Oops – tomorrow turned into a couple extra days there didn’t it?

Well, I promised you some more accessory suggestions didn’t I? First up is the Plucky Curacao Cowl from Thea Colman (a.k.a. Babycocktails). Using just two skeins of Plucky Merino SW Worsted…. well, let me let Thea explain:

“The cowl is knitted as a long ribbed piece and sewn into a simple smocked design at the end. The detailed design is a nice balance to the soft and chunky cabled edges of the cowl, and I love how it looks in the yarn, which is the perfect weight and softness for neck wrapping.”

One can never have too many cowls I say. They are endlessly versatile, make great gifts, are quick projects and a great way to use up a skein or two of special yarn.

I’m saving her other lovely pattern for another post. They’re both so special they each deserve their own post.

Photo courtesy Caro Sheridan

Photo courtesy Caro Sheridan

Photo courtesy Caro Sheridan

Shot In The Dark – Primo!

Also known as Farmer’s Market Wednesday!

My other favorite day? Any day that has a knitted FO to show, that’s what!

Wandering The Moor

And, I wanted to share a good recipe that was suggested after this post. Doesn’t this sound great?! Thanks LJo of MadieBandMe what a great suggestion!

Los Barrios by Diana Barrios Trevino

Chicken Chipotle
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 garlic cloves
1 tablespoon salt
8 oz package cream cheese..room temp
1 cup milk
2 canned chipotle chiles
salt and pepper to taste
1/8 teaspoon paprika

Place chicken breasts, onion, garlic cloves, and 1 tablespoon of salt in large pot and add water to cover. Bring to a boil and cook for 20 minutes. Drain well.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 325. Grease 9×13 baking dish. Combine the cream cheese, milk, chiles, and salt and pepper in a blender and blend well. Place the chicken in the prepared baking dish, Pour the sauce over the chicken and sprinke with the paprika. Bake for 20 minutes.

YUM!

Don’t even get me started on the cast-on-itis I’ve had (apparently I suffer this common knitting malady on a regular basis. It’s like clockwork).

After casting on for so many different projects that I now need to complete them (complete. frog. potato. potatoe.) so I can free up some knitting needles (sizes 5, 6, 7 and 8, I’m talking to you), I’m this close to being done with Wandering the Moor. (Lace and I. We have a bit of a complicated – not quite a love hate, but close – relationship). It’s a pretty quick knit, or would be if I didn’t keep messing up on row 15. Four times. We had to go our separate ways for a couple of days, the shawl and I. But, now, we’ve reached an tentative truce and things seem to be coming along swimmingly.

There has been lot’s of gardening, farmer’s market shopping and cooking going on as well. Mr. Plucky got it in his head that I needed to make him a brisket (BTW~ Smitten Kitchen, if you haven’t seen the SK website, you must. Now. Go ahead, I’ll wait), and, with all the gardening work he’s been doing it was my solemn duty to oblige. I find he works much better when tempted with food. Especially beef.

The brisket recipe calls for one (two if you can handle the heat) chilpotle pepper in adobo sauce. My question is, what to do with the rest of the can? Any recipes out there you can recommend? Should I freeze them? Seems such a shame to have to throw the rest of the can away.

Shelbie’s succulents

Fresh cut bouquet from the farmer’s market. Don’t you just love spring?

Days Gone By – MCN Fingering

You Send Me – MCN Fingering

Let’s kick of Summer with a yarny bang, shall we?!

The above skeins and a bucket of other goodies will be in a sneak-update this Friday, May 28th. It’s the official kick-off to Summer and I think we need to celebrate with a FREE SHIPPING sale as well as a slew of sale skeins (both fascination series and single sale skeins), some sweater quantities (ready to ship as well as pre-orders) and other fun items. The update will begin early Friday morning and go all day. Hope to see you there!

Also, don’t forget to enter your suggestion in the new base yarn naming contest we’re having? I’m keeping comments private until Monday, May 31 at which time I’ll be announcing the winner!

Because I just couldn’t wait until Eye Candy Friday!

Over the past several years or so Shelbie has been a regular source of eye candy for the blog…. after a little hiatus she’s back to sharing with us again. Yay! We both thought it was time to bring a little more eye candy back to the blog. Feel free to check out her Flickr Photostream.

Awww…. Sammy.

Doesn’t this just scream Summer?

There will be a bit of a sneak-up through the day tomorrow, Monday, May 3rd and Tuesday, May 4, featuring some sweater quantities, the return of MCN worsted and fingering, the debut of 50.50 Silk Merino Lite (230 yards per skein) and lots of other goodies.

Please note, the sneak-up on Monday (from mid-morning to later afternoon) and the Tuesday morning sneak (mid-morning until Noon) will be the only updates until approximately May 14th.

Bronze Barre – MCN Fingering

Gilded Ivy – MCN Worsted

Dizzy Delia – Merino Angora Cashmere

Inky – 50.50 Silk Merino Lite

Have you been to the Plucky Group on Ravelry? We’re having a sweater knit-along and let me tell you there is quite the dialogue going on. You should see all the fantastic sweaters people have in the works!

Thanks so much! Hope to see you there……..