Year of the Rooster

I was out for a little Vegas day with Tanya....we ran over to the Bellagio, if we run in and take our photos with in 1 hour, we don't have to pay for parking, because Vegas now charges for parking almost everywhere, UGH!
They have the place decked out in The Year of The Rooster:

The Rooster ranks tenth out of the 12 animals in the 12-year Chinese zodiac cycle. 2017 is a year of the Rooster.

Years of the Rooster include 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, and 2029.

If you were born in one of those years you are a rooster! My husband is a rooster and this fits him to a T!

The Rooster's Personality: Observant, Hardworking...

People born in a year of the Rooster are very observant. Hardworking, resourceful, courageous, and talented, Roosters are very confident in themselves.

Active, Amusing, and Popular Among a Crowd

Roosters are always active, amusing, and popular within a crowd. Roosters are talkative, outspoken, frank, open, honest, and loyal individuals. They like to be the center of attention and always appear attractive and beautiful.

Roosters are happiest when they are surrounded by others, whether at a party or just a social gathering. They enjoy the spotlight and will exhibit their charm on any occasion.

Roosters expect others to listen to them while they speak, and can become agitated if they don't. Vain and boastful, Roosters like to brag about themselves and their accomplishments.

Their behavior of continually seeking the unwavering attention of others annoys people around them at times.

It was a beautiful display!

Rainy Days and Mondays.....

It rained all weekend here, it was a nice change from sunshine and blue skies, hmmm, that was two song references I have made so far....

Finally started to clear and I made it to the grocery store Sunday afternoon:

Clouds on my mountain!

I finished my Felix the Fox scarf, I wore him to the store and got 3 people to say how much they loved him! One lady said I should make them and sell them....but crochet and knit items are too labor intensive and you can never get your money's worth....he took about 30 hours to make, all combined....and the cost of yarn. I named him Felix which means Happy and Prosperous, so who knows maybe I can sell them?? Haha! NO....

FELIX!

Hope you are keeping busy and enjoying the winter, summer will be here soon!

This post brought to you by the letter F

Fun, Fox and Fajitas!

As you know I am crocheting my little fingers off, it is so much fun!

I found this fabulous fox scarf pattern on Ravelry.com for 2.49 cents....I just had to make it!
When I showed my sister what I was going to make she said she really wanted one, her birthday is today and I just finished it, so I will be dropping it in the mail for her...Happy Birthday Christy!!

Oh the cuteness is overwhelming!!! I hope she enjoys him, he was so fun to make...I must get started on mine now!!

Here is a great recipe for you, Steak Fajitas! They were so good!

Here's the recipe:

Get some Flank steak, you can marinate it overnight or just an hour or two, the marinade is:
2 cloves garlic minced
juice of 2 limes
1/4 cup water
2 tablsp olive oil
1 tablsp soy sauce
1 tablsp worchestshire sauce
some cayenne and some salt and pepper (you decide how much, I did a couple shakes)
Put steak in a baggie and add ingredients, mix up and chill.

Next slice up 1 white onion, and 1 each of 3 colors of bell pepper, orange, red and green. You will need them cut into strips, fajita style. Put 2 tablsp olive oil in a hot cast iron skillet and add the onion and peppers, season with some salt and pepper, cook over medium heat until soft and carmelized, or to your liking. When done, transfer to a dish and keep warm, now get your skillet smoking hot and drop in the flank steak (discard the marinade). Cook steak a few minutes each side until desired doneness, remove and let sit for 10 minutes, then slice the meat into strips. Now you can add the meat and veggies back into the pan and reheat and mix all together, Serve on flour tortillas, with cilantro, cheese, avocado,  sour cream, lettuce, and salsa! MUY BIEN!!

Hope you have and fun fantastic fajita and fox filled day....

Brought to you by the letter F

How about a bowl of soup?

My hubby loves Broccoli cheese soup, so when a recipe for broccoli cheese soup came across pinterest, I decided to try it out. But then I read all kinds of recipes and kinda just threw the basics together and came up with this version....

Of course my stupid albertsons did not have bread bowls, UGH, I hate that store but it is at the corner of my block and I am fighting with getting over my cold and did not want to drive across town to another store.

So I grabbed the ingredients and a loaf of french bread and whipped up a pot of soup, OH MY, it was soooooo good! And I served it with hot french bread which made it even more scrumptious!

Give it a whirl on a winters night, you won't be disappointed!

Broccoli Cheese Soup:

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1/2 medium chopped onion
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups milk
• 4 cups chicken stock or 1 32oz box
• 3 cups fresh broccoli diced
• 1 cup carrot, diced
• 2 stalks celery diced
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
• 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper
• crusty bread

Directions:

1. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute onion in hot butter until translucent, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
2. Whisk 1/4 cup melted butter and flour together in a large saucepan over medium-low heat; cook until flour loses it's granular texture, adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of milk if necessary to keep the flour from burning, 3 to 4 minutes.
3. Gradually pour milk into flour mixture while whisking constantly. Stir chicken stock into milk mixture.  Add broccoli, carrots, sauteed onion, and celery; and spices, simmer until vegetables are tender, I simmered for about 45 minutes, 
4. Stir in cheddar cheese until cheese melts. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Serve in sourdough bread bowls, if you can find them at your store, top with some cheese and scallions. Or serve with french bread and butter!
6. So warm and cozy and yummy!

AND I made another hat while I waited for my soup to cook! Well, it actually takes a couple days to finish a hat but I worked on it while the soup cooked!

It was made with Red Heart Waves Yarn, I loved the colors so I grabbed the yarn and made the slouchy beanie from the Red Heart website, it was easy and the wavy yarn makes the brim look all wavy and cool....Such a cute hat and soft and comfy too!!

ENJOY!!!

On a roll!

Our mountains got covered from the last storm!

I made another scarf, I learned to add a decorative edge!

Hope you are keeping the winter blues away but staying busy!

My second set!

I am really starting to crochet well...my tension is great, I am not losing stitches.....
I followed along with Jayda for another set, hat and scarf. I used a black and green two tone yarn for the hat and the same yarn mixed with black for the scarf, because you use two yarns as one while making the scarf.....and I learned that my measure for my hat has to be 18 inches, my pink and gray is too big but I love it anyway...this one done in 18 inches fits much better! I just love them!!!!

If you would like to make your own, see Jayda's videos in my last posts, or search for her on you tube at jaydainstitches . Have fun and make something awesome today!

The Hat!

I made the matching hat to go with my scarf!! I just love it! It is so warm and cozy to wear right now while it is cold and rainy!
I followed Jaydainstitches youtube video..it was so fast and easy!! I also made a cute pom pom to go on top!!

You can make your own by watching Jayda!