See red

  Recently, a friend was dyeing with this fabulous bug--Cochineal!  That tiny little thing can give a variety of colors on your yarn.  I have a bin filled with those precious jewels

but haven't dyed with them in years!  Look like tiny raisins but these pin head size dried insects are hard as a rock!  When soaked in dye bath, they burst forth with color. 

 My friend pushed me to get back into the dyeing game--so I pulled out all my RED books and poured over them.  It was a good nudge back into color of the most importance to the world.

No color has fascinated the world through the ages than cochineal.  

Sorry I don't have her book--next purchase maybe!

So many books written about this one tiny little insect that brings so much life to color RED
 

Soon, very soon, I hope I can post photos of my recent cochineal dyeing

Let’s touch!

 The other day as I was driving into town, I spied a young couple, walking on the sidewalk—they looked to be teenagers.  They were holding hands; she on the outside nearest the street, he on the inside near the lawns.  I assumed they had walked from high school. 

 Right in the middle of the block, he stopped and moved her to the inside and he took the outside to the street!  I'm cheering!!  Yay!  That kid does have some manners--someone taught him well to show respect, love, concern for your love one. Touching is good!  That act 'touched' my heart and sense of love!

Touch is many things--but in the above instance, that touch was one of the sweetest things I'd seen in awhile.  I touch to feel texture of cloth, roughness of buildings, stiffness of fabric, sensation of cold or hot,   How do we teach a baby 'not to touch' a hot appliance of surface?  They can get close to touch and back away--and say "Hot"!

Today, I'm touching lots of fabric--I'm pressing the cloth for a long arm quilting day!  There will be lots of touching involved as the needles moves over the texture of the quilt top.  If there is a problem with the stitches, we can touch and feel the difference in a good stitch or a bad stitch.  

After the birth, a new born is placed skin to skin with the mother so they can bond.  Our grand daughter did not have that touch after her baby was born--he was whisked away immediately--he was taken to NICU for his CDH condition.  The mother was crushed!  She wanted that touch!  It was a week before she could place that baby to her chest.  

During the day, you use your fingertips to touch every object that you use.  In each fingertip, there are over 3,000 touch receptors!  Why is touch the most sensitive sense? The sense of touch originatees in the bottom layer of your skin called the dermis. The dermis is filled with many tiny nerve endings that give you information about the things your body is touching.

Touch! is all important!  touch someone today! and often!

Mojo? What is MoJo?

Who is this Mojo person?  My grandkids love COJO—Cody Johnson—#1 to them in country music.  But, I’m not sure they know what or who MOJO is!  Give them a few years, that old MJO will hit them! 

Well, I was hit with no MJO—for several weeks.  No knitting mojo at all! Now——I’m back!! 

I’ll pulled out the bag of blue wool yarn—ready to see/remember what was in it

And the bag even contained a pattern, Bonus! Oh dear, the pattern in the bag is for a hat, which will (maybe) use the rest of the yarn.  Guess I was being optimistic by adding the hat pattern.

Extra bonus—stitches already on needles! 

Yes, I said needles!  

The start for hubby’s socks!!  Yay!  I’m putting my MOJO to work.  Knitting these plain socks, no pattern is needed—until I reach the heel; here I need some guidance.  Never remember how many to the middle of heel.  Also, need pattern to finish toes—it’s the dreaded Kitchener stitch!!

So, off we go!!

Kentucky Derby Taste Day!

 Kentucky Derby!  We're hosting a Kentucky Derby Party!  Years ago, we attended the actual Kentucky Derby Party in Louisville, Ky--it was a dream come true!  Never thought we'd be there in person on that day!  Locally, one of the wineries host a party but this year we decided to have our own--after all, we have HATS! to wear and wonderful tasty food to eat!

In my research for Derby Day recipes--I remembered the foods we had while in Louisville for Derby Day--Kentucky Hot Brown--yum!  Every restaurant had Hot Brown on their menu

An open faced turkey sandwich topped with bacon, covered with Mornay sauce.  Simple ingredients that you might have on hand

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In the slow cooker, we will feature-Kentucky Burgoo--a stew like dish=

=Burgoo has a rich history--

Some history about Burgoo

first became associated with racing when the dish was served at livestock sales in the early 1800s. A horse-racing tradition began as a means to convince people to buy the animals, and these events became wildly popular gathering places for friends to catch up and for politicians to connect with supporters

Of course, there will be Mint Juleps to Taste.

We don't have the fancy cups but did find pewter solo cups!!

For dessert--it's a must to have Derby pie.

Oh, there will be other treats to sample--each guest is bringing along their favorite Kentucky product--maybe, just maybe, there will be many Kentucky Bourbons to taste!!

I have no idea which horses are running, but it looks to be a lovely day with friends along with delicious tasty foods!

Eyes And Ears

 Our senses are the greatest part of our body!  We have many opportunities to enhance those senses—for my eyes they are many great, interesting, teasing rewards—lately, these two books have taken center stage—

Jennifer Ryan has given us two different looks into the lives of WWII women.

“The Chilbury Ladies’ Choir”

The men are away fighting and the choir is void of men’s voices; the vicar has called a halt to the songs.  Women of  Chilbury Village decide to carry on the singing!

“The Kitchen Front” gives us an insight into cooking in a food rationed kitchen.  To offer some uplifting courage to housewives, BBC radio program, “The Home Front”, is holding a cooking contest.  What better way to earn some money to assist with their challenges?  A story that takes four women from different walks of life to a competition that might create conflict or togetherness. 

And boom!! I was back into WWII again.  There are way too many stories that we never heard about this war!  One night last week we watched “Greyhound”, a movie about a international convey of 37 ships on a mission across Atlantic Ocean to deliver soldiers and supplies to Allied forces.  Intense!  For me, an unknown story of remarkable bravery and lost souls fighting for freedom. 

My ears behold stories of mystery, intrigue, energy, stories of old, love and romance—

Two podcasts that will engage your hearing sense are:

Murder me on Monday—a mother/ son take of murder from days of old—this from UK. 

How about classic literature? 

Craftlit has recorded many classical books that are public domain—Jane Austin books, Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, etc.  

maybe books I wouldn’t read on my own but Cratlit gives us a chance to hear these tales along with some crafty news.  Up now is “The Three Musketeers”—

Come along and tantalize these two senses and maybe, you will use your other senses—taste, touch, smell! 

Z= THE END!

 I did It!  I made it to Z!  Not sure all my previous blogs are worth anything but to me, it's challenge, I completed. 

Challenges are goals we set to finish; at least, I try to achieve!  The month has flown by!  Our journey achieved many deadlines, accomplishments, sweeping goals and positive outcomes! 

We celebrated four birthdays; a successful walk with family and friends for CDH babies, the homecoming of our great grandson from NICU, where he resided since his birth on February 17.  Joyous occasions to celebrate!! 

We gazed at the dark sky as we sipped delicious wine; we even finished our taxes on time!!; the most blessed event was our family gathering to welcome another Easter Day. 

Indeed it was challenging April with many opportunities. 

Yesterday!

 Yesterday!