Yarn Along -22 May 2013

Yarn Along again this week.  Nothing too fabulous to share this week.  I did finally finish the Barbie dress (well it still needs snaps).  It is so ridiculous that the old ladies at Market sell these dresses for like $5!  It took me nearly 3 days (working off and on) to finish this.  No wonder people won't pay proper prices for my knitting.

Working on the socks for Christmas.  And look what I found when I was doing some organizing in the 'sewing' room??  A ball reel Astra!  Pre-gauge change and before the quality went down-hill.  I used to love knitting with Astra, but now I do my best to find other yarns.

I've got to take the truck in for servicing tomorrow, so I'd better make sure I've got my knitting with me.  I'm going to be first in the shop but they didn't know how long the repair may take.

Farm Girl Friday -17 May 2013

The Farm Girl and the Farm Girlie had a whole lot of excitement this morning.  In the middle of our recorder playing there was a big bang and then the whole house began to shake.  I thought for a second it was farm equipment but then realized it was much much bigger and way too long.   Ella and I high-tailed it outside (our house wasn't that well built 106 years ago).  The ground was still shaking when we got outside.  Ella was terrified the house was going to fall down and upset because we had left Kitty Cat inside.

Turns out we were feeling a 5.2 earthquake that was centered just across the river in Shawville.  A few minutes layer there was a 4.2 after shock.  Ella wasn't impressed with that either.  Apparently the Ottawa river is a fault line and Colin says the lake behind us is another.  

There is such a difference between 5.2 and 4.2, the aftershock just felt like the combine was driving by.  I would hate to go through a 'big one'.  I hope this is the last one for quite a while.

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real -16 May 2013

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real this week isn't very long.

Found some old pictures of my Pretty, Happy, Funny girl.  I love this last one, makes me think of the opening of "Little House on the Prairie" (just greener).

Today's Real involves yarn.  Remember the yarn I showed you yesterday? We'll I've decided to go against 'knitter's logic' and believe in the math, i.e., there likely isn't enough yardage to make knee socks.  I've got a message in to Tina to see if she has any more.  Otherwise I will have to find a different pattern.  So instead I've pulled out this yarn from Knit Picks and will start some 'regular' socks.  They will be a Christmas present for my Mom or my SIL.  I'll have to find some more yarn to make some knee socks for me for the winter.

Yarn Along -15 May 2013

Yarn Along this week finds me still reading my Titanic book.  Not that it's slow or uninteresting, I just don't seem to find/make the time for Momma reading these days (unless we go away).

Finished up Ella's cat.  It's really cute, but I'm not sure why the designer made the cat's face flat.  The cat has such a realistic shape from the back and then  you turn the cat around and it looks like it ran into a wall!  Ella loves it and that's what matters.

Starting a couple new projects.  Working on a crochet Barbie dress.  Apparently the Barbies need a 'doing groceries' kind of dress.  I haven't crocheted in a while, it's a nice change.  I also need an easy, grab and go kind of project.  So I'm working on the swatch to make myself another pair of knee socks.  Isn't the yarn gorgeous.  I got it at Tina's in Bowmanville the last time I was there. I just hope I have enough.

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real -9 May 2013

Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real -the spring edition.

Spring is finally here!  The beautiful wild plums are in full blossom these days.  They smell so sweet.

It's always fun to have company on our nature walks.  This time it's Licorice and Leopard, to of the barn tom cats (who think they are really lap  cats)

It's always fun when the Momma cats start to bring their little ones up to the house to show us.  This is one of the first batch.  This is Snowflake, she/he has another pure white sibling and a solid black one.  Obviously we must have a white tom around somewhere.

Yarn Along -8 May 2013

Wow, it's getting harder and harder to get school done every day.  It's just so beautiful!  Really I should try doing school in the afternoon so we can take advantage of the cool mornings.  But I don't know if I can get her to do that either.

Coming along on Ella's cat.  I really like the way her yarn turned out.  Maybe we'll have to try dying some more this summer.

For Knitting and Crochet Blog Week this year, the extra credit assignment was to make something that represents our house.  So I have made this:

This tea cozy is for my Grandma, I'm sure she'll love it.

Menu Plan Monday -6 May 2013

Menu Plan Monday again.  For the next few months I'm trying a new experiment to cut grocery costs.  I'm going from twice a month shopping to only shopping once a month.  Yes, I'll be stopping in from time to time (likely on dance night since we are in town any way) for fresh veggies and milk but that's it.  Last month was about $50 less than usual.

We've got a bit of extra school to do.  I just compared the current school week to the number of weeks left on the calendar and we are behind quite a few.  We really lost a bunch after Isobel died.  The lessons are fairly easy for Ella (almost too easy), so I think we can squish at least an extra half/full week into our regular weeks.  I want to be done most of our school work before the hot and stupid humid weather arrives.  I think we may do a bit of workbook learning over the summer just to stay in the habit, but nothing too strenuous.

Monday:

pb&h

leftover roast beef from my birthday supper on Saturday

Tuesday:

pizza

spaghetti and meatballs

Wednesday:

pizza

sugar pancake

Thursday: 

chicken salad

chili

Friday:

grilled cheese

Jane's chicken burger

Saturday:

tuna sandwich

Joey's Fish and Chips with Grandma for Mother's Day

Sunday:

steakhouse pizza -new Pioneer Woman cookbook and likely invite Grandpa over

What's cooking at I'm an Organizing Junkie?