WIP Wednesday

 Look what I made!!!!  I know it's supposed to be WIP's and don't worry!  I have PLENTY of those but I rarely have anything to show because I'm always "frogging" things (knitted) so I decided I needed a break from the constant disappointment of my knitting.  But it sort of is a WIP because I plan on making more of these!  A whole FLOCK! LOL!  The pattern is from Lucy over at Attic 24  She has so many gorgeous patterns for FREE!  I wanted something small that I could finish and build  back my "confidence" muscle as knitting had just about destroyed it!

Not only did I have to frog a washcloth that I had started over about 9 times, and then a sock which was all done except the toe and I looked back and it was unraveling....where I had evidently skipped a stitch WAY BACK.....plus look at this.........

 I have made 2 pairs of socks that I was wearing.  They were both made from Cascade 220 washable yarn (yeah right).....I have washed them about 4 or 5 times no problem.  The last time the blue ones "felted" and shrunk...same washer (Frontloader with no agitation), same cycle, same water temp.....does the anti-felting wash away after awhile?  I'm seriously taking it all as signs that I am supposed to stop knitting.....for now anyway.  If I have to hand wash socks that I wear everyday...well, let's just say...I'm not going there.
 I traced and cut out all my pieces for my next applique block.

 I also decided that although I love my projects I need something in each of those areas that is BIG and something that is little so I won't tend to feel like I'm not making any progress.   I ran across this book I've had for awhile and that's what gave me the idea.  They are "little" applique projects....postcard size to be exact! LOL!

 I'm measuring my background fabric to cut for one of the grandboy's wall hanging/growth chart.

Maggie, the rabbit is getting lined ears............
and probably a dress cut out too.

And yes, I'm finally back working on my Blackberry Salad blanket!  That little birdie really motivated me.

 Today was Farmer's Market..........onions and more beans

and a jar of homemade Peach Jam.......these are all from the Amish here

and it was bread making day for me here on my homestead...

 Here's the recipe for the meal I made the other night that was SO good and good for you! 

GARLIC & LEMON CHICKEN W/GREEN BEANS & RED POTATOES!

INGREDIENTS
6 tablespoons olive oil
2 lemons, 1 thinly sliced, 1 juiced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 pound trimmed green beans
8 small red potatoes, quartered
4 chicken breasts (bones left in, with skin, about 3 1/4 pounds)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 400°F. Coat a large baking dish or cast-iron skillet with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Arrange the lemon slices in a single layer in the bottom of the dish or skillet.

In a large bowl, combine the remaining oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and pepper; add the green beans and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, remove the green beans and arrange them on top of the lemon slices. Add the potatoes to the same olive-oil mixture and toss to coat. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, arrange the potatoes along the inside edge of the dish or skillet on top of the green beans. Place the chicken in the same bowl with the olive-oil mixture and coat thoroughly. Place the chicken, skin-side up, in the dish or skillet. Pour any of the remaining olive-oil mixture over the chicken.
Roast for 50 minutes. Remove the chicken from the dish or skillet. Place the beans and potatoes back in oven for 10 minutes more or until the potatoes are tender. Place a chicken breast on each of 4 serving plates; divide the green beans and potatoes equally. Serve warm.

Please go visit Tami and see all the other WIP's people have been working on.  It's so inspiring!  Just click on the WIP icon on the right hand side of my blog.

Great Monday!

Slept great, woke to thunder and a cozy day of rain and but no loss of power...........PERFECT!
I finished a few books....finally.....

 This one is a KEEPER!  A wonderful reference for anyone who wants to start or enhance their business.  I'm not doing that now but I might after I move.  I highly recommend this book....it covers every aspect of selling your wares from Etsy to craft fairs; it's all there!

 I actually read 2 of these but forgot to take a pic of the other one.  My method for going through my magazines is I always read one along with my evening reading and I use a highlighter to mark things I want to remember or investigate further.  After I finish reading it, I mark it with a black marker so I know I've read it already.  Then I sit down in front of my pc and look up web addresses that were mentioned and write down other info I want to keep like book titles etc..  After that it goes to the library where they have a "free" bin.  But I've been thinking of taking them to the local nursing home as those people can't get to the library.  I actually never get rid of my MJ magazines but they're the only ones. 

  I finished this book.  It was a good one!  It's part of a series I really like of DIY mysteries by Jennie Bentley.  This is the 4th book in the series and the last one I have.  I'll have to check if there's another one out there yet.  My "book fairy", Sue, usually brings me these. 

 Uh oh...this book came HIGHLY recommended but I am almost half way through and it is not making any sense to me.  Maybe it's because I am such a realist that I can't relate to fantasy or science fiction or what ever you call this book.  Although I did love the Harry Potter books, in my defense.  I will continue to read and see if it becomes clearer or makes any sense to me eventually.   

  I just started this book, another great series by Maggie Sefton who writes about a great group of gals that are friends and their common bond is a knitting shop in Fort Collins, Colorado.  There are recipes and knitting patterns that come with this series.  This is the 7th book in this series and I'm so anal I have to read them in order! LOL!  This series and the DIY ones are mysteries and there's always a murder to be solved but nothing awful that would keep you up at night.  I don't do gore or psychological thrillers.

 I got a nice dinner made tonight...a new recipe that was on FB.  I'll  share the recipe later as I just ate it and it was delicious!  I used fresh green beans and new potatoes from the Farmer's Market and it uses a marinade that you make with lemon and garlic and olive oil.  It was wonderful and healthy!  This was before it went in the oven and I was so hungry that I forgot to take a picture when it came out! LOL!

 I had a nice glass of my favorite red while I was making dinner and now I'm off to do some "craftiness"!  Have a great evening!  I'll post the recipe tomorrow...promise!