domestication of a wild woman

Stuffie Problem Solved

2010-08-08T17:18:00.005-05:00

Well, Gus stuffed animals seemed to be all over his room and never played with. In an attempt to encourage his action on this, for the past 2 weeks, I have been mentioning this "problem." I asked which ones he wanted to get rid of. Without a response from him, I made suggestions, he shot them down. So, today, I decide, time for action. I grab 3 that I think he can get rid of. No argument from Gus. I suggest more, he puts his foot down. I back down. So, I'm thinking...a net hung from the wall might be the answer. The problem is that the stuffies just get dusty and crusty. So, I proceed to devise a scheme that involves using available supplies from my stash.

This is what I used...

1 1/2 - 2 yards of green tulle (folded in half,
lengthwise, parchment paper and iron


Cotton Yarn

With a layer a of parchment on my ironing board, tulle on top, then second layer of parchment. I ironed the tulle on high.

I was hoping to melt the layers together...no luck. It's ok, at least I got the wrinkles out.

With both strands of yarn together, I crocheted a single chain of 35 stitches.

Here is the result.

So, not all stuffies fit, but that's ok. Most importantly, Gus was so thrilled! That makes me happy!

I also finished another craft project today...

Long awaited earring hanger!

I have been brainstorming on this one for years, literally. Finally all the ideas came together, and executed. I am feeling good about actually finishing projects. Eventually, I will make sheer curtains for our bedroom out of the same material.

Also, this week, I crocheted a necklace for my dear friend, Bushra. She flew back to her native U.A.E. for a few short days before doing an architecture internship in London. We will miss her so so so much.

Gus' Curtains

2010-06-14T23:53:00.001-05:00

So, my copy of Crochet Adorned by Linda Permann arrived just before embarking on our 1st real family vacation (mid March 2010.) I was so utterly thrilled to have this book in my hands but had no time to yarn shop or even think about what to make out of it. I want it all, and I want it now...yeah I know, "Shut up Veruca Salt!" Anyways, my first attraction to the book, naturally was the gorgeous flowers adorning the sweater on the cover. So, I took all my worsted weight cotton with the book. I didn't decide on anything until the drive back to Montana, because, truth be known, nothing in that stash screamed, "wear me!"

So during the 12 + hours drive back from southern Utah, battling a migraine, the idea, struck me. Trees, on curtains for my son's room. I had been wanting to alter his existing green fleece curtain in some way that had to do with nature and suitable for a 3 1/2 year old boy. It was Linda's, Tree Tote in Crochet Adorned that inspired the main crochet of the curtains. I also used various of her flower motifs for the bottom, middle. Finally, I had a vision! Thus the curtains were conceived and born after 2 1/2 months. Not bad for a HUGE procrastinator and notoriously guilty of unfinished projects. I figured the poor kid had a blanket over his window for long enough.

Overall, I am pretty happy with the results, crooked stitching, unfinished backs, straight stitch on rick rack, and all. The crocheting was the easy part for me. The sewing, well, wasn't difficult just, shoddy. This is the 3rd or 4th finished sewing project ever. So, I guess, I am feeling pretty good.

Please pardon the bad photos.

a new sewing machine. more making stuff.

2008-10-03T17:02:00.006-05:00

i am so excited, i got a new sewing machine yesterday! my mom got if for me for my 30th birthday. i really am becoming domesticated! the only sewing i have done are some buttons, simple, hand-sewn curtains for gus' room and some curtains on a borrowed machine (a couple weeks ago.) so this is truly a new road i am heading down. how exciting.

ok, so. after many hours of being unproductive here at work, (well, i guess semi-productive, since i did print lots of craft project patterns!) i need to better organize my time. with all of these great ideas out there and some of my own floating around in my gray matter, i should have enough to make for the rest of my life.

so now it is time to get the move on! and post my stuff here.

1st project . . . better, wider curtains to replace the last ones i made. the first set will cover a doorless closet on the same room. (can't be wasting fabric!)

Sweet Potato, Pear, and Red Bell Pepper Puree

2007-11-11T14:05:00.000-06:00

So, most of Gus' food comes from our kitchen. I like to give him a variety of foods, but up until recently his age has deterred that a bit. Last week I made this number. It's so tasty that I would eat it! I did not "measure," but what I did, follows. Can easily be modified as sizes of veggies and fruit are not absolute.

Sweet Potato, Pear, Red Bell Pepper, and Zucchini Puree

Boil for 10-15 minutes, with just enough water to cover potatoes . . .

2 small sweet potatoes (about 4 inches long) (peeled and sliced)

Add . . .

1 pear (sliced with skin on)
a piece of red bell pepper (about 1 1/2 X 4 inches)
part of a young zucchini (about 2 1/2 inches long)
around a teaspoon of dried tarragon
around a Tablespoon of fresh parlsey

Continue to boil until all is soft enough to blend to desired consistency.

Place in blender, food processor, or under your heavy handed masher and work it to desired consistency.

Feed to baby or other willing being.

This freezes really well. I portioned it out into single tablespoon servings and frozen using ice cube tray.

To re-heat, I place cubes in small skillet with a bit of water, slowly while moving cubes around as to not burn.

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9 months old, almost in college!

2007-10-28T21:00:00.000-05:00

I simply cannot believe that my wee tiny boy is 9 months old already. Hardly wee or tiny any more. My, how the time sure flies. At the very beginning of his life, so many people would gush about how tiny he was and how fast they grow, reminiscent of babies from their own lives. "take lots of pictures, they grow so fast." Well, naturally, I take lots of pictures for that is what I went into debt for. But the whole, "they grow so fast," was kinda like, "duh, of course they do, they're babies, you fool." But who is the fool, now? Me. That's right, me! I find myself saying that to others about their wee ones, like mine is a grown man! My, how the tables turn and life changes so rapidly.

tired.

2007-09-15T20:32:00.000-05:00

i am here for the sake of writing something, anything. I haven't been here since the cherry pancakes. that was so, last season! now the air is getting cool, apples are abound. i hope to get my hands on some delicious courtlands next week. mmmm, delicious.

since my last entry, i have discovered the joys of using that behemoth of a machine . . . the bread machine. i just had to justify it's existence by use. how could i not, it takes up so much damn room. and the bread is sooooo good. more on that later.

it is early, but i must go to bed. i have a feeling it will be a long night of off and on sleep. (the Gus is constipated and hasn't eaten much this evening for he has been trying really hard to work one out.)

good night.

Sun Kissed!

2007-07-12T16:55:00.000-05:00

OK, so i have been making pancakes, from scratch, obsessively, since we moved to Chicago. I know, I could just use a mix. But, that is just too easy for it to even be good. Naturally, I am a bit apprehensive of many conveniences, especially those that involve consumption. I can say, I grew up on the "mix" variety of pancakes. I don't seem to have suffered too gravely! I really enjoy making pancakes from scratch. I like having control over the density of the cakes. And adding fruits, nuts, and whatnots is always fun!

Gus and I venture out to the neighborhood fruit market almost everyday. A couple of weeks ago, i picked up some Rainier Cherries (ahhh, how I miss the Northwest.) The cherries were, to no surprise, delicious. I tried to share the pound with my sweet darling, dear. But, he always passed on them, saying he would indulge later. Well, later never came for him. I just couldn't keep my paws off of those sun kissed wonders.

Feeling a bit guilty, glutinous, (and greedy!) we went back for more a few days later! After snacking on a few, I thought, I will share them by force, before I eat them all, again. I made pancakes!

Rainier Cherry Vanilla Pancakes (adapted from Betty Crocker's New Picture Cookbook)

ingredients:
1 egg
1 1/4 c. buttermilk or soured milk (see below)
2 Tbs. canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/4 c. flour
1 Tbs. sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. Rainier cherries (pitted & halved)

Combine egg, milk, oil, and vanilla together with whisk until just mixed. In a separate bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt. Add wet ingredients to dry. Then gently mix in cherries.

rookie posting

2007-07-01T22:07:00.000-05:00

my friends are going to poke so much fun at me! but here it is... my blog! yes, i have a blog.

here, within, shall include updates of said domestication, including family, food, drink, and other homey events. oh yah, and the cats.