My Current Obsessions

My three current obsessions:

Obsession the First:
The Lucy Hat.

Found it in Knit Scene by Interweave Knits, Special Issue Winter 2012  and for some reason couldn't not immediately find yarn and cast on.

Here is mine so far:

The colors are more accurate in the previous picture...

And guess what????  I using my own handspun yarn! That I made myself!  On my spinning wheel!  How exciting is that?  I haven't actually ever knit anything with yarn I have made.  ( and I'm using a little Cascade 220 Paint for the contrast band.) I'm almost to the decreases and will be done with the knitting very soon.  But then I have to sew down the brim.  Finishing stuff - blech. And by finishing, for those of you who don't already know me, I mean any kind of sewing up, sewing on , etc.  Not finishing as in having a project completely finished and ready to wear.   That I love.  Stay tuned for the finished picture... and I better look like that lady in the picture when I wear mine.

Obsession the Second:
My Rice Cooker.

Wait.  Have I already talked about this?  If so, sorry.  I just Love. It. Soooooo. Much.  And if I did already talk about it, it's just more proof how great it is - that I want to tell you about it AGAIN!  Oh my gosh, it has totally changed my opinion of cooking rice.  I used to completely dread it because it was hit or miss whether it would turn out right.  Mostly miss.  But with this?  This wonderfully magic pot?  Put in one cup of rice and 2 1/4 cups of water.  Cook on high in the microwave for 8 minutes.  Stir.  Then cook on medium in the microwave for 10 minutes.  Let stand 5 minutes.  Enjoy perfectly cooked, fluffy-not-sticky rice.  No hanging around the stove, wondering if the heat it too high which means it will be undercooked or if the heat is too low which means it will take 10 years to cook or if whatever factor is there that makes it sticky and mushy.   I got mine from a Pampered Chef party, but also found a Pampered Chef one here on Amazon: Pampered Chef Large Micro Cooker for Microwave .  I highly, highly recommend it!

Obsession the Third:
My Cranberry Autumn Tea.

Love. IT!  I love my tea and I'm always looking for something different to try.  Ok, different-but-not-too-"out there"-and-fake-flavor-tasting.  This one is really yummy.  A subtle cranberry flavor and just overall warm yumminess.  I think I've had Harney & Sons tea before, but will definitely try more.  Try it here: Harney & Sons Fine Teas Cranberry Autumn Loose Tea Tin - 4 oz   
By the way, my go-to favorite tea is: The Republic of Tea, Ginger Peach, 50-Count
Ooh, and this one: Double Bergamot Earl Grey Black Tea by Stash Tea Company - 18 Tea Bags

I also had a Target "accident" this week:

What? It was 50-70% off.  I'm putting it away for next year.  And by "putting it away" I mean, "eating a lot of it before next year (Jan 1) when I start my usual healthy eating kick".  Ok, ok, that's not totally true.  I brought it home and told Paul I would be bringing some of it to The Spinning Room yarn shop to put in the candy bowl.  He looked disappointed.  But seriously, there was a lot of candy around here lately.  And I'm trying to eat healthy now.  Mostly.

Wait till you hear about this weekend's Paul-and-Liz-go-get-another-you-know-what adventure...