Changes

Lots of changes going on.

Another week just flew by.  Not quite the middle of August but I noticed yesterday afternoon the change in the summer sounds.  The air has a subtle difference, not that Fall around the corner different, but different none the less.   Enough so to say another season awaits in the wings.

Cooler weather and the yarns to come out again.  A few afghans to be finished, a few to be started.  I'm still on the search for the right pattern/motif for a bedspread.  I'm not completely happy with the one I had originally selected.  Today I saw on Tangled Happy  a lovely granny square (called granny square in bloom).  I think I have a change in crochet plans.

And a big change ... I'm coming out of retirement.  I'm quite excited, something new and different. 

Its all good.

Here's to a joyful day and weekend.

 

  Blessings.

Thursday Thoughts

 

Words have the power

to bless or to wound.

 

Beautiful Days and Cooking

Woke up this morning to 52 degree temperature.  I've actually had to put socks on ... ahhh, my kind of weather.  Got me to thinking about cooking and found this. 

Lazy Chicken and Potatoes

• 1 1/2 pounds baby potatoes (red and brown), quartered
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 poblano pepper, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 2 pieces split chicken breast

Line the bottom of the slow cooker with the potatoes, onion, bell pepper, poblano pepper, and garlic. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with cumin and chili powder. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange the chicken breast on top of the vegetables. Season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with a little bit of chili powder.

Put the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours, until the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165°F. (If the chicken is not frozen, the cooking time will be shorter.) Cut the chicken off of the bones and serve with the potatoes.  You can add some BBQ sauce if you like.
 

- See more at: http://www.mykitchenaddiction.com/2009/10/lazy-chicken-and-potatoes/#sthash.ocaVDgT3.dpuft

Looks and sounds good and super easy.  Guess who is going to go dig out the crockpot.

Saturday's Crochet, An Old Favorite

The weather has cooled and the past few days have been picture and temperature perfect and the yarn has come out again.  Although do have to admit, the yarn is back because a wee one's baby shower will be in September and one of my favorite patterns, round ripple, is being worked up.  The parents have chosen not to know the baby's gender so I'm working with white, green and yellow.  I haven't made one of these in quite some time and forgot how much I enjoy this.  I should get a few made to tuck away to have on hand.   

 

Oh yes, about the bedspread ... well ... I've started again for the third time.  I had initially thought I would replace single crochet rows with double crochet to make a larger motif, but it just didn't lay right after two attempts so now I'm following the pattern as written.  All good things take time and so it will be with this, a lot of time!

 

Have a wonderful weekend.

Thursday Thoughts

Be sure you put your feet

in the right place,

then stand firm.

Abraham Lincoln

A Long Time in The Making

Let's see...back in April I started a CAL with Stitchy McFloss.  I dabbled a little here and then a little there and f i n a l l y, (minus the last few rows - I liked it with a scalloped type edge) - I present my Large Pineapple Doily!  I really love  this and thanks Stitchy for bringing this lovely pattern to attention!  Its a lovely size for a table and looks wonderful in my dinette.

 

Geesh, this took 3 months and I think I'm going to make a bedspread.  LOL!  Plodding on!

Monday Menu

I have become a huge fan of the grain Quinoa.  Its a high protein grain and so very good for you.  I've been eyeing the recipe on the box of quinoa for a while now and now having tried it, it is a keeper recipe!

DIL has harvested many tomatoes and cucumbers from their garden and we will put them to use! 

Tonight's table:
Quinoa Stuffed Peppers
Fresh cucumber and red onion salad.
Sliced fresh peaches


Quinoa Stuffed Peppers

1 cup traditional quinoa (cooked)
2 cups water
4 large or 6 medium green peppers
1 medium onion, diced
1/2 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced (I didn't have these so left out, didn't seem to affect the recipe)
2 Tbsp. butter
1 28 can tomatoes, coarsley diced (reserve juice)
2 gloves garlic, crushed (I minced them)
1 12 oz. jar Mexican Salsa
2 Tbsp. dry Sherry (can be omitted)
10 oz. Mozzarella cheese, shredded

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.

Cook quinoa per box instructions.
In a large skillet, saute onion, mushrooms in butter.
Add diced tomatoes, garlic and salsa.
Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
Add the sherry and simmer 10 minutes more.
Fold in quinoa.
Fill peppers with mixture, sprinkle shredded mozzarella over peppers
Bake in 325 degree oven for 30-35 minutes.

Mmmmm, we all like these.  Hope you do too.

Why can't I leave comments?

I just wanted to let you know that I do visit your blogs and appreciate  your visits and comments but for some reason there are some blogs that I can't leave comments to.  When I go to the comment box I'm not able to get to the publish box.   There always seems to be a glitch or one thing or another with blogger.  I'm hoping in time that this resolves itself.

Hello

 Almost the end of July, how did that happen?  I thought I would be posting regularly again but there went the time spinning by.    Immersed in caregiving and my old stand by, crochet, right by my side.   So many projects, many started, so many want to do.  I've had this nagging to make a bedspread ... yes, a large bedspread and I have been looking at this motif/pattern for quite some time now.  The hot weather of the past few weeks brought this out to start, the yarns put down for cooler days.   Just printed out my 50% off coupon to Michaels to buy another large ball of thread.  I'm sure several will be needed.

Crocheting ... such a comfort.  Still my all time favorite thing to do in quiet moments.

A dear friend will visit this weekend.  One of her friends is cleaning out her mother's crafting supplies and books.  She sent me three Magic Crochet books.  They are beautiful.  My friend tells me now that she is coming with three bags of crochet patterns and books.  A crocheter's dream!  So you know what I will be doing come Sunday night.  Oh goodness ... more projects to start I'm sure.  Oh those crochet hooks ... love to keep them moving!

Hope your weekend is special.

Happy 4th of July

God  bless America

What's Doing Wednesday

The greengate blanket is slowly growing, row by row with a  row or two being added each day.  I'm now 22 rows into the second part with 63 rows to go.  This is a really large project but one I am loving.  I've been searching around looking for pillow patterns to complement this.

My CAL doily from Stitchy McFloss has 10 rows to go.  Its such a lovely doily and a wonderful size.  Hope to have this completed soon.


Now, I've been looking for some cross stitch charts to work on when I have discovered needle tatting!  I have always wanted to learn tatting but found the shuttle somewhat difficult.  Last Sunday visiting with a dear friend and her cousin I found the cousin making tatted wreaths and with a needle.  She has graciously offered to teach me.  I also found this book by Barbara Foster.  Very well written and easy to understand.    It comes with 4 needles too.  Needless to say, I'm quite excited to learn this and add to my thread addiction!

Today's agenda will have to be readjusted with a quick trip to see the doc.  I have shingles.  Realized this last night and hope I can catch this before it goes to far.

And that's what's doing on my Wednesday.  Hope that your day is a good one.

Blessings,

In our neck of the woods ...

Playing peek-a-boo with the sun today.   Hoping for sunny for the afternoon as many have parties planned.  Graduation, birthday, backyard wedding.  The past few days have been all day heavy rains.  However, the rain did not silence the cicadas.  Our immediate vicinity is free of them, but not far from here there are tons of them and you can hear their "singing".   They start up humming at daybreak and and by night fall they are silent.  They really don't bother anyone, don't seem to be eating the leaves as the trees are full of them.  I find it a strange thing.  Three weeks they have been here and within three weeks they will be gone for another 17 years.  Mother Nature, never ceases to amaze!

I'm getting an itch to stitch.  Its been quite some time since I took needle and floss to hand...looking for a summer cross stitch project.  It has to be a rather smallish one so that I will finish it.  Not sure yet whether a pretty floral or maybe a holiday type.  There's a lovely blog Freebie Gallery that I will be waltzing through shortly.  Beautiful work and links to free charts.  Very generously provided.  I'm sure I will find just what I'm looking for there.

The hook, well, what can I say, its still moving.  Several projects being worked on, a few will have to be put aside for the summer.  A friend of mine just gave me rectangular knitting looms.  Also anxious to try them out.   Goodness, there's never enough time to spend on all these wonderful crafts. 

Hope you're weekend is full of blessings and joy.

Thursday Thoughts

"I said to the almond tree

 'Sister speak to me

about God'

and the almond tree

blossomed."

 

From the writings of Greco,

Greek-born Spanish painter

A Learning Granny Square

The granny square is such a wonderful crochet producing many lovely items ... everything from coasters, pin cushions, hats, sweaters, afghans, etc.  In my latest venture in teaching someone to crochet I decided to use the granny but to incorporate the most basic stitches into the same square ... single, half double, double and treble crochet.  (The stitch instructions are at the bottom of this post).

With some eye popping, happy colors and a size I hook ...

Chain 4, join to first chain to form a circle. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With white, chain 1, two single crochet in circle, *chain 2, three single crochets in circle*, repeat from * to * two more times.  Join to first chain.  Four corners made,  fasten off. 

Join red in any chain 2 space corner, chain 2, 2 half double crochets, chain 2, 3 half double crochets in same space.  In next space, *3 half double crochets, chain 2, 3 half double crochets*, repeat from * to * and join to top of beginning chain.  Fasten off. 

Join green color in any chain 2 space corner, chain 3, 2 double crochets, chain 2, 3 double crochets in same space.  *In next space, 3 double crochets, in corner space, 3 double crochets, chain 2, 3 double crochets*, repeat * to *, join to top of beginning chain 3.  Fasten off. 

Join yellow color in any chain 2 space corner, chain 4, 2 treble crochets, chain 2, 3 treble crochets in same space.  *In next spaces, 3 treble crochets in each, in corner space 3 treble crochets, chain 2, 3 treble crochets*, repeat *to*, join to top of beginning chain 4.  Fasten off. 

Join white to any corner space, chain 1, 2 single crochets, chain 2, 3 single crochets in same space.  *In next spaces, 3 single crochets, in corner space 3 single crochets, chain 2, 3 single crochets*, repeat * to *, join to first chain. 

We will always be using the white for the single crochet rows (1st and last) of the granny but will be mixing the color sequence of the red, green and yellow.  We'll be forming strips of different number squares and assemble for a lapghan.  Stay tuned for the finished project!



single crochet = insert hook into stitch, yarn over hook, pull through stitch.  You will have two loops on hook, yarn over and pull through the two loops.

half double crochet = yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, (three loops on hook) yarn over and pull through all three loops.

double crochet = yarn over hook, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, (three loops on hook) yarn over and pull through two loops, yarn over and pull through two loops again.

treble crochet = yarn over hook two times, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull through stitch, (four loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over pull through two loops again, yarn over and pull through last two loops.

Happy Crocheting!