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September 29, 2006

Eye Candy Friday

Asters in my garden. Say goodbye to summer.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (27)

September 28, 2006

S is for Scalloped Potatoes

My family loves scalloped potatoes and I'll bet yours does, too. I don't make them very often but when I posted about finding my mom's recipes a few weeks ago my college buddy Chrissie left a comment about how much she loved my mom's scalloped potatoes. I had been craving them ever since so I made them last Monday night.

I know all about making traditional scalloped potatoes with a white sauce. And on holidays or special occasions, that's what I do. But my mom's version, and now my version I suppose, is much simpler and easier for week nights. Here's my non-recipe for scalloped potatoes.

Potatoes, about 2 per person depending on how big they are
Onion, usually only 1 unless you're making a huge amount
Butter
Milk
Flour
Salt & Pepper
Kellogg's Corn Flake Crumbs

Peel and slice the potatoes and the onion. Now, get out a casserole dish. You can spray it with Pam or something if you'd like to help prevent sticking. Place a layer of potatoes in the casserole dish and top with all of the sliced onion. Now sprinkle with flour. I'm not sure how much, just put some on a spoon and shake it all over the potatoes and onions. Add salt and pepper and a few thin pats of butter. Top with another layer of potatoes (no onions this time), flour, salt, pepper and butter. End with the final layer of potatoes and then sprinkle Kellogg's Corn Flake crumbs all over the top. This makes them nice and crunchy on top. Now, pour some milk in. I do this over on the side so as not to wash off the corn flake crumbs. I'm not sure how much milk. Enough so you start to see it come up the sides about 1/4 - 1/2 inch or so. Put it in a 350 oven and bake for an hour or more until the potatoes are soft when you stick a knife in them.

That's it. The flour and milk and butter make a sauce that cooks up between the layers and it's just delicious. Sometimes I add some grated cheddar cheese between the potato layers, too, but mostly we love them just plain. And my mom always made them with pork chops on top. Mmmmm.

Thanks for reminding me that I love these, Chrissie. I not only had them with roast pork on Monday night but I also had them for breakfast on both Tuesday and Wednesday morning because they re-heat great.

Let me know if you try them!

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (43)

September 27, 2006

The Birthday Trip '06

The birthday trip of '06 was an overnight to West Springfield to attend The Big E. Dale went once many years ago (in fact, he saw his first reenactment there back in 1961) and I had never been so we decided a visit was overdue.

We spent Friday night lounging around the hotel room with beer, wine and room service. Not a bad evening at all. Saturday morning we headed out for our adventures at the fair. It took 90 long minutes to drive 2 miles. And don't even get me started on the idiots who don't merge when they are supposed to and then expect you to let them in the line in front of you. Grrrr.

Anyway.

When people say this is the Big E the emphasis really should be on BIG. As in huge. Because everything about the Big E is B-I-G.

Look at the horns on this sheep. Big.

And the size of these harnesses for the Budweiser Clydesdales. Big.

The pumpkin? Big.

The entertainment? Big. As in Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge. Okay, maybe not terribly big now but once upon a time? Big.

Cows? Big as sofas.

We managed to eat our way from one end of this big fair to the other, feasting on corn dogs and Italian sausages and pierogies and lobster rolls. And maybe a couple of big beers, too. There was a Mardi Gras parade complete with bands and floats and the throwing of beads. I'm guessing Amanda would laugh at a New England version of this event but it was a hoot. A big hoot.

And just in case you think that I didn't think of you guys, take a look at this.

Yup. Me in a pink cowboy hat standing by a stand of even more pink cowboy hats. I resisted the urge to replace the one I had on my trip to Estes Park in 1981. Yee Haw.

Posted by Carole at 6:10 AM | Comments (45)

September 26, 2006

Boston Knit Out '06

Sandy emailed me last night and asked me how the Knit Out was. Kathy (who I met in person for the first time at last year's Knit Out) emailed first thing yesterday morning with the same question. So I'll tell you guys what I told them. The Knit Out was fun. But the Hanging Out was better.

I went in with Blogless Sharon and her daughter, Heather, so you know the traveling part was fun. We got to the Common a little after Noon and there were lots of knitters although maybe not as many as I remember being there last year. I'm sure the dreaded weather forecast kept many away. Truly, though, the weather was fine. There were a couple of brief showers and that was about it. The sun even broke through for a time. Sadly, it was too warm for the wearing of knitted items! That didn't stop me from dragging Moth along with me, though. I was even persuaded to show it to a handful of people.

Sharon and Heather and I did form a little knitting circle to watch the "Show and Tell" portion of the Fashion Show. In the interest of full disclosure I should tell you that I may have been coerced into bringing out the Moth again. Why do I always feel like I'm showing off when I'm asked to show my handknits? It's hard to be humble with a shawl as gorgeous as this one but all I did was knit it. It's the design that's the brilliant part.

Anyway. We decided we were hungry so we headed in search of food. We bumped into other blogging buddies along the way and wound up all together at Fajitas and Ritas. There was beer and pulled pork and a lot of laughs with some old friends as well as some new ones.

After being fed and watered we went shopping. Of course. At Windsor Button. Of course. But guess what? I didn't buy a thing. Nope. I admired the Sea Silk and some Mistis Alpaca laceweight. I perused a book or two and may have even gotten a bit catty with Adrian (pass the meow mix, please) but I didn't make a purchase. Proud of me, aren't ya?

All in all it was a very fun day. I got to knit and hang with my peeps. It really doesn't get much better than that.

Posted by Carole at 6:30 AM | Comments (38)

September 25, 2006

Wing of the Moth! Blocked!

You all came here today for photos of the finished Wing of the Moth Shawl, right? Well. Never let it be said that I disappoint my readers.

Oh. That's not what you had in mind. So sorry. Truly, I submit that photo as proof that the shawl was worn to dinner on my birthday. It's also proof that Sam Adams Oktoberfest 2006 has arrived. Woot! Sadly, there are no other modeled shots, for various reasons including photographer availability, weather, and general laziness. You'll have to be satisfied with these.

Here's the specs because I know someone will ask.
Pattern: Anne's Wing of the Moth Shawl
Yarn: JaggerSpun Zephyr Wool Silk in Charcoal
Needles: Addi Size 3
Started August 25, 2006 and finished September 20, 2006. Before Cheryl. Just saying.

The Twin Leaf pattern is my favorite part.

Then again, I love this Corona Edging.

Honestly, though. This one is my favorite photo of the bunch.

Happy now?

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (64)

September 22, 2006

Eye Candy Friday

I'll bet you thought there would be Moth pictures, didn't you? Sorry, you'll have to wait until Monday. Thanks so much for all the birthday wishes. You guys made me really really happy!

Have a great weekend!

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (23)

September 21, 2006

What A Difference A Decade Makes

Hello to all you knitters, spinners, bloggers and other interested parties. Carole's husband Dale here. I get to be her guest blogger today because it's her birthday and she should get the day off.

Carole and I, September 1996. We were both thinner. And we both had more hair. Ahem.

This is the 10th time that I've gotten to celebrate this day with Carole. That's right. A decade of birthdays. I will not post her age (a guy can get in trouble for things like that) but I will remind you that last year she celebrated the big four-oh. You can probably figure out her age on your own, you're a pretty smart bunch, I hear.

Carole and I both believe that birthdays are a great time to celebrate with a night out, or a party, or even a weekend get-away. We've even been known to do all three of those things for just one birthday. And honestly, some of our nicest mini-vacations have been when we've gone away to celebrate a birthday. For instance, we met Norma on Carole's birthday get-away last year when we went to Vermont. And I'm sure Carole will be blogging about this year's birthday trip. I hear she's even planning a photo shoot with her new Moth shawl.

There I go, digressing again.

What I really want to do is reflect on birthdays in general and Carole's in particular. I think a birthday should be a time to look back over the past year. Truly, it's what you've done with those 365 days that's important and a birthday celebration should be two-fold. It should celebrate what you've done, who you've spent your time with, and where you've gone during the past year. And it should also be a time to look forward to the beginning of a new year in your life. A time to anticipate what you'll do, who you'll do it with, and where you'll go. It's kind of like your own personal Happy New Year!

I know that this last year Carole has had a ball and a very big part of that is because of all of you out there that are reading this. It has been a fabulous year for friends, new and old, and trips and fiber and spinning wheels and so on and so on. You've all been there for my Carole. You've cheered her on, you've offered advice, you've consoled her and supported her and you've been her friends. No one knows what next year will bring. But I do know, for Carole, that it will include all of you.

Thanks for tuning in and wishing Carole a happy birthday. Oh, and one last thing.

Carole? You're just as cute now as you were when this picture was taken almost 41 years ago. I love ya!

Dale

Posted by Carole at 6:00 AM | Comments (134)

September 20, 2006

Stick a Fork in Me

Wing of the Moth was finished at lunch.

Look, Ma! No needles!

Posted by Carole at 2:06 PM | Comments (41)

Not Yet

All this knitting has sure interfered with my blogging. Here we are and it's a new day and again I got nothing. I had planned on having a finished Moth to show you. But, well, not yet.

I am thisclose to finishing. Come back later, okay?

Posted by Carole at 6:24 AM | Comments (18)

September 19, 2006

Random Tuesday

Thoughts for a Tuesday when I have no knitting pictures with which to entertain you:

1. Cranberry harvesting has begun. I love seeing the pickers for the dry harvesting and the machines for the wet harvesting.

2. Sunday and Monday were warm enough to drive the Jeep with the doors off and the top down. I even listened to Led Zeppelin just for Margene.

3. I had no idea that a post about American Chop Suey would elicit so many comments. And I just need to say, American Chop Suey is not the same as Goulash. No matter what Norma says.

4. Speaking of Norma, the Red Scarf Project is really taking off. And Gale made a fantastic poster for you to download and bring to your local yarn shop.

5. There are only 2 contestants left in the Wing of the Moth race. Me and the one who started the whole mess.

6. Hannah is taking Spanish this year. Yeah, finally, a foreign language. Don't get me started on our school system. Anyway, I was helping her with some flash cards and one of them said, "¿Cómo te llamas?" I got really excited because I thought they were studying llamas in Spanish. Hey, don't blame me. I took French.

7. I am absolutely in love with Zephyr Wool Silk. Words cannot describe my new devotion to this yarn. It's soft and silky and incredibly strong. It comes in tons of gorgeous colors. I may never knit a shawl out of anything else. Shhh. Don't tell this to my stash of laceweight yarn.

8. Today is Primary Day in Massachusetts and Washington. Get out there and vote!

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (29)

September 18, 2006

Weekend Companions

I had a lot of time to myself this weekend since Dale was either at a reenactment or working for most of the time. However, while I may have been by on my own, I was not alone. I had companions of the fiber-y sort.

Moth, Toasty Toes Socks & Merino Spinning

You want details, don't you?

Moth: Row 25 of the Twin Leaf Pattern Completed

Toasty Toes: Sock 2 nearly complete

Blue Sky Merino: Singles Spun

Blue Sky Yarn: 2 skeins finished

Nothing completed but everything worked on a bit. All in all, not a bad weekend.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (39)

September 15, 2006

Eye Candy Friday

Lest you start thinking this is a food blog, I give you a single rose. So now you'll think this is a gardening blog instead.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (28)

September 14, 2006

What's For Dinner?

The weather sure has changed swiftly here. Last Saturday at the alpaca farm it felt like summer. By Sunday it felt like fall. And when the weather turns cooler I start making supper again. See, in the summer it's all about the grill. Grilled chicken, steak, pork chops, even veggies. Everything gets thrown on the grill. But in the fall, it's all about comfort food. Pot roast and mashed potatoes. Roast pork and oven browned potatoes. Lasagna and chili and beef stew. And my old stand-by, American Chop Suey.

I didn't realize until last week that American Chop Suey is a regional food and it is apparently most familiar in the Boston area. But when I mentioned to Anne that I had a hankering for it and she asked me what the heck it was, I discovered that it isn't widely known outside of New England. Anyway, we had it for dinner last night. It's what I make when I don't know what to make because I always have the ingredients on hand. Hamburger, macaroni, chopped onion, tomato soup and stewed tomatoes. Green pepper is nice if it's around but if you don't have it, that's okay, too. Fry up the hamburger and onion, boil the macaroni and the dump it all into a pot with the tomato soup and stewed tomatoes. I think most people actually use tomato sauce but my mom always used tomato soup and so do I.

And you know what? My family loves this meal! It's quick, it's simple and it's even better as leftovers.

What's your standby recipe for when you don't know what to make for dinner? I'd love to hear about it.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (76)

September 13, 2006

R is for Recipes

Guess what I found at my dad's house the other day? My mother's old recipe box. What a treasure! See, my mom died eight and a half years ago and it was a very, very difficult time for me. I wasn't able to help my dad sort through a lot of her things because it was just too painful. Now, of course, I'm sorry that I didn't make more of an effort to help out because my dad threw away things I would have wanted to keep. So, when I found this recipe box it was like a gift from my mom.

The recipes are old and yellowed. Many of them are stained from being used so frequently. Of course, that's how I know they're good! And it's not so much about the recipes themselves as I have most of them anyway. It's having the recipes in my mother's handwriting that really makes it special.

Like her grapenut pudding recipe.

Not a lot to go on there for directions, eh? And didn't my mom have beautiful handwriting?

And this recipe is signed "Mother S" and that was my grandmother on my dad's side. So neat to see her handwriting again and remember all the delicious Swedish foods she prepared.

The recipe for "soured" cream coffee cake comes from my mother's best friend, Miriam. And this is one recipe I didn't have and let me just tell you, it's the best coffee cake I've ever had. I'm really excited to be able to make this myself now! Miriam's recipe for Kugel is also in the box and we used to have that every year on Christmas.

I still miss my mom very much. But finding her recipe box brought back some wonderful memories of times spent together cooking, laughing and eating. You can bet that I'm going to treasure this recipe box for the true family heirloom that it is.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (58)

September 12, 2006

Sock Talk

There is someone out there claiming to have the fastest pair of socks in the East. But she's wrong because these are the fastest socks in the East:

I finished Heather's birthday socks in time. And this is most definitely the fastest I have ever knit a pair of socks. I started last Tuesday morning and finished late Sunday night. That's only 6 days, my friends, and I worked at the library on 4 of those days and attended a spin in on the 5th day and on the 6th day I wasted a lot of time with the Sims. Ahem.

Look at that stripey goodness. Don't they line up perfectly? The yarn, for those that want to know, is Vesper Sock Yarn in the Strange Little Mama colorway. It was a gift from my grrls Jessica and Missa over at kpixie. Just because they love me so much. And the pattern is called "Peaks 'n Valleys" and it's from the book Knit Socks! by Betsy Lee McCarthy. It's a board book shaped like a sock and it's not only perfect for a beginning sock knitter, which I was when I bought it 4 years ago, but it's also excellent for an experienced sock knitter, too.

I'm so glad these socks are done. Of course, I didn't even see the birthday girl on her birthday so it didn't really matter, it was more of a self-imposed deadline. But still. Now I can go back to knitting my Toasty Toes socks. Which are turning out to be the slowest socks in the East.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (50)

September 11, 2006

Alpacas, Baby

On Saturday Blogless Sharon and I headed to the Parker River Alpaca Farm for a spin in. I'm not sure that words can convey what a fabulous time we had! Picture this - a very large fenced in area of alpacas with spinners and their wheels within that enclosed area. Yup, we were amongst the alpacas and it was the grooviest thing ever.

I've been around alpacas before and I think they are pretty neat. They're cute and fuzzy and each one is unique both in looks and personality. But there's also something quietly spiritual about these animals. Maybe it's their connection to what we do (spinning and knitting, I mean) but I think there's more to it than that. Sheep are certainly connected to spinning and knitting but sheep don't feed my soul, if you will. Sheep are cool and all and they can be pretty freakin' cute, too, but not like alpacas. Maybe I'm just high on hay and fiber but there is something really special about hanging out and spinning among the alpacas.

The other terrific thing about Saturday was, of course, hanging out and spinning with friends. I got to see many dear friends and make some new ones, too. We gabbed and chatted and spun together. We shared our lunches and our ideas. We talked about Rhinebeck A LOT and it felt really good to be among my people!

Many, many heartfelt thanks go out to Kathy & Tick and Olivia & Dave. Thanks so much for hosting this first spin in at the farm. May there be many, many more!

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (44)

September 8, 2006

Eye Candy Friday

Let 'em eat cake. Chocolate cake, of course. Want the recipe? You can find it here.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (35)

September 7, 2006

Post #300!

This is my 300th post! I can't believe I've found something to talk about 300 times and yet, the proof is in the numbers. So, in honor of this milestone, let's talk about knitting, shall we? I'll bet you'd like to see what's on my needles, in fact.

Here is Wing of the Moth.

If you'll notice, mine is much smaller than everyone else's. That's what happens when you use Zephyr Wool-Silk instead of Kidsilk Haze. But I love this yarn so I don't care. And really, those other shawls are huge! I think mine will be more "average" sized. Well, it will be more average sized if I ever finish it. I'm still racing for last place.

Also on the needles are my Toasty Toes socks.

Yummy yarn from Emily and this is sock one, almost done. But they have been set aside for deadline knitting. Ya'll know how I love the deadline knitting.

These are socks for my daughter-in-law, Heather.

Why yes, I am addicted to the Magic Loop method. Why do you ask? Anyway, Heather's birthday is this coming Sunday and this is sock one. Anyone think I can actually finish the pair in time? Yeah, me neither.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (58)

September 6, 2006

The Good, The Bad & The Ugly #10

Okay, let's face it, there has been enough bad and ugly in my life the last week or so. This post is all about Good Things.

Good: As you may recall, before I had that Life Changing Thing happen, I finished the Adamas Shawl. I blocked it one day last week (it's sort of a blur, last week and I'm honestly not sure which day it was) and managed to snap a photo for you guys.

Good: Writing a blog has enhanced my life in many ways but all the good things blogging has brought to me pale in comparison to the friends I have made. I know so many of you were with me in spirit during my dad's services last week but I have to tell you about one incredible thing that happened. My dear friend Kathy drove all the way down to Brockton to come to my dad's wake. You could have knocked me over with a feather when I saw her walk in the door.

Good: Ripe tomatoes. Need I say more? Nope, I'll just show you.

Good: Cards and phone calls and emails from friends. A simple "you're in my thoughts" means more than you could ever know.

Good: A picture of a grandpa with his two grandchildren. Nothing makes Dale happier than spending time with Patrick and Ambrynn.

Good: Wakes and funerals and things show you in many ways who you can count on. Thursday afternoon Blogless Sharon showed up at my house with Grey Goose vodka, wine, and her knitting. We sat on the porch and knit together, sometimes talking, sometimes not. By the end of the night we had been joined by Sharon's husband Al as well as dear friends Steve and Debbie and Don and Lois. It was a chilly night and we had a fire in the chiminea and I even got to snuggle up in my new shawl. The thing that made me warmest, though, was being surrounded by friends who love me. It was exactly what I needed.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (42)

September 5, 2006

Labor Day Recap

We had a Labor Day Cookout/Birthday party for Hannah on Monday. There were chicken wings and sausages. Beer and Mojitos and hamburgers and hot dogs and, of course, chocolate cake. All the kids and grandkids came over, plus Don and Lois.

The guys played horseshoes and the kids played bean bag games and the rest of us sat around and chatted. There were terrific gifts for Hannah, including handknit socks from me. It was a really fun day.

But you're just going to have to trust me on that because I didn't take a single picture. That is, I didn't take a single picture until I took this one at the end of the day.

Plans to take over the world continue apace.

Posted by Carole at 7:00 AM | Comments (23)

September 3, 2006

Fourteen!

Top Ten Things About Hannah At 14

10. Hannah is now old enough to get a job in Massachusetts. She probably won't. But it still cheers me up to think about it.
9. Hannah doesn't trip over nothing quite as much as she used to. She's still a klutz, but it's sort of cute now.
8. Hannah and I went school shopping yesterday. We actually agreed on which sneakers are cool this year.
7. Which does not mean we agreed on which backpack to choose. Just saying.
6. Hannah becomes a high school freshman on Wednesday. This should go a long way in explaining the importance of #8 and #7.
5. Hannah mostly remembers to feed the dog. If she forgets, the dog is really good at reminding her.
4. Hannah is smart enough to have chosen mom's homemade chocolate cake to have for her birthday dessert. Everyone in the family is grateful for this decision.
3. Hannah is just as pretty at 14 as she was at 13. Maybe even prettier.
2. Hannah is a loving and caring daughter/sister/friend.
1. Hannah is loved very much by her Mom and Dad. This will be true no matter what her age.

Won't you all join me in wishing Hannah a very happy 14th birthday? Thanks, everyone!

Posted by Carole at 10:31 AM | Comments (81)

September 1, 2006

Eye Candy Friday

Thanks once again for all your kind words, thoughts, and sentiments this past week.
Have a terrific Labor Day weekend, everyone.

Posted by Carole at 8:35 AM | Comments (22)