Yes.....Norma's posts about making yogurt lured me in post by post, but it was Judy's easy peasy recipe that cinched it for me. Yogurt is very good for nursing (dog) mum's so the timing was right for me.
My first batch came out perfectly which of course encouraged me to continue. The second batch....pretty good too, but that third batch...um....not so good....actually it was a stinky mess.
Of course knowing that my cold drafty house had a lot to do with that failed batch, my next batch was carefully placed right next to the whelping box, which is the warmest spot in the house. Perfection! Knowing that the lack of consistent temperature was the problem had me looking at multi-batch yogurt makers. These machines will keep the yogurt at the right temperature while the yogurt cultures set. I'll let you know if it makes a difference. :)
Speaking of nursing mum's....little Miss Ellie Mae is getting bigger by the day.
Yes...we decided on Ellie Mae for our wee one. You may ask the question....what the heck does that have to do with "pink?" Well, the other day Skyy's breeder and I were jokingly calling her the little pink elephant in the corner of the whelping box, which led me to calling her Ellie...for Ellie~Phant. Ellie seems to have stuck so far, so unless her personality tells us that this is not the appropriate name for her, then Ellie~Mae it is. ;) It's funny how these puppy names evolve isn't it?
Believe it or not there has actually been some knitting happening here too. Remember how I declared 2010 the year of the sock? Well.... I made myself finish a few WIP's before I would allow myself to start something new. Finally they are finished and I am excited to start working on socks again. The first pair is from Cookie's book...Sock Innovation... Angee.
The yarn color that I chose is Beach Sand. I love how it matches the fabric that I will be using for a quilt along. It's funny how a certain group of colors will all of a sudden be attractive to you and then it's all you see. I'm looking forward to working on socks again. ;)
I bought a yogurt maker about 2 years ago and haven't looked back.
Adorable puppy!
Posted by: Sharon T | Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 05:14 PM
aww, the puppy is so cute! she looks positively bushed in that picture, but warm!
i love the sock yarn colorway you're about to cast on with, mmm. i little bit like the catalina colorway i'm currently using!
Posted by: anne | Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 08:51 PM
The little pupster is adorable! Ellie Mae suits her! Love the color of the yarn -- and I really like the notebook (or whatever it is) underneath the yarn -- the floral print. :-)
Posted by: Kym | Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 07:28 PM
Love that little hound! I agree, the evolution of animals name is always interesting to map out. My kids always want to know how Ruby became Roo Roo or Booby Ruby, Roo-ster or Ruby the Red Dog Reindeer (mostly around Christmas) or why when I go out to feed her I say I'm going to feed the chooks even though I'm going to feed her! Animal names are supposed to keep on changing I think!
Posted by: jenny | Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 04:18 PM
Ellie Mae is precious!
Posted by: Tammy Camillone | Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 04:15 PM
The wee one is adorable!
If you have a crockpot, you can make yogurt using that as well... A Year of Slow Cooking (http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/) has a how-to in her archives.
Posted by: Josee | Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 03:37 PM
i'm not a dog lover, but that little puppy is too cute! i like the 'ellie-phant' name, but i'm wierd. '->
you might want to consider this yogurt maker:
http://www.cheesemaking.com/store/p/100-Yogotherm-Yogurt-Maker.html
i haven't used it yet, but i'll be getting is soon. Norma got me hooked on fage greek yogurt with maple syrup. bad thing is that the nearest store to get the yogurt is a 45 minute drive away! now i have to make my own to feed my habit! ;D
Posted by: Michelle in California | Monday, January 25, 2010 at 10:44 AM
Kim- Pat and I have had many yogurt conversations.
Can you tell me what you're doing- your weight loss ticker keeps going down- any tips?
Posted by: Lorraine | Monday, January 25, 2010 at 10:05 AM
Ellie Mae is a good name and I like the way you came up with it. Love the yarn you're using for your first pair of socks for 2010.
Posted by: Wool Winder | Monday, January 25, 2010 at 09:21 AM
Ellie Mae is the sweetest! Sand is just lovely and reminds me that warmer days are on the way. *hugs*
Posted by: Ruinwen | Monday, January 25, 2010 at 07:31 AM
It is so hard to keep yogurt the right temp. My house is cold too. I've taken to warming up my oven just a little bit, then turn it off. I wrap my pot of yogurt in at least 2 bath towels and sometimes a fleece jacket or blanket and stuff it into the oven (TURNED OFF!!) Seems to help.
Happy you had success.
Cute cute cute!
Posted by: Judy | Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 07:14 PM
I love that you are getting into socks. What ever happened to the pairs with the holes. Did you darn them? I have a pair right now that I need to take care of and have been putting it off. The puppy Ellie Mae looks so small and has such a cute pink nose. Our Lucy is a Lucy Mae. Popular middle name. I love yogurt but buy the Greek stuff at Trader Joes. It's great with blueberries and honey. A friend turned me on to it and now I have to eat it everyday or as often as I can!
Posted by: Vickie | Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 06:30 PM
I love the name Ellie Mae. That was our last Brittany's name and I think it is my favorite. We picked that name from Miss Ellie on Dallas. Sometimes we would call her Ellie Mae and sometimes Miss Ellie. We now have a French Brittany and her name is Madie. She is a cutie. Little pups are so special so enjoy her.
Posted by: Chris | Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 01:03 PM
HEY KIM - little ELLIE MAY is just too cute!!!
- really funny that you have this post about yogurt, as I was just thinking about buying a yogurt machine - read JUDY's post and went out and bought the ingredients today - may try it tomorrow - her granola looks good too
- planning to try and eat more healthy -----will see ----best ---pat
Posted by: pat j | Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 10:14 PM
Might have to jump on the yogurt bandwagon. enjoyed the picture of his favorite of your dog's puppy. Wow. That was atrocious grammar. lol.
Posted by: Jean | Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 12:31 PM
Tell Carole we want to fund our IRA's instead of buying yogurt. Hee.
Glad you had enough success to keep it up. I'm thrilled with my new cultures -- very much like Fage Greek yogurt, which is what I was after. Yum!
Posted by: Norma | Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 11:48 AM
The yarn is yummy! And thanks for the new pictures of Ellie Mae, I am so looking forward to seeing her as she grows.
I am impressed, yogurt making, too bad I didn't know as I have one of those yogurt makers that I would have been willing to send up to you!
Posted by: Gina | Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 10:59 AM
That dog just makes me go *awwwwwwwww* every single time.
So tell me if the yoghurt maker helps. I'm tempted, because I eat a LOT of Greek yoghurt in little containers.
Posted by: Laurie | Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 08:08 AM
Love the name you chose! She is so sweet. Looking at the beautiful yarn makes me yearn to visit the beach. Wonder if the warm weather will hold a bit longer here in Ct.
Posted by: Geri | Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 07:20 AM
I love that color. I think I bought some of it back at Rhinebeck. Ellie Mae is a perfect name and she IS growing! As for the yogurt, you guys know you can BUY it at the store, right? LOL
Posted by: Carole | Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 07:17 AM
Ellie Mae is adorable and that bunny teapot in the background caught my eye. Cute!
Posted by: gail | Friday, January 22, 2010 at 11:28 PM
The yarn is beautiful! I love the subtle color changes.
I have a yogurt maker that works pretty well. I need to use it more often!
Posted by: Beth | Friday, January 22, 2010 at 10:15 PM