7.18.2007

EARS!

When I started knitting, it was for therapeutic reasons - I needed a hobby! I choose knitting in particular because my favorite article of clothing is a blue wool hat with ears that I bought a few years ago in England. As I sat in my first lesson at Michael's, struggling to keep my rhythm with the yarn, I knew one day I'd be able to make my own version of that hat... and less than a year later - I have!!! It's a little big, and not quite as cute as my other bear ears, as I call the hat, but it's something and I'm proud of it (though the expensive yarn that I bought at the Union Square Market broke TWICE while I was knitting it...)
Here it is:In other news, peaches are in season in New Jersey! John & I went picking at Treelicious Orchards in Port Murray, NJ on Sunday. Only a few peaches were ripe, but they will ALL be ripe when we go again this weekend. We were able to pick their MASSIVE blueberries, a few plums and my favorite -


APRICOTS!!!
And believe me, they are GOOD!!
Have a good day, everyone!!

7.12.2007

The heat breaks.

Thank goodness! I woke up this morning and the nauseating humidity was gone, revealing a beautiful summer day! I didn't even need air conditioning, and I actually did stuff. VERY excited.
The hat is coming along nicely, except for the hole (see previous posts), and I can't believe I'm actually doing it! I'll post photos soon, but my husband has the camera today (I really need to get one of my own!).
I took advantage of the lack of snacks in the house & the good weather to make some brownies. I have found THE best recipe ever: Deep, Dark Brownies.
Even John, who is a pastry chef, admits this is the best recipe he's ever seen. It produces fudgy, dark brownies without them having that undercooked taste (unless, of course, that's what you like.)
I also made zucchini pie, which is a family recipe, it's a crustless, bisquick-based quiche. The recipe is simple:
4 eggs
1/2 cup veg oil
1 cup bisquick
1 medium zucchini
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1 med. onion
salt & pepper to taste (I also add a tablespoon or two of Italian Seasoning)

Preheat oven to 350 F
Grate the zucchini and onion (I use the attachment on my food processor, mom still grates hers by hand)
Mix all ingredients together.

Pour mixture into a greased 8 x 8 or 11 x 7 pan.
Bake for 45 minutes.
Enjoy the yumminess hot, warm OR cold. (Believe me, leftovers are awesome, you might want to make a double batch - I always do!)

I apologize if someone finds this in a recipe book somewhere, in our family it's simply known as "Mrs. Pagano's Zucchini Pie"

I suppose I've put off putting the laundry away long enough!

7.09.2007

Bad News/Good News

Bad News - I'm knitting my hat on the new yarn, it snaps. :(
Good News - I e-mail Mr. Wyatt, he says I can stop by the stall and pick up new yarn.
Bad News - The stall is 1 1/2 hours away.
Good News - I can make it a fun reason to do something cool in the city with my hubby.
Bad News - Hubby can't get time off until... August???

7.08.2007

GRRRR - 3 hours gone

Am I the only person this happens to? You buy beautiful yarn, take it out to use it and BAM:
BIG MESS!!!

So, I started unknotting and winding and three hours later:
If I'm not becoming a better knitter, I'm at least becoming a more patient person! I think a month ago I would have just wept at the task of what I have now accomplished. Something to celebrate? Maybe not, but I'll take it. :)

7.07.2007

Wow! What a week!!


My friend, Courtney, visited me from South Carolina this week & we had such a blast!!!
I took her into Manhattan and we played tourist - it was really fun to show her around, and I can't believe we pretty much saw all of the city's highlights in just TWO days!!!
Above is a photo I took from the Circle Line Cruise - I've never done it before & it was really nice (it was also nice to be sitting for a few hours!)

In other news, after I finished the couple of projects I had going, I didn't have any yarn left! So yesterday we were walking around the Union Square Green Market before taking Courtney to the airport & I came across some really beautiful hand dyed lambswool. So, I think I'm going to attempt to make a hat (wish me luck with my first non rectangle!) Find them here.

I slept basically all day yesterday and all this morning; I believe I can finally say I'm recovered from all the walking. But now it's time to get ready for the hot, sleepy today... will I nap or will I head to my parent's house to dip in the pool? It's so very exciting!