Mitten Exchange

I just spotted a posting on the blog of a woman in The Netherlands. Her name is Irma and I made mittens for her as part of a mitten exchange on Ravelry. I guess they were a hit! I also received some mittens in that exchange and, as soon as I find my camera, I'll post some pics.

A Family For Christmas

I'm in Canada right now celebrating with my family. I got many amazing gifts for Christmas The most precious gift was a slideshow of pictures from Jacob's adoption which is now finalized. He was all dressed in a suit in court. So wonderful!

Remember Film?

I know that digital cameras make blogging much easier, however I still prefer the pictures taken by my SLR camera with film. Maybe if I had a better digital camera I would change my tune. Here are some pictures from my October trip to Kansas and the Halloween fun my nieces had there. I finally got them developed today.

Handspun and DNA

Oh, man! In my mailbox today I found an unexpected gift of yarn. A friend from Pennsylvania sent two marvelous skeins of handspun wool made by a friend of hers. I had no idea she was sending me yarn, and handspun wool at that! I don't know what I'll make with it but I know it will be something that I'll keep for myself.

In other knitting news, I just finished a Baby's First DNA rattle for a scientist friend who is having a baby. I wish I could be there to see her face when she opens it, but unfortunately I had to send it with someone else who is actually able to go to the baby shower in Kansas.

Secret Family Recipe

Shhhhhh....

I am going to share our family's secret carmel corn recipe with you and only you.

Grandma Shantz's Carmel Corn

28 cups popped corn
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
cooking spray

Spray roasting pan with cooking spray. Pour popped corn into pan. In heavy saucepan on the stove, bring sugar, butter, and corn syrup to a boil. Boil 4 minutes and remove from stove. Add salt, soda and vanilla. This will foam when soda is added. Pour over popped corn, stirring carefully. Bake at 250 degrees for one hour. Stir carefully every 10 minutes. You won't believe how yummy it is!

I'm hoping to have time to make a big batch or 2 next week for our family Christmas.

Yarn Turned Into Animals

My mom saw some animal patterns in my knitting books and decided to make some great knitted toys for my nieces for Christmas. Here are the zebra and the duck. CUTE!!

Taste of Summer

Oh, yum! I have basil pesto in my freezer from the summer. I used it to make the easiest and yummiest supper ever:

2 TBSP basil pesto (use store-bought if you must)
bow-tie pasta
fresh spinach
garlic chicken (saute' chicken in garlic and olive oil)

Mix it all together and enjoy!!

Shameless Plug

If I could, I would be on a commercial for Zicam. After getting home from my week with the sick baby, I felt a horrible cold coming on starting with a sore throat. I immediately started taking Zicam every 3 - 4 hours and within about 2 days I was feeling much better and the cold seemed to have been scared away. Zicam is basically zinc and it comes in pill, nasal spray and nasal swab form. I don't know about you, but I don't have time to be sick so I take Zicam and IT WORKS!! No kidding!