Friday update

Creative title, huh?  ;-)

I'm almost finished with the current model so hope to stitch my portion of a round robin, resume stitching Hetty Child, and start DD's wedding project, Bent Creek's "Flowers in the Springtime".

I also have all but the backstitching done on CEC Mitten Mitten for a CEC mitten sal (a very non-stress, year long sal).  I'm hoping to stitch enough of the mittens and then to finish them like real mittens with little hangers  for a mitten tree.  I don't think I'll "sign" them on the front but make little tags with my name and date to attach to the backing fabric.  We'll see.

I tried a new soup recipe from a recent issue of Real Simple magazine...a chicken and barley soup.  It called for using chicken thighs but I don't like dark meat so I used bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts.  It was pretty simple and quick to make and both DH and I like it better than my usual chicken soup that I make.

The weather has continued to be nice and warm here although it's cooling down today and we're expecting rain for the weekend.  They're prepping for some kind of construction at my walking track and had part of it fenced off.  It's sad to see something go up there but will be interesting to watch, I guess.

Happy stitching!

Stitching, Cooking, Visitors

It's been a rather unexciting week...but often that's a good thing.

I've been making some progress on a model but also squeezed in a little stitching time on a CEC freebie mitten called Mitten Mitten.

I also finished the Witch and am pleased with how it turned out.  Now I have to decide on a skeleton to stitch for next month.

I took the plunge and ordered the floss for "His Eye is on the Sparrow" by Heartstring Samplery.  I should probably have my head examined for deciding to stitch this one when I have so many other things "going" but I decided to use it to help motivate me to get some of the others done...or at least make some good progress on them.  I'll decide after the floss arrives as to what fabric to use.  I'm even thinking of trying to overdye some myself.  After all, it's good to try new things, right?  If anyone experienced in dying fabrics has any suggestions, please feel free to share.

Nikki at Country Cottage Needleworks released a design for which I stitched the model.  It's called "Seasonal Celebrations-Spring".  It should be available soon at your LNS.

We had a gorgeous few days here last weekend and the beginning of the week.  Our neighbor took a picture of some visitors at our dock.  (The lake level has been very low for several years after several years of drought so our neighborhood association voted to drill a well to pump it up.  This was an "after" picture.  Not only is the lake level better but also the water quality/clarity is much improved.)

Midweek the clouds returned and yesterday a wet and cold front arrived.  I'm glad I took some time to walk when the weather was so pretty.

I'm a "make lemonade out of lemons" kind of girl so took advantage of the "soup weather" to make a big pot of Ina Garten's Ribollita.  I love that stuff and hadn't made it yet this winter.  It takes a bit of chopping and prep time but it makes a lot.  I saved some in the fridge and some in the freezer and save cooking time on other days when we reheat this.  If you're interested, here's a link to the recipe:

Ribollita

I've made quite a few of Ina's recipes...I think she's responsible for some of the extra pounds I carry.

Happy stitching!