It's Monday...what are you reading?

I forgot to show you my audio book last week....so here it is...and I finished it............quite the comedy and enjoyable.  The reader was great too!

Here is my next audio although I haven't started it yet.  The Capture of Cerberus, I think.  I've never heard of this Agatha Christie title.

I finished another great Maisie Dobb's mystery!  This is book #4 in the series.  I need to order some more and also the 3rd Harry Potter book which wasn't at the library.

My fiction and my library book is A Pool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler.  So far it is good writing but nothing too interesting yet but then you need to get familiar with the characters and the setting so we'll see.  I'm not very far into it.

Still reading this magazine........it is good and I'm not even from the East Coast but I'm getting a good taste of it through the articles, ads and fiction.  

I'm on Chapter 2 of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up (non-fiction) and it is interesting so far.  I would really like to just sit and read it until the end but I have to "tidy up" so much I don't have time! LOL!  I'm going to take Kay's suggestion (from the Bakery Bear's podcast who is also reading it) and read the entire book before I start "tidying".

 

I haven't cooked anything from Mama Dip's Family Cookbook yet but I'm going to this week starting with a breakfast dish.  I will be making a Grits Casserole which serves 8 so I will cut it in half when I make it.  It says it is good served with fruit and muffins so I will ensure I have those on hand too.  I love serving suggestions because it seems that is the most difficult...to know what to serve along with a dish especially the first time.  I can't wait to make it!

I went to Walmart today and I usually don't buy magazines anymore and most of the time I don't even look but today I thought I'd wander over to the book/magazine section and look what I found!

A special England edition of Victoria magazine!  I love England and all my British friends that I've made via my blog and their wonderful podcasts.  So, of course, I had to pick it up!  I am looking forward to perusing it's pages tonight with a cup of tea.....ahhhh.....pure heaven! 

But that's not all!  There was this one staring me in the face too...............SIFT put out by my favorite flour company, food blog, recipe site and accessory shop...King Arthur Flour Company!  Ahhh!!!!  I can't stand it!  Oh, the only thing that could make tonight more perfect would be a nice thunderstorm with some winds blowing the rain against my window (which hardly EVER happens because this house has giant eaves) but even without a cozy storm......I am very, very happy tonight!  Gosh!  I hope I haven't missed any issues?  So excited! 

That's what I've been reading and will be reading this week.  Oh, I almost forgot...for my Friday night "Pizza and a movie"....I made my homemade pizza, of course, and I watched Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves (1991). I wanted to watch it because Bakery Bear's podcast #34 is where they visit the places where they filmed the movie in England.  It was a good movie and I really like Kevin Costner.  The scenery is beautiful and I am looking forward to visiting it with Kay and Dan on their podcast via You Tube.  

What are you watching, listening to and reading this week?  Please share!  Happy Trails!

YOP Week #9

I have been battling sciatica all week and it makes it hard to sit for any length of time and do anything.  It seems better when I'm on my feet and active but I have managed to get my shawl going...finally.  It's almost like I have to "warm up" first and after having cast on numerous times I finally get going.  I'm really enjoying it now.

My yarn shipment came in this week so I was able to pick up my Giant Granny Square and get back working on it again.  It's such a great t.v. project.  I'm about halfway done on it but of course...each round takes longer and longer now that it is bigger.

My socks are to the heel now but didn't get much attention this week as I was working on the shawl.
 I really enjoyed the pattern on the leg.

 I wove in all the ends on the 30 Maybelle Flower squares and I'm ready to start joining them together this week.

The yarns arrived for my new basket to go with the fabric I bought for the lining.  There are more colors but this is what I was auditioning so far.

I also got this little Erika Knight pamphlet with several quick to knit patterns in it.

I started a washcloth of a ghost as Halloween is approaching!  There will be one for each of the grands but they will all be different.  I can't remember what the others are...a witch and maybe a bat?
They're on Ravelry as a pay for group of patterns and I have a group for Thanksgiving washcloths too.  You can just begin to see his little arms and a belly button in the middle! LOL!

I found a great knitting shop this week that's online and carries all my favorites!  You probably know about it already but it was new to me.  www.loveknitting.com   
This week there is a special if you spend $60.00 you get a free ball winder...that wouldn't be hard...to spend $60.00! LOL!
I apologize as I did not get around to trying that loop crochet this week with the needle looking tool.  Maybe this week.
I got up early as the sciatica woke me.....I may go back to bed now that I've taken a couple Tylenol!  Woe is me!  But...like I always say.......it could be worse!  My home isn't flooded or burned to the ground and there were no earthquakes here.....my thoughts and prayers are with all those who are suffering this week from so much loss. 
Happy Trails!

Sympatica Sciatica and pizza and a movie!

I'm sorry I've been gone the last few days from blogging but my sciatic nerve "attacked" me.  Have you ever had problems with yours?  This is a first for me and I have taken more Tylenol in the last 4 days than I have in my entire life!  It's not a sharp pain but it's continual and you can't get comfortable....especially at night.  I hate taking pills but I have been popping the Tylenol just so I could function.   It started about 2 inches below my waist in the back and has traveled around my leg and I'm hoping by Monday (or sooner) it will have exited out my foot! LOL!    Presently the front of my leg is numb.  I hope this is just because I moved wrong and not a chronic problem.  Anyway, I pushed through it....my Tylenol and me.  This week was pretty much catch up since having company.

I finally got the laundry all done..sheets and towels and quilts and then did some ironing too......

 blouses and pillowcases mainly.

 I cleaned the frig and there are still a few "remnants" of their visit....like Gogurt and Capri Sun...I'll use them....it will be a new experience for me! LOL!

Today I made a batch of pasta sauce...my favorite general sauce using Mario Batali's recipe............

 So simple and so good!  I just print the recipes off and put them in a plastic sleeve and into my recipe "notebook".  So much easier than back in the day when we had to hand copy everything.

 My yarn order came today so I'm back in business!  I also have been working on my shawl and I cast on a new project beside that one!  I'll show it all on Sunday for the Year of Projects post.

 The leaves on my sugar maple are starting to turn color even though it was 97 yesterday!  Today we had storms and now the sun is out and so muggy!  Fall.....please come quickly!

  Tonight is pizza and a movie and the pizza is ready to go in the oven and the movie is cued up on Netflix.  I'll be watching Robin Hood,  Prince of Thieves (1991) starring Kevin Costner.  I want to watch it because my next Bakery Bears podcast they will be visiting the places in England where it was filmed!  That's my excitement for this week!  I hope you have fun this weekend and any movie recommendations are appreciated!  Happy Trails!

Moving right along.......

It is Garbage Day here and they have been and gone.  I've thrown out 3 items which count for my 52 pickup or throw out, I guess.  I've thrown out envelopes too since I made out bills...does that count?  I'm doing laundry as the rain (60% chance)  doesn't look like it's coming to us.  I put the clean dishes away that were in the dishwasher...I wonder if that counts? Well, I guess the object is to "tidy up" so I won't count those.
We've had a lot of rain here and my yard became a mushroom field...........they were beautiful and big...the biggest ones I've ever seen grow in a yard.  Plate size!

I received a lovely surprise in the mail from Tammy at T's Daily Treasures  and Tammy I thank you SO much!  Look at this lovely card she sent..........she knows me well!  I think I need to frame it.

and...she made me this lovely doily and boy do I love doilies!  Isn't it gorgeous?  I need to make some of these!  Perfect for a candle or under a lamp or a zillion different places I can think of! Tammy can I get the pattern?

My daughter also gave me some things when she came to visit.......some fireplace matches for this Winter in a cute container..........

and this little toy that is handmade from the Amana Colonies in Iowa.

They're chickens eating............you swirl it around and the ball beneath makes their heads go up and down and it looks like they're eating the grain!  Too cute! 

She also brought me this handmade (crocheted) scrubbie that I just love!  In fact, I already found the pattern on Ravelry and I'm going to order some netting fabric to make some for Christmas and more for me!  It is "the cats's pajamas" and is so much nicer than my Scotchbrite pads that are just about worn out now anyway.  Perfect timing!

This is the pizza I made Friday night...........delish if I do say so myself..

I start with these shells (2 in a package and they even give you a plastic bag to put the other in once you open them).  I get the crispy ones but there is deep dish too.  I brushed olive oil on the crust and then added my toppings of fresh tomatoes, fresh green pepper, black olives, pepperoni and red onion.  I put the cheese on top because it keeps the ingredients from falling off once it melts and it tends to keep the pizza warmer longer too.

I use a whole package of provolone cheese slices on top...........

and VOILA!...........one delicious pizza!  I love pizza and when you make it yourself you can use fresh ingredients and also leftover items from your cooking week like onions or bacon or sausage etc.  You can clean out your frig! 

That's all for today!  Oh, BTW, I finally managed to get my shawl going and now it is very enjoyable to work on....whew!  I thought maybe I would have to give up on my career as a knitter! LOL!  I have a hard time thinking that 1 ball of yarn will make a shawl though....especially fingering yarn.  Oh well, time will tell!  Meanwhile it is a very pleasant knit.

Happy Trails!

It's Monday...what are you reading, listening to and watching?

How many ways do I have to read, listen to and watch?  Let me count the ways!  With all the different media today there are multiple ways to read, listen and watch.  My current ways are audible via tape or cd, the printed book, Kindle app on my pc and on my Acer Android tablet. For watching I use a Roku interface to my T.V. and I watch Netflix, You Tube and the Feeln channel mostly. As for the categories I read, listen to and watch currently they are the following:
1. a non-fiction
2. a fiction
3. a library book
4. a book I own
5. magazines I own
6. tapes or books on cd
7. cookbooks
8. Podcasts
9. alternative media for news and what's going on in the world
10. Friday night "pizza and a movie"
11.  television series 
Some of these categories can overlap such as a fiction library book and a non-fiction that I own.  You get the gist.  So, what am I reading this Monday, you ask? I shall now share it with you.
I have one finished non-fiction book but while I had company I was so exhausted I rarely read at all while they were here! LOL!  This was from the library and it was excellent.  They didn't have Women's History in any classes I ever took in my day so I love reading these books now.  This is a current book but it has a lot of history about single and married women in society both in the past and now.  Well researched, easy to read and I recommend it to everyone.  It is a real gem of a book!

I'm reading this one still.  It's good per usual and has some information about gypsies back in the day and I find it fascinating.  When I was a child living in a small northern Illinois town, the gypsies would come to town about once a year with their horse-drawn caravans.  I was fascinated and would follow them around until a relative would drag me off and give me the warning that they stole children.  At that time, I didn't think that would be a bad life so it didn't really scare me.  Their wagons were beautifully painted and I loved their horses!  So, the gypsy part of this book is a real "extra" and dispenses with the myths of stealing that so often was associated with them.
  I even have a Pinterest Board with gypsy caravans....gorgeous!

This week I got caught reading 2 fiction books at the same time....for shame! LOL!  But it replaces the library book I just finished and it too is a library book.............
I've read Anne Tyler before and I know I like her but it was years ago and I can't remember what the name of the book was.   This is about a family and the things that tie us together regardless of our differences.  I'll let you know more later as I just started it.

Another area is my cookbooks...I have many and so I am going to read them and cook maybe one dish a week from the one I am reading.  This is a wonderful one to start with and this is her 2nd cookbook.  She tells her families story and hers at the beginning and it is heart warming.  What a great lady!  She came from extremely humble beginnings as her Mother died when she was 2 and her father raised all 7 children.  She learned to cook and loved it and started her own restaurant in North Carolina and became so famous she's been on GMA, The Food Network, QVC and many other people have interviewed her.  Her story is truly a wonderful one.  I have not tried the recipes yet but I'm getting ready to!  Simple home cooked southern recipes.

The magazine I am reading is a Yankee magazine from August 1993.  I always wanted to live in New Hampshire, don't ask me why but I did and so to that end I subscribed for a while to Yankee Magazine and I still have some to read! LOL!  I know they are old but at least I tried to pick the current season.

  On my Kindle/Acer Android tablet, I am reading this...a bestseller and I hope it works! LOL!  My home could use some "tidying up" at least in certain parts of it. I can't wait!

One of my blogging friends, Connie, at  Far Side of Fifty  mentioned today about playing 52 Pickup but not the card game.  In this one you go around the house and pickup 52 items and put them back where they belong!  I will be playing that game for sure!  Thanks, Connie!
As for watching, this week I caught up with  Stitched in Sweden, Little Bobbins Knits and Inside Number 23 podcasts.  Now I will be trying to catch up with The Bakery Bears podcasts and I have about a year's worth to catch up on.  These are knitting podcasts with some sewing and other crafts tossed in also which I really like.  In fact, Stitched in Sweden is making her own bread, jams and sewing her own bras!  They're gorgeous!  Did you know there are kits for bra making and it is much cheaper to get a good fitting bra.  Who knew?
Friday night at the movies I was going to watch Fargo but it wasn't on Netflix so I watched Pleasantville instead which was recommended by Inside number 23 but I didn't care for it much.  She likes sci-fi and horror so I don' t think I'll follow her movie recommendations.  I thought I'd watch the first Harry Potter movie but Netflix doesn't have that either....none of them!  I like cozy, old, good stories so if anyone has any recommendations please let me know.  As for t.v. in the evenings, I've been watching Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries on Netflix and Heartland Ranch series on Feeln. Both excellent!  That's all for this week!
I hope you are all having a great start to your week.  Happy Trails!

YOP Week #8

 I missed 3 weeks but I had company for 2 weeks so that's my excuse.  I got no crafting done while they were here and even ended up frogging one of the socks you see at that exact point.  What was I thinking that I could knit while I had company even for a few minutes!  I forgot about interruptions and catastrophes and "Mom, come here!  You've got to see this!"   Yes, it's all coming back to me now exactly why I never took up knitting while I was raising them! LOL!  I'm still catching up around here but I did get both legs done on my socks and I'm ready to start the heel now.  Miss Peeps chewed on the cable of my new Karbonz but I'm managing.  I truly the love the Addi Lace "sock rockets" for sure!  I've ordered another pair.

I didn't get a yarn order in until company went home and I am still waiting for it so I am stopped on a few projects but I have plenty to keep me busy....don't you worry! LOL!
 I finished all my squares for the Frida basket (5 total about 12" X 12") but.............

 the fabric I ordered to line it came in but doesn't match at all...........I really want to use that fabric too because it is a theme present for my daughter since Frida is her favorite artist or one of them at least.  So, I came up with a brilliant idea and ordered more yarn to match the fabric I got and I will make another one and keep the original for myself.  Now, I need to stitch it together and find fabric lining for it.

I finished all 30 of the Maybelle Flower squares but need to weave in ends and start on joining them and then there's a border too.  These were definitely fun to do.

One of my projects on my list this year is this shawl.........

I ordered yarn for it and since it only requires one skein of fingering I spent a little more and got some Madeline Tosh Merino Light 100% Superwash in the Dachsund colorway.  How could I resist that color when I have a dachsund?  She would never forgive me!  I'm using size 3 Hiya Hiya interchangeables but they're not the sharps but they are very slippery....I really have to watch out.  You only cast on 11 stitches to start and I have cast on at least 11 times and gotten to row 4 and have had to start over.  I know the stitches and I'm following the directions but  the math is not working out.  I seem to have this problem on new projects but not usually this bad.  Last night I know it was because I was tired and today a couple times I was distracted....phone, Miss Peeps.  I need a padded cell for starting projects and if I don't get this one going soon I will need a permanent one! LOL!
It can't be this difficult.  In fact I know it isn't....so why do I have so much trouble?  A sign that I am not supposed to be a knitter?  Or knitting at all?  Wish me luck!
Here's the gorgeous yarn.........

I spent quite a while yesterday balling it up by hand..........it really doesn't resemble my dachsund but I like it anyway.

I can't remember which edition this was but as of right now the needles are bare again.  The farthest I've gotten is row 4.

I picked up this magazine at Walmart the other day.  I couldn't believe they had it as I love it!  It's the Fall issue.....oh yeah....Fall....my favorite season...and then comes Winter...another favorite!

I also picked up this little kit.......it was only $6 so I thought what the heck.  Have any of you ever heard of Loop Crochet or done it?  It has directions and patterns and videos on the internet.  I haven't tried it yet but I will report back to you when I have.

BTW...both Craftsy, Webs and Joann Fabrics are having online sales this weekend.  The Craftsy one seems really good.  Good yarns at half price!  Well, that's it for this week.  So glad to be back and see what all of you have been up to!  Happy Trails!