tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64695572290782387562012-02-16T07:47:16.952-05:00Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.comBlogger3871100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-40466206546929664812010-05-21T07:04:00.007-04:002010-05-21T20:23:19.053-04:00

Hey! I bet you thought I forgot about you? Nah. But in these gorgeous late spring days that feel like summer, I find that I just can't stay inside. Of course, that means when I do come in, I have a ton of inside work to get done. You know the drill.I thought I'd mention a couple of projects this morning before I run off to today's list of stuff to accomplish. First is my swanky new sandbox

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-41982610805942289792010-04-14T14:11:00.003-04:002010-04-14T14:30:19.484-04:00

Howdie! Weather's gorgeous here, garden is in the works and projects abound! Rather than excuses, let me show you what I've been up to:Buttercup's Spring Poncho (AKA The Easter Bonnet Equivalent)based on this free poncho design from Lion Brand(minus the hood, substitute fringe for crochet edges since I still can't crochet)My shiny new Slouchy Tuque from Knitty done in Plymouth Baby Alpaca

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-30034013690349266892010-03-10T13:13:00.014-05:002010-03-10T15:18:02.442-05:00

I really like these bird pillows from Pottery Barn. Unfortunately, the price tag is a little out of my comfort zone. Time to put my newly acquired applique skills to good use. Hopefully, the following tutorial will make sense, but I'll be happy to answer questions or elaborate on any of the steps that are a little too vague.Tools and Bits for 1 PillowA pillow blank - mine was 12"x12" but you

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-49187315968438520652010-03-08T08:09:00.004-05:002010-03-08T08:44:41.999-05:00

I love these bird pillows from The Barn. I also like the style of these covers. I'm less fond of the $70 price tag for two of them.$70? For two pillows? Really?So I whipped these up yesterday using pillows already on my couch and scrap fabric. While I get to work on the tutorial for the bird pillow, you get started on your very own denim pillow.There are already some great tutorials for

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-96259047479531412010-03-02T18:01:00.003-05:002010-03-03T08:15:10.294-05:00

In the continuing spirit of my current quilting obsession, I stitched up these doll size quilts. Not only does this use up those scraps of fabric that I just can't part with, but I get to try out some new blocks and techniques and I'm ahead by two on this year's gifts. That never happens.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-43802090376224185812010-03-01T12:32:00.004-05:002010-03-01T13:23:45.901-05:00

How is it possible that it's already March? Time flies when you're having a good time. With one notable exception involving a falling girl, lots of blood, and a fat lip, February was a good time.There have been tons of projects completed, for which I have promised photos and tutorials. Yeah, it's still on my list but as friends and family will tell you, The List is the length of a bible by

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-34501545691003294692010-02-11T19:37:00.007-05:002010-02-12T12:05:55.307-05:00

Well, I have some cool posts a-comin' but I've been so swamped with finishing projects and social engagements of late that I'm out of time before I have a chance to start. Many of you are nodding your heads right now and know exactly what I mean. That's good because I'm apt to get confused and may need directions later.Babbling aside, I figured I'd take a moment to share a project that is done

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-48285107126539346082010-01-29T14:07:00.005-05:002010-01-30T11:35:08.294-05:00

This year's projects are off to a roaring start. I finished six projects in January and managed to get most of the way through a quilt. Not bad for a procrastinator, eh?The little dragon is named Fugloid Wright. See all the ugly stitching? Me too. I was pretty excited to try this pattern out, so I rushed through many of the parts that I should have taken my time with. This was my first Etsy

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-3297015660827428462010-01-19T08:32:00.000-05:002010-01-19T10:19:49.707-05:00

I only ever make one New Year's resolution per year. Sure, there are a million things I probably should resolve to do, but I have found that trying to do them all at once is a recipe for poached brain. Then, more often than not, I don't do any of them. One change that I can dedicate myself to does the trick and I actually stand a chance at altering my behavior.This year, I have resolved to get

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-18790789869996562392010-01-14T09:14:00.002-05:002010-01-14T08:57:19.153-05:00

The Johnny's catalog is here! While I've had a great time reading over all the great varieties of seeds, I'm going to really limit what I order. You see, I have yet to experience a truly successful growing year in this garden.2007 was all about moving in, although I did get some tasty veg from the old Gorham garden. 2008 saw almost no gardening (except for my beautiful little Buttercup.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-4913482691363091782009-12-30T12:27:00.003-05:002009-12-30T12:56:47.963-05:00

I got a little out of control at the end of my gift making. With less than a week left, I thought it would be a good idea to make everyone grocery totes. I mean, there were dozens of little treat bags and everyone needed something to carry their stuff home in and I didn't want to foist plastic bags off on people and how much time can 10 totes take to make anyway? I made mention that I might

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-86570939900620908882009-12-28T07:17:00.002-05:002009-12-28T07:17:00.516-05:00

My sister is forever complimenting the sweaters I knit. I can't imagine why since they are homely things, but I thought that since she seems to enjoy them, I'd try my hand at something a little more polished and fashionable for her. I have to admit, I'm very pleased with how this shrug turned out.I started with this pattern for a shrug. It's straightforward and quick-knitting. Essentially,

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-11892115972941884892009-12-27T07:31:00.001-05:002009-12-27T07:31:00.223-05:00

I love fingerless mitts. They help keep your hands warm without compromising manual dexterity. Not only that, but they are fairly popular with the younger crowd these days.My niece, Athena, has recently started to get into the Harry Potter stories. I thought she might enjoy some mitts done in Gryffindor colors so I whipped up these stripped mitts with black button accents.The mitts knit up

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-73277786716889427112009-12-26T12:00:00.000-05:002009-12-26T12:07:22.178-05:00

Like many kids, my niece Athena loves a good mystery. Recently, I've started hiding her gifts. Last year, I gave her a card containing the first in a series of rhyming clues that she had to solve to lead her to her treats. This year, I took her love for crossword puzzles and combined it with a word scramble to give her the location of her gift bag. Believe me when I tell you it is much easier

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-59613720425932485612009-12-18T20:47:00.004-05:002009-12-18T22:00:03.623-05:00

Ok, so dinner was $12 movie popcorn, but today Husband and I took some time (during a regularly scheduled naptime for which I'm sure I'll regret later) to go see James Cameron's new film Avatar. My overall review of this movie is that it's worth the $14 ticket to see this in the theater, especially if you are a Sci-Fi fan. Don't expect to see anything new when it comes to the story. There are

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-77690101033097393422009-12-11T11:22:00.005-05:002009-12-14T12:29:40.046-05:00

When the weather outside turns frightful, I turn to the kitchen where nothing tastes quite so good as those fatty, not at all good for you foods. Things with cheese and cream and pasta that are mashed and baked and just yummy.Sorry. Drooled on the keyboard. Ahem.I've recently become a fan of Bubble and Squeak, a traditional English meal that makes good use of leftovers. I came to the dish by

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-55251626541045224322009-12-07T09:00:00.013-05:002009-12-14T12:32:03.615-05:00

Every year for Christmas, I borrow from an English holiday tradition and make my version of Christmas Crackers. Not the kind you spread with cheese, mind you, but the kind that you pull apart and that make noise and dispense treats.I first discovered Christmas Crackers in the Mr. Bean Christmas Special where Mr. Bean makes an uber cracker by adding a bunch of snaps to one tube. Hilarity

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-48997841443242009692009-12-01T07:06:00.006-05:002009-12-01T10:03:04.330-05:00

This is our new favorite game and we think it could be your new favorite game too. Pandemic isn't only topical (Swine what?), but it's challenging, variable and, best of all, cooperative.In Pandemic, you play CDC workers in a race to save the planet from four heinous disease. There are several unique roles for players to choose from. For instance, you could be the Medic who specializes in

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-90337065942228371912009-11-30T11:26:00.005-05:002009-11-30T12:02:06.982-05:00

15 people ate at my house last Thursday and even with everyone taking food home, we still have plenty of fixings for interesting leftovers. Leftovers are what make Thanksgiving extra fun.My favorites include Turkey Croquettes, Leftover Pot Pie, Turkey Soup and Thanksgiving Sandwiches. This year there's a new dish to vie for a share in the leftovers - Thanksgiving Leftover Pizza. I wish I had

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-20210158409103338242009-11-29T09:09:00.001-05:002009-11-29T09:11:53.058-05:00

Buttercup was here.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-23474888616714770592009-11-21T06:37:00.001-05:002009-11-30T12:04:54.311-05:00

I have a new favorite topping for my Cream of Wheat - homemade apple butter.Mom and I got together last week and made a batch using her favorite recipe. Man, is it good. I'd love to make beautiful labels for the jars, but I don't think it's going to be around for very long.Growing up, everyone liked the apple butter better than the jelly. Part of it was a texture thing but part of it was the

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-83326324721072801452009-11-20T10:37:00.017-05:002009-11-20T13:00:53.725-05:00

Thanksgiving gets a bit of a raw deal when it comes to crafts and decorations. Falling between Halloween and Christmas, it never really had much of a chance at my house anyway. Besides, T-day is all about the food and the family.I did manage to squeak out one new project before the feast begins. I made napkin ties for 17 from stuff found in the yard and down in my Lair (They set me up with

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-430823784199117822009-11-15T13:12:00.004-05:002009-11-15T13:41:12.844-05:00

There's a sad phenomena that happens in November - all my favorite blogs go dark. Gardening begins to wind down across the country. Crafters are busy working on their projects for the holidays. Everyone else seems to be involved with NaNoWriMo.While I'm not doing NaNo this year, my garden has been put to bed (may next year be bountiful) and I am spending all of my free time getting my gifts

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-32300223492075809732009-11-05T15:28:00.013-05:002009-11-05T16:18:03.068-05:00

Well, we managed to survive Halloween and enjoy ourselves. Of course, it helps that I love making stuff so what seemed like stressed out insanity to some folks was actually a cracking good time to me.We had an unknown problem with the camera, so I'm afraid my photos are slightly blurry. We were supposed to dress up and retake pictures yesterday. Instead, we finished stacking the rest of the

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-88991576031022854582009-10-22T09:09:00.004-04:002009-10-23T19:05:22.961-04:00

Sometime back in the Pleistocene, I made a little horror movie called "Down In The Cellar". It won first place, Senior Division, in the Maine Student Film and Video Festival. The irony of this is that I don't really like horror movies. I like my scary movies with a twist of humor. That said, my 2009 Halloween Movie List isn't going to appeal to everyone but I'm putting it out there because

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-18088777390535866222009-10-18T10:34:00.002-04:002009-10-18T11:31:56.710-04:00

For the last 20 years, I've been in search of the perfect bread recipe. For me, this means a loaf that is crusty on the outside, airy and light on the inside and possessing a flavor that isn't quite sourdough, but not terribly yeasty either. You know, the kind of bread you can only get from bakeries like Standard Baking or Big Sky or When Pigs Fly.I've bought many gadgets over the years to help

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-64475007704812022592009-10-16T11:31:00.004-04:002009-10-16T12:35:34.705-04:00

I love holiday music and spend way more time than I probably should (what with costumes still to make and all) on making iPod mixes.Here's my list of Halloween tunes, even if you weren't curious. For your convenience, I've dug around and linked to places where you can hear what the song is. Concrete Blonde - BloodlettingConcrete Blonde - Tomorrow, WendyM.C. Hammer - Addam's Family GrooveAtlanta

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-562658721205331792009-10-15T12:49:00.004-04:002009-10-15T13:43:28.749-04:00

I'm starting to feel the pinch. Halloween is 16 days away and I still have lots of costuming to work on, not to mention the pinata head for this year's party at the store. All this work requires a good snack, so I whipped up a batch of my Autumn Trail Mix for when I need a quick pick-up.Autumn Trail MixHusband has allergies to tree nuts, although now that I think about it, peanuts would be

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-1905699893336687672009-10-14T07:12:00.002-04:002009-10-14T07:12:00.411-04:00

So, a few posts ago, I mentioned that you could build a centerpiece out of dead stuff lying around in your yard or local obliging field. This is the arrangement that I came up with. I'm quite pleased.Flower arranging isn't something I've had a lot of practice with. I actually put this together, thought about it for a while, and pulled it apart to start over. My first attempt was just sort of

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-38481896127022783142009-10-13T12:22:00.007-04:002009-10-14T07:36:21.080-04:00

Yesterday, I finished stacking the last cord of dry wood into the garage. Doesn't it look nice? I thought so too until I turned around and took a look at the 3 cords of green wood that now needs to get stacked before the snow flies. *Sigh*It's ok though, because yesterday was a gorgeous fall day. The neighbors had their wood stove going, which is one of my all-time favorite smells. It wasn't

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-9631238777018643842009-10-08T11:56:00.010-04:002009-11-20T10:45:48.306-05:00

Every year, I try to add one or two new pieces to my collection of Halloween decorations. This year, I made creepy curtains for the dining room. The idea comes from two separate Martha projects - moth eaten curtains and Gothic curtains. I think the two pieces look best when put together and I made a couple of adjustments based on the materials at my disposal. It cost me around $15 to do all

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-22270642841663985652009-10-06T07:34:00.005-04:002009-10-06T15:56:31.332-04:00

October is here and that means it's time to decorate for Halloween! My mom always put up fun decorations for the holidays and it's a tradition I plan to continue for my little Buttercup. As you can see, the mantle is filled with lots of spooky things that I've slowly been collecting over the years . Every year, I try to add one or two new pieces to the collection. Of course, the best time to

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-31248596355384528132009-10-05T07:26:00.000-04:002009-10-05T07:26:00.313-04:00

That's right, Fall cleaning. Winter is just too long to live in a messy house for 6 months and who wants to stay inside to clean on those beautiful Spring days?Of course, part of Fall cleaning is getting the inside of the house in order. Check out Organized Home for a great Fall Cleaning Chore Checklist and these cleaner recipes made primarily with ingredients in the kitchen. In my home, I

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-3235486075978112112009-10-01T07:59:00.004-04:002009-10-05T12:26:16.027-04:00

I finished my little Buttercup's Halloween costume last week, but I'm a huge fan of props. I think they add a level of authenticity and detail to costumes so naturally, I had to make something for her to promptly lose accent her outfit. Since Hermione is always referencing the book Hogwarts: A History, I figured I'd make her a clothbound version. It seemed safer than giving her a wand.The book

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-56855993503713135402009-09-28T07:44:00.004-04:002009-09-28T07:44:00.517-04:00

I didn't think I was going to get any pumpkins at all this year. I planted the seeds late due to rain. The plants came up late due to rain. Everything got a good case of powdery mildew due to rain and yet, here they are. Two glorious pumpkins for my dining pleasure. They're even turning orange. It's the little things that make life sweet.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-45317221306408773142009-09-25T08:53:00.003-04:002009-11-20T10:44:26.406-05:00

One costume down, four more to go! This is my little Buttercup's Hermione Granger costume, complete with scarf and decal. I'm also working on a cloth copy of Hogwarts: A History, which I'll show you next week when it's done.This turned out really well and was quick to stitch together. The scarf took some time however and if time is short for you, I'd recommend skipping this accessory.The

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-73682640830442817312009-09-21T07:58:00.002-04:002009-09-21T19:09:03.118-04:00

It's not confirmed or anything, but I'm pretty sure this is a case of late blight. Not wanting to take chances, I pulled all these tomato plants up and bagged them for disposal rather than risk it.Such a disappointing year for tomatoes! This is the second year in a row that my crop has been next to nothing and while tomatoes aren't my favorite thing to eat, it really depressing to know that

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-40029807935230224032009-09-16T09:03:00.002-04:002009-09-16T09:40:27.385-04:00

My little Buttercup has become quite adept at eating. In fact, she's no longer interested in the morsels that are made exclusively for her. She wants what's on my plate. That's fine by me because it means that I've got one fewer meal to cook. Meals of late have been chicken or fish or vegetarian and always things that can be cut up into smallish chunks. She loves pasta. She loves cheese.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-26564116696204828112009-09-15T08:43:00.005-04:002009-09-15T17:08:44.300-04:00

Bloom Day is upon us once again which means September is already half over. What is it with these Autumn months that makes them slip by so quickly?There's still tons of stuff left to do in the garden this year. I have beds to fill with dirt and garlic and bulbs to plant plus I need to get in the seeds for the kale and lamb's lettuce and scallions. Top that off with general garden cleanup and

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-10772431616669403302009-09-12T08:50:00.004-04:002009-09-12T11:07:02.693-04:00

Husband has been away in Wisconsin for a trade convention hosted by one of our distributors. It's just for game industry manufacturers and retailers, so he got a chance to hobnob with some very interesting people like Steve Jackson (Steve Jackson Games), Zev Shlasinger (Z-man Games) and Greg Leeds (Wizards of the Coast). He promises he's coming home with a ton of cool new games (which I'll

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-83688432970985848622009-09-11T06:20:00.000-04:002009-09-11T06:20:00.298-04:00

I seem to have missed all my other intended posts this week, but I'm on top of this continuation of last week's wands.As promised, I present my painting tutorial for this project. This is where my geeky miniatures stuff comes in handy, as I have tons of colors of paint. For those of you following along at home, to paint a brown wand like the one shown here, you'll want:a dark brown painta

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-8436030874617968702009-09-04T08:43:00.002-04:002009-11-20T10:43:52.410-05:00

Every year around this time, we think of really cool costumes for Halloween. Every year, we put off making said costumes until it's too late. We have to settle for whatever is leftover (and affordable) at the Halloween store. This year, I'm on top of it! We're going as characters from Harry Potter.I'm working on these costumes now because the sooner I get them done, the sooner I can move on

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-43316338117828254352009-09-02T09:03:00.000-04:002009-09-02T09:03:00.488-04:00

I have made the last batch of ice cream for this year and before I tell you what flavor it is, I want to hit you with a hypothetical. What if I were to say to you that I have an ice cream flavor that tastes like brown sugar and cinnamon with a hint of spiced rum and these crispy bits that add a sweet, smoky, salty and slightly apple flavor to the mix? You'd have a scoop, right? Now what if I

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-25242429092048406072009-08-31T09:40:00.000-04:002009-08-31T09:40:00.561-04:00

So I admit that I've let the garden grow quite wild this summer. Between the rain and removing trees for more sun and chasing after my little Buttercup and building the beds in the first place, I just haven't made any more time for garden pursuits. Even with all my excuses, the garden still managed to give us some veggies.Now, usually I end up with one squash or zucchini that hides under a leaf

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-971105462245809942009-08-29T09:34:00.000-04:002009-08-29T10:16:34.423-04:00

R-Eco is a card game where players try to recycle junk in it's proper facility but they have to be careful! Too much junk overloads the garbage trucks and cause players to illegally dump their trash.This game is super simple to learn and is fun for a wide age range. At it's core, R-Eco is about matching and counting but there is some strategy involved as well. Whenever trash is sorted and

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-53844929864181730472009-08-28T08:35:00.000-04:002009-08-28T18:51:46.137-04:00

The birthday madness has come and gone and yet, my LED booties are not yet complete. I need to finish the electrical part and put in the liners. I'd say they are 1/2 done. They look cute so far though, right?Without the looming deadline of "need it for the birthday", I find that I'm less inclined to work on them in the evening. My mind has already started to wander toward thoughts of

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-48537257020751943012009-08-17T09:03:00.000-04:002009-08-17T10:58:05.116-04:00

So, the vegetable garden has taken some serious hits this year. Wet weather, slugs, and cool temperatures have reduced what should have been a bounty of vegetables to a couple of good meals.The peppers didn't enjoy two months of rain and will probably not produce anything edible. The green beans on the other hand, did well. From one small planting, we got a couple meals worth of green

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-53563936141569428552009-08-16T09:07:00.000-04:002009-08-17T19:28:53.271-04:00

I entirely misjudged this game and it had everything to do with the cover. Look at it. It's just... bleh. I was convinced that I would hate this game. It just looks like it would have too much math to be fun.I was so very, very wrong.Vegas Showdown is a slick game by Henry Stern and Avalon Hill. The object of the game is to earn fame points by building the ultimate Vegas entertainment

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-21987487821595351052009-08-15T09:25:00.001-04:002009-08-15T11:43:05.098-04:00

It's the 15th of the month, and I actually have things blooming in the garden. The flower gardens are in need of some design work as all the flowers seem to blossom in mid spring or late summer. I end up with whole swaths of the year with no blooms at all. I have my eye on some plants to fill in those times. Right now though, I have lovely day lilies in bloom.There are still no yellow day

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-33101865754982433732009-08-13T14:53:00.001-04:002009-08-13T15:35:37.922-04:00

Although the garlic out in the garden is not quite yet ready for picking, I roasted up some store-bought cloves today to use in a couple of recipes. Garlic is an easy thing to roast and the cloves go from being hard and spicy to soft and mellow in almost no time.I preheat the oven to 400 and take the outer papery skin off a whole head of garlic, leaving the cloves all attached. I slice off

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-70632126253611605662009-08-09T12:48:00.000-04:002009-08-09T13:58:00.324-04:00

We survived the first birthday and have declared it a raging success. For having a modest budget (most of which went into food), I think it looked great.Our theme - renamed "Things That Float" - was easy to work with. We rented a helium tank from iParty for $25 (and a $75 security deposit). The small tank is supposed to blow up 40 12-inch balloons. I bought two 25-count bags of 9-inch

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-53120303370595567662009-08-06T09:06:00.000-04:002009-08-06T11:32:08.535-04:00

Buttercup's favorite food is, without question, ice cream. Ever since that first bite, her little face lights up with glee when we make the weekly pilgrimage to Beals. She knows exactly what kind of container Ben & Jerry's comes in and starts licking her lips in anticipation of her own spoonful. I know how she feels. Ice cream is one of my favorites too.To celebrate this love of frozen

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-88388235552662924512009-08-05T09:09:00.000-04:002009-08-06T12:06:00.217-04:00

There will be a lot of food talk this week, what with the party and all. We've settled on a menu that should appeal to both the kiddles and the adults; hamburgs and hot dogs for the young ones, sweet and spicy chicken wings and my secret-recipe barbecue pork tenderloin for the older palates plus fruit salad, potato salad (made by my Mom) and caprese salad. This is a birthday party though, and

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-46419396834795038072009-08-03T09:35:00.000-04:002009-08-03T10:40:37.288-04:00

My little Buttercup turns one this week, so I'll ask you to bear with me while I freak out organize my thoughts about her party.We aren't going wild and spending thousands of dollars on a birthday party she'll never remember. That said, a first birthday is kind of a big deal to us and we want to make it an impressive event that doesn't break the bank.At almost one, Buttercup doesn't have a lot

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-35543418219466507002009-08-02T10:23:00.000-04:002009-08-02T11:45:09.108-04:00

Lately, we've been playing a lot of Arkham Horror. It's a boardgame from Richard Launius and Fantasy Flight with a bazillion pieces (even before you add expansions). It uses the works of classic horror writer H.P. Lovecraft as the setting for a battle between monsters and ordinary-people-turned-unwilling-heros. The thing I like best is that it's a cooperative game, meaning that all the

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-6675762296633733912009-07-31T08:44:00.000-04:002009-07-31T09:39:18.436-04:00

One gift down and one to go. My box of play dirt is finished and I couldn't be more pleased with how it came out.Last week, I had solved the problem with the stems and this week was all about building blooms. I used a great tutorial from Sew Ritzy-Titzy and some inexpensive fat quarters from Joann Fabrics. Instead of pulling the blooms tight and sewing a button in the center, I tied the petals

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-72817921484781680742009-07-29T09:10:00.000-04:002009-07-29T09:10:00.515-04:00

Out at the shop, we occasionally have days where we have to work hard for every penny that makes it to the cash drawer. We call them "Nickel and Dime Days" because that's how it all seems to come in. It has occurred to me that this is a Nickel and Dime Summer and Mother Nature is going to make us work for every single moment.I'm on a quest to scrape as much summer out of August as I can and I'm

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-43215026551826604342009-07-27T12:09:00.000-04:002009-07-27T13:09:06.141-04:00

So, I've missed the last few Mondays worth of gardening posts. While I'm still trying to make stuff happen, it's demoralizing to be drenched with months and months of rain, only to finally get a nice day and discover that the slugs have devoured that which has not washed away.Ok, maybe not so much with the slugs since I put up the copper tape, but you get my meaning.I know that there are others

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-55291192672294198862009-07-24T09:40:00.000-04:002009-08-09T14:01:13.171-04:00

The flowers for my Box o' Dirt project (see Part 1)have given me trouble, so I'm not as far along as I'd like today. It all started with the stems.I thought I'd cut thin strips (about 1 1/2 inches wide) of green fleece, sew them together, turn them right side out, and stuff them and I'd have stems. Boy was that easier thought then done. It turns out that it's remarkably hard - impossible even

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-71561376936980498132009-07-22T07:17:00.000-04:002009-07-22T07:17:00.537-04:00

Yummy looking, right? I went to the Farmer's Market in Portland last Saturday and made these with the tasty stuff we brought home. They may be a little labor intensive for a weeknight meal, but they were great for a Saturday night appetizer.Stuffed Fried Squash Blossoms4oz goat cheese5 Kalamata olives, pitted2 sundried tomatoes in olive oilpinch of fresh rosemary8 blossomshandful of flour1/4 or

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-4905722720549213302009-07-19T09:54:00.000-04:002009-08-14T08:47:23.041-04:00

Once I get beyond a few recipes, I think it's easier to have some system to be able to find the one I want easily. With a few dozen recipes, alphabetical is easiest. With a hundred recipes or more, alphabetical under a common theme, like breads or breakfast, is best. I'll adjust the organization as I add recipes.BagelsBasil Gorgonzola CrackersBeef StewBlueberry Ice CreamBlueberry Cheesecake

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-71080714672532820952009-07-18T10:31:00.000-04:002009-07-18T10:50:24.686-04:00

So on this rainy Saturday, as I try and figure out what I'm going to do with my sleep-deprived self today, I came across this photo. It is the floor of the Standard Grill in NYC is tiled in pennies.I. LOVE. This.I must find a way to incorporate this into my home.This Week In Projects:In The Garden - It's time to plant more lettuce, radishes and scallions. I also have one last bed to fill with

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-79518397208691826062009-07-17T07:17:00.000-04:002009-08-09T14:00:01.506-04:00

Well, I've had to set my shirt project down for a bit. I don't really like the strap look on me so, while I'm rethinking how it should go together, its time to get cracking on the birthday presents for my little Buttercup.It's her first birthday and to help encourage gardening tendencies, her first gift is a variation on the amazingly talented LiEr's Play Dirt (and LiEr - if you're reading and

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-3517155723032442452009-07-15T07:09:00.000-04:002009-07-15T07:09:00.576-04:00

I harvested my scapes yesterday and had the difficult task of deciding how best to use them - not because scapes are tricky to cook with but because there are so many tasty ways to prepare them. I didn't plant as much garlic as I should have and only have a handful of the curling tendrils. Oh! The humanity.Scapes are the flower stem and bud of garlic and have a mild and fresh garlic flavor.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-25087365159514298832009-07-13T07:49:00.000-04:002009-07-13T07:57:48.724-04:00

I promised a review of the copper tape method of slug repelling. As you can see here, the slugs are staying on their side of the tape.Yes, my friends, I am pleased to report that the copper seems to work. I got three rolls from Lee Valley Tool and finally had sunny days to apply it to the raised beds. I watched this group of slugs climb up the box and as soon as they reached the tape layer

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-58881964133586231582009-07-10T06:32:00.000-04:002009-07-11T07:02:23.886-04:00

I got a bagful of scraps from my sister a week or so ago and my first project is a shirt based on this design by Alexis at My Mama Made It. I'm currently at the point of sewing the collar to the shirt, but I think I need to unpin it and stitch the binding on first.I like the colors that I'm using but the material itself is a knit fabric, so it doesn't hang the same as the cotton fabric that

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-34096914378630630972009-07-08T06:00:00.000-04:002009-07-09T06:22:47.018-04:00

On rainy days, there's nothing better than a scoop (or two) of fish pie to end the day. This recipe comes from Jamie Oliver and while I made some minor changes to his version - and don't eat mine with ketchup - this is still basically his dish.I never manage to get a picture of fish pie because it's always eaten before I remember to get the camera. I've borrowed this photo from Katie-Ella's

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-62710245381029455152009-07-06T07:56:00.000-04:002009-07-06T08:14:40.910-04:00

The slugs have certainly taken their toll on the garden and yesterday's inspection revealed that many things are simply going to have to be replanted.There are some things that just won't have enough time to grow between now and frost. Fortunately, lettuce isn't one of those things. The trouble with lettuce is that the seeds are just so miserably small. I can never tell how many seeds ended up

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-54831038740891012102009-07-05T10:28:00.001-04:002009-07-06T08:15:06.905-04:00

Yesterday was our big group birthday party for all of the family members with summer birthdays. We're all clumped right together in the same week, so it makes sense to have one birthday party on the 4th.I managed to finish the gifts for my sister and niece. It was a little dicey there for a bit and I'm hoping that I remember the pressure and get cracking on the presents for my little Buttercup.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-68167329270835463342009-07-03T08:44:00.000-04:002009-07-03T09:04:39.014-04:00

Still finishing up my birthday present projects which I'll give away tomorrow and talk about next Friday so what else is on my project table? Well, on Tuesday, my parents showed up with a bunch of stuff from my sister. Among the tons of kid things was a garbage bag full of fabric scraps.Most of them are polyester knits and as you can see, they are mostly black but I'm working on some project

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-18456820326704032532009-07-01T09:54:00.000-04:002009-07-03T09:05:00.599-04:00

.flickr-photo { border: solid 2px #000000; }.flickr-yourcomment { }.flickr-frame { text-align: left; padding: 3px; }.flickr-caption { font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px; } The big group birthday is Saturday and I'm in charge of cake and salad. I love the classic Fourth of July potato salad but this salad with shrimp and Israeli couscous is a bold alternative to the mayo covered

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-26615222054580889112009-06-29T09:34:00.000-04:002009-06-29T10:01:00.762-04:00

With all the rain, the garden has become a buffet for the slugs. I went out Saturday morning and the little blighters were everywhere. They have eaten most of the lettuce. They have eaten the radishes. They're slowly taking down the cabbage. They were all over the scallions. Now they're working on the peas.My beautiful peas which were so thick and lush back before the rains came are now

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-38518705794869288502009-06-28T09:40:00.000-04:002009-06-28T10:06:15.924-04:00

Apologies for no Friday craft post. I'm focused on birthday presents right now for people who have access to computers and know how to use them. Our family birthday party is next Saturday, so I'll have a late craft post then about those gifts. I am very pleased with myself, by the way.The last two days of no rain and occasional blue sky lulled me into a false sense of hope that I might

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-63091302564335850502009-06-24T15:06:00.000-04:002009-06-27T08:35:04.025-04:00

Today's a good morning for french toast. In my kitchen, this means cutting some thick slices of bread and sticking them in the toaster until they start to get crunchy on the surface. My egg batter is made up of two eggs and a cup to a cup and a half of milk, a spoonful or two of sugar, and healthy doses of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Once it's all whisked together, I soak the toast in it

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-26007485387459353692009-06-22T06:11:00.000-04:002009-06-22T17:53:52.870-04:00

[PHOTO of my soda bottle cloches just as soon as it stops raining]I was up at 5:30 this morning at the soft and delicate shrieks of my little Buttercup. The sky was starting to get light but since then it seems to have grown progressively darker. This makes day 19 or so of rain.I'm starting to get nervous about the seeds I planted last week. I realized this morning that I forgot to put the

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-79983183319147054732009-06-21T16:21:00.000-04:002009-07-27T13:04:30.629-04:00

There's been a lot of parts of luna moths around lately - mostly wings. I don't know if it's George or bats. This one is still in one piece and I did my best to grab some pictures before it fluttered into the night. I really have to make/scrounge/buy a tripod.I don't know if it's the rain or my own fickle heart, but I keep thinking of projects that would be really cool to do. What I need to

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-56598319250507246472009-06-19T13:25:00.001-04:002009-06-19T14:22:42.081-04:00

Yet another rainy, rainy day. While I'm waiting for my little Buttercup to finish her nap so we can run our errands, I thought I'd share one of my current projects with you.These are almost all the parts I need for my LED Booties. They are one of the two things I'm trying to get made for the baby for her birthday. I'm still missing the conductive thread and the battery, but I can certainly

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-54854844440648468402009-06-17T10:32:00.000-04:002009-06-17T10:32:00.951-04:00

I've been re-reading (for the millionth time) the Borderland series by Terri Windling, et al. They are such good books. I find myself wondering if they had been published in today's market where teen fantasy books can sell a bazillion copies, would they still be in print? Would new stories still be written? Would we have a franchise of movies to watch and complain about?Alas, the world will

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-31027039109894248102009-06-15T10:18:00.001-04:002009-06-15T10:31:50.535-04:00

It's just another rainy day here and while the weather is not so conducive to waking up, it does make for great picture-taking light.The flower beds are in some serious need of weeding and I've fallen behind in my planting over in the vegetable garden. This rain really needs to slow down soon! The iris are in full bloom though and look quite lovely. I didn't think we'd get any blooms this year

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-56974446546762210622009-06-02T09:47:00.000-04:002009-06-02T09:58:09.822-04:00

If you're going to have neighbors, get the kind that like to play with their tractors.It's convenient that my weekend falls on Tuesday and Wednesday since the rain in Maine falls mainly on the weekend. Sunday weather was pleasant long enough for my neighbor to come over with his tractor and make short work out of the lilac stump and an offending barberry bush. He also tilled the end of the

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-82044829245551058822009-05-30T12:55:00.000-04:002009-05-30T13:14:22.312-04:00

After the last few rainy days, it was really nice to throw open the windows and let the fresh air and sunshine in. I was sitting under one of these open windows when the most magical sound came floating in.Now, we have a lot of birds in this area and I know a lot of their songs. Chickadees, bluejays and robins are frequent enough visitors that I recognize their calls. Every once in a while,

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-60093994973898879902009-05-30T08:08:00.000-04:002009-08-14T08:22:18.187-04:00

This is the new home of the Gorham Garden posts. All the old goodness from the Gorham Garden blog is now merged with the new crafts, food and games of Wife Soup.I hope you enjoy it!

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-43902623716426042672009-05-28T08:09:00.000-04:002009-05-28T15:08:20.587-04:00

Husband and I used to loved to go out to eat. Scratch that. Husband and I STILL love to go out to eat, we just don't get the opportunity to do it as often as we used to. It's a shame because although I love to cook, Portland has some really first-rate restaurants. If you're in the Portland area, I recommend the following (in alphabetical order). Click on any of the restaurant names to go to

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-77136080049056011792009-04-15T18:06:00.000-04:002009-05-28T07:09:33.158-04:00

Not a lot of time to talk about tonight's movie. Still need to post today's idea for my (mostly) Handmade Holiday blog. I'll just leave it that the Mummy is a fun ride and staring at Brenden Frasier and Oded Fehr for two hours ain't so hard either.The Mummy Wrapaka theI've Been Cursed and Falafel Sandwich1 (14oz) can chickpeas, drained1/4 cup chopped onion2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-7588500409202866682009-04-14T07:49:00.000-04:002009-08-14T08:18:02.190-04:00

Today promises to be a warm day here in southern Maine. That's a good thing since today is the day the peas are scheduled to go into the garden. Other cool weather crops that get planted today are scallions, spinach, lettuce, shallots, and radishes. The mini hoop is coming down, but the cold frame is staying outside to provide a little shelter for seedlings.Inside on the grow table, the

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-70693687859254852052009-04-08T09:24:00.000-04:002009-08-14T08:18:02.190-04:00

So, my experiment of growing winter produce has come to an end. My results are mixed. The radishes and the swiss chard did not withstand the cold temperatures back in January. All that remains of these plants are some moldy, brown leaves. The lamb's lettuce and the kale are a different story. These two cold-hardy plants are happily getting larger every day. The lamb's lettuce is big enough

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-78657741242281521902009-04-01T12:46:00.000-04:002009-05-28T07:10:11.646-04:00

Spanglish didn't get great reviews but it wasn't rated as Spawn bad, so I thought we'd give it a try for tonight's Dinner & A Movie. Thomas Keller was consulted on a sandwich that is made in the film and for me, that's enough to warrant a viewing.Spanglish SandwichFrom Thomas Keller and Food and Wine Magazine4 thick slices of bacon2 slices of Monterey Jack cheese2 thick slices of rustic white

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-21166612197317565792009-03-22T10:00:00.000-04:002009-08-14T08:18:02.191-04:00

Oh, hello! Why yes, it has been almost a month since I last posted. It's been quite busy around here with a little girl that's becoming more and more mobile.The weather here in Maine has become decidedly springlike. That is not to say that it's warm, although it is warming up. There are even some pockets of ground to be seen in the back yard now.I didn't get to make it to the flower show this

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-73618237215627111682009-03-20T17:09:00.000-04:002009-05-28T07:10:50.550-04:00

It seems like it's been a few weeks since we've had a Dinner and a Movie night. Husband has yet to pull one off but it's not for lack of trying.Two weeks ago, he had picked out a comedy with Will Farrel and Emma Thompson and planned to make book-press sandwiches. He spent all week negotiating his Netflix queue so that the movie would arrive on time and just when we thought it would be perfect..

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-60472424992431631702009-03-11T10:45:00.001-04:002009-05-28T07:11:27.820-04:00

This was actually last Wednesday's Dinner & a Movie. Husband is having trouble getting his Netflix queue lined up right to get his movie choice here in time. Unfortunately, he's kind of picky about his movies, and won't just pick one off the shelf.I have no such reservations, so when last week's movie went astray, I grabbed Amelie and whipped up a French Bistro style meal with creme brulee for

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-85819392921094073652009-02-28T17:53:00.000-05:002009-02-28T18:00:25.535-05:00

I love Farmgirl Fare Susan's Breakfast Bars. I've made Blueberry and Strawberry and I've just eaten the last of the Harvest Fruit. Harvest fruit was apple, pear and cranberry. I'm only mentioning it because Harvest Fruit was really, really good and I want to remember it for next year.

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-62418744701589579822009-02-28T08:55:00.000-05:002009-08-14T08:18:02.191-04:00

So after much debate, several rounds of cutbacks and five or six charts of where I'm going to put stuff, I have finalized my seed list for 2009. The Winners for This Year's Garden Are:Leek - King RichardKale - Russian RedMache - VITLettuce - Claremont, Romaine, Green Oakleaf Galisse, Black Seeded Simpson, Buttercrunch, Iceburg, Summer Crisp Loma, and Green Forest RomainePepper - Islander, Ace,

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-36147095231181890162009-02-27T20:28:00.000-05:002009-02-28T19:08:42.797-05:00

After cleaning out the cupboards back around New Years, we had some interesting meals of things that had been hanging around for too long and needed to be eaten or thrown away. It got me thinking about what should be in my pantry at all times.Much like my heirloom cookbook post, this one will change as I think of new things.BakingFlourSugarBrown sugarConfectionary sugarSaltBaking powderBaking

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-62071490741548622042009-02-26T08:24:00.000-05:002009-08-14T08:18:02.191-04:00

Like most Americans these days, Husband and I have cut back to a more conservative spending lifestyle. I don't think that it's a bad thing and this period of budgetary evaluation is helping us pay down debt and identify some of the needless spending that we do.The garden was never one of those areas that was up for cutbacks - that is, until our beloved Muttley started having seizures. Then

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-51145990500944725492009-02-25T09:34:00.000-05:002009-08-14T08:18:02.191-04:00

No, I haven't finalized my garden for the year, but Deborah (who I'm claiming for my dream neighbor on the other other side of the house) over at North by Northwest had some extra seeds she was willing to share. The Moon & Stars watermelon just looked so cool that I simply have to try it. Of course, this means I have to re-re-rearrange the garden, but I was going to have to do that anyway.I'll

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-61749911178558976722009-02-23T07:52:00.000-05:002009-08-14T08:18:02.191-04:00

At 2:53 last Tuesday, I became Officially Ready For Spring. I held out longer than I thought I would. Despite having snowbanks that reach the birdfeeders again, this year the snowfall has come in clumps rather than snowing every day. It also seems to fall mostly after sundown, which sort of makes us like Camelot. You know, if the knights all rode around in plowtrucks and such.So this is the

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-34917763048832041642009-02-22T12:10:00.000-05:002009-02-24T09:27:46.206-05:00

I've been working on a handbound, handwritten cookbook filled with all of my best notes and recipes. The project has been in the works for a while and I've just decided how best to organize it. I'm dividing the individual folios up into categories like "apples" or "Christmas" or "Italian". I'll save a couple of pages at the beginning for a table of contents since the organization inside is

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-87921170878980302122009-02-18T16:27:00.001-05:002009-02-18T16:42:28.161-05:00

Due to the weather, the plans Husband had for this evening were canceled and the Dinner and a Movie night he had in mind won't work out for today. Instead, I have taken over this week and we're watching Princess Mononoke and having donburi which is a Japanese involving rice topped with some sort of cooked meat or vegetables. I'm making a chicken and egg donburi and plan to break out the

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-55080490881364317672009-02-18T14:34:00.000-05:002009-08-14T08:18:02.191-04:00

Get your own - Open publicationHaving once worked in the print media biz, I find that I still love the feel of paper when it comes to my reading material. I'm also a magazine junkie and that means that I end up with stacks and stacks of periodicals that I have trouble parting with. It drives Husband crazy.Issuu kinda cool because it offers all of the full color glory of a magazine with none of

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6469557229078238756.post-59969334679026405622009-02-16T09:00:00.000-05:002009-08-14T08:18:02.192-04:00

I'm a little late, but really, that's nothing new for me. Still nothing blooming in the house for this month's GBBD. I'm really ready for stuff though and by next month I should have lots of happy seedlings on the grow shelves.In lieu of something pretty to offer, I present last summers surprise violas.These were one of those serendipitous discoveries last spring. I didn't plant these, but of

Chrishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14372445381170050692noreply@blogger.com3