In the next twenty-four hours we should be getting anywhere from four to eight inches of snow. We've not gotten anything other than wimpy flurries since, well, since the last time I put up a post here.
Quick recap of the last several months: Eh.
That really does about cover it.
The impending snowstorm has the meteorologists in a tizzy, since the exact track of the storm will have a major impact on the actual snow totals. The storm is playing coy, and not declaring itself clearly one way or the other. The newscasters are reminding people to drive carefully, brush off the car, turn on the headlights and generally be cautious. All those warnings will go unheeded.
After all, this is the second "first snowfall of the season" this year, and the tradition is that people who have lived in snowy Wisconsin all of their lives suddenly lose their ever-lovin' minds when the first frosty flakes fall.
Me? The snow won't start until later tonight, so on the way home I'm stopping at my favorite pizza place for their incredible Italian sausage sandwich and some breaded mushrooms. I have half a dozen bottles of wine, some new-to-me whole bean coffee and an cute new coffee mug, the ingredients for beef stew with mushrooms, plenty of quilts and a fireplace that runs on natural gas, not electricity. I filled the car up with gas this morning on the off chance I have to leave the house. I'd say I'm ready.
Bitter cold follows the snow. That may be a good thing, as on Monday, I'm having the annual furnace maintenance. Any issues he has with it should be immediately evident.
I plan to spend a good part of the weekend in the quilting studio, in one way or another. i am embarassingly behind on quilting something for a friend, I've a couple of other projects I just want to be done with, and the whole place needs a quick organizational round. I can open the curtains on the patio window and look out at the pretty snow.
That's my plan. What have you all been up to?
Showing posts with label Stuff. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Stuff. Show all posts
Friday, January 18, 2019
Friday, October 26, 2018
Friday....stuff
There are at least three separate posts wandering around in my brain, but none of them are coherent enough to put to pixels. So here is a bit of a Friday brain dump for your enjoyment.
Preachiness - In the last week or so I've watched several television shows and movies that have a very, very preachy tone related to race. The most egregious of the bunch was the most recent episode of the new series of Dr. Who, where the bunch traveled back in time to keep a far-future racist from doing something to stop Rosa Parks from being arrested for staying seated on the bus. Not only is it very pessimistic (the idea that racists would still exist anywhere in the galaxy centuries in the future), we find that the (white and Asian) Dr. Who crew are all proud of themselves because they actually end up on the bus at the right time, and are being part of history by not going to Mrs. Parks' aid when the cops arrest her. I'm watching to be entertained, not preached at.
Mob mentality - How can anyone think that letting this approaching Central American mob into the U.S. would be a good thing? You give in to bullies once, they will keep coming at you. We admit just over a million legal immigrants annually - more than any other nation on the planet. The system we have for doing it may not be perfect, but that doesn't mean you are free to muscle your way in any way you want. And Mexico - what the heck is up with you? Why are you not turning these people away at your border? Why are you letting them traipse through the length of your country - is it that they've promised not to stay, but invade the U.S. instead?
Plant murder - The landscaping company took it upon themselves to cut back my lilac bush, in spite of the fact the HOA was notified last spring that they were to keep their hands off. This is just the latest of the stupid crap the HOA has allowed. In the spring, they will get a strongly worded letter listing what is not allowed (keep your damn hands off my plantings) and reminding them that I will bill them for the damage if they don't abide by it. I have a sneaky suspicion there is a nosy, bossy, nasty neighbor at the root of this - she seems to think she runs our corner of the complex. Honestly, when I retire, I 'm moving out in the woods where the only people I see on a regular basis are the Amazon and grocery delivery people.
If you don't hear from me - Tomorrow I'm driving to Madison to meet with with a few people I only know in pixels. We are all part of a Facebook group dedicated to fountain pens - the acquisition, use and general love thereof. I used them for a while after college, but recently rediscovered the joy of good writing pens. We are meeting to show off our pens, try out the ones others may have that we don't, trade ink samples and generally have fun. But just in case one of them is an ax murderer, at least you know where I was going.
Pens - I think (well, ok, I know, because I keep an inventory) I have nineteen right now, though I'm planning to sell five of them. There is an incredible variety available in materials, types/metals of nibs and writing style, and it takes a bit to find what suits you best. I've pens made in the U.S. that have steel nibs that perform as well as the sleek Italian import with the gold nib. I've always done more writing than most people, and this makes it even more fun. There are even "capless" pens - retractable fountain pens. Even if you stick to one pen, the variety of inks is staggering. Colors, shading, sheen, shimmer...waterproof, water resistant, made to endure freezing temps, even invisible (black light). So much fun.
Kindles - There are three kindles on my shelf waiting for better homes. All three are Fires, so basically mini tablets. All three have nice cases. All are perfectly functional.Contact me here or email me if interested (7" is the oldest, then an 8.9". lastly an 8").
How the heck is it almost November? I feel like October has both gone on forever and flown by. I need to get my Christmas card order in.
Preachiness - In the last week or so I've watched several television shows and movies that have a very, very preachy tone related to race. The most egregious of the bunch was the most recent episode of the new series of Dr. Who, where the bunch traveled back in time to keep a far-future racist from doing something to stop Rosa Parks from being arrested for staying seated on the bus. Not only is it very pessimistic (the idea that racists would still exist anywhere in the galaxy centuries in the future), we find that the (white and Asian) Dr. Who crew are all proud of themselves because they actually end up on the bus at the right time, and are being part of history by not going to Mrs. Parks' aid when the cops arrest her. I'm watching to be entertained, not preached at.
Mob mentality - How can anyone think that letting this approaching Central American mob into the U.S. would be a good thing? You give in to bullies once, they will keep coming at you. We admit just over a million legal immigrants annually - more than any other nation on the planet. The system we have for doing it may not be perfect, but that doesn't mean you are free to muscle your way in any way you want. And Mexico - what the heck is up with you? Why are you not turning these people away at your border? Why are you letting them traipse through the length of your country - is it that they've promised not to stay, but invade the U.S. instead?
Plant murder - The landscaping company took it upon themselves to cut back my lilac bush, in spite of the fact the HOA was notified last spring that they were to keep their hands off. This is just the latest of the stupid crap the HOA has allowed. In the spring, they will get a strongly worded letter listing what is not allowed (keep your damn hands off my plantings) and reminding them that I will bill them for the damage if they don't abide by it. I have a sneaky suspicion there is a nosy, bossy, nasty neighbor at the root of this - she seems to think she runs our corner of the complex. Honestly, when I retire, I 'm moving out in the woods where the only people I see on a regular basis are the Amazon and grocery delivery people.
If you don't hear from me - Tomorrow I'm driving to Madison to meet with with a few people I only know in pixels. We are all part of a Facebook group dedicated to fountain pens - the acquisition, use and general love thereof. I used them for a while after college, but recently rediscovered the joy of good writing pens. We are meeting to show off our pens, try out the ones others may have that we don't, trade ink samples and generally have fun. But just in case one of them is an ax murderer, at least you know where I was going.
Pens - I think (well, ok, I know, because I keep an inventory) I have nineteen right now, though I'm planning to sell five of them. There is an incredible variety available in materials, types/metals of nibs and writing style, and it takes a bit to find what suits you best. I've pens made in the U.S. that have steel nibs that perform as well as the sleek Italian import with the gold nib. I've always done more writing than most people, and this makes it even more fun. There are even "capless" pens - retractable fountain pens. Even if you stick to one pen, the variety of inks is staggering. Colors, shading, sheen, shimmer...waterproof, water resistant, made to endure freezing temps, even invisible (black light). So much fun.
Kindles - There are three kindles on my shelf waiting for better homes. All three are Fires, so basically mini tablets. All three have nice cases. All are perfectly functional.Contact me here or email me if interested (7" is the oldest, then an 8.9". lastly an 8").
How the heck is it almost November? I feel like October has both gone on forever and flown by. I need to get my Christmas card order in.
Friday, October 05, 2018
Just checking in
Figured I'd come by and give the tires a kick, maybe check to see if this thing still starts, in spite of the low battery indicator.
So how have you all been? I've been...meh. Maybe even less than meh. As yet unresolved medication issue is adding to the general fatigue, crankiness, depression and to-hell-with-it attitude. Yeah, it's been a barrel of fun around here.
Almost no "making" (Gosh, I kind of hate that term. I understand the idea behind it, but it really does sound kind of...twee). My poor sewing studio is languishing under a thick layer of dust. Every so often I pick up a fountain pen and do a few drawings, but those mostly consist of random leaves and flowers.
Adding to the general sense of "eh, why bother" is the state of the house. When I had the closet doors installed upstairs, I had to move my desk and computer (temporarily) to a different spot in the room. I've a shelf to put up for the router, a new file cabinet to put together and the desk move/rearrange to finish. Yeah, the closet doors were put in the week of Memorial Day.
When I had the living room carpet cleaned, I moved both end tables and the television and stand into the dining room, so the cleaners could just go for it. I also moved the couch and my favorite chair around in the room - ditto. I did put the chair, couch, television and one end table back, but the other end table (and the lamp that goes on it, as well as the quilting magazines that live on its lower shelf) are, you guessed it, still in the dining room. The carpet was cleaned...Labor Day week.
Meh. The only person these things would bother is me - and obviously, they don't.
A couple of years ago, after a thirty year gap, I went back to using fountain pens for my personal writing. I've a bit of a "collection", though I don't think of it in that terms, as I do use them all regularly. The herd does need to be culled a bit, as I've big birthday coming up and a rather large pen purchase planned.
At work, I'm mostly on the computer or messing around in pencil. But I do use a pen fairly regularly, and decided to bring something fun to work (heaven knows, I need some fun). The Pilot Vanishing Point and Decimo pens are retractable fountain pens. The Japanese cleverly figured out how to cover the nib when it is retracted so the ink does not dry out.
The clip is at the business end of the pen, so that when it is clipped to a pocket, the nib is up (for obvious reasons - they rarely leak, but why tempt fate?). The clip, therefore, is between your fingers when you write. After the first few words, you don't notice it; it serves the added purpose of keeping the nib in a decent writing position.
My phone won't do macro pictures, but you can see how small the nib is. Beautiful lines, though.
In the interest of keeping things simple, I use ink cartridges in this pen, rather than keeping a bottle of ink at work. Three seconds to change one out when it is empty. It's really not too much longer to refill from a bottle - just more potential for inky fingers.
I'd better hop to it. At least it is Friday, even though it tends to be the longest day of the week.
So how have you all been? I've been...meh. Maybe even less than meh. As yet unresolved medication issue is adding to the general fatigue, crankiness, depression and to-hell-with-it attitude. Yeah, it's been a barrel of fun around here.
Almost no "making" (Gosh, I kind of hate that term. I understand the idea behind it, but it really does sound kind of...twee). My poor sewing studio is languishing under a thick layer of dust. Every so often I pick up a fountain pen and do a few drawings, but those mostly consist of random leaves and flowers.
Adding to the general sense of "eh, why bother" is the state of the house. When I had the closet doors installed upstairs, I had to move my desk and computer (temporarily) to a different spot in the room. I've a shelf to put up for the router, a new file cabinet to put together and the desk move/rearrange to finish. Yeah, the closet doors were put in the week of Memorial Day.
When I had the living room carpet cleaned, I moved both end tables and the television and stand into the dining room, so the cleaners could just go for it. I also moved the couch and my favorite chair around in the room - ditto. I did put the chair, couch, television and one end table back, but the other end table (and the lamp that goes on it, as well as the quilting magazines that live on its lower shelf) are, you guessed it, still in the dining room. The carpet was cleaned...Labor Day week.
Meh. The only person these things would bother is me - and obviously, they don't.
A couple of years ago, after a thirty year gap, I went back to using fountain pens for my personal writing. I've a bit of a "collection", though I don't think of it in that terms, as I do use them all regularly. The herd does need to be culled a bit, as I've big birthday coming up and a rather large pen purchase planned.
At work, I'm mostly on the computer or messing around in pencil. But I do use a pen fairly regularly, and decided to bring something fun to work (heaven knows, I need some fun). The Pilot Vanishing Point and Decimo pens are retractable fountain pens. The Japanese cleverly figured out how to cover the nib when it is retracted so the ink does not dry out.
My phone won't do macro pictures, but you can see how small the nib is. Beautiful lines, though.
In the interest of keeping things simple, I use ink cartridges in this pen, rather than keeping a bottle of ink at work. Three seconds to change one out when it is empty. It's really not too much longer to refill from a bottle - just more potential for inky fingers.
I'd better hop to it. At least it is Friday, even though it tends to be the longest day of the week.
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Blowin' in the wind
Quite a few years ago, a friend and I went to Myrtle Beach (the week before the "season" opens, and blessedly uncrowded) by way of Charleston.
We spent about 24 hours in Charleston all told - flew in there, spent the night, did some sightseeing, then drove up the coast. But that 24 hours was enough to fall in love with the city.
One of the places we visited was the Charleston City Market. At the time, it was mostly open air; it looks as if significant improvements have been made to the building.
On a tour we took before we started shopping, the guide pointed out a spot on the brickwork where there was a slight color change, the bricks on the lower section being a slightly darker red. That color change marked the high water level during Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
That mark sat twelve or so feet up.
It is amazing the devastation that water and wind can produce.
As Florence takes pinpoint aim at the Carolinas, put up an extra prayer or two for safety, for people to obey evacuation orders and take commonsense precautions, for the many first responders who are required to go into danger instead of fleeing from it. If you have family or close friends in the area, arrange a check-in schedule.
May God grant Florence a severe right turn before she makes landfall.
We spent about 24 hours in Charleston all told - flew in there, spent the night, did some sightseeing, then drove up the coast. But that 24 hours was enough to fall in love with the city.
One of the places we visited was the Charleston City Market. At the time, it was mostly open air; it looks as if significant improvements have been made to the building.
On a tour we took before we started shopping, the guide pointed out a spot on the brickwork where there was a slight color change, the bricks on the lower section being a slightly darker red. That color change marked the high water level during Hurricane Hugo in 1989.
That mark sat twelve or so feet up.
It is amazing the devastation that water and wind can produce.
As Florence takes pinpoint aim at the Carolinas, put up an extra prayer or two for safety, for people to obey evacuation orders and take commonsense precautions, for the many first responders who are required to go into danger instead of fleeing from it. If you have family or close friends in the area, arrange a check-in schedule.
May God grant Florence a severe right turn before she makes landfall.
Sunday, September 09, 2018
I'm so dizzy, my head is spinnin'...
Rather literally. Spinning.
Though actually, it is much better today.
One of the disadvantages of having both generally unhappy sinuses and seasonal hayfever is the tendency for fluid to back up into my ears. There isn't any obvious sign that it is happening - no pressure, no particular feeling that says "beware the backup!".
In other words, no notice before I'm dizzily reeling across the room like a sailor at the end of a three day shore leave.
Sigh. I woke up early Saturday morning for my usual middle-of-the-night trip to the loo, and found that I was more than a little dizzy. Figuring it would pass, I took care of business and went back to bed.
I really should stop being an optimist.
It was worse when I got up for the day - I zigzagged across the bedroom, aiming for the bathroom and the tube of Dramamine pills in the medicine cabinet. This is not my first round of fluid-filled ears; my doctor had recommended using Dramamine to dry up the fluid and restore stability to my world. It actually does work, though this time it took multiple doses all the way through this morning. I still feel a sheet or so into the wind, so to speak.
The world-rocking put paid to my plans for the last couple of days of vacation. I'll manage to make lunches for next week and cook something for dinner that will give leftovers for the next few nights, but that will be about it.
Eh, what are vacations for if not for resting?
Though actually, it is much better today.
One of the disadvantages of having both generally unhappy sinuses and seasonal hayfever is the tendency for fluid to back up into my ears. There isn't any obvious sign that it is happening - no pressure, no particular feeling that says "beware the backup!".
In other words, no notice before I'm dizzily reeling across the room like a sailor at the end of a three day shore leave.
Sigh. I woke up early Saturday morning for my usual middle-of-the-night trip to the loo, and found that I was more than a little dizzy. Figuring it would pass, I took care of business and went back to bed.
I really should stop being an optimist.
It was worse when I got up for the day - I zigzagged across the bedroom, aiming for the bathroom and the tube of Dramamine pills in the medicine cabinet. This is not my first round of fluid-filled ears; my doctor had recommended using Dramamine to dry up the fluid and restore stability to my world. It actually does work, though this time it took multiple doses all the way through this morning. I still feel a sheet or so into the wind, so to speak.
The world-rocking put paid to my plans for the last couple of days of vacation. I'll manage to make lunches for next week and cook something for dinner that will give leftovers for the next few nights, but that will be about it.
Eh, what are vacations for if not for resting?
Thursday, August 30, 2018
This and that
Thousands of motorcyclists and hangers-on have descended on the city for the 115th anniversary of Harley Davidson. Two years from now, if Milwaukee has the winning bid, it could be thousands of Democrats for the National Convention ahead of the 2020 Presidential election.
One group rides Hogs; the other deals in pork.
Of the two, I vastly prefer the motorcyclists.
Milwaukee's mayor is desperately trying to erase the preconception that Milwaukee is a small town without enough resources to host any sort of national event. He's right that the city is capable of much more than most people outside the five county area think, I'm just not sure hosting the convention is the way to show everyone.
On a related note, the first canvasser of the political season showed up on my doorstep the other night. It was, of course, dinner time. Now, my doorbell has mind of its own, peeling only when it feels like it. When it rings, however, it belts out the eight notes of the Westminster chimes in a slow, measured cadence, loud enough to set dogs to barking in the next county.
Yup, this was one time the doorbell did work.
The young lady with the clipboard and lanyard-strung ID badge said she was with the campaign for the Democratic candidate for US Senate, and she wanted to ask me some survey questions.
"This entire complex is posted no soliciting."
"I'm not soliciting - I'm not selling anything."
Well, nothing other than a load of garbage too many people are happy to buy into because it promises them something for nothing (which is actually something taken from those of us who work for something).
I am now scouring Amazon for a slightly rude "No politicians" sign for my front door. And maybe an NRA sticker. Note I'm an equal opportunity curmudgeon: I don't want people from either party bothering me.
On vacation next week, finding it difficult to concentrate at work this week. I'd planned an outing to a fountain pen retailer a couple of hours north, but the pen I want is no longer available in the nib size I want (they only have extra fine left; the pen is not technically a limited edition, even though only 800 are available worldwide, but it means other sizes won't be restocked). There is, however, someone in Madison with the the pen in the nib I'd like, who wants to sell it. The up side? We'd meet in between, in the town that has a quilt shop I love. I still need to give her a firm answer. Her price is reasonable, and the pictures of the pen show it in great condition.
I first used fountain pens back forty (!!) years ago when I was in college. Did a bit of calligraphy as a hobby, then moved on to other things. The pens have found a great resurgence over the last ten years or so, with a staggering number of pens and inks available, expanding all the time. I use them for journaling and sketching. I'll eventually post a few of the pens I use, but will leave you with a teaser: one of the pens is made from basaltic lava from Mount Etna in Sicily.
One group rides Hogs; the other deals in pork.
Of the two, I vastly prefer the motorcyclists.
Milwaukee's mayor is desperately trying to erase the preconception that Milwaukee is a small town without enough resources to host any sort of national event. He's right that the city is capable of much more than most people outside the five county area think, I'm just not sure hosting the convention is the way to show everyone.
On a related note, the first canvasser of the political season showed up on my doorstep the other night. It was, of course, dinner time. Now, my doorbell has mind of its own, peeling only when it feels like it. When it rings, however, it belts out the eight notes of the Westminster chimes in a slow, measured cadence, loud enough to set dogs to barking in the next county.
Yup, this was one time the doorbell did work.
The young lady with the clipboard and lanyard-strung ID badge said she was with the campaign for the Democratic candidate for US Senate, and she wanted to ask me some survey questions.
"This entire complex is posted no soliciting."
"I'm not soliciting - I'm not selling anything."
Well, nothing other than a load of garbage too many people are happy to buy into because it promises them something for nothing (which is actually something taken from those of us who work for something).
I am now scouring Amazon for a slightly rude "No politicians" sign for my front door. And maybe an NRA sticker. Note I'm an equal opportunity curmudgeon: I don't want people from either party bothering me.
On vacation next week, finding it difficult to concentrate at work this week. I'd planned an outing to a fountain pen retailer a couple of hours north, but the pen I want is no longer available in the nib size I want (they only have extra fine left; the pen is not technically a limited edition, even though only 800 are available worldwide, but it means other sizes won't be restocked). There is, however, someone in Madison with the the pen in the nib I'd like, who wants to sell it. The up side? We'd meet in between, in the town that has a quilt shop I love. I still need to give her a firm answer. Her price is reasonable, and the pictures of the pen show it in great condition.
I first used fountain pens back forty (!!) years ago when I was in college. Did a bit of calligraphy as a hobby, then moved on to other things. The pens have found a great resurgence over the last ten years or so, with a staggering number of pens and inks available, expanding all the time. I use them for journaling and sketching. I'll eventually post a few of the pens I use, but will leave you with a teaser: one of the pens is made from basaltic lava from Mount Etna in Sicily.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
On a clear day...
...radio waves travel forever.
On the way to work this morning, my usual syndicated radio station - with a local receiver and antenna - was hijacked by another station. It was odd enough that the frequencies were wildly different (105.1 for the syndicated station, 98.1 for the hijacker), but the interloper is located in...
...Grand Rapids, Michigan.
As the crow flies over Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids is 114 miles away. It was a gorgeous, clear still morning.
Unfortunately, the other station wasn't to my taste, so I changed over to a CD for the rest of the ride in. Interested to see what I pick up tomorrow morning.
On the way to work this morning, my usual syndicated radio station - with a local receiver and antenna - was hijacked by another station. It was odd enough that the frequencies were wildly different (105.1 for the syndicated station, 98.1 for the hijacker), but the interloper is located in...
...Grand Rapids, Michigan.
As the crow flies over Lake Michigan, Grand Rapids is 114 miles away. It was a gorgeous, clear still morning.
Unfortunately, the other station wasn't to my taste, so I changed over to a CD for the rest of the ride in. Interested to see what I pick up tomorrow morning.
Thursday, June 21, 2018
The Longest Day
Summer officially begins today, with the longest day and the summer solstice.
Naturally, it's going to be cloudy, drizzly and possibly rainy all day.
Eh. I don't mind, since it's not blazingly hot the way it was last weekend. If nothing else, the weather in Wisconsin is varied. In fact, we can sometimes cycle through three seasons in less than a week.
It is errand day. I've a hair appointment after work (that counts as a errand, since it prevents me from going straight home from work), followed by a grocery order pick up. That means putting away the food when I get home. Honestly, isn't it enough that I drag it up from the basement entrance?
Planning things out for the weekend. Carpet cleaners are coming next Friday to clean the upstairs. Before then, I need to get the new section of wall painted, the hutch from the computer desk taken apart and taken to the basement, and a bunch of stuff put away, moved out of the way, or put someplace else to give away. It isn't that there is very much; it's more that I want them to clean every possible inch of carpet.
To much too do, so no welcome to summer bacchanalia for me. How about you? How will you spend this longest day?
Naturally, it's going to be cloudy, drizzly and possibly rainy all day.
Eh. I don't mind, since it's not blazingly hot the way it was last weekend. If nothing else, the weather in Wisconsin is varied. In fact, we can sometimes cycle through three seasons in less than a week.
It is errand day. I've a hair appointment after work (that counts as a errand, since it prevents me from going straight home from work), followed by a grocery order pick up. That means putting away the food when I get home. Honestly, isn't it enough that I drag it up from the basement entrance?
Planning things out for the weekend. Carpet cleaners are coming next Friday to clean the upstairs. Before then, I need to get the new section of wall painted, the hutch from the computer desk taken apart and taken to the basement, and a bunch of stuff put away, moved out of the way, or put someplace else to give away. It isn't that there is very much; it's more that I want them to clean every possible inch of carpet.
To much too do, so no welcome to summer bacchanalia for me. How about you? How will you spend this longest day?
Friday, April 27, 2018
Not much to say
It's been two weeks, so I suppose I should say something.
The Alfie Evans thing is breaking my heart. It's one thing for the UK National Health to say they are done treating him, it's another entirely for them to prohibit the family from seeking treatment elsewhere. "We've decided he's going to die, and we are going to make sure he dies!". The core question is one of ultimate responsibility: who is the one ultimately responsible for making decisions for the child? Apparently, the UK believes it's the state, not the parent.
Lest you think "that could never happen here"...I point you to the case of a couple of New Jersey teens who have been suspended from school because they (legally) went to a gun range after school to get in some target practice. What's the connection? Overreach of the government. In this case, the township "enforces zero-tolerance policy for any students who have weapons in their possession, on or off school grounds".
"On or off". Are they planning on searching out every student whose parents are teaching them to shoot, and suspend them? Are they going to tour the local hunting blinds, and slap suspensions on kids hunting with family and friends? It sounds like a very sneaky way to take away rights from the kids...in the hopes that as they grow up without guns, they will never go back to the dark side.
The older I get, the more grateful I am that I have not had to raise kids in this world.
In other news, I have the estimate for the closet creation and mini bathroom projects. Sigh. The description of the work is wrong, in several places. This, in spite of the fact that when I asked them to come to take a look and give an estimate, I gave them sheets detailing exactly what I wanted done. My task this weekend is to correct the work descriptions, and send it back to them to be reworked.
Spring is finally here. Naturally, I have other plans this weekend, and can't get to all of the outside stuff I want to do. None of it is particularly hard, but time consuming. It's also supposed to rain tonight, which dampens my enthusiasm (heh) a bit.
Not much else going on around here. How's it by you?
The Alfie Evans thing is breaking my heart. It's one thing for the UK National Health to say they are done treating him, it's another entirely for them to prohibit the family from seeking treatment elsewhere. "We've decided he's going to die, and we are going to make sure he dies!". The core question is one of ultimate responsibility: who is the one ultimately responsible for making decisions for the child? Apparently, the UK believes it's the state, not the parent.
Lest you think "that could never happen here"...I point you to the case of a couple of New Jersey teens who have been suspended from school because they (legally) went to a gun range after school to get in some target practice. What's the connection? Overreach of the government. In this case, the township "enforces zero-tolerance policy for any students who have weapons in their possession, on or off school grounds".
"On or off". Are they planning on searching out every student whose parents are teaching them to shoot, and suspend them? Are they going to tour the local hunting blinds, and slap suspensions on kids hunting with family and friends? It sounds like a very sneaky way to take away rights from the kids...in the hopes that as they grow up without guns, they will never go back to the dark side.
The older I get, the more grateful I am that I have not had to raise kids in this world.
In other news, I have the estimate for the closet creation and mini bathroom projects. Sigh. The description of the work is wrong, in several places. This, in spite of the fact that when I asked them to come to take a look and give an estimate, I gave them sheets detailing exactly what I wanted done. My task this weekend is to correct the work descriptions, and send it back to them to be reworked.
Spring is finally here. Naturally, I have other plans this weekend, and can't get to all of the outside stuff I want to do. None of it is particularly hard, but time consuming. It's also supposed to rain tonight, which dampens my enthusiasm (heh) a bit.
Not much else going on around here. How's it by you?
Tuesday, November 14, 2017
In need of a brain dump
Really, truly, I'll get back to thankful before the end of the month. I keep thinking about it, but can't seem to find the time to post. Meanwhile, a bit of a brain dump...
Last week, my newly married cousin's father in law passed away suddenly. By God's grace, the family had been together that evening laughing and playing dominoes, so their last memory is very happy one. It's a shock, of course - by all accounts he was a wonderful man, who should have had years to enjoy his family and grandkids.
Also last week, I found out a dear college friend has had a recurrence of cancer, which means four months of chemo, surgery and radiation. My heart is breaking for their family: just this September their son died after collapsing at football practice.
Even in all this, we can still say God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. We don't see or understand even a portion of all that is at work around us. This is part of what faith is - believing that God is benevolent and loving, in spite of things that may seem to make us doubt that.
I did indeed start Whole30, and am mourning the absence of cheese in my life for the next month. I'm also heartily sick of washing dishes, after one day of prep and a day and a half of program. I'll get more efficient, I know, but in the meantime, my hands are all wrinkly from all the dishwater.
The new tax plan is causing fits at work. People keep asking me to write up the impact, and while I do it, it's really a bit of witchcraft. Much like the process of making the law, it seems. While we have the basic outlines, the versions are different, and trying to project any meaningful numbers for our institution is frustrating. All I know for sure is that under the proposed Senate plan, my personal tax bill will go up.
Not finding time to get into the sewing studio, my happy place and the home of the natural daylight lamp. It is still just barely light out, if I come right home from work, but as soon as the sun goes down, my body starts to think about sleep. The only thing that keeps me from going straight to bed some days is the fact that my alarm clock only works correctly if there are at least eleven hours from the present time until the time it is set to ring.
I don't have much of the fall decor out; next week Friday, I decorate for Christmas. Where has the fall gone? On my plan for this last summer was to preaddress Christmas cards, Yup, did not get done. I usually like to mail them a few days after Thanksgiving, or at least by the end of November. Hmm, need to work on that on the long weekend, I guess.
Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Among the living
Me, that is. These long gaps are becoming a habit. I have things to say, but a good portion of them are opinions that are unpopular with the social justice, politically correct, climate-change-is-settled-science!, current liberal cause of the day crowd. I just don't feel like arguing.
Busy at work. Generally hate my job, which is a seasonal thing. Changes in administration, so people staking out their territory and sucking up. Good grief, the sucking up. I've no patience for that stuff.
Lots to do at home. The condo was painted, which was a nightmare (and still is). They came back and cleaned the drips off of the center of the big windows, and replaced the globe on the outside light fixture, but did not remove the inch-wide strip of paint on the glass where the trim painter got a bit enthusiastic, nor did they move the planters back to where they belong. Homeowners' Association meeting tomorrow night - the first one in six years that I can actually go to because it is after work, rather than during the day. They are going to get an earful about that, and several other things.
It was really, really warm last week (Thursday and Friday up to 80), which is unusual this time of year. Naturally, this week the temperature has been lower than average. Last night I finally caved and turned on the heat. They say we could see the first snow flurries of the year this afternoon. Frost advisory tonight, and my allergies could not be happier about that.
I'm....not really ok. There's a lot on my mind, from my own life, and due to unpleasant circumstances in the lives of people I care about. I've been struggling physically since I caught that cold in September, which was exacerbated by the side effects of the drug my doctor gave me to fight the cold. I can either get more sleep or eat well/cook at home, and sleep has won. So I'm eating like crap, which makes some other things go wonky.
On the plus side, I just had my semi-annual dental appointment, and my teeth are still absolutely perfect and healthy. Yay for one thing that isn't falling apart.
A houseful of people is coming for dinner on the 4th. After that, I'm planning to start a Whole30, in an attempt to reset myself and improve my blood sugar. I've done some research, and so far, the only thing that may be an issue for me (more mentally than anything else), is no cheese. No dairy, actually. I'm already mourning its loss.
The key to success is preparation, which I can't really start until the day after the dinner party. I may end up starting the program Wednesday rather than Monday. The goal here is to be done before the Christmas holiday. I'm not worried about Thanksgiving: turkey is Whole30 compliant. Baked sweet potato with clarified butter, green beans with the same and some slivered almonds and I'm good to go.
That's about it for the lots of nothing here.
Busy at work. Generally hate my job, which is a seasonal thing. Changes in administration, so people staking out their territory and sucking up. Good grief, the sucking up. I've no patience for that stuff.
Lots to do at home. The condo was painted, which was a nightmare (and still is). They came back and cleaned the drips off of the center of the big windows, and replaced the globe on the outside light fixture, but did not remove the inch-wide strip of paint on the glass where the trim painter got a bit enthusiastic, nor did they move the planters back to where they belong. Homeowners' Association meeting tomorrow night - the first one in six years that I can actually go to because it is after work, rather than during the day. They are going to get an earful about that, and several other things.
It was really, really warm last week (Thursday and Friday up to 80), which is unusual this time of year. Naturally, this week the temperature has been lower than average. Last night I finally caved and turned on the heat. They say we could see the first snow flurries of the year this afternoon. Frost advisory tonight, and my allergies could not be happier about that.
I'm....not really ok. There's a lot on my mind, from my own life, and due to unpleasant circumstances in the lives of people I care about. I've been struggling physically since I caught that cold in September, which was exacerbated by the side effects of the drug my doctor gave me to fight the cold. I can either get more sleep or eat well/cook at home, and sleep has won. So I'm eating like crap, which makes some other things go wonky.
On the plus side, I just had my semi-annual dental appointment, and my teeth are still absolutely perfect and healthy. Yay for one thing that isn't falling apart.
A houseful of people is coming for dinner on the 4th. After that, I'm planning to start a Whole30, in an attempt to reset myself and improve my blood sugar. I've done some research, and so far, the only thing that may be an issue for me (more mentally than anything else), is no cheese. No dairy, actually. I'm already mourning its loss.
The key to success is preparation, which I can't really start until the day after the dinner party. I may end up starting the program Wednesday rather than Monday. The goal here is to be done before the Christmas holiday. I'm not worried about Thanksgiving: turkey is Whole30 compliant. Baked sweet potato with clarified butter, green beans with the same and some slivered almonds and I'm good to go.
That's about it for the lots of nothing here.
Sunday, October 01, 2017
Simple Woman's Daybook
Playing along...
For Today
Looking out my window - Blue skies and sunshine, but I already see a few shriveled brown leaves on the patio.
I am thinking - That as much as I would love a nap in front of the fireplace, I've too much to do today.
I am thankful - for the return of autumn, warm days, chilly nights, thick soups and stews, the return of routines.
One of my favorite things - Right now, the Instant Pot (see the previous answer re: soups and stews).
I am creating - A wedding quilt for family. With luck, it will be done before the wedding.
I am wearing - Yoga pants and a very old patriotic t-shirt. No socks or shoes.
I am reading - Jan Karon's latest Mitford book, To Be Where You Are. Just sweetness.
I am hoping - That this cold goes away for good. Two weeks of a persistent cough. a five-day course of prednisone, and it is still hanging on.
I am learning - The ins and outs of pressure cooking (see above favorite thing). So far, no explosions.
In my kitchen - Dutch baby pancake for breakfast, filled with apples sauteed with brown sugar in maple syrup and butter. Darn tasty. Rolls are currently rising in the cast iron pan (see the Pioneer Woman's Rosemary Rolls - yummy, easy, and a very cute presentation). Later today, chicken, tomatoes, mushrooms in the Instant Pot. That's dinner for most of the week.
That's about it. Sunday tends to be a big cooking day - I like to get as much of my lunches for the week packed (parcel out pretzels, pack the nuts/cheese/raisin snacks, make sure I've granola made for the yogurt) as well as at least a few dinners for the week prepared. I find if all I have to do is reheat and microwave a veggie, I am much more likely to eat at home than pick something up on the way. Like to make sure the house is reasonably clean as well, to avoid having to do much cleaning through the week.
And now - it looks like I do have time for a short nap.
For Today
Looking out my window - Blue skies and sunshine, but I already see a few shriveled brown leaves on the patio.
I am thinking - That as much as I would love a nap in front of the fireplace, I've too much to do today.
I am thankful - for the return of autumn, warm days, chilly nights, thick soups and stews, the return of routines.
One of my favorite things - Right now, the Instant Pot (see the previous answer re: soups and stews).
I am creating - A wedding quilt for family. With luck, it will be done before the wedding.
I am wearing - Yoga pants and a very old patriotic t-shirt. No socks or shoes.
I am reading - Jan Karon's latest Mitford book, To Be Where You Are. Just sweetness.
I am hoping - That this cold goes away for good. Two weeks of a persistent cough. a five-day course of prednisone, and it is still hanging on.
I am learning - The ins and outs of pressure cooking (see above favorite thing). So far, no explosions.
In my kitchen - Dutch baby pancake for breakfast, filled with apples sauteed with brown sugar in maple syrup and butter. Darn tasty. Rolls are currently rising in the cast iron pan (see the Pioneer Woman's Rosemary Rolls - yummy, easy, and a very cute presentation). Later today, chicken, tomatoes, mushrooms in the Instant Pot. That's dinner for most of the week.
That's about it. Sunday tends to be a big cooking day - I like to get as much of my lunches for the week packed (parcel out pretzels, pack the nuts/cheese/raisin snacks, make sure I've granola made for the yogurt) as well as at least a few dinners for the week prepared. I find if all I have to do is reheat and microwave a veggie, I am much more likely to eat at home than pick something up on the way. Like to make sure the house is reasonably clean as well, to avoid having to do much cleaning through the week.
And now - it looks like I do have time for a short nap.
Friday, September 15, 2017
This and that 091517
Wow - not even a full week, and I'm posting again. Nothing of great value, but at least words into pixels.
I was on vacation the week of Labor Day, and naturally, got sick. Stuffy/nose-runny, then a dry, occasional cough began Thursday. Yeah, it's not so "occasional" anymore, and not so dry, but it's not keeping me up at night. More annoying than anything. I had a nasal spray the doctor had given me last winter to dry out my poor, plugged sinuses, and that has done a great job unstuffing them and keeping them from regressing, so breathing is fine.
That whole ability to sleep eleven hours a night - and take a short nap during the day - certainly helped as well.
All that to say I'm feeling a bit better.
While I was off, they came to paint the outside of the condo. Let's just say they did not do a stellar job. They did not replace the globe over the outside light (I can't reach it without a ladder) and did not put the giant planters back where they belong (they only had to move them six inches to paint; instead, it took two guys to move each of them to the center of the patio - yeah, like I'm going to be able to move them back). Oh - and the guy doing trim work overpainted onto the window glass, (again, the highest windows on the place) and that has not been cleaned up. I sent a complaint to the management company a week ago, which they are doing a great job of ignoring.
Oh yeah - they also raised the condo fees for the next quarter, with less than three weeks' notice.
That, at least, is a good development. They were decreased in April, mostly because a bully on the HOA board wanted to sell his unit. But more than three weeks notice would have been appreciated.
While on vacation I began reorganizing the studio. Rather, reorganizing the projects. All of the various tools and patterns, books and fabric stash have homes, but although I know what my started projects/kits/fabric pulled for quilts bins generally contain, I'm no longer sure which of the three bins they reside in, nor what, if any supplies are still needed for completion. That this is an issue was highlighted when I went through the basket of fabric waiting to be used/put away, to discover I'd bought backing for a particular quilt twice. Gah.
I'd planned to take in the 830 for servicing, well, annual cleaning (it's running just fine) and software update, but I'm glad I didn't. My cousin's daughter is getting married in a month, and I'm going to hem a couple of bridesmaid's dresses and the mother of the bride's dress. The 830 has a handy dandy rolled hem foot that makes doing that narrow little hem a breeze.
We finally have a new area vice president at work. The good news is that he has an accounting degree (from our institution, no less); the bad news is that he has absolutely no experience in higher education. Going to be a steep learning curve for him. His first day is Monday; he's scheduled to come and say hi to us that afternoon.
Summer has returned, with temperatures in/around the low eighties for the next week. This, after more than a week of highs in the high sixties. Argh. Once the urns are moved and the light cover put on, I'd like to pack up the patio for the winter. Didn't expect to want to use it this week.
Like I said, not much for content today. There are a lot of things on my heart I can't talk about - friends struggles with health, other things going on - that are an ongoing heaviness. All you can do most of the time is just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
I was on vacation the week of Labor Day, and naturally, got sick. Stuffy/nose-runny, then a dry, occasional cough began Thursday. Yeah, it's not so "occasional" anymore, and not so dry, but it's not keeping me up at night. More annoying than anything. I had a nasal spray the doctor had given me last winter to dry out my poor, plugged sinuses, and that has done a great job unstuffing them and keeping them from regressing, so breathing is fine.
That whole ability to sleep eleven hours a night - and take a short nap during the day - certainly helped as well.
All that to say I'm feeling a bit better.
While I was off, they came to paint the outside of the condo. Let's just say they did not do a stellar job. They did not replace the globe over the outside light (I can't reach it without a ladder) and did not put the giant planters back where they belong (they only had to move them six inches to paint; instead, it took two guys to move each of them to the center of the patio - yeah, like I'm going to be able to move them back). Oh - and the guy doing trim work overpainted onto the window glass, (again, the highest windows on the place) and that has not been cleaned up. I sent a complaint to the management company a week ago, which they are doing a great job of ignoring.
Oh yeah - they also raised the condo fees for the next quarter, with less than three weeks' notice.
That, at least, is a good development. They were decreased in April, mostly because a bully on the HOA board wanted to sell his unit. But more than three weeks notice would have been appreciated.
While on vacation I began reorganizing the studio. Rather, reorganizing the projects. All of the various tools and patterns, books and fabric stash have homes, but although I know what my started projects/kits/fabric pulled for quilts bins generally contain, I'm no longer sure which of the three bins they reside in, nor what, if any supplies are still needed for completion. That this is an issue was highlighted when I went through the basket of fabric waiting to be used/put away, to discover I'd bought backing for a particular quilt twice. Gah.
I'd planned to take in the 830 for servicing, well, annual cleaning (it's running just fine) and software update, but I'm glad I didn't. My cousin's daughter is getting married in a month, and I'm going to hem a couple of bridesmaid's dresses and the mother of the bride's dress. The 830 has a handy dandy rolled hem foot that makes doing that narrow little hem a breeze.
We finally have a new area vice president at work. The good news is that he has an accounting degree (from our institution, no less); the bad news is that he has absolutely no experience in higher education. Going to be a steep learning curve for him. His first day is Monday; he's scheduled to come and say hi to us that afternoon.
Summer has returned, with temperatures in/around the low eighties for the next week. This, after more than a week of highs in the high sixties. Argh. Once the urns are moved and the light cover put on, I'd like to pack up the patio for the winter. Didn't expect to want to use it this week.
Like I said, not much for content today. There are a lot of things on my heart I can't talk about - friends struggles with health, other things going on - that are an ongoing heaviness. All you can do most of the time is just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Sunday, May 28, 2017
Kitchen Duty part II
I've spent so much time in the kitchen the last two days, I've actually almost forgotten what I had for dinner last night. After some thought (and putting away the rest of the box of pasta), I realized it was whole wheat spaghetti with butter and Parmesan as aside to a wonderful piece of skin-on salmon. The salmon got a bit of lemon pepper on the flesh side, then was put skin side down in a very hot pan coated with olive oil. Let it sit for five minutes until the skin is crisp, then turn it over for a few seconds. The skin should be crisp, the inside still pink (unless you are one of those people who likes your fish really well done).
It was annoying me that I couldn't remember at first what I ate.
Today, I don't have that problem.
Prep for several dishes began shortly after breakfast (toasted pieces of yesterday's English muffin bread topped with peanut butter). It always seems most efficient, when I'm doing several dishes, to do all the prep work for everything all at once (and it usually keeps me from saying to heck with it and stopping halfway through the plan). Dice an onion. Chop up the rest of the bread. Shred two different types of cheeses (really, it takes only a minute or two to shred cheese from a block, and then it has none of the cornstarch coating that keeps preshredded cheese from sticking together - and makes it gummy when it melts). Peel and slice potatoes. Boil the huge pot of water for the brine.
Once the water cooled, all sorts of good stuff was added to it, and the pork tenderloin (two smaller ones, I found when I opened the package) were put in it to soak for half a day. The linked recipe is the brine I used; if you make pork chops rather than tenderloin, a half hour is all they need. Soak too long, and the meat starts to deteriorate.
A potato gratin was meant to accompany the pork (this was all planned for dinner). Last grocery order, I bought half a dozen russets. They must have been "baking" potatoes, as each was pretty darn big. The two that were left filled up my regular size gratin dish. My standard is a variant of this dish. No leeks, but some shallots in with the cream. Not Gruyere (at least not if I have to make a special trip), but lots of Swiss. It's easy to make, especially if you have a mandolin to help slice the potatoes thinly.
The bread, if you will recall from yesterday, was made to be the basis for a new-to-me breakfast casserole. The other ingredients are sauteed pork sausage, cheddar cheese, eggs and milk.
Naturally, I didn't have any pork sausage, but I did have a pound of ground turkey, as well as a magic ingredient: Penzey's breakfast sausage seasoning. Used that with the turkey, and it was delicious. It is this recipe, though I also added sauteed onion...I had a couple of corner nibbles when it first came out of the oven (it's meant to be cut up and frozen for future breakfasts) and it is really good.
In the end, dinner was some of the potato gratin, some of the pork, green beans and a rather sizeable glass of Stag's Leap Aveta Sauvignon Blanc. There are leftovers of everything. There are two tiny lamp chops in the freezer that may be dinner tomorrow, with the potatoes. The pork can be sliced for sandwiches, or, if I do a bit of grocery shopping later for spinach and berries, my favorite salad.
tomorrow will be spent deep cleaning the kitchen. The A/C annual service is Tuesday, and part of what he has to check is attached to the furnace...which is in the closet in the kitchen. Eh, it's supposed to rain off and on all day, anyway.
My legs and feet ache from all the standing. The kitchen is so small, you sort of stand in one place and pivot, or take just one step from side to side. No chance to really stretch your legs. Must remember to take an Advil before bed so I can move in the morning.
In between things, I've been reading and sewing. I'm machine quilting a baby quilt for a coworker. The batting I'm using is wool - very soft and fluffy, but I think I underestimated the warmth factor. Good thing this baby is due in late September.
On that, I'm off to bed. Trying hard to maintain regular bed/rise times over this vacation. I did get up at the usual time this morning, but after half an hour of wandering around online, went back to bed for an hour. Don't want to do that tomorrow.
It was annoying me that I couldn't remember at first what I ate.
Today, I don't have that problem.
Prep for several dishes began shortly after breakfast (toasted pieces of yesterday's English muffin bread topped with peanut butter). It always seems most efficient, when I'm doing several dishes, to do all the prep work for everything all at once (and it usually keeps me from saying to heck with it and stopping halfway through the plan). Dice an onion. Chop up the rest of the bread. Shred two different types of cheeses (really, it takes only a minute or two to shred cheese from a block, and then it has none of the cornstarch coating that keeps preshredded cheese from sticking together - and makes it gummy when it melts). Peel and slice potatoes. Boil the huge pot of water for the brine.
Once the water cooled, all sorts of good stuff was added to it, and the pork tenderloin (two smaller ones, I found when I opened the package) were put in it to soak for half a day. The linked recipe is the brine I used; if you make pork chops rather than tenderloin, a half hour is all they need. Soak too long, and the meat starts to deteriorate.
A potato gratin was meant to accompany the pork (this was all planned for dinner). Last grocery order, I bought half a dozen russets. They must have been "baking" potatoes, as each was pretty darn big. The two that were left filled up my regular size gratin dish. My standard is a variant of this dish. No leeks, but some shallots in with the cream. Not Gruyere (at least not if I have to make a special trip), but lots of Swiss. It's easy to make, especially if you have a mandolin to help slice the potatoes thinly.
The bread, if you will recall from yesterday, was made to be the basis for a new-to-me breakfast casserole. The other ingredients are sauteed pork sausage, cheddar cheese, eggs and milk.
Naturally, I didn't have any pork sausage, but I did have a pound of ground turkey, as well as a magic ingredient: Penzey's breakfast sausage seasoning. Used that with the turkey, and it was delicious. It is this recipe, though I also added sauteed onion...I had a couple of corner nibbles when it first came out of the oven (it's meant to be cut up and frozen for future breakfasts) and it is really good.
In the end, dinner was some of the potato gratin, some of the pork, green beans and a rather sizeable glass of Stag's Leap Aveta Sauvignon Blanc. There are leftovers of everything. There are two tiny lamp chops in the freezer that may be dinner tomorrow, with the potatoes. The pork can be sliced for sandwiches, or, if I do a bit of grocery shopping later for spinach and berries, my favorite salad.
tomorrow will be spent deep cleaning the kitchen. The A/C annual service is Tuesday, and part of what he has to check is attached to the furnace...which is in the closet in the kitchen. Eh, it's supposed to rain off and on all day, anyway.
My legs and feet ache from all the standing. The kitchen is so small, you sort of stand in one place and pivot, or take just one step from side to side. No chance to really stretch your legs. Must remember to take an Advil before bed so I can move in the morning.
In between things, I've been reading and sewing. I'm machine quilting a baby quilt for a coworker. The batting I'm using is wool - very soft and fluffy, but I think I underestimated the warmth factor. Good thing this baby is due in late September.
On that, I'm off to bed. Trying hard to maintain regular bed/rise times over this vacation. I did get up at the usual time this morning, but after half an hour of wandering around online, went back to bed for an hour. Don't want to do that tomorrow.
Friday, April 21, 2017
Obligatory Friday brain dump
It's been a rough week. I'm exhausted, and want nothing more than to go home and go to bed. The irony is that I'm at that stage of tired where I most likely would not be able to sleep.
Anyway, it's supposed to be a decent (by my standards; your mileage may vary) weekend, with highs in the mid fifties with sunshine. It's a bit too cold yet to do things like powerwash the patio, but I will putz with the little stuff. Hook up the hose, fix the flag mount, put in the solar powered spot for the flag. Anything that doesn't require putting on gardening clothes and actually getting dirty. In other words, the little stuff I was going to do last weekend, when it was seventy degrees.
Eh. It will (mostly, and eventually) get done.
I've not done much sewing at all this month. On Good Friday, I finished putting borders on the Galaxy quilt. Cut out the binding. Still need to press the top, press the binding and piece the back. Then it will all go on skirt hangers in the closet until I can afford to have someone else quilt it. Yes, for the first time ever, I'm sending something to someone else for quilting.
There may be some organizing in the studio this weekend. A while ago, I picked up a box of vacuum bags - the plastic zipper bags that have a valve on them through which you can suck out the air inside the bag. Well, not you, but your vacuum does the sucking. My winter linens/quilts are stored this way.
Someone on a quilt message board mentioned she puts all the fabric and bits for her quilts-in-progress into these sorts of bags, as they tend store in much less space than otherwise. I cannot see doing this with things that are already started, as the wrinkling is rather pronounced once you open the bags, but I happen to have a number of quilty things that are in the "large hunks of fabric" stage. The fabric needs to stay together, but I certainly don't have to have it loose in a bin.
While I have rather a lot of these bins of projects and potential projects (//cough//four or five//cough,cough//), I do have an inventory list. Somewhere. More specifically, in one of the three spiral notebooks of various sizes and shapes that live in the drawer of the sewing machine cabinet. The last time the list was updated, though, is at least two years ago.
Other than those couple of things, I intend to laze around all weekend. How about you?
Anyway, it's supposed to be a decent (by my standards; your mileage may vary) weekend, with highs in the mid fifties with sunshine. It's a bit too cold yet to do things like powerwash the patio, but I will putz with the little stuff. Hook up the hose, fix the flag mount, put in the solar powered spot for the flag. Anything that doesn't require putting on gardening clothes and actually getting dirty. In other words, the little stuff I was going to do last weekend, when it was seventy degrees.
Eh. It will (mostly, and eventually) get done.
I've not done much sewing at all this month. On Good Friday, I finished putting borders on the Galaxy quilt. Cut out the binding. Still need to press the top, press the binding and piece the back. Then it will all go on skirt hangers in the closet until I can afford to have someone else quilt it. Yes, for the first time ever, I'm sending something to someone else for quilting.
There may be some organizing in the studio this weekend. A while ago, I picked up a box of vacuum bags - the plastic zipper bags that have a valve on them through which you can suck out the air inside the bag. Well, not you, but your vacuum does the sucking. My winter linens/quilts are stored this way.
Someone on a quilt message board mentioned she puts all the fabric and bits for her quilts-in-progress into these sorts of bags, as they tend store in much less space than otherwise. I cannot see doing this with things that are already started, as the wrinkling is rather pronounced once you open the bags, but I happen to have a number of quilty things that are in the "large hunks of fabric" stage. The fabric needs to stay together, but I certainly don't have to have it loose in a bin.
While I have rather a lot of these bins of projects and potential projects (//cough//four or five//cough,cough//), I do have an inventory list. Somewhere. More specifically, in one of the three spiral notebooks of various sizes and shapes that live in the drawer of the sewing machine cabinet. The last time the list was updated, though, is at least two years ago.
Other than those couple of things, I intend to laze around all weekend. How about you?
Saturday, March 18, 2017
Family tales
Every so often I have coffee with my 91-year-old aunt. We both enjoy it, and I often end up learning things about family history that I never knew.
My grandfather knit. As in two (or more) needles, lots of yarn, mittens, scarves or sweaters at the end of the process, knit. It always seemed a bit odd to see my ex-Italian navy, world war I vet grandfather with a pair of knitting needles in his hands, but callow youth that I was, I never thought to ask how/when/why he learned the craft.
According to my aunt, he was laid off during the Great Depression, like a lot of other folks. Having him hanging around at home drove my grandmother a little crazy, so she taught him to knit to get him out of her hair and give him something to do.
Makes sense to me.
Apparently, he liked it enough that he kept it up, off and on. When I was in grade school, I wore a winter scarf he knit. While yarn arts are not my thing (I crochet fairly well, and can knit/purl straight rows if pushed), you can see that my craftiness comes from both grandparents on that side.
Then there are the more recent bits of family life that may become stories to pass through the ages. As we were getting up from the table to leave, my aunt mentioned that she had recently crocheted three p*ssy hats for my cousin's wife for "a big national event". They were "really easy to make, and they had to be red, you know."
My aunt is a dear, sweet woman and I am 100% sure she had no real idea exactly what she had done.
My cousin's wife, however, is going to get a talking to the next time I see her.
My grandfather knit. As in two (or more) needles, lots of yarn, mittens, scarves or sweaters at the end of the process, knit. It always seemed a bit odd to see my ex-Italian navy, world war I vet grandfather with a pair of knitting needles in his hands, but callow youth that I was, I never thought to ask how/when/why he learned the craft.
According to my aunt, he was laid off during the Great Depression, like a lot of other folks. Having him hanging around at home drove my grandmother a little crazy, so she taught him to knit to get him out of her hair and give him something to do.
Makes sense to me.
Apparently, he liked it enough that he kept it up, off and on. When I was in grade school, I wore a winter scarf he knit. While yarn arts are not my thing (I crochet fairly well, and can knit/purl straight rows if pushed), you can see that my craftiness comes from both grandparents on that side.
Then there are the more recent bits of family life that may become stories to pass through the ages. As we were getting up from the table to leave, my aunt mentioned that she had recently crocheted three p*ssy hats for my cousin's wife for "a big national event". They were "really easy to make, and they had to be red, you know."
My aunt is a dear, sweet woman and I am 100% sure she had no real idea exactly what she had done.
My cousin's wife, however, is going to get a talking to the next time I see her.
Sunday, January 29, 2017
Oh weekend, I hate to see you go
Don't we all feel a bit like this, no matter what part of the week in which we take our "weekend"?
Friday after work I went out to a friend's house for dinner. We each do a birthday dinner for the other, sometime in the approximate neighborhoods of our birthdays, which are very conveniently about six months apart. She cooked for me this time, and boy, did she ever...
Beef tenderloin. Sauteed shrimp. Carrots. Sweet potato fries. Death by Chocolate cake for dessert. No wonder I slept two hours later than usual the next morning - it was really an extended food coma.
Puttered on Saturday, reorganizing a bit of the studio, reading a bit, not doing too much of anything too strenuous. Though I did put a cover on the electrical outlet behind the studio door. That door is never closed when I'm in the studio (truth to tell, it's only closed when I have company and don't want them seeing the creative mess), so I don't remember there is an outlet back there. Back when I had the condo painted, I bought nice new covers for all the outlets, but kept forgetting to put that one on.
I had the screwdriver in my hand because I switched out the light switch cover in that room. I have a "thing" for pretty switch covers. This particular one was Monet's "Waterlilies", or at least a small portion of it, done on a standard size cover. The new cover is a bit bigger...
It really is rather large, at 9 inches long. But it looks great and fits with the theme of the room.
Today was spent lolling about a bit, then in the kitchen. Not one, but two new recipes. A small bit of arborio rice has been languishing in the cabinet for months. I need the space, but as much as I adore risotto, I hate standing there adding liquid, stirring, repeat, repeat and on and on for half an hour or more. America's Test Kitchen's Casserole cookbook has a recipe for a baked risotto that sounded a bit less labor intensive. I see the book isn't directly available on Amazon anymore, no wonder, since it's more than ten years old.
Putting everything together was easy. The end result? Not as creamy as traditional risotto, even though I know the liquid I added may have been a bit on the higher side. The rice still had a tiny bit of bite to it. Eh, next time, a little more liquid and a little more baking time.
The second recipe was the ultimate broccoli with cheese sauce. Rather than just pouring the sauce over the veggie and calling it good, this recipe has you put it in a casserole dish, top it with the Best Breadcrumb Topping Ever, and bake it. (BBTE consists of a couple of slices of squishy white bread, torn and put in a food processor along with a tablespoon or two of melted butter. Plus until coarse crumbs form. They brown beautifully and provide a delightful crunch). While I had the two bunches of broccoli the recipe called for, my bunches must have been small. I ended up with a rather high cheese sauce to broccoli ratio. No complaints, though.
This particular cheese sauce (made from scratch) is pretty much the same one you use for macaroni and cheese (complete with a BBTE topping there, too), so the skill is worth mastering.
Needless to say, after pairing servings of each of those with some cod for lunch (pfft - I microwaved the cod with lemon pepper - I'd been fussing over the others for over an hour and I was hungry, darn it), I spent the early part of the afternoon dozing in front of the fire in another food coma.
There are worse ways to go.
The leftovers on the side dishes will give me a headstart on dinner for the next three nights. Porkchops, salmon and more cod all thaw fairly quickly in cold water, so I don't need to make a decision on a protein until I get home from work (translation: forgetting to take something out to thaw isn't a big deal).
It looks like being full of good food has made me chatty. Eh, it's time to decide what, if anything, I want for dinner, and what, if anything, I'm going to pack tonight for tomorrow's lunch. It's not that I won't take a lunch, it's more that I simply don't have the energy to fuss with it tonight. There are things I can pull together in a hurry tomorrow morning that will still end up as a decent lunch.
Friday after work I went out to a friend's house for dinner. We each do a birthday dinner for the other, sometime in the approximate neighborhoods of our birthdays, which are very conveniently about six months apart. She cooked for me this time, and boy, did she ever...
Beef tenderloin. Sauteed shrimp. Carrots. Sweet potato fries. Death by Chocolate cake for dessert. No wonder I slept two hours later than usual the next morning - it was really an extended food coma.
Puttered on Saturday, reorganizing a bit of the studio, reading a bit, not doing too much of anything too strenuous. Though I did put a cover on the electrical outlet behind the studio door. That door is never closed when I'm in the studio (truth to tell, it's only closed when I have company and don't want them seeing the creative mess), so I don't remember there is an outlet back there. Back when I had the condo painted, I bought nice new covers for all the outlets, but kept forgetting to put that one on.
I had the screwdriver in my hand because I switched out the light switch cover in that room. I have a "thing" for pretty switch covers. This particular one was Monet's "Waterlilies", or at least a small portion of it, done on a standard size cover. The new cover is a bit bigger...
It really is rather large, at 9 inches long. But it looks great and fits with the theme of the room.
Today was spent lolling about a bit, then in the kitchen. Not one, but two new recipes. A small bit of arborio rice has been languishing in the cabinet for months. I need the space, but as much as I adore risotto, I hate standing there adding liquid, stirring, repeat, repeat and on and on for half an hour or more. America's Test Kitchen's Casserole cookbook has a recipe for a baked risotto that sounded a bit less labor intensive. I see the book isn't directly available on Amazon anymore, no wonder, since it's more than ten years old.
Putting everything together was easy. The end result? Not as creamy as traditional risotto, even though I know the liquid I added may have been a bit on the higher side. The rice still had a tiny bit of bite to it. Eh, next time, a little more liquid and a little more baking time.
The second recipe was the ultimate broccoli with cheese sauce. Rather than just pouring the sauce over the veggie and calling it good, this recipe has you put it in a casserole dish, top it with the Best Breadcrumb Topping Ever, and bake it. (BBTE consists of a couple of slices of squishy white bread, torn and put in a food processor along with a tablespoon or two of melted butter. Plus until coarse crumbs form. They brown beautifully and provide a delightful crunch). While I had the two bunches of broccoli the recipe called for, my bunches must have been small. I ended up with a rather high cheese sauce to broccoli ratio. No complaints, though.
This particular cheese sauce (made from scratch) is pretty much the same one you use for macaroni and cheese (complete with a BBTE topping there, too), so the skill is worth mastering.
Needless to say, after pairing servings of each of those with some cod for lunch (pfft - I microwaved the cod with lemon pepper - I'd been fussing over the others for over an hour and I was hungry, darn it), I spent the early part of the afternoon dozing in front of the fire in another food coma.
There are worse ways to go.
The leftovers on the side dishes will give me a headstart on dinner for the next three nights. Porkchops, salmon and more cod all thaw fairly quickly in cold water, so I don't need to make a decision on a protein until I get home from work (translation: forgetting to take something out to thaw isn't a big deal).
It looks like being full of good food has made me chatty. Eh, it's time to decide what, if anything, I want for dinner, and what, if anything, I'm going to pack tonight for tomorrow's lunch. It's not that I won't take a lunch, it's more that I simply don't have the energy to fuss with it tonight. There are things I can pull together in a hurry tomorrow morning that will still end up as a decent lunch.
Friday, January 20, 2017
A certain Friday in January
Depending on who you listen to, either we are entering a period that will "make America great again", or in which the world will end. Me? I think there is a middle ground.
Will watch the actual swearing in on live stream, as it takes place around the time I generally start my lunch. It's truly remarkable in that we have this (mostly) peaceful, (mostly, though in this particular case I doubt it) willing transfer of power over the most powerful country on the planet.
Since my invitations to all the balls got lost in the mail, I'm spending the weekend puttering around home. It's going to be unseasonably warm (possibly low fifties on Saturday) but rainy. Perfect sewing weather.
In addition to the UFO challenge I've taken on for this year, in February I'm participating, for the second year, in Drop and Give Me Twenty, a commitment to sew/quilt/craft for twenty minutes per day for the entire month. I have a wallhanging to quilt for a friend that is dreadfully, unacceptably late in getting done (about which she has been exceedingly gracious). It's layered and ready to quilt, I have all sorts of gorgeous variegated threads to use...and it will be my DAGMT project. Even if I quilt more than twenty minutes on a weekend, the first twenty will be that project.
Rainy days are perfect for trying out new recipes. I found an America's Test Kitchen recipe for baked broccoli with cheese sauce, and another for baked risotto, that sound wonderful. Heck, anything that includes cheese sauce or handfuls of fresh Parmesan cheese sounds wonderful. Picking up groceries tonight, so I can try these tomorrow.
A bunch of cleaning needs to be done. You'd think the place would stay cleaner with just me around, but no, it still gets both messy and dusty. It's also time to clean the vacuums (you do know they need to be cleaned periodically, right?) again. There are places to take apart and wipe out, and a couple of filters to remove and wash. And the rollers to de-hair. Ye gods, the hair. There may be more hair wrapped around the rollers than currently on my head. Seriously.
That's my excitement for the next couple days - how about you?
Will watch the actual swearing in on live stream, as it takes place around the time I generally start my lunch. It's truly remarkable in that we have this (mostly) peaceful, (mostly, though in this particular case I doubt it) willing transfer of power over the most powerful country on the planet.
Since my invitations to all the balls got lost in the mail, I'm spending the weekend puttering around home. It's going to be unseasonably warm (possibly low fifties on Saturday) but rainy. Perfect sewing weather.
In addition to the UFO challenge I've taken on for this year, in February I'm participating, for the second year, in Drop and Give Me Twenty, a commitment to sew/quilt/craft for twenty minutes per day for the entire month. I have a wallhanging to quilt for a friend that is dreadfully, unacceptably late in getting done (about which she has been exceedingly gracious). It's layered and ready to quilt, I have all sorts of gorgeous variegated threads to use...and it will be my DAGMT project. Even if I quilt more than twenty minutes on a weekend, the first twenty will be that project.
Rainy days are perfect for trying out new recipes. I found an America's Test Kitchen recipe for baked broccoli with cheese sauce, and another for baked risotto, that sound wonderful. Heck, anything that includes cheese sauce or handfuls of fresh Parmesan cheese sounds wonderful. Picking up groceries tonight, so I can try these tomorrow.
A bunch of cleaning needs to be done. You'd think the place would stay cleaner with just me around, but no, it still gets both messy and dusty. It's also time to clean the vacuums (you do know they need to be cleaned periodically, right?) again. There are places to take apart and wipe out, and a couple of filters to remove and wash. And the rollers to de-hair. Ye gods, the hair. There may be more hair wrapped around the rollers than currently on my head. Seriously.
That's my excitement for the next couple days - how about you?
Friday, December 02, 2016
Free association Friday
The new tags needed to go on the car Thursday morning. Nevermind the fact that they have been in my purse for a month; the official expiration date of the old ones wasn't until November 30th. It's a thirty second process to stick them on - no need to rush.
Except...Governor Walker apparently decided to save a few bucks by using a generic adhesive on the stickers, instead of the gorilla glue-strength stuff from years past. The 2017 sticker just sort of slid all over the old one. Sigh.
So at 6 a.m. today, I unscrewed the license plate holder, put down a layer of doublesided tape, and applied the new tag. Screwed the plate holder back in; it actually helps secure the left side of the tag. The tape may not hold as well as superglue would, but it was all I had.
St. Nick visits the evening of the 5th or 6th, depending on your tradition. I miss him; he visited all the way through my college years. The Star Trek coloring book and crayons he gave me as a joke one year actually worked very well as an exam time stress reliever (1979 - I was adult coloring before coloring was cool).
Speaking of coloring, the agency through which I sponsor a couple of girls in El Salvador suggested that in addition to sending the girls coloring book pages, I should send one that I've colored, for them to put on their walls.
Last night I started setting up December in my Bullet Journal. I'd used it faithfully for a while, then more or less forgot about it. There is an incredible Facebook group devoted to all things Bujo, with incredible spreads and trackers.
While I love the artwork, I simply don't have the time or inclination to spend hours decorating what is, in essence, a calendar. It needs to serve the purpose of tracking important dates and other things. If the other crowds that out, the whole process is useless. I still like to make it fairly pretty, with different colors and cute date markers (for December, the date markers look like little ornaments - super easy, super quick to do). But in the end, it's a place to dump the things my brain needs to know, but often misfiles.
Looking forward to two weeks off at Christmas, though this year, they start almost a week later than they would otherwise. With the holiday over the weekend, and a 12/31 immovable deadline (again, thanks, State of Wisconsin), it seemed prudent to take the second week in early January instead of before Christmas.
Holiday festivities begin next week, with a Christmas dinner with the quilt guild gang. Sometime this weekend, I may take a drive to scope out the venue. It's in a part of town I don't go to often, and I'll be coming straight from work, in the rapidly darkening dusk. It should be fun; I've a feeling these ladies are hearty partiers.
Laying low this weekend. Thanksgiving night I started coming down with a nasty cold which has fulfilled its promise this week. Copious amounts of sleep (eleven hours a night seems to be the magic number), mucinex, Tylenol and pineapple juice have done a fair job of knocking it back, but a weekend of taking it easy could finally kick it to the curb.
A reason to snuggle up in front of the fire: we may see our first accumulating snow of the season on Sunday. At the moment, there is still a chance it could be mostly rain, but if it is snow, they are saying 1 - 3 inches. After enjoying the second warmest November in Wisconsin since they started keeping records in the 1870s, I've a feeling a whole lot of people will be in shock when they finally see snow and seasonal temperatures.
That's it here. Time to blow my nose yet again and get back to work.
Except...Governor Walker apparently decided to save a few bucks by using a generic adhesive on the stickers, instead of the gorilla glue-strength stuff from years past. The 2017 sticker just sort of slid all over the old one. Sigh.
So at 6 a.m. today, I unscrewed the license plate holder, put down a layer of doublesided tape, and applied the new tag. Screwed the plate holder back in; it actually helps secure the left side of the tag. The tape may not hold as well as superglue would, but it was all I had.
St. Nick visits the evening of the 5th or 6th, depending on your tradition. I miss him; he visited all the way through my college years. The Star Trek coloring book and crayons he gave me as a joke one year actually worked very well as an exam time stress reliever (1979 - I was adult coloring before coloring was cool).
Speaking of coloring, the agency through which I sponsor a couple of girls in El Salvador suggested that in addition to sending the girls coloring book pages, I should send one that I've colored, for them to put on their walls.
Last night I started setting up December in my Bullet Journal. I'd used it faithfully for a while, then more or less forgot about it. There is an incredible Facebook group devoted to all things Bujo, with incredible spreads and trackers.
While I love the artwork, I simply don't have the time or inclination to spend hours decorating what is, in essence, a calendar. It needs to serve the purpose of tracking important dates and other things. If the other crowds that out, the whole process is useless. I still like to make it fairly pretty, with different colors and cute date markers (for December, the date markers look like little ornaments - super easy, super quick to do). But in the end, it's a place to dump the things my brain needs to know, but often misfiles.
Looking forward to two weeks off at Christmas, though this year, they start almost a week later than they would otherwise. With the holiday over the weekend, and a 12/31 immovable deadline (again, thanks, State of Wisconsin), it seemed prudent to take the second week in early January instead of before Christmas.
Holiday festivities begin next week, with a Christmas dinner with the quilt guild gang. Sometime this weekend, I may take a drive to scope out the venue. It's in a part of town I don't go to often, and I'll be coming straight from work, in the rapidly darkening dusk. It should be fun; I've a feeling these ladies are hearty partiers.
Laying low this weekend. Thanksgiving night I started coming down with a nasty cold which has fulfilled its promise this week. Copious amounts of sleep (eleven hours a night seems to be the magic number), mucinex, Tylenol and pineapple juice have done a fair job of knocking it back, but a weekend of taking it easy could finally kick it to the curb.
A reason to snuggle up in front of the fire: we may see our first accumulating snow of the season on Sunday. At the moment, there is still a chance it could be mostly rain, but if it is snow, they are saying 1 - 3 inches. After enjoying the second warmest November in Wisconsin since they started keeping records in the 1870s, I've a feeling a whole lot of people will be in shock when they finally see snow and seasonal temperatures.
That's it here. Time to blow my nose yet again and get back to work.
Friday, June 24, 2016
Free Friday at last
Friday! A half day, to boot. Miracle of miracles, the weather is actually...pleasant. Yesterday was downright chilly (this, from someone who rarely, if ever, complains about being cold) and a bit wet. Tomorrow will be muggy and downright steamy. Sunday, not to be outdone, will be even hotter.
Let's enjoy today while we can.
When I leave here it's out to Muskego to meet a friend at the "place with the chickens". For whatever reason, I can never remember the name of the place, but always remember the birds.
Last night was one of those thankfully infrequent nights when I get up to use the restroom in the middle of the night, but fail to fall back asleep afterwards. Urgh. I did doze off about an hour before the alarm went off, so the total sleep tally for last night might be close to four and a half hours. On the bright side, since this happened on a Thursday night, I can make up for the deficit over the weekend.
The lack of sleep is relevant to my afternoon plans. As much as I'd like to come home from lunch and take a nice, long nap, there are still some things to do outside before things heat up. I'd vowed back in May to have the front of the condo and the patio all spruced up and happy-making by the 4th of July. To my surprise, it is almost that date.
It's no real surprise I'm not done yet.
The patio still needs to be power washed. Every time I've had the inclination to do it, the temperature and humidity have soared. Any time the weather cooperates, I've other plans. In between those two, it rains. Today seems to be the perfect day.
Given the lack of energy that comes from a sleepless night, I may only get the prep work done this afternoon - sweeping well, moving the table, chairs and deck box around and dealing with some smaller stuff that hangs out on the patio. Honestly, that stuff takes longer than the actual washing, which I'll do later tonight (if I don't just pass out after dinner) or early tomorrow morning (sorry, neighbors) before it steams up.
Next week Friday afternoon is Craft Day, at my place. Translation: a need to clean a bit more thoroughly this weekend and to come up with a dinner menu. Dessert is already set, a frozen raspberry-whipped cream-toasted almonds thing. During the awake-in-the-middle-of-the-night episode last night I decided to do lamb chops (Pam says she's never had lamb), a mediterranean couscous and a tomato salad. Most of it, other than the chops, can be made in advance.
Because really, I plan to sew for most of craft day, not cook.
What's on your plate for the weekend?
Let's enjoy today while we can.
When I leave here it's out to Muskego to meet a friend at the "place with the chickens". For whatever reason, I can never remember the name of the place, but always remember the birds.
Last night was one of those thankfully infrequent nights when I get up to use the restroom in the middle of the night, but fail to fall back asleep afterwards. Urgh. I did doze off about an hour before the alarm went off, so the total sleep tally for last night might be close to four and a half hours. On the bright side, since this happened on a Thursday night, I can make up for the deficit over the weekend.
The lack of sleep is relevant to my afternoon plans. As much as I'd like to come home from lunch and take a nice, long nap, there are still some things to do outside before things heat up. I'd vowed back in May to have the front of the condo and the patio all spruced up and happy-making by the 4th of July. To my surprise, it is almost that date.
It's no real surprise I'm not done yet.
The patio still needs to be power washed. Every time I've had the inclination to do it, the temperature and humidity have soared. Any time the weather cooperates, I've other plans. In between those two, it rains. Today seems to be the perfect day.
Given the lack of energy that comes from a sleepless night, I may only get the prep work done this afternoon - sweeping well, moving the table, chairs and deck box around and dealing with some smaller stuff that hangs out on the patio. Honestly, that stuff takes longer than the actual washing, which I'll do later tonight (if I don't just pass out after dinner) or early tomorrow morning (sorry, neighbors) before it steams up.
Next week Friday afternoon is Craft Day, at my place. Translation: a need to clean a bit more thoroughly this weekend and to come up with a dinner menu. Dessert is already set, a frozen raspberry-whipped cream-toasted almonds thing. During the awake-in-the-middle-of-the-night episode last night I decided to do lamb chops (Pam says she's never had lamb), a mediterranean couscous and a tomato salad. Most of it, other than the chops, can be made in advance.
Because really, I plan to sew for most of craft day, not cook.
What's on your plate for the weekend?
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