Work at Home Mom

(click it, there are notes)

Never underestimate the kindness...

...of knitters!

I've been experiencing an avalanche of generous donations for my Sock Yarn Blanket --- it's AWESOME!!

The stripe thing is working out pretty well, except I misjudged how much of the pink/red I had/needed. I got this far:



And discovered I was 2 squares shy and out of yarn. OUT OF YARN!!! And this was one of the lovely donations I'd received.

So I hoped on the old Rav and prayed someone else owned this yarn and I could convince them to share with me. I messaged three people, the only 3 who had it in their stash. All three, lovely ladies wrote me back within 4 hours and said they'd be happy to send the yarn. No cost, I didn't even have to pay shipping.

Sherry in Alaska had replied first and today, I received this:



Wrapped in festive, glittery tissue.

Thanks Sherry!!!

Beat the Cold Chicken Soup Recipe

We've had a handful of overnight, hard freezes in Central Florida, with some chilly days. Wayne and I have come down with the sniffles. I know that if it's this cold here, the rest of the country is probably feeling worse.

Today I'm making my chicken soup from a chicken. While I'm known to heat up a frozen pizza every once and a while, I'm also a big fan of making things from scratch.

Make a pot and enjoy!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces
• 2 quarts water, or enough to cover the chicken
  
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery with leaves, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 5 black peppercorns
• 6 cubes chicken bouillon, crumbled
• (1 bay leaf)
• (1/4 teaspoon celery seed)
• (1 pinch dried thyme)

• 1 cup sliced carrots
• 1/2 cup sliced celery
• 1/4 cup minced onion
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

DIRECTIONS

1. In a large pot combine chicken, water, large onion, celery with leaves, fresh parsley, peppercorns, bouillon, bay leaf, celery seed, and thyme. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and simmer 3-4 hours.
2. Strain stock, reserving chicken, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
3. Skim fat from top of stock.
   
4. Remove skin and bones from chicken and cut meat into bite-size pieces.
   
5. Return stock and chicken to pot and stir in carrots, 1/2 cup sliced celery, 1/4 cup minced onion, dried parsley, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.

We have different opinions on the whole noodles v. rice v. nothing debate, so I usually just make some on the side and add it in a per bowl fashion. If you'd like them in your soup, just add them after the stock and chicken are hot again and cook as directed. Also, ingredients in parentheses aren't absolutely necessary. :)

40 blocks & a class

I've completed over 40 blocks of my Sock Yarn Blanket and still very much in love with it. I'm alternating solid and mis-matched rows and have just started the second solid row. These blocks aren't only finished being knit, but finished -- I wove in the ends. It was a lot of ends.



A few ladies on the Rav suggested keeping all the end scraps in something glass as decoration. I searched high and low, but came up empty with my existing vase supply, but I'm on the look out.



Wednesday was my first knitting class and I think it was a success! I learned a lot about how things are going to have to progress, but feel confident that my little knitters are going to be great!

It's Colorful up in Here!

Those are just a sampling of the wonderful partial skeins and scraps of sock yarn I've received this week. For what?

I'm making Shelly Kang's Sock Yarn Blanket!!!

When I saw it on Ravelry I started thinking about how every time I knit a pair of socks, I always have a bit left over. Sometimes a pretty big bit. I thought I could easily make a blanket out of all my little balls.

Then I started cataloging what I have and discovered that I could do it, but my blanket would be pretty plain and have a lot of some yarns and very little of others. I joined a few enabling groups over on Ravelry and now the mailbox is a very colorful place!

I've also joined two swaps with goodies that will arrive later this month.

Tomorrow: photos of the first two finished rows! Providing I finish the second row. :)

FO: Just in the knick of time

Pattern: Ampersand by Kirsten Kapur

Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock Mediumweight in Atomic #6

Needles: US Sz. 2.5 Addi Turbos, 2-16" circs.



My second pair of Ampersands and I couldn't be happier. This pattern is easy to memorize and creates a great fitting sock. A third pair may be in my future. :)



I bound these lovelies off on Dec. 31st thus meeting my 6 pair goal for 2008! It was a good year of sock knitting.

Put Your Feet Up
FO: Leyburn Socks
FO: Ampersand Socks
Boyfriend Jaywalkers
Sassy Birthday Socks
Just in the Nick of Time Ampersand Socks

Dear 2008 (Part 2)

July is when things started to get unexpectedly exciting. Emily turned 2, I discovered new things to be allergic to, I broke my rib while Wayne was in Nicaragua and also managed a little knitting.

In August I went to the beach, made some huge life decisions and even though the first week only ended up being 2 days, Alison started Kindergarten.

September started off with an amazing FO, we left for Mexico and in our first week there we celebrated Alison's 6th birthday and I finished my first project in another country.

October was spent entirely in Mexico, which just made for more interesting things to write about. Like visiting scenic places, going to Nicaragua and having my heart broken for the people there, pila-ing lots of clothes and knitting calcetines.

In November I voted from Mexico, went on the grand adventure of trying to get my haircut with a pretty big language barrier, came home from Mexico and had a lovely Thanksgiving. O yeah, and I caught the cowl bug.

December brought my first cowl, a new job and a lovely Christmas with family and friends!

Thank you 2008 for all the blessings and memories you gave me. Thank you dear reader for sticking around, even when it got a little lame. I'm excited to see what 2009 has to offer!!