Author: abcdelizabethhh

Ten on Tuesday

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This weeks writing prompt: 10 Things You Did This Weekend

This is the perfect subject for me this week!  My boyfriend and I went on our first official, non family related, vacation.  Albeit a short one, it still counts!  It’s been a particularly stressful past month or so and I decided that we were leaving town.  I didn’t care where we went, but we weren’t staying home!

So without further ado:

  1. Worked Saturday – they tend to be quick days for us since they are only 9-12, this one was no exception
  2. Road Tripped with my dogs – first one ever!
  3. Ate BBQ – twice!
  4. Saw a castle at HaHa Tonka State Park
  5. Saw the clearest water i’ve ever seen in Missouri – at Ha Ha State Park near the spring
  6. Drove aimlessly – this was a trip with no real plan.  Just motel reservations.
  7. Took pictures on said State Park adventure – my poor DSLR camera doesn’t get any attention anymore.  She needed a workout
  8. Knitted – duh!
  9. Read
  10. Didn’t cook a single meal – it was NICE
The sunset Saturday night

The sunset Saturday night

What about you?

WIP Wednesday(ish)

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This week dad is out of town at a flying event so there is no Lunches with dad this week. It will probably be sketchy for the next month or so because he has several events here at the end of the good flying weather.

I am terrible at finishing old things before I start new ones, strongly evidenced by my half finished knitting projects. I also have 3 books checked out to my Kindle from the library that have been “returned” but its in airplane mode so hasn’t gotten the memo. Whoops. AND I keep fighting the urge to get out my sewing machine and start learning how to and using it.

If you want to see my current reads, they are over in the sidebar…

As for knitting projects, I have:

  • The star stitch scarf I have been working on FOREVER. It went on the back burner almost a year ago when the intended recipient, my grandma, passed away. It’s only been recently that I have decided to actually finish it and find it a home

.Star stitch

  • My scarf that I got as a kit from Heartland Fiber Company when Laura and I went up for a “fiberpalooza” this spring. It is my go to mindless project as it is straight knitting done in the round. No counting, no thinking, put it down and pick it up anytime. It’s my go-to purse project.
Heartland scarf - purse project extraordinaire...

Heartland scarf – purse project extraordinaire…

  • A hat that I cast on a couple weeks ago with my Lion Brand Ice Cream yarn that I was so excited about. Its just a simple hat and the body is done, I just need to work on the crown and finish it up. I couldn’t find my DPN’s for a bit and that’s what stopped me there. That and the fact it started requiring a little bit more than just knitting in the round to start decreasing. I am a little disappointed in the yarn tho, its knitting up fine and I love the color gradient going on, but I find the yarn very inconsistent in thickness in places and it has several “pilled” areas in the yarn. I am hoping it is confined to this skein but am skeptical that is the case. I will get another skein, I believe and try it out again because I really do like the yarn colors and color changes.  (No pic…too lazy to find it right now…)
  • A sock. I bought that book about knitting socks flat and have one on the needles. It isn’t very far along and honestly – I don’t hold out much hope on it…  (No pic either, see above)
  • Lastly (I think, anyway) is a shawl that I started a week or so ago for my grandma. I drove up to St Joesph to check out the Red Barn Yarn Farm store finally. We had gone to the dyeing workshop but I had never been to the store. I picked up some Cascade Farms yarn that is a really soft and silky acrylic and they helped me look for some patterns. I finally settled on one and cast this baby on. Its a super simple 4 row repeat for the body and is going pretty well so far. Halloween is my goal to have it done.
Grandmas Shawl

Grandmas Shawl

I’m sure I am forgetting a project in there somewhere. For once, I don’t have a blanket going. I have lots of Caron Simply Soft on hand though so it could happen at any time. I may just start one with all the odds and ends I have and see how it turns out.  Also as a part of my yarn stash, I have quite a bit of hand dyed yarn that I need to do something with. My original plan was to do some knitted monsters or owls but that hasn’t happened quite yet…like so many other projects.

OH!  I did finish a project that I don’t think I told you lovelies about!  I FINALLY FINISHED THE HITCHHIKER SCARF!!!  It needs blocked and a better picture taken…but here it is!  I really like how it turned out, but I struggle with if I will actually wear it or not…  Time will tell 🙂

Completed Hitchhiker scarf!

Completed Hitchhiker scarf!

Now?  It’s time for bed.  I’m going to trust that my boys in blue can hold it together for another 2 innings and win this game.  Guess I will find out in the morning.

Ten on Tuesday – BFF edition

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This weeks prompt: 10 Things You Love To Do With Your Best Friend

I met my BFF in middle school.  We actually grew up on parallel streets and I always knew who she was but never actually met her until a mutual friend introduced us in middle school.  From that point on we were fast friends and are still BFF’s to this day.  I don’t know what I would do without her.

So without further ado; 10 things I love to do with my BFF

  1.  Eating.  Who doesn’t love to eat?  It’s better with good friends too!  We love to get together and do some cooking/grilling and EATING.
  2. Coffee.  Every Sunday morning at Starbucks.  It’s a staple and a great centering/starting point for the week.
  3. Text.  I love the texting form of communication and its great to be able to send a quick “thinking about you” message.
  4. Share.  Our day, our feelings, whatever.  Sometimes we overshare.  What are BFF’s for, afterall?
  5. Laugh.  Self explanatory.
  6. Coloring.  I’m so glad that it’s “cool” for adults now.  I have always loved coloring and it’s nice that there are books that aren’t just cartoon characters to color!
  7. Exploring.  I wish we could get out of town and explore more but it’s still fun to explore things around our great city!
  8. Games.  Card, board, whatever.  It’s about the fellowship.  Except when we are playing Settlers of Catan.  Then its just a battle not to hate each others guts before the end. 🙂
  9. Watch Baseball.  GO ROYALS!
  10. Sit and Veg.  It’s the great american past time and we are perfectly happy just to sit in the same room and just be.
My BFF and I at Sunday coffee

My BFF and I at Sunday coffee

Lunches with Dad – A little BBQ Joint

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This week Dad and I weren’t going to go to lunch because we both had busy schedules.  Hungry stomach prevailed on Thursday, though, and we decided to meet Josh at A Little BBQ Joint in Independence.  In the interest of full disclosure, it was not Josh or I’s first time there, but it was Dads!

As usual, they did not disappoint.  Dad and Josh both got Dinner Plates with brisket and I got a Brisket Melt Sandwich (on a bun instead of the usual rye bread).  It was all delicious.  One of the big plusses for Josh is that the meat comes out without sauce.  They have 3 sauces to choose from on the table, so you control the sauce.

Dad scored it only a couple of minutes into the meal, he was that impressed.  We both give it a solid 4.5/5.

(pretend that we took a picture to post here before we had devoured it all…)

Lunches with Dad – a catch up

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It’s been a crazy couple of weeks and my lunch recaps/reviews have fallen by the wayside!

Let’s see.  Three weeks ago Dad and I set out for an RC Flying event in Green Bay, Wisconson.  We decided to do some pre-road trip fueling at The Big Biscuit in Liberty.  It’s not our first time there, but we wanted something reliable and fast to get us on the road.  It was yummy, as usual, and I think it was my best trip to BB ever.  Maybe I was just hungry?  It was good.

Once in WI, we checked into our hotel and tried a local spot we could walk to called Mackinaws.  It was a decent meal, albeit a little on the pricier side for what it was.  We both were full and the food was good, what more could you ask for?

On our way back to MO, our path took us by the Amana Colonies in Iowa.  We figured that we just couldn’t let an opportunity to go there just pass us by, so we stopped.  A family favorite dish of ours is Sauerbraten.  There is a restaurant, called The Ox Yoke Inn, to procure said dish.  We stopped and enjoyed a meal of Sauerbraten, potato dumplings, mashed potatoes, coleslaw and the BEST strawberry jam, made fresh in the restaurant.  YUM.  After we got our fill there we stopped at a winery and picked up some plum wine.  Now Dad has no excuse not to whip us up our own batch of Sauerbraten at home!

Two weeks ago, Mom joined us for lunch too!  Our entertainment area, the Power and Light District was hosting a restaurant week.  Several restuarnts were participating and Dad chose McFaddens.  We got to choose an appetizer, and entree for $10 and also got a $5 gift card for a later visit.  We all tried something different and had TONS of food.  It was pretty tasty and I will definitely try it again, especially since I have $15 in gift cards to use.

Last week was my choice again and I took Dad to First Watch.  I had been there the week before with my BFF and thought Dad needed to try it too.  When Carrie and I went, I had a much better meal then when Dad and I went, I am sad to say.  We tried the biscuits and gravy, which is how dad judges a lot of restaurants, and was not impressed.  It’s more of a turkey gravy instead of the traditional creamy sausage gravy. It is not what we were expecting!  It’s still good food at a good price and I will go there again.  Scores?  Dad: 3, Me:4

My fruit bowl from my first trip to First Watch

My fruit bowl from my first trip to First Watch

This week there will be no lunch for us.  Dad is out of town :(.  I think it will be back to regularly scheduled lunching next week.

Ten on Tuesday

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Hi!  Long time, no see!  Things have been busy and time just flies.  I thought I would dive in with a 10 on Tuesday prompt.  This weeks prompt?  10 Things You Did This Weekend.

  1. Worked.  Only Saturday but those I don’t mind much, it a quick 3 hours then you are free to enjoy yourself!
  2. Partied.  Don’t get too excited, it was pretty low key.  We had a family picnic for my Grandparents 65th (!!!) Anniversary.
  3. Visited.  With party goers, a few which made the trek in from PA for the occasion.
  4. Cleaned up the house some, an ongoing chore
  5. Gave my self an at home, wanna be gel manicure.
  6. Ate BBQ with out of towners, they had to get their fill because PA BBQ just isn’t the same!
  7. Coffee with my BFF.  Its our Sunday morning ritual to meet and have coffee, but I had been out of town and unavailable for the last two weeks.  It was so good, we went Monday morning too!  Yay holiday!
  8. Learned of my Grandfathers passing.  It’s been a long time coming, but didn’t make it any easier, of course.
  9. Colored.  It’s my new favorite pastime, next to knitting…and reading.
  10. Read.  I currently have 3 books checked out to my Kindle that I need to finish!  I am currently working on “The Woman Upstairs” by Claire Messud

With that, I think I will just leave this:

My Grandpa and I at a cousins wedding almost 10 years ago.

My Grandpa and I at a cousins wedding almost 10 years ago.

Lunches with Dad – Ponaks

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After a couple weeks off, Dad and I got back in the lunch game today.  It was my week to choose.  I was in the mood for Mexican food.  Not any Mexican food, however.  I wanted a sure thing that wasn’t covered in cilantro.  Therefore, I invoked the repeat rule this week and we went to Ponaks.

I did learn something about the salsa at Ponaks last time I went, but didn’t get to test it until this time.  If its too warm, ask for the “extra mild” salsa and then you can mix it and make something in between!  I do really enjoy their salsa, but it does tend to get a little warm sometimes.  I guess that’s what happens when you make it in batches in house, and i’m OK with that.

I got my usual, which is a “Number 1”.  It is a LOT of food and you get 2 enchiladas (ground beef, please), a tostada, a taco and beans and rice.  Dad got the lunch special which was a chicken chimichanga covered in cheese sauce with rice and beans.  We both got our fill and had some to bring home.  Mine is going to be eaten shortly for dinner, as a matter of fact. 🙂

We are both sticking with our original scores for this one.  ME: 5, DAD: 4

Top: my "Number 1" Bottom: dads Chimichanga lunch special

Top: my “Number 1”
Bottom: dads Chimichanga lunch special

A week in review…

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I feel like its been a pretty low key sort of week, but I managed a few adventures.  As far as my current knitting adventure, the socks, I haven’t really made much progress.  I’m still working on the cuff of the first sock.  My knitting will probably be on hold for a little bit as I tried to cut off my thumb making lunch today and it makes holding my needles a little tough at the moment. 😦

I made my own Niddy Noddy, something I didn’t even know existed until our Field Trip to the Farm.  With $4.02 in supplies, I now have a great way to wind yarn into hanks for dyeing!

My home made Niddy Noddy

My home made Niddy Noddy

Josh and I went on a food adventure in Westport.  We tried Sama Zama, a Japanese restaurant.  It was…different.  We got an appetizer of Danshaku Korokee (potato croquettes) which was pretty good.  For our meal Josh got Tonkotsu Ramen and I got a Classic Okonomi Yaki with chicken.  We both started off OK with our meals then they quickly became overwhelming for the both of us.  Neither of us finished our meal or the leftovers.  It was nice to try something new though, I would try other things there too, I think.

Josh's Ramen and my "pancake"

Josh’s Ramen and my “pancake”

Thursday was my last Thursday with my niece before school started.  I can’t believe she’s starting middle school already!  Where does the time go???  We (Audrey and I, Josh came along too!) decided to go on an adventure to finish off the summer.  We ended up going to Moon Marble and checking the place out.  It was pretty cool.  We got to see how handmade marbles are made and their store was fun to look around in.  It would be an excellent place to go for fun little jokey gifts.  Of course we had to hit up the picture opportunity outside…  After Moon, we went to Dave and Busters too to play some games and then finished off the day with some good ole fashioned Frozen Custard!

Audrey and I at Moon Marble Company

Audrey and I at Moon Marble Company

Yesterday Mom and Audrey and I participated in some retail therapy and a nice lunch where I introduced them to my favorite Mexican restaurant, Ponaks.  My only purchase was a coloring book (and the colored pencils I bought earlier in the day at the store) for adults!  I’ve been coloring quite a bit since yesterday, including this morning, at coffee time, when Carrie and Laura and I all broke out our coloring in Starbucks and went to town!

Coloring!

Coloring!

Now its Sunday and time to start getting ready for another week of work.  Oh the excitement!

New knitting endeavor

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So. I’m trying something new for me…socks!  I haven’t ever tried a pair because I hate DPNs and haven’t yet gotten the hang of the magic loop method. That, and anyone who knows me, knows I don’t like “fiddly” projects for the most part.

A couple weeks ago I saw a book on Pinterest called Knit Your Socks on Straight and was intrigued. It calls for knitting them in the flat then seeming them once in the end. Color me interested!  After checking the library for a copy (no dice there) it was off to Amazon to purchase it!

Today on my lunch I found this pretty sock yarn on clearance and got a pair of needles to go along with it. I chose circulars because I have theiving cats and dog and I like to always know where my other needle is. I’m funny that way. Here’s to nothing!

Don’t mind what looks like a tangled mess…its just yarn barf.

Update 2 hours later (not dedicated knitting time…I’m not that slow!): ripped out 2.5 rows…ribbing wasn’t ribbing. Let’s try this again…

Field Trip to the Farm

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Today was a day I have been looking forward to for a couple weeks now!  I went to a workshop called “Field Trip to the Farm” put on by the Red Barn Yarn Farm in St Joseph, MO.  We learned a new to us method to dye yarn and best of all, got to meet the alpacas!

We learned to “paint” yarn using acid dyes.  It’s pretty easy and you get come really cool effects with the yarn.  We spread out sheets of plastic wrap and placed our vinager water soaked yarn hanks on it.  Then we used acid dyes in squirt bottles to put the dye on our yarn and rubbed it in.  After applying the color we wanted, we wrapped it up in the plastic wrap and microwaved it for a few minutes to set the dye.  Once our bundles cooled down, we unwrapped and rinsed our little gems.  It was fun to see what color combinations every one came up with.

The fruits of my dyeing labor today.

The fruits of my dyeing labor today.

I can’t wait to get some more dyes and try this at home!  We will have so much more control than doing it in the crockpot.

Now for some pictures from the day.  It was a warm day but there was shade and a nice breeze and plenty of water to be had.  I would go back in a heartbeat!

Winding the yarn into hanks to soak and dye.

Winding the yarn into hanks to soak and dye.

Yarn painting in action.

Yarn painting in action.

Laura dyeing yarn

Laura dyeing yarn

We each had our own bowl for our yarn to cool down in. Mine is the orange one :)

We each had our own bowl for our yarn to cool down in. Mine is the orange one 🙂

The girls.

The girls.

A couple of the boys.

A few of the boys.

One of the sassier girls. Rumor has it she will spit on you if you make her mad. Luckily we didn't experience it.

One of the sassier girls. Rumor has it she will spit on you if you make her mad. Luckily we didn’t experience it.

Angus and I cheesing it up for the camera.

Angus and I cheesing it up for the camera.

One of the girls, just eating some hay.

One of the girls, just eating some hay.

Angus. He had the greatest eye lashes.

Angus. He had the greatest eye lashes.

Thanks to Jenny at the crew at Red Barn Yarn Farm!  It was a great experience and I learned a lot!  We can’t wait to come up and check out the store!

Obligatory selfie with Angus and Laura!

Obligatory selfie with Angus and Laura!