Bazaar Day

The first Saturday in November is Bazaar Day in my family.  It's been that way as long as I can remember.  We meet early and browse and shop and end with lunch.

My first memories of the bazaars were a bit different.  It was waking up before the sun was even peaking over the horizon and loading up the car and heading to the elementary/middle school in Eagle.   My mom & my aunt shared space by the back door so I could freely come and go to the car as I needed.  I would help bag things and run little errands until I got bored and then out the car I would go to read or sleep.  As I got older I started running the calculator and handling money and sometimes it was not pleasant, I'm sure, for my Mom to deal with my attitude.  I cherish those memories, though, they are what started and cultivated my desire to be crafty.

Later, after my Mom had stopped selling things and I was in high school & college, I didn't attend as regularly.  I'm sure sleeping was much more interesting to me. :-)

Lately though, we go every year and my Aunts & Cousins join us and it's nice to walk around and see what people can create.  Every year there is usually something new that I never would have thought of.  But more than seeing the nifty items for sale, it is a time to just be.  Not think about work, or chores, or what I need to do, but to just enjoy the time with my Mom and family and just be together.

Music & Moods

I am a music girl.  I don't know if I go a single day without listening to some sort of music.  I know I would go insane at work if I couldn't have my ipod, it seriously keeps me sane and calm.

I have a wide variety of music on my ipod, but few musicians that I will by a cd before I even listen to one song.  My most favorite band like this is 3 Doors Down, I have yet to see them in concert, but I will someday.  Each new cd they put out is my favorite, but their most recent one Time of My Life has one song that really speaks to me.

"Race For The Sun"

It's gonna rain some days I know
And things are gonna hurt sometimes that's for sure
But I won't get turned around 'cause I keep moving on
I think my mind plays tricks on me
'Cause sometimes what I get ain't what I see
I just turn it upside down and I keep moving on

I'm gonna race for the morning sun
I can't wait for the day that's on it's way
I'm gonna race for the morning sun
And it's gonna shine on me
Oh, it's gonna shine

I'm gonna take everything I want
And won't get lost in what I don't
I just hide it all inside and I keep moving on

I'm gonna race for the morning sun
I can't wait for the day that's on it's way
I gonna race for the morning sun
And it's gonna shine on me

Oh, it's gonna shine a light right down on me
And I swear I’ll find where I wanna be
And I’ll live the day like it's the only one
I'm gonna race for the sun

Shine a light right down on me
And I swear I’ll find where I wanna be
And I’ll live the day like it's the only one
I'm gonna race for the sun

Shine a light right down on me
And I swear I’ll find where I wanna be
And I’ll live the day like it's the only one
I'm gonna race
I'm gonna race for the sun
 
I love the message that I get from this song and I think it is important for me to listen to it.  I do a lot of looking back and wishing that I could change things in the past (whether it be yesterday or 15 years ago) and I don't think that is a focus that I should have.  Making the best out of what today is going to bring and looking forward to experiencing new things is my new focus.

Checking In

I've missed blogging.  Work has been consuming my time for the past month and a half.  I think maybe my head may stay above water for a while now.  I have lots to share with you.

Lets start with a picture of my 3rd project for my Camp Loopy.  I had the most difficulty getting this one completed in the time allotted, but I did and it turned out pretty.  It now lives at my Mom's house.  It seems a lot of things I knit end up at her house.  I may have to spread the love a bit more.  :-)

Ravelry Link



















 

So that's that one.  I have started on one Christmas gift, but it is slow going and I'm not sure I actually want to give it as a gift at Christmas.  I'm also working on my own pattern for an ear warmer,  I'm about 75% done so that will come along shortly.

Alaska was wonderful.  Here is the first picture.  Taken on Friday at Earthquake park. May I present my dad, the grump.  :-)

 

There were a TON of different mushrooms growing around the park.  I liked these mushrooms!

A Year and a month or two

It was a little over ayear ago that my Dad had major life changing surgery.  The change that I've seen in him is amazing.  Even before the surgery he was taking better care of himself and he's quite the inspiration to me.  I've always been a Daddy's girl, but it seems as we both grow older our relationship is improving as well.

So today is his birthday and I think a great time to celebrate his life and how grateful I am that he's going to be around for many years to come.  He doesn't agree, but I told him we celebrate birthdays in this family.  :-)

In other news I finished the third project for my Camp Loppy, it is drying as we speak (type/read whatever!).  I have lots of pictures and stories to share from a trip to Alaska in August.  So more posts to come.

FO: Knotted gloves and other things.

1. I finished the 2nd project for my Camp Loopy challenge. Ravelry Link.   I had fun with the project, I've not done a lot of cable work so this was a nice introduction. The yarn is wonderfully sparkly, but you cannot tell in the pictures!



And a close up of the cable:




Next is onto project three and it is another shawl, but with a lot more yardage.  The challenge is to use over 800 yards of yarn.  Good thing I'll have plenty of knitting time on the plane.

2.  Michael Buble has never been on my ipod, or in my music scene, but I ended up going to his concert a couple of evenings ago and I LOVED it.  I knew I'd like the music, I love big band and Sinatra and all that, but he was so stinking funny.  I don't think I've ever laughed so hard at a music concert.  I would definitely pay to see him again.  His opening act was Naturally 7, a group of 7 guys that do not use any instruments, only their voices and the music they create is phenomenal.  Seriously, check them out.

3.  Soon I'll be headed to Alaska and I'm hoping to get some wonderful pictures while I'm up there to share.  If I get some good ones I want to blow them up and use them to decorate my living room and/or bedroom.  Plus I get to see one of my most wonderfulest friends while I'm there. Win-win I say.

FO: Cladonia Shawl

Instead of just having pictures of the finished object (FO), I thought I'd take you on a journey what goes into it.

First of course is the knitting (WIP):



This is right before I started on the lacey party of the shawl.  After you've finished knitting and weaving in all the loose ends you wash it.  I use a product called Soak, it is a non-rinsing detergent that you just let the item soak in for 15 minutes. 

After a quick spin in the washer to get as much of the water out you block the item.  Not all things require blocking, but items with lace work in them really pop after they've been blocked.

before:





during:



and after:





And that is the process of making a pretty FO.

I really liked this pattern and want to make it again, it went quickly.  Until I had to take out 5 rows at the end, but that was a learning experience and it made it prettier.

My next Camp Loopy project is Knotty Gloves, and the yarn is pink & cream with sparkles.  :-)

A Teaser

I have finished my first project for my summery camp.  You can have a small peak:



I have an idea of the blog for that project, coming in the next few days (cross your fingers, but don't hold your breath!)

I did want to share one more picture with you. It was taken a couple of nights ago and the sky was just lovely.  Enjoy...

Camp Loopy 2011

So one of my favorite on-line yarn stores is holding the 2011 Camp Loopy for the next three months.  There is a challenge each month and if you participate and complete the three challenges you get free yarn.  I love free yarn.  ♥ 

The time frames are tight, but I'm hoping that this will kick my knitting butt in gear.  The past couple of months have been light on the desire to knit.  Of course that could be due to the fact that I've been devouring books on my Nook.  :-)

The first challenge requires you to make a shawl (or something that you could throw around your shoulders while sitting around the camp fire) that uses two or more colors.  I've decided on the following pattern designed by Kristen Kapur (Through the Loops one of my favorite designers!!)  Cladonia with a 100% superwash marino wool in pink & brown.  If you are looking at the picture of the shawl the green will be brown & the blue will be pink. 

I'd like to do a picture once a week to see the progress that I get done.  This challenge runs from 06/15 to 07/15.  I have four days off for the 4th of July so I see extreme knitting being done those days.  :-)

Not a great picture of the yarn colors, but you at least get an idea.  

Easter

This year for Easter I offered to make the rolls.  I'm on a bread kick it seems.  I found a nifty recipe on Tasty Kitchen for French Bread Rolls and I busted them out.

A yummy picture of the whole batch:

Then I made deviled eggs.  Something that is a must at any family gathering in my opinion.  My Gram used to always do the deviled eggs so I've made it my mission to be the bringer of the deviled eggs going forward.  Last time I made them they were a bit too mustardy for me (and my mama) so this time I decided to tweek the recipe and just throw some things in:

I like things quite spicy so I was a bit worried the cayenne & Tabasco might be too much, but turns out I didn't put enough in.  However, they were devoured so all was good. And I got to use my nifty egg platter.

And just to try out some picture taking tools that I learned in my photography class I learned here is a picture of the boiling eggs:

Day of Cooking

It seems every time I turn around it's been almost a month since I posted.  Not cool.  I have lots of pictures to share so this post will be a follow up to my last one regarding the "Day of Cooking".

1.  Cinnamon Rolls:

This is the first attempt I've made at creating cinnamon rolls.  I used the Pioneer Woman's recipe from her cook book sans her frosting.  I'm not a fan of coffee flavoring in things so I just used a basic frosting recipe that my came from my Mom.  These rolls were requested by Mom for her birthday, although she did end up helping which was greatly appreciated.

It made a lot of cinnamon rolls. A lot.  I didn't get any in process pictures.  I seriously forgot about the camera until the end of the day!! So not so many pictures to share.

You split the dough in half, the first roll we melted the butter and spread it on and it was very very messy.  The second roll we just softened the butter and it was a bit easier to roll.  I don't know if I would make them again.  The flavor was good, but I like big fluffy rolls and these did not seem to raise very well.  Maybe my house was too cold?  Who knows.  Also next time much MORE cinnamon.  Much more!!  I'd give these a 3.75 out of 5.

2. Gram's Soup

This was my first time attempting to make my Gram's soup.  It is a basic veggie base with tomato juice, hamburger, & pasta added to make a soup.  Again, no in process pictures, but finished ones.  It was a hit with my Dad and I've since made a bigger batch and canned them.

Above: what I canned; below: finished product.

I made two other dishes that day, but no pictures to show for them.  The first was tex-mex pot stickers from Hungry Girl's 300 under 300 book.  The second was a chicken pot pie that I found online.  Both were good, but not sure I'd make them again.

And so concludes the Day of Cooking.  It was fun, though I don't think I'd do so many in one day again.  

 

Cinnamon roll anyone? I still have 'em.  :-)

 

New Things A-comin'

I'm having a hankering for cooking/baking these days and I've decided this Saturday will be the day.  On the list:

1. Cinnamon rolls from The Pioneer Woman Cooks.
2. I hijacked a couple of folders & a huge bag of my Gram's recipes and I'm looking to see what I can fix. I found a wheat bread one that I want to make as well.
3.  Mom purchased the new Hungry Girl's 300 under 300 recipe book.  I've got my eye on a tex-mex pot sticker combo that I'll put together as well. 

And in between all the bread raising and the cooking I'll be knitting.  I started my 2nd quarter socks, a Christmas present (and it's not even October!!) and got one glove done of a build my own pattern that I'm not wild about, but Mom likes them so I need to get the 2nd one done for her.



I also finished a shawl that has been on my needles for a couple of years.  Coalie & Belle were real big helps when I was doing the fringe.  I'll have a better picture & post to come, but here's a peak.



Hope y'all are doing well.  :-)

Walking

With the weather being nicer (some days!) I've taken to walking outside.  I love where I live because it's close to the city, but far enough out that there is quite a lot of land around me with animals and vegetation.

Saturday morning I went for a walk and saw these pussy-willows along the side of the road.



I'm still learning about taking pictures with my phone so it's not the best, but it brought back so many memories.


One of my Aunt's house backed up to a canal in Nampa and when we'd go over there we'd always pick the pussy-willows and color them.  I can recall many bouquets left for her when we were all done.

It was always a fun thing to pick these. I wanted to stop every time we'd see them along the road.  They were always so soft and fuzzy.  And something to make one smile. :-)

A quick way to Remember Knitting

So I was excited on Monday evening because a new book I wanted was coming out on Tuesday so about 10:00 I set my knitting down and went in to check to see if it was available at audible.  Never even though of my knitting again.....

Until the following morning when I woke up to this:

Yes, the knitting was in one place, the ball of yarn in another and the piece in between.  :-)  Thankfully the monster kittens did not harm the knitting or the needles so they live to play another day! :-)

1st Quarter Socks - FINISHED!!

I finished my first quarter socks with a weeks to spare. :-)



Ravelry link for those that can see:


When Worlds Colide

I really enjoyed these making these socks. I made both at the same time using a circular needle. It got a little hairy since I was using the same ball of yarn, but turns out I have enough left over to make a pair of fingerless gloves.



My next sock project will be knitting a pattern called "Stacia" how could I no purchase that? Pictures will be forthcoming of the pretty pink yarn I'm going to use.

March 24th

March 24th is a day forever etched in my heart.  It is a day that my Mom & I honor with a trip to Buhl, Id with flowers and loving thoughts in our heart to remember my Gram.  It's been 7 years since she's passed and I still miss her so much.

I was the youngest grandchild in the area when I was growing up, my Grandfather had passed away before I was born so I had the special honor of getting to sleep with my Gram when we'd go visit.  Although I'm sure it wasn't her honor to sleep with me, there are many pictures with me spread across the bed sleeping.  :-)  There was also the times of sitting on one of the dining room chairs helping in the kitchen, or getting to sit on the old yellow metal stool, or playing with the ceramic pig pitchers on the shelves. 

Probably the most common memory of my Gram is the first thing we did when I (or any of her grandkids) got there.  She's have her arms open for a welcome hug and after a squeeze we'd see where we measured against her top button.  As the years went by and I grew it changed to where she measured on my top button.  Always, every time I'd see her we measure that top button.  I miss my Gram's hugs and her laugh and playing card at the table trying to teach me games.  I miss talking about her childhood, and her kids growning up.  And I'm SO THANKFUL that she was in my life.

Her last couple of years were rough for her, she was moved to Boise to be in an assisted living home with trepidation.  I'm so thankful for that last year.  I'd swing by and pick her up to take her to my Parent's house on Sundays and we'd watch NASCAR and eat dinner and just be a family.  I can remember the last Christmas, she was at my Mom's house helping out getting ready for Christmas Eve and I called for some reason and she told me, in no uncertain terms, to get my butt over there to help my Mom. 

I treasure the memories of that time.  The last time I saw her before the hospital we'd stopped at her place to check in and see how she was doing and drop something off.  I was the last one out the door and she was ironing.  I had the door closed and for some reason I opened it up and told her that I loved her very much, gave her a hug and ran out to the car.  I'm so glad that I acted upon that instinct, it is a great last memory.

Hanging out at the hospital is another story for another time, but there was so much laughter that the Nurses requested that we close the door so as not to disturb the other patients.  That's the kind of family I have, a loving, story telling, happy family.  And I'm so blessed to be a part of them.

January in Pictures

I didn't get many pictures taken in January.  I've not found much to inspire me outside. I cannot wait for spring!!  However, I did take some, so here is my January in pictures:

First new recipe of the new year.  Will be made again.

Coalie's favorite place to relax.

A sleeping Belle.

Second recipe of the year.  One that will not be made again.

Best Friend's birthday present as modeled my the Mom and sewn by me.

Socks and inquisitive cat.

Whatcha doing? Am I bothering you?

First finished pair of socks for the year.

Hopefully February will be a more exciting month.  I'm taking a photography class and am very much looking forward to it.

Goals - Progress Check

Let's revisit the 2011 goals now that we are a month and change into the new year.

1. Focus more on my health:
        Well I did sign up for the Treasure Valley Weight Loss Challenge with my Mom and I've added exercise to the formula.  So I suppose this one is going okay.  It would be better if I had added the exercise before this week.  But a girl has to start somewhere!

2.Get my finances in order:
         I've decided that one week a month I will not spend any money.  This is my 2nd time doing this and it's going well.  I don't quite feel the satisfaction I thought I would so I may revisit this in the future and define it a bit differently. 

3  Finish all knitting projects currently on my needles:
          As demonstrated by my previous post, I have done that with one project.  This leaves me with two projects still on needles and I am very much thinking that one is going to get frogged before too long.  It has been on my needles since 2008 and I'm just so not into it.  We'll see how I feel in a bit.  In other news I also wanted to complete a pair of socks every quarter for 2011 and I've cast on and knit the ribbing for the first pair.  Go me.  :-)

4. Try at least one new recipe a month:
          This has very much been a success.  In the month and 10 days since the beginning of the year I've done 3 new dinners (maybe 4) and only one has not passed muster.

As for the other goals, they are moving along at their own pace.  I've been quite focused on my new business but that will be it's own little post when everything is all squared away! 



 

First Finished Object of 2011

One of my knitting goals this year is to complete the projects that were on my needles at the end of 2010.  I've cast off one.  My 2nd pair of socks.

These are called May Flowers (ravelry link) and the yarn is from The Loopy Ewe.  I was in a sock club last year and this is one of the packets.  I refer to these as my Pittsburgh socks because I started them when I was traveling back to Pittsburgh and they are yellow which is one of the colors of the Steelers.  Though I must admit I'm rooting for the Packers in the Super Bowl.

Since I've finished these, I've cast on my 1st quarter socks Worldly Socks (another ravelry link).  I'm in a knit-a-long so I aim to have these completed by mid-March. A lofty goal with everything else I have going on, but I'm gonna try!

Some additional pictures of the sock.  On the front of the leg is a tulip and I think it's interesting how each sock had a different pooling effect (the stripes or how the colors came out).  I love them though.  Great fit and lovely yarn.

Coalie looking at the socks.

And deciding that they looked to comfy to not lay on!

A Lazy Sunday

It is needed every once in a while, that day that you do nothing strenuous.  Today consisted of going to church, changing into my comfy close, watching playoffs and knitting.  The kittens have enjoyed quite the lazy day as well....

January New Recipes

I have done well on my goal to try a new recipe each month. In fact I did two new recipes this weekend and it's only 1/3! :-)

The first was Arroz Rojo with Beef from Campbell's Kitchen:
















 It is the meaty mixture in the burrito.  I added lettuce, cheese, salsa & sour cream.  YUMMY!I will definitely make this again and the recipe is going into the binder. 

Tonight I tried a crockpot meal from a Better Homes & Garden recipe book.  It was a Cheesy, tortellini casserole.  Now, in order to like this you must like cheese tortellini.  I thought I liked it, my friend makes a soup and it has tortellini and I LOVE IT.  But this, not so much.  I would totally make the recipe again just use some other sort of pasta. 

In the crockpot.

In my bowl all steamy hot.

My first attempt at broiling a roll.











So all in all a good start to this goal.  :-)