Here I thought I knew a lot about Starbucks and their drinks. In my Frank/Martha quiz, one of the coffee options was:
Vente Mocha with 2 shots
Knitting Daughter, who is also known as Starbucks Barista, informed me that it’s Venti-with-an-I Mocha (not Vent-E), and it automatically comes with 2 shots. Ok, then. I stand corrected. Obviously I don’t order that size. But I must say, the last time I got a Grande, I thought they had given me a Tall and my first thought was, “Well shoot – I need a bigger cup than that.” I refuse to routinely order Ventis. I just refuse. Of course I used to say that about Grandes.)
Also, I got my first email from a dog this week. I loved it. Apparently the word is out that I talk to dogs. (Hi Frogger!) I think maybe I shouldn’t have put that “talk to animals” thing in writing. (Although I’m in great company, from the number of people who commented and emailed.) In fact, Zoe, our cat, told me that she thinks it’s great that I talk to her and Casey. Never mind. Enough said.
Thanks for weighing in on the Franks and Marthas. It sure looks like there are more Franks out there, but I sell just as many Martha colors of sock yarn, so I think some of you Marthas are hiding. That’s ok. It will just be fun to see how you all choose to step out of your regular sock-zone for the Loopy Q1 Challenge. I’m anxious for the pictures. (And I love the idea of all of you who are perfectly balanced “Frarthas”.)
Remember my idea for our sock gallery? Since anyone can have a “regular” sock gallery, I wanted us to do “Socks in Trees”. It was later amended to also include “Socks on Bushes” (the plant, not the president) and “Socks on Rocks” for those without vegetation. I promised you a cute little gift if you sent me a photo (limit 2 per person – 1 for your sock picture submissions and 1 for your knitting nook picture submissions.) I have seen the preliminary gallery that Web Guy is working on, and I just love it! We’re hoping to put it up by the end of January when he is home for a long weekend. Want to know what the fun little gift is? This mini Sock Blocker. (One for sock submission, one for knitting nook or knitting organizing idea photo submission – that way you can earn a pair.) I have posed it with a our S/M/L Sock Blockers so that you can get an idea of the size. Isn’t it cute? (What do you do with it? Well, you could either block baby socks, or you could just stick it on a shelf or hang it on the wall in your knitting area for decoration. That’s what I did with mine.) WH is about done cutting all of these for me, so that I can start sending them out to the people who have already sent photos. Keep sending them – YOU are what will make these galleries more fun! (Yes, your sock photo for the Loopy Quarterly Challenge can count as your “sock submission” and you will receive the mini sock blocker.)
Look what came in this week. This is the wonderful thing that I told you my friend Georgia (Yarn Pirate) sent me at Christmas time! It smells great and it is wonderful on my hands. I have picky hands. They don’t always react well to some lotions. They love this stuff. I put a large tin in my bathroom to use at night, and a small tin in my knitting bag. I need to put another one in my purse. (How many times are you out running around and wishing you had some lotion for your dry hands?) Give it a try. I know you’ll like it.
Recipe for today – I feel bad sharing another decadent one with you during diet month! But, well …. this is what I’m making lately, for one thing or another. So print it out and save it for when you need a quick and EASY dessert for company.
Symphony Brownies
1 plain old brownie mix for a 9×13 pan
2 Symphony chocolate bars (the BIG size. I like the one with toffee bits the best, but I used the plain chocolate this week.)
Mix the brownie mix as directed. Pour half the batter into a 9×9 pan (even though you’re using a 9×13 mix.) Layer the 2 chocolate bars on the batter. They should cover the whole pan. Pour the rest of the batter on top. Bake as directed, but add 4 minutes to the baking time. Let cool at room temperature. Cut and then refrigerate before serving to make sure the inner layer of chocolate “sets”. Also great with ice cream, if you feel like you’re not getting enough calories in the brownies…
I’m having a very fun weekend. My favorite knitting friend and her WH are here for a few days. I’ll tell you all about it on Monday. 🙂
Sheri it’sacloudydaydidImentionthatIlikecloudydays?
It all starts with a Tall.
Then, a Grande.
Now, if they made a size larger than a Venti, I woluld get that one!
Heh. We talk to our dog on the phone all the time. My husband will call me when he’s coming home, and my Jasper dog always jumps up so he can hear my husband call him over the phone.
So it could be worse. 🙂
haha, i’m glad you liked your email from frogger. you are the first person he has ever emailed. i try not to let him use the computer very often–lest i find him looking at racy pictures of poodles and yellow labs…;)
i’d also like to sing the praises of the Bee Bar. i have very sensitive skin, and doesn’t irritate my skin or anything. i love the smell, i love the lotion. i rub it on after i dye yarn and it works great!!
I may have to try this Bee Bar stuff…there is no lavender in it, right??? I’m deathly allergic to lavender, thats why I was SO EXCITED that you started carrying Soak. I have icky dry hands (it alllll started when I worked at Starbucks, tell your daughter to moisturize those hands when she’s not at work!) that very few lotions seem to work on. I’m intrigued…hmmm…this sounds like the perfect excuse to place another order soon!
I too want to try the Bee Bar lotion. I keep a ‘fancy’ hand lotion in the car for special girls day out trips like to the lys or quilt store. It is very dry here in Arizona so we break out the fancy stuff on those trips. Bee Bar will have to be introduced I think. :>)
Question for you sock knitters out there: I prefer toe-up socks to safeguard against running out of yarn at the toe versus cuff. I have always stuck to the standard Wendy Knits pattern where you turn both the toe and heel the same way with shorts rows. I like that very much, however I really want to try the heel flap type heel… I hear they are very durable. (For reference check out the heel on the Wildhorse Farm pattern ‘Stillwater Socks’.) Do you know of a pattern that uses this heel-flap type heel on a toe-up sock? Since I’ve never done the flap I don’t know how adaptable it is to that. Rather than scrounge the Inet I thought I’d ask all you devoted sock knitters. Thanks for any help!
When I travel, my husband puts me on spreaker phone so I can talk to the dogs. Buddy will start turning his head and then starts running thru the house looking for me. It is always makes me laugh.
Sheri, I thought you had already figured it out that the only real size at Starbucks is a venti. And I often end up with 3 shots in mine simply because the barristas at my local Starbucks know me and will do it just because…
Michelle, there is a pattern in Knitty called Widdershins that is a toe up with a heel gusset. I have not tried this pattern yet but everyone says that it is really great.
To Michelle from Arizona –
The Widdershins pattern is knit toe-up with a heel flap. I haven’t tried it yet, but have heard wonderful things about it! http://www.knitty.com/issuesummer06/PATTwiddershins.html
Hey Sheri,
Heal My Hands is also great for sensitive skin! I have some of it in Winter Solstice and it smells great! I also love your Loopy Ewe posed with the sock blockers. I’ll have to send you Tetley dog’s ewe-on-wheels that we call “Brother Ricky” (even though he’s not a she). And Tetley thinks she’s human, so I talk to her and Kitty all the time. Even on the phone. And, my DH would kill me BUT he talks to them too!
Thank you Janelle and Mia for the tip on the Knitty Widdershins pattern. You saved me a lot of time and digging. :>)