Coconut Chicken

There has been more practicing for the "Around the World" Banquet.  Today's dinner was Coconut Chicken prepared by Samm.  She asked me to buy a whole chicken so she could practice cutting it apart - she did a damn fine job.  If it were me, there would have been very little that was useable when I was done with it.  She only needed the breasts for the recipe, so the rest was cooked in the oven.  I have just one word for tonight's practice Coconut Chicken - YUMMY! 

On the knitting front - I've finished one WIP and started a new one.  Not going to knock those numbers down that way, am I?  That's okay; I think I have a reasonable amount of WIP's going with varying degrees of concentration needed for each.  As long as I finish one before starting another, I feel comfortable with the number of projects I have going.

First up, the finished elephant:

This was to be a baby shower gift for Samm's friend.  She didn't end up going to the shower and will give a gift when the baby is born, but not this.  She likes it; she thinks it's cute.  There is just one problem; Mr. Elephant seems to have a woody (sure it's on his face, but it's a woody just the same)!  She can't bring herself to give this gift to this particular baby because she works with the parents and they are the type who will not let her live it down that she gave their baby an elephant with a woody.  Not a problem, the elephant has just become my February Holiday Headstart project as I have no problem giving it to my great-neice.  I'm hoping her mom won't immediately think of a woody the minute she sees it :-)  Now, I just have to make another baby project in the next couple of weeks before this baby arrives.  Shouldn't be a problem; baby knits are generally fast knits.

Faina's scarf has been put on hold until tomorrow night; I've been using the written directions instead of the charts and it's really hard to keep my place.  I need to bring the pattern to work and enlarge the charts on the copier.  I am loving the look and feel of this scarf; I'll give you a picture when there is more to see.

I started what has affectionately become known as the Big Balls Sweater (actually it's the Chunky Everyday Cardi by Amy of Spunky Eclectic, using Big Ball Sweater yarn).  Gina and I are knitting this together (well at the same time).  I started it Friday morning and completed most of the first sleeve Friday evening.  I finished that sleeve and did most of the second sleeve at work yesterday morning.  I finished the second sleeve after work today and began the body.  Here's a picture of the finished sleeves (there's not enough of the body for a picture yet):

I have to say, I like that the sleeves are done; it didn't seem so bad knitting them first.  I always dread the sleeves when I knit them after the body - doesn't really make much sense, but there you have it.

This morning's "at work" project was the sock I started last week at SPA.  I hadn't touched it since last weekend and figured I better get moving on it before it turns into an UFO!  Can't have that, since this pair of socks is slated to be a birthday gift next month.  I managed to knit the heel, and get halfway down the foot.  No picture; no need to bore you with another in progress sock picture.  It'll be done soon and I'll take a picture then.

There has not been a single stitch knit on the leg warmers since Chicks with Sticks, Tuesday night.  I should probably make this my morning before work knit.  I usually knit for an hour before getting ready for work each morning.  Since I can't really handle more than an hour or two doing round after round of k1p1, this would work out perfectly.

I'll leave you with another kitty picture:

Ralph - sound asleep in the sun.

He really should learn how to relax!

Comments

[Sheepish Annie]

Coconut chicken, mmmmmmmmmmm! If I'da known that having kids meant coconut chicken, I might have gone done and had me one or two...

Love the heffalump even if he is "happy to see me." :)

[Colleen]

a woodie?!!!!! hahahahahaha, tee hee hee- I am 10 years old. really. (maybe its the little bit of pink on the end?)

the sleeves look awesome! can't wait too see the FO

coconut chicken...mmmmmmmmm. I'm so coming to visit!

oh and I'd be happy to knit the legwarmers for you.... I LOVE those kind of projects when getting the boy to eat! (usually an hour long process any given meal)

[Yarnophiliac]

Great sleeves for the Big Bal sweater. I'm so jealous! I so wanted to do that with you both, but there was no yarn for me. :( What colorway are you using?

[Zonda]

That coconut chicken is making me drool right now! Still chuckling over the woodie!...um maybe you could use a wire or something inside to make it bendable next time..or not ;) I love the colorway of the sleeves, can't wait to see the sweater!

[Amy Boogie]

Mr Elephant is very cute, maybe it's the woodie that makes him so cute.

Great sleeves too - I always write the pattern for the sleeves first (although the publications change it), it's so much easier to get the suckers out of the way - plus sleeves make a great "gauge swatch".

[Chris]

LOL about the elephant's erm, trunk... The sleeves lok great! And poor Ralph - you have to stop overworking that cat. Look how tired he is!

[farm-witch]

Hey, I'm diggin' the sleeves first concept as I, too, suffer from 'sleeve blah syndrome'. And, on the woody - it's all about how you look at it - and whether you want to, eh?

[Jeanne]

The elephant is cute. It looks like a trunk to me, but maybe it's the angle. As for Ralph....he obviously has a stressful life.

[lisa]

Hah! I made a felted squid that certain people thought looked too much like, well, what the woody is! But I gave it anyhow. Checked in w/ the kiddo's folks and they said she never made that connection and she has surely seen that anatomy. My 11 yr old son wanted to look at your cat picture, he thought it looked nice, ditto the elephant. I asked, notice anything odd about the elephant?...well, it's wearing a scarf, and it looks a little like a mouse. But that was it!

[Valerie in San Diego]

I know what you mean about dreading the sleeves after the body, but not the body after the sleeves. Why is that? So strange. But anyway, lookin' good.

I love the elephant, but that's pretty funny :)

And Ralph is darling. Your cats always have this fluffy, healthy, robust look about them.

[marianne]

You lucky woman! All the food Samm has been preparing and cooking/baking....I'm always drooling here.
Love the elephant! and as always, the kitty porn.

[~Kristie]

I guess I really missed out in not having kids. We never have anything fabulous like coconut chicken! Do you want to loan Samm to me for awhile?

That elephant is adorable, but the woody comment had me grinning ear to ear!

[Sara]

Do you think Samm would like to come and cook for me???? Just asking :)

I have to laugh as to how you explained the elephant...hmmmm...

Ralph needs to teach me how he gets in that utterly relaxed mode....

[Kate]

Shoot...we should have tried to have met up at Spa!! Darn it. Next year for certain!

[Debby]

Love the Ralph photo. They really do know how to relax! The elephant is cute. I'm sure your niece will enjoy him.

[Arleta]

Haha! Funny elephant. He is cute, though.

How did I miss so much? Your yarn (and cup from Amy are awesome!)

[April]

Until you mentioned Mr. Elephant's err ... woody, I never even thought of his trunk like that. I think he's adorable! You're a weirdo. :)

I bought my Faina yarn!

[Mia]

OMG.. I'm starving now. Coconut chicken.. or shrimp.. or hey, even a Mounds bar would be good right about now *grin*