The Perils of Returning Home...

Good Evening.  I'm worn out, again.  Since coming home I've been asleep promptly at 9:30.  I know it's not technically jet lag, but I think that it must be something like it.  ? Too much excitement?  I believe I'll call it all that.  It truly couldn't be all the housework I've been catching up on: kitty clean-up detail, refridgerator culling, garbage out, sorting mail/paper stacks, bed making, laundry, dishes, baking/cooking, and a wee bit of weeding.  The Mister did the berry picking and he mowed today.  He does a lot of the outdoor work.  I take him for granted quite a bit.  He has been scanning negatives from when our babies were really babies.  There are so many that take me right back to the day...=]

I seem to be slipping into some kind of funky mood...moving right along....

Due to a lack of right proper grilling items, we did not have a home-cooked meal last night.  We ordered a pizza from town. 
Due to my being a ninny-ditz and losing the printed pattern to the blueberry recipe that I wanted to use (and just a little stubborn about it all), finally located said pattern in the car w/coupon binder...*duh*
I made the pie in the evening, left it a wee bit too long, had to let it cool and the Mister and I didn't get pie until this evening.  It was still runny, just like the comments had stated.  Also good w/ice cream just as stated!
I did make beef/noodles for dinner tonight.  Nothing fancy.  I think the pie was the main course anyway after waiting for it for awhile.

Moving right along...
Last Saturday I left my Sister's home at 4am on my way to Minnesota.  Why so early?  I had planned on stopping for the KIP event just over the border into Minnesota...that would be Knit in Public day, folks!  I had a wonderful two hours stitching and chatting w/the fellow crafters on the streets and in the shop!
Here is the view from the little town of Winona:

One one side of town, a rocky crag that one could hike up to.  On the other:

And while visiting I did get a couple of skeins of yarn and a nice knitting book that has patterns to help me use up sock yarn-since I really tend to botch those every time!  What is the first pattern I'd do from the book, say/think you??  Guess...=] Yeah, a pair of socks!  Newborn-size baby socks.  Later on my trip, my Son would help me to find the DPNs(double-pointed needles) and sock yarn to use for the pattern.  I wrote those out, smiling, cause I was having to explain to my dear boy why I needed those to make socks.  I had a blast explaining straight needles, circular needles, and DPNs.  The ones I bought were 5" long...shorter than ususal, but perfect for making baby socks with.

I will leave it at that for now...T, minus 12 minutes and counting til I'm crashed for the night...hope everyone else is able to rest and enjoy tomorrow and the following weekend.  Truly the simple things are best!
CC

Back from the Twin Cities...

Long time no chat! Thanks for your patience as I've been away on a jolly holiday to see family!  I have so much to share from this trip that I will break it down over the next several days.  =]  To catch up on old news, though, here is the picture of our new toaster oven:

Ain't she a beaut!  The mister picked it out.  I've made toast in it once...not sure if he put it to use while I was away, but I suspect not as his favorite appliance is the microwave! =]

Also, the Mister is quite happy with harvesting his blueberry crop this week.  I took a pic before I left as they were just turning at that time.

Today I make a blueberry pie!  I "happened" to be watching Alex's Day Off on the Cooking Channel (I think), and saw the episode featuring the Blueberry Pie recipe that I'll be using.  Here is a link:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alexandra-guarnaschelli/blueberry-pie-recipe/index.html
I've not tried it yet, read the reviews and will enjoy it I believe.  I've also used Alton Brown's recipe for blueberry pie with great success!  At any rate, I think the Mister deserves a homemade dinner tonight and pie for dessert after suffering my being gone for 4 days! =] A full report on dinner and dessert tomorrow-stay tuned!

Also, I just HaD to go and get a food scale last week...yeah, had the Mister scratching his head, too.  "Are you starting some kind of diet?" Heck, no...I need to weigh my yarn! He started laughing and thinking I had totally lost my mind.  So I found a great knitting pattern for using up all kinds of yarn. 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/norwayneedles/2963651011
One has to easily divide a skein of yarn to know when to stop increasing and begin decreases to finish evenly.  The pattern suggests using a scale.  Sooo, I got one!  And her I am using it to weigh out 25 grams of yarn(midpoint of a 50g skein):

As you can see I was getting close. =]  I've since finished that scarf, but I haven't taken a picture of it yet.  I also weighed out some reclaimed yarn from a thrift sweater and have started that one.  I think the scale will be put to good use for all kinds of yarny crafts! Now who's laughing Mister!  *maniacal  laughter*

And as for the trip, I was able to spend the night at my sister's place, visit a new town (and yarn shop) in Minnesota, I was able to kiss, play, and snuggle with my grandbaby, hang out with my son, and also grandbaby's Mom...I think of her as a daughter-in-law...=]
I will be sharing photos and good times that I had over the next few days.  But for now this old girl is in recovery mode and ship-shaping the homestead.  It's a lot to recover from driving (and my son's driving me) around on 3, 4, and 5 lane highways in 'the Cities', as the locals say. Whew!  Quite a difference from here to there and back again, for this Country Crafter.

Computer's Not Playing Nice...

Ok, I DiD have another installment of Country Crafter's Crazyness all ready to publish...I'm not sure if this one will go any better.  *grrr*  I do not claim to be very good at all this 'puter stuff...so I'll have to try again next week.  My time is up for playing on here.  I'm heading up North to visit family and will be back sometime next week!  I'll try and repost pics and updates again!  So sorry to post and run...but I gotta say Ciao for now...on the road for this Country Crafter!!

Sneaking Greens on the Mister...

Or in other words...springing a new recipe for roasted chicken on him! I did that on Monday evening.  I like to collect recipe books, online recipes, and from other cooks everywhere.  I have plenty in my collection.  So Sunday, while planning shopping and cooking for the week, I grabbed The Quilter's Kitchen by Jennifer Chiaverini and scanned the book for something refreshing during our sweltering Spring Midwest weather.  Roast Chicken with Cilantro and Orange seemed perfect!  It was well received and here is the recipe:

1 bunch cilantro, leaves chopped, stems discarded
3 garlic cloves
2 shallots, halved
2 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
Zest and juice of 1 orange
1/3 cup olive oil
Two 3-pound chickens, necks and giblets removed
1 orange, quartered

Place the cilantro, garlic, shallots, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes, if using, in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade and pulse until everything is chopped. Add the orange zest and juice and pulse again.  While the processor is running, slowly add the olive oil.
Rinse the chickens in cold water until the water runs clear.  Place each chicken in a large resealable plastic bag and add half the maridnade.  Be sure the cilantro-orange mixture gets into all the cavities.  Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.  Turn the bag occasionally.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the chickens on a roasting pan and put 2 orange quarters in the cavity of each chicken.
Transfer to the oven and roast until the juices run clear, about 1 hour 15 minutes.  Let rest 10 minutes and serve.

Ok, for the two of us I used only one chicken and two cloves of garlic and one shallot.  The mister liked the taste and while he didn't collard greens, he did have cilantro flavoring used in this way for the first time...other than salsa.  I have leftovers for chicken salad for lunch today that will be served over salad greens...YuM!! 
I don't know about anyone else, but my eating habits change with the weather.  I love fresh fruits and veggies, salads, cottage cheese-anything chilled and easily tossed together for the summer-time weather.  I also love to bake and eat heavier foods as well as roasts, stews and soups in the cold weather.  I hope to share all of my favorites here!  I have a hankering to make a blueberry pie very soon even though the blueberries won't be ripe for a little while.  I'll have to grab a couple of bags of frozen blueberries from the store(and some vanilla ice cream to top it with).  I do have rhubarb to use from the yarden presently.  That is a favorite for the Mister, I do not care for it.  I'll make that up this week and share a recipe from my Mother-in-law!

In crafting news, another row added to the granny project, another to add today.  I've completed two scarves for the mission.  Also cast-on for a Baktus 'scarf'. I will have pics of these new projects to share tomorrow!  For now, there is laundry and other chores to keep me busy until the Mister gets home from work and then we are off to town to get...tada!: a new toaster oven...=]  Big time fun...at least I think so cause this is one practical Country Crafter...

...Yes, but what is she doing??...=]

ok, so I tend to babble...I'll try and not share it all with you! 
I do have a picture to share of my current big project!

  It is a Granny's Daughters afghan in the works.  So far 5/21 rows added on.  I have over 150 little daughters in the bag and plenty of yarn to use up (de-stash) in making lots more.  You can see the cover of the booklet I'm using...isn't it pretty! 
The first 4 rows include 120 swap daughters from Craftster.  I think there is another swap in the works and I would welcome new colors from my fellow swappers! 
Craftster is my crafty home(away from the four walls I do call home).  You may know me as Kittymom13, there. It is a haven of all things crafty where really talented people share pictures, tutorials and other web-sites. It runs the gammut of household projects, cooking, baking, crochet, quilting, sewing, knitting, and painting...I could go on and on!  You should check it out if you haven't already. 
Best of all...a friend and fellow craftster whom I've never met...but we feel like we're split twins...two peas!

Well, it is late afternoon and I must get ready to cook supper.  I'm using the Mister as a guinea pig and trying a new roast chicken recipe...it has oranges, cilantro, shallots, and garlic...the marinade.  I'll post details tomorrow if all goes well, or if it doesn't...I'm sure I'll have lots of chicken salad either way!!  Nothing goes to waste for this Country Crafter...=]

Introductions...I'm No Where Near Perfect!

I guess there are a few things to share about what makes me, Me!  I think it can be summed up in a line or two.  Married, 40-something, Mom of 2, empty-nester, slightly over-weight and have 2 kitties for pets.  I love to be on the road driving, visiting, shopping/garage sales/flea markets-the car finds all kinds of reasons for stopping!  =]  I do have a grandbaby(girl) and will be going to visit (and all the above) this coming weekend. I've not seen my son, Gd and her mother for six months...long overdue!
What else is there that would define me...hmm, now that could take some length of time.  Hence, the blog and the day to day rantings of just an average country bumpkin.  Most days there is not much to talk about and then life throws 'curve balls' and uspest the plans that you think you've got in mind...ha! ha!  It is this dynamic that makes us who we are though, really.  I've got friends that I believe are so much better than I am, because of all that they've been through, and certainly didn't plan on. 
I've had a rather benign existence, but much enhanced by my amazing aquaintances, friends, family and dear ones I like to think of as family.  And because I feel quite blessed most of the time as well as growing up in the hardships of a large family with little resources, I feel compelled to 'work' for charity(Syn.Love)and the good of others.  I do very little, don't have anything grand that I can put my name to. In fact, I think the Mister works much harder and I willingly share his hard-earned monies too easily on the shopping, gas, garage sales, etc.  I like my crafting to go for the local missions, crisis nursery, and other peoples in need of basic comforts as well as a hug and a smile. I especially like to seek out a person or two to share yarn, fabric, pie and other home-cooked goodies with. 
And yet, I feel I'm not a very good friend at all.  I'm terrible with keeping up w/birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  I can be quite a hermit, content with being home, crafting, housework, gardening,  and not see and talk with anyone for a week or more.  This is one thing that bothers me and would like to see changed.  I tease the Mister with being a hermit, a cave-dweller-just him and his computer gaming.  But I see that is all wrong on my part and the pot calling the kettle black! So I will have to find ways to amend my bad habits and try and be a bit more proactive with my schedule.  If I truly love my family and friends, then I must be a friend...a much better friend. Busy-work does not benefit the way a freind can listen, share burdens, and lend a helping hand where needed. (The Bible story of Martha and Mary comes to mind-see Luke 10:38-42) 
If good can come from having this blog, hopefully, many of us benefit from the ramblings of this Country Crafter...

Feet Dragging and Pointing Fingers...

You can blame this all on my Craftster-enabling friend across the pond...Berol...You know who you are! =]
She has started her blog..and when I can figure out how to link to it...I will.
Also to "blame" is one of our shared favorite blogs Attic24.  I've been a fan and follower for some time now and totally enamoured by the beautiful crochet patterns and reflections of family life in the UK.  I hope to share simple country snapshots from my corner of the world.  You can get some shared recipes and crafting updates, as well. 
I have quite a bit to learn about adding photos and other details here, so be patient with me-this is all a work in process!  I'm not the most technically-minded girl on the web! I have quite an imagination(that I mostly keep to myself), but I'll share a tid-bit and say 'outloud' that I hope to get the hang of this within the month and maybe even have all the details of this site 'ironed out' before then!  I would like everyone visiting to find it enjoyable and easy to read.  Please leave comments and Be KinD!! =]
So with this little start to my blog now behind me...I am free to share the day-to-day happenings of a
Country Crafter...stay tuned!