A Soup Day

February 5, 2014

I finally decide that I must sit down and say something and the internet keeps coming and going.  Why?  It may be this older than dirt laptop.  The desktop is fine.  But I like  sitting in the corner with my laptop.  And I like being able to look out at the creek. 

20140108_083750  I am glad that the ice is gone.

So I decided to make hamburger soup.  I found mushrooms, carrots, celery, onions, corn and, of course, ground beef in the refrigerator.  I got out the barley, cans of diced tomatoes and Rotell, Worcestershire, basil, garlic, and what ever else looked good.  Currently, it is bubbling nicely and in about half an hour, I’ll throw in the barley and corn.  If Sweetums doesn’t think to ask for biscuits, I’m all set.

 

Strips, Strips, Strips

January 23, 2014

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I cut three yards of fabric into two and one half-inch strips and now I don’t know where the picture that I took has gone.  Pictured here is about ten of those strips sewn end to end.  When I saw this fabric, I knew it was THE ONE.  I had been agonizing  as to the color to use to border the squares.  Black is the common choice, but I don’t like black and I have trouble with ‘common’ in general.  I was thinking about a brown.  It’s an unobtrusive color, but it is a color.  I also thought about red.  And what about a red/brown?  Then I saw the green and brown–something that I never thought of.  Sometimes, you just have to wonder through a few fabric stores before you know what you want.

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I have finally gotten all the squares sewn together.  And I think that the strips are just the right color.  I need to sew a final outside border strip and I’ll be able to start quilting.  (Insert Happy Dance here.)  Do you have any idea how happy I will be when this baby is finished?

 

Winter is When You Realize That You have Too Manny Pets

January 16, 2014

I’m sitting here looking at the phrase, ‘Too Manny’, and thinking how odd it looks. What are its origins? I should do some research. But not now.  I also realize that it’s been a long time since I blogged.  Blogged!  Another interesting word appears.  Where does that come from?  It’s a squishing together of two words—web and log.  OK.  Now, just where does web and log come from?  Stop it!  Just stop it!  Too much thinking going on here.  I don’t have to think anymore.  I’m retired.  Not that I had to think much when I was working.  All those laws, regulations, manuals, circulars.  Ugh.  Someone said they were going to raid my area when I left, so I spent the last few days shredding every little thing that I wrote anything on.  That included three steno pads of notes and at least two binders worth of pages with highlights or clarifying notes.  Those last few days were more fun than I had had in years.  And now I wonder.  Have I turned into a warm brown turd?  I hope not.  I try to learn something every day.  Even if it is, ‘I’d better not do that again’.   And what did I learn today?  Selfies aren’t easy to take.  I might even post one.  If I’m feeling froggy.  I love words.  OK.  Enough.  I gotta sew.

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Pie for Breakfast

January 6, 2014

20140103_113910   It was the last piece.  It sat there in all its redness, cranberriness, appleness and crusty goodness.  What’s an innocent body to do?  I ate it.  And it was delicious!

I Understand

December 29, 2013

My sister-in-law says it always takes her a week to get ready for even the shortest trip and another week to recover when she returns. Thar is pretty much how I am beginning to feel. I’ve been home since Friday and I still feel I am way behind in the things that I want to accomplish.

Christmas was nice.  There was breakfast at my daughter’s and the opening of presents.  Then Sweetums went back home to take care of the animals.  In the evening, my son and I did the Jewish thing.  For those of you who don’t know, we went to the movies, then got Chinese.  A perfect ending to a perfect day.  My son he might make reservations somewhere next year, but it really doesn’t matter.  We had fun.  “And what movie did you see?”  Who said that?  Must be the voices in my head again.  It was ‘Frozen’.  If there aren’t any zombie movies out, we go for cartoons.  We’ve also learned not to see shows that start on Christmas day.

I decided not to join the knitting group today.  It’s raining hard and I just don’t feel like going.  It’s not the driving.  It’s trying to maneuver me, my knitting and an umbrella down a long driveway and back.  I could park on the driveway, but I don’t like being boxed in.  And I would still have all that maneuvering.  I can knit in the comfort of my own home.

314601_2682776109943_1272550237_3047098_1956528008_n  Merry Christmas!

Girlfriend Scarf and Short Finger Gloves

December 10, 2013

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My grandson said she likes bright colors.  I hope he’s right. 

P1050722  P1050725    A little big for me, but not too big.  The recipient wore them to work today so I guess I won’t be getting them back.  Oh well.  If and when I get caught up, I’ll make a pair for me.  I still have a skein of this.

I Didn’t Realize

December 5, 2013

I was looking through my stats and noticed that it’s been a while.  I thought I should report so you won’t think I’m dead.  I think I’m good for another twenty. 

I have been working away on the quilt.  My machine is tired and in need of a tune up, but my other one does not have the applique stitch I am using.  I am down to the last two blocks.  When they are finished, my baby is going to Westminster for a much needed spa day.  My other machine is better for the final quilting anyway.  I’m getting excited to be so close to finishing.  Besides, I’ve got an enormous pile of sewing that needs to be done. 

Speaking of leftovers…… Who said that?Image    I made turkey potpie.  Only, I don’t make a pie crust.  I make biscuits.  Unbeleivebly good!  So easy.  Leftover turkey, gravy and vegetables.  If you don’t have enough vegies left, canned mixed vegetables work well.  Make the biscuits with just enough milk to hold them together.  Oh.  You don’t make biscuits?  Well, you should.  I’ve never tried the ones in cans.  You will notice that I use an old Corning ware pan.  I put the turkey, vegetables and gravy in the pot on a medium setting.  Stir it up good.  Sometimes I have to add a little water or a little flour.  It should be a little thick.  If it’s too thin, the biscuits will sink too much and be down right yucky.  My oven is set at 400 for about 20 minutes.  The biscuits should be nicely tanned on top.

 Image    Sweetums likes a little butter on the biscuits.  What a lovely picture.  And we have enough left over for tonight.  How can you love a man who doesn’t like leftovers, especially when they are this good?

You know, this is not what I planned to write at all. 

Knitting Plans have been Thrown Out the Window

November 24, 2013

I tried.  Really I did.  But I forgot something.  It’s called Christmas.  It all started a couple of weeks ago.  Fer and I were in a knitting shop when she spotted some yarn she liked, so I bought it.  I thought, I could squeeze in one pair of socks with my Must Complete Before Anything Else projects.  My little coppery scarf was almost finished at the time.  I could do it.

P1050715  

It was fun to make and it looks good with a turtleneck.  I should have laid it out on something that contrasts. 

I started making the socks.  The pattern is fairly simple and they should be finished this evening.  They are striping nicely.

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So, everything was going along as planned when a friend asked if I would make short finger gloves for her Mother for Christmas.  She is in and out with her job and needs them for cold days.  I couldn’t say no.  She even had an outline of her hand.  OK.  We can do this.    I had some blue, rust and tan yarn that looked good in a DK weight.  They won’t take long.  Then, I can get back to my unfinished projects.

Wait a minute.  My grandson wants me to make a scarf for his girlfriend.  Well.  I can’t say no to my grandson.  You know?  I found some red yarn that is smooth wool, rayon ribbon and furry.  That’ll work.

Maybe finishing those other projects will be my new years resolution.

 

 

Completing Projects

November 21, 2013

My need to complete things can get frustrating.  I have been working steadily on the quilt, but I still have seven, out of twenty-five, squares to complete.  Then I need to cut about three yards of stripes to go around each square.  The end result should be a 102 inch square.  I think(hope) I have enough batting.  The batting I have is 96″.  Should I piece or try to find 102″ wide batting?  I did find 108″ backing fabric.  Normally, I use leftovers that I don’t know what else to do with or I just don’t like the fabric any more.  Ah, decisions, decisions.  I’ll worry about that later.

P1050701  Here’s the  binding and backing.  The binding I bought at Mares Bears in Lewes.  The backing is from The Country Store in Intercourse.  My daughter and I went up there on the seventh.  She loves having Thursdays off. 

I also bought some food fabric.

P1050709  Raspberry, grapes, plums, garlic, carrots, apples, cauliflower and broccoli, and avocados.  Oh, my.   You can never have enough.

Finished At Long Last

November 5, 2013

P1050699  What a pain in the butt were these socks!  I am so happy that they are completed.  I tried following the directions.  Honest. I did.  But I didn’t like the way they were going.  The toe didn’t fit my toes.  I wanted my usual rounded toe.  My toes demanded it.  But these are toe up socks.  And my toes said, “So?”  I started the second sock from the top.  I used a simple knit two, purl two rib.  I t looked much better so I took out the rib oon the first sock and changed it, too.  I thought about the heel, but I went with the same afterthought one.  I’d liked the contrast.  I made my usual rounded toe and tried it on.  it fit just right.  Happy toes.  Happy feet.  Happy me.

Removing the unwanted toe was time-consuming.  At times I wondered why I was doing this.  I thought about tossing them.  But I couldn’t.  They have to be right.  They have to be finished.  I have to be satisfied.  That’s all there is to it.

I’ll be working on the copper colored scarf next.