Ducks, Lobster and Rockport

The State House

This past weekend, my Mother in Law was in town for a visit. It was her 1st time visiting us in Boston since we've moved here. She loved the apartment and we were grateful for her visit. She arrived Saturday and we quickly gained 5 lbs each. She brought Argentinian pastries from NYC... dangerous I tell you!

Yes that's a bar... in an old police department!

Soon after stuffing our faces, we drove to Copley to take the Duck Boat Tour. It was Paul's and Ana's 1st time. I think they thought it would be more fun than it actually was. Our guide wasn't as good as the one I had when Andy and my Father in Law were in town.... Also I don't think Ana cares much for the history of Boston... and well that's really all there is to see here... history.

After naps we ate some mediocre Cuban food and hit the hay.

Sunday we had breakfast and went to church (more on that later) and then headed ... back to the Duck Tour. I left the photos we bought at a bar we went to for drinks ... and they couldn't find it anywhere! Who takes someone else's pictures? I'm guessing a bus boy threw them in the trash. The people at the Duck Boat were nice enough to reprint our photos free of charge... THANK YOU!

We then drove the 45 minutes north to Rockport. Ana loved the small walking town. We must have went into every single shop. The weather was perfect and the view went on for miles. I love that town and I LOVE THEIR LOBSTER. We each had at least one (Paul had 2)! It was a cheat day after all.

I managed to find the cutest hand knit sweater from Mexico. I love it. I didn't think it would fit at first glace but it was the last one and I couldn't stop looking at it... so I tried it on and it fit! At 30% off I jumped at the chance and bought it! Paul gave me a thumbs up! I can't wait to rock it in the cooler weather... I LOVE colors!

I'm so so on the fringe... but I took a peak before purchasing and I can remove them without harming the sweater!

Remembering the pants I found at a store the last trip to Rockport... I went back into the same small store. They were 50% off! The pants I loved but wouldn't spend $25 were now only $12.50. I tried them on and Paul said they were cute... great summer lounge pants. So I bought those too... followed by the biggest ice cream cone EVER!

So yeah we had a pretty good weekend =)

Job Update

So there is a lot I could tell you all about... the companies I interviewed with, the ways I've prepared, the emotional feelings I have towards the process, where I am in my search.... but I wont. I need to vent... about something I've been hearing a bit too much of lately.

I've been hearing quite a few times that it doesn't matter as much where I work or if I'm really happy about it... or even if it's the right move for me on my career journey. The reason they state is because I'm going to be a mom one day and will no longer need to concern myself with a career ... other than the career of being a mom.

I honestly think this is BS! I also think it's plain dumb! For starters... I've been married for only 8 months. Second... I'm NOT pregnant... nor does my husband have any desire to get me pregnant any time soon. Third... if I do get pregnant, who knows when that will be? Does that mean it doesn't matter that I be challenged or happy in the interim? Fourth, how about if I have trouble conceiving, the interim could be a hell of a long time... should I just sit here doing a job that doesn't fulfill me? And 5th, whose to say once I do get pregnant and deliver a hopefully healthy child, I won't decide to go back to work? Staying at home isn't for everyone, and though right now it is the path I'm hoping to take, that decision may change... or worse, how about if we financially need to working parents in the fold. Wouldn't it then be the best thing for me to work somewhere that both makes me happy and advances my career goals?

It's been frustrating... this journey has been nothing short of emotional. At the same time it's really caused me to self reflect. I've learned a lot about myself these last few weeks... and I've been facing many fears that I'm very slowly only beginning to overcome.

Anyway I just needed to get that out a bit... I wish people would be more encouraging... well maybe that's exactly what they THINK they are being... it just doesn't get received that way. Maybe those comments are a way for them to release me of pressure or responsibility. Little do they realize, it makes me feel small and irrelevant.

Ugh... okay this is enough... time to move on and move up.

Bumming It

I am going through an interesting transition in my life right now. Besides the fact that I'm not living in another state and married and all that... I'm also unemployed. I've worked since HS and never took more than 2 weeks off in my adult life. My last day at work in NYC was July 15 and now I find myself still unemployed on September 22.

I decided to take the summer off. I thought I'd use it to get a lay of the land here in Boston. I also thought it was a chance I won't really get again. So why not?

The job market here is far smaller than that of NYC. And I'm in for a challenge. I've gone on two interviews and I'm really not sure how they went. It's clear that 1 was not a good fit at all and the other... I was hopeful but I haven't heard back from them.

And now I'm frustrated. I don't know if I'm frustrated because I dislike being home as much as I feel like I'm failing at finding a job. I don't want to settle and I want to be a little picky right now. I want to find a good fit. I'm already out of my comfort zone, I don't want to be completely thrown to the wolves. But I'm scared that I'm making a mistake financially. Especially since Paul hasn't even shared his finances with me. It's frustrating to me that he doesn't, but it's a conversation he always avoids. It scares me. It also scares me because I am finding that a fit for me may be harder to find than I originally thought.

I know I can find a job... but I don't want a job, I want a good career and I want a good working environment. I want a good commute. And I want to be surrounded by good people.

AHH frustration!

Dutch Oven

There is definitely a downside to not having a bridal shower. Okay there are a few downsides. I would be lying if I didn't admit that I feel like I missed out just a little bit. But you know what, I am in an amazing marriage! So it's okay.

But without a shower, you really don't end up purchasing a ton of those home goods you'd normally purchase. You register and people buy you wonderful items you need or want. And you basically buy the rest. Well we didn't register nor did we have a shower. We already lived together and we didn't have the space to store boxes of china, pots, pans or bedding. We wanted to buy those things when we bought a house. And buying a house wasn't in the cards just yet.

So now... I realize that there are things I want that we just don't have. I wanted a cast iron indoor grill, I wanted a dutch oven, and honestly I wanted a whole new place setting and cookware set. But in the mean time, I really just want my cast iron! I'm obsessed. I love how it cooks, I love how it's a healthy and eco friendly way to use non-stick. I <3!

So yesterday, at target, Paul and I purchased a Lodge grill and griddle.


I haven't used it yet, but I'm excited to. I'm excited to be able to cook chicken breasts, burgers and fish on that grill indoors. Apartment living doesn't really lend well to outdoor cooking. I'm also excited to flip that thing over and heat it up to make some pumpkin pancakes (Paul's favorite!).

But I still want a cast iron ceramic covered dutch oven. I want it BAD! I want it to cook in, to braise in, to heat milk for yogurt in. I want it for so many reasons. It would make GREAT FOOD!



I'm thinking a 4.5 Quart or 6 Quart. We'll see. In our case bigger is not better.... because it's just the two of us.

Apple Galette

As I told all of you, Paul and I have a bushel of apples and a few pairs that need consuming. I was going to make a pie, but I wanted to make my own pie crust... something I've never done before. Instead I made an apple galette which tastes similar, but honestly, the crust was better!

I found the recipe in one of the blogs I follow... You know how we're an art family and figured I'd give it a go.

The crust was simple. I used a hand mixer and it came out fine. The dough didn't exactly come together immediately... I almost made the mistake of adding a splash more of cream... instead I dipped my hands right in there and smushed... and it came together in no time at all. I formed a ball, wrapped in it plastic and plopped in it the fridge.

Meanwhile, I started slicing up the apples. There was no science here. I came pretty close to buying an apple peeler/corer/slicer, but honestly, I'd use it a handful of times a year. So I took out my trusty Y peeler and got to work. A pairing knife to core and a big ole sharp knife to make nice thin slices. I like think slices rather than chunks in most apple deserts!




I threw in the sugar and spices and stirred away. I did alter the recipe slightly... I added a couple of grates of whole nutmeg. I love nutmeg so I figured a bit wouldn't hurt. I also added 1 tsp of brown sugar. I love brown sugar with apples. I figured 1 tsp wouldn't make it too sweet. Once that was done I rolled 1/2 the dough out on my clean floured counter top. This was definitely not something I'm good at. It was the strangest shape ever and the edges were all wonky. No matter. I filled it's center with the apple goodness. Folded the edges in. Threw on an egg wash and sprinkle of sugar and threw it in the oven at 400 degrees for 37 minutes. I checked it at 30 and it was a bit pale so I left it in for another 7 minutes or so. It obviously depends on your oven.


I had some left over apples. I didn't want to over stuff the pastry because I was afraid the dough would rip. So I threw it in a mini dish and eyeballed a crumble topping of flour, butter, oats, cinnamon and brown sugar. That came out great too!


They both came out spectacular. This may replace all of my apple pie recipes in the future. I liked the crust a lot better... and there was more of it. Crust is my favorite part of most pies anyway!

Apple Picking

This past Saturday we got in the car and headed west to Stowe, MA where we found Honey Pot Hill Orchards last year. It's not as awesome as the NY Orchards that I'm used to... where you drive right up by the apples, bring a picnic if you like, heck, it's an all day event. Here you park, pay for your bag, and walk around (or take a $1 hay ride) to the various sections for apple picking. If you purchased your $1 hay ride, you are in luck... because you can pick pears too.

It's $25 for a bushel which isn't too bad I guess. It's more than NY but hey... this ain't the big apple. I love picking with Paul. It's a tradition he had declared years ago... and sure enough, we've made it a tradition. I can't wait till we can share this tradition with our children. For now I'll enjoy my trips with Paul... and when I can, the trips with my Mom and siblings.












Paul went into photographer mode all of a sudden. He never takes the camera from me but today he did and took a bunch of me picking apples. Usually it's me taking photos of him... being annoyed that I'm taking photos of him haha.

It's nice to see pictures of me actually.


In addition to apple picking, they had the customary pumpkin patch, corn maze and a few farm animals. I of course went strait to the pigs... who had the most awesome houses ever!


Apparently Paul is scared of rabbits?

So this autumn, throw on some sneakers and head out to a local orchard. Pick some apples and make some pie. Or if you rather, just chomp right into them and enjoy!

Support your local farmers!

Best Intentions

Paul and I had the best intentions to get into the gym yesterday. We went to a new church (that deserves a post on it's own) then ran into Costco to load up on some things we were in need of (tissues for Paul's allergies!). After we got changed and headed out to Tufts University for Paul's soccer game. Boy was the air getting chilly. I wore sweats and a hooded sweatshirt and was still very cold. Talk about autumnal winds.

Then it was time... we were off to the gym. Only, when we got there, the lights were closed and they were closed. WHAT?! So the gym closes at 5PM on Sundays. Woops. Paul read the sign and apparently they close at 9PM on weeknights. Paul complained that their hours were terrible, but I only laughed. Though I could agree in general (having been a member of 24 hour luxury gyms in the past) lets face it... there is NO CHANCE I'm headed to the gym after 9PM anyway ;)

To this Paul laughed.

So I had an idea... if we can't go to the gym, let's go home and play XBox Kinect! That thing makes you jump, duck, side step, and... SWEAT! And the whole while you have this feeling of competition to drive you. I thought it was a lot of fun! So now.... when all else fails - play video games! (only the interactive kind really counts though).

TMI Alert - NO TP Update

I had mentioned in the past that I made a decision to forgo toilet paper when going #1 in my home. I considered forgoing TP completely with my husband, but we both haven't wrapped our minds... or stomachs around that just yet.

I made some cute little cloth TPs - see aren't they cute?

But you don't really need CUTE for your tush. We had a set of flannel bedsheets that had seen better days. They had been hand me downs from Paul's Mom and he had used them in one apartment. We were going to send them off to Goodwill but then I realized they'd be great for TP.

I cut up squares about 10 X 10 which are a little large, but hey I'm still getting used to this whole thing. I think next time I'll try for 6X6 squares. I cut them with pinking sheers to help with fraying. I was going to do a zigzag stitch around the edge and then a strait stitch just inside the edge. I was even considering 2 plying them, but realized at 10X10 it wasn't necessary. In the end, I decided to do what was quick and easy. I strait stitched around and called it done.

I keep them folded in a little plastic bin on top of the toilet. I'd like to have a basket for them, but that isn't too important right now. I grabbed a small step lid that has a removable bucket insert. It's great because I can take the insert out and wash it each time I need to wash the cloths.


I was going to put a vinegar water agent in the bin to help with any odors, but I haven't found the need. The odor when unloading the cloths is minimal. I do however spray the bin with a vinegar water agent when I empty it (which is actually really easy considering I already have it in a spray bottle in the shower for my hair).

To wash them, I take the bucket out, dump it into the washer and wash it with other laundry or towels. I don't fuss about it too much since it's only urine and not #2. I wash it with some extra baking soda mixed in with the homemade laundry detergent and I fill the softener dispenser with white vinegar.

So far so good. There has been fraying, but not beyond the strait stitch I made. So hopefully they hold up okay and we really make a dent in our paper usage. If I ever get over the poop ick factor, I may consider going full time, but I'm not there yet. Mostly because washing my husbands poop wipes might really kill the romance and ... well we are newly weds, lets not kill the romance just yet haha =)

My mother in law is coming to visit in two weeks. I know her reaction will be ick. She is definitely doing her part for the Earth, but I don't think she'd go this far. I just may need to move my can to the back somewhere. It wouldn't be odd to confuse it with the trash.

Crochet Update

A while back I told you about a blanket I was working on.... that blanket took a little bit of a back seat as summer came along. We don't have an AC installed and for the most part, crocheting is not conducive to staying cool.

I've recently picked it back up and have been making steady (but slow) progress.

These aren't actually that many squares; not even enough for a crib blanket. No matter, I love the colors and it's coming along great. I love how all the colors work well together. I sort of wish I had picked up a 6th color, but I'll make due.

I really do think they look so pretty together. The right mix of depth and light.
I may be up to this... forever...

Indoor Garden

I wrote a few weeks ago at my indoor garden being rooted in buying a topsy turvy I never used. Here is a little bit of an update.

That sole tomato growing in the garden was plucked off (by accident by me) and eaten and it was delicious. Too bad there was only 1.

The basil has been getting these funny spots on it. I have no idea what it is. Maybe it's too much sun? Maybe it's ending it's life cycle? I have no idea. If any of you know, please let me know. Because I haven't the slightest.

The tomato plant wasn't growing much so I was worried it was done. I just let it run it's course. Now I see that though it's merely a foot tall (not even) it has some flowers budding and a little tomato on the way.

The patio tomato plant however is growing super tall. So tall in fact that the stakes I put in are no longer able to support it. I had to electric tape two stakes together and it's still longer than that. I hope that this supports it for now. I am not sure if I should be cutting it at all. I'm afraid to do that. I've pulled off 1 or 2 suckers but that's about it. It has tons of flowers on it, many of which already began drying out and falling off. Two little tomatoes are starting to grow on it. I hope they come in before it gets too cold and the plants are no longer getting the sun and heat they need.


The pepper plant may be doing the best out of all the plants. The flowers are coming in like crazy and they are so pretty and full and white. The peppers soon follow. My pepper plant has become home to one or two cutie lady bugs.


This is definitely the largest pepper so far. But it's really only about 1/2 an inch long.


And the latest addition. Potatoes. I had some potatoes that started to turn bad. Rather than throw them away, I cut off some of the eyes and popped them into a pot with some soil. In a week they had grown about 5 inches tall. It was a surprise to say the least. Now they are easily 1 1/2 feet + tall. They are flopping all over so I had to stake them yesterday. I hope they produce some potatoes for me. I know my containers are small but even if I only get a couple it will be worth it. I have two pots of potatoes and they are both doing well. I think next time I'll try planting them in a bag placed inside a bin or bucket to prevent leaking. I hear they are a lot easier to harvest that way.

Have any of you ever grown anything indoors? Have you done an indoor winter garden? If so, please share your tips and tricks. I'd love to learn anything I can to keep this up.

Montreal - 2

We left around 11:30 on Wednesday and headed north to Montreal. It's a strait shot on I-87 from NYC... so that's what we did. We hit minimal traffic along the way. We had waiting out morning rush hour and much of the NE was still getting back on it's feet. You can see fallen trees along the way, but the roads for the most part had already been cleared.

It was an uneventful drive up north until we reached Montreal. Wow their traffic far surpasses that of NYC, Boston, and dare I say LA! It was horrible. Once at the hotel, the gentlemen who insisted on calling me Madam ____ [insert last name] informed me their parking lot was full. My grandma who was in a wheel chair for walking long distances was on my mind. After I let him know my worry, he made a quick call to the garage who had told him 1 spot did open up. Thank you for small blessings.

We unloaded and headed out to walk around the city looking for dinner. All I can say is this: Montreal is EXPENSIVE! Like WOAH!

The next morning we headed to St. Joseph's Basilica which is beautiful. Then off to China Town. We ended the day with a fun dip in the pool and a dinner of pastries from both China Town and the French Bakery.

The next day we traveled to the Cathedral of Notre Dame (in Montreal) and it too was beautiful. We then went to Old Montreal for lunch and headed back to the hotel for more pool time and some shopping.

We didn't see too much while we were there. Traveling wasn't easy with my grandma and we were slow to say the least. But I'm happy we went and I'm happy we had a good time. It was a successful vacation.

Kyle thought he got MY. Ha! My Mom got him back!The Ultimate Piggy Back Ride... too bad we are missing Lauren.

There was only 1 thing that upset me about Montreal. We went to these churches for 2 reasons. 1 for their religious value and 2 for their beautiful history and story. I understand that they are expensive to upkeep but to enter these churches, there was a mandatory entrance fee. I can understand a recommended donation, but telling someone they cannot enter to pray because they don't have the means to pay you is disgraceful to me. Other than that, you can't deny the beauty of this city or it's churches.

Montreal - 1

So I was supposed to travel to Montreal with my family from August 28-31.... that didn't work out so well. Irene decided to come and wreak havoc to the tristate area. I changed my bus ticket to arrive in NYC on Friday and the storm hit Saturday evening into Sunday morning. Once Irene packed it's bags and traveled north, we thought we could too... only to arrive in Mahwah, NJ and be surrounded by road closures, fires and fallen trees. The roads were impassable due to the flooding of the Ramapo River.

Needless to say we headed back home.... but not after trying to wait it out at a dinner for a few hours.

Oh well, we tried, we failed... who are we do test nature.

I was able to call the hotel and pay a small fee to change our dates to August 31 - September 3. I guess that is the luxury of being unemployed. Your vacation days can change quite easily.

Note*** The Mahwah region of NJ is still very much in recovery. Please keep them and those in PA, NY & VT in your prayers. It will be a long recovery, but I know these communities will flourish with hard work and the help of others.

Kayaking on the Charles

This past weekend was filled with lots of good and bad. On Saturday, Paul had an all day Marketing Conference. That left me home alone. With that time, I decided to organize some closets and make some pulled pork sandwiches for dinner. One of Paul's favorites.

Saturday night, our friend Nelson was working the sound for an Armenian Festival in Watertown, MA. I must say, it was great. The people and the culture were beautiful. Their passion is amazing. You could see this especially during the beautiful singing of their anthem. They've gained their independence less than 20 years ago. It's seriously a beautiful site to see. So many people so happy to be together celebrating their culture.

Sunday came and I knew I wanted to do something outside. Paul and I agreed to do the 1 way kayak trip on The Charles River with Charles River Canoe & Kayak. We rented our boat in Cambridge and did the 5 mile stretch to Allston. It was more than 5 miles for us though - because he had to double back ... twice.

We started off pretty shaky. We realize that our paddling techniques are both good... just not when we do them together. We had never ridden in a tandem kayak before. I decided I probably never will. I prefer a smaller boat, and one I feel closer to the water in. I also like paddling myself and not having to worry about what someone else is doing. I think Paul just decided he really does hate kayaking... regardless of on what kind of water or on what kind of boat.

It was a beautiful 9/11 day and I wanted to honor all those lost, all those brave, and all those heroes by showing them what they've given us... a life of beauty and freedom. So we set out - and on our way were stopped by a member of The Tactical Force Team... woops, apparently that part of the river is closed ... because of a 9/11 memorial service. Needless to say security was tight. We clearly looked innocent because after making fun of our lovely paddling skills, he let us turn back without arresting us. Which he did warn us... was the actual course of action usually used in this situation.

This is MIT displaying their patriotism on 9/11's 10 year anniversary.

The rest of the 5 miles were uneventful, save for a few arguments of who was paddling us in circles and whether or not the speeding motor boat was going to kill us.


After jumping out in Allston, we took our wet butts over to Harvard square... which left my toes a little blistery. Note to self, walking in wet watershoes on a hot day on pavement = blisters!

In the end we had a great day and it was a chance to really enjoy the beauty that is the USA!

We ended the day with some beers and some football.... J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS (I wont lie though... I fell asleep on the couch sometime in the 3rd quarter).

A view of Boston from the Charles

Attitudes!

I have one. And lately it's been one that can only be described like a roller coaster. Sometimes I'm up and sometimes I'm down, sometimes my insides feel all twisted up. But one thing is certain, lately, it's been more down than anything else.

I'm finding myself upset about so much lately and for no good reason. I need to get the heck out of this rut and fast. I will blame this poor attitude on hormones, because I'm fairly sure that hormones are the exact cause for this recent lull in my attitude.

Wish me luck on staying positive and beating the chemicals crowding my brain with bs!

Laundry Room?

No I don't have one of those. I have a washer and drier in my kitchen. And trust me, I'm not complaining. I love having a washer and drier inside my apartment. We have a small hallway that leads into the 2 back bedrooms and bathroom. There I've rested our hamper. Mostly because it's near the bathroom and because having a hamper in your bedroom is just plain stinky. If you can avoid it, hey why not.

I noticed there was a little nail hanging right above the hamper and I thought of this sign I saw here...

I really loved the concept but knew I didn't have a laundry room or even the money for something like this. So I made my own. I figured if I wasn't thrilled with it, I didn't have to keep it. So hanging in my hall directly above the hamper is this sign framed in a $2 frame on left over card stock. So far I like it. Paul... not so much.

Sewing Room?

So I designated the den my sewing room, but Paul also dedicated it the Xbox room... and it is also kind of our office. But it works. We fit everything we needed to into the space. Nah, it's not exactly a cohesive decor plan, and no, it's not always 100% functional.... but it's the best we can do with the space that we have.



This is my sewing corner. We put our old dining table there for now. It's not really great for sewing being round and all, but it's fine for now. The shelves above hold a bunch of my little nicknacks and notions.
You can see up top on the left is my yarn swift. I love that thing. Next is a puzzle of me snowboarding from a good friend. That zebra print bag is filled with an abandoned project I may make into something else. The frame holds a poem about boys from Paul's Mom & a personalized box of dominoes. The second shelf holds various baskets of fabric, tarn, and books. Then the 3rd holds my yarn baller, a few pigs, more baskets of supplies, a yellow flower put I've filled with ribbon & a figurine of Che. The last shelf holds a jar of my hooks & needles, a mushroom needle holder from my sister, a flower pot of scissors and other supplies, and that last basket is where Paul hides all of our electric chargers.

Here is a little sneak at some of the books I've been using lately to create some fun knit and crochet goods. I highly recommend The Happy Hooker. It has a lot more young and modern options.


And all throughout those shelves are photos of people I love. More photos will definitely be added to this room, but they have yet to be printed. For now there is a photo of Paul and I from our early dating years, my sister and I at her graduation, and a photo of my grandpa... one of his last before he past.



Centering the room is a futon that I draped my sister's baby blanket on. It has a little hole and is definitely a bit faded but can you believe this blanket rested on our cribs, floors, couches, and cars for us to be cozy since 1983? I love it! My family is filled with talented hookers & knitters & I'm just glad that it hasn't been lost on my generation. Goodness knows I wanted nothing to do with needlecrafts as a child. Directly accross from this futon is a small computer stand with a screen and the Xbox/Kinects consoles.



At the very entrance of the room, we have the computer desk, a book case, and a closet. I'm glad we finally have a normal sized desk. What a pleasure to sit at. (The old tiny desk was purchased for our tiny Manhattan apartment years ago. It is now the xbox stand.)



See a desk... with a real chair. You can even peep my notes and resume for my session with the recruiter late this afternoon.


And in the book case, aside from books you'll find little pieces of love... like marble, crystal and jade pigs and frogs... as well as small pieces of inspiration. The other day I was thinking of great quotes, and Dr. Suess has some of the best. I printed out one of my favorites. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE to read... so I printed it out. Then busted out the crayons and made it a rainbow. I found myself doodling the other week and I kind of linked how it turned out. I took a note from this and cut my doodle out in the shape of a sparrow. I like it sitting perched up there. Maybe one day I'll get sick of it and take it out... but for now... I dig it.



And finally, in the closet, I have purchased a over the door shoe rack. I have filled the pockets with various skeins of yarn. Inside the closet needs some work. I'm thinking of moving around some storage boxes to make those paper supplies a little more accessible. On the shelf up top are some various crafting supplies (like glue guns, hole punches, paper stock, etc...)

And here you can see some of my prized possessions, yarn! Unfortunately, these are mostly scraps that were either given to me or left over from another project... or found on clearance somewhere... so I don't know many of their colors or even dye lots. I have a few winter accessory ideas for some but others, I have no clue. If you need some scrap yarn (especially acrylics) let me know!