Sweet deliverance!

Well, Nitty woke up this morning and went outside, drank a bunch of water and ate all her breakfast!  We live to fight another day!  It made me happy and motivated to get a few things done.....a little cleaning and some baking!
I'm always looking for 'crispy' cookie recipes and I found a great one today!  From The Kitchen Magpie and she even explained what makes crispy cookies and what doesn't so I learned something.
These are super crispy and delicious...of course I had to try them....warm...fresh out of the oven.  It was a great day for baking and being in the kitchen because it rained most of the day and it's still raining.  No watering!  Yay!
These are crispy chocolate chip cookies like I remember them when I was growing up. Then something changed in the recipes and they started getting 'soft'.  This recipe solves that!

You drop them by teaspoonful and then dip a flat bottomed glass in water and flatten them.  The water keeps the glass from sticking to the cookie.  Who knew?  I always dipped the glass in sugar.  Another lesson learned.

If you lived next door I would call you over for some tea and warm, out of the oven, 'crispy' chocolate chip cookies!

I made another batch of my Mediterranean salad....I love it and it is really good for you.  The gal that I got the recipe from, a blogger in Australia, she ate this to lose weight and she did!  This may be my summer diet food!  My grand kids love it too.  Cuke, cooked corn off the cob, red onion, red or orange pepper, lemon juice, olive oil and feta cheese.........yummo!  You can add whatever spices you like...I add fresh parsley, cardamon and salt and pepper.  You could add other veggies too.

I made a scrubbie last night out of the yarn I picked up at Walmart.  One of the gals that sent me a bunch of supplies for Stitch Mania asked if she could pay me to make some for her.  In thanking her for all the supplies, I sent her a little scrubbie in the mail and she loved it!  I said she couldn't pay me but I would make her some more.  She likes blue and purple so this is the blue.  I'll pick up some purple yarn next time.  I like the variegation and it has a turquoise and a royal blue with white. 

 I also picked up this yesterday at Wally World.........I love butter but I searched for the best tasting butter flavored healthy spread and this is what popped up in 1st place.  By gum it does taste like butter!  I used it on my french toast this morning and in the cookies.....you could have fooled me!
I also got some of that butter flavored spray to put on my popcorn.  Trying to eat as healthy as possible but I don't like sacrificing flavor.  I also got a sugar substitute but haven't used it yet.  I'll let you know!

I hope everyone is staying dry!  I had to go out in the rain to harvest some herbs for my salad but just on the front porch....I made it easy on myself for just such occasions! LOL!
Happy Trails!!!

Wednesday...........

This has not be a very productive week.  Today I made a run to Walmart mostly for dog food and I picked up these items for some future projects............

 

this is 14 count Aida cloth for............

a Stitch Along (SAL) starting June 12th on The Fat Quarter Shop's Floss Tube channel......LIVE at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesdays.  I am excited as it feels like you are right there with Kimberly while she stitches the same project as you!  I ordered the floss that I needed except for one that they are out of and I think it is the blue of which you need 4 skeins.....I looked at Walmart today but they didn't have it either.  I may have to order from somewhere else.   

 I also ordered the kit from the present SAL but I'm a bit late to the party..............this one is a kit so it comes with everything you need; floss and fabric and pattern............

I did manage to do a budget...finally!  I did an Excel spreadsheet and I am hoping this works out and I can keep my head above water while still having some funds for my crafts and gardening and meds for all of us! LOL!
I've been working on my 2nd sock on breaks and I'm about 1/2 way down the foot and hope to finish before this coming YOP Sunday.  I have big feet so it's a long foot! LOL!

   I also found my charger for my dust buster! PTL!  I have a terrible time misplacing chargers for my tools.  I need to start labeling them with bright colored tape.
I made my summertime Mediterranean salad (no lettuce) as it is getting hot here.  I also made another skillet pizza..........Margherite style with my own fresh basil.............there was also a loaf of bread baked this week.

Tomorrow is already Thursday and I feel like I've gotten so little done but I did spend a lot of time on the budget and oh, one whole morning again on pc problems..........I think the mystery is solved!  They installed new drivers for my monitor and the screen is no longer going black.....whew!
I use Geek Buddy which is part of my Comodo security  package.  It is pricey for a year....about $100 or $139...I can't remember but living so far from EVERYTHING.....it is worth it!  They are available 24/7 and they can log on to my pc (with my permission) and they take over and fix any problems!  I have had them for about 10 or 13 years and there has never been a problem they haven't been able to fix and I have never had a virus or malware or anything. They didn't pay me to say that but I like to promote businesses that actually do what they say they will.  Anyway...just thought I would let you know.
On the down side........Nitty didn't eat today.  I'm thinking maybe we are nearing the end.  The vet said I would know when she stops eating and drinking........I will let you know.  Some days I just like to think we could keep going on like this but I know that is wishful thinking.  Each day with her is precious but I am being selfish, I know.  I will not let her suffer though.
I hope all is well with you and that your Spring (my summer already) is going well and you are not suffering from flooding or terrible storms.  So far so good here.  TTYS!
Happy Trails!!!

YOP Week #49

I've been working hard but not on handwork until I'm too tired to do anything else.  This was a tiring week.  The lawn mower had a rusty starter wire that needed to be replaced, there were storms here and there, I finally got the lawn mowed, planted a bit more, made bread and a Mediterranean salad.  I cleaned some and cared for the girls.  I also had another "episode" with the nurse at my doctor's office...remember the 'liver test' episode?   Evidently she wasn't just having a bad day that time.....she's just a bully and this time she ranted and raved at me and then called my pharmacist and ranted and raved at him too!  When I talked to my pharmacist later he said "she's crazy"!  That made me feel better as I thought maybe I bring it out in people but no......she's a bully and an angry person at that.   I think I told you that I had a friend who has her PhD in psychology and retired from practice a few years back.  She said, "If you knew how many angry, hate filled people are out there you would be afraid to walk out your door."  After all the mass shootings I am thinking she was right.  That said, I will be having a little talk with said nurse and my doctor too.  I tried to defuse her anger with some humor and even a little self deprecation and I apologized to her if I had dropped the ball.  But all to no avail.....that just gives bullies a green light to be even meaner.  It upset me quite a bit and still bothers me as I lead a very peaceful, quiet life and like most people I do not like confrontation but her behavior calls for action or find another doctor or both.  I hope it's not his wife! LOL!
On to a happier topic.............

 WIPs (works in progress):
1)  Diamond Painting - well.....I have about 4 square inches done....I need to do 4 square inches per day!  I am speeding up a bit but like I said this past week was not an easy one...........

2)  I did the heel turn and the gusset on sock #2 and I am working my way down the foot......progress!

....

3)  Stitch Maynia #4.........done except for final finishing.  I'm not sure why there is blue frosting on the cookies but I went with it...............

4)  Stitch Maynia #5.....these are pumpkins even though right now they look like peaches or oranges

Acquisitions:  None but there are several SAL's that I am interested in..all cross stitch related.
Stitching in Doodah is having one using The Blue Flower pattern
Priscilla and Chelsea have several going on
The Fat Quarter Shop has the Flag by the Stitcherhood, A Lori Holt Sewing Machine cross stitch starting in June and then in July there is Jolly July with FQS and Priscilla and Chelsea where you start a Christmas ornament every day in the month of July!  How do these people afford all of this?  I would love to but I doubt I could get all the materials and patterns.
  
New Starts Planned: they're all secret! LOL!  There is planning a foot!

YOP Goals from last week:
***1.  work on sock #2 heel turn
2. audition and cut fabric for Pickle Dish #6 of 11 solid ones
3. trim all completed xs
4. kit up house ornament
5. work on Frida Kahlo basket
***6. work on Stitch Maynia #4 and finish
7. measure Grayson's blanket and keep working on it!
8. plan July gifts to make
***9.  Work on Stitch Maynia #5
10.  Work on days of the week xs projects
***11.  Diamond Painting at least 4-5 square inches

YOP Goals for this coming week:
1. finish sock?
2. audition and cut fabric for Pickle Dish #6
3. measure Grayson's blanket and work on
4.  finish stitch Maynia #5
5.  work at least 4 square inches on Diamond Painting
6.  work on Frida Kahlo basket
7.  plan YOP 2019-20
8.  plan gifts for July birthdays and Christmas
9.  plan SAL's if possible and gather materials
10.  final finish a xs item

TOP 10 (or more) WIP's:

1)  Pickle Dish
2)  Stars and Stripes Saturday - America x-stitch - done but needs finishing
3)  Amy's Frido Kahlo basket (July birthday) - done but needs to be sewn together
4)  Pin's embroidery
5)  socks
6)  C2C blanket for Grayson (July birthday) 
7)  Monthly Monday - HRH January
8)  Witchy Wednesday - Button-Eyed Cat
9)  Fall Friday -
10)  Santa Sunday -Old St. Nick - done but needs 'finishing' work
11.  Turkey Thursday
12.  Seasonal Sunday -Summer
13.  Santa Sunday - new house ornament

 Finishes so far in 2018-19: 
1.  4th of July cross stitch pillow/ornie
2.  Hitchhiker shawl
3.  Felici Hibiscus self-striping socks
4.  Felted wool loafer slippers with leather soles for me Sam
5.  washcloth (extra large) and back scrubber for Christmas or birthday for SIL
6.   Iowa Hawkeye hats for Sam and Grayson
7.  Techniques learned so far this year: a) knit cast on, b) reading a knitting chart, c) lace work, d) inserting and using a lifeline e) charting a graphghan
8.   dishcloth(s)...I need to count them
9. Cubs hat for Uriah
10. 12 days of Christmas Advent gifts
11. Cowl for Ben
12. Cowl for Tracy
13. Cowl for Natalie
14.  # 2018 Collectible ornaments for the grands
15.  Cowl for me or gift basket
16.  11 scrubbies for gift basket
17.  1 pot handle cover for gift basket
18.  Ben's Bear's hat
19.  Falling Leaves Scarf
20.  Tissue Box Cover - 5 of them!
21.  Granny Square Shawl
22.  Kathleen Tracy doll quilt
23.  Pumpkin Spice Farm xs
24.  Spring xs

Miscellaneous Trivia:
For podcasts I watched Sandy at the Lakehouse knitting podcast.  She's very good and I love her projects but these people must be rolling in it as she buys sweater quantities of hand dyed expensive yarn....I think that's why I stopped watching a lot of those knitters.  But she did recommend a movie that she said was really good on Netflix;  "Dead Like Me".  I think I will binge watch her podcasts and the movie series too.
Here's a little butterfly that was outside my front door.  I forget the name of it..........so sweet..............

 Please stop by and see all the other fantastic projects that other YOP'ers are working on.
Happy Trails!!!