Don't you just love surprise gifts? I've cleaned Arlene's teeth for years and in that time we have become friends. Arlene is a fantastic knitter and quilter. A couple months back, Arlene came in for her six month cleaning and during the conversation, I was kidding her about some of the bloggers out there who were knitting their own socks, (Anna's are coming to mind right now) and how I couldn't believe that someone would sit and knit their own socks. I mean, who does that anyway??? (sorry Anna!) Well, Arlene took it as a dare apparently and made it her personal mission to set me straight! Not only did she sit and knit a pair of socks, but she did it for me! Now that, folks, is the ultimate in giving in my book! So while I'm sitting here trying to wrap my mind around her act of kindness that has shaken my definition of giving to the core, I've come up with only one way to describe how I feel. This is it: To knit someone else a pair of socks is like playing pick-up-sticks with your best friend, only she wants you to only use your teeth, just because. And then you agree to it, just because she's your best friend. Hmm. Yep, that's it. That's what knitting a pair of socks for someone else would be like for me. Playing a complete game of pick-up-sticks with my teeth.
And now, on the peanut butter cookie front, I've picked out a few recipes I want to try from the suggestions I received on the last post and tried the first one today. Once I tasted it, I was tempted to stop there because it is so good. The peanut flavor is spectacular! You can find the recipe here, and thank-you so much for the link Katie! I used 1/2 C. crunchy and 1/2 C. smooth peanut butter (great timing to crave peanut butter cookies, eh? Luckily I had a few containers in my cupboard from a couple months ago) and made half the batch with milk chocolate chips and half without. I have to say, I like the batch without the milk chocolate better. The chocolate seems to mute the peanut butter flavor too much. Also, I didn't use the peanut butter chips. I'm going to try a few of the other recipes as the need arises and I'll keep you all updated!
One last thing, I have been preoccupied with the Foz man lately and therefore haven't blogged much lately. I looked at my reader this morning and have over 700 unread entries. Yikes! I hope the blogging mo-jo and creating mo-jo return soon! Anyway, I am thankful for each and everyone of you and yes, Marjorie, I am ok, just getting settled in with having a new cat in the house. Thank-you for asking, that's very sweet of you!
~Penny
Your new socks look really comfy! I don't really knit - not to mention my own socks. I am going to check out that recipe - though I'm trying really, really hard to overcome my urge to bake at the moment :)
Posted by: Amy @ parkcitygirl | 23 January 2009 at 02:06 PM
What a thoughtful and beautiful gift. She must be one special lady. Margaret
Posted by: Margaret | 24 January 2009 at 05:23 PM
I feel a weight gain coming on................;)
Posted by: asti | 25 January 2009 at 03:36 PM
I love your new socks. How nice of your patient. I love peanut butter cookies and make Martha's recipe with chocolate chunks. Your kitty is adorable and he reminds me of my old tom cat that I had before I got Anna and Bailey. The coloring is very similar.
Posted by: Judy | 25 January 2009 at 06:18 PM
Awww, how is the little kitty doing anyway? We need an update!
And you're SOOOOO funny about those socks! Your new ones look beautiful, and you're very lucky to recieve them -- I don't knit them for just anyone, I have to be sure that they'll appreciate them first, 'cause they take so long to make. I work with a guy at work who thought the same way you do and one day he started giving me a hard time about doing anything so dumb as making your own socks (especially when you can buy them for LOTS cheaper than you can make them) so, I, knowing that he had no real hobbies other than being a Star Wars fanatic, just turned the tables on him. I felt like I was a little mean afterwards, but I think he got the point -- everyone has something different that floats their boat!
Posted by: Thimbleanna | 25 January 2009 at 07:22 PM
LOL Sock knitting is fun and fabulous. And we sock knitters love to knit socks for folks who appreciate them :)
Posted by: Felicia | 01 February 2009 at 07:15 PM
i love those socks. i'm going to learn to knit socks so that every pair i own is a pair of hand-knitted socks. oh, and i'm going to talk anna into making me a pair for every holiday. she TOTALLY missed groundhog's day! but she's always got valentine's day, right around the corner!!
i have an incredible pnutbuttercookie recipe. email me your email and i'll send it to you.
brigette
Posted by: brigita | 03 February 2009 at 09:32 AM