One Year Anniversary and Free Sweater Giveaway

  

It's been a year now!

Blogging has become a meaningful way of recording the wonderful things that happen in my life.  It's been a year now!  Writing about the lovely things in my life (notice, not the un-lovely things) has really opened my eyes to notice all the good things that happen to me each and every day!

So first, a couple of random things...

Tissue Paper Flowers

My daughter is helping to prepare her church youth group for a spring garden activity.  She helped me teach a group of young girls to make tissue paper flowers.  Here's where we got OUR instructions.

http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/tissue-paper-pom-poms-how-to

But do 13-year-old girls every follow instructions exactly???  Of course, not, they instead prefer more creative endeavors - which produced THESE works of art.

It was like walking into a giant flower garden in my Dining Room!  I loved how they turned out.  Thanks Naomi, for all your help.

Macaron Heaven

Second, I think I have entered cookie heaven, and can never return to normal life again.  Sometimes the third time REALLY is the charm.  (But maybe not for everything, like puff pastry dough, which I will NEVER try to make again.)

 I did it, I made real french macarons!!!  Um, yeah, like the kind in fancy french patisseries.  And they were simply amazing.  Here is a very good reason to be my friend - someday I might make you some - if you are really lucky :) 

After two previous failed attempts, I think I found the holy grail of macaron recipes, from of course, America's Test Kitchen.  The trick is, as it is with any of their recipes, that you have to FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS EXACTLY.  Difficult to do if your an impulsive sort of person like me, but persevere, the results are well worth the extra discipline.

Ok, so they may not look as perfect as the ones that come from a good pastry shop.  But they were heavenly, with lightly crisp outsides, chewy insides, and everywhere the fragrance of almonds.  Not to mention the amazing buttercream between them.  Yes, it's cookie/pastry Nirvana.

Sweater Giveaway

And Finally, we come to the Sweater Giveaway.

After I made the first Leaf and Lace Sweater, (or is it Lace and Leaf??)  I loved it so much I wanted to immediately make another one, even though I had no intended recipient for it.  I have had so much positive feedback and kind comments from facebookers, friends, and family about my blog, I decided to give one away for free!  Thank you ALL for all your nice comments and compliments - they have been so appreciated.

The Rules

So here's the official rules I guess.  Leave a comment here on this blog post, or on my facebook link to this post, with enough info that 'I' can identify you, and I will put your name into a drawing for the sweater.  Something like, "I want it".  Please DO NOT enter twice.  After one week, we will randomly draw a name, and I will contact you for your address, and mail the sweater to you - gift wrapped!  The last day to enter is May 7th. 

Oh, and a NOTE: The sweater is a size 6 to 12 months, and might fit an older baby as a shrug.

I sure wish I could knit every little baby I see something beautiful - and while I sometimes make myself crazy trying (cause I love it!)  I do have a pretty hectic and crazy life!  So enter, and you might get lucky, or have a nice gift for someone you know and love........

Capturing a Moment

Dad and Daughter have been oil painting together in the evenings.   I  love watching the way they interact and the special bond they have.  I sure did marry in to some amazing artistic talent!