Thimbleanna – Page 108 – My little online diary.

Curious Cables

54 Comments / January 24, 2010 March 8, 2016 / Knitting, Socks

A month ago, I read this post over at Karen’s and saw the prettiest cable socks ever! I commented and asked Karen if the pattern was available on Ravelry. Not yet, she said — it’s her own pattern and would I like to test it for her? Would I??? I jumped at the chance, as I’m a BIG fan of cables.

So, I set about test knitting and had the best time. I had big plans to be able to take the sock pictures in our pretty snow, but it’s been raining here and the snow is almost all gone. I was able to muster up enough for a little bitty snowman. With a little bitty hydrangea hat.

But I digress — we’re talking socks here! Karen’s pattern is beautifully written. It has several pictures (her socks are a much prettier blue than mine) and she writes the instructions for the cables three different ways — row-by-row, on a graph, and formula-like — so no matter what kind of “learner” you are, she has you covered.

The yarn I used is a Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock hand-dyed yarn in Cookies’ Deep Dark Secret colorway. I wanted a plain yarn so the cables would really stand out.

Thanks to MyDadLovesMeBestSister for being the sock model. We were taking pictures on top of this wall, then decided to hang her feet over the wall. When we did that, Mr. Snowman yelled “Wait for Me!” and jumped over the side. He managed to cling to the edge for approximately 7.3 seconds.

Poor little guy — he’s all melted now. But, the cables are still around and if you love them like I do, you can get Karen’s pattern here, on Ravelry. (And in case you’re wondering, I don’t get a bonus or anything — I just think these socks are darn cute!)

Oh, and I have one more teeny little recommendation for you. The Young Victoria. We saw it this afternoon and I loved it. It made me cry. Did I tell you, I loved it?

XOXO,
Anna

Brown Rice Pilaf

30 Comments / January 21, 2010 February 22, 2011 / Recipes

Well Hello Boys and Girls! How is your MiddleofJanuary going? Slow? It must be lovely for those of you in the southern hemisphere. I’m sitting here dreaming of your warm weather and sunny skies. It’s cold and dreary here and I’ve been occupying my time by spending too much time on the computer and not enough time making anything that I can show you. Sooo…..I’ll give you one of our go-to, very favorite side dish recipes. MeMum found this years ago and we all love it. (Remind me one day to show you MeMum’s recipe clippings — they’re just a teeny bit obscene!)

This brown rice pilaf is fun to make and it goes with darn near everything. And it beats the heck out of BrownRiceInABox ’cause it’s WAY more healthy.

Brown Rice Pilaf

1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 cup chopped onions
1 cup brown rice
2 cups boiling broth or consomme
Salt and Pepper
1/3 cup chopped parsley or green onions
2 – 4 Tablespoons diced red or green pepper

Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and onions until tender. Add rice and saute 3 – 4 minutes. Turn into greased, shallow 2 1/2 quart casserole dish.

Add boiling broth and season to taste with salt and pepper.

Stir well. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1 1/4 hours or until rice is tender.

Stir in parsley and green pepper. Fluff mixture with a fork. Makes 4 to 6 servings.

And I’ll tell you a little secret.

Shhhh.

Come a little closer.

Brigette has a fantastic Spanish Rice recipe that is made in a very similar manner to this brown rice pilaf. You should run over to her blog and beg her for it — it’s the perfect side dish for a mexican dinner.

And with that I’m outta here! I have a sock that’s been patiently waiting for me all week. Have a good weekend!

XOXO,
Anna

Just Another Random Monday

37 Comments / January 18, 2010 February 22, 2011 / Chat

Things are slow here. Really, really slow. Sorry to be so boring! I’ll just list a few random unrelated things, in case you’re interested:

Thanks for all the great comments on my sister’s mouse house. If you liked that, you should check out Madre Karin’s latest post — she doesn’t just have a mouse house in her wall, she can accommodate a whole family!
Parsley, Beet and the Bots are in the house. WooHoo!!! I love these cool patterns from the Amazing Ms. Ric Rac. Jodie has wonderful service — she even threw in a few keychains, a birdcage kit and a bunch of mod fabric scraps, ’cause she knows I want to make another nine-patch quilt. THANK YOU Jodie!!! Now to locate a few extra pairs of Paddington Bear boots so Parsley and Beet can be stylin’.

Check out Jaquie’s great quilt raffle — not only is she donating the funds raised from her quilts, she’s matching the amount!
We went to visit TheFirstChild and SweetiePie on Saturday. While TheManoftheHouse was otherwise occupied, I snuck (is too a word!) down to see Cami. A bunch of Kaffe fabrics jumped in my bag because a) I don’t have a Kaffe stash and b) I’m suffering from some sort of delusion that I’ll actually make Kellie’s Joseph’s Coat quilt someday. Notice how I have two color families going on there — when I DO make the quilt, I can’t decide whether it will be green/blue or pink/orange/yellow. Decisions, Decisions.

I’m currently enjoying several new-to-me blogs:Sweetopia – as I read somewhere, you’ll get cavities in your eyeballs just looking at this blog
A Feathered Nest – Very, very Pretty! (found via Ms. Barefoot – thank you!)
Just Something I Made – Don’t go here. Really. It’s a huge Rabbit Hole!!!

Whew! That’s enough for tonight. I hope you’re off to a good start to your week!

XOXO,
Anna

A Mouse House

70 Comments / January 14, 2010 February 22, 2011 / Family

Well Hello There! How was your week? Ours has been kind of slow. And very sad when you watch the news. Devastation like we see in Haiti makes all of our little chit-chat seem a little silly, doesn’t it? I never know what to say when there are disasters. I really can’t say what I feel any better than so many other bloggers, so, I’ll just point you in the direction of one of many ways to help .

In an attempt to lighten your day a bit, I’ll show you the cute little mouse house at MyDadLovesMeBestSister’s house.

As you may recall, they’ve just added an addition onto their house. In what used to be the old kitchen, MyDadLovesMeBestSister decided to put in a little mouse house in the wall near the floor. It’s like a fairy door, but doesn’t just open to the wall. There’s a mouse in there — with his pretty wall paper and fine furnishings.

My CrazyBIL put the light switch on the inside of the laundry chute above the mouse house. Pretty clever, huh?

There is still a little decorating to be done, but I think it’s adorable. And it makes a neat nightlight for when the lights are all out. I’d love to have something like this in our house – although, mine would have to be a fairy house. (Just for you Miss Dotty!)

Also, I was talking to TheSecondChild today — he’s moved back to Nashville (that’s Tennesee, not Indiana) where he’s frantically still looking for a job. We were joking about all the things he should be doing and he said “Maybe you should blog it.” So, there it is. I’m blogging it. Anyone know anyone who needs a Vanderbilt graduate who majored in Chemistry/Finance (he’s brilliant of course, ’cause I’m his mother) in Nashville TN? (‘Cause he’s just a wee bit stubborn and insists on staying there.)

Hey! Maybe I should have a blog contest! That’s it — the first one to find my kid a job will win…um…well, lots of crafty stuff, naturally — you know, fabric, books, a bunny pincushion — what else do you want??? Maybe it should be a Make Your Own Blog Contest to Find My Kid a Job!!!

Oh, and Good Luck — I hope you all win LOL!

XOXO,
Anna

A Black & White Birthday

51 Comments / January 10, 2010 February 22, 2011 / Family, Sewing

How can it be that another weekend has gone so fast? Did you all have a good one? It was a busy weekend here – but very relaxing. I managed to get in a bit of sewing and knitting which made it all the better!

Today is my youngest niece’s birthday. MyDadLovesMeBestSister had a family dinner for her tonight and she made a delicious Sweet and Sour Shrimp dish. I should have taken a picture! Anyway, YoungestNiece is 13 today. A Teenager! Can we please have a moment of silence for MyDadLovesMeBestSister and MyCrazyBIL? They have three teens in the house now. Yikes!

Oooommmmm.

Thank you. Although, I don’t think they really need it — their teens are cherubs. YoungestNiece’s Christmas present was to change over her bedroom from little girly pink to more sophisticated black and white, with blue. She has a cute pink pottery barn fabric basket holder, and in order for her to keep using it, I decided to make new baskets for her birthday.

I used the old baskets as a pattern and the fabric is from Michael Miller’s Plain Jane line. (Super Big Thanks to Brigette for finding this for me! And speaking of Brigette, she’s posted a few new recipes — one of which is a fabulous looking White Chocolate Bread Pudding — you might want to go check that out!) I stuck some labels in the little label holders, and of course I had to tease her.

Here is what they look like, hanging on the basket holder. The holder will be hung on the wall – for now, it’s just leaning against the wall.

And just because we saw the little cutie tonight, here’s a new pic of Teddy Rose. He’s growing like a weed, but still sleeping like a baby. Currently in the new birthday chair!

Ok – I’m off. My doofy self left my purse at the birthday house, so now I must brave the cold again and run to get it. Hope your week starts of right!

XOXO,
Anna