Author: Louis Dell'Olio

……………….For the two cotton and silk blend knit sweaters shown here…GOLD LUREX CABLES were the standout detail…..The cardigan to the left was a three gauge machine knit cardigan sweater with my signature gold plated buttons…It was a difficult sweater to manufacture due to the inserted navy cables and gold lurex cables…….The HAND KNIT deep V-neck INTRICATE CABLED sweater had gold and navy trims on white with a DOUBLE GOLD CABLE in the center of the navy V-neck trim……Sweaters were always a major statement on my lines….because I LOVED designing them and I had incredible resources in ITALY to make them into a reality!

TODAY, AND ONLY TODAY…….QVC IS HAVEING A JEWELRY SALE ON EVERYTHING!!!!…………..There is even one new STERLING SIVER EARRING in bot Sterling Silver and Gold plate on Sterling, that has just been posted J450606 [not on sale], and it’s FABULOUS…..With this enormous sale it’s worth taking a look!!!!

………..”GOLD LUREX”………Besides being beautiful sweaters….what made these pieces such a success with customers….was….they were INCREDIBLY SOFT!!……Many times Lurex yarns can be VERY scratchy, and unwearable……but I found this yarn company in Italy that specialized in LUREX yarns……One of their specialties was their supper soft Lurex yarns, and they came in a variety of gauge sizes for machine and hand knits……The oversized cardigan was hand knitted, and was a combination of cables and seed stitches……The “lined” dress was also hand crocheted…..It was a beautiful combination of knits…The yarn glistened…….Her earrings were large clear acrylic drops with “gold dust” on the inside…..DETAILS!…….The model had fabulous pouty lips, and…….with her platinum hair color…..she was THE GOLDEN GIRL!

………….Last night I made myself a “chicken dinner”, and a mixed salad…..I took three chicken breasts and cut them up into smallish pieces, and put then in a Pyrex dish…..Then I made my marinade in a separate small bowl….the juice of one lemon. 1/4 cup to  1/2 cup of heavy cream [you can use less or more]….a healthy amount of Dijon mustard…..onion powder, garlic salt….TARRAGON, and ROSEMARY…..the amount you use is up to you. I like a lot of Tarragon……Wisk it all together and when well blended, especially the mustard, pour over the chicken, and make sure all pieces are covered….Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about 40 to 45 minutes depending on your oven……My salad dressing is a combination of olive oil, Dijon mustard, and white balsamic vinegar….a little black pepper is optional….I use it on my salad, AND on my chicken…….For desert….must have desert!….I had some cold refreshing pieces of water melon………….DELICIOUS

………………..The “KITCHEN GARDEN”….called that because it is just outside of my kitchen at the edge of the brick patio, and the beginning of the back yard….The potted flowers are really growing, and filling out beautifully….All of my geraniums, that have spent the long winter on my sunporch, are also growing new leaves and lots of flowers. I wasn’t sure if they were going to make it, but they are thriving in the sun and rain….a little “BLOOM BUSTER” helped too!….My rose trees are also doing great. I just gave them a major pruning and cut off all of the dead flowers so new growth has already started…..Photo second down on the extreme right shows the new growth on my rose trees after I cut the old dying flowers off…..The red growth is all new, and tiny buds are already starting to appear…..My only disappointment are my ZINNIAS….one of my favorite flowers! The rabbits are eating them! Not only are they eating them, but they eat the tops off where the flowers grow from. In the top photo second in from the left you can see the zinnias with the tops gone. Those little rascals come late late at night and do their dirty deed! I have tried everything….sprays, pellets, but nothing keeps them away…..Where are the foxes that sometimes appear when you need them!