Weekend Getaway...

My friend Theresa (from Iowa) brought daughter #2 to visit daughter #1 at The University of Evansville this weekend.  So I drove down and spent some time in southern Indiana.

For starters, we met at a  great shop in Evansville called Knit Witts Yarn Shoppe.  I arrived early due to the time change (eastern to central time...insert eye rolling here) and my lead foot, so I was able to take everything in... several times.  Knit Witts carries a great selection of wool, baby yarn, sock yarn, novelty yarn, and buttons.  The shop was filled with samples.  Right away I spotted a shawl I wanted to make - the "As You Like It " Shoulder Wrap.  Then I was directed to the book Nature's Wrapture...full of lovely shawl goodness.  I gathered yarn for 2 scarf patterns that were store freebies.  Before I left I met the owner Kris and really enjoyed chatting with her.  She shared a shawl she was working on and gave me info to share with Harriett at The Village Yarn Shop.  She also sold me this neat gadget...The Knit Kit.

Check this out!

I was definitely in my happy place.  If you are in the area... make a stop at this shop and find your happy place!

Next we headed to New Harmony for our weekend getaway.  What a sweet surprise!  New Harmony is described as "A community that began almost two hundred years ahead of its time, New Harmony was first a spiritual sanctuary that later became a haven for international scientists, scholars, and educators who sought equality in communal living."

We checked in to the New Harmony Inn.  Our room was lovely.

We had dinner at The Yellow Tavern.  Our husbands would have loved this!  We liked it too.

We walked by the Wabash River, self toured the town, and visited antiques shops and boutiques.  The daffodils were in bloom.

The homes were quaint.

We visited the Roofless Church.

We passed historic log cabins.

I took this picture for my friend Jane, and we giggled wondering what "consort" meant.  Wife or companion?

Our last meal was eaten at The White House.  You'd never guess that inside this little white house was a wine bar and fabulous food.  It was the perfect finale to our Saturday. 

In harmony,

Daisy the Bunny...

I really AM trying to finish projects... but I can't stop myself from starting new ones!

Here is an easy felted wool project.

BEFORE

AFTER

Easter purse anyone???

And if you can stand it... I finished another Fancy Neck Cozy.

Knit on!

Got to Love a Giveaway...

I've stalked Julie at Jaybird Quilts (you've seen her on my blogroll) for some time now.  She is having a great giveaway featuring this...

 from Leah Of Burgandy Buttons.

Visit Jaybird Quilts for six chances to win a jelly roll from A Breath of Avignon by American Jane & 2 yards of coordinating fabric!!

I've Got Mail...

Look what arrived for me in the mail.  My Skinny Sister made it for me!

Too Cute!  THANK YOU Jeanne!

Easter Baskets...

Look at this sweet Easter Basket.

Heather of Blackberry Rambles made them and we have them at The Village Yarn Shop.  I had to have one!

The yarn in the basket is from Yarn Daze.  It is part of the Water Colours collection.  Isn't it delish?!

Nancy's Puff Recipe...

I have my Rockin' Bobbins quilt group meeting tonight and it is my turn to bring the dessert.  I decided to whip up an Almond Puff Danish Pastry.  This is an easy, but elegant recipe that my friend Nancy turned me on to, published in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Cookbook, Cherokee, Iowa. 

Most of the time, I have all the ingredients on hand. The Puff, as we call it, is so good with a cup of coffee... making it nice for breakfast or dessert.

Nancy's Puff

Crust:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup butter
2 Tbsp. water

Cut butter into flour.  Sprinkle water over mixture and mix with fork until soft balls forms.  Press into round pizza pan.

Topping:
1/2 cup butter
1 cup water
1/2 cup flour
3 eggs
1 tsp. almond extract

In saucepan combine butter and water.  Bring to boil.  Remove from heat.  Stir in almond extract.  Beat in flour quickly with a hand electric mixer.  When smooth, add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Spread over crust, sealing edges.  Bake for 60 minutes and 350 degrees.

Glaze:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
2 Tbsp. soft butter
1 tsp. almond extract
1 - 2 Tbsp. water

Combine ingredients, mixing until spreading constistency. Spread on cooked, cooled puff.  Decorate with sliced almonds. 

Set the WABAC Machine to the 1960s...

Okay… so I am sitting in Starbucks with my BFF Mary after a hard work and over on the counter I spot these…

...and boy did that take me back.

When I was about 3 years old,circa 1965, my sister and I had a 45 of The Owl and the Pussy Cat that we listened to endlessly... possibly because it was the only 45 we owned.  I can nearly recite the entire poem and I remember it sweetly.

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea

In a beautiful pea green boat,

They took some honey, and plenty of money,

Wrapped up in a five pound note.

The Owl looked up to the stars above,

And sang to a small guitar,

'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,

What a beautiful Pussy you are,

You are,

You are!

What a beautiful Pussy you are!'

Pussy said to the Owl, 'You elegant fowl!

How charmingly sweet you sing!

O let us be married! too long we have tarried:

But what shall we do for a ring?'

They sailed away, for a year and a day,

To the land where the Bong-tree grows

And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood

With a ring at the end of his nose,

His nose,

His nose,

With a ring at the end of his nose.

'Dear pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling

Your ring?' Said the Piggy, 'I will.'

So they took it away, and were married next day

By the Turkey who lives on the hill.

They dined on mince, and slices of quince,

Which they ate with a runcible spoon;

And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,

They danced by the light of the moon,

The moon,

The moon,

They danced by the light of the moon.

Thank you Edward Lear,