The status of knitting, books and food.

The status of my Christmas knitting...  I can't seem to find the thing I started that I wanted to finish for someone.  I've looked everywhere.  Now I have to look everywhere that's not the obvious everywhere.

But, I've got this started for someone:

And this started for someone else:

I'm working on more than one thing so things will stay interesting.

And I finished these:

Yay!  Love. Them.  I hope the person I give them to does too.  In case you forgot, these are the Simple SKYP Socks which is a FREE pattern on Ravelry.

I got these in the mail today:

sideways - so aggravating...

I ordered these after storm Sandy.  The Books on the Nightstand podcast posted something on Facebook suggesting that a nice way to help an independent bookstore in Connecticut, who had flooding storm damage, would be to buy a book from them.  So I did, and I felt like I helped.  Don't have to ask me twice to buy books (and you only have to ask me once to buy two books apparently), especially if it helps.  The bookstore is Bank Square Books in Mystic, CT.

I think I heard about one of these books on the BOTN podcast and one on the 2 Knit Lit Chicks podcast.  I think Sarah's Key (click there to get on Amazon) will be my next one to read.  It starts in July 1942 in Paris when a 10 year old girl and her parents are taken by the police as they are arresting Jewish families.  Sarah helps hide her brother so he won't be taken.  Then sixty years later, her story intertwines with a journalist investigating the events in 1942.  Have to finish my other book first, though --- if I can get some time to read it other than in bed when I'm already exhausted and can only read two pages.

What have we been having for dinner you ask?  I knew you were wondering.  Yesterday I made wonderful chicken in the crockpot:

ha!  Sorry, forgot to take a picture of the actual dish, so you got the crockpot instead.  It was Italian Herb Chicken.  Oh. My. Gosh.  LOVED. IT.  Put 2 1/2 pounds of chicken pieces (skin removed) in the crockpot.  Then pour in a mixture of 2 cans  (14 oz) stewed tomatoes (I chopped them up because we don't like the big chunks), 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste, and a packet of McCormick Italian Herb Chicken seasoning  for the crock pot (in the gravy/sauces aisle).  Cook on low for 8 hours.  The chicken gets fall-off-the-bone-tender and the sauce is yummy.  We ate it with rice.  so. So. SO. Good.  It was being cooked in the crock pot while I was babysitting the doodlebugs the other day.  It smelled so good in the house all day long - I couldn't not ask for the recipe.

And tonight?.....

Mmmmmm. Soft tacos.  Haven't had them in a long time (except at Moe's... "Welcome to Moe's!").

And today was apparently impulse day at the grocery store.  Went in for a few things (apples, bananas, roast beef, bread, and sandwich bags to be precise).  Ended up with two boxes of Cheerios since it was buy one, get one free.  How could I not?  And then, I saw these:

Fudge Covered Ritz.  Again, how could I not try this wonderful new product that they placed right on the end of an aisle so it would stare me in the face?  And how could i not pay $3.29 for this little tiny box of what I assumed would be wonderful chocolate-y salty crunchy goodness?  (AND I WAS RIGHT!  They are so. So. SO. Good.)  Plus, it says right on the box, "Limited Edition", so I didn't want to miss out.

How about a quote of the day?
Just think of all those women on the Titanic who said, "No, thank you," to dessert that night.  And for what! 
~Erma Bombeck