It’s getting down to the wire now and I admit to being a bit tense the last few days. I’ve got a Mt. Everest of laundry to get done today (not to mention a car inspection) and I can’t say I’m much looking forward to it. Heheh - tough noogies, eh? Has to be done :) Well, it’s possible that shopping will get done today rather than laundry, as the temperatures are supposed to get into the 80s this afternoon and then go down into the 50s tomorrow. It might be more comfortable to wait until tomorrow to do the clothes :)
Scattered...who, me?
I am also not getting any knitting done. For me, being tense means having little or no focus. I spent two nights trying to cast on a sock before realizing that even if I did succeed in casting the sucker on, I’d never get anywhere trying to knit the thing - unless I were intending it to fit a three-legged spider.
So, I thought I’d pass on a couple of things that have been helping me keep from jittering myself off the face of the earth :)
The first is scones (see the recipe on the sidebar). Both Myria and I have been undergoing a continuous craving for these things so I’ve been making them every three or four days or so. Probably not the best thing for the waistline but since I don’t have one of those - no worries, right? And it does seem that the making of them is somewhat therapeutic - at least for me. There’s the cutting the butter into the dry ingredients which requires getting your hands in there and mushing up the butter chunks until the whole resembles a bowl of soft sand. Then, after the liquid has been mixed in, there’s the kneading - always a useful outlet for tension :). Finally there’s the satisfaction of having been able to create something good, something that people like. Myria asked for them a few evenings ago, which made me feel very good indeed. Even more surprising though, my dad loves them - and as picky a bastard as he is, I just wouldn’t have thought it possible!
Note - I’ve used milk (whole milk) as substitute for the half-and-half, either in whole or in part and that seems to work reasonably well. But I wouldn’t substitute margarine for the butter. I have also made these by leaving out the sugar and the currants, adding a cup of grated cheddar cheese and several crumbled, crisp bacon slices, and substituting 2 tsp of Worchestershire sauce for an equivalent amount of milk/half-and-half. Wasn’t half bad :)
The other thing that’s been helping me hang on to the ragged edge of sanity is a game called Crack Attack which is modeled on the old Tetris Attack arcade game. It’s an open GL, freeware game.
Crack Attack screen shot
The premise isn’t new by any means, but the implementation is slick and the game is colorful, fierce and over in a short time. This is perfect when focus is a problem. The game is also silent - there are sound effect add-ons, but I haven’t tried them yet. Generally I’ve been supplying my own in the form of grunts, groans and phrases like “ARRGGGH!” and “You cheating son-of-a-bitch!”
Happy hump day :)
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Ack, Robbyn! You should know better than to mention scones! Didn’t I tell you that the last time you mentioned them you created such a craving in TMK and me that we ended up making them and eating them all weekend long? You must learn to use your power wisely!
Love Tetris and anything even faintly Tetris-like although right now we’re busy playing a bunch of RPG video games, like Ratchet and Clank, Tak and the Power of Juju, and Jak II (and Jak III is tempting us from inside its shrinkwrap). Fun, fun, fun!
dithering around can be fun- food, games, etc all seem quite good ways to anticipate the trip-
i’ve long wished to be a game player, but my skills with finger dexterity or hand-eye coordination (remember the rubik’s cube of way back- even that confounded me) abandon me when i even look at the games- i do love word games though and play those when i should be working-
stay happy-
Your scones sound great. I am going to try the cheese. I make mine very similar only I use buttermilk and fresh or frozen raspberries. mmmmmmmmmmm.
Ryan - I am so thoroughly addicted to the little buggers that I can’t help myself :) Robbyn the scone pusher - that’s me.
Ratchet and Clank I and II are wonderful games and you’ll enjoy the shazbot out of them! Jak II, not so much though we have hopes for Jak III when the price comes down. Myria is eyeing Tak, but we haven’t taken the plunge yet :)
Barb - I’m very un-coordinated and I don’tplay many games - but as Ryan said, anything Tetris-like can get my motor running :)
Usually, I do word games - I love a good crossword puzzle and the Jumble puzzle is my all time favorite. I remember trying to figure that one in in my grandfather’s newspaper!
Pamela - Ooooh - raspberries! I will definitely have to give that a try. We were thinking about dried cranberries too :)
At least I’m not the only one who cusses out my game or computer. When the windows are open, the neighbors must think there’s a domestic disturbance going on! haha
Laura - ROFL - No, I don’t think you have to worry on that score. Lots of people curse their computers!
Mmm, I love scones too. In England, it’s traditional to use sour milk! If you’re making cheese scones, you can really give the flavour a lift by adding mustard. I use hot yellow mustard powder, but ready made mustard works just fine.
You’ll be gone by the time I get back - have a lovely trip and enjoy yourself!!
I also cannot knit when unsettled.
Have a look on the twisted sister’s sock book [great book btw] re taking measurements for your foot if you have trouble with the fit of socks
Also a great tip I read in that book re the cast on is to co double the no of sts that you want and then k2tog or p2tog depending on the band you are going to do for a stretchy edge that will not cut into your legs.
gotta run - again - bon voyage, as we say in our family!!
nat
would you like my date scone recipe?
Pamela (making notes) sour milk? Gotcha. Mustard in the cheese scones! I knew about that but completely forgot it when I made them Thanks for reminding me!! Ooooh - something to look forward to!
Nat - Thanks for the cast-on tip. I will certainly give it a try - seems like a good idea :)
I’m looking for your scone recipe but I can’t find it. I don’t see anything on the side bars. Could you email it to me?
Anita - You’ll find the recipe at this link:
Just click on it :)
