Creepers

 

It’s been so hot here lately!  We don’t have air conditioning so I’ve been melting.  Trying to do any kind of work around the house is out.  The thought alone of cooking raises my body temperature a good 5 degrees.  It’s days like these you just need to sit and do nothing.  Except I can’t just ‘do nothing’.  It’s not in me.  I need to read, or something.  I’ve never been one to sit in front of the television.  Besides, televisions emit heat, and I’m trying to avoid that.  My solution: crochet toys.

When I was in high school I started crocheting.  I made a few blankets and hats, and really enjoyed it.  Then for some reason I just stopped.  I don’t remember why.  I just got busy, I guess.  I still have some cool squares I was going to make into a blanket, but never finished.

I was originally going to teach myself how to knit.  However, since the project I had in mind was circular, that proved to be frustrating.  I ended up undoing (on accident) more than I was doing.  Then I remembered.   Hey!  I know how to crochet.  At least I did once.  I bet I could figure this turtle out easier in crochet than knitting it.  (I still plan to learn to knit, but I’ll be sticking to hot pads for a bit I think.)

The first toy I did was… well… clunky, for lack of a better word.  My stitches are uneven among other oddities, but it refreshed my memory.  The second attempt was much better in my opinion.  My daughter liked the first one though, so she got to keep the little guy.

Hers is the one on the left.  The one on the right we did a toy drop with the following weekend at our local library. 

My youngest really wanted me to make him something too, so I made a caterpillar.

After it was finished, he told me he didn’t like “how it’s all bally”.  He asked me to make him one with a straight body instead.  I thought he might like green more than yellow too.

I think they’re both pretty cute.  So now I have another toy that I can leave for someone to find and take home.

So all this really is just to say that I’ve been playing with string.  I’m remembering that I like it.

This weekend we’re going to the Midsummer Renaissance Faire.  I’m really looking forward to that too.  Maybe I’ll get to release my not-so-inner nerd.  At any rate, I’m excited.

Pizzacchini? Zucchizza?

 

Somehow stuffed zucchini just doesn’t sound all that exciting.

 

It’s that time of year, and if you’re looking for a way to get rid of   eat all the zucchini growing like weeds in your garden, here’s a favorite of ours.  It’s easy, fast and it’s good for you too!  (I stole the idea right off the back of the turkey package)

 

1 package Italian seasoned ground turkey, browned

1 jar, can, or home-made equivalent prepared spaghetti sauce

4-5 whole zucchinis

1 cup grated mozzarella or 6 cheese blend cheese (less or more to taste)

• Preheat oven to 350
• slice the zucchini’s in half lengthwise and scoop out the centers.  Arrange them on a large cooking sheet  – I dice up the scraped out parts and toss them in my sauce, but you could just discard them if you prefer.
• brown the ground turkey in a large skillet
• add prepared spaghetti sauce to the turkey and heat through
• fill the zucchini halves with mounds of the turkey sauce mixture
• top with cheese
• heat in the oven until the cheese is melted

The kids call this pizza zucchini, and all 3 of them will eat it with no complaints!  (We adults think they’re pretty good too!