summertime saturdays.2

Boys in boxers and t-shirts, girls in jammies, the newspaper, knitting, fresh fruit, hot coffee, and coconut bread. 
Delicious coconut bread using a recipe given to me by Kim.
Coconut Bread
1 cup oil :: 2 cups sugar :: 1 cup buttermilk :: 4 eggs :: 1-2 tsp. coconut extract :: 3 cups flour :: 2 tsp baking powder :: 1/2 tsp baking soda :: 1/2 tsp. salt :: 1 cup pecans (optional) :: 1 cup flaked coconut (optional)
Combine oil, sugar, buttermilk, eggs and coconut extract. Mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Add dry mixture to first mixture; beat well.  Stir in the nuts and coconut. Pour into greased and floured loaf pans:  Two 9x5" pans, bake at 350 for 60 minutes. 
 
I actually pour half of the batter into one loaf pan, and then mix the nuts and coconut into the remaining batter for the second loaf.  This satisfies those in my family that don't like the coconut or the pecans.  Crazies. 
Enjoy your Saturday, and the rest of your weekend. 
Oh, and hi Peggy!  Thanks again.

summertime saturdays

The transition into summer has been crazy. I would love to say that I have been laying on hammock, under a shady tree, knitting away, but unfortunately that hasn't happened.  Instead, I have spent my days running my kids from one activity to another, with barely a sound of that clicking of my needles, that I love so much.  
But Saturday mornings.  And Summertime.  Just seem to scream slow.  With a spot reserved outside on our patio.  And muffins.  Or pancakes.  Or even cereal.  And coffee.  Always coffee.
And there is always knitting, too.  I cast on for a sock this morning.

Glorious Morning Muffins
2 cups of flour :: 1 1/4 cup sugar :: 2 tsp baking soda :: 2 tsp cinnamon ::  1/2 tsp salt :: 2 cups grated carrots ::  1/2 cup chopped pecans :: 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut :: 1 apple, peeled, cored and grated :: 3 large eggs :: 1 cup vegetable oil :: 2 tsp vanilla.
Sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.  Stir in carrots, pecans, coconut and apple.  In another bowl, beat eggs with vegetable oil ad vanilla and stir the mixture into the flour mixture until the batter is just combined.  Spoon batter into well greased muffin pan.  Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

We love these muffins.  But don't do what I did this morning.  I forgot to put in the baking soda. They were a bit like hockey pucks, and ended up in the garbage.  But that is alright, because it is Saturday.
Enjoy your weekend, everyone.

my guy

Cheers to daddy's everywhere.
And to my guy.  I don't mention him often over here. He likes to sit quietly behind the scenes. But he is here.  And he is wonderful. And I can honestly say, my children couldn't have been blessed with a better daddy. 
Happy Fathers Day!

summer '08

I have been trying to get over here. For days.
To tell you about how much fun my mother and I had at the TNNA last weekend. I have wanted to show you the most beautiful way to display yarn. About a new tweed yarn (classic elite portland tweed) that I am dying to get my hands on. I want to tell you about how excited I was when I met Sarah, my first blogger crush. And how Cozy was there signing her fantastic book.
I wanted to tell you about my favorite new recipe for pizza.
And the most refreshing way to drink water.
And about how I want to make strawberry jam.
And about all the dates I have planned with my sewing machine.
But for now. I really just want to tell you about how we are jumping for joy!
School is out, and Summer of 2008 has begun!

cookies

I haven't been a total slacker with our Cookie of the Week. It is just that the cookies really haven't turned out that well.
This was last weeks cookie.  Well, you know last, last week's cookie.  Still wanting to make only slice and bakes, I used a recipe over on Smitten Kitchen.  I added dried cranberries, and sprinkled them with powdered sugar.  The problem was, that this was all I got out of that batch.  I was reading blogs, and totally ignored the timer. Twice.  They were delicious, and perfect with coffee.  It's a shame my kids don't drink coffee.  :)
And this week, I made whole wheat peanut butter slices.  Twice.  Both times the dough was so dry that when I tried to cut it, it just crumbled into little pieces.  Which resulted in odd shaped cookies.
It didn't stop the kids from eating them.  But it was totally aggravating.  I am going to try to tweak the recipe.  If I get it right, I will let you know.
School is out next Wednesday, so this is our last official cookie of the week.  However, cookies will be baked over here.  I can assure you of that.

It is Friday. And it is June!  I couldn't be happier.
Enjoy your weekend!

wool goodness

Al-righty then, about that necklace from yesterdays post.
Last month, I entered a contest on Sarah's blog, and won!  I was so excited to win, and even more thrilled when I received the package.  As in, mouth hung open for many, many, minutes.  I was completely floored by her generosity.  
Inside the package was this gorgeous one of a kind handmade felted bag.  
And inside the bag, she tucked not only the necklace (which I have worn everyday since I got it) but this darling pincushion.  I just love the fabric and wool combination.
And this beautiful, felted, merino wool scarf.  It is thin and light, and I know it will become a favorite of mine come fall.
Many many thanks, Sarah.  I love it all so much.  
(Sarah's shop is here).

flow

I think that I might have a new favorite summer top.
Pattern:  Flow
Yarn: Seduce, 6 hanks for size Small
Needle Size: 8's and 6's.  I used circular for both. 
The comfort, ease and drape of this top are so wonderful. Probably acquired from the yarn, which I wasn't a huge fan of working with.  It is slightly slippery, and I am sure if I would have used bamboo needles instead of my addi's, I would have liked it better. I am not sure if this feel could be obtained with many other yarns.  There is only one thing that I would have done differently.  Knit this in the round!  That would avoid the seam, which I am slightly unhappy with.  It won't prevent me from wearing it though.
Oh, yes.  The necklace. Isn't it fabulous?!  I'll be back tomorrow to tell you more about that.

1 row = 15 minutes

Seed-Stitch throw, with garter border, from knit simple spring/summer 07.
Pattern is an eighty row repeat.  
Total of six times.
80 x 6 = 480 rows
1 row = 15 minutes
480 rows = 7,200 minutes
7,200 minutes = 120 hours
2 hours a day = 60 days
60 days = 2 months
What?  Am I kidding myself?  It is summer.  It will get hot.  It is seed stitch.
30 minutes a day = 2 rows per day 
2 rows per day = 240 days
240 days = 8 months
Somewhere between 2-8 months.
This is how my brain works when I am only interested in the outcome.  
At least I am in love with the yarn.