Stitch 'n Pitch returns

The second annual Giants Stitch 'n Pitch event was last week...so of course I made cupcakes for the occasion! I brought mango lime cupcakes with cream cheese frosting for the knitting ladies who attended with me, including Joanne!


Slightly blurred cupcakes-to-go

The cupcakes were very moist, but I had hoped for a more pronounced mango flavor...next time I must find really ripe, flavorful mangoes. I used Nancy's Cultured Cream Cheese for the frosting, instead of Neufchâtel, mixed the lime zest into the frosting, and omitted the chili powder....I thought the frosting was quite delicious.

Unfortunately, no yarn in our swag bags this time, unlike last year...instead, there were giant knitting needles, a huge crochet hook, a tape measure, and a cross-stitch pattern.


Bag o' goodies

The game was uneventful until the late innings...which was good for knitting progress, I suppose. The Giants rallied and went into extra innings...but ultimately lost the game. Even knitters in the ballpark can't save the game, I guess!

Summer update

1. I rode the Bike for Breath 50-mile course...hooray! Thanks to everyone for supporting me in the ride for Breathe California, and to team captain Joanne for organizing team Aspiration!

2. I celebrated my birthday with friends and ice cream.

3. Dan and I took Arrow camping for a week, with his brother's family....we camped at Patrick's Point and Humboldt Redwoods and had a lovely time relaxing in the great outdoors. We enjoyed the beautiful views of the coast from Trinidad...


Pretty blue Pacific Ocean

Dan and I went canoeing with the beagle in Big Lagoon and Benbow Lake, where we spotted an osprey nest in the trees! We also walked along the beach and through Fern Canyon...


Walls of ferns

And while picking blackberries, I spied several bright green tree frogs in the blackberry bramble!


Hi froggy

With all the blackberries, we enjoyed blackberry cobbler twice two nights in a row...yum! And of course we toasted marshmallows to make s'mores nearly every night...mmm...despite a little rain midway through, it was a great trip to the redwood forest!


Redwoods

4. I finished the final tome of the Harry Potter series.

Red, white & blue

On the fourth of July, Dan and I rode 30 miles through the hills of the Peninsula in the hot afternoon, with Joanne and Newt...Team Aspiration...I was beat after the ride! I hope I can complete the 50-mile ride this weekend. We went to a BBQ after the training ride...I made blueberry rose cupcakes with white chocolate buttercream to celebrate.


Blueberry-topped cupcakes

The white chocolate buttercream initially piped into pretty swirls, but had spread out by the time of consumption...due to heat, most likely...luckily, nobody seemed to mind too much, and nearly all were eaten!

Summer hovel knit

It has been over a year since the last sit 'n knit, so over the weekend Chez Arrow hosted a few ladies for knitting, despite the hovel-y atmosphere. I made caramel-filled vanilla cupcakes with mocha buttercream for the occasion.


Mocha swirls

Next time I will try putting more caramel inside each cupcake...


Inside the cupcake

Dan and I also attended several birthday celebrations over the weekend. I made a knitting needle roll for Jess...


For DPNs and circulars

And a polka-dot zipper pouch...


All rolled up and polka-dotty

I also made a couple sets of wine charms as part of Jenny and Graham & Sara's gifts...


Colorful markers

Happy birthdays, fellow Cancerians!