Rules

How do you feel about rules? I don't mean the ones that others make for you or the ones that you can't get around, I'm all for bending or breaking those. I mean the ones you make for yourself. Maybe it is a resolution or maybe you follow it for your sanity or even for your morality. I like rules but not because they keep me in line, but because they allow me to relax. Sounds strange right? I make rules for myself that are purposely loose. My rules require me to relax and loosen up! And sometimes they allow me to stick to something because they are loose. for example, when I was younger I wanted to keep a diary, But I kept forgetting to write in it. Sometimes I just didn't have anything to say. I felt so bad about messing it up by not writing in it everyday that I didn't write in it at all! So I made rules.
#1 you can only write in it when you want to.
#2 you can use any format you want.
Just for fun, #3 you get to use any color pen you want.
Just so they still felt like rules #4 you have to write the date.
Last, #5 no spelling or grammar police! no-one but you will read it so don't feel bad if you misspell anything just get you thoughts down!

My rules help me relax and help me feel good about doing something right. I don't feel bad and maybe I can even enjoy my own little quirks.

Yes this dose somehow relate to knitting!

I made up some rules for my knitting to keep me from stressing out or forgetting to have fun:
#1 I have to have socks on the needles at all times, I love knitting socks!
#2 I have to have something for me on the needles at all times, I tend to knit for others all the time and put off the things I want to make for myself, I deserve it!
#3 I can not have more than 3-5 things on the needles at anyone time, if I want to start something, finish something.
#4 Do not knit for a dead line! They will still like it next year or for their birthday.
#5 Do not knit something you hate, dislike is OK, some people like pink!
#6 Do not buy yarn that you do not have a plan for, it is not in the budget.
#7 Go through your stash regularly and think up ways to use your leftovers, keep rotating so you always have something new and old boring things don't take over.

Wow, I hadn't realized my list was that long! I really am a control freak!

Do you have rules? Why? Please leave me a comment and let me know!

Cold? Missing the sun?

In the late winter I always find myself longing for something new, some place sunny, anything exciting to interrupt the endless gray days of winter. How about you?
First I'd like to share a link to a blog that I love to read. This blog almost makes you wish for more cold and snow because of the beauty of the place.
Dances with Wool

After you get a taste of true winter, Listen to this! Episode eight from Purl Diving a podcast I enjoy. This little story is like a quick trip to a warm sunny place so vividly depicted that you almost feel like you went yourself!

Enjoy!

Christmas In Vermont

A white Christmas!

We drove from Arkansas to Vermont for snow and we got it! We where actually snowed in for a few days. The weather was cold and the welcome warm.

It was great to see my family for Christmas this year. My older sister got engaged right before we got there, Congratulations, so we got to meet her fiance's family over the holidays. Nice people and almost as crazy as my family! My poor boyfriend had to get to know two families of "Yankees" at once! Of course that meant more gifts under the tree.

He made out like a bandit with lots of imported beer and micro brews for his collection and I got gift certificates for Yarn! One for Webb's and one for the LYS! I also got some great kitchen toys.

We had so many presents it took us until three to open them all! By that time we where more than ready for a break and our traditional Christmas dinner.

In my family, as you might have noticed, food and cooking is a big thing. We all love to cook and food is a passion we all share. Christmas dinner is the only formal Holiday dinner of the year. We usually have three to five courses and get out Grandma's china.

The menu this year:

Boston Lettuce with Lemon Gastrique

Cauliflower Soup with Tempura Pears

Black Pepper encrusted Pork loin with Blood Orange glaze

And

Seared Trout with Tarragon and Lime

Served with

Green Bean Almondine and Golden Mashed Potatoes

Riesling Poached Pears stuffed with Hazelnuts and Figs

With old Fashioned Gingerbread

My first Southern Thanksgiving

Wow, It has been forever since I posted. So sorry folks!
The holidays are keeping me more than busy. I work at a catering company so I have been working over time with all the holiday parties! Fun!

For Thanksgiving we drove to the Ozarks and I spent my first Thanksgiving with my boyfriend's family. I love to cook and they do not so I volunteered to do dinner. I did question my own sanity once or twice especially because they are from the south and I am a "Yankee" born and bread. I actually had a great time! They love to eat so I felt appreciated and it was nice to cook for a family again. My family are all into cooking and they are farmers so Thanksgiving is by far the most important holiday for us. I have missed doing all that cooking in the last few years.

My New England Thanksgiving Menu with a few southern specialties thrown in:

Roast Turkey with Apple Raisin stuffing
Stuffed Winter Squash
Golden mashed potatoes with Gravy
Baby lima beans
Maple syrup glazed sweet potatoes
Mom's old fashioned dinner rolls

Apple Cranberry pie
Pumpkin pie
Pecan pie
Coconut Cream pie
Caramel pie
Key Lime pie

As you can see the pie was half the dinner!
Everyone enjoyed the food and a good time was had by all.
Not too shabby for my first Thanksgiving with Mein Gummibaer's family and a testament to my adjustment to the south, I think.

Farewell to Barbara

May she walk with God
My dear friend and knitting buddy passed away recently. She was a joy and an inspiration to me. We spent many a happy hour sitting on the porch of the local coffee shop knitting and talking. She was about the same age as my mother and in some ways reminded me of her. Barbara had a wonderful perspective on life and she gave great advice. I will miss her.