My boss just sent this to me. While we don’t do TV commercials, I can see web design work echo’ed here. That said, I do love my job, and our marketing issues aren’t this bad. Warning: naughty words are said.

That’s just a snippet. The entire twelve-minute video can be viewed here.

What’s there to say about these round guys? I would never have thought that y’all would express so much interest in my off-handed remark about a root vegetable that my 1950s-minded man calls “poor people’s food.” (I don’t know when he got all high and mighty… and he loves a good baked potato. His favorite meal of jarred spaghetti sauce, angel hair and frozen meatballs doesn’t sound too high falutin to me.)

When I included my turnips in Sunday’s list of weekend productivity, it was partially about the dish, partially about me. Food-wise, roasting turnips was a simple process of peeling, quartering and chopping down to bite-sized pieces, 15 minutes of parboiling (putting them in boiling water), then tossing the drained chunks with oil, salt, pepper and rosemary. The oven was pre-heated to 375º and then I ignored them for 30-40 minutes. I wish I had put them in longer and raised the temperature to get them more brown, but I feared making them too mushy. Roasting, in general, is something that fascinates me. I don’t nearly roast enough. The magical combination of salt, oil and heat continues to delight and surprise me.

The flavor of a turnip is somewhere between the tang of a parsnip or a radish mixed with the consitency of a potato. The ones I cooked were purple-topped white fleshy bulbous roots with one or two golden turnips thrown in for good measure. They came from the Riverdog Farm organic veggie box I get each week at work. Beyond supporting locally-grown agriculture, I love not having to shop and trying out things that I wouldn’t normally buy.

On occasion, the box adds to my stress—if i’m not cooking from it and letting it go to waste. I hate throwing any of it away. Just the act of preparing food (regardless of the delicious results) grounds me in the same way as does knitting a few stitches. It connects me to my life, it brings me great joy to make yumminess, and I get to use my hands to start, prepare and complete a project.

Now, after 7pm and still at the office, I just popped a few leftovers in my mouth and they still get me. But not too much. I’m going to Kirala for my swim coach’s big 32nd. Perhaps next time I’ll “cut” the turnips with some potatoes and let ’em get all crispy. But that will have to wait… there ain’t no turnips in the box this week. I’ve got leeks, spinach, oranges and mei qing choi to deal with.

At last, the saga of the Jaywalkers is over. Surgery was successful and the toe grafted at the breakfast table on Tuesday morning. Thank you all for the well wishes (and I’ll explain roasted turnips at a later time). My Monday was not a pleasure at work, so I really needed these happy socks to uplift my Tuesday.

While the pattern was mildly interesting to knit, these wouldn’t be my favorite socks to wear—too slouchy; I need me some ribbing. They sit on your legs like an oldfashioned stocking.

The only redeeming quality is the LOVELY Scout’s Swag yarn. Keep in mind, this photo is a washed-out blue of a dim San Francisco morning sun. In real life, the socks (and my pallid legs) are even brighter. I adore the colors and the wool itself feels fabulous, especially in comparison to the commercially made bike socks I’m wearing today.

I cannot thank Scout enough for making this yarn for me. She went with the colors in the photo in my header and introduced me to the joys of well-dyed handpainted yarn. Happy blog birthday, lady! I owe you (yet another) drink when we finally meet in person!

It’s that time, just before bed on Sunday when you’re ready to go to bed, but dread it at the same time. It was a rather productive weekend: reknitting the sock and starting on the toe decreases, a website redesign meeting for the swim team, not one, but two practices, roasted turnips, a new restaurant with an old friend, groceries and a visit to the dog park (followed by a long overdue bath).

But heading off to bed means the week starts anew: long days at work, the stress an ever-growing to-do list, not enough down time with my man. Luckily, I get to cuddle up next to the above mug and the guy who took the picture.

Here’s my new six needle technique… two circulars and four DPN’s. Don’t you just hate when you’re ready to begin the toe of a sock, only to read the pattern and realize you f’ed up about four inches back? And I thought I was going to finish this guy today.

I ASS-umed that I could just plow ahead once the gusset decreases had the same number of stitches on the sole as the instep. Nope. Due to the angularity of the zig-zag pattern, it’s 6 less stiches on the sock’s under belly. It wouldn’t have been a problem had I not already knit the first sock correctly. No wonder this one was striping nicely while its partner had a rotating pooling.

I’m ready to rip… say good-bye to this Dune-inspired monstrosity.

It’s not like I’ve been sitting here and picking my nose, ignoring my blog. I’ve been sitting at work picking my nose, not blogging. Don’t feel left out, I haven’t been writing over at Runagogo.com, nor have I been running!

Sure, work’s been busy, but when isn’t it? It’s the nature of busy-ness. The new month offers a chance for a new beginning. But, before I rush into the future, let’s look back at the first month of 2007.

I have tried a new restaurant, Sebo (or on Yelp.com) with my dear friend M. Great, fresh fish, but TINY nigiri! I won’t be running back anytime soon, unless it’s with my neighbor who’s gotten friendly with one of the chefs.

Speaking of food, I enjoyed some amazing eats on a business trip to New Orleans. Here’s breakfast from a po’ boy place down the street from our hotel. It wasn’t business as usual. In lieu of sending people abroad to work with Habitat for Humanity (like my 2005 trip to Poland), we’re going to send people to the Big Easy. In addition to the local H4H, we met with Common Ground Relief, Acorn and Emergency Communities. All are doing amazing work, and so needed. The magnitude of the devastation that remains 17+ months later cannot be described. If you can, donate, get your butt down there or find a way to help out. It’s more than a tragedy, it’s a national disgrace. Luckily, people are coming together to make things right. I hope to head back there, myself.

Knitting-wise, I’ve finished one of my Scout’s Swag socks, and I’m closing in on the toe of the second. Photos upon finishing. I started a scarf, but I’m not proud of that (a variation on a certain drop-stitch sensation that everyone and her mother did a year or two back—MdV, I’m so ashamed). I am proud of finishing and gifting the Knucks for my synchro team coach (Tsunami Tsynchro). She’s a knitter too, so she appreciates all the finishing required by that embroidery.

Speaking of said coach, Dr. S. (she’s a physicist) and I swung by Stash to say hello to Ms. Vickie Howell. Still cute as a button and rocking some killer shoes. I wish I could have stayed longer to chat… next time?

There’s a snoring puppy (who turned 3 today) and a snoring boyfriend next to me on the couch. I should go walk them before we head off to bed.

Thanks for your kind words during my absence.

It was one year ago today that Ms. Janie Sparkles joined our home. At the risk of overloading this blog with cuteness and dog photos, I promise to write more knitting content soon. I’m closing in on the toe of my first Scout’s Swag custom-dyed sock.

Inspired by Lime & Violet, I’m considering “running” my own Sock Marathon, knitting through my mileage of sock yarn. Compared to some of the stashes I’ve seen, I’m not even a high school cross-country sprinter with a measly 2 miles of yardage. I’d be happy to get through 4 pairs, plus the Socks that Rock club from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. (That’s 10 this year, don’t hold me to that.)

Work was a beast this week. In addition to my absence here, I’ve been quiet at Runagogo. Off to go do that and/or get a run in. After a week of no running, my foot’s feeling much better.

(Thanks to Peephole for the inspiring this post’s title. You look so fetching in that Hallowig!)

From me, C, and your granddaughter, pictured on the right, we wish you the best.

Today is my mother’s 64th birthday. I don’t believe she’s that old (neither can she!). You wouldn’t know it from her new-found enthusiasm for knitting, specifically socks.

What better gift to give a new knitter without access to a LYS than a sock club membership where she’ll experience many different brands and patterns? Today she received some Mega Boots Stretch and a pretty Ripple sock pattern. These combined with the couple of Yarn Harlot books and Cat Bordhi‘s 2 circ book she received for xmas, she’ll have plenty to keep her busy.

Don’t worry. My dad got her a gift certificate to Blue Moon Fiber Arts so she can experience some gorgeously colored gems. We’ll have her knitting on all kinds of yarn.

And, for my birthday, I’m thinking of sending her some of Scout’s Swag so she can make me a pair!

This was supposed to be a day off of work, but I’m heading in to the office in a few minutes to continue my first-week productive streak. I’ve spent the morning browsing through the amazing posts at Runagogo.com site, the knitting/running/moving 100 miles by April 1st madness dreamed up by the amazing Rachael of yarnagogo.com and tech-ified by the glamour geek Scout of scoutsswag.com.

I’m honored and proud to be included in this project as one of the “Gogo Grrls” with the role of being the cheerleader and fitness friend. I posted my first Rah-rah post. If you’re at all intrigued by the idea of covering 100 miles in the first 3 months of 2007, please join us! Want to know more, start here. You can run, walk, swim, skate, shimmy or whatever you like.

I hope this weekend, I’m hoping to post some images of my progress on the reknit sock in Scout’s yarn (it’s striping finally, not pooling like a a heat-sensor image from Predator) and my new skein of Lisa Souza Mars Quake! sock yarn. I also have a pair of Knucks with a bajillion ends to weave in for my swim coach.

EDITED: there’s a problem with eBay and their charity auction regulations. Please be patient. Lisa says the auction will launch with or without eBay in the next few days. Auctions are open until January 7th!

My prolific friend Lisa, her sister Stephanie and their mother Gerrie have organized an art and craft auction for the Kim family.

James Kim died while trying to get help for his wife Kati and two daughters after they were stranded for more than a week in Oregon’s wilderness over Thanksgiving weekend. They were driving home to San Francisco from Portland, on the same roads that we traveled on from Eugene.

All of the items are exquisite and their makers are some of the most talented people out there today, including Jess Hutch.

The auctions opened today and bidding closes on 1/7. Prices are high, but it’s for a cause that’s more than worthy. It’s touched many people in my life personally who are friends with the family.

If you have the means, bid generously. If not, please support the two stores the Kim’s opened in San Francisco, Doe in the Lower Haight and Church Street Apothecary in Noe Valley.