Knitting a Sweater

A few months ago I started crocheting a sweater for Little P with this yarn. I have the back finished and I am more than halfway through the front.

You can read the journey of that sweater here

http://litlequeenrules.blogspot.com/2009/01/knitting-and-crocheting.html and here http://litlequeenrules.blogspot.com/2009/01/small-disaster.html. It didn't come close to fitting. I don't know what I did wrong. I believe that this has happened before so that is why I rarely crochet clothing. I didn't want to waste the yarn so I decided to knit her a sweater. When she was a toddler I knit her this sweater.

The pattern has sizes from infants to adults. I am not using the same yarn as the pattern calls for but it is working out!

The pattern link:

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/60129AD.html?noImages=

Weeds from your yard!

The King has been bringing in these "weeds" from the yard for me to cook for him. In Italy it is called rape. Like rah pay.. In the US it is similar to the broccoli rabe you would find in the produce section.

I blanch the greens in boiling water for 2 minutes then immerse in ice water for 2 minutes. Drain throughly. You can pop it into a freezer bag and eat it later.

OR you can heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a pan. Throw into some minced garlic and then add the greens. Fry until they change color slightly, about 5 minutes. Then sprinkle some grated cheese on and enjoy! You can also boil up some orecchiette pasta and toss it into the rape. That's good too!

Spring Watch

All my daffodils are open now. Aren't they pretty! The grape hyacinths are starting to flower too!












Here's the pink hyacinth. I noticed after I took this photo that there is another flower growing. Cool!

Earthquake in Abruzzo

We awoke this morning to hear the terrible news in Italy. I feel sad that 70 people have died. Towns are destroyed. It is heartbreaking.
Here's some info.
http://moto-abruzzo.blogspot.com/2009/04/normal-0-14-false-false-false-it-x-none.html
http://www.di-ve.com/Default.aspx?ID=72&Action=1&NewsID=59576&newscategory=36
look at photo - a huge hole in the ground
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/picturesoftheday/5113328/Earthquake-in-Italy-epicentre-in-LAquila-capital-of-Abruzzo.html

Friday Fun

I got this in an email and thought I'd blog it!

How silly can you get in the time you don't have?

PLAY SCATTERGORIES WITH ME!!!
YOU MUST USE THE 1ST LETTER OF YOUR NAME TO ANSWER EACH OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS .
THEY HAVE TO BE REAL PLACES, NAMES,THINGS. NOTHING MADE UP! . (YOU CAN'T USE YOUR NAME FOR THE BOY/GIRL NAME QUESTION.)
1. What is your name: JoAnne
2. A 4 Letter Word: jail
3. A Boys Name: John
4. A Girls Name: Julie
5. An Occupation: journeyman
6. A Color: jade
7. Something you wear: Jacket
8. A Beverage: java
9. A Food: jujubes
10. Something found in the bathroom: jar
11. A place: Jackson, Misssissippi
12. A Reason for being late: jury duty
13. Something you shout: Justice!

Spring Watch

Here's the pretty yellow blooms. They are baby daffodils.

Pretty, aren't they?

Yesterday we had rain - all day - April Showers!

This morning it was yucky and very foggy. Then around 10:30 am the sun started burning the fog off and now it is nice and sunny!

I picked up the first book by Alan Brennert (Molokai) this morning. I am axious to start it but I am currently reading Hotel Pastis by Peter Mayle.

Spring Watch

Here are recent photos of the plants that I posted about a few weeks ago. You can see a blossom starting. It won't be much longer until it pops out!

The landscape is coming back to life again. The lawns are more green than brown.

Here's the hyacinth. I cannot wait to see the pink blossoms appear!