I got a package!

I got a package from my Secret Pal on Friday. It was a nice surprise after a long day at the swimming pool.



I got a skein of yarn, some Mocha Java coffee, a tote bag for my many WIPS ;) and a small clutch like bag great to hold some hooks. I have already indulged in some of the coffee, very yummy.

Thank You Secret Pal!

a little bit of this and a little bit of that

I apologize up front to anyone who prefers exact measurements. I can be that way too sometimes. Yet, I have gotten to the point that sometimes I want something yummy but I just don't want to take the time to measure every thing out. The recipe I am about to share is just a guess anyway because I'm trying to recreate a salad my dh and I LOVED to get when we ate at the Boho in Occidental, Ca.

Strawberry Salad - one serving:

green leaf lettuce about 1 cup shredded by hand or cut you decide
one small clove of garlic chopped or more (because let's be realistic here garlic is a VEGETABLE!)
a dash or more of olive oil
a dash or more of balsamic vinegar (this is the absolutely must ingredient! balsamic vinegar as far as vinegers go is very close to heaven for me and really makes this salad)
a dash of salt
2-3 strawberries sliced
a few pinches of sliced almonds almonds or toasted walnuts either is very good
a few pinches of fresh parmesan cheese ( parmesan cheese in a can is NOT good enough you must splurge on fresh parmesan cheese)

Viola you have a gourmet salad that reminds me of my salad days (pun intended) in California

Serve with chilled white wine and some white cheddar cheese and be happy:)

Time 12:17 am and I'm not sure....

If I should dance like Snoopy or Cry? You ask ...Why?

Because Jade is in the kitchen making pancakes. I want to cry because I want to go to bed and I don't want to wake up to a potential kitchen disaster in the morning. Cry because she just may have used up all the cream and milk for my coffee in the morning. Not to mention I'm tired ! But I'm having a hard time sleeping with the activity in the kitchen so I decided to surf, read email and now blog.

Or I could dance like Snoopy because she is making them herself. She READ! the recipe herself. AND Now that I am up the pancakes are smelling pretty good so I just might eat them too. So that's a good thing.

Still up at 12:24 am

Bear and Purse

My son has a little friend down the street who was having a birthday last weekend so he asked me to make her a little teddy bear. He contributed lots to the overall design of the bear.

He had me sew on a little pink heart for the bears belly (I don't have a picture of that sorry!) He also requested I make the bear a scarf and mini purse. Then I made a purse for the little girl to hold the bear in.

I was able to make this with everything I had in my stash in honor of use what you have. I am trying very hard this month to NOT buy any more yarn or craft stuff.

I have not succeeded very well though. I couldn't pass up a crochet book I found at half price books a few days ago for only $5 and a pattern for some fun book marks.

I haven't bought any new yarn for 3 weeks now!

more socks - the beginning

more socks - the beginning
Originally uploaded by sammimag.

I'm working on a Sock CAL for CGOA members. I got this far then after doing part of the next task I decided to frog back to the beginning. I just didn't like how roomy the socks were at the toes. I was worried they would be even roomier if I kept going.

The pattern suggested I end with a certain number of stitches which didn't make sense to me if I want the pattern to fit my feet.

The gauge required was 13sc/2inch which is about 6.5 sc/inch. I measured my foot just under the toes and got about 8.5inch around. So that got me about 55sc needed to fit my foot. I decided if I ended with 54 sc I would get a snug fit and the sock will stretch.

54sc is just about what I ended up with when I did the grafton fibers toe up sock. I also changed how I did the increases. I did increases w/o a sc in between them which I think makes a tighter fit.

I hope I'm right.

On Gardening

Ok not much on gardening but a card I received from Finland today for the what is your hobby tag on he postcrossing forum.



Even the stamp "matched" the card



I've have been watering the garden lots today. Dang I am hot. I'm so hot think I'm melting. Need cool air, need water, need a beer .... oh good I have one ;0)

My baby is growing up

Corbin got his ear pierced today. He's pretty pleased although he said it really hurt.

I feel so surprised, kind of incredulous that I have kids with pierced , ears and now an ear. Not that I have a problem with pierced ears. It just seems like such a big thing to do to me.

He does look pretty cool. I'd think he was pretty cute if I was 7 years old. I'm probably kind of prejudiced with a mother's love and all.