;Snow Day! Knitting, soup and Popovers...

Yep-yesterday in NEPA, we had a snow day! I was so glad for this b/c we just switched my daughter over from public school to a really great private school and our schedule has been turned upside down. She had been going in the afternoons but now I have to wake her up at 6:30 AM to get ready and we are all not used to this yet. It was so nice to hang out in pj's all day.


So, I managed to get caught up on all of the laundry and some cleaning that really needed to be done. I also made this incredibly easy-but-oh-so-good potato and ham soup from our development's newspaper (yes, our development has a community newspaper) and popovers from this new magazine, called Wonder Time-a family mag that I have really enjoyed reading. The soup and popovers were a hit with hubby and me, but the kids only liked the popovers. For some reason, they are just not soup lovers....yet. I just love soup-could eat it anytime...makes for such an easy dinner too....I'll keep trying to convert the girls!! We'll see...



On the knitting front, I've been making these adorable baby boy sneaker booties from one of Ravlery's free patterns. I love these and will be making plenty more for gifts! These little cuties are for a new baby born in the family. Can't wait to send them along with baby baseball tee -again, a free pattern on Ravelry. Can you tell I just can't get enough of Ravelry?? LOVE IT!!!



Oh-just to mention also-did some work for 4 Corners Yarn store in Narrowsburg, NY. Ordered yarn for special orders and planned their upcoming sale for them. I love doing this work-gives me such good experience w/o any real $$$ responsibility of my own. I even get paid in yarn, not $$ so $$ is never exchanged. LOVE this! The sale will run this weekend thru Valentine's Day and will be a "Buy two, get one free" sale on select yarns-the Classic Elite yarns like Dutchess and Inca Alpaca, Inca Marl-all beautiful, would be my score if I was shopping. Dutchess is so gosh darn pretty!! Hope the sale gets a good turnout!

hats, mittens and....

a clutch made from scratch! Yep, this one I'm winging-no pattern, just something that has been haunting me in my head for quite a while. DH and I have a "casino night" party to go to this weekend and the dress is "evening wear." So, I'm whipping up something cute, using black manos del uruguay yarn (does it get any better than manos???) and I haven't decided yet whether I will try out my new skills of needle felting or stick to what I know with a big 'ol felted flower in the front. I'm very excited about this clutch-hoping to have it gather even after felting and have a magnetic closure for the inside. We'll see...

Finally finished the mittens for the girls-here are some pics:

Love how these came out! I used Plymouth galway (which felts up so well!) for the top pair and Noro Silk Garden for the bottom-which didn't felt up as stiff as the galway, much to my initial dismay. Now, I'm fine with it-they are warm enough for older daughter so all is ok. She really loved that yarn and I had used up all of my kureyon so it was the only thing left. Been working from my stash anyway (who isn't these days??) so I was proud that I didn't just buy more kureyon.

Been a crazy few days here at home!! Went to Scranton sit and knit again on Monday and was shocked at the HUGE turnout! So proud of Amber who organized it all. I hope she realizes what a great feat she has accomplished! As one who has also organized knitting/crochet events, it is hard to get good turnouts around here...

Today we are home-bound-hoping to get some cute crafts in with the girls, caught up on the laundry/housework and of course knitting with some good hot tea...

Catching up...

Well, we're finally on the mend here-still have coughs but everyone is getting back to normal routines. Youngest is about to finish her antibiotics and oldest is barely coughing so all is good. Now if only I felt better? Why is it that once they are on the mend, I collapse with symptoms?? My ears hurt, congestion and dizziness and overall, I just don't have the energy for much-but of course, I'm plugging along....like any other mother would. Hoping it'll go away soon....Today hubby and my oldest daughter got a snow day!! YAY! We're going to bake cookies, play with play dough, maybe get a sleigh ride in (down the driveway)...have cocoa....it's going to be a great day!! Hoping it doesn't rain like the forecast is calling for...

Well, to catch up-posted new projects on Ravelry-as usual, I've been knitting my little fingers off! Projects include: mittens and hats for the girls, beret from KnitandTonic who I love...if you don't know, she's knitting designer, Wendy Bernard and I love her designs!! Look her up! Her patterns are clear and precise and always very stylish.


Also, here is a pic of one of the stitchmarker sets that I made for a custom order that I had from Etsy. I love them and it was hard to see them go!

And finally-here is the pic of hubby's winter wreath! I love it!! I hope it lasts a while~~

Christmas hasn't really come yet...

for our family, that is. I mean Santa came and all, but I don't recall much since I was "praying to the porcelain gods" quite early on Christmas morning-and no, it wasn't from too much egg nog!! I wish!!

My oldest daughter got croup on the Thursday before Christmas and kept a fever of 102 through until the day before Christmas Eve-when my youngest took it from her and has since had a fever. Both have unbelievably bad coughs and congestion and b/c I felt so bad for them, through all of my comforting and consoling, I managed to get it as well. Oh, did I mention that this also came with a weird sort of pink eye too? The nurse practioner swears that this doesn't require antibiotics b/c it is just from all of the congestion, but if you were to see my daughter's eyes, you'd rush her over there for some tobromacyn for sure!! So far, hubby, who has been a saint through all of this, has been spared, but since our luck isn't the best, we're thinking he'll get it right before New Year's....b/c of course, we're planning to have our BFF's over. Nice...

Now for knitting! Well, this sickness and loss of the usual Christmas visiting/plans has made way for a lot of sitting and knitting. I've been sitting around so much that my tush is sore! I've managed to stop cursing the retrofit sweater that was supposed to be THE GIFT of all gifts for the DH, and I picked up the needles to finallly finish the shopping tunic that I started in April and put into hibernation. Here it is... This is THE SWEATER that broke my holiday knitting spirit! Notice the LACK of stitch definition-that is b/c, oh yes, it is felted!! Can it be saved?? We'll see....(more notes on Ravelry on my projects page about this bad boy-I just can't bring myself to type it all out again) and...the project that brought back my knitting mojo:

This is the Shopping Tunic from Wenlan Chia-Twinkle's Big City Knits. I started and completed this in three days!! I call that an instant cure for my broken Holiday knitting spirit! Also, a good-close second cure....my Christmas gifts from DH!! I was also spoiled rotten by my darling husband who gave me all things knitting for Christmas. He really took to the theme, gifting me knitpicks options circs set, a ravelry t-shirt, the new KNIT TWO novel by Kate Jacobs, KNITTING by Anne Bartlett, a cabled knitted mug from Starbucks, hand balms and creams, two skeins of really nice red variegated bamboo yarn from Jill Deal, Inc in Milford, and a really cute pair of cable-knit clogs from American Eagle Outfitters ( a store I never normally shop at-but these clogs are soooo cute!). Oh and a recycled knitting needle bracelet from Sassafras Creations-I love this bracelet!! She makes such beautiful things!!! Check it out!!

Ok for some pics...

This is my Christmas loot! Oh-forgot to mention the way-cool game called Mancala that hubby and I are addicted to! Love it! When we're all better, we're going to lug it over to the coffee shop for coffee and gaming...

This is the bracelet from Sassafras Creations on Etsy-I LOVE IT!!!

Misc. catchup since I haven't blogged in awhile (due to broken holiday knitting spirit-it is all connected for me...)

These are my special White Chocolate Cranberry Almond cookies-I made the first batch for the Scranton sit-n-knit group and since have made two more batches for Christmas cookie gifting! Amber of Ambersambry posted a game of tag where you show a pretty picture of something on your blog and then show what you cropped out. Finally, I'm getting around to playing this tag! See what a ridiculous amount of free-time-due-to-sickness can do for my blog?? haha!

This is what the kitchen really looked like:

And again, with my beautiful winterberries for my dining room centerpiece (I love these-they're my favorite part of winter!)

What the scene really looked like:

Thank goodness for cropping!!

This time of year has also brought about some good creative juice to my hubby as well. Before he realized that we were all sicker than dogs and therefore, we would NOT be having any company whatsoever, he made an ice wreath, something he hasn't done for years.....here is a pic of it during the "freezing" process...

He sort of gave up on it though-and it is still in the freezing process on our front porch-he will probably keep it there until we're all better and we have company....here's hoping!

Well, I hope all of you had a wonderful, germ free holiday! And I hope we all have a Happy, Healthy 2009~~ Happy Knitting!

Last minute dash to finish the....

sweater for hubby for Christmas! We've got a snow day today, so I'm hoping to bang out a serious amount of knitting for this darn thing-amongst the other things to do today, like catch up on laundry, play with playdough, polly pockets, wrap teacher gifts, etc....we'll see how it goes. I've got to finish the 2nd sleeve, block it, sew it all up and then put in the dreaded....zipper. Anyone on Ravelry? The pattern I chose (or hubby chose) is the Retrofit cardigan-really nice pattern!! Love it! Well written and the designer, a guy, is very helpful. I've messaged him a few times and even though he and his wife just welcomed home twins (!) he still managed to message me back-both times!!

Onto other news...
Went to Anthology in Scranton on Monday night for sit-n-knit and again, had a blast! Had some yummy treats, good glass of wine and knit through the 1st sleeve with great company. Amber brought more samples of her terrific soap-I am in love with the poppyseed and herb, and the cedar and something (can't remember what else is in it)-they smell unbelievable!! Check her out for sure for those last-minute stocking gifts. She's a local gal so if you're in to buying local, buy from her!!

I brought some mini zucchini quiches and they were a hit, I'm so glad to say! I promised to post the recipe here on the blog, so here it is:

Zucchini Quiche
Ingredients:
3 C. shredded zucchini
1C. bisquick mix (I use the reduced fat one)
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. grated cheese (I used a mix of parmiggiano reggiano/pecorino romano/parmesan from Wegmans)
1 TBSP parsely
1/2 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 c. olive oil
4 eggs

Directions:
Mix all ingredients, except for Bisquick-then add Bisquick. Mix well. Grease pan (square, quiche pan, just about anything will do-I used a mini-muffin pan). Bake at 350 degrees until golden brown. For bigger pans, this may take up to 55 minutes-my mini muffin pans took around 25 minutes. Can be served hot or cold.

Hope you enjoy!

Abby Caddaby!

Well, today is my daughter's 3rd birthday. I can't believe it. If I think about it, I can put myself right back to the day we went to the hospital because I was having contractions. It was supposed to snow, I was nervous and truthfully, tired of being pregnant. I wanted her out. I didn't want her to have a birthday so close to Christmas b/c I didn't want her to ever feel "gipped" from getting combined Christmas/birthday gifts. So, off we went. They checked me out and told me that while I did have contractions, I wasn't nearly dilated enough. Unless I progressed soon, I was going to be sent home. So-hubby and I did sprints around the hospital, until I progressed!! Checked in and slept overnight. She was born the following afternoon and was the easiest labor ever. I can clearly remember trading wisecracks with hubby and the doctor in between pushes....

And now she's 3!! She came into our room this morning holding up three little fingers saying, "Mommy, Daddy, I'm thlee, I'm thlee!!" So cute! We had m&M pancakes for breakfast, scooted off the the Highlights Open House in Honesdale for some crafty festivities and refreshments, bought some books, went out to lunch at Patisserie Du Jour on Main St. and then headed home for naps (for everyone!). So far, a wonderful day!!

I just finished her cake-Abby Caddaby! I think she came out well. Hopefully, the "thlee" year old will think so too!

Christmas Countdown...

Well, I did it. Scrounged around my parents' yard for pinecones, sprayed them with some silver paint that we had in the basement and hot-glued to a grapevine wreath....added a bow lying around (also in the basement!) and voila! This year's wreath for the front door!! This beauty cost me less than $5 bucks!! Love it!!



I'm noticing that my style is becoming more and more modern. This doesn't concern me, but I am noticing it. Especially since we moved and I had to decorate a new home, my tastes have definitely changed. I'm liking clean lines and less-complicated things more and more, although I do admit-I love color! The more the merrier. I guess that's good for my knitting!



Speaking of knitting-although I thought I'd try this year to not make myself nuts with knitting presents, I believe that this is yet another year where I'm going to go down to the wire to finish everything....recently added to my previous list of projects:

More beaded bracelets...will I get tired of making these? Probably not, b/c they are so simple and really don't require a lot of time...

a few crocheted washcloths made of this great linen yarn I have had sitting in my stash-will go great with the soaps I recently bought from anothe etsy seller ambersambry.

Her soaps are just wonderful and I'm sure my friend will love them! Need to bang out those washcloths by next weekend...and of course, I'm still working on hubby's sweater-once that is done, I'll feel much better.



Just completed three days of babysitting the cutest kids-one, who is a 6 month old and one who is my daughter's age (5). They were angels during all 3 days, but boy, am I wiped. Today, I'm hoping to hang out and knit, straighten up the house, knit.....put laundry away, knit....and put together my soon-to-be 3 year old's Elmo Restaurant. Yep-I got it for her, as per her request, but thanks to good bargain hunting, I paid about 1/2 the retail price. Here's hoping it's easy to put together...



Tonight it's Santa shopping at the Toysrus in Dickson City! I love this night! Hubby doesn't nearly love it as much as I do and I'm thinking that he won't especially this year b/c both girls have asked for the same things: dollies and dolly beds, bottles, changing tables, etc. I'm going to have a ball!! WhoHOOO! Reliving childhood memories of baby dolls is so fun for me....

Wonder if I'll be able to knit up a few baby doll blankets before 12/25???