It's Monday, Hazy outside, and Cold in. Well as cold as it can be when you live in one of those near warm all the time climants. It is true we have 2 seasons, Spring and Summer, and it does seem that Spring is coming in recently. My bulbs are poking through the soaked ground, and I cut the grass yesterday for the first time in a long long time. Sunday's weather was almost tank top weather, except when the sun started going down and we were once again reminded that it truly is Winter still.
I knit not a knot. I sewed not a seam. I did make dinner twice though.
Eeee so exciting. Well not really but the Curried Beef Stroganoff by Alton Brown was/is highly yummy. Every time I want to make something I have no idea how to, I just google the recipe in mind w/ Alton's name and whammo I get just what I was wanting. In case you're not sure who he is he's the guy on the food network who does Good Eats, and also the Motorcycle Eating trip something or other titled suchly... I don't know.
I did go shopping this weekend in Berkeley and I gathered new ~okay same fabric as the purple hat but in new colors~ that are just so gorgeous. Of course I have way more fabric than need be, but it was only possible to get a 1/2 yard of the colors and so I did. There's a yellow golden color now, a teal w/ brown and my new fav rust w/ dk brown. The colors are so rich. The rust one would make a lovely corset once my sewing skills are a little better. Of course that does mean that I would need much more fabric than originally required.
I also stopped in over at Lacis in Berkeley, it's the Lace and Textile Museum w/ a shop and they teach some courses. One of the gals working was wearing the cutest mini top hat that actually had no top to the hat. It was of a rather ingenious design. Her name was Kelly, and the manager happened to mention that she's trying to get Kelly to come up with a min top hat class. Which in my book would just be fabulous, as I could be introduced to even more techniques. I believe she may also be using a form of some sort that may be offered there. Not sure yet but will keep you updated.
Speaking of classes, my intro to millinery class is coming up here in a few weeks. Can't wait. Finally something to give me a little kick in the pants. Something Please!
Cheers until then.
Monday, January 14, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Paying the price
I'll be the first to admit that I over indulged last night. When I wrote that I'd had about 10 glasses, please keep in mind that those were very small taster glasses. So really I had about 5. BUT, there's always a but isn't there, I do have an excuse. Last night on our way home from work, we were leaving the island on the back road to avoid the nightmarish freeway. Well traffic slowed, lights were flashing and as we drove carefully by, the driver to a vehicle was covered in a yellow tarp, and the passenger side to the vehicle was crushed. Mind you the car was sideways facing the husbeast and I.
I know that's not a reason to drink 5 glasses of cheap red wine, but I just couldn't stop myself.
On another note today I was waiting for the light at a crosswalk, looked up and saw a bicyclist get hit by an old man in his car.
So that's 2, I really don't want to know what the third will be.
A little follow up to last night's post. Wrecking Balm I suppose it works, if you have like very little pigment left any how. And to settle anyone's mind at ease, I'm not getting rid of any of mine, nor am I really in the mood to get a new one. I just have no idea what I would get next, but the notion has been on my mind for about 2 years now.
And finally, there has been knitting. Yes that's right I made a knuck. I used a lovely skein of Blue Sky Melange 100% baby alpaca in the blue sky colorway. The cuff I paired with a grey and am still not too stoked on the bind off. It just seems flimsy and vacant. So that may need some working on still. I had to tweak the pattern because of the slightly less bulky yarn, but it turned out rather adorable IMHO.
I know that's not a reason to drink 5 glasses of cheap red wine, but I just couldn't stop myself.
On another note today I was waiting for the light at a crosswalk, looked up and saw a bicyclist get hit by an old man in his car.
So that's 2, I really don't want to know what the third will be.
A little follow up to last night's post. Wrecking Balm I suppose it works, if you have like very little pigment left any how. And to settle anyone's mind at ease, I'm not getting rid of any of mine, nor am I really in the mood to get a new one. I just have no idea what I would get next, but the notion has been on my mind for about 2 years now.
And finally, there has been knitting. Yes that's right I made a knuck. I used a lovely skein of Blue Sky Melange 100% baby alpaca in the blue sky colorway. The cuff I paired with a grey and am still not too stoked on the bind off. It just seems flimsy and vacant. So that may need some working on still. I had to tweak the pattern because of the slightly less bulky yarn, but it turned out rather adorable IMHO.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Recking Balm, really?
So the other night I discovered a few of the Ravelry Tattoo groups, ah finally. What a wonderful slew of interesting and tatooed knitterly women. Just like me, like kind. I've been drinking red wine (yeah we fell off the beer and gluten bandwagon for the husbeasts benefit), and I've been lamenting and watching LA Ink. I'm on the verge of figuring out what I would like as a new tattoo. There's the one on my back, which I love and then there's the 2 on my leg, ~the imp and the brugmansia vine in blue and orange~ and then there's the metamorphic butterfly on my ribs (my first ever!).
As I looked through some of the rather inspiring tattoos on the site, I could only wonder to what degree I could take a sleeve based on the basis of a floral motif paired with craft. Craft, yes the phrase from my Alma Mater (hello how many glasses of $2 chuck have I just had...11?). Scissors, hats, needles, yarn, balls! Buttons, and bobbles paired with elements of the oddest kind. I am still thinking of what could next adorn my body, I just am so not certain yet.
Through my rambling do you see a pattern? A question has been formed and a request has been expressed from the husbeast. He insists that I dispose of a previous tattoo before I get a new one. The means through recking balm (sp?) .
I don't know what to say to this except that I still love the first tattoo I ever got. And I really don't want to see it disappear (like it works that great!) in order to create something new, even though I realize he's put up with a few 'interesting choices' from me when it comes to my tat's.
All I have to say to all of this is honey, would you please pick more flowers. ;) Love ya!
As I looked through some of the rather inspiring tattoos on the site, I could only wonder to what degree I could take a sleeve based on the basis of a floral motif paired with craft. Craft, yes the phrase from my Alma Mater (hello how many glasses of $2 chuck have I just had...11?). Scissors, hats, needles, yarn, balls! Buttons, and bobbles paired with elements of the oddest kind. I am still thinking of what could next adorn my body, I just am so not certain yet.
Through my rambling do you see a pattern? A question has been formed and a request has been expressed from the husbeast. He insists that I dispose of a previous tattoo before I get a new one. The means through recking balm (sp?) .
I don't know what to say to this except that I still love the first tattoo I ever got. And I really don't want to see it disappear (like it works that great!) in order to create something new, even though I realize he's put up with a few 'interesting choices' from me when it comes to my tat's.
All I have to say to all of this is honey, would you please pick more flowers. ;) Love ya!
Monday, January 7, 2008
Back in the Boat
Well it's certainly been awhile (notice the emphasis on the H for all you Family Guy types out there), I hadn't meant to be so quite but it really was for the best. I had Friday off and finally got a decent sleep because of it. So here I sit a bit snotty ~ nothing some nasal spray can't remedy~ but much more well put together.
The husbeast was a real peach and treated me to first some really yummy Indian on Friday then after doing nothing all day on Saturday, we got of the house on Sunday and went to see Sweeny Todd (ah swoon). I loved the movie, apart for all the gore, the costumes and dialogue and whole storyboard were amazing and well worth the price gouge at the box office. I do have a little bit to say though, there were 2 women that walked into the movie after it began w/ a little 5 or 6 year old girl. They sat in front of us, and well I didn't want to be rude and tell them they shouldn't have her in the theatre, I just couldn't but I know I should have. They eventually walked out after the first multiple blood letting, but really with a title of the Demon Barber of Fleet St. what really were these women thinking, gahds. Some people aren't all that brilliant. Oh and even though there was singing, the husbeast rather tolerated it, though he did mention that there could be more boobies to compensate.
On the knitting front I've done nothing. I need to fix the FIL's Hemlock Ring Blanket that somewhere went really awry. Christmas Eve Day I was binding off before we went over there and had plans to work on it whilst enjoying Christmas with them. And well firstly I ran out of yarn. Secondly it was one giant ruffle. Yes somewhere it turned into a ruffle as I bound off. I believe my stitches are too many. Must be some erroneous miscalculation in one of the rows I ripped back or such because it really is not justifiable. So that has been looming over my head at this time.
On the other front, the mini topper that was commissioned by the husbeasts HR lady, I've been putting that off also. For two reasons really. First I've really felt like poo and have wanted to do nothing but watch the boob tube. Secondly because I've been wondering if it's possible to sew the entire thing on my new sewing machine. And well there is another thing, I want to sew a proper edging onto the brim to finish it off. You know I'm going to go ask these things to my mentor, just one moment. Ah got the info I needed, but looks like I need to practice on some old hats before I attempt doing such on a commission where the fabric was given to me to use.
Before I leave you all today I just wanted to add that Beverages and More has some nice quality Absinthe in their shops now. The husbeast splurged and brought home a bottle of Lucid for New Years which we dragged over to my BFF's house and drank merrily. I might add that the concoction known as a Hemingway really isn't that great tasting. That's champagne with Absinthe. I much preferred the traditional way of serving the beverage. Where in you pour a shot into the glass, wine glasses work well, then take a slotted spoon (or in our case a fork) and place a sugar cube on top, using distilled water pour this over the sugar cube until dissolves or the glass is full. Stir, and enjoy. I find I like the licorice taste with the sweetness of the sugar. I believe I had about 3 almost 4 shots of Absinthe one and a half was paired with champagne and woke up almost all right in the head. I believe it was the champagne that really did me in. Oh and for any of you out there thinking it's bad and a hallucinogenic, well it isn't. The deal is that back at the turn of the century the wine industry in France was wiggin' out because the appearance of Absinthe had taken much of their business away, so a political campaign was established to make this elixir into the devil's fodder. There is a bit of truth to the stories, but the poisoning was happenstance from certain lesser companies that employed disreputable practices in creating the liquor, ie copper and lead based pots. Well the ban was recently lifted and the liquor is now watched by the FDA to make sure that the thujone is at an appropriate amount, and that the liquor is properly distilled. The distillation practice of making Absinthe is one of the most complex in the world for such a spirit, but the herbs all work to make such a harmonious blend of delicacies that it should be enjoyed on just that right special occasion.
Cheers and til then.
The husbeast was a real peach and treated me to first some really yummy Indian on Friday then after doing nothing all day on Saturday, we got of the house on Sunday and went to see Sweeny Todd (ah swoon). I loved the movie, apart for all the gore, the costumes and dialogue and whole storyboard were amazing and well worth the price gouge at the box office. I do have a little bit to say though, there were 2 women that walked into the movie after it began w/ a little 5 or 6 year old girl. They sat in front of us, and well I didn't want to be rude and tell them they shouldn't have her in the theatre, I just couldn't but I know I should have. They eventually walked out after the first multiple blood letting, but really with a title of the Demon Barber of Fleet St. what really were these women thinking, gahds. Some people aren't all that brilliant. Oh and even though there was singing, the husbeast rather tolerated it, though he did mention that there could be more boobies to compensate.
On the knitting front I've done nothing. I need to fix the FIL's Hemlock Ring Blanket that somewhere went really awry. Christmas Eve Day I was binding off before we went over there and had plans to work on it whilst enjoying Christmas with them. And well firstly I ran out of yarn. Secondly it was one giant ruffle. Yes somewhere it turned into a ruffle as I bound off. I believe my stitches are too many. Must be some erroneous miscalculation in one of the rows I ripped back or such because it really is not justifiable. So that has been looming over my head at this time.
On the other front, the mini topper that was commissioned by the husbeasts HR lady, I've been putting that off also. For two reasons really. First I've really felt like poo and have wanted to do nothing but watch the boob tube. Secondly because I've been wondering if it's possible to sew the entire thing on my new sewing machine. And well there is another thing, I want to sew a proper edging onto the brim to finish it off. You know I'm going to go ask these things to my mentor, just one moment. Ah got the info I needed, but looks like I need to practice on some old hats before I attempt doing such on a commission where the fabric was given to me to use.
Before I leave you all today I just wanted to add that Beverages and More has some nice quality Absinthe in their shops now. The husbeast splurged and brought home a bottle of Lucid for New Years which we dragged over to my BFF's house and drank merrily. I might add that the concoction known as a Hemingway really isn't that great tasting. That's champagne with Absinthe. I much preferred the traditional way of serving the beverage. Where in you pour a shot into the glass, wine glasses work well, then take a slotted spoon (or in our case a fork) and place a sugar cube on top, using distilled water pour this over the sugar cube until dissolves or the glass is full. Stir, and enjoy. I find I like the licorice taste with the sweetness of the sugar. I believe I had about 3 almost 4 shots of Absinthe one and a half was paired with champagne and woke up almost all right in the head. I believe it was the champagne that really did me in. Oh and for any of you out there thinking it's bad and a hallucinogenic, well it isn't. The deal is that back at the turn of the century the wine industry in France was wiggin' out because the appearance of Absinthe had taken much of their business away, so a political campaign was established to make this elixir into the devil's fodder. There is a bit of truth to the stories, but the poisoning was happenstance from certain lesser companies that employed disreputable practices in creating the liquor, ie copper and lead based pots. Well the ban was recently lifted and the liquor is now watched by the FDA to make sure that the thujone is at an appropriate amount, and that the liquor is properly distilled. The distillation practice of making Absinthe is one of the most complex in the world for such a spirit, but the herbs all work to make such a harmonious blend of delicacies that it should be enjoyed on just that right special occasion.
Cheers and til then.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Welcome to a new year
Hope everyone is well rested and rather well inducted into the new year by now. I'm tired, I have been tired, and snotty. Turns out the husbeasts 'allergies' were really the Rhino virus, so here I sit sickly, but without a fever! That's pretty much been my last week around here. I must admit that at times my eyes have felt like melting out of their sockets which would be a better fate than sitting in their little eyeholes as I prefer them to. Sorry for the hideous detail, but what do I have to hide around here.
I have yet to use my new little spinning wheel, but soon I may get around to it. I suppose I'll see if I'm really up to the challenge of the ordeal. I have broken in my little sewing machine, and am rather stoked to report that I am the proud new owner of a grocery bag holder. That's right, I even made one for my mum, not half bad if I do say so myself.
Here you go a little pink marshmallow for your viewing enjoy,
aren't they so cute with their
little chocolate drizzles and peppermint sprinkles, ahhh poo.
Don't ask me what's up with the placement of the letters w/ the picts... I ah I got nothing.
I'm sorry guys, but I'm still just rather pooed, soon I do hope to be back to normal. Until then enjoy your days and embrace your evenings, but remember that a passion for destruction is also a creative passion.
Cheers until my eyes stop melting and my nosicle stops drizzling.
I have yet to use my new little spinning wheel, but soon I may get around to it. I suppose I'll see if I'm really up to the challenge of the ordeal. I have broken in my little sewing machine, and am rather stoked to report that I am the proud new owner of a grocery bag holder. That's right, I even made one for my mum, not half bad if I do say so myself.
Here you go a little pink marshmallow for your viewing enjoy,
aren't they so cute with their
little chocolate drizzles and peppermint sprinkles, ahhh poo.Don't ask me what's up with the placement of the letters w/ the picts... I ah I got nothing.
I'm sorry guys, but I'm still just rather pooed, soon I do hope to be back to normal. Until then enjoy your days and embrace your evenings, but remember that a passion for destruction is also a creative passion.
Cheers until my eyes stop melting and my nosicle stops drizzling.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
And welcome back there.
Sorry for such a long delay in saying anything, but it's been a rather Happy Christmas. I indeed finished all my baking, and even have picts to show of the gorgeous marshmallows I made. I can't vouch for their flavor, what with having been dunked in unsweetened dark chocolate, I did find out that they are great in hot cocoa though. Oh it also turns out that I still hate marshmallows! Yes I know why make them then... I just had to verify that they are indeed something I do not cherish in eating, unless scorched by a camp fire's flame.
Christmas at our house was lovely, and is now stashed away for next year. Since our tree was so tiny it really wasn't such a hard feat. It also turns out that the husbeast has been direly allergic these last few weeks to our little cypress living tree. Ehh ghads the mucus, but you really don't need to hear about that now do you.
I hate to talk about pressies, but just let it be known that I must now learn to spin, thanks to my wonderful mother in law. She handed on her old Ashford wheel from the 60's to me! It needs a little maintenance, and some oil, but it's beautiful. Then from my own mum I got a wonderful sewing machine. It's a Husquavarna (sp?), and so much fun to play with. Really what a difference from my old machine from the 60's with the terrible tension problems.
So here it is, I am nestled, and domestic goddess acquainted.
Christmas at our house was lovely, and is now stashed away for next year. Since our tree was so tiny it really wasn't such a hard feat. It also turns out that the husbeast has been direly allergic these last few weeks to our little cypress living tree. Ehh ghads the mucus, but you really don't need to hear about that now do you.
I hate to talk about pressies, but just let it be known that I must now learn to spin, thanks to my wonderful mother in law. She handed on her old Ashford wheel from the 60's to me! It needs a little maintenance, and some oil, but it's beautiful. Then from my own mum I got a wonderful sewing machine. It's a Husquavarna (sp?), and so much fun to play with. Really what a difference from my old machine from the 60's with the terrible tension problems.
So here it is, I am nestled, and domestic goddess acquainted.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Absinthe Mes Amies, Absinthe!
Oui, c'est vrai. Il et beaucoup d'absinthe pour tous la monde de nous a St. George Spirits en Alameda, Ca.
Translation, scroll down the page on the link and you'll see what I mean. Some how, some way they did it. It's actual distilled Absinthe in the United States, using the classic ingredients, ie WORMWOOD! I know what the? Well I don't know but I do suppose persistence pays off, and at $75 a bottle that's not bad considering how much it is to import those things to the US these days. We may go down for the opening, but I believe the husbeast and I may just give a few tokens to his co-worker lady and have her pick us up a bottle when she's out there early Fri. morning! I really can't believe it though. After all this time of having homemade versions (not really suggestible) and imported hooch versions, this is a treat. Absinthe pour moi! Just in time for the new year. Too bad we're not camping this year, that would be uber fun in the Redwoods with all the hippy friends of ours. Oh well.
So yes I'm stoked, and elated and very happy to be able to tell all you all about this wonderful news, now go and act on your instincts. And yes I am rather close to where their distillery is... suggestions kindly taken in comments ;)
I've ignored a few things lately. Mainly the fabulous eats I've been creating. Let's start with last weeks Beef Bourgignon, or Burgundy as the husbeast continued to correct me saying. This recipe was granted from the wonderful David over at Sweater Project (praise be to the Harlot for pointing out a knitter man in a kilt!) You certainly can count on a man to come up with a wonderful dish that another man would love to eat. Sorry if that sounded a little gay, or even lewd, but meh. (the sound of a cat mocking the creative commons in a world of computer savyocity)
Then there was the Risotto by Rachel Ray, the butternut squash one with sage and wine. That dish turned out to be a fabulous pairing with the Sockeye Salmon at Trader Hoe's (only caught once a year in the Copper River in Alaska and a great deal in the freezer section). I won't point to Rachel's recipe you can easily google that one.
Then to top it all off, last night I made marshmallows. I hope hope hope they turn out, as of this morning they were still rather wet. Well that's 12 hours after they were made. I dusted them in sugar and rice flour and went off to work. So we'll see how they are after work. I plan on dunking them in some unsweetened chocolate and topping off with crushed peppermint candy canes. Go check out Brownie Points link to some really cool homemade marshmallow recipes.
This weekend, on Sat. is our hippy friends annual Christmas party, and then Sun. we're celebrating with my mum and brother and his wife. Then to the husbeasts parents on the Eve or the day of X-Mas.
I feel like this very well may a rather low key Christmas, but it's our first, and that just makes me smile.
Cheers and here's to a little holiday cheer. Here here for the penis tree (husbeast's term not mine).
Translation, scroll down the page on the link and you'll see what I mean. Some how, some way they did it. It's actual distilled Absinthe in the United States, using the classic ingredients, ie WORMWOOD! I know what the? Well I don't know but I do suppose persistence pays off, and at $75 a bottle that's not bad considering how much it is to import those things to the US these days. We may go down for the opening, but I believe the husbeast and I may just give a few tokens to his co-worker lady and have her pick us up a bottle when she's out there early Fri. morning! I really can't believe it though. After all this time of having homemade versions (not really suggestible) and imported hooch versions, this is a treat. Absinthe pour moi! Just in time for the new year. Too bad we're not camping this year, that would be uber fun in the Redwoods with all the hippy friends of ours. Oh well.
So yes I'm stoked, and elated and very happy to be able to tell all you all about this wonderful news, now go and act on your instincts. And yes I am rather close to where their distillery is... suggestions kindly taken in comments ;)
I've ignored a few things lately. Mainly the fabulous eats I've been creating. Let's start with last weeks Beef Bourgignon, or Burgundy as the husbeast continued to correct me saying. This recipe was granted from the wonderful David over at Sweater Project (praise be to the Harlot for pointing out a knitter man in a kilt!) You certainly can count on a man to come up with a wonderful dish that another man would love to eat. Sorry if that sounded a little gay, or even lewd, but meh. (the sound of a cat mocking the creative commons in a world of computer savyocity)
Then there was the Risotto by Rachel Ray, the butternut squash one with sage and wine. That dish turned out to be a fabulous pairing with the Sockeye Salmon at Trader Hoe's (only caught once a year in the Copper River in Alaska and a great deal in the freezer section). I won't point to Rachel's recipe you can easily google that one.
Then to top it all off, last night I made marshmallows. I hope hope hope they turn out, as of this morning they were still rather wet. Well that's 12 hours after they were made. I dusted them in sugar and rice flour and went off to work. So we'll see how they are after work. I plan on dunking them in some unsweetened chocolate and topping off with crushed peppermint candy canes. Go check out Brownie Points link to some really cool homemade marshmallow recipes.
This weekend, on Sat. is our hippy friends annual Christmas party, and then Sun. we're celebrating with my mum and brother and his wife. Then to the husbeasts parents on the Eve or the day of X-Mas.
I feel like this very well may a rather low key Christmas, but it's our first, and that just makes me smile.
Cheers and here's to a little holiday cheer. Here here for the penis tree (husbeast's term not mine).
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