A quick afghan for Project Linus

Just finished this, using a pattern from a Leisure Arts booklet, altering from the pastel colors to some Loops & Threads shades in my stash, and adding part of Kim's lovely border for more of a lacy look for a little girl. Made it years ago with pastels called for in the original pattern. And both times I had to fudge a little to keep the stitch count on those multi-stitch rounds.

Finally finished!

This started out as a scrap afghan a couple of years or so ago. However, since I don't use variegated yarn very often, I did have two buy three or four more skeins of coordinating variegated. Then there's the matter of needing more of the white background color . . .

This afghan sat in a basket in my workroom for more than a year before I finally picked it up and decided last week to finish it off. The original pattern for the Star Quilt afghan called for making a bunch of little white diamond shapes to sew onto the edges in a certain way to fill in gaps, but I didn't think them necessary. And, not being fond of fringe, I omitted that, too. I just evened out the edges with a couple of rounds of single crochet, then added a last round of crab stitches for a neater look.

This is not my favorite afghan of the many I've made, and I don't know what I'll do with it. But every one always seems to find a home eventually.

Love that chipotle -- and hominy

This has to be one of the quickest and tastiest suppers ever, and I love the presentation. It combines two of my favorite igredients: chipotle in adobo and hominy: http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Roast-Salmon-with-Sweet-Chipotle-Glaze-and-Hominy-Puree-364676

In the spirit of Use What You Have, I subbed peach preserves for apricot -- maybe not giving it as intense a flavor as apricot, but still awfully good. And, I thought scallions better in the hominy than cilantro -- especially since a certain family member has an aversion to the herb. All in all, a success, and I've made it twice now.

Pampering myself with flowers

Winter in Atlanta this year has been weirdly warm, and who's to complain about temps in the 50s and 60s well into February? So I don't have the excuse of gloomy winter days to buy myself fresh flowers, but I did anyway. And how they've lasted. The gorgeous peachy rose and green hydrangea plant was kind of a splurge at Kroger, but it's lasted in very moderate sunlight for two weeks now.

Same for the mix of white and green cut flowers brought home from Wholefoods a couple of weeks ago. They're in repurposed salsa jars (I love Trader Joe's jars), which fit perfectly in the cute wire holder that was a bargain at $6.

Bed of a Compulsive Crocheter

Too crowded for another crocheted thing.

Dollar Store and Internet: The Perfect Marriage

Still in recovery from Noro virus contracted on what will be my final cruise ship experience, all I feel like doing is web surfing and fiddling around with not-too challenging crafty ideas.

This blogger's instructions for paper napkin flowers are a gem. Easy peasy, fun, cheap, and effective. A spectacular giant-sized flower made in minutes from four two-ply paper napkins from the Dollar Tree, along with a twist tie from the kitchen junk drawer. And, since becoming enamored with magnolias since moving to Georgia a few years ago, I can hardly wait to try making her gorgeous paper magnolias for -- I dunno -- a ladies' luncheon centerpiece. I'll find something. Here's the link to her tutorial and photos: http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-wallflowers.html

Shopping finds

I love Dollar Tree. This week's find was some really classy looking glass mugs that are perfect for soup-and-sandwich night, when a bowl of soup is too much. Tonight it was leftover Turkish Spinach and Lentil Soup, one of the first vegetarian recipes I ever made, from the Sundays at Moosewood Restaurant cookbook. We've strayed from 20-plus years of veggie ways, however, so tonight this healthy soup was paired with a not-so-healthy grilled kielbassa sandwich.

Last week's shopping find was at a gem and mineral show, a free-admission event I go to when it comes to town two or three times a year. I bought these lovely to use as coasters -- at only $4 per polished slice. It was fun poring through the display, looking for four that are of similar size and color. At the next show, maybe I'll find four more. And a set for my son, who shares my love of natural things.