What a week this has been.........

I am feeling and doing better today but this week was something else.....I won't bore you with the details as I have "moved on" and things are looking bright on the horizon. 
I messed up my sock right as I was starting the heel flap but all is well as yesterday I went to my favorite LYS and she showed me how to fix it.  I learned how to make a  "life line" and it and she "saved the day"!  I'm back on track and got half the heel flap done last evening. Maybe my days of "starting over" are done...I hope.  I received a few other tips too which is so great as I have been floundering solo for awhile now and some of this stuff just isn't in any books I've read.

The afghan for my daughter and her family is on the rocks and I have decided to chose another pattern which I am familiar with and which I think I can comfortably and successfully use the "yarn from hell".
 I did start an amigurumi project which is going very well.  If I'd known it was all single crochet I would have tried it ages ago.  I am using cotton yarn though and it is hard on my fingers but the pattern recommended it.  I have since seen many people using acrylics.  Any suggestions as to what is the best yarn to use?  I don't care for this red but it's what I have at the moment so I'll go with it.  It's going to be a little bunny.  I know, Easter is over but this is for me and I have a "thing" for rabbits....inside, not in my garden though. LOL!

 My yarn didn't come in yet for my KAL with the LYS group but this week for sure.....meanwhile I started this YOP blanket that I was learning cables for....remember?  I got so caught up in the cable scarf I almost forgot what I was learning them for.  So, I think all of these are on my YOP list for this year...I hope.  I have started my list for our new year come July and I am going to have to pare it down considerably and then some.  I have things I haven't finished from Year 2 when I started!  But now that I have a LYS I am thinking I will be able to stay on task with projects as I won't get stuck since I have so many knowledgeable people I am rubbing elbows with.  Yesterday, there was a bunch of sock knitters there and there are crocheters too.  I forgot to take my camera but next time hopefully I will remember.
I have to save my #8 circulars for my KAL so I had to use these old aluminum ones.  I need to get another #8 circular.  Now I understand why people have multiples of the same sizes.....so you can start more projects!  Duh!
 This is a baby bee blanket that I got as a kit from Knit Picks last year before I knew how to do cables.

I've been working on this Dottie Angel blanket  (it's a great t.v. watching project) and I have all the colored squares done except for 4 in 2 other colors and then the white or cream for in between them.

It's great for using up scraps and/or stash.  But I think the yellow might be a little too bright for my tastes and also I did cream squares but now I think I like white better.

I have to go dig some more in my stash and come up with some more colors and now crochet some white squares since I may not use the cream colored ones.  I have about 4 pattern books I am ordering that I have wanted for awhile now and need to utilize for YOP 1415.  I love the planning part and this year I will have all my supplies ready for when we start.
Happy Trails!

I think I need a nap............

This day started out good but has gone downhill since then.  Last night I messed up my sock so I went on to another project and messed that up then today I went and got ingredients for making crock pot corn chowder and 2 people in the store did not "hear"  me when I said no!  The chowder took all afternoon and it was supposed to be "easy" but then I only have one burner and I should have known since it required cooking an entire pound of bacon.  I wanted a quick crock pot dinner so I could paint today and work outside.  I just finished making it and cleaning up the mess and it's 5:15 p.m.  Sorry, I am definitely crabby today and I never get that way usually but I did go mingle with inconsiderate humans today so that is part of it, I'm sure.  Several people at the store uptown are very patronizing to older people and since I'm only 65 and not limping or using a walker I really do not appreciate it.  I know they think they are being helpful but it's insulting!  If I told the guy 3 times, I told him 4, that I did NOT want any help carrying my groceries out.  I tried to grab my 4 little bags and he refused and was out the door with a cart! And a customer behind me started unloading my groceries and going through them which again I said no but she "insisted".  I do not want strange people handling my food when they're not "food handlers".    What is it about the word NO that some people don't seem to understand?   And why is it that once you get a certain age people ignore you and you seem to lose all human rights?  I'm not stupid either.  I've programmed computer systems using machine code so I'm nobody's dummy but now I get treated like one.  Although, messing up 3 needle projects doesn't exactly make me look like Einstein.  I think I will blog what I had planned to blog tomorrow when I'm in a better mood.  OMG! Am I turning into one of those cranky old people?  Heaven help me!
Happy Trails to you......

Whoa Nellie!

 Yes, I'm still here....almost got blown away but it steered about an hour South.  These poor, poor people who have to deal with all the destruction and loss.  It was a tense day and night though.  The girls and I went to the basement several times.  The weather radio woke me in the  middle of the night.  I'm lucky I got down those stairs in my sleepy stupor but I am truly one of the lucky ones.
I've finished the cuff on the sock..now on to the heel flap!

  I have some truly gigantic news too...this is good news....I found an LYS, a local yarn shop!  I went to the library book sale (I'll blog about that another day) and 2 total strangers told me about a new yarn shop in Salem, the next town over where they have classes and get togethers and KALs and CALs and where the owner is really nice and knowledgable too.  So, off I went on down the road!
I spent the entire afternoon there chatting with a KAL group and joining in the fun with the project below.  I looked at yarns of all kinds and bought some wooden dpn's to replace the treacherous aluminum ones I had gotten at Walmart.....ahhhh.....love my wooden needles. 

I met so many lovely gals and even a little girl who knits and crochets and is just a little sweetie at 8 years old.  One of the grand daughters of a customer.  I'm already planning on going back Friday for movie night and snacks and we work on whatever we want.  I'll go Saturday too for the KAL.  The owner, Tammy is just a doll and so personable.  I hope to have pictures next time.  I am so excited to have my own LYS and a group of fiber fanatics like me to hang out with.
Now, I 'm off to get my jammies on and watch DWTS's (Dancing With The Stars) and catch up on some much needed sleep....nice sound sleep! Gosh, I hope I don't have nightmares about my weather radio going off!  Thank you for all your thoughts and wishes...it must have helped as I'm still here!

Look what I got in the Royal Mail...........

A little while ago, I was the fortunate winner of a drawing held by Helen Philipps 
I was ecstatic!  If you are familiar with her work you already know how talented she is and an artist at heart.  She has written books on cross stitch and quilting projects and is regularly published in Cross Stitch magazine.  So, now you see why I was so excited and still am!  I was afraid it had gotten lost in the mail and so was Helen but it arrived today!  Okay, I'll show you first and then write my heartfelt thank you to Helen.
First, look at how sweetly wrapped they are.  She has magic in her fingers as everything she touches turns into something beautiful.
 Gingham tissue paper...where can I get some?  If we can import cars and all sorts of mundane stuff why can't we get "the pretties"?  And sweet little flower stickers and washi tape.....

 

 Are you ready?  Oh my gosh....it is all so infinitely precious........ can you believe it?  I mean really?

I was jumping with Joy except she wasn't even here! (Joy, that is....lol!)

Helen made the the little pink flowered bird and the heart and then sent me some cute polka dot ribbon from Cath Kidston and a little sewing kit from CK also.  Check them out.....

I told you she was talented!

And then some gorgeous Springtime fabrics.......

I am "over the moon" with all of it and my photos are on "cuteness overload"! 
  I have been trying to make Friday nights a creative evening with no television which isn't hard because there is nothing on t.v. on Friday nights and I seriously want to create something every day but we'll see.  I also need to clean everyday, landscape everyday, cook every day and organize everyday! But tonight I am definitely going to get out Helen's books and grab that fabric and sewing kit and C R E A T E !

Dear Helen,
    I cannot thank you enough for the lovely and beautiful items you included in your drawing.  They are very special to me especially the bird and the heart that you made yourself.  I will always treasure them.  You made my day, my week and I think the year so far!  If I sleep with the heart and bird under my pillow do you think maybe just a teensy bit of your talent might rub off on me?  You are such a lovely lady and not only hugely talented but with an extremely generous heart also!
Fondly,
   Sam

Keep an "eye on the sky" this weekend as severe weather is expected Sunday and Monday and maybe even Tuesday across the middle of the U.S.  Happy Trails! 

 

Lemon bar recipe and more.......

I made some whole wheat bread yesterday and then discovered it doesn't rise like white flour so I will adjust my recipe next time

I figured out how to knit "inside-out" and "inside right" thanks to some Ravelry friends and switch between the 2 without any damage....Woo Hoo!

I'm walking daily again and lo and behold I'm in better shape than the girls!  Nitty and Annie are just wiped when we get back and start slowing down and panting.  But then again, while I've been working around the house they've just been cat napping all winter so I guess it's to be expected.  They're "floor potatoes". 
This tree was just glowing in the woods.....it actually looked like someone had strung lights on it

It was the bright green buds with the sun hitting them....Mother Nature's way of  decorating for Spring

Some other trees/bushes have blossomed and smell so good.....I'm not sure what this is but maybe a spirea?  Does anyone know?  Connie, you're the plant expert.....you be the judge.

Lots of other Spring flowers are popping up too....these are all wild in the woods.

We have lots of moss here too which I love and it is coming back to life.....
this is just one type

i had to put in a dogwood picture as they won't be here forever and they are just filling up the woods with their white light.......

Here's the recipe for the lemon bars from Mary Emmerling's American Country Cooking cookbook from back when I was a young mother...sometimes it seems like yesterday and other times it seems like that must have been someone else's life.  Enjoy!

Tart Lemon Squares (Carol Bade from the Texas Hill Country)

6 tablespoons or 3/4 stick unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup plus 3 tablespoons (3 T is for later) all-purpose flour
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
grated rind of 1/2 a lemon
confectioners' sugar for dusting

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a  food processor or with an electric mixer, cream the butter, confectioners' sugar, and 1 cup of the flour.
Gently pat the dough into a 9-inch square baking pan.  Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly browned.
Meanwhile, in a bowl, lightly beat the eggs. Mix together the granulated sugar and the remaining 3 tablespoons of flour and add them to the eggs.  Stir in the lemon juice and lemon rind.
When the crust has baked for 15 minutes, remove the pan from the oven and pour the lemon mixture on top.  Bake for 15 or 20 minutes, or until the mixture appears firm. 
Remove the pan to a wire rack and dust lightly while still hot with confectioners' sugar.  Use a spatula to loosen the edges from the sides of the  pan and allow to cool to room temperature.  Cut into 1 1/2 inch squares and serve.   Makes 3 dozen.

Okay, Carol might have been drinking when she gave that recipe to Mary because first of all 1 1/2 inches is more like the size of a piece of candy.....I get 9 bars and sometimes go back for a second one.  Also, I always doubled this recipe because I had a big family and I used a 9 inch by 13 inch pan and that worked but for some reason the 9 inch pan makes the lemon filling a little sparse, I think.   I'm doubling the filling next time so I can have as much "lemony goodness" as possible...I'm just sayin'.  Try it and see what you think.....it is the most requested dessert of my family when they come to visit and even when they don't. LOL! 

Happy Trails!

YOP Monday

I know...it's supposed to be YOP Sunday but I am behind per usual...and after my "too many pictures blog" on Friday, I am keeping this short and sweet.  Aren't you glad?

 The sock is coming along but that is the inside of it.  I don't remember this from before but that's because I made the cuff and then the body of the sock on circulars?  It looks good inside but one of my big mistakes last time was that I casually turned it so it was right side out and that is how I messed up because naturally then my knit stitches were backwards.......knitting is so much like life, you are constantly learning.  Some of the biggest lessons come when you actually think you know what you're doing.

 I was trying to take a picture of another project but Grace was just sure I was there to take her picture....so I did.
This is a new wash cloth pattern which I need to measure and it has an edging that needs to go around it.  I'm not sure what this stitch is called but I really like it.  I have a printed off pattern but I'll see if I can find it on Ravelry. 

Easter here was quiet and gorgeous but I changed sheets, did laundry and ironed and took calls from the family which was nice.  I fixed ham salad and some lemon bars........

An old favorite cookbook I've had since my children were small and I still love it.  The lemon bar recipe comes from this cookbook. 

And what a nice Easter surprise........I got hands and nose on some lilacs which I adore.

I hope you all had a nice Easter and Passover.  
Happy Trails!

Great Friday...........

This is the most beautiful Good Friday I remember....74 degrees F, blue skies with clouds floating by, a soft breeze and everything in bloom.....come on...we'll go for a walk together.........

 heading out down our street.....

 the woods are full of dogwoods blooming and it almost looks like fog in the distance...

 the red buds are blooming too........

 everything is budding out....

 something is or was living here probably for the winter...........

 the squirrels do a great job of landscaping throughout the woods...........see the bulbs growing there....

 some nice landscaping rocks but they  might be a bit heavy for me..........

 the woods are ethereal looking...I expect a leprechaun or fairy to step out from behind a tree at any moment........

 starting back home  now......

 the girls were so excited to have some new and interesting smells for a change.......

 getting closer to home ...........

 we're all getting a little tuckered out...it was a long walk...

 almost there..............

 cross this street...........look both ways!

 our house is around the bend down there.........

 our house is right where that curve in the road is.....thanks for taking a walk with us.  I hope we didn't tire you out too much.  We're bushed but it was a gorgeous day and a beautiful walk.

Happy Trails......literally!