Another year upon us, and I thought I would blog a little about the past year. For starters, I see that it’s been almost a month since my last blog entry (rather feels like a confessional!). I’ll try to do better, but it has been a fun year spending time with kids and family. Still, I wish there were even more hours in the day since I don’t ever visit often enough or finish things on time… Thank God, there’s another year coming - so hope still reigns and hopefully, miracles too!

My sister’s sweater is just about done. Needless to say, it will be a Valentine’s day sweater. Who knew it took so long to knit a sweater? lol.

This is the first sweater I’ve knitted and the first time I was able to buy all the yarn needed up front! That was exciting in and of itself!
I’ve become a big fan of Creative Knitting magazine in the process. This sweater is from the Sept. 2007 issue and has been a great deal of fun to knit. It has just enough variation in the pattern (cables and lace) to keep it from becoming monotonous. I will be putting a separating zipper on this sweater, rather than the buttons, just for ease of use for Pooh Bear. If she thinks her sweaters aren’t closed properly, she will walk around hunched over all day for fear of it opening! Don’t want a hunch backed sis!!!

btw… I found the magnetic board at Target’s clearance for 2.00 and the sliding rule from Walmart’s clearance section for 1.00. These have been priceless in working this pattern! I noticed they have more left, so anyone that needs one, I HIGHLY recommend especially that magnified and magnetized sliding rule!!!

Slobo made turkey broth from the Thanksgiving turkey. I canned 8 quarts of it. We’ve already used half of it, so he made broth again from the Christmas Turkey. This time I added the salt and meat (he chopped it up and made the broth). Last night, we got 7 quarts and 9 pints from that Tom Turkey! Not Too Shabby!

Now, I’ve got 4 lbs. of blackeyed peas soaking in the fridge along with a thawing Ham Bone from Thanksgiving and some yummy fattening Salt Pork! Those are going to be so good. I’m hoping there is some ham in the freezer too, to have as the main course for tonight. If not, there will be a quick run to the store! In lieu of collard greens, we will have spinach and brussel sprouts for me!

This is what is left of the cookies from something like 15 dozen that we made (and gave away! lol) I made fontegmon, sanbackles, ginger snaps and J2 made absolutely wonderful homemade caramels dipped in belgian chocolate! That boy needs to become a chef and make the world a happier place! He did a wonderful job!!! The fontegmon required 16 egg yolks, so I froze the egg whites and will use them to make an Angel Food Cake (or two) tonight. We bought some strawberries that I’ll make a glaze from with slices on top. YUM! Diabetes, heart disease, can go out with the old a day late, then I’ll be good!

My dear MIL gave me a cookbook that belonged to our boys’ great-great grandmother from Canada. It’s the Woman’s Guide To Cooking. The front cover and title pages are missing, so I can’t tell you when, where, who published it, but it has a section talking about the frugality necessary now that the War is beginning, and I believe they are talking about WWII. What a wonderful book it is!!!! I stayed up until 4 am reading it. NO Kidding! It has more information in the beginning chapter about food than any other book I’ve ever picked up!!! For example, there was a test for pectin in fruit, using epsom salts! I had not run across that. It also explains exactly what fats, sugars, milks, etc. do in cooking - making it possible to understand them inside and out so that you can create your own wonderful recipes. Information that is sadly lacking in the cookbooks beyond that time period!

Well off to can and cook up some blackeyed peas! I hope that everyone has a Happy and Safe New Years!