Knitting my Way Through British TV

Finished this series a few days ago.  It premiered back in 2016 and was a remake  of an earlier The Durrell's.  Took me some time to get into this series, but am glad I played through.  It takes place in Corfu and was re-titled for release in United States as The Durrells oin Corfu.    

The scenery alone is a reason to watch this.  A good deal of the series was in fact filmed there on the beautiful Greek Island.  I found it sometimes funny, sometimes sad, sometimes dysfunctional.  I wanted the Mother to knock some sense into her very self absorbed kids......but, I did not know while watching, this was in fact based on a series of books (My Family and Other Animals, Birds Beats & Relatives, and The Garden of the Gods by Gerald Durrell.  This series is based on a real family who did indeed live on the island for 4 years.  The island had no electricity.  They left the island due to troubles when the war broke out.  I learned a bit more about the real family, but won't spoil it by saying more.

Watch the series, or read the books and then watch.  Gerry, whom I did not like at all in the series, became a well known naturalist and zoologists.  So, I guess he eventually grew up...and maybe took a bath.

Yes, I've continued to knit on with Jeweled Lines and it is growing.  Finished the turquoise section, added the small gray section and have started the large Amethyst section.  We're at about 46 inches thus far.  The olive green section is next.  Hope to get to that point for the next blog post.  This afghan like 99% of those I make will be donated through my blog, Bridge and Beyond, which is dedicated to helping homeless.  I'm needing to start another project so I have something small enough to tote with me.  This is getting to large and heavy to carry around and work on anywhere but in my chair in the living room.

Progress on the foot went backward for about 2 wks, but I believe we're on the upswing again.

Continuing to work on finding lost classmates for my 50th class reunion.

And to leave you all with a bit of smile........a laugh for the day.  Spotted this the other day on Facebook and thought it too good to not share.

Oh Deer, Where are my Classmates, we Have Yarns to Share!

--I'm participating in Slow Stitch Sunday, please come join us.
Jeweled Lines is growing, but it seems to be at a slow point right now for me.  It's 43 ish inches.  I'm a bit over half way through the largest turquoise section and next up will be a small gray strip followed by the amethyst.  I've not been knitting quite as much as I've begun working hard at finding lost classmates.

My high school class reunion for 50 years (egads how did I get that old) is next year.  I'm the person that finds people and maintains the database.  It's a job.  With those who've passed on (surprising how many), those that have moved, women who divorced and therefore have a different name etc.  Anyway, because of that, I've been on the computer more and therefore knitting less.

This is a most unusual view from our windows this am.  Seriously you can see we do not live in the country or a wooded area.  We are in a very developed, long standing neighborhood.  These two Deer (one has a reasonable size rack, and the other has one starting), spend a good amount of time cruising around in our yard, (non fenced), then hopped the fence behind us where the blue house is, then came back and jumped the chain length fence to our neighbor to the right of us.  In front of blue house is a major road...one of the most major in our community that connects 2 neighborhoods and 2 freeways.  They need to get across that road to get to safety.  About 1/4 of a mile on the other side of said road and to the right is a golf course......perhaps that's where they came from?  Down the busy road or any of our roads on this side takes them to the river in about a mile.......but then have to cross a 4 lane extremely highway to get to the river. 

Last week I shared a cross stitch I made years ago (scroll back to previous post), so today I thought I'd share one of the quilts I made a good number of years ago.  I do do other stitching besides knitting and crocheting.......just not as much.  I have some lovely blog ladies visiting who do really intricate cross stitch and or make very involved quilts...with real quilting patterns.  I'm a dabbler.  But, this quilt was fun as it's made from flannel nightgowns.  In my younger years we had a group of friends who skiied every year and we  woman would have "team" nightgowns for lounging around at the end of the day.  Nothing warmer or more comfy than a flannel nightgown after skiing in the cold all day.  So, this quilt was made for a very good friend from those nightgowns with cross stitched squares that have memories from our various trips.  I had planned to make one for the other lady in the group and myself........somehow, that never happened.

Happy Anniversary, Walking by Public Art, Jeweled Lines Afghan

Tomorrow this lady celebrates 46 years of marriage to this guy. (so young back in the day)

Pictures fade over time, and maybe we do too, lol.  My mother made my Wedding Dress, it's dotted swiss, and hubby wore a suit he'd just gotten back from the cleaners.  We got married outside in The Park of Roses.  We'll celebrate tonight by having a nice meal here at the house of steak, potatoes, and wine after cocktail hour with our favorite Martini's and Shrimp Cocktail.

Jeweled Lines continues to grown.  It's over the half way point now and measures about 34 inches.  I'm about half way through the dark green and next will be fun bright turquoise section.  Had an oophs and had to unknit about 13 rows, as I ran out of the dark green.That was a smaller skein than expected.  It's a skein I've had for eons, so no way was I going to be able to match it 100%.  Found something as close as possible at the store and since it's not right next to the other green section...it will get the job done.
**This is week 2 for me participating in Slow Sunday Stitching.  Had hope to find some pictures of some of my cross stitch projects (beyond the one in the last post), but haven't had time to look through old photo albums for pictures to share with some of you ladies who do cross stitch.  I do have a few quilt photo's I know I can share as time goes on.

A few days ago this was a scene on my virtual walk through Seattle on Walking4Fun.  I loved it and thought it worth share.  Some public art is just fun.  This 17 foot Popsicle has been there since 2011, designed by Catherine Mayer.  I think walking or riding past this would simply make you smile.

So, the headway with the foot and walking has come to a bit of a halt.  Was doing fine, in fact think PT was about to release me, when I started with some new pain.  Cuboid Bone is the problem according to my therapist.  Quite sore, swollen and a bit bruised, making walking difficult again.  I can and do walk, but not a good gate like I was.  She's hoping the manual manipulation to put it back where it belongs will do the trick.  She says sometimes The Cuboid Bone Falls down......No dancing tonight for me as hubby and I celebrate our 46th.

Still Knitting, Watching Cranford, Memories, and Laughing

Ok, so I wasn't all that hooked on this series, seemed slow and finally with about 1.5 episodes left in the first season things start happening.  Characters develop and then ...just as I'm getting into it.....Season 1 is done.  Season  is Called Return to Cranford, but it's not available on Amazon Prime unless you have a subscription to BritBox.  Good grief, I knew about Hulu, Starz, Master Piece Theater, and Acorn; but I didn't know about BritBox.  You could go broke if you subbed to everything.  But, you do get a 7 day free trial.  So, I signed up today so I can watch season 2 of Return to Cranford.

Only watched a few minutes so far, but LOVE this.  If this is historical accurate how much better is it for the baby to see you, Mommie, or Grandma or whomever is pushing the stroller vs looking away at strangers or unknown things that might be frightening?  This looks like a much better design to me.  Then the pusher of the stroller and the baby can intereact.

I have been knitting, but there's not enough of a different on Jeweled Lines to show up.  New picture next time.  Had to do some unknitting......about 12-13 rows worth......bummer.  But, thought you all might enjoy this funny about yarn.  You could certainly substitute fabric for my quilter friends, or DMC for my cross Stitch folks.

Speaking of Cross Stitch.  I made this over 30 years ago for my Grandmother.  It's stamped, not counted.  I LOVE the saying.  She had a beautiful rose garden that never had weeds in it...or at least as a child it seemed that way to me.  She loved her roses, so long ago...actually the more I think about it, bet it was closer to 45 ish years ago I made this for her.  It's been hanging in my house since she passed.  Always makes me think of her.

Most of my cross-stitch projects were before digital cameras so I don't really have pictures to share, unless there are some in photo albums.....hum, might have to look.

The Afghan is Growing, so are The Wisteria

As you can see, Jeweled Lines continues to grow.  It now measures 33 x 58.  I'm over the half way point.  Somewhere in the middle of the widest amethyst section is the half way point.  So that section is completed and next wee green section is done and I'm about half way through the goldish section.  Then it will be back to the dark green, turquoise etc, making my back down in reverse order.

I've actually been knitting less, because I've become a bit more mobile.  Ever so slight.  I've actually started walking a wee little bit outside on days when I'm not in physical therapy.  I managed 6 blocks today.  Whew, hate to admit it; but am really feeling it.  Then did my exercises.  So, if you're following my Walking 4 Fun badge in the right sidebar you'll see I'm making progress..........slowly.  Currently walking a virtual trail in Seattle that has been fascinating.  Once finished with that trail (just a couple of hundred miles) I will head back to the very long Pacific Crest Trail where I've walked it seems forever.  Off and on, because everytime there's a more interesting trail I change, lol.

**Joining Kathy for Slow Sunday Stitching**

I really like Judi Dench, but am so far luke warm on this series.  I'm watching it.  But, unlike many on my previous list, I do not think about it when not watching it.  It seems very slow so far.  I'll play through awhile, because I don't have a whole of other choices right now on my to watch list....I'm not sure I would recommend it, but on the other I don't dislike it and plan to continue.  Just not with lots of enthusiasm I guess.

I am clueless about art, other than I know when I look at something whether or not I like it.  I like this!  I like the feel of it, I like the colors.  It's titled, Our Wisteria.  I like that as well because my parents backyard was focused around their Wisteria.  A friend of mine who loves art, and knows art often posts things on his facebook page and that's where I spotted this.  The painter is German born, Jean Mannheim.  She was born in Germany in 1963 and died in California in 1945.  Doing a google search, I think I like most of her work.  Just thought I'd share this and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Google Rankings AND

I've not blogged yet about The Crown or

Call The Midwife OR

Land Girls.  

These were all series/shows I watched earlier.........before the broken leg.  Some on girls trips and some on a winter vacation to Hilton Head while hubby was playing golf.  I'll back track to these in a few days, as I'm continuing to knit Jeweled Lines as I elevate and ice my foot.

I wanted to post rankings from Google which I found interesting.  These rankings are simply where people on google give a thumbs up or down.  I would have preferred a middle ground on a few when I did my own rankings.  I've added the links to the blog posts where I chatted about these shows if you're interested in a bit more info...or why I liked or didn't.

Tulip Fever, which I didn't care for got a google ranking of 76%.  

Upstairs Downstairs I would probably rate about the same as google 87%

The Duchess was rated 88%, I would probably agree with that.

Larkrise to Candleford I would rate higher than google did at 93%.  I was sorry to see this series end.  I enjoyed it a lot.  I liked all the characters except The Thomas Character.  He really annoyed me.  I kept wanting to say shut up to him.  I was also disappointed Robert Timmons wasn't in the last season.  I wonder if it's because filming perhaps over lapped with Downton Abbey where his character was Mr. Bates?

Poldark I would also rate higher than google did at 93%  I LOVED this series and am most anxious for the 4th season to come to the states, possible fall of 2018.

Grantchester was also rated at 93% on google, I enjoyed it...but have rated it slightly lower.  It's entertaining, but I had a hard time with the premise of a Clergy being a solver of mysteries  and such a heavy drinker.

Doctor Thorne was rated 94%.  I watched one episode and didn't return to watch the remainder so ....would definately not agree with this ranking..........then again, maybe it got better and I would rank it better if I watched the whole thing?

Victoria was also rated 94% by google.  I would not rate this higher than Polark or Larkrise to Candleford.

Downton Abbey was also rated 94%, I would rate it higher than Victoria.  

**Land Girls was rated 94%, think I would probably agree with that, once I figure out my top down ratings.

Home Fires was rated at 95% by google.  I really really like Home Fires, hated the ended as it left you up in the air because additional episodes were planned and then it was cancelled.  Debating how closely I would rank Home Fires and Downton Abbey, and Larkrise to Candleford.

The Grand...was also rated 95%.  It was good, but again don't believe I would rank it as high as Home Fires or higher than Downton Abbey and or Larkrise to Candleford.

**Google rated both The Crown and Call The Midwife at 95%.  There are new episodes since I last watched Call The Midwife, I believe one more series so, will have to think about those ratings.

The Crimson Field was rated 96%  Debating here, yes higher than The Grand, and maybe tied with Home Fires?

Manor House was rated 96%...don't agree with that at all.  It's interesting, but definately not as good as The Crimson Field, or Home Fires or Down Abbey, or Poladark or Larkrise to Candleford.

• Poldark
• LarkRise to Candleford and Downton Abbey possibly tied
• Home Fires & The Crown & Call The Midwife
• Victoria & Crimson Field & Land Girls
• The Grand
• Grantchester
• Upstairs Downstairs
• The Duchess
• Manor House
• Tulip Fever

The only one I would not recommend is Tulip Fever.  Jury is out on Doctor Thorne since it didn't entice me to watch more than one episode.

Watching Lark Rise to Candleford, Knitting Jeweled Lines Afghan

Jeweled Lines is growing..added green, gold-ish, another small section of green and now back to amethyst.  The section of Amethyst I'm currently working on is the half way point.  This section will be larger than the other sections and then will do a repeat of what's been done so far.  Measures 27 inches at the moment.  10 Inches longer than the last photo.

A bit hard to see the newer sections in the first photo, as I stopped last night without being at the end of a row, so I couldn't lay it out very flat...thus the bunching.  Tried this sideways view and believe you can see the addition a bit better.  My debate as this point is whether to make the Amethyst section solid, or stop half way through and add another section of the turquoise and the amethyst.  Thoughts?  I was so worried about having enough yarn I added the dark green and gold-ish.  Eyeballing it now, I might have been ok with the amount of yarn I had...but you just don't know when you're winging it.

Lark Rise to Candleford.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this series.  I'm currently in season 4 and highly recommend it.  Robert Timmons (2nd from right Brendan coyle was one of my favorite characters Mr. Bates in Downton Abbey.  And Mini (Ruby Bentall 2nd from left was Verity Poldark in the Poldark Series).   In my next blog post, believe I'll give some thought to ranking these series I've been watching while not very mobile due to my broken foot.  I know this series will be very close to the top, if not the top.

If you watched Call The Midwives you probably recognize Nurse Phyllis (Linda Basset) lower left.  I am enjoying her more in this role as Queenie.

I have officially been given the go ahead to say good bye to this Ortho Boot!  I've been several days now without it.  I drove the other day for the first time in months.  The bone itself really won't be totally healed for about 4 more months.  I can do pretty well indoors, but am to stay away from walking in yards, and un-even terrain.  AND, if I know I'm going to be doing substantial amounts of walking I should put the boot on.  Will be continuing with PT for another month twice a week, as we work to build some strength and range of motion.  I haven't yet gone for a walk, might try around the block today if hubby has time to go with me.  It's a process, but am indeed making headway.  Thanks for all the good wishes.

Jewel Lines Knitting as I Search for More British TV Series.

Jeweled Lines continues to grow.  I've added a couple more sections since the last photo.  Looks like the tape flipped over, but believe at this stage it measured 17 or 19 inches.  I will soon be adding a new color.  A different shade of green I found that's the same weight and type of yarn.  When added that will make the 5th color.

I started this series feeling very optimistic and excited, as it's  created by Julian Fellowes, the same Julian Fellowes who created Downton Abbey.  I started it, watched I think one episode and have NOT returned to it.  Perhaps it gets better?  I dislike the commentary that takes place with someone telling you how good it is.  Maybe I just wasn't in the right frame of mood when I started it?  It got mixed reviews.  Maybe I'll return to it after watching some others I have on my watch list on Amazon Prime and Netflix.

Have you watched it, and if so did you enjoy it?

This is my electric frothier.   Hubby purchased this for me after fixing my coffee for a few days right after I initially broke my foot.  I've been using a small hand held battery operated frothier, which he found annoying.  So, off to Bed, Bath and Beyond with a coupon he went.  This is really quite nice.  It heats and froths at the same time.  My hand held one only frothed.  So, initially I heated milk in the microwave and than frothed to put in my morning coffee.  It really does make the coffee special and is a lot cheaper than buying coffee out...at a coffee shop, which is something I never do.  Thank you hubby for upping my game.

Charmed Memories, Edwardian Life, Reality TV, Walking 4 Fun

Charm bracelets...This is mine from Junior and Senior High School.  Coloring is a bit off, and it it badly needs to be cleaned.  There's a phone (teenagers back then spent far less time on the phone then people do now with cell phones...but it was a big part of a teenagers life.  There is a green 4 leaf clover for good luck, a bowling ball and pin (I belonged to a very active Girls Bowling League through G.A.A.--Girls Athletic Association), the school pendant, a little Bible that actually opened though there wasn't anything inside it, an American Flag, a typewriter...(yes I know that gives away my age...a typewriter, not a computer --and in fact not even an electric typewriter cause that's not what we used in school, 2 vacation type charms (one from Cedar Point, Ohio and one from Ft. Launderdale, Florida-where I took my very first vacation with girl friends and no parents!  Lastly there is a Christmas charm, and a Pennsylvania Dutch Hex....aside from it being colorful, I don't know what it represented to me back then.  A group of us were reminiscing and everyone posted pictures of their charm bracelets.  Did you have one?  Do you know?  They're very different nowdays for sure.

**edited to add I forgot there's a key to my heart charm and the word No.  I have no idea what the No was for...no memory of that or it's significance.

I'm not a fan of "reality" tv shows at all, but this was totally different in my opinion.  People weren't voting each other off the island or any such nonsense.  This was a project.  The Series was called Manor House...  This first aired in The UK in 2002 under the name of The Edwardian Country House, when it was released here in the states the name was changed to Manor House and it aired in 2003.  It's one season.  The project lasted for 3 months.  People where chosen to live as they would have lived during that time in a Country Estate in Scotland.  Some were chosen to be servants, while one lucky family was chosen to be "The Aristocratic" Family.  They all make adjustments.  Some fit their roles more easily, others struggled.  Quite entertaining.  Some of the hard fast rules presented as truth in this series aren't quite in keeping with other period pieces I've watched, so perhaps some of the series had more research behind them, while others took more liberties with history.  Have you watched it?  Let me know what you thought.  I do recommend it if you're looking for something fairly educational and entertaining.

You may have noticed this addition to my blog.  This badge is located in the right sidebar and shows you my virtual location on a particular trail.  This site Walking4Fun is definitely worth your time.  You can link your Fitbit, or Garmin or other devices that track your steps daily, or you can manually plug in your distance once you register.  The site is free, registration is quick and easy.  There are wonderful photo's to enjoy along your virtual walk.  Just today I finished a short trail in Sydney that was loaded with history, so tomorrow my steps will count towards where I left off on The Pacific Crest Trail.  As you can see my badge, I am at mile marker 1,618.7 miles and have about 1,000 miles left to finish this trail.  Ryan is who you virtually walk with.  He is a real hiker and has been many places.  His photographs make you feel like you're right there.  He has a fun sense of humor also.  You can form a group and walk in your group, or walk solo ...there's also a diary, a daily log if you will where people who are walking virtually can post their thoughts.  

If you like stats, there are plenty of them on this site, your weekly, monthly, yearly totals and your grand totals.  Your best day, how many days you've walked and more.  Currently there are 21 trails to pick from, I've completed 16 of them.  It says I've walked 1,317 days and am 23.97% around the world.  LOL  It's going to take awhile.  It tells me my best day was Nov 16th back in 2016 where I walked 12.4 miles which was 29,823 steps.  It's been months of me getting around 4,000 steps a day with my broken foot....gonna be a long time........if ever I have one of those days again.

For the time being, I'm knitting, watching English Series on my ipad, and kemping around as my foot heals.  Continuing with physical therapy twice a week...left, right, and repeat.  

Welcome Blanket

Knit, Crochet, and Quilt/Sew and use your skills to voice to participate in art, to speak up, to become an activist with your yarn.

The project ask the question...........What if instead of building a wall to keep people out, 2,000 miles of yarn be used to make blankets to welcome people, just as our Statue of Liberty suggestions when she says, "Give me your Tired, your poor".  3,500,640 yards of Blankets is the call.

If you click on the picture, you'll be able to see the pamphlet better.  Or you can click HERE for the website.

I post this as a means to help spread the word about this project.  I stumbled across this the other day and was unsure how many people knew about it.  There's not a lot of time since the deadline is August 25th I believe to be included in the exhibit.  I've also seen a note in the RAVELRY Group that indicates the deadline to donate has been extended to November 4th, 2018

Knitting and Watching and trying to eat Light

Jeweled Lines has grown to about double the size from when you last saw it last with the addition of the green and now back to the amethyst.  Thanks for the input on the names between this blog and my charity blog, Bridge and Beyond.  I like the suggested name of Jeweled Lines, better than the flip of it, which is what I had initially.  I'm still not quite sure if this will be enough yarn with adding the green; but as yet.........still can't get to the basement to look further at my stash, so will play through and see what happens.  Though I did do some steps today for the first time at therapy...so might be able to soon.

Watched this show, Tulip Fever on Netflix recently.  I can't say I would recommend it.  It was dark...dark in the way it was filmed (somewhat on purpose I suppose 1634 in Amsterdam), but also a bit dark in it's storyline.  It wasn't at all believeable, though the write ups discussed how this was a long awaited film from Harvey Weinstein.  That in fact, it took 17 years to come to the screen.  First it was released in Germany from what I read in 2017.  The right up portrayed how this was a historic event and was expected to be much bigger than it was...........but, doing a bit more research I see The Smithsonian says the primary story about Tulip Fever is in fact NOT true.  If you watch it, I'll be interested in hearing if you liked it.  Not all reviews were bad.  This wasn't a series, it was a movie.  So, you can watch it without committing much to do so.

Have been trying to eat light (this was lunch) since my level of activity is soooo much less than normal with the broken foot.  Though this past week, I've not done as well as above.  

Knitting, Mother's Day Brunch and The Duchess

Here's the start of the next afghan.  Though this picture was taken a few days ago so it's grown since then and has one additional color, green.  I always name my afghans, but haven't thought of a name for this one yet.  This like 99% of all the afghans I made will be donated to Bridge and Beyond, my charity dedicated to helping the Homeless.  I think I'm sticking primarily with jewels colors so a name that would convey that is what I'm thinking about.  In the past I had one named Crown Jewels, and a 2nd named Jewels.  So, am thinking Striped Jewels, Jewel Palette, Lines of Jewels?  Lines being stripes?  Love some input, which of those 3 named do you like best.....and or do you have other thoughts?

Another Mother's Day picture.  This is the lovely brunch Dear Hubby fixed for me including Champagne.  Was nice enough (for a while) to sit outside and enjoy our brunch.

Still in my British TV kick while knitting and elevating my foot, or icing my foot.  The Duchess.  Quite an interesting tale of Georgiana Cavendish, The Countess of Devonshire and how backward women's lives were.  It's really good I didn't live in those times, despite loving the history....I fear I would not have done well.  The extremes between what was ok for a man and not at all for a women..wow!  Menaige a Trois.  Georgiana's husband's mistress lived with them a hugh part of their married life, took her meals with them.  I do recommend adding this one to your watch list.  Believe this was on Amazon Prime.

Mother's Day, Quick One Pan Meals, and The Crimson Field-WWI Field Hospital

The Crimson Field, the next series in my exploration of watching British TV.  LOVED this show.  It was an interesting glimpse into life in France (and England-Ireland) during World War I.  There was sadly only one season, as it was cancelled after that.  

It explored the importance of ladies who volunteered for service, and showed how difficult their lives were.  These 3 all had a story to tell and all joined the service for different reason.  They came from very different backgrounds.  At a time when it was scandalous for women to be in close company with me, nurses and volunteers had to learn how to bath wounded men...the difficulty of bridging their learned privacy rules from civilian life and that in service was huge.

Both men and women were drummed out, or executed for what was deemed to be unpatriotic service or cowardice.  Even though there is only one season, I do highly recommend it.  I was able to watch this series on Amazon Prime for no extra fee or membership.

This past weekend was Mother's Day.  My Darling Daughter sent lovely flowers on Friday so I was able to enjoy them for the whole of the wkend.  There were 3 bundles of flowers in the box, enough for me to make two large beautiful bouquets.  Thank you Darling Daughter.  This is a close up of one of the prettiest roses...look at the gradation of color on the outside of this rose as it begins to open.

I'm a huge fan of one pan, or one dish meals.  Makes prep and clean up so much easier.  That's even more important to me currently since I'm not super mobile with my broken foot.  In the beginning, I would do some prep, sit down...do a bit more, sit down again.  Was hard trying to move about the kitchen using a walker or crutches.  I would get things at the ready as much as possible (often it took a good while), so when hubby came home from work; he could actually do the cooking.  Generally, he put something in oven and with my chair-side direction........dinner would come together.  I am more mobile now with my ortho boot, but still trying to minimize how much I'm standing there in the kitchen.  It's just not that easy.  

Asparagus, potatoes, and chicken.  This required a minimum of work to prep.  The chicken breast's were cut in in medalions (smaller pieces cook quicker), plus the chicken breast were very large and thick.  They were dipped in an egg wash, and layered in the pan with thin lemon slices and topped with fresh basil.

Potatoes quartered, asparagus cut in half.  I put all in fridge, and when hubby called that he was on his way I sprinkled olive oil, dash, and Parmesan cheese on potatoes and asparagus and turned on the oven.  Cooked in pre-heated oven at 400-425 for about 20 minutes.  It cooked while hubby and I had our Martini's

Tasty, not time consuming with either prep or clean up.  The egg wash and lemon gave the chicken a nice flavor and helped keep it moist.  Was an experiment....one both hubby and I thought worth repeating.

I Spy, Out The Window, Yarn and Needles, and Other Sorted Affairs

Since I'm still not very mobile (broken foot if you've not been reading my blog previously), I've spent a fair amount of time looking out the window, watching spring happen in the neighborhood.  Took this photo out of my bedroom window.  Two little girls, one from next door and one from across the street like to set up in our yard.  It makes them feel more private I think.  LOL  Seriously, how cute is this!  It took them a while to get all set up and inside their umbrella fort.  Reminded me of when our daughter was young and we would travel.  She would put up a towel between the two front seats of the car...that way her space there in the back seat was private...she was in her reading fort.  She was an avid reader even when quite young and we traveled lots of miles out west to camp and she'd read a book a state basically...all in her private fort.

Having finished the previous afghan (Learning Logs..previous post), got something else on the needles.  Picture looks a bit mauve, but the color really is more purple-violet.  This is yet anothe afghan.  Not using a pattern, so guesstimated and cast on 202 stitches.

After all the color work in the previous afghan, and counting for texture, and the constant binding off and picking up stitches, wanted something truly mindless.  Doing basic stripes........probably all garter stitch to just let it flow.  Started this ghan a few days ago and have already added the above two colors to it.  Since it's all a guesstimate...I'm not yet sure if I'll need to add another color in order to have enough yarn.  I have the one gray as above, and 2 of turquoise and 5 of violet.  8 skeins of washable wool.  Violet skeins are 197 yards each, turquoise is 277 yards, and the gray is 277; for a total of 1816 yards.  That seems a bit shy of enough to me.  Thoughts???  When I can get to the basement to check my stash, I might have more yarn of the appropriate weight etc that could get added to the mix.  For now, I'll play through.  

Latest British Series is Upstairs Downstairs.  A bit more rambunctious than Downton Abbey, perhaps with some similarities of personalities.  A much shorter series, only 2 seasons.  Focused more on the torment before The War in England with regard to Hitler...and how divided The English Government was about doing something about it.

Quite an ending!  Fun to see Claire Foy (who played Queen Elizabeth in The Crown), be so very different in this roll.  Would have enjoyed the series more I think if Edmund Stoppard as Sir Hallam had been played by a different actor.  I've just never liked him, and don't find him at all attractive or sexy...so seeing him a roll where that's an issue was less enticing.  But, with that said.......the series was indeed enticing and I do recommend it.