'TWAS A COUPLE OF NIGHTS BEFORE...

KNITTERS CHRISTMAS EVE

'Twas the night before Christmas and all around me
was unfinished knitting not under the tree.
The stockings weren't hung by the chimney with care
Cause the heels and the toes had not a stitch there.
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
But I had not finished the caps for their heads.
Dad was asleep;he was no help at all,
And the sweater for him was 6 inches too small,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I put down my needles to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew in like a flash,
tripped over my yarn and fell down with a crash.
The tangle of yarn that lay deep as the snow
reminded me of how much I still had to go.
Out on my lawn I heard such a noise,
I thought it would wake both Dad and the boys.
Although I was tired, my brain a bit thick,
I knew at a moment it must be St Nick.
But what I heard then left me perplex-ed,
for not a name I heard was what I expected,
Move Ashford, Move Lopi, Move Addi and Clover!
Move, Reynolds! Move Starmore! Move Froelich--move over
Paton,don't circle 'round;stand in the line.
Come now, you sheep will work out just fine!
I know this is hard; it's just your first year.
"I'd hate to go back to eight tiny reindeer."
I peered over the sill; What I saw was amazing,
Eight wooly sheep on my lawn all a-grazing.
and then, in a twinkle, I heard at the door
Santa's feet coming across the porch floor.
I rose from my knees and got back on my feet,
And as I turned 'round St Nick I did meet.
He was dressed all in wool from his head to his toe,
And his clothes were hand knit from above to below.
A bright Fairisle sweater he wore on his back, and his toys were all stuffed in an Aran knit sack.
His cap was a wonder of bobbles and lace.
a beautiful frame for his rosy red face.
the scarf 'round his neck could have stretched for a mile,
And the socks peeking over his boots were Argyle.
The back of his mittens bore an intricate cable.
And suddenly on one I espied a small label,
"S.C." Was duplicate stitched on the cuff,
And I asked, "Hey, Nick, dId you knit all this stuff?"

THIS WAS POSTED ON A KNITTING LIST LAST YEAR WITHOUT A CITATION. I LIKED IT AND WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH ALL YOU OBSESSED, WONDERFUL KNITTERS OUT THERE! ENJOY AND A MERRY CHRISTMAS TO KNITTERS AROUND THE WORLD.

Ahhhhhhhhh...I'm out of Control!!!

And loving it, but still...Last week, I was looking for a yarn needle to graft some sock toes and decided to look in my stash. I was actually shocked at how much yarn and proposed projects I have! There's yarn for sweaters, shawls, scarves, socks...You name it I have yarn for it. I'm exaggerating a little when I say I have Yarn beyond life expectancy, but not by much! How did this happen? Actually, I know how, but like most people with addictions, I'm not willing to give it up totally!!! I'm just going to yarn stash rehab to "clean up...dry out" "Cuz, you know I can get clean", "I can handle it", "I'm not like those other fiber addicts" "I can stop anytime I want to!!!" Who the hell am I kidding?!!! I'm just making room for future, buys!!! After all, I don't want to be responsible for collapse of the world's fiber cartels and my local dealer...er, I mean LYS.

I've decided to join in on Wendy of www.Wendyknits.net Knit from your stash 2007 Here are the rules in case I can entice anyone else into rehab with me!

1. The Knit-From-Your-Stash-a-Thon will start January 1, 2007 and run through September 30, 2007 -- a period of nine months.

2. We will not buy any yarn during that period, with the following exceptions:

2.a. Sock yarn does not count. What? You think we are made of stone?

2.b. If someone asks for a specific knitted gift that we really and truly do not have the yarn for, we may buy yarn to knit that gift.

2.c. If we are knitting something and run out of yarn, we may purchase enough to complete the project.

2.d. We each get one "Get Out of Jail Free" card -- we are each allowed to fall off the wagon one time.

3. We are allowed to receive gifts of yarn.

4. Spinning fiber of any sort is exempt.

Anyone else who would like to join us in this is welcome to do so! You may also alter the guidelines to suit your own situation.


I'm too weak to edit the rules to fit my situation or I wouldn't be reducing the stash! So, I sticking to the above rules.

Have a good week and get knitting!!!

Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan...mm good!

Patty, our SP9 hostess has come up with a new contest. To win, one has to post about a memory/memories attached to a favorite recipe! Two winners will be chosen. M favorite recipe is my mother's stuffed eggplant Parmesan. It didn't start as a family tradition, but quickly became one! I was in high school at the time. My mother and her friends at work would have recipe swaps based on dishes brought to company potluck lunches or Christmas parties. By popular demand we started making it for all holiday family/friend get-togethers. In fact, my aunt who lives in FLA. called this summer to say she was coming up to visit and would I make the "eggplant" and bring it to the family barbecue. During the holidays my mother and my sister and I would prepare it together. Each cutting up a different vegetable. It was a time for us to share gossip, talk about what was going on in our lives or just to get downright silly about some event or crazy situation!

Like the time my sister's new boyfriend pulled into the driveway to pick her up for a date (She was a high school senior). My father came around to the front of the house, when he heard a car in the driveway. He was absentmindedly swinging an axe while walking down the driveway to the car! With a look of horror, my sister's date whispered "Is Kim home?" My father had forgotten he had the axe in his hand(cutting dead branches off a tree). When he realized why the boy had a such a look of shock/horror...He laughed and said "Don't worry, I always wait until the second date to make a decision!
In the meantime, to the boy's relief, Kim came outside and off they went on their date. My sister later told as they drove away he said: "What did you tell your father about me!!"

Stories, hopes and dreams have been shared while making this recipe. Here is the recipe below. Enjoy!

Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan
(it makes a lot!)
2-3 eggplants
1 chopped pepper (any color you like!)
1 tablespoon garlic (more or less as you like it)
2 tablespoons olive oil (I've also used canola or vegetable)
1 box fresh mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup seasoned croutons
1 15 ounce can tomato sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg
If you want to "stuff" the mixture back into the eggplant skins, then slice the eggplant lengthwise and scoop the eggplant out to make "boats". Then when the mixture is cooked, it's put into the eggplant boats and covered with sauce and cheese, then baked.

Me, I do it the lazy way. I peel the skin from the eggplant, cube it and put the mixture in a foil lined or no stick pan like a casserole.

First, cut up the pepper and mushrooms. In a pot or a large pan, heat the olive oil: ADD peppers, mushrooms, and garlic. Saute, until the peppers and mushrooms are starting to soften/cook. Add cubed eggplant a little at a time until its all mixed together. Cook until, the eggplant becomes slightly translucent. At this point, if the mixture looks a little dry, you can add a little more olive oil or a little water to moisten. When eggplant is cooked ADD: 1 egg, breadcrumbs, and croutons. Mix it all together and heat for about 3-5 more minutes. Its ready to put in a pan. Pour tomato sauce over the mixture and then the mozzarella cheese. Cook in the oven at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbling and slightly brown.

bon appetit!

THANKS!!!

I got my first package from my secret pal today. She checked with me the other day to see whether it had arrived. I had a mail notice and thought it was for the package, but nooo! and as usual I never coordinate well with the postman when it comes to being home to accept packages. While I was at the post office picking up a package Saturday morning, he was delivering 2 packages to my apartment!! The slip I had was for Victorian Lacy Today. This was exciting, but it was not secret pal! Well, today's 2 packages included secret pal and boy was it worth the wait for Monday to arrive!! My SP is awesome! Let me show you the goods! First thing I smelled when I opened the box was Burt's Bees Essential body kit. . Just in time for the cold weather! MY skin gets so easily chapped.
I love Burt's Bees products! This was only the beginning. I've been totally spoiled! Next was Zhena's Gypsy Tea (raspberry earl grey) I absolutely love tea and will definitely be having a cuppa tonight. There was also a tin of Traveler's chocolate. However, the only place this chocolate will be traveling to is my stomach! Along with all these goodies came some cascade yarn begging to become some fetching wrist warmers or maybe a little felted something. Lookie here! Now by this time, your all thinking what more can there be? Let's continue with Show and Tell! I got something new to try called An embellishment Kit for felted knits. This one is called String of Lights and just in time for the Holidays. My head is swimming with ideas! Perhaps a felted scarf with a string of lights or a wall hanging. Hmm...that cascade yarn might notturn into wristwarmers after all. Of course,there's plenty of yarn in the stash... My picture doesn't do justice to the beautiful colors of roving included in the kit.

I also got a Christmas themed memo pad!

Thank you SP for such a wonderful package. I'm going to enjoy every bit of it!!!

I'm a Winner!

In more ways than one! But I'll just share the good, fun kind tonight! Our Hostess for this latest Secret Pal exchange has made things even more fun by having a series of contests! The most recent contest required participants to make a dishcloth and post it. Here's mine It's the famous Mason-Dixon ballband dishcloth made with sugar&cream yarn. It was easy and fun to make. Well, guess what? I won second place (names of winners drawn from a hat). There were four winners chosen. Here is my gift!!! The colors are really beautiful. The yarn is from Newton Country Yarns and the color is Truffle. It's a cotton rayon boucle. It's quite a good size hank too. My challenge is to decide what to make. So, stay tuned I will think of something cool. I love it! Thanks Patty!

In other knitting news:
I am working on a simple pair of socks using self-striping yarn and being amazed at the stripes! (I'm so simple to amuse sometimes 8-)). The heel is done in short rows with wraps. I like doing short rows, but hate the wraps! I had to frog once because, I had holes! Second time has been the charm. The swatch is done for beadwork and I'm ready to cast on!

Have a good evening everyone and good weekend. I'll probably be posting again this weekend because I have some postal notices about packages waiting for me. Yahoo!