Saturday, June 16, 2012

schools out and a recipe for meat pies.

The last day of school has come and gone and just like that I no longer have a 5th grader and kindergartner, I have a 6th grader and a first grader. My 6th grader starts junior high this fall. Junior high!!!! It feels just like yesterday when I was in junior high. Crazy.

Anyway, did you knit up some teacher mug cozies from the free pattern? If so, post a link and I'll check out your pictures (if you have any!).

It's summer, yet we've been waking up around 5:30 every morning and I am beat! Because we're in the midwest, the sun doesn't set until close to 10 at night. Meaning: it's impossible to get to bed at a reasonable time. This is on my mind, because tired kids are absolutely no fun and it's wearing on me. I'm tired, they're tired, we're all tired. What happens when you get a house full of tired peeps? You're right, it's not ideal. But things will work itself out, I'm sure of it. I love my new job and my kids love what they are doing this summer. (camps, lots of camps!)

Also, in the midwest, summers are short. So, you gotta pack it all in in less than 3 months.

Last weekend, we went to a TWINs vs CUBs game. Who do you think we rooted for? Hint: not the TWINs, even though they won. What a perfect, fun day!

Here were our seats:
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and a cute photo opp:
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This week, L got her hair done. It was an extravagance, but you gotta have a little fun once in a while. She got a bang trim and colored extensions. Oh, and since were there, I had them wash her hair. It was 3.00 extra, but totally worth it! They have them lie down to wash their hair and she even got a head massage. :D

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Red, Purple, and Blue:
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Talk about divas; my niece had her dance recital and I got a few cell phone pics:
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AND....last but not least, it's time for dinner club! It's tonight. The theme is British. I'm making meat pies and a leek soup.

A brief recipe:
Make a meat pie stuffing mixture:
1lb ground beef
1 onion, diced
2 celery stalks, sliced
7 baby carrots, sliced
salt & pepper to taste
7 red potatoes, mashed and mixed with milk (homemade mashed potatoes)
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I used 4 containers of pre-made biscuit dough, 10 per. (40 all together)
Flatten dough circles and scoop in teaspoon of meat mixture, like this:
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Fold over and pinch dough sides together. (use a fork to create lines and poke tiny hole in top) Place in 350 degree oven and bake for 15 minutes.
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YUM!!!!!
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For the leek soup, I just cut up 2 big leeks, 2 onions, 2 celery stalks, 4 cups of broth, simmered, pureed, added a small container of yogurt and voila.
That's all for now. Have a great night.
See you next time.

Disclaimer: I haven't had one ounce of time for knitting. I miss knitting. I bring my sticks and yarn with me everywhere. I wish I could knit while I drove, but that's dangerous. ;)

Peace out.
G

Monday, June 4, 2012

This time of year rocks. And another free pattern. Woohooo.

I had this brilliant idea. I was going to knit end of the year gifts for the teachers; a coffee cup cozy with a gift card sleeve. And I did it. But that was before I went on a hunt for the perfect coffee cup. I'm looking for something specific. Not a mug. Not a thermos. Just a rubber-like cup that looks identical to the to-go cups you get at the coffee shop. They seemed all the rage just a few months ago. Everyone seemed to have one. And now I can't find one - anywhere! What's the dealio, peeps?

Here're a couple of snap shots:
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Here's the quick pattern:
CO 52, join in round.
K,P about 7 rows
Knit 7 rows
Start name chart (if you want me to make one for you, let me know your teacher's name)
Knit another 7 rows
K,P about 7 rows
BO
Pocket:
CO 20, knit flat
K,P about 5 rows
Knit stockinette 12 rows
BO
Attach to Cozy (centering behind name)
Edited to add: I used size 5 needles with my rowan pure wool DK. Gauge was about 6sts to an in.

Anyway,
One and half weeks left of school. Eeek.
Two days until I start my new job.
One summer birthday down, one to go.

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Two performances down, zero to go (besides your daily dance routine in the living room).

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(NOTE THE HATS!!!! I HELPED MAKE THOSE!!THANKYOUVERMUCH)

One broken elbow healed enough to take off the cast. Yippeeee.
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One little green frog:
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And the start of Lemonade Stand Season.

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I love this time of year!

xxoo,
Gilda