Cooking Projects and Knitting Projects

Today I didn't work. We're working odd hours this week, the next phase of our "project' starts next week, and with it I will be working longer hours. So with my time today I made Cheddar Corn Chowder (enough for 3 meals), and 4 meals worth of meatloaf. I was remembering making meatloaf and meatballs with my Pop. One time really stands out. My Dad used to make big batches of certain foods (spaghetti sauce, chili, meatballs). And it was a good thing because the food used to taste sooo good we'd gobble it up (I burned myself a couple of times sneaking a taste while something was simmering on the stove). Except every now and then he'd get adventurous and do something like adding succotash (lima beans and corn) to the whole batch of chili...and then we had yucky chili for months. Anyway, this time I especially remember my Pop had me help him make meatballs and meatloaves. And he had so much meat and ingredients that there wasn't a bowl big enough for it all. So he cleaned out the sink really well, and used the sink as a giant mixing bowl. He had me go to town mixing up the meat mixture (which was always a crappy job because the meat is sooo cold it makes your hands hurt). There were tons of meatballs. Perfect seasonings, not too big, not too small. I never learned how to make meatballs as good as my Pop's meatballs. I tried a couple of times but they were always so disappointing I gave up. I guess I'll have to give it a go again, we ate the last of his meatballs last month.

Today I also went shopping for birthday presents for the children of our friends in Atlanta who we will be visiting soon, and I searched through job listings, went grocery shopping, went to Little Man's open house, and did some laundry. Hubby has been away since Monday morning so in the evenings after Little Man goes down for the night I have watched "chick" movies and worked on different projects. I finished the base of a hat I designed. I still have to make the appliques, but this hat is already special because it is the first hat I used Magic Loop to work the decreases.

I also managed to finish the Hemlock Ring throw that I was doing as my Charlotte Purls KAL project. I learned so many things while working on this project, and while I didn't plan on making it now, I'm glad I decided to jump in and knit it up along with my fellow Purls.

After finishing the Hemlock Ring yesterday, I cast on for this project, the Eyelet Dress by Debbie Bliss. It's another project on my quest to finish all the projects in her Baby Knits for Beginners book. The fine yarn and small needles will make this project take longer than most of the projects I have worked on recently, so I hope I have the patience to stick with it. I hope it will be worth it.

And of course I'm spending time with Little Man. We made pizza together, chased each other around the yard, played in his playhouse, and watched some movies. I know he is looking forward to his Daddy coming home tomorrow, but I think he had a good time with me over the last few days.