Discovering A Thing Or Two

Like most bloggers, things pop into my head all the time that I'd love to share ~ new ideas; new discoveries; new or old recipes; a favorite garden plant; everyday things around the farm and special things around the farm.  As a knitter, there are tons of things I'd love to share (new pattern, new yarn, new techniques, new ways of doing old techniques...you know how it goes!)  And then I never sit down and actually put the things on paper - actually on screen ;)  You know how it goes.

Well, today since I've got a little time to spend sitting at the desk I thought I would put down some things that have made a difference in my life in the past few months that still are making me smile.  And then I'm going to share those knitting projects that I mentioned to you in my last post.  

Here we go (and these are in no particular order other than how I'm thinking of them!)  First of all, Tubular Cast On in the round for knitting.  How, I ask myself, in all my years of knitting, did I not know about this?!?  Those of you who are knitters, did you already know about the tubular cast on?  It makes such a lovely edge for things like hats, mitten cuffs and sweater cuffs (on those sweaters that I tell myself I'll finish and wear one day!)  There are lots of tutorials on line, both written and video, so if you haven't tried it before do a search and then give a try.  Let me know what you think.

Another joy, this one in the cooking/recipe department.  Skillet Apple Pie.  Made in the cast iron skillet.  I'll probably never make apple pie any other way again!

Darn it!  Now I'm hungry...

Now this next is actually an acquisition, lots of people have them I suppose, but its new to my family and me and it sure has changed our lives.  And that is a van with a Wheelchair Lift in it!  What a blessing it is to me, I can't begin to tell you.  My husbands wheelchair is very heavy and  I guess I'm not getting any younger.  Lifting the manual chair was really putting a strain on me but now we have a lift that works for either the manual chair or the motorized one when he decides to take that.  I'm so very thankful.  LOL, we will not be hauling sheep in this van!

Podcasts!  I've discovered the world of podcasts, more specifically knitting podcasts.  What an absolute delight!!!  Knitting company no matter the time or day, no matter the weather or how far apart we are ~ someone to share the joy of yarn and patterns and gadgets, and in some cases fibers and spinning.  Do you listen to or watch any?  There are so many good ones, but I have a few that I never miss.  I'll share those with you when I share the knitting projects because they really are tied together at this point.

And that leads me to a rediscovery, rather like finding an old friend ~ Reading.   This is in part because one of my favorite podcasters (thank you, Sarah!) simply recommended a book that led me down the path of reading again!  Reading for the simple joy of a story, for the love of characters and settings.  Reading not because I have to, or to learn something, but because someone recommends a book they think I'll like or re-reading a book I loved the first time around (To Kill A Mockingbird, Little Women, Gone With The Wind or Giant.  My Friend Flicka; Thunderhead, Son of Flicka and Green Grass of Wyoming.  Ken Follett's Eye Of The Needle.  The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford and Old Yeller).  Those are books I loved the first two or three or four times I read them...now I'm loving them again, at least I will as long as my eyes hold out!  My goodness my eyes get tired, even with new glasses.  I know, I know there are audio books but I don't care for them.  Put me to sleep every time!  Plus I can't wake up in the  middle of the night, switch on the light and turn the page quietly ;)  One exception is The Bible - I do love listening to Scripture on audio.  Recently my husband and I have been listening to the Gospels during supper.  A nice ritual for us.

So the podcasts and the knitting projects and the reading are all connected for me right now, and you'll see what I mean when you see what I've been knitting.  But looking back over this post, its getting rather long - how about if I make another post with the knitting tomorrow?  Just to keep your eyes from crossing, listening to me ramble on, LOL!  Will you come back to see?  I hope so!  And please, share with me any new or rediscovered things going on in your life!

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a final new-old favorite ~ Fresh Basil.  I can't seem to get enough of it, and even have some growing on the windowsill for the winter time.  Basil in chicken salad is absolutely divine!

See you here tomorrow for some knit-sharing!