The neighbors had a party!

I wasn't invited and they weren't even home!!!  These were some of the earliest guests to arrive....vultures!  Their name says it all as they started feasting without waiting for the others to arrive.

 I think it was the first time this little one had ever seen a vulture and his Mother obviously hadn't taught him it's not polite to stare.

Pretty soon other guests started arriving.......

And then the feasting started in earnest although by then the vultures had already filled themselves up...on either a rabbit or a squirrel.  I couldn't really tell.  But they don't kill anything....they're very patient and wait until something dies or is killed by something or someone else.

 Time for a family photo or rather a family of one as the others couldn't stop stuffing their mouths long enough to pose!

I was surprised the pictures turned out as good as they did as I was taking them from inside the house.

It was bread making day too (least you think all I do is stand around all day taking animal photos ,although I can see why you might think that). 

I also made a custard pie and it is SO good and SO easy!  I used to make this years ago and lost the recipe.  I think originally it was on the side of the Bisquick box although I remember there being coconut in it but it was the same technique and super simple and items you probably already have in your house without going to the store!  Love those kind of recipes!  I used to get people calling me saying they were an hour away and did I mind if they stopped?  AHHHHH!  Around here there is nothing open after 8:00 p.m. and that's usually when people would arrive from the North....just driving through....yeah right!  So, I learned to always have some items on hand to whip up something fast and good.   This is SUPER fast and SUPER good! 

 This particular recipe is called:

 Magic Crust Custard Pie

1/4 Cup butter

4 eggs

3/4 Cup sugar

1 pinch of salt

2 Cups of milk

2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

1/2 Cup flour

Put all the ingredients into a blender and blend for 30 seconds.  Pour into a buttered pie pan/dish.  Make sure it's your largest one because I tried one of mine and it overflowed!  Yes, there was a mess.  If you have a deep dish use that one or if necessary a casserole dish will work.  Sprinkle with nutmeg.  Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes.  The flour settles to the bottom and makes its own crust and the top is crunchy.  It's great while it's still warm or chilled....either way it's a "keeper"!  I wish all my recipes were "magic" recipes like this one! 

Happy Easter Eve to all and to all a good night!

I can't stand it anymore!!!

My bedroom walls are what I'm referring too.  I painted the ceiling last year and was getting ready to paint the walls when I had some unexpected company and had to put everything away and then I got busy with other things but as I stated above..........I Can't Stand It Anymore!!!!!  I had to go to the vet and pick up Nitty's "pricey" food....they're so nice there.  They felt so bad about how expensive it is that they gave me a free pet candle!  The vet says he's complained to Hill's Science Diet all the time about the cost but to no avail.  I'm researching to see if I can find a less expensive alternative as I'm not sure I can really afford this although Nitty is doing great! 

Anyway, I spent last night on Pinterest and also on Miss Mustard Seed and was so inspired that I bought paint today to paint my bedroom!  Because I want to sell my house I was just going to focus on cleaning and clearing and organizing and not get involved in major renovations. I've already updated all HVAC, new roof, new washer and dryer...all the majors.  But meanwhile, I have to live here and I really believe in living joyfully  in the moment as none of us knows what lies ahead.  I also had a very "foretelling" dream  last night and when I realized what it truly meant it was like a light bulb that went off in my head.  I also got some divine inspiration which I will share down the road.   Soooooo...needless to say I went to Wal-Mart, since I was close by at the vet, and bought paint and supplies and an Easter ham with all the ingredients for my side dishes and dessert.
 Here's the color, Creamy Buttermilk and that says it all.  It's Glidden flat latex and although I love color I will be adding color in other ways and then whoever buys my house will have a neutral background to deal with and I'll have a freshly painted room to enjoy meanwhile. 

 I don't know if you can tell from this picture but the walls are a pale green and the carpeting is too so it is really ugly blah.  I guess some people want their bedrooms like that so it's calm for sleeping but me....I want sunny, happy, and joyful and this color is just not doing it for me! LOL!  Plus, it's old and dirty and needs a fresh coat.  You can see where I painted the ceiling and brought it down a bit onto the wall.  

 

 The weather was great today for being out and about, sunny and high 60's but now comes the Spring rains starting tonight through Monday.  We need the rain so I'm not complaining. For Easter, I'll be cooking up a "storm" literally with the weather and also painting my bedroom.  LOL!  I'll be doing one wall at a time since I use that room and tonight I will probably wash and spackle that one wall and paint it tomorrow and then hopefully be done with the entire room by the end of the Easter weekend.  

 I also finished a book for my Embarrassment of Riches Book Challenge of which I am way behind in! 

 This is the 4th in the series of mysteries by Maggie Sefton.  I love her books as they involve a cozy yarn shop and a wonderful group of friends.  She always has a great mystery plot and she's a good writer.  The kind of book you look forward to crawling in bed with at the end of the day.  It takes place in Fort Collins, Colorado and is based on a real shop there that the author frequents.  I'm going to try and see if they have a website.

So, there's my plans for the Easter weekend....what are yours? 

WIP Wednesday and full moon antics!

 

The full moon has been playing with my electronics!  As in PC and Satellite!  The satellite's been out since Saturday and the PC is having "hot flashes" and may burn out sooner or later....I'm praying it will be later!  It just shuts down when it gets too warm....great!  I have many WIP's but they're not all needlework.  

This is all I've been working on lately as Spring Cleaning has taken me over right now.  This is the body of a chicken I am knitting.  I have also finished the base and the beak but they didn't make it into this picture.  It's a fun project and a free pattern on Rowan Yarn's website  It looks like a little hat for an infant so far.  IT's really fun working on a small little project for a change.

Here's that moon I was talking about........it was so gorgeous the other night how could I stay mad at it? 

I also recieved another lovely card and gift from Tammy at T's Daily Treasures  

I have no idea what I did to deserve such thoughtfulness but I'll take it!  She will be receiving something as soon as I get it made! LOL!  A lovely card with a handwritten note, a crocheted snowflake in glittery yarn just like a real snowflake, a photo of crocheted snowflakes of all different types and a sparkly handmade tag with a snowflake on it.  I think it was to commemerate the snow that we've been getting which is now gone.  I love snow!  Thank you Tammy!  You are such a sweetheart! 

I have projects to finish and projects to start and visiting to do!  I hope all your WIP's are coming along no matter what they are!  Happy Wednesday! 

YOP Update

Okay, I am finally going to give full disclosure on my complete list of projects.  I tried just copying it in here but that did not work!  So, I will commence typing.....

Projects Finished:
1.  Crocheted potholders -  I've made about 4 or 5 of these and I had just one on my list but they're so nice and thick that I continually make them in between other projects.
2.  Crocheted Granny Stripe table runner 
3.  2 Crocheted Rock Covers
4.  1 pair of knitted socks but I've made 2 now.  This will be ongoing as I want to learn different types and styles.  There will be lots of socks on next year's YOP list!
5.  Knitted Cotton Bath Mat
6.  Set of 3 Knitted Dish Towels

WIP's
1.  Blackberry Salad Crocheted blanket

No measurable progress.......yet

1.  Everyday Crocheted Edgings by Susan Lowman - I had to order the magazine for this one and I have it.  I really wanted to edge pillowcases but I wanted to make the pillowcases first which I don't even have the material for yet.  I do have some items I may practice on but I went around in circles about yarns, weights, and wash ability and shrinkage as these will be edgings attached to items that will be washed so I didn't want to go to all that work and have the crocheted edging shrink on me.  Oh, what a tangled web...literally!  I am thinking I will just try some regular acrylic I have on hand to start with so hopefully I can get going on this one.
2.  Pinata Bag - I haven't even downloaded the pattern on this one yet.
3.   Cherry Jam - This pattern is in a book I have to order still.  I want to use it for shelf edging eventually.  I LOVE cherries!
4.  Seeing Stars Blanket  I love this Spud and Chloe pattern and I want to make it in their sweater yarn but I would have to win the lottery first to afford their yarn in that quantity!  Any less expensive yarn out there that is equivalent?
5.  Stripey Spring Crocheted Rug - Again, here I go with my washable, durable, other colors and non-shrinkable  demands!
6.  Babette Blanket - LOVE!!!!! (Sung in an operatic voice by a true alto).  I adore this blanket and it would be a great stash-buster but I don't really have one yet but I'm working on it!  In fact, looking around I have baskets of yarn everywhere!  What was I thinking?  I have STASH!!!!!  Yay!!!!   Yippee!!!!!
7.   Tornado Twist Crocheted Cowl - Okay, now I am running into logic problems with some of these projects....I figured it would cost me upwards of $60.00 - $75.00 to make this as suggested.  I buy my clothes at the thrift store so why would I wear an expensive cowl?  Plus, I am a practical gal...I wanted a cowl to keep my neck warm but not be restrictive like turtlenecks.  Do you have to be wealthy to do this?  I must have not been paying attention during that announcement!  I know there's very good and valid reasons for buying "pure" fibers but this is exactly why so many of us use acrylics.....we can have our yarn and still buy food! LOL!  This is a lot of the reason I have slowed down on my projects.  I will definitely make next year's list with cost in mind.
8.Situpons  -  I have the pattern but I don't have any Super Bulky yarn yet.   I wanted to make one to see if they would make good chair pads and if so I would make them for my kitchen chairs.  They could also be used for place mats or candle mats.  I thought of using DK weight that I have but I'm afraid they wouldn't be "cushy" enough.

That's it folks!  MY YOP list in full disclosure!  Now, below are the actual things I worked on this week...none of which were on my list for YOP but fun none the less!
 My little cape for  Miss Maggie (she's a stuffed bunny, or will be when I get done....No, not a REAL stuffed bunny....a fabric one you silly!)   These pics are re-posts from the other day when I forgot about Sunday YOP update...so forgive me if you're a "regular" to my blog and have seen these before.  I don't mind saying I was mighty pleased with the outcome!   It was so much fun to knit too...I could do this kind of knitting forever!

 I also found a free pattern at Rowan for these cute chickens which I started making for Easter and Spring you know.....I had to do something since I totally made nothing Christmasy or for Valentine's Day or St. Patrick's Day for that matter!   I think I am finally getting the hang of this "knitting" thing and really starting to enjoy it....I've even stopped gritting my teeth and biting my lip while knitting! LOL!

Plus, I read Mason-Dixon Knitting from cover to cover and want to make the entire book!  You'll see lots of their projects on my list next year!  I have to get their other book too!  Yikes Batman!  Is there anything else out there I should know about before next year's list rolls around?
And take a look at these beauties!  Not only is it a great sock pattern but will ya look at that yarn????  I am over the moon for it and will hunt it down until it is mine!

 

If anyone has any information leading to the apprehension obtaining of this yarn you are obliged to notify me IMMEDIATELY!  The pattern is Hudson Valley Winter Socks by Jill Draper on Ravelry but those pictures don't show this color yarn.  I love this pattern because the toe and heel are separate since they are the first parts to wear out and you can actually knit new ones for them if they do!  Genius!  Of course I have no idea how that is done but I'm figuring by the time I make them and they wear out I'll have plenty of time to figure it out.  So, there you have it.....true confessions of a YOP'er who fell off the wagon but hopefully will get back on before next week!  TTYS!  Have a great week!