Wine & Windows

2010-05-03T11:55:00.003-05:00

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost
(Learn about Frost and his poetry at http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/192 )

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Hope this post finds you all doing well. I am always inspired by this poem to try new things and not be afraid to take the road less traveled. So, here's the list. On the knitting agenda is a pair of toe up socks from "Simple Socks Plain and Fancy" by Priscilla A. Gibson-Roberts. (Or I could just finish all the W.I.P.s in the basket!) Then I must plant the 100+ seedlings I ordered from the Conservation Department including Peacan Trees, Walnut Trees, Dogwood Trees and more. Some dry days will be helpful there! Next I must learn how to work this little ipod that is bound to organize me and my life...if only I can learn to fill it full of all my valuable information. And finally, the brand new sewing machine, still in it's box, is waiting for a trial run.

As you can see I am in desperate need of inspiration! But I can't be the only one who needs encouragement to conquer the new and venture into unknown territory. So I am offering you this poem and a pat on the back. Forge ahead! You can do it! Break a leg! And all that stuff!

Happy Spring!
Liz

Colorful Days

2010-03-16T14:33:00.000-05:00

I realized today it has been a month since my last post!? Life is busy.

We have had our share of white snowy days and now we are enjoying the various shades of brown and light green. Spring is on its way! Ya-Hoo!

But to pass the time this winter I decided to try my hand at some colorful Fair Isle.

Gadget Girl thought she needed some of those cool mitts (cool fingers if you ask me.) So I made her some. She says they are much more userfriendly than mittens, especially when texting and gaming.

They are nice for her, but I believe I will stick with full blown mittens. What fun to knit...and to give!

LYS

2010-02-09T15:15:00.000-06:00

I recently had a request from an annonymous reader about my Local Yarn Shoppe, so I am sharing this information here. However, even if you don't live close, they do take orders and ship items, so my LYS can be your shop, too. They do have a wonderful selection of yarns from around the world and are very helpful. I would recommend them to all of you.

Anyway, my LYS is located in Columbia, Missouri. Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe For us country dwellers, a 75 mile drive is still considered local. After growing up in the city, that took a little getting used to. Soon after I moved here I was invited to a "neighborhood" party. I remember looking out the window of our 1900's farm house at the fields that lay beyond and wondering what on earth this person was talking about. I had grown up in a neighborhood in the city where our backyard neighbors were just beyond our chain-link fence, 100 ft from our back door. So with no other houses in sight, I could not imagine to what neighbors she was referring. Come to find out, anyone within a 3 mile radius of my home was considered a neighbor!

Guess I have adjusted to this way of thinking, since I often refer to Hillcreek Yarn Shoppe as my LYS. It is a bit of a drive, but well worth it and a real treat. Hope this helps and that you are able to do business with them, also. Happy Snow Day!

Liz

Pizza Party

2010-02-02T06:54:00.001-06:00

Yes, we had a pizza party in our own country kitchen. Using the master recipe Bread dough from "Healthy Bread in 5 Minutes a Day" I was able to roll out 1 lb. loaves and make pizza crust. It was so simple. No mess, no fuss, just home baked pizza in 10 minutes! It took longer to warm up the oven than it did to create and bake the pizza!

I recently purchased flour, mozerella and sauce from our Food Coop so I had all the supplies in house for a simple pizza...no fancy toppings. We like pepperoni and pineapple with mushrooms. Little Al just wants plain ole cheese. She is so easy to please!

So it was simple and quick and didn't last long. In fact, I intended to show you the finished product but just ended up wtih a photo of the last piece...minus one bite! Guess you get the picture!

Quick, healthy food means more time for my true love, crafting! So I am off to the woman cave to create something new. My wheels are spinning! I'll be back soon!

So Far, So Good

2010-01-20T10:04:00.002-06:00

My New Year's Resolution... to buy local and buy American when possible. Well, so far, so good! However, I think I should explain my resolution. My decision to buy American is not a prejudice against other countries, I am only opposed to people being expoited so that we Americans can buy large quantities of cheap goods. I gladly support Ten Thousand Villages and other Fair Trade organizations. Handmade items from Etsy.com and local artisans is a plus. I am just afraid our nation is so concerned with money that we are always looking for a bargain and overlook the injustices to those producing "cheap" items for our consumption. I am especially opposed to the Big W store in every town. They continue to destroy local businesses and run out competition. Enough said!

So, buying local has been a fun adventure. I started with milk. Our family drinks alot of it. Growing up in the city, milk always came from the grocery store in a big plastic jug. Finding a local source took me down several gravel roads and finally to the home of the Kauffmans. They are an Amish family that raises and milks Holstein cattle. Wow is their milk fresh! We are loving it. And I have even tried my hand at making butter, hence the churn in the picture. However, I have learned that this type of cattle does not have as much butter fat. I may have to find a source of Jersey milk. I hear it works better.

They also sell eggs. So that is convenient. One Saturday morning stop for milk and eggs!

Next I found a local producer of Grass fed beef. This is delicious meat! The beef and lamb from Sunrise Pastures is free of antibiotics and hormones. The cattle are grazed instead of being fed corn which is much better for them. Not only is it local and fresh, it is also much better for my family. In case you want to try it you can e-mail Tauna from her website. She ships meat Fedex. But you might want to find your own local source down a gravel road and though a gate! The kids will love the adventure.

And finally, I continue to order food from United Natural Foods though a local coop. This is something I have done for 10+ years, but I still enjoy the process. We place our orders online, then meet once every two months to pick up our food. It is a great way to buy bulk, natural and organic items at a reasonable price. If you want to find a buying club in your area visit UNFI.com. They can help you find a coop or they can help you start your own.

And no, you do not have to wear the hat to enjoy the adventure, but it is quite warm on an icy winter day! Don't worry about the "look" no one will recognize you anyway!

A Baby Blankie

2010-01-07T09:52:00.002-06:00

The women in my family worked up this baby blankie for our newest addition, Baby Kaitlyn. Since my 11 year old niece and I were the only current knitters (knitted in the past 12 months) we decided to make a blanket of squares. Mom and sis picked up the needles and refreshed themselves as the helped to create this soft, 100% organic cotton, keepsake.

Little A finished it off with a fabric label that hopefully will stand the test of time. Here's how it is done: we cut a piece of fabric and a piece of butcher paper to the 8 1/2 x 11 size for printing. Ironed the fabric on the shiny side of the paper and ran it through our printer. We then removed the fabric and ironed fabric laminate on both sides of the fabric. We cut it to size and stitched it on the blankie.

A great family project. As much fun to make as it was to give!

5 Minutes a Day

2010-01-06T20:27:00.003-06:00

Well, I didn't know it could be done! I love to bake fresh bread, but typically only bake one day a week because I don't like to clean up. And as you may know, fresh home baked bread doesn't stay fresh for long. So I was very excited to learn about the new book, "Healthy Bread in Five Minutes a Day," by Jeff Hertzberg, M.D., & Zoe Fancois. Apparently this is their second book, but I don't know that I would have been as excited about the first one since they used white flour recipes. But this one I love!

Here's the trick...you stir up a batch of dough, let it sit for 2 hours and refridgerate for up to 14 days. When you want fresh baked bread you cut off a one pound piece of dough, shape, rest and bake! That is it. No kneading and no flour mess to clean up. Just amazing!! Kudos to these folks for their hard work and hours of trial and error (I'm sure) to produce the perfect mix for 100 Artisan breads. The book runs $27.99 in hardback, and is well worth the money. I recommend this to anyone who loves to bake and is limited on time. It is packed with valuable bread baking tidbits to produce that perfect loaf in yes, just five minutes a day!

Besides several loaves of bread, I also decided to make the Cinnamon Raisin Whole Wheat Bagels. Since high quality bagels are rare out here on the prairie, I thought it was worth a try. Not bad for a beginner. The sizes weren't real even and they were not as pretty as the pictures in the book, but the flavor and texture were nice. I would definitely do this again.

Oh, and the best part, I didn't have to go to the Big W place to buy my ingredients. The local Amish Variety Store stocks everything I need. Working on the resolution...the family is watching!

Happy Winter!

Liz

Handmade for the Holidays

2010-01-04T07:22:00.004-06:00

Well, it was a fun holiday season complete with homemade treats, handmade gifts and fair trade! I made a committement to buy and give handmade gifts this year, though I did not make them all myself. I bought bowls from a local potter (see mug featured in previous post), scarves and chocolate from Ten Thousand Villages (selling fair trade items made by artisans around the world), and I made several reusable shopping totes. I had more fun making than shopping, but I am sure you all know that feeling! And the most fun of all was carving out a few hours to bake with Little Al. She is quite talented with the icing bag.

Now on to the new year! I am not big on resolutions and haven't made one for several years. I usually don't follow through, which is very frustrating on my end, so I just skip that part of the new year. But this year will be different. Our family has made a New Years Resolution...together. Accountability is a good thing for me. We have made a committment to buy local and buy American whenever possible.

I don't enjoy "need it" shopping, I much prefer "want it" shopping. In other words, I would rather browse the local used book shop than buy groceries! As you can imagine, that doesn't always work out so good when dinner time rolls around. So, I am going to avoid the grocery store (as much as possible) and buy from local farmers. We may even try producing some of our own food. More to come on that! But being able to meet the people who grow the food we eat will be a refreshing experience for me. I am going to turn "need it" shopping into "want it" shopping this year. As far as the idea to buy American goes, we just think it is the right thing to do. Buying one American made item can provide so many jobs! The farmer that grows the cotton, the designer that creates the pattern, the manufacturer that makes the T-Shirt, the IT person that creates the website, the marketing associate that designs the ads, the customer service rep that answers the phone, the warehouse employee that packages the items for shipping, the FedEx drivers that deliver the package to the front door, and I am sure I missed someone along the way! But you get the idea!

After a quick run through the closet we discovered that none of the items on our racks were made in America. We have been big contributors to the state of our American economy and we are ready to make a change. My husband was a bit concerned that I was going to ask our Amish neighbors for a pants pattern! But do you know you can still buy clothing made in America? Even Jeans! No, you can't buy them at WalMart or Target or Old Navy, but they are out there! I found a blog listing lots of American made products. You may want to check it out at All American! I hope you will join me this year in putting our American workers back to work!

Oh, and for all of you artists out there, don't miss this site Best American Arts! I'm thinking they should add YOU to the list!

Happy New Year everyone!

Liz

The Weave

2009-11-06T16:53:00.004-06:00

It has been a busy fall and without much to report...until now. I have completed "gift" socks, finished a sweater for little Al, and walked on warm white sand to the sound of crashing waves, but today is worth reporting!

This actually wasn't today's brew, but it still made a good start for this post...and a pretty picture (unedited). I had to share.

But today, started one reed at a time. Little Al and I took a basket weaving class. I have always enjoyed making fabric from yarn, but I have never thought about weaving reeds. It does make a beautiful fabric all it's own.

After sorting and marking. The process begins.

Lots of measuring and marking. Yes, we used those math skills.

Then things started to take shape. Her little hands went to work making old world art. And to think women used to make baskets to carry water from the well! We might need a little practice before our weave is that good!

But she took very well to the tools and worked with ease.

Then a little stain to enhance the color. And...

...7 hours later a basket was born. She is a beauty! Little Al is proud of her finished product though she said she would have rather been playing basketball. Oh well, she has learned a new skill and so have I. Not to mention we now have a handmade basket to charish for many years to come!

Hope this post finds you all doing well. I will try to do better to keep up with the goings on in Blogland. If only the world would stop spinning for a moment so I can catch up! Have a great day! Liz

Mad Dash

2009-08-22T13:18:00.004-05:00

As I was filing through all of our summer pics I was reminded of our mad dash to the Zoo. On one of our golfing adventures, Little A and I decided to visit the St. Louis Zoo. What a treat! With the Garmin (Navigation System) to guide us and only a couple hours to spare we made a mad dash. We had time to see and learn about the Pinguins, the elephants and the sting rays (her favorite)! Who would have thought you could touch a sting ray in Missouri!? I completed two "baby" gifts this summer. Only a couple months late! They are actually gifts for the big sisters of my new "baby" girlfriend. I had to wait until the U.S. Postal service delivered to share them with you. But they have landed! So here they are.

Both patterns are from the summer issue of Crochet Today. The first one is a size 4T. I loved the little flowers that line the collar of the top. I did make it in a cotton/bamboo though, which stretches some when worn. I am not sure I would chose that yarn again. A sport weight might work better.

The second top is a Ladies size small for a 13 year old. I used Red Heart Eco Cotton. A delight to work with and a perfect summer weight. I also enjoyed this design with the offset motifs. A pattern just right for a tall, slender girlie. I can't wait to see it on her.

Well, back to the purple baby alpaca. It is so soft. I just hope it is done in time for cooler days! They are coming soon...right?!

Summer Memories

2009-08-14T09:27:00.007-05:00

What a sweet summer! I can hardly believe it is coming to an end. We had such mild temperatures in July that it felt more like Spring until August rolled around. Now we will have a few hot weeks before fall arrives. I can definitely do short summers. Is it just me, or do most knitters like brisk, cool days just right for wearing warm knitted goods? Like this sweater for Little A. She picked the Baby Alpaca yarn in a pretty plum. I hope to have it done before November, when winter blows in.

Well, this post is going to be a quick run down of the month that has passed since I last visited blogland. Then, I will move on, as life rarely slows down around here. It was a fun summer. I spent alot of time with my son, who is growing way to fast. We traveled the midwest playing golf and singing southern rock at the top of our lungs! Lynyrd Skynyrd would be proud, I'm sure! I also spent alot of time getting behind...and getting caught up. When I leave town the laundry pile mysteriously grows! But in the midst of it all I managed to get another year older. These spools were a gift for my birthday. I do not weave or spin, so I am not sure what their use might have been. Nonetheless, they will be a great display in my woman cave. Thank you, Avis!

I also started a knitting group. It has been great fun meeting the women in the area who love fiber as much as I do. I was even successful at getting Little A started on her own knitting project. She has a real heart for helping others, so I found a charity she could help. The group is called Square Circle, and they accept 8"x8" squares that the woman in their church stitch together to make blankets for children in South Africa. Their website is a treat! Such fun to see the children who benefit from their efforts and ours. Little A decided to use two shades of purple in Cascade 220. Her squares should help make a nice warm blanket.

We made our annual trip to the Tractor Pull! My husband is a farm boy at heart, and was raised on a row crop farm. Seeing these noisy creatures in action is a real thrill for him and the kids. I go just to see the pleasure it brings them. However, this year I went with ear plugs and camera in tow. The event proved a great opportunity to adjust the shutter speed and practice some action shots. I still have alot to learn, but thought this pic was worth sharing.

And finally, I took a trip to Kansas City with my mom and sister to participate in the Breast Cancer Awareness walk. I was one of 25,000! What an event. I rarely see that many bodies in one place...and all wearing pink! Wow! While there, I was also able to visit a store I had looked up online, Ten Thousand Villages. It is a not-for-profit organization that sells fair trade products. The items in the store support artists and artisans around the world by providing them with an opportunity to sell their goods at a fair market price. The stores are run by an army of volunteers, their prices are very resonable, and their chocolate is truly divine! You can also buy online.

So, it was a full summer! School starts next week and then we will be back to our regular routine, early to rise and early to bed. I must say I am tired and ready for crisp fall days, but what fun to scan through summer memories, how sweet they are!

Golf...socks!?

2009-06-26T12:26:00.005-05:00

Socks for my girlie several months overdue! If you are a knitter you will probably understand my yarn obsession. I often buy, with good intentions, then hurry home to discover that I have a limited amount of time to complete the project. These socks were going to be knit on two circular needles, until I visited with the ladies at our new NEMO Knitwits group. A couple of them were working socks on double points. I decided this would be a good opportunity to learn something new. A mentor is a great thing! So, I finally cast on these cute, self stripping socks.

I worked the first one inside out. It still looks fine, it was just hard to see how the project was going until I was done. My group helped me get this all straightened out and they fit! I much prefer the DPNs. I barely passed high school geometry, so that tells you a bit about my visual skills, but I do love a challenge.

This is where I have been spending many summer hours. Mr. G has been playing some midwest tournaments in the sweltering heat. I do not like hot weather. If you read my blog often, you may have noticed I prefer 60-80 degree temps. This past week was well over 90 for several days and I spent those long days on a golf cart! I must be crazy! However, I did enjoy the time with Mr. G and the other spectators. I am sure I will do it again and again.

We have had more than our share of rain this last month. If you came for a visit you might think we lived in the Amazon rain forest. I awoke to the rumbling of thunder and snapped this picture before the drops began to fall. Just me playing photographer!

The clouds sure make for beautiful art and cool days! I am hoping for more clouds this week. Otherwise I may have to crawl into my woman cave for a cool summer sewing project. Fabric stock piles await!

Time to Celebrate Life!

2009-06-21T17:18:00.005-05:00

The last few weeks haven't been so good for the wasteline, but they have been good for the soul. We have done alot of cake baking and eating around here. First, for our local Lifeline Pregnancy Resource Center, then for a couple Birthdays. I can't take credit for these sweet cupcakes, but they sure set the scene at our shower.

These wonderful friends came together to provide lunch and treats for the shower. I venture to say they enjoyed the girl time.

Nice gifts were donated for the center. Lifeline is an outreach ministry to help women (and men) in our community facing unexpected pregnancy. These gifts will touch many lives, big and small. What a blessing!

Our Birthday cake post is in the making!

See you all soon!

Liz

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.

Psalm 139: 13-15

Holy Bible : New Living Translation. 1997 . Tyndale House: Wheaton, Ill.

Done, done, done, frogged

2009-06-01T14:35:00.006-05:00

Well, a great deal of time has passed since my last post. But not without accomplishments and a failure. I suppose we all need a certain amount of both to keep us in balance. This little komono from Lion Brand patterns was completed for a knittting class I took to learn seaming. Though I have done a great deal of knitting, I have always avoided patterns that require seaming. I now feel much more confident. And, I am pleased with the final product. I also decided to learn how to embellish and picked up a couple books at the library on embroidery. The flowers added a very cute element to this oherwise dull sweater.

This, another Lion Brand pattern is knit in Natural Cotton. What a sweet little cardi. As you can tell I am preparing, in my own way, for the babies my girlfriends are having. What fun to knit these little garments.

But between the end of school events, sports obligations (selling hotdogs...don't ask,) kids and church I also managed to complete my first adult sweater. I used the February Ladies Sweater pattern from Ravelry. Many have made this classic and I do recommend trying it. It was quite easy and I am very happy with the results. A bit warm for summer, but I know I will get alot of use out of it this fall.

Those of you who have knit lace will notice my mistakes. However, for a first I am still very happy with this finished project.

And finally, the failure, because even I need balance. I loved the bamboo and the look of this little cardi, but the pattern was a disaster. I noticed the problem while knitting the back and was able to rewrite it, however when I got to the front and encounted more issues I decided I had better things to do. So many great patterns, so little time! This one got frogged! For you non-knitters, that would be unraveled! Just like life, sometimes it is best to recognize your faults, make corrections, find a new way, and start again. And, as you know, I always prefer the road less traveled! Have a wonderful day! Liz

Travel On

2009-04-26T12:51:00.005-05:00

I am not much of a reader these days. Not that I am proud of that fact, but I have a bad habit of wanting to read the entire book in a very short span of time. That requires much sitting and reading, which doesn't seem to fit into my schedule. However, I had a friend recommend a couple new books to me, so I made a trip to the local library to check them out.

The first one, "Eat This, Not That" by David Zinczenko is a great little book on the No-Diet Weight Loss Solution! Very visual, it is packed with pictures of "Eat This...Not That" foods. The sections of the book include suggestions for eating at Restaurants, on Holidays, and at home. It goes so far as to recommend foods to eat when you're stressed, when you're sad, when you're feeling fat, when you're low on energy, when you need a brain boost, when you want to get "in the mood," and the list goes on. I won't ruin the fun and tell you all the foods to eat, but I do suggest you pick this one up next time you visit the library. It's a great, easy little read.

The second book she recommended was "Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?" by Peter Walsh. Another good read, but very in your face, so be prepared. He addresses the clutter in our lives (but I am SURE he is not talking about craft supplies!?) and how it affects our weight. He doesn't talk about being overweight or obese, he talks about being FAT! Now that is not politically correct, I do know, but I still recommend the book. It is about the underlying reasons why we pack clutter into our houses and food into our bodies. I wouldn't be reading it if I had nothing to gain from his insights. If you get my drift! On a lighter note, because no one really enjoys talking about weight, I have also been planting flowers. Yes, the soil is warm and it is time. I always like to decorate the porch with a couple ferns. They love the cool, dark space, as do I on a 90 degree day.
Then I bought three rose bushes. Not the high maintenance kind my grandmother loved, but the new easy varieties that survive on -20 degee winter nights and are drought tolerant in the summer when I would rather knit than water and weed. Oh, and they smell heavenly.

And finally, hostas. They are my all time garden favorites, but love a shady garden on the north side of the house, which I don't have at our new home. On the north is the garage and no place to plant these wonderful hostas. So I tried anyway last year, in a place where they will get some sun and some shade. So far they have survived and look very healthy. Maybe I will try other varieties next year.

My sweater is nearly done. One more sleeve to go. I knitted the first one in the round with DPNs, a new technique for me and a bit of a struggle. But I am happy with the result and will start sleeve number two when the planting is all done! As always the duties of life call and the world continues to dance, so I must travel on.

Thanks for stopping by! Hope to see you again soon. Liz

Busy-ness

2009-04-17T10:45:00.005-05:00

I have not been on vacation in reality, but have been on a blogland vacation the last few days. Though I love to blog, life doesn't always give me the time, and often I feel like I have little to report. But today I have a few short notes.

Living in a small town causes much business. That part of rural living I could do without. I can remember, growing up in the city, long relaxing weekends with my parents riding bikes, exploring in the national forest, and watching boxing matches. I loved to bet my dad a quarter on a good match. He often won, but what fun to see a knock out. (These memories explain alot!) And there were rarely times when weekends required "going" anywhere, unless we wanted to. Maybe it had little to do with city living and my father just planned it that way. Whatever the case, I wish I knew his trick. Time moves so quickly, and kids grow so fast.

Today I am having a small break from life to return to blogland for a post. I have been working feverishly on a sweater for myself. This is a first. I have crocheted a sweater for myself, but made it out of Lionbrand Woolease and used a single crochet. It is too hot for wearing inside. I believe I will have to make a jacket out of it next fall.

For this sweater I am following a knit pattern from Ravelry. I just joined and am having great fun seeing what everyone else is working on. However, I haven't yet figured out how to post my projects. I am sure that will come with time. The pattern is "February Lady Sweater," and I am using Hobby Lobby's "I love this cotton." I saw mixed reports on the yarn, but it is very cost effective for a first garment that might not even fit!? And I like the color.

The birds have returned to NE Missouri, or at least they are out and about. A fat Robin is always a good sign that spring has come. Oh, am I ready for that! Today started off foggy(so I took a picture and exercised my digital editing skills), but is going to reach 70 degrees. My favorite!

I hope the sun is shining where you are today! It sure seems it is always sunny in blogland and it is great to be back. I missed you friends.

Have a great day! Liz

Let's pretend...

2009-04-03T12:24:00.003-05:00

I can remember, as a child, spending long winter days with girlfriends playing pretend. "Let's pretend I am the mommy and you are the baby. Let's pretend I am the doctor and you are the patient. Let's pretend I am farmer and you are the chicken. Let's pretend..." Fill in the blanks, and you get the picture. What fun it was to pretend. So this week, while watching the rain turn to snow for yet another dreary day, I decided it was time to pretend. A dear friend of mine owns a flower shop so I took a drive to the shop for a little spring encouragement.
I found birdies and dogwood. So inside we will pretend it is spring!Then I decided to work on a new project. And no, I am not taking up scrapbooking. There is no more room for mom's crafts to hide in this home. But I did buy some very pretty paper. You will have to check back to see what I have planned. I had to mail order some of the supplies for this project and they have not yet arrived. But I did get my Sweater Wizard v3 in the mail and am going to give it a try now. So, just in case my computer crashes during the installation process, I thought I should say it has been nice knowing you all. But hopefully it will not, and I will be back soon with new projects to share. And maybe, by then, I won't have to pretend it is spring anymore. I am confident it is coming soon!

Eat Cake

2009-03-30T16:54:00.008-05:00

Today seems a good day to eat cake. For some reason, on my short drive home today, I felt inclined to bake a cake. I am a chocoholic, so it was strange that I was craving lemon, but I was and it brought to mind a favorite book of mine, "Eat Cake" by Jeanne Ray. I read it several years ago, but it is one of those favorites that comes to mind often, especially on a day like today. For some reason, I just felt like I couldn't quite get it together. Could it be because my flat iron broke this morning? Or because March is over, and I am not ready for April? Or because I have only completed one and a half items on my long list of things-to-do? Whatever the reason, a comforting cake, in Lemon, seemed the cure. My mother made Lemon cake often, so it takes me back to simpler days. The name of this cake is Lemon Supreme Pound Cake and is quite easy, not from scratch, just yummy!

Lemon Supreme Pound Cake

1 pkg. Lemon Supreme Deluxe Cake Mix (Duncan Hines)

1 pkg. Lemon Instant pudding mix (4 serving size)

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 cup water

4 eggs

1 tsp. lemon extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Blend all ingredients ina large bowl; beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Bake in a greased and floured bundt pan for 45 to 55 minutes until center springs back when touched lightly. Cool right side up for about 25 minutes, then remove from pan.

I also add a drizzle of powdered sugar icing: Butter, powdered sugar and vanilla extract.

And a taste of "Eat Cake" by Jeanne Ray:

"I got up and took the cake out from under its cake-shaped cover. I had made it at three o'clock in the morning in a desperate attempt to comfort myself. And it was an enormous comfort, standing alone in the kitchen in my nightgown, sifting fresh ground nutmeg with allspice and cloves by the little light over the sink. I peeled the apples with ridiculous care, taking the skins off in long, even ribbons that spiraled down to the floor without breaking. I didn't think of any of them while I peeled those apples. I didn't work anything out in my mind. I just relaxed into the creaming of butter and sugar, the sweet expansion of every egg. I had hoped the mixer wouldn't wake anyone up. The last thing I had wanted was company.
I cut off big, hulking slices and slid them onto dessert plates. The apples were soft and golden, the cake was a rust color. I hadn't even cleared the table. I just pushed one course aside and made room for another, then dropped into my chair and started to eat. I did nothing to help my father and Camille got up to feed him his cake. For a few peaceful minutes we said nothing to one another. We simply ate."

So now an update on the list at hand.

1) I finished the Chicken Lessons and deicided I will have to wait on that project. It will require golfer-guy building me a coop, and he may not love me that much!?

2) I did complete two pairs of baby booties and they are soooo cute. They almost make me wish I had little feet to put in them...almost.

For these I used RY Cashcotton DK in Quartz. Machine wash and dry flat.

For this pair I used Sublime baby Cashmere Merino Silk DK in (48) cheeky. Machine wash and dry flat. This is wonderful yarn, and Sublime has some great patterns, too. Check them out at http://www.sublimeyarns.com/

The pattern for these booties is from "Simple Knits" for Cherished Babies by Erika Knight. It is full of great patterns and this one was very easy to complete. I also tried the slippers on the cover but wasn't as impressed with the outcome. Could have been user error though.

3) And finally, more progress on the Hexie. Claire and I are getting a little bored with the process, but we are very happy with the finished product. We hook on...

Hope you are having a great day, but when all else fails...eat cake!

The List

2009-03-20T16:04:00.005-05:00

I need to begin this post with a belated Thank you to my very dear friend at Pink Picket Fence. While on a trip to Florida she did a little thrifting and came across this fabulous find. And then she gifted it to me! I am a lucky girl to have her as a friend, and to have recieved this gift. It is just right for my current project. Here is a glimpse of my hexie blanket, almost half finished. I am usually attracted to projects that offer instant gratification. This one does not. But I still love it and will keep you updated on my progress.

In the meantime I have come up with a rather daunting "to do" list. At ladies lunch today I was informed that it IS the first day of spring. That explains alot, including my growing list.

At the top of my list is landscaping. Our home is going on 3 years old and sits atop a prairie ridge. No trees, no shrubs, no flowers. So, I need to plan my spring planting.

Followed by:

--Learning about raising chickens (no I don't have any yet!? And my chicken lessons are starting with the "Parts of a Chicken" diagram. That could be a red flag.)

--Completing my latest photography class

--Finishing my hexie blanket

--Organizing our summer schedule (Golf tournaments, swim lessons, basketball camps, etc.)

--Trying a new pattern for Baby booties (possibly to sell)

--Spring cleaning???

--Home repairs (the dogs tore up my screen door)

--Laundry, laundry, laundry

And finally, finding a good recipe for Mojitos! Lime, mint, rum, porch sitting! Ahhhh! I will have to be careful about the porch sitting, or the rest may not get done. However, if I am honest with myself, it may not get done anyway. Leave it to me to come up with a never-ending "to do" list.

What's on your list?

Happy Spring! Liz

A Grand New Day!

2009-03-16T14:26:00.006-05:00

The rules of writing often baffle me. I have always enjoyed writing but think that the many rules of the English language can be a stubling block for many, sometimes even me. Leaving me with a tangled mess!
So I have really enjoyed my time in blogland. There don't seem to be many rules here. I have seen words and expressions commonly misused, made-up words that share true expression, and needless words...yeah! I truly enjoyed creative writing as a child, but I think the many rules introduced during High School and college, put a damper on my creativity. I appreciate your patience as I get my feet wet and venture once again into the literary world. I also apologize for all of my grammer mistakes, I might know better, but what the heck. Since I am the teacher AND the student, I will just have to give myself and E for Effort.

So now that I have straightened out this whole English Grammer thing, I can move on. How enlightening to be free of the judgement of others and have only God and myself to please.

On a different note, I don't have the greatest eyesight, and recently gave up the use of contacts after thirty years, to wear eye glasses. Even wearing the glasses my sight is limited, so I have really enjoyed the use of my Nikon D80 to catch the detail of this world in which we live. Today, I got a glimpse of spring that my not-so-great vision might have missed. But not today! Spring is on the way... I saw it!

And here is Pudge. You can't get anything past this guy. The Head-of-Ranch Security knows Spring is coming. He took some time off from his usual duties to nap in the sunshine. I caught him slacking off. I am sure if I asked he would somehow blame it on Drover! He probably needed a nap. I did. He had quite an adventure last night and woke me at 4:00am to let him at It. When I lifted the door I actually felt sorry for It, whatever It was, for wandering onto our property unannouced. Hank, I mean Pudge, doesn't care for that at all! (If you are a "Hank the Cowdog" fan you are tracking here, if not, check him out at your local library. Your kids will love him.)

Have a wonderful day! Liz

History of the Happy Hooker

2009-03-11T14:51:00.007-05:00

I promised Lottie a little history on crochet. Though there is a great deal more to be found on the subject, I was referring to this information about Lace, and the women who made handmade lace in the early 1800's.

Here is a bit from the Library of Industry and Consumerism:

LACE

During the early nineteenth century lace production became mechanized, first in Europe, then in America. Although the quality could never surpass that of hand-made lace, the amount of time required to make even a single hand-made garment was extensive and the price so high that the market for hand-made lace soon dwindled. Lace-making by hand, using such tools as needles and bobbins, had become a novel pastime and prestigious activity for daughters of wealthy families. These changes forced many lace-makers into factories, and those who remained working in the cottage industries turned to piecework activities, such as mending and hemming factory laces. Crochet emerged from lace making as an alternative that was more profitable as a business, and more enjoyable and less tedious as a leisure activity.

The beauty of lace masked the grim realities of how it was produced. Families who made lace in their homes as piecework, would often enlist the labor of children as young as three. Families survived on the meager wages provided by their employers through collaboration, but the individual pieceworker could barely make a living. Charlotte Elizabeth Tonna, in her 1844 exposé The Lace-runners, questioned a manufacturer's wage policies only to be told that he expected women to supplement heir income by engaging in prostitution.

Hence the name, "Hookers" was born!

I do love crochet and the beautiful fabric produced with simple yarn and a hook. It is an easy hobby that can go anywhere with you packed neatly in a purse or book bag. I take mine everywhere I go, the libarary, the cafe, the carpool line. You name it, I am never without a project to pass the time. Call me what you may, I am indeed a Happy Hooker, and I hope you will not let the name prevent you from joining in the fun! Here is a great "How to" link to get you started.

Have a great day!
Liz

Chug, chug, chug...

2009-03-09T08:45:00.006-05:00

Good morning! It is grey here today, but we survived the wind storm yesterday that removed several shingles from the roof, blew over the outdoor smoker, and toppled the basketball goal set in concrete. The wind and rain lasted only a few minutes, but was quite destructive. I am thankful today for the grey, calm weather. And thankful that the storm is a sign of spring!Despite the grey day, I am thinking in color. I have been working feverishly on my hexie blanket since I returned home from Chicago. I was able to purchase some wonderful yarn for the project at Loopy Yarns (they do ship yarn for those of you who might be interested.) It is Borroco-Comfort DK ($4.00/50g ball) in twelve bright colors.

My colors include:

2719 Sunshine

2758 Crystalline

2751 True Red

2723 Rosebud

2730 Teaberry

2740 Seedling

2731 kidz Orange

2705 Pretty Pink

2707 Boy Blue

2747 Cadet

2753 Agean Sea

2739 Grape Jelly

I am not sure what my favorite part of the project is, yet. Could it be the yarn? The colors? The pattern? Or the finished product? In general, this is just a great project for mid-March in Missouri. Really, it is hard to put down. I have learned to manage the weaving in of ends. I have always avoided patterns with multiple colors because of this tedious process. But Kar suggested weaving as I go. So I am learning to pace myself. I am afraid if I waited until the end to do all of this, the hexie blanket would become one of those never completed projects. The kind that you love until the end and then stick in a drawer for a rainy day that never comes. I have several of those. In fact, the drawers are full!

So, I am making slow progress. I just keep chugging along. And I will keep you updated.Back I go, chug, chug, chug... until next time. Have a great day!

Winds of Change

2009-03-04T21:28:00.005-06:00

Well, I have been reading all of your wonderful blogs and they are begining to bloom. Really! I love all the flower pictures and the promise of spring to come. I have a favorite picture in my home that I look at often. It was given to me by my mother. I am not sure who the artisit is, and cannot make out the name on the artwork, but I wanted to share it with you none-the-less. This picture reminds me that whatever the day, there is always another on the way. One of the reasons I love living in the midwest is the ever-changing seasons and the promise of the next. About the time I get bored with one, another comes roaring in. So today I am dreaming of warm southern winds and the smell of sweet flowers in bloom.

May the winds of change blow your way today!

Fabulous Fiber

2009-03-02T14:43:00.002-06:00

I am home in the middle after a fun trip to the city. Golfer Guy had meetings to attend in Chicago, so I tagged along. We jumped the Amtrak Train for a quick adventure. If you haven't been there it is a great city complete with museums, world class architecture...

...culture, blues music, shopping, lots of food, and of course LYS (local yarn shops.)

The scenery is bleak in Chicago this time of year. Brown, grey, rain, snow. However, I made like the locals and ventured out in my (40 degree-below-zero parka), hat and gloves for some city sight seeing. The architecture is amazing but the cold temps put a damper on my picture taking. So I only took a couple to share.

There did seem to be a Starbucks on every corner, and that hot coffee sure does warm the body, and the soul.

However, MY trip was not without color. Fabulous fiber! Must I say more?

After researching the possiblities, I ventured to two local yarn shops. Both ranked with four stars on the internet and with nice websites. First, I visited Loopy Yarns on Polk Street where I was invited to stay for their noon

"Lunch Bunch" by a couple of very nice ladies. What fun to get to meet these gals and see what they were working on. Plus lots of conversation about casting on, felting and the like. I enjoyed the lunch and walked away with some great colors for my hexie blanket. Kar, it is finally underway...

Next, I rode the Subway out to Division street to visit Nina's. I didn't get to meet the owner, but the sales clerk was quite helpful and fun to chat with. She helped me select some soft, washable fiber for baby booties and sweaters. Once again, I am not expecting, only planning ahead.

So, after much fun, I am tired, home, and back to my view of the middle.

Back to the dishes and the laundry and running the family shuttle. But when I close my eyes I see the colors of fabulous fiber!

Woman Cave...done

2009-02-22T10:59:00.007-06:00

Well, those of you who follow my blog know that I have been working on my "woman" cave for a couple weeks now. After some thrifting to find ample storage, a trip to the hardware store for paint and lots of ball winding, the project is done. Only downside is a florescent light on the ceiling that limits my picture taking in that room. I tried though, so that I could share it with all of you. Here is what I got:All to say that it is very colorful and inspiring. It is truly a girl room! And I finished it just in time to share it with my girl friends Friday when we had our monthly Ladies Lunch at my house. There are four of us and we started meeting for lunch last September. So this was the first time I was to be the hostess. I am not a china type, but I did bring out the "good" dishes and set the table. My tableware is Asian inspired in keeping with the influence of Frank Lloyd Wright who spent time in Asia and used Asian designs in his architecture and decor.

These ladies are friends that I met through our local homeschool group. We have all sent our children back to public school for Jr. High and High School, so we no longer saw eachother at P.E. class, musical practice, etc. We decided Ladies Lunch would be a great way to connect and keep in touch and it has been great fun! We all contribute the the meal, so the food is pretty fabulous, too!

In the midst of rolling yarn, and painting, I also managed to complete a baby sweater. And no, I am not expecting. I am just invited to alot of Baby Showers in our small town and thought it would be a good idea to start a stock pile of gifts. I usually don't get enough notice to start and finish a project before the event. So this should help.

And then there is the picture taking. I couldn't resist the colorful balls of yarn waiting to become something beautiful. Just waiting...Hope you have a very colorful day!

Skinny Chocolate Chip Cookies

2009-02-19T17:34:00.004-06:00

The title of this post may be deceptive as I am not sharing a recipe for a healthy cookie, just a skinny one. Mr. G loves "flat" chocolate chip cookies, and try as I might, mine are never "flat." So I googled flat cookies and got lots of negative responses. Everyone talking about them wanted to bake fluffy cookies instead of flat ones. So, I experimented. I have certainly baked enough of these guys in my life to be able to create my own recipe. But I didn't. I just alterned one.

And after testing a few (how many is a few?) I came to the conclusion that the recipe is fabulous, and worthy of blogging. Plus I needed to practice my new photograpy skills.

Hope you enjoy!

Skinny Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter (microwaved for 30 sec.)
3/4 cup sugar

3/4 packed brown sugar

2 lg. eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups all purpose flour

12 oz. real semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Heat butter. Cream together butter and sugars. Add eggs. Stir in flour, baking soda, salt and vanilla. When batter is creamy, add chocolate chips and nuts. Bake for 8-10 min. until cookies are just set but not too brown. Let cool on pan for 5 min. Then remove and place on a cookie rack until completely cool. Store in an airtight container.

Back in Place

2009-02-17T13:18:00.004-06:00

This last weekend we had visitors. Our good friends from the City came to the farm for a weekend retreat. It was a full weekend with Little A's ballgames, dinner for friends and kids (they all have itty-bitties that are so much fun,) a trip to the movies, UNFI Buying Club food delivery and church. Not to mention lots of talking and laughing. I venture to say we made some memories. Good friends, good memories!
However, the weekend would not have been complete without a "Big Girls" trip to a local antique mall. It didn't take long to find some treasures. My favorite, of course, was a gift for my littlest girlfriend. She seemed to like it and sang some very pretty songs while ironing on her new board. I have decided ironing must be more fun while singing a tune. I will have to try that!

Then there were the retro canisters that were truly a steal at $8.00 for the set. They match my kitchen perfectly! I love a good bargain.

And finally, a few pieces of jewelry. I have seen several felted bags embellished with these little gems, so I thought I would try that out on my next purse project.

So, the weekend has ended and I am back to my routine, putting everything back in place and filing the memories away for a rainy day. Good friends, good memories indeed!

Many Miles to Go

2009-02-12T18:45:00.007-06:00

My first afghan...done! I am quite pleased with the outcome. It is a 5' x 3' child's throw in a wave pattern. I used the Caron Eco yarn for this and it turned out soft and warm. I now know why women like to make blankets in the winter. The bigger it got, the warmer it got! I will make this an annual winter event. So, that is one down!
This is the plan for one of the many to go. I promised my artsy niece these colorful socks last summer. But with spring approaching and her growing every day, I seriously doubt they will fit when I complete them. We'll see how many more years thiey take. I have so many projects I want to do and so little time. "And many miles to go before I sleep." Isn't that a Robert Frost poem? It sounds like him anyway. And today it sounds like me.

Busy, busy indeed! I am not very good at being bored, so I guess this is a good thing. Back to the sofa and a project underway! The journey continues!

(WO) Man Cave

2009-02-09T17:37:00.005-06:00

I have often heard woman refer to their basements as the "Man Cave." So that is where my title originates. Golfer Guy actually spends very little time in the basement of our house and has a "Man Shed" instead. But this post is about MY new space which I will refer to as the (WO) Man Cave! A girlie room! Our house is a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired Prairie School Home complete with white oak cabinetry and flooring, slate tile, UbaTuba Granite (black) and three shades of beige walls. Beautiful, but it does not lend itself to the colors of my personality. So this little voice inside my head keeps screaming...PURPLE! That is my favorite color!
I mentioned in my last post that I needed to get organized. My craft corner/studio was out of control. And after close inspection I realized it could not be fixed; not in it's current location. So, I packed up and moved...to the deepest, darkest room in the house. For some this might be unsettling, no windows and all, but I am a temperate person, between 60 and 80 degrees is just right! My (WO) Man Cave will fit the bill all year round. I love it! I was able to re-purpose a doll house into fabric storage and I picked up a small dresser at the local antique mall (it is not an antique) that has many small drawers. Just right for craft storage.

I am selecting paint and toile accessories in my head. Yeah me! (For those of you with pre-teens that's London talking!) I will be painting and decorating my (WO) Man Cave in days to come, so stop back by to check out my progress. It is sure to be quite purple!

Five Minutes

2009-02-06T07:35:00.005-06:00

I sometimes wonder if it wouldn't be easier to have a studio that wasn't in my home. Though I enjoy being able to slip away for 5 minutes here and there to finish a project or plan a new one, it is sometimes hard to find even 5 minutes, what with laundry, dishes, meals and kids. So today I decided it was time to settle in and spend the day (all day) in my studio. Not that there are not other things I should be doing (the above mentioned,) but my studio needs some attention, also. I recently purchased a ball winder to get all of the yarn under control, and I would love to start on one of the bags I mentioned previously, oh, and then there are the Christmas Trees in the corner that must come down. It was 50 degrees here yesterday, which makes me think that the holidays are finally over. That and the fact that Valentine's Day is next week!

So, I have my work cut out for me. I have a fabulous storage room in my home, but very little storage in my corner that I refer to as my studio. And it would be nice to have all of my supplies at my finger tips. Better for crafting, don't you think? So that might need some planning, and then I might have to run off to the laundry room for a quick fix! Ahhh, the smell of clean clothes!!

Soup Night

2009-02-03T19:31:00.005-06:00

Anytime the temperature fails to make it above 10 degrees my soup alarm goes off. Today was one fo those days. I don't like the cold but I do enjoy the soup. This is one of my favorites, I hope you like it, too.

Loaded Potato soup

Ingredients:

2 quarts water

2 chicken bouillon cubes (or 2 tsps. of chicken base)

10 ounces processed cheese, cut into cubes

8 cups peeled and chopped potatoes

1 Tbsp. minced garlic (or 1 tsp. garlic powder)

1 Tbsp. dried onion flakes (or 2 Tbsp. fresh chopped onion)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 cup sour cream

1 cup crumbled bacon

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. seasoned salt

1 tsp. ground black pepper

1/8 tsp. chili powder

3/4 cup half-and-half

Directions:

Bring water to a boil. Stir in bouillon, cheese, potatoes, garlic, and onion. Boil these ingredients together over medium-high heat for 10 minutes, stirring frequently. Then add the remaining ingredients and boil 15 more minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently. Before serving, remove from heat and stir in half-and-half. Serves about 12.

Note: I also add a couple Tbsp. corn starch in 1/4 cup cold water to thicken the soup.

This is great soup served with fruit salad and celery with peanut butter. It warms lots of hungry tummys.

Project People

2009-02-01T20:03:00.006-06:00

My husband and I are project people. We both thrive on the possibility of a new project. Sometimes they pan out and sometimes they don't, but just the planning and dreaming is good for our mental health. Everyone needs something to look forward to, and what better than a new project. Something to start, something to finish. So guess who has a new project?

Golfer guy says he bought it for me, but I really think he just wants a new project and my approval!? So I took it for a spin today. Not really my style, but fun none the less. A 3/4 ton 4 speed. Is that like talking to men about knit and pearl? I suspect it is. My golfer guy is unique!In my opinion, my project looks alot prettier. I am not sure he would agree!? But here is a sneak peak at my new purse. I plan to use this Simplicity pattern and a combination of these fabrics from the clearance isle at JoAnn's Fabrics. My artistic niece helped me pick them out. Don't you think she has an eye for color? You should see this 10 year old paint!

I do like to shop for and order fabrics online, but I really like to touch and feel before I buy. The internet can be deceiving. These fabrics may work well, also, or they may line a felted bag in time to come. Lots of projects in the making. Now it is time to go to bed and dream about the outcome. Sleep tight project people! Oh, and if you are reading this and having one of "those" days, I would like to share my favorite saying from Mary Engelbreit...

100% Discount!?

2009-01-27T13:22:00.005-06:00

I know several of you like to go thrifting. I do too, and I especially love finding that great clearance bargain, the one item I have been looking for and now at discount prices! Who doesn't love a fabulous find!? So, what better place to go thrifting than your own storage closet? Actually, for me it is a concrete room in the basement. I really am not a pack-rat. Infact I am quite the opposite. I am the one who throws away things I can never imagine needing again, only to find a month later that I could really use it. So, finding anything grand in my storage room is quite exciting! But after moving into a new home 2 1/2 years ago, it was time to complete the move and sort through the final 6 boxes. It was fun to look at pictures of the kids (it seems like only yesterday they were tiny tots,) but not so fun to look at pictures of myself, because, yes, I am aging quicker than the kids. But, my adventure was not without reward. I walked away with some great finds and with a great 100% discount!

My favorite find has to be my knitting bag. It was given to me by my grandmother nearly 30 years ago! Oh, so, seventies in color and style. I especially love the snap clasp. I recently bought a Vera Bradley wallet with that same clasp. I am guessing Vera appreciates the 70's, too. (Don't miss her newest pattern, Hope Garden, 10% of all proceeds go to Breast Cancer Awareness.)

Happy thrifting, oh, and don't be afraid of the storage closet, you never know what you might find on sale!

A New Day

2009-01-26T08:38:00.005-06:00

Today is a new day! I love new days and a chance to start over. Last week I started my first online class. I have been toying with the idea of taking some photograpy classes so I finally signed up. I had been using a Nikon D80 on the Auto setting for 6 months. It was time to really learn how to use this camera. I was glad for a busy weekend and an opportunity to get out and take some action shots. In S-Mode (Priority Shutter Mode) I was able to catch a Bulldog in mid-air! And can that kid jump!!Then it snowed just enough to try out this same setting and catch a few snow flakes. Yeah! I have a long way to go, but I am feeling more confident all the time.

So, by the time I finish my first afghan, I hope to be able to take some quality pictures to share. Yes indeed, it is a new day!

Feeling Green!?

2009-01-20T13:44:00.006-06:00

I am feeling green today! Not blue, thank goodness, though winter days can do that to a girl, but green. I have started my latest project and purchased Caron Simply Soft Eco for the making.

It is made of 20% NatureSpun Post-Consumer Recycled Polyester and 80% Acrylic. I am not really fond of Acrylic yarns, but I am fond of saving the planet. So, I am trying it today. So far, so good. The afghan pattern I chose is from Lion Brand: Child's Chevron Throw. This is my first ever afghan, but I like it and it is working up quickly. I think I will try the next one in the recommended Lion Brand Cotton Ease. I do love cotton!
I have discovered something new about myself...I get bored easily. Though a second afghan seems a good idea today, by next week I may be on to other challenges. I feel there are so many things to be tried and learned and yet so little time. I found a gray hair today!! Get the picture!? Speaking of hair, my hairdresser is the one that helped me discover this dissatisfaction with things I have learned. I have yet to keep any hairstyle for more than six months. I do envy the women that pick a style and wear it for 40 years. But I don't think I will ever make it. I have very curly hair, and styling it can be a challenge, but once I have figured it out and have it looking just the way I want, I change. New style, new color, new challenge!? I am doomed to walk this earth as an ever changing cameleon. So there it is...today I am feeling green!

Moving on...

2009-01-15T09:00:00.009-06:00

To say it is cold here today would be a lie, because it is well beyond cold. But thanks to a great pattern I found online for an Ear flap hat, Little A and I are well prepared. Since I found the pattern I have made four of these hats, but I gifted all the others before taking pictures. I must learn not to do that. December was just too busy for picture taking. So, here is the one I retained for us girls:

I walked Claire in it this morning and it was nice and toasty. Just like the hot coffee I enjoyed in the quiet kitchen (the kids didn't even have school because of the cold temps, so I had the kitchen all to myself! Yipee!) And that meant time to plan a new project.

Since finishing the Snow Flower set I have been blogging, surfing (the web) and dreaming . I am quite taken by the fabrics of Amy Butler and Tula Pink, so I think I may have to get busy on the sewing machine. I am only learning to sew, so wish me luck. I will let you know what I come up with. I am thinking a purse or bag would be a good place to begin. Maybe a shirt, if I get brave.But first, I am going to finish what I started... then I will sew. This is going to be a felted bag. I am hoping it will not shrink much. I used two strands of Cascade 220 and finished it off with the Buku I found at the MS knit shop. I will post the final product when it is all done.

I think today is an opportunity to catch up on all the little projects that are "almost" done. (I hope I am not the only one with a studio full of half fininsh projects!?) Then... I will move on.

Happy Snow Day!

Merry Christmas, girlfriend!

2009-01-13T13:51:00.006-06:00

Yes, Christmas is finally over! I have finished my final project...only a few weeks late. It was a busy season this year. I not only did not have time for fiber crafts, but also did not have time to shop for the perfect fiber for this project. So I waited. And yes, my trip to the MS knit shop proved successful. I walked away with some Jean ne'e Plymouth Yarn made in Turkey. It is wonderfully soft, perfect for a child's garment. The colors were just right for my project, as well. The pattern "Snow Flower Set" is from the Jan/Feb 2009 issue of Crochet Today.

It goes in the mail today to my littlest girlfriend. I hope the hat fits. It is difficult to fit a hat on a child that lives 180 miles away. So, I tried!? At least I know the scarf will work. I just hope she enjoys wearing it as much as I enjoyed making if for her. Merry Christmas, girlfriend!

Memories of Days Past

2009-01-11T13:21:00.004-06:00

Well, our trip has ended, we are home in the middle, and back in our routine. I do like routines. I used to think I enjoyed living life recklessly. Spur of the moment adventures and all. But, maybe a sign of my age, I do enjoy my routine and knowing what event is coming next. I also don't miss as many appointments and meetings as I used to. That might just be maturity though.

After a white Christmas in the middle, the south was a breath of fresh air. I loved the sweet pink flowers blooming in front of Aunt B's door, still decorated with a holiday wreath. Not something you see in the Midwest...ever.

Aunt B is a fabulous cook and thought a homemade pasta lesson would be good for Mr. G. She taught him all the tips and tricks to making pasta, so I can't wait till he offers to cook dinner!?

And finally, there was the best little knit shop in MS. At least as far as I know. I only visited one. But WoW! On our first day in MS I googled Local Knit Shops to see what I could find. The closest one listed was 3 1/2 hours away. So I gave up on that idea and went to the beach with Little A. We stopped for a Java at a local coffee shop in Bay St. Louis, just off Main Street (great little artist district), and I ran into two fellow knitters. They informed me that they bought their yarn at The Stitch Niche in Diamond Head! That is where Aunt B lives. I was happy, but had no idea what I would find. This great little knit shop is off the beaten path but takes up a large space in a strip mall. It has two large rooms full of beautiful yarn and two large rooms full of materials for needlepoint. I stuck to the yarn side of things, but I am sure this would be a stitchers dream, as well. So, if you ever travel down south, talk your hubby and the kids into a detour down I-10 to Diamond Head. I promise it will be well worth the trip! And if you don't make it down south you can always visit them online. Enjoy!

Sun and Surf

2009-01-05T14:58:00.003-06:00

Blue skies and ocean tides. A soothing sight for this northern Missouri girl. Bay St. Louis, MS survived Hurricane Katrina and continues to rebuild. Many of the Old Southern bay front homes were washed away but a few memories of the past remain.

Claire especially liked the ocean breezes. A warm 70 degree day was a real "dog" treat!

And then there are the treasures of the sea! A reflection of the life that once lived in the waters, these shells have many tales to tell.

A little Southern Comfort

2008-12-31T15:10:00.003-06:00

Well friends, it has been a busy, crazy three months. I have completed several projects, helped with the Church Play, decorated the house for Christmas, shopped and entertained every weekend in December! Not to mention my most unfavorite holiday task...lots of house cleaning. So, blogging has been the last of my worries. But I am so glad to be back and can't wait to catch up on all you have been doing. However, catching up will have to wait until January, when we get home from our southern adventure. After all of the holiday activities, we were all ready for a little vacation! Destination Mississippi....

But we couldn't make it to the coast without a quick stop in Memphis for some Blues and BBQ with the King...BB King that is, not Elvis. I'm sorry, but I as much as I love the blues I never did care for Elvis.

So, I will update you on our adventure and my trip to the best little knit shop in MS!

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Can't wait to see you in 09!

Ahhh, Apples!

2008-09-15T15:55:00.003-05:00

Folks, I take the concept of Sunday being a day of rest VERY seriously. So this weekend, even after 3 dreary days of rain, I had no intention of working on Sunday. However, when my mother-in-law called to report that her little apple tree was full of sweet, ripe apples, we ran to the rescue. She couldn't remember what kind they were or even if she had planted the tree. (I dream about the day that I have lived in one house long enough that I don't remember what I planted!)

The picking was the easy part. It only took a few minutes to fill a bucket full, but as you all know it is the peeling and preparing that can wear a girl out. I must say it is always worth the effort.
And it is a great reminder on a Sunday of how great God is when he fills a scrawny, little tree with beautiful fruit just for us. Sooo, we went to work...

and after spending countless (no I did not count but my feet did) hours peeling and chopping in the kitchen...we ate pie! Today I get to tell you about it, eat more pie and get back to work on my latest crochet project. All is well and my feet have forgiven me already!

Meet the Guys

2008-09-11T17:50:00.007-05:00

My newest addiction. Critters!!! I purchased a book "Amigurumi World" to learn to make these cute guys and I love them.

We named this guy "Mo" the Monkey,

this guy is "Spot" the dog,

and this teddy sure looks like a "Millie" to me.

My Kids are too old to snuggle with little stuffed creatures, so I am planning to pack them away in Shoe Boxes and send them over seas with Operation Christmas Child. I feel sure some little person, somewhere will give these guys lots of love. If you want to contribute you can send items also. Visit http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/index/ for more information.

I also recommend this book. Once you have learned the basics you can also create your own little guys. So far I have only tried the patterns in the book and have been quite pleased. If you are a yarn collector...like me, this is also a great way to use up the stash. Sometimes cleaning out the closet should be fun!

Happy Hooking!

Going to the Market

2008-09-07T15:27:00.003-05:00

Well I'm not...going to the market that is. But the local Farmers Market is one of my favorite warm weather venues. So I crocheted this nice market bag for the ocassion. Then it started to rain...and it rained, and it rained....and it rained. Now it is fall and I haven't yet used my new market bag. I am thinking it will have to travel with me to the Apple Orchard instead. I think it will fair well if I do not overload it. They have opened a new winery at our local apple orchard, so a little tasting will be a must!? Maybe my bag will hold a bottle...or two!? I will let you know. If you would like to try this one I found the pattern on www.Lionbrand.com

Gustav...here we come!

2008-09-01T17:03:00.003-05:00

A girls trip to the Florida Keys went off without a hitch. Even Hurricane Gustav couldn't keep us home. My sister, Mom and I ventured south for a quick four day adventure ...and a wedding! This would be a picture of my feet relaxing for a short moment. Gustav was on his way but the Tiki hut kept me nice and dry. I appreciated the cool temperatures and salty breeze.
The next few pictures chronicle my eating habits, and all the calories I have to lose now that I have returned home. But who can say no to Key Lime pie from Farmers' Market Restaurant in Florida City? I also ate a piece at The Blonde Giraffe http://www.blondgiraffe.com/ on Duval Street in Key West.

Mornings were made for the Key Largo Conch House www.keylargocoffeehouse.com . Our party of three tried the Cinnamon-Raisin French toast, the Blueberry Pancakes and Blueberry Crepes. All wonderful with a hot cup of java.

For lunch we made a stop at Robbies of Islamorada www.robbies.com . The waiter recommended the Blacked Fish Tacos. I do, too. The restaurant is really a dive bar at Robbie's Marina, but I do believe it was my favorite meal at the Keys.
And no trip to Florida would be complete without a plate full of steamed shrimp. We ate ours at Lazy Days in Islamorada on our way home from Key West. A large covered porch with a cool breeze and large fans was the perfect stop after an eventful day. Make reservations at Lazydaysindakeys@aol.com

While on adventure we also made a stop at Schnebly Redlands' Winery www.schneblywinery.com for a little tasting. (Nevermind the fact that we bought four bottles to enjoy at the hotel. ) They had a wonderful variety of wines made from tropical fruits. They don't ship to Missouri...but I will be back.

So, I am home now and the waistline has expanded. But it is well worth it and I highly recommend a weekend getaway to the Keys...even if Gustav threatens to send you home early.

New Challenges

2008-08-25T18:35:00.003-05:00

Well, it was a summer of challenges. I decided to try something new and I had never learned to make a granny square. So here is my first attempt. Not bad, and Al loves it...even with pajamas! However, I put it on to show my husband and the first word out of his mouth was "Blanch!" Blanch would be his Grandma. Is that a compliment or an insult!? I'm not sure, but Al and I still love the new scarf.
Then it was on to socks. The ladies at the local yarn shop set me straight with a book on knitting socks with two circular needles and using self striping yarn. No, they don't match exactly, but I must say I am still quite proud of the project. Al likes these, too. She is so great for my ego! Love you girly. I will have to admit I did knit the first one twice. Just like life...sometimes you just have to unravel it and start over. Thank you Lord for second chances!

If you are interested in patterns I am willing to share!

Summer Bliss

2008-08-23T10:04:00.004-05:00

Well, this about defines our summer! Lots of fun in the sun and in the rain as NE Missouri had record rainfall this summer. But the cooler summer temperatures made for outdoor fun! I don't know who enjoyed it more, my city niece or my farm dog!?

When we weren't playing outdoors I was juggling schedules. My new job as the church secretary (12 hours a week), my son's new obsession with golf and many trips to tournaments, and my daughters will to swim all made for busy times. I did manage a few craft projects and a couple trips to the knit store to hang out with the ladies. I even refreshed my crochet skills. I will get pictures and update my blog soon.

Back to school time! Yeah schedules! Hope you all had a great summer.

Sweet Summer

2008-06-13T11:51:00.004-05:00

Regardless of the many inches of rain we have recieved the last two months, the berries are ripe! Maybe too ripe, but perfect for jam making. How sweet it is.
My not-so-little girly helped with the mashing and cooking. And we mixed up some tasty strawberry jam. Three batches...should last us a year but golfer guy does love the stuff, so we'll see. I am just so thankful for the Amish folks in our community who plant and harvest the berries. I am afraid if the plants were in my care they would not produce.

So, we are watching it rain and enjoying the fruit. I hope you are having a sweet summer, too!

tagged

2008-06-01T20:01:00.002-05:00

I was tagged by Carole:

The rules:
Rules are posted at the beginning. At the end the post the player tags six people, then posts their names. Then the player goes to each of the named people's blogs and leaves a comment, letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog. If you've been tagged, you do the same, letting the person who tagged you know when you've posted your answer. Your answer, of course, is the answer to the following questions:
Here we go!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago?

10 years ago I was 25 years old. I was a young mother of two small children, ages 2 and 6 months. I had just moved to a new town, had joined a Bible study and was meeting lots of new friends. Many of those new friends are long-time friends, today. To be a bit more detailed, my husband and I were building a privacy fence around our little back yard to keep out the neighbor kids and keep ours in. What memories!

2. Five things on my to-do list today

1) Take a friend to a meeting at 8:00 am
2) Pack my bags (it is Sunday and I have spent the weekend at my Mother's house)
3) Drive home (a four hour drive across Missouri)
4) Take ice cream sandwiches to the golf course for our Jr. Golf program (Golfer Guy would like them there by 6:00 p.m.)
5) Relax on the back porch with my laptop and a glass of wine so I can catch up on bloglines...and listen to the crickets!

3. Snacks I enjoy

-wine and cheese
-anything chocolate
-skinny latte with carmel and hazelnut, venti please

4. Places I've lived

Springfield, MO; Kansas City, MO; La Plata, MO; Macon, MO (no, I have not yet left the state of Missouri, I must be crazy!)

5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire:

-Move to Florida
-Visit Romania to work with the Romani people
-Open a Knit shop
-buy my children an Ivy League education
-send Golfer Guy on a world PGA tour!

If you are reading this consider yourself tagged! Then answer the questions and leave me a comment so I can visit your blog and learn more about you. Hope to hear from you soon...Artopia, Philigry, Pink picket fence, knit and tonic, shannon leigh designs, maya*made!

Tortilla Bean Soup

2008-05-28T19:37:00.002-05:00

I always enjoy soup on a cool day. We have had quite a few of those this last month. It has been a very rainy, cool spring in Northern Missouri. Lucky for us we like soup and have some yummy recipes tucked away. This one I found in the January 2008 issue of ParentLife magazine. The recipe is from Kristen White, a home school mom who loves to cook, maybe even more than I do. You can visit her website at www.kristenwhite.net

Here is her wonderful recipe for Tortilla Bean Soup:

Ingredients:
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons chopped onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
6 corn tortillas, cut into strips
10-ounce can green chile enchilada sauce (mild)
30 1/2-ounce can chili beans (mild)
48-ounce jar or can great northern beans
2 cups water
2 chicken bouillon cubes (I use 2 tsps. chicken base)
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. chili powder
3 cups chopped, grilled chicken breast (I have also used store bought rotissarie chicken)
1-2 tablespoons chopped jalapeno peppers (optional)

Directions:
Heat oil in a medium-size stock pot. Add onion, garlic, and tortilla strips and stir fry for 4 min. Pour in the rest of the ingredients and boil together over medium heat for 20-30 min. Add more water (1 cup at a time) if necessary. About 10 servings.

I serve this with corn bread and salad for a complete meal.

Enjoy!

My first knit along

2008-05-26T10:00:00.002-05:00

Well, it is a new day and I believe I am up for a new challenge. I have never knitted an entire afgahan so I decided to try. I get bored with big projects and therefore usually knit purses and scarves and items that I can complete in a week or two. But, this time I am trying something new. It might take a month, maybe three! I have many purses to post on my new Etsy store, so I think I will do that and challenge myself. I am thinking brown, or maybe orange. My house is decorated in gold, brown, orange tones, and since this will be my first, and maybe only, afgahan project ever, I plan to keep it. (Assuming it is worth keeping!?) So, I am off to the yarn store to fill my bag and get started! Wish me luck! I will let you know how I progress.

If you are interested in knitting along, visit Lion Brand yarn to download the free pattern and join the fun! I will have to drink a glass of tea with this one or there is no telling what I will end up with!

Life on the farm...

2008-05-20T13:36:00.002-05:00

Life often reminds me of my favorite John Denver tune:

Well, life on the farm is kinda laid back,
Ain't much an old country boy like me can't hack,
Early to rise,
Early in the sack,
Thank God I'm a country boy.

Golfing in style! What would the city folks say about that!?

The farm dog Dollie (Black Lab) and the head of ranch security,Pudge!
And he means business, boy!

And finally a "little" mess on the kitchen floor! That's right each of the corn kernels, all 10 lbs. of them, were little! Some days you just shouldn't eat popcorn?

Well got me a fine wife,
Got my old fiddle,
When sun's coming up,
I got cakes on the griddle,
Life ain't nothing but a funny, funny riddle,
Thank God I'm a country boy!

I must clarify, my husband is not a farmer, but a dentist/golfer guy, (though he did grow up in the country and lure me here,) we don't own a fiddle and most mornings cereal is served for breakfast. But you get the picture. Life on the farm, especially in the spring, is kinda laid back! Even on busy days that warrant 5 trips to town and back I can hardly complain. We don't have a single stoplight in town and most drivers on the road greet me with a wave. Even if I don't know them I wave back, I probably know their mother, uncle, brother or cousin! Not a bad place to be, indeed!

An "adults only" trip to AZ

2008-05-16T09:20:00.000-05:00

Yes, Mother's Day and our 14 year wedding anniversary prompted a much needed trip to AZ with great friends! It was a short trip but the kids said it was long enough. They were home under cloudy, cool skies while we were enjoying the warm Arizona sun! I am not a fan of the brown desert, but loved the time away...

and the food was yummy, not to mention I didn't have to do dishes for four whole days!

We did find some beautiful flowers to enjoy. Pink, yellow, orange, purple...I guess up close Arizona is not ALL brown!

We look relaxed, don't we!? Wine will do that for a person, even on vacation! Did I mention sun?

I guess all states, even the ones with sun, have cold pricklies. But if you are going to have pricklies they should be as interesting as this one.

I was inspired to knit more bags using some AZ colors, but I think I will skip the pricklies. Who would carry a bag that hurts? This picture will just be for viewing, I promise.

Clair's new cut

2008-05-07T14:44:00.001-05:00

Well, Claire had her first visit to the groomers and came out cute as a button! Daddy says she is a mean doggie cause she bit him on the knee! I just think Daddy is wimpy!!