Wyoming Breezes

Sunday’s supper Bierock/Runza/Kraut Burger January 2022 A week ago, a woman on the Next Door app was taking orders for Bierocks: the Moose Lodge was having a fund-raiser. Some people on the app didn’t know what the group was selling, but Bierocks (aka runzas or kraut burgers or cabbage rolls) were a popular meal that Ferne and Rosie prepared in the school cafeteria nearly 40 years ago. One of my coworkers even wore a loose dress when cabbage rolls were on the lunch menu so she could enjoy seconds. My friend Sue occasionally made a batch of cabbage rolls and shared some with me. Thanks, Sue I ordered a dozen (they freeze well) from the Moose and picked them up yesterday afternoon. The building smelled amazing, and all I had to do was follow my nose!  It seems odd to have a German meal with a Mexican beer, but favorites tend to go together. 😉 Do you have a favorite dish that you rarely prepare? 

Fiesta socks January 2022 Sunday evening I grafted the toe on the second sock. This pair practically knit themselves, stripe by stripe.  Pattern : Plain Jane ribbed cuff socks Yarn :  Trekking XXL (color 723) Needles : US size 2  Stitches : 64

binding a Quilt of Valor January 2022 In the last two weeks four QOV have been returned from Longarm quilters - two from Texas and two from Colorado. I wanted to add labels and binding and wash the quilts before Sunday, so they would be completely dry before I packed them for shipping today.  By mid-morning, the package will be in the FedEx office and on its way to Idaho so the quilts can be awarded to veterans. Just think of how many people (other than quilters) have a role in making a QOV presentation possible. 

panel for project bag #6 January/February  2022 Since I finished project bag #3 ( Stars Abound ), I pulled the project bag for February out of the UFO queue.  I received this large panel (34 x 43 inches) from Sue and Bert O. last April . The pattern in the project bag uses a panel that is a similar size, so I’ll only need to make minimal adjustments. 

Stars Abound 63 x 75 inches Quilt of Valor #214 January 2022 Nearly every fabric used in this quilt has stars, so the quilt basically named itself.  Pattern: Hedgehog on the Run by Judy Hansen (free from pbs fabrics) 

Pat C. and Kathleen B. add the final pieces to the puzzle January 2022 I invited some friends over on Saturday afternoon to assemble a puzzle, and the three of us visited and worked on the difficult puzzle all afternoon.  Pat and Kathleen also play Mexican Train Dominoes at my apartment and at the Eppson Center. In the three and a half years I’ve lived in Laramie, I’ve been fortunate to find individuals who enjoy many of the same activities that I do and to build friendships with them. 

January 2022 During the first months of the pandemic, I craved color and ordered the most colorful sock yarn that I could find online. This skein of Trekking XXL was one of the skeins I added to my stash. I didn’t know if the colors would pool or stripe, but I’m happy the brightly colored yarn is striping in such a fun sequence. 

sneak peek at QOV #214 January 2022 Project bag #3 (selected for January) contained four, printed flag blocks that I framed to bring them to 12 inches when finished. The pattern I chose ( Hedgehog on the Run by Judy Hansen) to highlight the flags uses big pieces and might be finished by the end of the week unless life gets in the way. 

quilting kits  January 2022 It’s probably obvious to regular readers that my sewing/quilting has been nonexistent since early November. I had six QOV finished but waited until after the holidays to request a volunteer longarmer. I didn’t want to have a larger stockpile of quilts, so I picked up my knitting needles instead. As of last week, two of the six QOV are in Texas (thank you, Linda S.) being quilting, and two more are in the request queue. I feel more comfortable starting some new projects.  I pulled all the panels I have (thanks, Sue O.) and paired them with patterns/ideas and tucked them into project bags. I pulled scraps and orphans that have been around too long and found patterns. They also went into project bags. I numbered the bags 1 - 12, rolled the die, and assigned them a month.  January’s project will use four printed blocks (thank you, Connie H.). I have the fabric pulled for the pattern, so it’s ready to cut.  If I finish a project quickly, I’m gi...

nine spools and one cone used in 2021 Just by looking at the number of spools I emptied in 2021, it’s obvious I didn’t do as much sewing as previous years, but I was certainly not a slacker: these empty spools/cones allowed me to make nineteen Quilts of Valor and three community quilts for Prayers and Squares.              2020 spools               2019 spools                2018 spools              2017 spools I haven’t turned on my sewing machine since early November, so it’s time to get in the sewing room and get busy. 

Happy Stripes December 2021 This fraternal pair was finished Friday afternoon, and it is the last knit project of 2021.  I really enjoyed knitting these socks. The stripes and colors make me happy: they remind me of rugby shirts. 

chicken noodle and minestrone soup January 2022 New Year’s Day was pretty laid back — fresh snow on the ground, video fireplace crackling, knitting in progress, and soup simmering on the stovetop.  I like to have frozen meals in the freezer this time of year, and my freezer compartment of late hasn’t had too many options available. I prepped two varieties of soup and had them simmering at the same time. Homemade soup is healthy, filling, economical, and tasty. As you can see, I already sampled the chicken noodle. 😉 Did you “chill out” on New Year’s Day? 

an afternoon of multi-tasking December 2021 Bonnie called Monday and asked if I would be available to be a substitute receptionist yesterday. I told her my schedule was open. Since the center has cut back on activities due to COVID, it was a quiet afternoon. I answered the phone, took messages, and transferred calls. There was a LOT of time for knitting.  I finished the cuff, the heel flap, the heel turn, and the gusset during my shift. The prospect of having this pair finished by the end of the year looks promising. 

puzzle progress December 2021 This is the second puzzle I’ve worked on since mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve day. It’s been snowing on and off since then — perfect puzzle weather. Marilyn gave me this puzzle (and several others) this summer.  puzzle completed in two days This one is a collage of vintage ice cream treats, many of which I’ve never seen or even tried, but a few favorites, too.  I’ve never heard of these ice cream cake rolls  Creamsicles are by far my favorite ice cream treats. What’s your favorite? 

December 2021 Since the color runs are long on this yarn, the socks will not match, which doesn’t bother me. I do like how the yarn feels: it has body and is sturdy without being stiff. It’s 75% superwash wool and 25% nylon.  The socks have been on the needles since the beginning of December , but hopefully, I’ll be able to finish the pair before the year ends.

near Parker, CO December 2021   My niece sees the funniest things on her morning walks around her neighborhood. Last year it was a  HUGE reindeer  reindeer, but the photo she took last week made me laugh out loud!