This is a coconut "custard" pie from www.veganplanet.blogspot.com. It's ridiculously easy to make and only has 4 ingredients. Go there and make it!

Baked chimichangas. MMmmmmmm. My favorite this week. I'd forgotten how much I like these and so easy to make.Finished all my knitalongs! These are the Trekking 20 year KAL from http://www.knitpurlhunter.com/. They are toe-up and I learned Judy's Magic-CastOn, a new simple heel and a sewn bind-off.

The pattern is called "Cranked" and was alot of fun to knit. I would have liked to have made them longer but didn't think I had enough yarn. Turned out that I did. I also don't think I care much for the sewn bind off although it is stretchy but maybe because I had to go down to a size 1 needle. I suppose that I will try to use a size 2 on the ribbing and bind off.




This is the yarn from the Carefree KAL that is from Crystal Palace. This month you can use whatever pattern you want as long as you use at least one skein of their yarn. This is the Mobius necklace from "Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders". I also made the earrings to match but the picture isn't great.

Mug today. Right now I'm having some Cinnamon Cardamom tea. Tasty.

I thought that I'd let you all see the pretty tulips before they are washed away! This has been the 3rd wettest April on record here. And we are supposed to get a total of 4.83" more by Saturday night. We have water coming in the basement from places that it's never leaked before but what a surprise... where else is it supposed to go?

The river (Ohio and every other one) is at or above flood stage and we are supposed to have more thunderstorms everyday until next Thursday. It's almost like living in Seattle without all the cool coffee shops!

Can't even walk in the backyard. We used to have an above-ground pool and where it was located is a lovely pool-shaped depression which has a nice lake right now. That's not too unusual with alot of rain but it's spreading all over the yard. I actually lost my shoe in the mud when I went back to check for any damage from all the severe weather the other night. We lost a huge limb off of one of the trees but Praise Jesus! that was all. Here are the little falls at the park. This was before the 3" we got on Tuesday night.

No ducks swimming around in there!
I'm kind of surprised that there haven't been any ducks in the "lake" in the back yard. Sometimes they come for several days. But they have their choice of pretty much anywhere to swim right now.

Been busily knitting on all the kals I've joined. But I did finish one the other day (4/19). This is the Coquille shawl from Knitty (knitty.com). I am quite pleased with it and would like to make the large size sometime.I did the smaller one because it called for less than 3 balls of Mini Mochi, which is what I had in my stash. Still have almost a whole ball left. None of the colorways are the same but they had enough like colors in them to match. At least I think so.

I still need to lightly block it but I've worn it a few times because it's been chilly out...and let's face it...we all like to wear our newly off the needles knits!

Off to work on another kal. And tonight is "The Mentalist" so tv will be on.

This is one of the KALs that I'm knitting on right now. It's the http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEff10/PATTcoquille.php Coquille shawl and I really like how it's turning out. The pattern is quite easy and it's fun to watch as the colors change.Here is the Belvedere cardigan that I finished. I ended up putting some snaps down the front and then 2 small knitted flowers at the top. I didn't want buttons on it because the yarn is soft and I figured that the buttons would be too heavy. But I think I like it.

Okay, off to do some more knitting.

Look what was sitting out front of my house yesterday! Lots of fun. NOT! We called the water company 11 days ago about water leaking up into the road. It wasn't coming out of my yard and when the workers finally came they said it was a water main leak and they would be back in about 10 days to fix it. Well, it took 11 days which was fine but the road was starting to "bubble" up against my yard and it was leaking all the way across the lane. They told me they would take a look at it and decide what needed to be done.

So they covered the very large hole with a very large, very noisy metal plate and said they'd be back Monday after midnight. Um, thanks?

Well, we had to call to complain because everytime a car went over the plate the whole house would practically shake. The glass in the windows was shaking and that's not good. They sent someone out to secure the plate (ya think they should have done that first!) and later that evening the water worker was walking through the neighborhood hanging signs on the front door (luckily I happened to be looking out the peep hole at just the moment he hung the note on the door) and stated that they would be shutting off the water after midnight and the repairs would take 4-6 hours. After 7 hours they finally finished but the lovely plate is still out there getting thumped with the cars. And since I live on a 4-lane state highway, there is alot of traffic. And they have a fireplug up the street just streaming out water because they said they are flushing out the pipes so we don't have to boil the water. WHAT were we drinking before????? I use a water filter but still. Yuck.

So the street has sheets of water just rushing down and watering the grass. Fun. Dinner last night. Pasta con broccoli from "Appetite for Reduction". Fabulous.

I really enjoyed the kal last month so I joined another. This the Coquille shawl from Knitty and it's for the Crystal Palace Ravelry group. Should be fun. I also wanted to join the Knitpurlhunter Trekking 20 year kal but no yarn shop had this month's yarn and hadn't planned on ordering anymore. So I joined the Carefree kal (which is also part of Crystal Palace's blog).

Went up to Main Street Yarns today to pick up a skein of Mini Mochi for that and much to my surprise, they had one skein left of the Trekking for the April KAL. So I picked that up also and now am starting to feel just a bit overwhelmed........

But the shawl should be a very interesting knit.

We shall see.

Guess who got a doughnut maker? Why yes, that would be me. It's a cute little machine called "Babycakes" and bakes these mini doughnuts in about 4 minutes. And by the time you are finished salivating there are 8 little doughnuts just waiting to be devoured. These are maple doughnuts with a maple glaze and maple sprinkles. Very good.

Just finished my second pair of two-color cabled socks. Woohooo. Since it's so cold out I will be able to wear them tomorrow. I really like the pattern and will probably make a few more pairs for next winter.

Still slogging away on the Debbie Bliss cardigan. I am on the first sleeve but almost finished with it. I'm hoping to have it completed this week and it should be just the perfect weather to wear it.

The sad news is that I seem to have lost one of my fingerless gloves that I carry in my bag. :( So I am sad. I loved them. I used a very bright colorway of Mini Mochi and they were a lovely cabled pattern. *sigh* I suppose I will have to make another pair.

Off to eat dinner. Bahan macaroni pie (from Caribbean Vegan) and pineapple collard greens.

Stay warm.

Happy dancing all around! I finished my socks for the kal and I really like them.

I was going to participate in next month's kal also but both of the yarn stores that are participating in carrying the yarn have sold out and have no intention of getting anymore. I even drove up to Springboro to check out a store there.

Oh well. Maybe I'll be able to do May's kal. We shall see.Had a few lovely days of nice, warm weather but today it's 34* and FREEZING!! I hate when the weather switches like that because you just feel so much colder than before. I think for dinner I am going to make some "cheesy" potato soup and a black bean burger. Sounds like a good cold weather dinner.

My fingers are just too cold to type so I will be back soon.

The water is still high at the park. Today was the first sunny,warm (and windy) day to go to the park so here is the first waterfall shot of the season.

It was nice to be able to go and sit with the windows open, just enjoying the sun on my face. Bring on those freckles!

Got some mulch today and put that around the house. We have had so much rain that the mulch is just washed away from the water coming off the gutters. We have been waiting for the gutter cleaners since late fall but since the weather turned so cruddy so early they fell really behind. And all this rain isn't helping any for our gutters. I sure hope they come soon.Here is a really cruddy photo of a new aquistion. Pretttttyyyyy.
It's a lace weight and I just have to find the perfect pattern for it.

Still slogging away on my KAL.

I will get some more done on it tonight after I go to an event on www.planetpurl.com. I have spent the last 2 nights there ...one for a class and last night for a social hour. Lots of fun and got to use the webcam finally. It was nice to see some faces to go with some names.

Well, the event starts in about 6 minutes so I will sign off for now. I am going to try and be better about blogging so I will see you all soon.

Happy St. Patricks' Day!!

Here is my next spring cardigan. It's the Debbie Bliss cardigan and I really am moving right along.

But I did take a break for this...
The March KAL on www.knitpurlhunter.com using Trekking yarn.
Here's last week's clue.

I've got both tops knit now and just got this week's clue this morning. Since they are only the heels I don't think they will take very long.

Mmmm. White Russian cookies.

Spinach and mushroom lasagna with cauliflower-tofu "ricotta".

I am off to take part 2 of the Planet Purl class on toe-up socks. See you soon.

Busy knitting and cooking but here's a yarn haiku to tide you over until tomorrow!

Yarn so soft and warm.

Want to roll around in it.

Take out needles first.

Sweater is finished! I really like it. I've never worn a short sweater like this but it's nice. A fast knit and I will definately be wearing it quite a bit.
This is the sweater I'm casting on now. It's the Debbie Bliss sweater from Knitscene wnter/spring 2011. I'm knitting it in a pale green and I think it will turn out to be a nice spring sweater.

Although the red is nice as well.

Dinner tonight is warm mushrooms and cranberry salad with horseradish dressing. mmmm. Lunch was a lovely creamy portobello soup and homemade cornbread. Perfect for a chilly,overcast day!

Been busy knitting away. Finished mom's vest (whew!) and decided to make myself a short-sleeved cardigan for spring. I had some Lion Brand Pound of Love lying around and thought I might as well get some use out of it. The color is Bubblegum and the pattern is from Lion Brand's website...it's called the Weekend Retreat Cardi and is knit from the neck down. So far I think I will really like it. A fairly fast knit and pretty mindless so I can watch videos while knitting.

Just finished watching PBS's "1940's House" and I quite enjoyed it.
Had some lovely weather this week, which is unusual for this time of year. My birthday was the 17th and I actually wore a short-sleeved teeshirt. Last year we had over 10" of snow. Got some fun things for presents....some yarn (gasp-what a surprise!) A skein of Noro Silk Garden and a pattern from a local designer for a funky, spiral-y scarf that looked really cool on the sales clerk. Very intriguing looking pattern. I'll keep you posted.
Also bought some Mango Moon recycled sari silk. I've been looking at it for years and finally caved. I found some shawl patterns on Ravelry for it and I think that I will make one of those with it.
Went over to Borders this morning. The really depressing news is that they are closing that store and they are having their going out of business sale.
I would have thought that this was the store they would leave open, out of the 3 they have here. It's the largest, most centrally located one but, no. I shop there all the time but no more. There is a Barnes and Noble right around the corner but I always preferred Borders. The rewards were free and they always sent really good coupons. I was going to go over yesterday and use my 33% off coupons but when I got there they were already having the discounted sales. 20% off all books, which meant I couldn't use my coupons :( . Plus (and I am not exaggerating at all) there must have been at least 150 people in line. They lined all the way from the front registers around all the stacks and through to the back of the store. No thanks! So I ran over this morning to be there when they opened. They told me the wait yesterday was at least 45 minutes to an hour. Some people were in line with just a magazine! I understand that they were 40% off but I wouldn't stand that long for just one little thing!
Well, the weather today is freezing rain today and chilly so I am brewing a pot of Blackberry Sage tea and I am going to try and finish my sweater. Keep warm!

Mmmmm. Potato skins. Amanda made a bunch for her friend's Super Bowl party and she saved me the outsides and a bag of "insides" and I went home and whipped up some vegan skins. Yum. Sauteed some mushrooms and onions and mashed it all up with some "sour cream" and Daiya cheddar cheese and chowed down. Thanks Amanda.

No knitting pictures right now. I am knitting but it's a long sampler vest for mom out of Peaches and Cream cotton. I'm trying to get it finished by this weekend since the weather is warming up slightly. Today it was 27*. I know that we will still have some cold weather...it alway is cruddy around my birthday but some warmer wouldn't be amiss. Supposed to be in the mid-40*'s by the beginning of the week so that will be a relief. Although, I have to say, I haven't really minded the freezing temps so much. I've just hunkered down with alot of hot tea, knitting, dvds and podcasts. Oh and some cooking as well. Yesterday I made some vegetable tomato rice soup and a grilled ''cheese" sandwich with some Daiya cheese and it was the perfect cold weather lunch. As a matter of fact, I may have some for dinner tonight since it's supposed to go down to 9*. Brrrrr.
Stay warm and get some knitting done.

This is another pair of the two-color cabled socks with some more Cascade 220.

Ta-dah! Quant is done and I love it. I really like entrelac and can't wait to knit a pair of socks. I have the pattern and yarn ready to go but am going to finish what's on my needles right now before starting.
I am knitting another sampler vest for mom and finishing off the cabled socks so my socks will have to wait.

On the weather side.....gruesome. Ice all over and when it started to melt off the driveway we then started with the freezing rain. So now the trees and grass are covered. Let's hope we don't get much more.
But it's good knitting weather and definately baking weather.

These are crispy,chewy oatmeal cookies from "The Vegan Cookie Connoisseur" and sooooo good. I have been craving oatmeal cookies for a week now and what better time to make them when it's icy and a good day to be inside.
I also made mushroom fettucini and broccoli for lunch 'cause Amanda stopped by for lunch. Thanks sis!

Okay. Just made a fresh pot of tea-Blackberry Sage from The
Republic of Tea and I am going to pop in an audio book and knit.
Stay warm and safe and knit alot.

Just learned to do entrelac! Love it and can't wait to knit a pair of socks.

This is Quant from www.knitty.com and it's a great beginner pattern. The yarn is Noro Kureyon and I really like the colors. These are argyle socks from "The Big Book of Socks" with Cascade 220. A fast knit and they are toasty warm.

I have been hunkered down and staying warm because, baby it's COLD outside. This morning it was -8* when I woke up. It has warmed considerably ...now it's 12*. Woohoo. I don't need anything outside so I just brewed a fresh pot of tea and am starting a new knitting project. Because I just finished my last project and have none on the needles.

These are the Two-color cable socks from "The Big Book of Socks". I wanted to learn to do two-color cables and I love them. They are practically knee socks and so warm. Very easy and I am definately making another pair. The yarn is Cascade 220 and I have just a little ball of orange left and less than 1 yard of fushia.

I bought a bunch of Cascade on clearance when Yarns and Fabrications went out of business with this pattern in mind. I've always liked knee socks because my legs get cold. The only thing that I will change is I will cast on with a smaller size needle (4) and knit the ribbing and then go to the 5.
I am now going to try entrelac as I took a class from Planet Purl www.planetpurl.com last week. I really enjoy their classes and learned alot. Plus, they have great videos, which is always helpful. They also have a fun knit and chat once a month.
I've decided to knit "Quant" from www.knitty.com for my beginning project and then I have a neat pattern for a pair of socks. I'm also starting a pair of argyle socks from "The Big Book of Socks" with purple, green and orange Cascade 220. Those should be a fast,easy knit.
We had 5.8" of snow on Thursday and I was tired of shoveling. We shoveled twice and left about 1" on the drive because it was icy underneath. I also did not want to pay the snow guy to come and scrape the drive 'cause I didn't want to spend the money. He knows not to come unless it's over 4'' and I call him to go on the list. At 2:30 am. we were jolted out of bed by a big THUNK and ran to the window (no, it wasn't Santa) but the snow guy. Hello!?! I didn't call. Had to go to the front door and try and get his attention to yell that we had shoveled. He said that he was just cleaning it off. Yeah for $65.oo you are going to do more than clean it off. But since I didn't call him, and we stopped him, I don't think he should charge me. We shall see.
Okay, off to cast on for some new projects. Stay warm and safe.

Here is my replacement (as much as it can replace my lovely mug) for the broken mug. One of my clients' gave me $50.00 in Caribou gift cards, which was super thoughtful but I was surprised because she was always such a big Starbucks fan. As am I. But a soy chai latte is fine as I don't really care for their coffee. But I was getting some drinks yesterday for myself and Amanda and I saw this on sale by the register and figured, why not?

I like to have a tangible reminder of the card so a new mug it is. Right now it's filled with Harney's Cranberry Autumn, which a lovely choice on a cold night.

It's warmer some today---30*- but when it warms up is when I seem to get really cold. Luckily a hand knit sweater or shawl is waiting right here to be thrown around my shoulders.

Here's what I made the other day. Puppy chow cookies. They were good but I think I prefer the puppy chow loose and not on a cookie. Eggnog cookies are next. I got some of the Silknog on sale and the cookies sound great. Plus, I get to drink whatever is leftover!

I've been busy trying to finish up all my projects on the needles so I can start some more! I finished my vest and a fun scalloped scarf/shawl (the pattern is on the Bernat site and is the scallop scarf)and a huge crocheted afghan that was a gift. I am not the best crocheter and can't really watch anything while I do it so I popped in an audiobook and hunkered down and finished it the other night. Now all I have to do is one half of a sock for mom, a pair of cabled socks that I am half done with the first one and the KAL that I am going to work on tomorrow. I WILL break the pattern. I just have to have quiet and concentrate but I'll get farther along on it.

Yes,yes, I know I still have the Celtic poncho but I thought that I could work on it in the spring because I probably won't get it done in time for this year. But I will get it finished this year. No more ufos.

Here's Rufus peeking out to say hello.

And Binkley and Rufus having a cleaning!