{This Moment}

This Moment} A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.

~via SouleMama

Cooking with the Hamlin's

At our house when we get to the end of a loaf of bread and all we have left is ends we save them. We pop them in the freezer in whatever bag they were in and there they sit. Every week or so when another loaf is polished off we add it to the others on the door of the freezer. When we have enough of these unwanted pieces of bread we know it is time to make some Bread Pudding. We toast the bread in the oven until it is dry, that way it will soak up all the milk and eggs, but not browned.

My Grandmother Blidberg made her Bread Pudding with raisins, but since Jason doesn't like rasins I'm trying it a little different today.


Fruit Bread Pudding:

• 12-20 slices of bread dried in the oven but not toasted.
• 3 cups of milk
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 6 eggs
• 1tsp vanilla
• 1tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup of sliced fruit (try peaches, blue berries, strawberries, apples) or 1/2 cup raisins

1. Break up bread into chunks and put in 9x13 pan. 
2. In a big bowl combine milk and eggs and beat with whisk. 
3. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Dump over the top of bread and stir, making sure all the bread is sopping wet.
4. Bake 350degrees for 45mins or until top springs back when lightly tapped.
5. Serve hot with milk, maple syrup, whipped cream, ice cream, and/or strawberry sauce

Strawberry Sauce:

• 1/2 cup whole strawberries
• 1/2 cup sliced strawberries
• 2Tbs water
• 2Tbs sugar
• 1Tbs maple sugar

Simmer for 45mins or until thick while Bread Pudding bakes.

I hope to post pictures, if it lasts long enough for me to buy some batteries.

Strawberry Bread Pudding

At our house when we get to the end of a loaf of bread and all we have left is ends we save them. We pop them in the freezer in whatever bag they were in and there they sit. Every week or so when another loaf is polished off we add it to the others on the door of the freezer. When we have enough of these unwanted pieces of bread we know it is time to make some Bread Pudding. We toast the bread in the oven until it is dry, that way it will soak up all the milk and eggs, but not browned.

My Grandmother Blidberg made her Bread Pudding with raisins, but since Jason doesn't like rasins I'm trying it a little different today.


Fruit Bread Pudding:

• 12-20 slices of bread dried in the oven but not toasted.
• 3 cups of milk
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 6 eggs
• 1tsp vanilla
• 1tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup of sliced fruit (try peaches, blue berries, strawberries, apples) or 1/2 cup raisins

1. Break up bread into chunks and put in 9x13 pan. 
2. In a big bowl combine milk and eggs and beat with whisk. 
3. Add remaining ingredients and stir. Dump over the top of bread and stir, making sure all the bread is sopping wet.
4. Bake 350degrees for 45mins or until top springs back when lightly tapped.
5. Serve hot with milk, maple syrup, whipped cream, ice cream, and/or strawberry sauce

Strawberry Sauce:

• 1/2 cup whole strawberries
• 1/2 cup sliced strawberries
• 2Tbs water
• 2Tbs sugar
• 1Tbs maple sugar

Simmer for 45mins or until thick while Bread Pudding bakes.

I hope to post pictures, if it lasts long enough for me to buy some batteries.

Lost and Not Yet Found

The epic "Hunt for Size 2 DPN's" occured in my house late Friday night. I searched everywhere for the elusive quintuplet but they were no where to be found. I believe they were out fraternizing with the quintuplet size 0's as they too were missing too. I wonder if they are off to Vegas getting hitched and making babies? When I find all ten of them snuggled together will they each have a size 1 with them snuggled up in a baby blanket?

Friday after my search produced a bag of yarn I lost, a forgotten darning project, a second copy of a doll pattern, but no knitting needles I decided that I needed to organize. Thankfully Papa Bear was off Smelting with Bumpa and Stomper was soundly asleep so my thumping around in the bedroom bothered no one. I put some Dollhouse on the Wii sipped my White Mnt Dew and got to work.

I hoped and prayed and hoped and waited and hunted and put away, no needles. I know that my organizing had hit an all time low these past few months, but I never dreamed I'd loose my needles! Gah! I am moving on to another project and I hope Baby Sister will understand (I was going to start her gauntlets!). Maybe they will pop up suddenly and say "Here I am! I'm a good hider!" At which point I will shake them and say "Silly needles, where were you?" *sigh*

I did however, test out the pattern for the gauntlets because they felt a little daunting. The pattern looked a bit confusing and contorted and I felt intimidated. Not to worry, I made a little mitten thing to test the different patterns and I don't know what I was so worried about. The testing inspired me to make my own pattern and the two pictures is what I came up with. They aren't perfect, but it was fun to find a different stitch or two to try. I hope to maybe make up my own Helm pattern to sell in the fall.

The wonderful lady who bought Teacup ordered a bear in the same size so I have started the bear. I also ordered some yarn today to make the bears clothes. I should have the bear done up in the next few days.

I am still waiting for my size 35 needles to make it from JoAnn's on the moon to my house. It is taking forever! Nothing else I've bought from anywhere else has taken this long. Lesson learned, don't order stuff from JoAnn's online.

I'm not sure how much knitting I'll get done this week-end. Papa Bear and I are going to a wedding on Saturday and since it is in Rockland, about 2hrs away, we are going to make the day of it and see some sites along the way. Stomper is going to stay overnight at Grandma's so we don't have to worry about getting back. I think the wedding is at 4 which seems awfully late to me. I think we will have a good time. I like a few of Papa Bears co-workers and his Mom (who works with him) will be there too.

Also, I am happy to announce that the pattern for the Hunter Plaid Hat (aka Flannel Plaid Hunters Hat) is up and available to purchase.

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter from Papa Bear, Stomper, and I!

I hope you have a great time getting together with family

and hunting for those pesky eggs!

Happy Easter!

Easter morning Stomper and I (Delia) got up as early as we could managed and tried really hard to make it for SonRose (8pm) service at church. We didn't make it. We did make it to breakfast and we ate with Grammie Kay, Grandpa Tom, Auntie, Uncle Zack, and cousin Isabella. Then we went upstairs to watch the new Easter VeggieTale and Stomper fell asleep. Grandma sang in the Easter Cantata and that was a real treat for us since she hasn't done that since I was a kid. 

Once home we started some prep work for Easter Dinner and waited for everyone to come over so that we could get the rest of dinner ready. After our work was done we played some Head and Foot with Teams. Grandma and I won (Auntie and Uncle Zack lost).

Easter Night we had the Hamlins and the Blidbergs over for dinner. Jason and his Mom (Mimi) had to work until 6, so we decided to eat late and eat with everyone! We had 13 people at the table and Stomper in his high chair. There were a lot of laughs, I'm not even sure what we were laughing about!

There was a huge scramble at dessert time, "Me, me, give me some, I want some of that, don't forget me!"

Stomper went to bed right after opening his basket from Mimi, he had all he could take of the busy day. In addition to the basket from Mimi he got a new shirt, vest, and shoes to grow into from Grandma and a new Easter outfit from us.

The Table is Set for Easter Dinner.
(See Friday's post for all of us at the table)

  

Opening his basket from Mimi. The basket is the one that Papa
used to use when he was little!

Watcha doing with my new binks Mimi?

So many binks, so few mouths

Blueberry cake, single serving apple pie, one scoop of ice cream,
banana muffin extraordinaire, and one slice of pistachio pie

Handsome Baby Boy

The Week that Was

It has been a busy week here in Maine. Sunday I gave away the Easter Bears and decided that it was high time I got started on something for me. For Christmas Pappa Bear bought me a gift certificate to our LYS and I bought some delicious yarn, that I've been waiting to use. Sunday night I hopped on to Raverly to look through my favorites and see if there was anything for me to knit for me!

rib pattern is coming along

Monday Stomper and I went to our Music Together Class in Farmington and then had coffee with a friend at Java Joe's. We saw Grandma and swapped vehicles (we had the truck) so that my Dad could get some "truck things" done around the house. While all that was going on I was knitting the beginnings of a shrug (for myself! -insert gasps of shock-) and quickly becoming dissatisfied with the pattern. I didn't see how it was going to fit me since it was a medium size and I am not. I decided to stop and went back on to Raverly to try again. I found this Yoked Cardigan (scroll down to find it) and it came in my size (1X) and so I bought it.

Tuesday Stomper and I went to visit a friend and some "cousins" since they were all home from school for spring break and they hardly ever get to see him. There was a wonderful little fashion show (did I mention they are all girls -4 of them- ranging from 8 to 4?) when we got there, then some coffee, and a nap for Stomper so I took the time to print off the pattern (Raverly's instant pattern thing is awesome!) and give it a little read over before I cast on. In the afternoon I knit a little with the new pattern while the "cousins" had a nap and Stomper had another nap. My friend took our her hook and yarn and tried to figure out what to do about a baby blanket issue she's been having. We chatted about kids and husbands and spring. It is so nice to go over to a friends house and have yarn fun! That night due to the amazing amount of coffee I drank at my friends house I was up late. I did not waste my time as I watched Pregnant in America. I knit the first 2.5" right up to the increases.

napping boys

Wednesday the boys and I had some much needed cuddle time in bed and a then nap right after we woke up. Then to Mimi's house for some lunch, some knitting, some napping, some card games, and some love.

Yesterday we had a ladies lunch (with the kids) at church and while we were gone Papa Bear mopped a bit. Then we moved the furniture around to get ready for Easter Dinner at our house on Sunday. I managed to find a little knitting time, but not much.

Sunday I will sadly and reluctantly put my sweater to the side and pick up a new project. My sister has been waiting patiently for me to start her gauntlets and I told her that I'd take next week to work on them. May 1st I need to knit a companion bear for Teacup. The customer received Teacup in the mail and immediately ordered a bear! 

Here is a Facebook link to the Prop Package. (which you can view with out having a Facebook login). I am waiting on some larger needles so that I can finish. I only have one thing left to knit.

{This Moment}

{This Moment} A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.
~via SouleMama

No Wheels, No Problem

We are with out a vehicle at the moment. No Impala (how I miss that car!), no truck, not even a bike, or a train, or a bus, nothing.

We now travel at the mercy of family.

I am thankful, grateful, and blessed by and for our family! 

I am so thankful that God blessed us with loving parents and relatives and extended church family who will let us borrow their wheels or scoop us up or bring us back when we need them.

With any luck By God's grace and mercy the truck will not be broken too bad and it will be an easy and cheap fix. And if it is not an easy or cheap fix then I know that God has something planned. He knows the balance in the checkbook and where we need to go each week, it will all work out.

4/15/2011

Truck is fixed. It took $200 and the garage owner said we can pay him when we have the money.

Thank you God!

{This Moment}

{This Moment} A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember. 

-via SouleMama

{t

Blarter?

I stumbled across this new term "Blarter" from reading a blog I follow ( Peppermint Mocha Mama ) it is what I like to do best, barter (read her post for a good explaination of what it means to Blarter and check out the Blarter link on the left!). Here is a service I have, you have something I want, lets exchange! I just love it! Things my hubby and I have exchanged goods and services for in the past are: knitted things for photo shoot (which I am still pecking away at), farm labor for pig products (chops, sausage, bacon, ect), we once got a pair of goats (to eat) from someone for free because we had a truck and could haul them away that day and then we gave away ground goat for butchering help, daycare/babysitting for a computer, and heavy lifting for homemade apple pie (my hubby's favorite). 


Anyone have anything they can offer for Blarter?

Done!

I cannot believe that I got them all done in time! I thought for sure that I'd be making a dreadful trip to Walmart to pick up a "softie" for the Easter Baskets. I got a lot done in three days and I'm quite proud of my accomplishments.

To view more photo's check out my Facebook Album.
and while you are there click "like" and you can get updates of what I'm knitting.


I am looking forward to refocusing on some other projects that I put on hold. Mostly the Prop Package I promised a very long time ago for NicoleLee Photography. I have all the bits I need to finish now (minus a pair of US size 35 needles) I just need to get knitting.

After that is finished my baby sister has been waiting and waiting for two years now for these gauntlets. I told her at Christmas time that I'd have them done for summer and at the rate I'm going I might have lied. Then once all that is aside I'm going to start Christmas knitting. I am very excited for the projects I'm planning on ( but I can't tell you because some of my plans are secrets! ). I'm sure that all my plans will be derailed, but it's good to have goals.

Not Much Knitting

Little growing things

I didn't get a lot of knitting done today. We were hit with a Spring Cleaning Bug also known as We Need to Clean the House Because We Neglected it for Five Days and Now it is Disgusting Bug. So I tidied and cleaned and my Husband did dishes (He is so wonderful). Then we played outside in the leaves and the dirt for a little bit, went out to supper, and now we are getting ready for some company tonight. Maybe I can get some knitting in before bed?

Stomper wearing a hat his "aunt" crocheted for him

Spring is Here!

Today we got Stomper outside for a little while. Mumma dug around in the dirt and the leaves to find some little shoots sprouting! This spring and summer we hope to do a lot of gardening together. I have a few small things I want to do around the house. Mostly weed killing this year so that next year I can plant flowers. 

This spring I hope to move around a few bulbs (hopefully I won't kill them) since they are sort of growing under the front of the house right now. As soon as the garden dries Jason is going to do some tilling to get ready for another tomato forrest    a new potato patch.

Stomper played in his Jumparoo while Mumma and Papa worked. Then Papa took us out out supper at Country Delight for some Boondock Burgers. Yum! I don't think Stompers's taste-buds work. Today he had a pickle and some ketchup and didn't make a face. 

Jumping

Stomper's View

Little Growing Things

Completed

I have finished Teacup and sent her out to her forever home. Phew! I am a day late on my self set deadline, but I couldn't have sent it out yesterday (Sunday) anyway so I guess I'm right on time!

It has been a labor of love. Teacup was knit on some very small needles and the yarn I used kept splitting on me. I am not 100% pleased with the way the hair turned out, I think if I use the same yarn for hair again I will use larger needles and if I make a doll this small again I will use smaller yarn for the hair. Every project I knit I learn something new, and I am thankful for the experience of knitting this little gem. I wasn't happy with the second set of clothes I made her. The position of the butterfly was not right and they were far too big. I reknit the clothes and added more shaping to it and I really like the way it turned out.

I am making leaps and bounds of progress on the four bears. I finished up the clothes for the boy bear and now I just need to attach four ears, four noses, and four faces. Easy Peasy! I should be done in time for Sunday deadline. I hope to attach ears and at least one nose and post some pictures of the bears tomorrow or Wednesday.

Pattern for Doll can be found here.

A dress pattern can be found here . For the pink one I made it's a raglan sleeve start like the sweater I knit for a baby recently and once I had enough for the sleeves I started a lace pattern I found in a book.

There is no link for the modifications I did to the one piece suit, but if you contact me I can tell you what I did.

Six Month Check-Up

Sixth Month Check Up:

Weight: 19 pounds naked (50lbs fully dressed)

Height: 27 1/2 inches

Percentile: 75% for both .. perfectly Proportionate!

New Feats!

• Chewing Semi-Solid Foods
• Spitting Out Strained Foods
• Practicing Sitting and Falling
• Nearly Crawling (just backwards for now)
• Gets on Hands and Knees
• Love Affair with Jumping (either in his Jumparoo or in your lap) 
• Just Beginning to Attempt to Put Small Objects (like food) into his mouth
• Becomes Very Angry When We Eat and Don't Offer Him Anything
• Eats Whatever We Put in His Mouth (cauliflower, broccoli, brussel-sprouts, green peppers...)
• Rolls Over from Back to Front
• Is Learning "NO" every times he gets a Diaper Change and Tries to Roll Over Back to Front
• Blows Raspberry's and Spits and makes Other Strange Lip Noises (thank you Mimi!)
• Likes his Mamma the Bestest Out of All the Wonderful People in His Life
• Gets Scared (this is new TODAY!)
• Sleeps in His Own Room
• Sometimes Sleeps All Night
• Wakes up at 3am and cries and cries and cries and cries
• Sometimes Sleeps in Until 8am (usually after waking up at 3 and crying)
• AND THE MOST WONDERFUL THING EVER THAT HE DOES!
• The Bink stays IN! (thanks to his two teeth!)
• and comes out
• and goes back in sideways
• and comes out
• and goes in backwards
• and comes out
• and goes too far in so that his bottom lip is over the top of the bottom half of the bink
• and comes out
• and gets a stern talking to by Owen
• and then gets used as a chew toy
• and comes out
• and gets tossed on the floor
• and then he cries
• and Mamma picks it up and gives it back
• and it goes back in his mouth
• and he sucks on it thoughtfully for a few minutes
• and then .. well you get the idea

More Teacup

 Just finished putting on her hair. She's coming along really great!

In his Bed

Right before the week-end we decided that Owen needed to get into his own bed.
He had been waking up a lot during the night and just crying. We would bring him into our bed and he'd sleep fitfully but Mumma got no sleep. A sleep depraved Mumma is never a good thing so into his room he went.

We had one night where he cried in the middle of the night for like an hour, but since then we have had no problems. If he does wake up in the middle of the night I re-bink him (put his pacifier back in) and leave again. In the morning he wakes up happy and cheerful, which is exactly how his Mumma feels after a full nights sleep.

The only issue we have however, is that I put him in his bed fairly close to the middle and this is how I find him every morning. Sometimes with out any covers on.

Calling Auntie

Trying to call Auntie, or at least text her!

Easter Bears

 Four Nearly Completed Bears

I have all the legs and arms knit I just need to sew them up, stuff them, and attach them. Then I need to make a pair of pants and maybe a new sweater ( I don't think I like the blue and yellow one), four ears, four noses, and sew on four faces ... I'm getting there little by little.

No Arms, No Legs, No Ears

No Arms, No Ears

No Legs

Missing only her face

Time Well Spent - 2KCBWDAY7

"Day seven Prompt: Your knitting and crochet time.

Write about your typical crafting time. When it is that you are likely to craft – alone or in more social environments, when watching TV or whilst taking bus journeys." 

The thing I love about knitting is that I can knit anywhere while doing almost anything. I knit socially a lot at my mothers and my in-laws, during my sisters orchestra concerts, or during music festivals, I knit during breaks at conferences, at friends houses, and I would knit in the car if I didn't get so carsick. I mostly frequently knit while the TV is on, usually on a rerun of something I've seen a thousand times so I'm not tempted into distraction or while watching my six month play on the floor.

I've tried to knit and drink coffee, but the coffee usually goes cold before I get to it. I don't usually knit and eat, because I like to use knitting as an eating deterrent (how can I eat with such busy fingers?)

I keep my pattern, a pad of paper or a notebook, a pen, and a drink of water near me when I knit. This way I don't get lost, I can jot down notes, and I stay hydrated while my fingers are busy. 

The Next Great Challenge - 2KCBWDAY6

"Day six Prompt: Something to aspire to. Is there a pattern or skill that you don’t yet feel ready to tackle but which you hope to (or think you can only dream of) tackling in the future, near or distant?"

-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-

There is a lot out there that I haven't tackled, and that is what I love about knitting. I love that once you think youve reached the end of your knowledge there is always something more you can try. People invent new techniques, new stitch patterns, new patterns to try and I hope to have the skills to sample everything.


Here is a "short" list of the things I'd like to attempt in the coming year(s).


Two at a Time Socks 
Spinning
Felting
Entrelac
Hand Dyed Yarn
Intricate Cables
Designing Items Beyond Hats
Teaching

Teacup Baby

Meet Teacup.

She is being knit for one of my customers.

I know, I know, she's bald. I have to find the "perfect" yarn for her hair.

Teacup is wondering when she'll be able to leave Creator and head to her forever home