Socks on Circular Needles

LOL Does not work for me!

I have all the supplies, the book, beautiful Harmony wood needles from Knit Picks (http://www.knitpicks.com/knitting+needles.html) in sizes 1, 2, 3 and 4 with 40" cables. Sat down with two different color yarns just like the book said and started juggling needles, cable, yarn, tails, and everything else within arm's reach. This is not easy to do. Just look at this tangled mess I pulled out of my tote.

I struggled through and was determined to at least finish the two little socks I had started. First, I found the ladders. Big, wide ladders.



Then, I found THE hole.

Put everything back in my tote bag and went to my stash closet for that pretty variegated purple and red yarn I bought on clearance from Knit Picks last year. Ah, my beloved DPNs. When I first started with them last year I just knew that I would poke an eye out. Now they are like a long lost friend.



I WILL pick up the circular needles try 2 socks at a time again. At a later date. A much...much later date.

Another Baking Day

Cherry Pie! Homemade from frozen Colorado tart cherries. I remembered to take a photo before eating all of it. Not that "I" am the person who eats all of the pies. I do have a bit of help...

Cherry Pie

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
4 teaspoons butter
3 cups tart cherries
1/4-1/2 cup water
pastry

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Stir together sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Pour water over cherries and add almond extract. Pour dry mixture over cherries and stir. Pour into 9-inch unbaked pie shell. Dot with butter. Cover with top crust, seal edges, and crimp. Put one or two vents in the crust. Bake on lowest shelf for 30 to 35 minutes.

OR

Cover with strips weaving into a lattice. Bake the same temperature and time.

OR do what I do:

Roll out that bottom crust way larger than needed for the pie plate. Center in 9-inch pie plate. Pour cherries into shell. Dot with butter. Fold edges of crust over filling. Bake at the same temperature and time.

I Baked a Pie

I had every intention of taking a picture of it to post here. Alas, I was too late.

Buttermilk Pie

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter
3 rounded tablespoons flour
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
dash or two of nutmeg

Cream butter and sugar. Add flour and eggs. Beat well. Add buttermilk, vanilla, and nutmeg. Pour into a 9-inch unbaked pie shell. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes.

DON'T buy frozen pie shells!!! You have a delicious filling so make a crispy crust.

Pie Pastry

2 1/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup shortening, chilled
2 tablespoons butter, chilled
5-6 tablespoons cold water

(Actually, I use pure lard...1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons. AND it always takes more than the 5-6 tablespoons cold water for me. Just keep adding water until everything binds together.)

Spoon flour and salt into a bowl. Cut in shortening and butter (or lard) until particles are size of small peas. Add water a tablespoon at a time until all particles are moistened. Watch dough closely as overmixing will result in a tough crust. Chill in refrigerator for 15 minutes (or longer). Half and roll to 1/8-inch thickness. Ease into pie plate. Trip and crimp edges. Fill and bake as desired. If you are baking a fruit pie, roll second half out and cover filled crust. Crimp edges. Slit top for vents and bake as directed.

For cream pies, bake empty pie shell at 450 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Another Beautiful Day to Ride!

We left the house this morning all bundled up against the 53 degree temperature and rode 40 miles to Longview for the Harley Shop's open house. I rode my own bike. Here's proof:

Mine is the solid red bike in front. Sam's is the cream and burgundy beside it.

We hung around there most of the day before heading home. When we got home, I had Sam to adjust my handlebars just a bit closer to me again and attach my new "glove compartment," better known as a windshield bag. Now I have a place to put my shades or whatever. I also purchased a red cap with bling-bling on the visor and a turtleneck sweater. All, of course, with Harley-Davidson logos!

Look at this! Some guy refurbished a WWII era Military Police motorcycle! Look at the "hand grenades" in front of the leather saddlebag.

Oh! We won two door prizes! Sam won a breast cancer awareness cap, white with a pink bow. Then I won a pair of pink-framed sunglasses...I'm not into pink very much. I saw a friend's little girl and gifted them to her. She was really excited...the shades match her pink helmet!

Third Place Ribbons!

I won two third place ribbons this year during our local fair! I entered a quilt, a pair of knitted socks, a knitted shrug, and some scuppernong jelly. The shrug and the jelly placed third in their categories. (Note: Scuppernongs are a wild grape native to North America. http://www.answers.com/topic/scuppernong and http://southernfood.about.com/library/weekly/aa091998.htm

Sam and I were in Jefferson for the Boo Benefit (motorcycle rally). A girlfriend entered my items and took care of them for me.

Our Friends of the Library group won several ribbons in the food categories! Pat won Sweepstakes with her cookie recipe. Earlene and her mother placed second and third, but I've forgotten what they entered. Those three recipes are in our cookbook...which is for sale...see the relevant post below... Nancy won first place in jellies with her pomegranate jelly...then I got third. We eat good!

I had a request to post photos of the front of the shrug (this was before makeup and hair was combed) and the other items I entered:

Husbands Who Quilt

I've tried to intice Sam into quilting. I have failed miserably. Of course, it keeps him out of my stash so perhaps that's not too bad after all.

When I look at a blog, I click "Next Blog." So many times I find nothing of interest (especially when it's not in English - I'm a one language person). I love looking a photos even if I can't read the language. On occasion I stumble across a 'new' quilting blog. This evening, I found two male quilters. Tom, retired, who is a quilter and a wood carver. Via his blog, I found John, with small children, who quilts. I added their blogs to my list so that I can stay in touch with what they are doing.

Perhaps I'll show Sam...then again, if I expect him to stay out of MY stash, maybe NOT!

Beautiful Day to Ride

After lunch we went on a bike ride. I am getting more comfortable each time. Got down the driveway just fine and dandy. Also didn't have a bit of trouble when we got home. We rode around Lake o' the Pines today. I'd forgotten how curvy that road was too. Had to figure out what to do to keep my left hand from getting so tired from using the clutch. I realized that I was gripping the handlegrip all the time. So, I started straightening out my fingers when we were just riding. That helped.

We had to have gas when we got back to town. My first tankful is gone! This is getting more and more enjoyable. No photo today...

Tomorrow we are headed to Jefferson for the Boo Fest. There will be too much going on for me to be comfortable on my bike, so I'll be riding with Sam. This is a worthwhile event. Go to http://www.boobenefit.org/ for more information.

Beware!

I worked Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at the public library while the librarian was on vacation. I cleared the computer area, scanned the library with my eyes (small library...just one room), then left promptly at 5 p.m. At 5:30 I receive a call from a friend who works for the sheriff's department. Dispatch called her...someone was locked in the library! He'd been in the restroom...and by my guesstimate for 15 minutes or more!

I Did Not Drop It Today!

I am so excited! I did not drop my bike today. It's been a whole month (or more) since I've ridden...due to weather, work, bad cold, excuses, excuses. ;o) In the middle of the afternoon, we set out for not only some back road riding, but I even got on the highway!


I wasn't as nervous leaving the driveway this time...didn't fail to 'feather' the clutch but twice and killed the bike both times. After I got out of the driveway...for those who know this area...we hit FM 130 to FM 161 and all its curves to Naples. Through the Paul Pewitt school zone at the right speed, "Hello, Mr. Officer." I even smiled forgetting that I wear a full face helmet. ;o) We stopped at the Dairy Queen in Omaha, got something to drink, and waited out the school traffic.

South on US Hwy 259 back to town and home again, home again, jiggedy jig. I maneuvered up the driveway this time without a hitch and parked the bike where Sam told me to park it last time. APPLAUSE!!! APPLAUSE!!! If we were the high-fiving type people, I would've high-fived Sam!


I am so excited! I didn't even get nauseous like the last time - rather, the first time. I mean it. I was so nervous the first time I rode my bike that I could've thrown up my lunch...sorry to be so graphic, but it was that bad.


We went to the Longview H.O.G. meeting last night. I showed a photo of my bike to everyone there. The Lady H.O.G.s are planning a ride in three or so weeks. I told them that I didn't think so. I still need a babysitter. The lady sitting beside me said that she'd gone through the very same thing...that's what they are there for. So...every spare chance I get, I'm riding. I want to be ready to go!


On to more sedate matters...I finished a pair of socks! Talk about anti-climatic. LOL They fit great and are so comfy. I want to try to knit two socks at one time. Unfortunately, I didn't have the required needles...circular needles with a 40" cable. So I had to order some. Of course, you can't order just one item...makes the shipping too expensive, so I order sizes 1, 2, 3, and 4 with 40" cables so that I can knit any size yarn!

Friend's Cookbook

The mother of the owner/editor of a local news journal, The Trapper, told the librarian that they would put a flyer in the Trapper. I stood the cookbook on my counter with a few props. This is the photo she liked: