So Simple and Yet So YUMMY!

I'm still trying to figure out how something that uses so few ingredients and is so simple to prepare can taste so good.

 The Pioneer Woman Cooks had this recipe on her blog the other day and she practically ordered her readers to make it.

I am one of her regular readers, so I obviously obliged.

She called them Strawberry Oatmeal Bars. I used raspberry jam instead, because that's what I had.

I packaged up half of them to take with me to share at my speech pathology meeting in Lexington and I'm leaving the other half here for Alan to enjoy. 

You probably already have all of the ingredients in your kitchen. 

You should make some and eat one warm with a glass of milk.

Sally

Oh My Goodness

I told you that some new fiber or "fluff" as we like to call it around here arrived on my doorstep last week.

 Well, here it is.

 I was lucky enough to snag this from Lisa's shop. I heard her mention it on her video podcast and knew that I needed some. It was a custom order, so she dyed up the colors that I requested. 

Are you just shocked that there is a pink in there to go with the blue and green?

 I can't wait to get started spinning. Actually, after I took these pictures I did sort of get started.

 I'm spinning the pink first just because it was on top.

 My plan, and what Lisa suggested is to spin each color separately and then ply them all together.

If I do it right I should end up with a whole skein of beatutifulness. 

I can't wait to show you how it turns out.

Sally

Knitting with My Homespun Yarn

I mentioned that one of my New Years "intentions" was to knit up all of the yarn that I have spun to date. Well, I counted up my skeins the other day and I have 12. I realized that I needed to get started. 

Most of these are not very big. Maybe enough yardage to knit a hat, or a baby sweater or a smallish cowl/scarf type item. 

 So, I started with the Hitch Hiker out of the fiber I got in Greensboro over Thanksgiving.

 The pattern is based on the "Motor Cycle Diaries" which I think is a book or a movie. There are supposed to be 42 of the triangle teeth and that is somehow significant to the story. Like I said I'm a little short on yardage so I only have 30 teeth. It's not quite as long as it should be, but it works for me.

 My next project is out of some of my very early homespun. The fiber was from Greenwood Fiber Works and it was a Hand Painted Roving called "Vancouver".

 I'm knitting a 5 Hour Baby Boy Sweater It was a free pattern on Ravelry and just so you know I'm pretty sure it's going to take me more than 5 hours to finish it.

I'm hoping there will be enough yarn left to make a matching hat. It's super soft and cuddly. Only problem, and it's a pretty big one. I didn't think about the fact that it will need to be hand washed until I'd finished the first sleeve. A hand wash only baby sweater is probably not the smartest idea I've ever had.

What can I say?

Sally

The Bunnies Are Back

Can you believe it? It's still February and I've already brought out the Easter/spring decorations.

 I just couldn't help myself. I was putting away the snowmen/Valentine's Day stuff and I realized that Easter is early this year. March 31st to be exact.

 Since I'm going to be off at the Kentucky Speech and Hearing Association Convention the second half of this week and part of next weekend I decided to get a jump start and have Alan drag the Easter box up from the basement this past weekend. He's so helpful that way. He just loves the bunnies too....

 I know I've said this before, but I'm really pretty much over winter. I'm ready to start working in the yard. I want to plant some lettuce and radishes. Of course the weather people are saying that winter is by no means over just yet and that we can expect cold temps and "snow" again this week. Lovely.

At least the inside of my house is feeling springy.

Happy Monday!

Sally

Trying Something New and Crazy

The other day I showed you my cute little gnome bag and the lacy socks I'm working on, well here is the other pair of socks that I've also started knitting. Can you tell that I'm knitting two socks at a time? I've never tried this before, but now that I know the Magic Loop trick it's really pretty easy. I'm just using my plain old sock pattern, but it's so fun to see two sock growing at once. The secret is to use two separate balls of yarn. You have to be especially careful because the last thing you want is a twisted mess of yarn. The bag that I was keeping my yarn balls in was just a tad bit too big and left too much moving around room which was to be honest giving me fits. 

 So, I made a new bag. I love this little bag. I've had the pattern and material for some time now and just hadn't gotten around to sewing it up.

 I don't know why I procrastinate so much. Probably too many projects and not enough time.

 The size of this bag is perfect for this sock project and it's helping me keep everything tidy and organized.

It also matches my new yarn perfectly.  I must really like blues and greens together. Those two colors seem to reappear frequently when I'm crafting.

 I can't wait to knit with this yarn. I have absolutely no idea what I'm going to make. Right now I'm just enjoying looking at it and feeling it. It's lovely.

 Here it is just a little closer up. The colors in the picture above are the most accurate.

Well, on to the next thing.
Sally

What I Eat When Alan Can't Make It Home For Dinner

 I promise that this meal looked a whole lot more colorful and appetizing in real life.

 Alan was in Ohio yesterday doing  a hospital lab inspection, so I was on my own for dinner. I think soup and salad are probably my favorite things to fix when it's just me.

Here are two of my all time favorites. Spinach Soup and mixed salad greens with goat cheese, apples and Rosemary Cranberry Pecans from Trader Joe's which by the way they have discontinued..... I've been hording my last package but decided it was time to use it last night.  I drizzle on a little Fat Free Balsamic Vinaigrette also from Trader Joe's and thankfully still available and lots of freshly cracked black pepper. Probably some bacon crumbles would have been nice, but I was trying to make it a meatless meal. 

P.S. I thought I had already put the recipe for the soup in the I love the taste of.... section, but I can't find it now, so I'll try and remember to add it soon. It's very yummy if you enjoy spinach.
Sally

More of the Same

Well, that week just blew by. Nothing all the eventful to report, other than: Grace submitted her application to the Peace Corps, David got his first 100% on an exam in medical school, Alan does not have any cavities and I went to a new place to get my hair done. Oh and I almost forgot, we watched the season finale of Downton Abbey and the season premier of The Amazing Race.

 In honor of the Amazing Race and because I thought the fabric was so darn cute, I sewed a couple of project bags

 The little gnome reminds me of the Travelosity gnome. I even stuck him on a pocket on the inside. Pretty fancy don't you think?

 Speaking of fancy here is a picture of one of the pairs of socks that I'm currently knitting. Thank goodness that lacy bit is only on one side. I think the yarn matches the bag nicely.
 I'm all about coordination which I'm sure you are aware of by now.

 So, I've been knitting and sewing and working and getting my hair done and that's about it for this week. I plan to do more of the same over the weekend except for the work and the hair part, so I'll be back soon with a few more projects to share.

Happy Friday and have a wonderful weekend.
Sally

A Little Leftover Love

I saw these yummy cinnamon roll hearts on Pinterest several months ago and knew that I would be making them for Valentine's Day.

 I actually didn't make them until this past weekend, because Alan gets up at 5:30 AM and let's just say that I don't get up quite that early.

 Maybe when Valentine's day falls on a weekend again we will have them for an actual 

Valentine's Day breakfast.

 All you do is buy a can of refrigerator cinnamon rolls, unroll them and roll them back up shaped like hearts.

I added a little pink food coloring to the frosting and you can tell by the half empty dish that they were delicious.

Sally

A Little Ray Of Sunshine

Now that Valentine's Day is over, I'm kind of over the color red

 I am more than ready for spring

 These bright and sunny tulips are helping to raise my spirits.

My new favorite colors are yellow and orange

Things to look forward to:

Daylight savings time starts March 10th

First day of spring is March 20th

Easter is March 31st

and the Kentucky Derby is May 4th

Good things happen in months that start with M

Sally

Just a Little Spinning

 Last week I managed to spin half of the 4oz Rocky Maine Coast braid from Never Enough Thyme.

 This yarn  is just too pretty for words. The colors are so bright and the quality of the fiber is amazing.

 I'm hoping to finish it up this weekend, because guess what? Some new fiber came in the mail today!

Oh happy day.

Sally

I Heart My Smart Phone

 I think my phone might actually take better pictures than my camera. I don't know how it does it, but the color and clarity, especially with pictures taken inside is just so much clearer. Now if I could just figure out how to re-size them and make them square I'd be really happy.

 Here are a few additional Valentines Day treats that we enjoyed this past week. Have you ever seen pink candy corn? It goes so well with M&M's. I got mine at the Fresh Market.

 Don't these cupcakes look yummy? They are those super healthy Weight Watcher friendly cupcakes made with a cake mix and a can of pumpkin. With a little frosting and sprinkles even Alan likes them. Of course he also ate his with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some chocolate sauce.

 I know you are loving those heart shaped pasta noodles. I got them at the Fresh Market too. They sure did jazz up Alan's favorite Goolosh. He really does love this stuff. Just ask the kids. He often refers to it as "the food of the Gods".  His mom used to make it for him, so I guess that's what makes it so special. All it is is ground beef cooked with onion, bell peppers some garlic and a can of diced tomatoes. Stir in some cooked pasta and there you have it. He does sprinkle on a ton of Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning. The container says that it is "great on everything".

 Hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day and fun plans for the upcoming weekend.

Sally

Crazy February Weather

 We had the most beautiful snowfall yesterday. It lasted exactly 2 hours. I'm not kidding. From the first flake to totally melted and gone about 2 hours. It was the craziest thing.

 Today is Grace's 21st birthday. How can that possibly be? She has always been our Little Valentine.

 Today's weather will be in the mid 50's with plenty of sunshine. A perfect Birthday/Valentines Day.

 Tomorrow it is going to snow again.  They are predicting a "wintery mix" with "some" accumulation.

Who knows what that means? I plan to get out and enjoy today. Hope you have a heart filled day, full of love and lots and lots of chocolate.

Sally