That’s a pretty good combination, isn’t it? First the cashmere show and tell. Elf Roberta knit up this beautiful scarf for her sister-in-law out of Sweet Georgia’s CashSilk Lace in the Summer Skin color. The pattern is Felicia’s CashSilk Fern Lace Scarf, which is free on Ravelry. It uses just one skein. I can tell you, it turns into a beautiful, lightweight luxurious scarf. I think that pattern would also look beautiful done up in fingering weight yarn – something like Madelinetosh Sock or Three Irish Glenhaven Cashmerino Fingering.
We tried a new dessert recipe at our house last week. It’s similar to this one (in a rather anemic looking photo) that I’ve shared with you before, but with the addition of peanut butter. YUM.
Peanut Butter Brownie Trifle
1 brownie mix (for 9 x 13 pan) + eggs, oil, water
1 large containter Cool Whip
2 large boxes of instant chocolate pudding
(prepare each box as directed, as you assemble)
1 bag of peanut butter cups, chopped
3/4 cup of smooth peanut butter
1 (8 oz) pck. cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
Bake the brownies as directed and let cool. When cool, cute them into bite-sized pieces.
Put the cream cheese in a mixing bowl and add the peanut butter and powdered sugar. Beat until well mixed and smooth. Fold in 1 cup of Cool whip.
Assemble the layers:
1/2 of the brownies
1 box of the pudding prepared as directed and not yet set
1 cup of chopped peanut butter cups
peanut butter/cream cheese/Cool Whip mixture (use the whole thing on this layer)
1/2 of the brownies
1 box of the pudding prepared as directed and not yet set
Frost with the rest of the plain Cool Whip
Top with remaining chopped peanut butter cups
Let set for a few hours (or overnight) and enjoy.
It was fun to read all of your comments on last Friday’s blog post. We’re so glad to have you all here with us on our Sixth Anniversary! I used the Random Number Generator to pick a winner from last week’s comments. The skein of Wollmeise Lace goes to Kimberly in Mt. Pleasant, SC. Congratulations, Kim!
We have another contest this week (since it’s our anniversary month, you know). This week’s question: What’s the best book you’ve read or movie you’ve seen this summer? (I’m looking to add to my book and movie lineup as we move into the fall.) Since this is our second contest of the month, we’ll be giving away two prizes – two of our Sixth Anniversary Kits, which will be making their debut next week. Leave your answers in the comments below and we’ll draw the winners next week!
Sheri goodgrief.OperaonthePandorastation.AbitmuchforFridayAfternoon.
My book recommendation . . . “The Giver.” It is a book for 5th-7th graders, but to read it as an adult provides a different view.
The only move I’ve seen this summer is Brave, and while it was cute, not sure I’d recommend it as “best” I am currently Reading “Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress” and it’s a fantastic book!
I’ve actually been too busy knitting this summer for Camp Loopy to read as much as I normally do. I have however, been knitting and listening to a couple of books on my I-Phone. I am not overly impressed with the books I have “listened” to this summer. However, my favorite fiction book of all time is “Redeeming Love” by Francine Rivers. I have been thinking of “listening” to it this time around.
Happy knitting and Listening š
If you haven’t read Sheepish: Two Women, Fifty Sheep, and Enough Wool to Save the Planet by Catherine Friend you really should. I found myself laughing out loud several times.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. Read it and then listened to the audiobook, which was even BETTER!
I’ve been doing a lot of James Patterson lately since he keeps coming out with new books in the various series he does. Just finished the final Maximum Ride book — great ending btw. Also I, Michael Bennett is really well crafted. For movies, haven’t had time to see anything in the theater, but really liked the remake of True Grit that came out last year, I think.
Hunger Games trilogy: I absolutely loved it!
Really enjoyed The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
The best book I’ve read this summer is The Midnight Circus by Erin Morgenstern. I had read reviews of of it, and it didn’t sound like something I’d like, so I am very thankful to my Book Club buddies who chose this as a read because, otherwise, I never would have picked it up. I loved it from the first sentence. Now I’m looking forward to black and white food (read the book!) and discussion when we meet.
The best book I have read this summer is “Wool” by Hugh Howey – great dystopian sci-fi. I haven’t seen any memorable movies this summer, but I am anxiously awaiting the next season of “Downton Abbey”!
Lots of good recommendations! I apparently am a slacker, and have only read “the first 90 days” as I’m in a new management role at work, and as far as movies, I have not seen any new ones, but did watch one of my favs – “gone in 60 seconds” – love that movie…
the best book i read this past year is Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts and they are supposedly making it into a movie–so go and read it before the movie comes out!!
I just finished reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. It was quite a thriller!
Best book: Gone Girl. I’ve read quite a few books this summer, but I loved the suspense and twists in this one.
Best movie hands down: The Avengers!
I’m reading the Wool Omnibus now, and I can safely say it will be the best book I’ve read this summer, even before I’ve finished it.
Not a book, but a whole series by C. J. Sansom about Matthew Shardlake, an attorney in England in the 1500’s – they are historical mysteries. Love them – and they’re good LONG books, too. Another book I really enjoyed was Lewis Man by (another new author for me) Peter May. Another mystery – this one in present day Scotland’s Isle of Lewis. I’ll be reading more of his books.
Ever After – a great take on Cinderella and so well done.
Also, in honor of Andy Griffith, my husband and I are watching The Andy Griffith show – timeless.
On a very hot day, too hot to leave my a/c I spent the day knitting Camp Loopy 2 and watched Gone With the Wind again. That remains my #1 all time favorite movie, and I am still searching for Rhett Butler.
I haven’t accomplished much reading this summer, though I loved the Hunger Games trilogy.
Best movie was the Avengers, though I heard Batman was pretty great too.
The best movie I’ve seen this summer is Bernie. It is quite the dark comedy and I loved it!
Best Book: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.
Best Movie? I’ll admit it, it wasn’t a great movie, but I had the best time with my buddy watching it! Magic Mike. Ahem. š
Two best books this summer: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and Criminal by Karin Slaughter.
My favorite book this summer has been rereading A Wrinkle in Time with my daughter at bedtime. I forgot what an excellent story it is!
Best movie this summer was Brave. And as far as books go, I haven’t gotten through the book I did get since I had to take classes over the summer. The book is Sacre Bleu by Christopher Moore.
This sounds so silly but the Witness by Nora Roberts was a fun, fast read that kept me on the edge of my seat. I generally listen to audiobooks so I can walk and listen (I haven’t figured out knitting and walking) – this one was a keeper.
I’ve enjoyed reading the Percy Jackson series this summer. Working in a school I want to know what my kids are reading
Best book WILD!
I know that I am behind the times but I really enjoyed reading A Game oF thrones this summer and working my way thru the rest of the series
Best movie I watched this summer isn’t really a movie – it is Seasons 1 and 2 of Downton Abbey so that I’m ready for January arrival of season 3…somehow I missed out on it first time around, and it was well worth the cost of the dvds
And my best book was actually two that I had the audiobooks for a summer road trip the longer one was The Rope by Nevada Barr (she writes a mystery series that are set in National Parks), the other was The House I Loved by Tatiana de Rosnay. I loved both audiobooks, but I can’t tell you how they would be as a paper read.
The Avengers and the Batman movie were both great, and I don’t even consider myself a superhero fan. I’ve over-committed on knitting this summer, so no books for me yet…
I read the first two books of the Hunger Games series, and loved them. Hope to see the movie sometime soon.
The best movie I’ve seen this summer is The Most Amazing Marigold Hotel…I don’t think that is quite the title, but, I’m sure you’ll know which one. For anyone with aging family members or themselves…this is full of true life situations.
I need to do some serious reading. I love Adriana Trigiani and Maeve Binchy.
We went to The Pirates as a family and it was a hit with my husband and small children.
Game of Thrones, thanks to my husband and daughter, they’ve read and re-read the whole series. I’m so far behind.
Alexander McCall Smith’s “The Limpopo Academy of Private Detection” is the best book I’ve read. The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency Series books are simply wonderful – warm, funny, entertaining, with some of the best characters in fiction.
I’ve seen it before, but The Thin Man series is definitely the best movie(s) of the summer! Great to knit in front of, especially with a martini of one’s own. š
Calico Joe by John Grisham! Not a typical Grisham novel, but a fabulous read! And if you like baseball, even better. Another great book is The Housekeeper and The Professor by Yoko Ogawa, an extraordinary tale of a brilliant math professor–who’s only able to remember his most recent 80 minutes, his housekeeper, and her 10-year-old son.
Best book this summer? Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking by Susan Cain
Explains so much about the majority of my family. Terrific info and validation for myself.
I absolutely loved “A Dog’s Purpose” by W. Bruce Cameron. It’s written from the dog’s perspective.
Having little ones, we have seen several cute movies this summer including Brave and Diary of a Whimpy Kid: Dog Days. My favorite just came out on video, Mirror Mirror. I loved it for all of the beautiful colors in the fabrics and think that it would be so much fun to see an indie dyer use the movie for colorway inspirations. Snow Whites dress at the end of the movie is so vibrant!
Okay, if we’re only talking about this summer…looking back through my reading journal, since June 21, here are the ones that garnered a star:
The Gods of Gotham – Lyndsay Faye
The Gone-Away World – Nick Harkaway
The Folding Knife – K.J. Parker
Code Name Verity – Elizabeth Wein
The Last Policeman – Ben Winter
Lost – Michael Robotham
All great reads!
I just started reading Trapeze by Simon Mawer and I think I’ll enjoy it. I also really liked the Marigold Hotel book and movie.
I think my favorite movie this summer was the new Batman. My favorite book was the newest book of the Parasol Protectorate series, they’re just so much fun.
The best book so far this summer is Broken Harbor by Tana French. If you haven’t read her books, you are in for a treat. All four books center around the Dublin Murder Squad, with some of the characters in more than one book. I listened to this, the most recent, via Audible..and the Irish reader made the book even better than I thought. Her writing gives you the slang and phrases that you find on the streets of Dublin, but hearing it while knitting makes it even better!!!!
You need not read the previous three to read this one, but after you do, you’ll probably want to go back and get them also.
Guns, Germs & Steel-though I still have a way to go š
My 14 yo daughter had this for summer reading, believe it or not!- so of course both my DH & I are into it now.
Being a super hero nut, I have to say that The Avengers was everything I love in a movie!
I always enjoy reading the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich – it’s been a long time since I have laughed out loud reading a book like I do reading Stephanie’s adventures!
The book I have enjoyed most was “The Violinist’s Thumb.” It is everything you EVER wanted to know about genetics.
I just read “The Girl Who Chased the Moon” (Sarah Addison Allen) and “A Discovery of Witches” (Deborah Harkness) and enjoyed both a lot. Alas, the sequel to “Discovery” does not seem to be as good (the depiction of one character in the very first chapter betrays everything I felt about him in the first book).