tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-299148212024-03-18T23:31:28.350-05:00Forks and NeedlesCarriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.comBlogger468125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-31819614167812602502010-06-08T13:28:00.002-05:002010-06-08T13:32:08.902-05:00I'M MOVING!Hi all!<br /><br />I'm bored with Blogger, so I'm packing up my posts, photos, and comments, and moving to <a href="http://www.forksandneedles.wordpress.com/">http://www.forksandneedles.wordpress.com</a>.<br /><br />The Wordpress premade themes are prettier, and it seems like you can do a lot more stuff. Goodbye to Blogger!<br /><br />I've imported my old posts to Wordpress, and I think it went well. There is some odd formatting in some of the old posts, but I don't know if I'll go back to fix them. What's past is past.<br /><br />Forward!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-24875955472392095002010-06-07T15:10:00.004-05:002010-06-07T15:30:13.069-05:00No Thinking or Resting, only DoingWhen I'm by myself, I like to stay busy. Well, I like to keep busy when other people are around, but they usually want to talk or some other silly stuff, so it slows down my need for busy-ness.<br /><br />This past weekend, Porkchop was gone, and is still gone doing nonsense like this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zgeAPcfZgKYqpPL5pL8oeeLxLgtgahPs45VRxloroI1lEtinUGPlWepv66_hz96ONQ5DZCfiWL9hD5bRPRkzeXxTN2rWROfRAae_phaAnMOu2-PsWz4-GhKf447lWB1-P8N9/s1600/IMG_1023.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480127125958716418" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zgeAPcfZgKYqpPL5pL8oeeLxLgtgahPs45VRxloroI1lEtinUGPlWepv66_hz96ONQ5DZCfiWL9hD5bRPRkzeXxTN2rWROfRAae_phaAnMOu2-PsWz4-GhKf447lWB1-P8N9/s320/IMG_1023.jpg" /></a><br />Yeah, she's at Disney World. She drove down with her older brother and his family. I declined the invitation because I really do dislike Disney World. Also it's June. In Florida.<br /><br />So, I've been keeping busy.<br /><br />On Saturday, I biked to the Tower Grove Farmers' market and hit up the free yoga class. I also picked up some strawberries for jam-making and green onions. After lunch and a supply run for canning lids and sugar, I made four jars of jam (sorry for the poor photo quality; all pictures were taken with my phone camera):<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjOaiOODkhLLn9j5dgQts2IZ68VsVZ3_kS8ZOJ0i1udIeDYQyryxGuv6N1pVyRJReAI_kjYtke0xjA-s0WHZo2MxQaKxducsmI8ut7_bu_7eKe_xexPtkVdevmcIV1KpT8jlE/s1600/DSC00171.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480127022118645410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKjOaiOODkhLLn9j5dgQts2IZ68VsVZ3_kS8ZOJ0i1udIeDYQyryxGuv6N1pVyRJReAI_kjYtke0xjA-s0WHZo2MxQaKxducsmI8ut7_bu_7eKe_xexPtkVdevmcIV1KpT8jlE/s320/DSC00171.JPG" /></a><br />After making the jam, I had to do clean-up, which I do not enjoy. And then it was out to the garden for pruning and tying tomatoes, and then to the community garden for weeding and scoping out work for Sunday.<br /><br />This is the star tomato plant in our backyard garden:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6_mbVlEjCjY14ovphDzlxYAafw50flaSPEW-qtOmUIey2ZSre4VtXmPCqUj9oRT5vRXkqwROZc__v_KYORsfecMI-DKLKU3cnDXA_6jrsrHAT-XbLYMMFTBSFnB4yW7gtxVc/s1600/DSC00173.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480127121717809682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv6_mbVlEjCjY14ovphDzlxYAafw50flaSPEW-qtOmUIey2ZSre4VtXmPCqUj9oRT5vRXkqwROZc__v_KYORsfecMI-DKLKU3cnDXA_6jrsrHAT-XbLYMMFTBSFnB4yW7gtxVc/s320/DSC00173.JPG" /></a></div><div></div><div>I have high hopes for this quick-growing plant!<br /><br />Sunday, I awoke bright and early and started the day with making tea...compost tea. Our tumbler has holes that allow compost juice to collect in the base. You just unscrew the cap, dump it out, and mix it with water (1 part compost juice to 10 parts water). It is highly nutritious for plants, and can be one of the most foul things ever.<br /><br />Our compost is kind of ripe at the moment, and the compost juice stunk to high heaven. I'm not a delicate person, but I thought I was going to lose my breakfast. The slugs didn't help, especially the dead slug floating in the juice. While I was mixing up the tea, I thought it was the most disgusting thing I had ever smelled. (Note foreshadowing.)<br /><br />So, my work in the community garden started with weeding the tomato bed and hauling in compost tea for it (two trips down the alley carrying one of those pails that holds 40 pounds of cat litter). The day progressed to working on the potato bed. I added the second tier and filled it with as much dirt as I could before my back started protesting:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGpZqRCZT9XGhenQUm17aDIl59-mt6iqwQf80MhiDKYIhmRwh0dCVnks0gbt6PcjAfThAtRMXhtyBiPoD2zfoYBl842vYlAaWzn54qc02wkjVThb8pi0DxEoAsqGHUEakLRN6/s1600/DSC00164.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480127000879489330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIGpZqRCZT9XGhenQUm17aDIl59-mt6iqwQf80MhiDKYIhmRwh0dCVnks0gbt6PcjAfThAtRMXhtyBiPoD2zfoYBl842vYlAaWzn54qc02wkjVThb8pi0DxEoAsqGHUEakLRN6/s320/DSC00164.JPG" /></a><br />I then staked and tied as many tomato plants as I could using my stakes from last year, as well as some that I found lying around the community garden. After that, I planted green and black beans. Finally, I ended my day with installing a fence in the cucumber bed. The little sour gherkins are desperate for something to climb! And, who knows, maybe the big cucumber plants will use it too. Nothing fancy, just fencing left from last year:<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsxTj7WEafhb2WYr2yEcn-Y2CdyQm9RkMljfWtle1IPye9Wh7jtOsaPf0wpQRLjc9LbSzllur2b7ECnhOFsGANP-6KZthCrTXSBeZ9IRtZpfm5pRSFxCWGIotfJkXUbA57mGU/s1600/DSC00165.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480127006343763602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsxTj7WEafhb2WYr2yEcn-Y2CdyQm9RkMljfWtle1IPye9Wh7jtOsaPf0wpQRLjc9LbSzllur2b7ECnhOFsGANP-6KZthCrTXSBeZ9IRtZpfm5pRSFxCWGIotfJkXUbA57mGU/s320/DSC00165.JPG" /></a><br />In between all of this work, I did a lot of weeding. In total, I spent about four hours in the community garden.<br /><br />I'm still impressed by the squash plants. HUGE!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRqWRx0n3TDj1mNHzHHtEjlOWT8CW7oHkVJVrSb_j4q1DnoMpdXXZsv3mdDouNGbnuLF37go5bvWXiK6JbNXCtdm0tLrgaudhVtnB7FHx-q6ixi2mteglE7M5MyJUubin8O23/s1600/DSC00163.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480126991241801330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRqWRx0n3TDj1mNHzHHtEjlOWT8CW7oHkVJVrSb_j4q1DnoMpdXXZsv3mdDouNGbnuLF37go5bvWXiK6JbNXCtdm0tLrgaudhVtnB7FHx-q6ixi2mteglE7M5MyJUubin8O23/s320/DSC00163.JPG" /></a><br />And the cantaloupe vine already has flowers!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86VtBGLibzWLYOJD8c7A1dUf6IOlGI9Mm1znPoWpvLnjtoFXi8TknQ1pOHRgOwhquE0xaFGHR6m_Qyeks8YEOFrju3c2r6GQJDsMBhFlGOWqPLImtYRAPfvnjxrp_5v5LHt_N/s1600/DSC00170.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480127014575554898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86VtBGLibzWLYOJD8c7A1dUf6IOlGI9Mm1znPoWpvLnjtoFXi8TknQ1pOHRgOwhquE0xaFGHR6m_Qyeks8YEOFrju3c2r6GQJDsMBhFlGOWqPLImtYRAPfvnjxrp_5v5LHt_N/s320/DSC00170.JPG" /></a><br />After garden work, I did some clean up around the house. This included dumping a bin that Porkchop had filled with leaves and left in the basement doorway (yeah, I'm looking at YOU, Porkchop!). The bin had filled with water and was even sprouting some sunflowers from the bird feeder seed. So, this bin had been sitting around for at least a month, growing fouler with each passing day. When I picked it up, dozens of mosquitoes flew out of it. Great - not only was it sprouting sunflowers, it was breeding mosquitoes. I drug the bin to the back corner of our yard and dumped it. And the stench that arose was THE most horrible smell EVER. EVER!!!<br /><br />When I went out in the yard to do other stuff, I would get a whiff of the smell and hope that no one else could smell it. Our neighbors already think we're strange, and I don't need another mark against me. But, honestly, who could NOT smell that smell? Even with a nose swollen on the inside from allergies, I could smell it with no problem. Ugh... On the bright side, the leaves should be a wonderful addition to the compost bin (after they've dried out some and are less stinky).<br /><br />Once the outside work was taken care of, I settled inside and poached a chicken. Using the stock and the dark meat, I made chao xa ga (Vietnamese version of chicken congee). For the past month or so, I've been craving a simple chicken and rice dish that my mom used to make, but I wanted it to be a little different. When I saw <a href="http://www.thewednesdaychef.com/the_wednesday_chef/2010/05/corinne-trangs-rice-porridge-with-chicken-and-lemon-grass-cha-xa-ga.html">this recipe</a>, I knew it was what I had been tasting in my head. The whole process took quite some time, but it was well worth the effort.<br /><br />With the rest of the chicken, I made a pesto-ish chicken salad that I had for lunch today. I also froze two cups of shredded chicken and 8 cups of chicken broth (and that was after using 9 cups for the recipe!). If you're looking for good poaching directions, I suggest <a href="http://www.thesustainablekitchen.com/skblog/?p=1558">this post</a>. Seriously, use a whole chicken that was raised locally...don't buy cut up parts at the big grocery store. After driving through Tyson country in Arkansas, there is no way I can buy that crap ever again. Ever smell a commercial chicken house? It's filth. Pure, unadulterated <em>filth</em>. Chickens are not meant to be raised in that manner. Now that I think about it, commercial chicken houses smell even worse than the gross leaf bin did.<br /><br />Anyway....I also had a special treat yesterday from the Mud House: an iced caramel latte (decaf) and a piece of gooey butter cake. The cake had cherries in it from trees in our neighborhood. Nice! Now I want to plant a cherry tree for sure!<br /><br />That's it! Have a great week! </div></div></div></div></div></div>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-83126734874664470582010-06-02T19:06:00.007-05:002010-06-02T20:18:19.588-05:00If It's Summertime, It's AllergytimeEvery summer I try to deny that I have allergies, and every summer I feel like itchy, congested crap. Alas, I broke out the Allegra too late, so I stayed home today and did nothing but read and accidentally leave on stove burners (sounds like fun, but it wasn't).<br /><br />Summer brings the allergies, but it also brings the good things. Like lots of strawberries:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25BUZyZS24aj8htOpXaW7K-5MomCgTMkOMJP9RJjFoNvIze_mFgiVF2zAOEz8uxv4gnKIm_4Mhhd6kqi45yJd4qJc1vfS8MbOpkEI4Xxd4xABoMhCw-X-Xk1XAqnmJBZmLNIM/s1600/DSC03789.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25BUZyZS24aj8htOpXaW7K-5MomCgTMkOMJP9RJjFoNvIze_mFgiVF2zAOEz8uxv4gnKIm_4Mhhd6kqi45yJd4qJc1vfS8MbOpkEI4Xxd4xABoMhCw-X-Xk1XAqnmJBZmLNIM/s320/DSC03789.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478332519430509890" border="0" /></a><br />For a Memorial Day gathering, Porkchop and I made ice cream using our backyard strawberries. Porkchop pureed the berries, and I cooked up the custard base. When it was combined and churned into creamy goodness, it was the best ice cream ever. Seriously.<br /><br />This year I tripled the number of sugar snap pea vines, so I've had quite a few to gather. I never get sick of these treats:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwukCFahtCI6sCvTblJiY3Cu8TXBA14yUWqyh8A5Bvm4k_8DyK60AomLYaSSF3Dx7vUrKjLxgEyfuxtTVar-Ai68RsykbvxTMsKfFHMh7qy36roingtJHynJFOqcDFflMLg72/s1600/DSC03791.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwukCFahtCI6sCvTblJiY3Cu8TXBA14yUWqyh8A5Bvm4k_8DyK60AomLYaSSF3Dx7vUrKjLxgEyfuxtTVar-Ai68RsykbvxTMsKfFHMh7qy36roingtJHynJFOqcDFflMLg72/s320/DSC03791.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478332524918864386" border="0" /></a><br />Last Friday, I took this photo of one of our backyard garden beds:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwsH8uA3iFxpdYSu8uu_PCaXqJYERJWt5Rd3KLH5yzgCBOwlVDaTjdgLWo1IDRXMkGyOrBPULbtfiHSl5iTZxlwwEJ2gHoKqu7gl8KtD3YK8VZTxB8MmMEAmEe5W0skGC-Z9A/s1600/DSC03798.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwsH8uA3iFxpdYSu8uu_PCaXqJYERJWt5Rd3KLH5yzgCBOwlVDaTjdgLWo1IDRXMkGyOrBPULbtfiHSl5iTZxlwwEJ2gHoKqu7gl8KtD3YK8VZTxB8MmMEAmEe5W0skGC-Z9A/s320/DSC03798.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478333991052710930" border="0" /></a><br />After the sun and rain of the weekend, these plants have doubled in height. Yesterday I had to remove the plastic top because the center tomato plant was pushing against it. I'll have to post more recent photos soon.<br /><br />Porkchop's potatoes are doing fantastically well, too, with lots more growth since this photo:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmS7sQfuD3PcQnZm47_64n5w82U3YKGld6YmCUR_TBj97FgUAiIRnrV7Z1UTyXT2Wrd3YhKbCNrfOh4zOWKF2vP9O-vzdj76EAbW2a7CPsgsHsdESJSIdNxeQjoipST-SNk5o/s1600/DSC03797.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfmS7sQfuD3PcQnZm47_64n5w82U3YKGld6YmCUR_TBj97FgUAiIRnrV7Z1UTyXT2Wrd3YhKbCNrfOh4zOWKF2vP9O-vzdj76EAbW2a7CPsgsHsdESJSIdNxeQjoipST-SNk5o/s320/DSC03797.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478333628790994258" border="0" /></a><br />At the community garden, the squash have really taken off. I planted butternut, delicata, and kabocha squash. This is the kabocha, which already has flower buds on it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEifLprZwgeMKT40Usjmr9ytXknUVtoFI5TIVvMkums7u2-Ls9-mwXmSwaqEnp6GQu-kuUw3egttUEBXurbrl2X9rSj8BmM3z-YV0k29fwAxg5DjMi7ncEssXjWgQI8mUG5gIH/s1600/DSC00144.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEifLprZwgeMKT40Usjmr9ytXknUVtoFI5TIVvMkums7u2-Ls9-mwXmSwaqEnp6GQu-kuUw3egttUEBXurbrl2X9rSj8BmM3z-YV0k29fwAxg5DjMi7ncEssXjWgQI8mUG5gIH/s320/DSC00144.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478332489515666514" border="0" /></a><br />Unfortunately, many of the tomato plants are struggling at the garden. I hope to dump some compost on them this weekend in an attempt to jumpstart their growth. The community garden tomato plants are so far behind mine, and they were all planted at the same time.<br /><br />Speaking of the community garden, it's a monster to manage. I spend 2-3 hours a week weeding it, and by the time I'm done I don't have the patience to do more important things like staking the tomatoes or building a cucumber trellis. So, I will prioritize this weekend and put weeding at the bottom of the list.<br /><br />While walking home from the community garden on Sunday, I spied this tomato plant growing by my neighbor's steps in the alley:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5fq0MiD1VSz1-zIDY-MHhyphenhyphenNo3HQxdx8P5L182hGLdRd6M-4p4XgG4puQw8kiVM4g_ohhOah_KQkThHAviHEMHAjjUpfnKzSdlqatoXzb-iiHVilmLvXvTCgpWexWOetZsoPX/s1600/DSC00145.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5fq0MiD1VSz1-zIDY-MHhyphenhyphenNo3HQxdx8P5L182hGLdRd6M-4p4XgG4puQw8kiVM4g_ohhOah_KQkThHAviHEMHAjjUpfnKzSdlqatoXzb-iiHVilmLvXvTCgpWexWOetZsoPX/s320/DSC00145.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478332496296784514" border="0" /></a><br />It is growing in a 1" strip of dirt, and I don't know how it's surviving. It's even producing flowers! I hope no one pulls it up because I want to see how it fares.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Other Fun Things</span><br />Sunday afternoon, Porkchop and I went on a little fishing trip with Suzi and Dale to a pond outside of Nashville, Illinois (Dale's hometown). It was quiet, cool, and green, and the perfect antidote to the muggy St. Louis weather.<br /><br />Here is Porkchop posing with one of her catches:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9hxu0bVPh07lamPpXEdVt6L3OOFbgTH5_4iQ6-uvH6eKhSIDZHfx3nbF21_yC2yvym_hsP_hmvozDSwQMvoJntW_D9dnVGDYHnA1Q5CA49ei_gOj64sotBA4foMjDJpT2guC/s1600/DSC00151.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9hxu0bVPh07lamPpXEdVt6L3OOFbgTH5_4iQ6-uvH6eKhSIDZHfx3nbF21_yC2yvym_hsP_hmvozDSwQMvoJntW_D9dnVGDYHnA1Q5CA49ei_gOj64sotBA4foMjDJpT2guC/s320/DSC00151.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478334450807212370" border="0" /></a><br />And here I am with my first and only catch:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJY7xaXXXX-ugKo8zmB5K7nuwGsC-15pVCTU30f5Ei5U8RSGOZs905WoFaD39kWV1im2OzFGv7JkExHohRd_ht1X7P8MK-gl4QKFxcm-In5zgs6AQbH4dxhc64HeXfGKw3rka/s1600/DSC00149.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnJY7xaXXXX-ugKo8zmB5K7nuwGsC-15pVCTU30f5Ei5U8RSGOZs905WoFaD39kWV1im2OzFGv7JkExHohRd_ht1X7P8MK-gl4QKFxcm-In5zgs6AQbH4dxhc64HeXfGKw3rka/s320/DSC00149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478332507470027138" border="0" /></a>I hadn't fished in more than 20 years, and Suzi and Dale's dad gave me excellent instructions. Even though I only caught one little guy (note that all caught fish were released), it was a fun time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some Old News</span><br />The bar on the corner that was becoming the bane of our existence shuttered last month! However, it was not a result of our protest petition. Instead, it seems the bar operator wasn't paying rent and was perhaps intimidating the building owner (the woman in her 70s who used to run the place). The granddaughter of the building owner surrendered the liquor license just to get the tenants out. While it's sad to hear of these circumstances, I am quite happy that the bar is closed. Our corner is quiet again, and I don't worry so much about the people walking outside our house.<br /><br />In late April, we took Keetah to the vet because of some "inappropriate urination" and her recent weight loss. It turns out she is now a hyperthyroid, kidney insufficient cat. The good news is that the thyroid medication is working great, and Keetah has put nearly a pound back on (she had lost about 4 pounds!). Her kidney levels are holding steady, too. So, as the vet told me, Keetah isn't going to drop dead any time soon. Whew!<br /><br />On that note, have a good night and a great week!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-36769424933275253692010-04-16T22:18:00.003-05:002010-04-16T22:55:20.427-05:00Weekend Night SoundsIt's Friday night, which means in a couple of hours, our block will look and sound like this:<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RkU_uwiNc2o&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RkU_uwiNc2o&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object><br /><br />This place is essentially two doors down from us. It's annoying, and the atmosphere outside the bar often feels unsafe. The bar used to be a sedate place where neighborhood drunks went, but due to a change in ownership, it is now hopping.<br /><br />It's a complicated situation with the liquor license, and I don't want to give full details here because it's boring. A few folks in the area are working on a protest petition, and I sincerely hope we're able to get the liquor license revoked.<br /><br />But on to more fun things...<br /><br />We've been doing a lot of neighborhood cleaning/gardening activities recently. Last Saturday was the cleanup blitz, and we worked on our alley with six other people. We picked up a lot of trash, raked up a ton of leaves, and generally made things look neater. On Sunday, we attended our community garden organizational meeting, and are gearing up to plant things tomorrow.<br /><br />Yes, planting day finally! We will be planting in the community garden and in our own backyard.<br /><br />Actually, we've already planted some things at our place. Here are radishes, spinach, and sugar snap peas:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOxUGrFBWd_O7Pg3wgUdZ34WkDNwIYM9Jn5E707DvcnFU2z6ueZJ5U0ocy8SPTU-P6L9xkp9CPXWZu6Tfm8R9rv3RDKLYotZK0I19YFsGduC-0n2wvJXPiL-6S-jjHQ5Ob-0a/s1600/DSC03728.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUOxUGrFBWd_O7Pg3wgUdZ34WkDNwIYM9Jn5E707DvcnFU2z6ueZJ5U0ocy8SPTU-P6L9xkp9CPXWZu6Tfm8R9rv3RDKLYotZK0I19YFsGduC-0n2wvJXPiL-6S-jjHQ5Ob-0a/s320/DSC03728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460941011823212786" border="0" /></a>This photo was taken last week, and things are much bigger already. We also have onions and beets coming up in this bed.<br /><br />In the other beds, we have a ton of volunteer plants: self-seeded tomatoes, squash, peppers, and other unknown things. I've been pulling up these volunteers because I already have seedlings that I want to plant, and it is really quite sad. I decided to leave a couple of tomato plants, and today I found them chopped off!! Damned cut worms at it already!! Or maybe squirrels...grrrr.<br /><br />We have so many unknown squash plants coming up, this year I will remember to not put squash seeds into the compost bin!<br /><br />Our most interesting volunteer is this guy:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpqnMtmLKhb785AqpesqFBBzMsYYDr-eTCA9FLb0lEiyKXP5Ws_t34-aHAAxmYtgraZ9BiJTlLLnY37VsFaEtX5ZTCUq5rile2yvGKLPMF2KPTRSeJcosUfRwoZMtEMxsbGr1/s1600/DSC03724.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCpqnMtmLKhb785AqpesqFBBzMsYYDr-eTCA9FLb0lEiyKXP5Ws_t34-aHAAxmYtgraZ9BiJTlLLnY37VsFaEtX5ZTCUq5rile2yvGKLPMF2KPTRSeJcosUfRwoZMtEMxsbGr1/s320/DSC03724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460941002223480562" border="0" /></a>At first I thought it was cabbage, and then cauliflower, but it is now much taller and has broccoli-looking things forming. This plant, and two others that I pulled out, are growing from leaves that I had composted (in situ, maybe). It is really quite strange. I remember getting broccoli in the fall through Fair Shares, and I remember it having leaves and some stalk associated with it. I'm letting this one grow just for fun. If I get some broccoli out of it, even sweeter.<br /><br />Speaking of sweet, we have a million strawberry flowers!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8K1YFseaa5jSP1illSYbhpt-lxtSGlc2s2SLM8smseG8ziIbFgYKcTeqVANJmZ2RcM_A4jCPeZd_WnNfPBO_GJJWLPuV42KRghPShYU63HUaGNoFa7_dZM19ChDCItz-ybSj/s1600/DSC03733.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8K1YFseaa5jSP1illSYbhpt-lxtSGlc2s2SLM8smseG8ziIbFgYKcTeqVANJmZ2RcM_A4jCPeZd_WnNfPBO_GJJWLPuV42KRghPShYU63HUaGNoFa7_dZM19ChDCItz-ybSj/s320/DSC03733.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460941017035281570" border="0" /></a>Okay, not a million, but very close. We let these plant run loose and haven't been cutting the runners off. I'm surprised we have so many flowers.<br /><br />And check out these flowers:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQhQd3RJX8scF-dJ4ZCfakTXd9detonhm-jr6rhekAOKyKjtyApS2u4GQr2LvIzN4JbNg5hJV6zKgafLJ52sC02Ru8njxAGoGkdMiK2j410vQLtM_PcshQZ13lUMuaj-DIMAA/s1600/DSC03735.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQhQd3RJX8scF-dJ4ZCfakTXd9detonhm-jr6rhekAOKyKjtyApS2u4GQr2LvIzN4JbNg5hJV6zKgafLJ52sC02Ru8njxAGoGkdMiK2j410vQLtM_PcshQZ13lUMuaj-DIMAA/s320/DSC03735.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460941208267441394" border="0" /></a>Blueberries! Very exciting.<br /><br />Other food stuff...<br /><br />Last week I mixed up some olive oil dough from Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day, and Porkchop made us mini pizzas using the dough:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfQ4YObIwwSUJvowdn61QFvsYYuVl4eECWIrcCVB6peX5AeyuPrg4LMI8oEYlDdAwPjdIHXS4x8eE7PfkiTaShOLFcnyRjkAX8kvkxRUj2d-5m47LiXTs-DsjWXXBq0my7mAR/s1600/DSC03718.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfQ4YObIwwSUJvowdn61QFvsYYuVl4eECWIrcCVB6peX5AeyuPrg4LMI8oEYlDdAwPjdIHXS4x8eE7PfkiTaShOLFcnyRjkAX8kvkxRUj2d-5m47LiXTs-DsjWXXBq0my7mAR/s320/DSC03718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460940990441115746" border="0" /></a>This is mine and is pesto and sundried tomato (actually ovendried because these are tomatoes we grew last summer, dried, and froze). We enjoyed these pizzas so much, we had them two nights in a row.<br /><br />This week has been all about beef brisket. We had Suzi and Dale over for dinner on Sunday, and I cooked an 8 pound brisket using this <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/04/tangy-spiced-brisket/">Smitten Kitchen recipe</a> (we also had mashed potatoes, roasted asparagus, fresh baked bread, and pound cake with strawberries picked last summer and whipped cream). The brisket was delicious, but there was SO much of it. If you combined all the previous times in my life that I've eaten brisket, it would be less than how much I've consumed this week. We have 1 and half pieces left, and I do hope Porkchop takes care of those.<br /><br />I've also been baking a lot of my favorite whole wheat banana bread. This is the second Friday night in a row I've made it. But, this loaf is for tomorrow's community garden planting.<br /><br />I can't wait to start having fresh vegetables again!<br /><br />Randomness...<br /><br />Porkchop found a perfect switch in the yard:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLp8LL7ItQ0SS5DqNyM7jSRX4NK8FByi4tXkzRjy6LqcK3qHHXAyHKcrZTqcVbLRCJT5lPceGbcCUTxGiNsbgtxFbh_uic7e-uyZGYd6odVdtbLCeUmEu5ifsFxI287lKPjGw/s1600/DSC03720.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLp8LL7ItQ0SS5DqNyM7jSRX4NK8FByi4tXkzRjy6LqcK3qHHXAyHKcrZTqcVbLRCJT5lPceGbcCUTxGiNsbgtxFbh_uic7e-uyZGYd6odVdtbLCeUmEu5ifsFxI287lKPjGw/s320/DSC03720.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460940999679952018" border="0" /></a>She and her switch are not to be messed with.<br /><br />Keetah is the most photogenic of all of us:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnWe46mV2DhP4SNk68mYDmL5ymgZL-7LXEV5wvFY9NIqAv60sLiD9Jc_QBW7B7PfOmGcAMxFDCZU-feRO5pZHB54yfqPOVPm8vG8gh5GglKt2NhmJCgddKOJlOlIuNaQW_Wts/s1600/hellokeetah.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimnWe46mV2DhP4SNk68mYDmL5ymgZL-7LXEV5wvFY9NIqAv60sLiD9Jc_QBW7B7PfOmGcAMxFDCZU-feRO5pZHB54yfqPOVPm8vG8gh5GglKt2NhmJCgddKOJlOlIuNaQW_Wts/s320/hellokeetah.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460941211050449938" border="0" /></a>It's too bad my head is in the corner of this picture. Otherwise, it would be perfect.<br /><br />Have a great weekend!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-44660486384334913562010-03-28T20:37:00.003-05:002010-03-28T21:12:38.243-05:00Happy Things from the Past MonthWe've had some good times since I last posted. I'm saving the best for last, but from earliest to latest is:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-51veZWXAol5TdbFXKVQvG15gPZ-RHsWo8HDHJZs2zm-SQ1sh7lNbyXsxif6sgPoXV3xUdIL1MR3gtYuxDH1Ue5sBTljeKY63PU0ROv-VYu3XC0EHXHBu-SC9TKevIFJb7KJu/s1600/happy.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-51veZWXAol5TdbFXKVQvG15gPZ-RHsWo8HDHJZs2zm-SQ1sh7lNbyXsxif6sgPoXV3xUdIL1MR3gtYuxDH1Ue5sBTljeKY63PU0ROv-VYu3XC0EHXHBu-SC9TKevIFJb7KJu/s320/happy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453865330797572786" border="0" /></a>Watching Antiques Roadshow with Keetah and Porkchop. I don't know why I look so joyful, so excited in this photo...maybe because I had a Monday night free to sit on the couch and watch people's junk turn into treasures. (Antiques Roadshow = my all-time favorite show.)<br /><br />Getting donuts from the Donut Drive-In. Sometimes, you need a good donut and some chocolate milk.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYuvGNxEwIkVTWbHrnTiiHf92d6ThtgbceBr-POUDMNkFdd59op3AwnGD60pDjtBeRyi0KMR-TK4Hj1nJ-Tjj7yG5XwWqrzXKYFJIV5g9I6QNsY7fJqOvSpbK951iBXYIoCAP/s1600/donuts.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGYuvGNxEwIkVTWbHrnTiiHf92d6ThtgbceBr-POUDMNkFdd59op3AwnGD60pDjtBeRyi0KMR-TK4Hj1nJ-Tjj7yG5XwWqrzXKYFJIV5g9I6QNsY7fJqOvSpbK951iBXYIoCAP/s320/donuts.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453865318303953938" border="0" /></a><br />Going to the zoo after eating donuts!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwrVUCThquGiMHr3MyqIuuEDUQixAsBHBIZuY88fsA2y9vHJmUKSoy_sP5uXqQzrg-Obdswl7YDGl4ryXrHOq0wNiAvfnKM5jfrmSPFQ3Xq7wKjr47CdTIryGOHbALDj5IiGr/s1600/elephants.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJwrVUCThquGiMHr3MyqIuuEDUQixAsBHBIZuY88fsA2y9vHJmUKSoy_sP5uXqQzrg-Obdswl7YDGl4ryXrHOq0wNiAvfnKM5jfrmSPFQ3Xq7wKjr47CdTIryGOHbALDj5IiGr/s320/elephants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453865325174908466" border="0" /></a><br />Playing scrabble with Keetah. She's a tough competitor.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqpQLwKa-Gxw4ZVvOKMrbR4ACCv9LOwXWX54WaAIeaVjj1-WJEMLvYyYWdtWXN0PAFtRt7nKdJOwmbzI3NFp4LmlioeU1zPDYzqR9BViBq03kIWFutomtUy9qyLvDm7WYYosu/s1600/scrabble.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqpQLwKa-Gxw4ZVvOKMrbR4ACCv9LOwXWX54WaAIeaVjj1-WJEMLvYyYWdtWXN0PAFtRt7nKdJOwmbzI3NFp4LmlioeU1zPDYzqR9BViBq03kIWFutomtUy9qyLvDm7WYYosu/s320/scrabble.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453865337756321778" border="0" /></a><br />Getting a new bathroom (sort of). A before picture, minus the sink and medicine cabinet:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcmzbOZY2DmhrSLYfNyADfYcM56TXZ033bG0QlFBaQJELCUiYDDiQsx69rG3bAHPp5kux6tZ2TxBWBfDloZ95qeU5OCnR50ZMqd1PZe7e1WnInKwfJNBdZUqqvJ4EiZ6pQE8l/s1600/before.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifcmzbOZY2DmhrSLYfNyADfYcM56TXZ033bG0QlFBaQJELCUiYDDiQsx69rG3bAHPp5kux6tZ2TxBWBfDloZ95qeU5OCnR50ZMqd1PZe7e1WnInKwfJNBdZUqqvJ4EiZ6pQE8l/s320/before.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453864360036463474" border="0" /></a><br />The bathroom after all of Porkchop's hard work:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4kFh51iUn9lMCZ5Vv049bLbsTbTB4wTsYTm0RJd6HVsGKBqFNgCVGRnjtCuvbz3Ay93-IpEnFpgVgIMQpiOnxHHrxTdVPeS3I33W_JmDEKDfWSZUNPxflsW-9AF0N6Irs6Cs/s1600/after.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid4kFh51iUn9lMCZ5Vv049bLbsTbTB4wTsYTm0RJd6HVsGKBqFNgCVGRnjtCuvbz3Ay93-IpEnFpgVgIMQpiOnxHHrxTdVPeS3I33W_JmDEKDfWSZUNPxflsW-9AF0N6Irs6Cs/s320/after.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453864357896021970" border="0" /></a><br />A million times better! I actually enjoy being in the bathroom now (you'll note the bathroom is tiny; the new sink and cabinet make it seem much more spacious).<br /><br />Knitting <a href="http://knittingalot.blogspot.com/2008/01/pattern-for-little-girls-dress.html">Little Sister's Dress</a> for my college roommate's baby.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxI1f-la_nIMsxDj_b-xw4Iw6eHq7uha3-RyzO0l1T3mnyqKRCpiSWgTCd5F-1A8pi3u-ewSz40BDfDV4ERd0YqhnpA8s0NEiNvoDcMbqfK7uI3jQ4bJWvGPCPQfRp0Zd8IVM/s1600/DSC03710.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKxI1f-la_nIMsxDj_b-xw4Iw6eHq7uha3-RyzO0l1T3mnyqKRCpiSWgTCd5F-1A8pi3u-ewSz40BDfDV4ERd0YqhnpA8s0NEiNvoDcMbqfK7uI3jQ4bJWvGPCPQfRp0Zd8IVM/s320/DSC03710.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453864369837783938" border="0" /></a><br />My college roommate gave me the mug below when she went to Wyoming. It's weird to think I've had this mug for over ten years, and that my roommate now has two kids. Whenever I use the mug, I think of my old roommate. Today, I used it for tea while enjoying a piece of whole wheat banana bread (my favorite <a href="http://www.africhef.com/Whole-Wheat-Banana-Bread-Recipe.html">banana bread recipe</a> - the whole wheat adds a perfect nuttiness).<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITxeH4PSixIbfpvzdbC070jY5HeGvpN7xzOYA4mJRb1loo_3Ia5ODj6i3I_U7PKslypzw5-ZZ7ayMmJADrucfGygYdAI9_QYn3JMSFdX6bWF4c_b4j5bhJGjGXGs1aMpHIlwK/s1600/DSC03716.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgITxeH4PSixIbfpvzdbC070jY5HeGvpN7xzOYA4mJRb1loo_3Ia5ODj6i3I_U7PKslypzw5-ZZ7ayMmJADrucfGygYdAI9_QYn3JMSFdX6bWF4c_b4j5bhJGjGXGs1aMpHIlwK/s320/DSC03716.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453864371876075298" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Best News of All</span><br /><br />My eye stopped twitching!<br /><br />It happened nearly a month ago, a little after my last post. Early on, I was worried about telling people, thinking I'd jinx it and then be stuck twitching again.<br /><br />Maybe it was coincident, maybe not....But the night it stopped twitching, I was popping popcorn on the stove. When the test kernels popped, hot oil spattered up on my face, even though I was shielding the pot with a lid. The oil hit my face, including a spot near my eye. I yelled from the pain (but then went back to popping).<br /><br />Later that night, my eye twitch started sputtering out. When I was getting ready for bed, I thought perhaps it had stopped. So I checked the mirror and was elated to find it was true!! But sure enough, it started again. And then stopped again.<br /><br />While the constant twitch has stopped, my eye and surrounding muscles seem to be healing still. There are still bad twitch days, like last week when my mouth twitched for two days. And there are times when my face has the pins-and-needles sensation you get when blood rushes back to a foot that has fallen asleep. Yesterday, the entire area around my right eye, including my forehead, twitched a few times, which was quite disconcerting.<br /><br />I am <span style="font-style: italic;">so thankful</span> the constant twitching stopped, and continues to remain stopped. I'm especially glad that it stopped before my Botox appointment! Since I had my twitch for more than a month, I expect it will take at least 3 months for my face to feel normal again.<br /><br />Thanks for all of your thoughts while I was a twitchy mess!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-43609507779722236852010-02-24T21:40:00.003-06:002010-02-24T21:53:54.926-06:00Pervis Kicked our ButtsThis week marks a new 6-week period of classes at the Y. Last time we took a step class, and this time we decided upon step & sculpt.<br /><br />And, it's just what I needed.<br /><br />Not for the exercise value so much, but the entertainment value. However, we definitely got a bigger workout than we bargained for!<br /><br />Our instructor, Pervis, is a total hard ass.<br /><br />She's very particular about how you do things, and she'll work with you until you get it right (which is great). And she expects people to count, but you have to do it the right way. Our last instructor was totally laid back and didn't care what the heck we did.<br /><br />And, dang, Pervis has muscles. We were doing bicep curls with a resistance band, and I could barely stretch it up past my elbows. Pervis could pull it up to her shoulders! She totally showed us up. My arms already feel like concrete, but I bet Pervis doesn't feel a thing.<br /><br />At the end of class, she asked our names and shook our hands.<br /><br />So now there's no turning back. We can't not go! We shook hands! She knows our names!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-23734545226543482432010-02-23T21:08:00.005-06:002010-02-23T22:16:01.768-06:00Falling like a BrickOur neighborhood is never boring. Whether it's collisions at the intersection by our house (at least two every month), people crashing stolen cars and then helicopters looking for the fleeing driver (last week), or someone being arrested for pooping in front of Save-a-Lot (a couple months ago), there is always something happening to keep things interesting.<br /><br />This evening as we drove home, we saw this scene on our block:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc4Rr9ur3oW6B0vQbo7YL63qpLGu3yFERvSN2_epud4cReTxzA_IbcCefSrT-8N6zLIwaa5L2_XBg1hTSEA4pKdeeeKUvR4u-Ctnf4Xxr2dyGr0Fbigqw2kwmmG9Gz5ZGZOsK/s1600-h/bricks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKc4Rr9ur3oW6B0vQbo7YL63qpLGu3yFERvSN2_epud4cReTxzA_IbcCefSrT-8N6zLIwaa5L2_XBg1hTSEA4pKdeeeKUvR4u-Ctnf4Xxr2dyGr0Fbigqw2kwmmG9Gz5ZGZOsK/s320/bricks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441641915593685186" border="0" /></a><br />A crap ton of bricks fell off the top of this building! When we drove by, the police tape wasn't up, so we think it had just happened. I hope no one was hurt! There are always at least a dozen people hanging out in front of the Family Dollar/Nails 2000/Rent-A-Center strip.<br /><br />Also, what you don't see is the vehicle that was damaged from a fender bender in front of Save-a-Lot. Oh my gosh! Two accidents at once!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Two Thumbs Down on Three Monkeys</span><br />I've always been interested in trying Three Monkeys on Morganford, and I had my chance on Saturday. Porkchop didn't want to go to Local Harvest, and I didn't want to go to St. Louis Bread, so we compromised on Three Monkeys.<br /><br />But we wish we hadn't. While it's true that we ordered items that the restaurant isn't exactly known for, we still shouldn't have felt sick afterwards. Three Monkeys is supposed to have good pizza, but we went for wraps. Porkchop had a Turkey Club, and I had a Crab Cake. We both had french fries.<br /><br />Despite the "light" description, the wraps were heavy. And the french fries tasted like they had been marinated in grease and then fried in grease and then drizzled in grease. French fries don't have to taste like that!<br /><br />Ugh! We both felt siiiiiiiick right after eating (and we only ate half of our wraps).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eye Update</span><br />Thanks to everyone for your concern and kind thoughts! It is still twitching....boo!<br /><br />So, I don't know if I've written this before, but my lower eyelid spasms every second, sometimes more. It never stops. It's there right when I wake up, and it goes until I go to sleep (I think it probably happens during my sleep too). Also, something I haven't mentioned before...sometimes my mouth twitches as well.<br /><br />Based on this information, the eye specialist I saw this morning said I probably have right <a href="http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/hemifacial_spasm/hemifacial_spasm.htm">hemifacial spasm</a>. If you looked at the link, you'll see that I might (or probably: most likely) be looking at a lifetime of this spasm.<br /><br />This afternoon I had an MRI to see if there is something pressing on my facial nerve. Most often, it's a blood vessel. Unfortunately, the vessel is often so small, you can't even see it on imaging.<br /><br />This is all very hard to take. I <span style="font-style: italic;">really</span> don't want to have this forever, nor do I want it to get <span style="font-style: italic;">worse</span>. I have Botox scheduled for March 18, and I hope it works. However, I don't want to have Botox forever! I just want my non-twitching face back.<br /><br />There is a <a href="http://www.hfs-assn.org/">support group</a> for people with hemifacial spasms. Reading the welcome message was comforting, but also disturbing. It <span style="font-style: italic;">has</span> played havoc with my emotional well being. It <span style="font-style: italic;">has</span> started to control my life, my emotions, and my thoughts. My vibrant smile <span style="font-style: italic;">has</span> turned to a frown.<br /><br />Murrr....Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-70673445952938190092010-02-15T19:50:00.005-06:002010-02-15T20:28:17.132-06:00Self StudyBesides knitting on a secret project, watching the Olympics, and working on school work, Porkchop and I fit some fun things into the past weekend.<br /><br />We kicked it off with dinner Friday at Thai Basil Spice, followed by enjoying some wine and the Olympics opening ceremony. The ceremony pretty much sealed our desire to move to Canada. Plaid-clad punk fiddlers? kd lang performing the closing song? Slam poetry celebrating diversity? I want to move there!<br /><br />Saturday was full of grocery shopping and watching Porkchop's hockey game. Oh, and people watching from our house! The Mardi Gras parade was Saturday, and people in our neighborhood (about a mile from the parade) really got into it. It was great to see people walking around decked out in beads and fun hats. Quite a few floats went down our street on the way to the parade, so we got to enjoy some of the parade without being crushed by drunken revelers.<br /><br />While I normally stay home for Porkchop's Sunday morning hockey game, I went this time. I'm glad I did because Porkchop had the most awesome goal! She was on the goal line - so parallel to the net - and was able to launch it in the top corner as she spun around! Everyone was super impressed.<br /><br />After the game we lunched at <a href="http://www.ladolceviabakery.com/">La Dolce Via</a>. Even though they were out of the tortas and I had to settle for an egg scramble, it was super delicious. Here I am living it up with a cup of decaf coffee and a slice of their zabione. Yum!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJA9ijI9J5PvJGpQdOGczgBjYP1L4mzwlscPPrTMhJB58qLLPekf2ZwgQ3TSho9xv7T0DvHCMUl72W27sGy1BsSLsfQtyb_99MNyHltIBVsiBmu3EjIT4MC_8TyogREUkEY2v/s1600-h/dessert.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJA9ijI9J5PvJGpQdOGczgBjYP1L4mzwlscPPrTMhJB58qLLPekf2ZwgQ3TSho9xv7T0DvHCMUl72W27sGy1BsSLsfQtyb_99MNyHltIBVsiBmu3EjIT4MC_8TyogREUkEY2v/s320/dessert.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438656659695725410" border="0" /></a><br />Sunday evening, we made jumbalaya using <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/cajun-jambalaya-recipe2/index.html">Emeril's recipe</a>. We increased the amount of vegetables (1 onion, 1 green pepper, 1 celery stalk, and a can of diced tomatoes) and give it two thumbs way up. It tasted much better than it looks here:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvDuWfo3ri7Gue6vOIfbvn7EmwU8mFQeEHUdzaDmIKVnSCLVJyAzUoD7mDacaPwolPuzV-gjwbT4C5nJmPe402uuH_mXkRh9VnijscF1iMV_4jAQ0Dq_4GA51XoX56ocwpf31/s1600-h/DSC03707.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkvDuWfo3ri7Gue6vOIfbvn7EmwU8mFQeEHUdzaDmIKVnSCLVJyAzUoD7mDacaPwolPuzV-gjwbT4C5nJmPe402uuH_mXkRh9VnijscF1iMV_4jAQ0Dq_4GA51XoX56ocwpf31/s320/DSC03707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438656655115811842" border="0" /></a><br />So...my eye is still twitching. I'm trying to accept it without letting it control me. It's very <span style="font-size:100%;">svadhyaya (self study). The twitch has made me become self aware of my efforts and limitations. While I can't control the twitch, I can control my feelings about it. In short, I'm trying to not get stressed out because of it and waste energy on it. The hardest part is going to work. Work makes my eye twitch, and the twitch gives me a headache, and the headache makes it hard to work...and then it's an endless downward spiral from there. Ah well, I'm still trying to remain hopeful that it stops soon.<br /></span>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-54735165891665955152010-02-10T21:41:00.002-06:002010-02-10T22:00:25.447-06:00Strange OfferingsWhile taking out the trash this past weekend, I found this little collection by our back gate:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfr7MRB_K-Ybn4PtaAIodhlU2_j57CWcOoH3q5xM2ucxwDnj9Nt5uzRX4Ejrw-KwomH0F0RXZq_7utG2R5BRFWDY7qOpntkJa4B9fOw4Wmuyiwjvwrw85jEbzLArhq11eW-LWh/s1600-h/DSC00133.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfr7MRB_K-Ybn4PtaAIodhlU2_j57CWcOoH3q5xM2ucxwDnj9Nt5uzRX4Ejrw-KwomH0F0RXZq_7utG2R5BRFWDY7qOpntkJa4B9fOw4Wmuyiwjvwrw85jEbzLArhq11eW-LWh/s320/DSC00133.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436826606670457874" border="0" /></a>Kind of weird, right? It's a little skillet and a basket of three ornamental gourds. Our back gate is recessed from the alley, and you really have to look to notice the walkway by the garage. My possible explanations are:<br /><ul><li>Someone knows I dabble in <span style="font-style: italic;">in situ</span> composting and that I cook, so they left these as presents.</li><li>Someone found these by a dumpster and stashed them in our walkway, and they plan to pick them up later.</li><li>We have a super strong squirrel residing in the area that has a penchant for fall decorations and cookery items.<br /></li></ul>This afternoon, I saw <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/chocolate-puddle-cookies-recipe.html">this post</a> on 101 Cookbooks about chocolate puddle cookies. Not wanting to do classwork tonight, but wanting to do something productive, I made them:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzAl9y0a6XDzROxRJnpCtPZU2Pq0fe9g3oeoSE9xB2xE0ForuuFhroK46_M004QpP0jVwTVlXkPje7rT3vYJkPs3qa_mLEtFn6nyiZ5nV5I8zpchR7Bzl6PMQ7jTV1iJBaM8h/s1600-h/DSC03704.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzAl9y0a6XDzROxRJnpCtPZU2Pq0fe9g3oeoSE9xB2xE0ForuuFhroK46_M004QpP0jVwTVlXkPje7rT3vYJkPs3qa_mLEtFn6nyiZ5nV5I8zpchR7Bzl6PMQ7jTV1iJBaM8h/s320/DSC03704.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436826032718618946" border="0" /></a>In real life, they look much more like the photo on the 101 Cookbooks blog. I substituted pecans for walnuts, and wow, are these cookies delicious. Rather brownie-like and super tasty. This recipe is a keeper.<br /><br />On Monday of this week, I had an acupuncture appointment in an attempt to relieve my eye twitch. After the appointment, I had a mini-breakdown and called in sick for the day (the great thing about working in a School of Social Work is that most people are super empathetic and understanding). I was able to schedule a massage for the afternoon, and generally tried to de-stress and stop thinking about my eye. The massage was incredible. I was so lucky to hear about <a href="http://www.gardenwalkmassagetherapy.com/home.aspx">Garden Walk Massage</a> off of Lafayette Square; my therapist saved my day. I feel so much better, but unfortunately, my eye twitch is still with me.<br /><br />This morning I had an eye exam and found that I can rule out eye strain. My vision is still just fine. However, I do have some sort of eyelid margin disease in which my eyelids are coated with oily particles and bacteria. This explains why my eyelids always feel irritated and itchy, so it's good to get that taken care of with antibiotic drops and eyelid scrubbing. But, it doesn't explain the twitching.<br /><br />Alas...Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-89714975346675233922010-02-04T08:49:00.005-06:002010-02-04T09:05:49.446-06:00A Case of the TwitchiesMy right eye has been twitching for more than a week.<br /><br />The day it started, it was big jerking twitches. Now it has settled into a subtle <em><span style="font-size:78%;">twitch-twitch, twitch-twitch.</span></em><br /><br />If I didn't know me, I'd think I was shifty-eyed and up to no good. A louse, a rat.<br /><br />It's driving me to my breaking point. Last night I went to bed at 9:30, and while I awoke fully refreshed, the twitching was still there.<br /><br />It slowly wears me down. By this afternoon, I will have a headache and my eyes will hurt.<br /><br />I made an appointment with an eye doctor person, but it isn't until February 17. Two weeks! In two weeks, I will have pulled out all of my hair and started hitting myself as a distraction from the twitchies.<br /><br />Anyway....<br /><br />Here I am last Friday, getting ready to enjoy the Fountain on Locust's brownie in a cup (thanks to a gift certificate from Suzi and Dale!). For comparison, I'm also pictured with Porkchop's dessert: the world's smallest ice cream cone (in butter pecan). (P.S. This picture also shows my tilted duster in action. Unfortunately, it's too dark to see my clapotis in action, but it's there too.)<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyjW4_v2y2qC7t39gOXOtmIhIVbcjm-r020Osut-zGKEYEoHmpmyFRGjGgiTBroP8FG7jaFMHrcidJTf8O7tQo6cGkhezJPhkvkuMj8eVhhs7amDRBi-CBrfeL4xy272LoeTV/s1600-h/brownie.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5434401879159885906" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpyjW4_v2y2qC7t39gOXOtmIhIVbcjm-r020Osut-zGKEYEoHmpmyFRGjGgiTBroP8FG7jaFMHrcidJTf8O7tQo6cGkhezJPhkvkuMj8eVhhs7amDRBi-CBrfeL4xy272LoeTV/s320/brownie.jpg" /></a>People can keep their semifreddoes and panna cottas and tortes and whathaveyou because the brownie in a cup is perfection. It's a made-from-scratch brownie topped with vanilla ice cream (imported from Wisconsin), made-from-scratch hot fudge sauce, real whipped cream, and homemade candied orange peel. So, it's essentially something I would make at home. The brownie is blissfully free from that icky industrial-brownie taste, the hot fudge is delightfully fudgy, and everything else is just plain-and-simple delicious.</p><p>I would like to eat one everyday. And if my eye continues to twitch, maybe I will.</p>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-23401247037239221762010-01-26T13:14:00.005-06:002010-01-26T13:47:08.008-06:00Give us the Cookies!Here in the Midwest, Girl Scout cookie time has hit. We've ordered from a faculty member's daughter, the daughter of someone who has an office near me, and the daughter of Porkchop's boss.<br /><br />I'm a pretty easy target for Girl Scout cookies because I went through the travails of cookie-selling myself. Well, I should amend that statement because if a Girl Scout has already sold a hundred boxes, she doesn't really need our help. Nope, I have a dear place in my heart for those Girl Scouts who are having a hard time selling. <em>They're</em> the ones who need our help.<br /><br />You see, when I was a Scout, depending on the number of boxes you sold, you received a cookie badge sized accordingly. With the exception of one year, I always had the smallest badge. And, I was always the only one in my troop to have the smallest badge.<br /><br />Do you know how that feels? I didn't really care about the number of boxes I sold because I knew my parents donated money to my troop throughout the year to cover costs. But I still hated feeling like the cookie outcast. And since you put the badge on your sash or vest, every other Scout knew that I was a cookie loser.<br /><br />I had a hard time selling for the following reasons:<br /><ol><li>We didn't have any relatives in my town. Our relatives in Oklahoma weren't really the cookie-buying type. Well, they probably would have ordered a lavish amount of boxes, but they wouldn't have paid up when the cookies were delivered.</li><li>My mom worked from home and my dad's workplace was small. I could count on the library staff for 15-20 boxes, top.</li><li>My parents didn't have many friends. The friends they did have all had kids in Scouts.</li><li>I was shy and suffered social anxiety, and it was really hard for me to go door-to-door in our neighborhood and have people say No, I don't want your stinking cookies.</li></ol><p>There was only one year in which I achieved the 50+ boxes sold cookie badge. However, it was only because my dad put us down for about 30 boxes. Still, I felt pretty proud to sew that badge on my sash.</p><p>I told all of this to a co-worker who said she wasn't ordering from our faculty members' daughter because she (the co-worker) tends to eat an entire box of Thin Mints in one sitting. The faculty member in question is from Korea, is very quiet, and probably won't send her daughter door-to-door. I told my co-worker, look, XXX probably isn't going to sell any boxes outside of our office, that's the reality, and I don't want her to feel bad.</p><p>I think my co-worker is reconsidering.</p><p>I love the Girl Scouts, but I do wish they would reconsider the cookie incentive stuff (I think the incentives are a bit more complex these days). I mean, come on, the organization is supposed to help build girls' self-esteem, not make them feel bad because no one wanted to buy cookies from them.</p>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-41486063344469675972010-01-18T20:38:00.003-06:002010-01-18T21:02:34.509-06:00School DaysStart tomorrow for Porkchop and me!<br /><br />For me, I'm taking another online class. This time, it's Summative and Formative Evaluations. Judging from the textbook, it's about evaluating online learning systems. The textbook cracks me up because the illustrations look like something that an ironic comic artist would do...it's all clip art with word balloons inserted. The only difference is that I think the textbook author is serious with her illustrations.<br /><br />More excitingly, Porkchop starts teaching a printmaking class at a local community college! But, I think she is more irritated than excited because the art department at said college seems to be run by the two most scatterbrained people around. Porkchop gave them a completed application twice, told them which sections she could teach multiple times, and has yet to receive her employee number, ID card, and keys to the building where her class will be. Oh, also, the printshop is full of woodshop materials that were supposed to be moved before classes, but the saws and planers are still by the printing presses.<br /><br />Since today was my last day off for quite some time, I took it kind of easy. After taking Porkchop to work, I went to the Y and swam laps. This was my first time lap swimming for about six years! It went pretty well, considering my long absence from the pool, and I decided a half mile was okay for today. I finished my Y trip with some whirlpool and sauna action.<br /><br />Swimmers need to eat, so when I came home, I made a bacon and cheese omelet, which was eggs-cellent (I've been waiting all day to type that!). With our new little Calphalon skillet, I can make perfect omelets. Look:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9egmsDORilVxU6bmPRQHB5dSXgRMQ4zlvLdy8NCfhxtW2NOHvilSojp-nHuZ4vZvGzQfpKqiSLMojvkLGrbBw6Y-rknsjbp3liuw4wF-h3hQDpCo789dFtY4CB-Tu4Xw7ICye/s1600-h/omelet.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9egmsDORilVxU6bmPRQHB5dSXgRMQ4zlvLdy8NCfhxtW2NOHvilSojp-nHuZ4vZvGzQfpKqiSLMojvkLGrbBw6Y-rknsjbp3liuw4wF-h3hQDpCo789dFtY4CB-Tu4Xw7ICye/s320/omelet.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5428277141247586146" border="0" /></a><br />I was so impressed with the omelet-making, and I think the skillet might work well with crepes.<br /><br />I was still hungry after the omelet, so I made <a href="http://culinaryinfatuation.blogspot.com/2009/02/strawberry-banana-bread-with-pecans.html">this strawberry-banana bread </a>using frozen berries that we picked over the summer. The only change I made was to substitute 1/2 cup whole wheat flour for white flour, which is enough to fool you into thinking that the bread is healthy. Oh, and I didn't have pecans, so no nuts for us. The bread is delicious, and I totally recommend the recipe.<br /><br />In other cooking news, I made a yummy chicken curry tonight using the Splendid Table cookbook. I'm also on a spaghetti kick lately, and I can't wait to try this <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/2010/01/tomato-sauce-with-butter-and-onions/">tomato sauce recipe</a> (only three magical ingredients!).<br /><br />All for now. Have a great week!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-43940472053423222322010-01-04T13:52:00.003-06:002010-01-04T14:01:03.265-06:00In These Cold TimesI look at Madison weather to make me feel better. But, it's currently about the same temperature there as it is in St. Louis, so I had to expand my weather search to Minneapolis.<br /><br />Yeah, it's a lot colder in Minneapolis. Compared to there, it's downright warm in St. Louis.<br /><br />Only, it doesn't feel warm.<br /><br />This morning was a long, bitterly cold walk from the Metro to my office. It was one of those cold walks during which your nose first freezes, and then your snot unfreezes and leaks out your nose onto your face.<br /><br />Tomorrow, I think I'll carry a tissue with me. Because it isn't cool to arrive at work with snot frozen on your face.<br /><br />Yesterday afternoon, we hit the hot tub at the Y. It was delightfully warm and relaxing, and not too crowded.<br /><br />Some people go to the Caribbean for a break from the cold. Us, we'll go to the Y and ride the lazy river a few times.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-60828577359872323002010-01-01T14:26:00.004-06:002010-01-01T14:59:22.895-06:00Well, Hello 2010!We ended 2009 with a big food bang at the new <a href="http://www.brasseriebyniche.com/">Brasserie by Niche</a>. Porkchop and I agreed that it was the best meal we've had in a long time. I can't say enough how perfect it was!<br /><br />We started with an order of gougeres, which were addictively cheesy and warm and yummy. I went the 3-courses-for-$30 route and shared my small plate of seared sea scallops and roasted beets with Porkchop. Also perfectly done and super tasty.<br /><br />But, the stars were our main courses. Porkchop had a well-done New York strip with pommes frites. The steak was tasty (even though I'm not a big steak fan), but the fries were out-of-this-world delightful. Next time, we'll order a big plate of those.<br /><br />Before I write about my entree, I want to preface by saying that, since I started eating meat again over three years ago, I've only ordered beef at a restaurant once (and it was a burger that I totally regretted ordering). So, it was a bit of character for me to order the braised short ribs, but I'm so glad I did! The meat totally fell off the bone and melted in my mouth. The accompanying pureed potatoes and roasted carrots were also perfect. I didn't even need to season my potatoes.<br /><br />For dessert, I went with the profiteroles, and Porkchop ordered the lemon tart. Again, perfect. For drinks, I had a glass of Riesling, and Porkchop had the <a href="http://www.specialtybeer.com/beer,index,duchesse_de_bourgogne.html">Duchesse de Bourgogne</a> (Flemish red ale! Yum!).<br /><br />So, I definitely recommend Gerard Craft's latest venture!<br /><br />After stuffing ourselves and changing into pajama pants when we came home, we made new goals for the new year. But first, here's how I did on last year's goals:<br /><ul><li>Plant my own vegetable garden! <span style="font-weight: bold;">CHECK</span>.<br /></li><li>Can my own food! <span style="font-weight: bold;">CHECK.</span></li><li>Figure out my career. <span style="font-weight: bold;">WORKING ON IT.</span> I started a Masters program, which counts for something.<br /></li><li>House maintenance: paint inside, paint the foundation, finish the drylocking in the basement, put up that additional downspout, fix up the backyard.... <span style="font-weight: bold;">NEEDS WORK.</span> We only painted downstairs; the rest of the items still need to be done.<br /></li><li>Learn how to knit Fair Isle-style. <span style="font-weight: bold;">INCOMPLETE</span>.<br /></li><li>Do more baking! <span style="font-weight: bold;">SORT OF.</span><br /></li><li>Secret project with Porkchop. <span style="font-weight: bold;">STILL IN PROGRESS.</span></li></ul>I'm okay with my progress on last year's goals. I'm not going to beat myself up for not taking up stranded knitting or not drylocking the basement.<br /><br />Here are this year's goals:<br /><ul><li>Be more flexible and less controlling. I'm working on being more open to others' ideas about how to do things. And I'm trying to not let things like slightly open drawers and cabinet doors bother me (But I still can't stop closing Porkchop's dresser drawers! Open drawers drive me crazy!).</li><li>Do more neighborhood things. I'm secretary of our neighborhood association, but I want to do even more and meet more area residents.</li><li>More regular exercise. I started the ball rolling today with joining the local Y! Porkchop and I even signed up for a step class together! I'm looking forward to swimming regularly again and taking advantage of the hot tub, sauna, and steamroom.</li><li>Bake more with whole grains. Yeah, I need to cut back on the white flour.</li><li>Stranded knitting! See last year's goal.</li><li>Practice Spanish. This will be the hardest goal for me to accomplish, I think, especially since I remember more French than Spanish.</li><li>Save for trips and a new computer.</li><li>Be more positive at work. This past year, I gave into some negativity, and I want to kick that in the ass.</li><li>Be better with house maintenance. See last year's goals.</li></ul>Finally and most importantly, I want to spend more time like this with my family:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmDGTBF4bs6SVhJW96mNA9fbr7ocnFC__M4coLJKvuBMZRjeqbmIAF-YiVLArqwJthtJBR-C-co42L7720LIVBNizyDJ1MDzvdB13oxIoMGpFYKBJobaATVi1-z4oJiRMBEjx/s1600-h/ourfamily.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJmDGTBF4bs6SVhJW96mNA9fbr7ocnFC__M4coLJKvuBMZRjeqbmIAF-YiVLArqwJthtJBR-C-co42L7720LIVBNizyDJ1MDzvdB13oxIoMGpFYKBJobaATVi1-z4oJiRMBEjx/s320/ourfamily.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421877127606943250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Okay, time to start working on things!<br /><br />Have a great 2010!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-55960689851755756482009-12-29T09:23:00.003-06:002009-12-29T10:00:50.562-06:00Working from Home is the BestI'm working from home for most of this week, which is awesome. There isn't a lot to do at the moment so I take breaks to do things like mop the floors and update my blog. I might also handwash some sweaters.<br /><br />Yes, it is an exciting life.<br /><br />Our Christmas trip to Arkansas went well, considering that my sister is still living with my parents and is self-medicating with Klonopin. There is some tension there. And, while I want to help all parties involved, I also don't want to touch that situation with a 300-mile-long pole.<br /><br />Present-wise, it was a great Christmas. My mom limited my sister to just a few new, purchased gifts for everyone. If you remember <a href="http://forksandneedles.blogspot.com/2008/12/its-time-to-be-thankful-but.html">last year's presents</a>, you know this is a Good Thing.<br /><br />Porkchop surprised me with all of my presents, but particularly this set of new cookware:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtL4_kY7xjF1PuO8Xi7Q2XgAPmTrT8HYl857n6PojItH6QYmxeD2GqvCtntyVYGmMF8n0EjdXtc7VxT3PwR89UAqdGSN4ce6Ix726vSPS7qbiTp52uivU5xwYUJfUdDU6AZXsA/s1600-h/DSC03671.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtL4_kY7xjF1PuO8Xi7Q2XgAPmTrT8HYl857n6PojItH6QYmxeD2GqvCtntyVYGmMF8n0EjdXtc7VxT3PwR89UAqdGSN4ce6Ix726vSPS7qbiTp52uivU5xwYUJfUdDU6AZXsA/s320/DSC03671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420679555871026306" border="0" /></a>The full set is from Porkchop, and the bonus soup pot is from my parents (which I had asked for). You know what this means? We get to retire our set of pots, which Porkchop's mom received on her wedding day 30+ years ago. Those pots still have a lot of life left in them, but I am happy to have our own adult pots. I've already used some pieces of the new set, and they are fabulous.<br /><br />However, when we were gathering up the old ones out of the cabinet, we became a little sad. Retrieving the small one-quart pot, Porkchop said, "Oh, little pot, I'm going to miss you!" And I said, "I'm going to miss it, too!"<br /><br />It is hard times when you get teary-eyed about a little one-quart pot. Oh, but that pot has cooked many a Ramen noodle for Porkchop, and we made many a simple syrup in it for sweet iced tea.<br /><br />My other super-surprise gift from Porkchop was this little tea-brewing cup:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvjNl_vYBY_JJ388JuEJqVTIA1js09sziwQejkJ4H9dD20PFYgcerhTpevc11wMNGIXk3waiJHYDdMh4Xl9iX7C8_qHfnUnMpAxjZNvMlgYbRDi8AcER-oC4fhAkR02Lgfsdg/s1600-h/DSC03666.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYvjNl_vYBY_JJ388JuEJqVTIA1js09sziwQejkJ4H9dD20PFYgcerhTpevc11wMNGIXk3waiJHYDdMh4Xl9iX7C8_qHfnUnMpAxjZNvMlgYbRDi8AcER-oC4fhAkR02Lgfsdg/s320/DSC03666.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420679541421145282" border="0" /></a>Under the cat's chapeau is a strainer for loose tea. It is perfect! I first saw it in an art museum gift shop in Minneapolis, but didn't want to buy it there. Sadly, when we came home, we couldn't find it online. Porkchop persevered, though, and it was eventually posted on a Japanese market site. I love my little tea cup and can't wait to brew some tea in it.<br /><br />On my end, I surprised Porkchop with this hat (the shoes are from my parents):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0xVTli_QX1tqRhtUlz7Fke_KRYLe141NFQXZmVTmBJgDAhqI0vxi5fgedf_SdoBhiouagQet0xpc5E41a4wRAHA2CG2ZQNcXenS8rULUFTy413UzARyFJ0HT_1TyOt3Farax/s1600-h/DSC03670.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0xVTli_QX1tqRhtUlz7Fke_KRYLe141NFQXZmVTmBJgDAhqI0vxi5fgedf_SdoBhiouagQet0xpc5E41a4wRAHA2CG2ZQNcXenS8rULUFTy413UzARyFJ0HT_1TyOt3Farax/s320/DSC03670.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420679550937835794" border="0" /></a>The hat is loose because Porkchop doesn't like tight hats. It is lined with baby alpaca so that the Cascade doesn't scratch her ears. I used <a href="http://www.purlbee.com/whitneys-70s-ski-hat/">this pattern</a>.<br /><br />The past couple of weeks were a hat marathon. I made Porkchop's hat, and then hats for her older brother, sister-in-law, and niece.<br /><br />The brother's was a basic watchman cap using <a href="http://www.redlipstick.net/knit/martext.html">this pattern</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrt2X3vS4oh9AGSBowiOv2khutHGNNAZyWJXc6xWwOaetWWXmNo26I1QcivZdtoHh5y0lMwgUSUqsNdRpngNSniUQ8KO_oAXuHc-g9MLyteqdPZMjEoCmt9pwiPqB-bp2-_H4/s1600-h/DSC03678.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKrt2X3vS4oh9AGSBowiOv2khutHGNNAZyWJXc6xWwOaetWWXmNo26I1QcivZdtoHh5y0lMwgUSUqsNdRpngNSniUQ8KO_oAXuHc-g9MLyteqdPZMjEoCmt9pwiPqB-bp2-_H4/s320/DSC03678.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420679562175285282" border="0" /></a>The sister-in-law's was a star-crossed slouchy beret (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/star-crossed-slouchy-beret">Ravelry</a> link):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK-wZhl9t5w7TuxDnpGzuGHLsM8D1NnN0i4FBVEmmhryLqZAA6uAipuDDRIXJ6lg0HcWmkzybanj9_iBXRVO9gbEJLYsH5p2lHMWKh90R2k25BWv5KXpnwXneFnRchPscYPRQ/s1600-h/DSC03679.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYK-wZhl9t5w7TuxDnpGzuGHLsM8D1NnN0i4FBVEmmhryLqZAA6uAipuDDRIXJ6lg0HcWmkzybanj9_iBXRVO9gbEJLYsH5p2lHMWKh90R2k25BWv5KXpnwXneFnRchPscYPRQ/s320/DSC03679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420679567346753042" border="0" /></a><br />The niece's hat is my favorite, and I really want to make another for myself. I used the basic Kim's Hat pattern (<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/kims-hats">Ravelry</a> link) in Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. It's a great pattern because you can make all sorts of variations and add your own touches.<br /><br />I made the garter brim variation with earflaps, I-cords, and tassels. I added some purl rows for ridges on the hat, and I'm pretty proud of the way it turned out.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_SDQzHM0GwLd4hLlrivYhfytwsDYIgbm-Aqv_AxBrBzkBnrnpdnV9P7bEToi-sXVTA_MvUMq_XViRJvVLg1YnBlYu4v5yvNngzNwnXDBetferM_sglSr56WdYj0gU6e-qG9e/s1600-h/DSC03682.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_SDQzHM0GwLd4hLlrivYhfytwsDYIgbm-Aqv_AxBrBzkBnrnpdnV9P7bEToi-sXVTA_MvUMq_XViRJvVLg1YnBlYu4v5yvNngzNwnXDBetferM_sglSr56WdYj0gU6e-qG9e/s320/DSC03682.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420679725103730818" border="0" /></a>Here I am modeling it:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURgMrEA2AQ9HI7BJUTeu_edNeLesvLcSP_MpGuWEFIEqoBNsaqzn3d-72N-fFWq9FDE3A0pDfhCaiuS-4GcHPsNuNmBI3jNGCL8g9oGg580u2HU-CK0H6a5wqQeeqmQkSTh0n/s1600-h/DSC03683.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjURgMrEA2AQ9HI7BJUTeu_edNeLesvLcSP_MpGuWEFIEqoBNsaqzn3d-72N-fFWq9FDE3A0pDfhCaiuS-4GcHPsNuNmBI3jNGCL8g9oGg580u2HU-CK0H6a5wqQeeqmQkSTh0n/s320/DSC03683.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420679730668467682" border="0" /></a>It's a little small on me, but it fits the niece well. It's a bit loose, so hopefully she can use it for 2 or 3 winters.<br /><br />All for now! I should probably go "work" some before I pick up lunch at Pappy's for Porkchop and me.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-23694972120167483872009-12-23T10:25:00.002-06:002009-12-23T11:50:52.925-06:00It's That Time Again...Keetah says Happy Holidays to you! <div> </div><div><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418468831324673698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpx4HhfuI2tQwcGRh0cLUMv_XhSnPKENem0azuSqYAKPgHy-69Qh5LefSV_9CLb2HXo2uJS_7fLx6PHtHVt1ReHbJ1bq0VhjOv6VRLuj4T3DjfdaETzXmbLyThv0KK-y49FUZa/s320/keetahandme.jpg" /></div><br /><p>The other day, I was looking through my posts from three years ago for a recipe, and I noticed that at this time in December 2006, we were baking orange-almond shortbread, orange-chocolate biscotti, chocolate crinkle cookies, and pretzel rods.</p><p>Guess what we baked last night? Orange-almond shortbread, orange-chocolate biscotti, and chocolate crinkle cookies. We're taking the pretzel rod supplies to my parents' house and will make them there.</p><p>Last night's baking extravangza was exhausting, and I burnt half of the shortbread. Sadness.</p><p>This evening we leave for Arkansas, and I'm sure good times will ensue.</p><p>I've been knitting things, but they're secrets for now. All I can say is that I'm not finished yet!! Knitting stress!</p>Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-64051096513584553782009-12-18T15:54:00.002-06:002009-12-18T16:19:47.899-06:00On Being a Non-Traditional StudentI took five and a half years to complete my undergraduate degrees. Then I worked for a few years while Porkchop earned her MFA and MA. When I felt it was a good time, I applied for Feminist Studies PhD programs and was accepted to one (out of four to which I applied). I went for it, and it ended up being the worst 9 months of my life. So I quit, and we moved to St. Louis, where I started working as an office person again.<br /><br />After a few years of working, feeling like I wasn't doing anything to improve myself, I found an online Master's degree program via Mizzou that sounded interesting. It has real-world applications, won't take too long to complete even as I work full-time, and won't put me too much in debt.<br /><br />I never would have thought that this online program would be so much more difficult than the PhD program that I was in, but it is!<br /><br />As a PhD student, I could read some books and articles and then piece shit together and call it a paper. And I generally received As. For, um, theorizing and making arguments that had no impact on the real world.<br /><br />In my first class in my online program, I've done more real world work than I did in all my other classes combined. I've designed and conducted interviews, observations, and surveys. And since I built most of my assignments around my neighborhood association, I've talked to many area residents about what they want out of the association and their concerns about our neighborhood. I feel like I'm actually doing something!<br /><br />With my final project done and graded, I just need to package my report in a more user-friendly format and present it to our association members. (The final project I submitted for class had to be in a very specific format, and I think I can improve upon it for public distribution.) I think my findings can help the association board (which includes me) to improve our membership numbers, as well as participation and volunteer rates.<br /><br />Yes, I'm much prouder of my final grade of a 98 in my online class than I am of any of the As I received in my PhD seminar classes.<br /><br />I see myself completing the degree in a few years. And then maybe when I'm 50 I'll start working on a PhD again. At the rate I work, I might be able to finish it before I'm 70.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-7374821536715819102009-12-11T15:52:00.003-06:002009-12-11T16:09:09.026-06:00Knitters Shut it DownLast month, the much-anticipated coffee/beer joint <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/foam-coffee-and-beer-st-louis">Foam</a> opened after more than a year of waiting. Last night was billed as "craft night," so Porkchop and I went with projects in hand (knitting for me, card folding for her). Including us, the crafters totaled a mere five, but it was still enjoyable. The other three were also knitters, and one lives only a few blocks away. It was great to meet some new knitters, even if they are in their early 20s and made me feel rather aged. Anyway, we shut down Foam in awesome knitterly fashion, and I hope Foam continues the craft nights.<br /><br />This Foam thing might be dangerous. It is only a block away and open until 10 on weeknights. Soooo easy to take the short walk and spend money on yummy drinks.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-17432497433412091212009-11-20T21:08:00.002-06:002009-11-20T21:17:44.112-06:00A Life Changing EventThis is me before my life changed today:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15468EBV9zToVY4XC0ZUJdYU2H4oDGQKAIsWgs6wyFFL4N71P7L2NnLK2561VwqcNuYAPOYIfGSBXWRW-aW7bFAS82a6KV951epOFxmPnV1tJ5wKSCHoheIAsfVtRWTUDpRbk/s1600/happy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15468EBV9zToVY4XC0ZUJdYU2H4oDGQKAIsWgs6wyFFL4N71P7L2NnLK2561VwqcNuYAPOYIfGSBXWRW-aW7bFAS82a6KV951epOFxmPnV1tJ5wKSCHoheIAsfVtRWTUDpRbk/s320/happy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406388639387282322" border="0" /></a><br />I'm at the <a href="http://www.birchwoodcafe.com/">Birchwood Cafe</a> in Minneapolis, sipping on Assam tea and awaiting my order.<br /><br />And this is what changed my life:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUemfgzMrjylMS7o0aQbNgT1k8auaSRRU5a6_Ii-HJpBYUuH0N1gML2lHe740dGWvHsGZUqyINO1BeW2OI2OhC1fIG4S4xIR6ZS71EDd6LqgYF2jVTjTKPb0Oqzs411FcDaGdY/s1600/waffle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUemfgzMrjylMS7o0aQbNgT1k8auaSRRU5a6_Ii-HJpBYUuH0N1gML2lHe740dGWvHsGZUqyINO1BeW2OI2OhC1fIG4S4xIR6ZS71EDd6LqgYF2jVTjTKPb0Oqzs411FcDaGdY/s320/waffle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406388643250670978" border="0" /></a><br />The Savory Waffle.<br /><br />Or, the most perfect piece of food ever.<br /><br />This is what it is... The waffle is made of ginger, sweet potato, and chevre. It's topped with cranberry quince, sage butter, an egg, bits of bacon, and pecans, and the plate is dusted with powdered sugar. Maple syrup is served on the side. Oh, and everything is local food.<br /><br />I ate this waffle <span style="font-style: italic;">sloooooowly</span> because I didn't want the perfect taste sensation to end.<br /><br />P.S. We're in the Minneapolis area for Porkchop's hockey tournament. But who cares about hockey when there is the Savory Waffle?Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-28474167367616863652009-11-09T09:28:00.005-06:002009-11-09T13:28:02.780-06:00Introducing Patricia Pettymeyer<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChfy5tA26K0FKzdWH1eZIOr3iZciwPK5SVtCDatjwpNverfwdfwDQRdsF6UTGKnf0okxbiThogm1vUTh8dUp58beDJ1TUyxbCyIsxuLpy-3Xx07FVCgUY4vZvyiTe5Q7lHbZl/s1600-h/patricia.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402126230659217762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChfy5tA26K0FKzdWH1eZIOr3iZciwPK5SVtCDatjwpNverfwdfwDQRdsF6UTGKnf0okxbiThogm1vUTh8dUp58beDJ1TUyxbCyIsxuLpy-3Xx07FVCgUY4vZvyiTe5Q7lHbZl/s320/patricia.jpg" border="0" /></a> Patricia enjoys lounging on unmade beds, especially if the electric blanket is still on. She also likes sitting in open windows, eating the occasional blade of grass, and chasing catnip toys.<br /><br />Her dislikes include dogs, small children, and loud noises.<br /><br />(Porkchop likes to call Keetah different names, but Patricia Pettymeyer has stuck. Sometimes I like to change the last name to <em>Pretty</em>meyer.)<br /><br />(PS I edited the spelling of Patricia's last name because I realized the original spelling - <em>Pettymire</em> - is probably an invention of my southern-tinged accent.)Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-91617601640026358462009-10-27T21:47:00.003-05:002009-10-27T22:27:02.746-05:00It's Scary, ReallyHow quickly October has passed! It seems like I was just feeling better from my little virus, and then I was sick again for a week with stupid allergies, and now it is today and less than a week left in this month. I know it's always the same old lament, oh woe, there isn't enough time, but really, WTF?<br /><br />Besides being down with allergies, I've also been working away on my class stuff. In October alone I conducted two interviews, did two observation procedures, and conducted a survey, as well as wrote all of these up in reports. In November, I get to do more of the same for my final project. It's actually rather fun!<br /><br />Other things in October....<br /><br />Apples! We didn't pick any more, but we purchased a big bag from Eckert's and canned apple butter and apple preserves:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVei6wZ9W93BIO6nb-Y0VQy1Grv3tnPVzETGVLH6tzg3V8iAjDE4WvKicTM34LkW5SPaDbig_Jc6DnSMe_nJpKhC85FhUsscao7cgH1eeh-XEHPdTKyy3Q99tf-tX1faxzDW8T/s1600-h/DSC03606.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVei6wZ9W93BIO6nb-Y0VQy1Grv3tnPVzETGVLH6tzg3V8iAjDE4WvKicTM34LkW5SPaDbig_Jc6DnSMe_nJpKhC85FhUsscao7cgH1eeh-XEHPdTKyy3Q99tf-tX1faxzDW8T/s320/DSC03606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397479112685607922" border="0" /></a><br />The apple preserves (on the right) are nice and lemony and nutmeg-y. The apple butter (on the left) is very fall-like with cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg, but it didn't get super thick. If you like applesauce, you would like our apple butter. I do, but next year I might try a crockpot recipe to see if it gets thicker.<br /><br />Porkchop also made the most delicious apple pie using <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Old-Fashioned-Mixed-Apple-Pie-355234">this recipe:</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc9zgJfxIvw-iF6f3x16bGrUxH4H3Q6LzLm_orr6e4giE7t4RXvpBrV-0EE9qNCdCu21BzLJVJMYvvsWKWDb-d2EzTd7PhoN0-H256yorZmGav5_Avd_mnHtfjagss_yBjuGN/s1600-h/DSC03607.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpc9zgJfxIvw-iF6f3x16bGrUxH4H3Q6LzLm_orr6e4giE7t4RXvpBrV-0EE9qNCdCu21BzLJVJMYvvsWKWDb-d2EzTd7PhoN0-H256yorZmGav5_Avd_mnHtfjagss_yBjuGN/s320/DSC03607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397479116520347298" border="0" /></a> This is totally my favorite apple pie ever. I'm not a big apple pie fan because I think most are too sugary and rely on cinnamon too much. But this one doesn't use cinnamon, uses a lot less sugar, and has strong lemon notes in it. And raisins! Love! I've requested it for Thanksgiving. By the way, I reserved our turkey today, even put down a deposit on it. Which felt kind of weird.<br /><br />When we went to Eckert's for apples, we also picked up a few mums, two pumpkins, and ornamental corn. We also purchased ornamental gourds at the farmers' market.<br />I love our little gourd buddies:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RMl9gwGotXYyqs9_X51VlLcz8SXTNtoFRZ4eeF7xRS6g73GVe4RVHmpBEuuFAoX4OfEzlym24-7DVXFijZgOY9HgNrYUE2Rjhz89F1K-wnXpV3xnRe5kxyVRzoFaHhmHHJY4/s1600-h/DSC03608.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RMl9gwGotXYyqs9_X51VlLcz8SXTNtoFRZ4eeF7xRS6g73GVe4RVHmpBEuuFAoX4OfEzlym24-7DVXFijZgOY9HgNrYUE2Rjhz89F1K-wnXpV3xnRe5kxyVRzoFaHhmHHJY4/s320/DSC03608.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397479119350024818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWXfFj3Br-sJOSkJAboCyLVukSmXBiN9h4SqLwRDizMGNADcGr_CcrqfC8u2oMVWE7WAEeXlshNRpGCU6itXTFt0UTE2DvGZkIYI-z9dzuvDydYMWAfYT0eBzyrL61eawYusJ/s1600-h/DSC03612.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCWXfFj3Br-sJOSkJAboCyLVukSmXBiN9h4SqLwRDizMGNADcGr_CcrqfC8u2oMVWE7WAEeXlshNRpGCU6itXTFt0UTE2DvGZkIYI-z9dzuvDydYMWAfYT0eBzyrL61eawYusJ/s320/DSC03612.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397479120890317058" border="0" /></a><br />Over the weekend, I made these <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/desserts/pumpkin-spice-cupcakes-with-cinnamon-cream-cheese-icing/">pumpkin spice cupcakes with cinnamon cream cheese icing</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-M2JMWUk_gNkI6ix-Gv9xB_4ZIt7DW9IJRfAzO1lF6HOyHg_6iuwmSXCsW6uD2U00koNVBBg8aJu9IYqf1bkQKyDOLC6rHDf7njTuk6LlCf2ii6IZJPVcFBqDUzIUtf8JpS6/s1600-h/DSC03616.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx-M2JMWUk_gNkI6ix-Gv9xB_4ZIt7DW9IJRfAzO1lF6HOyHg_6iuwmSXCsW6uD2U00koNVBBg8aJu9IYqf1bkQKyDOLC6rHDf7njTuk6LlCf2ii6IZJPVcFBqDUzIUtf8JpS6/s320/DSC03616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397479239859078226" border="0" /></a><br />I made them mini size, which is a good thing because the icing is really powerful. I took these to our neighborhood meeting last night. After having to rig up this contraption to protect the sweet little cakes, I see why people buy those cake carrier things:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc3I5usORJH4-Qzwnk52l6ojzxN4bQYoynaYTHYg6RQPDrkvclPo6eRqe54oHcAOPjIiTqVX7ztLcnanOTFBhZR4_-NaZ2WOOSTOYwgICYJjdtdbVEesrObBaD7gdQGnG2uFZ/s1600-h/DSC03615.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtc3I5usORJH4-Qzwnk52l6ojzxN4bQYoynaYTHYg6RQPDrkvclPo6eRqe54oHcAOPjIiTqVX7ztLcnanOTFBhZR4_-NaZ2WOOSTOYwgICYJjdtdbVEesrObBaD7gdQGnG2uFZ/s320/DSC03615.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397479126463615250" border="0" /></a><br />How many times will I have to construct this sort of thing out of foil and plastic wrap before I break down and purchase an honest-to-goodness carrier?<br /><br />Have a great week!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-91325873145629045122009-10-13T12:19:00.003-05:002009-10-13T12:35:13.921-05:00What a Feeling...To have the pain and pressure relieved from my lower back for at least a few hours!!!!! I have not felt this for years...at least a dozen.<br /><br />While I've always accepted the uncomfortableness in my lower back as just the way things are, I finally saw someone about it when it started to hurt when I walked. I'm too young to be in pain while out for a stroll!<br /><br />It turns out that I have instability in my lower back due to a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">vertebra</span> in my sacrum not fusing completely (also known as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">spina</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">bifida</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">occulta, which isn't uncommon</span>). My L-5 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">vertebra</span> (the one right above my partially fused S-1) also sits up quite a bit higher than one normally should. And I have some curvature in there, and my poor L-2 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">vertebra</span> has borne the brunt of all of this. While most of my lumbar <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">vertebrae</span> look like happy puffy marshmallows, L-2 is kind of crumpled and sad looking.<br /><br />This morning I saw the sports medicine guy again, and he did some lovely massage (as opposed to the painful deep tissue <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">acupressure</span> last week). But, the best part is the stretching table that he uses. He's able to do a circular motion with my lower body while my upper body stays flat, with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">flexion</span> point exactly where my lower back is tightest.<br /><br />It's awesome. I would like to feel like this forever.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-85162652845200742532009-10-10T16:33:00.005-05:002009-10-10T17:06:32.323-05:00This is What Happens When You've Been Together for 9 YearsYou wear the same socks and don't discover it until you're in line at the DMV:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzQRJpRbbpmo3RK6dZjqc9wxQv-p06C4A4MJNM5xLhKkMFYlek2Upw39Qc9-4R8CS3foUJM8a7BTf8PcjlvyLo2d0SfGcBhDjqiMcMlIG0QJNo3A1lDx4dtbg_cQQuOpLv60n/s1600-h/socks.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzQRJpRbbpmo3RK6dZjqc9wxQv-p06C4A4MJNM5xLhKkMFYlek2Upw39Qc9-4R8CS3foUJM8a7BTf8PcjlvyLo2d0SfGcBhDjqiMcMlIG0QJNo3A1lDx4dtbg_cQQuOpLv60n/s320/socks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391088148418817474" border="0" /></a>(For the record, my Adidas-clad feet are the larger ones. Porkchop wanted to make clear that hers look bigger due to the perspective. Porkchop's feet are wee little things, while mine are giants. Also, you might ask why we even own the same socks. I don't have an answer for that one.)<br /><br />We took yesterday off work because it was the day after our anniversary (yay, nine years!), and we wanted to do fun things. Porkchop's definition of "fun" meant making me get my Missouri driver's license. I had delayed this task because I usually have a big problem with the vision tests. My eyesight is 20/20, but one of my eyes is placed a bit wonkily, which makes the vision machines a pain in the ass to use. I usually have to close one eye and read half the line, and then switch eyes for the next half. And the DMV employee is usually trying to rush me and won't let me take my time, and then I get flustered and embarrassed.<br /><br />Getting a license in a new state makes me nervous because I dread the vision tests so much. On the way to the DMV, I wanted to throw up.<br /><br />But, what do you know! The vision machine at the DMV location we went to didn't give me any problems! I even warned the employee that it would take me a moment because of my eye, and then I didn't have any problems! YAY!<br /><br />The DMV branch was in an awesome mid-century modern building that is round and shaped like an upside-down funnel. There's also a rockin' mural inside. Here I am at the vision machine with part of the mural:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rq6EouVy8Nyz72zQy7-CG98BuSl5_-ZHr4A0gmA5IKso7I2TWZgj18ChQwibAXZsqLorliaCn8eXrMhe83B0eHX0F21aHq9VtbGQUCGtXF1IvMRkUnSWA83CNTp_-r3pmn5-/s1600-h/dmv.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rq6EouVy8Nyz72zQy7-CG98BuSl5_-ZHr4A0gmA5IKso7I2TWZgj18ChQwibAXZsqLorliaCn8eXrMhe83B0eHX0F21aHq9VtbGQUCGtXF1IvMRkUnSWA83CNTp_-r3pmn5-/s320/dmv.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391088135166424994" border="0" /></a> After the DMV and a few other errands, we went to lunch at Onesto. Yum! We've tried a few new-to-us places recently:<br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.senthaibistro.com/">Sen Thai Asian Bistro</a>: Located downtown, this was a great place for dinner before the Blues home opener. While the Blues lost, dinner was a winner. Okay, Porkchop's yellow curry was a winner. My BBQ pork could have used a lot more flavor.</li><li><a href="http://www.orsmoothieandcafe.com/">OR Smoothie and Cafe</a>: I grabbed lunch at the Central West End location one day while I was still fighting my virus. With ginger-apple-beet-carrot juice and a tofu wrap, OR Smoothie and Cafe was exactly what I needed.</li><li><a href="http://www.theshavedduck.com/">The Shaved Duck</a>: The curlicue frites fried in duck fat are awesome, as is the pulled pork sandwich. The flamenco guitar action going on made things a little loud, but otherwise everything was most enjoyable. We will definitely be going back!</li></ul>However, my favorite meal of the past couple of weeks was one we cooked a few days ago. Cranberry-almond pilaf, cider-braised butternut and delicata squash, and baked tofu. Yum:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbm7erPMgXN2frtiUOd6UxLbTteLnREzdh8Yivq1PGJOBfoO7CfdhO3AOx9vlZiKz1p9Hg1mu20BWXr0tTv7SkymHcnq283KcVzM-YEdwp7ynY8x6BrWMQakCFAKaYxcetTz2q/s1600-h/DSC03600.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbm7erPMgXN2frtiUOd6UxLbTteLnREzdh8Yivq1PGJOBfoO7CfdhO3AOx9vlZiKz1p9Hg1mu20BWXr0tTv7SkymHcnq283KcVzM-YEdwp7ynY8x6BrWMQakCFAKaYxcetTz2q/s320/DSC03600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391088140837439298" border="0" /></a>Tonight I'm cooking chorizo and black bean soup. Yum, yum, yum. I began today early with a few hours of planting new plants in a median not far from our house. It's good to get out with neighbors and work on things! The median had housed rose bushes, but they fell prey to disease. The new plantings will look great next year: coneflowers, black-eyed susans, butterfly milkweed, prairie clover, and few other plants. I'm looking forward to a hearty soup tonight after so much hard labor.<br /><br />Have a great weekend!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-10295793744215988252009-10-04T19:34:00.003-05:002009-10-04T19:52:57.346-05:00Getting my Mojo BackFinally, <span style="font-style: italic;">finally</span>, I feel close to normal. I actually want to do things and get out of bed! Yay!<br /><br />The change happened late yesterday afternoon after I did a lot of breath of fire in a kundalini mini-set. Coincidence? Maybe not. Breath of fire makes my teeth tingle, so who knows its potential.<br /><br />Yesterday morning, I barely even wanted to go to the farmers' market! But we pushed on, and I picked up a couple of pumpkins. Later in the afternoon I cooked them and made some pumpkin puree.<br /><br />So, when I awoke refreshed and ready to go this morning, I made <a href="http://www.thefreshloaf.com/recipes/pumpkinbread">this pumpkin bread recipe</a>. Yum! I came out with 6 muffins and 3 mini loaves:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1foeNQ_O_HQGQaBT1aYxX0smY6v99koyBSZcrgVhXWVrK_guJ0XI11elQpfP-1lcctdfR93DfHegp44_4JBh55QJFhq-Ge1MLI_ibYPxyxf2IoYXZJ2g6fGtDbgdDS3KP6jGz/s1600-h/DSC03585.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1foeNQ_O_HQGQaBT1aYxX0smY6v99koyBSZcrgVhXWVrK_guJ0XI11elQpfP-1lcctdfR93DfHegp44_4JBh55QJFhq-Ge1MLI_ibYPxyxf2IoYXZJ2g6fGtDbgdDS3KP6jGz/s320/DSC03585.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388908481141532914" border="0" /></a><br />After Porkchop came home from hockey practice, we roasted the pumpkin seeds. Triple yum! We kept the seasoning simple with salt, cinnamon, and cayenne pepper. I could eat these pepitas all day. Here are the seeds ready to be seasoned and roasted:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodL-aGGmCGxN_2IzSfHJfzdN0UrcqLQWi8e5iLHQHW8gd49LrkwNHjbi9ZEpmgK72PxagSHurvLrKG42l-bQJ3vjSgrveYckS2OCtKAk4veahC__X7RMe873Jca_SIwwcW1w1/s1600-h/DSC03586.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiodL-aGGmCGxN_2IzSfHJfzdN0UrcqLQWi8e5iLHQHW8gd49LrkwNHjbi9ZEpmgK72PxagSHurvLrKG42l-bQJ3vjSgrveYckS2OCtKAk4veahC__X7RMe873Jca_SIwwcW1w1/s320/DSC03586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388908490822549266" border="0" /></a><br />Since I was home for two and a half days, I made some knitting headway. Last week, I ripped out the Icarus shawl that had been sitting around unfinished for over a year. Now I'm using the yarn for a Clapotis. Yep, I've finally jumped on the Clapotis bandwagon!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKTJfyhr55sAjzMORwNneRbpTiz8at7yHCSlAFNjpHyli-TYI3dZaGPB3rMTWffUnJkBaoG_sygK0jTJ8MMyOnogBY7jdQb9qT9A5yCjK4y1VoJq0DwVPqUlRwlHC-5_bEPv-/s1600-h/DSC03598.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKTJfyhr55sAjzMORwNneRbpTiz8at7yHCSlAFNjpHyli-TYI3dZaGPB3rMTWffUnJkBaoG_sygK0jTJ8MMyOnogBY7jdQb9qT9A5yCjK4y1VoJq0DwVPqUlRwlHC-5_bEPv-/s320/DSC03598.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388908497135859074" border="0" /></a><br />This afternoon I finished the increase section and dropped my first stitch! Here's a close-up, which shows the yarn color better too:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZV_b76pTdAGeTcceyxQRpWys9G1CFpwdUemVy6cWTo8sko1epv_TG6Ts8RZNbHng5FxVuceSrYzT4UcQzu21iBvzQa2R_sgHpUv40NXlSwTAcp1G7t4mNKJ2oNRNGzYTIXUy/s1600-h/DSC03599.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTZV_b76pTdAGeTcceyxQRpWys9G1CFpwdUemVy6cWTo8sko1epv_TG6Ts8RZNbHng5FxVuceSrYzT4UcQzu21iBvzQa2R_sgHpUv40NXlSwTAcp1G7t4mNKJ2oNRNGzYTIXUy/s320/DSC03599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388908505274683394" border="0" /></a><br />Have a good week! Stay well!Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29914821.post-32681983660511463482009-09-30T10:45:00.002-05:002009-09-30T10:50:50.744-05:00I'm Bad at Being SickAfter two days of exhaustion, an early morning session of sweaty chills yesterday, and a day of a low-grade fever, I found out that I have a little upper respiratory infection going on.<br /><br />It sucks. I don't like the feeling of being tired when I haven't done anything. I'm at home from work for the second day, and I wish I could do things to capitalize on being here. But instead it's nearly 11 am, and I'm sitting on the couch, unshowered and umotivated.<br /><br />Blah.Carriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03946808893401100787noreply@blogger.com1