January 21-22, 2012 Weekend, Wiggley Crochet Trivet, Hanging out with my Mom, Dolls, Doggie Sweaters, and Afghan, and Chili Rellenos

Wow what a weekend, I don’t even realize that I do so much in one day until I actually start writing it down here. First of all I started off my weekend with dinner at home and a movie from Netflix called “The Secret Life of Bees”. Man I’m glad I didn’t see this one in the theater, because I cried out loud quite a few times. I’m such a cry baby and always have been and always will be I suppose. It was a good movie and I would recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen it.

Saturday morning I was able to finish up correcting Daisy’s dog sweater, and I remade Rocky’s on Thursday and Friday morning. After that I wove in all my ends on another wiggley crocheted trivet, and I sewed the buttons on the two pairs of Little Mister Loafers that I showed you on Friday. It really made me feel good to finish up a few things.

Then I was off and running to have breakfast with my beautiful Mom at one her favorite little family restaurants called Emilia’s. After we left Emilia’s we went to Aldi’s, then stopped by Hancock Fabrics to pick up a marking pen so that my Mom could finish hand quilting the second quilt that she’s quilting for me. I can’t wait to show them to you and tell you what I’m going to do to them when I get them back. Hint: a little crochet never hurt anything.  😉

Anyway while we were at Hancock’s I couldn’t help but look at the yarn and I found this beautiful yarn by Bernat called Mosaic and the color is Ambrosia. This yarn reminds me of Noro except this kind is 100% acrylic and it was 30% off, which makes me very happy. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with it but I think it will be very pretty crocheted up.

After we left Hancock’s we headed to the place that we have been waiting to see for over 2 weeks. First of all let me tell you that my Mom and I like some of the same things and one of them is dolls. Mom had read an article in our local newspaper about a new store that opened west of the Delano district on Douglas and the woman who owns the store loves dolls too. She loves them so much she decided to open a store where people can buy collectible dolls and dolls that can be played with.

So that’s where we ended up on Saturday morning after running all of our other errands. My Mom had spoke with the owner whose name is Connie and her shops name is C. Marie’s Collectibles located at 2514 W. Douglas Ave., in Wichita, Kansas. When my Mom talked with Connie she mentioned to her that she would like to sell some of her dolls that she has collected and repaired over the years. Connie was very interested in helping my Mom and has decided that she will be my Mom’s broker. We all agreed that Connie would come and take pictures of Mom’s dolls and post them on a bulletin board in her shop and if anyone was interested my Mom will take the dolls to the shop at that time.

Connie is a doll herself to be so helpful and understanding about my Mom’s needs.

As my Mom and I browsed the shop and looked into the dolls faces we could see some similarity in their expressions as they seemed to look a lot like many of my great nieces and nephews.

I couldn’t help but mention to Connie that I crocheted and I made little shoes that would look really cute on her dolls.

Connie mentioned that she had had several requests for accessories for dolls and would love to see some of my crochet pieces. So when I arrived back home I grabbed up my basket of shoes and basket of sweaters and headed back to C. Marie’s to show Connie the items. Long story; short, C. Marie’s is now carrying Crochet by Tamara’s shoes and sweaters on consignment. We have agreed that Connie will keep them in her shop and see if there’s any interest; so please if you are in Wichita or are planning on visiting any time soon check out C. Marie’s collectibles and tell Connie that I sent you.  🙂

After I returned home I had time to take a little nap and then I made a cute little sock monkey cup cozy.

Then it was time to deliver Rocky and Daisy’s sweaters to them; Ta-Dah I’m so glad to announce that the sweaters worked out this time and oh my gosh both of them seemed to love them.

Sunday was nice and quiet, I cooked a little and worked on my afghan that I have had put away for a couple of months. I really like this pattern; it seems to work up fairly quickly but just like most afghans once you learn the stitch pattern it goes pretty smoothly. That’s what I like about making this afghan; I don’t have to think very much. 😉

Now let’s talk about Chili Rellenos. I used to watch them being made by a Mexican chef that I learned a lot from on how to prepare Mexican dishes. Although John always tells everyone that I learned it from him. LOL I would like to fill some of you in on the process of making them. First of all you have to roast the peppers to get that hard layer of skin off of the outside of the pepper so that the batter will stick to it.

After taking the peppers out of the oven you can place them in a brown paper bag to finish steaming the skins off.

After the peppers have cooled you take them out of the paper bag and start peeling the hard layer away from the flesh of the pepper; this part looks easier than it is and most of the time the hard layer doesn’t come off without peeling some of the flesh of the pepper along with it.

Then you pull the seeds and vein out and stuff a stick of cheese inside and roll the pepper around the cheese as best as you can.

Then you dredge the pepper in flour and then dunk it in egg mixture, then dredge it back in the flour before

gently placing the floured pepper into a hot skillet with a small amount of olive oil. Fry one side until golden brown and then very gently turn it onto the other side and brown it as well. Even though Chili Rellenos are time consuming; John and I really think they are very tasty. Does anyone else like Chili Rellenos? So what’s frying in your skillet and/or flying off your hooks this last weekend?