Gotta Hurry

Does this look bad?  I hope not because this BBQ Chicken was fabulous.  I used the recipe HERE.  I will make it again very soon.  YUM.

I have no time today.  The Captain is taking me to IKEA to look for a sink dish draining that fits the new sink he installed for me.  It’s a weird size and we can’t find the right size at regular stores.  We figure the Europeans probably have weird sink sizes too.  That is not a slam against Europeans…I’m just sayin’.

I’m mailing some surprise boxes and envelopes today:

• Kate S.
• Bev M.
• Mandy C.
• Erin G.
• Kat P.

BOLO for a package in the next few days!  :)

Tiramisu Cake

 

It turned out great!

Recipe HERE

Three More Roosters

Were Born Yesterday

All Six New Ones

Food & Fowl

There’s a lot of cooking, baking, and rooster-making going on over here today.  Hey, that rhymes!

I already made a Macaroni Salad…

Elbow macaroni, chopped onion, pimento, boiled eggs, sharp cheddar, and mayo.

And three Roosters…

I made all but the legs last night so this morning I had a crochet leg-fest.  These are so freakin’ fun to make!  You can find the pattern HERE.  If I won the lottery, I would buy-up everything in Dawn’s shop!  I love her stuff.  And her dog is the cutest little long-haired wiener dog you’ve ever seen.  I want one of those too.  I know…you’re surprised, aren’t you?  Hee.  I’m sure she won’t mind if I show-off her little Phoebe and snag a picture…

Lordie, look how cute!

Those big eyes and tiny little legs!

I hope I don’t sound too stalker-like, Dawn.  ;)

***************************

The Captain is making a grocery store run for me right now.  I’m also going to make BBQ Chicken Thighs on the indoor grill pan, and a Three-Layer Tiramisu Cake!  Pictures and the recipe tomorrow if it turns out.  (Yes, I watched Paula Deen this morning and got all inspired to cook.)

I’m starting a diet next week – not sure what day yet – so I’m doing some baking today.  When I go on a diet, I miss all the baking and cooking of some of my favorites the most.  It’s just not as fun when the stuff I’m making is healthy!  I’m sure I should change my attitude about that one.

We’ve got a race tomorrow AND the Oscars so I won’t be doing any baking then.  I’ll just be eating leftovers and getting it out of my system.  I’m still getting mentally ready for this.  I just don’t want to talk about it much right now.  I’m still getting my head straight.  I must have my mind set correctly or it just won’t work.  I’ll tell you more about it when I’m ready.

I’m going to make at least three more Roosters today.  It’s easier on my arm to make these rather than trying to crochet on my blanket which is just a lot of repetitive stitches.

Gotta run now.

TGIF

LOL!

Little Mary Sunshine Is Here!

 

 

This girl’s cartoons are seriously funny to me.  I may pick out a few now and then for you, but you can look at more HERE whenever you want.  Beware…they are not for the faint of heart or clean of mouth.  Thanks, Natalie!

**********************

That nasty woman that blew through here yesterday is gone.  Who was that anyway?  I have no idea.  She comes around every now and then spewing the truth hate.  Sometimes she’s hard to get rid of.  Luckily her visit was brief this time.

 

I couldn’t resist one more.

I’m keeping it short today.  There’s nothing happening here anyway.  The shit storm is in blogland.  Have you seen it?  They all need to come here and line up for their pills.

See ya, girlies!

Good God

I was going to save this for tomorrow, but I might as well go ahead and do it now.  Why not be a HAG all in one day and get it over with?

I just got totally grossed-out while looking around on Ravelry! I mean, bleh! I’m sorry, did I get vomit on you?

Anyway…someone posted a picture of their crocheted “yoga socks pattern,” which if you don’t know what those are, they don’t cover your heels or your toes. The problem was they were on her totally gross, dirty, red feet with corns and cuts and…GAH!

Is she blind along with having SKANK FEET? What in the hell was she thinking???

If you’re going to look, look at ALL of the pictures by clicking on them and seeing them in all their glory: HERE  (She even held them up and took a picture of the bottoms so we could get a GOOD LOOK!  OMG.)

WTF?!  People, I know some humans can’t help it that they don’t have gorgeous feet, but don’t be putting a big honking picture of your gross-ass feet ANYWHERE…EVER! Use a child’s feet or a manikin’s feet or your dog’s feet or SOMETHING.

Good God! What’s the matter with people? Jeez. Ugh!  I’m scarred forever.

And if whoever’s feet those are happens to come and read this, I’m sorry, but someone should have told you!  If anyone knows this person, go save her!

Okay...

I took another long nap after that last horrible post, and then I came in here to delete it.  But I saw all of your comments and I laughed, and now I'm going to leave it!

I'm better now, by the way.  Sorry for my hissy fit.  I usually catch myself before I hit "publish" on those kinds of posts.  Oops.

Back tomorrow with a smile plastered on my face.

Psycho much?

Someone Is In a Mood!

ME!

I hate people who are all cryptic on their blog and are always trying to stir up shit, either outright or passive-aggressively.

Just shut the fuck up and show us some pictures of your stupid life.  That's all we really want!

Yes, there are a lot of cuss words on my blog today.  If you don't like it, go away...FOREVER. 

Bye-bye you self-richeous, miserable bitches!

How's that for cryptic?  Heh.

Disclaimer:  This is an example of why you should not blog while pissy.

~ Love to only some of you today ~

Ha!

Contrasts

I made a couple of cozies last night.  This is not a great picture, but I didn’t feel like messing with picture-taking today so I didn’t try to make it any better.  This cozy is my favorite so far.  I made the little flower out of thread.  It’s really cute and springy-looking.  Unfortunately, it’s a stark contrast to the way I feel.

I’ve been in sleep mode the last couple of days.  Pretty much all I’ve done is sleep, sleep, and then I slept a little more.  I was surprised to see it was after 11:00 when I got up this morning after sleeping pretty much all day yesterday.  Bleh.  It makes me feel awful to sleep that much.  I feel all swollen and puffy and achy.  Not good.

Yes, I know I’m being a big bummer.  No comments on my state of being are necessary.  I will pull out of it like always and be back to my old self soon.

Hee-hee.  Some of these don’t even make any sense, but they made me laugh and feel better.  I would give you the website I got them from, but I want to post more later and I don’t want to spoil it for you.  I will give you the source some day…maybe.  And if you’re resourceful and really give a crap, I’m sure you could fine it anyway.

Is it time for a nap yet?

Distracted

 

I was distracted yesterday from my cup cozy-making by anything and everything…

 

Like these…

They aren’t finished.  I may make another layer, and then I have to sew a button on.  I can’t tell you what they’re for.  The free pattern is HERE.

 

And this…

Yes, my kitchen rug is dirty and grassy.  Don’t judge me.  Fletch likes to roll in the dead grass and then once he’s got it all over him, come inside and shake and roll on the rugs.  I can only vacuum so many times before I give up.  He’s cute though, isn’t he?  I’m such a pushover when it comes to them!  That’s why they are brats.

We are planning a little trip sometime soon, and last night I was thinking about having to kennel them while we are gone and I cried.  I can’t stand the thought of that!  It makes my heart hurt.  This is why we rarely take trips.  (I had a dog that died when we left her in a kennel for a weekend trip.  It left a GIANT hole in my heart that is still there.)

Anyway…I had a lot of distractions yesterday and only got two cozies made.  I didn’t make any today either because my back has had me down all day.

 

I made a big bowl of our favorite ham & potato salad last night so I wouldn’t have to cook today.  We love having this with just pretzels and iced tea.  It’s potatoes, 5 boiled eggs, 5 green onions, one pound of ham, and mayo, with a little salt & pepper, and some paprika sprinkled on top.  Serve cold.  Easy and delish.

That’s all from me.

~ Love to you all ~

Spring Already?

 

I made some sun tea on Saturday.  You can always tell when it’s getting close to springtime here when I start making sun tea.  After all, it’s been in the 70’s for over a week and some of my plants and roses in the backyard have little tiny buds on them.  It won’t be long before we’re sweltering here again. 

I’m still making squares.  I have all the middles done and I’m working on the white rounds now.

 

But today I’m take a break from the squares and making myself some new cup cozies.  Mine are all old and raggity.  You can see them in that picture on the left.  I use them every single day so I figured it was time for new ones.  I put those lemons in the picture to show you how big and lovely they are.  I like to eat them by themselves with salt.  I plan on having one of those this afternoon.  YUM.

 

My first new cozy with bobbles at the top and bottom. The middle part is just rows of sc.  I made it this morning.  This was a self-striping yarn so no color changes or cutting and sewing in ends.  Yipee.

I also have one other project started, but I can’t show it to you because it’s one of my Pay-it-Forward gifts!  I’ll show it once it’s mailed and received.

For those who have asked, my arm is a little better.  I’m still icing it once or twice a day.  It will just take time.

That’s my day…making cozies, drinking tea, and snacking on a lemon (and crossing my toes and fingers that no work comes in).  Sounds good to me.  Y’all have a good one too.  Bye!

Commitment

I don’t know why, but I’ve been reluctant to commit to making a blanket with this pattern.  I think I took the leap last night when I started making a bunch of the middles.  I know I’ll love it when it’s done.  I just hate starting projects and then not finishing them so I’m trying to put more thought into it before plunging in.  I’m definitely NOT making 100 squares like the one in the previous post.  She must have used sport or DK weight yarn that made smaller squares.  I’m going to email her and ask her a bunch of questions.  At 10.5” inches each, I’ll probably make 25 or so and then add a nice wide border.  That’s my thinking at this point, but we’ll see.

Speaking of making the middles, when you make a blanket out of squares (or any other project that requires multiple squares), how do you make yours?  Do you make all the middles first?  Do you crochet each square to completion before moving on to the next?  Which way works best for you?

 

I’ve found that making the first two rounds of each granny square or the middle circle of each square first works best for keeping me motivated to finish.  It just doesn’t seem as daunting a task once you have those middles all stacked up in a basket waiting for you.  I’m just curious how everyone else does it and why.

I’m excited for the Daytona 500 tomorrow!  I’m making a big pan-full of chicken & cheese stuffed jalapenos today so all I have to do is bake them tomorrow.  YUM!

Okay, have a wonderful weekend, y'all!

Cute & Pretty

The cuteness of this snow couple is almost too much!  I ordered them from Dawn’s etsy shop.  You can see more of these cuties on her blog HERE.  Get ready to smile if you do go look.  I believe she has listed another couple in her shop since I got these.  I have a snowman collection and these two little cuties will fit right in.

 

I made these two squares last night while watching TV.  They are much larger than they look in the picture.  Mine measure 10.5” x 10.5”, but the pattern says it’s a 12-inch square.  I used WW yarn and a size G hook.  You can find the free pattern HERE.  (There are two errors in it that I found.  If anyone is interested, you can ask and I’ll answer you in the comments section of this post.)

You can see a beautiful blanket made by Prairiemouse using this pattern on her blog HERE and/or on Ravelry HERE.  I wish she had given more information, like what kind of yarn she used and how she put her squares together.  I know she sewed them, but you can’t see it.  I’m wondering if she used clear thread or what.

I got up in the middle of the night last night with a horrible backache/butt ache/leg ache.  I just deleted a whole paragraph I wrote whining about it.  You’re welcome.

I went grocery shopping this morning and they were already putting the Easter candy out.  Yes, I bought some because I’m a sucker.  I got a bag of Robin Eggs (malted milk eggs) because that’s what The Captain likes.  I looked for marshmallow eggs for me, but they didn’t have any out yet, dammit.

See ya.

Random Wednesday

Make Yours HERE

“Hickory”

Scottish Deerhound

2011 Westminster Champion

How Fun!

The Fisherman’s Wife

(I love that name)

I’m considering this for my next project.  I’ve wanted to make this shawl for a long time now.  I’m probably going to use a different yarn type than called for in the pattern because I want it to be softer than that rustic wool.  You can find the pattern on Ravelry HERE for $4.00, or you can buy the finished shawl on etsy HERE.  The pattern is by Kalurah.

I about died when I saw this picture:

I Want It

I found the picture HERE.

I’m pondering a crochet version of it.  I’ll roll it around in my brain awhile (maybe weeks) and see what happens.  The Captain has agreed to make the parts.

Have a wonderful day!

I’m going to do laundry and crochet in between loads.

I’m Wiped

Valentine Granny is in her new home.

My sister was very happy.

***************************

And I’m wiped from typing ALL DAY.

I’m going to go stare at the wall and maybe read a few blogs on my laptop while I semi-watch TV.

Oh, wait…are you watching the Westminster Dog Show??  Tonight is the big finale when the Champion will be crowned at the end of the night!  I love watching it.  It’s on USA Channel for the first hour and MSNBC the last two hours.  Yes, it’s THREE HOURS again tonight.  These important matters cannot be rushed.  I love seeing all the dogs, and tonight the Big’Uns are showing.  I love the big ones.  Oh, who am I kidding?  I love them all.  You know that.

Valentine Granny

I finished her this morning!

Details:

Pattern:  Twenty regular 9-round Granny Squares

Measurement:  50” x 62”

Yarn:  Various variegated, mostly ILTY from Hobby Lobby.  Two rounds in each square are made with solids.  Color change after each row except the first two, which were done with the same variegated yarn.

Hook:  Size J

Joining:  Join-as-you-go method with the last round of each square in white.

Edging:  I made it up as I went.  I made four rounds of white Granny stitches first.  See last picture for the rest of the instructions.

I love her!

This is going to be a gift for one of my sisters.

If you’re reading this, Brenda, SURPRISE!

I hope you like her.

I love you.

 

This picture taken inside is yucky!  The white doesn’t show up very bright.  I wanted you to see it all laid out though.

 

I agonized over the edging last night.  I couldn’t make up my mind what I wanted.  I ended up just making it up as I went.  It’s just one round of sc in lilac, a round of white ch 5, sk a st, sc in next, and a final round in blue ch 5, sk a st, sc in next, alternating the sc in front and back of previous round of loops.

Happy Valentines Day!

Here’s a BIG SMOOCH from me to you!

MmmWah!

Ahh...

How's that for a weather forecast this week?  Should be nice after the last couple of weeks.  I've really enjoyed the cold weather though.

~The Spaghetti Pie was really good.  (Recipe in previous post.)  I'll definitely make it again.  I forgot to take a picture of it...sorry.

~We took my sister to the airport this morning.  That sure was a short week!  But I have a week of naps to catch up on.  Ha-ha.

~The first NASCAR race of the year is tonight.  Yipee! 

~I'm very close to finishing my latest blanket.  I haven't worked on it at all this week, but I hope to finish the last three squares tonight and start the edging tomorrow.

The Red Lip Sisters

My sisters and I went out for dinner last night and decided we would all wear BRIGHT RED lipstick just to be silly.  Aren’t we pretty?  Hee-hee.


I’ve been curious about these dinners that you store in the pantry instead of the freezer and thought I’d give them a try.  I opened the chicken & dressing one for lunch a couple of days ago…BLEH!  It tastes like dog food!  How can you mess up chicken and dressing so badly?  And I am NOT a picky eater.  I’ll eat practically anything and like it, but this is garbage.  Don’t waste your money.  BARF-O!  Sorry, Hormel.


Now this little convenient package of bumble Bee Tuna Salad is really good and so cute too!  I’m addicted to these.  You get that cute little plastic spoon, a can of tuna salad, and a package of crackers.  My only criticism is I need one more cracker than they provide so I have to break out a box of Ritz for that extra cracker.  But Bumble Bee, you get an A+ from me!  They’re only $1.18 at Wal-Mart.  I’ve heard they have them at Big Lots too for $1.00.  I haven’t checked there yet though.

And here’s a recipe I’m going to try this week.  You can find detailed instructions and more pictures at Amanda’s Cookin’.  I’ll give you my review later.  Here’s the recipe now in case you are stumped for something to make for dinner and want to try it.

Spaghetti Pie
6 servings

Betty Crocker says, "If you hold your uncooked spaghetti together in a bundle, 4 ounces is about as big around as the size of a quarter."  Thanks Betty.
4 ounces uncooked spaghetti
1/2 pound lean ground beef
1 small green bell pepper, chopped (1/2 cup)
1 small onion, chopped (1/4 cup)
1 (14-ounce) jar spaghetti sauce (I used my homemade sauce)
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 large eggs
1 cup small curd creamed cottage cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (2 ounces)

Heat oven to 375°. Grease pie plate, 10 x 1 1/2 inches. Cook spaghetti as directed on package.
While spaghetti is cooking, cook beef, bell pepper and onion in 10-inch skillet over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until beef is brown; drain.
Stir in spaghetti sauce, chili powder, salt and pepper. Cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce is thickened.
Drain spaghetti. Place spaghetti in pie plate; gently press on bottom and 1 inch up side of pie plate.
Mix eggs and cottage cheese; spread evenly over spaghetti. Spoon beef mixture over cottage cheese mixture. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese.
Bake 35 to 45 minutes or until center is set. Let stand 5 minutes before cutting.