Home from Texas

Hey!

It's been one of those weeks for me. It's good to be home. I worked in San Antonio then I had to drive from San Antonio to Bellville, to Victoria to Port Lavaca then finally Houston. It was very hot in Texas (of course it's August) and I have many mosquito bites on my legs (where they came from I don't know!). It's great to be home with my kitty though. He always greets me with a round of loud "meows" when I walk in the house. He really hates it when I leave poor baby!

Anyway while I was away I didn't get as much accomplished personally but I did find some cool stuff. In Humble Texas there is a quilt shop I got to browse in called It's a Stitch. A very nice store with lots of cool quilts. For some reason I am getting into quilts. I have no real plans for doing one anytime soon but I like to look at them. This store is also a Bernina dealer so I was excited to browse around. I am always impressed to see embroidery machines and the quilting machines these stores offer. Boy you could blow several thousands of dollars on these babies for sure! I better stay away from these stores if I want to stay within budget! LOL!

I also popped into JoAnn's and bought the latest Sew Stylish magazine. It has instructions on how to make a sloper with a friend over the weekend. I actually e-mailed a sewing friend and asked if she would help me make this for myself along with a duct tape dress form for myself. I have too many rolls of duct tape not to make this for myself instead of purchasing one! LOL! She replied she would help me now we just need some time to do it. I am hoping for sometime in September. Wish me luck! I will definitely show the progress!

Also on the crafty front I haven't touched my cardigan sweater since I left for San Antonio. I packed it but I never got a chance to do any of it. I just need to finish one sleeve and then sew it together and do the edging. I am really getting excited but I have so much to do I don't know if I will have the time this weekend. I may do it Monday night while watching "The Closer". I love that show! LOL!

While away on this trip, I did a lot of reading. I like to read mysteries. I like a good "whodunnit" to get my mind working. They are tons of fun to read and to listen to in the car. I had two books on CD to listen to while in the car. One was Lillian Jackson Braun's "The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers" and I am still listening to John Sandford's Phantom Prey. Both are series. I love series. It's fun to read about a character you are familiar from past readings. The book I began reading this week was by Maggie Sefton "Knit One Kill Two". It's a knitting mystery! Isn't that too funny! I like this one so far. I also found a crochet mystery called Hooked on Murder. The knitting and crochet mysteries are series with these books as the first. I think Hooked on Murder is new and more will be coming out soon. The Maggie Sefton novel has some books out already. I can't wait to read more. I also read Monica Ferris' "Crewel World" series too. Her books involve all needlework aspects. All of these books from knitting, crocheting and needlework have patterns in the back for you to try. I have yet to try one but the possibility is there. Overall I think there is a mystery out there for every crafter from scrapbooking, knitting, crocheting, cooking, sewer and more. I think its so kewl! LOL!

Well I am off to the library to renew my books and return some others. I don't want to get fined for having these out past my due date. I frequent the library for most of my reading. I did buy the crochet mystery from a mystery bookstore in San Antonio called "Remember the Alibi". I love cute names of stores. Just dandy! LOL!

Here is a recipe for a Thai dish I promised Sheila. I hope you all enjoy!

Spicy Thai-style ground chicken with basil

1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil

12 ounces ground chicken or turkey

3 green onions, chopped

juice of 1/2 lime

2 cloves garlic, minced

1-2 hot peppers, seeded if desired, minced

1 tablespoon fish sauce

1 tablespoon chili paste with garlic or to taste

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

cooked white or brown rice for serving

1. Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. When it is hot, add chiken. Stir fry 45 seconds. Add garlic and hot pepper; continue cooking until chicken is no longer pink, 2 to 3 minutes.

2. Add green onions, lime juice, fish sauce, chili paste and sugar. Stir-fry about 30 seconds longer, adding basil just before it is removed from heat. Serve over rice.

Bon Appetit' Sheila!

See you in the funny papers!

Projects in the works

O.K. here is some fun things I have in the works. The teal fabric will be used to create a very easy jacket M5241. Now that my machine is back in operating condition I will hopefully have it made soon. I am considering doing one project a month this year to get back into the sewing swing. Wish me tons of luck.

I also hit the sale at Michael's for the cotton Lily Sugar n Cream yarn. It was 10 for $10. I went and bought 10 cream one day and then I found a pattern for a really cute shell patterned tank. I went back and bought 10 more skeins of white. I don't know when I am going to make it but when I do I should be well prepared. I also purchased a couple of idea books. I love idea books and I have very few bathroom accessory patterns so this was perfect. I already made two washcloths and I will give these as gifts for Christmas.

I actually started this post two weeks ago while I was in San Antonio. I have been busy and lazy too I must admit. Things have been spinning for me since I got back.

First things first! Tomorrow I will have my air conditioner installed! Woo Hoo! I went two summers in my home without it and it is way overdue! They said installation will take from four to six hours. I can't wait to have cool air in my home.

The next thing would be that I joined a board games group in my local area. I don't know if I ever mentioned how I like to play board games. I thought it would be cool to join a group that does it. They meet twice a week at Barnes and Noble in the evening. I didn't realize they were more focused on playing European style games (most of them I had never heard of before). These were real gamers! LOL! Well I went to a meeting and was talked into playin a game called "Blokus". It's a pretty fast game and I played it twice with a nice group of people. I liked it. The others were playing games with names like Amazona and Magic. I guess I will get a chance to dabble in other games when I join them. Tomorrow I will go and hopefully take some fun pictures.

Last night was my Ewe Can Knit Too Group meeting at Panera Bread. I really like meeting at Panera Bread. There are baked goods, sandwiches, drinks and last but not least WI-FI. I got the girls hooked on reading Stacey's blog. I told them about her reviews of her projects and they were too impressed. I also mentioned the Pattern Review website (since we have sewers too). They bookmarked Stacey's site to visit and read the previous posts. They are very excited. A friend of a friend named Sue also joined us for an evening. My good friend Lori mentioned her friend Sue has started knitting and was looking for something to do. She doesn't live far from me and came to meet us after getting off work. I was glad to see her enjoying herself and making new friends.

I also have been working on my crocheted cardigan I frogged. It's progressing nicely this time. The back and the right front is completed. I started the left front and I am moving along quite nicely if I may say so myself. I hope to have it completed by the end of the weekend (the left front) and started on the sleeves by Monday. If I keep my planned schedule I will probably finish the sweater by the end of July! Whoopee!

Tonight is my scrapbook group get together. We are planning our retreat carpool as well as working on scrapbooking. We are going to a scrapbook retreat in Central Illinois. I don't know what it is called anymore but the Stampin Up demonstrator named Kim Peck has a website to sign up for the retreat. It's from Thursday to Sunday and it includes meals, lodging, scrapbook space and tons of fun. It's $150 for the weekend! What a bargin! I have done this several times with friends are we always have a good time. I am truly looking forward to this again.

Well I have a busy week planned and it looks like Patrice will be visiting my area! I am quite excited. We are going to the Taste of Chicago to eat and have some fun! I can't wait! Stay tuned for the next posting! LMAO!

Smooches...