Follow the Directions? Hum... Maybe....

I went to the printer, mailed out prints, then I loaded up on canvas today! Yippee! For some reason when I only have a few I can't seem to paint so I've been knitting instead making things for my new grandson. I used to make decisions for a living and now I can't decide on what I will do next. Go figure. Little JJ is still in the hospital. The kids had to leave him there and go home without him. I know how hard that is. I had to do that with both of my sons. He is doing better today and hopefully will be coming home tomorrow. I will be going over to hold him tomorrow or Wednesday. I miss him already. He's been in ICU so we couldn't hold him.

While in the waiting room awaiting his arrival, I knitted, pulled it out, knitted, pulled it out...probably about 5 times! At one point I had 1/2 of a scarf made, then pulled it out. I had no direction, no idea what I was doing. It passed the time. So I decided that I would make him something out of the "labor room" yarn and knitted him a little ear flap hat yesterday. It's big so he won't be able to wear it until winter time next year! I think it came out cute though. I still have to sew a loop & button on the little sweater (pattern is below) but I'll show you the picture without the button. I am putting a loop & button rather than the ties as shown. I have a hard time following a pattern to the T or a recipe for that matter!

Speaking of recipes... I'm usually pretty good at coming up with some tasty things on my own and some people say I'm a really good cook. I did come up with a doozey of an experiment the other day. Costco has the most wonderful bean salad - Paisley Farms. I just love it & love the brine that it's in. I can eat the whole gargantuan jar by myself! Not in one sitting, but I usually do end up being the only one that eats it. Isn't that sweet of my husband to pass on it! haha I also love pickled okra and have been craving it. I bought some at the farmers market and had what I thought was a brilliant idea, pickle some fresh okra in the brine left over from the bean salad. Well... don't try that, it's totally nasty! I think my craving is cured for the time being! I have been a subscriber to Gourmet magazine for about 15 years now. I get lots of inspiration but it's not too often that I actually try a recipe to the letter in there. I will, however, be trying the yellow squash recipe that's in this months issue! We don't fry a lot of foods, but this one will be worth it! I will post the recipe below in my recipe of the week section. Doesn't this look great!?!