tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26566696900945987032024-03-28T20:32:12.867-04:00Jeannie Gray Knits Simple knits for complicated livesJeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.comBlogger1486125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-24978402527690306632024-03-28T20:31:00.000-04:002024-03-28T20:31:31.355-04:00The Insanity Continues<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> I went MIA there for a bit. Actually, I went S.O.A.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz4xWAQvzl3BEymrF1LQmlvLONX6GIhcFX30NDUlaHM1_sXKs_Hw0KZDltoeWL2sjpjF7u-2aU3eYz5hIFswoq_fpJw476teMiYg-Ay2azlsGDLVuINM-IniuMobaNsf6Az0avVju39rqqMkYsPlAn9Cv7CeYf_HM05hG4lNU0ZRJxgTBb_F_1i0DOcUX/s845/Insanity%20blanket%2003282024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="845" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoz4xWAQvzl3BEymrF1LQmlvLONX6GIhcFX30NDUlaHM1_sXKs_Hw0KZDltoeWL2sjpjF7u-2aU3eYz5hIFswoq_fpJw476teMiYg-Ay2azlsGDLVuINM-IniuMobaNsf6Az0avVju39rqqMkYsPlAn9Cv7CeYf_HM05hG4lNU0ZRJxgTBb_F_1i0DOcUX/s320/Insanity%20blanket%2003282024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The TV in my area died so I've been re-watching nothing but DVDs for the past several weeks. I pulled out the Sons of Anarchy set and have pretty much done nothing but watch bikers and knit on the Insanity blanket ever since. (Yeah, see all those post-its scattered everywhere? They are reminders of the things I'm supposed to be doing instead of knitting.)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's a good thing S.O.A. is six?? seven?? maybe even eight seasons long because this blanket is going to take me a <strike>lifetime</strike> LIFETIME! It's 17 squares wide which means it will need to be at minimum 20 squares in length. If not at work, I really have pretty much done nothing but knit on this monster since I started it and I've only just started the eighth square of the second row. A lifetime, I tell you!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98-s5oNZzgdWWRBEDrhcMn-xav7KFzZlqkr-I1ZE-TZmeui33QCcReOK0PVLy5yhrvkOxgJW91wDQPbfCkcFegxvvqSKvd2bP-aqc9k7wfsHeuKH8PRxYikQDNOB_n55Ck87fab0X1sVQVp6W-nBDszYSKbuuDg9JtFOsYEwuGQmOb0RUlirZSheBdkow/s845/daffodills%2003202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="845" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98-s5oNZzgdWWRBEDrhcMn-xav7KFzZlqkr-I1ZE-TZmeui33QCcReOK0PVLy5yhrvkOxgJW91wDQPbfCkcFegxvvqSKvd2bP-aqc9k7wfsHeuKH8PRxYikQDNOB_n55Ck87fab0X1sVQVp6W-nBDszYSKbuuDg9JtFOsYEwuGQmOb0RUlirZSheBdkow/s320/daffodills%2003202024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I did take a brief few minutes off from knitting so I could pick some daffodills. We have a bumper crop this year. I guess they really liked all the rain we have gotten over the last bunch of months. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidn5-egv8ff6-YLJHDSEnG4qU4MJ_VhnIMy_qRpsTMXmiZ83ai1B3m3zuuPRHQmIDYTqagUOlU-IMnhfkdVgzyoCa8tscPo_yW61aV7kB-38BX1na1kd85hHFWnwRFsFKH3vf6gYRdEAJzVHeRw09Fb_ajguFzqUwGdJe4hnkPasFBSbX47xiSGgQdy91d/s845/Hayden%20Elsa%2003172024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="629" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidn5-egv8ff6-YLJHDSEnG4qU4MJ_VhnIMy_qRpsTMXmiZ83ai1B3m3zuuPRHQmIDYTqagUOlU-IMnhfkdVgzyoCa8tscPo_yW61aV7kB-38BX1na1kd85hHFWnwRFsFKH3vf6gYRdEAJzVHeRw09Fb_ajguFzqUwGdJe4hnkPasFBSbX47xiSGgQdy91d/s320/Hayden%20Elsa%2003172024.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And of course I took an afternoon off to attend <strike>Hayden's</strike> Elsa's Frozen birthday party. I'm ashamed to admit, I still have not watched Frozen, but I feel like I have. Hayden quotes it and sings the songs constantly. Like father, like daughter.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy knitting!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-14057456459179904632024-03-16T14:53:00.000-04:002024-03-16T14:53:24.840-04:00Insanity<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I know I've said it before but... What is wrong with me??</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVc0Nc3TOWVAZeBBi6tdvsm0fw4fQlTtK0UHZLEqWlSw6yovZC9A427uajScwSPaEPl7u18u0KHZUOsooyugi_GxYEcbIWG25aIZ1dpm1XeVrSY6YcUqOok6X7JUbkR-pGL6xX3e67cqcDWFMGDtRB8W_s9_nLxYueueYPfwcHdF7hcepFh8yfQqYRb1eZ/s845/Insanity%20blank162024et%2003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="380" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVc0Nc3TOWVAZeBBi6tdvsm0fw4fQlTtK0UHZLEqWlSw6yovZC9A427uajScwSPaEPl7u18u0KHZUOsooyugi_GxYEcbIWG25aIZ1dpm1XeVrSY6YcUqOok6X7JUbkR-pGL6xX3e67cqcDWFMGDtRB8W_s9_nLxYueueYPfwcHdF7hcepFh8yfQqYRb1eZ/w180-h400/Insanity%20blank162024et%2003.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Because I'm too lazy to wind the yarn for the project that I really want to make, I decided to start knitting another blanket. I'm calling it the Insanity Blanket because, obviously, I've gone completely insane. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm using scrap fingering weight yarn and US2 needles. Have I mentioned I've gone completely insane??</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I've based the pattern on <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1396413&u=1446317&m=59159&urllink=&afftrack=">Knit Pick's</a> <a href="https://jeanniegrayknits.blogspot.com/search?q=hue+shift">Hue Shift</a>, but I've made a few modifications of my own. I'm still using two colors per mitered square, but there's no plan for what colors come next. I'll use one skein until it runs out and change the contrasting color for each square. I'm also going to knit the entire blanket in one piece rather than in Hue Shift's four pieces that have to be grafted together. I'm also using a differnt number of cast on stitches since mine is using fingering and Hue Shift calls for worsted. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I also plan for this blanket to fit over a queen size bed. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And all of this because I'm too lazy to wind one skein of yarn. Good grief!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yes, I'm pretty sure I've gone completely insane.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, spring has sprung here in Virginia and I've been thankful to spend some time outdoors.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGkGKmBw2jZP5AevAyMNMvBCHcNglCIu3bljQJDwl4IDo7dPnOh42mV5RaYs3eKlgpCvRlOMtFQ8O83vxU9bOSvRe6fipoOu6uoaDV042UJzYw4maQb9nrnRqQ6dk9q4GCYku2dGd63S23w2pfNbJbr-SxoI8cmcpzOZUb5BL902XCVsX6m87enge0JiO/s6016/hayden%20on%20trampolin%2003032024%201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGkGKmBw2jZP5AevAyMNMvBCHcNglCIu3bljQJDwl4IDo7dPnOh42mV5RaYs3eKlgpCvRlOMtFQ8O83vxU9bOSvRe6fipoOu6uoaDV042UJzYw4maQb9nrnRqQ6dk9q4GCYku2dGd63S23w2pfNbJbr-SxoI8cmcpzOZUb5BL902XCVsX6m87enge0JiO/w266-h400/hayden%20on%20trampolin%2003032024%201.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Time outdoors with Hayden. She loves her trampoline! </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzT7t-I6kL06B4U3kE7eK-D7rnmzz4NqhmNsHM4M41z4sQj1dietZiPIqtSwTt6SGNuH3XWbs3C7TQcm-CsvaY3VCRbnY_EPYWzoIKKD8T7np3gFKjjn6Hhh9FLZWKZmCBWlu9yaf_8y4Sn_BsCFUqSmAxXMUATIMtQwru-OwI2OMP906HlqHpeInupr_Y/s6016/hayden%2003032024%205.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6016" data-original-width="4000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzT7t-I6kL06B4U3kE7eK-D7rnmzz4NqhmNsHM4M41z4sQj1dietZiPIqtSwTt6SGNuH3XWbs3C7TQcm-CsvaY3VCRbnY_EPYWzoIKKD8T7np3gFKjjn6Hhh9FLZWKZmCBWlu9yaf_8y4Sn_BsCFUqSmAxXMUATIMtQwru-OwI2OMP906HlqHpeInupr_Y/w266-h400/hayden%2003032024%205.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">She turned four recently and I can not get over how much more skilled she is this year than last. Last year she couldn't figure out how to pedal any of her riding things and this year, well, let's just say, Nana is taking up running again in an effort to keep up with her on that bike. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Oh, and she blew out her candles on the first try this year instead of just spitting on the cake! My little grandbaby is growing up so fast!</span></p><p><br /></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-71584376648125848702024-03-02T15:06:00.001-05:002024-03-02T15:06:50.959-05:00Working the WIPs<p><span style="font-size: medium;">First, let me just say, I am so, so happy February is over!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, let's talk knitting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm so proud of myself! Remember my plan to finish something from the WIP pile then knit something new, then something from the WIP pile....? Well, finishing the Rambling Rows afghan that had been hanging around since 2020 felt so good, I've just kept on grabbing WIPs instead of starting something new.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJltYoAc4YAxYadU7g49KVtavSl2RO7drme316UBIyPlAAbW_K62W9dAwkhzD3MimPkXccZnexOdZWtzO5550i4h0vcBPgoXKTJgwhHPkIWi0wJH2qjuQ1bvwCg6_VSDi07_eDulSO3hB4FVsn28tobTuIwsGxoEpaHfFRIXQgYHCgAHJK3UQQlgaAwXA/s842/FOs%2003022024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJltYoAc4YAxYadU7g49KVtavSl2RO7drme316UBIyPlAAbW_K62W9dAwkhzD3MimPkXccZnexOdZWtzO5550i4h0vcBPgoXKTJgwhHPkIWi0wJH2qjuQ1bvwCg6_VSDi07_eDulSO3hB4FVsn28tobTuIwsGxoEpaHfFRIXQgYHCgAHJK3UQQlgaAwXA/s320/FOs%2003022024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">I finished a simple scarf made from Homespun yarn that was given to me a long time ago. (Big box store Homespun, not hand-spun.) It feels good to have it off the needles because it's been hanging around for a long time too. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">And the beaded cowl is finished. Obviously still needs to be blocked, but it's off the needles. It's an infinity type scarf without the infinity twist. I used <a href="<a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1435479&u=1446317&m=59159&urllink=&afftrack=">Palette</a>">Palette</a> yarn and randomly placed beads on it. I really enjoy doing beaded knitting. I'm slow as molasses with it, but I enjoy it.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">By the way, if you shop at <a href="https://shrsl.com/4fvmq">crochet.com</a>, which is affiliated with Knit Picks, use coupon code CROCHETMONTH during the month of March and you can save 10 - 20% depending on the amount of your purchase. A $75 purchase gets you 10%, a $100 purchase gets you 15% off and $150 and up gets you 20% off.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I am trying very, very hard not to visit <a href="https://shrsl.com/4fvmq">crochet.com</a> because this coming Tuesday will mark 150 days (basically 5 months) without buying yarn. My goal is to go six months. We'll see if I can make it that long.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">But back to today's topic.... finishing WIPs.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mjZPafLkHpkUJVcL9DDbfIoGVrh9LRjw_uTr5BrqgnY9tfmkO9UFHoYXs3dT4CPHJnhoNjMLptlG92SqJoLrvIupEpe9IF6ZVhubFFc1GPljeID5x_PB7bROk5iPtaCSUMSscx4OlBuUtyHoAW8Zq6S9a_Iwcdn97jsjwUivNOlOGs8EMlegBbbbKFSo/s842/beaded%20socks%2002282024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mjZPafLkHpkUJVcL9DDbfIoGVrh9LRjw_uTr5BrqgnY9tfmkO9UFHoYXs3dT4CPHJnhoNjMLptlG92SqJoLrvIupEpe9IF6ZVhubFFc1GPljeID5x_PB7bROk5iPtaCSUMSscx4OlBuUtyHoAW8Zq6S9a_Iwcdn97jsjwUivNOlOGs8EMlegBbbbKFSo/s320/beaded%20socks%2002282024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I've beaded eleven more pairs of socks. Okay, they weren't exactly considered WIPs, but I did have the socks laying around plus some of the beads, and I desperately need to get my <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/jeanniegrayknits">shop</a> restocked. Plus, Hayden's birthday is coming up and she asked me to make her some more. She specifically asked for rainbow, but I am head over heels in love with that blue/greem combo. Just looking at them makes me feel like I'm on island water. I could use some island water right now!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway....</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EUUxm1xbLdxU_tGZ528A-XDmJX4U_e4lB9gdu9z-KQNAHyT_chANRtqvc-HDZaNbPzK-xlFsstVUtIHXJTolJzZaFMmonDHPSEt-2OdPOj90fHtVhmU0xzIi62x4KhVB0uSDVsaw6yMVWroVhqZOjw_ZgOTovbA1iqxPO6Svy2-iSaz3uh4QUNhS463b/s678/zebra%20socks%2003022024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="634" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EUUxm1xbLdxU_tGZ528A-XDmJX4U_e4lB9gdu9z-KQNAHyT_chANRtqvc-HDZaNbPzK-xlFsstVUtIHXJTolJzZaFMmonDHPSEt-2OdPOj90fHtVhmU0xzIi62x4KhVB0uSDVsaw6yMVWroVhqZOjw_ZgOTovbA1iqxPO6Svy2-iSaz3uh4QUNhS463b/s320/zebra%20socks%2003022024.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Not exciting looking, but exciting to me.... I'm on zebra striped sock #2. Just three days ago, sock #1 was only a few rows past the ribbing. These socks have been in the WIP pile for quite a while too. Not sure why. The yarn is Patons Kroy Socks which I like so.... Maybe I found the black and white stripes to be too boring. Or the US 1 needles too small and slow. Who knows. Whatever, I'm on a roll with them now.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Once those zebra socks are done, all that's left in the WIP crate is one more pair of socks, a hat, and 2 shawls. I really hope I can keep motivated to get them all finished. I would love to end up with an empty crate. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy March and happy knitting!<br /></span><p><br /></p></div>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-55337701118340174552024-02-24T14:26:00.002-05:002024-02-24T14:26:49.389-05:00Stupid February<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Have I ever mentioned how much I dislike the month of February? February has never been a good month for me and this year .... Well, this year, February simply sucks. First, I had that stomach bug that lasted four or five days. Then I got the cold/sinus thing which is still hanging around two weeks later. And for the icing on the February cake, we've spent the last 36+ hours in the ER. My husband had a bit of a health scare but after about 45 thousand tests/procedures and even more medicines, they hope to send him home shortly. We're just waiting for the final approval from the doctor.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfoBs2BcWEvefijisCHwvYMzjBYxP7aWyMNH0OHH0Afsmk9RVCRT_7oPai-T-wUl5PXWoHXAoHeSMrN-YFXLeDdh4kfXhYe0n9oX8Oq58Kna4Dnjlco7XmT9oAfXzT5quRnaOvRRq5ffYSbtYWK1BWoebUEL-KrQBHjAw-qDlHFcOrr9FwdgiIMGiRuXX/s842/Rambling%20Rows%20icord.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAfoBs2BcWEvefijisCHwvYMzjBYxP7aWyMNH0OHH0Afsmk9RVCRT_7oPai-T-wUl5PXWoHXAoHeSMrN-YFXLeDdh4kfXhYe0n9oX8Oq58Kna4Dnjlco7XmT9oAfXzT5quRnaOvRRq5ffYSbtYWK1BWoebUEL-KrQBHjAw-qDlHFcOrr9FwdgiIMGiRuXX/s320/Rambling%20Rows%20icord.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;">On a more positive note, the hubster will be fine, although we may end up divorced after all my future nagging about taking his health more seriously. </span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">And, I finished the <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/jeanniegrayknits/rambling-rows-afghan">Rambling Rows blanket</a>. That photo is the best I can do from ER. I never got around to taking a photo of the finished blanket. But yeah, I went with the icord border and am glad I did. I don't know why I was dreading it so much. The icord knitting went super fast - much, much faster than a garter border would have been. After being on the To Knit list for four years, I'm pretty dang excited to be done with that blanket. I even already got the loose ends woven in!</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Maybe February doesn't suck so bad after all.</span><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-26315763187775748742024-02-17T06:30:00.003-05:002024-02-17T06:30:00.133-05:00Cupcakes and Wine<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope you had a nice Valentine's Day. I got Mucinex and tissues. I can't believe that less than a week after having that horrible stomach bug, I got the cold/sinus/flu bug. Thankfully, the day before I got sick this time around, I'd accidentally bought myself cupcakes.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJYJXgEcQzmi45nA_P1YZVw79bVumJElTcn1StQpfKq-27j4SzHWDGvoWUeQp1SYhFF9IlT8x_Ns-JktN6E5o8QoHuHtL0l19Xnnc6AG8KmGZQtPN9qME-pAabN-X45M5wOjkcOgHeKpALxQbxG3aq2Ygy1Tj5BMKy17SIcFtw8UUAV2BkxiHPkkc2cny/s842/hostess%20cupcakes%2002142024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="842" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdJYJXgEcQzmi45nA_P1YZVw79bVumJElTcn1StQpfKq-27j4SzHWDGvoWUeQp1SYhFF9IlT8x_Ns-JktN6E5o8QoHuHtL0l19Xnnc6AG8KmGZQtPN9qME-pAabN-X45M5wOjkcOgHeKpALxQbxG3aq2Ygy1Tj5BMKy17SIcFtw8UUAV2BkxiHPkkc2cny/s320/hostess%20cupcakes%2002142024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I didn't mean to buy so many. I was at work and noticed the Key Lime cupcakes. And the strawberry sounded good too but... Key Lime! I grabbed a box and did a price check. They were on a Buy One Get One type sale so... I went back and got the strawberry too. But while I was grabbing the strawberry, I noticed the lemon. I love lemon flavored deserts. And if I was going to get key lime, strawberry and lemon, I had to get the fourth box so.... Now I have cupcakes!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">What I don't have is wine bottles.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfD0LpTN0XK6fbo7OaEJK1zkaJ2yvjZ-WHU0P8KZnJfsZIWvxjqwYjBGP4q9b4XxT4ovpBu8d2gIksTPWKgUTkHLmY2suwcwFDIsHeADuaiJuGB7OLmJhEj9rrxqtG-7mxKgRCzOKrhNhAgGvgrvZ814pelUiMmw4NbxGVkdUOqm9Ho7ueOaxTA6CiHvIZ/s786/wine%20bottle%20plant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="786" data-original-width="594" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfD0LpTN0XK6fbo7OaEJK1zkaJ2yvjZ-WHU0P8KZnJfsZIWvxjqwYjBGP4q9b4XxT4ovpBu8d2gIksTPWKgUTkHLmY2suwcwFDIsHeADuaiJuGB7OLmJhEj9rrxqtG-7mxKgRCzOKrhNhAgGvgrvZ814pelUiMmw4NbxGVkdUOqm9Ho7ueOaxTA6CiHvIZ/s320/wine%20bottle%20plant.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I saw this idea on Facebook. I feel terrible that I'm not sharing the source but I guess the fever got to me and I didn't keep track of where it came from. I just remember seeing it on Facebook. Anyway.... I have a lot of those plants and am constantly rooting pieces of it and I absolutley love this idea! The problem is, just a few weeks ago, I threw away over 20 empty wine bottles I'd been saving for a 'one of these days I'll make something with these' type craft project. Doh! Oh well. Guess I just need to drink more wine. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxbOmL3JN84Xgox_PZgxT3wjp2fwI89aaUBnbilgsqe9HNcDd2HCR6-vadJ15GIgTBsv9SaJse2gIXr27CB0kmIl4jZogYo14MnIyAYP5Jfr40t_w50jwqtRYCNG0Q948BhhWSijy_r-dmiRbgZidNMx2tMhHWN5nREycuTMkleqyzNjLUFhffctkKcA2/s842/Rambling%20Rows%2002122025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxbOmL3JN84Xgox_PZgxT3wjp2fwI89aaUBnbilgsqe9HNcDd2HCR6-vadJ15GIgTBsv9SaJse2gIXr27CB0kmIl4jZogYo14MnIyAYP5Jfr40t_w50jwqtRYCNG0Q948BhhWSijy_r-dmiRbgZidNMx2tMhHWN5nREycuTMkleqyzNjLUFhffctkKcA2/s320/Rambling%20Rows%2002122025.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, I've continued knitting on <a href="https://jeanniegrayknits.blogspot.com/2024/02/its-raining-again.html">Rambling Rows</a>. I've made a little more progress since taking that photo. I'm currently on block 52 out of 55. I am so excited to get this baby finished. It's only been four years in the making. The problem is, once I'm 'finished,' I need to dig through the stash pile and find a skein or two to knit a border around it. I'm torn between a garter border or an icord border. I want the icord border but I'm having a hard time mentally facing that much icord. Not sure why - icord is pretty simple and would probably take less time than a garter border, but....</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">While I try to choose border styles, here's a picture of Hayden's Valentine's Day hair-do.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZZB1udqJIKLyCF6uDFr5grBH4OY-lqplKWOJAwdmD3Korg94BzQ_UDHmccpqXooox4e-E4XZDOvJGsGKuCJPPVfoVFlhNQSARYjePFo-fZMZX2ruiBBTZ1lxlsKGPiPgyaN6xzUsxG1eW_lpoEZxnoYNjuAYbp469Z4s83cbAE029bKsiMvCkLppISvR/s546/Hayden%20heart%20hari%2002142024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="413" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZZB1udqJIKLyCF6uDFr5grBH4OY-lqplKWOJAwdmD3Korg94BzQ_UDHmccpqXooox4e-E4XZDOvJGsGKuCJPPVfoVFlhNQSARYjePFo-fZMZX2ruiBBTZ1lxlsKGPiPgyaN6xzUsxG1eW_lpoEZxnoYNjuAYbp469Z4s83cbAE029bKsiMvCkLppISvR/s320/Hayden%20heart%20hari%2002142024.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">She had heart hair! After the photo was taken, her mom even turned the heart red by rubbing red eyeshadow over it. So stinking cute.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And now, I'm going to go finish my Mucinex, eat cupcakes and drink wine.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy knitting!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-774361680434939502024-02-11T07:00:00.005-05:002024-02-11T07:00:00.251-05:00Sunday Supper - Spicy Bok choy<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Well this isn't the best way to kick off the return of Sunday Suppers because I forgot to take a photo, but it was good and I want a record of what I did so I can make it again sometime soon so...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But first, a little backstory. You know how I like to make a short story long. 😊</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Last year, I decided to get healthy, or at least eat super healthy. Well, super healthy compared to the way I'd been eating. I sort of became one of those annoying people who talk about calories and fat grams and the number of carbs in foods. I was annoying, but felt great! Then I went to the doctor for my six month blood work and all my numbers came back even worse. I pretty much said "'ef it" and went back to eating ice cream and potato chips. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">While my tastebuds may love chips and ice cream, my body doesn't. I can tell a difference in how I feel, and even how my brain doesn't function as well on all the salt and sugar. So screw the bloodwork numbers. I'm going to eat what physically makes me feel good. I'm back to eating healthy foods. Healthy foods plus a little more bread than I should probably have. Whatever. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJSkKD39NTZherEE8jYiOBOcnNlc-cUhvgPmw2m6P_mj9eOTtpw5YQPH-O8PbFF6EuJrVSpdZajsnwXg442UpHC93sZe0xJv4h9KOVb9n9lm3HVb8s5PAjqaSofCYLQXZYvwtFCN1KOFEFl8S_TsuFFRfSg1bFwPx9FC9e9lusFryAvODeePaXs6VUhXH/s259/bok%20choy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYJSkKD39NTZherEE8jYiOBOcnNlc-cUhvgPmw2m6P_mj9eOTtpw5YQPH-O8PbFF6EuJrVSpdZajsnwXg442UpHC93sZe0xJv4h9KOVb9n9lm3HVb8s5PAjqaSofCYLQXZYvwtFCN1KOFEFl8S_TsuFFRfSg1bFwPx9FC9e9lusFryAvODeePaXs6VUhXH/s1600/bok%20choy.jpg" width="259" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><p>Anyway, I'm trying to incorporate more vegetables into my diet. And I recently discovered bok choy. I think in my two years cashiering at the grocery store, only three people have bought it, but one of those three was going on about how versatile it is and how good it is for you so... I've been experimenting with bok choy recipes.</p></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My newest creation I'm calling Spicy Bok Choy. I thought it was delicious, and super simple. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Spicy Bok Choy</i></b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Mexican Chorizo<br />2 large carrots<br />1 large bunch of bok choy<br />1/4 cup chicken broth<br />1 tbsp olive oil</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Heat olive oil in a large pot and add Chorio. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Grate the carrots and add to pot.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Slice bok choy thinly and add to pot.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Add chicken broth and cover.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span style="font-size: medium;">Stirring frequently, cook until bok choy is softened.</span></i></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd never cooked with Chorizo before but yum! It's another one of those things I kept seeing people buy, but I'd never tried. I think I'll be adding it to a lot of dishes in the future.</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-53833283371929829802024-02-10T15:34:00.000-05:002024-02-10T15:34:05.154-05:00It's raining. Again.<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Goodness! It's been a wet winter. Sadly, we've had no real snow, but we have had 9+ inches of rain since the first of December. And it's raining again today. Good grief! I really shouldn't complain because we are now 'water front' rather than 'swamp mud' fronted. The view is definitely nicer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I've been knitting.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVDMfRC3RD_tM-fpd3jqpJd4p3E34HcW7PXxTVKxkMHFPnbRehprT5g7Khy383WlkGeq_2mumJIfVaNhVu-noWOqbigNti2rTQE_P40D1U4b5usCjxw44waVLAyBj6NYofopgoeBicOb-3hZxIEvbyoXr2mYeZm7-O6UJhXd0DZsyrTaDluISKRiA0SmL/s842/Rambling%20Rows%2002102024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVDMfRC3RD_tM-fpd3jqpJd4p3E34HcW7PXxTVKxkMHFPnbRehprT5g7Khy383WlkGeq_2mumJIfVaNhVu-noWOqbigNti2rTQE_P40D1U4b5usCjxw44waVLAyBj6NYofopgoeBicOb-3hZxIEvbyoXr2mYeZm7-O6UJhXd0DZsyrTaDluISKRiA0SmL/w320-h320/Rambling%20Rows%2002102024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">After finishing the brown striped socks, I pulled <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/jeanniegrayknits/rambling-rows-afghan">Rambling Rows</a> out of the UFO pile. According to Ravelry, I started this Cottage Creations blanket in April, 2020. I've knit a few of these blankets before and really like the pattern. It's super simple but the color changes keep you from getting bored, and best of all, the blocks are large-ish so there are only 100's of ends to weave in at the end instead of 1,000's. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The blanket is made up of multiple sizes of mitered squares and rectangles, it's super easy to knit and it's a great way to use up leftover yarns. For this version, I'm using fingering weight and it's going to be more of an oversized baby/lap blanket size. I'm thinking seriously of knitting another (or maybe 3 more) and sewing them together to form a blanket big enough for a large bed. But considering it's taken me four years to get this far.... probably not. But on a positive note, I'm on block 47 out of 55. Here's hoping I can stick with it and actually get it finished. </span> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9UyNlDj8AX4Tg_xPdHfw6JhAqGngjOXJ3xdtZ4jRWYvXTtrX_Q_5uO8smBQjptzFd7kVMJ32V548zhKY3FmEDiTo1wYAkUx9fZTKVWoaYDBfiSDdDg_FhTv_WLrtVADB-oAarQZVkZspu8sjIHH1fG14M0eKJa5WBFAtzjwKsV1Hr1IYwY5BAl_DqDWq/s776/4th%20July%20diamond%20painting%2002102024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="776" data-original-width="588" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9UyNlDj8AX4Tg_xPdHfw6JhAqGngjOXJ3xdtZ4jRWYvXTtrX_Q_5uO8smBQjptzFd7kVMJ32V548zhKY3FmEDiTo1wYAkUx9fZTKVWoaYDBfiSDdDg_FhTv_WLrtVADB-oAarQZVkZspu8sjIHH1fG14M0eKJa5WBFAtzjwKsV1Hr1IYwY5BAl_DqDWq/s320/4th%20July%20diamond%20painting%2002102024.jpg" width="242" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm really enjoying this 'finishing' thing. I finished the summer/4th of July diamond painting. I'm not really into the shiny/sparkley way the finished pieces look (although I LOVE my sparkley snowflake coasters) but I do enjoy attaching the diamond dots to the backing. It's so mindless and meditative. I went a little crazy last summer and ordered multiple coaster sets and three large seasonal designs. There's this one for summer, an autumn one with pumpkins, and a winter one with a snowman. They're all the same size and the idea is to buy one frame that I can move the diamond paintings in and out of seasonally. The goal is to finish one each quarter. We'll see how that goes.</span></p><span style="font-size: medium;">And, I finished the shawl.</span><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGJH8nMDhwVhQ49uE5YggO-JQEscSSG_uiqMIhu5RvU2eve_cINcAj06nM1rHt-_7mbEgd07Uz8LdQzOppvCpcq6D_LGsfNGDeB8lJ0KBFsmJIYInjFln2EWEGuXFb3NoyujULC7bIHgcQmlqrpvpYHbtdom-uzC_gb1Zv_TT28a7fyCjeC-mBCLv0lPw/s819/City%20Tweed%20Obsidian%20shawl%2002102024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="819" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGJH8nMDhwVhQ49uE5YggO-JQEscSSG_uiqMIhu5RvU2eve_cINcAj06nM1rHt-_7mbEgd07Uz8LdQzOppvCpcq6D_LGsfNGDeB8lJ0KBFsmJIYInjFln2EWEGuXFb3NoyujULC7bIHgcQmlqrpvpYHbtdom-uzC_gb1Zv_TT28a7fyCjeC-mBCLv0lPw/w320-h273/City%20Tweed%20Obsidian%20shawl%2002102024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I haven't blocked it and honestly, I may just skip that process entirely because the yarn is so soft and drapey as is. I used almost 5 full skeins of Obsidian <a href="<a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1435381&u=1446317&m=59159&urllink=&afftrack=">City Tweed DK</a>">City Tweed</a> and most of a skein of Snowbank. I didn't use a pattern, it's just a simple triangular, bottom up, garter stitch shawl. Easy peasy and now I have another item checked off the list and 6 skeins of yarn out of the stash pile. Win/win.</span><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy knitting!</span></p><p><br /></p></div>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-66489658379941775562024-02-04T11:39:00.000-05:002024-02-04T11:39:56.896-05:00Another Checkmark in the FO Column<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sorry this is a day late. I've got the Norovirus and well, it was impossible to accomplish anything yesterday. I don't remember ever being that sick before, but, the vomiting has stopped at least and I'm weighing 8 pounds less today than yesterday. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I moved another project from the WIP column to the FO column.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM99SIdkP5JaIxG1blpkB0AUBZY8ZI7eTiBqICFCkNmK1sKUZ0dH0xpFY48ZnTBVQSfJsQoChxbK_DkTiNj-rb9EKDpFrxugQoyn9stVOZ9PC997_1ssDnpf2iia0vgHpOV6F5ylxXu81QIqH2iD1FGqnhYGBKDCHpuR3PAsEmZnduQcGEyWnpsRzOjZ_6/s839/brown%20stirpe%20socks%2002032024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="839" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM99SIdkP5JaIxG1blpkB0AUBZY8ZI7eTiBqICFCkNmK1sKUZ0dH0xpFY48ZnTBVQSfJsQoChxbK_DkTiNj-rb9EKDpFrxugQoyn9stVOZ9PC997_1ssDnpf2iia0vgHpOV6F5ylxXu81QIqH2iD1FGqnhYGBKDCHpuR3PAsEmZnduQcGEyWnpsRzOjZ_6/w400-h400/brown%20stirpe%20socks%2002032024.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Actually, I'd finished the knitting weeks ago but the socks were still lounging around waiting to have the toes kitchnered. I used Paton KroySocks in the Brownies colorway. And no, they don't match perfectly but I don't care. Thankfully, I've never needed my socks to be matchy-matchy. It's a good thing because my feet are so big I have to use the whole skein. I can't be wasting yardage trying to get the starting point to match.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm really enjoying this 'get everything finished' goal. I thought I'd finish an old project, knit a new one, finish an old one, knit a new one... but it feels so good to get things finished and scratched off the list I just keep finishing things. Yay me!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-48354880069668994352024-01-27T16:23:00.000-05:002024-01-27T16:23:44.122-05:00Do you Sashiko?<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I found a new craft to obsess over. Sashiko.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Do you Sashiko? Okay, I'm not sure if the proper way of writing it is 'sashiko' or 'Sashiko.' Whatever. It's a Japanese form of stitching and honestly, I haven't done much research on its history. Facebook kept telling me I should join a Sashiko group and there was an interesting photo of someone's work and well, the rest is history. I'm hooked and totally obsessed. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Sashiko is basically a running stitch and the purists in the Facebook group get a little bent if you don't use the historically correct thread and fabric type, but there are plenty of folks in the group doing it their own way. Can you guess which group I'm in?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yep! I'm a non-conformist Sashikoer. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCtS4_XyHayj6cG71Qc12FWJxJBXro03yz8uxLm3CWKEZ6R-oiJTjg-DZRRIFPNbi9JUhN0DeajRIqsWyehvqjvyDXlAch-ms4W1fFn-EUcHBkJ3mlT7N42Rz5KeF6CrRkcdf5145Tp_cuxQFuZgUlRYyHrBUAnfvOqogYHlYZLMLoh6THHmQsod19vxq/s839/Sashiko%20Tumbling%20blocks%2001272024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="839" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCtS4_XyHayj6cG71Qc12FWJxJBXro03yz8uxLm3CWKEZ6R-oiJTjg-DZRRIFPNbi9JUhN0DeajRIqsWyehvqjvyDXlAch-ms4W1fFn-EUcHBkJ3mlT7N42Rz5KeF6CrRkcdf5145Tp_cuxQFuZgUlRYyHrBUAnfvOqogYHlYZLMLoh6THHmQsod19vxq/s320/Sashiko%20Tumbling%20blocks%2001272024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I only discovered Sashiko in October or November and I've already finished 3 pieces. The first was a totebag kit I got from Amazon. It was fun to stitch and went quickly. The second project was much bigger. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/546112470/sashiko-panel-tumbling-blocks-preprinted?click_key=d8ceee6160557d36c47bbb88b0f455049e353b66%3A546112470&click_sum=97ebaa7e&ga_search_query=tumbling%2Bblocks&ref=shop_items_search_1&sts=1" rel="nofollow">Tumbling Blocks</a> from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/kimonomomo?ref=shop-header-name&listing_id=546112470&from_page=listing">KimonoMomo</a> is partially pictured above. I had SO much fun stitching it and both the fabric and thread were SO much nicer to work with than the Amazon kit. KimonoMomo also had fantastic customer service. And no, I'm not affiliated with KimonoMomo other than being a very happy customer. So happy I ordered more pieces to stitch. ... And have about 6 more in my shopping cart.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I may enjoy Sashikoing even more than knitting!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But let's focus on Tumbling Blocks. That's only a tiny portion of the piece in the photo. I plan to turn it into a table runner and I've bought the fabric backing... from Michaels because I had a coupon. Of course, the fabric person at Michaels had no sewing knowledge and well, neither do I. I had planned to put a layer of felt/batting/something between the front and back so that it's not just floppy fabric laying on the table but the sales clerk suggested I not do that, specially since the inner piece/lining/whatever you want to call it won't be quilted. It will only be attached on the outside seams. So, assuming some of you are sew-ers (not sewers ha ha)/quilters, what would you reccomend? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I can't wait to have Tumbling Blocks finished and on the table.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy stitching!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-89440597722578563532024-01-20T16:42:00.000-05:002024-01-20T16:42:02.508-05:00I'm back???<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm back! I think. Maybe. I don't know. I don't want to pin myself down to feeling like I have to post X number of times a week but I have missed talking to myself about yarn. It's been almost a full year since I last posted. Hard to believe!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope you've been well. I'm ashamed to say I haven't kept up with anyone else's blog or even any form of social media. When I stopped blogging, I pretty much stopped internetting altogether.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So what have I been doing with my time? I'm still working at the grocery store. We are still living in my in-laws' house but it should be our house next week. Fingers crossed. They've been saying we'll close on the morgtage "next week" since two weeks before Christmas. We moved all the in-laws' stuff we didn't want to keep out and we moved all our stuff in from storage. Boy, was it nice to see my stuff again! Our stuff had been in storage for four years! Hayden, my granddaughter, is in pre-school and loving it. And of course, I've been crafting. I bought a loom and plan to be comfortable using it by the end of 2024. I've been doing a lot of diamond painting. It's delightfully tacky. Ha ha. Diamond painted things tend to be sparkley and I'm not really into sparkely artwork but I find the act of doing it to be very meditative and a little sparkle in my life won't kill me. And of course, I've been knitting. In 2023, I completed:</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">5 hats, </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">4 sweaters,<br />2 pair of mittens, <br />2 shawls, <br />8 pairs of socks,<br />5 blankets and<br />2 Christmas ornaments.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The sad thing about all that knitting is that it didn't even make a dent in my stash pile. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilxBSiHlfCd0uXu5exqLI0-xFyqzFDh-YFJVqhjvMAL_tPczveJ4PXmBgMpNk_pKVRaIURxBanAUkjNlDg4NMzc0snvClxQFca-gH9kCo7farIoO9_GzC-JA3j2U7JUPG45NbwpQdx8x3IiSClxt6eDePV2ixjd5Oaj4_zrvgVGrnRMCumVWKZGHaXPzd/s836/yarn%20bins%2001202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="836" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgilxBSiHlfCd0uXu5exqLI0-xFyqzFDh-YFJVqhjvMAL_tPczveJ4PXmBgMpNk_pKVRaIURxBanAUkjNlDg4NMzc0snvClxQFca-gH9kCo7farIoO9_GzC-JA3j2U7JUPG45NbwpQdx8x3IiSClxt6eDePV2ixjd5Oaj4_zrvgVGrnRMCumVWKZGHaXPzd/s320/yarn%20bins%2001202024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">One of my 2023 goals was to go 90 days without buying any new yarn. I didn't succeed with that goal. But, I made my last yarn purchase on October 7th and today marks 105 days without buying yarn! I am SO proud of myself! I've been feeling overwhelmed by the stash pile for quite a while. Years, really. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I finally cleaned out my closet (which is really a mini attic) the other day (on day 87) and tossed the old projects I had no intention of finishing and organized all the remaining yarn. All the bins won't even fit in the photo. I have 16 of them. And that's not counting the large cedar chest full that I can't even access because the chest has so much junk piled up on it. Actually, I'd forgotten about the cedar chest yarn until just now.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, to make a long story a little longer, my plan is to go 120 days without buying yarn. And then 150 days, then 180 days, and so on until I go a year without buying yarn. Unless of course I run out first, but the likelihood of that happening is about the same as me winning the lottery. The Big lottery.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXKy0A4eKLhIrmgfX6OMq4IH8lwkkRodiDY-Bq_byre_FBlhamq2-CPJOcFpilb-V9DEfuIlQdXjyiWH_uGX-hmZe-NmiHr7RUsqxvfHSABQsTVJAszEcP9Z-1yYJ01AaI0IhMpsCYoL09dqxxnTKtvK4lAFa3l1WgoEh6lY7eV5rNz94sxTtdc6gLiQ-/s238/black%20shawl%2001202024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="238" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHXKy0A4eKLhIrmgfX6OMq4IH8lwkkRodiDY-Bq_byre_FBlhamq2-CPJOcFpilb-V9DEfuIlQdXjyiWH_uGX-hmZe-NmiHr7RUsqxvfHSABQsTVJAszEcP9Z-1yYJ01AaI0IhMpsCYoL09dqxxnTKtvK4lAFa3l1WgoEh6lY7eV5rNz94sxTtdc6gLiQ-/w320-h320/black%20shawl%2001202024.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Another goal for 2024 is to finish all the WIPs I have. The 'rule' is I have to finish one WIP then I can knit anyting I want, then finish a WIP, and knit what I want.... rinse and repeat untill all the WIPs are finished. They may not all get finished in 2024 but there's hope. I was pretty ruthless when I was frogging/tossing old projects I knew I didn't like anymore.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Currently, I'm knitting a simple triangular shawl from the WIP pile. I'm using <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1435381&u=1446317&m=59159&urllink=&afftrack=">Obsidian City Tweed</a> from Knit Picks and a US 8 needle. I'm currently at that stage where the shawl is eating up yarn but not growing. Or at least it feels like it's not growing. I only have a few skeins left so it will soon go from WIP to FO status. Yay!</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;">And now, I'm going to go curl back up under my blanket and knit some more. Until next time, stay warm!</span></div>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-23149067775590581222023-04-09T06:30:00.001-04:002023-04-09T06:30:00.194-04:00Sunday Supper - Creamed Eggs on Toast<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #ffa400; font-size: x-large;">Happy Easter!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today's Sunday Supper <a href="https://copykat.com/creamed-eggs-toast/">recipe</a> is a great way to use up all those hard boiled eggs you found on your Easter egg hunt.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQfLioFzFgQU2zeXt03vr39rMT5Lc8znaZtnXCQOtbluKr5HMKfmPK6BdeS9q5BAb-JeL_WJ6F01bCADK8GAB5TH9nHbxCXelKqXfRb1YzURzd_25KO9dE2v7cSCo48Ez-lkdgNtZWH3ttxbD0XWMtNAFrwnmnqEyN_EO2SMULATEcayayZN-Eg_vhw/s735/Creamed-Eggs-Toast-FB1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="735" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsQfLioFzFgQU2zeXt03vr39rMT5Lc8znaZtnXCQOtbluKr5HMKfmPK6BdeS9q5BAb-JeL_WJ6F01bCADK8GAB5TH9nHbxCXelKqXfRb1YzURzd_25KO9dE2v7cSCo48Ez-lkdgNtZWH3ttxbD0XWMtNAFrwnmnqEyN_EO2SMULATEcayayZN-Eg_vhw/w400-h266/Creamed-Eggs-Toast-FB1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of CopyKat Recpies</div></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This recipe for <a href="https://copykat.com/creamed-eggs-toast/">creamed eggs on toast</a> from <a href="https://copykat.com/creamed-eggs-toast/">copykat.com</a> sounds easy enough and like a great way to use up those extra hard boiled eggs.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Enjoy!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-40673879926634590002023-04-07T06:30:00.001-04:002023-04-07T06:30:00.198-04:00Yikes!<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yikes!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I think I've made a decision. And I am both excited and terrified.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">As of today, my Etsy shop is closed and I no longer plan to blog on any kind of a routine schedule. For that matter, I don't really even intend to blog anymore. But you know me, I like to blather on about what I'm knitting so I may be back here sooner than expected.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And just in case I am making a HUGE mistake and instantly regret my decision, I'm going to put my Etsy shop on vacation rather than actually closing it. I'll still be on Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/jeannie.wiant">my personal page</a>) and maybe I'll even post more on Instagram. Maybe I'll even learn to TikTok, but I doubt it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Maybe I'll be back here sooner than expected. But I'll no longer be thinking of Jeannie Gray Knits as a business. Rather than a thing, Jeannie Gray Knits will simply be me knitting what I want, when I want, with the yarn I want. I won't be worrying about what customers want and what they are willing to pay for. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I've been thinking about this for a couple of months now. Actually, that's not true. I've been trying Not to think about it for a couple of months. You see, back in January, I signed up for a class to help me take Jeannie Gray Knits to a level that fully finanically supports me. And the class did what no other has done for me. It finally made me face the fact that Jeannie Gray Knits is not profitable, nor sustainable. At least not the way I've been doing it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, I'm retiring. I'm not quiting, I'm retiring. I'm going to go knit what I want, when I want and with what yarns I want. Instead of knitting for my Etsy shop, I'm going to knit for me, for my friends and family, and for the mutlitude of causes I've always wanted to knit for but never had time. I'm going to learn to garden, maybe learn a new craft, and maybe, just maybe, even clean the house! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm pretty excited about the idea. I'm also terrified I'm making a huge mistake. What on earth will I do with all the time I was spending on my business? I may actually have to clean the house just to fill the hours.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But if I am making a huge mistake, it's fixable. I'm not burning any bridges. I'm just going on (semi ??) permanent vacation. Thank you for sticking with me all these years. I'm sure I'll see you around the web... and maybe at a fiber festival or two. And maybe even back here in a few days when I panic because I suddenly have nothing to do but clean the house. Yikes!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-91541195079936526962023-04-02T06:30:00.001-04:002023-04-02T06:30:00.188-04:00Sunday Supper - Slow Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope you're a pork eater because we're going to be eating a LOT of pork over the next 800 years. LOL My grocery store keeps having Boston Butts on sale for half price and I keep buying them in multiples and tossing them in the freezer. Then because they are frozen, we never cook them. And this past week, they had pork roasts on sale. It was a big sale so I bought a ton of those too. Our freezer is now overflowing with pork. So...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05CaEYhWto_bFLgHbYJPJS0ovSYIZrzA4FoTmFwRS8jGfxc4cjSOyPgfQml-jq9rAfZUinJAtGeDxGR624kXzdP6AX6k0AmSdc0Ej-BiQukOYlcuQtm1NYihe8w0nvRmKfHLk89nsgzdihHsKXwqVRv3DmyvQChw5j8JGZUZF53hWQTqtUqmeihwnaw/s1500/slowcooker%20mississipi%20pork%20roast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05CaEYhWto_bFLgHbYJPJS0ovSYIZrzA4FoTmFwRS8jGfxc4cjSOyPgfQml-jq9rAfZUinJAtGeDxGR624kXzdP6AX6k0AmSdc0Ej-BiQukOYlcuQtm1NYihe8w0nvRmKfHLk89nsgzdihHsKXwqVRv3DmyvQChw5j8JGZUZF53hWQTqtUqmeihwnaw/w266-h400/slowcooker%20mississipi%20pork%20roast.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://therecipecritic.com/mississippi-pork-roast/">Slow Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast</a>. This recipe, from <a href="https://therecipecritic.com/mississippi-pork-roast/">therecipecritic.com</a> sounds really good and is super simple. It doesn't get much easier than dumping a few things into the slow cooker. The only difficult part is waiting for dinner time.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Now, if I can just remember to take one of those pork roasts out of the freezer...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Enjoy!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-89259254033096435812023-03-31T06:30:00.001-04:002023-03-31T06:30:00.216-04:00Hue Shift<p><span style="font-size: medium;"> I couldn't help myself.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSCWKJTqEvIh0bec6sIFuefqCL_ZqIY3g_6QW3Rbf1YBn2f6BU2zOT_c7XmGscsM8aesO1cnOpnbc9cFl-EXZBgYtj48pXmc07q61pYjEYeOynhYEoI5VSk9DLM8hCg3Rb_f3lxEJE7mtA2jLUH3ZlL7KtqZ2ipd2pXItbTsCyBmdgrKf8RDFHm5JYg/s875/Hue%20Shift%2003272023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="875" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSCWKJTqEvIh0bec6sIFuefqCL_ZqIY3g_6QW3Rbf1YBn2f6BU2zOT_c7XmGscsM8aesO1cnOpnbc9cFl-EXZBgYtj48pXmc07q61pYjEYeOynhYEoI5VSk9DLM8hCg3Rb_f3lxEJE7mtA2jLUH3ZlL7KtqZ2ipd2pXItbTsCyBmdgrKf8RDFHm5JYg/w400-h400/Hue%20Shift%2003272023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I had to start the Hue Shift afghan. I just couldn't stand to wait any longer.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNHI-cEuvvUIRWLF9AdV3N2sQPmcraLAAt0SGlK1svPQ8uHbvxI4YV-POj-EMsWKQ3yl4hVM1C5aP9fhL2PEBeZzyrAuKYs5j0r423UsuPuA5m1g2Jts0uZgmfVCXtfe-x-z-BpnOIqrbdcnOHx3YrHDRbWxBTzlwnX0TmDsxosZP6hetTsJIgbKM_A/s320/hue%20shift%20from%20Knit%20Picks.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="320" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYNHI-cEuvvUIRWLF9AdV3N2sQPmcraLAAt0SGlK1svPQ8uHbvxI4YV-POj-EMsWKQ3yl4hVM1C5aP9fhL2PEBeZzyrAuKYs5j0r423UsuPuA5m1g2Jts0uZgmfVCXtfe-x-z-BpnOIqrbdcnOHx3YrHDRbWxBTzlwnX0TmDsxosZP6hetTsJIgbKM_A/w400-h400/hue%20shift%20from%20Knit%20Picks.webp" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Hue Shift is a mitered square blanket knit with <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1435375&u=1446317&m=59159&urllink=&afftrack=">Brava from Knit Picks</a>. Or at least, mine is. The pattern also includes instructions for using <a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1435416&u=1446317&m=59159&urllink=&afftrack=">Mighty Stitch</a> yarn. Knit Picks sells <a href="https://shrsl.com/403pv">kits</a> with several different color combinations and there's even a crochet kit. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The blanket is knit in four sections that you can arrange in different ways before sewing them together to get completely different looks. I'm a little concerned about my ability to power through this blanket without putting it aside to knit something else but, the frequent color changes will keep it interesting and as luck would have it, the last section contains my favorite colors. I'm hoping that motivates me to keep knitting.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4plxh3B02ZiLq3rZmVyfSSdKohxKNMEhR_sQqZZHb0HGBd7VmqLdTVHG5TlOM2Ge91YuACi1ZANEzOoH8XM_57TIg0yKOCfpExhBlXupcBZmk9ACfCpze-hMdV134JceYRVDuWwufBV-nTl0asmA3-MNIDollaQbl_bP1RO6hphKKLRHA87ZnsI_-w/s876/Hayden%20funnu%20face%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="876" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4plxh3B02ZiLq3rZmVyfSSdKohxKNMEhR_sQqZZHb0HGBd7VmqLdTVHG5TlOM2Ge91YuACi1ZANEzOoH8XM_57TIg0yKOCfpExhBlXupcBZmk9ACfCpze-hMdV134JceYRVDuWwufBV-nTl0asmA3-MNIDollaQbl_bP1RO6hphKKLRHA87ZnsI_-w/w400-h400/Hayden%20funnu%20face%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, Hayden keeps me in stitches by making funny faces.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfohZYRTL-fo9E0iWv_GwgYmXFh1JVVluhRvS4G3mhIGWjKKprH-5assfR8b4haiYkhCJqtD9QImQ5EyPhQhxWeLIk3pf1oWjt-Sc60Sr0OTNzHy2psfLll9o_qtrCJKzbJO74zAEgDZzqoisvaDd8iG8wvO4iQK00Dy2zX6aHRYtaAgT7y9cOicZLA/s876/Hayden%20funny%20face%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="876" data-original-width="876" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfohZYRTL-fo9E0iWv_GwgYmXFh1JVVluhRvS4G3mhIGWjKKprH-5assfR8b4haiYkhCJqtD9QImQ5EyPhQhxWeLIk3pf1oWjt-Sc60Sr0OTNzHy2psfLll9o_qtrCJKzbJO74zAEgDZzqoisvaDd8iG8wvO4iQK00Dy2zX6aHRYtaAgT7y9cOicZLA/w400-h400/Hayden%20funny%20face%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy knitting!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-6152148145171542922023-03-26T06:30:00.001-04:002023-03-26T06:30:00.185-04:00Sunday Supper - Moroccan Carrots<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybeSaC-9IM-j30Z_JyuNsLOpiBCHficoOGn1ceQB8IC7Jtv-8NdS3Oth1zexUwu3QLsFJAAwq_TseZG1GDrrf18lYZokI7pYgijodcYqHcprJFbPpQU9S1V3_Nzi2q-mfSVgbIlX58DCeEvtRrl_cO7xlAeMEHaBhO3UZucGD9-BJs-WMVy0fEqxj1Q/s1800/Moroccan%20Carrots%20from%20goodhousekeeping%20dot%20com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiybeSaC-9IM-j30Z_JyuNsLOpiBCHficoOGn1ceQB8IC7Jtv-8NdS3Oth1zexUwu3QLsFJAAwq_TseZG1GDrrf18lYZokI7pYgijodcYqHcprJFbPpQU9S1V3_Nzi2q-mfSVgbIlX58DCeEvtRrl_cO7xlAeMEHaBhO3UZucGD9-BJs-WMVy0fEqxj1Q/w266-h400/Moroccan%20Carrots%20from%20goodhousekeeping%20dot%20com.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/healthy/a44178/moroccan-carrots/">goodhousekeeping.com</a></div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today's Sunday Supper recipe is for <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/healthy/a44178/moroccan-carrots/">Good Housekeeping's</a> <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/healthy/a44178/moroccan-carrots/">Moroccan Carrots</a>. Easter is right around the corner and what with the diabetes diagnosis and all, I'm trying to focus on carrots, not candy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">This <a href="https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/healthy/a44178/moroccan-carrots/">recipe</a> not only sounds delicious but also quick and simple.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Enjoy!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-43466976476808544732023-03-24T06:30:00.001-04:002023-03-24T06:30:00.240-04:00Northern Lights<p><span style="font-size: medium;">I probably should have titled this post Everything But Knitting. Oh well.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I spent most of my time off from work this past week doing yard work. Last summer we thought we were moving and so we didn't exactly keep the flower beds in tip top shape. But since we've decided to stay here (Have I mentioned that? Yes, we decided to buy out my brother-in-law's half of my MIL's house and stay put. I'm very happy not to have to move.)... Anyway... Since we've decided to stay and take ownership, Sarah and I are doing our best to take back control of the yard. It's going to take us 100 years I fear.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXSFanBmxT56PDtsjkTmijkb3omQ-lTWli1uxiuq4g6vbffOhk6U2CVw74Q1chA6VVZkHl7ZU5la5LaU3gekXLhbWZJpZRVzSiZX_LDUWTA1lUsx0ievApuotcmGTHJaYkw79i-z0QGnY-ZTKkVxvVPW9mm5dKM_JOWHmlc8zDUHyaI5RMMwjJMwcoA/s875/northern%20lights%20sock%20032323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="875" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXSFanBmxT56PDtsjkTmijkb3omQ-lTWli1uxiuq4g6vbffOhk6U2CVw74Q1chA6VVZkHl7ZU5la5LaU3gekXLhbWZJpZRVzSiZX_LDUWTA1lUsx0ievApuotcmGTHJaYkw79i-z0QGnY-ZTKkVxvVPW9mm5dKM_JOWHmlc8zDUHyaI5RMMwjJMwcoA/s320/northern%20lights%20sock%20032323.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The point of that story was, I haven't gotten much knitting done. I haven't even touched the Winterfest sweater but the first Northern Lights Patons Kroy Sock sock is almost finished. I've knit a little more than pictured and have started the toe decreases. I'm 99.99999% sure I will run out of yarn before the toe is long enough but I have some coordinating yarn and it will just have to have a weird looking toe. I'm okay with weird toes.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSZhIYNB6b7rQdWrz343vOOnS_gb7HTznlztdvDza_CFxrLEP_L5D9MVGU1m2MX6nAFFDQqXYlHlFyK0jjgj7ROOwZnYgc9oi6gZs9Ztl-IPwvuWksbawXleonBvr8tDiAmx1rIUAw6dELWF8CPmw6v5c4K5yt_JTOR7wBDELpiwA6KojnjmdP3rb5A/s875/bee%20likes%20coffee%20032323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="875" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiSZhIYNB6b7rQdWrz343vOOnS_gb7HTznlztdvDza_CFxrLEP_L5D9MVGU1m2MX6nAFFDQqXYlHlFyK0jjgj7ROOwZnYgc9oi6gZs9Ztl-IPwvuWksbawXleonBvr8tDiAmx1rIUAw6dELWF8CPmw6v5c4K5yt_JTOR7wBDELpiwA6KojnjmdP3rb5A/w400-h400/bee%20likes%20coffee%20032323.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday was GORGEOUS and a perfect day to spend parked on the deck with my knititng and a book. Books actually. I'm also reading Stephen King's Fairytail but that one's on my Kindle and I read until the battery died. The day was so beautiful my bee friend stopped by for a visit. I was surprised how interested in my non-sweetened black coffee he was.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1g37e7r94j_yOkeMcigUfMui8gyAsZ0hE3e4Gh6yqxqCq2pFMUDZKqyeynnIk1Y7KSuO1lSmp15uF5iBN5SOkc0fS58IiwmsmVCvWQzJiF6Slmhanfo5Exhtt6cI2HM_ZmctFdMVcprUmg-8acd3GGLfRO5YA1XeVZJ9KCEXIr_CcyRFXXVxzQk0_w/s874/weeping%20pussy%20willow%20tree%20032323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="652" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1g37e7r94j_yOkeMcigUfMui8gyAsZ0hE3e4Gh6yqxqCq2pFMUDZKqyeynnIk1Y7KSuO1lSmp15uF5iBN5SOkc0fS58IiwmsmVCvWQzJiF6Slmhanfo5Exhtt6cI2HM_ZmctFdMVcprUmg-8acd3GGLfRO5YA1XeVZJ9KCEXIr_CcyRFXXVxzQk0_w/w299-h400/weeping%20pussy%20willow%20tree%20032323.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I can't wait until the danger of frost has past. I bought this weeping pussy willow tree from the grocery store and expected to kill it the first week I owned it, but it's producing leaves like crazy. I think it just might survive. I'm pretty excited about this little tree. It's supposed to grow to seven feet tall and eight feet in diameter. I've always loved weeping willows and my mom loved pussy willows so... And since we live on the edge of a swamp, it shouldn't be a problem that this plant's roots search out water sources. It should be very happy here.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROxhf9wrREijtlyMmPfUtArp1fxin-X1eOW4jv2XS0ETZWngdYNTaXv4SMD2Fczm7HI9uMo38RWcBU8A2XsXnyv38Tv4-BV7O8bObZlLWjWHoI8CxBI5Yne3MsUcfRph2ioojITtEXd2YIbg6u5moKHOogPlrNeH2NvTbLmxIf2znZQDbwe9ebbdRLA/s875/teddy%20and%20the%20cone%20of%20shame.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="875" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROxhf9wrREijtlyMmPfUtArp1fxin-X1eOW4jv2XS0ETZWngdYNTaXv4SMD2Fczm7HI9uMo38RWcBU8A2XsXnyv38Tv4-BV7O8bObZlLWjWHoI8CxBI5Yne3MsUcfRph2ioojITtEXd2YIbg6u5moKHOogPlrNeH2NvTbLmxIf2znZQDbwe9ebbdRLA/w400-h400/teddy%20and%20the%20cone%20of%20shame.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The poor dog has taken up a bit of time this week too. He hurt his paw and he's been having some tummy problems so he's stuck wearing the cone of shame and he's enjoying a diet of nothing but chicken and rice. The problem comes in that he struggles to eat with the cone on and gets rice EVERYWHERE! He's one of those dogs who likes to take their food out of the bowl, put it on the floor, then eat it. Except now, the cone knocks the rice every which way and if we take the cone off, he eats his foot instead of his food. We are now having to sweep the entire downstairs about 8 times a day. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb0M9kSVDaN1VBLUy3RObVeL6-vrIQJ9boz-V4wmozGL-MCGgtwh0_T8hU6saz1Qdw3PtYw-Unb07AqMuMljzJbt_YotOEmDpBrZYiG8lB5bYIZ-0lznmuIJEC3CCKVfcndTxlL79LIdp2P--6BRFPmzvzw3sthtVrB3b8YvsL_y_zm-v-4FbvDg-wg/s800/Haydens%203rd%20birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="800" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBb0M9kSVDaN1VBLUy3RObVeL6-vrIQJ9boz-V4wmozGL-MCGgtwh0_T8hU6saz1Qdw3PtYw-Unb07AqMuMljzJbt_YotOEmDpBrZYiG8lB5bYIZ-0lznmuIJEC3CCKVfcndTxlL79LIdp2P--6BRFPmzvzw3sthtVrB3b8YvsL_y_zm-v-4FbvDg-wg/w400-h365/Haydens%203rd%20birthday.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And most exciting, Hayden turned three recently. My husband and I weren't able to attend her actual birthday party so we threw her a simple dinner and cake party. She was pretty excited about the cake.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And now, I'm off to finish that sock before I have to go to work this afternoon.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Happy Knitting!</span></p><p><br /></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-14865005309664750312023-03-19T06:30:00.001-04:002023-03-19T06:30:00.183-04:00Sunday Supper - Pear Halloumi Skewers in Chili Sauce<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today's Sunday Supper is for the vegetarians.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6ZyIPIccAu3NYhCJAB1xaXQ8CkQwUnaUvl0znR1vODFoXZ1JVlR7mGAO-puSv63a0EhVZX62lB1onZey47XKtpWREM2Q9ntTlzzmTySNQipCBsaRB6DkgSg_1AWsxMS4WYIrzcxn6eV1mc0wRGm7b-c5GrRbkm7WF1LEEuKCW0sTmN2gkzK5jEbdAw/s600/pear_skewers-16-600x472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="600" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ6ZyIPIccAu3NYhCJAB1xaXQ8CkQwUnaUvl0znR1vODFoXZ1JVlR7mGAO-puSv63a0EhVZX62lB1onZey47XKtpWREM2Q9ntTlzzmTySNQipCBsaRB6DkgSg_1AWsxMS4WYIrzcxn6eV1mc0wRGm7b-c5GrRbkm7WF1LEEuKCW0sTmN2gkzK5jEbdAw/w400-h315/pear_skewers-16-600x472.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://fruitsandveggies.org/recipes/pear-halloumi-skewers-with-chili-sauce/">fruitsandveggies.org</a></div></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">While I'm not ready to go full vegetarian, I have been making a huge effort to eat many, many more vegetables than I used to. And so, I bring you <a href="https://fruitsandveggies.org/recipes/pear-halloumi-skewers-with-chili-sauce/">Pear Halloumi Skewers in Chili Sauce</a>. The recipe comes from <a href="https://fruitsandveggies.org/recipes/pear-halloumi-skewers-with-chili-sauce/">fruitsandveggies.org</a> and sounds delicious.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'll admit, I had to Google Halloumi. I'd never heard of it and according to Google, my American friends probably know it as "grilling cheese." I'm glad the recipe didn't call it by the American name because I would have assumed they meant Kraft American cheese. I obviously don't have exotic tastes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Enjoy!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-64091332722521564682023-03-17T06:30:00.001-04:002023-03-17T06:30:00.205-04:00Happy St. Patrick's Day!<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you for all the <a href="https://jeanniegrayknits.blogspot.com/2023/03/picot.html">picot</a> sympathy and support. Day four was the magic number. I pretty much did nothing but picot bindoff all day long and got the shawl finished. I still haven't blocked it, but I will - soon. And then I'll show it off.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The <a href="https://jeanniegrayknits.blogspot.com/2023/02/winterfest.html">Winterfest sweater</a> sleeve-fest continues. And continues and continues. I'm still on the first half of the first sleeve. It's a bit of a slog. My sized sleeves in fingering weight, on US 1 needles, in dark gray makes for some mighty slow knitting. But I am making progress. I imagine my need for a wool sweater is probably over for the season so I'm not stressing over it.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprabJECdb1DIQUDap6wdE3LPbM4CMwcNspZF-MK7giUP1oTGbS9umJO1F1B9o1WE174FEzxnVUb--pabMJwZABeFlybtROpr2jLWlVb8dQceW1YURxieCXWCipi9KvrB86WowpQ8fNL6XDK52XGt-9VimRJYRfNzuwremVDf7W8x3xs7sZdJhLBPc_A/s832/northern%20lights%20sock%2003162023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="830" data-original-width="832" height="399" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprabJECdb1DIQUDap6wdE3LPbM4CMwcNspZF-MK7giUP1oTGbS9umJO1F1B9o1WE174FEzxnVUb--pabMJwZABeFlybtROpr2jLWlVb8dQceW1YURxieCXWCipi9KvrB86WowpQ8fNL6XDK52XGt-9VimRJYRfNzuwremVDf7W8x3xs7sZdJhLBPc_A/w400-h399/northern%20lights%20sock%2003162023.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When I get too bored with the Winterfest sleeve knitting, I switch to Northern Lights socks. The yarn is Patons Kroy Socks, which, as cheap sock yarn goes, I love. The color in the photo is fairly accurate except that the really dark stripe that looks black on my screen is actually a deep purply maroon. I'm totally in love with it.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaV_myVw34a2qocBkr_RZZye7HpWf3Yb8FN-xxnYLu_HHPrQIH2z-6NWTRQCFsoR09wRkpy6Mqn0jYpqL4ckXHz6dScHpxtUUlDP7dd3kdH-ZpxxsL7AzVR76k9Am0ei1EXnBwhpZ4H0M44qHMTiAZ5OLENiSZPFLlziaTX1edxQsQ1FjgtftFkKYfw/s721/bird%20feeder.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="721" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSaV_myVw34a2qocBkr_RZZye7HpWf3Yb8FN-xxnYLu_HHPrQIH2z-6NWTRQCFsoR09wRkpy6Mqn0jYpqL4ckXHz6dScHpxtUUlDP7dd3kdH-ZpxxsL7AzVR76k9Am0ei1EXnBwhpZ4H0M44qHMTiAZ5OLENiSZPFLlziaTX1edxQsQ1FjgtftFkKYfw/w400-h351/bird%20feeder.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But what I'm in love with most is my new light-up birdfeeder. It's solar powered and lights up in the dark. I absolutely love it! If you love it too and want one of your own, you can find it <a href="https://www.amazon.com/SWEETFULL-Outdoors-Cardinals-Resistance-birdfeeders/dp/B0963H5F8B/ref=sr_1_4?crid=14U8Q20591XYT&keywords=SWEETFULL+Solar+Bird+Feeder&qid=1679015064&s=lawn-garden&sprefix=sweetfull+solar+bird+feeder%2Clawngarden%2C164&sr=1-4">here on Amazon</a>. (And no, I'm not affiliated. Just really, really happy with mine.)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;">Happy St. Patrick's Day!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguticaM854Vw9Nlshnp6YHh3v1YU-AIIFwkqLHdwVJk_It5ov5JqF4iqwEMqOZerIZZgkdS6ad6To2kFJi9P0S3lqNPT9DS196-qz4Gt_BTAqeXaSvS9JKdTuG8fbjHzzcWS1kyxCoiToNUkjwgA3RfLqVZV8RuWtqTBjcOFNOITfPD_GdTVlZvNVH-Q/s225/shamrock.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguticaM854Vw9Nlshnp6YHh3v1YU-AIIFwkqLHdwVJk_It5ov5JqF4iqwEMqOZerIZZgkdS6ad6To2kFJi9P0S3lqNPT9DS196-qz4Gt_BTAqeXaSvS9JKdTuG8fbjHzzcWS1kyxCoiToNUkjwgA3RfLqVZV8RuWtqTBjcOFNOITfPD_GdTVlZvNVH-Q/s1600/shamrock.png" width="225" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p><br /></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-42391766380931652042023-03-12T06:30:00.001-04:002023-03-12T06:30:00.191-04:00Sunday Supper - Spicey Beef Stew<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Did I ever mention that I got a new Instant Pot for Christmas to replace the one that got cooked in the oven? Yeah, I know. If you are new here and didn't hear that original story.... my first Instant Pot suffered a horrible, horrible death and I'm still, three years later, a little angry about it. But I finally have a replacement and I'm over the moon happy about it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">So... That was a long way of saying today's Sunday Supper recipe is geared towards using the Instant Pot.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwsDaNmO8DM3Ho1GZK9nC4AAELMS0hwIeb9pzGGUT_rYMYLrLCycmUR8I7ad_pRVe_skXjTNdMZELC0VD0mHB3YgO3k0CjR4ksw3OgiClEstSKh-i1FzGbB1xdXdTulW0M6RHRFAnRknm0ZztRzabHmtn0UJo_r_mr_xR_YORAzL0RDulNbPbnNAcAA/s1200/Spicy-Beef-Vegetable-Stew_taste%20of%20home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwsDaNmO8DM3Ho1GZK9nC4AAELMS0hwIeb9pzGGUT_rYMYLrLCycmUR8I7ad_pRVe_skXjTNdMZELC0VD0mHB3YgO3k0CjR4ksw3OgiClEstSKh-i1FzGbB1xdXdTulW0M6RHRFAnRknm0ZztRzabHmtn0UJo_r_mr_xR_YORAzL0RDulNbPbnNAcAA/w400-h400/Spicy-Beef-Vegetable-Stew_taste%20of%20home.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pressure-cooker-spicy-beef-vegetable-stew/">tasteofhome.com</a></div></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pressure-cooker-spicy-beef-vegetable-stew/">Spicey Beef Stew</a> from <a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pressure-cooker-spicy-beef-vegetable-stew/">Taste of Home</a>, cooked in the Instant Pot. It's fast, it's easy, it uses simple ingredients and best of all, it falls well within my diabetic low-carb guidelines. Yum!</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Enjoy!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-86362719370288922432023-03-10T06:30:00.001-05:002023-03-10T06:30:00.212-05:00Picot<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUR7gUjVTQFREmnEicSx4yzNVJVdzXG8xwJsvt79Bt7nJSaO8kMjj8tRqokFHq290BPRuxTkJb-MKG0TYku8l7XZLXGX3SF8svqNkgHyuIug4mckoqBFodgTyGGDMjCZbkt0w4ebztHRPWCllOZMbn1XLOFiZ7HJTmOKwfr-dEi9_6obwkbnCMN_lxg/s875/picot%20bindoff%20030823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="875" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUR7gUjVTQFREmnEicSx4yzNVJVdzXG8xwJsvt79Bt7nJSaO8kMjj8tRqokFHq290BPRuxTkJb-MKG0TYku8l7XZLXGX3SF8svqNkgHyuIug4mckoqBFodgTyGGDMjCZbkt0w4ebztHRPWCllOZMbn1XLOFiZ7HJTmOKwfr-dEi9_6obwkbnCMN_lxg/w400-h400/picot%20bindoff%20030823.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Why did I ever think a picot bindoff on this shawl was a good idea?</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKmoCKC7VZCPZcnVeg6pRaLWZdpa8pO2DDFG6oiY6XYPz7XZRdAnojgrdwW0m8FYDV8HJBtcWu1gw9xpUOpt7YajBEn9cxIPAepbI04HRhMFwl2zJskoiAlcYlpS40XnWsEsv9wPhUd853diWTu0lhidPt3JRwA9QU46pOUmn0TV77cJutyLp4FKPrA/s875/picot%20bindoff%20030923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="875" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKmoCKC7VZCPZcnVeg6pRaLWZdpa8pO2DDFG6oiY6XYPz7XZRdAnojgrdwW0m8FYDV8HJBtcWu1gw9xpUOpt7YajBEn9cxIPAepbI04HRhMFwl2zJskoiAlcYlpS40XnWsEsv9wPhUd853diWTu0lhidPt3JRwA9QU46pOUmn0TV77cJutyLp4FKPrA/w400-h400/picot%20bindoff%20030923.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I'm on day four of binding off this shawl and I have just gotten to the midpoint. Good grief! Granted, I've had work and our washing machine broke so I spent yesterday doing my laundry at a friend's house instead of knitting but still.... Four days to reach the halfway point! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Despite my poor choice of bindoff... I'm loving this shawl. I love the color combo and the <a href="https://shrsl.com/3xkcq">yarn</a>... The yarn is Knit Pick's <a href="https://shrsl.com/3xkcq">Capretta</a> which is a merino and cashmere blend. It's incredibly soft and wonderful to knit with. I can't say enough good things about this yarn. I'm totally smitten with it. As much as I want to be done with that picot bindoff, I will be sad to stop knitting with this yarn.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And as much as I'm complaining about the picot bindoff, I really do like the look of it. I can't wait to finish the shawl and get it blocked. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">...And then you can hear me complain about pinning all those little picot points. 😊</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Meanwhile, my granddaughter likes to help me feed the birds.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVKy2tJF7yZgYoJ8ai5Y_MlsF7-eSmLAHyyVCte7rfjvqiEJwUxsDCnZsrMzxICYKMov5EZTqJAuSsyROUNoVn_e0uv60Oa850cxHAmq3XWhCMlCM56rqfRHATUl8XWtCERRa5Da8a-wjQyFS0qsI4kzO_YnpB9GoJI-9EUz_jqNOpwgw6kAgujKTJg/s595/hayden%20feeding%20birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="528" data-original-width="595" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVKy2tJF7yZgYoJ8ai5Y_MlsF7-eSmLAHyyVCte7rfjvqiEJwUxsDCnZsrMzxICYKMov5EZTqJAuSsyROUNoVn_e0uv60Oa850cxHAmq3XWhCMlCM56rqfRHATUl8XWtCERRa5Da8a-wjQyFS0qsI4kzO_YnpB9GoJI-9EUz_jqNOpwgw6kAgujKTJg/w400-h355/hayden%20feeding%20birds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">While I fill the hanging feeders, she feeds the big birds on the ground.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I can't belive Hayden is about to turn three. Where does the time go?</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-40890613345857002272023-03-05T06:30:00.000-05:002023-03-05T06:30:00.178-05:00Sunday Supper - Spaghetti Squash Meatball Casserole<p><span style="font-size: medium;">So, we're on a diet. I don't think I've mentioned it before but my A1C levels hit full blown diabetes in early February. And my doctor, being the meany that he is, is making me 'fix' it with diet rather than pills. And yes, I know that that's best. I know if he gave me pills, I'd continue to eat the cake and cookies and just keep taking more and more pills. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I know this way is best. In fact, it's already working. I'm sticking to the diabetic diet and have already lost 7 pounds in 15 days. But I'm also still seriously jonesing for cookies and cake and I'm mean. I mean, I am MEAN! Sugar/carb withdrawl is not for the faint of heart and it doesn't help that I'm working at a grocery store and surrounded by carts full of cookies, cakes and Little Debbie products. So yeah, I'm a little mean at the moment. And I'm blaming my poor doctor instead of blaming myself for allowing myself to get to this point.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The point is, Sunday Suppers are about to get slightly more healthy.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5JREf2vs-hw26RBWwLUWLZ9xMiexcxmiFxHXsIY7z15HDCgTSvPtqCDy6GQ13XI4IjlHJ0hMdQ7zyeaM4kUx6LxmZDAS6vXjHY_ofc-gAo0u2nK7T94FJY0wiHRcgUEjjwBBuG9H4g6aI1r9runxTAMNizqI8D2LcJH62jTc8iV6as-8xObq1-70uQ/s1200/Spaghetti-Squash-Meatball-Casserole_%20taste%20of%20home%20dot%20com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5JREf2vs-hw26RBWwLUWLZ9xMiexcxmiFxHXsIY7z15HDCgTSvPtqCDy6GQ13XI4IjlHJ0hMdQ7zyeaM4kUx6LxmZDAS6vXjHY_ofc-gAo0u2nK7T94FJY0wiHRcgUEjjwBBuG9H4g6aI1r9runxTAMNizqI8D2LcJH62jTc8iV6as-8xObq1-70uQ/w400-h400/Spaghetti-Squash-Meatball-Casserole_%20taste%20of%20home%20dot%20com.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/spaghetti-squash-meatball-casserole/">tasteofhome.com</a></div></span><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today's Sunday Supper recipe is for a <a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/spaghetti-squash-meatball-casserole/">spaghetti squash meatball casserole</a> from <a href="https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/spaghetti-squash-meatball-casserole/">Taste of Home</a>. The photo makes it look like yummy comfort food. We will see.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">And yes, I realize I'm struggling with a bit of an attitude. I really don't know why. I've eaten within my carb limits every day since I started the diabetic diet (15 days ago) and I have enjoyed every single thing I've eaten so far. I like zucchini 'noodles' and I'm enjoying all the vegetables I've been eating. I'm actually a little bit proud of myself and the way I've been eating for the last 15 days. Heck, the diet is even helping my finances. According to my credit card statement, my grocery bill for February was $190 less than normal. My body feels better. I already have more energy and just feel better in general. Or at least my physical body does. But mentally, I really do miss plates full of mounded up mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, not to mention all those cookies and cakes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">If any of you are on diabetic diets and have cookbooks or websites you recommend, please send them my way.</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-38440539174343620042023-03-03T06:30:00.001-05:002023-03-03T06:30:00.200-05:00As Promised<p><span style="font-size: medium;">As promised, I present...</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNIWY-FxeVCab0szID2Ty6RNLjMZS99My69B-U1XhJ59xcU1rgqPxCx7j4nQZpAXC9jbim1Xeepsra5E0NKFVSWbWNi7X5jsAw4X3yR7-OBy9naL0yhIu2ORC-98473sPGe1N0j_J5idWCkiYFXy3lYMadoaKyVV1cbcp_hY8x8XJlrwy-BR21IjFdw/s872/pumpkin%20sweater%2003022023%201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="872" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBNIWY-FxeVCab0szID2Ty6RNLjMZS99My69B-U1XhJ59xcU1rgqPxCx7j4nQZpAXC9jbim1Xeepsra5E0NKFVSWbWNi7X5jsAw4X3yR7-OBy9naL0yhIu2ORC-98473sPGe1N0j_J5idWCkiYFXy3lYMadoaKyVV1cbcp_hY8x8XJlrwy-BR21IjFdw/w400-h400/pumpkin%20sweater%2003022023%201.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The <a href="https://www.ravelry.com/projects/jeanniegrayknits/pumpkin-patch-sweater">Pumpkin Sweater</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The pattern was great. Well written and fun to knit.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsiZXhP01fQ0aY3xQJ8zoKhv6yRV7bwdevQKCDkVtlQhUDrWFTdmpH8PhOP4tCeO4X956KuhS2JROzzZOrLwsfGxXHvN5OIE35hlHmsz4nBKiriugfi8ZGtW1c4QZO4q7BlG2HeCYpAwsC2_TafsjJ5Uad_EXyAffglhwqW2lqTb8YWzkLeDhrYOqYw/s872/pumpkin%20sweater%2003022023%202.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="872" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsiZXhP01fQ0aY3xQJ8zoKhv6yRV7bwdevQKCDkVtlQhUDrWFTdmpH8PhOP4tCeO4X956KuhS2JROzzZOrLwsfGxXHvN5OIE35hlHmsz4nBKiriugfi8ZGtW1c4QZO4q7BlG2HeCYpAwsC2_TafsjJ5Uad_EXyAffglhwqW2lqTb8YWzkLeDhrYOqYw/w400-h400/pumpkin%20sweater%2003022023%202.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">The problems came in with my knitting. Or more like, my decision not to fix the knitting problems as they occurred.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQuBdy_BwoT0G84ZkoqlAPKeE0LlKKoGocg6aW5rn-WnBeOgvokl9YBMHeaC_txjVaHf_V1TWKYZj0ZDtPg_5TDUU7ev3ZUteEkwPKxmwVbYwkltA-Z4BFs7Y4OIygjmivd43hKZWQYrhEGCX_y9GXdZNWxnzWXaoXeSKSuZryqQjUAUjMqedgEiR-g/s872/pumpkin%20sweater%2003022023%203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="872" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWQuBdy_BwoT0G84ZkoqlAPKeE0LlKKoGocg6aW5rn-WnBeOgvokl9YBMHeaC_txjVaHf_V1TWKYZj0ZDtPg_5TDUU7ev3ZUteEkwPKxmwVbYwkltA-Z4BFs7Y4OIygjmivd43hKZWQYrhEGCX_y9GXdZNWxnzWXaoXeSKSuZryqQjUAUjMqedgEiR-g/w400-h400/pumpkin%20sweater%2003022023%203.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Whoever invented the saying, "That'll block right out." should be shot. Botched increase rows and major gauge issues rarely block out.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I ended up with a slight 'ruffle' running down the back due to the botched increase rows. I kept being a stitch short when I got to the end of the increase rows so I'd just throw an extra one in... and it caused a ruffle effect. My solution is to never cut my hair and always wear it down whenever I wear the sweater. Problem solved.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The other issue is the sleeves. They feel like I'm wearing compression sleeves. Very, very tight compression sleeves. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I used the same size dpn on the sleeves as the circular needle I used for the body. Same manufacturer, needles made from the same material. But for some reason, the sleeve gauge is WAY tighter than the body's gauge. I noticed the gauge difference after only knitting an inch or two of the first sleeve but rather than do something about it, I decided it would block right out.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Yeah.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">But that's okay because I get to try again. This sweater was for my daughter but after this one had so many problems, I promised I'd knit her another one and keep this one for myself. So lucky you! You get to watch Pumpkin Sweater #2 being knit sometime in the (hopefully) not too distant future.</span></p><p><br /></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-61155086937556783382023-02-26T06:30:00.002-05:002023-02-26T11:27:41.086-05:00Sunday Supper - Baked Parmesean Spinach Balls<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wHjWnpcEivPj13yqJItYBbiB89yVdzYJevpFsNO1g9KyNWHoa5uT42URtBnBXi7CdRjdHnWk3-4z5EtAsa_1rkUE1W9YJHalmICXM3oWmP4AmnvWQQfJbJY0cK7hdS4lXRhO76cBS3_7Fosn3wSK-i9XHFsBtNfy5Ayyaj8Sw_0xDv1hfyU9PeKqAA/s808/Baked_Parmesan_Spinach_Balls_food%20lion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="808" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wHjWnpcEivPj13yqJItYBbiB89yVdzYJevpFsNO1g9KyNWHoa5uT42URtBnBXi7CdRjdHnWk3-4z5EtAsa_1rkUE1W9YJHalmICXM3oWmP4AmnvWQQfJbJY0cK7hdS4lXRhO76cBS3_7Fosn3wSK-i9XHFsBtNfy5Ayyaj8Sw_0xDv1hfyU9PeKqAA/w400-h225/Baked_Parmesan_Spinach_Balls_food%20lion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">photo and recipe courtesy of foodlion.com</div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I bet even the kids will like these <a href="https://www.foodlion.com/recipes/baked-parmesan-spinach-balls/">baked parmesean spinach balls</a> since they can eat them with their fingers. I'm also thinking that if I get really lazy, I could probably bake the ingredients in a baking dish rather than taking the time to make the balls. But spinach balls would be much more fun to eat than spinach casserole. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Enjoy!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-72175338676509166242023-02-24T06:30:00.001-05:002023-02-24T06:30:00.223-05:00Winterfest<p><span style="font-size: medium;">Why am I talking about Winterfest on the day we break a February heat record? I'd planned to show off/laugh at the completed pumpkin sweater this week but I never got around to taking photos. The weather has just been so spring-like and beautiful on my days off, I haven't been able to force myself into a worsted weight sweater. So...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Instead of modeling the pumpkin sweater, I've been knitting on my <a href="https://jeanniegrayknits.blogspot.com/2021/11/winterfest-knitting.html">Winterfest sweater</a>. If you don't remember (and why would you??,) I started the Winterfest sweater in November, 2021. I was a vendor at <a href="https://www.kingsdominion.com/events/winterfest">Kings Dominion's Winterfest</a> that year and decided to knit a sweater with the help of the kids who came through the booth. I'd ask them their age and pull that many yards off the skein of their choice and then I did my very best to knit them in the order they were chosen. It was a fun way of entertaining and including the kids while the parents shopped and it made for a, let's call it, exciting sweater. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOQmXW7sH91PVYUsPg0MSLyOgruNlMQdadzXgdTSb47qx6SmwmksPFqE1XDcYr4puxxIZTc-MYE4xc1_OZGfdpyV_VC6iHBqUVRgZkrdAHup-1qLtrM2fve1JlObgE1Jy83G3CPOL0Rc7DvqFlyEvZLVpH5I7aqZYYVEpbtKwPwjK5uNjQBAz6MWjFg/s872/Winterfest%20sweater%20022323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="872" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBOQmXW7sH91PVYUsPg0MSLyOgruNlMQdadzXgdTSb47qx6SmwmksPFqE1XDcYr4puxxIZTc-MYE4xc1_OZGfdpyV_VC6iHBqUVRgZkrdAHup-1qLtrM2fve1JlObgE1Jy83G3CPOL0Rc7DvqFlyEvZLVpH5I7aqZYYVEpbtKwPwjK5uNjQBAz6MWjFg/w400-h400/Winterfest%20sweater%20022323.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><span style="font-size: medium;">It's definitely colorful!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">The sweater is a simple ragland, knit with a zillion different colors of <a href="<a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1435479&u=1446317&m=59159&urllink=&afftrack=">Palette</a>">Palette</a> on US 1 (2.50) needles. The sweater was pretty loose on me in 2021 and I pray it still is. I haven't tried it on since pulling it out of the UFO pile. At this point, the goal is to finish it, not necessarily wear it. Part of me thinks the sweater is too colorful and hideous while another part of me is hopeful that the asphalt gray waist ribbing and sleeves will calm down the wild colors. Winterfest ended and I ran out of kids to choose the next color so I decided to go wih a neutral dark gray, again, hoping the gray will calm the sweater down a bit. The third part of me just wants this beast finished. off the needles and off my To Knit list.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Whether the sweater fits or not, I just want it done. I've knit on it too much to quit now. I can't fathom how many stitches this giant, beast of a sweater already has in it nor do I even want to think about how many more stitches I still have to go. Once that waist hem is completed, I still have the sleeves to knit. I'll probably still be knitting this thing in 2024.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Good grief!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I hope that wherever you are, you are also experiencing beautiful spring weather, although maybe not as warm as it is here today. We hit 81 degrees, beating the previos record by six degrees! Of course tomorrow will bring normal temperatures and it will be back down below freezing by tomorrow night. Nothing like spring in Virginia!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Anyway, hope you are having nice weather and your knitting is going faster than mine.</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2656669690094598703.post-36458857331789764292023-02-19T06:30:00.001-05:002023-02-19T06:30:00.207-05:00Sunday Supper - Chicken Alfredo Lasagna<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvG04M7vd6ZOpA1H-eUMtffY5QNHL-gGkfvlDFa2fWakCMlDZLCDZgq96CcMg5zptBfA7g8fyLvM1wq3ZLsxT0yPU1RSu-jHuKs3Z8vE5yR7bN-wAnDi1iT1NO0vdoor_xfiaSw6dAcihu53vHR8d3m2V_GoFntrA8HUkfHGVvUyybAqsRSv0qZ0DRA/s808/Chicken%20Alfredo%20Lasagna.%20foodlion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="454" data-original-width="808" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNvG04M7vd6ZOpA1H-eUMtffY5QNHL-gGkfvlDFa2fWakCMlDZLCDZgq96CcMg5zptBfA7g8fyLvM1wq3ZLsxT0yPU1RSu-jHuKs3Z8vE5yR7bN-wAnDi1iT1NO0vdoor_xfiaSw6dAcihu53vHR8d3m2V_GoFntrA8HUkfHGVvUyybAqsRSv0qZ0DRA/w400-h225/Chicken%20Alfredo%20Lasagna.%20foodlion.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="text-align: center;">photo and recipe courtesy of foodlion.com</div></span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Today's my son's birthday and since he loves chicken alfredo I thought it would be fun to try this <a href="https://www.foodlion.com/recipes/chicken-alfredo-lasagna/">chicken alfredo lasagna recipe</a>. Actually, he loves shrimp alfredo and likes chicken alfredo, but I'm allergic to seafood so.... But hmmm, I wonder if I could make two lasagnas - one with chicken and one with shrimp. And, since I know nothing about cooking seafood (it's a Bad allergy!) perhaps I could talk my girl child into doing the baking. Now, that sounds like a plan!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">Enjoy!</span></p>Jeannie Gray Knitshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06491806030465386877noreply@blogger.com1