This weeks challenge is kitchen cabinet organization.  I think this will be quite a bit more work than the kitchen counters.

Menu plan

Tuesday:  Ham Tetrazzini, tossed salad  (new recipe, looking for ways to use up leftover ham)
Wednesday:  Grilled chicken, ranch mashed potatoes, green beans
Thursday:  Vegetable beef soup, homemade whole grain rolls
Friday:  black bean and corn chili, corn muffins
Saturday:  homemade pizza
Sunday:  Chicken and fettucine Alfredo, carrots, broccoli
Monday:  Pork Barbecue on homemade buns (both leftovers), applesauce, tossed salad

2012 "Resolutions"

I'm not really one to make resolutions, since I am so likely to break them by day 3.  However, I ran across this organizing site a week or so ago, and organizing like this sounded like a goal that would be easily achievable.


SA

This week's project is to de-clutter kitchen counters.  I like to keep my counters are  pretty bare, so this isn't a very time consuming challenge for me.  The coffee maker, Kitchen Aid mixer and electric tea kettle are on the counters.   I used to have a bread maker on the counter as well, but mine broke a few weeks ago, and I don't know if it will be replaced. When the mail and newspapers get brought into the house, they tend to be deposited on the kitchen island.  Same with Andy's keys, wallet and whatever else he might be carrying.   I think I might buy a cute basket to set on the counter by the door for this sort of thing.


Cancelling the newspaper is another thing for me to consider in terms of decluttering.  It would reduce the amount of paper coming into our house quite a bit, and the news can be read on-line or heard on local radio stations.  Also our local paper is going to start delivering only 3 days a week, instead of the current 7 days a week, but the cost is only going down by $4 a month, which seems to be somewhat of a rip-off.

A personal goal I have in terms of organization is to get back into menu planning.  For many years I made a weekly menu plan and it saved a lot of time, and probably money too, since I didn't have to run to the store three times a week, and I also made better use of leftovers.  I tried to make use of items already in my pantry and freezer for the most part, and my grocery buying focused more on restocking perishable items and staples, and  stocking up on good deals, rather than buying things for the next days meals.  For the last few years, I haven't been menu planning and over the past year my grocery shopping has deteriorated into aimlessly wandering through the store, tossing items into my cart without much of a plan at all.

Ribbed Neckwarmer

Ribbed Neckwarmer

Ribbed Neckwarmer PDF download

Easy enough for beginners, once you master the front post double crochet stitch.  Don’t be intimidated by this if you are a beginner.  Front post stitches are easy, and really increase the effects you are able to get  with crochet.  This can probably be easily made in a couple of hours if you have a little crochet experience.

Here is a video link for the front post stitches.

This site has written instructions for many different crochet techniques, If you prefer written information.   You will have to scroll down a bit to find the front post instructions.

Materials:

WW yarn  ( I used Bernat Super Value Yarn in gray)

Size K hook

2 one inch buttons  (the buttons have to be able to fit into the holes between the stitches, so you may have to get smaller buttons if you crochet tightly)

yarn needle for weaving in ends)

sewing thread to match your buttons

needle for sewing the buttons on

Abbreviations:

HDC- half double crochet

FPDC- front post double crochet

FPHDC-front post half double crochet

Chain 92.  (make sure your chain is around 32 inches long for an average size neck.  You can make it longer or shorter depending on your preference.)

Row 1:  HDC in  3^rd chain from hook and in each chain across.  (You should have 90 stitches, but it really doesn’t matter how many you have)

Row 2 through 13:  Chain 2, turn.  (Chain 2 counts as first stitch)  FPDC in each stitch until you get to the last stitch of the row, HDC into last stitch.)

You can continue this row until the neckwarmer is as wide as you would like it to be.

Row 14:  Chain 2, turn, FPHDC into each stitch.  (Doing HDC for the last row, makes the stitches a little shorter and makes the last row match the first one in width.)

Fasten off, weave in ends.

Put neckwarmer around your neck and decide where you want the buttons to be.  Sew on buttons and enjoy!

 Pattern is untested, except by myself. Please let me know if something is unclear, or you find a mistake.
You may sell one or two items made from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern or publish it anywhere else. Please link to the pattern if you post a picture elsewhere.

Coasters

Directions for coasters made from ceramic tiles are all over the internet.  Michelle and I made these using 4 inch tiles from Menards, (11 cents each), a jar of Mod-Podge and a few sheets of scrapbook paper.  The backs of the tiles are rough so we glued on some squares of vinyl to finish them off.  Cork or felt would be a good way to finish the backs as well.  I sprayed the finished product with clear acrylic finish, but I don't know if it was necessary.

 I made these, all from the same sheet of paper.

Michelle made this set, using 4 different sheets of paper.  I like these a lot better than mine, especially that one on the bottom right.

Finished another one of those projects!

Last year I started a quilted purse, but after I got part of it finished, I couldn't figure out how to finish it.  I designed this myself and should have done some planning before starting to cut and sew.  However, it is finally finished, even though it didn't turn out at all like I had planned.

Through my kitchen window: A Pileated Woodpecker

Andy and I were both in the basement the other day when we heard a loud thud from upstairs.  It sounded like something had fallen up there.  Andy went to check it out, and called for me to come and see what it was.  This bird was pounding at the porch post.  It's a pileated woodpecker.   I think I've heard them in the woods from time to time, but I've never seen one before.