Oops!

Fell asleep super early last night and didn't get to post. Finished the length and only have some detail left so I'll share my project now. It was based off of my little sisters cheerleader skirt and in the high school broncos colors or it works for the Minnesota Vikings as well....

the original

my version

Just need to add some ribbed leg cuffs and an I-cord drawstring. My little girl didn't want to show it off, she wanted to go outside and play so she has her grumpy face on. 

grumpy face

doing a kick!

showing off the tush

I would do it a little differently if I were to make another. But it is pretty darn cute just how it is anyways. I used Snapdragon Soaker for the underneath and then Lil Aries Cheer Skirty on top.

New Yarn & Another knit-worthy cause

Black Purl today & new yarn!

Plus needles but I just don't get as excited about them...it's the pretty colors, I know it. Almost done adding length on my current project & then need to do a little detail work and it will finally be finished. I get so worked up for a project and then by the end of it I'm just sick of it and want to be done. Next in line I think I'll be working on a winter hat for my little girl. Beautiful yarn saved up for that called Norwegian Wood.

 Mmmmmm yummy!

And the knit-worthy cause. Knit or crochet a cap for a newborn and they will be sent to help save babies lives in Africa, Asia, & Latin America. I'm going to make a mini copy of my daughters cap and send it out. They have plenty of details on how to make one, where to send them and other ways to help. The patterns are so easy as long as you can knit or crochet a swatch you can make a cap!

Caps For Good

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Presenting Zucchini Soup

I got this recipe from my mother-in-law (but I don't know where she got it), it is one of my husbands favorites. I refuse to cook it for him because I dislike zucchini and although he has bought and wasted many a zucchini he has never stepped foot into the kitchen to make it for himself. So today I surprised him!

Zucchini Soup

1 lb. Italian sausage (I use hot)

2 c. celery

1 c. onion

2 green peppers

2 cans diced garlic tomatoes (large cans)

1 tbs. oregano flakes

1 tbs. Italian seasoning

1 tbs. sugar

1 t. salt

1 t. garlic powder

2 lb. zucchini sliced and chunked

Cut sausage into chunks and brown well. Drain off fat. Add celery & onion and cook for 5-10 minutes until onion is getting clear. Add tomatoes, green pepper & spices. Simmer 20 minutes covered. Add zucchinis and cook another 10 minutes or until zucchini is tender. 

I do like the broth and I love hot Italian sausage but the chunky veggies isn't my thing. Nothing like a good soup on a cool fall day, and today was a beautiful fall day. I took our daughter to the park and we walked through some gorgeous woods. 

It was a lovely day. I was supposed to get to The Black Purl but didn't make it there, maybe tomorrow. I need to get some new yarn & needles!

Knitting for a cause

I just love these stockings.http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ann-marie-pink-ribbon-stockings-for-breast-cancer-awareness 
They are a bit above my skill range right now and I don't own all the needles required, but someday I will knit and wear these hott little legs! I think I'll buy the yarn tomorrow, the best part? 20% of the profits from the yarn go to breast cancer charities! They were designed special for the cause. I can't wait to own my pair!

Meanwhile I feel like my current project is going nowhere. All I'm doing is adding length and it's so boring. I just daydream of projects to come... 

Farmers Market anyone?

Today started out slow with us running late for the harvest fest. I was so excited I've been looking forward to this thing for weeks. A free pumpkin, fun food stands & games and even a petting zoo! I had been telling our little girl all about the animals we'd get to see. And then we get there.

  

Flooding everywhere. At least they rescheduled. But now I get to look forward to it for  2 more weeks. *sigh*

So we headed down to the farmers market and drooled a little looking at all the produce for awhile and found some awesome homemade salsa and jams. Hubby got some rhubarb & blueberry jam. His two favorite flavors in one, that lady is a genius. I just love homemade!

MMMM Sometime this week my aunt and I should be making some marinara sauce (about 20-30 jars!) it will be a blast and super delicious.

Then there was the mall. Now one of my pet peeves is parents who drop kids in a play area and turn their backs. It's on the rules before you walk in, DON'T CLIMB ONTO OF THE PLAY AREA. 

The tunnel in question

So I'm trying to pull my daughter out of a tunnel because some lady isn't watching her kids play jump from on top of one thing to the other and her daughter comes flying off the tunnel onto my head.  I get knocked down and almost out, a couple sitting on the bench nearby helped me get seated. My vision had dropped out and my head was in some limbo of lightheadedness and throbbing pain. The girl sobbed a little and ran to her mom, but she landed on top of me so I don't think she was hurt that bad. Neither of them said a word to me. 5 adults with their group and not one of them could tell her and her brother to get down? It's not safe, there are toddlers around? It's against the rules? I'm just glad I was in the way or my daughter would have taken the force of the blow and then I would have really been peeved. Now I could tell the girl to get down myself, then I might have a parent jumping down my throat about telling them how to parent their child...I just think these type of things are lose-lose. 

Sorry, there is my rant for today, but again on the good side...Homemade salsa & jam mmm!!!!

First Post!

This is my first post in hopefully a long line of blogging to come. 
          So my beginnings as a knitter started with my grandmother, she helped me knit a big red scarf when I was about 10. She sent me home with the project and I knit and knit and knit some more, until I realized my scarf was huge, way bigger than anticipated. She had never taught me how to bind off and finish the scarf. I waited on the project for a while but my parents never got the chance to take me to grandmas before I got too impatient and tried to figure it out myself. I unraveled a lot of the extra scarf in the process and ended up just tying the end of the scarf into a big knot! I would say my first project and experience as a knitter was a bit of a failure. I gave up. 
         Fast forward about 14 years and after having our daughter I discovered cloth diapers and dug into it. Turns out knitted wool makes the best covers for us so instead of purchasing diapers & covers and doubling our cost (and part of cloth diapering is the point of SAVING money) I started trying to make my own and that is where I am.