More herbivore!

I've required some pretty simple knitting lately, aka "mindless knitting". So when I finished the Noro scarf, I immediately cast on my new Bugga! into a new herbivore. The yarn colours are knitting up just gorgeous.

Stripes!

I previously posted that I was caking up my Noro. Since then, I've had lots of "mindless knitting" time, but not much blogging time. Time enough to knit up a whole new Noro scarf. Once again, it was a very addictive knit! It required a little intervention, now and then, when the colours collided, but was a very rewarding project to knit. The scarf is a donation to the school auction this fall. Yay, I'm done early this time!

FOOD--Italian-style tofu on rice

Last night I wanted to make marinated tofu to serve over wild rice, but I didn't have time to marinate for an hour. Instead I started to make sauteed tofu, but it turned out so saucey that it wound up being stewed instead. The recipe was loosely adapted from the Italian Marinated Tofu in Vegan with a Vengeance, and it turned out yummy.

Italian-style Tofu

1 lb tofu
8 cloves fresh garlic, crushed
2 TBSP olive oil
2 TBSP Bragg's Aminos
2 TBSP red wine vinegar
1 tsp salt
1 tsp Italian seasoning blend
2 large tomatoes, roughly chopped

Drain tofu and press while preparing the sauce.  Heat the oil over medium-high in a saucepan and add the garlic. Stir and cook just until sizzling. Add rest of ingredients, and stir together until well incorperated.  Dice and add the tofu. Simmer until the tofu takes on the flavour of the sauce, about ten minutes.  Serve over rice.

Notes.  All measurements are approximate, I just poured stuff in. I would have preferred fresh Italian spices, like basil, oregano, and thyme, but my garden isn't thriving well enough yet to provide.

Titanium Socks, Finished!

On May 31, I finished my titanium socks.  I didn't want to let my participation in the Sock-a-Month club pass me by for the month, so I cast them off at the very last hour.

Yarn: Stitchjones Titanium Sock
Colorway: Bangkok
Pattern: Yarnissima's Firestarter
Needle: Size 1 circular

I loved the yarn, but was dissatisfied with the pooling. I gave up on trying to avoid the pooling and just let it pool like a pooler. The socks are very comfy and colourful.

Acquisitions! Spoiler alert for Loopy and Gothsocks

Dude, like the topic above says. There are spoiler pictures in this post for the Loopy Groupie package and the June Gothsocks. In case any readers care.

First of all, I have acquired my first Wollmeise! I have been aware of its insane popularity on Ravelry for a long time now. Only recently have I paid enough attention to be able to successfully navigate an update at The Loopy Ewe and actually purchase some for myself. I also got some more Hiya Hiya 9" needles, as I still do enjoy knitting with them. I had also added the pattern "book" Balloon Tying Creations to my cart, but in an incredible stroke of bad luck for me, Sheri blogged about the book on the very day that I was stalking for the WM, and the book sold out instantly, and I didn't get to buy it.

Need another look at that Wollmeise?

As a bonus, this was my sixth order at the Loopy Ewe. (And it's taken me years to get to six orders.) Loopy has a loyalty program called Loopy Groupies. When you place your sixth order, you are inducted into the Loopy Groupie club. As a welcome, they send you an awesome package.  This purchase was made using my mother's day and birthday gift certificates, so getting a bonus gift in my package made it extra special!  They sent a really cute see-through tote bag, a pattern, a sheep calendar, treats, plus a skein of yarn!  My yarn was Brooklyn Handspun in the colourway "renew".

Oooh la la!

But wait, that's not all!  Today I received a birthday package from Ember.  And she sent me the Balloon Tying Creations book!  Thanks Ember!!

Plus! Today I also received my June Gothsocks club package. It's my final club package, and I struggled a long time while I decided whether to renew or not. By saving my yarn money, I was able to buy the Wollmeise, which isn't exactly buying yarn as it's needed, but I've definitely slowed down on the gratuitous yarn-stashing. Anyway, back on topic, my final yarn is GORGEOUS. DO WANT.

The yarn is based on the TV show Big Bang Theory. The photo above shows the yarn with a disc of Big Bang Theory, which also arrived in the mail today. Good mail day!