HAPPY HALLOWEENIE TO YOU!

  
Hi!  Nope, I didn't buy one single bag of candy because no one visits our house on All Hallows Eve.  The first years we were living there we bought candy and then ended up eating it ourselves and when I was in the store last night, I pulled myself away from the good candy deals and just got what we needed.  Between, eating (a bit) less and exercising, my pants are getting a little looser and that doesn't mean I get to eat candy, I'll just eat a fresh fall apple instead.  I did however, look for those caramel wraps to quickly and easily wrap an apple with so I could have a little treat but no, they didn't have 'em; so, a naked apple it is!

I finished my shawl and just have to wash it and then block it; then I'll post next week a couple pics.  This is what I'm working on now.  It looks like a bowl but is it the bottom of my Pilates (yoga) mat.  I wanted a cover for it and so I'm making a crocheted version instead of a fabric one.  I had a coupon for Joanne's and it always burns a whole in my pocket so I went and got a couple skeins of this Red Heart yarn called Collage.  I like it and like how the colors are looking, too.  I'ts all a single crochet stitch but I will probably change the pattern a bit because I always do that. 

This is what it looks like right now and will be about 25" high when finished.  Mats are a tad sticky so I just hope it's not like trying to get socks on a baby when I go to put the mat away after class!

My daughter is still in Vegas working temporarily and I miss her.  She sent me this card and I'm sharing it with you!

On the inside it says, "Hope Your Halloween is so Happy, that it makes you Glow Inside."  So I hope your Halloween does make you happy and feel that way, go enjoy!

Look how Cute!

Yup it's Halloween time and look who I found on Ravelry.  I was searching patterns and these darlings have made my day.   This is Maximo and he is modeling his collar for his mum who sells doggie stuff that she makes.  Just too darn cute I tell ya.  Find them here . 

Maximo modeling the Skull Collar

I guess if the dog doesn't mind wearing clothes, it's ok but most dogs do wear collars or should wear one so they have ID on 'em at all times.  I don't have any pets right now but a cute collar is a must for when a needy dog comes into my life someday.  Go visit Sara and her furbabies, she has made all sorts of cute doggie hats, collars, etc.  It will definitely put a smile on your face today!

I like her doggie bone rug/mat:

House reno- update.  No. the front of the house hasn't got painted yet but my bathroom ceiling is getting sanded today and maybe primed, too.  I had to move everything outta there so I hope it goes fast.  When ya work all the time like I do ya just want things to be streamlined so you can just get ready and go to work.

Hope you're having a lovely Tuesday!

*SSHhhh! Don't Tell

The Birthday Girl

Good morning!  It's Monday and again, drizzle city.  I had a blast at my sister's.  Tamara went to a Halloween/Concert thingy/party and she decided to use one of her ballet dance costumes and go as a dead/zombie ballerina.  One who fell off the stage into the orchestra pit while performing and broke her neck.  That was the story.  So I had fun doing up her make-up.  AND drat, I don't have a pix, since my camera batteries ran down.  I hate that.  My sis took some pix, I'll see if I can get those before Halloween to show ya. 

*Last Friday night, I got 3 very dehydrated mini-African Violet plants at the 99cent store but don't tell Big Al.  He's on the war-path for me to get rid of some of my plants.  Although he did call me at my sis' to tell me that we should use the potted plants all over the property, some down by the pool because it is all barren, mostly cement back there like the front.  He wanted me to start thinking about how to strategically place them.  The man came to his senses!! 

Two of them perked up pretty good but one still looks a bit traumatized.  I like to buy plants more than clothes.  Am I weird or what?

My Poor Plants

Howdy and hope you're having a happier Friday than me.

I'm sad and stressing because my potted plants had to be removed from where they were, to all being clumped together on the driveway.  Some of  'em are only supposed to be in the shade so I hope they don't die.  Big Al (he hates when I call him that) said that there are too many plants and I have to get rid of some of them because potential buyers won't be able to see the house.  I disagree, I think the plants enhance the house and it being all cemented right up to the front door the house looks too stark.  I've even had neighbors and passer-byes tell me how nice the front looks with all my plants.  I was so upset the other night that I couldn't get to sleep until the wee hours of the morning.

When the house sells, we'll move closer to my shop but we plan on renting a house not buying right away and Big Al talked about an apartment and I said, "over my dead body"!!  So I knew I may not have room to take all my plants when we move so I started cuttings in smaller pots just in case I can't take some bigger ones. There are some that I planned on leaving with the house because it's like they are supposed to be there, like they just fit there.

Here's some photos of when the plants were on the porch:

These are the ones that like sun that sit on the driveway where all the plants are now.

Here is what it looks like with the plants and shutters removed in preparation to painting.  The pillars are not bowed it's something weird with the camera lens.

Here are all the plants bunched together.  Boo Hoo.

Don't ya think it looks better with plants?

My sister's daughter is having her b-day this weekend so I plan on visiting them.  I need a break from house repair hell anyway.  Tamara is turning 12!  She's such a sweetie read more about her here.  We've had rain and drizzle all week, the sun hardly peeking thru.  Gonna be an overcast weekend but I don't care I'm going to party hearty.

Have a relaxing weekend and thanks for dropping by!

Drizzle

That's a funny word.  Drizzle icing on a cake.  Drizzle: a light rain.  English is a funny language.  Well, that's what it did most of the weekend, yesterday and today.  My Sunday was spent indoors as it was just too wet to do much gardening.  So I made homemade chicken noodle soup only I forgot to buy the noodles.  No problem I'll just make some.  If you've never made homemade noodles it's very easy and just makes any soup soooo much better!  You don't need a fancy pasta maker but I do use my mixer because the dough gets pretty stiff to mix the flour into by hand.

Roll it out on a floured board to be about 16 x 12".

Roll it up but not too tightly, it makes it to hard to unroll 'em.

Cut them to the size you want but remember they'll swell and get wider and longer.

Lay them out on dishtowels to dry for about 2 hours.  Put them in the oven on "warm" to dry quicker

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Homemade Noodles Recipe:

1 beaten egg
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup unbleached white flour

 In a mixing bowl combine egg, milk and salt then add the flour until combined.  Dough will be stiff and a bit sticky.  Cover and let rest 10 min.  With floured hands put dough onto floured board and roll out to be about 16-18 x 12" long.  Let stand for 20 min.  Then carefully roll up but not so tight that the dough sticks to itself and will be hard to unroll.  Cut to desired width 1/4 to 1/2".  Remember as they cook, they will swell and become larger.  Unroll and spread out on clean dishcloths for about 2 hours until dry.  To keep longer, dry them thoroughly in the oven set on warm temperature.  Then break into desired length and then store in air-tight container.  To use right away, break apart over the soup or boiling water and cook for 10 to 12 minutes.  Makes about 3 cups.

I like to let the noodles cook for about the last 30 min of soup cooking time.  Then you just enjoy!

I did get to varnishing the side cupboards in the kitchen so I think I'm just about half way finished with the kitchen now.  I worked on my crochet shawl just a little bit.  Geez, I wanted to start some xmas gift projects so I'll have to hurry up.  Hope y'all have a fabulous week!

Have You Ever Heard of a Madsen Bucket Bike?

These are so cool.  I want one.  I've been wanting one.  I think I'll get one when I move closer to my shop so I don't have to take my car everywhere and just think what great shape my legs, thighs and bootie will be in!  Go ahead check them out, CLICK ON THE PICTURE and choose your color!
 
I can just see myself with flowers in the basket, groceries and my new doggie in the bucket!  BTW, my Hawaiian dance class and my Pilates classes are making a difference not only in my waistline but I feel much more flexible and have more range of movement in my arms (without pain).  YEAH!  So I say go out and get some exercise.

Hope you are having a terrific Friday.  oxoxox Annie

So it's not 10-10-10

Hey, I really wanted to post on Oct. 10, 2010 just because 10-10-10 is cool.  Being home, I just didn't get to it.  Anyway, here are some pix of the past few days and what I've been up to. 

On 10-9-10 a lovestruck person writes...

I was outside and noticed in the perfect, no clouds blue sky, someone had something to say.

I heart KRI.  That was it.  Must've gotten windy up there.  Was it Kris, Kristin, Kristine or Kristina, what?  I will never know.  But one thing is for sure.  Somebody wuv's somebody and their name starts with kri. 

The new (cheap) curtain rod came apart when I pulled the curtain open and it scared me.  Nuthin' a little scotch tape won't fix!

I had a coupon and made this for no other reason than I was in the mood for chocolate.  The icing is melted 1/2 cup choc chips, 2 tbs butter and a tad of water.  Yum, super moist with a glass of ice cold milk.  I like bundt cakes, they get done without having dry edges.

I had 2 large pots like this full of Iris and Narcissus.  Time to separate and give 'em new soil.  They've called these pots home for about 9 years.  Kinda big job.  But I sat on the ground, like a kid not caring about dirty clothes, legs or feet and went to town, dumped 'em out and pulled 'em apart. 

Now, I have to plant 'em.  Didn't get to that this wknd.  It's too early for Narcissus but that's what happens when you live where it's warm, they come up early in time for Christmas some years.

This is my current project, Lion Brand Half Moon Shawl.  I'm further now as I made time to work on it this wknd.  I like it so far.  The yarn being bumpy, gets thick and thin in places so I compensated by using a single crochet instead a double c. stitch when the yarn got thick. 

We still have some flowers justa bloomin' away.

Have a lovely week!
oxox

Fair Pix #3: Crochet +

Hiya!  First look what I won from Pammy Sue!  All her pretty Mandala circles that she was making she decided to give'em away and I was lucky and got one.  Isn't it pretty?  You can visit her here: scottysplace.blogspot.com and see all her crochet loveliness there. 

Here are some pix of County Fair projects that actually came out focused enough to post.

This shawl was so pretty.  Off-white chiffon type fabric strips were woven into it which looks like it might have had a ripple/wavy pattern to it.  Wished I could have seen it out of the case.  The display people I found out, were hired by the county fair to display the items and I learned on Ravelry (the facebook for yarnies) that some local members had sent their projects in to be displayed and when they went to the fair to see their items on display and if they'd won a ribbon they found some of  their projects inside out or upside down, etc.  The display company that was hired should have at least hired people that knew about knitting and crochet items so they could have displayed them correctly! 

I think that this was a knitted item.  I liked the use of color but would have left off the fringe.  They must of had so many participants enter so many items that they had them draped over each other...so much to see when it was all jumbled together.  How do ya like the gray mess in the pic on the right side?  The flash area was so white that it hurt my eyes so I just darkened it a bit so I wouldn't blind you while you were here visiting!

She did such a professional job on this.  See what I mean about the display?  Her stitches were all so neat and tidy! 

A purple felted elephant!

A crocheted hedgehog!

Hand-painted china

I decided to take the 3 day weekend so I could finish the kitchen.  Thank goodness Columbus discovered America so we could have the day off.  I'm going to make the rib recipe from Beverooni because it sounds so good to me right now and I'll actually have the time to do a bit of cooking.  Besides, maybe it will make the kitchen smell better than paint smell.  I'm off to make a list of groceries to get because I don't want to get in the car and go anywhere this wknd.  I want to finish my crochet project (pics coming next week) and finish the kitchen and eat ribs.  This turned out to be a very long winded post.  Hope you got thru it.  Have a wonderful weekend!  Thanks for stopping by! 

Brazilian Embroidery Fair Pix #2

Yes, we survived this wickedly hot and weird week.  Monday 113f and yesterday, Friday...rain.  Today rain.  Humidity Uggh!  Go figure. First here is a pic of what the heat did to the poor Geraniums in the front window box!

Hubby called me at the shop the other day and "We're going to paint the outside of the house".  What?  Why now?  Will it really help sell out house I wonder?  Why couldn't we have done it earlier so we could enjoy living in a nicer looking house?  Whatever.  Here's the choices:

CHOICES, CHOICES hmm...Our house is a colonial, like the big southern plantation homes.  Hmmm...Just white, please.  Like the color it is now.  Maybe paint the door red instead of black and paint the shutters black like they are now, thank-you.  That was easy.  BTW, I'm not lifting a brush to help.  Wanted: Real men that know how to please, that know how to paint.  Thank you very much.

Now for the incredibly talented people of the embroidery world.  I love this type of embroidery I just didn't know the name of it.  I know, they just recently let me out from under that rock.  I love the 3-D effect.  Now I know what I want to do to embellish that darn jacket that hangs there everyday saying, "Aren't ya done with the kitchen yet?, When ya gonna work on me?"  The DH says no more spending (that means yarn and crafty stuff) since we are spending on the house fix up.  Maybe they have a Brazilian emb. book at the library?

They make petals with thread!

I have a bunch of embroidery thread and this would be an excellent way to use it up!

Sorry about the quality.  They are in display cases with glass doors and the lighting wasn't the best and then there's my lack of photo skills.  I cropped off part of the frames so you could see them better except for the last one so you could see the blue ribbon.  I liked this one but I wouldn't have chosen it for the blue ribbon however, I do like the cat.  There were so many and of all the pix, these were the best focused ones.  Actually, I'm glad I didn't have to choose the best one since they were all amazing.  Coming soon, the crochet pix.

Off to the grocery store for a variety of things to drink.  It's hot and muggy and I want beverages at my fingertips!  Have a wonderful fall weekend everyone!