Making Sophie's Universe

Last year, 2014, I discovered a crochet site through a friend on Facebook that was having a CAL (crochet-a-long) for that year that was gorgeous.  I got as far as ordering yarn and never did get around to making it.  This year they, again, started a project for 2015 called Sophie's Universe.  I have had it in the back of my mind since it started in January and didn't jump on board until this weekend finally when I had seen, this past week, a color version that I loved.  Hers looked like the Caribbean Ocean and is in the aqua's that I really love, so I decided to go for it.  The CAL goes for 20 weeks and in the end is a queen sized blanket.  I love that you don't have to sew squares together like last years was.  Yesterday I made week 1's steps and today week 2's steps.  I struggled with week 1 and then discovered there are step by step tutorials for each week that are awesome!  They are very detailed and you don't even need to read the actual pattern..Much, much easier!  Anyway I will be posting each week's progress as I get around to it.  I am already behind..they are just starting week 8, but am going to try to catch up.  For the first two weeks it took me about 4 hours for each one to finish, and don't know if as it gets larger if it will take more time, or if they will cut down on the rows for each week, but we will see..

Week1:

Week 2:

 

Finally got it squared up-lots more to go!

 

up a little more-row 66 completed!

 

Potato Patties

Have you, your mom or grandma's ever made potato patties? My 1st mother-in-law, Margaret used to always make them with the leftover mashed potatoes and since I had some left from the Valentines Day feed on Saturday, I thought I'd make a few up for the guys tonight, cook some pork chops and pull out the other leftovers for supper..they are light and fluffy, just add an egg, some pieces of fried onion and a little flour to hold them together so you can form the patties and fry in butter until browned on both sides and warmed through. you can also add some garlic in whatever form you like for garlic flavored potatoes..taste the mixture and add salt and pepper if needed..

Mini Corn Dog Muffins

I had seen these posted on Facebook at one time and printed off the recipe for when the grandkids came over to try because, of course. they all like corn dogs.  I knew they were coming over last night, so decided it would be a good night to try them.  I actually had the two grandgirls make them..trying to teach them how to cook a little when they come over now.  They did a good job, one loading the mini muffin pans and the other putting in the hot dog pieces etc..they liked them a lot, well Kyle mainly ate the hotdogs inside, but the girls ate like 7 each, they said, and loved them.  I had also gotten some honey mustard salad dressing and they were awesome with that on them..the girls said so too.  They would make a great appetizer for a party/pot luck, but kids like them anytime I would guess. 

MINI CORN DOG MUFFINS:

1 pkg Jiffy or similar corn muffin mix mixed as directed on pkg.
2 oz Velvetta, cut in 24 tiny cubes (optional)
4 beef franks, each cut into 6 pieces..next time I will get the fat style hotdogs so there is more meat in them.

honey mustard (they suggested grey poupon honey mustard, I used the dressing)

Heat oven to 375 degrees.  prepare muffin mix and spoon into 24 mini muffin pan cups sprayed well with cooking spray.

press 1 Velvetta cube and hot dog slice into batter in center of each muffin cup. 

Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown.  COOL 5 min before removing from pans.  Serve warm with mustard.

Sam's First Scarf

I showed Granddaughter, Sam, how to make the crocheted scarves last night that I've been making..good starter project for a kid; she can get lots of practice chaining and single crocheting.  She finished her first scarf, for herself, and now is already starting a second one to enter in the Cambridge fair this summer for 4H.  She said she thinks it's a fun project.  She did a good job on her tension, had a few minor mistakes on the scarf overall, but I told her on this second project it must be "perfect"..LOL..(she's been looking on pinterest at lots of crochet projects today, so looks like she does really like it!)
the strict teacher..