Yarn Along

This one is a big one...perhaps it needs a drum roll...

yes a drum roll is in order - drum roll, drum roll please...

The Chevron Baby Blanket

I almost gave up, 

but I didn't give up and quite honestly, I'm not totally sure what I was doing wrong.

But my super hero Leanne came to my rescue on Sunday, she sat with me,

helped me and it all fell in to place.

Since then, I have knitted at least 15 or more rows, 

changed colors twice and it's just flowing...and growing.

It is a blanket, Leanne suggested I knit it on circular needles...

I am not sure why, but I am going to ask her.

I like the needle, it's purple - but I would like to be able to lay it flat to show you.

With a circular needle I can't do that.


Hopefully, in the end, it will look like this.

And a big thank you to all of my followers, for encouraging me to keep going!!
And a huge thank you to Leanne who always helps me and believes in me!

Life Is Like A Camera...

Lot's going on today - we have all seen this verse - but I was reminded of it today.
No comments - just enjoy!

Home Chef

I continue to receive the 

Home Chef

meals and they continue to be wonderful!

I love everything about this meal plan, there isn't anything I would change.

There are plenty of meals to choose from,

everything is boxed and packaged well, the portions are the perfect size

and everything you need to prepare a delicious meal is measured out and included.

I wrote about week one here, and the second week here.

Week three was wonderful as well...

Shrimp Pomodoro with Fresh Tomatoes, Parmesan and Garlic Bread

There were lot's of tomatoes with this, I don't really stage the pictures like I should.

Italian Sausage and Broccoli Pasta

There was a lot of sausage with this, again, I don't think about it when I take my pictures,

we are hungry and ready to eat!

Chicken Dijonnaise with Zucchini and Sun-Dried Tomato Gratin

And week 4 may have been my favorite so far...

Farmhouse Fried Chicken with Mashed Potatoes, Green Onion Gravy and Corn.

Pecan-Crusted Chicken with BBQ-Spiced Carrots

I added the mashed potatoes.

Fontina Caramelized Onion Flatbread

with Arugula and Grape Tomatoes

Easy Blueberry Cheesecake

This was separate from the meals but something I made last week from a recipe on Pinterest.

The recipe is here.

I was unable to find canned blueberry filling, 

so I used frozen berries and made the topping with that.

This was so easy...and so good, but a sweet tooth is required.

oh...and I am not being paid to recommend these meals, nor am I receiving any free ones.

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Brant Geese

Out and about on one of our adventures, while I was not yet ready to go home...
we happened upon these beautiful
Brant Geese

Similar to the Canadian Geese, 
it is easy to tell them apart, the Brant Geese are visibly smaller and have different markings!

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Saturday Critters ~ 219 ~

These are the last of my pictures from...

Lake of the Lilies

The Hooded Mergansers 

Hang out here over the winter and 

I was surprised to see one hugging the shoreline...

they usually hangout and swim in the middle of the lake,

making it difficult to photograph them.

The lighting was not good, but I was happy to see them so close.

Three males, one female.

I only saw a few girls in the lake, 

on the left here you get a good idea of how she looks with her hood up.

The Hooded Merganser is a smaller duck, by comparison.

The hood or crest on their head, which is up here, is collapsible.  

It likens a fan.

They have a small thin bill,

In flight the wings are thin and the tail is relatively long and round shaped.

These two were on the other end of the lake, 

not too far out, they were alone.

One male, one female they were very tiny.

They stayed together the entire time I was there, they looked to be youngin's!

A nice view of a female.

They are diving ducks but the entire time I was there, they kept doing this.

Coming out of the water, arching backward, their bill facing upward,

you can see that behavior in this picture.

They were so fun to watch!

Sharing today with

Eileen at Viewing Nature With Eileen

Time at the Beach...

Here on our driveway, it was 70 degrees as we loaded the bikes onto the bike rack..

We hurried just a little,

 it was warming up quickly and we wanted to get a bike ride in before it got too hot.

Too hot, on February 21st but that is a true story.

We decided to ride on the boardwalk 

because we thought it would be too hot on our bike path at Allaire State Park.

As we got closer to the beach, the temperature was dropping

and it got windy, too windy to ride the boards.

But not too windy for a few pictures...

We, (the hubs helped) took these pictures in Ocean Grove...
we like to ride our bikes here because the boardwalk is new and wide.

We drove around a little in the car, looking for ducks and wildlife, we came up empty.
We headed to Allaire State Park and rode our familiar path.
Lots of people were out - I kept saying "good morning" to everyone, 
but in reality, it was afternoon.
I honestly didn't think I would make the length that we usually ride.
It was our first time out and my legs were weak.
The hubs kept reminding me he would come with the car
and pick me up no matter when or where I quit.
But I rode the entire length of what we usually do, about 2 miles.
Not much to many, but everything to me!

We stayed out and ran a few errands, Target, Christmas Tree Store and Michaels.
We had a salad at Atlanta Bread and then headed for the home front.
I had done too much and the house was so hot when we got home,
but the memories were oh so good!!

More Knitting Talk - The Chevron Baby Blanket

Have you ever started a project that you just can't "get"?

A few days ago, I started a Chevron Baby Blanket - it is a pretty straight forward knit.

There were a few stitches in it that I had never done before,

but quickly learned on Youtube.

I felt pretty confident starting out, 121 stitches cast on...

"ssk" I have done, I learned "md"...

the rest was knitting, purling and knitting 2 stitches together.

I cast on, knit the first row perfectly, at this point 8 times.

Something is happening when I turn and start row 2

 purling my yarn overs, that's my guess anyway.

All of that said, 

I have tried eight times and I am not sure when you are suppose to just give up.

Those stitches I had never done before, 

I have done them 1000 times now, I think correctly but perhaps incorrectly.

Here's a picture of the blanket, this Chevron pattern is pretty popular now.

Leanne and I selected these colors, she does not know the sex of the baby.

I know there will be a lot of love and support here, 

keep going, don't give up...

but I was hoping to have the blanket done before "it" entered high school.

I could just knit and purl, back and forth...

boring but a blanket, none-the-less...

What would you do?

Yarn Along

On Saturday, my knitting teacher Leanne took me yarn shopping.

Before shopping, we had lunch and it was amazing.

A cute little Bistro in Red Bank and the food was amazing.

Leanne and I both have "good appetites"...

there was no shame and no doggy bags.

We went to Chelsea Yarns and I took a few pictures...

This poster, designed by Leanne.

For me, this is very exciting and something I can't do on line.

And here we are, it wasn't cold out, 

but when you visit a yarn shop, 

you "must" wear something you have made.
Thanks Leanne!!

More yarn talk tomorrow, so if you are not interested, I totally get it.
Skip on by!

You Must Have Patience...

I started a new knitting project...a baby blanket.

Truth be told, I have started it 7 times now and I just can't seem to "get" it!

There have been many text message between myself and Leanne,

my beautiful and absolutely wonderful knitting teacher.

We even "face-timed" before I had "done" my hair - I never do that!

She has tried so hard to help me, she never gives up on me!

I don't want to give up either...I'll keep you posted.

So between my busy work schedule right now, trying to catch up from 2 weeks of being sick,

and this new project, I have been really busy.

And let us not forget the olympics, I love watching the olympics.

New to me, the Skeleton...

that is an interesting name, and how about the curling,

how in the world did that become a sport?!

I have enjoyed the skating, snowboarding and all the skiing events.

Switching gears, I LOVE this!!

The hubs reads my blog everyday and this is my way of saying to him,

"Don't you think this would look great in our front yard?"

How about you guys, are you guys watching the olympics?

Mute Swans on the Lake

More from the Lake of the Lillies...

Mute Swans

A large bird, 50 - 60 inches in length with a wing span of about 84 - 92 inches.

It is completely white, has a long graceful neck,

an orange bill with a black knob base, a black face and black feet and legs.

It has a pointed tail and lacy wing feathers.

Males and females look alike,

except that the males are usually a little larger.

They have short legs, but their legs and webbed feet can reach that annoying itch.

I find them to be incredibly beautiful!

oh and they are not mute, it does make a snorting sound and it hisses loudly when threatened. 

and another little ps, does anyone know why the swans neck and head are discolored?