We are headed west tomorrow to go skiing.  I know it seems a little crazy this time of year, but it seemed like a fabulous idea back in December, when we booked it.  Actually, we are all really looking forward to it.  Sort of like our last hoorah to winter.
I wanted to make some sort of hearty cookie to take along with us.  Something healthy too.  I found a recipe for peanut butter trail mix cookies in one of my old books.  I thought they sounded pretty good.  Thought that I could use the goji berry trail mix that I have been loving.  I have been trying to get my family to love the goji berries.  Read a lot about their benefits, plus the cute guy at Whole Foods told me they were great for you.  All righty then.  I will put them in everything.

For some reason, Easter weekend did not provide much knitting time for me.  And, can you believe that I forgot to put the birds in their baskets?  Yep.  I ended up putting them out on the kitchen table for the kids the day after.  A little anti-climactic if you ask me, but they did seem to love them.  

I started a couple of new projects last week being inspired and motivated by project spectrum.
I was lucky enough to receive yarn for both projects from a couple of dear friends.  Above is Sundara Yarn in dahlia, that I received from Melana back in December.  This yarn has been calling my name ever since.  I had never knit with sundara yarns, and wow is it ever lovely.  A basic cast on of 64 stitches with a baby cable pattern.   
Kim sent the ONline Linie 194 Solo yarn for a sweet scarf for Libby.  Oodles, and oodles of soft little ruffles.  
I had the hardest time getting started.  I still am not positive that I am doing it correctly, but there really is no more time to waste. The end of this month marks the end of  this triad of project spectrum.  The scarf should be easy to complete, but the socks?  I am going to give it my best shot.

In honor of what would have been Mister Rogers' 80th Birthday, today is "wear your favorite sweater day".  I am sure we all have a few sweaters to choose from.  

Boxes of girl scout cookes meant time off from our Cookie of the Week.  We have a few thin mints hidden in the back of the freezer for a summer day, but for the most part they are gone.
It was a nice little break, but I really miss baking when I don't do it.  There is so much satisfaction for me in seeing a full cookie jar.  And then joy, in seeing it empty, knowing everyone enjoyed them, and I get to fill it again.
I was sort of burnt out on the whole Girl Scout Cookie flavor, so didn't try any of the recipes for the Homemade Girl Scout Cookies.  I still plan to, one day.
Sherri e-mailed me with a link to this recipe, and  I have been thinking about them ever since.  I decided not to tell the kids the name of them to see if they liked the flavor.
They are espresso-chocolate shortbread cookies.  I love the whole process of these.  Again, another slice and bake where the dough can be made ahead of time.  All three of my kids loved them.  My eight year old knew instantly that they were coffee flavored.  My twelve year old said he never tasted that flavor, but loved it.  Hmm. 
The recipe calls for instant espresso.  I didn't buy anything fancy, just Folgers, decaf.  It actually smelled so good I had to make myself a cup.  Really.  I used to drink Folgers instant coffee in my dorm my freshman year of college.  It tasted really great.  I don't know if it was the coffee or the memories.

First of all, I want to thank you for all the nice words on my sewing skills!  You sure know how to make a girl feel good, and I like how you let me know not to be so hard on myself.  Imperfections can be part of the handmade charm.  I know I need to work on that.  
I wanted to make something for my kids easter baskets and originally thought I might knit these.  However, I thought they may require too much time.  Precious time that should be spent working on Ruby.
Kim also made some of these cute little birds and mentioned they took an hour each.  Perfect.
The pattern is here, designed by curlypurly.
I used scraps of cotton yarn with the same gauge.  They are easy, quick and fun.  And,  guess what?  You still have time to make some before easter!  

Last fall I picked up a very large stack of wool at the church fair.  I had thoughts of wool jumpers and tights with boots.  Lots of them.  I wanted a closet full of jumpers.  Plaids, black, brown and grey.  I would wear them everyday.  Don't exactly know where I was going, but by golly, I would be in my jumper.
Fast forward to Monday, March 10th.  No jumpers hanging in my closet.  Nope, not a single one.  And then I saw this.  (And this is where the internet makes me crazy).  I stopped everything I was doing, (I guess I was probably reading blogs and doing laundry, maybe a little knitting) grabbed my pattern, the wool, pins and scissors, and became a person with a mission.
I actually wore it to work today.  Probably the only time I will ever wear it.
You see, even though I took my time matching the top to the bottom, trying to line up the plaids, this still happened.
Whoops!  Thank goodness for slouchy cardigans and longish hair.  It actually felt good to wear it once.  I think I got the jumper craze out of my system.  This plaid wool won't go to waste.  I still want to make one of these.

Things were grey all day. So, my photos of Ruby managed to change from one shade of green to another.  And I actually don't think that either photo depicts the true shade.  The photos also stink, so bear with me.  They were the only thing I had in mind for the last day of green week.

I loved digging through our crayons and finding so many shades of green.
I am sure you have seen the crayon roll floating all around blogland. I have seen them numerous places, but knew I had to make one (or many) when I saw this one over at cloth.paper.string.  I found the tutorial through sew mama sew.  I can't believe that we have gone so long without one.  I have been carrying our crayons around in my purse in a plastic ziplock bag.  For years!! What was I doing?
Doesn't this look so much cuter?

Funny how the brain works.  I seem to be seeing green everywhere.

Enough said.

In January, I participated in Shari's winter whites and enjoyed doing it so much, I decided to jump on board with Emily's green week. The problem is, not much spring is happening around here, so I will be a little challenged with this theme.
One thing is for sure, I love green tea.  Tazo, Lotus, and usually have a cup every evening, about the same time. (Gosh, I am so predictable). Ruby is green, so that will take care of another day.  The other three?  Who knows.  

This is one of those projects that is so darn easy with such pleasing results.  Even if you are a new sewer, you can make these.  The directions are super easy and super detailed.  The biggest problem I had with these is showing them to you.  Because really, am I putting my photo on the internet in my jammies?  No, I'm not sleeping in these.  No way.  Ahem.
Lounge Pants from Amy Butler's In Stitches book. I used a thrifted sheet out of my sheet stash. (Idea prompted by Soulemama)  I think I paid $2.00 for it.  I am so tempted to use every sheet I have to make more.  Although, I will restrain from doing that, I will make more.  A few more.
I omitted the trim from the bottom, because, well I just didn't feel like doing it. This pair is a little long.  Just a tad.  However, with the fit and the comfort level, these have fast become my favorite lounge pant.