Chili and further commentary on the cross stitch

Ok, the chili is on, doing it's thing. I won't be here at dinner fixing time (long story, never mind) and I won't be here at pre-dinner fixing time, hence the need for the crock pot to do its thing.

Chili

1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground lamb
1 can stewed tomatoes with italian seasoning whirred up in the blender with 1 can (8oz )tomato sauce
12-14 oz beef broth
1 can red kidney beans
2 or 3 T ancho chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4-1/2 tsp chipotle chili powder

Brown meats, drain grease, cook in crockpot on high for 3-4 hours til tasty.
Serve with cornbread.

Commentary on cross stitch.
What I meant to add earlier before I interrupted myself was: It's white Lugana, 25 stitches to the inch, using Q-snaps for stretchers, with the obligatory dime for comparison. Not that the dime is really discernable, but you get the idea.

It's been a long time since I did any work on the jaguar. I'm starting to get wistful comments on it "do you think you'll ever finish it?" The problems of working on things that you wouldn't actually want to do if someone else didn't want them. But that is a gift, yes? Giving somebody something they want instead of what you want?


So I'm back to cracking the whip on myself - gotta get it done. And no, kid, it isn't going to be finished for Christmas or your birthday. Just sometime. And I will keep working on it. One of those things I've promised myself to keep plugging away at. But where have all my handsewing scissors gone?

Eek. The time, the time. Crockpots are wonderful, but not if you don't give them enough time to do their magic.

Thanksgiving is over, the kidlings are back in school and I'm supposed to start school today too. Did my instructor post anything yet to start us off? No. Does this make me feel free and easy about doing other things? Obviously not. I'm in here on the computer checking (again) every half hour for any postings from the instructor. I think those warnings to the online students to be prepared to start promptly on time the first day of term have sunk in a little too far.

In the mean time, I'm following up on my promise to myself to get back with several programs, one of which includes updating my blog more frequently. I stubbed my toe hard on that when blogger wouldn't talk to me this morning.

This fits right in with the fact that my daughter missed her bus this morning (for the first time in two years so I really can't complain too much, although I warned her she's used up her one freebie) and my son announced last night at bedtime that he really wasn't sure what he was supposed to be doing in this morning's assignment and on further questioning admitted that 3x5 cards were involved which led to my scurrying about this morning looking for 3x5 cards in the many boxes still to be unpacked in the office. (Incidentally, also a loss of privilege to visit friends this afternoon as I fail to see how it should be necessary for me to be looking for 3x5 cards at 7:10 in the morning after a 4 day weekend, two days of which he was even at home. He could probably more easily have found 3x5 cards in his grandfather's office if he had thought to mention it while we were there.)

I seem to be in the middle of many projects and not finishing up much of anything. I have 3 different spindle projects going and one on the wheel (one waiting to get back on the wheel), two different knit projects and my husband's yarn waiting impatiently. I should go ahead and start that one because the first 15 or so inches will be stockinette in the round on size 3 needles - perfect mindless take anywhere knitting project.

Maybe I'll cast that one on this morning - a useful thing to take while I sit at the dermatologist's with youngest child.

Just getting the new blog started before I direct people from the old one.