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This makes me laugh every time I look at it.
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We woke up to a good 4 or 5 inches of snow this morning. And it's supposed to be 70º F by the end of the week. Both of these things make me very happy.
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We're starting a little something new at the Noticing Project next week. Please come play along.
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It's the last day of February. Hallelujah!
for a tiny little friend of Heather's.
A Little Girlie Purse and a few finger puppets to tuck inside. They are on their way- hope she likes them! Thanks, friend.
N has herself a small rubber ducky collection going on. Her favorite is the one in the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader outfit. Oy.
I've been playing with Picnik the last few days. It's fun! I don't know why I haven't tried it before. Of course there's nothing there you can't do with Photoshop or Gimp, but man, it's so much faster.
Happy Friday!
I like 'em over easy.
Ooops. I missed day two.
The yellow balloon was really on the chair. But the coat rack was too crowded and un-photogenic. I threw all the coats and hats and scarves on the floor. So there you go. I'm a big faker.
My mom and dad got the kids the BEST, happiest yellow ceramic mugs for Valentine's Day. They love them. (I do too.) When I washed them, the faces slid right off. So I had to paint them back on with ceramic paint I had in the craft closet. They're not as perfect as they were, but they're still pretty darn happy. The kids don't seem to care.
Happy Monday.
Happy Yellow Week. We can all use a little sunny yellow in February.
These are the little rice packs I made for the kids for Valentine's Day- a little warm hug when I can't give it. (There's a tutorial for the rice packs here and I made the covers out of old wool sweaters and wool felt.)
I was surprised how well they went over! Someone small even woke up in the night hollering and said, "I really want my sheep warm again." Awwwwww. And awww, man! Because it's new and I'm tickled that she likes it so much, I actually stumbled down bleary eyed to the kitchen to reheat it. But just this once. No more middle-of-the-night microwave runs.
Well... maybe if they are feeling sickly, I'll make an exception. ; )
top: a NP alternate
bottom: fancy breakfast for my sweeties. (make the crepes tomorrow morning without fail. I mean it.)
Happy Valentine's Day!
xx.
oo.
Warm and sunny, cold and stormy, warm and sunny, cold and stormy. Crazy early spring weather! (Although it's not really spring yet.) I peeked out a minute ago because the sun was shining, but I heard raindrops. The low warm sun was making the Sweetgum balls glow orange against an approaching storm.
Very pretty! And already with only a few sprinkles, the storm clouds blew away and out came the sun.
Happy Friday to you.
When I dropped off N at school this morning and watched her oooo and ahhhh over all the decorated bags, I instantly felt a pang of guilt for not making her teachers a Valentine. I ran home and sewed these quick little hearts for them. They are quite possibly the sweetest and most patient women on earth- they deserve a Valentine. Or Valentime. However you want to say it.
tiny body & muscular little legs + fearless attitude & endless energy =
future olympic gymnast?
hee hee. we'll take it one step at a time.
(today was the first day of gymnastics class. the second really, but last week she was sick. it was a smashing success!)
she says with a phony French accent, fully aware this is Middle Eastern fare, but she is silly and pictures all chefs like this. wink.
The pitas: This time I used the recipe from my Moosewood cookbook. I am unsure about the logistics of publishing a recipe from a book and I can't find it out there on the web. BUT I have used this very similar recipe before and they were just as yummy. Be sure to keep a close eye as they bake. They can go from golden to charred in a split second. Um yeah, I know this from experience.
And the hummus: My friend Anne Otto brought this recipe back from a trip to Bethlehem. I hope she doesn't mind if I share it here.
2 cups canned chickpeas*, drained or the same amount cooked fresh
2/3 cup Tahina paste
3/4 cup lemon juice (I only had enough lemons for about 1/2 cup and it was fine.)
4-5 cloves garlic, mashed
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cumin
parsley for garnish
Place chick peas, tahina, lemon juice, garlic, salt and cumin in a food processor or blender.
Mix until smooth.
Place in jar and refrigerate.
Just before serving, sprinkle chopped parsley on top. (or a few whole chickpeas or paprika.)
Makes 2 1/2 - 3 cups. This doesn't seem like much but it is!
*I bought the tahini at my favorite Mediterranean market and the nice man talked me into the "good" chickpeas too. They were imported from Lebanon I think.
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I had considered trying to post every day in February to keep my mind off the winter blues, but it's only the 7th and already it ain't happening. So I'll just try to stay pretty active here and maybe it will help a little. K?
essential bob dylan on the cd player
big batch spaghetti sauce simmering
bread machine baking
granola toasting
pita dough rising
tahini and "the good chickpeas" (so the mediterranean fellow tells me) waiting to become hummus
4-H pork chops thawing in fridge
little girl (with much improved cough) playing tea party
little dog playing clean up crew
One child is back at school, but one child is still under the weather. One mama is stir-crazy, browsing through cookbooks and surfing the net, folding laundry and administering medication.
And here is my (mixed) message for today. Don't buy too much stuff. And don't let anyone make you think you need more stuff. BUT if you have the money to spend, please buy from the little guy, the independent artist. We're having a rough go of it lately. Wouldn't something from one of these folks make a better, more meaningful valentine's gift for one of your sweeties?
•Heather's "finding winter, drawing spring" collection. Heather personifies talent and dedication.
•Rachel's amazing valentines cards and photographs. Love.
•Heather's mantra quilts. Meaningful and personalizable.
•Book of Days. The gift that keeps on giving.
•Anything from Abby. What an eye. She'll be back soon.
•My cousin (in-law) makes fabulous funky jewelry. I'm coveting this pendant.
•Sara+h's photos are wonderful too.
•You know how I love Veronica's birdies.
Really I could go on and on...
Stay healthy, ok?
First things first. While I was away, there was a party for two children, newly four and newly eight.
Somebody please fill me in. How on earth did that happen?
Well. I don't know. But I do know I couldn't be more proud of them.
p.s. the cake is Molly's yogurt cake (tripled. with a splash of vanilla extract instead of the lemon) frosted with the fluffy white frosting and topped with sparkly sugar sprinkles. I wish I had a slice right now.
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