knittinggenes.blogspot.com

if you are kicking back, hunkering down or ready to hibernate a bit, you are not alone. all the festivities were great, but I love my ordinary days. Here are a few good links for you to enjoy: Www.Morehousefarm.com. This site has a really cute Igloo hat pattern. it is a great site to enjoy and get some pattern ideas. the Critters for Knitter section has adorable animal themed scarves for kids, or kids at heart! Good old Woolywormhead.com is always a joy to visit. There are at least 25 free hat patterns to consider. I am going to knit their baby beret. Santa brought me the cutest little crock pot. I am planning to make the Beach Boys Pot Roast this week. The only ingredients are 1lb of beef chuck roast, a jar of peppiorcini peppers, and cloves of garlic. You make slits in the roast and push the garlic into it. Pour the jar of peppers over the roast and cook it for 12 hours on low in the crock pot. Shred it and serve on good buns I am working the holiday weekend, of c

So I cannot post an image right now. Oh I do not like picture less posts! I am knitting with the Lornas Laces shown in the previous post. I am knitting the leg in a mock cable pattern and I WISH I could show you. Hmmmmm, I may have an answer. Stay tuned. The tree is down already. I am still enjoying carols and lights. I met a dear nurse friend and her daughter for breakfast this morning. Mary moved away years ago but we stay close. I was explaining to them that I tease someone about living in sin, and vacationing in sin. Mary's daughter Katie, thought Sin was a place. -As in Sin, Illinois. We had to explain the Catholic concept to her, but I thought that was so funny. I'm tossing around a swap idea. While Take and Replace was really fun this yesr, I want to change it up in 2012. I always keep it economical, anyone interested in cheering up the winter months with a simple swap?????

I finished my little cranberry socks yesterday and they are mine all mine. I was knitting the toe in a doctor's waiting room when a wonderful little old lady sat next to me and started the knit chatter! Fireman was laughing behind his magazine because we knit nuts just find each other and take off. She's a big Stephen West fan. She loves Paigewood farms sock yarns. Wahoo. New yarn for me to try! I've never heard of Paigewood farms have you?? She loves to knit socks, she says, because When you are done, you are done! (no seams or finishing.....or the like) I began to wonder if we were twins.... just a few decades apart.... (The skein shown is what Santa brought and yes, I've already cast on another pair of socks) I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

*Santa was great *Santa brought yarn *Working over Christmas Eve and Christmas Night was different..... but here's to 2012 where I am OFF all the fall/winter holidays. *There was more food than we could eat in our lounge all weekend. This is a real feat. We can put down a LOT of food at oh-dark-thirty. We could not eat it all. *My favorite story came from my buddy Jill. Her daughter, Lauren, decided to leave a plate of lettuce and goldfish crackers for Santa and his reindeer..... I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

So we start our celebration in a very little while. Having to work the holidays makes our different this year, but I always say it is a Season not a Day. The ham is going into the oven soon and we are going to glaze it for the first time ever.....do you glaze??? Here is my Auntie Rita's Baked Beans 1 lb. of crisp bacon crumbled 1/4 cup Karo White Syrup 1/4 Cup mustard 1 T. Butter 1 lb brown Sugar 3 onions 1 clove garlic 1 Cup Ketchup Cans of beans : Butter, black, kidney 2 each Brown the butter. Cut the onion into rings. Chop the garlic fine. Add the onion and garlic to the butter and stir until golden in color. Add Brown sugar and Karo syrup and bring to a rolling boil. Add the mustard last and pour over the beans. Pour into oven type casserole dish. Bake 3 hours at 225 degrees. In the Last 1/2 hour add 1 cup ketchup. Best if baked the day before serving. I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

*Radar hung his stocking last week..... *Cranberry sock number one .....DONE. (for me.....aren't I bad?) I think I could knit everyone socks next year if I start the day after Christmas this year. *Cowls were well received today at Spay Neuter Clinic. *I'm drinking: champagne....seriously *I'm eating: Puppy chow candy given to the volunteers at the shelter today *I'm baking: Cheesy potatoes for our early B family Christmas tomorrow night. *I'm done: baking the baked beans. I make awesome baked beans from scratch.I follow My Auntie Rita's recipe with corn syrup and brown sugar and mustard. I could leave out the ketchup entirely and I 'd still love them. Fireman likes them with a touch of Ketchup though. I add a pound of crispy bacon on my own. * IF I get one more PERFECT Christmas family letter I may go nuts. My family letter would be far from the pictures these people paint. Why is it you get these letters when all is well with pe

You have to love Diana McKay's Mountain Colors Blog WIne warmer sets...I just might..... well, we'll see there's gingerbread to bake 12.23 Christmas Eve dinner to make a full morning at the animal shelter tomorrow and 2 presents left to wrap.... These are awful cute though.... then again, a warm scarf for Zach would be great to knit... with just 48 hours left.. I better take a long winters nap and think on this first..... I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

I seem to be off the subject of knitting lately;....sorry. This picture was just taken at my mom's house. Today is my mom's birthday. When I look at my mom and my son Zach, my heart is so full it could explode. Both are gentle people who mean the world to me. Happy Birthday to mom although she doesn't do computers and will never see this. Zach we love you so much. Last night after some shopping and wrapping and yes, napping, I got to my knitting. I just sat and knitted for an hour. What is it about this knitting that makes me relax? It was just what I needed. Knitting is such a gift to me. I am working on socks and the yarn is so soft and gorgeous. It is cranberry colored. I'll show it to you soon. Is it the repetitive motion that calms me down, is it the soft yarn, is it the counting? Is it in my genes? Why is this knitting so good for me? I just know that it is. Why do you think it makes us so happy to knit???? I wonder what you think... I

The weekend was jam packed with fun, but no knitting! Well, just a tiny bit of knitting, but I need a good fix tonight.... The Nutcracker was just a delight. To go from that grace, to a Major League Hockey Game the next night was a fun jump! We also fit in a neighborhood party, so I am nearly as tired as when I work the weekend... But no complaints! My needles await me.... I may clean out the stash tonight, in hopes of making room for Santa's gifts...... Santa already brought me an early gift.......a new FUJI camera. I never did like the other one and I was only too happy to hear it got lost on the slopes of Park City with Zach snowboarding last week..... Dear Zach was worried about it, and I couldn't have been happier. By the way, Santa brought me a red one......Here's to much better blog images to come. I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

I've resorted to cat humor. I have to say the little bit of snow we got overnight has my spirits up!! I just love a little snow for the holidays...... It is my last weekend off. I plan to enjoy it all including the normal sleep. Nutcracker with Al this afternoon. Neighborhood gathering tonight. My first Blackhawks game tomorrow. How else does a couple celebrate their 29th wedding anniversary..??? I'm going to straighten out the stash after I finish this batch of cookies..... I'm relying on the ipad for my images to the posts, and I apologize. But here's the Bea bug ....... And, I'm knitting some wonderful socks. The yarn is cranberry and light brownish..... Are you hanging in there??? It is a bit crazy..... I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

This is a wonderful story...not a sad one. A cat who looked amazingly like this one, (this is someone on google's image of a cat) came to the end of one of it's nine lives yesterday. Not mine, don't worry. This is a wonderful story remember? I showed up for working at the Spay Neuter clinic when it was still dark yesterday morning. I had coffee for myself and coffee for our dear vet/friend Kristine. This is my usual routine on Thursday mornings. I also had dunkin munchkins of the chocolate variety and sprinkle variety.....I ate several while waiting for Kristine. But I digress.... When Kristine pulled in, the sun had come up. The first thing she said to me, was, : "Do you think we should go get that cat out of the street?" What Cat? I didnt see any cat...and then I looked and someone had hit this gorgeous cat and it was lying in 4 lanes of busy crazy morning traffic. We grabbed a big bag and Kristine, in her scrubs, and I dared the traffic. She

Something compelled me to knit a dishcloth for my sister-in-law' s basket of goodies. A simple slip stitch dishrag. It is the Darrell Waltrop knitted cloth pattern. Fun, fast and furious that's the way around here currently. I'm using up the stash. Hoping for more from Santa, so I' have to make some room right?? We went to a Chicago neighborhood filled with lights tonight. One of our traditions . This little tree house was new to us this year, and adorable. I wish it would snow. I know I am in the minority here..but I need a little snow......for Christmas you know! Don't you like a little snow with your Chrstmas dishrag??? I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

Well, one of the things they say is that insanity is acting the same way over and over again and expecting a different result.....ahem. I think I may have another cowl and a dishrag or two in me before the 24th..... What am I doing? I dunno. It just seems wrong to be knitting for myself right now. I know I could whip up another cowl in no time. I have stash yarn that's for certain.... Must look for bulky I guess..... The dishrag thoughts are like this: I have red and white dishrag yarn......I need a little something more for my sister in laws breakfast basket that I am putting together...... What am I doing? I'm last minute gift knitting.. ..but it just feels right. To be honest, I really need 2 more gift cowls.... I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

*but just for this post. They are so soft. Again, you'd think I worked for Lorna's Laces, but their sock yarns are just like buttah to me...... You cannot really see the picot edge at the cuff top, but it is different and I love it . *I'm planning to listen to December Peace piano music by Stanton Lanier later...a gift from my friend Sharon just this morning. *I've already cast on another pair of socks. The awesome thing about sock knitting that I love is their usefulness. How wonderful that eventually they wear out so I can knit more. I have to broaden my horizons with sock patterns this year. Kick it up a notch. *Sock knitting settles me. The little parts of the sock used to stress me and now it is like I am walking a beloved path when I switch from part to part. *My friend Sharon also brought over the most wonderful gingerbread cookies. They are so moist and I never make them, so they are a huge treat. I wonder if there are premade gingerbread co

*Our tree is up. Beatles needed to investigate immediately. Just like a kitty, he loves camping out under the tree. ALL of our cats have loved Christmas tree sitting. Does yours? *THe bulky green cowl is modeled by AL. I think, I just think, I'm done with little gift cowls. Having been in real stores lately I can see big big long cowls are very in right now. My cowls are for the serious outdoor friends who walk their dogs and need true warmth close around their necks. *There has been more cookie eating around here... along with a dusting of our first snow. I love the first snows of the year. November is full of 40 degree grey cloudy days. White lovely snow is always beautiful to me until.....March. That seems so far away right now. *Here's to another workend off......can you say lazy......???? I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

This was the scene at our family's party over Thanksgiving. 7 little ones were propped up on the sofa, and everyone started snapping for the family picture. I thought turning the lens on the photographers was funny. I'm still working on socks and a bulky cowl. Here is the Buckeye recipe that I used this weekend. They came out great. The deal is, if Fireman and Zach eat them before the holidays they have to make another batch. It is from All recipes.com. I read the notes from folks and followed a few of their suggestions. BUCKEYES 1 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup softened butter 1 t. vanilla extract 3 cups confectioners sugar 12 oz semisweet chocolate chips 4 T shortening. Mix the first 4 ingredients well. You almost have to add the 3 cups of confectioners sugar one cup at a time. By the time you are on the 3rd cup you'll be using your hands to mix it. Do not sift the sugar as the original instructions call for. Roll the mix into small ba

I came across these baby booties on Ravelry yesterday. I think they are adorable. The only thing I don't really get is how to keep moving the start point over every row. It is a drops design pattern. Has anyone made these ? Does anyone get the instructions ? Help pretend friends, I know someone will explain it to me better than the instructions on the site do. I'm listening to Pandora's Christmas mix now. Wow I love this site and how you can say you like or dislike a song. Do you ...Pandora???? I tried to do the other picot edge sock last night and messed up the picot. Reminder to self: do not do the picot edge in the near dark by the glow of the TV. I had no problems doing it in daylight today.. Carole's picot edge is great and eliminates the need for sock ribbing on the cuffs. Nancy asked for the Lemon Cookie recipe yesterday: Super easy and super good: From allrecipes.com Preheat oven to 350 degrees Crisp Little Lemon Cookies: 1 (18oz) le

This cowl is the same easy pattern from Ravelry that was originally made with leftover sock yarns. I've adapted the basic pattern for different yarn weights, but the pattern is the simple same: 6 rows purl 6 rows knit around and around and around until you run out of yarn or it is tall enough to cover a neck in the Windy City. This cowl was made of leftover Dream in Color from Al's leggings. It is for our vet, who is also a good friend. I'm knitting yet another cowl in bulky green right now. I think I have a few more in me before Christmas. find I'm alternating between knitting up cowls and knitting up socks. As for the Christmas cookies, well my snowmen came out very ..........sloppy. I used Wilson premade cookie icing.... it dries hard which is good. It tastes good, which is also good. The instructions called for microwaving the bottle of frosting and I did so according to directions. The icing was as liquid as water..... after an hour or so it

Radar wanted in on the Santa Hat action....can't you tell??? That's the kit part of this rare weeekend post. Tomorrow is baking day. Thanks for all your ideas. Let's hope the elf helps me out and my cookies finally come out good. This is the Knit Part of the post: As for knitting, Al is using Kathmandu Queensland and I am helping her with a gift knit. She is knitting a scarf and hat for a friend who is a boy. This yarn was originally going to be knitted into a man's sweater, but over the years it morphed. When she stops by to do laundry or the like, I knit the scarf for her because it bores her to tears. I love boring knits. It is a purl One knit two on the front, and purl the back, kind of scarf. Easy pattern . She made up a hat pattern with the brim being the same as the scarf pattern and the cap a bit different. It is based off the Ann Norling catch all hat patterns. So the other night at work, Tamara the unit aide,came to ask me what I was kn

I have the weekend off, as a matter of fact I have a few of them off. I may try holiday baking. Remember what I heard about doing something that scares you every day? Well, yesterday that ended with an ER visit.... anyhow baking frightens me. I found this image of cookies on the GOOGLE IMAGE search. THey look very do able.... Is there a cute and easy Holiday cookie recipe you can send along??? I am not into fondant or intricate but lovely icing. I am searching for easy baking....(I had an easy bake oven, did you?) As for knitting, I am finishing another gift cowl. I think I have enough leftovers from Al's raspberry leggings to make a pretty gift cowl. I WOULD LOVE YOU TO LEAVE A COMMENT>

I was so proud of my legwarmers for Al, until I saw THESE on Ravelry today.... THe funny thing is, these would actually be very fun to knit up.... I hear there is a new fair isle book out. Heard yesterday on a news show that you are supposed to do something that terrifies you once a day..... really? I'm so not about leaving my comfort zone... Have you left your comfort zone lately??