Spooky, eh?
NaBloPoMo starts tomorrow. 31 days in a row…will be impressive if I make it. See ya tomorrow!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday Night Dinner: Tex Mex Chicken Stew
It has felt like winter the past few days. Freezing temps. High winds. And supposedly some scattered snow flurries - though I didn't see them.
Nothing welcomes you home more from a day spent freezing at our desk than a hot meal already cooking in the slow cooker.
I have no idea why I don't use that thing more often.
I admit I am tentative about leaving it at home alone. My mom actually got it off the back of a truck. A delivery semi-truck to her credit. But it had been damaged, well at least the box. Which is why she was able to take it home…for free.
But since either Mike or I comes home every day at lunch to take care of our dear Nibs, I feel better using it here than any other of our dwellings.
This Tex Mex Chicken Stew warmed us up in a few ways, not only was it piping hot from the cooker, but it was spicy hot. The kind of hot that made Mike sweat and my nose run. We can thank my imprecise measurement of the chipotle peppers in adobe sauce.
I can't recommend enough…do not eyeball the peppers.
It serves nicely with some homemade baked tortilla chips and sour cream. Or reheated on top of baked potatoes straight from the Farmers Market (bonus! It's not as spicy when reheating).
Now I'm looking for more tried-and-true slow cooker recipes. Got any? I'm thinking pot roast next. Or maybe I should crack open one of those slow cooker recipe books my mother-in-law gave me awhile back.
PS: I think I'm going to attempt to participate in NaBloPoMo…starting Saturday. November's not the best month because of Thanksgiving which we are hosting, but at least I should have some stuff to post about, right?
Nothing welcomes you home more from a day spent freezing at our desk than a hot meal already cooking in the slow cooker.
I have no idea why I don't use that thing more often.
I admit I am tentative about leaving it at home alone. My mom actually got it off the back of a truck. A delivery semi-truck to her credit. But it had been damaged, well at least the box. Which is why she was able to take it home…for free.
But since either Mike or I comes home every day at lunch to take care of our dear Nibs, I feel better using it here than any other of our dwellings.
This Tex Mex Chicken Stew warmed us up in a few ways, not only was it piping hot from the cooker, but it was spicy hot. The kind of hot that made Mike sweat and my nose run. We can thank my imprecise measurement of the chipotle peppers in adobe sauce.
I can't recommend enough…do not eyeball the peppers.
It serves nicely with some homemade baked tortilla chips and sour cream. Or reheated on top of baked potatoes straight from the Farmers Market (bonus! It's not as spicy when reheating).
Now I'm looking for more tried-and-true slow cooker recipes. Got any? I'm thinking pot roast next. Or maybe I should crack open one of those slow cooker recipe books my mother-in-law gave me awhile back.
PS: I think I'm going to attempt to participate in NaBloPoMo…starting Saturday. November's not the best month because of Thanksgiving which we are hosting, but at least I should have some stuff to post about, right?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Rawr…
Project # 29 in '50 in 2008 Challenge' - Monster i-Spy Bag
Slowly chipping away.
I keep coming up with more project ideas, but time is the issue. That pesky little thing called a job is getting in the way. Ha! Alas, without it, there would be no craft. No fun.
Which is weird because when I first moved down here and was jobless, I spent a lot more money on crafting supplies than I do now.
Project # 30 in ' 50 in 2008 Challenge' - Small i-Spy Bag
I keep coming up with more project ideas, but time is the issue. That pesky little thing called a job is getting in the way. Ha! Alas, without it, there would be no craft. No fun.
Which is weird because when I first moved down here and was jobless, I spent a lot more money on crafting supplies than I do now.
Project # 30 in ' 50 in 2008 Challenge' - Small i-Spy Bag
Bray's birthday present is now complete. As soon as I saw this on craftster, I knew I had to make one for the little trouble maker. Something non-electronic to keep him occupied while in the car or at a restaurant because no matter how gosh darn cool/convenient my mom's iphone is, that kid does not need any more technology in his life.
So instead of contributing to the purchase of an extravagant gift, Bray's cool aunt (or perhaps that makes me the uncool, hippie aunt) made him a hat, scarf, washcloth and not one, but two i-Spy bags!
Because, I mean, what kid does not love i-Spy.
And I cannot tell you how much fun I had searching for little things to put in the bags. I am so bad a figuring out good google keywords, so an internet search for cheap & tiny figures was out. I had to do it old school. Luckily we have a fun store downtown that carries bins of just the thing I was looking for, though sadly they were a rip off. They were trying to charge a quarter or more for each bitty toy, even the cashier thought it was ridiculous so I got them for 10 cents each. Better but still a bit too pricey to fill 2 bags, so I went the easier route and got some fancy buttons. I can't figure out how anyone would actually use these buttons as buttons, but hey, I got themed baggies for $1.50 each so I'm not complaining.
So, Bray gets a larger MONSTER bag, that's kind of a hybrid between a game and a stuffed animal (finally another use for that fur fabric I got a bolt of for like $9 when Joann's closed in the town I used to work in) and a smaller bag that could conceively be kept in my sister's jumbo purse in case she needs something to shut the kid up while they are out.
Attached to each bag is a fabric tag showing everything that is inside on one side and on the other, a listing. An improvement I made on the original that inspired me…a laminator is just too tough to get a hold of in these parts. Plus it won't get all bent up while hiding in the depth of a bag.
PS
The best thing I found to put in the bags, you can barely see it on the Monster's tag…a mini rubber chicken! It's not even an inch long, but the funniest thing I've ever seen.
So instead of contributing to the purchase of an extravagant gift, Bray's cool aunt (or perhaps that makes me the uncool, hippie aunt) made him a hat, scarf, washcloth and not one, but two i-Spy bags!
Because, I mean, what kid does not love i-Spy.
And I cannot tell you how much fun I had searching for little things to put in the bags. I am so bad a figuring out good google keywords, so an internet search for cheap & tiny figures was out. I had to do it old school. Luckily we have a fun store downtown that carries bins of just the thing I was looking for, though sadly they were a rip off. They were trying to charge a quarter or more for each bitty toy, even the cashier thought it was ridiculous so I got them for 10 cents each. Better but still a bit too pricey to fill 2 bags, so I went the easier route and got some fancy buttons. I can't figure out how anyone would actually use these buttons as buttons, but hey, I got themed baggies for $1.50 each so I'm not complaining.
So, Bray gets a larger MONSTER bag, that's kind of a hybrid between a game and a stuffed animal (finally another use for that fur fabric I got a bolt of for like $9 when Joann's closed in the town I used to work in) and a smaller bag that could conceively be kept in my sister's jumbo purse in case she needs something to shut the kid up while they are out.
Attached to each bag is a fabric tag showing everything that is inside on one side and on the other, a listing. An improvement I made on the original that inspired me…a laminator is just too tough to get a hold of in these parts. Plus it won't get all bent up while hiding in the depth of a bag.
PS
The best thing I found to put in the bags, you can barely see it on the Monster's tag…a mini rubber chicken! It's not even an inch long, but the funniest thing I've ever seen.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Robots In Disguise
Project # 28 in '50 in 2008 Challenge' - Transformer Washcloth
I'm really liking these quick projects. Especially since they don't necessarily look like quick projects. Perhaps I really will make it to 50 projects by the end of the year. It will be tough, but may really be a possibility.
I knit this cotton Transformer washcloth for Bray's birthday at the beginning of December. Hopefully he's still into Transformers. I mean, when we saw him last weekend, he was into Iron Man. But I think there is a second Transformers movie coming out, so at least I've got that going for me.
It's actually going to be a pretty crafty birthday for him this year. Hat, scarf, washcloth…and two other similar toys that are not completely finished yet. I'm excited about them, so maybe I can finish them up for next weekend to share.
And though I have his birthday presents completely under control, I have no idea what we will do for Christmas. Yes, the "c word" is going to come more and more prevalent in the coming weeks. And finished projects will become few and far between, until the day after Christmas when everything has been given. Perhaps I should find a meme or something to participate in during the end of November and December. Have you see any good ones recently?
I really enjoy knitting patterns like this. Where I really have to pay attention to what I'm doing. Where not many rows are the same. I think it actually makes the knitting go faster, at least on this small level. I keep doing "just one more row" because I like to see the pattern emerge. Too bad we don't use too many washcloths/dishcloths around here, or else I might turn into one of those obsessive washcloth knitters.
PS
Didn't my lightbox take a great seamless white background shot? I think this is the best example I have. No editing whatsoever (besides cropping it into a square) and no flash. It was definitely luck though, because I tried to take shots of another project right after this one and it came out all "warm." I'll definitely be trying some of Making It Lovely's photography tips.
I knit this cotton Transformer washcloth for Bray's birthday at the beginning of December. Hopefully he's still into Transformers. I mean, when we saw him last weekend, he was into Iron Man. But I think there is a second Transformers movie coming out, so at least I've got that going for me.
It's actually going to be a pretty crafty birthday for him this year. Hat, scarf, washcloth…and two other similar toys that are not completely finished yet. I'm excited about them, so maybe I can finish them up for next weekend to share.
And though I have his birthday presents completely under control, I have no idea what we will do for Christmas. Yes, the "c word" is going to come more and more prevalent in the coming weeks. And finished projects will become few and far between, until the day after Christmas when everything has been given. Perhaps I should find a meme or something to participate in during the end of November and December. Have you see any good ones recently?
I really enjoy knitting patterns like this. Where I really have to pay attention to what I'm doing. Where not many rows are the same. I think it actually makes the knitting go faster, at least on this small level. I keep doing "just one more row" because I like to see the pattern emerge. Too bad we don't use too many washcloths/dishcloths around here, or else I might turn into one of those obsessive washcloth knitters.
PS
Didn't my lightbox take a great seamless white background shot? I think this is the best example I have. No editing whatsoever (besides cropping it into a square) and no flash. It was definitely luck though, because I tried to take shots of another project right after this one and it came out all "warm." I'll definitely be trying some of Making It Lovely's photography tips.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Pumpkin Throw Down…
Project #27 in "50 in 2008 Challenge" - Oscar the Grouch Pumpkin
I work for a very serious company…
We do things like paint hot dog ornaments and decorate pumpkins.
The joys of working for a small company in a creative field. We may have a lot of work, but we have a good time too.
So today we had our "first annual pumpkin throw down" with another small company we work with a lot. 6 contestants, some gourds and 4 prizes at stake.
Considering the desperate struggle to figure out how to decorate/carve my greenish blue pumpkin (picked for its beauty, not for its decorating prowess) after Grey's Anatomy last night, I actually pulled off a double win.
Most creative and Best of the Patch. Hell yeah!
If only I could share my mani/pedi with Mike. For he deserves some major props too. He's the one, after seeing me struggle to make a pumpkin clock ("most timely" - Ha Ha!) and listening to me complain that I busted my carving knife, said, "Well…it's a green pumpkin, so you should make Oscar the Grouch." With a roll of the eyes.
That was all I needed and in about 2 hours (and Mike's assistance constructing my lid out of wood) Oscar and Slimely the Worm were created.
The worry that I was going to have the lamest pumpkin proved to be unnecessary. But really I think I swayed the wait staff at the restaurant with my use of props and sewn eyebrows.
Or maybe as Mike suggested, Slimey just pulled it all together.
We do things like paint hot dog ornaments and decorate pumpkins.
The joys of working for a small company in a creative field. We may have a lot of work, but we have a good time too.
So today we had our "first annual pumpkin throw down" with another small company we work with a lot. 6 contestants, some gourds and 4 prizes at stake.
Considering the desperate struggle to figure out how to decorate/carve my greenish blue pumpkin (picked for its beauty, not for its decorating prowess) after Grey's Anatomy last night, I actually pulled off a double win.
Most creative and Best of the Patch. Hell yeah!
If only I could share my mani/pedi with Mike. For he deserves some major props too. He's the one, after seeing me struggle to make a pumpkin clock ("most timely" - Ha Ha!) and listening to me complain that I busted my carving knife, said, "Well…it's a green pumpkin, so you should make Oscar the Grouch." With a roll of the eyes.
That was all I needed and in about 2 hours (and Mike's assistance constructing my lid out of wood) Oscar and Slimely the Worm were created.
The worry that I was going to have the lamest pumpkin proved to be unnecessary. But really I think I swayed the wait staff at the restaurant with my use of props and sewn eyebrows.
Or maybe as Mike suggested, Slimey just pulled it all together.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Big Winner!
Look what I won from one of the newest podcasts, Craft Mentality, I listen to…Frabjous Fibers recycled silk yarn!
It's pretty, isn't it?
Thanks Amber & Tasha (and the random number generator).
I encourage you to check them out. A little bit of knitting and crafting, cooking (specifically vegan cooking), toss in some Project Runway, a bit of life and some music. It really has something for everyone.
The problem is, I have no idea what to make with it. It's so luxurious looking, I'm thinking it would make a nice gift for someone. I just need some ideas. So if you have any ideas of what I can knit up with a hank of recycled silk do share!
edited to add
I have about 180 yds of this yarn…any ideas for that amount?
It's pretty, isn't it?
Thanks Amber & Tasha (and the random number generator).
I encourage you to check them out. A little bit of knitting and crafting, cooking (specifically vegan cooking), toss in some Project Runway, a bit of life and some music. It really has something for everyone.
The problem is, I have no idea what to make with it. It's so luxurious looking, I'm thinking it would make a nice gift for someone. I just need some ideas. So if you have any ideas of what I can knit up with a hank of recycled silk do share!
edited to add
I have about 180 yds of this yarn…any ideas for that amount?
Monday, October 06, 2008
One for Me, One for You: And So It Begins…
My October choice fabric - Heather Ross - Lightning Bugs & Other Mysteries
Our adventure begins. The best thing about this project (besides staying connected with my great friend) is allowing myself to get the fabric I've been coveting, but never felt justified in buying. One because of the price, but more importantly because a lack of project. The only problem is I've waited so long to get these fabrics that they are tough to come by.
It will be interesting to see how we each incorporate the other's fabric into our own style. I must apologize now, Darcy, you'll probably be getting some crazy fabrics from me. I'm sure you'll be much more sensible than I, because tough I'm beating you in the "grown up" game, you've always been the more mature of the two of us. :)
Darcy's October choice fabric - Holly Holdermann for Lakehouse Dry Goods - On Pins & Needles
After sitting on Darcy's fabric for a week, mine has finally arrived so fat quarter cutting is on the agenda tonight so fabric-y goodness will be on its way to the sunshine state (that's California, right? Or is it Florida?).
And if the quilting gods weren't smiling down on me enough, I woke up to an email from Beverly of Taccolina. That's like getting an email from a celebrity, it was she and Jennifer of CraftSanity that inspired me to rope Darcy into this little collaboration. And she was just checking in to see how we were doing and if I'd like to join their new flickr group. Even though we're not going to be exactly art quilts - I might try and push Darcy towards that "feel" - hopefully we'll be accepted because since we're new to quilting, it's all ART and a CHALLENGE, right?!
So keep tuned as the month fades away for an update on what we each came up with. It'll be exciting…and hopefully not a disaster. Wish us luck!
And if the quilting gods weren't smiling down on me enough, I woke up to an email from Beverly of Taccolina. That's like getting an email from a celebrity, it was she and Jennifer of CraftSanity that inspired me to rope Darcy into this little collaboration. And she was just checking in to see how we were doing and if I'd like to join their new flickr group. Even though we're not going to be exactly art quilts - I might try and push Darcy towards that "feel" - hopefully we'll be accepted because since we're new to quilting, it's all ART and a CHALLENGE, right?!
So keep tuned as the month fades away for an update on what we each came up with. It'll be exciting…and hopefully not a disaster. Wish us luck!
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