7 Quick Takes Friday

1.

I always hated getting up early in the morning when I was a kid. Lately I find that I am enjoying it more and more. It is hard to get a moment to myself during the day because when I am home I am trying to spend as much time as possible with DH and the little one. I work 3 days a week and have to take call on most of the afternoons I am off so time is at a premium for me. I find that getting up early is the only hope I have of finishing knitting projects and almost the only time I can get on the computer without it interfering with my parenting/wifely duties.

2.

I am really making an effort to try and fill the role of a stay at home mom whenever I am home. It is tough sometimes when I get home from work in the evening to resume that role since I am tired and drained from working and dealing with other people all day but someday (hopefully not too far off) that will be my role. Anyway it should always be my first priority even if I have to remain working for a while longer.

3.

I am getting super excited to go back to Michigan for a visit with family next week! We are going to have an early Thanksgiving at my mom's house with my little brother who I haven't seen in a long time.

4.

I want a spinning wheel. It has started to consume my mind lately. This one in particular:


The only thing I am worried about is if I will have a steep learning curve. I am getting pretty good at using my drop spindle but I haven't ever spun yarn on a wheel, except once at my aunt's house when I was very new to spinning and I found it difficult at that time.

4.

I am feeling antsy lately. I feel like we are on the brink of change just waiting to fall. DH has been trying really hard to find a job and we are praying that one of the ones he has applied for will hire him. Otherwise we have a couple backup plans but things might be really tough for a while if/when we have to implement them.

5.

Recent finished objects: Baby cardigan for a friend:

This was a nice knit I could do anywhere or anytime and didn't have to think too much. It is a seamless, top-down sweater with DK weight yarn on #2 needles. Pattern here and yarn here

6.

I need an eggless pumpkin pie recipe. Anyone?

7.

I am liking daylight savings this year, now that I am getting up early it is nice to see the sunrise in the morning. Of course I will probably hate it when spring comes and we lose an hour.

WIP Wednesday

Well, I dont have any good pic's to post this time for my Works In Progress Wednesday but I will tell you about them anyway. I am still plugging (slowly) away on my mom's scarf and I keep thinking I want to make one for myself, that artyarn's silk is scrumptious! There is a yellow/green baby hat that has been plaguing me forever and is slowly getting close to being done. Note to self: no more fingering weight merino on my #4 size Knitpicks harmony interchangable needles, too sticky and frustrating! Then there is a big pink garter stitch bulky Alpaca/wool cowl for me and a pair of 2 at a time socks on #2 circ needles that I have just barely started. A pink hat for Bella that she has been wearing despite the fact I have not put ties on the earflaps yet. And in the spinning department I am working on some red, green, and tan colored Corriedale yarn. I am making some of it with the colors in solid stripes and some of it with the three colors plied together in various combinations to coordinate. I hope to make Isabelle a pair of cute Christmasy longies out of it. And finally in the planning stages are: a pair of longies for Isabelle out of some SoHo thick and thin yarn, slippers for Christmas presents and, scarves, socks and hats for Christmas presents. What are you working on right now?

Redecorated for Fall

Orange, brown, green and dark purple. Reminds me of fall leaves, Halloween, thanksgiving, and pumpkins. Yay!

7 Quick Takes Friday

--1--

Hurrah! My first time participating in 7 quick takes hosted by the lovely Jen over at Conversion Diary. I really like the idea and have just been too busy/lazy to do it in the past. Of course there is nothing to say that I won't revert to that state busy/lazy but, hey, I am trying.

--2--

Speaking of Friday, I am sooo glad it is Friday and what is more I am not on call for work this weekend. It is so nice to have a job that does not require me to work weekends most of the time. It is also nice to have a job (as a nurse) that is a regular 8 hour daytime shift instead of crazy 12 hour evening, midnight, whatever shifts.

--3--

PIE. I like making it. I like eating it. Currently on the menu is apple since they are in season. I just need to find a recipe for pumpkin that does not include eggs. Anyone have any ideas?

--4--

Since we are on the topic of eating. I can't tell if this recent baked goods craze is related to the weather changing and getting colder, or my stress level. Either way I am not worried since breastfeeding seems to be keeping the pounds off for now.

--5--

STRESS. Now, I am sure my stress level is laughable compared to some people's but nevertheless it is present and difficult to deal with at times lately. My husband is having a hard time finding work so we are living on my part time income. Our goal is for me to be home with the little one while he works but it doesn't seem to be working out that way for us right now. Any prayers directed in our general direction would be most welcome as we are trying to discern God's will for our life right now.

--6--

My husband is a wonderful man. Enough said.

--7--

I have almost completely switched from wanting to shop for clothing for ME, to wanting to shop for clothing for my daughter. For one thing she doesn't need to try things on, if something is too big she can grow into it and it is a good thing (for me this would not be the case), price tags are nicer on little one's clothing (well for the most part), and baby clothes are just so stinkin cute!

Cozy Morning

Snow outside my window


Homemade cherry pie and warm tea for breakfast

Sleeping angel.

Knitting Progress

First is the baby cardigan I have been working on for a friend who just had a baby.



And next is the yummy 100% silk scarf I have been working on for my mom. It is so soft and lovely!


Well that is all for today, I have some spinning projects in the works but no pictures good enough to post and a couple other knitting projects that I have not made much headway on.

Recipe: gluten and corn free rice krispie treats

Why gluten and corn free? Because my darling daughter has some food allergies and corn happens to be one of the offending characters. It only happens to be gluten free by chance. You could also make it dairy free by omitting the butter and substituting 1/4 cup of sunflower butter (or nut butter of your choice). Oh, and yes, my daughter is only 6 months old and as of yet is not eating much in the way of solid food, however, whatever I eat gets into my breastmilk and can potentially cause her problems. So I have been on (and off) an allergy elimination diet since she was about 2 1/2 months old. Not much fun for me but very helpful for her. Anyway, here is the recipe:

1 cup sugar
1 cup brown rice syrup
1 and 1/4 cup sunflower seed butter
1/4 cup butter (if not using butter add another 1/4 cup of sunflower seed butter)
about 5 cups puffed rice or other rice cereal (if you are trying to eliminate corn make sure to read the ingredient list, rice krispies have corn syrup in them)
vanilla to taste

Butter (or use oil if not doing dairy) a 9x13 baking dish
Combine sugar and rice syrup in a pan and boil
Once boiling add sunflower seed butter, butter and vanilla and stir until well combined
remove from heat and add the cereal, mixing until the cereal is well coated
press into the baking dish with a spatula or buttered fingers (it will be sticky) and let cool
cut into bars and serve!

I wish I would have taken a picture of these but I ate them before I thought about it. :)

Merger

I am going to start posting my knitting projects and all craft related things here. I simply don't post enough to justify having different blogs for different things so there you have it! :)

I feel like a groundhog on February 2nd...

Poking my head out of the hole I have temporarily disappeared into. I looked around long enough to read this post. It is a wonderful reminder to me of what I need to be doing with my life and to keep letting go (ok dragging them out kicking and screaming) of my bad habits. If I have time I will post more on this subject but if not... well there is a just-over-two-feet-tall person who needs me more than this blog. :)

Its been awhile

...so to start brushing off all the dust here is an article worth reading.

http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2009/jul/09072902.html