Socks

Awhile ago I learned how to knit socks. I'm slowly improving my knitting skills by trying increasingly more difficult pieces one project at a time. I started small with these baby socks (John's foot is in the photo for prespective). The first one of these I made and showed around was seeminly not impressive because the typical question was: What are you going to do with it, give it to a one legged baby? So, I made another one. I want so badly to put my feet in them, but . . . yeah . . .

Anyway, I've started on a "my size" pair and this is how far along I am. It will be awhile before they're finished. I actually don't knit that much. That is only the cuff that is slipped over my foot. I'm almost ready to start knitting the heal. As you can see I knit in the car. It's a good car craft.

Parsley - My New Favorite Vegetable?

Chimichurri Sauce

1 bunch parsley
3/4 cup or more (depending on your taste. If you like it more liquidy, use more, if you like it more pastey, use less). olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3Tbsp lemon juice
2 cloves garlic (more or less depending on your taste. I used three and it was a little too garlicy for me).
1 Tbsp shallot (optional? I've only made it once and it turned out really well with the shallot and I only used it because I had some)
salt
pepper
dried red chili flakes

Finely chop the parsley, garlic and shallot then mix with the other ingredients. Serve with bread or use as a pork marinade.

Yummy!

Happy Birthday to Me

Asteraceae (Compositae)

Echinacea purpurea or Purple Coneflower


Finally! I got one to grow! From a seed!

Parmesan Popovers - Remember the Salt

I was inspired to make Parmesan Popovers today after watching Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentiis on FoodTV this morning. I've never made popovers before today. They're like little quiche with the crust baked right in, but easier and quicker to make.



To see the recipe, visit FoodTV.com . I also made her Almond Blueberry Cookies today. Next I'll try her Iced Tea with Grenadine.

Indian Wells Canyon: It's the Desert - A Photo Post

See a video of John playing with an old rusty miner thingy HERE.

Camera Takes Black and White

Thanks Michelle!

For Easter weekend this year John and I and Natalie and Kevin and Brent traveled to Fremont, CA to visit David and Michelle. We (John, me, Kevin and Natalie) left on Friday morning to get there in time for dinner at a local pizza joint called SFO. Brent left Friday afternoon in his own car because he had to work at the pool in the morning. Saturday we spent the morning having breakfast together fueling ourselves for a mid-morning/afternoon hike. Little Yosemite is a destination in of Niles Canyon that really is reminiscent of Yosemite National Park complete with a little half dome and a valley similar to that of Yosemite's valley with the stream running through it. Here is a picture of us at the "W" tree. David was there, really, he was taking the picture. Thanks David!


We hiked four miles, had lunch, skipped rocks, played with nature


and enjoyed the outdoors as well as each other's company. Brent left shortly after we returned; he was scheduled to work Sunday morning. His first "real" road trip. Way to go Brent! He made it there and back very safely. Saturday night we had dinner with David and Michelle and some friends of theirs. Sunday we went to church. Conveniently we were able to find a Calvary Chapel close by right in Fremont. When we returned Michelle and her dad treated us to a complete Easter Sunday brunch.



Yum! Thanks Michelle!

I Remembered to Fertilize the Rose Bushes

Hi Kat. Happy Spring.

Yummy . . .

If anyone knows me, they know I watch FoodTV. It's the first channel I go to when I turn on the set. Yesterday, Natalie and I sat down to a show of Ham on the Street. The host of the show, George Duran, is continually challenging tradition with his "outside the box" recipes. This particular show he tried convincing his viewers that any choice of bread, cheese, and jelly would make a good tasting grilled sandwich by playing his invented game grilled cheese and jelly lotto where he had three tumbling machines full of lotto balls; one with balls listing different types of bread, one with cheeses and one with jellies. Passersby were asked to choose lotto balls from each machine, then George cooked them up a sandwich with the ingredients chosen. You can check out the FoodTV site to see the list of ingredients on the balls he had in his lotto machines. There was a rye, havarti and apricot sandwich made, a challah, brie and strawberry and a whole wheat, bleu cheese and hot pepper jelly during the show and the passersby were each thrilled with their uniquely different sandwich. So, today we tried our own version of the grilled cheese and jelly sandwich. We made swiss apricot, American strawberry, swiss strawberry and American apricot all on whole wheat. We all tried them and everyone said, "Mmmm good".

See for yourself, make one today.

No. 5

Robert Ernest Rice

John and I traveled to Minnesota last Tuesday. His grandfather, Robert Ernest Rice, died early Saturday morning after 98 years of joyous living. We went to join in celebrating his life, mourning our loss and catching up with family. We returned home Thursday afternoon.




Until we meet again, Grandpa Bob, in God's Kingdom.

This One Is For Erin

This one is for Erin. I was inspired when she told me she was remodeling her Airstream kitchen in turquoise.




Have fun in Florida Erin.

Black Bean Soup

Mary Anne from work gave me this recipe. It's easy and delicious.
Thanks Mary Anne!

Black Bean and Salsa Soup

Ingredients:
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can vegetable broth (chicken will work too)
1 cup chunky salsa
1 cup corn (fresh, frozen or canned will work)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
maybe a little garlic
sour cream
green onion



Combine beans, broth, salsa and cumin. Blend until fairly smooth (I used a stick blender right in the pot, but a regular blender or food processor will work). Add corn, heat through. Ladle into bowls. Garnish with sour cream, chopped green onion and salsa if any is leftover.

TA-DA! I served mine with corn chips and sliced avocado. Yum!


Enjoy!

Are You Wearing Your Green Today?

No. 3

I'm obsessed.


This is the third and last designer dishcloth pattern out of the little pattern book I've been using. This pattern is knit 3 purl 1 to the end of the row, knit a row, repeat until the desired length is achieved.

Designer Dishcloth No. 2

This one is a knit 1 purl 1 pattern row after row.

My New Favorite Drink

Last summer my favorite drink was Red Bull. Last week my favorite drink was GT's Multi Green Kombucha. This week my favorite drink is Sparkling Blueberry Juice from Trader Joe's.



Mmmmm . . . blueberry juice . . .

Designer Dishcloth

I knitted a designer dishcloth this weekend. It actually has a pattern.


I purled and knitted. I even picked up a dropped stitch three rows down.

Isn't it cute?



I'm going to wash dishes now.

It Rained Today

Finally!