It’s definitely been a while…

June 24th to be exact since I last posted anything on here.  For the past two months I’ve been a busy knitting bee.  I took on Aidez and completed it.  LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. this sweater.  I wear it almost everyday.  I used Ironstone Harmony for this project, and where I really do love the yarn I would not use it again for a sweater.  It peels like crazy.  But I do love the way the yarn knit up.  You can find my Ravelry notes on Aidez here.

I haven’t had an opportunity to get any full shots of my Aidez, so this one will have to do for now.

I’ve also been working on a couple of other smaller knitting projects.  One colorwork hat and a honey comb cowl.  I had trying to knit up Koolhaas but apparently my attention span or memory are not very good.

The colorwork hat I’m knitting is Plaid Hatter by Tot Toppers.  My ravelry notes for this hat can be found here.  I’m going to make this hat for my nephew, and well, I’ve never done any kind of colorwork knitting before I thought I’d start of by knitting something fairly easy.  I really do love this pattern.  I’m going to make one for each of my nieces.  I’m using Knit Picks Comfy Sport in ivory and peony.  The numero uno reason I chose this yarn is it’s washable.  I figure if children are going to be wearing them I had better make them easy to clean.  I must say I’m in love with this yarn.  It’s so soft and non-itchy and I love the drapiness of it.

And lastly, I’m working on the honeycomb cowl by Pink Brutus.  This is quick, easy knit.  The pattern is a three row repeat and sized from toddler to adult sizes.  I’m using Cascade eco+ yarn on size 10 needles.  It’s a very quick knit.  I’ve been working on it here and there in the evenings for about a week now and I’m almost finished.  You could easily whip on out in an afternoon.

Week 1 of the smoothie challenge

I’ve made through 1 week of green smoothies and not so green smoothies and I have to say I’m struggling a bit.  Any time I’ve tried to eat more veggies, after a while they begin to make me sick to my stomach when I eat them.  They literally make me nauseous.  It’s no different with the smoothie.  I’m still drinking one every other day, but I’m having a hard time getting it down.

It’s no surprise to people who know me, but I’m not a big fan of vegetables.  I have my favorites that I’ll eat, carrots, green beans, black eyed peas, potatoes, pinto beans, beets, tomatoes, mushrooms, avocados and lettuce.  I like foods cooked with peppers, but I don’t like the texture of the peppers.  I’ve recently discovered that I like asparagus and artichokes, but I don’t really know how to fix them and every time I’ve had asparagus it’s soggy and I don’t really like that.  I also like certain squashes to an extent.  I love zucchini squash diced very small and cooked in pasta dishes.  I also like the taste of summer squashes but I’m not a big fan of their texture when they’re cooked.  I love fried yellow squash.

Now back to my smoothie.  I’ve made it to day 7.  YAY!! Considering I’ve had trouble swallowing them the past 3 days I’ve had one.  My smoothie today consisted of 1 carrot, fresh strawberries from the farmers market, 1 tomato, 1 banana, 1/2 handful of kale, and water to suit consistency.  I’ve learned I like them with bananas because the banana gives the smoothie a creamy consistency.

I have noticed since I started drinking the smoothies I’m not as hungry and well, my bowl movements are more regular.  But other than that I haven’t noticed any other changes.  I guess those are two biggies though.

So, here’s to week 1 down.

 

It’s hard to believe that 3 years ago today my niece was born.  I hope she has a wonderful 3rd birthday and many more.  Love you L.

 

Day 4 of the green smoothie challenge

 

Days 1 – 3 I had the same smoothie.  Banana with Boston lettuce.  Earlier I made my smoothie for day 4.  It included 1 pear, 1 apple, about 2 T. lemon juice, 2 whole, unpeeled carrots, a handful of Boston lettuce, and about a 1/2 c. of water.  Tomorrow’s smoothie isn’t exactly green.  As you can see the carrots have made it orange.  I had a taste after it was finished and it’s pretty good.  Can’t wait to have it tomorrow!

A finishing and a challenge

I finally finished my skirt, Simplicity 2906.  I finished it about 3 1/2 weeks ago, but left the next day for Texas.  I just now got around to taking a picture of it.  I did everything by hand.  The skirt is true to size and I would highly recommend this pattern.  It is simple and easy to put together.  I plan on making more of these.

Today I started the Green Smoothie Challenge.  This one is a lettuce/banana smoothie.  It’s the one they recommend for day 1.  I’ll probably have it again tomorrow.  I’ll be honest with you.  It’s a little like drinking banana flavored grass.  But I think I can do it. I may need to add more fruit than vegetables.  We’ll see.  I’ll experiment with the recipes.

Simplicity 2906 and flowers in da hood

I’m finally hemming my skirt!  Hopefully I’ll have it finished by the end of the week with some pictures.

Here are some of the flowers I’m loving right now:  Lilac, pink flowering tree, and tulips.

Simplicity 2906 update and Pistachio cookies!

Just a quick update on my skirt, minus pictures.  I haven’t had a lot of time to work on it the past couple of weeks and when I did, I ran into a few problems.

Problem 1: The instructions told me to sew the zipper in first followed by the waist band.  I had to rip out the zipper in order to do the waist.

Problem 2: I sewed and ripped out the zipper 3 times because 2 of the times it just didn’t look the way I thought it should and the other time I sewed it in backwards.

But I eventually got through my problems and now I’m sewing the first seam for the hem.  It’s. Taking. Me. Forever. To. Do.  I’m over half way through this part.

Today I made these.  Pistachio cookies I found via A Friend to Knit With.  EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING ABOUT THESE COOKIES ARE AMAZING!  The smell as they’re baking.  The raw dough, best I’ve ever had hands down. And the finished cookie, OH! MY! GOODNESS!  The lemon zest makes these cookies.

I did what Leslie did and rolled the dough into a log and stuck it into the fridge for a couple of hours or so and then cut them into slices when I was ready to cook.

Simplicity 2906 – day 3

I spent most of yesterday working on my skirt.  I finished sewing the seams together and sewed the zipper in.  I did an 8″ zipper instead of the 7″ it said to use.  I think the 7″ zipper would look better in it.

I used an invisible zipper technique and it turned out pretty good.  Right around the bottom of the zipper there’s a gap in between the fabric.

All that’s left to do now is sew in the waist band and hem the bottom.  I’m not looking forward to the hemming.  So far it’s only taken about 6 to 7 hours of my time to do what I’ve done so far.  That’s from cutting out the pattern to sewing in the zipper.  I’m hoping to have this finished by easter.

My Simplicity Skirt, day 2

Today I was able to cut out my fabric, mark the sewing lines and pin.  I’ve even started to sew.

The stitches aren’t perfect, but I think in the end when it’s finished you won’t really be able to tell.

On hand sewing

I’ve done it before.  I use to love to hand sew.  In fact, at one time it was the only way I’d sew.  Then I had less and less time to sew in the day or week and I began to use a sewing machine.  When I was 7 my aunt gave us a bag of shirts and dresses to play dress up with.  Us girls weren’t really into playing dress up, so the bag just sat there.  One day I pulled out a leopard print blouse and cut out a tank top for my baby sister.  I cut out the front and back pieces, sneaked into my mom’s sewing basket and got pins, thread and a needle out.  I believe I even got the scissors to cut the fabric with to, in secret.  I vaguely remember that top.  My mom said it fit my sister perfect and for a 7 year old the sewing was pretty good, but not wearable worthy.

After that I spent my time making dresses for my our Barbie dolls.  Then when I was about 21 or so my sister needed a brides maid dress and I begged her to let me sew her one.  Even though I didn’t possess a sewing machine  I was bound and determined to sew that darn dress.  My sister agreed on one condition, that I first sew a trial dress.  So I did and got so many compliments on it too.  So, I went to work sewing the satin fabric she had picked out.

Since that dress the only hand sewing I’ve done was a block jean quilt top.  But that is about to change.  I was in my new favorite fabric store last week and found some fabric I just had to have.  I found a pattern to go with it and ordered it and today started the process of readying it for sewing.  Hand sewing that is.  My sewing machine is broke and I’m in the mood to sew.  So, I plan to sew my new skirt by hand.  Simplicity 2906

Spring fever

I think I have a case of spring fever.  Outside I yearn for warm days. For flowers and green leafy trees.  Inside I’m in a decluttering and rearranging mood.  I want to simplify everything.  Get rid of stuff we don’t need, mostly papers.  Oh how I hate papers.  Especially when they’re in a pile on the end table.  Yesterday I cleaned.  Not my normal quick clean but a deep clean, and while I was at it I moved some things around to make room for my chair.  I think I am going to switch the chairs around.

Today I have a heavy heart.  A dear, old friend of mine lost her father just 2 months after losing her mom.  It’s bothered me a lot today, but I know she has a strong support system with her brothers, sisters, and her friends there in our home town.  And knowing that God is giving her strength calms my heart.