Knitting Update and Recipe Suggestions

Knitting things are mostly in progress and I haven't taken any new pics lately. But for an update: Maythorn is partly seamed. I still struggle with seaming and really don't know how to properly tackle all that trim... I may end up 'bugging' someone at a shop ;) I have also worked on the Thalia top which just needs the sleeves finished, neck finished off and seaming. I deviated from the pattern a bit, so it will be interesting to see how it comes out! I quickly knit up a garter stitch hot water bottle cozy from the RYC Winter Gifts book. I ran out of yarn at the last few rows, but had a little in another color that I used to finish it. It doesn't really show as it was the edge of the button band that goes underneath.

Today, I tried a couple of new and excellent recipes from Everyday Food magazine and I noticed they are posted online so I can provide the links too! I made Honey Teriyaki Chicken and Asian Cabbage Slaw. DH and I loved this meal!

Another new to me recipe I've tried in the past couple of weeks, I found on the Trainer Momma blog. It is called Chicken Orzo Skillet. It is quick to make and very filling. I changed it a little from the Trainer Momma blog. I used an onion and minced garlic (no powders). I just added in some oregano instead of the Italian seasoning.

Both of these meals are getting added to my list of staple recipes.

Trim and Weekend Things

Over the weekend, I got started on the trim for Maythorn. I'm working the sleeves and waist trim in parallel and fortunately the pattern is pretty easy to keep track of.

I'd probably have made more progress, but I kept stopping my work while watching Return to Cranford as it is hard to look away from that quality of filming and acting!

Pretty soon, I have to seam the body pieces so I know how long to make the trim. I'll have to do the front trim later on, it is a narrower version of the ones I'm doing now.

Shortly after my bout of felting awhile back, my washing machine broke. Well, it still washed, but had a tendency to flood without someone there to nudge the button ahead from the fill cycle to the swishy cycle. I don't know if the felting broke it or if it was a coincidence, but it made me feel a little paranoid. Since it has been through a couple of motors already and developed a sound like a load of rocks dumping onto pavement between cycles, we ordered a new washer over the weekend! It's Energy Star, but still top loading so if I dare to try the felting again I'll be able to stand over the washer and monitor the progress. I am so looking forward to not having to babysit the washing machine!

I prefer to spend my domestic time doing things like cooking! Over the weekend, I tried a new soup recipe. It's so simple, especially with the new immersion blender the in-laws got me for xmas. The recipe was in a recent Williams Sonoma catalog and is also available free on their website: White Bean Soup. I neglected to take a pic, but mine looked about the same as the one on the recipe page. I may have blended a tad more...the blender is my new favorite kitchen gadget. It's this one, in case you are wondering! I made a place for it in a drawer, but am using it so much it's hardly worth putting it away!!

Maythorn Progress

I thought I should show a little evidence of knitting going on. I'm mostly working on Maythorn at the moment which is a Louisa Harding pattern from Little Cake. The main body is done, but there is still a lot of trim work to do for the sleeves, waist and around the front.

The yarn, called Thistle, is very light and soft to work with.

Happy New Year's Eve!

What a fun holiday season we've had! There was lots of feasting on a Christmas ham. I tried the brandied ham glaze recipe from the December issue of Everyday Food magazine and it tasted fantastic!

The table was set for a romantic dinner =)

And we had ham sandwiches for days and days and days afterwards, but it was so good we didn’t complain about it getting boring.

The dogs and cat got plenty of scraps. Bandit would meow every time he heard the ham dish come out of the fridge.

We had such fun getting the xmas surprises from friends and relatives and various things Jeff and I ordered for each other. I don't care that it makes me seem about 12, I will never be too old for stuffed toys! The Labrador puppy hand puppet is from my mother and really confused Saffy and Silas when I unwrapped it and started petting it.

After the last big snowstorm, Jeff and I cracked and bought a snow blower, so that ended up being our big Christmas present this year. Although there was no snow when it arrived, the snow started right after I took the pics and the ground was white within a short time.

The dogs turned the shipping box into a dog house...

until the snow began falling...

and all they wanted to do was jump for snowballs!



The snow is coming down fast! I wonder if my herbs will survive the winter this year? The rosemary still looks ok. Some years it makes it and other years I have to replace it with a new plant.

I'm not setting any specific New Year's resolutions, just looking forward to my knitting and usual activities after the lovely holiday diversion.

I wish everyone the best in 2010!!

Christmas Day

Silas got fresh tennis balls for us to throw for him.

Saffy got a squeaky chew toy.

Bandit got a new scratching post which he is vigorously enjoying, but I haven't gotten a picture of it.

I got lovely presents including a labrador puppy hand puppet from my mother that really amazes the dogs. They think there is a new dog in the house! Jeff and I got a nice selection of books, dvd's and games. The big present this year is a snow blower, ordered though not yet shipped. That might mean it doesn't snow for the rest of the season, but we will be ready when it does!

Christmas is a great excuse for cooking and there is a ham in the oven now. For Christmas eve, I made my favorite French Onion Soup.

It was plenty filling after overdosing on sugar cookies earlier in the day =)

Best Wishes!

(Scan of a vintage card from my Grandmother's scrapbook.)

Spoiled Doggies

There has been lots more fun in the snow and Jeff carved out a snow cave for the dogs to play in too! They love it!