Christmas shopping??

The last one

 As you can see, there's been progress on the second chef ornament (finished one is pictured as well).  Still quite a way to go but the end is in sight.  

If you'd like to see what I'm aiming towards have a look HERE.

Today's quote..."Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are endless"

Proof positive

 Yes, folks, we do have proof that I have indeed finished the stitching on the second Nutcracker.  Phew!  Now on to working on the second chef and once he is done I can start putting them together.

Today's quote..."I bought a little bag of air today.  The company that made it was kind enough to put some potato chips in it as well"

Stitch, stitch, stitch

 Yes, I have been doing something but it's certainly not very exciting for you to see.  My plan is to make two of the Nutcracker ornaments and two of the chefs but I must admit making the second one is a slog.  I know what it's going to look like so there's no wondering what's going to come next.  So, here is my progress...

AND just so you know what I'm aiming for, HERE is the link to the design so you can see how they will (hopefully!) finish.  Mine won't have the fuzzy hair of the original because I couldn't locate the proper thread.   

Today's quote..."One of the weirdest things about being an adult is having a favorite stove top burner.  No one ever talks about it, but y'all know it's true"

Our thoughts and prayers go out to
the people of our Maritime provinces
who were so hard hit by 
Hurricane Fiona

                

Because you just never know!!!

 No, you never know what you might find when you visit here at Chez Magpie, as this will attest.   This is a photo of our #4 Grandie modeling a dress that was once mine (you know, from back before dirt!)...

Photo shared with the permission of #2 daughter-in-love!

Today's quote is from Maya Angelou..."Hate.  It has caused a lot of problems in this world but has not solved one yet"

Alas and alack

 Sadly, there is a lack of any photos to show you of anything I've been doing.  You don't want to see pictures of a few rows of cross stitch added to the latest ornament. 

You also really don't want to see any pictures of the piece of knitting I've frogged more times than I can count either.  

Today's quote..."Society has gotten to the point where everybody has a right but nobody has a responsibility"

A sad week

 The past week has been a difficult one.  Two  friends, both in their 90's, have passed away as well as the Queen.   I find myself somewhat adrift and haven't been able to apply myself to my creative pursuits as much as I'd like.  So...I'll show you a picture of another project that's not quite complete.  This sweater is lacking buttons.  I found some I *could* use in my stash but they're not quite 'it' if you know what I mean.  I might end up using them anyway but maybe I'll get to a fabric shop and will be able to find better ones.  

Today's quote is from Sam Elliott..."A strong man stands up for himself.  A stronger man stands up for others"

Sort of a finish

 I can't exactly say this is a finish per se but at least the cross stitching part of it is finished....

This will ultimately be finished into a circular Christmas ornament but there are still two more in the series to make before I assemble them.  You can see three more of the ornies in THIS post.

And, in case you were wondering...remember that sweet doll pattern I pointed you to in my last post?  Well, I succumbed....

Today the quote is courtesy of Matthew McConaughey...."We gotta really watch how quickly we like to say we deserve something...we can earn things, but I don't think we deserve things"

Something else

 I've created a few more things for the Christmas box...

Two of our grandies are 'in' to Minecraft so I searched out some appropriate fabric for them...youngest grandson is obsessed with cars....and our wee little girl, although too young for a pillowcase, needs to have one at the ready for when she is old enough.  I used the burrito method from The Seasoned Homemaker HERE to make them. 

Today the quote is courtesy of Audrey Hepburn..."Nothing is more important than empathy for another human being's suffering.  Not a career.  Not wealth.  Not intelligence.  Certainly not status.  We have to feel for one another if we're going to survive with dignity"

Bubble, bubble

 Over the weekend Resident Chef and I tried making Roasted Garlic and Onion Relish/Jam as you can see....

...and here is the recipe if you'd like to try it for yourself.  Sure tastes yummy on hamburgers!

ROASTED GARLIC & ONION RELISH/JAM

5 whole garlic bulbs                       3 T. unsalted butter
5 c. chopped onions                       ½ c. balsamic vinegar
1 c. cider vinegar                              3 c. white sugar
1 pouch liquid pectin 
  Slice ½” off the top of each garlic bulb & place each on a
separate piece of foil.  Sprinkle each with 1 T. water.  Loosely
wrap & pinch to seal. Place on baking sheet & roast 45 mins. at 400degrees.
Unwrap & cool 15 mins. Squeeze garlic into bowl and set aside.
Melt butter over medium heat.  Add onion, reduce heat to
medium low and sauté til tender and light golden (about 15 mins)
Do not let onion brown.  Add balsamic vinegar & cook, stirring
frequently, 5 mins.   Add garlic & cider vinegar & gradually
stir in sugar.  Bring to boil over medium heat, stirring constantly,
until sugar dissolves. Increase heat to med-high & bring to a full
rolling boil, stirring constantly, and boil for 1 minute.  Remove
from heat and add pectin.  Let cool 5 mins, stirring constantly. 
Ladle into hot jars, seal and process in boiling water bath
10 minutes.  Remove and cool on a wire rack. Makes approx.
six 250 ml jars.  Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.

Today's quote..."Illiteracy in the 21st century will not be about reading and writing, but about those who cannot unlearn what they were led to believe"

no words are necessary

 

R.I.P. Queen Elizabeth II

43 years ago

 43 years ago this man (commonly known as Resident Chef) saw fit to marry me.  It's been a heck of a ride ever since!  

Love you, always and forever!

Well, at least one hand might be warm!

 Half of a pair of mittens made to go with the hat I showed you in my previous post.  Think I'm going to win the game of yarn chicken!  

Today's quote is from Oprah Winfrey..."Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down"

Reversal of frogging

 Yes, over the weekend I managed to reverse my frogging of the hat and came up with this one...

Something else for the Christmas box.

Pattern is THIS one and I used Paton's Astra which is a DK weight.  At least the grey is Astra - the red is a mystery yarn out of my stash (I think it's probably Paton's Canadiana).  Now I plan to play yarn chicken.  Do I have enough of each yarn to make a matching pair of mittens??  Stay tuned....

- Here's a little hint that I do so thought I'd share....if you have problems with dry and cracking hands...  1.  Slather your hands really heavily with a good hand cream, put on a pair of rubber gloves and wash your dishes in the hottest water you can stand.  The heat helps 'drive' the cream into your hands.  2.  At bedtime, I often use a really good coating of vaseline and then wear a pair of cotton gloves overnight.  You can try the vaseline process on your feet too and just wear a pair of old socks to bed.

Today's quote..."Creativity is making marvelous out of the discarded"

w-e-llllll......

 I WOULD have had a picture to share with you.  Seriously.  However....when I checked the measurements of a child's head against the pattern I was using to make a hat I came to the realization that what I was doing simply wouldn't fit.  So....

Meet my friend the frog.
He and I are better friends than I care to admit.

And...no I won't mention the fact that I 
cast on 108 stitches and promptly managed to
trip over my yarn and pull half the stitches
off the needles....no....won't mention that

Today the quote is from Stephanie Pearl-McPhee..."It is important for knitters to know two things about frogging:  that cats are capable of this knitting action, and even seem to enjoy it and seek opportunities to do it; and that foul language is a normal, healthy accompaniment to frogging, whether it is you or the cat that accomplished the task"