Sunday, September 21, 2014

Back-Off My Yarn Stash

"Back-off, this is my yarn stash, Astri," said Bunny Rose assertively.
 "I am working on an outfit, that will coordinate with the dress I am wearing,"
 Bunny Rose embarrassedly whispered.

"I'm sorry, I'll go back to my stash," Astri said, ashamed.
"It's just that the colors you chose are irresistible...and I couldn't control myself,"
Astri humbly explained. 
 
"Alright, you can touch the skeins, but for heaven's sake,
wash your hands first," Bunny Rose replied with a wink.
 


Saturday, September 20, 2014

Blanket and Pillow for "Sharkie"

Hello!
 
We have been on vacation for the last couple of weeks and we are back.
Posts were scheduled during the absence and I did read
every single one of all your wonderful comments on my phone;
however, due to data usage this was the most I could do.
I will be around to visit soon.
 
While away it was noted that one of our grandson's stuffed animals
 was in need of blanket and pillow.
This particular stuffed animal was a shark...
a kissing shark, not a biting shark according to his master.
 
This made for a great road trip project...and let me tell you, we covered A LOT of road!
Louisiana to Texas to New Mexico to Colorado and back home to Utah.
 
So here are the results of the road trip project:
 

Our four year old grandson chose the colors. :-)
 
Gotta' make sure that "Sharkie" knows where these came from.

All packed up and ready to head to Texas!
 


Thursday, September 18, 2014

The Hubby Knows Jambalaya

The NVO cooks a specialty:
Jambalaya!
(Pictured with a "Hurricane", another Louisiana specialty.).
Each time he uses a different recipe.
Each time it turns out wonderful.
 
This time he used Donald Link's recipe from this book:
The book was a birthday gift from offspring #5 (Precious),
she even hooked the NVO up with a signed copy!
I love Cajun Food. :-)
How about you?
 
 


Tuesday, September 16, 2014

Project Progress

Another "Granny Rose" project on the horizon:
 These flowers are made with Stylecraft Special DK yarn
 in Saffron, Apricot and Shrimp, but
Jaffa will be added, as well (bottom right),
to complete some of the colors of autumn.
 
 
Roses pattern found here.
 
The entire Rose Granny Square plus how to make a pillow out of the squares found here.
(These are not going to be a pillow, this time.)
 
These looked so perfectly lined-up behind the lens...

Oh well, how perfectly lined-up do they look now? ;-)
 
Stay close, this will be a fun one!


Sunday, September 14, 2014

An Itty Bitty Bag

Thank you all so much for your ideas and comments on
"What should I do with the "La Vie en Rose" afghan test swatch?"
 
I loved all the ideas:
 
Table topper for candle or a vase of flowers.
A doll cushion (very sweet).
A wall hanging with strings and tassels.
A dollhouse area rug.
A dressing table doily.
 
and this is the one I went with:
 
"Little Bag"
as suggested by E Strea Chikitu.
 
I took the easy route, though, and crocheted a cord,
wound it in and out of the spaces in the shells,
sewed the ends together and pulled.
 
Like this:
and that was easy!

I think I will place a little box of "Aplets and Cotlets", in the
 "Little Bag", as they coordinate with the bag and are so very delicious.
Mmmmm...apples, apricots and walnuts.
Oh, maybe a box for me, too.
 
It will be a gift. :-) 
 


Friday, September 12, 2014

Gone Texas! (A Norwegian phrase)

While in Norway, we discovered a most interesting phrase that was used in our presence:
 
"Gone Texas"
 
This is how it was used:
 
"That party had gone Texas!"
 
Hmmmmmm....we thought (the NVO having spent 26 years in Texas and all),
so, curiously, we asked, "What does that mean?"
Well, from what we gather, it means something got really wild and crazy.
(Apparently the Norwegians think Texas is the wildest of our States...
might be..who knows for sure?)
 
That's all we needed to know. ;-)
It has now become part of our "little sayings" repertoire.
(In fact the wind is blowing so wildly at our home right now, it's "Gone Texas".) 
 
Well, now I can safely and literally say we have, "Gone Texas",
 and Louisiana and New Mexico and a little bit of Colorado, too.
 
It's a road trip!
First to visit a new grandbaby, and two daughters in NOLA, LA.
Then Houston for another grandchild and son.
Then the Texas Hill Country, checking out relocating options.
Then, NM for a green chili burger!
 
And this is the first time that one of our offspring has actually requested
 that I make and bring some crocheted items!
Yeah! Finally!
 
And here they are,
six dishcloths!
(The requested colors were: hot pink, yellow, ocean blue and grass green.)
How did I do?
How did I do on the segue?
 The middle yarn is called "psychedelic".
This is my most popular pattern and can be found here.
Folks (and kinfolk now, too) love receiving these, they can wring them out and
hang them on the faucet to dry.
Once you use these it's likely you will never want anything else.
These make fantastic gifts!
 
And here are more photos of the dishcloths,
with "Fiestaware" which seems to me has
"Gone Texas" too.




Bright, huh?
Just like the kiddo that requested them. ;-)

 
May your day
GO the TEXAS way!
 
 


Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Caprese Soup

I promised you something good to eat, right?
Well, here is my best effort.
 (this one makes use of all those tomatoes that are harvesting right now.)
 
Caprese Soup!

( A family favorite)

I apologize, in advance, for my lack of providing measurements, but I think you would
be able to improvise based on the amount of tomatoes you have. ;-)
You could even leave some ingredients out and I think it would still be yummy.
(Add some too, and then tell me about it in the comment section.)
 
Here's what I did:
Chopped up a bunch of onions, garlic, all the garden tomatoes I had left,
and I even had a small bag of tri-color mini mild peppers.
Add a little water.

 Added three cans of tomatoes.
(I like the fire roasted best - but anything will do.)
 Some chicken base...I like this one: no MSG!
 
 Basil from the garden.
 
 Basil was rinsed then cut, with kitchen shears, directly into the pot.

S & P, Red Pepper Flakes, and Italian Seasoning.
About this much. :-)
 
Something creamy.

I used Almond Milk and Greek Yogurt.

 
Then...
arm your self with this handy tool,
and puree it right in the pan.

 BEFORE PUREE
 
 AFTER PUREE
 
Better lighting = Yum!
 
 Now grab some fresh mozzarella cheese and balsamic vinegar,
 
 and a bowl.
 
There are two serving options:
 
First like this:
(Cheese on the bottom will help the cheese melt a little.)
Cheese
 
Balsamic Vinegar
 
Soup and sprig of basil.
(Hides cheese.)
 
This is the second option and my preferred method:
Soup first, then cheese and vinegar with sprig of basil.

 

 
Leftovers were individually frozen and saved for lunches.
There will be fighting over these leftovers!
 
Let me know if you make it and what you added or left out!