Pumpkins

I've been making pumpkins.

I ordered a kit from Mary Maxim.

Five crochet pumpkins.

I've finished two and started the third.

Pumpkins, like other squash, are thought to have originated in North America. The oldest evidence, pumpkin-related seeds dating between 7000 and 5500 BC, was found in Mexico.

As one of the most popular crops in the United States, 680,000,000 kilograms (1.5 billion pounds) of pumpkins are produced each year. The top pumpkin-producing states include Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California.

When ripe, the pumpkin can be boiled, steamed, or roasted. In its native North America, it is a very important, traditional part of the autumn harvest, eaten mashed and making its way into soups and purees. Often, it is made into pie, various kinds of which are a traditional staple of the Canadian and American Thanksgiving holidays. In Canada, Mexico, the United States, Europe and China, the seeds are often roasted and eaten as a snack.

And, today is Oliver's Gotcha Day.
He's lived at Twisty Lane one year today.
So glad you are here little guy! 

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Mosaic Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

Amaze Me Monday

Share Your Cup Thursday

Willy Nilly Friday

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Celebrating the Green!

St. Patrick's Day is today.

This year I started celebrating a little early with a 

Green Tea Frappuccino from Starbucks.

Matcha and Green heaven! Ha!

And, if it is too cold for a Frappuccino,
perhaps some hot tea will do the trick.
Always nice to get out the Belleek for St. Patrick's Day.

Corned beef and cabbage are usually on the menu.
This year I'm changing things up a bit and plan on having
Pasta, Peas, Asparagus, Spinach and Pesto!
Adapted from a friends recipe that you can find here.

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Daffodils have arrived at Trader Joe's and I'm in heaven!

Spring is definitely arriving around Twisty Lane.

In almost every room.
The daffodil is such a happy flower!

“Daffodils are an optimistic flower, and foolproof. 
You know what Shakespeare said: 
"Daffodils,
That come before the swallow dares, and take
The winds of March with beauty."

...I plant them in big clumps with a trusty shovel. 
I make several large holes all around and put quite a few in. 
That's why it makes such a spectacular look when they bloom.” 
― Tasha Tudor, The Private World of Tasha Tudor

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I finished the Cottage Charm Afghan.

Yes, I ran out of blue and had to get more.

The color is a close match, but the texture is a little different.

I always make the first of a project for myself.

The difference in texture won't bother me! 

I think my favorite part of the afghan is the little white bow!

It's going to work well as a lap-ghan for me.

Most importantly -- It has Mr. Oliver's approval!

The blue matches his eyes...... 

I'm reading the last of the Amish mysteries - A Churn for the Worse.
I'll be sad to finish. I really like the characters and the setting.
I hope there are more to come in the series.


*

May your joys be 
as deep as the oceans

Your troubles 
as light as its foam

And may you find
sweet peace of mind

Wherever you
may roam.


Wishing YOU well and much joy on this St. Patrick's Day.


Five on Friday
(Thank you Amy for hosting!)

Willy Nilly Friday

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Keep Calm Craft On

This and That

This is what is going on in Houston.

No, I'm not going.
I'll watch on television.
Houston traffic is bad enough without the Super Bowl in town.
I'm staying home!


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I finally got a good face shot of Oliver.
He is a good boy.
He doesn't meow -- he sort of yodels!
Yack, Yack, Yack! 


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The morning after some medical tests.

Eggs Florentine at Hungry's.
Delicious.

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Tulips from the grocery.

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I've been a big fan of Shelagh Duffett's art.
I read her blog and follow her on FaceBook.
When she announced her book was published,
I knew I had to get a copy.
It's a lot of fun.
Page after page of cats and the alphabet.
Perfect for bedtime reading for the kids or for me! 

I also finished another of the Mirror Image Scarves.
I'm keeping this one!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!


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The Last Month of the Year

"Of all the months of the year

there is not a month one-half so welcome to the young,

or so full of happy associations, 

as the last month of the year...." 

 "All the Year Round: December"

All the Year Round: A Weekly Journal Conducted by

Charles Dickens, 1887 December 10th.

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I am hoping our 80 degree temperatures are over,

but I'm not willing to place a bet!

Today the high is expected to be 68

and by the weekend highs will be in the 50s.

On the Texas Gulf Coast -- that means sweater weather!

It also means:

Oatmeal in the mornings

Slipper socks to keep the feet warm

Gloves for my morning walk

Hot chocolate several times during the day

and soup making!

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Today I'm making Turkey Vegetable Soup.
Have to use up the turkey and stock from Thanksgiving.

The recipe is from one of my favorite cookbooks:

CAMPBELL'S GREAT AMERICAN COOKBOOK. 
Amazon does have used copies.
I use this cookbook a lot.
I like all the "home" style cooking and stories that are included
and not a can of soup anywhere! 


TURKEY-VEGETABLE SOUP


"Today's improved transportation and preservations techniques
make it possible to have virtually any combination of vegetables
available any time of year in almost every part of the country.
Enjoy this turkey soup with its spring peas and summer tomatoes
during any season."  

(We've come a long way, baby!)

Makes 6 servings

1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium carrot, sliced
(I love carrots so I always put extra.)
1/2 cup slice celery
1/4 teaspoon thyme leaves, crushed
5 cups chicken or turky broth
1 can (8 ounces) tomatoes, cut up
1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
1/2 cup diced yellow squash
1 cup diced cooked turkey
1/4 cup raw regular rice

1. In 5-quart Dutch oven over medium-high heat, in hot butter, cook onion, carrot, celery and thyme until just tender, stirring occasionally.

2.   Stir in broth, tomatoes, peas, squash and turkey. Over high heat, heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low. Cover, simmer 20 minutes.

3.  Add rice. Cover; simmer 20 minutes more or until rice is tender.    

I hardly ever make a recipe as it is written.
In this case, I used olive oil instead of butter.
I didn't have squash, so I added more peas and corn
and brown rice instead of "regular" white rice.
Sometimes I add a pinch of green or red chili powder ... in this case red!
           

Some soup with sugar cookies for later.
Snowman cookies on the list to make when these are all gone.

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Speaking of snowmen --

I like snowmen.
They can stay out when the holidays are over.
And, they make me smile. 

*

Oliver is ready for Christmas.
He wore his fancy new collar for all of three minutes.

 

This will be Oliver's first Christmas.
I've decided when I put the tree up to use the unbreakable ornaments.
Oliver is a climber! 







Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Five On Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

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Settle All Arguments With Ice Cream

Outside my window this morning, 
the sun is shining.
Fall made a quick fly by yesterday bringing us cooler weather and rain.
Cooler weather for three days is better than none.


I'm enjoying the water garden.
The water lilies are on their last blooms.
They like a lot of sun and as the sun moves toward winter
the lilies just don't get enough light.

A new fur-babe has been added to our household.
His name is Oliver. 
He is a Rag Doll with a little Siamese thrown in.
Oliver is a cuddly, sweet boy who has done a good job at
ignoring the hot air being blown at him by his adopted siblings.
He simply raises his fluffy tail and marches right through the middle.
Zoom!

Christmas is just around the corner.
Pure Wow had some helpful ideas on how to shop early for Christmas.
You can read the entire article here.
Here's six suggestions:

Make your gift list now.
Listen attentively to family and friends for hints.
Build a gift giving line into the fall budget.
Know everyone's sizes.
Buy in bulk. This one is for those who know they will need hostess gifts.
Consider Thanksgiving weekend your shopping deadline.

I finished the dark blue shawl and started another.
The dark blue shawl was made with Patons Classic Wool Mallard Teal.
The light color is Bernat Satin Sport that I found in my stash.

A few words of wisdom from the Fortune Cookie Journal:
"Settle all arguments with ice cream."

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Five on Friday
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