Food, life, and crochet...

I, like so many, are in the throws of dieting.  My friend Karen said to think of it like a life change, not a diet and she is right.

I am off to a slow start - one pound the first week and now another pound midway into the second week.  Might take off two this time!

I am, however, looking at it like a challenge and a new way of eating.  I am doing points with WW.  This afternoon I had 1/2 cup of chili and 1 cup of green beans...4 points.  I though that 1/2 cup of chili was not going to be much, but it was plenty!  The green beans are no points so this was a quick and yummy and EASY meal for me.  EASY is key to my life style.

I'm packing up all my hooks and yarns and books, so don't have any crochet to show you.  I would recommend that if you have an interest in making squares that you check out the Ravelry threads for Donna Kay Lacey and for Julie Yeager on Ravelry.  They design some killer crochet squares!

Margaret McInnis is doing quite a lot in knit squares on her group. All three ladies have had their designs published (like our own Bev!).  Donna is pretty prolific, though, with her designs. She and Margaret design for a club that sends out kits each month and does a Block Of The Month.

There are all sorts of free patterns on Ravelry, too.  When I get settled I will be sure to begin my life anew and post goodies on crochet.  I'm rather prejudiced toward FREE patterns which is why I love belonging to the yarn company web sites.

Since I am not posting new projects, thought I'd do old ones.  The two shawls below are from the Serafina pattern..which is FREE. :o)  One of the easiest shawls ever and FAST. A Boucle or long variegated yarn is recommended.

YUM!

Have a great day!

Back in the saddle - for a bit...

I have to admit, keeping up a blog has not been easy for me.  I need to get up in the morning, bright eyed and cheery, and hit the computer with my first cup of coffee - guns blazing!

What I do is, hit the back door with two frenzied dogs in tow who are ready to visit Mother Nature in the back yard.  THEN get my coffee, then I often try to get back to sleep.  Hubby used to bring me coffee in bed EVERY morning, so I thought I could sort of keep up the tradition by taking some back to bed with me.

For awhile that worked okay...but lately I find I am staying awake and not sleeping in.  Had to think about why, and finally realized it was the same reason I could not get to sleep at night right off the bat.  I listen to my little Shih Tzu, Chuckie, breathe, like I used to do when my husband was sick.  

He needs one of those C-Pap machines, or whatever you call them.  He has sleep apnea...so he sometimes doesn't take a breath in cadence, and as he is 15 I am waiting for the next one.  He's unsteady on his feet and sleeps about 20 hours a day, or more.  Can't get him to eat easily, although he does eat eventually.  

He also needs a haircut.

Here is my pincushion for the pincushion swap.  Every time I see it I crave a chocolate donut! Really.  I am tossing in some cotton yarn in blue, my swapee's fav color, a crochet hook, tape, some of Bev's fav yarn, and some Chenille needles in size 13 that I purchased from England.  THEY ARE SHARP.

I tried out my own set and poked the tips of my fingers so often it reminded me of when I use to sew.  You would have thought I had not woven in any yarn in my entire life! Bloody finger tips.  However, if you love Chenille as I do, you can purchase them from John James Needles on line.  They are .85 in pounds each...two in a pack in the larger sizes...18 is the largest I have ever seen around here.  You can't get those sizes, 13 and 14,  in the US. 

Easier to thread a size 4 yarn.

Stay warm!

Yummy Socks!

Little Star

This is a yarn by Southwest Trading Company.  There are strands of a silver metallic which gives it a real sparkle!

My step-daughter made these for me for Christmas...they fit like a glove!  I'd say they lack some stretchiness due to the metallic, I guess, but other wise they are super wonderful.

Love, love, love the colors!

Friendships

Good Morning!

This year is one in which I find myself bouncing between stress, worry, and thankfulness. I was reading on another blog about the importance of counting your blessings. So I think I shall do just that.

Friends

Can't count them enough!  I remember living in the Atlanta area and just how my friends grew to be like sisters.  Now I only have occasional contact with one of them...we grew apart after almost 30 years of separation.  Yet, I have a friend in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California who has been my good friend since I was 12 years old.  We may not talk all the time, or email all the time, but we do keep in contact, share our pains and joys, and we do see one another every few years.  That is nearly 54 years of friendship ... more than most marriages. 

So here is something you can keep going and sharing with your dearest and farthest friends. It was given to me many years ago by one of my long lost friends in Atlanta.

Friendship Cake 

Starter Batter:

One cup each:  Flour, Milk, Sugar

Instructions:

Day   1:  Stir batter, cover and keep on counter where it isn't drafty or cold

Day   2:  Stir

Day   3:  Stir

Day   4:  Stir

Day   5:  Put starter in larger bowl.  Add 1 cup each of the sugar, milk and flour. Stir, cover

Day   6:  Stir

Day   7:  Stir

Day   8:  Stir

Day   9:  Add  1 cup each, milk, flour, and sugar

Day 10:  Take 2 cups of batter and give 1 cup each to 2 friends with a copy of the recipe. Keep one cup off to side to use for starter for your next cake.

To remaining batter add:

2/3 cups oil
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp soda
2 tsp vanilla
(you can use any flavorings you want if you want to experiment)

Fold in any of the following, or use your imagination:

Dates, diced apples, bananas, nuts, shredded carrots, chocolate chips, dried fruit.

Bake in a floured tube pan or 2 loaf pans at 350 degrees for 40 to 60 minutes.  Sometimes 325 degrees is sufficient. You might want to experiment on that, too.

ENJOY!