Spring Vacation

It's our spring break - yay!!! And it even feels like spring outside. And...the Red Sox are in first place - Sweet Caroline!!!!!

I finished another felted bag. This time I used the random stripe maker at Kissyyourshadow.com instead of playing the Vegas game, and .....I made sure I was using 100% wool! I also made a cell phone pocket on the inside of this one.

Happy Birthday Mom

I still miss you every day!

Groundbreaking

Four years ago the school that I had worked in for over 20 years - the school my children had gone to, and my grandchildren were now attending - closed down because mold was found in some of the walls. It was a small community school, less than 200 students in grades k-8. On our last day we waved a tearful goodbye to the students on the busses leaving our schoolyard for the last time and then began packing for the move to a neighboring school 7 miles down the road. Since then we have taught in crowded conditions, held parent conferences in the janitors closet, held classes in the hallway, and tried above all to keep our sense of humor.

Today, we broke ground for our new school, scheduled to open in September 2009.

It's being built on an absolutely beautiful piece of land (thank you Roni!!!)

And a reward for a job well done!

Losing at Vegas

I gambled and lost in the Vegas knitting game! I keep my leftover partial balls of yarn in large zip-lock bags and I'm always careful to keep all of the 100% wool in a seperate bag from the super-wash - well almost always careful. The felted bag was not a pretty sight! Half felted and half not. But along the lines of making lemonade out of lemons - I'm going to cut off the felted part and cut it into embelishments for another bag.

Our visitors are back......

It's brown, muddy and dreary in my back yard, but there must be something coming to life under all that because our visitors keep coming back to feed- and who can complain when you are greeted with this sight in the evening. (the audio in the background on the video is the Red Sox/ Yankees game which is now in a rain delay - it is pouring in Boston! Be fine with me if they call the game - it's the 8th inning and the Sox are ahead!)

Contests!

Pheelya is going to be a "Zia" (aunt in Italian) again and wants to know what to knit for for the baby that is due in November. Post a comment with your idea and tell her I sent you!

Then go over to the Cloverhill Yarn Shop Countdown to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival and leave a comment to be elegible to win a hand dyed skein of yarn.

And a ton more contests here.

The Vegas Knitting Game Bag

Thanks for all of your suggestions for beating cabin fever and for sending some sunshine our way. Today was sunny and the temp. actually reached 50! Here is the black/gray bag I knit for Annie. I like it, but if it had been up to me there would have been a couple of red stripes in there.

So to amuse myself this weekend I started on this bag. You have heard of the "Vegas Knitting Game Scarf"? (Knitting Pattern a Day Calendar, March 21, 2006)

Well, here is my Vegas Knitting Game Bag!

I grabbed:

6 partial skeins of leftover 100% wool yarn from my stash and labeled them 1-6.

One Die

5 playing cards - I used the 4, 6, 8, 10, and queen of hearts. The queen = 12.

Then I rolled the die, found the yarn with that number on it and CO 40 stitches on size 10 1/2 26" circs. I knit 40 rows in garter stitch (20 ridges) and then picked up 20 stitches along the side of the rectangle, the 40 CO stitches, 20 stitches along the other side of the rectangle and joined into a round. Then I rolled the die again - found the color (if I rolled the same number twice, I rolled again), shuffled the 5 cards and drew one. That's how many rows I knit with the first color. roll the die again - tied on the yarn with that number, drew another card, and knit that many rows. This is what I have so far. I'll keep going until it is about 14 inches tall, then roll the die for the color of the i-cord handles - two - probably about 36" long, then felt them along with the bag, shape and dry over a plastic cereal box. When it is dry, the handles will go on pretty much like the Black Sheep Booga Bag.

Here's what I have so far - hey, it's the next best thing to going to Vegas LOL. The dark color is actually purple and not black - no black for this bag!!!

Cabin Fever

I haven't been blogging much lately - Cabin Fever has set in big time! It's time for spring but mother nature doesn't know it here in Maine. Temps are still in the 30's and although the ground is pretty much bare - these huge white flakes come down everyone day or so. The kids at school are feeling it too. It's time to be out riding bikes, fishing, playing baseball - and it's freezing! Even my knitting is in a slump! I did finish a felted bag that a friend asked me to make for her - but she wanted black and grey stripes - and knitting it just added to the doldrums. I need something much more colorful to bring me out of my knitting slump! Got any suggestions?

Parent Job Description

POSITION: Mom, Mommy, Mama, Ma Dad, Daddy, Dada, Pa, Pop

JOB DESCRIPTION :Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an, often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION :None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :None required, unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION :Get this: You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS :While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays an d no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

Forward this on to all the PARENTS you know, in appreciation for everything they do on a daily basis, letting them know they are appreciated for the fabulous job they do...or forward with love to anyone thinking of applying for the job.

FOOTNOTE “THERE IS NO RETIREMENT -- EVER!!!'

NYC

We had a great time in New York - even though it was cold, we are used to that! My DD has most of the pictures - so I'll post some when I get them.
When we checked in she decided 'we' wanted rooms with a view so she chose the 21st floor over the 6th. I don't do well with heights! Just looking at this picture (that I actually took) makes me dizzy! I didn't find any yarn stores - wonder if there is such a thing in NYC? But the girls did a lot of shopping and even found some bargains. I had some quality time with my sister who came in from NJ for the weekend. We saw the new "A Chorus Line" on Broadway which was great. Could never live in the city though - just too used to my quiet country life!

Happy Easter

I'm heading out of town for the weekend - down to New York City and the Easter Parade! My DD, and two granddaughters and I are going and will be meeting my two sisters there - it's a girl's weekend! We hope to color eggs in Central Park, wear silly hats on 5th Avenue, visit St. Patrick's Cathedral, take in some museums, maybe an off broadway play - and probably freeze, since the temps in NYC will be in the 30s. I hope to have pictures to share next week.

I'm Dreaming of a White St. Patrick's Day?

But it's more like a nightmare! Yes, it's snowing again in Downeast Maine!

I've been working on a couple of St. Patrick's Day projects (My maiden name is Donnelly after all!). This Shamrock dishcloth and a
A mini-accordion album -


just have to find some pictures to go in it - a good snowy day project.
I finally have some pictures of the State Cheering Competition in Augusta, ME. in February.



The girls did a great job - made it to the finals (call backs) and came in 4th in the state.



GO SUMNER TIGERS!!!!

Springing Ahead

It seems way too early for daylight savings time - but if it means spring is getting close I'll deal with driving to work in the dark for a couple of weeks. We've had a lot of rain this past week and I can once again see my back yard - another sign spring is coming - or rather what we call here 'mud season'.

On the knitting scene in my never-ending quest to use up my yarn stash (so I can justify buying more of course) I'm making some of these mini-Easter baskets with leftover felting yarn ( Patons, Cascade, and Galway 100% wool yarn.)

CO 25 stitches on size 11 16" circs and knit 24 rows in garter stitch (12 ridges). Then pick up 12 stitches along the side (just stick the needle into each ridge and knit a stitch), the 25 CO stitches along the bottom, and 12 more stitches on the other side. Join and work in the round for about 6 inches. Add different colors for stripes, or even use up some of that novelty yarn and fun fur as you go. BO. Make two 4 stitch I-cords about 12" long and sew them together at one end, twist, and sew together at the other end. Sew the handle inside the basket - through in the washer and felt down to the size you want. This one is about 6" wide and 3" tall.

And for the tiny bits of left over yarn (you can't just throw them away, can you?) I'm making these bookmarks. Patterns are on the

Yahoo Monthly Bookmark KAL - you have to join to get them, but can easily make up your own using any pattern stitch you would like to try out.

I probably should name my blog "Grammie Knits, while Grampy Cooks"!His latest kitchen toy is this really cook spice rack that goes under the cabinet. After you fill them, you can select how much you need on the little dial and it will dispense just that much. Now how cool is that! It's called the Auto-measure Carousel and made by KitchenArt. He actually picked it up at Hannaford - a NE grocery chain- while food shopping.

Think Spring!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sunset on Frenchman's Bay

aMy entry for the "Place that brings you peace and joy" on Zeeneedle's blog. Janet is also having a contest - go over to A Work in Progress and guess when her snow will be gone (she lives in Alaska by the way). Vicki is having a contest too although I think she's the one who should get a prize for weaving in all of those ends - enter the contest on Purple is a Fruit.

In Like A Lion

March is coming in like a lion, just as promised. Predictions are for up to a foot of new snow today. Yes, it's pretty, but I can't wait for the lamb!

I haven't been blogging this week, but I have been knitting...a little.

Kris has designed another beautiful washcloth (too pretty to wash dishes

with! She calls it "Springing up Flowers" and you can find the pattern

here. She has designed some other great cloths too, and is generous enough to share them for free on her blog. You can see the flowers much more clearly on the photo over there.

I've also been knitting up these cute eggs - stuffed with Cadbury chocolate eggs! They are Jean Greenhowe's Novelty Eggs.

and use up small amounts of fingering weight yarn. I plan on making some little felted Easter baskets to put them in, although it's hard to think about Easter when looking out my window today. Easter comes so early this year we will surely be hunting for eggs in the snow.

Yesterday, I received my "Mystery Yarn Ball" package from Mary. In this Whoduknit Swap we had to wind up small treasures into a ball of yarn, and then provide a pattern for the receiver to knit. As you knit, the goodies fall out of the yarn ball. Mary sent some Bernat Black Lites yarn, and a pattern for the Trio knit tote bag from Crystal Palace Yarns. There were a few goodies in the package that I guess did not fit inside the yarn ball. I'm anxious to get started on the pattern and see what falls out!

If you too are snowed in this weekend, you might want to try this great clam chowder recipe. Our friends Layne and Tim (Hi Layne) served us this along with a great chicken dish and great company (and a little too much wine!) last Saturday night.

New England Clam Chowder

1 med onion, chopped 1 lg can chopped clams or 2 sm cans
½ lb raw bacon 2 qts heavy cream
2 Tbl garlic 1 Tbl lobster base
Black pepper to taste 1 tsp chicken base
2 potatoes, cooked, cubed

1. In soup pot, cook bacon; remove from pan and set aside. In bacon drippings, sauté onions & garlic.

2. Add pepper, clams & half the juice, and cream. Bring to a simmer.

3. Add lobster & chicken bases. Cook on low until thickened.

4. Add cooked potatoes. ENJOY!


Chicken Cacciatora with Olives

3 Tbl olive oil ½ dry white wine
3 cloves garlic, sliced 2 Tbl red wine vinegar
4-lb tender chicken, cut into pieces 20 ripe olives; 20 green olives,
1/8 tsp salt pitted/diced (I leave them whole)
1/8 tsp pepper 2 anchovy filets, chopped

1. In large pot, place oil and garlic. When oil is hot, add chicken, sprinkle with salt & pepper and brown slowly and thoroughly on all sides.

2. When chicken has a good golden color, add wine and vinegar. Add olives, and after a few minutes, the chopped anchovies.

3. Add several tablespoons water, and leaving fire on low, cook until chicken is done and sauce is thick and rich (about 45 minutes). Serves 4.

What is it?

I knit the "Give it a Whirl Bag" from Creative Knitting, July 2006, with Patons Classic Merino in Rosewood (variegated) - a quick knit, finished in a day, but...I didn't like the results. It was too floppy and I didn't like the way the colors pooled. So...what to do? - throw it in a washer full of hot water of course. Now I love the way it pooled, but I don't know what it is! Is it a flower pot?

Or, is it a hat? This yarn was actually the same yarn I used on the scarf he is wearing, but it looks completely different.
Or.....


Is it really just a smaller, felted version of the "Give it a Whirl" Bag?


What do you think?

President's Day/Vacation

This is winter vacation week - a much needed break for the kids and teachers! We are dogsitting this week - DD and family have gone to Florida. Now everyone say awwwww.......
Casper is a four year old Maltese and he's the best little dog! His misses his kids though.

I plan to read, knit, scrapbook, and maybe even do a little cleaning and organizing.

I'm reading Nora Robert's Birthright, which is the February Whoduknit book, and knitting the Whoduknit mystery KAL, and the Give it a Whirl Bag from Creative Knitting, July 2006. Tomorrow I'm going to a pot luck all day crop (scrapbooking) party. The cleaning and organizing has to do with my 'craft room' which I can't even walk into right now. It would be nice to be able to find things in it. But for now, it's pouring and promises to do so for the next 24 hours - so, back to my book!

I've been Tagged!

I've been tagged by Chris.

At least it is a fun--quick one - and actually I've done it before.



The Rules--

1. Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages.

2.Open the book to page 123 and find the 5th sentence.

3. Post the next 3 sentences.

4. Tag 5 people



I still have Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann (the Whoduknit January book) sitting on my computer desk because I was referring to it during our discussion. So..
"She's not stupid," murmered Miss Maple, more to herself than to any of the other sheep. "Beth's not stupid. She thinks too much of souls and not enough of human beings, but she's not stupid."

I Tag:

Joyce
Karen
Ashleah
Barbara
Penny

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

We had another snow day yesterday and I thought about spending the day knitting one of these great dishcloths from Kris Knits - she has the cutest dishcloth designs on her blog! Or one of the other valentine projects I found on The Daily Chum, (Love the Daily Chum!) like the teeny meeny crochet heart or the crochet valentine box and candy. But then decided to dig out an old hobby of mine that's been neglected for a long time - scrapbooking -and I made this star Valentine album for my DD.

The kids at school were wound up tight today - Valentine's Day is one of their favorite days. They just love exchanging Valentine cards. We couldn't get out on the playground which was frozen solid so there was no running off that energy. The room mothers were in for a party with games, crafts and snacks. After finally winding down and getting them on the bus, it was wonderful to come home to a box of chocolates, flowers, and dinner cooked by DH himself! Hope your day was special too!

The Daily Chum

If you haven't visited Lime and Violet on The Daily Chum, don't waste another minute - run right over there now to find patterns like the cute Easter Egg Cozies, Rattlesnake Creek Socks, an adorable heart dishcloth, plus more, more, more, every day!

Now you see it, now you don't

I knit this illusion heart scarf for my granddaughter. Thanks to Laura's line by line pattern it was really easy. I used Vanna's Choice yarn - less than one skein each of Rose and Beige (which is really a cream color) for a 10 repeat, 50" long scarf. You can find laura's line by line instructions here,

or, if you prefer to work from a chart - you can find that here.

There is no Joy in New England

"The Patriots lost the Super Bowl. It is an alternate universe. It does not compute. It's like hearing Tony Bennett singing, "I Left My Heart in Ashtabula," or seeing a photo of Mitt Romney with his hair messed up." We still love ya' Tom!

Sunday Brunch

The rain last week washed away most of our snow (not to worry, it will be back!) and this morning we had four guests in our backyard, munching on the apples left over from the fall. We really don't see this too often since this is prime deer hunting country and they are pretty skittish, but I guess they know hunting season is over and they are safe for another year!

Groundhog Day

Punxzutawney Phil has spoken - 6 more weeks of winter! You might as well settle in and spend it knitting - maybe some of these cute hedgehogs from Fibertrends?
Or this free hedgehog pattern from lionbrand (you have to register to get this free pattern.)

If you are prone to cabin fever and live in New England you might want to check out the New England Textile Arts/SPA - Knit and Spin Retreat in Freeport Maine, February 22, 23, and 24 at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Knitting Sheep

This is my project for this month's Whoduknit book, Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann. In this book sheep are the detectives, and yes, they have names and they talk! So here is "Miss Maple", the cleverest sheep in the flock taking a knitting break. The pattern for the knitting sheep is here.

My sheep is really very special because her black sweater is knit from hand spun alpaca that was sent to me by Vicki in one of the International Tote Exchanges. And, that yarn came from her very own special alpaca, Buck!

Woo Hoo!

That's my granddaughter up there - isn't she amazing! I went to the Eastern Maine Cheerleaders Competition in Bangor this weekend. Jordyn's team had come in first in the regionals and they were pretty wired going into this one. They came in third - which was really great and means they will compete in the state-wide championship in two weeks. If there had been an award for spirit they would have received it for sure. They had the largest cheering section in the auditorium and we were all wearing t-shirts with "Sumner Varsity Cheering" on the front. We are all so proud of them. It's a young team - half of them Freshmen, so they have a promising 4 years ahead of them.

Thanks

Thanks for all of your good wishes! It really was a storybook wedding. Steve and I met in high school, (Clifton, NJ) where he was one year ahead of me. He joined the Navy when he graduated and after boot camp was stationed in Japan. We were separated for three years, but were still in love when he came home and were married a few months later. Steve was stationed at the Pentagon at that time, so we lived in Virginia, where our first son, Scott, was born, then we were stationed in Morocco for two years, where our daughter Diana was born, then Rhode Island for two years, and on to Puerto Rico for 4 years, where our youngest son was born. From Puerto Rico to Maine was quite a shock to the system - but this is where we ended up, when Steve retired from the Navy, and we've been here ever since. So....that's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

43 Years - Yikes!

43 years ago.........

Knitting Sheep

On our Whoduknit Group we are reading a book called Three Bags Full by Leonie Swann this month. It takes place in the Irish village of Glennkill, where a flock of sheep try to solve the murder of their shepherd, who has cared for them, reading them a plethora of books every night, which has made them far savvier about the workings of the human mind than your average sheep. It's a pretty strange book! Anyway, I've been searching for a project to go along with this book and came across this adorable knitting sheep that I had to share with you. It's a free pattern that I found on Ravelry, and just too cute! You can find it here. We also just completed a Mystery KAL. I'm naming this the "Tori" scarf because it was inspired my my granddaughter, who showed me a scarf that her friend had, and asked me to make her one like it. Here are the three I completed while working out the pattern. My snowmen are now nice and comfy warm.

7 Random Facts

It's been a slow week - so......

~ 7 Random Facts Meme ~

I've been tagged by Dawn to play along. Hmm... now to come up w/7 things you'd be interested in knowing. Ok ~ let the games begin.


7 Random Facts... now these are the rules:- Link to the person’s blog who tagged you.- Post these rules on your blog.

List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself.

Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.- Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog

My 7 random facts:

1. I grew up in Clifton, New Jersey.
2. My father was a professional magician.
3. I married my high school sweetheart (43 years ago).
4. I usually finish one knitting project before I start another (weird - huh?).
5. I've lived in New Jersey, Virginia, Morocco, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, and for the last 31 years, in Maine.
6. I once worked as a secretary to an Admiral at the Pentagon. My most important job was getting his golfing tee times set up for the weekends. During the time I worked for him I knit four afghans at work!
7. I'm looking forward to having a woman in the White House - I just hope Hillary knows how to knit!

Okay - I'm tagging Mary Lynn, Stephanie, Deb B., Janet, Patty, JoAnn, and Vickie.

Snowed in Again!

Yes, we are getting blasted again on the downeast coast of Maine. 14" on the ground and still coming down. I'm nursing one of those head colds where it aches behind your eyes - you know the kind? So a snowy day was just what I needed. I've been drinking this Lipton's mandarin orange flavored green tea. It's in these really cool triangle shaped tea-bags. I highly recommend it with a teaspoon of honey! And DH made some homemade chicken noodle soup mmmm-mmmmm good!

I did manage to block the scarf I made for DH. He is really not a scarf person, but asked me to make him one during the last snowstorm. He wanted red and all I could find was this kool-aid dyed knitpicks bare wool yarn that was sort of red. I added some dark olive green paton's wool that I had and did a simple 2x2 rib.

Now, for some Nyquil and a good night's sleep. Maybe it will stop snowing by the morning - but if it doesn't....I've got a good book to read and plenty of yarn!

PVC CHAMPS!

Whoo Hoo! The Sumner HS Varsity Cheerleaders (remember the girls I made the hats for?) came in first in their division championship competition! Now they go to the Eastern Maine Competition in two weeks,and if they come in the top 6, they go to the Maine State Competition in Augusta. There were some excited girls (and families, friends, and relatives), especially when they were met with a police and firetruck escort when they arrived back in town! The adorable one in the middle front row is my granddaughter. Well, yes, they are all adorable, but she is just too cute!




And here she is with her biggest fan.

I'm an ISFP

That's what I am - Introvert, Sensing, Feeling, Perceptive. I went to a Myers-Briggs Workshop today. If you've never done Myers-Briggs - it's a personality test. An ISFP is an "observant, loyal helper; reflective, empathic, patient with details, gentle and retiring; shuns disagreements; enjoys the moment".
Just once I'd like to be an ENTJ - (Extrovert, Intuition, Thinking, Judgment)- " Intuitive, innovative organizer; aggressive, analytic, systematic; more tuned to new ideas and possibilities than to people's feelings". But no... I always come out as an introvert - "Lord, help me to stand up for my RIGHTS! (if you don't mind my asking?)

So, what does this all prove? Absolutely nothing - except the kids got to go home early today, and I got to sit though another non-productive workshop! And, no...I didn't bring my knitting - but I wish I had. I could have just retreated to my introverted corner of the world, told everyone to stay away from me, and happily knit away.

More FOs and Something to Cheer About

Another Fidget (bet you can't make just one!), made with Plymouth Boku (two strands held together).



And a Calorimetry, also made with the Plymouth Boku, single strand.
And, something to Cheer about. Jordyn's cheering team had their first competition today and came in 2nd! Here is Jordyn on the right - going up.....
And up they go. The pictures are lousy - the lighting in the gym makes it impossible to get good pictures. These girls are true athletes and my heart was in my throat every time they 'flew' or flipped end over end. Didn't help that this was the same gym that Jacob broke his arm in playing basketball last week!

Extended School Vacation

We got an extra day off today due to not being able to get out of our houses or get the school buses on the roads! It has stopped snowing, but there is a lot of the white stuff out there. This is what greeted me at my front door - it's over my head. I'm using the extra day to ORGANIZE! I'm actually at the point where I can see the top of my computer desk!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A very Happy and Healthy New Year to all of you! My fist FO of 2008....A Fidget! I found this pattern on Ravelry and love it. It can be made with bulky yarn or two strands of worsted weight and is quick, easy and warm, which is just what I need for the weather we have been having.
I'm going to make more of these.



New Year's Day picnic anyone? I think I'll pass on that one. I have a leg of lamb defrosting, a new sweet potato recipe to try, and a nice warm house to have New Year's dinner in.

Vanilla-Glazed Sweet Potatoes
3 lb.sweet potatoes
1/4 c. butter
1/4 c. brown sugar, packed
3T. orange juice
1 T. vanilla extract
1 t. salt
1 t. orange zest
1/4 t. pepper
1/2 c. chopped pecans
Boil sweet potatoes in water until tender; drain. Cool slightly, then cut into 1/4 inch slices. Arrange the slices in a greased, broiler-proof 13"x9" baking dish, overlapping slightly. In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add brown sugar, orange juice, vanilla, salt, orange zest and pepper, stirring until combined. Heat, but do not allow to boil. Remove from heat and brush sauce evenly over potato slices. Broil 6 inches from heat until golden, about 6 or 7 minutes. Sprinkle with pecans.
Makes 6 servings.