Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

The glory of small things

I have started this year with enjoyment of the small thing.
Always one who enjoys crafting, I am finding that quick projects are much more enjoyable than the sweaters that I have on the needles waiting to be finished.



I started the year with these beauties as I said before.
It only led to me wanting to work on my small items.


The

biscuit blanket was a popular item being made just before Christmas. But alas I had other more pressing projects. I made mine a bit bigger as I didn't like the way it buckled when it was empty. Overall, I am very happy with the way it turned out.

This year I have also decided to make each of the dishclothes in the group I belong to. January's first KAL was a snowflake and I think it turned out quite nicely.


I also have made a cute item...but will have to show you later. Its for my secret pal....so once she gets her finally package I will post a picture of it.

Knitting isn't the only small crafting out there....I was generously given a fob kit from

marianne





And after about 15 minutes of crafting bliss I had myself a nice piece of bling to decorate my winter purse.

Finally a huge thank you to Gail from my knitting parents. She was awarded my name in our Christmas swap which was to be gifted by December 32nd (a small joke from the group)

She gifted me with two skeins of Claudia handpainted yarns in pinks/oranges/purples/reds, a pattern to make socks and fingerless gloves and a sock blocker keychain. Can't wait to start that project.

Gratitude Monday

Today's affirmationIf I have a belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it;
even if I have not had that belief in the beginning.

- Mahatma Gandhi

I am grateful for....
1) freshly fallen snow
2) lazy days filled with nothing important
3) smells of newly baked bread
4) the excitement of learning something new
5) friends who are comfortable calling at the last minute
6) appreciation of the colorful world around us
7) family time
8) completing projects
9) seeing things again thru my daughter's eyes
10)homecooked meals

What to do on a cold day???

This morning I woke up to snow and cold, cold temperatures.
Can you say.....bbbbrrrr!!!?

Weather like this has one strong effect on me. All I ever want to do is stay inside. Now what to do??? Some days I like to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea. On other days I like to grab my knitting and watch a movie.

Today I decided to bake. I love the create in my kitchen so this was the perfect excuse.

I popped ingredients into my bread machine and turned on the beast.
What better than warm fresh bread on a cold winters day?
And I pulled out ingredients to make Peanut Butter cornflake squares.

Now there is a story behind these squares. Not sure if I have mentioned it before, but my hubby is not one to rave about much (more than his motorcycle of course...LOL). Anyway just before Christmas he handed me a paper with a recipe on it and proceded to tell me about these squares he had tried at work.

This was a big enough stamp of approval to have me hustling around the kitchen preparing them for the traditional Christmas goodies try. And they were good.
However, hubby just wasn't quite satisfied. Something was different! He was sure what...but something was.

So he waited for all to return back to the office after the holidays to quiz the person who had originally introduced him to this treat. After a conversation he passed on his newly acquire knowledge to me and here I am attempting to create the perfect square.


Peanut Butter Cornflake Squares
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup dark corn syrup
1 cup peanut butter
7 cups cornflakes
1 cup wheat germ
1 1/2 cups peanuts

Combine sugar, corn syrup, and peanut butter in a pan. Bring to a boil, stirring til smoothly blended.
For chewy squares, boil for 1 minute.
For crisp squares, boil for 2-3 minutes.
Combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
Pour syrup over cereal mix and blend well.
Turn into a greased 11 x 15 x 2 pan. Press down firmly.
Cut into squares when cool.
Now the main difference is this time I used dark golden corn syrup and not white.
Will they be made correctly this time?
A taste test tonight by one of my best testers will decide tonight :-)

Wordless Wednesday

My cup runneth over

Today started like any other day full of chores and jobs.
Then I visited my mailbox and found a pretty surprize inside.

Isn't this a colorful package?

Once I read the return address I knew who had thought so kindly of me. It was my Secret Pal once again :-)

I raced home and stopped long enough to take my first picture, then ripped open the puffy to find these treasures inside.....

Inside I found a christmas card wishing me happy holidays, two balls of soft green yarn, some hot chocolate packages, a small bag of candies, and a circular addi turbo needle for me to test drive.

Also she made me this cute potato chip scarf.



I just love homemade gifts. Such things are treasured close to my heart.
Thank you Secret pal for making me feel so special!

Gratitude, thanks and gratification

Today's quote
The whole worth of a kind deed is in the love that
inspires it.

-The Talmud


I am grateful for.....
1. a husband who loves me no matter what
2. the spontaneous laughter of my daughter
3. the holidays spent relaxing with family
4. crisp mornings
5. the love of an animal....or two or three....LOL
6. appreciation of all music types
7. time to craft
8. friends...online and off
9. citrus smells
10. finding a place for everything

I wasn't a very good blogger last month but want to take this moment to thank all who made December such a wonderful time with their spoilings. Thanks went to all personally but none on here...so in no particular order

Lucie from
a loving home was my partner for the ornament swap. She was kind enough to gift me these homemade beauties.

They were a great addition to my tree this year.

Bridget from Knitting with the Classics was my swaping partner for the holiday season. Her package included a cute woodsman created by her own hands plus other goodies. Another ornament to add to my growing collection.


I joined a swapping group centered around the growing trend of stitchmarkers.
Stuff knitters want and gotta have exchange is a hoot for anyone who enjoys this craft.
I was spoiled by four great ladies.





Spoiling Kim, Mariann, Betty and Prissy was as much fun as getting spoiled by them.


My secret pal was kind enough to gift me a book I have been dying to add to my crafting collection.
I look forward to working on many of the patterns included within the pages.

Swapping is so much fun....new friendships and gifts..what could be better.

Also, with a new year upon us, I have decided to keep track of my many creations in 2007. To start the year I needed something quick and easy....so this being said I grabbed a ball of yarn I fell in love with at the beginning of 2006 and created these cute flowers. All they need now are pins sewn on the back to make a flower for any girl's lapel.


I have so much to be grateful for and give thanks to.

Thank you everyone!!!

What Tarot Card are you?????

You are The Empress

Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation.

The Empress is associated with Venus, the feminine planet, so it represents,
beauty, charm, pleasure, luxury, and delight. You may be good at home
decorating, art or anything to do with making things beautiful.

The Empress is a creator, be it creation of life, of romance, of art or business. While the Magician is the primal spark, the idea made real, and the High Priestess is the one who gives the idea a form, the Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till it is ready to be born. This is why her symbol is Venus, goddess of beautiful things as well as love. Even so, the Empress is more Demeter, goddess of abundance, then sensual Venus. She is the giver of Earthly gifts, yet at the same time, she can, in anger withhold, as Demeter did when her daughter, Persephone, was kidnapped. In fury and grief, she kept the Earth barren till her child was returned to her.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

January reading choices

I have decided this year to focus my reading for each month.
That means...each month I will begin with a list of books for the month and then with any luck finish the books within those 30 days.
Also I am hoping to complete the month book for Knitting with the classics each month.

January's selection for the classics is Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. But since that book is still has not arrived at the library, I will start my other choices for this month.

1. Eragon by Christopher Paolini
2. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
3. The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

It is fantasy month and since I have loved each of these movies, I have decided it is time to immerse myself in the worlds that these authors have created. I am sure I will enjoy each of these adventures as much if not more than the movie experiences.

The month began with me finishing a book I began a week ago...Girl with A Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier.



Ms. Chevalier spins a tale from the painting by Vermeer. She surrounds you with history from the narrative of a girl who must become a maid for her family's survival in the 1660s Holland. She becomes a member of the Vermeer household and shows you her life and the life of a brilliant but different man.

I found this book to be captivating...rarely putting it down until its conclusion.

Now onto the movie...should be an interesting comparison.

Goals or Resolutions???

As 2007 approached I heard many saying that they had made a New Years Resolution. The usual...Weightloss! Improved finances! stop smoking! work less!

There is also the group that refuses to make these resolutions because they know that they will swerve off this new path and fall into the habits of old.

I must admit I often make resolutions with the best of intensions but somehow get distracted...LOL

This year I have planned out monthly goals instead.
It has been said and proven that changes can become habit once they are repeated daily for 28-30.

I plotted out each area of change I wanted to make...home....physical...creative and spiritual...then I wrote changes for each month.

I won't bore you with all at once...just monthly focuses like I will be doing.

January goals....Home - declutter/decorate diningroom
- daily chores
Physical - 8 glasses of water daily
Creative - crafting weekly
- one charity knitted piece
Spiritual - 2 affirmations for month (working on this)
- read 30 mins daily
book club book and fantasy are the monthly choices

This should be interesting.
Wish me luck.

Happy New Year