Lake Ontario Socks

This week I've been a danger to myself and others.

First I did a load of DH's clothes. The clothes made it through the washer fine but apparently in the dryer a pen lurking in one of his pockets exploded and I killed a few of his dress shirts. It took me an hour to clean the ink from the inside of the dryer.

Then I washed a small decorative pillow with some blankets. It also exploded and I'm still picked fiberfill out of the clothes in the washer.

Here is my third laundry fatality.




These were the Lake Ontario Socks before they accidentally jumped into the dryer. I received the kit in a sock of the month kit and the lovely design is by Joanne Conklin.

But for every pair of socks that dies, another pair is born.




Here's another pair of Fireside socks (from the Spin-Off sock book) using two worsted yarns and one sock yarn simultaneously. Fortunately the colors look better than they do in the photo. (Unfortunately DH does indeed wear socks with sandals on a regular basis.) I didn't make these long enough for his tastes and I will make him another longer pair ASAP.

Chimayo

We drove up to Taos this weekend for the Wool Festival. I bought three skeins of Cormo yarn to make socks for DH but didn't spend much time there. I've showed zillions of pictures of the festival in the past so this year I thought you might like to see some different pictures of northern NM.

The high road to Taos from Santa Fe is absolutely gorgeous and a must if you visit. There are many weavers along the way but I didn't get to stop as we were running late. We did manage to see the star attraction of the route, El Santuario de Chimayo, also called "The Lourdes of America."

In 1810 a Penitente was performing his penances and saw a light coming from a hill. He went over and started digging and found the cross of Our Lord of Esquipulas. Reports of miraculous healings took place there and between 1814 and 1816 the Santuario was built featuring the cross Don Bernardo Abeyta found. There's a sandpit in the sacristy with healing dirt and many crutches and canes that were left behind. Every year at Lent many pilgrims walk to the Santuario (some from very far away) and the grounds outside are full of rock crosses, shrines, and handmade twig crosses everywhere.







The Santuario is quite small and primitive inside but well loved. There are a few grave sites in the front courtyard for previous caretakers of the little church over the last 200 years.

Lighthouse, knitting, & apple bread...

The weather has been so beautiful here for this time of year that I have been trying to enjoy it as much as possible, hence my real lack of posts lately. Today I've been hanging out laundry for probably one of the last times, picking pears, painting window boxes & our sign post as well as priming a door, and cleaning out some more flower beds.

Yesterday after church, Mike & I headed to 'Christmas at the Lighthouse'. The view from the top was beautiful! The lighthouse was somewhat decorated for Christmas, and after seeing that we took a walk around the surrounding park...

Another project finished...finally....

I used this Christmas pin to close it at the neck. I think it may have belonged to my grandmother, isn't it cute?

And, I did get my apple bread made on Friday. Two loaves were given away and the third didn't last long enough for pictures, but here is the recipe in case you're interested ~ I use my Kitchen Aid mixer, so if you're making it by hand you will have to modify the kneading instructions somewhat...

Apple Bread

• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 c. butter, softened
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 2 pkg. active dry yeast
• 1/2 c. warm water (105 - 115 degrees F)
• 7 - 8 cups all-purpose flour
• 4 eggs
• 2 medium apples, cored, peeled & chopped
• Cinnamon SugarFilling

Combine milk, butter, & sugar in small saucepan. Heat over low heat until butter melts & sugar dissolves. Cool to lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in warm water in mixer bowl; add lukewarm milk mixture, 5 cups flour, eggs, & apple. Using dough hook, mix 1 minute; continue adding remaining flour 1/2 cup at a time until dough clings to hook and cleans sides of the bowl. Knead about 2 minutes longer, until dough is smooth & elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, & let rise in warm place until doubled ~ about 1 hour.

Cinnamon Sugar Filling

• 2/3 cup flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 4 tblsp butter, softened
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Mix all ingredients with fork until crumbly.

After dough has doubled, punch down and divide in two. Roll each amount to a 9 x 14 inch rectangle. Sprinkle with Cinnamon Sugar Filling and roll dough tightly and shape into a loaf. Place in [2] 9x5x3 inch loaf pans. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled ~ about 1 hour. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Cool on wire rack.

Yield: 2 loaves [You can also make this in 3 ~ 4x8 inch pans, which is what I did.]

I hope you all have had a wonderful weekend!