This isn’t exactly new music. But new to me because I just discovered it. Mat has been writing songs and singing for some time now.

City of Black and White - This music, when listening in the middle of winter, makes a person reminisce for simpler times.

Sooner or Later - And this music is to remind us that things will get better. Mat’s songs are really good - his will be worth getting for the new year.

2012 was one of those years for me… with some memories I’d like to forget and others I will always cherish. I wish everyone a year full of peace, prosperity, and good health. - CN

The Dead Sea, which is located between Jordan and Israel, is nature’s perfect health resort. And it’s Dead Sea Mud and Dead Sea salt is nature’s perfect health and beauty product.

The Dead Sea is also referred to as “The Salt Sea” and has attracted visitors for thousands of years and is also the first health resort. People flock to this special place for it’s many healing properties.

It’s especially beneficial to those with skin disorders such as psoriasis, eczema or acne. Just being wrapped in the mud is also helpful for those suffering from arthritis.

The dead sea mud has a high concentration of salts and minerals. As it evaporates each year, the salt and minerals are absorbed into the bottom of the sea.

The mud contains minerals such as potassium, magnesium, sodium, bromine and calcium. And when applied to the skin it helps to detoxify and improve circulation.

I got this from Cleopatra’s Choice. I have used it as a face mask and really like it. It leaves my skin feeling fresh, clean and much softer. Instruction: leave on face for 15 minutes and rinse off with warm water.

I’ve seen lots of Dead Sea mud soap in the market now. Ahava, Adovia, and One With Nature all make Dead Sea mud soap. Now I think I’ll have to at least try making some myself. Just need to find the time!

Another interesting fact about the Dead Sea is that you can float in it. So no worry if you can’t swim, you’ll be just fine.

For further reading, check out Ruth’s Jordan Jubilee. This place looks like a dream vacation for me… if not for it being in the Middle East and all the chaos going on around there.

Wishing everyone a warm and wonderful Christmas. - CN

This would make for a good morning. I especially love how surprised the cat was to see the yarn invasion.

This was posted on Youtube by madeofwool. It’s a knitted adventure about a boy and his cat who travel far and wide to deliver parcels in their little red plane. Two of my favorite, knitting and stop motion animation - all in one cute adventure. Very cute & creative!

I’ve always admired “entrelec” knitting and have finally decided to give it a try. This type of knitting gives the appearance of basket woven strips of knitwear.

The pattern for this colorful entrelec beret is free from Lion Brand Yarn and Ravelry. You do have to register as a member to get the pattern. Don’t worry, signup is free.
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The ribbing and main color is knitted with worsted weight wool blend yarn from unknown brand. And the second color is knitted with Lion Brand’s “Amazing” line of variegated wool blend yarn in Aurora.

It does take some practice to begin knitting entrelec. And there are lots of turns after the diamonds are finished. But once you memorize the steps, it can be lots of fun. And I found that entrelec knitting in the round is much easier than flat entrelec knitting.

Overall the beret came out nice and colorful, except it was a bit too “slouchy” for my taste. I’m thinking of making a smaller version, using less stitches and row. It would have been nice to add this hat to my list of Christmas gifts, but maybe next winter.

Today I picked up a new knitting book, ““. There were lots of nice sweater patterns that I’d love to work on someday. Exactly when I will knit them, I don’t know.

The thought of accumulating more knitting books made me wonder if this book will just end up collecting dust on my shelf.

So why do I keep buying more knitting books? Just like some ladies I know, they can never have enough shoes or purses. I guess for me, there can never be too much yarn or knitting books!

So here’s a few more knitting books I like to add to my wishlist:

: Making 20 Figures with Wool Roving and a Barbed Needle

“Anyone can make cute and cuddly creatures from a handful of fluff and a barbed needle! There are only a few books written on the subject and most of those focus on ‘flat’ needle felting on a surface. This book is about sculptural needle felting—creating 3-D animals and figures using the felting needle to sculpt wool.”

The mama & baby penguins are too cute! I’m not exactly sure what to do with little wooly animals… maybe Christmas ornaments?

: An Introduction to Revolutionary Knitting with 28 Modern Projects by Daniel Yuhas

“In Knitting from the Center Out, Daniel Yuhas teaches knitters the fascinating technique of starting a project with just a few stitches and knitting outward, in revolutions (or circles).

Throughout the book are enlightening explanations of the underlying math and the architecture of the flat and dimensional shapes.”

This new way of knitting sounds really interesting. I am a fan of circular knitting and would love to try something like knitting from the center out.

When it comes to knitting, I think Daniel Yuhas said it best, “It’s amazing how two sticks, two stitches, and some twisted string can be combined in so many innovative ways to make so many beautiful things.”

All photos from Amazon.com

I am always on the look out for any kind of edible fruit. This season I came across these tiny little citrus fruits known as “calamansi”.

Calamansi are like a good mixture of orange and lime. A little sweet but mostly sour. Just like kumquats, their skin is edible and not bitter at all.

These tiny fruits are much smaller than Key limes. Despite their size, they pack a very sour punch! And the skin is the most fragrant citrus peel I’ve ever come across.

Calamansi are native to Asia and very popular in The Philippines. Many of the calamansi juice we have here in the U.S. were processed in the Philippines.

Calamansi (or kalamansi) are also known by various names, such as limonsito, calamandarin, calamondin.

The Philippines Department of Science and Technology had these interesting uses for calamansi:

“The fruit juice is also applied to the scalp after shampooing to eliminate itching and promote hair growth.

Rubbing calamansi juice on insect bites banishes itching and irritation.

It bleaches freckles and helps to clear up acne.

The most popular medicinal use of calamansi is when taken orally as a cough remedy.

Aside from the food and medicinal uses of calamansi, the fruit juice is used to bleach ink stains from fabrics and serve as a body deodorant. ”

Wow! I think this will become my new favorite citrus. So far I’ve only used it for making herbal tea. Just squeeze 1 small fruit, along with the skin & pulp into a glass of hot water. Mix with a few drops of honey. It makes a warm and refreshing winter tea.

As for my autumn knitting, it’s all about golden hues and cables. And this is the first free pattern I like to share. It’s called “Autumn Vine” because of the climbing vines in the center. On the edges are reversible cables.

Reversible cables are great for scarves because it has the same design front and back. The key here is to do “k1,p1″ versus just knitting all the cable stitches.

Cables can be made over any even number of stitches, here I am using 8-stitch.

Autumn Vine Scarf Pattern:

materials: size 4 (3.5mm) needles, cable needle, DK weight yarn

cast on 48
Knit first 6 rows
Start with k4 on the edges. Then do the 8 stitch cable, begin twisting cables every 8 rows. Which is called the turning row. K4 again then begin the middle section of Autumn vines.

This patterns consist mainly of left cable (LC) and right cable (RC). Then the middle vines. LC cables are done by holding slipped stitches to the front. And RC are done by holding slipped stitches to the back.

It’s too much to write out the whole pattern here. So when I get the chance I will attempt to make a chart for this pattern. In the meantime, it’s best to know the main pattern and incorporate them into the scarf.

Pattern for the vines in the middle section:

Row 1: k2, p3, k2, p2, k2, p3, k2
Row 2: knit K, purl p
Row 3: FC, p2, FC, BC, p2, BC
Row 4: and all even rows (6,8,10,12,14): knit k, purl p
Row 5: p1, FC, p2, FDKC, p2, BC, p1
Row 7: p2, (FC,BC) twice, p2
Row 9: p3, FDKC, p2, FDKC, p3
Row 11: p2, (BC, FC) twice, p2
Row 13: p1, BC, p2, FDKC, p2, FC, p1
Row 15: BC, p2, BC, FC, p2, FC
Row 16: knit k, purl p

abbreviations:
FC: slip 2 knit sts to cn and hold in front. p1, then k2 from cn.
BC: slip 1 p sts to cn and hold in back; k2, then purl the stitch from cn.
FDKC: slip 2 knit sts to cn and hold in front, k2, then k2 from cn.

Repeat this pattern to desired length of scarf. Ending with knit 6 rows and bind off.

Doesn’t all these cables inspired you to design your own scarf? Check out Aran Patterns and try adding these stitches to your new scarf!

We finally got some rain out here. And high winds… in the next few days all the pretty red and golden autumn leaves will be gone. Winter is just around the corner and December is here. Time just goes by too fast, best to make the most of it.

And here’s just some songs that are good for rainy days. Enjoy.

The Fray - How to Save a Life

Goo Goo Dolls - Better Days