Category: creativity

Now that’s a salad.

1 Comment
I’m not really entirely sure where the idea for this salad came from.  Saturday night, I was given the task of creating a salad for dinner.  There was iceburg lettuce, onions, broccoli, carrots, a bunch of fresh herbs.  I pulled out a few eggs and decided to hard boil them and made some croutons with some french bread.
And then I diced the onions and broccoli into tiny little bits.  I started caramelizing the onion in butter & olive oil and when it looked good, tossed in the broccoli and just cooked it.

 I chopped the lettuce, julienned the carrots, chopped fresh thyme & dill and threw it on top.  I chopped the hard boiled eggs and added them as well.   I added the croutons and the broccoli mix, a wee bit more olive oil and some vinegar – I used some tarragon as well as red wine vinegar – and tossed it all together. 

 It was a lovely salad.  The cooked broccoli & onion gave it a really good flavor and they clung to the lettuce without a whole lot of oil.  I definitely need to experiment with that some more.  Edie got me a salad cookbook for Mother’s Day last year as a hint that I needed to liven up my salads.  I do love a nice, big salad.  I definitely need to give them more thought.

For a quick little dessert, I took some strawberries, cooked them in a wee bit of butter & chambord liquor, with sugar and a touch of balsamic vinegar.  I served them between wedges of the peanut butter cups I made last week with little dollops of whipped cream.  A perfect little sweet bite.

And that’s total amount of cooking I did all weekend.  We went out of town and it was one of those completely deserved, relaxing weekends.  I got quite a few inches of Pat’s sweater knitted and I got to spend Friday night with one of my most favorite people in the universe, just the two of us, no husbands, no kiddos.  Down right glorious.

Pat’s away at a conference this week, so it’s just me & my gal.  I pulled some soup out of the freezer for tonight’s dinner (it was dated and labeled so I do know it’s some vegetable soup I recently made) and am whipping up another salad like Saturday night’s.  This one uses cauliflower and blue cheese, because that’s what I have on hand.  

Clearly, I have come back slightly refreshed  and inspired from my weekend.  Ah, I needed that.

Joint Effort.

2 Comments
Edie wanted to make Pat a t-shirt for Christmas.  We bought the shirt, but then ran out of time to get it done, so I suggested we do it for his birthday.  Which she was agreeable to.  Of course, giving us an extra month didn’t mean it got done earlier, because it waited until 4:30 the afternoon of…..
Edie, being my dream child that she is, of course has had the drawing done since the day we brought home the t-shirt.  All I had to do was scan and print.  Ahem.
When I make t-shirts like this, I like to print it onto an iron-on transfer, apply it to muslin and then sew it on.  I think the transfers I had were old, because the first two didn’t iron on correctly and then I was horrified to discover I was out of them.  EEEK!  It was 6:30, night of Pat’s birthday and I had until they got home from soccer practice at about 7:15 to get this finished.  Thankfully, I rememembered I had a few pieces of ‘printable’ fabric on hand and I ran that through the printer and was able to get that to work.  Phew.

 Edie drew the picture herself.  Robots on the dance floor.  It actually turned out better printing directly on the fabric than the ironed-on version.  I’ve read somewhere about ironing freezer paper onto muslin or duck and sending that through the printer and I think I will try that one of these days.  I’m not wild about the quality of the fabric you buy to print on, not to mention it’s a little pricey.  Anyway, another day….

“Kiss me I’m a robot”.
Turned out pretty cool if I do say so myself.  Edie was happy with it and Daddy was happy with it.  And that’s all that matters.

Adventures in knitting

2 Comments

After way too long a hiatus, I picked up my knitting needles again.  I finished these fingerless gloves – a pattern from Knitty.  I’ve been carrying them about with me for longer than I care to admit, especially considering how easy they are and how quick they knit up.  I’ve knit that pattern, both the male and female version a few times now.  I like it.  Very easy.  I forget how much I love to cable until I do it and then I always wonder why I don’t do it more.

I like knitting, but I have a tendency to stick to smaller projects.  I don’t mind spending a year working on the same project, as I did with sweaters for both Pat & Edie, but to be honest, my finishing techniques stink.  I definitely need to take class or befriend a really good, experienced knitter who can sit me down and show me how to improve these skills.  I’ve bought myself a number of books on the subject and they’re not cutting it.  I also am totally overwhelmed by gauge and yarn types and well, alot of the basics of designing a sweater.  Scarves and gloves are just easier and much quicker.    I want to get over this. 

I bought those 4 cones of yarn from our friends at Open Gate Farm back when they had sheep as well.  I love the idea of a ‘local ‘sweater.  When I bought it, I had every intention of turning it into a sweater for Pat.  I wanted it to be some fabulous Irish Clan Sweater, but the process of figuring out the gauge, adapting it to some complex pattern, well, it more than overwhelmed me.  The yarn has sat for at least a good year, probably two, waiting for me to get my courage up to figure it out.  I’ve been assured I have enough yarn to knit Pat a sweater, but I’m nervous about making it the right size.  I can’t find a pattern I’m totally happy with. Why is it so hard to find just a plain, men’s pullover sweater pattern?
I’ve been inspired since I read this post to get back into it.  I would love to be able to knit that fast, that much.  I’m totally inspired with how creative knitting is, not to mention how relaxing and even sort of addictive it is.   You can take it along with you everywhere, unlike sewing.  You can manipulate the yarn into so many things, it boggles my mind.  I know that when I knit, I do it well, I just have to wrap my head around this gauge and sizing business.
I’m on Ravelry, but to be honest, I haven’t played around on it much and really figured out how the site works.  I did find a pattern that appealed to me through the site, so that’s a start and it’s one I think Pat will wear and so now I’m going about knitting a gauge swatch and trying to wrap my head around this process.  It’s going to be an adventure, but if I don’t just jump in, I’m never going to figure this out.  And I’ve knit scarves for everyone I know.  It’s seriously time to move on and challenge myself. Wish me luck and stay tuned!

End of the Season.

2 Comments

Since last spring, I have had the distinct pleasure in having that view right there, looking out from Leni’s front porch, while I have enjoyed the most lovely, lively and inspirational conversations every Second Wednesday of the month.

I had met Leni once, while assisting her first canning class at the cooking school, but otherwise, showed up at my first Wednesday knowing not a soul, nor what to expect. Over the months, I have met a number of lovely people, who all share a love of food, real food and alot of respect for knowing how to do things by hand, yourself. In short, I have found a world of kindred spirits. I met Rowena, who’s magazine I have picked up for years, completely inspired by her monthly meal planner. I have gotten to know Leni, my hostess.

The first time I met her, it was apparent she had this amazing knowledge of cooking and gardening that I really, really wanted to be able to tap into, but she is also charismatic as hell. I was, and still am, completely in awe that she invites me to hang out. I’m really not sure what I can offer. I like me, and I think I’m a good time, but I’m always slightly touched when other people think that about me too. Call me slightly humble.

Every second Wednesday, we have sat on the porch and discussed cooking, canning, raising children and livestock, gardening, we have toured the gardens, we have tasted each other’s treats from the garden and oven. It has been something I have looked forward to every month. Every month, I have driven home, feeling completely inspired, like anything I want to do is possible. I just need to figure out WHAT. But I also sense that will come in time. The universe has put this in my path, it will put whatever it is I’m supposed to do next in my path too. It has a habit of bonking me over the head with things.

Last night was the last Second Wednesdays of the season. They’ll resume again in May and I don’t think I can wait. Rowena mentioned she might be agreeable to some sort of winter plan….in the meantime, I will miss my Second Wednesdays. And I am already, even more than usual, anxiously awaiting the arrival of next spring already.

Kid’s clothing week challenge.

1 Comment

It’s Kid’s Clothes Week Challenge over here this week. I really was going to give it a go, but here is it Tuesday and I haven’t done a thing. I did bake cupcakes for Rebecca’s birthday last night, so that’s something nice and productive and thoughtful, right? And tonight I ordered some kid’s clothes from Land’s End (I got her the jacket she’s been asking for for months), so while I didn’t make anything, I did get her some clothes and that counts for a wee bit of something, right?
I’m going to go with that. And tomorrow I will try again to make something. After all, tomorrow is another day.

For Jed.

4 Comments

I’m a big believer in divine intervention.

Months ago, Jed’s mother and sister announced the Jedediah Thomas Smith Memorial Luncheon with all proceeds to benefit the Four Diamonds Fund to help conquer pediatric cancer. Sadly, Jed lost his battle with pediatric cancer last January and Kristin & Savannah are holding this in honor of what would have been his 13th birthday. I wanted to do something to help and told them I’d donate something for the silent auction. It’s being held Saturday, October 2.

I have since then considered many ideas for this donation and in typical me fashion, have put them off time & time again. I’ve had all summer, but of course waited until the very last minute to sew anything. Worse, I confused the day I needed to have my item to Savannah. Sweet thing that she is, she said it was fine, she knew I would come through. (It was pre-Labor Day for those wondering.)

I promised myself I’d do it this weekend. I’m tired of it hanging over my head, I feel like I can’t get anything else done until I do this one. I spent yesterday canning oodles of tomatoes so today was it. IT.

First I had to clean up my cutting table. Instead of just moving the piles that had accumulated (mostly clothes that I have a bad habit of just throwing there), I folded and sorted and put them away. In the process, several quarters, Jed’s signature means of communicating, came flying out at me. OKAY, I got it I muttered to myself. Got the space cleared and got to work. I had the radio on and considered coming downstairs to get some new music. “Some Black Keys would be good, I’ll just run down and grab some to listen to” I thought to myself. Bingo! The Black Keys came on the radio. I figured Jed was politely trying to tell me to stop farting around and just get it done. So I did.
I knocked it out in about an hour. I realized I should just keep it simple, so I used some Laura Ashley purple toile I still have from making our master bedroom window treatments. It’s nice, durable fabric. And tomorrow I will mail it to Savannah, finally.

For more information on the luncheon or the Four Diamonds Fund, check out Savannah’s blog. In my humble defense though, it took months of putting this off and a missed deadline to really figure out what I thought would do well at the silent auction. Don’t you want one of these? I do think it turned out well if I say so myself.

It’s all one big experiment.

Leave a comment

A friend gave me two of these ground cherry tomatillo plants. Not only have I never grown them before, I’ve never even heard of them, let alone tried them.

The first salsa I made with them was so-so. The second? Could have used alot more hot pepper. But I did notice they have a natural sweetness to them – similar to a mango. So, today’s experiment is to use them in a mango salsa recipe instead of the mango. I think it will be pretty tasty. Here’s hoping…

I look at gardening as an experiment. I try something and see what works. Growing different vegetables leads to experimenting in the kitchen – another favorite thing to do. It’s all just one great big experiment really.

Two in one day.

2 Comments

I had just finished posting about the dress I finished for myself when suddenly, someone decided she needed a new dress for the first day of school the next day. It was 4:15 in the afternoon and I was about to crack open a bottle of wine….but how can I say no to that?
So, in a burst of super productivity, I whipped this out.
It was going to be chocolate brown linen at first, then I realized that she is no longer of the size that I can scoop up remnant pieces from the fabric stores and whip it up into dresses for her. Her legs are simply too long. So, I reached into the stash for some purple linen that I’d been waiting to make something for me out of. Admittedly, I scooped it up on sale somewhere and made myself a skirt quite a while back, so I suppose I could share and make her something too. And purple is her favorite color now as well. I really should share.
And share I did. I whipped that thing out in a matter of hours – it’s really quite a simple dress and thanks to not only the stash, but my love of the color purple, I had everything on hand to do so.
She claims it’s ‘pretty good’, but a little too long. Given the way she grows, it might fit her halfway through next summer….she’s already told me how great it’s going to look with T-shirts and leggings underneath.
And as for the super-productivity required to make it as well as my dress? “It’s not like you’re that productive every day Mom.”
Thanks kiddo.

What Long Strange Trip It’s Been.

2 Comments

I can’t even remember when I started this dress. It was summer, and it was before we had a baby, or even a thought of one, so that places it at least 10 years ago. A friend convinced me to make myself a dress out of Liberty of London fabric. And since we had no kids, I had plenty of time and we were a full time double income couple, it seemed reasonable. I bought a pattern and without double checking any measurements on the sizing, jumped headfirst into the project.
After I finished what was hands down the best zipper job I’d ever done, I finally stopped to try the dress on for size. All that was left was the hem and the shoulder seams.

It didn’t fit.

IT DIDN’T FIT. The best damn zipper I’ve ever done in my life – and I avoid them like the plague, a small fortune spent on fabric and the most careful sewing I’ve ever done in my life and IT DOESN’T FIT.

It was too small in the chest, I couldn’t get the zipper to close. Frustrated, I threw the unfinished dress in a bag in a closet, that got moved upstairs when we built out the attic and I moved my sewing area to a corner in our new master suite. It sat there until earlier this spring, when I went looking in that crawl space for something and found this bag of forgotten fabric. And apparently projects. Having just lost a good 30 pounds thanks to the removal of my stomach tumor (and part of my stomach with it) and knowing I was thinner than I had ever been in my life, I decided to try on the dress, just to see….

It fit.

IT FIT!!!

I managed to find the original pattern and the directions I needed to finish it. I realized that I was going to have to finish the shoulder seams by hand, in a blind stitch – definitely not my strong point. So, it sat some more. Until the other day, when I was procrastinating on some other projects and decided to just give it a whirl. The shoulder seams didn’t look too shabby, so onto the hem.
I will admit, I do have fabulous legs, but there wasn’t much room for a hem and still leave the dress at a respectable length. After all, I probably cut this dress out when I was in my 20’s and now that I’m in my 40’s, I do like my skirts just a little bit longer. (But not much. Did I mention I have good legs?). I played around with different ideas and then noticed a long hunk of scrap fabric from this dress in a box of scraps I’d given Edie to play around with. I’ve been digging some unfinished ruffled edges lately, in fact, I just finished a skirt with one, so I thought I’d give that a try.

I vaguely measured the strips of fabric, didn’t even make sure the gathering stitch was evenly in the center, just ran it through the machine and went with it. I did finish all my edges, so I have that going for me, and then I simply tried to make sure the gathering stitch was at the edge of skirt fabric. I really like it. The skirt hits just at my knee – perfect.

I still have to wash it, tack down the facing in the back around the zipper, but it’s done. And it fits. I do believe a celebration is in order.

Start AND Finish.

Leave a comment

I love that my daughter has her own sense of style. And has had it since the very beginning. Unfortunately, that also means she can be very picky about what she wears. And lately, she’s not been content with alot of her clothing choices. So after a few mornings of going a few rounds about what she was wearing/not wearing to school today, I offered to make her a new shirt.
I used this pattern last summer and made it out of a white tissue weight linen. It was an easy pattern (a must for me) and it really flattered her. And, most importantly, I started and finished a project in two sittings, in less than a week. I don’t know why I like to stretch these things out, but that’s what I do.
I’ve had the ladybug fabric for a while – I know it came from the remnant bin at JoAnn’s eons ago. There wasn’t quite enough to make the whole blouse, so I used a plain white cotton on the yoke and it works. It works so well Pat didn’t even notice I had used two different fabrics. Most importantly, she couldn’t wait to wear it.