Thursday, January 28, 2010

twenty-eight.

 


This is the really super simple tie quilt I started over 3 years ago as a gift for a friends baby. I never gave it to her, because the batting didn't line up just right, all I had left to do was sew the top corner and tie it off. For 3 years it sat because it wasn't perfect and I never got around to fixing it. I've been making an effort to let things go and stop waiting for them to be perfect. So a couple months ago, I pulled it out and finished it up without replacing the batting. Since it's a little bitty lap quilt it's not really going to work for a bed quilt for the baby who's, yeah, 3 now : / 
My mom gave me the pillow for Christmas and the rocking chair a few years ago. I like the rocking chair, but it's not super comfortable. I've been on the lookout for an older worn in one at the thrift stores.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

twenty-seven.

Thrifting.

Lands End garden clogs
King size Eddie Bauer sheet
Orange scarf - Scarves by Vera
Silk Scarf - vintage 100% silk
Fabric that's going to become my spring kitchen curtains

$5.37









Tuesday, January 26, 2010

twenty-six.

I'm not a literary snob. I read a lot. And I'll read most anything. I read the Twilight series last year after seeing everyone go on and on about it. The books were horrible. They really were. But I read them all. And even liked them a little. And I'll admit (yes you can laugh) I watched the movies. And I plan on continuing to watch the ones that come out.

A coworker loaned another book by the same author. I put off reading it for a while, because even though I got sucked into Twilight, it wasn't really very good. Then I opened it. And finished it in a day. I really, really liked it. I couldn't believe it was written by the same woman.

It's sci-fi, which I'm normally not a huge fan of but this was really well done. Read it. 




Monday, January 25, 2010

twenty-five.

Rain. In January. And it was 50 degrees. I think the weather is part of why I've been unsettled lately. It's just not right for this time of year. It's not in sync with where we normally are. I shouldn't complain. It's nice to get out and feel a warm breeze. It's just so odd.







Sunday, January 24, 2010

twenty-four



I know, this is a terrible picture. But it's Sunday, which means a 12 hour work day, so it's all I've got. The pictures not good, but the coffee cake was.

twenty-three





Friday, January 22, 2010

twenty-two.



Hiked up the path behind our house today. I needed to get out and get some exercise and fresh air. Made it all the way to the top this time and found a running stream and a pond.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

twenty-one.

I love our bedroom here. It's so peaceful. I always feel like I'm on vacation when I'm in there. I love the way the light streams in through the window and filters across the room. I tried to capture what I was seeing exactly this morning, but it's hard. Still trying to play with settings on the camera.




Ok so the mirror is dirty (ignore that) but I tried several different settings to try and capture the way the light was glowing in, but it was always soooo bright around the window. It wasn't overly bright outside, but I just couldn't get it to reflect that.

I love this mirror. It's just a Target mirror, my mom got it for me years ago. I also love our bedspread. That's from Target too. 20 bucks on clearance. I don't often shop at chain stores anymore, but I'm a sucker for Target and clearance sales.

This hangs in the window, but the light was blinding it out. This was a cheapie find, but I love this too.















twenty.



One of the first embroideries I did. It's simple, but I still love it.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

nineteen.

We've had a strange winter. Usually we're buried in snow by now. We've barely gotten more than a dusting. Our old neighborhood has gotten a good amount. Lake effect. We didn't move far, but being nestled in the hills on the other side of the city, the lake effect doesn't hit us.
The weather was warm this weekend. Near 50 one day. So, it was yet another weekend we were unable to try skiing.
This morning though, back to school and work, there was a light dusting again.
I love how the snow looks resting on trees and grasses. When the snow is still new, and pristine.
The stillness was nice this morning. The crunch of my boots on the snow. No neighbors snow blowing, no cars speeding past. I really love it here.

I've been messing around with editing some pictures. Nothing fancy, I don't have photoshop or any other photo editing software. Just the basic fixes and effects in Picasa.













 

Monday, January 18, 2010

eighteen.

I really need to stop waiting until night to take pictures. I should also try the white (or colored) background thing that AmyBean has going on. I think I'll experiment soon.

My husbands grandfather made this for him and his siblings when they were young. It's been passed on to our children.

I really love this, I love the simplicity of it. And I love that it was handmade, of course.




 




There's even a fire pole!

Sunday, January 17, 2010

seventeen.



It was a weekend. Colin was sick. I wasn't well. I didn't leave my house from Wednesday until Saturday. There wasn't a whole lot of picture taking going on. There wasn't a whole lot of anything going on, including inspiration.

While cleaning, I started thinking about these guys again. They were my mothers. My father got them for her 20-25 years ago. I always liked them growing up and she gave them to me about 5 years ago. I still like them, but I'm always tempted to get rid of them. I don't know why. I want to give them to someone that will love them. But no one does! ha! None of my friends want them, my sister doesn't want them. But I don't want to just send them to a thrift store. I feel like I'm the keeper of the trolls, I can't just discard them. There's a neat little certification that comes with them too, I should frame it and put it up with them.





It reads:

I am old. I am very old.
As old as Nature herself, and with wisdom to match. 
We live in the deep mystical region between your Imagination and Reality.
Our magic powers have never been equaled.

Nature is our life and concern: 
We collect food for the birds in the winter, make cozy beds for the bears
and snowflakes for your hair.

We store acorns and nuts for the squirrels, provide dewdrops for the spider webs and cool summer breezes. We water wildflowers in the spring, color the leaves yellow and red in the autumn, and turn our forests into a fairyland of magnificent majesty.
Because this is the home of the Trolls!

Very few have ever seen us-- We move with lightning speed. We do our work with loving care and expect you to do the same--
Only then will we also take care of you! Remember--for your own sake-- every time one of you says:
"I don't believe in trolls!"
somewhere a little Troll leaves this world forever!
Then you have lost a real friend.

They're called Arensbak trolls, and they are actually pretty neat. There are a bunch of different ones and they are still creating new ones.

Friday, January 15, 2010

fifteen.

We've caught the sick here. My littlest one has it this evening. Posts may be a little sporadic for the next few days.

Look for a follow up post on this bread over at Moonlit Hill in a day or two.


Thursday, January 14, 2010

fourteen.

Been sick and lazy. Saw this from my front window today though. It was almost 40 degrees out, so everything was melting. I'm guessing this slid from our roof onto the wire? I have no idea. It up and down, suspended from the middle by the wire.












thirteen.

I was sick yesterday, so this is my picture of the day. My husband making dinner for me, and slicing tomatoes. He hates, hates tomatoes. But he loves me.



Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Monday, January 11, 2010

eleven.




 




Finding a picture subject is a little more difficult on the days I work. I'm exhausted tonight and thought I'd take a couple of quick pics of the kiddos. They thought it would be fun to hide and run from the camera, like a game. Both of these shots are a result of that - me sneaking up on them and them thinking it was hilarious to turn away from the camera at the last second.

I do find at least, that this project has me paying more attention to the things around me, and what we're doing each day - even if my pictures don't always reflect that.

ten.



 I really kind of hate this picture. If I was smarter I would have used a different plate. But I was really tired, and really cranky and Colin kept thinking it was funny to dash his fork in front of the plate as I was taking the picture, so this is the best I got.

Ribs
from Grassfed Gourmet by Shannon Hayes

Barbecue Spice Rub
3-4 lbs spareribs or babyback ribs
Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Coat ribs with BBQ spice rub, cover with plastic wrap, and let sit overnight in fridge

Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees.

Bring ribs to room temperature, (I added more rub here) place ribs in shallow pan in middle of oven. Roast 3.5 - 4 hours (I did mine 4 and they weren't tender/fall off the bone enough for me, I'd do more like 6 or more hours, and maybe baste with some beer during cooking to keep moist). Coat generously with BBQ sauce and cook another 30 minutes, brush once more with sauce before serving.

BBQ Sauce
1 cup ketchup
1/2 cup to 1 cup red wine or tarragon vinegar
1/2 cup molasses or dark corn syrup
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder or 2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp onion powder or 2 tsp finely minced onion
1/4 tsp tabasco sauce

 Combine all ingredients in saucepan over high heat, whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 30-45 minutes uncovered. Simmer longer for a thicker sauce, or thin with extra vinegar

* I doubled the recipe because I had two racks of ribs. I also added a dash of Worcestershire sauce and some liquid smoke

BBQ Spice Rub
1/2 cup chili powder
3 tbs ground black pepper
4 tbs sugar
3 tbs coarse salt
2 tbs paprika


Combine all ingredients, store extra in air tight container.

The ribs definitely should have been cooked longer, they just weren't tender enough for me. But the flavors of the spice rub and the barbecue sauce (which was tangy instead of smokey) were really good.





Pan Fried Potatoes
from me

Since my oven was being used for the ribs, and we just did mashed potatoes the other night, I threw together some pan fried potatoes. Again, cranky and tired last night - so these were quick and easy.

Red potatoes quarted
oil
butter
garlic powder
coarse salt
black pepper
minced onion
minced garlic

Heat oil (enough to cover bottom of pan) and pat of butter in a cast iron skillet. Season oil with some salt, pepper and garlic powder

When oil is heated add potatoes

Cook about 25 minutes, flipping often. Add more salt and pepper, onion and garlic to taste during cooking time.

These came out pretty awesome. Just sayin'.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

nine.















 


I have become the crazy cat lady who thinks her kitty is the cutest thing ever, and won't think twice about telling you all about her. Over and over again. I caught her in the bathroom sink and was highly amused by her choice of nap spots.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Taking pictures

I'm not a photographer (obviously) I'm a snapshot kinda girl. Which is why I like this project. It gets me thinking and paying attention to how I take pictures. Sometime I'd love to take a photography class.

My sister in law got us a camera several years ago for Christmas and I loved it, it was simple and easy to use. A cannon powershot, so when that one broke (ok, by me dropping it) I got the newer version. This ones a couple of years old now, a powershot A570. It's not a bad camera. But all my pictures all seem to be coming out grainy lately. Now, this very well could be because I don't take care of my camera. It often travels in my purse, unprotected. Or a coat pocket. Or my husbands pants pocket.

Does anyone know what's causing the grainy-ness? Is it my failure to take care of it properly? Are my settings screwy (I do mess around with settings not having a clue what I'm doing) or is it just basic user malfunction, do I just suck at taking pictures?

Help?

eight.











Stove top popcorn. I can't believe how much of life I spent thinking popcorn just came from the microwave. The Husband taught me the stove top way about 7 years ago. I'll never go back.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

seven.






I had a 1970's copy of this I found at a thrift store. This copy was given to me on Christmas by my mother in law. This was her grandmothers copy. I love old cookbooks. And I love them even more when they've been handed down to me. It's kind of an honor, I think.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

six.








This would be the pile of Christmas stuff sitting in the middle of my house for the past several days. This isn't all the stuff, just the stuff I've gotten around to throwing in the pile. Putting out decorations is fun. Picking them up, not so much.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

five.











Tuesday. Colins night to cook He picked flapjack flappers flapjacks from the dr. suess cookbook. I reassured him breakfast for dinner was just fine. And it was.

Monday, January 4, 2010

four.



one of my favorite thrifting finds from a couple of years ago. 5 dollars, wood and hand painted. 

Sunday, January 3, 2010

three.



our first significant snowfall, on the last day of our vacation. 

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Friday, January 1, 2010