I finished my sweater this morning. Kansas Woman's Sweater by DMC. I have determined that I am smaller then the average American woman. A lot smaller. This sweater is literally falling off me. Disappointing.

I'll have to keep that in mind when I design sweaters for other people.

More curtains!

The red hats are coming along nicely. I've modified my cable beanie pattern slightly to make them a touch larger, since Aidan's head seemed to grow out of his within the week! I definitely enjoy knitting up these quick little hats! I just wish I could see all the wee bairns wearing them!

I've also been selected to be a test knitter for Knit a Bit of Whimsy. I'm almost ready to start this pattern as well. The yarn I've selected is a bit larger then what she used so I might knit up 2. One in Bernat Roving with a contrasting yarn of James C. Brett Rustic. Like I used for the Balaclava. [Still don't know if I want to sell this pattern or just make a youtube follow along video] The second cowl I think I'll use Lion Brand Tweed Stripes. It's the correct wpi but might prove to cluttered. We'll see. I can always frog it!

I did some crazy baking these last few days. Chocolate chip cookies for my mate and as a gift for some alpaca fur! Then the crazy part...I made macarons! Whipped that meringue by hand!

The macarons were actually easier than I was thinking going into it. The hardest part was hand whipping the meringue. After all that work though, the damn things stuck and I had to cut them from the cookie sheet....I almost scraped the whole lot! Luckily I persevered! They taste great and got lots of complements! So I have a few things I'll change about my recipe but not much. These will definitely be on Iron Shot Cafe's menu!!!

Some delish spicy fish tacos before replacing outlets in wee Aidan's room!

Some random food porn and the puppy dog snoozing!

Garden fresh blt

 Dan took my favorite tortellini recipe and made it better! Spicy greatness!

Creamy spinach tortellini spiced up!

Ruff day!

Back in the garden! I thinned out the basil and made some pesto. Ate some with dinner and froze the rest for later enjoyment. Looks like I'll be the only one enjoying it though as the mate says it tastes like yard! Huff!

Today shall be in the yard. Taking my time mowing and raking then edging. Ugh! To have my full strength and energy back!

Dinner

Pesto blueberry bagel with a Mayan mocha!

What a day!

Dan built my compost barrel, 6.5 hours later he built my trellis then we moved some rocks. That rock bed is gonna take forever!

Eating bark when no one's looking.

Removing the rocks

Building frame

Converting barrel...a major pain!

Dan went and picked some strawberries on Monday, then came home and promptly made mead! LOL! I do have some extra to make jam. So That's what I'm doing today.

Had A1 Concrete & Leveling come out on Tuesday to level our driveway. 3 year warranty should they start sinking again. Haven't been able to drive on it yet but it looks right smooth.

While they were out there working in the hot sun I was busting my butt getting ready for market. Sadly I stressed too hard and had a mini breakdown today. Got most of it together, enough to make it to market but I opted to take my puppy dog for a walk. The sun and exercise helped my mood a bit. Once my blood is replenished (got blood drawn this morning for sugar tests) I should feel better right?!

Our house is only 10 years old. We shouldn't be having these problems!

If the outlet gets jarred (like I did sweeping) it kills the power to our lights (both inside & the front porch). Serious fire hazard!

 We got a new tool to play with. I can get all my logos cut on vinyl & make stickers and Dan can make crazy accents for the toys.

Did some experimenting last night with my favorite chocolate cookie! Turned out great the first time!

Then this morning after rushing out of the house thinking I was late, only to turn around about 5 miles out once I realized I was an hr and a half early;  I baked orange cinnamon rolls and made myself a well deserved coconut milk latte!

Orange Cinnamon Rolls with Coconut Milk Latte 

Oreo truffles

The scarf is all done! That fine [thick] fleece and that nice soft, wool, flannel is the perfect combo. It's so warm I didn't want to take it off. O.o The buttons are from a 100 year old maple tree that had to come down for a road the city was building on our land so I made use of it! It had LOTS of branches! Everything is hand stitched! A true work of art .... if I say so myself!

Even though it's coming to the end of the season I'm still taking orders on these. $45 plus shipping just send me an email with your paypal email address. Or if you'd rather I can make an etsy listing just for you!

Hope everyone had a lovely St. Patrick's day!

Table cover is all done. Again I must thank my mysterious coworker for giving us the scraps of linen. All that's needed now is for it to settle.

Got some gifts wrapped. Made some good coffee freshly ground with my trusty, antique burr. Now sipping my press with the guard puppy wondering why I'm taking her photo! LOL!

Gifts for an Irish lady!

Morning Press....just look at that crema!

Sipping my press with the puppy dog

Blessings from us to you!

Blessings to all, all around the Earth!

I got a little motivated today and made some Bourbon Salted Caramel sauce and Cranberry Pumpkin butter. Proud of myself .... & yet I should have taken the puppy to get her nails clipped and gone grocery shopping....

I'm gonna start with my utter distaste for large companies that make it so that you have to re buy the whole item rather than a piece that you need!

I picked up 2 valves which Dan put on and whoop done, right....wrong. Turns out the leak was a hairline crack in those janky cpvc pipes they love to place into homes these days! So! The valve has this cute cpvc sleeve that you glue to the pipe then tighten down onto the valve with a nut. Well since it was installed properly that means that when the valve gets taken back off to fix that freaking cracked pipe we would need a new plastic piece. Only you can't get one. The only way to keep this valve looking like all the others in the bathroom is to purchase another $11 valve. WHY?! I'm tempted to make one with a coupler but I'll need to get the original off and see how it was made. I should have played with them before letting Dan put it all together. Live ya learn. Also, ACE is all out.

I ended up going 15min south to Menards thinking surely THEY would have something....nope not even a valve that looks like the one I got. They only had couplers in packs of 25 (I hope to the gods I don't need that many) and all the pipe cutters were huge wrench style monstrosities that wouldn't fit in our wall without making a HUGE hole. So back in the car and another 15min south to Home Depot.

Found the coupler, found the hand sized pipe cutter, got a foot length of new cpvc pipe for the repair, some extra plumber's tape since we were getting low and a new valve which I have to change the handle on so it mostly matches.

Then since I was hungry and irritated when I left Menards I forgot our sinks pedestal so I had to stop back in after Home Depot and get it. Ugh! The good news .... I got Georgia a new rope toy!

After all that I got home around 3 and made lunch then began making pumpkin butter!

Getting things ready for Samhain & my costume party.

My besom! To protect my home from unwelcome visitors.

Light a fire for your ancestors!

Reading about Mercedes Lackey's Companions reminds me so much of Big Brother. It leaves this ack in my chest yet invokes such happy memories of our 25+ years together and yet again tears treck down my cheecks.

After a full day of making holiday boxes and filling the candy case at work, I came home to make my own candies for Yuletide. Super excited which makes my boss laugh. His comment to me @ 2:30 pm was "I don't want you to get burnt out." I laughed. Sure I'd been there since 8 this morning but it's a different task then I'm normally doing at work so I was fine.

Anywho! Candy!

Last week I made my own peppermint bark. Came out pretty awesome if I say so myself. It took a few days since I was working on it only at night after work. However, tonight I am making a whole slue of things.

1.) Honey & sea salt roasted, dark chocolate almond bark

2.) Coconut dark chocolate bark

3.) Dried fruit dark chocolate bark

4.) Apple granola

I stopped at Fresh Thyme market on my way home and really meant to only pick up enough chocolate for my almond bark …. Clearly my 3lbs was too much chocolate!

Peppermint Bark

Dark Honey & Sea Salt Roasted Almond Bark

Dark Coconut Bark

Dark Dried Fruit Bark

Dark Hazelnut Bark

Homemade mead! Family recipe from old man Wayne. I cooked, then let sit for 3 days. Now I wait 3 months! When I opened the oven this morning it smelt so strong ... good but OMG strong. Go little yeasties!

This morning I shall try a new deodorant recipe! It shall not have baking soda but otherwise will be the same as the last one I made. It shall also have teatree!