Yes, I’ve continued with the Ravely challenge and this little pin-up girl is Project 4. We have named her Emmaline. I plan to knit her up a small dress and other goodies for Project 5. Project 2 and 3 were socks for my little muse. Though small, they caused me many a headache as the heels were particularly difficult to knit. Still the results are quite cute -- don't you think?
You might be wondering what’s been happening, why I haven’t been updating as often. Well dear reader, I have been bitten hard by the creative mosquito. So hard in fact, that I find it hard to focus on important things like, work and the like. And though I have scratched it hard, the creative itch continues. It has led me to retry things I thought were out of my reach. So today I’m extra proud to say that after countless tears and frustrated projects, the invisible zipper foot and I have come to a definite understanding. Since the Eureka moment occurred (early Thursday morning) I have been running amuck and this is the result.
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Yes, FOUR pillows! I laugh with (and at) invisible zippers now… thanks invisible zipper foot.
Now if I could only get the bias foot to submit to my will…
It lasted eight long years. We grew it from a bulb. It got too big for our room, so I put it in the hallway. I changed the pot, I gave it fresh dirt and placed it in a sunny cornerI didn’t know it was “Death Corner.” Rest in peace Elephant Ear, you will be missed.
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Oh Daddy -- what a meal was had on Sunday! The menu was not too ambitious -- but boy it was delicious. I wish you could have been there (and you just might have…) . The grill was put into overdrive with boneless pork country ribs marinated with mushroom soy and sake, potato packets with asparagus, corn on the cob, fresh bread, refried black beans, beet salad with goat cheese and walnuts, fresh grilled green onions, fresh salsa, dark-chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. The usual suspects cooked and cleaned for the meal and a merry time was had by all. Unexpectedly and very happily we were joined by our favorite tired and very parched s’laws for dessert. Although everything was quite good, to me the star of the meal was of course the dark chocolate cake suggested by my favorite penguin. The cake recipe can be found here at this link. My one change was in the frosting where I added 1/4 cup of cream cheese to add a little “sumpin sumpin.” YUMMY!
I guess I should mention the guests of honor for whom I have only the greatest admiration, love and respect. Here’s to the Dads! Hip Hip Hooray! Below is the current favorite salad recipe of the resident Dad. Happy Father’s Day all!
Roasted Beet Salad with Walnuts and Goat Cheese:
2 small roasted beets peeled and cubed
1/4 cup toasted walnuts halves (chopped) -- use a sauté pan on low heat
2 small heads bib greens ( I like the butter lettuce best)
4 ounces goat cheese crumbled
Dressing:
1.5 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
Combine the salad ingredients then add the dressing… I know it’s hard to believe but that’s it… delicious.
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We’ve been on a fish-roll lately but no one here is complaining! Tuna was the fish called up for duty this Sunday prepared our favorite way, rolled in sesame seeds and pan seared. We tried a new recipe from Fine Cooking with a new vegetable -- kohlrabi. Our final judgment - kohlrabi is a funny little vegetable with a very light radish taste and we give it a thumbs up. The kohlrabi salad was delicious, the brown rice was rice-nificent and the sweet potato fries with chipotle seasonings were just right. A red wine (sorry don’t remember what but it was good) was served for the adults and for the local soda-addict a new flavor and a new soda. The verdict on the soda – a thumbs up. To please the man of the house I made a blueberry cobbler with a twist -- instead of a biscuit topping I make a sugar cookie topping. The cobbler was served with ice cream and within seconds it was gone. Have I told you how much I love our Sundays? Well in case I haven’t -- I do.
My young muse is coming to visit me soon -- so I’m dedicating the next knitting projects from my 52 Projects in 52 Weeks to her. First up was the gnomey hat. The lovely green color is not translating well in the picture. Doesn’t it make you think of forest glens, ferns and little gnomey creatures hiding in the bushes?
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Last week I took a book out of the library called Ready Made. The book contains projects that allow you to “reuse” items that may have been winging there way to the trash. Two projects stood out -- one a dog bed made out of recycled jeans and the other making a messenger bag from fused plastic bags. Each project has a very clear picture followed by a short set of instructions. Having a surplus of jeans and a very outspoken puppy-princess demanding a new bed… I decided to try the jean bed. On the page, the project looked very easy – however, one very sore finger later and three pairs of jeans later I can attest that the instructions were not very good. I did manage to finish not one but -- TWO beds and I have tips to pass on.
