Making Monday: Crock Pot Crack Chicken

     So for today's making Monday recipe, I'm going to share with you all a Crock Pot recipe called "Crack Chicken." We are currently eating Low Carb-High Fat (Or Keto) and are definitely enjoying our favorite foods in a healthier way. This recipe was one we found shared in the Low Carb and Loosing It Original Group Facebook page and we have just adapted to our liking. This is my all-time favorite way to eat chicken right now.

We use...

• 1 whole chicken (or 5 leg quarters)
• 4 oz. cream cheese 
• 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Powder (Not the stuff for ranch dip!)
• 1/2 to 1 package of bacon. (You could also do bacon bits if you don't have the time/don't want to fry bacon)

     After you've fried up your bacon (or not) put the chicken in the crock pot first, then slice up the cream cheese and distribute it over the chicken, Take the ranch packet and just shake it evenly over everything, throw in your bacon pieces and cook on high for 6 hours.

     The chicken gets really tender and falls right off the bone. Just make sure to get some of the toppings too!

Work in Progress Wednesday: January 25, 2017

New Back

Most of hat was left after I ripped out.

New Front

     This week has been the week of the Serenity. I had to rip out the Serenity by Joji Locatelli because it turns out what I thought was a size US 4(3.5mm) needle was actually a US 3(3.25mm). After riping out the sweater, I swatched and ended up restarting the sweater with a size US 5(3.75mm) and am back to where I was when I ripped.

     I also worked on my Color Affection by Veera Valimaki some while I read when the Serenity was at the short row sections. I've only put in a few rows since the rows are so long now. but I did decide that rather than doubling sections 2 and 3 and having to bind off a gazillion stitches, I'm just going to do 1 1/2 times sections 2 and 3 and bind off half a gazillion stitches. In the photo, I am on the last stripe and I will start the short rows eventually.

     And the Hermione's Everyday Socks by Erica Lueder in Knit Picks Stroll Handpainted "Gemstone" are coming along slowly but surely. I'm still getting the hand of Two-at-a-time socks so it's slow going.


     The last thing I've been working on this week is spinning. I've been spinning a lot more lately and am working on my Woolgatherings 50/25/25 merino/bamboo/silk.

     What have you been working on this week? I'd love for you to share in the comments!

What I'm Reading Tuesday: January 24, 2017

     So I discussed a while ago that my goal for the year, to read only one book at a time, lasted an excruciating nine whole days. This week, I've been reading three books.

     First up, A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas because I had to start it immediately. And Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas because everyone on the Bookaholic Cafe Facebook group is reading it and I had to jump on the bandwagon. (Go join the group, it's wonderful!)

     I'm enjoying A Court of Mist and Fury tremendously and have come to the conclusion (as of chapter 13) that Tamlin is a TOTAL JERK and Rhysand obviously cares for Feyre more than he is letting on. As for Throne of Glass, I'm only three chapters in because I've been sucked into the world of Prythian. I am looking forward to getting to know Celeana though.

     And on my Kindle, What Light by Jay Asher. Jay Asher wrote Thirteen Reasons Why, one of my favorite books which I have read three times. So far, I'm not a fan of the book, but I'm still early in and I want to give it at least five chapters before giving up.

Will I Ever Knit a Sweater that I Don't Have to Rip Out?

     If you've followed the blog for a while, then you know that I have started tons of sweaters. Okay... Like 10ish. But how many sweaters have I actually finished? 3. Out of all of the sweaters that I've started, I've finished four. And technically, one of them was still to big and the wrong dimensions because I can't leave well enough alone and messed that one up, and one was too small because I hate swatching. With my second Featherweight, I knit it in sport weight so technically I altered that too. So out of the three sweaters I've finished, I've only knit one according to pattern. ONE.  *sigh*

Attempt #1 or #2, I can't remember.

     The Hana Hou by Mel Ski was actually my first sweater. I was going to do it out of handspun and I was trying to alter the gauge to (what I thought) I would follow. It ended horrendously. Three times. Well, I didn't actually finish the sweater any of those times, but did I learn, no. I thought I could figure it out. Thankfully, Grace loves boxy sweaters and still enjoys it today.

     I realized last week that the Cozy Neighborhood that I started last summer for Grace's Christmas gift, Was too small. Barely, but enough that it wouldn't be flattering. I (again) was trying to alter the pattern fit because apparently I have little faith in designers actually knowing what their doing. (So NOT TRUE! I absolutely know that designers are the experts.) At first I did the extra-small size for the whole sweater (as much as I had knit anyway.) and this second time around I had done the medium for the shoulders and the extra small for the rest. I currently have a whole sweater body minus the bottom shaping, and of course, as fate would have it, I need to rip it out. I will be knitting the medium size the whole way this time. I will not alter it in any way, and I will put all of my trust into Joji Locatelli.

Take 1. I had to pray it would fit
on the hanger.

Current progress It's fitting!

      Did you think that was all? Haha. NO! I also had to restart the Serenity by Joji Locatelli. This error was a complete mistake though. When I started this sweater at Grace's house back in August, Grace had already started it but it needed fixed. As it turns out, she thought she had cast on with a size US 4(3.5mm) when in reality it was cast on with a US 3(3.25mm). Neither of us actually like to swatch by the way, can you tell? When I finally realized this, three inches past the armholes,, I decided to be a good knitter and swatch. I'm glad I did too because I didn't get gauge with fours either. I ended up casting back on with US 5(3.75mm) needles and am finally knitting a sweater that *should* fit her. On a good note, what took me a few months to knit has only taken me a week this time.

      Now, just because I've only technically knit one to pattern sweater, I am not discouraged. I have plenty of sweaters on the needles with plans to knit plenty more this year. I will not be deterred. Let's just hope I don't try and "fix" the patterns.

Book Review: The White Rose by Amy Ewing

* This post contains spoilers. *

* Read the reviews for the whole series here. *

A photo posted by A Book and Some Needles (@abookandsomeneedles) on Jan 10, 2017 at 7:54pm PST

The White Rose (The Lone City #2)

Amy Ewing

YA - Fantasy, Dystopia

308 Pages

     So if you remember, back in October I read The Jewel by Amy Ewing, book one in the Lone City trilogy. Boy did I rave about that book, and frankly, still do. The White Rose though, not full marks, but a four out of five stars for me. The White Rose gave some more insight to what Violet and the other surrogates are capable of, and how twisted the nobility of the Lone City are, but I felt like it was just a companion piece to the story. I know that sounds really bad, but I don't mean it to be. This book was mainly about escaping the Duchess of the Lake and keeping Ash from being caught, but frankly, I enjoyed the last chapters, when Violet, Raven and Ash were living with Sil at the White Rose best. 

     The White Rose takes place after Violet and Ash are caught in bed together in the Duchess of the Lake's manor. A companion and a surrogate, *tsk tsk tsk*  Ash is beaten in front of Violet and then taken to the Dungeon, then the Duchess brings Annabelle, Violet's mute, innocent, lady in waiting, and slits her throat and tells Violet that she killed her.  Of course, Lucien is MIA and Garnet is supposed to be Violet's rescuer. Violet is supposed to wake up in the morgue "dead" in a few hours, but she gave the serum to Raven, her best friend instead, to save her from the abuse and the pregnancy that will kill her. Raven does miscarry and die after arriving at the White Rose, but Violet revives her using her powers correctly. More on that in a bit. 

     Garnet manages to get Violet, and Ash (because we all knew that she wasn't leaving without him), out of the manor and to the morgue. From there, Violet has to use the auguries (powers) to manipulate the incinerator, the only way out of the morgue where no one will find them out. She, Ash, and Raven travel through the sewage system following a map that Lucien gave them when Raven (who apparently has a new ability) takes them right to where the exit they've been looking for. Ash is seen, and Violet gets separated, but in the end, they make it to the safe house separately after a night apart. 

     The journey from there goes from a companion house disguised as a man and his prostitutes to hiding in a storage compartment in a train, to being stored in shipping containers until finally, they make it to Lucien and Garnet. From there, Violet has to "trust her instincts" and lead them to where they need to be. That's how they end up at the White Rose.

     Okay, now my favorite part! Sil, a sassy, no nonsense, maternal, former surrogate built up this place, The White Rose, a safe haven for herself and other surrogates, to learn the real use of their abilities. The auguries are not the powers that surrogates are born with, the nobility twisted and corrupted the girls' ancestral connection with the elements when their people (the nobility's) took the island and murdered the natives. The girls who are confirmed "surrogates" are actually great-great-great-great (continues?) grandchildren of the native people of the island that had a connection with the elements. They were one with the elements and the elements were with them. Sil teaches Violet this, and Violet teaches Sienna (the lioness from the auction), and two other girls when brought to her.

     The story takes a dramatic turn when Violet finds out that the Duchess of the Lake has quickly and quietly found a replacement surrogate (who becomes quickly pregnant) after Violet escapes. This surrogate turns out to be Violet's younger sister, the girl that Violet is trying to start a revolution to save. 

     Like I said, this book isn't as great as the first, but I'm looking forward to delving into The Black Key (Book #3).