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!

Yes, I've Still Got the Baby

Although my last 2 posts were not about the baby I am supposed to be taking care of here in Minnesota, I am still taking care of him and here is a picture to prove it. Okay, so I'm not in the photo but that's because he's cuter.

3 Kittens and a Yarn Garage

Another great day in Minnesota! 2 friends went with me today to check out 2 yarn shops in the Twin Cities. First stop was 3 Kittens Needles Arts where I bought some patterns and yarn I didn't know I needed.

Guess I'd better get busy since some of the projects are intended for Christmas presents.

After yarn we were hungry and ate at a fabulous Italian restaurant called Buon Giorno Italia where you can choose your ingredients and they toss 'em up for you. I, of course, chose pesto...because it's the besto. From there were were ready to tackle the Yarn Garage.

Here we are in a picture taken by the owner as we were in shock from all the yarn: