4th of July Party

We celebrated the 4th of July with a party. We normally host an annual 4th of July party, but last year we were unable to have one because Vince had to work. It was nice to have the family over and catch-up with everyone. Vince grilled burgers and I made all the sides. Afterwards we popped fireworks. Everyone had a good time. The photo is if Vince holding his niece Billie. Isn't she a cutie?

I've found Ravelry

I've been knitting like crazy the last few months and I think I have to blame it on the new website I found called "Ravelry". I stumbled across the website several months ago and signed up for their waiting list to be invited. I had almost forgotten all about it when I received my invite e-mail. I logged in on April 6th and have never left! This website is wonderful for knitters and crocheters. Once you create your account, you can keep track of the projects you are working on and the projects you have finished. You can give details such as the yarn you used, the size of needles, any notes you might want to add, and you can post pictures. You can inventory your books, magazines, needles and yarn. You can also join groups and participate in the forums with people who have the same interests as yourself. The site also has free patterns. I am loving this website!!!

No, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth!

Ok, it's been a while since my last blog entry. I have no real excuse really. I guess I've just been pre-occupied with life in general.

I started a new job in April. I'm now working for my Dad in the office of his electrical shop. I answer phones, do payroll, invoicing, deposits, etc. I like it for the most part. Sometimes it gets kind of slow though because I'm used to moving in a fast pace and tend to finish all my work for the day in just an hour or two. That leaves the rest of my day to just sit there and answer the phone. However, there are some good perks to the job. First, I can wear really whatever I want to work. I wear jeans and a nice shirt everyday, I still like to look nice. In Corporate America, that was never the case, as I always had to wear slacks or skirts and uncomfortable shoes. I also get to take a book or knitting for when things get slow. Where else could you read or knit and get paid for it?

We took a quick trip up to Auburn the first part of May to pick up my step-daughter from college. We moved most everything from her dorm room to a storage unit. She did bring home some clothes and shoes and her computer for the summer. The picture above is Tori, walking off campus after her last final. We wanted to stop off in New Orleans on the way home, but we ran out of time. Oh well... maybe next trip.

What is a clapotis, you ask?

Well, it's basically a scarf, but it's knitted on the bias and the shape is more like a parallelogram than a rectangle. I first heard about the clapotis when I saw a request for one on Alchemy on Etsy. I went searching the Internet to find out what this Etsy member was talking about. Sure enough, I found it. I found it on knitty.com and you can take a look at a picture and the pattern here: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html

The clapotis was designed by Kate Gilbert, who lives in Paris, France. I'm dying to make this clapotis for myself! The pattern call for 4 skeins of Lorna's Laces Lion and Lamb [50% silk, 50% wool; 205yd/184m per 100g skein]. I'm going to have to take a trip to the yarn shop and check out this particular yarn. I don't recall ever seeing it before. I'm hoping it's not too expensive.

For anyone reading my blog, I'd love comments on this particular yarn if you have used it. Or, if you know of another yarn I could use as a substitute, I'd greatly appreciate your comment. :)

I got a NEW CAR!!!!

Finally, I have a new car!!! I've been driving around a 1999 Dodge Durango for years and it's on it's very last leg. I bought the Durango back in July 2001 after my car was flooded from Tropical Storm Alison. The Durnago was used and had 19K miles on it when I bought it. It took me a lot of places... but it was definitely time for a new one.

So, my husband and I have been looking for a new car, but hadn't planned on buying anything until this summer. I've been looking at the Mercury Mountaineer online and just fell in love with it. My husband and I went Saturday and test drove one. They made us a great deal, so we went ahead and bought it. The color is "vapor silver metalic" and has charcoal black interior with charcoal black with sand inset seats. It came with Sync and I absolutely love that feature. I can now use my cell phone hands-free while driving and the sound comes through the radio. How cool is that!

Saint Joseph's Day

On March 19th, many Italian-Americans celebrate St. Joseph’s Day. St. Joseph is the patron saint of family life, hand-labor, and carpenters. It Italy, it is the feast of their Father’s Day. This holy day is celebrated rather privately in homes and neighborhoods across the United States. Although my family no longer celebrates St. Joseph's Day, I do keep to tradition and plant my cucuzza seeds on this day because that is when my Aunt Frances always planted hers.

A cucuzza is a long, green Italian squash. It is pronounced "ku-koo-za". The inside is a firm white flesh, similar to that of eggplant. The taste is a little sweeter and nuttier than other squash. It can be cooked like any other squash. My aunt used to grow these in her back yard when I was a child. She would slice them, dip them in an egg mixture, then in bread crumbs and fry them in olive oil. She would serve them along side her Sunday spaghetti dinner during the summer months. I use cucuzza in tomato sauce, breads, cakes, pies, and relishes.

The cucuzza grows like a vine and needs full sun and a trellis to support it's weight. The vine can grow up to 2 feet per day and the squash can grow up to 10 inches per day.

I've been selling my cucuzza seeds on Etsy and I still have several more packages left. I hope that people who have never had cucuzza will grow their own and give them a try.

New Clutch Pattern

Today I took a trip to the fabric store, mostly to get out of the house, but also to look around and get some new ideas. I've been searching for a new pattern for a clutch, but with no luck. Well, no luck until today that is. I was so excited about finding the pattern, that I decided to look for some new fabric. I didn't find anything that just jumped out at me, so I decided to go home and look in my craft closet for some fabric or scrap fabric. As I was searching through the stacks of fabric and bags of yarn... there it was! I found some scrap material which I had used for a bag recently and as I reached for it I hoped that there would be enough. Luck for me, there was. It's a black cotton fabric with white roses. The lining is black and white stripe. I cut it out immediately and started to sew it up. However, I didn't have a zipper, so I will go tomorrow and get one. The original clutch pattern doesn't have a flower on it, but I think it would be cute to add one, so I will.

EDITED - I finished the bag and I'm posting a picture. I think it turned out great!