Jumpin' Jambalaya

Jumpin' Jambalaya

Serves: 5

A flavorful favorite that you can enjoy without guilt. Add your own spices to taste.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 pound steamed shrimp, peeled and chopped
8 oz. turkey smoked sausage pieces
1-1/2 cups cooked pinto beans
16 oz. can Cajun style stewed tomatoes
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 small onion, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1 cup bell pepper, chopped
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tsp Tabasco sauce
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup water
4 cups long grain brown rice, cooked

DIRECTIONS
1. In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté onions, celery and peppers until they soften.
2. Add garlic, stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, parsley, Tabasco sauce, salt and water. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, or until veggies are soft.
3. Stir in pinto beans.
4. Heat skillet with oil over medium-high heat. Add turkey sausage and cook until browned (5 min).
5. Add shrimp, sausage and cooked rice to pot of veggies and simmer for 5 minutes, while stirring.

NUTRITION INFO (per 4-ounce serving)
Calories: 467.7
Fat: 10.2 g
Carbohydrates: 69.6 g
Protein: 27.1 g

Morphing Crochet Projects

I'm shaking my head as I write this... it seems that every time I try to follow a crochet pattern, I end up making significant changes to it. The Whisper of Elegance sweater that I was making is morphing into something totally different pattern wise. At first I thought I didn't have enough yarn. So I made it shorter. I also made it bigger. I then got to the arm area and thought... hmmm inset arms would be nice, so I changed that. I did follow the instructions for the "V" in the front of the sweater. Now I am on to the arms and changing those... I'm making the arms rounded at the top so I can do sort of a cap sleeve. I plan on making a belt for it as well as adding ribbing all around the sweater, and sort of a shawl collar for it. I think since I have made so many changes, this must be an original for me. I'll have to write the pattern out and see if it works.

I am thinking that I will make the Whisper of Elegance sweater next and really follow the pattern. I need to purchase the yarn for that one... I think I want it in pale blue. I think it would look real nice in a Homespun type yarn. I will have to see what I find.

More WIM's and ramblings...

Recently I discovered the Crystal Lace Bollero and thought how cool... I wonder... And that sealed my fate with this one. I think this would be perfect for work this fall. Of course, I will have to make a few changes, like length and size, but this is perfect.

I want to make it a bit longer in back and on the sides and the arms will need to be longer. Other than that, the pattern will be the same.

I need one in blue and green. I will probably start the green one first, provided I have enough of the yarn I am thinking of in my stash.

I am still working on the Whisper of Elegance sweater in the evenings while watching the telly. I am hoping I will have enough of the variegated to make it at least hip length. I was thinking it would be too long if I increased the size, but... I think this is going to just about right, if I make it just below the hip. If I can get it long enough to cover the butt I will be pleased. I need to see if I can find some more of this yarn. I will have to try eBay 'cause I am sure it is not in the stores any more. If I can find the same kind, I can make it work even if it is not the same dye lot... I will just use it in the arms. Guess that is what I get for digging in my stash for yarn for a project. Ha!

New Project

One of my fellow Crochet Partners Listers sent a link to a gorgeous pattern called "A Whisper of Elegance" designed by Chelle Hendrix Cain and wow... I just had to buy it. I have started it and am not doing it in white... I had some beautiful variegated sage and rose yarn. I plan on putting a burgundy collar on it.

Anyway, when I get it done, I will post a picture.

Life & Chaos

Life & Chaos

When you march to the beat of a different drummer, what others see as chaos, might well be your peace and harmony. Albert Einstein said, "He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice."

For the vast majority of the people I work with that is so true. They march in rank and file, always being told what to do, wear, think and when to breathe. This annoys the heck out of me. Stand up people and use the brain you have. Make intelligent choices and don't hold back on living. Take life to the edge and live as if there was no tomorrow. Live life with abandon, joy, hope and faith. "Suppose we were able to share meanings freely without a compulsive urge to impose our view or conform to those of others and without distortion and self-deception. Would this not constitute a real revolution in culture?" David Bohm

If there had been no risk takers that walked before us, then where would we be? I guess the biggest thing that bothers me is people who just don't think. You have a brain people, use it.

I believe that when people use the brains they have more good can be done, than if they have life dictated to them. In history people have had to think, in order to produce and be creative. Now it is as simple as buying a crafty kit with all of the pieces and putting it together using the diagram. In doing that, the powers that be have forced us into a chaotic madness. If you are missing a part, piece or can't find the color called for in a project, people will go to all lengths to get it. I think this is hilarious. What happened to creativity? Did it get lost when you grew up? Are you so afraid of what might be called free-form or chaos that you can't think outside the box? Get real people, the majority of the world lives outside of your box. Don't be afraid to step out of yours.

Vacation Adventures

Well, the week flew by. We drover down to Branson MO. and took 2 days to do so. That was good, because it got us in the mood for vacationing and doing nothing.

My philosophy of a vacation is to go somewhere fun and then do just what you want to do. No schedules, no requirements to do anything.

We knew we wanted to see at least one show while we wre there, which we did, the Circle B Chuckwagon Show. It was fun, funny and a grand time. Having grown up with country music, and western stuff, I thought I might find it a bit "hoakey" but it wasn't. I really enjoyed them and they did a great job. food was Awesome too. The other show we saw was David Lomond the Hawiian Crooner . This was a fun show and a bargain. David is funny, and so is Alohi his wife. We really enjoyed the Sunday night worship time and we went back for the Luau! I highly recommend this show for anyone going to Branson. He does this hilarious version to Elvis' "Return to Sender" song about a blender... I was laughing so hard.

We stayed at Suntera at Fall Creek and it was absolutely fantastic. Beth Ann in the Concierge dept was fantastic and really helped us out. Everyone was so courteous and friendly, we actually could see going back again.

We had an absolutely hilarious adventure wile riding the DUCKS in Branson. Our captain Dan was a hoot. His jokes were pretty bad, but that was just half the fun of it.

We also went to The College of The Ozarks. This is a really cool college. I was very impressed with it.

Other than that we went shopping and toodling around. I would definately like to go back to Branson. Maybe in the fall next time.

Misc. Stuff

Well it is official... Sunshine is a licensed driver. Stay of the roads. Actually he is a very cautious driver, which is good.

We are out of her on VACATION Yay! Yay! Yay! This is my first real vacation in 4 years. I am just excited to be going somewhere. There have been times that we have been able to go out of town for a day or so... but this is for real. Location is Branson MO. Never have been there, don't know anyone there and have no relatives that we know of there. So we are off to an adventure like old times.

I finished and was able to felt my bag that I was working on. It turned out great! I hopeful will get a picture up soon. I forgot and have already packed the cord to my camera... Oh well...

He passed... yikes! (and other stuff)

So I guess I should says stay off the streets now, but that would not be nice...

Sunshine passed the driving portion of the license test. Now all he has to do is take the written and he will have the coveted "Drivers license".

He only has about 500$ to go on paying off the car and he will be ready to take on responsibility of ownership. Quite cool, as I never had a car when I was in High School.

I have interviewed with my employer for another position... I love my job, but I don't feel stretched enough. I need more of a challenge. The new one would be doing Inventory Audits. Something I have never done, but am sure I could do quite well. I should find out about that this week. If I don't get that one, there is another position coming open that needs to be filled by the first of the month.

Well I got the correct yarn for my project the other day and my purse strap is coming along quite nicely. I need to decide how long I want it. Anybody know how much Lambs Pride shrinks (percentage wise)? I will post pictures when I have it finished. Hopefully By the weekend. I want to start on the stupid pink mohair. It is not going to be a shawl. I decided it is going to be a bag of some sort. Something small and compact.

In the Pink

Well, I have decided it is going to be the Mobius Scarf. I think I may end up getting another skein of it just in case.

Tonight is "date night" and hubby and I are going to do the ususal and go do a wine tasting at our favorite sine and cheese store. Don't know what we are tasting tonight, so that will be interesting. Sunshine want's to chauffer... yikes... fortunately the library is close by so we can send him over there until we are finished.

Quandry (Part 2)

O.K. I have narrowed it down... it is either going to be Pretty In Pink Stole (pdf) or Mobius Wrap both from Free Patterns. I printed them off and am going to go curl up and watch NCIS and read them.

In a quandry... Or what to do with 2 balls of pink Mohair?

O.K. Last night I ran out of the Lambs Pride purple yarn I am using for my purse... Dang... I knew I should have bought 3 instead of 2 skeins. Oh well... Anyway, I am pretty pleased with the purse so far. However, since I am out of the purple untill tomorrow, I have moved on to another project.


This one has me in a bit of a quandry. It is this yummy cotton candy pink Mohair yarn, but I have a feeling that what I want it to be and what "IT" wants to be are two different things. I hate it when that happens. I mean, you see it setting on the shelf at the store and you can't resist the lure of it. You get home and say... what the heck was I thinking?

"I" want it to be a poncho, but I don't think that "it" wants to be one. I had one started in knit, but it just was not cooperating with me. So, I frogged that and started one in crochet... frogg, and restart.

This is my mission tonight. I need to find a pattern that will work with it. One of the first places I am going to check is my favorite crochet group - Crochet Partners in the pattern library. Lots of good patterns there. Maybe I will have to check the manufacturer web site also. sometimes there are good patterns or ideas there too. Oh, and I definately need to check out Free Patterns
I know there might be something there.