Best. Dinner. Ever.

Confession time:  I've been collecting recipes that I haven't been using.  I have every intention of cooking for real, but with all the stuff I end up doing after work, usually it's up to Mr. Pocket to throw something together.  Now, don't get me wrong, Mr. Pocket is quite the amateur chef.  But usually he improvises, so the recipies I've been collecting just don't get used.  Until now.  This is one that Mom gave me, because she'd tried it and loved it.  It came from Cooking Light, and the recipe is here.  You should try it.  Because oh my goodness, it's the best dinner we've cooked in the new place.  Mr. Pocket even said so.  I mean, look at this:

Mr. Pocket's second helping.

How can chicken, rosemary, thyme, potatoes, tomatoes, and olives ever be bad?  (Okay, sure, if one of those things is something you generally don't like, but aside from that.)  It's super easy, too.  And roasting might be my favorite way of cooking.  I don't care that it takes longer.  Really, try this recipe.  You'll thank me.

Meanwhile, an update from Mr. Pocket's World of Maille:

The dear gentleman hard at work.

There's been a lot of mailling going on.  He's working on a hauberk, as you see above, in stainless steel.  And he's been making some small items for friends out of aluminum rings and scale:

Gauntlet in progress...

Hiiiiya!

I, meanwhile, have lots of wedding things to do.  Pray for me that I get it all done in time!

The Return of Mr. Pocket

Greetings and happy (almost) Spring, Pocketeers!  I regret to inform you that I have no new work of my own to post.  Mr. Pocket and I have been rather occupied with moving into our own place and trying to settle into a routine.  I've been doing some knitting, but it's not really in a fit state to be photographed (a shawl on straight needles was not my brightest idea), but all my paper crafting stuff (i.e. the stuff that will make a mess) is staying home with Zingala so I don't spill stuff on the nice white carpets in our nice rented condo.  But fear not!  Mr. Pocket has been chaining to his heart's content, and my jewelry addiction's satisfaction ;)  Here's what he's been doing...

This was my Christmas present.  It's a matching necklace and bracelet set, in stainless steel and jeweler's brass.  I wear them all the time.

So.  Shiny.  <3

Don't you love these groovy purple earrings?  Sorry the pic is blurry.  They're swingin'.

This was my Valentine's Day present.  (Yeah, ya know how I love V Day?  I was sick this year.  So, no cool V Day stuff of my own to show off.)

It's 3 half-persian chains braided together.  Cool, no?

And now...

Drumroll please...

Ta-Daaaa!  The Coif is finished.  It's about 5 and a half pounds of stainless steel, and he finished it in about 10 days.  It's real armor.  He plans on wearing it if there's ever a zombie apocalypse.  Meanwhile, isn't he handsome in his shiny hat?

Stay tuned for the continuing adventures of Mr. Pocket.  Here's a preview:

Mr. Pocket has also issued a challenge to yours truly.  He says I need to blog at least once a week.  I say he's probably right.  So, no matter what I have to show or not show, I'll post something at least one day every week.  It might be knitting.  It might be paintings (got a few in mind to decorate this place).  It might be cookies.  Maybe I'll do more spinning and reinstitute Handspun Monday.  Who knows.  But watch this space.  If nothing else, there will be more chainmaille.

New Member

Gotta make room in the pocket for a new crafter. Guess who's makin' stuff now?


It's Mr. Pocket!

He's learning chainmaille:


I don't have pics yet of the two bracelets and the pair of earrings he made me, but I can show you what he's making himself. It started like this:




And it's now this, still in progress:




He's sitting next to me working on it right now. I'm so proud :)

I've got a couple of things to post, but those will have to wait. The man deserves his own post :)

New Yarn, New Craft!

Friday is a happy day. Last week I went yarn shopping. And this week I get to show you my favorite of the fruits of that shopping trip!


Blue Heron Yarns, colorway "Chesapeake"






I love it. It's rayon with sparkliness in it. Yum! It's got the most luscious drape.

Also, an update. On Wednesday, my friend Joyce came over and we learned a new craft. Chainmaille! I've been wanting to learn for a while. So we were talking about it at work and finally decided we'd both learn. Ordered a couple of beginner kits from www.theringlord.com and when they came in we got together to learn together. Here we go!



Ring-a-ling-things:


Joyce at work:


I didn't get any good shots of my finished product, and it was just a strip anyway, but here's a pic Joyce took of hers:


I don't really need another hobby, but hey. I wanted to learn, and I think it's a valuable craft to have in my repertoire. I've got grand plans. We'll see how well it works out...