Out of Etsy hibernation

I have finally posted some wares on Etsy!  Things got hectic with the new house, then the hubby's new schedule at work, then the holidays... but I finally managed to devote some time to stocking my shop!  Here are some pictures of what is available right now!

As always, Customs are more than welcome!! Drop me a line if you are looking for something that isn't in stock right now!

Holiday gifts

The holidays have come and gone for another year... I did some heavy duty gift knitting for my family... anyone want to see some pics??  Here ya go!

Hubby's, ummmm, Naughty Deer hat

One of Alli's leg warmers.  Who would have thought the 80's would come back??

A Panda hat for Abby

A Mohawk hat for the Boy

 

Not knitting, but this was my daycare kids' family gifts.  We added pictures to the little holes and the kids wrapped them up for their families.  It was a HUGE hit!!

Not about knitting...Nature's trick without a treat

I know we live in New England and it snows...I know I should embrace it... BUT, it SHOULD NOT snow before Halloween!  That is just not normal.  It's actually pretty unsettling.  And we didn't just get some snow... we got two flippin' feet of snow!!!  The trees still had leaves on them so the snow snapped them like toothpicks.  Power went out everywhere.  We never lost any trees or power but all of our friends and family were in the dark.  As a matter of fact, today, 4 days after the storm and over a thousand people in our town still don't have power... and its been cold...
Anyway... here are some iPhone pics:

Bubba at the start of the storm as we were all rushing to put away all our patio furniture

The next morning.  Amazingly these trees survived with no limb loss!

The backyard.  It's amazing to see all the branches of the tree almost touching the ground!

Our deck, covered with snow.

I really am amazed that we didn't have any tree damage.  We had a horrible ice storm in 2008 and loss a lot of limbs from all those trees but nothing this storm.
Here are a few pics from the ice storm '08

And then on the day before Mother's day '09 there was a bad thunderstorm and we came home from grocery shopping to find this...

So I guess our poor trees have had enough done to them.  I wonder if they will make it through this winter...

Custom list updated 11/02/11

I am flying through my custom list =]  Here is how it stands right now:

Kate- Bunny Hat: ears and duplicate stitch left
Stacy- Schluttli: cast on, 11/1
Mari- Cabled Longies
P- Schluttli, waiting on yarn
Austin- Longies, waiting on yarn
Ashlee- Schluttli size 3/4, buttons ordered, waiting on yarn

Custom list *updated*

October and November look to be a very busy time for me!  The needles will be flying!

Mari- 2 Schluttli Sweaters: finished, blocking, waiting on buttons
Jeni-Jeffrey Coat: On the needles, waiting on buttons
Candice- Silly old bear longies, on the needles
               Malabrigo longies, wool wound
Kate- Bunny Hat: yarn ordered
Shannon- Alice Mitts: yarn ordered
Stacy- Schluttli: yarn ordered
Mari- Cabled Longies?
P- Schluttli/Hat set?

I just scored some gorgeous wool!!  Paty's Lovies Handspun SW "Fairy Tales" and Mosiac Moon "Birthday Boy" on 3-ply Uruguay Merino!  Woot!!  Be on the lookout for both to be added to available yarns!

Apple cider+beef stew=heaven

Do the happy dance... It's fall!!  This is my second favorite time of year after the holidays.  I love when the nights get colder, the days are crisper and brighter, and my cookbooks come out of hibernation again.  This past sunday i treated my family to one of their all time favorite fall dinners... Cider Beef Stew.  I have been making this recipe since I was given the cookbook for Christmas in 1999.
Here is the recipe:

Apple Cider Beef Stew

2lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

3 cups apple cider

2 tablespoons cider vinegar

2 teaspoons salt, optional

1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon pepper
3 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
4 medium carrots, cut into 3/4" peices
3 celery ribs, cut into 3/4" pieces
2 medium onions, cut into wedges
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup water
In a dutch oven, brown beef in oil; drain. Add cider, vinegar, salt if desired, thyme and pepper; bring to boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 1-1/4 hours. Add potatoes, carrots, celery and onions; return to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 30-35 minutes or until beef and vegetables are tender. In a separate bowl combine flour and water until smooth; stir into stew. Bring to a boil; boil and stir for 2 minutes. Yield: 8 one-cup servings. 315 calories per serving.

And some pictures because i love to share like that...

mmmmmm...meat...

Browned beef swimming in cider

 I have to insert right here that this does kind of smell funky while it's cooking!  Don't let this turn you off, it does get better and tastes incredible when it's done!

All the ingredients minus meat and veggies

Veggies waiting to be chopped

oh this looks so good already!

waiting for scraps... poor doggy, she will be waiting quite a while for those...

Finished products after several bowls were taken out.  Delicious!

I served this with some crescent rolls.  Hubby actually turned off the Patriots game to come sit down and eat with us!!  This recipe is such a hit with my family.  We actually have to hoard our own leftovers.  I was able to snag some the next day which was kind of amazing for me. =]

Try this recipe out, you won't be disappointed!!

Fall Customs

I am currently working on a custom order through Etsy.  Here is what I have done so far:

Three Irish Girls "Aidan" on Lindon

Sugarbubbie "Silly Old Bear" on Licorice Twist

October Customs:
Jeffrey Coat for Jeni
2 pairs small longies for Candice

If you would like to get onto my customs list just shoot me an email or message me on Facebook!