JULIE & JULIA...TheTexasConnection

Girls Raised In Texas Can Cook!!!

Yep, It'd sure take a GRIT to tackle that 'Aspic' Recipe'....that's French for CalvesFeet...and I'd have dumped it in the sink on purpose.

Julia Childs Recipe...French LaTeDa Recipe...or not...it would have been last on my list.

I could stick a duck no problem, but CalvesFeet.

No Thank-you, Mam'm.

Yes, the WednesdayKnitTrio went to see Julie & Julia.

Do I recommend it to You, my now TexasSpeakin&Spellin readers?

YouBetcha! Make that DoubleYouBetcha!

I remember watching Julia Childs on our BlackNWhite TV and her distinctive voice saying 'Bon'a Petite' !

But I don't remember my Mama ever fixin 'Aspic' or any other French dishes...unless you count Spaghetti and TexasFrenchBread (recipe..take semi-stale sliced white bread, slather with butter, sprinkle with GarlicPowder and Toast in the Oven Broiler...for not very long). There were eight of us around the table, so it was a Loaf of Rainbow Day Old Bread...and Oh! we thought we had died and gone to Paris heaven. About those 'CalvesFeet, we had a herd of calves feet out in the pasture...never crossed our minds to eat any...knew what they stepped in.

I'm pretty sure 'The Art of French Cooking' never made it into our CookBook Collection.
And here I am many years later getting on Amazons Waiting List for a CookBook.

So, Yes.....Go See Julie & Julia. Did it make an Impression on SuKnitWitty?

You be the Judge......

The Wednesday After

Julie & Julia......

SusanB-Knits...One of Trio...Fixes lunch.

Did I say Fixes...

Pardo'ne Madam...Prepared a Bona'Petite Fancy French Luncheon.

Maryland Crab Quiche

Recipe & Menu

You knooow I had to look up the spellin on that one, and it was not in 1961 Websters....really!

So I called SusanB....who knew it would be a 'Q' word....not in Texas Spellin....no wonder I didn't find it under 'C' or 'K'.

Anyway...LOOK at this SPREAD!!!

The Trio of Julia's.....not Julie's....determined by age.

Our Hostess Served a Texas Wine..sorry Julia..when in Texas....

Gina, also a GRIT, wonders about the weeds in the Salad.

Sorry again, Julia....but it really does look like weeds.

However, the FancyFrench Vinegarette' made that the BestTastinWeedSalad ever.

SuKnitWitty, the original GRIT...Drank...I mean Sipped wine...GRIT manners, you know.

Are you wonderin about the Aprons, Hats and Pearls? If you have seen Julie & Julia....you know...and if you haven't...well, you will.

While 'Dinning' at our 'GirlRaisedAsAYankee's Table, SKW had to address the use of 'Tools'. As you can see SusanB, 'Bless Her Heart',while very adept with the knife as a loader to the fork, was encouraged to try out TexasStyleFinger...as it works even better as a weed pusher....with the side benefit of gettin a finger lickin good taste of that FancyFrenchVinegarette'.




How do you tell the Hostess "It's the 'Best You EverAte'?

In Texas...We Simply Clean the Plate!

Oh, and say, "Bone A Pet-te"!


PS...I must Share a couple of things about BeingJuliaForADay...#1, a SKW 'KitchenFAVQuote'..."Good Food - Good Friends - Good Times". And, #2... Big Girls can Play DressUp, too....It's a SuRule 4Ever....afterall, BigGirls Just Wanna Have Fun, too! But, oohhhh, my EarLobes....those ClipOn Pearls.

Crochet's The Way....For Diaper TotesTimesThree

See those cute 'LittleThings' tucked into the Camo Diaper Tote?

See that cute 'LittleBeanieBabyBear' hooked upto the Camo Diaper Tote?

See that cute 'LittleJingleJangleGiraffe' on the Camo Diaper Tote?

Sure Ya Do....It's a BigBag!

It's for 'GrandBabyBubba'....still warmin in the oven.

I think he know's how hot it's been here in Texas, so he's decided to wait for cooler RealDueDate in September.
That'll be fine...whenever he's ready...EZ for the Nana to say.

The Mama is sooooo ready for him to be ready.

This Crocheted (Yes, Crochet...SKW knows Crochet, too) Diaper Tote was really designed as a YarnBag. (You knew I'd get Knitting in here somewhere).

I got the idea from Moonlight Knitting...she's a prolific knitter and crocheter and a SKW Friend on Ravelry.

She got the pattern from PurlBee...another FAV of SKW... and modified it for the DiaperTote.

So, as in 'AllThingsKnitted/Crocheted'...One DiaperTote leads to at least TwoMore for SKW to make.

One for SusanB's GrandGirl due in January out of this GirlyCamo from RedHeart.

SusanB's GrandBabyGirl's Theme is Winnie the Poo.

Say Hi to Piglet and Poo....a rare find at the Antique Barn....you guessed it....in the bottom of a basket just waiting for SKW to come to the rescue.

They will be soooo cute on the finished basket which is more than half way there.

We call that a WIP in the Nest where there are ???#'s of UFO's put on the back burner while BabyStuff gets first status.

Weeelllll....GrandBabies are certainly more important than let's say....

The Interweave Spring Sweater....TheDoubleDareDudes.

Then with an 'I Believe I CanDoIt Again' attitude...(Thanks to PomPom)...There will be another Diaper Tote for Jake.

His room is done in a 'Jungle Animal Theme', and his GrandVicki says this yarn will match perfectly.

He has a BlueElephant painted on the wall.

Isn't that Magical? I'm going to be on the look out for a 'BlueElephant' for Jakes Diaper Tote....a 'LITTLE-BlueElephant'.

A LittleHere..A LittleThere...Knitting

What's with these OtherLifeInterests taking time away from my Knitting?

HowDare my 'Quilt$$Patrons' take my cooler mornings...I could be sitting and knitting on the screened in porch.

HowDare my 'WWWednesdayTrio' force me to Read about Knitting when I should be DoingKnitting.

HowDare I buy another Knitting Book with Edgings I can't wait to Knit.

And, How DoubleDare InterWeave Knits put out the Fall Issue when it's still Summer, and while I'm still Knitting the Sweater from the Spring Issue.

I DareSay SuKnitWitty is easily Swayed by OtherInterests.

So, very quickly, I'll do a BookReport, List upcoming Reads, Edgings and InterWeave WannaMakes.

Book Report-Sins and Needles by Monica Ferris

A NeedleWork/KnitShop WhoDoneIt Mystery. Loved the Knitting parts..lots about Socks..(SSS not part of the mystery)..Inspired a few rows on my UFO Socks.

Especially liked the TexasGal Lucille. She was a GRIT with Good Texas Girl Manners (Yes, Sir) and a Bless His Heart'er when she made a statement about Uncle Stewart, "Bless His Heart, he's all hat and no cattle." Good read.

Thanks GinaP...I'll get to Mary Kruger's Knit Fast Die Young, Died In The Wool, and Maggie Sefont's Needled to Death and A Killer Stitch...I'll read a little here and there.

Speaking of A Little....

Look at These 'LittleThings' SusanB knitted to go with the BabySurpriseJacket.

SKW's Grand #4 is DueSoon!

He will be so Cute&Warm in these Knits.

Thanks SusanB...PrincessOfQuiteALot of Heart!

Okay...Back to Book Reports.

Knit Edgings.
Can't wait to do Scalloped Ruffle..pg 41

Leaf Braid...pg 67 and Lace Cable...pg 45

(Lace Cable is WayOverSKWSkills)...I know a Knit Teacher.

Aaaannnnnd...DoubleDare InterWeave Knits....Berry and Bramble Cardigan pg 46 and Every Way Wrap pg 48...and...well, that's it...for now. Back to Knitting...a little here and there.

CollectInTexas Gal...The ABC's of Collecting

Do You have Stashes of Stuff? Are You an Accumulator...or...Are You a Collector?

Do You have a Wide Open Range of Interests...Even OPS (OtherPeoplesStuff)?

Do You Frequent Antique Shops, Thrift Shops, Flea Markets and Yard/Garage Sales?

Can You Alphabetize Your StuffStashes?

If you can "SayYes" to One or More of these Questions.....

Then 'CollectInTexas Gal' is the blogspot for You.

Everything From Art to Zippers

SuKnitWitty has been Collectin for QuiteSomeTime and has Collected QuiteALot.

And, BelieveItOrNot, most of it IsNot KnittingStuff.




Oh, and it's NOT just SKW's Real-Life Collections...(like that's not enough)...but...
QuiteALot of OPS and WWWeb Virtual Collections as well as Antique Shops around Texas.

This Girl Raised In Texas will 'Show Ya Some Real Old and NotSoOld Stuff'. So, Ya'll Come on Over from SuKnitWitty to CollectIn Texas Gal...The ABC's of Collecting! See Ya There!

PS...Free Alphabetizing Tips given...Bet you can hardly wait for that...Knowin SKW SpellinSkills.

PPS...You can Always get From SuKnitWitty to CollectIn Texas Gal and Back...Buttons on the SideBoard.

KnittingChocolate..or..ChocolateKnitting..Mmmm!

Are you a 'ListMaker'?

Do you have a PadNPencil handy in the Kitchen (for Milk, Eggs, Chips and Chocolate), in the 'PowderRoom' (for Crest, Charmin, and Chocolate), in the Knitting Nest (for #9 Circulars, ChunkyYarn and Chocolate)?

If the Answer is Yes...You Might Be A ChocoHolic .

FYI...I DoNot recommend Eating Chocolate in the PowderRoom.

Now, I know you are wondering, 'What's with the ListMaking, Knitting and Chocolate?'

Well, if you're like me...my Husband sez "God Help Us"...

and you are a Lister...SeniorMomentsHappen...

and you Knit...if you don't..WhyNot?...

and you like Chocolate...Who Doesn't?...

Then these ThreeTopics 'Lists-Knitting-Chocolate, are of EveryDay Importance.

Not that SKW starts everyday with LKC...oh wait!...Yes, I do...1 teaspoon HotCocoMix in Coffee...that's a DoubleChocolate Start.

No ChocolateSheep in the KnittingNest, but often there are Snickers Wrappers, MochaMohair, SheepShape ListPads and Pencil Toppers.

I have discovered 'Another Common Ailment' among Knitters.

LKC Syndrome.

Check out my LKC and 'Just SayYes-ToChocolate' Searchs ...

ChocolateSheep ... Knitting a Chocolate Eclair... DarkChocolate#6205...Benefits of Chocolate...List of Chocolate CandyBars.

I especially recommend the 'Benefits of Chocolate' reading....It's very Justifying.

Now for the 'RealReason' for this ChocolateNess Post! Get out your SheepShaped PadNPencil! Oh! You may also need a ChocolateCalculator! Don't have one? I do!!>>>>>>
'Your Age By Chocolate Math'

#1...Pick the number of times a week you would like to have Chocolate...more than 1 and less than 10.
#2...Multiply that number by 2.
#3...Add 5
#4...Multiply by 50....good time to use the calculator and have a piece or 2 or 3 of chocolate.
#5...If you have already had your Birthday this year add 1759...If you haven't had your Birthday add 1758.

#6...Now Subtract the Four Digit Year you were Born.
You should have a 3 Digit Number.
The First Digit of this was your Original Number....ie..How many times you want to have Chocolate in a week.

The Next Two Numbers are Your AGE!!!

Oh! Yes It Is!!!

2009 is the ONLY Year this Chocolate Math Formula will work.

A Chocolate Calculator is a Knitters Nest Must Have....Not Available at any YarnShop.

SKW will Share.

Please feel free to Touch (with your mouse) and take a Byte (right click & SavePictureAs) put it in your Nest (paste to your 'ChocolateFile') and

Share with Other ListMaking-Knitting-ChocoHolics!

Or send them this Link...SuKnitWitty.

PS...Thanks to my Quilting Friend Ellen for the Chocolate Calculator Math Formula. Apparently it works for Quilters, too.

PPS...DoNOT Touch the Chocolate-CherryDrippin-Pie with your Mouse...It is Mine!

Princess Of QuiteALot...It's All Relative!

Just how much is ‘QuiteALot’?
Like Einstein, I Believe in the ‘Theory of Relativity'.
SuKnitWitty and Einstein…now there’s a BrainComPairSon…His EnglishSpellinSkills probably weren’t much better than my MathSkills-InAnyLanguage.
Not that I know what that Law was all about, (I looked it up in 1961 Webster) somethin about…Equivalence of MassVelocity on Postulated Systems of the Phenomena of Gravitational LightBulbs regardless of the NumericalValue.
Okay,I added the ‘Bulb’ Thingy, but the ‘Gravitational’ part fits my Gravitating to QuiteALot of KnitStuffTheory.

1961 Webster..Relative..a thing having a relation to or connection with or necessary dependence upon another thing.
SuKnitWitty RelativityKnitRule…Masses of Yarn that Connect with NecessaryNeedles to Create the Phenomena of having QuiteALot of KnitStuff…Regardless of Numerical$$Value.
See…Like I said…It’s All Relative!

Once upon a time there was a Queen of QuiteALot of QuiltingPostulatedSystems.
There was a MassVelocity of Fabric, Batting, Thread, Gadgets, Machines and RelativeStuff. The NumericalValue was beyond Einsteins ‘E=mc2’.
Suffering from the Phenomena of QuadrillionQuilts…TheQueen proceeded to DeVelocitize the QuiltingPostulatedSystems from QuiteALot to NotQuiteSoMuch.
She had ‘WornHerselfOut’ and needed a NewInterest with NotQuiteSoMuch NecessaryStuff.
The DeThronedQueen, now ‘PleasedToBePrincess’, Stowed the QuiteALotLeft QuiltStuff to PurSuANew…Interest.
With a ‘LiteRTiara’ and QuiteALotLessStress, she discovered the SpecialTheory of KnitOnePurlTwo = SuKnitWitty RelativityKnitRule.

Here I am…The Princess of QuiteALot…
Of Yarn…Of Knitting Needles…Of Yarn…Of Knitting Projects…Of Yarn…Of Stitch Markers…Of Yarn…Of Knitting Books…Of Yarn.

I Just Can’t Help My ‘PrincessQuiteALotSelf’!!!

I swear on my FirstEdition Treasury of Knitting Patterns
That
I DoNot WantToBe QueenOfQuiteALot again.
Besides
“What difference does it make how much you have?
What you do not have amounts to much more.” Seneca

PS…Never let it be said that GRIT have no knowledge of Einsteins Theory of Relativity, bless his heart, he couldn’t help he wasn’t from Texas and could have simply said, “Es Todo Relatividad”.
PPS… Albert, Shugar…What’s with That Haaairrrr?
PPPS…Thanks SusanB for the PrincessQuiteALot NeedlePack, and for the ‘SubtleReminder’ that SuKnitWitty’s PrincessStatus is Velocitizing. May I remind You…Your LadyInWaitingALot has Velocitized to PrincessStatus, and if you aren’t careful a QuiteALotBigger Tiara awaits. SKW’s QueenOfQuiltALot Tiara should fit just fine. Also, much more SockYarn and your 'NewNest is lible to 'Splode'.

Victoria Amazonica...WaterLily Queen

The Regal Victorias of The San Angelo
International Water Lily Collection, are the Crowning Glory of the collection of LovelyLilyLadiesInWaiting.

The giant water platter Victoria has captured the imagination of the world from the very first glimpse of it in its wild South American home in l801. Named for Queen Victoria, it was nearly 50 years later that it was first brought to bloom in "captivity" in England, inspiring a wave of enthusiasm for its size and the beauty of its flowers. Victoria Amazonica

A Point of Interest in San Angelo????? YouBetcha!!!! Thanks to '65er Janie White Michilak for the suggestion.

SuKnitWitty strolled through the LilyPond...HPBrownie in Hand...
Thinking before I got there....
"Oh! I'll take a few shots to give the '65erReunioner's a Preview".
TwoFullScanDisks, TwoDeadBatteries, and TwoHours later I reluctantly left.
Enjoy the LilyPond Tour via SuKnitWitty's 'SmokinHPBrownie'!

So, How did you like TheMiniTour?

For the 'TwoScanDisk/TwoDeadBattery/TwoHours Tour.....Click HERE and view the LilyPond SlideShow.

Click HERE to view the LilyPond FlowerGarden & Park SlideShow.

If you are a '65erReunion'er...I hope you will have time in your schedule of events to visit..... The SanAngelo International Lily Collection.

If you are a SuKnitWitty Follower...Thanks for Being Here and Ya'll Come Back!

You Know You're A Texan If...

...You know all four seasons.
Almost Summer
Summer
Still Summer
And Christmas !
Howdy Ya'll...It's Still Summer! GonnaBe 101% ToDay in Texas.
Yeah, I know, Ya'll thought I was done with all the TexasStuff...

Kan't PassUp Sharin a little more GoodOle' TexasTalk!

You Know You're A Texan If...

You know that the true value of a parking space is not determined by the distance to the door, but by the availability of shade.

You've ever had to switch from 'A/C' to 'Heat' in the same day.

You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as "good chili weather."

You Know You're a Texan If...
Someone you know has used a football schedule to plan their wedding date.
You measure distance in minutes.
You aren't surprised to find movie rental, ammunition and bait all in the same store.
Stores don't have bags, they have sacks.
And finally, you are 100% Texan if you have ever heard this conversation...
"You wanna coke? "Yeah." "What kind?" "Dr. Pepper."
Thanks to TheReporter...Hochheim Prairie Farm Insurance Assoc.

Bless Her Heart...

Someone once noted that a Texan can get away with the most awful kind of insult just as long as it's prefaced with the words, "Bless her heart" or "Bless his heart." As in, "Bless her heart, if they put her brain on the head of a pin, it'd roll around like a BB on a 6-lane highway."

I was thinking about this the other day when a friend was telling about her new transplanted northern friend who was upset because her toddler is just beginning to talk and he has a Texas accent.. My friend, who is very kind and, bless her heart, cannot do a thing about those thighs of hers, was justifiably miffed about this. After all, this woman had CHOSEN to move to Texas a couple of years ago.

"Can you believe it?" said her friend, "A child of mine is going to be "taaaallllkkin liiiike thiiiissss."

Now, don't get me wrong. Some of my dearest friends are from the North, bless their hearts. I welcome their perspective, their friendships, and their recipes for authentic Northern Italian food. I've even gotten past their endless complaints that you can't find good bread down here. And the heathens, bless their hearts, don't like cornbread!

I have a friend from Bawston, bless her heart, who thinks it's hilarious when I say I've got to "carry" my daughter to the doctor or "cut off" the light. She also gets a giggle every time I am "fixin" to do something. And, bless their hearts, they don't even know where "over yonder" is, or what "I reckon" means!

My personal favorite was my aunt, saying, "Bless her heart, she cain't help being ugly, but she could'uh stayed home."

G.R.I.T = Girls Raised In Texas...
Know BadManners when they see them.

Drinking straight outta the can.
Not sending ThankYou Notes
Velvet after February
White Shoes before Memorial Day or after Labor Day.

Texas Girls always say "Yes, Maam and Yes, Sir"

Texas Girls have a distinct way with FondExpressions...
Ya'll Come Back! Well, Bless yer Hearrrt! Drop by when YaCan! How's yer Mama? Luv yer haairr!

Texas Girls know everybody's first name
Hunny, Darlin and Shugar.

Texas Girls know the movies that speak to their hearts...

Gone With the Wind
Fried Green Tomatoes
Driving Miss Daisy
Steel Magnolias

So, Like it was told to SuKnitWitty..."Now you run along Shugar, and send this to Any Females aspiring to be G.R.I.T...Even the Northern Ones...Bless Their Hearts!"

"Just because you move to Texas, does not make you a Texan. Afterall, if a cat had kittens and moved them to the oven, that wouldn't make them biscuits."

PS...Texas Fabric by RickVanderpool, Prairie Studio for Northcott Fabrics
*Longhorn and Texas Wall Art at Gruene Auction and Antique Mall in NewBraunfels, Texas
*Texas Star-BlueBonnets-Boots...display at Sequin Antiques, Sequin, Texas
*SuKnitWitty GRIT...3rd Grade Sherman, Texas...Mama gave me a TIGHT perm so my Haairr would look purty for school pictures...cried all the way to school, but managed a smile for the camera. My Mama said, "Luv yer haairrr, Hunny." My Daddy said, "Darlin, Yore mighty Purty in that Red Bandana and Cowgirl Shirt." I said, "Whaaaaaaa!!!"

NewKnits...OldKnits...TreasuresX2

SunShine Cardigan
FlyAway...LightNLively!

Catchy, huh? Caught my Eye for my FirstSweater.
Yep, I'm knitting a sweater. Even did a Swatch or two or three. Finally decided on #7circular needle and Medium size which says 40" bust....yeah right!
Which goes to show that SwatchSmugNess (I always Knit on Gauge), would find those #7's, SmSize CastOns, 3 skeins yarn, and quadrillion hours knitting with a sweater fit for....well, probably not SKW.

The First Treasure... Set of 10" Straights
in Leather Zipper Case. Sizes 1 through 11...Perfect condition. Found by Sister at an Antique Mall.

Mine...All Mine. She doesn't Knit...Why should She? She has SuKnitWitty! Mmmmm...That FanNFeather Scarf would be a nice Reward and Sister has a September Birthday. Surely, I can finish by then.

Second Treasure...Actually...Two Treasures.

Barbara Walkers A Treasury of Knitting Patterns and A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns.

Both First Editions and in Perfect Condition. Found by SKW at another Antique Mall for $2 each.

I am such a SuKnitLucky!

BTW have you seen The Walker Project website? Take a look...it is so worth the QuickClick.

Three-and-One Tweed from A Treasury of Knitting Patterns was used for the TopBand on SKW's ScrapBagRibALong. I even SWATCHED. Don'tCha just love the 2Color Knitting? The ScrapBagRibALong is finished...all the Patterns are on the SideBoard.

One Persons CastOffs are SKW's CastOns! Thanks...One Person...and Sister.