Knitting Links

Katri has so many interesting links on her blog that have to do with knitting.  I get caught up sometimes looking at them and the amazing knitting creations and incredibly talented people.  They make socks, sweaters, dolls, vests, toys, afghans and on and on it goes.   The yarns are photographed in the most creative ways and the colors of yarn are just a feast for the eyes.
When you read their blogs, all they want to be doing is knitting.  And the yarn shops just mesmerize me, it's like being in a candy store.   It makes me want to knit in the worst way but I already tried it.  Many years ago my non English speaking mother in law tried to teach me and I was sooo two left thumbs.  I was so embarrassed, trying to please this woman who could knit in her sleep and had two looms of her own where she wove her own fabrics.  Good grief, after that I didn't even want to look at a pair of knitting needles.    I tried again about a year ago to make a scarf and got so frustrated with not being able to correct my mistakes that I found myself reverting to a vocabulary not suitable for a 62 year old woman.   So I have decided to live the knitting life vicariously through all these wonderful links.  At least then I don't have to worry about someone overhearing me.   

20 Bucks

Twenty bucks doesn't go far these days but that's not the case in other countries.  We got a letter from Daniel, the 7 yr. old Bolivian boy we are sponsoring through Compassion Intl.  Last fall we had sent a family donation of $20.  I was curious to see what that amount could mean for the family.  This past week we got a letter (we get one most every month) and a photo which I treasure as I'm sure to get those taken and developed requires some planning. The photo of Daniel and some family members also included the things that were purchased.  Anyway the family bought the following:  2 huge bags of noodles, 5 liters of cooking oil, a huge sausage, 6 lbs. of beans, a cabbage and a pair of beets plus a sweater and shirt for Daniel.   I can't help look at the photo and realize that there is no mention of toys and am struck by the excess in our country.   Having been to South America I have a special heart tug for the people there and the extreme need.  We are indeed blessed to live in this country.

Time For Biscuits

We have been having popovers so often with our Sunday soup that I decided it was time for a change.  So I got out my recipe for Southern Raised Biscuits and we had some last night and they are scrumptious.  Here they are rising for an hour.

And here they are baked.  They can be eaten with cheese or jam and, of course, lots of butter!  They freeze well and reheat well.  They are also good as a breakfast biscuit.  If you would like the recipe, let me know.



At Last!

Hank waits all winter for this special day in the spring, the first day to lie outside on the deck and soak up the morning sun.  The air is still chilly but the sun is warm and I'm sure he must be smiling inside!  Today was the first day we have seen that yellow ball in a very long time.



One Year Ago Today

How can it be that one year ago today I fell and broke my wrist and began a long journey toward normalcy.  Why is it that time goes so fast when we look back but in the moment it's hard sometimes to think the present day will ever end.   

Thots that the past year have prompted:

• I so appreciate all the parts of my body that function normally
• I'm so grateful the accident happened on day 70 and not day 4 of our journey
• I'm grateful for a husband who was attentive to all my needs
• I learned to be able to ask for help
• I discovered new joys of being able to do things for the first time...again...like blow drying my hair, hooking my bra, tying my shoes, lifting pots and pans, getting dressed and undressed, zipping my jacket, attaching Hank's collar and the list goes on..
• That it's possible to live a joyous life even with chronic discomfort

So I am very glad it's been a year and I'm ok with all the learning experiences thus far...thank you very much! 

Seeing And Tasting Is Believing

When I was at Katri's I was reading in one of her Guidepost magazines about how someone cooks her turkey...she roasts it for one hour at 500 degrees, then turns the oven off and then lets it sit in the oven for 5 - 6 hours.   I thought...pah..leeze...how can that work.   When I got home I did some more research on the internet and actually found a link to the Guidepost article plus another article about the same mode of cooking but with more detail about the how.  So this is what I did based on that research.  I got out my old roaster pan that has been collecting dust in the pantry for more years than I can count.  It has vents in the top.   My turkey was between 16-18 lbs.  I stuffed it with some chopped onion, apple and celery and added some spices.   I then boiled two quarts of water and added some sea salt to the water, the salt being my idea and a change from what I had read anywhere.  I poured the hot water over the bird, put on the cover, left the vents open and put it in the 500 degree oven for exactly one hour.  After that I turned it off and all life forms in the house were given strict instructions NOT to open the oven door for 6 hours.  

The pan that has found new life

We took off the lid not knowing what to expect and this is what we found - the most tender, flavorful, completely cooked turkey we have ever eaten!!!  I have to say in my 62 years that I have never eaten white meat that good.  Can you believe this works??  I'm still finding it hard.  With all the broth, I am going to use it to make soup.  Just look at those legs, the meat is ready to fall off the bones.   OK, enough excitement for one day!   By the way, we both agreed that adding the salt to the boiling water was a good choice.  It was probably one to two teaspoons of sea salt (or Kosher salt) 

Chocolate Leather

A while back, someone in our house, who will remain anonymous, dropped a piece of chocolate on our leather couch.  Who would think that chocolate could leave such a stain on leather.  I tried all the recommended treatments that I read about on the internet, first testing them out on the underside of a cushion.   My new Thieves cleaner came the closest to having some results but not completely.  When all else failed I got out my new stick of Oxi Clean gel stick pre-treater and rubbed a bit of it on the stain with my finger and then wiped it off with a clean wet cloth.  Then the wait for it to dry and then try again and I must say the 'ol couch is virtually back to normal.  In light of the recent events in Japan, this problem is not even a blip on the screen of life but if you have leather in your house, tuck this tip away for future reference. 

Misplaced Ferry

I knew something was out of the ordinary this morning when I got up and looked out and saw the Alaskan ferry in front of our house!!  Friday it always starts its voyage to Alaska from Bellingham and to see it so close was hugely strange.  Then I turned on the TV and heard about the massive Japan earthquake and tsunami and then understood that there were still warnings out for the west coast.  It will be interesting to see when this ship gets the ok to continue on its voyage.    BJ seems to think that it's the ferry coming in to Bellingham but does not want to dock until the warnings are over.   Amazing how much life is disrupted by an event like this.

Grandchildren Immersion

After a week in Minnesota visiting family, I can still feel my new grandson, Nikolai, in my arms.   What a joyful baby in every way.  It seemed like I could see him grow while I was there and he is so good, only up once during the night to eat.  It was a great bonding time.   While there, I was also able to have an early birthday dinner with Henni, so that was fun. 

Ava saw me one day after putting on some fresh lipstick and promptly went to her bedroom to get her princess lip gloss and even managed to get some on her lips!!  She thought her gloss was very close in color to mine.   Let's see...3 going on 13!!

And here is the little man.  He is already smiling and will be 4 weeks tomorrow.   I think by the time I left there was even a third chin.

If you are wondering where the pictures are of Eliah...well, it's hard to photograph a blur!  We had a great time playing Wii and he is very good at all the games and the only thing I could win was bowling.