Knit Night & A Dog Bite

On Monday night I had just sat down to a lovely cup of hot cinnamon tea with my Knit Night Girls gathered round my dining room table. Carey baked us these divine white rose cupcakes. Aren't they gorgeous?! Well, I had just swallowed the last bite when all kinds of commotion broke loose in the kitchen where my Mom and Scott were finishing up supper.

As Scott was getting up from the table a chicken bone slid right off his plate and faster than greased lightening, Phoebe, one of my weenie dogs snapped it right up! Not being fed table food, she was sure this was manna from Heaven! It was a leg bone. And it was in her throat in an instant. Well, I'm not about to let a dog choke to death. They are my babies. So, I went after it.

And that's where we entered the "dog bite" portion of the night.

Now let me just say this right from the start.

I have 3 dogs.

Not a single one of them would ever bite anyone.

Especially not their beloved Mommy.

Especially not THIS dog.

She is THE MOST gentle dog I have ever had.

She is all HEART

She has no idea she even bit me.

She was gulping and chewing at the same time and before I could get my finger back out, she bit down. No growling or fighting me in that way. She just wanted that chicken bone.

When I pulled my finger out it had 5 punture wounds.

Carey is a nurse practitioner. She helped me clean it and dress it. It didn't need stitches but it is quite swollen, sore and a bit bruised.

I was not able to knit or crochet with the Girls at all since it was my right index finger but we still had a good time once we got through our mini medical emergency.

Oh!

The chicken Bone?

I got it out~

NO DOG IS GOING TO CHOKE TO DEATH ON MY WATCH IF I CAN HELP IT

 

As far as knitting news goes, I have decided to make a full blown shawl out of the beautiful Deja Vu yarn. I AM going to do a neckwarmer sized one eventually as well, but I want this one to be a shawl for Me really bad!

Thanks for all of your input on the matter.

And I am so sorry I did not respond to each individual comment as I usually do. My darn index finger has been too sore to type!

But I did make the jaunt out to the yarn shop for a couple more skeins so this swelling better go down soon so I can pick my hook back up and get busy.

I can't wait to wrap it around my shoulders :)

God's Gifts

Today is a quiet, gloomy day with drizzle in our forecast. Being 101% female, Gabby instinctively knows that days like this call for certain reinforcements: a Barbie doll, a stuffed bunny, a favorite book and a good cup of hot chocolate ~ Oh! and maybe one of those pumpkin chocolate chip cookies too!
Yes ~ I realize it is only 10:30  in the morning ~ but..... this IS Grammy's house.........:)

 She crawled under the dining room table and announced that is where she would wait for her mid~morning snack. So Grammy put the kettle on, took the needed items from the china cabinet and got busy. While she settles in with all the things that make her feel good, I have a perfect cup of tea in one hand and {you guessed it!} a bit of unfinished knitting in the other.

The best thing is it matters not what the weather does around us, we are happy and cozy together for the day. What a wonderful blessing and comfort a child is always.

"God's gifts put man's best dreams to shame."

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Cinnamon Teacake

Baking is always so much more fun when you have a fairy princess around to help with the mixing. Sometimes on the days I have my granddaughter, Gabriella, we like to tie on our aprons and see what kind of a mess we can make together. This week's choice was a simple little one layer cake that is easy to make and oh ~ so ~ yummy. A good cup of tea and a pretty cake plate is always in order too.

Cinnamon Teacake

1/2 c. Butter, softened
1 c. Sugar
2 Eggs, lightly beaten
1 T. Vanilla
1/2 C. All Purpose Flour
1 1/2 C. Self ~ Rising Flour
1 C. Buttermilk

Topping

3/4 to 1 stick Butter, melted
Cinnamon & Sugar mixture

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9" round springform pan. Cream butter & sugar til fluffy. Gradually add eggs & vanilla. Fold in sifted flours by hand alternately with buttermilk. Stir until smooth.
Bake for 35 ~ 40 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Leave in pan for 5 minutes. Turn upside down on cake plate and brush entire surface with melted butter. Sprinkle liberally with cinnamon & sugar mixture. Enjoy while warm!

*WARNING this in NOT a low fat recipe. It's a pure pleasure one!

Knit Night

As always Knit Night was SO MUCH FUN! Thanks Girls!!! We laughed, ate scones, drank tea, talked over each other, crocheted, knitted, swapped patterns, had show & tell, shared in each others lives and passed Sir Henry around all evening long until we just had no choice but to call it a night. Ahhh.... you are all so very good for my heart and soul! :) Next monday can't come soon enough.

Here's a recap of all that took place {well... at least all that can be mentioned... some things have to "stay in Vegas" so to speak}.

Mary Ann showed off her darling crocheted greyhound. I mean really ~ HOW CUTE!
Carey is almost finished crocheting that gorgeous doily baby blankie!
Erin knitted away on lovely little squares for a baby block.
Kathy got closer to the final stitches of a sweater she's knitting for Baby Weston ~ her first grandbaby who is due in March. Her daughter Renee is the cute mommy~ to~ be pictured next to Kathy.
Carey {Sir Henry's grandma} took a break to swaddle the wee little lord.
Erin & Malory worked away like busy little bee's {both of them are new mommy's for the 3rd time & enjoy some time when their busy hands are free enough for yarn!}
Grandma Brenda {my mom ~ our honorary member who is here to rock all babies} snatched Sir Henry at the first chance!
Miss Malory {Sir Henry's mommy}finished a beautiful sock. {That was sock #1 ~ NO 2nd sock syndrome. You MUST finish the other one now.}

See you all next week!

Cozy Cottage & Warm Hearts

Monday evening is my favorite night. It's the perfect start to my week because it's when I have my girlfriends in for knit night. We have a grand time of it. I usually bake up something yummy, brew some nice tea, put on a pot of flavored coffee for those who prefer it, and we let the chatter, laughter & yarn fly around the dining room table all evening long! Even my hubby enjoys listening to all the hoop~la from the next room. {Not that he's actually eves dropping Girls. Don't worry!} 

So on tonight's Yum~Yum menu is a nice steaming pot of my favorite Cinnamon Tea all snug & piping hot under a handknit & embroidered {by yours truly} cottage tea cozy and heart shaped Cranberry~Orange Pecan Scones. Mmmm........!!! Oh ~ and for the coffee drinkers some Pecan Sticky Bun coffee from the local coffee shop.

Basic Scones

2 C. All Purpose Flour
1 T. Baking Powder
2 T. Sugar
 1/2 t. Salt
6 T. Butter{cold}
1/2 C. Buttermilk {more if needed}
Lightly beaten egg white

Mix dry ingredients. Cut in butter. Make a well in center & pour in buttermilk. Mix until dough clings together and is a bit sticky ~ do not overmix. Turn out onto a floured surface & shape into 6 ~ 8 inch round then cut into pie shaped wedges or cookie cutter shapes. *The secret of tender scones is a minimum of handling. Place on ungreased cookie sheet being sure sides don't touch. Brush with egg white, sprinkle with sugar {I prefer raw sugar} & bake at 425 degrees F for 14 minutes. Drizzle with a powdered sugar, milk & vanilla glaze if desired.

The pattern for the Cottage Tea Cozy can be found in The Knitter's Stash ~ Favorite Patterns from America's Yarn Shops and was designed by Marji LaFreniere

 I'll see you tonight Girls. We'll get our knit on. And remember ~ what we eat here doesn't cling to us!

And anyone else in the area who wants to join us is always welcome!

Happy Monday!