This was another fun week of reading about all of the wonderful (and kind) things you are doing for those around you. Thank you again for sharing it with us. I know that “random acts” are typically done quietly, without telling anyone you did them. But you’re still pretty incognito in the blog comments here, and you have been inspiring a whole lot of people in the meantime. You should read the emails I’ve been getting about this! It has been just awesome.

Just a few from last Friday’s post - I liked Jeannette’s idea of making up care packages to hand out to the homeless. Ziploc bags filled with socks, gloves, lip balm, and non-perishable food items. They keep them in the car to hand out. BethC decided to forego fries in her lunches this week and donated that amount to the charity container in the restaurant. Diane decided that she and her family had spent enough on gifts for family and friends and donated the rest of their Christmas fund to the Heifer Project. There was also a lot of snow shoveling, windshield clearing, coffee/cocoa buying, hat and scarf knitting, special help/gifts for the elderly, and Angel Tree participating going on. (Read the ones from our first reporting day, too, if you haven’t seen those yet.)

This week’s randomly drawn winners are: Elizabeth in PA and Kim in TN, who each win two skeins of The Loopy Ewe Solid Series and a pattern (their choice of color and pattern) and a tub of Soak’s Heel creme. I look forward to giving more away next week again, so be sure to leave your latest RAK comments on today’s post to be entered into the drawing.

Today’s recipe originally came from Elf Mary, who brought this in to Loopy last week. I got to thinking about it, and tried a new version over the weekend. I am going to serve these with brunch on Christmas morning!

Breakfast Cinnamon Puffs

2 tubes of Crescent Rolls
1 package of cream cheese
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 Tbl. butter, melted
cinnamon to sprinkle

Whip together the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Fill your cupcake pan with liners. Separate the Crescent triangles and put one in each liner, opened up (so that all three triangle points are laying on the edges of the pan.) Add 1 generous Tbl. of the sugar mixture to the center of the triangle, and then flip all three pointss in to cover the filling and make the little “puff”. I did a little twisty twirl with the longest point, just to make it pretty. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle the top lightly with cinnamon. Bake at 375 degrees for 15 minutes, or until done. Makes 16 puffs. Can be served warm or cold.

(Note – the original recipe called for the same ingredients. Grease a 9 x 13 pan. Unroll one tube of Crescents and put on the bottom. Spread the cream cheese/sugar/vanilla mixture on top. Add the second layer of Crescents over the cream cheese. Spread 1 stick of melted butter on top and sprinkle with cinnamon. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Either way, this tastes great!)

For those of you deep into scarf-wearing weather, check out this post about how to do a pretzel knot with your scarf. I tried it and I love how it keeps the scarf snug (and cute!) around your neck. (You might also want to check out Lisa’s beautiful jewelry, while you’re at it.)

Back to the RAK’s – tell us what you did this week to be a blessing to others! I’m looking forward to reading all about it.

Sheri tryingtobemoreimpromtuwithmyRAKsthisweek

These merino/cashmere/nylon blends really spoil a person. I have already cast on for my second sock in this. I’d say that I’m getting better and deleting my Second Sock Syndrome but that’s not true. It’s just the MCN Base that prompts me forward. The truth is, I want to wear them and not just display a single sock on the wall at Loopy. This is Smaller Yellow Ant in Bugga from The Sanguine Gryphon, and while I’m not usually an orange or yellow person, the colors in this just pop. I love it.  The pattern is Shur’tugal, and is free on Ravelry. Knit top down, with a very cool heel. (Click on photo to make it big – isn’t that a fun pattern?) We put lots of new Bugga and Skinny Bugga up on Monday night, this week. I know many of you found it! We also added in:

- more Lavishea in all scents and sizes (those gals worked hard to get us one more order before the holidays!)

- Madelinetosh Sock (80 more colors went up) and Pashmina (the wonderful merino/silk/cashmere blend).

- Jojoland Melody Superwash and patterns (check out Jojo’s scarf patterns. So pretty in this beautiful color-changing yarn.)

- Entrelac Stitchmarkers (my favorites, because they’re small and unobtrusive and pretty.)

- Addi Lace Clicks (we’ve worked our way through all of the pre-orders that we had for these, so now we can share them on the website. These have been popular!)

- Loopy Lite Kits (the remaining kits from our Loopy Lite Fall Sock Club, containing an exclusive skein of Madelinetosh Sock, two patterns written for this kit – socks and mitts – and a black and red Loopy Messenger Bag.)

We’ll have one more Monday Update for 2010 – next Monday. I’m anticipating Gale’s Art, Fiberphile, Lorna’s Laces, and more for you on Monday. We won’t have new things to go up on 12/27, since we are taking Thursday and Friday of next week to enjoy the holiday season with our families. No photo time.

On another note – I have a new Christmas CD that I’m really enjoying. One of my friends on Facebook suggested it, and I’m so glad. It’s piano music that combines Christmas Carols with Classical songs (like Silent Night combined with Clare de Lune, We Three Kings with Fuer Elise, Hark the Herald Angels Sing with Handel’s Largo, etc). If you’re tired of all of your regular holiday CD’s,  (or need some stocking stuffers or a couple more gifts for people on your list) you might give this one a try. It will put you in the spirit and relax you at the same time!

Sheri finallycoldenoughforwoolsocksaroundhere

Woohoo – we’re ready for you! Well, we’re not actually ready for you to BE here yet, but we are ready for you to sign up to be here next Spring! This will be our Fourth Annual Spring Fling and we have once again planned plenty of knitting time, great food, fun classes, shopping at Loopy, and awesome Goody Bags for you. Do you want to come?

*** First – an important note. Before you sign up for the retreat, make sure that you check airline prices, vacation from work, childcare, and any other details you need to clear in order to be able to come. Once you sign up, you go into the lottery and if you get a spot, then we want to know that you will use it. The signups are up for a week, so you have plenty of time to get these things settled before you sign up. ***

Now for the details!

Dates: Thursday – Sunday, April 28 – May 1

Location: Sheraton Westport in St. Louis

Guest Instructors: Anne Hanson (Knitspot), Kirsten Kapur (Through the Loops), JC Briar (JCBriar Knitting), and Laura Nelkin (Nelkin Designs).

Your weekend includes: The Famous Dessert Reception on Thursday Night (so many great desserts), Breakfast and Lunch on Friday and Saturday, Brunch on Sunday, hotel room, Goody Bag, trip to Loopy Central, one class (with more available for an additional fee), transportation to and from the airport, and two knitting lounges with snacks and beverages provided throughout the day on Friday and Saturday. We’ll also have a separate knitting area available on Thursday and Sunday as people arrive and depart.

Cost: $525 for a double room, $695 for a single room. We require a $100 non-refundable deposit by 1/31, with the balance due by March 15th. After the initial deposit, we will set it up so that you can pay in increments or pay the whole thing, as you go along. Please note that we are unable to offer day-passes or options to attend without the hotel stay. Our prices at the hotel are figured on the number of guest rooms that we use for the weekend, and we max out our class and lounge space with Fling attendees.

You’ll be able to choose classes and room-mates in February. We’ll send you an email when it’s time to sign up for those.

We’ll leave signups up for a week (click here to sign up) and then we’ll send out emails with lottery results after 12/22. We’ll also generate waiting lists via lottery, in case of last minute cancellations. We’ll let you know if you’re on the waiting list when the emails go out about the spots, too. Now – go make sure you can come, and then sign up!

Sheri Springwillbeherebeforeweknowit,don’tyouthink?

I’m so glad it’s Friday. That means another RAK Reporting Day! Did you find fun things to do for others this week? Leave your report in the comments today and I’ll pick winners again and will announce them next week. The three randomly-drawn winners from last week are: Lisa in PA, Brigitte in MD, and Sara in TX. Each one has been contacted, and wins two skeins of The Loopy Ewe Solid Series yarn and a pattern, in their choice of colors, plus a tub of my favorite Heel Creme by Soak.

I loved reading the comments on last Friday’s Reporting Day. I think it’s great that so many of you are including your kids in the RAKs that you’ve been doing (like Karla and her baggie of change for the Salvation Army kettles, that her 4 year old hands out, or Elle who is working with her 3 year old to pick out gifts for their church’s gift drive.) What a great way to teach them the spirit of giving and doing for others. Many of you are reaching out and adopting kids or families who have no money for the holidays, and are doing things to provide them with cheer. Others of you have looked for impromptu opportunities to pass something on (like Brigette, who literally gave the coat off of her back, and Megan who passed her daughter’s new coat on to a child that didn’t have one.) And even things as simple as Kathy bringing hot cocoa to her mail lady, or Chris delivering coffee and donuts to the Pharmacy staff that prepares her dad’s medicine, or Sarah F. making homemade chicken noodle soup for sick neighbors. Your acts of kindness are  a reminder to all of us that this season is more about giving than getting. Keep up the blessings and keep reporting in on Fridays so that we can all enjoy them and be inspired.

Today’s recipe is one from a blog called Sing For Your Supper. These cookies look so pretty, and taste great, too.

Peppermint Kisses

4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup candy cane powder*
2 sticks plus 4 Tbl. unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
2 egg yolks
2 tsp. vanilla extract
crushed peppermints (I used about 15 regular-sized candy canes, crushed)
White almond bark (about 12 oz.)

* Candy cane powder is made by crushing candy canes into a fine powder. I crushed these with a hammer and then dumped them into a strainer. The finest pieces went through to the bowl below (and was used for the candy cane powder) and the larger pieces in the top of the strainer were used to garnish the cookies when finished. (Note: when using a hammer to crush candy, keep your fingers out of the way. Why would I mention this? Oh, no reason. No reason at all.)

Mix all dry ingredients together.

In a large bowl, beat the butter at medium speed until smooth (about a minute). Add sugar and beat for about two more minutes until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add in the eggs and yolks, one at a time, then add in the vanilla.

Reduce mixing speed to low and slowly add in the flour mixture, mixing just until it has been fully incorporated.

Drop the dough by rounded spoonful onto baking sheets covered with parchment paper or a silicone mat. Bake at 350 degrees for 9-12 minutes.  Cool completely.

Melt almond bark and drizzle or spread on top of cookies. Add chopped candy cane pieces for garnish. Makes 40-50 cookies.

Now – back to the RAKs – tell us what you did this week!

Sheri usingleftoverpeppermintpiecestoflavormycoffee,yum!

Slowly but surely our house is getting decorated for Christmas. I used to do it in one (long) Saturday, but in the past few years I have been doing bits and pieces from day to day. My favorite thing this year are these battery-operated candles. (Finally, battery-operated candles that “flicker” realistically and don’t look fake.) I bought mine in Fulton, IL at Sweet Woodruff. Cutest little gift shop with no website! I did tell her that if she ever decided to sell things online, I’d be a good customer. I bought both red and white candles there. She has been using hers in the shop since May, using the same (2) C batteries. And the thing I like most? They have a timer. You can have them run 4 hours on and 20 hours off (or 8 /16 ). That means that I don’t have to go around each night to turn them on and off. They come on at 6:00 and they go off at 10:00, like clockwork. I’ll have to keep them around after the holidays. They look great flickering away on the mantel and in the dining room.

This window is another one of my favorite things this season, because it was fun to decorate. Is this an odd thing to have in the dining room? It fits right in with the old teak/oak/pine furniture in our house. I found it at an antique store for $15. I keep thinking I will re-finish it, but we hung it up as-is for awhile. I’ve seen old windows for sale before, but I liked this one because it had a ledge for stuff.

The corner cabinet is one that has been in our family for a long time. My grandparents bought a couple of these as kits from Sears back in the 1930′s and put them together. It provides another shelf for me to decorate! I found another battery-operated candle at Target for that corner. Not as nice as the Sweet Woodruff ones, which are made from wax and look like a real candle, but still a fun one for the holidays.

Did you find anything new (or old and repurposed, like my window) to use in your holiday decorating this year?

Sheri triednewholidaycookieslastnight,recipeonFriday!

I caved. I was just going to knit one gift this year, and then last week I decided that I really ought to knit a few more. But what can you knit that is relatively quick, but still beautiful and special and fun? I wound up a skein of Fiesta Ballet (Rhubarb) and turned out this scarf over the weekend. I used the One Row Lace Scarf pattern, which is quick and easy and airy. I cast on 32 stitches and used size 10 needles. Easily made with one skein.

I’m casting on a couple more things, just because two of the new yarns that came in this week are perfect for quick knitting, and they are LUSCIOUS. The first is a new line from Cascade, called Epiphany. This sport weight yarn is made up of 60% Royal Alpaca (warm), 20% Cashmere (soft) and 20% Silk (slight sheen). It comes in 12 colors, and I’m hoping they’ll continue to add more as the line grows. For holiday knitting, try scarves, hats, cowls, gloves and mitts. For “January Selfish Knitting”, make yourself a sweater out of it.

The other new line that has me want to cast on, comes from another one of our new indie dyers – Three Irish Girls. This week, we have their Glenhaven Cashmerino Worsted in 18 beautiful colors. I specifically stuck with mostly semi-solids for this, because it’s a perfect weight for scarves and hats, and this yarn will make your stitch patterns and cables just pop. You all have been snapping up the merino/cashmere/nylon sock yarn blends that we keep bringing in. Now it’s your change to get that 80/10/10 mix in a hand-dyed worsted! (We also have their Adorn Sock Yarn on order, in multi-colors and semi-solids. We’ll continue to expand the Three Irish Girls line in 2011.)

To round out today’s Update, we also added in more Loopy Totes (including the Large Square, since you all liked the Medium Square so much), Lorna’s Lace’s Lorna’s Purple Mustang in Sport and Roving, 3 additional colors of Sweet Georgia’s CashLuxe Fine, re-stocks and new bags from Atenti, re-stocks of the Loopy Hadley mugs and yarn bowls, and the 2011 edition of the Romney Ridge Farm Calendar. We love these calendars. If you are a Loopy Groupie, you will get a free calendar in the first order you place in December – our gift to you!

Did you know that many of you will be getting Loopy Ewe Gift Certificates for Christmas this year? I know this because I see your husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, mother-in-laws, aunts, friends, and kids placing orders for you. And every time I see another one come through, I think, “oooh, they’re going to be so happy to get that!”.

Check back Wednesday for the winners from our first week of Random Acts of Kindness. (If you have a Random Act comment, leave it on last Friday’s post to get into the contest. Our next reporting day – for new RAK’s – will be this coming Friday again.) Have you been reading the comments? Pour yourself a nice mug of hot chocolate (or coffee, or tea) and take a peak at the awesome things that people have found to do. I love reading them.

Sheri workingonknittingsocks(ok,onesock)tonight