cookies, anyone?

I have a definite predilection for starting with dessert first with today being no exception. Chocolate chip cookies would have been preferred, but the lack of chocolate chips in the pantry made it a stretch. I felt in need of something rich and buttery (did I also mention my penchant for butter?), so Chinese almond cookies it was. The dynamic duo assisted in the kitchen (again, another stretch). Mr. Ace cracked the egg and cut the butter, all the while interjecting, "Wow, mom, that's a LOT of butter." (I noticed, kiddo.) Miss Owee mainly tiptoed around the kitchen, terrorizing us by almost stepping into the mixing bowl on several occasions. But, as the recipe promised, the cookies were indeed rich and buttery and oh-so-delectable. I, in turn, feel like a good mom, have quelled my need for saturated fat, and while the little ones happily munch, can sneak in a few moments to get down to the real meat and potatoes of this blog.
Up first, Padded Footlets from Interweave Knits Summer '05, in Dancing by KnitPicks. The colors are more subdues and muted IRL. This has been my first foray into the world of lace knitting, and so far, the induction hasn't been too bad. I had to frog the first pattern repeat several times, but I think I might finally be getting the hang of it. It's also been my first attempt at reading charts. Which I was initially inept at (hence, aforementioned multiple frogging) but slowly improving at. I might even venture to say that I now prefer the chart to the written instructions. (Such a knitter wanna-be poser, I know. Even I cringed when I re-read that last statement. )I'm not sure that these pics better highlight the lace work, but I blame that on my sucky photography skills. ie: the dark photo with invisible heel lace work and subsequent overexposed shot with invisible heel lace work.I've also been making progress on my sanity-can-too-be-yours dishcloths. I have to say that I'm a little disappointed with the way this is turning out; this Christmas Sparkle looked so much prettier all wound up in the skein than it does knitted up. Probably my newbie knitter choices are to blame...perhaps basketweave might have done the color scheme more justice than garter stitch?? Luckily, this one's just for personal home use, but I somehow can't get rid of the thought that it looks like Christmas just vomited all over my dishcloth. Cookies, anyone?