Done!

I do not know how to turn the picture, so all you have to do is tip you computer :-)

Knitted in a yarn from Garnstudio: Alaska, in 2 different pink colors. And yes, I have cheated, cause I haven't blocked it. I don't like blocking this yarn. I really liked the pattern and am going to knit more of these one day!
Thanks, Jane! You're great!

Another (last minute) Farewell to Yarns project

Like Jane, I also made a wreath as my Farewell to Yarns project. Since I don't know how to crochet, I knit mine. Then I used beads as the "berries."

AH GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE

For my December project I also finished a granny afghan I crocheted. It was from a swap in the Yarn Lovers Room and has been hanging around for about three or so years. This swap was to send one 10" square to everyone on the list. It could be any color but had to be edged in black. As usual there were some who didn't play nice. Here is my finished Dec project

and some close ups.


Soon on my blog you will be able to see some of the individual squares. I didn't photograph all the squares just some of the more unusual ones.

Actually, I have another bunch of squares from another swap in that same group to put together. I also have a lot of squares knit using wool by the Woolman who lived and had a yarn shop in my city many years ago which I received after he died.

Squares received from people in the Yarn Lover's Room Swaps are all very different and no two people in this swap have the same completed afghan as everyone doesn't necessarily send the same crochet/knit pattern or use the same colors in their squares they send out.

The one I haven't finished is from a blue and white swap and the squares had to be in only blues and whites. In this swap we sent two seven inch squares to each person in the swap. AND again some people didn't play nice. I want to edge these blue and white squares first to give them some co-ordination before I put them together.

This was a fun swap as I got to finish a UFO!!!! and learn how to put my granny square afghan together. I am sure there are other ways to join squares and I hope to learn more ways eventually.

.

My Farewell to Yarns Project

Here is my project for A Farewell to Yarns. One is the back and one is the front. I guess if you can't tell which is which, I did pretty well in weaving in the ends! When I read the story, I immediately thought of this afghan, which I began in November of 2006, while waiting for my son to have a CT scan. I used Red Heart sport-weight yarn in hopes of making it similar to one in one of the treatments rooms at Dartmouth Hospital, but that one was made of cotton thread, and so is much finer. The dark green looks almost black in the picture, but is really green. This afghan still needs a few rows of blocks, then a scalloped edging. Right now it is in use, and is draped over the back of the rocking chair in the living room, with the bag of yarn and a crochet hook nearby, for spare moments. Maybe if I do a block a day, I could get it finished in a few weeks? Oh, and I don't know why the blocks slant. They do that no matter how I spread it out. My friend, Karen, made the same afghan, but with Red Heart worsted weight, and I don't remember hers slanting. Is it the tension? Is it sport weight versus worsted weight? That remains a mystery!

Goals for 2008 Contest

Post your goals for 2008 - a winner will be drawn on January 12.

2008 Goals

My main goal for this wonderful new year is to convert my son's former room into my "Studio." Now that DS {Dear Son} is away at college and planning on moving onward and upward when he graduates, I have his permission to take over the room that had originally been my "project" room. I appreciate the time we had with him when he was growing up and do not regret having to give up the room for 20 years to make way for a bouncing baby boy, mature for his age even at birth.

I would enjoy organizing the entire house more, but I have a feeling that will take a lot longer than a year. This year is my time to concentrate on this one room, making it my place of refuge after long, grueling days at work.

1) Sort thru DS's belongings and box up the things he might still want (he has given permission and an idea of what he wants and what he no longer wants)
2) Repaint the room
3) Change the window "treatment"
4) Change the flooring
5) Set up some organizers for my stamps, beads and yarn
6) Set up a reading/DVD watching/knitting corner

Happy New Year and best of luck to everyone in accomplishing their goals!

Delores aka Knitted Zebra

Goal for 2008!

Well, after a lot of thoughts, I have made up my mind!

For me, there is only 1 single goal for 2008. What it is? I found out that all I had to promise myself was to live my life as best as I can. By doing that I'll be doing my best, won't I?

So no promises of weight-loss, stash-loss, and so on.

But one honest promise: to live my life as best as I can :-)

And Jane? Thank you, for making me think twice about goals :-)

2008 Goals

The long Holiday To Do List has been crossed out, wadded up and tossed. I was avoiding making any new year resolutions, but was challenged by the Goal Setting Contest. As I considered the fresh new days before me I realized they are too precious to waste by failure to consider what I want to accomplish. So after mulling it around, here is my short list:

• Clear out the cluttered spots of my home/office. (This would greatly improve my peace of mind.)
• Complete the kids' personal scrapbooks.
• Focus on a few KALs so that I might actually complete the projects. (Reading the related books is not a problem.)
• Learn to knit the Magic Loop. (My previous attempts have ended in frustration with me muttering, "I'll stay with my dpns!")
• Craft holiday/birthday gifts through the year. (This should prevent the exhaustion from late nights in Nov/Dec working like a mad woman to get gifts done.)

I'd like to learn how to post pictures to my blog, finish two cross stitch Christmas Stockings, develop a regular exercise routine, learn to play the cello . . . (sigh) the days are too short!

My goals for 2008

1. Get back to working on getting in shape and loosing weight. I lost 30 pounds last year and then slacked off on the working at it thing for the last three months or so. The good thing is that I haven't gained any back.
2. Organize my stash (Knitting and weaving yarn as well as fabric).
3. Reduce my stash, either through use, swaps, gifts, or donations.
4. Clean and organize my part of the basement.
5. Knit more socks and prayer shawls.
6. Weave more.

My Goals and Resolutions for 2008

I have a list of resolutions on my blog at: http://pennypurlsandkittyknits.blogspot.com/ but I want to add the following two in the area of personal goals.
1. To try to have a more positive self esteem which is usually very poor. This is a very difficult goal but I hope to be able to chip away at this by repeating everyday in the mirror the following:
I am whole, perfect, strong, loving, humorous, wise, happy and a good person! Maybe by saying this mantra daily I can increase my self esteem which is usually in the toilet.

2. To take off the extra weight I put on over the holidays and continue to take off weight as I was doing before the holidays. Thank-goodness I didn't put on all the weight on I lost just three pounds of it.

I think between what I put on my blog and the above two I have a lot to work on this year.

Farewell to Yarns Projects

For those of you who were not able to read last month's book, part of the storyline was about setting up for a church Christmas bazaar. One of the church members crocheted little wreaths and thought they would sell for $15.00. fortunately she was away on vacation and they were able to mark them down to $2.00


When I read about the "afghan from hell" that Jane Jeffery was crocheting for the bazaar, I remembered the stack of granny squares I had stashed away many years ago, dug them out, crocheted them together, and made my own afghan from hell! Jane thought the afghan had sold, but eventually found out that her children had bought it back for her for Christmas.
I know that some of you are working on projects for this book too - can't wait to see them!

Goals for 2008

I decided to not put to much pressure on my resolutions this year. Basically just take each day one at a time. But the following is just a few that I have been thinking about.

1. Making it through surgery safely. Doing this will make the following easier to do. (I did this one!)
2. Finish reading the books on my unread shelf. (I could open a library!)
3. Cast on my socks mate to the one I completed, and knit it finished.
4. Stream back my hours at work from full time to part time.
5. Find a knitting/crochet project that I really like and make it. (I also did this one too!)

~ Goals for 2008 ~

Hello ~ Happy New Year!

Goals for 2008 ~ well mine are actually goals for life since my birthday in November when I decided I needed to have something to look forward to each and everyday. Here they are in their simplest form:

1. Create and cultivate a simple lifestyle

2. Continue to challenge myself by reading a minimum of 2 books a month and doing puzzles

3. Develop my craft skills to include learning new ones

4. Spend more time developing relationships w/family and friends

5. Take time to pamper myself and rest

I encourage each of you who have set goals for yourself. Remember if you only accomplish one of them, you have done much. ;D

Goals for 2008

The DD and I have been discussing worthwhile goals for the new year, and we've decided to address the physical, emotional and mental aspects of life. (Sounds deep doesn't it, BUT not really--she's in 4-H which was the jumping off point for our discussion.) After that lead in, here are my resolutions for the coming year:
* dump 10 pounds
* make a new good friend
* read 1 new book each month that I'm not reading for something else
* knit everyday
* start planning, knitting, organizing for the holidays before mid-December 2008

My Goals for 2008

Hey all. Hope everyone's new year was great.

My goals are simple.

1) to actually start a book and finish it....not make excuses
2) Schedule some me time every week away from the chaos that is my life.
3) Cut back on my clutter
4) Knit from the stash


I am doing well, as I made some of these my goals before the new year.

Casey

Goals for 2008

My goal for 2008 is to make better decisions . . . about everything, health, money, children, family. And once I make that decision to stick by it and quit second guessing myself.

Happy New Year.

My Goals for 2008

My main goal for 2008 is to get rid of the CLUTTER! I've just got way too much stuff. And part of that goal will involve using up my stash (so I can justify buying more), and that of course involves knitting - so you see, I really like this goal!

Lovely Christmas Gift from Deb

A lot of hugs to you Deb for all this lovely gifts. I love it all. I recieved this delicious gifts from Deb. You are one of a kind. I am sorry I first got time to show the pictures now. The gifts was opened the 24. december.

1. Interweave Knits Magasin - Holiday Gifts
2. The Crime Santa Cruise
3. An CD with Christmas Music
4. A Christmas ornament
5. A recipie how to make Eggnogs Cookies. I will try baking them for the 31. December Evening.
6. 100g handpainted yarn from Colinette my favorite color
7. A snowman (Finger Puppet) with a peppermint flavored candy stick

Thank you very much Deb for the gifts. I love it all. You really are a sweeti.

Thank you Irene!

Thank you so much to Irene for my wonderful Christmas swap package. As you can see she sent no end of treats. There were lovely knitting patterns (given the $ doldrums I have only lusted after Rowan patterns--how nice to have some) and a copy of our current read. Not only did she send a recipe, she also sent some of the cookies and the spices with which to make them. (Please note that cookies are not in photo...they were really good:)). Also included were lovely red hearts for the tree made by her mother, and candles made by her sons (who obviously inherited their mother's craftiness), plus she sent paper nisse and a woven angel from her childhood. This was a unique and thoughful box that--beyond the presents--made me feel included in a very special Danish Christmas.

Thank you Irene and Happy New Year

Thank You Barbara and Karen!

Just look what I received in the mail today - not one, but two Holiday Swap packages. (yes - I had two pals for this swap!) They both arrived perfectly timed on Christmas Eve, and I was overwhelmed by both of them. I opened Barbara's first (we swapped with each other), and could not believe all that was in it - couldn't even get it all in one picture. There were ornaments - wooden ones, a beautiful embroidered felt bird, a cute

nutcracker, and toy soldier. A kit to make a beaded medicine bag, some Plymouth cotton yarn, body wash,lotion and lip balm, candy, coffee, a beautiful fabric decoupaged serving dish, The Knit It Holiday issue, and the book, Shrouds of Holly by Kate Kingsbury, which I can't wait to read. And some great recipes I can't wait to try.

I am really overwhelmed by Barbara's generosity - thank you so much Barbara.





But there is more!

Next I opened the package from Karen - and once again was overwhelmed! And once again could not fit everything in one picture. There were little notes on each package - lots of fun.
There was a container of Ginger Snaps, and some Cinnamon Plum tea - which was inspired by the book she sent - A Stephanie Plum novel by Janet Evanovich - Visions of Sugar Plums (how clever is she!) a recipe for Lebkuchen (German Honey Bars) a pop-up magnifier to help with that small print, an adorable keychain sock blocker with a pattern for making a mini sock to put on it - and some Opal sock yarn to make it with! I think that will turn into big socks for me though! There was also a cute mini stocking that I have turned around the wrong way in the picture - it has a star on the front of it.

And, if you look closely, under all of those goodies is a Trader Joe's bag - I never have enough project bags!
Thank you so much Karen - again, I am overwhelmed by your generosity!

I feel like I'm am so blessed to have found all of you wonderful "whoduknit" friends and hope that all of you will be spoiled as much as I was today!!!!

Dead of Midnight Winner

Well after much stress and so many sleepless nights (if you believe any of this, I have some land to sell you....lol), I have come to a decision. My decision is not to have one winner, but to have two. There were two projects that I could not pick between.

One was Penny's bookmark and the other was Jane's green socks.
I loved the explanations Penny put as to why she thought a bookmark was a neat thing to knit and the fact that I just love all kinds of bookmarks anyway.

I am partial to anything green, especially socks my newest passion in knitting.
Both projects are awesome, so I made an executive decision to award both entries a pair of wooden sock blockers.

Since I'm still in the motel and using Chuck's laptop, can Penny and Jane please email me your shoe size and address to mail the blockers. All of my addresses are stored on my desktop at home.

Congratulations to Penny and Jane!

And to everyone else, I really enjoyed seeing your projects and reading a description of what you would have made if time had allowed!

Happy Knitting!

Deb
gallerybydeborah@gmail.com

Favorite Ornament Contest Winner.....

Is Patty! Thanks for posting that adorable ornament. I'll send you a list of prizes to choose from.

Holiday Decoration Contest

We had a lot of fun with this one last year so I thought we would do it again. Post of photo of your favorite Holiday ornament or decoration and tell us the story behind it. A winner will be drawn on the first day of winter (December 22). The prize - a holiday/winter themed book.

The 300th Post Winner is.....

Stephanie! Congratulations on posting Whoduknit's 300th post. A set a Mini Merry's will be on it's way to you soon!

From halfway 'round the world

My swap package arrived all the way from Denmark and is now waiting patiently under the tree (blue package with gold ribbon at front and center) for me to open it on Christmas Day. I can not wait (though expect my family will make sure I do). I'm a huge admirer of Irene's creativity and knitting abilities.(Really everyone you need to go visit her blog--she rocks!).

Many thanks Irene, and I'll post photos of the opened package after Tuesday.

I can finally celebrate Christmas

I just now found out I passed my comp. exam....and have to share with everbody cause I am bursting and my dog jsut isnt getting it!!!

I think I have lost about 2500 lbs and my neck and shoulders have relaxed into normal position!!!!!

Dead of Midnight Project that Wasn't

My ambition is greater than my ability at this point! After reading Dead of Midnight I imagined knitting a pair of "Firestarter" socks by Yarmissma in a pink Dream in Color Smooshy yarn called COOL FIRE. Alas, there were too many other projects to complete before Christmas. (Plus as a new sock knitter it was going to take some concentration to get the "toe-up" construction figured out.)

Just imagine our cool murderer standing there in her pink ensemble, complete with pink socks!

Check out the beautiful socks at www.yarnissima.vox.com

Merry Christmas from the OR Cascades

Merry Christmas and happy new year everyone. Hope you get all that you asked for, needed or wanted, that the sweets are never fattening and the yarn is always perfect.--Stephanie (with the DD and DH)

Thank you Joan from Texas

I received my wonderful package last week on Thursday. I had to find where I put the camera!

There was a copy of A Christmas Beginning by Anne Perry that looks like a great read. I never read any of her books, can't wait to start it. It also came with a bookmark. And the wildest postcard from Texas! The recipe Joan sent was for Cranberry Salsa. It looks great to make. Hubby will have to make 2 separate batches though. His (jalapenos) and hers (wuss here, no hotties!) Also there was this little round box full of Chocolate Bars. Yummy milk and white chocolate swirled, with pistachios and cranberry's. These were so good I didn't want to share them with hubby!! I some what begged Joan for the recipe for these special treats and she was very kind to give it to me. I will share that with hubby.

I got a cute little sweater (below). We didn't put a regular tree up this year so I have it hanging on the mantel with the stockings. It looks so adorable hanging up there. But hopefully next year it will go on the "official" tree.

This package came at a time when I need cheering. Thank you very much Joan. And I hope You and everyone here at WhoDuknit have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year!!

Merry Christmas from Marielle and Santa too!

Thank you Patty!

It really is killing me to be camera-less!

Anyway - today I recieved the most lovely box from Patty in Florida. And at the risk of spoiling things, Patty, by next week you are going to know why - before I opened the package - I was having a giggling fit! It is such a small world...

Anyway - I recieved a lovely recipe parchment! A recipe for Jeff's Double Batch Dutch Babies (try saying that real fast) that looks so good....I just think a sample should have been sent too!! LOL!

A lovely Christmas tin with handmade crocheted snowflakes in them which will go on the tree tonight....I know you made them Patty and I thank you so very much. I love those snowflakes. I once tried to make some...yeah....I didnt cherish those like I am going to cherish these!

A book I have never seen before and cant wait to start - complete with a bookmark - The Christmas Bus by Melody Carlson.

Holiday ornament balls filled wiht kisses and reeses pb cups (you know - those things I have been craving and snarking since Halloween!!) And the CUTEST "Gold Antler Reindeer" with more candy. He is so cute - I am going to have to put him up high to keep him for myself from my grandkids!

Great gifts - the swap was great fun - thank you so much Patty!!!!

Package received from Penny

Good morning everyone!

I hope everyone is surviving the storms that seem to be covering most of us. We were supposed to go see Beauty and the Beast yesterday afternoon and Lindsey's Christmas Concert at Baldwin Wallace College was supposed to be yesterday evening. Everything was cancelled. It wasn't that we had that much snow (about 6 inches) but the wind kept everything blowing around all night.



If any of you caught any of the Browns v. Buffalo Bills game from yesterday, you saw what the big boys got to play in . . . silly game.

I remained ensconced in my home all day. We finished decorating and I finished most of my Christmas cards (I think).

Therefore, you all know how very excited I was to get a package from Penny this morning.



There is a bag of wonderful candy (which I am going to hoard and limit myself to one, maybe two, well, possibly three a day). A mystery ("Sugar Cookie Murder"). Two lovely crocheted ornaments -- they don't show up in the picture too well, but they are very lovely. Some handcream (my hands greatly thank you), a little notebook and a bookmark.

Thanks Penny!

Dead of Midnight (and the Holiday Swap)

Well, I had great plans to make a project for Dead of Midnight. I figured a toe up cast sock was in order, but alas, I never got it made. Sigh. I do have ideas for A Farewell to Yarns and maybe I will have better luck getting that made!
I recived a very awesome Holiday swap package from Jane this week. Great knitted sheep and lama oraments, chocolate, and lots of cool reading material! The best treat was the custom note cards she made for me! I am thinking I might have to order some more from her!



Thank you so much Jane!

Dead by midnight

Here is my project. It had to be something easy, so I could read and knit. So it was a set for my grandchild, Markus, age 3.

SLIP KNOT PROJECT PRIZE RECEIVED

There was this big puffy in my mailbox today and it was my Slip Knot Prize from Joyce.

What a wonderful prize I received. A great sock pattern and some lovely yarn to make the socks with. One skein is of Kroy and funny thing is I have two other skeins of it and neither of them have the same dye lot. Even this third is a different dye lot but the colors are not really that much different from each other. There is also a skein of Bernat Hot Socks which is photographed upside down. Sorry about that. There was a lovely note included. AND there is some delicious candy. Here is a close up of all the candy.
I can't tell what these photos look like on the blog but they seem fine in my camera.
Thank-you Joyce for my prize.

DEAD OF MIDNIGHT PROJECT COMPLETED

I have finished my Dead of Midnight project and will be giving it to a friend for her birthday which was last week. I wish I could afford to give her more but, alas....

Anyway, since this story was about mystery books being sold in a cafe bookshop I made a bookmark. The shop should have bookmarks for sale or give one with every book purchased. Here is a photo of the one I knit. It is made with Grace cotton and is probably a bit bigger than what it should be but I like it. Here is a close up of it.
You can find it here: http://grannys-garret.com/pattern/leandra_e.pdf. It is bookmark Leandra which I got from Pattern Central here: http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/bookmarks.php if the the first link doesn't work.
It is an easy knit and does make a good gift whether given with a book or not.

My New Favorite Ornament

Vigdis made this Gnome for me and sent it in the Christmas Around the World Swap - isn't he adorable?

My favorite ornament!

I love Bugs Bunny! Good clean fun is what you can find in the old cartoons. When Hallmark started having Bugs made into ornaments I had to get this one. My favorite character that played opposite of him was this cute little character called, Gossamer. He was first seen in the 1946 film Hair-Raising Hare. I have a special little tree where my favorite little Hallmark's hang at Christmas, but during the rest of the year he is in my curio cabinet. You have to admit, he is cute.

Recipe Contest Winner

Thanks for posting all of those yummy recipes for left-over turkey! The winner of the drawing is......Casey! Please send me your address Casey (grammiknits@yahoo.com) and I'll send you the cookbook.

Leftover Turkey Recipe Contest

(For Whoduknit Members Only!)


Post your favorite recipe for using up those Thanksgiving leftovers by Sunday, December 2 and your name will go into a drawing for a cookbook put together by the kids in my school as a fundraiser. (Even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving - post a recipe for using up any leftovers!)

LEFTOVER TURLEY RECIPE

Of course one of my favorite things to do with the turkey carcass is to make turkey soup. HMMM HMMM
BUT I also make my chicken pot pie recipe and it then becomes turkey pot pie. The best part of the recipe is you don't have to poach the turkey first. You just cut up the turkey into bite size pieces. Of course, there is a sad part to this as when I poach the chicken I do so in wine!!! AND when you use leftovers the you don't get to use the wine.
Anywho, here is my recipe (note the turkey is highlighted):
Chicken (Turkey) Pot Pie

1. Poach 5 – 6 chicken breasts/or one to two turkey breasts depending on the size of the turkey breasts (or use 4 - six cups of leftover chicken/turkey) for about 11 minutes in some white. Cool and cut into chunks. You don't really have to poach cooked chicken or turkey.

2. Sauté one medium onion until golden

3. Make a roux by mixing together
½ cup butter
½ cup flour
½ cup white wine

4. Remove from heat

5. Add
2 ½ cups milk
1 tsp salt
¾ tsp basil
1 tsp cayenne

6. Heat about 15 minutes to thicken

7. Add
sautéed onion
chicken/turkey
4 cups mixed veggies in total (2 - 3 cups mixed frozen veggies & 1 -2 cups frozen peas (I usually don't use peas but broccoli and cauliflower

8. Place in pans, add pie crust (see below for recipe). It can be frozen at this point.

9. Brush with egg wash

10. Bake at 425 for 10 minutes and then at 350 for 25 - 30 minutes or until brown

Crust

Robin Hood Instant Pie Crust Recipe using cold wine instead of cold water. (4 – 5 tbsp = 1/3 cup). Follow directions on box (mix the wine with the dry ingredients, roll out and place on top of pie. There is no need for a bottom crust.

Enjoy

My Turkey Recipe - ENJOY!

STUFFED SHELLS

INGREDIENTS
1 (12 ounce) package jumbo pasta shells
8 ounces mushrooms, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 pound ground turkey - I use the dark meat chopped really fine
salt and pepper to taste
1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 cups cottage cheese
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 (32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1 (8 ounce) package mozzarella cheese, shredded

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain. Set aside in warm water.
In a large heavy skillet saute mushrooms, garlic and onions. Add turkey and cook until mushrooms, garlic and onions are tender. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat, and stir in spinach, parsley, cottage cheese and Parmesan cheese.
Stuff the cooked shells with the mixture, and place in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover with spaghetti sauce, and sprinkle top with mozzarella cheese.
Cover with foil, and bake in preheated oven for 30 to 45 minutes, or until heated through.

Turkey Noodle Casserole

I love this recp. You can sub the meat with anything really and it is fast and yummy. I know I dont post much but I have been slowly reading the books and well just feel behind. I still cant find this months book. Good thing December is approaching. Thanks for organizing this.

Casey


Turkey noodle casserole recipe with noodles, cooked diced turkey, cream of mushroom soup, Cheddar cheese, curry powder, and seasonings.
INGREDIENTS:
1 package (10 ounce) frozen peas, thawed under cool running water
2 cups diced cooked turkey (or ham)
1 1/2 cups cooked noodles
butter
1/4 cup chopped onion
8 ounces sliced mushrooms
1 can (10 1/2-ounce) cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
salt, to taste
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
PREPARATION:
Combine turkey, noodles, and peas in a buttered 2-quart baking dish or casserole. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a saucepan. Sauté onion and mushrooms until tender; blend in soup, milk and seasonings and cook, stirring, until well blended and hot. Pour soup mixture over the turkey and noodle mixture; top with shredded cheese. Bake in a 350° oven for about 25 to 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.Serves 4.

Turkey and broccoli

Turkey and Broccoli
As you can see, this is a very flexible and adaptable recipe. It can be made with chicken/turkey/pork, fresh or frozen vegetables, cheese whiz or grated cheese. It is good made one day and reheated the next so you can have leftover, leftovers!

20 oz frozen broccoli (or fresh broccoli can be used - don't even bother cooking it)
4 cups (or more) stuffing (you can also make a box of stove top)
4 cups (or more) cubed turkey (you can also use chicken - just be sure its cooked first)
2 cans cream of celery or cream of mushroom soup (or combination)
2/3 or large jar of cheese whiz or 1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar

In large casserole or 9x13" pan, put broccoli in pan (it doesn't need to be thawed or cooked - just broken into pieces)
Sprinkle cubed turkey onto broccoli
Mix soup and cheese
Pour soup mixture over turkey
Spread stuffing over soup mixture
You can refrigerate it for up to 24 hours prior to baking or bake immediately.
Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Let set for 5 minutes prior to serving.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now my brother, who loves to cook, but is a notoriously picky eater, makes the chicken version of this recipe for mucho lots of family and pot-luck type events. This is recipe. Read it with the idea that he as an adult, still doesn't like most vegetables and still doesn't like any of his foods to touch each other:


1 - 20 oz. package of cut frozen broccoli (Not sure why anyone would put this in here, could be a mistake)
6 large chicken breasts, cooked and cut-up
2 cans cream of mushroom soup or cream of celery soup
2/3 or large jar of Cheez Whiz (Mmmmmm) [1-1/2 cups shredded cheddar works too!]
1 large box of stove top chicken stuffing (Use both packs in box) - can be left over stuffing too

1. Cook chicken and cut up
2. While chicken is cooking, make stuffing per directions on package.
3. Put uncooked, frozen broccoli in bottom of 9x13 pan. (Consider throwing
pan out at this time) [if using fresh broccoli, cut into bite-size pieces, don't even bother cooking it (why bother using it anyway?). Just cut it up and put in pan.]
4. Mix soup and Cheez Whiz together.
5. Place cut up chicken on top of broccoli. (Or if following suggestion at end of step three, then place chicken in a new pan)
6. Pour soup/cheese product mixture over chicken.
7. Spread stuffing on top.
8. Refrigerate or bake.
9. 50 minutes prior to serving: Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
10. Let set for 5 minutes. (Take opportunity to look around for something else to eat)
11. Serve. (Only if you have to!)

Turkey Tetrazzini

Turkey Tetrazzini

1 to 2 1/2 cups cooked diced turkey or chicken
1 (4 oz.) can of mushrooms
1 T. minced dried onions
1/4 tsp. Tabasco
1/4 tsp. marjoram
1 (10 1/4 oz.) can cream of chicken soup
1 13 oz. can evaporated milk
1 (8 oz.) package spaghetti, broken into pieces, prepared according to package directions and rinsed under cold water
1 (4 oz) package grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Combine first seven ingredients and mix well. divide spaghetti into 3 equal parts. Cover bottom of a greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish with layers of a third of the spaghetti, half the turkey mixture, and half the cheddar cheese; repeat, ending up with a layer of spaghetti. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over top. Bake 30 minutes at 400 degrees or until hot and bubbly. Let set 10 minutes before serving. Can be made in advance. Serves 6-8

Not a mystery - just an easy knit or 2 or 3 or 10

Good morning everyone!

If you are looking for an easy way to use up sock yarn, check this site out. It is at Mason Dixon Knitting. Just pay attention to the 4" square. Being that I have no sense of what 4" is (my first square ended up 6"), I hacked off the end off a 6"x4" index card and stuck it in my bag. Your gauge can be whatever in order to get a 4" square and then send them off . . . spread the word!

Have a good one.

Mary Lynn

Fingerless Mitts Prize

I won the prize for my fingerless mitts! I got this nice skein of yarn and the pattern to make more of them, and I am glad about it too. When I knit the first pair, I had no idea I would enjoy wearing them so much. I live in Idaho where it is getting cold, especially at 6:00 in the morning when I get in my car to make the 20 plus mile drive to work. I've even worn them in the house when the evenings are cold. Mostly the back of my hands get cold, so these mitts are perfect, and I will love making a pair of striped mitts from this yarn because I do love that self stripping yarn.

As for the mystery, what can I say? Obviously, I am in this group because I like mysteries!

Thanks Jane for drawing my name and sending me these prizes.

Packages recieved and enjoyed!!

Hi all, but mostly Steph!

Sorry for no postings, but I have been in bed the last half week and have had too much pain, and therfore difficulties writing. But NOW! No, I'm not well yet, but better for a while.

And to Steph: THANK YOU!!!!!

To the rest of you: Look at these, yes, THESE great packages:

First some days ago, the trick:

And did I love THAT one? Yes!

Then came the treat:

How about that? Did I love it?? OH, yes!!! And how on earth did you know what my favorite candy when I lived in Chicago as a kid was ??? I haven't seen them since 1967!!!!! The Candy Corn! And YES; I ATE THEM, RIGHT AWAY!!!!! Before my kids or grandchildren even saw them!! Scarred stiff I wouldn't get them all, every single piece. Terje was allowed to taste ONE, and he just looked at me, wondering what on earth I was talking about when I told him how much I loved this candy! The others were allowed to sniff the plastic! How old I am??? Not much...eh.....51.....and 1/2....and a some days more..... So now I'm waiting for someone to send me some Hot Tomales!! Haven't seen them either...But I suppose you can't send THEM in the mail.... *LOL*

Love Vigdis

Whoduknit Holiday Swap

This Swap is for Whoduknit Members Only!

According to my records everyone has received their trick or treat fall swap packages - and they were all great! Thanks so much for making this swap so easy! If you go into the database and click on "Trick or Treat Swap" you will see my little trick of how I assigned partners for this swap!
With the holidays approaching, I know that we are all stressed out with last minute shopping, knitting, etc. and it can be an expensive time of year, but it wouldn't be any fun without including our whoduknit friends in our holiday plans - so let's make this swap an easy one, while keeping the postage down as well.
You will be sending your pal:

1.A holiday ornament (handmade if you have the time!)
2. A holiday themed book This could be a mystery, a knitting book, craft book, cookbook - whatever - and a previously read book is perfectly fine.
3. A favorite holiday recipe
4. A holiday treat

Sign-ups begin today and end on Sunday, Nov. 18. Partners will be assigned shortly after that. This won't be a secret swap so you won't have to worry about anonymous e-mails. The deadline for mailing packages will be December 15. Of course you may want to mail earlier if you are mailing international.
To sign up e-mail me at grammieknits@yahoo.com with your mailing address, and whether you are willing to send international or would prefer a pal in your own country this time.
Happy Holidays!
Jane

Trick or Treat Swap

Wow, I want to give a great big thank you to Kim Smit from Canada. I got the bestest swap package of all. Just look at all the lovely yummy goodness that came in a huge box all the way to MO. There were knitting needles with a ghost on the top. There are pencils and a pen from Canada, a keychain that says Canada. A huge tote bag that was all folded neatly into a little nylon holder about 2 inches wide by 3 inches long. Very portable to carry when I go yarn shopping. It will open up to hold a LOT of yarn. I got a thermometer, beautiful yarn, candy, stitche markers, and two books to read. One of which is The Cat Who series (my favorites and one I haven't read). There are teas and a crochet book. I feel so spoiled. Thanks again Kim. I love everything. And here is a picture so you all get to see my goodies.

A late message of recieving.

I nearly forgot to write at this blog but now it is here. I know it is a couple of days ago is was Halloween, we do not celebrate in Denmark. But more and more people are making pumpink faces with light - mostly families with small children. I think the tradition will come in Denmark in a couple of year.
I recieved the gift from Dee for more than a week. She really a sweetie. Every gift were wrapped in orange silk paper. I recieved a crime which I look foreward to read, a bookmark from her trip to Africa- very beautifull, the trick was 2 ballons, the treat was a lot of chocolate - I wonder why it is not at the picture. I thank you Dee by my heart.

SLIPKNOT PROJECT

I have completed my project for Slipknot. I have made a thong for Jane to wear on her date. The pattern is from Interweave Knits online free patterns. I know her first date didn't go well but she didn't know that when she was looking for something to special to wear. Thus, the thong. She would have felt sexy when on this date. She can always wear it for her next date which I am sure will happen as the story progresses. Here is a photo of Jane's new thong.

MY TRICK AND TREAT SWAP PACKAGE FROM MINDY

What a lovely trick and treat package I received from Mindy. AND I received it on Halloween. It was getting late in the day and I decided to have a nap. By that time I didn't think anything would be delivered or I would get my package before Halloween was over. I don't think my eyes were closed very long when the phone rang calling from downstairs and it was the postal delivery truck with a parcel for me. That woke me for a while. When I opened the outer mailing package inside was the cutest gory Halloween bag and inside were lots of goodies. At first I thought the trick was that there was candy stuck in the ends of the yarn but I realised after what the trick was. Mindy send me Lamb's Pride black yarn to knit and felt into a witch's black cauldron which I will now do next Halloween. There was also the "trick" which was how to make a magic potion in the cauldron. There was candy, three sets of earring, a little rubber ducky dressed as a witch, and a very interesting sounding read called Witch Miss Seeton a Miss Seeton Mystery by Heron Carvic. An author I never heard of. Inside it says "This is not so much black comedy as black-currant comedy...you can't stop reading. Or laughing" I am looking forward to reading this book. AND here are some photos of my gifties.

AND of course here is my Solara trying to get into the action. LOL
Thank-you again Mindy. I will be putting this on my blog sometime on Sunday.

Hey did you gals all remember to turn back your clocks?

Treats all the way from Norway!

I got my T&T swap package from Vigdis today. Talk about some awesome treats! I got some of her specialty hand-dyed yarn, in a beautiful orange. She also sent some black, white, and pumpkin superwash yarn, a copy of "Britain's Best seller-Simply Knitting" (very cool to have a magazine from a different part of the world!), and a pattern book of Norwegian style mittens and socks. It is all written in Norwegian and I can't read it, so I am sure it is my trick. Fortunately a good friend of mine at church is from Norway, so with any luck she might be able to help me figure out the basics. There was also some yummy chocolates that I will be happy to share with Hubband.
Thank you so much Vigdis. This is a really great treat!

Thank you Becca!

Ok, I am a little more awake now and can thank Becca more properly....and with photos. The gum is already at work....the candy is being doled out...the books are titled Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton (boy did I mangle that title earlier!!) and When Bad Things Happen to Good Knitters...

Now Becca said the trick in the box is that fun fur is 'tricky' to work with and she sent me a skein of fun fur and Lion Brand Boucle to make a scarf from - with the pattern - knit it together! I will make that scarf after exam is over (maybe I will take it with me for airport sitting time) and let you all know how tricky it is or isnt!

I love the candle holder - cute huh!

Oh - the best part - a little Christmas ornament with my name!! Do you know that when I was growing up you could NEVER find ANYTHING personalized with my name! So it is an absolute thrill when I get something personalized!!

Thank you wonderful swap partner!

Danielle

Halloween Riddles

You are all so clever (and probably google the same riddle sites that I do LOL) And the winner is.....Christine!

Answers to Halloween Riddles:

1. Why didn't the skeleton cross the road? He didn't have the guts.

2. What do ghosts serve for dessert? I Scream

3. What was the witch's favorite subject in school? Spelling

4. What kind of pie do ghosts eat? Booberry

5. Who did Frankenstein take to the prom? His Goulfriend

6. How can you tell that vampires likes baseball? Every night they turn into bats.

7. What's a cold, evil candle called? The Wicked Wick of the North
8. What kind of hot dogs do werewolves like best? Hallowienies
9. What's Draculas favourite pet? A bloodhound
10. What kind of music was inspired by mummies? Wrap
11. What do you call serious rocks? Grave stones

12. What do birds give out on Halloween? Tweets

13. What kind of boats do vampires like best? Blood Vessels