Defeat the Winter Doldums Questions

For this week, go through those who've commented on last week's topic - find someone who had an idea on their day that sounded appealing to you, as well, and tell us why, or what appealed to you, and link to their blog! If you can't find someone who has a day you think you'd enjoy, find one that you thought was interesting, odd, or funny in some way, and talk about it!

Well I found one that seems great to me... A day at the beach on the Jersey shore...OHHH Love it!  So much like mine minus the kids plus the knitting.  Sounded great. Check out Grace page and her own answer at: http://lovincomfortknits.blogspot.com/

When did it become acceptable to wear your PJ's to Walmart?

Seriously, when did this become acceptable?  Now I know walmart is not every one's favorite store but try existing without it in a town as big as my thumbnail, with a  6 month old and a 5 year old, while on a budget.  I can not, I have tried but I can not afford it.  Anyway, not the point the point, PJ's at walmart!   I am not  talking just the questionable pant vs sleep pant. I mean the full on...Slippers, hair curlers, head wrap, I just rolled from my bed and mysteriously appeared at walmart.  Also, these people are not in to pick up a quick item: ala, my sick baby, up all night, no sleep, need diapers and her medicine.  This is weekly shopping!!!  I am a casual gal, I love my jeans, ripped and all, I do venture to stores without full make up, heels, and  in clothes that would make Stacey and Clint faint, but I have managed to get dressed.  I mean I even put on clothes to drop the daughter at school and I am not even getting out of the car!!!  

Point aside I have been a posting slacker this week.  I am going to post some pics of my current knitting and I would like to say in my defense the 6 month old is getting her first tooth and is unbearable when I put her down for 2 seconds to pee, so posting , ya not happening.  BUT I am here to make up for it SO...

I have been working on squares for a swap, but have managed to work a bit on a few pairs of socks.

This is a pair I started for Kenendy the baby. Wow , they go sooo fast!  I hope the colors turn out okay.  I picked pink for the heel to accent the colors in the top portion.

This is the pairI am knitting with the faboulously BEAUTIFUL sock yarn from my coffee swap partner Sharon.  SHOUT OUT! Love the yarn Sharon!

Tulip Socks

I decided to jump right in and try to make these socks.  They are not perfect, but I am pleased with how my first attempt at Intarsia turned out!!!  It was fun.  I had to edit the picture pattern a bit and I did not use her pattern for the body of the sock.  I used the Yankee classic sock pattern.  If you are going to make socks this is the BEST pattern!!!! You can make socks for the entire family, from baby to men's!  It is SOOO easy to follow and clear.  LOVE IT!  I incuded the link for the Tulip socks it is a free  online pattern.  If I can do it anyone can!

http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring03/PATTtipt

How would you spend the perfect Winter day?

If money were no object, and the day was just perfect - not to hot, not too cold, sun shining, slight breeze - how would you spend a perfect day out that had been given to you in the middle of a cold and blustery winter?

My girls, husband, and I would take a long walk on the beach, play in the sand, make sand castles, collect shells and enjoy the sun surf and sand until dusk. Then after, we were done we go have a great meal at a restaurant overlooking the water.

American Girl Poncho and Cabled Coffee Cup Hand Warmer

I finished the American Girl Poncho. This was a really quick knit, which is good for me because I have a 6 month old and a 5 year old so interruptions are constant!!! My daughter has reported to me that Molly (the doll) loves it. It matches Katie's shaw fabric but hers is a more involved pattern from Berrocco. The yarn is the lullaby yarn I had left over from her shaw. My Mom was supposed to make the American Girl shaw but she never got around to it....So, I decided to use up the remainder. I now remember what a horrible yarn I find this to work with as it gets runs and pulls and is in general a PAIN IN THE ASS.  Of course the LYS nazi told me she NEVER has a problem with it. I say good for her feel free to use it all you want!

I also made the very quick and fun to knit cabled coffee cup hand warmer. I used a beautiful purple cotton synthetic and it was so much fun to knit!!!!  It was done in an evening and makes a great gift!   I will be making more.  You can find the pattern at Pippis Knits Stockings:http://aproudusafwife.blogspot.com/2007/11/cabled-coffee-and-hand-warmer.html
She has several cool patterns. Check it out!

Finally!

Here are some shots of my current FO! I know it has been forever but I have NO real camera.  I am using the Iphone and it is not a great camera.....

I have also finished some dishcloths , as they are for my swap partner, I will keep them under wraps.

This is the Booga bag. It was great to knit very easy and fun. I used the Kureyon from Noro, I find it fun to work with but I know others hate it.

I also knitted a pair of thumbless mittens for Kennedy to wear this weekend. Very quick and easy. I used a baby sportweight yarn and even though the pictuere sucks they look great! They were done on straight needles and then you just sew up the last 10 stiches and sew the sideseam. Could not be faster nor easier!

Defeat the Winter Doldums Package

I got a great package today from Cindy W, my swap partner from the winter doldrums dishcloth swap.  Take a look it is great!  Thanks very much!!! I love all the cotton yarn Cindy really added to my stash!

Defeat the Winter Doldrums" for some of us we get the doldrums and others don't. For the ones who get doldrums what helps you get rid of them? For the ones who don't get the doldrums, what helps you keep them away?
 Sometimes I long for the sun after a bunch of rainy days but as far as winter doldrums I do not really get them.  I look forward to snow (though we have not really gotten any) and beutiful sunny days that reflect the light off the snow making it look clean and magical.

I think I get  more down from day after day of cloudy, overcast, rainy weather. I love the sun and light it makes me so HAPPY and feels so good to have the heat on your face.  I love to take naps with the sun shining through the window in winter and on the beach in the summer! So, I guess, that's my kinda off track answer.

Does this scream EAT ME?

Thought you might want to see what the muskrat lloks like. Does this scream edible to you!

More knitting pics tonight after Ken gets home with the camera.

Fresh Muskrat....WHAT!!!

Picture this:  Well dressed, fashionable, well organized, trendy, cute Mom driving along in her cool little car (read overworked, snot on sleeve from 6 month old with cold, in a rush because she is going to be late for the daughter and in a white mini van, who tripped down the stairs with the baby because she was in said rush I can Dream Damn't), minding her own business. When driving home I pass a sign that says Fresh Muskrat.  WTF I say to myself. So I turn my car around to see if I read it wrong.  NOPE,  sure enough larger than life the sign reads: Fresh Muskrat!

EWWWW! Anything with the word rat in it spells gross to me.  I mean I will not even own a pet rat, domesticated of course.  I view squirels as rats with furry tales, so you see where I am coming from.

I decide to explore this, as we are fairly new to the area, and maybe people use them to hunt or fish (again not my choice but I live on the eastern shore).  Wrong again, they( I am pausing here to say if you are eating or weak of stomach tread carefully on the next few lines) EAT THEM!!!!!!!  It is an Eastern Shore delicacy, so I guess I should be expecting Andrew Zimmerman soon.

Wow! So here it goes for any of you interested the recipe and please do not feel free to tell me how it is I am NOT going to try it.

I mean come on this is how the recipe starts, when cooking with rats.  How can that be healthy don't they carry the plague? Anyway here goes and don't say I never exposed you to any culture.

Two things to watch out for when cooking with rats:

1. The musk! (It’s in the rear. Scrape it out.)
2. The bones! (They are small, and there are many.)

BBQ Muskrat

Ingredients
1 medium to large muskrat

Baking mixture:

1 c. duck sauce
2 beef bullion cubes
2 c. water
dash of salt and pepper

BBQ sauce:

1 T. flour
2 tsp. vinegar
1 medium onion
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dark brown sugar
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 c. catsup

Preparation:
Place muskrat in shallow baking dish with baking mixture. Cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. While muskrat is cooking, mix the other ingredients in a saucepan to make the BBQ sauce. Make sure to stir frequently, as it tends to stick. Cook for only 3-4 minutes. Drain essence of cooked muskrat. Pour on BBQ sauce, working all over. Put back in oven (uncovered) for about 15 minutes.

Mom's Old Fashioned Muskrat

Ingredients
2 muskrats
3 slices fat meat
salt (to taste)
2 tsp. pepper
sage (to taste)
1 medium onion (sliced)
cooking oil

Preparation:
Clean muskrats. Put in a pot. Cover with water. Let boil for 5 minutes. Pour water off. Add fresh water, fat meat, salt, pepper, sage and onion. Let boil until tender. In an iron skillet, put a small amount of cooking oil. Put muskrat in skillet and let brown a little.

(courtsey ofhttp://www.pbs.org/independentlens/muskratlovely/recipes2.html)