Archive for the ‘Family and Friends’ Category

Sinus Headaches

April 29, 2010

I’ve been having them almost every day for about two weeks and I’m beginning to think they are rotting my brain.  I get out my laptop and forget what I wanted to say.  There is so much pollen in the air that everything is yellow.  Look at the scum that collect on the creek.

We had an extra knitting get together on Sunday.  Victoria is so excited about learning to knit.  It’s a great excuse to gather.  Annabelle came, too.  It was so nice seeing her again.  Afterwards we went to Famous Dave’s.  I had only been there one other time.  I got shredded pork because it’s  Betty’s favorite and I had no idea what I wanted anyway.  It came in this strange tray with paper on it.  Maria and I asked for a plate.  How can you cut anything on paper?  Also, I felt like a child who couldn’t keep her food on her plate.  Granted, the pork was good, but the corn of the cob was awful.  But then again, I never eat it at home unless it is fresh. 

I finished one Red Fox sock and have started on the second.  Tomorrow, I’m going to Reisterstown.  Friday, I’m meeting friends for lunch and Saturday and Sunday is MD Sheep and Wool.  I hope to be back on Monday.

Pattern for Socks Finished

April 24, 2010

Writing patterns can be a pain.  They take a long time.  There’s so much to consider.  You never how much or how little to enter.  But, anyway, my Girlie Socks pattern is finished and on my pages for anyone who wants to try it.

I’ve started another pair of socks.  The heel is made a little differently than normal.  It gives it a speckled look that I like.  I had a little trouble with the pattern on the instep.  Working it across 30 stitches makes for three increases and only two decreases.  So you have to get a little inventive with an extra decrease.

We went to Suicide Bridge Restaurant yesterday and the Friday buffet.  It’s impossible snot to stuff yourself.  The stemmed shrimp are perfect and I really like the way they fix the scallops.  Even the desserts are good.

I Made Quiche

April 22, 2010

I’ve been thinking about Quiche since Sunday.  After knitting group, we went to Zia’s in Salisbury for supper.  Victoria ordered pasta Quiche.  I had thought about a few times, but, actually I had been hoping someone else would do it.  It looked good and she said she liked it so I’ll have to try it.  They haven’t had stuffed peppers the last three times I’ve been there.  I keep hoping.  It’s really good.  I don’t make them because Doug can’t eat green peppers. 

Anyway, where was I?  OK.  Quiche.  It was supposed to be Quiche Lorraine, but I had some mushrooms.  I sautéed them with onions, then I fried the bacon.  While that was cooking, I whipped up the eggs and cream.  As usual, I couldn’t find the nutmeg and then, I couldn’t find the grater so things slowed down for a bit.  Then I remembered and everything was  up and running again.  I’ve been living here full-time for almost four years and I still have settled on where to put stuff.  I’ll be so glad when we get around to expanding the kitchen.  I cheated on the crust and used one of those pre-made roll-outs.  The hardest part of Quiche is baking it.  It takes a good while to cook, but when it finished you can’t leave it in the oven an extra minute.  But it’s worth it.  It was just right.  Even the store-bought pie crust was nice.  We ate half of it.  Doug put salsa on his.  He’s from Oklahoma.  What do you expect?

Here are my Girlie Socks.  I finished them in two days and I’ve started another pair.

I Didn’t Do a Damned Thing Today

April 20, 2010

Maybe it was after several fully loaded days.  These are finished.

And I started these.I’m calling these Girlie Summer Socks.  I used Katia Bombay.  I’ve started writing the pattern and it will appear soon under my pages.

OK.  You know that I try to learn something every day.  Well, today I learned that pesto  is very good on fresh asparagus.  How’s that?

Reisterstown is Another World

April 11, 2010

Like everything else, it’s not like it was thirty years ago.  Even in the middle of the day, it takes forever to get down main street.  And they drive like it was DC rush hour.  What happened to the friendly little town I once knew?  Believe me, three days was long enough for me.  This morning, I drove to downtown Baltimore to pick up my grandson.  Mom and Dad were both working.  Again I was surprised at the amount of traffic for a Saturday morning.  And talk about arrogant!!  I am so glad that I live in lower slower Delaware.

When I got home this afternoon, I did the dishes.  My husband hadn’t gotten around to it.  My son had given me a little George Foreman grill for my birthday and Doug wanted hamburgers.  Of course we didn’t have any rolls.  And, of course, he had had a beer, so, of course, I had to drive.  We wound up going to two stores and spending sixty dollars and, of course, I had to make three U-turns on Route 13.  And, of course,  I had a sick headache by the time I was ready to cook.  I hadn’t eaten since 8AM so I had a little macaroni salad and slowly counted to about fifty.  I was finally able to cook.  My son loves his and I must say that the burgers were very good.  I had mine with guacamole and ketchup and sautéed mushrooms and onions and, of course, macaroni salad.  And, of course, I used actual ground sirloin, not that 93/7 ground beef crap that Wal-mart now carries.

And another thing!   I am not at all happy with the changes at Wal-mart.  I have to drive twenty to forty miles to buy fabric now and the notions section looks like something I would expect to see in a Seven Eleven.  And what happened to all the great kitchen stuff they used to have?  I could find whatever I wanted.  Not anymore!  I guess these items are now ‘beneath’ them.  They did one thing that I do like.  The electronics are now in the back corner and not in the middle of the store and in the way.

Time to go knit.

The Washing of the Gloves

April 5, 2010

I was thinking about washing my socks, but I think I may still have an occasion to wear them.  So I washed my gloves instead.  One pair needs mending so I need to find the obligatory scarf.  It’s pretty small.  I’ll barely be able to get it around my neck afterwards.  After I finished washing, I found another pair and I think there is a pair in my heavy coat pocket.  Oh, well.  Maybe they will get their chance next year. 

We rode down to Jeff’s Nursery this afternoon and found the bushes that Doug wanted.  He bought four in two different colors.  You never know about that man. 

I decided that I need yellow socks, especially for summer.  I couldn’t find anything in my stash that was appropriate.  I found some on-line in Sockotta.  Now I don’t know what to do.  I can’t buy just one ball of yarn.  If I spend $100 I get free shipping.  I can’t stand it.  I just can’t stand it.  OH!  And they were cheap, too!  I can’t stand it.

Up A Creek in Springtime

April 3, 2010

Is there a mouse under there?

Flo is watching the geese.  What is she going to do when she sees the new baby geese in a few weeks.

Doug spent the day reading and I got some knitting accomplished while enjoying the sun.

Outback Salisbury

March 23, 2010

After knitting group, two of my  girlfriends and I went to Outback for dinner.  Usually three or four of us go out.  I suggested Outback since I’m a veteran and I could get a free blooming onion.  The thing was enormous and there was still two-thirds left by the time we were through.  The sauce that came with it was too hot, but the onion wasn’t bad.  I got pork tenderloin and I was pleasantly surprised.  It was really good.  We stayed for about three hours.  Not that many people go out to eat on Sunday around here so we weren’t taking up needed space.  I’ve been teaching them how to make gloves.  Currently, they have finished the thumb gusset and are ready to knit the hand.  Then come the fingers. 

And look at what I found out on the road.

Weaving in the Ends

March 21, 2010

It’s what I’ve been doing for the last few says.  This sweater has about 500 million ends that I would like to just knot off and cut, but I won’t.   I like my work to look tidy.  That means weaving in the ends. 

I’ve sewed the skeet, but haven’t cut yet.  I’ll do that last.  I’ve really gotten a lot done the last few days, sitting out on the deck enjoying the wonderful weather.  The girls have been going bonkers.  We have been leaving the doors open for them.  They only come in to eat and sleep.

And, here are my Clown Socks!  Are they me or what?  I’m going to wear them to the circus.  I need to finish them by my birthday which is also circus day.

Orne more picture.  This is for Maria.

She is going to make this scarf.  The pattern was free, but didn’t come with a picture.  I hope this helps.  I wanted to copy this to my desktop, but it was being silly.  I figure I can print after I publish this.  Which reminds me, here’s another picture that I need to print.

Doug wants one of these.  We saw it on our walk.

Sunday at the Movies

March 16, 2010

I arrived in town around 2PM.  It was an enjoyable ride.  I had the Stash and Burn girls to keep me company.  There were three sessions that I hadn’t listened to on my iPod.   I had been saving them.  After getting my stuff inside and taking a nice leisurely bath, I drove over to my daughter’s house to pick up my grandson.  We drove to the theatre and I found a parking space right up front.  We went inside and bought tickets for the 7PM show.  Then we walked to a little pizza place nearby for some supper.   Around 6:30 we were wandering around the bookstore and, then, headed back to the movies around 6:45.  Am I boring you?  That’s all right because I’m about to fall asleep anyway.  OK.  We saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D.  We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  I love 3D or real D or whatever they like to call it these days.  When I was a kid I saw a 3D movie that scared the beejeezes out of me. I don’t remember what it was called and I have never seen it again or even any hint of it anywhere.  Where was I?  Oh, yeah.  I loved lewis Carroll and the first Alice and this one.  What’s not to love?  There’s my favorite, Cheshire Cat.  And what did they to do Johnny Depp’s eyes?  You’ve got to hand it to him.  He’s not “above” doing any role.  I told my grandson about how his mother had a crush on him when she was in high school.  Did I ever mention that the high school used in one of his movies is just two blocks from here?  How cool is that?