It's like learning....

To cook all over again! What a difference 20+ years makes!! Yes, that's how old my old stove was...wait, they call them ranges now LOL!

It's not my dream range, very far from it, but who wants to put their dream stove/range/oven in a house they hope to leave within 2 years!!


Besides...when one is forced to buy a drop in stove, one doesn't have many choices...plus when one is forced to buy said stove right after the holidays...one doesn't have much moolah to do so!

We have the kitchen ceramic tile that could be put in there, but seriously the cost of having that done plus cupboard finishing to have a slide in or free stand, would about triple the cost. So yeah, if the new homeowner wants to do so, they have the technology....er...leftover tiles. Still have to find something to put in the space under the stove left from previous stove. Apparently stoves have gotten shorter over the years ;)

You will also note that oh..why is her range hood beige...um..er..is she color blind. No I am not. Said new range hood doesn't wanna come live with me. Why not...I'm kinda nice!!!!

I knew it was gonna happen, when they called for installation day appointment...she said, just the stove...I said that and the range hood...ok I'll add it. Fast forward to this week....after I called to verify appointment due to bad weather this week, again was asked if it was just the stove. Again I replied....and the range hood!!! So I called the big box store to see if both parts were in. They were...however on install day...no one had a clue.

Long story short, I waited all day (except for a few hours when I had errands to run which they were told I wasn't going to be home, which is why I made a morning appointment..... make me the last customer of the day) for the return of installers for my new range hood. About 7 pm I realized it wasn't gonna happen....:( a not so nice message to installers was left and my salesperson was called. Now hoping I am first in line Monday for my new range hood (which BTW I declared a no frying zone in my house a few months ago until I got a new one cause old one wouldn't absorb odors, new filter or not!) not that we fry much..anyhoo


So you can see the cookies baking. I have never baked cookies at 10 am in my life LOL! Sure would have been nice to have a new range hood to absorb the new oven cooking smells!!

oooh emmm geeee for being a non-fancy stove it makes me smile! Who knew in like 20 years, stoves have changed so much. For one, I don't have the oven venting under the back burner...it vents out front by the handle. Plus the self cleaning option..ahhhhh set it and forget it and no scrubbing allowed!

So I have a new black backsplash waiting to replace the old one covered with stainless steel looking tiles. Then I found an awesome new countertop to replace the old one. Since we only have like 2 countertops I think for not too much money, I can update and make this kitchen look awesome. Again, it's nothing fancy, still a laminate, but the colors will tie the tile, cupboards, stove, fridge and dishwasher all together....stay tuned for that!

Cookies are ok, had to bake longer than usual, but hey it's breaking the oven in. FYI chocolate chip oatmeal...sans nuts....no...more...nuts for hubby. Oh and these are those pouch cookie mixes...they are usually for hubby to make...you know sorta fool proof. What??? you thought I'd make them from scratch at 10am on a Saturday?? HA!

It was a mistake...yeah yeah

It was a mistake....hehe..ok, can't remember the rest of the words to the song! Good thing huh ;)

Well, I was about to mail my Aunt's hats and scarves when I thought, geesh...Uncle would love a set too I'm sure. Since they are my only holiday knits, save a couple of other things that don't "need" to get done, go for it. So...one week later..yeah, I'm slow and read on and find out why too ;)


Mistake rib scarf from Urban Urchin Pattern in SnB 2008 Calendar
Wool-ease Thick n' Quick - Charcoal Colorway
US 15's....get outta here...another scarf knit back and forth, 2 in one month...hard to believe from someone who dislikes immensely that process huh! But hey...it knits up really fast!

Close up of the patterning. I love knitting mistake rib!

I used every bit of the skein. Talking about less than 2" left after bind off to weave in! Approximately 40" long.

So..onto the other "mistake"

A close up!


Urban Urchin hat from SnB 2008 Calendar
Lorna's Laces Bulky - Pewter Colorway
US 10 circular

I loved knitting this hat, really, it was done before the scarf that I wasn't going to do but did ;) I was excited. That was until I actually tried it on a person.....

You see...
It was a Mistake....yeah, yeah....


It is now the Hot Head Hat from SnB
Lorna's Laces Bulky- Pewter Colorway
US 10 and 10.5 Circulars --why 2 sizes, I didn't like how the 10.5's fabric, so didn't want another frogging session so I just continued on with 10's and you really can't tell. Plus if he wants to fold it up, it is a bit stretchier.


Haha...tricked ya! When I tried the Urban Urchin hat, it was way too short! You see, it was in bulky yarn so I went up a needle...not sure I needed to either. I also thought it may be too short (I didn't run out of yarn, just thought I was done according to the pattern)..well it was, looked like a beanie on hubby and he said no way would a guy where that...yeah..well looked at it on me and nope, not cutting it. I really loved the decreases in this hat as well, maybe I'll try it in another yarn for me! It was reborn into the hat you see above.

The yarns, well the T&Q is ok, a good scarf yarn as far as I can tell, thick and knits quick. My 2nd scarf with it this year..no jokes about the year being only 11 days left either ;)
The LLaces Bulky is a dream! I love it. Soft and superwash and the NSS (not so solid) colorway is neat in the depths of color. Which you won't see as much cause I had to mail it and well, my hat model was at school...darn ;)

Anyways...they are on their way to their new home! Speaking of home, son is finally home! Was a drama and the reason for no posts the last few days. You see I was tracking his flights, and when the 2nd leg had landed early I was happy. He was a little ways away and home soon...or so I thought. Well, it decided to be foggy that nite. We're talking almost soup-like and the airport here said, nope no way. He called to say first flight home was cancelled, then 10 mins. later no flights at all.

So we regrouped and ditched daughter at Grandma's and gassed up and off for Charlotte, yes 3 hrs away! You know I wanted to see my Charlotte knitting peeps...but I don't think they would have appreciated a phone call at midnight though...it was an adventure in foggy driving and we made it there, picked up this cough..cough, young man and arrived home at 4 am! Hey, we had to stop for breakfast you know ;) Whew...hope his return flight is much easier! Next time I'll reserve with travel agent as getting a refund for the unflight should be interesting!!

Well...off to knit and chill more!
ETA: Someone I read regularly has posted recipes this week! A bunch of them and I can't find you!! Serves me right for over 300 blogline reads...sniff, save me! You had some great ones there! Here they are! Thanks Turtle!

So...do you really wanna know?

Hubby lives to see another day! ;)

All the socks fit, and just a few are a tiny bit felted at the bottoms. My goal this week is to either get a basket or make a bag to hang in my "craft room" far from his laundry hands!!

In the meantime, you'll be seeing a union...


of these 2 yarns...the one above, ya all know what that is. My bargin at SAFF, $3 per skein people, who could resist it. Besides I knew I needed it eventually and for $3-4 less per skein it had to go home with me so it could be put together to live with...

This Peace Fleece in Father's Gray. With the 2 yarns together I am swatching for 1 particular pattern. However, there are 2 others that will work with it too, so it depends which one I get gauge with...stay tuned ;)

Phew...it was a close one!

You see, hubby has been great and doing the laundry since my last surgery and treatment. So..hey, I don't mind, not like I don't have anything else to do (ha!) I just fold and iron. Works for me, only a few minor mishaps....until today (can you guess where this is going?)

I put my handknit socks in a pile on the floor, to remind myself to wash them today. Bad part was they were near his piles of laundry. Off I went to do grocery shopping and forgot all about them...until I returned home. As I was putting some stuff away..I saw the pile was gone...and in the washer, with a pair of jeans...EEEK!

I got them all out, they were full of soap...hubby needs to learn to use a bit less...I rinsed them 2 times and inspected the damage.

The culprits. See the burgundy pair, yep that's them. See the Seriously, with a titch of burgundy sock to your left (and my camera strap too!) I've only worn them 2 times and still think the dye is wanting to come on out..so it did with the help of the washer.


Yeah..Seriously a bit tinged...oh well, I do have enough leftovers to knit a short pair though.. Any socks with any light/white did get tinged...except for...


My Vesper ones..but they did felt a bit...you know the jeans in the wash..hey, since when do you wash lights and darks...hubby needs another lesson in color separating huh ;)



They are all drying now. All have suffered some felting except for the Wollmeise, my first pair (2nd row, left red, black, white burgundy ;) and the Seriously socks. I won't know if they'll still fit, hopefully they will, but you can believe from now on I am getting a basket and marking it, "hubby don't touch" as suggested by a plurk pal.

It could have been worse though...I could have found them in the dryer!!!!

How to not freak out Wednesday

Could be a new thing...or not. My WIP's are just not blogworthy this week, and as you know lately I likey to mixy thingys up a bit lately.

So here you go, an update on my 4/C Midshipman, he's doing well and looking forward to coming home in 8 weeks!! He asked if he needed to bring his uniforms home and I said why...du'oh he wants a break from laundry...aha!



He was one of the Honor MUGs (Midshipmen Under Guidance) which was basically a 1 month basic training into the rules and regs of the Regiment of Midshipmen
He's the cutie to the left facing the Officers.

My SAFF pals already know this information as he called me while I was in Asheville

Son: "Hey Mom, I just got back from the Navy Sub base, toured Nuclear Subs, I think I'm gonna go for it."
Me: "Um...don't they have a height requirement...like dude aren't you too tall??? (fingers crossed)"
Son: "Good try Mom, um...nope!"
Me: "sigh"

YIKES! Ahem...not freaking out...really not (yeah right!) ...for 3 more years....dude, I'm gonna have white hair!

Fry....why can't I!!!

I need severe help in the frying department!!

Case in point...tonite, trying to fry schnitzel (pork tenderloin pounded thin) and breaded with crumbs. I love my cast iron skillet and I put it on high, then turn down to med. high...put meat in..turn when light brown..

Result...burned spots in various places, not fully cooked in other places. (note to self, pound them a bit thinner!)

I've tried so many different ways...please help me not to burn the outside, but cook the inside!

Chicken is a whole nother problem...but we usually oven fry that now..same taste, hardly any fat. I use these Breaders!

We eat deep fried food like this, maybe once a month if that. The rest is oven frying or baking. I have a deep fat fryer, but when I do these, not the same taste..sigh...

I kid the boys on needing barbeque lessons-re: charcoal chicken, steak and ribs...

They are nice with me, they don't point out the burnt, spotted coating and not fully cooked meat...I guess they don't want me to stop cooking!! :P

More blanket knitting for me tonite!! I want to knit my socks, but...must...knit...blanket!