EBR 2013 - January Books

Well, where did that month go?  It's February already and I guess I must have been asleep at the wheel so I'm late with this post.  From now on I'll be posting books read and reviews monthly at the end of the  month to accommodate the Embarrassment of Riches group that I joined.  I'm going for the Platinum award which means 50 books in 2013 (books which I already own to go through book stash) which is approximately 4.166666666 books per month.  It looks like I'm ahead of the game so far! LOL!

 1.  Leaving Home - Garrison Keillor  (fiction or embellished non-fiction?)
     Great book especially if you're familiar with his radio broadcasts about Minnesota.  It had me laughing out loud!  Basically, each chapter is a reading from his radio show about Lake Woebegone, his (fictional?) hometown in Minnesota and the people who live there.  Garrison can make you cry and make you laugh and sometimes simultaneously!
 2.  Bet Your Bottom Dollar - Karen Gillespie (fiction)
      I received this book from Kim over at Camp and Cottage Living awhile ago and it was a funny and enjoyable read.  It's the first in a series I think and I may be on the look out for more.  It tells the story of a group of close knit friends and employees who work at a Dollar Store (independently owned) when a big chain Dollar Store is threatening to move into the area and put them out of business.  It takes place in a small Southern town and there's some intrigue, romance and genuine friendship that goes on.  It's a heartwarming read and the plot was really interesting and unusual for a change.

3.  The Glad Season - Paula Elizabeth Sitts  (fiction)
     Story about a parent-less boy growing up in the wilds of British Columbia with his Grandmother.  I loved this book and every child should have this type of childhood!  Lots of nature, wildlife, self-sufficiency and a true look into the hard work, love and interdependency we need to revisit.  This boy had no time for drugs and there were no gangs to join.  Very well written too.
4.  Finding Grace - Donna Van Liere (non-fiction)
     What a great attitude towards life and hard times this woman has.  Very well written and it is true bolster to the spirit.  If you want to feel good about yourself, your life and faith you should read this book!

5.  Wapiti Wilderness - Margaret and Olaus Murie (non-fiction)

Okay, I saved the best for last.  Hands down this is the best "nature" book I've ever read.  I gave a pretty extensive review in a past post which I don't want to redo here but the Muries, Olaus and his brother Adolph were famous biologists back in the early 1900's.  They've both written numerous books on nature and the studies they did for the U.S. Department of Wildlife Management.  This particular book is the best one so far as it is written jointly with Olaus's wife, Margaret.  It tells not only of Olaus's work studying the elk (Wapiti) in and around Jackson Hole, Wyoming but also includes Margaret's life with the children and the outings they took as the family of a field biologist.  Those children had the life!  It also tells much of the early history of those who settled that area along with it's growth over the years they lived there.  Olaus's beautiful line drawings are included and several photos of the family and their residences over the years they lived there, which were many. I loved this book!

6.  Life of Pi - Yann Martel (fiction) 

This was a good book and so good they made a movie out of it but I haven't seen the movie and after reading the book I will not see the movie.  The story was interesting and unusual but the violence and carnage was not something I bargained for and it always amazes me what goes on in the mind of people who can write that type of thing.  I love animals and I understand nature itself is violent but let's not make it up.  It almost made me sick to my stomach it was so graphic and albeit I have an abundance of empathy in my system and people tell me "it's only fiction" but it frightens me about the type of people who make it up in their heads...what kind of thoughts are those?  But then I have never seemed to "go with the flow" of society regarding what's popular or "in" so if you are a "normal" person you'll probably like it but me.....not so much.  I live in the old days of polite literature where the graphic scenes regarding anything were left to the imagination: to me that took much more talent. 

BTW...this was the last new book I bought around Christmas time.  It's not been easy but I am really enjoying reading these books "I've been meaning to read"!  Thank you EBR! 

And the winner is????????????????????

Thinkin' Out Loud!   You won!  I apologize as I looked at my last Monday's post it said I would pick the winner on Monday but of course in my head I thought drawing after midnight on Monday and post on Tuesday....oh boy!  I think I need a "keeper" as in zoo!
Anyway, please contact me with your address so I can mail this to you and let me know on this post when you do as I don't always check my email.  Thank you all for entering!

I hope you like it! 

So tired.......exhausted really.....

Evidently too much excitement in one weekend for me!  But it was a fun one and I have plenty of time to catch up if I ever will.  I have finished 2 books now but cannot for the life of me find the jackets to them!  I swear I have leprechauns in this house and they are constantly hiding things on me!  Then it will suddenly appear where I had looked a hundred times before.....hmph!

But I did cook a great recipe which I've made before but don't think I've shared with you.  It is from this cookbook....... 

She is a nutritionist and believes that you shouldn't have to give up the foods you love in order to cut back on calories or eat healthier.  Sounded good to me!  I think I remember hearing someone in her family got diabetes too and she started "converting" their favorite recipes which were all of sudden totally "off-limits". 
I cook from this book a lot and at first I tried it using my regular ingredients and then I would use her recipe with her substitutions and I noticed no difference really so why eat the extra calories if it tastes the same?
I highly recommend this cookbook and she has one just for desserts too which I want to get.  She has a website www.marlenekoch.com 
 I like my recipes to meet certain criteria to make the cut to my "favs".  I like them to be 1) inexpensive to make, 2) no exotic ingredients that I would have to send away for, 3) taste great,  4) be fairly healthy and 5) easy to make.
This recipe fits ALL those criteria and is comfort food at it's best!  Here's the recipe and I hope you like it as much as I do.

Rigatoni, White Beans, and Sausage

--------------------------------------

Makes 6 servings

8 ounces rigatoni pasta (wheat would be great if you can get it but I can't around here)
2 C reduced sodium chicken broth
3 garlic cloves, minced
3/4 lb turkey kielbasa sausage, sliced thin
1 tsp dried oregano
1 Tblsp olive oil
1 (14 oz) can white cannellini beans ( I had to use Northern as no cannellini's around here!)
1 (14 oz) can no-salt added diced tomatoes, well drained (whoops...I forgot that part..drained I mean...I didn't notice a difference)
6 ounces (6 cups....the size of those Dole bags) fresh baby spinach leaves
6 Tblsp grated parmesan cheese for garnish when serving
freshly cracked black pepper (whoops...forgot that too but it still tasted great!)

1.  Cook the pasta, according to the directions on the package, in a large pot.  Drain and set aside.
2.  Pour the chicken broth and garlic into the same pot.  Place over medium-high heat and bring to a simmer.
     Add the sausage, oregano, and olive oil.  Stir well.
3.  Stir in the beans, tomatoes, and cooked pasta to the pot.  Place the spinach on top of the mixture.  Cover with a lid and turn off the heat.  Allow to steam for about 1 minute, just until the spinach has begun to wilt.  Stir mixture.
4.  Serve with a heaping tablespoon of Parmesan cheese on top and season with black pepper.

 

Enjoy!  BTW, Marlene includes all nutritional information at the bottom of each recipe in her book if you need more details.

P.S.  Don't forget,  this is the last day to enter my drawing for which the winner will be posted tomorrow.  Leave a comment that you want to be entered and if you want to see what you're receiving just check last Monday's post.

YOP Update

I have been "out and about" since Friday but part of it was a fun fiber experience!  The other part was my poor Nitty who has a severe (we think) food allergy which required vet, shot, anitbiotics (2 big capsules twice a day), Hill's Science Diet food (which costs an arm and a leg....mine!) and future vet visits/bills to monitor it all.  There goes my yarn budget but I would pay anything to have my Nitty girl feeling better....so that was Friday.  Saturday, my friend Sue and I went to a new shop in her new Jeep!  Sweet!  The Jeep and the shop.  There was a woman giving spinning lessons with a drop spindle so we both signed up and stayed for 2 hours.  Sue already spins with a wheel so she did better with the drop spindle than I did but I'm still trying!
We went to the instructor's house this morning, Penny at Big Rock Farm, not too far from here and her husband made the 2 drop spindles you see and gave Sue and I each one as a gift!  He makes them and more!  2 of the nicest and most talented people you'd ever want to meet!  Her husband also repairs and refurbishes old spinning wheels and that's why we were there... to take one of Sue's wheels.  I spotted 2 old refurbished wheels that were really cool!  One was a Norwegian and the other Tyrolean, I think.   Both were old and so cool looking and worked perfectly!  I'm partial to old things....hmmm....wonder why that is! Ha! Ha!  Maybe it hits close to home! 

I got the heel flap and the heel turn done on the first of my 2nd pair of socks and boy is it easier with a cord that doesn't twist!  Heaven!  Very Pink (the tutorial I'm using) has broken the sock into 6 steps: 1) the cuff, 2) the heel, 3) turning the heel, 4) the gusset, 5) toe shaping, and 6) closing the toe (Kitchener Stitch).  So, I am on step 4, getting ready to do the gusset.  Below is the heel turn  on the RS(right side)

  and the heel turn on the WS (wrong side).

My Blackberry Salad throw is so fun to do and it's coming along......it's twice that wide....I have it folded over.

 

 And....my new needles came in the mail from Jimmy Bean's Wool!!!!!!  No, no yarn...I know...I wanted some but it's a good thing I held back since the vet bill put a serious crimp in my yarn fetish!  Yes, those are DPN's...I am wanting to learn to knit socks using them also.  I love a challenge and I want to determine which method I prefer...Magic Loop (circular) or DPNs.  The Knitter's Pride circulars are nice since you can buy the cord (non-curling) and the needles separately in whatever length of cord and needle size you want and I thought they were reasonable priced.  I'll let you know how I like them or maybe you have them and can tell me! 

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend and I know for me....Sunday's are "fiber fun"!  Tonight is the Superbowl AND Doc Martin and Downton Abbey.......I think I'll be switching channels LOTS tonight!
TTYL!!!  It may take me awhile to catch up with you all this week but I'll be stopping by to see what you've all been up to and don't forget to sign up for my drawing....I'll be picking the winner after midnight tomorrow and announcing on Tuesday! 

Thursday KAL

 This is my first week posting as I was just finding out about it last week.  I am a novice sock knitter although I have knit one pair so far and I'm starting on the second with the same pattern.  I used the wrong needle on the first pair! LOL! In fact that yarn you're seeing is so dirty from being frogged a ZILLION times that I'm surprised it hasn't just disintegrated!  For my usual followers this picture probably looks familiar from the other day when I cast on but actually that ribbing is longer than it was.  Now that I know the KAL update is Thursdays, I will wait to post my sock knitting until then.

 

For my first pair of socks I used Very Pink's Magic Loop sock instructions with video's to go with them.  It worked really well since I knew nothing about socks and was scared to death of DPNs!  The one thing about frogging is that I learned LOTS doing it again and again and again!

 

I put all my patterns in plastic sleeves and then in a binder.  I take them out when I use them but the plastic really saves them after I drag them around for a month or so.  I got some at Wal-Mart and some at Dollar General.  They have 3 holes for putting in a notebook which you can't see from my picture.

My plans since my first pair are to remake another pair like my first to reinforce what I learned.  Then we'll see but I would like to learn to use DPN's and Very Pink has another tutorial for that which I will definitely use!  Her patterns are $8.00 but well worth it for a novice like me.  I follow Susan Anderson's blog and she's on Ravelry too.  She's a knitting designer and does lots of socks in her spare time.  I want to try her sock pattern as everyone seems to like it.....including Susan!

I would also like to try toe-up at some point.............

and then these I'm saving for some special yarn when I get really good at socks.....I hope that happens sometime in this lifetime.

 

Excuse the blotches....I have no idea where they came from.....it looks like ghosts got in the way!

I know a lot of knitters have made these socks and they always look so pretty and so comfortable.

So, there's my list to learn new techniques and venture into new pattern territory...hopefully without frogging too many times!  Have a great week! 

 

WIP Wednesday....(works in progress)!

Oh, I have plenty of these!  I've tried to work on something in each area but I have so many areas that it doesn't seem like I get much done and I'll be adding another one.....sewing some clothes for myself since I can't seem to get anything to fit well anymore.  Here's what I have this week...........

1) Crochet - some of you may have seen this already so I apologize if it's getting monotonous! LOL!  But I have a made a little progress since Sunday.  This is my Blackberry Salad blanket/throw.

 

 2) Knitting - Since this is my first post on WIP Wednesday, I will show you all my WIP projects (just currently working on in each area....there are lots more lurking in corners and closets! LOL!) and then each week I will only show you if I've made progress on them.  That motivates me to work on them so I can show you!  And of course, looking at all your progress inspires me to work on mine too....it's a "win-win" for everyone!  This is my second pair of socks I just started...this time with the right size needle!  Ha! Ha!   I just realized it called for a size 5 which I thought I was using on the last pair only to discover it was a size 9 needle that I used!  Now, I am making a pair with the size 5 called for and a shorter, less curly circular needle which is going much smoother I must say!  Not much done yet but the fact that it's cast on and down the road a bit on the ribbing is great since I am not a "seasoned" knitter but trying to be!?!?!

3) Cross Stitch and/or Embroidery - This is a Cath Kidson kit that came in a her "Stitch" book.  It uses a plastic waste canvas which since I haven't cross stitched in eons is a bit of a pain for me but I've managed the middle bouquet and now just have 2 little side flowers to do and then it will be sewn up into a little purse...more like a short pencil case in my mind.

4)  Wool and/or Applique -  Oh, how I love this fiber but so pricey but then quality is usually never cheap!  But I am a champagne gal on a beer budget when it comes to fiber.  But thank goodness I have a stash of it from my days up North at the Goodwill Stores.  This is a folk art quilt I've been hand appliqueing and stitching for probably the last year or so.  I also just joined another SAL (stitch along) that is doing another quilt by the same designer.  Thus, I need to get this one done and get hopping on the other one!   Next week  I'll show you all the finished blocks for this one and a picture of the next one in case you want to join up!  It's a side button on the right of my blog so feel free!  The more the merrier!  Meanwhile, I will just share the current block I am stitching on.  It is hand appliqued using the blanket stitch and then depending on the pattern there is hand embroidery done to accent the block.  This one is actually one of the plainest blocks on this particular quilt.  i hand dye and over dye a lot of my wools.

5)  Quilting - I guess the above quilt could be called quilting but I keep my wool projects separate as I also hook wool rugs but that's another day.........another post! LOL!  I haven't quilted much or long but below is my very first quilt that I made in a class for a sampling of blocks and techniques.  It's done and machine quilted (not by me) and all I need to do now is trim off the excess material and bind it.  I will have to get my notes and books out as I can't remember how to do this part and I'm afraid of cutting too much material off. 

I learned a lot in that class and one is to not chose busy background fabric for your blocks!  They said to choose a light fabric but they didn't say much about staying away from busy prints which I adore!  LOL!  Live and learn but I still love it....it's my first.
This is SO fun to be involved in these groups....I've been living under a rock!  LOL!  Now I'm off to see what all of you have been up to!

Drawing!!!! Giveaway!!!! 100 followers!!!!!

I can't believe it!  My first drawing!  I'm excited!  I hope you like what I have to give.  I was going to wrap it all but then I thought....no...I'll be up front and let you know in case you don't want it! LOL!  Anyway, here goes.....please let me know you are entering by leaving a comment and stating you want to enter the drawing.  I will pick the winner next Monday.  If this works out I may have a monthly drawing!  I swear, I'm having fun doing this!  I tried to cover all bases since my followers are a diverse and talented group...a little something for everyone!  Toodles!
Oh!  P.S.  Anyone can enter.....It doesn't matter how near or far.....you all mean so much to me!!!

YOP Update

 I have spent a lot of time this week trying to get a handle on yarn weight, needle size and gauge and also shopping around the internet yarn shops and Ravelry to get just the right needles and supplies in one order....not easy!  I still haven't placed an order but I'm getting there! LOL!
Meanwhile, I worked a bit on my Blackberry Salad blanket/throw....a few more colors since last week.

 

 I also decided to start READING some of the books I have instead of just browsing through them or skimming the parts I need at the moment..........I could definitely stand to learn everything I can about knitting...........SOCKS!  I've met this years YOP for socks....1 pair but I can't stop there!  I've joined  the sock KAL and need to learn more and stay in practice.  Trust me...next year there will LOTS of socks on my YOP list!

I was able to straighten out one of my "curly"cords which I hope will help........I hung it on a hook with the needles attached for a few  months and it seems to have worked!

 

I also have this gorgeous yarn that I have been saving for when I am good at sock knitting.....it may stay in that skein for awhile.....LOL!

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend and relaxing a bit. TTYS!

I have reached 100 followers!!!! Drawing Monday!!!!!

I can't beleive it.....it's only taken me for forever but that's okay...I'd rather have quality than quantity in my followers! LOL!
I will start a drawing on Monday and will pick the winner the following Monday to give all a chance.  Also, this is for all my followers where ever you live...across the pond or Timbucktoo.....it makes no difference!  Come one, come all!  You all mean so much to me and I so appreciate your visits and comments.  Unbeknownst to you, you have kept me sane and uplifted during some pretty "rough roads" this year and I am extremely grateful. 

 Meanwhile, back at the ranch...........I finished a book last night and I loved it! It may not be everyone's cup of tea but if you like non-fiction well-written books about nature that read more like a good story than a travelogue, you will LOVE this book.  

 It was written by Margaret and Olaus Murie in 1966 and republished in 1985.  I got it from a friend who got it from a used book store but hopefully you can still get it.  Wapiti is the Indian name for Elk and Olaus Murie was a field biologist for the U.S. Biological Survey (now the Fish and Wildlife Service) from 1920 - 1946.  During this time he studied and wrote his life history of the elk in and around Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Some of the chapters are written by Margaret and some are written by Olaus and it is much more a story of their family and the years they lived in Jackson Hole.  Olaus was also a great  pen and ink artist and the book is sprinkled through out with his drawings.

There's also a lot of history of that area included in the book regarding the pioneers who settled it first.

There are a few photos of their family and living quarters which really make you feel like you were part of it all by the time you finish the book and boy do I wish I had been!  They lived a glorious and abundant life in many beautiful, wide open spaces.  What tales they got to tell their grandchildren!  I loved this book and will probably read it again whenever I feel "hemmed in" or the wide open spaces are calling me.

I hope you had a wonderful Saturday!  I've still got it "goin' on" here! LOL! 

Working hard or hardly working?

 I have been "remodeling"  my blog and there are still parts that are a "work in progress" such as the new tabs at the top.  If you have any suggestions please let me know or if there is something you don't like or find difficult.
I've also been trying to join some groups that will not only make me feel accountable for some of my projects but also allow me to connect with other like-minded people. Now, if I could only find a group for staging and selling my house. Thanks to Ruth of Ruth's Little Leprechauns for exposing me to all these wonderful groups and for inspiring me to spruce up my blog. 
So, here I go for Finished Objects Friday and lo and behold, I have something!!!!!

This is a"double" potholder and/or trivet.  It is crocheted and the pattern is free on Ravelry as "The Best Crocheted Potholder" by Heather Tucker.  It is crocheted in such a way as to be double thick and really sturdy.  It's also very easy to crochet just a little harder on my arthritic hands but I muddled through...LOL!
I used Peaches and Creme cotton yarn that I can pick up at Wal-Mart.

 I have to include the pictures below because I thought it was so funny.....can you see the dachsund in this picture?  My little Annie sleeps in a chair in my bedroom.  She has a dog bed under there too but she gets cold so easily I cover her up with a blanket at night.  I think she gets cold because her little legs are only like 2 inches long and thus she's close to the ground where the cold air settles.

I know they have a way to get rid of "red eye" in photos but green eye????? LOL!

Have a great Friday everyone!

Progress in the wrong areas..........

 

I was supposed to start a sock knit along today but couldn't find the needles needed so instead I took down some filthy old fabric blinds and all their hardware and pitched them and washed the window (inside only at this time of year) and put up some cloth napkins I got at a sale for curtains.  I then started in cleaning my open shelves and decanting beans and other staples into canning jars for storage.  No knitting but the night is young!  Now where are those darn needles????  Stay warm!!! Or cool depending on where you are.

A pox on me....no, not a real one, thank goodness!

It was a rough week but I don't like to complain as it took generations to breed it out of me but every once in awhile there is some melancholy, assisted by watery eyes from a cold and miserable failure at knitting AND crocheting....you could call it "the lost week".  But today was a trip to Wal-Mart and lo and behold they have alcohol now!  Much of Arkansas is "dry" so you have to drive at least an hour to get to the closest "wet" county but they voted it "wet" in the county where the Wal-Mart is which is much closer.   I'm not a big drinker but nowadays it's good for you so when I spotted this bottle I thought "after my lost week"  HALLELUYAH!  Maybe it will help my knitting?  I must admit the name sealed the deal although I am not a housewife, I can relate!  
I made chocolate chip cookies yesterday so wine AND chocolate?  I think I'm on the road to recovery!

There was a heart shaped one too and I didn't "shape" it...it was the old knife and teaspoon method.....that alone made me feel better.

I also picked up a few knitting aides.....heaven knows I need them!  This is a nice laminated pocket guide that I can keep handy in my knitting basket.  They have one for crochet too but they were sold out.

Available at your local Wal-Mart and no, I get no "kickback" from mentioning that.  I also picked up some DPNs and and a gadget for checking needle size and gauge. 

 

It was almost 60 today but the weather "it is a changing"....winds, cold and freezing rain late tomorrow and Friday but I have "supplies", kindling and set to stay home and stay safe.  Next week it will be warm and then we might have severe storms.....never a dull moment in the South!  Stay safe, warm and happy!

YOP Update!

Not much this week as I've been getting outside (working and walking) with the weather in the high 50's and 60's.   But I did start my Blackberry Salad throw and will probably get a bunch done on it today since there are 2 championship football games.  The winners go to the Super Bowl!  I can crochet and watch the telly I just can't knit! LOL!  Hope you're having a lovely Sunday...I'll be by later to see what everyone's been up to.  Fighting a little cold today so I might be under the covers before long. 

 

BTW this is such a fun project and the "bobble" stitch is easy to learn and a joy to stitch!  (Tammy...you would love this!)  It was Faith who's blanket I fell in love with and then Sharon did one....fun, fun, fun!  You are all SO inspirational!