at the front of the line

I've got a basket full of yarn and I've got plans for most of it.  Do you have a stash that makes its way to the front of the line?  Well, this basket is full of that kind of yarn.  (We won't even talk about the yarn that's in the closet) Now, that we're back in school and the routine is being established, I'm finding the urge to knit more regularly.  So, I pulled my basket out and started to think through my projects.  A huge chunk of this yarn came all in one week.  Amanda and Lily from Joli House had a giveaway and I was the winner!  I'm sure they heard the squeals of delight all the way across the ocean!  Here's what I won...

It was a fabulous package loaded with goodies...inside I found:

• 2 100g skeins of Cumbrian Wools Wenslydale Aran.
• 1 skein of Rainbow sock yarn
• 1 skein of Rowan kidsilk haze in Cocoa.
• 1 large handmade button
• 1 copy of Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles
• 1 copy of Lily’s shawl pattern, Levens
• chocolate
• the cutest little handwritten note

If you're not familiar with Joli House, you should hop over and check out the gorgeous photography and hand knits that Amanda and Lily (who is an accomplished knitter/designer at the age of 12!) dish up.  It's a feast for the eyes.  (thanks again Amanda and Lily!  I love everything)

So...back to that basket of yarn.  Here's what I'm planning for the goodness in my basket:

I've already started on the seed stitch cowl, and I heard the dish cloth cotton whispering my name the other night.  It should be a great season of knitting.  How about you...what's on your next to knit list? 

and the winner is....

I used a random number generator to pick the winning comment and the number 3 came up.  (that was so easy...and no little papers to cut up and pull out of a hat!) So congratulations to Renea!  Renea, email me your address and I'll get your prize in the mail to you!  Thanks everyone for playing along and for sharing...I loved reading about all of the blessings in everybody's life...isn't God good!?! Have a wonderful week enjoying more of God's goodness.  {let's just hope that goodnesss doesn't come in the form of snow...ya know what I'm sayin!?!} I'll be back later in the week with some more stuff to share and I'll also be emailing all napkin swap participants their swap partners later this week. 

neighborly news: a finished knit, blessings and a give away!

I finished my grown up girl neighborly a while ago and have worn it several times.  I love it!  Larissa sent me the yarn and the pattern (quite a neighborly gesture wouldn't you say?!?) and I started it before Christmas.  But, with all of  the holiday finishing, it got put aside until after the holidays.  That actually worked out great as this sweater turned out to be the 'best riding to basketball game' knitting ever.

 I was thinking it was going to be a be a bit short on me, but some aggressive blocking helped with the length.  If you've never knit yourself a garment before, I highly recommend this one.  It's fast and simple with no seaming whatsoever.  And the noro yarn makes for fun knitting as you get to the end.  Thanks Larissa for blessing me with such a fun project. 

The knitty gritty:

Pattern: Grown Up Girl Neighborly, based on Jennifer Casa's Neighborly

Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Worsted - 2 skeins ~ Chocolate Souffle

Noro Kureyon- 2 skeins ~ #156

Needles: US 8 circulars and US 6 size double pointed needles

Size: Medium

Mods: None...I knit it just like Larissa wrote it!

In other neighborly news, I've been blessed recently with some tremendous gifts from some of my wonderful friends:

~a special mini quilt made from vintage linens from Jodi of Jolly Bee

~some adorable sachets and yummy fabric from Larissa of Stitches in Play

~and a package full of goodies and this too cute for fingers hand-towel from Kristyn of Kristyn Knits

I love every one of them.  So in the spirit of being neighborly...and because I've been so blessed..."Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows~ James 1:17" .....I thought it would be fun to have a little neighborly give away.  Just leave a comment sharing one of the blessings in your life and I'll enter your name for a chance to win a perfect box pouch and a snappy fabric cuff!  I'll pick a name March 1st!  Enjoy the blessings in your life...both the big and the small. 

 ***oh and Grasshopper...I don't have your email address so if you could email that to me or leave it in the comments, I'll make sure you have a napkin swap partner.  Thanks! 

and the winner is....

...Missouri Mommy! Congratulations Michele! Thanks to everyone for the wonderful comments and all the love. It really made my day to see all those kind words. You guys are the best! I really wish I could have picked everyone. But I couldn't ...however, since I was so blessed by all the kind words...I picked another name. Actually John picked it for me...he was quite disappointed I didn't use a high tech random number picker. I told him, I would and then I asked him to pick a second name for me. He's a high tech as they come around here! Congrats Christina! I'll be sending you a pincushion and a fabric covered notepad! Send me your addresses ladies and I'll be heading to the post office this week! Thanks again to everyone who left a comment....I'm still smiling!

got zucchini? {+ a giveaway}

If you have any friends, family or neighbors that have a garden, or if you yourself have a garden...you've probably got some zucchini on hand. {snicker, snicker} Here's a great zucchini muffin recipe that comes by way of our good friends. Rebecca made these when we were over for dinner and none of my kids would try them. (I think the green flecks scared them away) When we got home, I made a batch and had the kids try them. (I thought it wouldn't be very mannerly to strong arm them in someone else's home!) Anyways, they loved them - so much so that in church the other week, our Pastor had tons of garden produce lining the pulpit area for people to take home. There were about 300 ears of sweet corn, squash, cucumbers, peppers and zucchini. It looked great all spread out on the alter. My little guy kept elbowing me saying, "Mom get the zucchini...so you can make more muffins." Who knew? I've never seen a 7 year old boy so intent on me bringing home zucchini!

Becca's Zucchini Muffins

Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl:

3 cups flour (I used whole wheat)

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 cup sugar ( I used Demerara Cane sugar....but you can use white sugar as well)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 tsp salt

1 TBSP cinnamon

Stir in:

3 eggs

1 cup oil (I used 1/2 cup oil and 1/2 cup applesauce)

1 TBSP lemon juice

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups grated zucchini ( I usually have leftover, so I freeze it in 2 cups amounts, for another time)

Place in muffin cups and bake at 350 for 20 minutes! Enjoy!

The muffin cups I use are a brand new find for me. They are 100% unbleached baking cups by If You Care. I love them. My muffins just slide right out of them. They are environmentally friendly too. Seriously. I feel about these muffin cups the way my boy does about the zucchini. I bought an extra pack to share. So, in honor of my one year blogiversary...I'm doing a little giveaway. Just leave a comment by Tuesday and I'll enter your name for an opportunity to win. Here's what's up for grabs! Some of my favorite things. [a handmade project tote in blues, yellows and greens, a dishcloth knit in my new favorite waffle knit pattern, a skein of baby yarn, a candle, a tissue holder, and some baking cups] I can't believe it's been a year since I started this blog. Thanks Kristyn for the encouragement to jump in! (August 5th, 2008 was my first blog post) I've met so many wonderful people and been inspired so often. It's been a great year and I want to thank you for joining me on my new adventure. If you'd have told me all the blessings that were to come just from starting a blog, I'd have laughed at you (politely of course) - but it's so true. This blogosphere is a wonderful place. Have a great weekend...I'll be back with a winner some time on Tuesday.

Give Away!

Cutie Pa Tuttie bag! There's a giveaway over at Just Another Hang Up! Check it out! Her bags are all so adorable!