Apple Strudel and a Little Giveaway.............

Having a grandmother that was from Croatia always brought something special to my childhood, especially when it came to food.  Probably the thing I remember most, was how her kitchen was always filled with the aroma of fresh baked apple strudel.  Of course, they didn't have ready made fillo dough back then, so she made her own.  I'd watch as she'd start with a mound of dough and place it on top of her cloth lined table.  She'd gentle stretch it until the entire table top was covered.  And never did it have one tear in it - skilled hands for sure.

I thought you might enjoy trying to make your own and filling your kitchen with that wonderful smell!

Line a cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper and spray with Pam.

Slice about 6 baking apples VERY thinly. Place them in a bowl of water while you prepare the fillo so that they don't turn brown.

Pull out about 4 or 5 sheets of fillo dough, keeping the remaining sheets well sealed.  Brush the top layer with melted butter.

Place a single layer of apples on top; sprinkle lightly with white sugar (not too much) and add cinnamon (again, not too much).

Roll up carefully and place on the cookie sheet.  Brush entire piece with melted butter.

Repeat again until you've used up all the apples.

Bake in a preheated oven of 350 degrees for approximately 40 mintues or until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Now, how about another little giveaway?  I have one remaining skein of Sockina Cotton.  Just leave a comment on this post ( be sure to leave contact info such as Ravelry, etc) and on Thursday, Nov. 3rd, I'll randomly draw one lucky name.  Good luck!

Sock Time.............

It's always sock time around here.  But, at this time of year, Doris is really cranking 'em out!  Who's Doris, some of you ask?  She's our antique sock machine!  Yesterday her and I made 4 socks and today our goal is 6!  Can you imagine trying to hand knit that many even in a week?

It's always fun to see how the yarn will work up.  I never intentionally try to match up the color sequence.  Sometimes it does, but that's really a fluke!  I prefer to just let the yarn have a mind of its own.  That also makes each pair so unique and truly one of a kind.

All the socks get a good hand washing and then are blocked before adding them to our Etsy shop.  They always look so nice after going through this process.  Blocking can really make a difference with hand knits.

Years ago I had a customer in my shop that was having trouble with a front button band on her vest that was refusing to lay flat.  She said that she had tried everything.  So, I recommended some serious blocking.  Really serious.  Wet it, pin it, allow it to dry and repeat the process until it laid flat.  A week later she came back and was shocked that it had worked!  Blocking is a good thing!

I think Monday might be a good day to have another little giveaway, so I hope that you'll check back then to see what we have in mind!  Have a great weekend.

Claire Won our Little Giveaway!

Congratulations to Claire (SierraK on Ravelry) for winning our skein of Sockina Cotton. I just sent you a message via Ravelry.  You can send me your mailing address from there or write me at: tehachapisockcompany@gmail.com

I think that's a good way to start a new week, don't you?  I think on our next post, we'll have another itsy bitsy giveaway.

And now for some really big news.  I found Prell shampoo at Walgreens!  Same great smell and boy does it fluff up your hair.  Even my husband loves it! (just had to share that news!)

More sock pictures are on the way - I've been cranking like crazy with the Christmas season just ahead. And today I'm hoping to order some Christmas sock yarn.  Can't wait to see how it will work up.

Have a great day ahead and thanks so much for your fun comments on all your favorite shampoos.

When Did That Happen?

Ok, I'm the first to admit that I lead a somewhat reclusive lifestyle. It isn't that I don't like people, I just don't enjoy crowds, noise, traffic, crowds, long lines and crowds! That's probably why I live on the side of a mountain where even the mail man won't come!

Well, last week made me realize that I really am losing touch with the outside world. I decided to run to Kmart and look for some Prell shampoo. As the 'ole hair seems to be getting thinner and thinner, I remembered how much I loved that shampoo and how it made your hair feel thicker and it smelled wonderful. I searched the shampoo isle from end to end and top to bottom. Finally, a sales clerk walked by and I asked her if they carried Prell shampoo.

"Prell?" she asked.

"Yes," I replied back.

"I've never heard of it," she said with a strange look on her face.

That night I came home and told my husband about this and he almost fell off his chair in laughter. "They haven't made Prell shampoo in years!"

Ok, so my life is a bubble. I can live without Prell shampoo and I'll just quit asking stupid questions when I find myself in public!

How about a little giveaway to get my mind off the shampoo?  On Monday, Oct. 24th, I'll randomly draw one lucky name to win this skein of Schoeller + Stahl's Sockina Cotton yarn.  Just leave a comment on this post and tell everyone what your favorite shampoo is!  (ok, so I didn't get my mind off it!)  Please be sure to leave contact info (like Ravelry, etc) to make it easy for me. 

I may be in a bubble, but it's a happy bubble and I've been cranking like crazy for our Etsy shop.  Did any of you ever read the Pipi Longstockings books when you were little?  I'm convinced that's when my love affair with socks and stockings began!

UPDATE:  Amazon.com for Prell shampoo?  I'll check it out.  I also heard that maybe Walgreens carries Prell!  Can it really be true?  Stay tuned and I'll let you know, ok?

More Socks and Even a Scarf................

Just got these two pair of socks finished and in our Etsy shop.

And even managed a short little scarf.

This afternoon I plan on putting some good music on and cleaning this messy studio of mine!  Next post (for sure!) we'll announce our next little giveaway!

Yukon Sock Yarn Winner.............

Before I announce who won our skein of sock yarn, I must thank all of you for your wonderful and moving comments.  Life can throw some very difficult obstacles in our path, yet I see such thankfulness from all of you.  As I read each and every comment I was so touched and pleased that you would share your thoughts.  Please know that you all have been lifted up in my prayers.

And now, on to the winner!  Sara of SareBearKnits on Ravelry was the lucky name drawn.  Congratulations Sara!  I wrote you via Ravelry, but if you're reading this post, please write me at tehachapisockcompany@gmail.com and let me know where to send your skein of Yukon.  Again, congratulations!

We'll be having another giveaway very soon, but first I must figure out what it will be !

Some knitting news:  I finished the project for the magazine and placed it in the mail on Saturday.  As soon as I'm allowed to mention it, you will be the first to hear the news!  (probably won't be until the new year tho)

So, now it's back to cranking out socks on "Doris".  For those of you who are new to our blog, "Doris" is our antique sock machine.  She's somewhere between 85 - 100 years old and makes gorgeous socks!  I'll post pictures on tomorrow's blog and will start working on a new giveaway very soon.

I wish you all a wonderful day ahead and may you continue to find much "thankfulness" in your life.

Let's Celebrate With a Little Giveaway.....

What a scrumptious morning sunrise!  And finally, the worst is behind us.  3 out of the 4 repair jobs have been completed.  The wind turbine's shock absorber was re-welded to the frame, the diesel generator was fixed and yesterday the electrician re-wired the ceiling fan that my husband put in and made a change inside the wall switch.  Next up will be the pellet stove guys and hopefully there won't be any electrical problems with that.  They should be up next week, which is absolutely fine because our temps have warmed back up and the days have been in the low 80's.

And with all that wonderful news, let's have a little giveaway for this skein of Yukon hand dyed sock yarn.  Just leave a comment on this post and tell everyone what you are most thankful for.  Please make it easy for me and leave contact info (like Ravelry, etc.).  On Monday, October 17th, I'll randomly draw one lucky name.

It's good to be back up and running with power and the ability to spend more time on the computer.  Thanks for hanging in there with me!