Productive Day

My goal today was to make salsa from the remaining tomatoes Tim brought in before pulling up the plants.  I got that done and also got lots of work done on my 2nd project for the new baby coming in November. 

I actually began work on the 2nd baby project last night and was up until I couldn't hold my eyes open any longer!  :D  I guess it was about 2 a.m. when I finally got in bed.  I got almost done with the brown section when I made myself call it quits because I was making mistakes!  When I got back up this morning I worked until I got this much done.  The sleeves will be inserted in the slit area.  So, what you see here from left to right is Left Front (LF), Back and Right Front (RF).  What I have done here is to "block" the work to the shape and size I wanted.  I will be working on the sleeves after I tell you good nite!  :D  The size is 0-6 months and I added a little bit to the length.

Just to give you a little explanation of how I "worked" the sweater thus far, here are my "diagram" notes.  In order to make sure your project turns out to be the size the pattern says it should be, the first thing you must do is check the "gauge."  That basically determines the number of stitches and rows needed to obtain the proper size the pattern gives you.  In the stitch pattern for this sweater, the "gauge" told me the yarn and needles I use should give me 17 stitches and 24 rows to equal a 4" square.  So, I worked 17 stitches for 24 rows with the size of needles the pattern called for to check the gauge of the yarn I wanted to use since it was different from what the pattern called for.  I kept track of my rows in the top left hand box shown below.  Without boring you much more, the next thing you do is start following the pattern.  This pattern had lots of things to do throughout, so I kept track of the number of rows and a slight description when the row called for something different, like the button hole row.  Color A is the brown which was worked first.  Color B is the green which was worked second.  Color C is the blue which was worked third.  Since I am using bits and pieces of skeins of yarn that Tim's mom gave to me, I got nervous that I wasn't going to have enough of the brown for the sleeves, so at one point last night I stopped working on the sweater and started working on the sleeves.  That's why I already have some details done for the sleeves.  I had plenty of brown after all was said and done, but better to be safe than sorry!  :D

 After I stopped working on the sweater, I began working on the tomatoes.  I sure hope this salsa is good because it took me 4 HOURS to cut up all the ingredients!

 I had to go to Walmart to get some tomato paste before I started cooking it.  While I was there I bought some canning jars with lids and rings.  I wasn't going to buy any since we don't do much of a garden to speak of, but I decided to get a dozen since they were less than $8. 

 After cooking for 15-20 minutes, you skim 2 cups of the water off the top, add the tomato paste and simmer for 10-15 minutes longer.  In the mean time I washed and boiled the jars and lids.  Then filled the jars and VOILA!  4 beautiful jars of salsa all sealed and ready for the cabinet!  The recipe was for 7 pints, so I'd say that is about what I got!  This salsa is different than the recipe I fixed previously.  I'll let you know how it turns out!

Until tomorrow....................