Friday Moment-The CSA is here

Wednesday Yarn Along

Joining in this week for Ginny's Yarn Along.

The white I rug I have been working on.  I call it my tv rug project since it's too big to carry around it's my go to project when watching tv or sitting outside.

When spring rolls in every I get the itch to embroider.  I love seeing it come to life slowly on a blank cloth.  It's my favorite needlework in the summer.

 

 Still reading The Gilly Salt Sisters but these are the magazines of the month that go with me around the house for inspiration.

Cooks' Illustrated

Home Education Magazine

Taproot

Hope you are enjoying a good read.

Friday Moment-The First Strawberry and Random Potatoes

Just jazz it up a bit

I

Recently one of my kids posed an interesting question about my blogging "Did you regret it?" We had a conversation about when things are put out in social media that they linger and are out there for the world to see forever.  Things put out there can follow the individual years from now which could have negative consequences or close doors to opportunities from simply posting or commenting on social media .

 The example I had given was from personal experience. About 2 year ago posts from my blog were printed and used to suggest that I was overwhelmed.  My blog was something I always enjoyed writing and following blogs was a source of creativity and inspiration. Seriously have you ever met a mother that never got tired and looked great all the time. Ahem.

Because of that I took a break from blogging to minimize additional unwanted backlash on my parenting.  It was hard to return and I considered just shutting it down.  My answer to her question was no I didn't regret it I just lost my love for it and could not get back into it.  I had no regrets I put thought into what I wrote and it was my creative outlet. 

At times I have missed it and I would snap a picture with intentions of posting and of course never did. After a this question was asked to me I thought well why not return to it.  I don't have to post everyday just when inspiration strikes share something neat.  Check on my favorite blogs when I need that burst of creativity.
So here I am again. 

• First up is change up change the blog colors/design.  A little blog spring cleaning.  
• I had a yummy salad to post yesterday.
• Just finished reading Labor Day by Joyce Maynard next up is The Gilly Salt Sisters by Tiffany Baker.  If I had a project to go with it they would have been on the yarn along this week  
• Oh and why is the picture on it's side that you have to turn your head to see the books?  Ah well because whatever medium I use to bring in the picture it will NOT rotate.  I gave up trying otherwise I thought I would never post again. 
• Finally got an instagram account to go with my blog thislittlekitchenblog
•  I have feeling I'm going to be really enjoying that. Why did I wait so long?

Yummy Salad

Summer is around the corner.  So close that we are a week a way from the CSA starting up again, farmer's markets starting this weekend and various sightings of what's sprouting in the garden.  I promised myself this year we would have better garden planning but I always end up with renegade plants in the garden that I did not plan on. This is what happens when the compost  gets poured into the garden we end up with a number of tomato plants, pumpkin vines take over the yard and this year there are beautiful unexpected potato plants to join the group.  We did plant cucumbers, peppers and watermelon but no sign of them yet *sigh*.  We can always count the herbs and scallions to be the first sign that there is more to come. 

For quick salad today there was some leftover corn on the cob, tomatoes,  mint leaves and scallions.  Season with a little salt and olive oil and a bright and cheery salad to go with our lunch. 

Yarn Along Wednesday

 Good Morning Friends!  Actually it's afternoon now. I finally have a finished project to show for the yarn along.  I started these fingerless gloves last winter and then put them down.

 A couple of weekends ago I picked them up and finished the left glove.  The left is a little wonky but I love them anyway. I decided to not put buttons for the eyes because it wall draw attention to the obvious mistakes. 

 The pattern was from a Mollie Makes magazine.  I never get tired of this magazine.

On the reading list, the older kids finished reading The Water Castle.  I'm still continuing College Prep Homeschooling and jotting down notes to refer back to later.  A couple of months ago I discovered audiobooks and playaways for the family.  I love the playaways because they are easy to carry all that is needed are headphones and a battery and into my bag they go.  It really helps pass the time doing chores, shoveling and waiting at activities.  I'm listening to Summberland by Elin Hiderbrand right now.  As much as I enjoy the playaways and audio books they don't replace books.  They are handy to pass the time while doing laundry or when I can't sit and read. 
Hope you are enjoying a good read today.

Yarn Along Wednesday

I have missed my Wednesday Yarn Alongs but the reading and knitting and crocheting never stopped

 I have few books on my night table next to the comfy chair in my library:

Don't Lick the Minivan

The Happiness Hypothesis

100 Snowflakes to Crochet

I Want to Pee Alone

Cook's Illustrated Magazine

 My thought back in December was to crochet snowflakes everyday from the 100 Snowflakes to Crochet I completed 6.  They were enjoyable and easy to make and they are only about 3 rows of crocheting.  So lets see 6 done 94 to go before next Christmas.

 What I keep in my activity bag wherever are these two books.  The Supreme Macaroni Company is the third book in the a trilogy I have been waiting for about 2 years.  It's an easygoing read but I don't love the cover the book it makes it look like a cheesy romance novel.  I picked up the College-Prep Homeschooling at the library and haven't been able to put it down.  Some parts will come in handy for future reference.

I have had these fingerless gloves in the works since last winter I'm thinking its time to finish them, so into the activity bag they go. 

 

 

Glad to be back in the yarn along this week can't wait to see what everyone else has on the needles.





Blizzard Pics

 Friday morning.

 A little later Friday morning.

 Friday afternoon.

Saturday morning.  Omigod that's a lot of snow!

Friday Moment-Baking Cookies

Yarn Along-Wrist Warmers in Progress

For the Yarn Along this week another Mollie Makes came in the mail recently.  I have been catching up on some older issues of Real Simple.  Does anyone else keep stacks of magazines and I mean a year or 2 worth of each magazine that you like?  Love having them for inspiration or in the winter and summer between books.

 

The owl wristwarmers are coming along. I'm hoping for the next yarn along I'll have them done.  Hoping I'll hve a completed project in February.

Friday Moment-Hard at Work

I was browsing through my camera for a "Friday Moment" and came across many many random pictures I did not take.  Does anyone else run into that many many funny random pictures in their camera?

Wednesday Yarn Along-Hat Revamp

For this week's yarn along I'm redoing a hat I finished a couple of years ago.  When I finished it I liked it but now want to add a few more rows so that it covers my ears. The Stone Path Hat pattern is on CrochetMe.

 

Still reading Daring Greatly but let's just say it's hitting a few chords and making me think (see previous post).  In between I'm picking up these issues of Mollie Makes. I love the fortune cookies but right now I have my eye on those knitted owl wrist warmers to make soon.

Hope you are enjoying a good knit, crochet or read this Wednesday.

Friday Moment: My Favorite Quote

"Become fully what you already are, in the deepest,

most authentic longing of your nature."

 

 

 

Words to live by for 2013.

Wednesday Yarn Along

 

I was determined this winter for one completed projeccted in this yarn along and I'm almost there.  Just working on the border.

I haven't even started to read either of these books but they caught my eye at the library and one of them was on my wish list. 

For the younger kids these are what I'm picking up reading on and off.

Happy reading :)

Wednesday Yarn along

 

So far so good already 3 posts in the New Year and one being the Yarn Along. 

 

 

These 2 pieces have been in the works for months the pastel orange/white is a lap throw and the blue is just a soft afghan for the living to cozy up with up which I hope to get done before winter is over.

A Christmas present from my kids very inspiring for future knitting projects.

My latest read "The Midwife"  loved it.  My next read "Daring Greatly".

Enjoy your knitting/crochetting and reading this Wednesday.

Wednesday Yarn Along Long Time

 

Well friends it's been a long long time since I checked into this space. What a better way to check in but with a yarn along of course.  Fall has arrived,  Halloween is here and Sandy is gone from the Northeast but not forgotten. 

 

 

 Once the weather started cooling and summer was officially definitely over it's crochet season over here.  What to begin with how about a couple of afghans.  The blue one is cozy and snuggly and the lighter colored is a lap blanket for V. for Christmas good for snuggling and reading. 

 Back at it again with the cotton twine working on another rug this time I'm trying to write the pattern for myself.  It's a little tricky for me because I tend to fly off the seat of my pants crochetting.

I have had some good reads which I hope to share soon.  I'm currently reading The of Learning Dangerously: Adventures in Homeschooling.  I love that the words dangerous and homeshooling are together in the title. 

Hoping your enjoying a good project or good read!

Friday Moment-Evening Outdoor Drawing

Summer Break

Hey friends it's been almost a month since there has been a post.  I guess I should have put up a sign saying gone crochetting for the summer :)  Just popping in for a hello it may be quiet in this space for the rest of summer but I hope to pop in occassionally with a finished project or yummy food.  Hope you are enjoying yours where you are.

Luisa

Yarn Along: New Rug

I started this post yesterday intending to join in the yarn along but didn't realize that I completely abandoned the post and didn't remember it till this morning. Oooops!  Well this is the latest rug added to the one of the bedrooms (sorry the picture isn't so great).  I used a cotton twine and a multicolored cotton yarn this rug is similar to this one. Well that's done now on to the next one a rug for my bathroom.

Monday Links

Well a very rainy monday is here and plenty to do so how about some monday links for inspiration for this week?

Added these two to my recipe list to make this summer asparagus guacamole and lettuce soup.
Love this hoops.
Found a homemade nesquik recipe in the post there is recipe for chocolate syrup.  How awesome may never have to buy these two things again but I think I may need to get better cocoa powder. 
Found a loveley drawing blog.
I'm intrigued by this drawing book.
Don't tell me you don't think these bubble wands aren't awesome! I want one for me too.
I just want to make this cake for no reason it looks happy.
Came across this homemade ranch dressing. 
This looks like a fun basil experiment for adults and kids.

Can't wait to see what I find this week.