YOP Week #47

Happy Mother's Day to all who mother in whatever way they can! It is Mother's Day here in the U.S but I know some of you celebrate a different date...no matter.....Mothers are great all over the world and deserve far more credit than they get and equal pay too!  I cannot let this day go by without giving credit to so many women in my life who have contributed to the person I am today......just the good parts.....the bad parts I take full responsibility for!  LOL!  They are all gone from this earth now and I miss them very much.....here are just a few.......

My Mother is the one with her arms crossed, my Aunt Bernice is in the middle and my Aunt Alice is on the right.  My grandmother and grandfather are in the left picture on the right side of it.  I never knew them as they had died by the time I was born.  My Aunt Edna is not in the picture but she was another great lady to have a big influence on me.  They were great women and I miss them all!
Now, (sniffle, sniffle), on to the YOP news of the day!
(Drum Roll)......my cursed Hermione's Everyday Socks are done!  Ta Da!!!!!!  I'll be entering them in Inside #23's Harry Potter KAL.  Does it matter that I have been working on them for 4 1/2 months?  I'll have to check the rules....maybe you have to start and  finish within the month.  Regardless, they are done and they do qualify for my Box of Socks.....only 11 more pair to go before 12/31! LOL!

 I am trying to be somewhat monogamous in my handwork now to try and get some finishes although with outside work now my time is limited.   I started back on my Hotel of Bees shawl..............it's terribly small but we shall see.........the project keeper is what I have done today

The little white arrow looking things are the bee's wings..............the next golden rows are the honeycomb........

and see those 2 little holes below?  Those are the bee's wings also and you can see the puff stitch below that is the bee's lower body.  The next row will be the top of the bee's body.  How she ever designed this shawl is beyond me!  What talent!

To top off my Mother's Day I finally got my lemon meringue pie made!  My Aunt Bernice used to make this for me every time I came for the summer as she knew it was my favorite.....I wish she could be here to share it with me........or you guys!

I hope you all had a great day and I wish you a great week ahead!
Happy Trails!

The rain left and the sun came out and I went to Wally World!

I never go to Walmart on a weekend but actually it wasn't bad.  I spent the morning on chores and making my list and menu for at least the next 2 weeks or more.  I used to do a menu all the time but with just me it seemed a little overkill.  But I actually missed doing it and when a couple people like Rain and Marsha mentioned theirs I thought I should get back to it so I did and I am!   Also, my new to me cookbook, Apples and Jam, is just full of wonderful, healthy and beautiful dishes which definitely inspired me.

 

Here's my menu for the month?  We'll see how long it lasts me........

Breakfasts:

Homemade granola with Almond milk and fruit

eggs with bread and butter

frittata

smoothies with almond milk and fresh fruit

white milk bread

Meals:

Meat and vegetable soup

meatloaf and vegetables

roast chicken dinner  

semolina soup

Desserts:

pecan butter cookies

lemon meringue pie

orange and olive oil cake with pine nuts

mango sorbet

Snacks:

Homemade crackers with cheese 

organic Tostitos with guacamole

foccacia

Drinks:

Kombucha

lemonade

fizzy orange

turmeric tea

water (of course)

 coffee in the morning

These are almost all homemade from scratch using as many organic ingredients as I can.  Good news too!  Walmart now has organic lean ground beef and grass fed beef with no antibiotics, hormones, etc.  like their 'natural' chicken which is all I buy.  I did a 'happy dance' in the meat aisle!

I am trying to be as self-sufficient as possible although it is a lot of work and like tonight I am really tired after shopping. loading, unloading and putting away.  I have all this produce to wash tomorrow...I just don't think my legs can handle much more today! LOL!

But my larder is full and I am a blessed woman!

  Tomorrow is roast chicken dinner for Mother's Day and that lemon meringue pie I have been dreaming about!  Happy Mother's Day Eve!

Happy Trails too!

Rainy cozy day!!!

Well, yesterday was nice during most of the day so I rushed outside to get some work done before the storms arrived.  I watered my plants under the eaves as unless it REALLY blows they don't get much moisture.  I then went in the back yard and started working on (weeding) the North East flower bed.  I got it about 1/2 done before my arms gave out.  It was about 85 degrees F so if you were working you got very warm.  I raked up the mess and then planted some flowers in the trough and called it quits for the outside work.  I planted some perennials with annuals hoping the annuals would fill in while the perennials had a chance to get started.

 I tried to blog and read blogs yesterday but the Internet kept going up and down so I finally called them and indeed it was them and not me...PTL!  They must have fixed it because all is working well today.  It put me in a bit of a bind though as I depend on the pc and my tablet for the  weather but I had batteries for my weather radio so I turned it on instead.  I usually only turn it on when I go to sleep.
I went uptown for some mulch, softner salt and a few other essentials, came back home and hunkered down while the clouds moved in.  I finished the foot of my sock but I was so tired I could barely keep my eyes open.  I had done my chores, the cat girls were in the basement and I fed Nitty and Annie but by then the storm had blown in and they couldn't go out which they usually do after supper.  I feel so bad for them but they will turn around when I open the door and they see the rain coming down.

 I had my pj's on by 5:30 and I heated up my Vermicelli Soup with Tomato and Basil.....this soup is phenomenal!  I could not believe how with such few and simple ingredients you could make something taste that good! I am sharing the recipe with you here so you can see for yourself if you so desire..........mind you...I did not have fresh basil so I used dried and I used good old Kraft Parmesan cheese as that is all I had.  Tessa Kiros, the author of Apples for Jam, says this is her 'crisis saver' whether you are tired, sick or just don't feel like cooking this is a great 'go to' recipe.  It is also quick, inexpensive, easy and you usually have these ingredients on hand.
 So here it is:
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Vermicelli Soup with Tomato and Basil by Tessa Kiros from the book Apples for Jam
7 cups water or broth
1 Tablespoon of tomato sauce
4 basil leaves
1 1/2 teaspoons of salt (optional )
1/4 (of a 16 ounce package) vermicelli or angel hair pasta broken up
olive oil (to serve)
grated Parmesan cheese (to serve)
Directions:
Put the water (or broth), tomato sauce, and basil leaves in a pan and add 1 1/2 teaspoons of salt (this shouldn't be necessary if you are using broth).  Bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for 6 to 7 minutes before adding the pasta.  Cook the pasta until a few seconds before the package says it will be ready (it will continue cooking in the hot broth) and then immediately remove the pan from the heat.  Ladle into bowls, diving to the bottom of the pot each time to make sure that everyone has a fair helping of pasta and broth.  Drizzle a little olive oil over each bowl if you like, but definitely give a good sprinkling of Parmesan (about 1 very heaping Tablespoon for each bowl).  Serve immediately.  Serves 4-6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 Tessa also had a recipe for Cranberry syrup that you could use over pancakes, ice cream and even use with water or sparkling water for a refreshing drink.  I may try this with some other fruit as there are no cranberries, not even frozen, at this time of year.
Her chapters are divided into colors.....I'm on the Red Chapter...can you tell? LOL!
More treasures came in the mail..........this is a book that Joyce of Ruby Moss Cottage had a giveaway for and since the giveaway was over I decided to order it 'used' and I am so happy!  It is by Tiff Fusell (Dottie Angel) and Rachel Blondell (Ted and Agnes).  I can't wait to delve into this book.....right up my 'granny' alley!  If you like this style you would love Ruby Moss Cottage podcasts too.  Tiff does not blog anymore at Dottie Angel but the posts are still out there and you have to be invited to Rachel's blog and her blog where she sells things is no longer in business or she has moved.  But if you Google either one of them there are plenty of 'pins' on Pinterest and people have somehow 'archived' Ted and Agnes blog posts before she went 'private'.

I also received this awesome book that Katie of Inside Number 23 mentioned in one of her first podcasts and I put it on my  'never ending book list'  back then.....did I mention I love bees and all things botanical?  You can visit What Delilah Did here

It's a rainy, blustery day here on the homestead.....a perfect day for curling up with these inspirational books.....just as soon as I clean the tub, do some ironing, make that pie and pay some bills......yeah....right after that! LOL!
I hope you are having a wonderful Friday full of accomplishment in whatever you endeavor!
Happy Trails!
 

Busy as a bee!!!

With more storms coming tonight and tomorrow I wanted to get the lawn mowed yesterday.  I did but not without some issues.......I had 1/4 tank of gas in the mower and thought I could make it but I didn't.  I ran out about 3/4 of the way through.  So, I packed up my trusty gas container and took off for Ash Flat and got gas and a few other things while I was out.  I came back and finished the mowing and that was pretty much my day.  Oh, did I mention I spent at least an hour picking up sticks and branches from the previous storms.  Oh, and I also primed a lawn chair and a plant stand after I mowed.  I still have to paint them.  It was a beautiful day to be outside and the lawn is done for another week............

The honeysuckle is in bloom and oh what a glorious smell as I brushed past it on the edge of the woods.
Today was laundry......2 loads of it as the rains are coming.....see how the weather dictates my life? LOL!  I also ran uptown for a few things for supper and for batteries for the weather radio.

I got more 'treasures' in the mail too...........some more dye supplies.............

and my book that I am so happy to get............I will be reading it immediately!  I have searched everywhere for the movie and it is not to be found.............

Do you remember when I told I was wanting to make cobbler aprons part of my retirement uniform?  My Aunt used to wear them all the time and they are so handy and they have pockets!  So, I ordered 2 and plan on making my own pattern from them.  I washed them today and they need to be ironed but here's a look at what I am talking about.........I will be wearing a blouse under them..........they have snaps too..............

They were $12 each and cheaply made but I think I can improve on them if I can make my own pattern.  The pockets will be so handy for when I am hanging clothes outside too.  I can stick lots of clothes pins in them.  Room for a Kleenex too which I seem to always need.  I want pockets in everything I wear!

This item was on clearance and it is a quilted pad that goes over a chair seat, back and arms....almost recovered but not quite!  It was only $6 so I grabbed it.  Anything would be an improvement over my green bedroom chair so I will show you after I vacuum the chair and put this pad on it.  The cat girls have shredded the sides and back of the chair.  I need to recover it in steel wool!  I'm wondering if outdoor fabric would stop the shredding?  There is a fabric that resists cat claws but it is very pricey!  So for now this will be a cheap little pick-me-up.

I'm getting ready to make a quick and easy supper from my 'new to me' cookbook Apples for Jam.......I splurged for canned broth but I need to make my own........another thing to add to the never-ending list of chores...............

I am making this recipe..............Vermicelli Soup with Tomato and Basil.......I'll have a couple slices of my homemade bread toasted to go with it.  She called this her crisis meal and I am so tired that I thought it would suit me tonight...once again the lemon meringue pie will have to wait..........

I will curl up in my bed with my new book, some knitting and a few yarn catalogues......heaven!

I hope you had a lovely day and I hope you curl up with the things you love tonight!
Happy Trails!

It's Monday! What are you reading, watching and listening to?

I finally finished all 500 some pages of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire...wonderful!

and last night I watched the movie of the 2nd book;  Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.....the movie was excellent!
My next fiction book is this one which I have already started reading..............to go along with the Hotel of Bees KAL which I have not worked on all week.....too much outside work to do when the sun shines and when it rains I check for leaks in the roof and put bowls out! LOL!

 For my non-fiction I am reading this book which I have had for quite a while......probably when I had my little farm...............


I also got 'treasures' in the mail this week!  From Thriftbooks....books that have been on my list for awhile and they are all non-fiction...........it's time to start thinking about...........

Yes, that's right.....Christmas!   Here's another one I've had my eyes on for a while............

and what about this one?

 Plus, this one has been on my list since it was first published but used is so much less expensive!  This is a really thick book too.....like about 3 inches!  Probably another 500 pager at least!

I found a copy of the pattern book that has the Karma Throw that I want to make.  Joyce of Ruby Moss Cottage podcast has made it and it is gorgeous!  But from the looks of it...it will be a challenge! It has intarsia although I have done crochet intarsia....remember my Hooky pillow?  So, I think I can handle it but there are some instructions I do not understand.  Maybe Joyce can straighten me out.
If I was in a store I doubt if I would even give a second look to this pattern book as it seems pretty 'blah' ...........

but tucked inside the pages is this glorious throw/shawl....it is about 18 inches wide and over 5 feet long!  It will cost a fortune so I can't order the yarn all at once....I'll just have to take my chances.  They don't even make the yarn that this was originally made from but I found a yarn substitute website that is giving me some  options.  Ravelry has had some KALs with this in the past so I am reading over all their notes too. 

I am on Exodus chapter 30 in the New Living Translation Bible and I've been listening to Pastor Rick Warren's Daily Hope podcast.  Other than that just the alternative media news and a few weekly knitting podcasts such as The Grocery Girls!
Tonight after supper I am curling up in bed with my new 'treasures' and devouring them!  Ahhhh.......bliss...a cup of tea and thee!
Happy Trails!

Beautiful weather yesterday and today......

 The roof boys came back yesterday and went back up to see if they could find anything.  They were pretty disheartened as they didn't know where else to look but they did find a hole and a damp piece of wood and they tore it off and behind it was mold and rotten wood.  They came back today with new treated lumber and sprayed in foam insulation to fill up the hole and put up the new lumber and caulked it.  Now, we wait until the next rain storm!

It doesn't seem like you get much done when you have construction people come and go.  I did regular chores and managed to make my salad this afternoon and I'm working on the sock gusset.

I've had the usual weekend calls from 'the kids' and now it is 5:00 and where did the day go?  I was going to do ironing but I may save that for tomorrow.....I did get this Knit Picks catalogue in the mail today......that will be nice to browse after supper and put my feet up.  Maybe another Harry Potter movie later.  I really enjoyed the first one!

Enjoy your Saturday night!
Happy Trails!

A Very Wet Thursday.........

It's still raining and although my porch is leaking worse than ever my prayers and sympathies go to those who are truly devastated by flooding in Missouri and Arkansas....and to all who are suffering in any way.
I have a little story to tell about a movie I remembered seeing years and years ago that I loved.  All I could remember about it was that it starred Jane Wyman and she was a cabbage farmer.  I have searched and searched for this movie for years and never could find it until TODAY!!!!  I happened to be looking for Cabbages and Roses a U.K. based houseware and clothing company and lo and behold  up came this movie mentioning cabbages and Jane Wyman!  It is called So Big and was made in 1953.  I did order the book which is by Edna Ferber and I would like to read the book before I watch the movie again.  I spent all day trying apps and channels on Roku and even Amazon trying to find the movie but to no avail.  I'm sure you can get it on Turner Classic Movie channel if you have satellite but I don't.  Anyway, it was a BIG rabbit hole that took a lot of my time today.

I tried to download a clip but this is all I was able to display.  The book was a Pulitzer Prize Winner (am I embarrassed now as you know what I've said about PPW's...I am beginning to eat my words) written by Edna Ferber back in 1924.  Are any of you familiar with it?  I am still searching for the movie so if any of you know where I could purchase a copy or better yet watch it for free without giving up my firstborn child,  I would truly appreciate it.  My SIL just told me to check Daily Motion so I am off to do that.
Meanwhile, in between my quest, I did get a few things done and I'm now working on the heel flap of my #2 sock......it was so dark and rainy today that I had to have lamps lit all day.......so pardon the lighting in the photos............

 and candles were keeping it cozy and warm as the rain splattered against the windows and the wind blew......what a wonderful day to enjoy the Hygge!

For supper I'm  roasting  asparagus......425 degrees F oven, foil lined cookie sheet, and toss with olive oil, salt and pepper....cook for 9-15 minutes depending on how much you are cooking.  I just snap the ends off...they will break where it is tough. 

I'm also making mac and cheese from a box but it's organic.............

I hope you have a cozy evening where ever you are and are safe and dry!
Happy Trails!

It's Wednesday....still lots going on here!

My other peony bloomed and it smells great so it's not my nose...it was the other flower without any scent.  Thank goodness!

Yesterday was garbage day but it was also time to bake bread.............the rustic, no-knead variety......

 My Hotel of Bees shawl/scarf is coming along and I have several rows of the honeycomb pattern to do so it should be showing more progress a little quicker now..............

 I've also abandoned my Happy Planner as they did not give me enough room to write....I am a woman with a lot to do! I have been utilizing the little cheap composition book that is my BuJo....bullet journal and I am loving it!  Plenty of room to write and you can customize to your own specific needs and lifestyle..........I printed off a 'habit tracker' for my daily chores so I don't have to rewrite them each day.  I just color the little square in when it's done......

 My artwork is none too fancy but a little coloring makes the tasks seem lighter.  Now I need to make a monthly task tracker.
I also went down a few Rabbit Holes yesterday......this might be a regular segment on my blog as I seem to do it on a daily basis!
I need to make some curtains both regular and shower.......

 Unfortunately,  I don't have a stash of vintage hankies......

 Still working on my entryway but it is a far way from looking like this..........so pretty...

 Why am I looking at cross stitch?  Because Cucki, (my blogging friend) has a group that does The Prairie Schooler patterns (and more) and they chose to do the TPS alphabet but instead of individual pictures some did one big one which I loved!  I need to find out how they did it or figure it out myself....this might take me a while! LOL!  Cucki, are you still working on yours?

While I was looking at those I found another one that I loved too.....but of course!  This would go so nice in my 'future' bedroom..............

How was your Tuesday?  Did you go down any 'rabbit holes'?  There was an orange chicken crock pot recipe too but it wouldn't download (it's on my food board on Pinterest if you're interested).....I'm sure there will be more RH's today! LOL!
Have a great one.....storms coming here again.  Glad I got some laundry outside on the line yesterday.  It will be a good day for ironing it!
Happy Trails!

YOP Week #45

I missed last week and don't have too much more this week....but I will forge ahead!  The 2nd Hermione's sock is coming along and I am on round 48 of 72 of the leg.........

Remember my Easter mini quilts I was making for my family and me?   Well, Easter has come and gone and they are not done....surprise, surprise but I did get some work done on them.....how in the world did I think these were going to be simple?

They're enjoyable to work on but taking me way longer than I expected...per usual!  I still have a chicken to embroider, hexies are made but need to be sewn on, a banner and buttons to hang it from and then the backing, the quilting and the binding!    Maybe they'll get them next Easter! LOL!

My Hotel of Bees shawl/CAL doesn't even look like I worked on it but I did....I got this part done and then counted the bee 'wings' and there were only 22 and there was supposed to be 23 and counting is important in this project so..........as you can see that required almost completely starting over which I did so now there are 23 and I can move on.  Someone in  the CAL said this was the most difficult part of the shawl.....it might have been the designer.  So, I have mastered the wings and now I'm on to the next section....learning as I go but very satisfying to work on.  I think mine is going to be quite small even though I am  using the recommended yarn and hook size but I have tight tension in crochet and knitting so it might end up a shawlette or a scarf but that's okay.  

I also picked up the book which inspired the design and although it is a Pulitzer Prize Winner it started off very interesting and is proving to be a very good book!

It's really fun to read the book and work on the shawl in a CAL with others.  Have a great week everyone!
Happy Trails!