We did it!

Ok, so I'm totally stealing this image (but not the bandwidth) from Engadget, but seeing as my company probably gave them the image in the first place, I'm not sorry about it!


Yes, sports fans, this is our baby. After six months of not being able to tell my friends and family what I do, it's time to run outside and shout to the world, "I helped make the Kindle!"

More specifically, this is why I've been spending so much time in China. Starting the factory, managing materials and generally getting things up and running. It's been incredibly hectic (got home most recently on Saturday) and it's made life extremely challenging in terms of keeping up with friends, refereeing and knitting.

However, now that it's out there, the real work begins. Regardless, life is cool. And, if I can manage to stay awake, I may even have a FO to share this week!

Hip, hip, HOORAY!

Friday is for "relaxing"

or so one would think!

Life's been really hectic around here of late - what with the move, work heating up and the tail end of the fall soccer season. C. and I are both really ready for a vacation and were looking forward to getting away over Thanksgiving, but that's off the list since he's tied up with work. Couple all that with me heading over to China next week and I'm frazzled. Totally.

Last night I went head to head with all the stress and spent a good 4 hours knitting. Period. Nothing else. And let me tell you - it was wonderful. I'm not going to say what I'm working on yet (no, it's not one of those that are in the current progress list) but it's something I've been wanting to get to for almost a year and have finally managed to start. I've even taken the time to ensure my gauge is right (two needle sizes *BELOW* what's recommended!) and therefore I have high hopes that this one will turn out as planned.

Anyway - hopefully tonight will be another quiet and restful night (last college game of the season this afternoon) and that the trip next week will be uneventful. Even if we're not getting away, at least there's some time off in the future.

Thinking about 12th Night

Every year I throw a big dinner party for 12th. "Dinner Party" may be stretching it a bit since it's really become more of a graze-festival - plates of finger food spread throughout the house that makes for easy drifting and night-long noshing. It used to be a true sit-down dinner, but then there were way too many people I wanted to feed and simply not enough chairs. Bring on the appetizers!

While I do have a list of favorites that make the table every year, I like to spend at least some time browsing for a recipe that will give my friends something new to enjoy. That effort has, in recent years, started about 1 week prior to the event and hasn't really panned out as well as I'd like. This year, however, it'll be different. Honest.

Witness our first entry: Pumpkin Pie Blintzes. Yes, it's another Slashfood find, but this one looks truly scrumptious. Better still, it comes with a recipe for crepes from the illustrious Mark Bittman. My mother used to make crepes for dessert (she called them "breakfast pancakes") when I was growing up and I've never mustered the courage to try it myself. This recipe is making me want to try it.

With the Thanksgiving holiday coming up, and the fact that we're *not* going to the cabin (insert pouty-face here ...), it's a great excuse for me to try some cooking experiments. This one is on the list.

Update: and here's another one to add to the list. Green Tea Cookies as an alternative to the King Cake. While I usually make Cardamom Shortbread from Epicurious, this might just give folks something new to talk about. I sense that my Thanksgiving holiday is going to involve way more than just baking ...