Lettuce??

What is it??



It's ...

Let's see ...

A ruffled lettuce scarf!!



It's my own version of the spiral scarf. Pattern can be found here

Dishcloth made for Brendan's teacher ...


Towel made for Betsy's teacher ...


"Stuff" from tea swap - thank you so much Deneen!!! You truly spoiled me!

Two very nice dishcloths and a tea mug with infuser and lid


All the tea!!!!


(Not in order) there's some adadio valentine's tea, lemon berry breeze (gevalia herbal), green tea (brought back from China), some twinings tastes of summer, earl grey and lady early grey, honey ginseng mint (gevalia herbal), and a chamomile!! I am SET for a loooong time! Now I just have to get her tea ready to send (I'm going to send it with your yarn, Deneen, so it may be a couple more weeks - worth the wait, I promise!)!

This is something I am VERY proud of:


That's my daughter!! She's been asking to learn how to crochet, so finally this morning we gave it a shot! She was soooo frustrated in the beginning, but stuck with it, and here's the end result!

Looky what I made, Mom!


And just cause I love 'em, here's pics of the other kids, too ...

Brendan is getting so big ... I think I have FINALLY found the key to getting him to read ... he likes history!! He's reading a biography of Martha Washington now and is really enjoying it.


Andrew goofing off


Justin - ignore the "allergy nose" please - it was too good a grin to keep to myself!

Around the yard

Some pictures of the plants around our yard. We keep find new treasures, almost every day. Don't stop until you get to the last pictures - they're worth the wait!

Anyone know the names for these?? Any plant pic that doesn't have a name above it - if you know what it is, please leave me a comment telling me what it is! Thanks! (And thanks, E, for all your help!)

Queen Anne's Lace


(Succulent?)


Japanese Maple








My "garden" (just transplanted from pots) -
Red pepper plant


Betsy's sunflower and my yellow pepper plant


Chives


Grape Vine


Roses from one of the bushes (there are four, two are not blooming, but this one is absolutely spectacular!)


Tiger lilies - they're everywhere!

Lots to catch up on!

We are moved into our new house! Lots to unpack still, but we are here, and glad to be completely out of the old place.

Brendan and his team won the minor league division for the Riverside Little League last night! They all have a lot to be proud of - they all played well. I'm very thankful that this year has been a good experience for him - he's made several new friends (the assistant coach lives around the corner, and two teammates live close by) and has learned a lot (thanks, Coaches Hall & Poole!).

I receive my package for the Crochetville Kitchen and Bathroom Swap from Lanette - she sent me some beautiful things! Dh and I hadn't planned on using yellow in our kitchen but after seeing the things she made I think that it will become an accent color in there! Really brightens things up. And goes surprisingly well with the red accent walls we painted.

All of it together:


The placemats - 2 big ones for mom & dad, and 4 smaller kid sized ones:


And the other things - (going from the left around clockwise) a pretty towel with a topper, a potholder, a special microwave potholder (her creation), a plastic bag holder, and a discloth.


She truly spoiled me - I love my things, Lanette! We will enjoy and use them!

I was inspired to make a towel with a topper on my own - I couldn't find a pattern I really liked, so I grabbed Lanette's and one my grandmother gave me years ago, and made up my own. This is my first ever design, and simple as it is - I'm very proud of it. I'll post a pattern tomorrow - still need to write it up! Don't ask me what kind of yarn I used - all I can tell you is that it's a fuzzy-ish ww acrylic that was from my mom's stash and no longer has a label!!

Dragonfly Towel


Hmmm - I guess it isn't exactly my first ever with no pattern, but this next item is basically just two circles, crocheted in a spiral (start with the same number of stitches and keep track of increases and new rows) as you go so you have the same number of stitches at the end, then lay wrong sides together and single crochet through the outside stitches. Makes a wonderful hot pad! I'm proud of it because I have a really hard time (or used to) getting circles to lay flat and not ruffle, and getting two that were the same size to lay flat together - well, yay for me! It's an accomplishment for me. I'm working on a rectangular-ish one now to go under larger items (like a 13 x 9 pan) - I always have to use two hot pads with those, so I'm trying to come up with one that's big enough on it's own.

This one is the same yarn (sugar and spice shades of green) on both sides.


Two more pictures and I promise I'm done for today ...

Here's our new loveseat (sleeper sofa is the same, just longer) - color isn't great (silly camera) - on it, you should see a cone of a bright olive green yarn - I purchased it from Rodney's Specialty Yarns months ago in expectation of buying this furniture:


Funny story - we could never get ourselves to bite the bullet and buy any of it (this particular line). Then we talked ourselves into a sectional in completely different colors but again couldn't talk ourselves into buying it. Well - Saturday we went in to look yet again. Still couldn't decide - then went into the clearance basement. And ... ta da ... we found the discontinued line in the colors we'd originally fell in love with!! They had two of everything, and they were stock items, not floor, so we got to pick! We spent less than half the sectional would have been AND less than just the sleeper alone would have cost had we ordered it when it was a floor item. It looks fabulous in our basement, even though the picture is not very exciting! And the yarn - I was planning to make into a throw for Father's Day for Mike, but there just hasn't been time. So, he got a cone of chenille yarn with an explanation - lol!

And the last picture ... if your kids are ever bored, give them a few boxes! Andrew and Justin were being little pests this morning (I love them, but everyone has off days, lol), so I dragged out a couple of the more beat up boxes (we have plenty right now) and this is the result!


Have a great day! :)

We are homeowners!

We closed yesterday afternoon and are now homeowners! We also had the joy of seeing Brendan cross over last night - he is now a Bear. The picture I'm enclosing of that experience is after they've crossed over (bridge is to the left) and the former wolves (new bears) are handing the wolf badges and neckerchieves to the new wolves as they cross over. Passing the torch, so to speak.



And one pic of Justin being Justin ...



And finally house related pictures:

One more square

This one is adapted from the Irish Rose Square pattern. I used red and purple (pic makes it look like blue??), dropped the last three rows in the pattern, and did my own thing (it's not as straightforward as it looks, lol).



Feeling much better today. Just drop dead tired; don't know where that's coming from, and it's getting very frustrating. My mouth and jaw feel tons better today, so why am I so exhausted??

Three more squares ...

And a picture with the 12 that are done.

Panda Pineapple Square


Cygnus Square


Circle of Friends


And an updated picture showing the 12 squares that are done.


I had some major dental work yesterday - it was absolutely miserable. Dental work is never fun, but this was bad. I went in at noon and didn't leave until 1:45. Had to get two teeth pulled and the sites wouldn't numb right - my mouth and part of my throat were numb but the area ammediately around the teeth in question wouldn't numb completely. I lost track after 16 different injections - separate needles, not just injections. He initially tried the normal way; when that didn't work, he did it again. When that didn't take, he said he'd have to refer me to their oral surgeon - I burst into tears (I was a wreck to begin with) - it would have been another two and a half weeks before the oral surgeon was in when I could go. So, he went in with a separate injection around each root. It took on one side, so he pulled that one (came out in multiple pieces) but not the other side so he went in and did at least 4 more injections - I lost count after he did all the roots again, but there were more. Anyway, finally took, so he pulled that one - but it didn't want to come out. Ended up dislocating my jaw and having him essentially laying acrossing my forehead to get it out. I was numb for a good three hours after, and that was with the one that was supposed to wear off quickly (had bupivocaine to avoid the epinephrine).

I'm still pretty sore today, but it's mainly my jaw that hurts - I had a post op appt this afternoon and he said it's healing well and I can go back to eating normally - hahaha. Okay, that one may take a few days. My jaw is not going to tolerate heavy chewing - I had a slice of buttered bread a few minutes ago, and even that hurt. Oh, well, it's better than smoothies and broth!!

Must publicly thank my husband - he's been a rock through the tooth stuff. Despite the fact that we need to pack, he's urged me to rest and make sure I'm functioning at 100%, and has been taking time off to get me to appointments and helping with the kids. Wonderful man I married!

We close in two days!! I can't wait - I'm excited and scared. It will be good to get all of it behind us, move, and be in the new house. Woohoo!

Good grief!

I just read my last post and the number of typos and other errors is a little unnerving. I still had a pretty bad headache at that point - thankfully my head is much better yesterday. I go tomorrow to get two teeth pulled - I am not looking forward to it. I guess it was my fear of the dentist (and lack of funds) that kept me from going for so long - I wish I hadn't waited. Nothing I can do about it now though - except to take care of myself a little better.

It's raining again!!

Once again, it is raining on a weekend. It is starting to get old - I think this is the fourth weekend in a row now. Ugh.

Yesterday was a tad more exciting than I would have liked. I was cleaning out the fridge (garbage day, you know), stood up to quickly, and whacked my head on the freezer door handle. It's an old fridge, so it's sharp, and not only did I actually see stars (I didn't realize this was possible) I have a small gash on my hairline. I spent the rest of the day with a nasty headache and a little dizziness - had to set the alarm to wake myself up in the middle of the night last night, per the doctor's orders. Headache is pretty much gone today but I am wiped.

A couple more squares ... the color is terrible on the "Esther's" square, it's actually a beautiful bright multicolor that focuses on purples, a teal/blue green colors, a fuschia, and a lovely green. Have I mentioned my camera is in adequate??

Pavo Square


Esther's Square


Here's a picture I took of the eight squares I had done last night ...



I did Esther's square after I took that picture; I'll do another "altogether" picture after I have twelve completed squares.

We have a busy weekend ahead - Brendan has a baseball game (or as Justin likes to call it, "busball") this afternoon, and Mike gets back this evening; tomorrow will be packing and finishing up the last of Brendan's wolf badge requirements. And more packing. Lots, and lots, and lots, of packing to do, lol.

Squares A-plenty!!

I'm having a BLAST making squares for a comfortghan! I can't say for who, or who all is behind it, but suffice it to say that it's for someone very special, for a very special reason. The colors are a bit off (my camera doesn't take very "true" colors), unfortunately; I'll try to use dh's camera to take a picture of the final product for a better color rendition.

Solid Stripe Square


Windowpane Square


Dream Catcher


Country Blues Square


Birthday Flower Square


Supernova Square

Odds & Ends

Have a couple things to catch up on today!!

I received a wonderful RAOK from Lori (Homeburrough at Crochetville) - take a look!



It is just gorgeous! Now we need to figure out where to put it in our new house!! I love it, thank you Lori!

This meatloaf is really good - all the kids except for Brendan inhaled it, and the only reason he wouldn't eat it was because he could see the onions - they melt into the meatloaf, so it was all in his head, lol!

Carmelized onion meatloaf

3 lbs ground beef (use one with a decent amount of fat, then siphon off after cooking)
3 onions, chopped
margarine (about 1 tbsp)
1 1/2 cups pepperidge farm stuffing mix
1 1/2 cups beef broth
2 tsp dried parsley
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 large eggs, beaten
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground white pepper

Saute onions in butter until carmelized, golden and a bit browned. Combine stuffing, broth, onions, parsley, cheese, eggs & salt & pepper. Blend well, then add hamburger and mix well. Divide into two equal portions and shape into loaves on a foil lined jelly roll pan. Bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 minutes, adding the sauce for the last 30 minutes.

Sauce (double this and serve half, hot, at the table, with individual servings):

1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp dry mustard
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

Cook in a saucepan over medium heat until brown sugar dissolves.

I served one of the loaves for supper last night and then sliced and froze the other one in individual portions.

Christ is Risen!!!

Happy Easter to those celebrating according to the old calendar (including us)!

Here was breakfast for the kids this morning - these are almost like eating dessert for breakfast. The outside is like a normal pancake but then you cut into it and the inside is like a little pumpkin pie. Heavenly with a pat of real butter, whipped cream and maple syrup ... we settled for serving with some syrup this morning.

Pumpkin Pie Pancakes

1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger, and 1/4 tsp each cloves and nutmeg)
2 large eggs (can use 1/2 cup egg beaters instead)
1 15oz. can pumpkin (not the mix)
1 12oz. can evaporated milk (skim evaporated is fine)
2 cups baking mix (low fat okay)

Mix sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a small bowl. Beat eggs in a large bowl. Stir in pumpkin and sugar-spice mixture. Gradually whisk in evaporated milk. Stir in baking mix, one cup at a time.

In 1/8 cup portions, pour onto a lightly buttered electric skillet pre-heated to 325F. Cook on first side for 5 minutes, flip, and cook for 2 more minutes.

Makes 32

House news

We had the first of the inspections done on Monday and we have a signed contract! Off to negotiations we go!!

It's raining so please forgive the gloomy cast of these photos ... and the rain and water on the windshield ... lol. You can see some of the landscaping in the front - a couple of flowering trees and some flowering ground cover next to the walkway.





Here's another afghan square - I love this one, it is so pretty - could be used during the summer or in warmer climates, I think. It's called dreamcatcher.

Back in the swing of things

I think I'm back, been crocheting a bit more than I was. I am so glad, I hated being in such a slump. It's such fun to have the ideas flowing again even though it seems I can't keep up!! Now if I can just finish some of my UFO's (unfinished objects, lol).

Here's the second of the two ponchos - I have to attach the flowers to the tie and weave in ends, but the actual crocheting is finished.



And I made a couple of squares today that I think may end up as part of a scrap-ghan. You can't see the design as well as I'd like (I used a variegated yarn, should have gone with a solid) but I love this pattern! I used an I hook and ended up with a 10" square. Wish I didn't crochet so tightly.

Cygnus (12" crocheted square)


Here's the second one - amazing how much quickly this one worked up (1 hour as opposed to 2).



No recipes again. With all the house stuff and baseball starting up, I am sticking with the old favorites and quick meals. Oh, wait! I made this one a couple of weeks ago and it is wonderful! You can't taste the spinach even though you can see it. This is my recipe, came out of a conversation with a bunch of friends and a desire to sneak some "good stuff" into the kids!

Spinach Meatballs

2 lbs hamburger
1 package frozen spinach, thawed, drained, squeezed dry as possible, and chopped fine - remove any obvious stems
2 eggs
1/2 cup parmesan cheese (out of a canister is fine)
1/2 cup italian flavored bread crumbs
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder (or 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced)
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp salt (optional)
1/8 tsp pepper

Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl (mixture is a little moister than "regular" meatballs). Form small balls (I use a 1 1/2 tsp measuring spoon and make them about an inch) and place on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Bake at 375 for 15-17 minutes or until just done (don't overcook). Cool and flash freeze immediately, or add to a pot of red sauce, simmer for awhile and serve over your favorite pasta.