I had written another post but it disappeared :-( So here is another one.

First, the Quidditch answers:

1) C. Professor Grubbly-Plank

2) C. Dumbledore's Giant Mistake

3) B. Viktor Krum

4) A. Sonorus

5) B. Swedish Short Snout

6) A. Troy and Moran

7) C. 10

8) C. Bomb

9) B. Fountain of wine

10) A. Yes

Next:

I have finished a scarf for the trade box at the camp out I'm going to. I used Red Heart in the Camouflage colorway and an H crochet hook. Chain about 22 and then do stretches of double and triple crochet until the skein is used up. This makes a good average sized adult's scarf. After machine washing and drying with a dryer sheet it is surprisingly soft.

I've also just finished the bag for my Potter Pal....can't wait until it's time to mail the package.

Now, I'm off to go watch the Stargate movie.

Circus Boy

is the name of today's beer, a domestic hefeweizen from Magic Hat Brewing Company in South Burlington, Vermont.

A very normal beer. You might think that's a criticism but it's not. If you're thirsty and want a beer that's not too fancy to go with your hot dog while you're watching the Indians (Go Tribe!) pick this beer. I'd buy this one again.

So much news

First, the beer from two posts ago is Redbach.

Now, a new beer, Buffalo Bill's Brewery Orange Blossom Cream Ale:



A very orangey smell when first opened. A foamy mouth feel, like other cream ales. Bitter aftertaste. I don't really taste much orange. Sadly, a rather average beer. I don't dislike it, but there's nothing very unique or interesting about it. If you like an orangey beer, get some Blue Moon Ale and put an orange slice on the rim of your glass.

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If you like swaps, join the next Dishcloth Swap (see link on sidebar). I got my package from my dishcloth buddy and it was GREAT!! She made a Chinese theme and included Sugar & Cream yarn in a self striping colorway I hadn't seen before, fortune cookie stitch markers, soap that looks like fortune cookies, chocolate covered pretzels, two dishcloths (using the Peaches & Cream ball band pattern, also seen in Mason Dixon Knitting), and an insulated beer tote. (Can you tell she reads this blog? :-)

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The Mother Bear Project

If you can knit, please make a bear for this project. You can get the pattern from them for a small donation, or it's also in the book Knitting for Peace by Betty Christiansen. A very small investment of time and yarn to help comfort a child in Africa affected by HIV/AIDS.

I sent one, and I got a very nice note back from Amy Berman (the founder of the project) thanking me. It was handwritten and from the comment, I could tell she really had seen the bear so it wasn't a form letter.

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OTN:

A prayer shawl for my new nephew's baptism. I'm using Lion Brand Homespun in the Tudor colorway. As much as I usually prefer natural fibers, I'm really liking how it's turning out. I didn't realize when I picked out the color, but it has a nice self striping effect.

A gray shawl in laceweight, which being in laceweight, I can only knit on for a little while before wanting to go blind. This is a very long term project. In fact, I suspect it may end up being a dresser scarf just so I can be done with it.

A stashbusting log cabin blanket for my daughter. Follow this link and scroll to the bottom to learn how. I organized my stash and found out that for some reason I have, in scientific terms, roughly a freight car load of acrylic worsted weight.

A scarf for Threads of Compassion. If you have a Dollar Tree in your area, especially if it is a big one, check out the crafty section. Mine has a fair amount of Lion Brand Fun Fur, Funky Fur, ribbon yarn, and ladder yarn for only $1 a ball (regularly about $4-$5). Two or three balls is enough for a scarf. I am keeping this one on my Knitlite needles and as it is in garter stitch saving it for the movies. (Yes, I knit in the dark at movies.)

I think that's all for now. Oh wait, I just cast on for another bear. And I promised my husband a pair of socks and a sweater.

How to Spend a Nice Winter Day

From the Defeat the Winter Doldrums Dishcloth Swap:

If money were no object, and the day was just perfect - not to hot, not too cold, sun shining, slight breeze - how would you spend a perfect day out that had been given to you in the middle of a cold and blustery winter?

Fairly much as we spent it this weekend; going to the zoo or the Metroparks and taking a walk, with a little picnic. Maybe there would be a special program or naturalist-led walk. If the day was very nice I would probably not be able to resist going to the garden center and looking through the new seed packets and seed-starting kits.

The Best Beer Ever

Go out right now and buy this beer.

I'll wait.


doo dee doo....

Ok, you're back. Now open it and take a drink. Is this not great? This is a Belgian ale with cherry juice and it is full of win and awesome. Beer that tastes exactly like cherry pop. $1.99/bottle at World Market. Sweet, with a sour cherry aftertaste. This would go well with dessert, like a big slice of cake, or if you are a masochist, a handful of Sour Patch Kids.

Puckeringly,

ES

2 More Beers

Okocim
bottled by Okocim Brewery, Poland

Sharp, stingy, unpleasantly bitter taste. Reminiscent of the Blatz I reviewed earlier but not as nice. I would not get this again.


Hue Beer
brewed and bottled in Hue City by the Perfume River, Vietnam.

I never had Vietnamese beer before. The initial smell is fruity and bready. The taste is very complex and I'm having a hard time describing it. It's full and not very bitter and I seem to taste it most on the back of my tongue. My husband suggests describing it as tart, light, and crisp with no aftertaste. This would go with Vietnamese or Thai food. (Ok, that was kind of an easy guess, but after having some now I want Pad Thai.)

Quidditch Answers

GO SSSSSSSLYTHERIN! FIND THAT SNITCH!






1) b. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill him

2) a. it vanishes after a few hours

3) c. Malfoy attacked Harry when Harry's back was turned.

4) Snape

5) c. The special protection Harry received from his mother would also pass to Voldemort

6) d. 77

7) b. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures

8) Neville

9) a. 30th

10) a. Navy Blue