SOFT AND PRETTY KNIT PULLOVER

Cozy textured pullover

Lion Brand Homespun Thick & Quick

This yarn is so soft and pretty! 

Pattern #L32012

Stitch by stitch and row by row the yarn becomes a thing! It amazes me even as my needles click and my projects grow right before my eyes. A bonus with this pattern, and Dayna's confidence in me, I learned how to cable!

Knitting provides an opportunity for contemplation and meditation or gives me an excuse to listen to an audio book or watch TV. Making something I can give away allows me to share a bit of my heart with the receiver. If the recipient wants to pass along my creation, that just spreads the joy into wider circles!

The thing I find so frustrating in anything I make (baking or knitting or canning, etc.)  is to have spent hours in the creation only to have the project turn out less than perfect.  The part I dread, but what I know has to happen in knitting, is rip it out and fix it! That should be OK, since I'm knitting for fun and not to be paid for the completed project. 

I've found several tweaks I want to make in this beautiful-to-look-at sweater. I bound it off too tightly, slightly inhibiting the stretch that should be present in the sleeves. The arms are a bit snug... But the body is nice and long since I followed one reviewer's suggestion so that part turned out just the way I'd hoped. Another reviewer of this pattern suggested a larger ribbing pattern which I also incorporated in this version.

  

Maybe I'll just hang it up and admire it instead of wearing it? Or maybe a miracle will occur and it will fit after all? Crossing my fingers...and it fit!

Any knitters who would like to offer suggestions, I'll gladly accept. Also, if you are interested in any of my creations, let me know!

By the way, I bake on request too!

KEEPING WARM?

How are you keeping warm this winter? A cozy fire in the fireplace is always a lovely option. But how to get that fire started? You knew I would give you a helpful tip for that! Make your own fire starters using dryer lint. I clean out the dryer filter and stash it in a cardboard egg carton until it's full.

Next, I carefully melt some old candles.

I use an old soup can inside a pan of water to slowly melt old pieces of candles. Hot pads or even pliers to handle that hot can of melted wax are essential! You'll want to cover your workspace with newspaper in case you drip wax.  Drizzle plenty of melted wax over each lint egg and let it cool. 

Then all you do is peel off a section, place one under your stack of wood, and light the corner. This little lint candle will burn and start the logs every time!

Of course, you'll want to have the makings for s'mores on hand so you can toast yourself and a marshmallow at the same time!

Now don't you feel warmer?

Applying Less Is More To My Life

My friend Jennifer shared this New Year's Resolution with me and it got me to thinking...

JoPapa and I decided to downsize and purge our possessions. Getting rid of a lot of our things was a painful process.  There were a lot of sentimental attachments to things we had accumulated.  The smaller house is good, there's less to clean! So I learned if I have less stuff it equals more freedom.

Here in no particular order, are some other things I'm going to try to apply the "less = more" philosophy to in 2014:

Complain less  = more gratitude 

Waste time less = more accomplished 

Worry less = more peaceful attitude  

Wish less = more doing 

Reminisce  less = more memories made

Take less = more giving

Critique less = more praise

Desire less = more generosity

Worry less = more positive attitude

Faith-falter less =  more Bible study

Wish less = more doing

Take things for granted less = more appreciation 

Waste less = more conserving

Talk less = more listening 

This list is one place where MORE might be a good thing. I'm open to your suggestions for applying less = more! What are your thoughts?

Comedy of Errors

I've learned so much from my mistakes. How about you? I'm so glad erasers are on the end of pencils and that knitting can be unraveled and re-knit! This sweater could have been two sweaters in the length of time it took me to make since I had to take it apart so many times. But a thing worth doing is worth doing correctly. 

My first mistake was over estimating my knitting skills! I needed a mentor. At times like this especially, I sure miss my mom, my mother-in-law, and my aunt! I converted a pattern that called for Coats & Clark Red Heart Lustersheen 

and I used a cotton yarn instead. It was a challenge adjusting the gauge, using different needles and number of stitches. My poor old brain even misread the directions for the pattern. Why was this so easy when I made it 30 years ago and so difficult now? Don't answer that! Then I needed to make sure it fit Dayna so of course I carefully measured and kept knitting. This was supposed to be ready for cool summer evenings!  ...she can wear it next year!

Finally finished, here is my work of love.  

Now, if your heart desires the produce of my knitting needles, I'd love to make something for you too! I can't promise how long it might take to finish, but it will be filled with love and laughter when it's completed. But DON'T ask me to do this little top again, I might not make it through that experience yet again!

Buns

This recipe is one of the most versatile recipes I have, hence the reason I make it so often.  It can be made into a loaf of French bread, bread sticks, buns or pizza.  It's quick and it's never failed to please. 

Tonight, I cheated and didn't even let it rise the full time and yet it turned out deliciously for dinner! We had left over pork roast which I had warmed I my little crock pot with barbecue sauce and then pulled it with two forks untill it was shredded. Served on these buns fresh out of the oven, it was warm and delightfully delicious for dinner.  Let me know how you like this recipe when you try it.

1 package yeast dissolved in 1/4 cup warm water with 1 tablespoon sugar

1 1/2 cup warm water

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon shortening 

4 cups flour

Mix all together, beat well as you add each cup of flour. (I use an electric mixer). By the fourth cup of flour the dough gets harder to stir.  Cover with a cloth and place in a warm spot to rise. Stir down every 10 minutes. Do this 5 times. Shape into desired form: one loaf, or a dozen breadsticks or buns, or two pizza crusts. Let rise 15 to 30 minutes. Bake at 400 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes for bread sticks and buns, longer for a loaf.  I've often hurried this dough and only stirred it down down 2 or 3 times before I have shaped it.

If you are using this dough for pizza crust, you can just mix and let it rise once before using. Then just pile on your favorite sauce and toppings and bake for 20-25 minutes.  

Can you smell this?

Meat loaf

Be careful who you invite to the table to enjoy this mouthwatering dish. My dinner guests each wanted the end slice. Someone, who shall remain nameless, sliced down the sides of the loaf! I think he likes to torment me.

:-D

For me, cooler weather and oven baked meals go hand in hand.  I followed the recipe I found exactly...except with these changes!  I can't help myself from tweaking recipes I haven't even followed once. But that's the kind of girl I am. This was delicious, by the way.

It could be made into for smaller loaves or even meatballs, which would make it easier to put away for a second meal. You might have to adjust the baking time. The flavor and texture were just right. Since I used my food processor to make the bread crumbs, I continued to use the food processor to mix all the ingredients. That probably accounted for the smooth texture. 

Enjoy!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease the bottom of 9x13 pan

Mix together 

2 lbs ground beef

2 beaten eggs

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup dried bread crumbs (I used my food processor to crumb leftover buns I had in the freezer)

1/4 cup chopped onion

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp. savory (the original recipe called for sage)

Shape into large loaf.

Bake 50-60 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees. 

Top with a mixture of:

1/2 cup ketchup

2 tbls. Brown sugar

1 tsp. powdered mustard

Return to oven and bake for 10 more minutes.

RICE PUDDING

Do you find it challenging to cook in smaller quantities?  It seems I often make too much when I’m cooking for two. That can be a good thing if you like left overs. Fortunately, My Shadow and I are easy to please. Sometimes, I cook enough intentionally so we can have two meals. That freezer comes in handy.  But it can be challenging to put those accidental left overs to creative use. 

When I made rice for our dinner, I made extra rice with the thought in mind to make rice pudding.  

Yummy!

Even though I hate to see summer weather depart, the cooler weather puts me in the mood for things like that.  It’s warm, creamy, cinnamon, raisin-filled goodness! Plus, I can choose to eat it for dessert or breakfast.  My mom taught me that!

Here’s the recipe I use to make just enough for two or three servings...for me, myself and I! 

Delicious Microwave Rice Pudding

Use a 4 cup microwave safe bowl.

Mix together:

1 beaten egg

1 cup milk

Heat for 2 minutes.

Using a wire whip, mix in:

1/8 cup corn starch

1/3 cup sugar

Dash of salt

1 tablespoon butter

Cook at 8 power level for 3-4 minutes

Stir in:

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2/3 to 1 cup cooked rice

1/3 cup raisins

Cook 1 minute more at 8 power level. 

Let me know what you think of this tasty treat!