps: anyone catch what the Pioneer Woman is giving away today if you comment on her blog?