Oops bag

This is my Oops bag because I started out making a hat, but made it too big, so just kept stitching until the skein was almost gone and finished with a row of 2dc 1ch to make holes for a ribbon to turn my failed hat into a drawstring bag.

Double crochet drawstring bag

I’m still experimenting with the two yarn spiral start, and thought it would be fun to go from both ends of a color block cake.

Crocheting from the inside and outside of a yarn cake

I chose to use a double crochet (dc) stitch because the counting is easier than a half double crochet.

Open drawstring bag showing spiral base

The holes for the drawstring are a little off set, since I was working in a spiral, but it isn’t really noticeable when the bag is closed.

To summarize my process (American notation): In a magic circle, cast on 2 sc, 2 hdc, 1 dc with yarn 1. Cast on 2 sc, 2 hdc, 1 dc with yarn 2 (10 stitches total). Row 1: Yarn 1: inc in each Yarn 2 stitch, Yarn 2: inc in each Yarn 1 stitch (20 stitches total). Row 3: Yarn 1: (1 dc, inc) repeat 5 times Yarn 2: (1 dc, inc) repeat 5 times (30 stitches total). Row 4: Yarn 1: (2 dc, inc) repeat 5 times Yarn 2: (2 dc, inc) repeat 5 times (40 stitches total). Continue adding dc between increases until circle is desired diameter. Then dc round, alternating yarn 1 and yarn 2 (this is more obvious than it sounds when you get going!) until you get to the desired length. To make the eye holes for the ribbon, using yarn 1 (1 dc, 1 dc, chain one and skip dc) go 1/2 way around. Do the same with yarn 2. 1 hdc, 1 sc, then single crochet (sc) around half with yarn 1 and repeat the other half with yarn 2. Fasten off and weave in ends. Weave ribbon through the holes (two strands of ribbon starting on opposite sides makes a secure drawstring).

Egg casserole

Egg cassarole

We’ve been lax on egg consumption, and even though the hens aren’t laying as many eggs, the numbers are still building up. Egg casserole to the rescue!

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb Hot sausage (ground)
  • 12 small eggs (or 10 large eggs)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup shredded cheese (I used a Mexican blend)
  • 3 Stoplight bell peppers (yellow, red, orange)
  • 1 medium onion
  • 3 cloves of garlic
  • Salt and pepper

Cook sausage on medium heat, use a spatula to break the sausage into small pieces as it cooks. Whisk the eggs in a large bowl, add milk and cheese and stir to combine. Chop the garlic and onion. Wash and chop the peppers. Cook vegetables with sausage until onions are translucent. Mix sausage, vegetables, and egg mixture. Grease a 9”x13” pan and pour in combined ingredients. Bake at 375 degrees F for 45 minutes. Reheats well!

Note to self…

Note to self, don’t buy the Santa stamps next year just in case the holiday cards don’t get sent until a week after New Years. Like this year. Ah well, they did get out, and I hope they brightened a few mailboxes.

Santa stamps

I do like sending holiday cards. They are good practice designing images for cards, and this year I had my kids not only help with ideas, but actually get into Illustrator and assist with making elements. And addressing envelopes is good hand writing practice for me. Even if they go out late.

Snow!

Well a tiny bit of snow, but it is more than we’ve seen here since we moved in. I yelled like a kid out of school, woke my eldest so she could see actual flakes, had everyone in the house look outside, then let the teenager go back to bed. As a teenager, she was not impressed. I’ve had to modify her request (made at 10 years old) to be woken up to see snow. Honestly, it was a tiny dusting of snow, not impressive, but I do enjoy watching the snowflakes float through the air. We usually get freezing rain, which is only pretty on the tree branches when it is over, and makes driving a bear.

Snow “accumulation” on our deck box

Chicken feet socks

My aunt (on my husband’s side) gave us girls chicken feet socks! We all wore them to go out with the hens. The hens were not fooled, but did check to see if the colors on the socks were edible, then went back to demanding mealworms.

Chillin’ with the chickens in cute costume socks