Baking, knitting, BUTTONS

We are currently living in South Dakota. This is our first “real” winter seeing as how we are from Texas. Needless to say–we are feezing. So I have been trying to knit things to keep us warm. Hands seem to be whats giving my husband the most trouble so I thought I would make him felted mittens. Long story short–they didn’t look to good. I would share them but I have already cut them up to alter them into fingerless mittens. BLAH.
Another thing I have been doing to stay warm is baking. I made chocolate chip scones for breakfast using this recipe. I used heavy cream and they were so good. Not to mention easy. Check’em out:

What has really been taking up the most of my time is this never ending shawl:

I am really close to finishing it however I am not really liking the way it is looking. I am going to overdye it with blue to make the colors blend a little better. I am going to dye it in sections using the same bath so that the tip of the shawl will be dark purple (hopefully) and then it will gradually become lighter, ending in the color purple I am working right now. I don’t plan on dyeing this last section. Pics will be up soon of the finished product.
My husband hasn’t been able to work in the cold since he pours concrete. We went to a junk store today where I picked up this huge thing of buttons for $3.50!

I love me some buttons.

babka

I was looking around the internet and came across this blog where she mentioned the smitten kitchen.

I had never heard of it but it sounded pretty amazing so I checked it out. It is way cool. I found this recipe for “babka” which I had never heard of either, but it was described to be so tasty that I had to make it–
And even though I misread the directions and added way to much butter–it was still very rich and delicious. (those are chocolate chips in the pic not raisins).
I also found this amazing junk store that is so cheap–and I spotted buttons!!! I may venture back over today…or drive the 20 miles out to “big” junk store in Bristol that is suppose to be really awesome too.
The shawl I am knitting in mindless garter stitch is what I have been working the most and it should be finished by the end of this weekend. I will post pics then…
Meanwhile, I caught my kitties snuggled up and sleeping the other day. ..