Crafty Rantings

I'm Crafty. I Rant. These are Crafty Rantings!

Friday, October 05, 2007

Hmmm...


mutantpenguin.blogspot.com

WANTED FOR THE BIZARRE KILLING of a DUMB CRAB

$2600



What's Your Blog Wanted For?
Oh yeah, that sounds just like me, doesn't it? :)

Thursday, October 04, 2007

For Mom


Hopefully you can click on the picture to see the scarf and hat up closer but in case not, I will also post pictures that are closer.

I love the colors. I think it was at least 5 years ago when I made these. The scarf is my own pattern. I didn't like the pattern the booklet gave to match the hat. I wanted the scarf to be just like the hat. So I took the hat pattern and figured out the multiples and just made the scarf as wide as I wanted in pattern and then followed the pattern from the hat to make the scarf. It's crochet and the fun part is the front post stitch. For some reason I have a hard time working the back post. Gee, when my grandmother and her sister-in-law taught me to crochet 43 years go all we did was sc, dc, hdc and chains. No trebles, post stitches or anything like that. So since I spent many years just doing things on my own, I learned those kinds of things, used them for hats and eventually the doilies I taught myself, the crochet thread snowflake ornaments. When I think of what I taught myself!! And now everything is easy to learn. There are videos all over the internet to show you exactly how to do it. Granted, I like that. I use it for knitting once in a while. But not often.

Crochet is faster than knitting but not always as versitile. You can make dishcloths with some patterns but they're usually ripples or stripes or things like that. Designs in the patterns, like the smiling flower in the yellow cloth I made for mom would have to be cross stitched into the design. I like knitting them in. But for things like baby blankets, I prefer crochet. And I now have a couple of patterns for things like scarves that I want to try for crochet.

Here's the scarf up close. And the hat.
I will post a quick goodbye before I leave. No idea when I can blog again once Iget to New Hampshire.
Looking forward to seeing Ally & Matt on my birthday! And Mom on Saturday and Den on Sunday!! And on the 13th, Sherry and Jeannie on the 16th (I think). Oh, did I mention I was looking forward to saying hello to a chocolate birthday cake? Well I am. hehehe
Email me my crafty (and non-crafty) friends! Stay in touch! I will try to do the same. I will miss you!
For all of you, I wish you love, happiness, peace, soft yarn that never tangles and plenty of time to do the things you wish with the people you love.

Presents for Matt

Will post pictures after vacation of the presents I have made for Matt which he will get when he comes to see his Grammy on her birthday in New Hampshire.

In case I don't get a chance to post again, I leave Saturday morning, early, and probably won't be able to post again for quite some time. I am hoping to be able to go to the library and access the net from there once or twice and maybe from my brother's house but I can't guarantee anything. I know I am supposed to post once a week for the Fall into Autumn Swap and I apologize if that doesn't happen. I will be able to post again from home on the 21st.

I will buy yarn and take pictures and knit and/or crochet while I'm gone so expect a couple of posts anyway. :)

I may not be blogging but I will be crafting!

Monday, October 01, 2007

Question of the Week - Fall into Autumn Swap

Here it is:

How about you? Are there any recipes you especially enjoy having in the Fall? Any foods that are seasonal that you especially enjoy? Feel free to share recipes with us too!

Here's my answer:

Because I live alone I don't cook much at all and if I do, it's fall or winter. Chico gets to 115 in the summer which is way too hot to cook. Plus without an air conditioner, cooking has to wait until cooler weather. So, given that warning...

I make peanutbutter fudge at holiday time and homemade sugar cookies with pink frosting are a family tradition. Even Ally does that now! But there are two things I love to make in the winter but only do if I can share them with someone. I used to cook and share with my neighbor since she doesn't cook either (two single women living in a duplex!) but I kinda fell out of that last winter. Not sure why. This is my third winter here and I may do more cooking and sharing this year. But the two things I love to make are...

Homemade beef stew and oven fried chicken.

The Oven Fried Chicken is the easier recipe. It comes from my Betty Crocker cookbook that my mom bought me in the early 60's. I went to their website to see if they have that recipe on there but the recipe for oven friend chicken they have is either the one that uses Bisquick (I have a family recipe for Bisquick Chicken that is also a real favorite!) or cornflakes and trust me, while the Bisquick chicken is good, this is REALLY good.

I use all drumsticks for this just because they are my favorite. You could use any cuts you like.

In a bowl put in about 1/4 teaspoon of salt and the same of pepper. Since I typically double the recipe so there will be enough coating, these directions contain the double amount from here on. Add 1 cup of flour to the bowl. Add lots of paprika. I mean lots. When mixed together it should be a light red flour mixture. The paprika is really the kick.

In a metal, non-disposable and preferably non-stick coated rectangular pan, put 1/2 cup margarine and 1/2 cup solid Crisco. I use the butter flavored kind that comes in sticks. Preheat the overn to 425 degrees. Put the pan in until the margarine and Crisco are totally melted.

Wash and pat the chicken dry with paper towels. I don't try to coat more than 2 pieces at a time. Coat and put into the pan. Squish if you have to for everything to fit. One thing about using drumsticks is you can alternate them one going one way, one the other, and you can get a lot in the pan.

Cook for 30 minutes. Turn. Cook for another 20 minutes. Remove and place on racks to drain for about 3-5 minutes. Really... you don't need more time and all that happens is the chicken gets too cold to eat. This is the right amount of time for any leftover grease to go away and be the right temperature to just dig in.

I love this recipe. I won't tell you what my good friend (adopted brother) David has said about my chicken but it makes me blush.

If you want the recipe for homemade beef stew which is longer and harder, email me. I learned how to make homemade all-American beef stew from a Russian friend. Truly.

And now for the rest of the answer. Seasonal foods. I swear I am almost ready to kill for pumpkin pie. I haven't had the nerve yet to ask my mother to make one for me but I am thinking when I talk to her in another couple of days I am going to ask if she'd make one for me while I'm there. I'd love to do turkey, too, while I'm there and have everyone to dinner but that might be too stressful for my mother. But seasonally, I love turkey, pumpkin pie, my pink frosted sugar cookies and hot cocoa.

Oh, they didn't ask but I'm gonna tell anyway... I *hate* eggnog and fruitcake and mincemeat pie. Oh yeah, yams, too. I grew up on a farm where we had an acre of potatoes. Regular old russet potatoes. I'm a white potato kinda gal. But I do love pecan pie. Almost never get it but I do love it. I like most nuts except pistashios (gimme brazil nuts anyday!).

OK, enough of a post. I have to go to bed. Or knit and then go to bed. I will post a picture of what I started tonight which is just about done but not until after vacation. It's a surprise for Matt and if I post a picture, there goes the surprise.

I love autumn. And I've been having a blast with this swap! My package goes out to my spoilee on either Thursday night or Friday morning. She's too cool to not send it to until later. Gotta do it before I go. I'm anxious for her to know who I am so we can hopefully move this friendship forward in an easier manner.

BTW, I've got to say again that the Secret Pal swap where I met my friend Kaylee changed things for me. I got more interested in doing more things and learning more techniques for knitting and it introduced me to a really wonderfully talented lady. You should go see her website. You can meet her at: http://needleplay.wordpress.com

Forgive me Kaylee but I had to! :)

Sunday, September 30, 2007

It's Finished!!


Well I promised a picture. It's done. It's gorgeous! I love the color and texture and feel. It's 50% wool/50% mohair. I ended up not using all 220 yards... I just kinda gave up. It's so long already! There wasn't a lot of yarn left so I don't feel so bad especially since the end product is so yummy!
Oh... I have some yarn from NH that I purchased last year. I decided after I finished the rose scarf to make a scarf with that yarn. I cast on four or five patterns and couldn't find one that showed the design or that I really liked. I finally cast on the "mistake rib" pattern but it's slow so now I'm going to go scour around in the crochet CD Heather gave me to see if I can find a quick scarf pattern I like that will work with the variegated colors. I also need to find a baby bib pattern that is fast that I can make for Matt before vacation. And considering I have a very busy week, I'm hoping I can find something that only takes a day or so (I could start today!!).
But this rose mohair/wool scarf is so wonderful! The pattern is easy and quick and next time I want to make a scarf in a hurry or a lacy pattern with a more delicate yarn, this is it!