November

To say that November is a busy month for us is an understatement.  My birthday was earlier this month and Andy took the day off to spend with me.  We went out for a wonderful lunch and then went to a few shops to look at Christmas decorations and pick up a few things for the kitchen.  You know you are getting older when kitchen accessories are what does it for you! 

Since I have severe food allergies it's nearly impossible to get a cake or baked goods from a bakery or grocery store.  I decided that I really wanted chocolate cupcakes with butter cream frosting.  Every time Ive attempted to make cupcakes they are a complete failure.  This time I managed to have success and they were quite good.  The recipe is from Martha Stewart's Cupcakes. 

Then of course, we had Thanksgiving.  Rob and Shannon came over and hung out for the day.  They worked on refinishing a chest and then came in and helped with dinner.  For the past few years we have had our Thanksgiving on Monday since Andy has the week off.  We then get to have turkey all week long and not have to worry with cooking. 

Earlier this year I won a book naming contest on Veryl Ann Graces blog.  I was so excited that she chose the title that I had come up with!  Last week a signed copy of Murder Comes Unraveled arrived in our mail box.  I loved the first book in this series, Murder Spins a Tale, and the second one is equally as good!  When I opened the book, I was so surprised to see that Veryl had mentioned me in the dedication.  I am so honored and was quite speechless!  Thank you so much Veryl.  Not only do I get to read another wonderful book written by you, but I will have this very special copy too!

 

 

 

 

Ive also had knitting time and am now up to 198 Hexipuffs!  Ive recently coerced Beth into making them as well.  I can't wait to see her's.  She's such a prolific knitter, I bet her quilt will be done in no time!

 





 

Knitting Keeps The Crazy Away

When Andy and I first got married I had a hard time adjusting to our new home.  Andy and I decided before we got married that I would sell my house and farm and move in with him.  Andy's house was close to where we were both working and it seemed like the logical thing to do.  Little did I know that the people who I thought were my friends decided that forty five minutes would be too far to drive to visit or even meet half way for coffee.  I wound up leaving my job to be a stay at home wife.  Andy was working a lot and our neighborhood isn't exactly Wisteria Lane.  No welcome wagon or anything like that. 

Needless to say I had a lot of spare time on my hands.  Someone suggested that I take up knitting.  It's like the new yoga she said.  It seemed like a good idea and had I learned knitting basics from my maternal Grandmother when I was about sixteen.  I figured this would be an inexpensive (did you fall out of your chair laughing?) hobby and I could make a few Christmas gifts. 

I headed off to the local knitting shop, Suzanne's.  Suzanne greated me warmly and set me up with a book, needles and yarn and off I went.  That yarn turned into a very artistic poncho.  It was supposed to be a scarf, but I had no idea about gauge and was knitting like a maniac. Don't let her website fool you - Suzanne is one of the best knitters Ive ever met.

Seven years later I still knit like a maniac.  Knitting and yarn are everywhere in our house.  I have spare knitting in the car just in case I get stuck waiting somewhere.  The hexipuff project bag is in my purse and right now there is a scarf in progress on the coffee table.  The feel of needles in my hands and they yarn gliding through them has brought me constant comfort.  The challenge of a difficult pattern is like figuring out a puzzle. 

Im working on the Spectra scarf by Stephen West.  It's a fun pattern and really shows off transitional yarns well.  This one is in Breathless Ore and my handspun from Rivers Edge Fiber Arts roving in Popsicle Stick.