Yarns of Life

Gluten Free Breads..in my opinion.

2012-01-27T17:01:00.006-05:00

We have found that instead of baking a loaf of g-f bread in a loaf pan...they turn out with a little more body if you use three 3 x 5 pans. Then I cut them long ways to resemble a larger piece of bread.

The bread in the back is the regular g-f bread while the bread in the front is almond bread. We slice this bread width-wise for little sandwiches.

Make basil butter (a little basil and a little butter), spread it on the little pieces of almond bread, then put a simple chicken salad dollop (we use canned g-f chicken and reg. mayonnaise-Hellmann's or Kirkland) and make a little sandwich. Quite tasty.

With Margaret being the only true gluten free eater here, I freeze the bread and she takes out what is needed-as needed.

The Little Sweater Has A Home

2012-01-24T23:06:00.001-05:00

National Pie Day

2012-01-23T09:30:00.008-05:00

It is National Pie Day. All of you gals at the Tuesday Talker's Club be ready for some Pumpkin Pie. As most of you know I ventured into the world of a different pie a week for a year and blogged about it. It started out as a 'let's learn how to make pies really well' with my daughter. Well, after 52 weeks of pies and blog posts, we know a little bit more about pies. We also know what kinds we love and those we don't love. I learned to cook with coconut flakes, yuk. But a lot of pies call for coconut and my husband really likes coconut, so I made pies with coconut. I got a lot of feedback from pie eaters at the church we attended. Pies that were voiced the most were: Coconut Cream Pie, Snow Pie, Sawdust Pie,Tar Heel Pie, Beekeeper's Pie and Blue Bramble Pie. My all time favorite is Rhubarb Pie. I would love to make a gooseberry pie this year, but the gooseberries are so expensive. I entered my pies in contests. Coconut Cream, Apple, Blue Bramble and Sawdust Pies. Blue Bramble received honorable mention and Sawdust received champion at the county fair. I entered the Coconut Cream in a church fund raiser and came in second in the cream pies division. They auctioned off the top pies for charity. My husband bid and won my pie for $40.00. I told him I would make him a pie anytime he wanted....he said something sweet, like "It's for charity Honey" and we left. What makes this funny is that the pies that won high awards were made with coconut...so I didn't even taste the pies that won.

So, I guess I said all of that to say this, if you want to see my pie posts, just click HERE or click Year of the Pie on the sidebar.

If you are making a pie today I would love to know what kind. Leave a comment!

~Until Next Time~

The Little Sweater is Finished!

2012-01-21T19:01:00.002-05:00

A Trip To Indy!

2012-01-19T20:45:00.020-05:00

Today was the day we chose to hit the circuit in Indianapolis.

Stop #1

This is my sister (one of them). She and I used to have a LINE down the center of our room.

Stop #2The ceiling lights at Trader Joe's always make me happy.

Stop #3

Stop #4

Stop #5....I love their Sweet Tea.

Two other stops didn't warrant a photo.

Homeward Bound.

I Can't Wait to Show You!

2012-01-18T13:16:00.002-05:00

I am knitting a 'little person' sweater....from the top. It is so fun and cute. It is not a step by step pattern, but the guidelines found in Barbara G. Walker's book. With these guidelines I can make any sized sweater. I am really excited about this.
This first sweater is still under my 'practice mode' but will be given to a little person as soon as I can finish it and wash and block it. I honestly don't know if it will fit, so I am knitting at the speed of lightening, just in case it does. I have a feeling, if it does fit...it won't fit for too long.

I think it is cute.

Adding the left arm with a matching stripe.

The ribbing at the bottom. See how the right column of the knit rib are off a little bit? I have read to correct that, when coming in to do a knit stitch from the two rib purl....just knit into the back of that first stitch. Has anyone else read that? I keep forgetting to try it. If I remember, I shall do it on the sleeve cuffs.

Until next time....

2012-01-16T10:11:00.006-05:00

I am currently knitting from Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top. This book has been around for a long time, but I have just started reading it recently. I have made a little 'practice ' sweater to understand how it works. Now I am doing a 'real' one for a little person. Not having the little person near me I can only hope it fits. We shall see. Oh, do you remember the Baby Surprise Jackets? There is the PRACTICE one up in the corner. I am all about practice.

Margaret has been busy hand stitching a chemise for her Civil War attire. It is coming along swimmingly. The crocheted blanket is the handiwork of my sister G.

Margaret's Salve

2012-01-14T16:52:00.007-05:00

This is the salve that my daughter, Margaret, makes. I love it. It comes in a 4 oz. tin and it sells for $8.00 a tin. Shipping is $4.95.
It contains: comfrey, plantain, yarrow, vitamin E oil, olive oil, coconut oil, beeswax. It lasts quite while. Visit my Etsy shop to buy. You won't be disappointed.

2012-01-12T08:39:00.014-05:00

One of my latest projects is the stole from Elann.com. I am knitting mine in Cascades solid sock yarn. My daughter was kind enough to take time out of her hand sewing to hold a small portion of the stole to show its pattern. The color is Cerulean. I thought it would be a nice bright color. The pattern is easy, but if I drop one of the yarn overs from the previous row....I am in for it because I am not good at fixing yarn over errors.

Another thing I have been working on is practicing the concept of a top down sweater. Barbara G. Walker has a book called Knitting From The Top, that I have found most wonderful. Below is a practice yoke.

Below is the ribbing of a little hat that I am trying to write the pattern out for. I had a thought about a hat and knit one up and gave it away never dreaming of putting it on paper. So I decided to do another one and document the pattern in case I wanted to sell it.

Until Next Time. Stay warm. It is 15° here. The wind is howling.

2012-01-11T09:08:00.010-05:00

I am sharing this picture of me with you for a couple of reasons.
#1. It really conveys "me". Blue jeans-sweat shirt. I had my blue hand knitted socks on too. I can and do wear other clothing to accommodate the occasion, but this is usually my default comfy clothes. The gray shirt is not the best choice for my hair color since it too is gray. I kind of just blend all together. I was practicing using the 'timed' pictures on my cell phone. Plus I need to practice being less vain by sharing photos like this.

#2. This picture was taken yesterday. In north-central Indiana. O.K.? Notice the absence of a winter coat. We have had an unseasonably mild winter so far. I was able to go baby sit and run errands and visit my mom all while wearing said shirt. At the time this picture was taken it was 51°. But I see in the forecast for today, rain and then the next three days, snow. So hopefully we will get back to normal. As nasty as some winter days can be I still like it.

The next picture is just for fun. It is Woody, of course, everybody's favorite little cowboy!

Until next time.

My Red Christmas Socks!

2012-01-04T13:52:00.002-05:00

I finished my Christmas socks on New Year's Eve. I didn't anticipate it taking so long. The Cascade Heritage Paint sock yarn hank just has a lot on it!!! But it was worth the extra time to knit. They are actually just above my calf....knitted 'just so' so they will fit over said calf without cutting off my circulation!

I like them!

A Trip to Bloomington, Indiana

2012-01-03T11:18:00.012-05:00

The day after Christmas, during the 4 days that Chris was home from working in New York, we were able to go down to Bloomington to visit with his son's family for a day. I say 'down' to Bloomington because it is south of us. If we were to visit Margaret's people in New Orleans, we would go 'down' south as well. And for all practical purposes I suppose all of those folks would visit us 'up' north. If we visit my cousin, Phil, in Arizona we would go 'out' west. It is interesting how we describe things. And heaven help the person who says they are going 'up' to Bloomington from here...because that is not happening. Well, anyway, enough of that. :)

Bloomington is a college town and home to Indiana University. Basically, it is in southern Indiana. Amanda drove Margaret and I to the downtown area to visit the yarn shop. We parked on the square. Downtown Bloomington. It was such a surprise.
It smelled SO good. Food. We breathed in that wonderful smell as we walked to the shop. The sign in the window said OPEN, but it wasn't. :(
So....next time we visit: I must find where that wonderful smell was coming from and partake thereof and stroll through the yarn shop and oooh and aaah and also partake thereof.

Margaret and Amanda outside the shop, Yarns Unlimited.

The exciting thing about this post is...the addition of a 'label' at the bottom...."YARN SHOPS".....it's plural. Thus begins my quest!

The Stripey Hat Revisited

2011-12-27T12:33:00.007-05:00

See this Stripey Hat?

I had originally tagged it for charity. I showed it to Chris just in passing, during our whirlwind weekend. I told him it's destination. He said thought it would really look cute on one of the grand boys. Margaret and I had knit the older three hats a couple years ago and I didn't even imagine that this would fit the youngest -9 month old. So we took it to see if it would fit .
We could not get over how cute it looked on the him. He is absolutely adorable anyway and then the hat just put everything over the edge!

A Stripey Hat

2011-12-21T09:24:00.007-05:00

I am still knitting the red socks. I took a break and knit this little hat. Cute enough isn't it? It will fit an older child I think.
It doesn't have a recipient. Nor does one of the EZ heart hats that my daughter made. The brown tweed wool hat I made last winter needs a home as well.
Well, I am not the brightest crayon in the box.....so it took me a bit to decide what to do with these hats. Give them to charity Lou. I read an article about orphans in a far away land and how a couple of ladies started a charity to collect knitted hats, gloves and scarves.
So into the charity box they go.
I will be able to post a picture soon of the beautiful red socks that are currently on my needles.
My Christmas present this year....is about 5'11'' and will be walking through back door in a day or so.......but he will only be here for a little while and we have lots of family to visit while he is here.

Oh and just to fill you in on the picture.....the musical one in the house is Margaret.
Keeping my eyes peeled for a used accordian.....she is quite intrigued by them.

2011-12-18T00:42:00.001-05:00

Christmas Socks Received

2011-12-17T09:40:00.003-05:00

The socks have arrived at their destination. Virginia.

Thanks United States Postal Service.

Christmas Socks

2011-12-15T14:30:00.000-05:00

2011-12-12T22:35:00.000-05:00

Chullo Hat Kits are on SALE at Knitpicks

2011-12-06T09:45:00.001-05:00

Scroll down after going HERE to the chullo hat, red or grey, and buy one while they are on sale....Very good price.

The Heart Hat

2011-12-03T20:07:00.007-05:00

In her book, Knitting Workshop, Elizabeth Zimmermann shares a cute and quick heart hat. I passed it over time and time again as I looked through this book. The other day....it really struck me so I did a quick practice knit of the heart and I was 'off to the races'. It is such a cute hat when finished....I just don't have a small cranium handy for modeling. Of course the hat and heart can be the same color.

The directions call for longer I-cord tie, but I chose the 'fold it over and hook it to a button' method. :)

The pattern also says that the heart, when knitted as is, can be used as an elbow patch on a beloved's sweater. How cute.
If you are on Ravelry check out the EZ Heart Hat for different variations.

Until Next Time.

Losing Power Has It's Perks

2011-12-02T17:47:00.003-05:00

We were quite fortunate when the recent sneaky little snow storm came through last Tuesday that our power was out only a little over 3 hours. Others had to wait for a few days. :(
During those three hours...Margaret serenaded Molly and I with non-electric instruments. The cello and piano.

Hallelujah Chorus -Quinhagak, Alaska

2011-12-01T09:55:00.001-05:00

SNOW vs TREE

2011-11-30T10:47:00.007-05:00

The Hat is Finished.

2011-11-25T17:59:00.011-05:00

I really like the large cream colored alpacas, but I love the little brown ones...can you see them?

Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T20:29:00.003-05:00

Granny, Lou, Margaret
we three ate roast,potatoes/carrots/gravy and homemade chicken fettucine alfredo. Pumpkin pie.

Wordless Wednesday-Inside Out

2011-11-23T14:05:00.002-05:00

American Red Cross Museum

2011-11-22T09:17:00.002-05:00

While poking around Ravelry this morning I ran across this link. If you are interested in WWII, knitting or vintage, you might like this page.
Go HERE.

Our Saturday

2011-11-20T08:53:00.012-05:00

Saturday we three (Chris came home from NY for a couple days) had a busy day.
A birthday and swimming party for some 'littles', funeral home viewing, and a wedding!
Events seem to always happen at the same time so we would have to choose which one to attend, but these three were spaced out just right so we could attend all three (well I did anyway).
We all attended the first two, Margaret and I attended the wedding and I attended the reception.
After the party/funeral viewing Chris went home to rest before leaving at midnight to drive back to New York. That left Margaret and I to drive to the wedding. I had never been to Gaston before...and now I know why. You just can't get there from here!!!!
Well really you can but it is kind of touch-n-go if you can really make it or not.
Our directions were not strong enough for my intellect. But by the grace of God, stopping to ask for directions and a whole lot of laughter, we made it...with 10 minutes to spare.
After stopping to ask for directions at a gas station and putting the laughter on pause, we turned around to find this sign staring at us.
Have I missed something in the news about Hank? What's going on? To see this sign after driving on windy, bumpy, ill-paved roads made me wonder!

Or maybe it has something to do with the sign below it....'they sell real Tennessee moonshine".

Or maybe they just love Ol' Hank.

Until next time.

Oh and remember, anytime you need an "L" you can always use upside down "7's".

Well, I have since been brought up to speed on this issue. GO HANK!

History of the land our home sits on.

2011-11-19T08:46:00.009-05:00

The land that I sit on today came from a land grant to a Miami Indian chief named Jean Baptiste (Wildcat) Richardville. He is number six on this list.

The 'land grant' came from President of the United States, James Polk. This site list more information about him. It states he owned more than 20 square miles of choice land. There are 640 acres in a square mile ( at least that is what I got when I googled it) That is a lot of land and this little piece I write from today was part of it. Kind of cool. But if you think about it all of this "Northwest Territory" was someones before the government came along. Must have been an early version of 'eminent domain'.

As I hold these documents, I think about how things were back then...peaceful? serene? beautiful?.....maybe/maybe not....you see people are the same in every generation.....

The Hat Continues

2011-11-15T01:24:00.002-05:00

Sandwich Bread

2011-11-14T13:21:00.004-05:00

Our first loaf of g-free bread. Not sure why it went down instead of up, but it is actually quite tasty. Margaret is thrilled.

Blueberry Muffins G-free

2011-11-12T14:29:00.017-05:00

My daughter eats gluten-free.
We have struggled to find yummy g-free delights.
The boxed mixes are pricey and not so delightful. :(
We checked out a book from our library titled, "Cooking Free" by Carol Fenster
It has a flour blend that you make up and keep for general g-free cooking.
We mixed up a blend of:
1 and 1/2 C. of potato starch
1 and 1/2 C. sorghum flour
1 C. tapioca starch/flour
1/2 C. almond flour
Stir it really well and stored it in a lovely Tupperware container.
Then.....

we made blueberry muffins. (squeal)

2 and 1/3 C. flour blend
1/2 C. sugar ( we used raw sugar)
2 and 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. xanthan gum
1 tsp. unflavored gelatin powder
1 tsp. salt

1 C. milk (cow, soy or rice) we used cow-whole milk
1/4 C. canola oil
2 large eggs or 1/2 C. soft silken tofu ( um...we used eggs)
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 T. grated lemon zest-from a real lemon :)
1 C. blueberries- fresh or frozen.

Preheat oven 400° and grease 12-cup nonstick muffin tin. (we used 10 muffin cups)

Mix the dry ingredients together in a mixer. Mix the wet ingredients together and add to the dry ingredients. Gently stir in the blueberries. Scoop into cups and bake for 20-25 minutes (add 5 minutes extra if you use frozen berries).
Remove from the oven and cool on a rack.
While muffins are cooling, combine 2 T. powdered sugar with 2 T. fresh lemon juice (you saved it when you zested your lemon-I hope)
Drizzle this over the warm muffins.
Cool for 15 minutes.
Serve.

Be happy!

I Like This Picture

2011-11-12T06:30:00.002-05:00

The Hat

2011-11-10T09:59:00.003-05:00

I am doing it!!!!

Proverbsv 3:27-30

2011-11-08T09:00:00.003-05:00

These words touch me in so many ways today.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act.
Do not say to your neighbor,
"Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"-
when you now have it with you.

Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
Do not accuse a man for no reason-
when he has done you no harm.

Andean Chullo Hat-Kit from KnitPicks

2011-11-06T17:42:00.008-05:00

I have admired this little hat for quite some time. The fact that it has alpacas on it only adds to my giddiness over it. :)
Working all of that color intimidates me.
But how will I ever know if I can do it if I don't try???
So, the red socks are on hold-I will try to knit those around Christmastime.

So for now I will dig in to this neat pattern. It is a first for me.

Aren't the colors pretty? They say you can get at least two hats out of the kit. Hmmm. We will see.
I have to finish up the green socks I was knitting in the truck when we went to North Carolina and then I can start on this. They are almost done.

That is about the only thing new around here.
The weather is turning cooler. We turned the clocks back (I think). That's it.

Until next time.

It's not Indiana, but it'll do. :)

2011-11-04T11:08:00.007-04:00

From the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina

Black Mountain, NC (Red Rocker Inn)