Easy Knitted Fingerless Gloves

We'll yes I'm back to the blog...and with a FREEBIE for any of my knitting friends. An set of Easy knitted wrist warmers...keep those pulse points warm and you'll feel great! Easy Fingerless Gloves Colleen McCord – Plum Creek Gifts - 2009 Supplies: 1 Skein Patons Kroy Sock Yarn (or compatible sock yarn) Gauge 28 sts x 36R on size 3 US #5/3.75 mm double pointed needles Yarn Needle Stitch Marker Scissors Tape Measure CO 40 stitches with DPN’s Divide sts onto 3 needles (13-13-14) Join, being careful not to twist stitches. Place stitch marker at the beginning of your joined work. Move the stitch marker up along the rows as you continue to knit. Work in K2, P2 Ribbing until piece measures 1 ½”. Next, Knit every round until piece from beginning measures 5” Thumb opening: Next Round, knit 12 sts, B0 8 sts, knit to the end of the round. Knit 12 sts, CO 8 sts, Knit to the end of the round. Continue knitting until piece measures 6”. At the beginning of the round *K2, P2 *repeat for 3 rounds or until work measures 6 ½”. BO loosely in K2, P2 ribbing. Use Yarn needle to weave in ends and clip extra off with Scissors. Abbrev: CO – Cast On, DPN – Double Pointed Needles, BO – Bind Off

Whirlwind 2009

2009 Started with a whirlwind...hubby was out of work but in a few short months was re-employed - Yeah! - we were busy with the kids schooling and activities and the start of my PT teaching job. Yup I'm a knitting instructor with JoAnn crafts...it's very PT so it still leaves me time to do all my MOMMY duties. We also had to work on 2 big projects - a lightbulb head Thomas Jefferson and a Biography on Julie Andrews with a coordinating costume. February brought around our annual Ski weekend a Big Boulder Mountain in P.A., Our first day was so windy and cold we bagged going skiing and enjoyed SplitRocks Indoor WaterPark instead. After that, the skiing was fun except for juggling the 17mo old everyone enjoyed some mountain time. Upcoming....knitting & sewing sneak peak projects including - Seussical musical costumes and projects for my upcoming knitting classes Investment Cooking ideas - great ways to stock up your freezer and make the most of your shopping trips to the big warehouse stores. Frugal Shopping finds...free or low cost which give us extra room in the budget to fit in a few outings with the kids...like the recen Sixers/Miami Heat Game.

Boo and Rainy Day activities

Well Nov. has had many rainy days so far...so the DD's and made birdfeeders as seen in a MStewart Good THings for kids magazine.

2 Paper drinking cup

1 Mesh Bag - we got our filled with apples but an onion bag will work as well (recycle)

1/2 cup Veg Shortening - 1/2 cup Peanut Butter - 1 cup Quick Cooking Oats

1 cup Cornmeal - 1/2 cup flour

Mix Peanut butter and Veg Shortening, melt in the microwave - mix into the dry ingredients. Fill 2 paper cups with the mixture and let cool. Remove from molds and place 1 at a time in mesh bag clip side down and secure the open end with a twist tie and hang outside to feed your feathered friends in the winter when food is scarce.

Our little monsters had a great time treat - or - treating this year...somehow I wish they hadn't gotten so much candy.

THE PHILLIES WIN THE WORLD SERIES!!! OUR HOUSE IS CELEBRATING LIKE THERE"S NO TOMORROW...NO ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT POSSIBLE!!!

TICKER TAPE TRAIN CROWDS

FAN POWER! DH is overwhelmed with excitement - he's going to the Parade to show his appreciation and share in the cities excitement!

Falling for Fall

We're Falling in Love with Fall and enjoying time together as a family... the whole family enjoyed a trip to Great Adventure just a few weeks ago. DD#1 loves the spinny rides and DD#2 is the daredevil who goes on Coasters. DS#1 even got to go on the merri-go-round-and a few other kiddie rides. HINT HINT we got into the park for $42..HOW? Free Parking pass from a neighbor, a guy stopped us going into the gate and gave us 2 free adult passes. DD#1 was considered an adult ticket so we used one of our coupons for $10 off an adult ticket and a child (DD#2) was free and DS#1 is under 2 so he's also free. WOO HOO! TIP OF THE DAY: IF you are going with little ones and you don't want to wait in line twice to hit the monster rides. Visit Guest Services and get a parent pass. It allows one parent to wait in line while the other occupies the kids and then enter the FAST PASS LANE and go on the ride when your other party gets off...too cool. My hubby and I communicated via Cell phone to coordinate our riding times...worked great! FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL - Look at these big girls where has the time gone? DD#1 turns 10 tomorrow and I can hardly believe it's been 10 years since I was graced to be a mom of such a lovely girl. She's involved with the schools Drama Production of 101 Dalmations this year. She's auditioned and won a cast part in the play. It's alot to keep up with normal homework, drama, dance and all the other family activities but it's great to be so well rounded. CREEPY BUT COOL NATURE - I snapped this Spiderweb photo the first day of school.

bob the builder(as we call big spiders in our house) built a beautiful web that was highlighted by the morning dew..an incredible feat of nature! A reminder to always stop and smell the roses and enjoy what nature shows us!

Enjoy all that Fall has to offer you this season - pumpkin and apple picking, hayrides, fall festivals, baking apples and crunching on fallen leaves.

A BUSY Bee in JULY

BUSY BEE IN JULY

Ok I've been busy as a Bee...the kitchen was painted over July 4th weekend, and shortly after it this curtain was finally sewn for the sliding doors to the backyard.

Here's the gang being patriotic at the fireworks in Medford - their cousins met us at the park and we all enjoyed the people watching, treats and the display. Luckily we saw the show on the 3rd because the 4th was a washout.

Celebrating the 4th with something fun to wear - made one for myself and one for DD#1.

It was terrific to see my friend and her daughter up from FLORIDA - we miss you guys already - can't wait to see the pics you sent!

Took a pattern modification class with one of my fav. sewing teachers Jenn at Just Make It Sew in Burlington and learned how to modify the lovely Amy Butler top to a square neck top that's a little more fitted to my size...yeah Jenn I've finished it and have been wearing my new top with pride. I can't wait until she offers to teach her pants pattern drafting class this Fall!

The end of the month was spent enjoying the Ocean City beach and introducing DS to the shore - it took him 3 days to realize that sand isn't a food, but he loved the seagulls and the advertising planes. He rode his first train ride and merry-go-round. DD#1 is still terrified of rides with drops but loves anything that spins, DD#2 is the opposite - she loves every rollercoaster but please dont mention the teacups of balloon ride to her her - she turns green.

A terrific surpise happened while on vaca - my SIL went into labor on the beach and delivered a healthy baby boy shortly after at a local hospital. A couple weeks early but everyone is home now and fine.

MMM Summer Recipes

Visit our favorite easy receipes at Kraft Family Food Magazine: http://www.kraftfoods.com/

WE LOVE THE FOLLOWING RECIPES:

LEMONADE PIE - Recently made by DD#2

Prep Time:15 min Total Time:4 hr 15 min Makes:8 servings 1/3 cup COUNTRY TIME Lemonade Flavor Drink Mix 1/2 cup cold water 2 cups vanilla ice cream, softened 1 tub (8 oz.) COOL WHIP Whipped Topping, thawed 1 HONEY MAID Graham Pie Crust (6 oz.)

PLACE drink mix in large bowl. Add water; stir until mix is dissolved. Add ice cream. Beat with electric mixer on low speed until well blended. Gently stir in whipped topping. Freeze, if necessary, until mixture is thick enough to mound. SPOON into crust. FREEZE at least 4 hours or overnight until firm. Remove from freezer 15 min. before serving. Let stand at room temperature until pie can easily be cut. Store leftover pie in freezer.

Classic Layered Salad - We served this for our Block Party and it was a hit

Prep Time:20 min Total Time:3 hr 20 min Makes:8 servings, 1 cup each 8 cups chopped iceberg lettuce 1 small red onion, sliced, separated into rings 1 pkg. (10 oz.) frozen peas, thawed 1 pkg. (6 oz.) OSCAR MAYER Smoked Ham, chopped 3/4 cup KRAFT Mayonnaise 1/4 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese 1 Tbsp. sugar 1 cup KRAFT Three Cheese Crumbles 2 small tomatoes, chopped LAYER lettuce, onions, peas and ham in large straight-sided clear glass serving bowl. MIX mayo, Parmesan cheese and sugar. Spread over salad to seal; cover. Refrigerate several hours or overnight. TOP with cheese crumbles and tomatoes just before serving; toss gently

SUMMER TIME!

Summer Time Is Here! Schools out and so much has been happening! We had a heat wave earlier in the month with temps 101-99 for about 4 days but now we're experiencing mid 80's no humidity and enjoyable breezes. BIG NEWS! The first day DD#1 went to the pool she passed her swim test to go into the deep end...dad missed it but sis and I cheered her on through 2 laps of the pool and 2 mins treading water - NOW SHE HAS AN ANKLE BAND AND ENJOYS DIVING OFF THE BOARD IN THE DEEP END! Way to go! We've finally got our modem issues resolved with Comcast! It only took about a month to resolve and a new modem, new cableline underground and the final repair was to our security and coding out at the cable box. Finally no more blinking modem lights--full steam ahead with Blogging, ebaying, and updating www.plumcreekgifts@googlepages.com - I've moved servers from HOMESTEAD.com to googlepages to invest a little of the fees I was spending with HOMESTEAD to other services, signage, flyers, etc. Watch for handcrafted items for sale and updates on Embroidery service to be posted soon. Dance recitals were awesome this month - DD#1 was the star of her show doing her first hip-hop number and gained applause from the crowd doing her WORM! http://www.blogger.com/video-play.mp4?contentId=13213058c4ed71c0&type=video%2Fmp4 DD#2 danced to the King and I "Shall we dance " in the most adorable ballet costume. ANOTHER YEAR OF DANCE LESSONS FINISHED! Over the last couple of weeks I've gotten alot done in the WORKROOM aka the sewing room. DD#2 got some cool new summer items Set of bandana pants with an embroidered Sun T with Hot Crystals - A shirred top and shorts for the last day of school. I recycled an old tote and made it a flat bottom tote and ironed on an image - great to add to my greenbags for grocery shopping. Then busy getting orders filled - two pouch slings for carrying babies through 35lbs and a ring sling for the same size babies. Also shown my own pouch sling for saving my back carrying DS#1 around the house and for quick trips in and out of the car. Ahh it feels so good to get so much done lately. Up next a few items for myself - planning on sewing two tunic tops for the great AMY BUTLER patterns - Specifically this Anna Tunic. We'll see how it goes. I'm planning on one green tunic and one yellow since I have neither color in my summer wardrobe at the moment. Coming soon! Two summer receipes - a great layered salad and dessert and some great summertime photo's of the kids