Sardines!

One of the things I like about living in the UK is the new games I get to learn with the kids. Funny how most things are just a tad bit different. (for example the kids call it 'tig' instead of 'tag' and there are 'baddies and goodies' as opposed to 'bad guys and good guys') You should hear how strange the hokey pokey sounds (though I guess, being here, I should say 'hokey kokey')
Anyway, the neatest game we have picked up here, in my opinion, is sardines. Anyone heard of this? (i often wonder if I will post one of these 'different' things only to realize that I am the only one to find it new!).
Sardines is hide and seek with a twist. There is only one person that hides, everyone else seeks. When you find the hidden person you join them in their spot until only one person is left. By the end of it everyone is squeezed like sardines into whatever spot the original hider found!
I was going to write and tell Jo about this game and then thought you all might enjoy a new game for the kids.
:-)
Hope you are all enjoying the summer weather!

Now that's my kind of cheeseburger!

Yum!

Microwave Popcorn

Did you know you can make microwave popcorn without buying the expensive stuff in the special bags?

Go get yourself some good popcorn, put 1/4 cup in a brown lunch bag along with a couple teaspoons of oil and some salt if you like. Fold the top down twice and put one or two staples in it. Toss in the microwave for about 3 minutes or until there's a few seconds between pops.

Incredibly cheaper, healthier and yummier. I like to make it plain then melt some butter, drizzle and salt with popcorn salt. YUM-O!!

Also, if you haven't checked out Moda Bake Shop yet, you really should. Marie has a link to them on her personal blog and holy smokettes, they have some fantastic projects.

not exactly the look I was going for...

So here's the scarf I'm making. (Darren picked out the wool cause he thought it would be warm and manly looking.) All I'm really doing is alternating knitting and purling each row. And now the whole thing wants to curl up like a sock. Is this normal? Is there anything I can do in the future to prevent this? I've pretty much accepted that this one will just be a curly scarf :) hmmmm.... I guess for a first try it's not so bad...

I just found out a really good friend is having twins(!!) so now I need to learn how to make not one but two baby blankets that... well... don't curl..... and look good enough to give as a gift.

Marie's Not Pregnant Anymore

Georgiana Leigh was born this morning at 3:10 A.M, on her due date.

She is 7 pounds even, 18 inches long and nursing well.

Marie did it with NO EPIDURAL. She's my hero.

I don't have any pictures but I hear she posted one on Facebook, which I am not a part of.

Yeah! Congratulations Marie!

Knitting - Take Two

So, if you all remember, I started knitting way back here, but that was basically all I did. Recently I picked it up again. One of my friends knows how to knit and has started having a monthly "knitting night". This blog has been kinda slow lately, but I finally have something share again :)

Here's the project from our first meeting. A dishcloth, not sure if I'll ever use it though!

I started a scarf with some wool yarn, but I dont have pictures of that yet. Coming soon, though.

Candied Orange Peel

Ever feel guilty for throwing away orange peel? I do. So I decided to do something about it yesterday and made candied orange peel. They taste just like those orange slice candies. Yummy. I checked out about half a dozen recipes and they were all basically the same so I'll just tell you what I did.

I peeled 3 oranges and kept all the nice peel and gave the pulp to the girls to eat.

Put the orange peel in a pan with 1 t. salt, cover with water and boil for 20 minutes.

Dump out the water, cover orange peel again with water and boil again for 20 minutes.

*repeat this process at least once more, the more times you boil it the more mild an orange flavor the end product will have.

In your pot put 2 cups sugar and 1 cup water and boil slowly for about 8 minutes.

Add the orange peel and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Take the orange peel out and dredge in sugar.

Set the peel out to dry and store in the sugar you've dredge in.

You can use the orange syrup left in the pan for whatever you want.

If you don't like my directions, Google "candied orange peel" and you'll get all the directions you want.

Ambitious

So, here is my newest project! Girasole. Take a look at the pictures in the link... isn't it gorgeous?? I am doing the blanket version of it instead of the shawl. I have all of a sudden had a desire to start lace knitting. Funny, only because up until now I instantly dismissed anything with a chart. This one has 7 separate charts, but I think that is what makes it easier. Not one big giant thing, just a small piece at a time. I have just put in a lifeline a few rows back (thus the red yarn there). My friend Trish suggested it and I am sure I will end up loving her for it. I have completed charts A and B, and am only a few rows into chart C. I know this will take forever, but I am so excited I wanted to show you NOW!
Wish I could have taken a better picture, but there was no way to get it spread out better while still on the needles!

Etsy

So I have done a little research over at Etsy and it is free to join Etsy, but to actually sell anything, there is a posting fee. Granted it isn't much but when starting off, every little bit helps and with a lack of time to do lots of bags, I will not be post *too* many bags for sale to warrent needing a etsy account.

So I am pretty sure that I am going to at least in the begining stages try and just sell them by taking orders and posting avaliable bags on the Southern Lindberg blog.

Did you see over on the Smocity Frocks blog the cute purse for giveaway? You actually get to pick which purse you want if you win. Check it out if you are interested.

A Simple Tablecloth

We lived without a table for 2 years because we didn't have room for one in our apartment. But, now we have one! And I have to say that I don't regret not having one just for the fact that it has made me appreciate this so much. Every night when we all sit down and eat together, I am filled with happiness.

I used this fabric that I bought in Hawaii many years ago. I gave it to Joanna when I destashed before moving into our tiny apartment. But, then took it back this past February when I visited her. Aren't I such a great friend, taking back things I give?



I should have finished this sooner, but I had an issue as to where I would keep my sewing machine. I thought about keeping it in the closet of Ana's room, but then realized that the lighting would be terrible. So, I just set it up on some wall space in our room. Maybe I'll have a craft room one day. But, for now, I'm happy that I at least have some space to keep it out and it's not really in anyone's way. I'll have to keep all of my fabric and yarn in Ana's closet. When I start to organize the yarn, I'm thinking I'll end up selling a good bit of it on eBay, since I have way too much. (about three XL Uhaul boxes worth!!)