Pickles, Jam and a Warshrag

After all the problems with trying to find pickling lime with no success, I have finished a batch of sweet pickles. (8 pints) I am praying the Pickle Crisp will work as well as old fashion pickling lime. It took three days to make these pickles - soak in lime one day, soak in syrup one day and then pack and process the jars the last day.
Here is a sample of the final product along with a sample of some peach jam that I made. I haven't tasted the pickles yet but the jam is deeeelicious - especially with a hot biscuit.


I have been reading the Mason Dixon KAL for several weeks and have been so envious of all the projects various people have shared. I finally broke down and purchased the book, Mason Dixon Knitting. Here is the first first dishcloth (or as MD calls it - warshrag) I have knitted from this book.

Here is the beginnings of my second dishcloth. I am using left over cotton and plan to have pink and blue strips instead of the same color throughout the cloth.

I'm in a Pickle

Times ....they are changing.....
I have in the past made homemade sweet pickles just like my grandmother. The recipe requires the cucumbers to be soaked for 24 hrs in pickling lime. I have gone to every grocery store in town and even called the home economist at our local extension. There is no lime to be found in this town. I traveled to stores in a couple of rural smaller towns close by and there isn't any lime there either. I went online and found some that I could order. The shipping was more than the actual cost, plus I'm not sure my cukes would wait on the order. I finally found a product called Pickle Crisp. The directions say it can be used in place of pickling lime. So I am trying that and hoping it works. My grandmother is probably rolling over in her grave.

Here is a simple meme I saw on Beth's blog, Felt Like Knitting. Play if you like....
"Take a look around you. Other than your computer, peripherals, a desk/table, and chair--- what are the five things nearest to you right now?"
Here are my answers:
1. Today's paper and unfinshed crossword puzzle. I never finish the puzzle. My husband will finished it tonight as usual.
2. Diet Coke on a coaster
3. TV remote control...currently watching Matlock. Don't ask me why, but I love watching these reruns. Today's episode Dick Van Dyke is the killer.
4. Vase with cut flowers from my yard - calla lily and verbena
5. Small basket with pens and a notepad

Saturday Sky....A Day Late

Sandy suggested starting this but I did not find out about it until last night. So here is my Saturday Sky from Sunday afternoon in sunny South Carolina. I'll actually start taking my pictures on saturdays next week.

My recent projects this week have been bags.....

I have almot completed a knitted market bag in cotton yarn that Theresa mentioned on her blog. It is easy but tricky if you do not pay close attention...that is tricky for me. I can get very confused easily sometimes. For more experienced knitters it may be very simple. In between these projects, I am knitting another bib from the Mason Dixon book. I am wanting to do the bath mat in that book next.

"Clutch" My Heart ...I am Blogging Again in the Same Week!

Crochet Clutch
Originally uploaded by nsdis.
It is officially summer.....Yeah!
I just finished my first crocheted felted mini project. It was suppose to be a larger clutch purse than this but I ran out of yarn. I used left over yarn from a previous project. I think it was Lion Brand Cashmere Blend. It isn't 100% wool so I wasn't sure how it would felt. I think it has about 70% wool. The flower was so simple to make. Only three rows and it curls so nicely. I think it turned rather cute. I love this thing called felting!

Girly Burp Cloths...Maybe?

Burp Cloths
Originally uploaded by nsdis.

Thanks to Elizabeth at My Favorite Things for sharing this idea of using diapers to make burp cloths. I loved the idea and so I tried it. The trim was edged in pink and had green trees. So I used green rickrack and pink ribbon. It wasn't until I had completed these cloths and was glowing in my accomplishment that I noticed that the trim had blue trains and pink houses. I immediately thought ....pink is for girls, right? But trains and houses for girls???? Oh, well. These were made for a newborn little girl in mind and that is who will receive these. Hope her mom and dad won't mind! Can't say I am stereotyping this little one, can I?

My Dad .....Many Many Years Ago

Dad
Originally uploaded by nsdis.

Being that it is Father's Day weekend I have been thinking about my father a lot lately. He passed away 18 years ago and is dearly missed. There have been so many events in my life that I would have loved to see his reaction.....like the births of my nieces and nephews. My son was the only grandchild he knew. My son was around 10 when dad died, so he has fond memories of his grandpa. I am thankful for that. He would have loved every minute with his 8 grandchildren and they would have loved their grandpa. As far as my father was concerned the world would have revolved around each one of his grandhildren. And isn't that the way it should be? I know I have wonderful memories of my grandparents and the things we did. If you haven't already read Lynda's entry on memories of her grandparents and swizzle sticks, you need to visit. Her memories generated my own memories. Thanks, Lynda.

I love this picture of my father taken when he was in his 20s. It is in a drugstore in a tiny little town in South Carolina. He was quite the talker. I bet he spent many an hour in that store telling jokes and stories to the owner and customers. My father's family has a long history of being talkers.

Just Call Me ....A Bag Lady

I am so excited and so proud of myself. Thanks to Autum's purse tutorial and her answers to my questions by way of email, I can proudly say that I have joined the bag club. I was able to do this without ripping out any seams or any major mistakes. I am ready to begin another one tomorrow. This bag will travel to Honduras to my sister-in-law. Her birthday is in a couple of weeks and I think she and my brother are going to be surprised with my accomplishment.

I also completed another baby bib. This time I used a pattern from a dish cloth and then finished it as a bib.

Speaking of Autum's blog - Creative Little Daisy ....every friday she lists things she is grateful of. I think I'll add this grateful thought.....I am grateful to her and all the other gifted and talented ladies in blogland. I look forward everyday to reading the many thoughts, ideas, photographs and projects each and one of you publish on your blogs. Thanks!

Knitting?? Sewing?? Frustration Over...

Problem solved.....since I could not decide what to do, I did a couple a small projects:

Balloon bag (I actually started this last week), a couple of baby bibs, (I don't have anyone to model the bibs so I'm using a bell jar as my model - cute isn't it?)


a soap pocket (I haven't sewed the button on yet.The blue block is some handmade soap I found at a shop in Tennesee.) and a couple of tissue holders. ( I gave the first holder to my son's girlfriend - she loved it.)

Being fairly new at blogging, today was a first for me. I received a gift from a fellow blogger. I had commented at JoJo's blog and she mailed me some tags she created. I love them and can't wait to use them. Thanks Joanna! It was very kind of you to do this.

Knitting?? Sewing?? Oh The Frustration!!

I have a new past time that unfortunately has distracted me from knitting ....it is called blog surfing. Every night I sit down to knit and suddenly find myself reading blogs. I have discovered some great sewing blogs and these bloggers have stirred a need in me to create something with my sewing machine. JoJo's tutorial on tissue holder will be my first project for the summer. I found some great cloth to make several. If it works out well, maybe I can make some as gifts for fellow teachers. Speaking of JoJo, I read her blog last night and as it turns out, I was the 3rd person to comment on her created tags and now she is sending me some. I am excited. I love this world of bloggers.

I haven't completely neglected my knitting. Here is my latest felted creation. I used Lion Brand Watercolors yarn and some left over Kool Aid dyed yarn. I am very pleased with it. Currently I am working on a pattern called The Balloon Bag in a striped pattern of royal blue, yellow and orange. I should finish it tonight IF I don't get lost in the world of blogs :)