Hey Laurie!

Test = A-OK!

I hope you're having a great time and I hope you fly home safely.
Love to you!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Calling Maha...

Maha - if you contacted me it must have been trapped by my spam filter. Please contact me again to collect your prizes.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

We Interrupt Our Regularly Scheduled Blogging...

For a Migraine. Better now. On to good stuff!

The Winner Is:

Maha!

Thanks ALL who left comments - I feel like Sally Field "You like me! You REALLY like me!"

Maha send me an email at eemayde_at_gmail_come with your addy, etc. and I'll get your prizes out to you ASAP!

Thanks again all!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

For Andrea:

I'll announce the winner of the contest tonight I promise, but in the meantime if you want to make KILLER Mac & Cheese - here you go!

1 pound elbow macaroni (I like the ones w/ridges to hold more sauce) - cook it al dente
1 T Olive oil
2 T Butter
3 T Flour
1-1/2 C WHOLE milk (don't skimp - use whole)
3 C shredded sharp white cheddar cheese (like Cabot from reg. grocery)
1/2 tsp nutmeg (I barely use a smidge - NOT 1/2 tsp)
1/4 tsp ground cayenne pepper (more or less as desired - I use a little less)
Salt to taste - the cheese is very salty so you won't need much.

Pasta needs to be ready, but still HOT, BEFORE making sauce.

Heat a medium-size dep skillet over medium heat. Add oil and butter. When butter melts into the oil, stir in the flour. Gently cook, whisking flour & butter together until smooth and flour has had a chance to cook (2 - 3 minutes). Slowly add milk while continuing to whisk. Gently bring milk to a bubble while stirring frequently. Allow the milk to thicken a bit then stir in 2 C of cheddar cheese a handful at a time. Season sauce with nutmeg, cayenne, and (I add) black pepper - taste & see if it needs salt. Add cooked pasta to sauce and coat completely by turning it over and over in the cheese sauce. Transfer to a baking dish, top with remaining cheese, and pop it under the broiler until the cheese is bubbly and browned.

It's really easy and REALLY good!!!

Thanks Rachael Ray

Dang, now I'm starving!!!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Still on Track AND A Contest!!!

Hi all! I'm still on track in the August madness I've created for myself. I'm one day (and one skein I need to pick up) away from finishing my Daddy's afghan. I finished one sleeve of a baby sweater and have one more to do and I'm right at half-way finished with my Branching Out scarf.

I measured all of my swatches, started making pattern notes and am heading in the right direction on the sweaters. I stayed out of the craft room today as it's stinking hot and there's no A/C out there - tomorrow = fan.

You've stayed with for this long now the fun stuff:

A Contest!
August 9th is my 2-year blogiversary - really I've been droning on about knitting and crafts for 2 long years. Leave me a comment between now and Midnight on the 9th and I'll put your name in a drawing to win
This:


along with a couple of other surprises. So delurk and leave me a comment for your chance to win FREE STUFF!!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

2 More Down...

Bags that is - for a total of 6 so far. I felted the two for me this morning and one turned out great - one needs some work, but it's manageable. I've also finished about 1/3 of the Branching out scarf and washed and dried all of my sweater swatches. Now I need to measure the gauges and make pattern notes - then I'm going to dig in on the sweater making.

I'm picking up more yarn today to finish Daddy's afghan and will be finished with it this week. Then I'll start another and be right on schedule with my Ambitious August. I'll try to get pictures when there is sun.

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

And She's Off...

I'm making headway! I finished 4 felted bags today (all but the felting) and I swatched all the sweater yarns for the other projects.

I am well on my way (to the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time and I'll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and they're coming to take me away HA HA!!!!).

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe

Ambitious August

Do you KNOW me? I can't so anything "small." When I decide on projects I go ALL out and here is my stash to work through for August:



Don't be too alarmed.





OK go ahead and panic momentarily.

NOW - are you still thinking "There's no F** way!" You might be right, but then again...

I have THIS:



Which allows me to churn through st st projects at light speed. I am determined to stash bust and I am determined to give knitted Christmas gifts to my family and friends. August is going to be a BIG month for me.

Some of the yarns pictured are for handknitting/crocheting projects to be finished in August, but most are bound for the Bond.

Here's the Official August List:
10 Felted Tote Bags
6 Handtowels with crocheted edging
"Woody" Sweater for Anna*
"Pea" Sweater for Anna*
"Bill" Sweater for Toby*
"Jay" Sweater for Toby*
Tank Top for Anna
Sierra T-Shirt for Me
Fantasy Naturale T-Shirt for Me
Felted Potholders
Purple Crocheted Afghan for my Aunt
Branching Out Scarf for my Dr. Friend
AND finishing (this week) a couple of WIP that are REALLY close to completion.
*From Debbie Bliss Junior Knits

So, who's taking bets? Think I can do it? Think I'll be stark raving MAD by mid-August? Think I'll finish early and get to add more projects to the list (God forbid I take a break)?

Tell me what you think!

I'll keep you posted!

AmyDe