WIP Wednesday - An Oldie by a Goodie

Hello all,  this has been a busy week.  Now that the paper I was working on for my research project is complete and I got an A in the class.  Woot!

I am now focusing on Christmas.  I got the tree up at my parent's house and my apartment.  I have some presents bought but really need to get out and finish shopping.  Plus I have cookies to bake.  I am participating in my friend's cookie exchange and need to bake 5 dozen cookies by Thursday.  I have been cleaning up and baking commences tonight!  I am making Mexican Chocolate Snickerdoodle Cookies.  I found the recipe on Pinterest and new I needed to make these for the exchange.

Otherwise, I am moving along toward Christmas but I had quite a scare yesterday.  I am traveling to Southern California for an  Alpha Phi Omega (my college service fraternity) Convention on December 26th.

Me at a Leadership Training in 2007 for APO

While I was thinking about it, I managed to dig out my flight confirmation to email to my dad so he knew when I was flying.  As soon as he got it, I got a call.  "Honey, do you know this says your departing on November 26th?"

It indeed said November.  I booked the flight in July and missed that I booked it for November instead of December.  So last evening, I was on the phone with United trying to get my flight re-booked.  I was originally told, that it was going to be a $500+ difference.  I cannot afford that.  I then talked to some people about it and called back.  By this time, I was near tears and a gentleman operator answered the phone.  I think he didn't want me to cry and worked with his supervisor to get my a flight that was only $77 dollars different.  This was reasonable and I am so thankful.  As a result, I was late for my haircut but at least I can get to Anaheim after Christmas.

So enough drama and onto the yarny goodness.

STV Spiffy Iffy Peresphone's Return! Socks

Let's turn some heels!

I finished all of my gift knitting so now I can pull out some things that have fallen into the WIP pit.  I picked up my socks that I started for Sock the Vote and got to work last night.  I had the heel flap done and turned the heel.  I have to shift stitches around all over the place but I am back on track.  I realized I miss read the gusset and have to jump down and remove some decreases but I love making the gusset so these should be done soon.

Well, that's it for this weekend, now onto the paper!

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

Little Things in Life

This time of year is always a bit hard.  Friday, August 3, marked 15 years since my grandmother died from Leukemia.  Saturday, August 4, marked 6 years since my Gull Bladder Surgery.  And on Saturday, August 11, it's been 9 months since I lost my mom.

I honestly am doing better.  I am a little thankful that I blogged a lot earlier in the year because I don't remember much of it.  I was going through the motions and apart of sparks of significant events, it's all a blur.

I still mourn a bit everyday for my mom but the loss isn't as severe.  I still pause when I want to call and tell my mom something.  I want to see her smiling face and know everything is going to be okay.  But there are silver linings, my dad and I are so much closer now. I also feel so much stronger than before and I am also easier on myself.  

What can I say, I am (was?) a perfectionist.  I honestly try not take myself too seriously but it happens.  I am full of passion about work and my career that suddenly everything becomes so serious.  

So what's a girl to do to relax?  I think its all about the little things that help to put us back into perspective.

Jenn (best friend from High School) and I got together and wandered around the mall and had dinner.  

December 2010, Mom was there too.

She has been working so hard lately that we really have to plan to get to see each other.  I wanted to go for a walk but it was too hot so wandering around the mall was a good second option plus retail therapy helps fight the blues right?

So we bought clothes and got lured into a tea shop where I found this little gizmo.

It's a Tea Steaper!

Seriously how cool (or should I say hot :p ) is that?  It steeps the leaves and then like magic you put it over the cup and it dispenses.  Really it is all about the little things sometimes.

Overall, this is a busy week but I am so happy Jenn and I got some time to hang out.  She always makes me laugh and she has been one of the rocks in my life that helps me to get through the hard times.  Thanks Jenn!

---

In other news, classes are fast approaching but so is fall and that is my favorite time.  I have some plans to blog a bit more.  While I am not apologizing for my lack of posts, there is just so much more I want to share so be prepared.

I should be able to cook more and show you all my creations.  Plus it's pie season and I love making pies!

I still have to get pictures off of my camera from my DC trip with my friend Stephanie.  

Yarny goodness of course will continue

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Stripes and Solids

Hello again, what a busy week!  I shot a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for work and a local news station yesterday.  I was chosen by my management team to go through the interview process and was chosen to be 1 of 6 people to represent the company in these PSAs.  The topic was to encourage youth to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

It was really interesting to see how those commercials are shot.  The commercial itself is 30 seconds but it took about an hour of shooting.  Overall, it was hard to get stage fright when your just staring at a teleprompter.  Anyway, if your good I may be able to post the finished product when it airs.

Now onto the yarn!  :)

Given my business, the only progress I got was on the Gryffindor Scarf.  I have given myself until August 10th to get this all done.  Check out my progress.

It's getting to long to take pics on my table

So there you have it my WIPs for this week. I think I had a pretty productive week, how about you? For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Seams and Cuffs

Hello again! I don't know where the weeks are going but here we are 1 day away from the start of summer and 2 days away from my Birthday and I haven't determined how I feel about that.

I don't know where my 20's are going but they sure are flying.  I remember that I couldn't wait to be 10 and in double digits and the wait to 16, 18 and 21 were annoying.  Now 30 is knocking on my door and it's scary.

Then of course this is the first birthday without my mom.  She would call me right at the minute that I was born every year to wish me a happy birthday.  It makes me smile just thinking about it.  My dad is taking me to dinner this weekend but it's hard without my mom.

Well then, enough of this melancholia it's WIP Wednesday and I have progress to show you!

LEGO Block Blanket

I made marked progress on the LEGO blanket.  I only have 1.5 seams left and just couldn't get to it last night to finish it up for today.  I want to get this done soon so it's not looming over my head, though I need to go back and swatch and test wash to make sure the colors don't run.  I like to wash baby blankets one time before I gift them and I don't want to destroy the colors and white borders.

Everything is really squaring up with the vertical seams

Diagonal Lace Socks

For the most part, the sock part of the first sock is done.  I am just working the pattern on the leg/cuff.  I really think 2 more pattern repeats will be enough.

The color got washed out in the picture.

They really are yellow but the color is washed out in the picture.  I didn't realize that the image was wrong until I uploaded it.  I will try and take another picture later on tonight and replace this one.

I do like that you can see that there is variation in the sock that isn't apparent on the image below.

This is closer to the real color

White Centered Granny Square Blanket

I picked these up again because I was a bit annoyed with the Diagonal Lace Socks and the heel.  (I am not to proficient at wrap and turns)  Anyway, I wanted to see how the edging looked on the squares and started to putz with the join method.  

I think the edging looks great and I like the whip stitch through the back look of the edging to join them.  What do you think.

I also did most of the end weaving too.

So I think I had a pretty productive week, how about you?  For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis and Frontier Dreams

<3 Heather

Craft Your Perfect Day - 3KCBWWC

Welcome again to the Knit and Crochet Blog Week, Day 3! Today's topic was to talk about your knitting and crochet hero.  I really don't have one so I decided to take a walk on the wild side and do the Wild Card topic.Here are the details about today's topic. 

Details and Image care of eskimimi makes

So what would be my fantasy day.  I really think that I spend some days on the weekends just crafting so that doesn't really count.  I think instead I will think outside of the crocheted square and hop in a Blue Police Box and go about 20 years in the future.  Yes that is what I will do.

Image from Wikipedia

April 25, 2032



Today, I decided to take a day off. The kids are at school, the husband at work and I just needed some me time. I am forgoing things on my to list. Laundry, dishes, vacuuming, dusting and cleaning can all stay on hold. Instead, I get in my hover car and fly over to the local yarn store and purchase ye old wool nylon blend sock yarn.

I browse and squeeze all of the yarns and eventually pick up a lovely emerald green yarn to make socks. I make my purchase. Grab a health tonic and hover back home.

As I get to my craft room. I pull out the boxes and totes with my knitting supplies and get to work winding the yarn and casting on. As I get settled on the window seat in the room, I pull out the extra pair of hands and start reading a book. These animatronic arms attach to my body and through electric impulses from my brain turn pages like my real arms and hands which are currently clicking away on the first sock. All the while watching vintage episodes of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals where the Pens beat the Canucks for the cup.

As the time passes, I enjoy a relaxing afternoon doing nothing and everything at the same time.

<3 Heather

Check out other great pictures by searching for 3KCBWWC or 3KCBWDAY3

Rasberries and Peaches

So I made another pie this weekend.  I know it's a shocker but this weekend was a bit different.  There I was working on reducing down the raspberries and peaches for the pie (I was also caramelizing onions for the meatloaf, Yummy! But I digress) and my Dad walks into the kitchen and says, "You have been baking a lot lately"

Yes, yes I have.  I know I have mentioned many times that I learned my baking and cooking from my family (and a healthy sprinkling of the Food Network) but my Dad's comment got me thinking about why I was really baking. 

Anyway, I pondered it and got back to the baking and ending up with this great pie.

How yummy does that look?

But it wasn't until I read this post and saw this picture* of  Julia Child that I truly understood what I was doing.  I realized today that I was honoring those who taught me everything I know culinary wise. 

I smile each and every time I pick up the rolling pin with the burnt handle and know that for generations, women in my family have been rolling out pie dough for their loved ones. (My mother borrowed the rolling pin ages ago from her great grandmother and never gave it back.  To quote her, "I wasn't done borrowing it, yet")

I remember sitting on my Great Grandmother's counter and pinching the dough to seal the crust.  I remember cutting and slicing apples.  I remember coming home from school in the fall to the smell of cooked apple, cinnamon and love.  Memories really withstand the test of time through food, don't they?

When I started on this pie journey a few weeks ago, it was just to satisfy an urge for a cherry pie and prove that I could do it.  I can't tell you the last time I had made one even with my mom's help, and yet I remember all of the things they taught me.  How to cut the shortening into the dough, how to roll out the dough, how to pinch, how to make sure you add butter and leave slits in the top for air.  It all came rushing back like they were standing over me when I was small.

I cannot tell you how much I want to show my future children and grandchildren and friend's children because these lessons are a gift from one generation to the next.  I am so happy to have had that in my life.

<3 Heather

* For those of you not following the links.  The picture was of Julia demonstrating a frosting technique to a young Merida.

Pie in the Sky

In a similar vein to yesterday, here is a picture from the front of my Apartment complex.  After 24 hours, notice the lack of snow.

Taken this morning outside of my apartment on my way to work.

Seriously, what is going on with this weather.

Weather rant aside, I am so excited to show you the cherry pie I made this past weekend. I only recall making apple pies so I wanted to challenge myself with a cherry pie.  I was a little nervous because with apple, you put the raw apples in and bake it but for the cherry I had to make the filling first. 

Cherry Pie Filling

I used this Cherry Pie Recipe from The Food Network.  I adapted the recipe by adding some lemon juice and zest to help make the cherries a little tart. I also used 2 bags of frozen cherries which was about 6 cups.  Note: I didn't use all of the liquid because it would have overflowed the pie pan.

I have to say, I was incredibly impressed by how easy this recipe was in comparison to apple pie.  I didn't have to peel and slice apples just threw the defrosted cherries in a sauce pan and cooked til the juice released and added the flavorings, sugar and corn starch.  Voila!  Cherry Pie Filling!

While this was cooling, I worked on the pie crust.  We have always used a shortening based crust, but what I didn't realize was that it was the Crisco Pie Crust until I couldn't find the recipe card and on a whim checked the back of the Crisco Stick Label.  Low and behold there was our "family" recipe.  Now I am not blaming my grandmother for pawning off a Crisco recipe as her own but it's funny how over time things develop into "family" recipes. 

Shortening Cut into Flour and Salt

Anyway, the best thing about following the Crisco recipe was a few clarifying steps.  I made sure the shortening was cold before I cut it into the flour and salt. You can use a food processor but I prefer to cut the shortening by hand.

I also made sure that I chilled the dough for 30 minutes before rolling it out. 

Rolled out dough.  I am incapable of rolling out circles.

Both of these tips really made a nice crust.  My mom didn't take these steps and her crust was always a but floury but mine came out nice and flaky.  I do wonder what it would taste like with butter flavored shortening. I will have to try that the next time.

Pie just out of the oven

Just a dusting of Flour will do

I admit I forgot to dot the pie with butter before I up it in the oven but I don't know if it needed it.  It was really tasty.  Also this was the first time that I made a lattice top crust.  It's not perfect but I am really proud of how it came out.

I did however remember to do some other tricks for making pies.  First, I made sure I added a bit of flour at the bottom of the crust before I poured in the filling.  This helps thicken the filling so it doesn't run over. 


I also made sure I used the pie drip pan.  This doughnut shaped pan catches anything that may run over but it also allows heat to move around the pie for even cooking.

The one in the front has been in the family forever, the one in back is a new non-stick version

My First Pie!

Well, I can't wait to make another cherry pie, or maybe a mixed berry pie in the future.  Pie has always been easy but then again, I have been making them for as long as I remember.

I tend to think of baking as my specialty but really its so much more than that.  To pull out the recipes (original or otherwise) that my family has made for years allows me to connect to the past.  I can feel my mom, grandmothers, great grandmother and other relatives guiding my hands as I create wonderful and delectable creations.  I can't wait to share these with my children and grandchildren.

Can I get you a slice of pie?

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!

There are a few most wonderful times of the year.

• Christmas (Obviously) 
• Hockey Playoffs (Hello hockey is on every night for like 2.5 months)
• March Madness (I love college basketball)
• Back to School time (Schools Supplies are my kryponite)
• And...

SUPER BOWL SUNDAY!!!

I can really care less about who is playing (that's a lie because I love the Steelers but what can I do) but I love this weekend.  Good food, good friends and lots of awesome commercials.  

Anyway, I thought I would reminse about Super Bowls past.  Back in 1995, the Steelers went to Super Bowl 30 and we had a party to celebrate.  Mom was in charge of the food and the decorations but after we lost we told her she was not allowed to watch the big games because we think she jinxed us.  She really didn't care because she hated football.

Then in college, the Steelers were doing pretty well.  Here is a picture of me watching the AFC championship game in my dorm room.  My roomie Lucy so kind took a pic while I was swearing at the Patriots.

And being caught on camera...

Then the next year, we won the Super Bowl but the playoff games leading up to the super bowl were insane.  I mean I couldn't watch I would run out of the room into the bedroom and have my roomie tell me what was going on.  Mind you, Lucy had no idea what was going on, so I would run back out.  I think I wore a hole in the carpet.

When we did win, the whole college town rioted and of course I was in the thick of it, luckily Lucy took pictures of people burning a couch on our lawn.

Of course I ran out without a coat and it was snowing

Meanwhile, I was making my way to the heart of campus with all of the screaming fans.  It was one of the best memories of my life until the groups started wrecking havic and destroying things.  I realized it was time to go.

A couple years later, the Steelers went back again and some friends had a party.  It was fine but by the end I couldn't take it and I left before it was over.  My rationale was that I listened to the entire season on the radio in my car, so I needed to get there to reverse the jinx I was creating.  As soon as I started the car, the Steelers scored.  Granted my friends still make fun of me for "peacing out" before the game was over.  I also didn't partake in any riots but it was a good time.

Last year the Steelers were in the Super Bowl again and another party was held and again I left early.  Can't really remember why now but I did.

Granted, I do watch the other one's but they are mainly low key events with some food and people but alas, there are not pictures from these later Super Bowls.  

Hope you have a good weekend and don't do anything I wouldn't do!

<3 Heather

Lady, Patches and Zoey

I have always loved animals and wanted pets.  I constantly look at Animal Friends and the Western Pa Humane Society searching for my next dog.  Unfortunately, my apartment is tiny and I don't think a dog would have enough space to be happy.

Growing up, my grandparents (AKA Gram and Pap Pap John) had a German Shepard named Lady.  She was a great dog and was my protector.  My mom would tell me how before she was pregnant with me Lady would jump up on her when she went to her parents house to visit but when she was pregnant Lady would grab her hand in her teeth (gently of course) and lead her into the house.  After I was born, the dog was in every picture they took of me at my Grandparent's house.  But it wasn't a full shot of Lady but rather a body part, whether it was a tail, an ear, a nose or her butt she was always there.

I was about 5/6 when Lady passed away but the good news was that we moved that year and I could finally have a dog of my own because we moved to a new house.  Patches was a spaniel mix but I suspect there was some border collie in there too.  She was black and white and fluffy and kind of awesome.

She fit in our family brcause she had an attitude, she would flip her water bowl when it was empty and when my mom was in a tear rearranging the house she would get annoyed and pout in the hallway.  But she was so loyal, she would sit on the landing in the hallway waiting for me to come home from school and she would hang around my room until I fell asleep.  She really missed me when I went off to college and would get a bit confused when I would come home for breaks and would search the house when I went back.  We had to put her to sleep my senior year of college, it was for the best and she live a long and happy life.

Before my High School Graduation with Patches

My dad didn't want another dog.  He wasn't heartless just didn't want to replace Patches.  My mom however missed having a dog around while she was rambling around the house.  When she was recovering from surgery in March of 2011, she told dad she wanted a dog and that is how we came by Zoey.

Zoey is amusing.  She really is a joy and completely different from Patches.  Zoey has high energy but is also loving.  Mom just loved her and Zoey would curl up on the chair with mom and they would nap but she also loves her chew toys and ripping apart any stuffed animal that comes in her path, including the pet bed I got her for Christmas.

Since mom is gone, I love Zoey so much more.  She made my mom's time this past year so joyful and happy and really what more can you ask from a pet.  Zoey still gets into high jinks but how can you not love this face :)

<3 Heather

Four Years Ago...

So four years ago on January 7th, I started my first full time job.  I had just graduated from college and began working in the professional world.  It was really intimidating and looking back now, I can't believe how much time has passed.

But, I am not here to tell you about work instead, I want to talk about what happened after work that week.

When I called my mom after my first day of work we chatted about how the day went but then she asked what I was doing that night.  My response was "Nothing, why?"  She sighed and said, "Would you be able to come home tonight, I need some help."  Suspicious I responded, "Help with what?"  There was a pause, "I was laying new carpet I got with money from Christmas and my birthday in the living room and got everything out but can't lift the new carpet roll and now I am stuck in the corner.  Can you come home?"  (Note: Her birthday is January 8th.  She would have been 56 this year but we celebrated her 52 birthday on the 6th that year)

I couldn't help but laugh and I drove the 1.5 hours home in rush hour traffic and walked into the house.  The place was a wreck, all of the living room furniture was in the dining room and she had half of the carpet unrolled and in place.

"Ma, I thought your said you were stuck and needed my help."  Mom kind of snorted with amusement and said, "Oh well I managed to move some more pieces of furniture and got it half unrolled, now get over here and help me move the entertainment center so we can finish." 

Picture of the Living Room with the Carpet

That ladies and gentleman is my mom in a nutshell.  She was strong and determined and wasn't going to wait for anyone to do what she wanted.  It wasn't uncommon to leave for school and come home and the entire house would be wallpapered or rearranged.  She was so stubborn too, just wanted everything just so and in her own way.

I realize now that since her illness and death, I have lost a lot of my drive and determination.  I was ambitious and driven, but past tense isn't good enough for me and would annoy the heck out of her so I plan to revive my motivation and regain my drive and ambition to be awesome.

<3 Heather