Whoopie Pies

In between visiting with the chicks in their coop, reading, and snuggling with sweet Winslow Homer on my much-too-short visit with my Aunt Julie (of Dog Trot Farm), one morning we talked of whoopie pies.

One morning of whoopie pie talking turned into an afternoon of baking!

A whoopie pie is a bit like a cake sandwich. They are considered a New England phenomenon and also a Pennsylvania Amish tradition -- Amish legend says that when children or workmen would find these treats in their lunch boxes they would shout "Whoopie!" According to Wikipedia, anyway.

There are many varieties of these mouth-watering pies, but my favorite is the traditional chocolate!

Pie recipe from FINEST KIND: a collection of favorite island recipes

2 C. flour 1 C. granulated sugar
1 tsp. baking soda 3/4 C. milk
1 tsp. salt 1/2 C. oil
1/2 C. cocoa 1 tsp. vanilla extract (but I use a little extra)
1 egg

Combine ingredients and drop on greased sheet (I use a sheet of parchment paper instead). Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.

Whoopie Pie Filling (from the Whoopie pie lady featured on the WCSH6 207 show):

6 T. fluff
4 T. vanilla
4 T. flour
4 T. milk
4 C. confectioners sugar
1.5 C. Crisco

Add all ingredients in bowl and beat until smooth. Then place a scoop of filling between two of the pies and ENJOY!!

Hey, who snuck a bite of pie?!

Oh, right. It was me!

I also made a loaf of banana bread, but we'll save that recipe for another day!

Cat Toys

Originally, I made 3 of the little mice, but the little white one has been stolen by Moose. He went running with it last night and I haven't found where he stashed it!

These were really just a fun little experiment that I did. The triangle is just a square that I knit with a checkerboard pattern that I sewed up with some catnip in it. The mice were done on dpn and were actually easy to make up a design for.

Homer T

I'm Still Here

Friend, please don't mourn for me

I'm still here, though you don't see.

I'm right by your side each night and day

and within your heart I long to stay.

My body is gone but I'm always near.

I'm everything you feel, see or hear.

My spirit is free, but I'll never depart

as long as you keep me alive in your heart.

I'll never wander out of your sight-

I'm the brightest star on a summer night.

I'll never be beyond your reach-

I'm the warm moist sand when you're at the beach.

I'm the colorful leaves when fall comes around

and the pure white snow that blankets the ground.

I'm the beautiful flowers of which you're so fond,

The clear cool water in a quiet pond.

I'm the first bright blossom you'll see in the spring,

The first warm raindrop that April will bring.

I'm the first ray of light when the sun starts to shine,

and you'll see that the face in the moon is mine.

When you start thinking there's no one to love you,

you can talk to me through the Lord above you.

I'll whisper my answer through the leaves on the trees,

and you'll feel my presence in the soft summer breeze.

I'm the hot salty tears that flow when you weep

and the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep.

I'm the smile you see on a baby's face.

Just look for me, friend, I'm everyplace!

Author Unknown.....

Easter Peeps

"Easter Peeps"

made with Adriafil Carezza yarn.

You can't eat him, or watch him puff up in the microwave, but he's pretty darned cute!

He looks a little like a stroke victim.. all lopsided, but for my first time using double pointed needles I think I did alright.

I'm working on doing a handful of these before Easter to give to family & friends. I don't have much time, now do I!?
The pattern for this cutie can be found here.

Moose

He's so handsome in this picture - had to share!

Companions

I figured I'd do something a little different with my blog tonight. Instead of posting pictures of my projects, I'll post a few pictures that I took of my beloved companions.

IMOGEN

This is Imogen. I got her in 2005. She was about 8 months old when I got her. She was living with my friend Jess, who at the time wasn't my friend but was my partner for a project in one of my classes. She came into class and was asking if anyone wanted a cat.. And if you ever met me you'd understand that I can't NOT take in an animal.. Imogen is spunky, wild, and playful.

IRIS

This is Iris. John and I adopted her from a shelter when she was 3. She is a Manx, which basically means she was born without a tail. Manx are "the sports cars of the cat world" but we think she's a little silly looking. Iris is our sweet girl. She's very affectionate and loves to be in your lap or by your side.

MOOSE

Annnd. This is our baby, Moose. He is almost 10 months old. We also adopted him from a shelter when he was a few months old. Moose is a Maine Coon cat and he is HUGE. He is very playful, underfoot, and full of love.

Cayden

"Cayden"

made for an old roommate's new baby boy

two baby bibs, minus the buttons (apologies for the dark picture. I did lighten it, but the forest green one isn't very visible).

This was a super easy knit & purl pattern that knit up really easily. The pattern can be found here.

I'm currently working on the 2009 afghan which is also really easy but I'm doing 2-3 of each months square. I look forward to posting the end result in December '09!

"Nori"

Sushi Scarf.

I wanted to knit a scarf that rolled up and looked like a piece of sushi. I could only find patterns for a crochet scarf. This was really easy to make. If I did it again, though, I would have added some red or yellow or used a different green where the 'cucumber' pieces are.

Almost good enough to eat!

"Elsa"

So, I'm currently working on another project that is taking me forever. This weekend I had had enough and wanted something faster that I could get done in no time, sooo.. I cast on with my Encore Mega and my size 15 needles and whipped this up over the course of two days.

Just a basic K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1, K1, P1 pattern.

I used almost 2 skeins of this stuff. It is super soft and snuggly.

I wore it while I walked to work yesterday and it kept me warm!

"Hanna"

This post is for my Aunt Julie who has been bullying me to update my blog with some more finished work! I started right before Christmas and made two of these scarves. One in a solid brown and one variegated.

I used 2 skeins of Plymouth Yarn Boku for the colorful one and 2 skeins of Brown Sheep Prairie Silks in Burnished Copper for the solid brown. The brown was given to my grandmother as a Christmas gift, and she loved it.

The pattern for this wonderful scarf can be found here. Thanks Hockey Mom.

FYI - both scarves curl up into themselves so they look more like a tube. I haven't tried blocking either one of them yet, but it might be worth a try.