A Tale from the Yellow Table.

...y'all know how much I love the yellow table at Cast-on Cottage. Hands down it's the best place to knit with friends. It's also where we have class - and a whole lot of fun - on Wednesday afternoons. Yesterday morning, one of my students texted that she had roofers at her house and would miss class. I texted back that we'd miss her, and she'd miss all the stories. She replied that I should take good notes. My quick answer back "what happens at the yellow table stays at the the yellow table." ha!

I guess she knew what was in store. The girls had a big surprise for me! and a delightful kickoff to this year's birthday week (we all have birthday weeks, right?)

This is the table just after class. Plenty of project bags, WIPs and potential projects is typical, along with the Starbucks cups. But that empty bottle of Prosecco, half-empty bag of parmesan crisps, still-nearly-full tray of White Chocolate Popcorn and half-eaten carrot cake ... not so much! We had a very fun time; and thankfully no knitting crises that kept me from fully enjoying all of it.

Denise even brought me a personal gallon-sized bag of the popcorn (I might've had a little bowl for breakfast...isn't that what birthdays are for?) It's a favorite treat for the care packages she sends her kids every quarter or so. She always makes extra for class. Needless to say, we love care packages! She shared the recipe a few years back and I'm sure she wouldn't mind me sharing it with y'all:

Denise's White Chocolate Popcorn

1 large bag (regular size not single serve) microwave popcorn, popped (remove the unpopped kernels)

2-3 C Honey Nut Chex or Rice Chex cereal or a mixture of both

A handful or two of broken up pretzels

12-oz pkg white chocolate chips

2 T vegetable oil

12-oz pkg M & Ms

A handful of raisins

1.  In large bowl mix popcorn, Chex cereals and pretzels

2.  In microwave bowl, mix oil and chocolate chips.  On 50% power melt chocolate chips stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.

3.  Pour chocolate over popcorn mix and stir to coat.

4.  Add in M & Ms and craisins, stir again to fully coat.

5.  Pour out on wax paper for chocolate to cool and set. Within about 30 minutes it should be set enough to break up into smaller pieces.  Done!

...and that pile of gray yarn, mid-table? happy birthday to me (again!) ... and a tale for another day!

It's a Baby Shower.

...celebrating Katie and little baby T. Four of Katie's girlfriends threw her a shower this past weekend. It was perfectly delightful. This umbrella was featured on the invitation and the scorecard for the game.

I'm so glad shower games have progressed beyond the "guess how big around she is" and "guess how much she weighs" games we played at my showers! Instead we played along with Katie as she tried to guess how Rob answered 14 questions ranging from "how many diapers will the baby go through in a day?" (10 they both said), "will the baby have lots of hair, no hair or some hair?" (lots they both said) and my favorite one of all "which trait of Katie's do you hope the baby gets?" (her smile! how sweet!)

I didn't take any photos of the gifts, but we all ooh'ed and ahh'ed over cute, practical, fun and handmade. Not counting Sara (who gave Katie handknit tend gifts before she left), there were seven knitters represented (I think) and my sister-in-law quilts, too. I counted four hats, including a game day white and gold striped cap, two sweaters (one from me), a toy pig and a play quilt.

For decorations, they used baby photos from Katie and Rob.

I think "lots of hair" was a pretty good guess...Rob had really blond hair as a baby, but there was still plenty of it!

They also hung newborn onesies. It's hard to believe a tiny person will be wearing those is just two months.

The food was delicious. Vegetables and hummus, fruit and cheese, pimiento cheese sandwiches, sweet potato biscuits and savory cheese scones...and strawberry cake with cream cheese frosting. 

Here's Katie with the hostesses. 

left to right: Aubrey (she's due 12 days before Katie), Cady, Katie, Christa (holding 3-1/2 month old Mira who is actually a very happy baby but we interrupted her feeding time for the photo), and Katie. 

and with me.

...and a few peeks at the little sweater I knit. The first of many, I'm sure.

The pattern is Melissa LeBarre's Sweetest Thing. I used Berroco Vintage and three baby Yellow Jacket buttons. Not only is this baby going to have all the handknits, he's gonna be quite the Yellow Jacket...fourth generation perhaps!?

It was all a lot of fun and I am so glad I got to share the celebration with Katie, her friends and mine. 

(and now I'm in Madison...stay tuned for more "moving to Madison" posts...soon!)