So first things first… I installed the new Leopard operating system on my mac and I went to start up Photoshop (I’m using photoshop 7 as I can’t afford the incredibly expensive upgrades) and it appears that it is not supported.  So I can’t use photoshop anymore.  I will find a way to fix this… I’m just not sure how.  Ok, I can think of a few ways, but most of them are illegal or involve taking hostages over at Adobe.  So as soon as I find a Photoshop angel or find another program, I’ll start putting photos up of what I’ve been working on.

I’ve joined another swap.  Lesley, my swap partner from the Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap started a Hot Chocolate swap.  I loves me some hot chocolate, so I signed right up!  And being in a new swap means a new questionaire!  So on with the question and answer portion of this posting

Cocoa:
1. What is your favorite way to drink cocoa? Prepared with milk? Water? from home made recipe or store bought?, In a tea cup, or big mug?2. Marshmallows or whipped cream?
I think the best cocoa is prepared with milk, fully loaded – marshmallows, whipped cream and if I’m feeling a little crazy perhaps a side of ice cream.  Or if I’m feeling kinda spicy, a dash of cayenne pepper ala Chocolat.  We have a lot of small boutique, fair trade and organic chocolate companies popping up, so I tend to go for those types of mixes.  I was thinking about trying to make my own mix.  I stumbled upon a Dolce de Leche flavored hot chocolate at target and it was amazing.  That’s probably the only mass market hot chocolate I would go for.  And I think to add to the fun of the cocoa experience it’s got be in a fun mug.  Be it oversized or just a funny saying on the mug… I can’t have it any other way.

Yarn/Knitting/Crochet
1. What is your favorite type of yarn? In what colors?  Anything soft.  I’ve been really liking Lamb’s Pride Bulky.  But since winter is coming to a close(and not soon enough for me.  I’m getting sick of the rain) I’d like to try a lighter yarn.  Not necessarily cotton as I can’t quite get the hang of the stretch cotton has.  I love more earthy, spa like colors – the sage greens, the blues, the browns…  But every once in a while I throw in a bright color to switch it up a bit.

2. Do you knit or crochet (or both)?  I’m more of a knitter.  My grandma taught me how to do both, but I seem to have really taken to knitting.

3. What are your favorite type of needles, would you like to try something new?  I love my bamboo needles.  And mostly circular.  I think because they’re the most portable for larger projects.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve stabbed myself on my straight needles reaching into my knitting bag for something.  I’m kinda curious about the Knit Picks interchangable needles.  I’ve heard so much about them.

4. Do you have a healthy supply of notions?   The one thing that always seems to go missing (and by missing I mean one of the cats seems to think that it’s their personal chewing string) is my retractable tape measure. Jimbo, my one cat ate about 2 inches of my last one.  And it wasn’t the first two inches.  It was inches 15 and 16.

5. What one thing do you keep thinking you need to buy for your knitting habit (outside of yarn)? I keep thinking I need another knitting bag.  They’re just so expensive.  That I just end up hitting Walmart and buying a cheap diaper bag and it works like a charm.  And the best part is no one knows that it’s a diaper bag.  Well… no one knew until now.  I also always want to buy a little zippered pouch for all my knitting accessories – the stitch markers, the cable needles, tape measure…

6. What is your favorite ‘quick knit/crochet’ pattern (quick gratification)  Right now I’m a  huge fan of the Decreasing Ribbed Capelet.  It was a super quick knit and it  keeps me warm and suggly not to mention it’s pretty darn fashionable.  And I really love the Cabled Coffee and Hand Warmer.  It knits up super fast and barely uses a skein of yarn.

Miscellaneous
1. What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter?  Sleep, watch bad tv, knit…  my friends and I will be getting together on Sundays to watch Flight of the Conchords (the dvds until the new season starts up) and playing games.  And I’ve made a New Years resolution to run 1 race every month.  So I guess we can throw exercising into that list as well.

2. What is your favorite animal?  I don’t know if I have a favorite animal other than the pets I currently have and former pets that are now in pet heaven.  I had a pretty kick butt guinea pig named Big A, when I was growing up.  And now I’ve got two crazy cats who keep me entertained and cramped up because they hog the bed.  And of course all my friends dogs – Ben, Earl, Mia, Sydney, Beau and Diva…  The best dogs in the world.  I did watch a documentary on Cuttlefish once and I have to say, I love them!  They’re so interesting.

3. Do you get the ‘winter blahs’?  It’s hard not to living in Seattle.  The rain never seems to stop.  It’s not really the rain and the dampness that gets you, it’s the endless days of gray.  None stop gray….

4. What is your favorite way to beat the blahs? I force myself to go out and run or go to the local pool and swim.  The swimming I think helps fool my body into thinking that it’s summer time.  I also allow myself time to just hang out and not do anything.  Because I know when spring and summer roll around I’ll be outside all the time.

5. What is the thing you are most looking forward to this spring? Longer days, getting out and biking, planting flowers, seeing the Mount Baker Rooster …

6. What are your favorite treat? thats a tough one.  I don’t know if I can narrow it down.  It varies so much.  One month all I’ll want for a treat is ice cream.  The next month it might be a BLT with avocado.  The one thing I always treat myself to is comedy.  Comedy and laughter have gotten me thru the worst times in my life.

7. What is your favorite board game?  I love Apples to Apples and Harry Potter Uno. Rummikub is another favorite.  Pictionary is the devils game.  I can’t draw under pressure like that.  And I went to art school!

8. Do you have any children (furry or human)?  I’ve got two cats – Jimbo a tiger cat, and Kinky Disco (that’s right, her name is Kinky Disco) – she’s a calico.

9. Do you have any allergies or special considerations you partner should know about? Unless you’re sending me some sort of penicillin, I think I’m allergy free.

OK, not that that’s done.  I’ve got yet another project I want to tackle.  It’s the Hemlock Ring Blanket.  Just look at it.  How could you not want that?  Fortunately it doesn’t take a whole lot of yarn.  And even more fortunate for me, So Much Yarn is having their big sale tomorrow.  So I’ll be getting yarn for this.  And I’ll be taking the pattern to my knitting group and begging the ladies to show me how to read charts.  I’ve also signed up the KAL (that’s Knit-a-long for those not in the know).  I probably will not start this for a bit.  But since the sale is going on, I thought it would be best to get the yarn to have at the ready.  Besides, I still have money left on my gift card!  Thanks Mom and Dad!  And on that note, I’ve got to get to bed to rest up for the sale tomorrow.