Skip To My Ewe

To comment…..or not….

2012-02-02T05:36:00.001-07:00

I had an interesting discussion about commenting on blogs with one

of my fellow bloggers on Tuesday.

I thought it would make for an interesting conversation here on my blog.

If you have a blog and someone comments on your post, do you feel like you

have to reciprocate and comment on their blog?

Are you a person who reads lots of blogs, but rarely comments?

Would you be put off if there were no place to leave a comment?

My truth…..

I read several blogs, but rarely comment
I like when people leave a comment on my blog
I like it that I’ve been out and about and lots of people have stopped me to tell me that they read my blog….even though they don’t leave comments
If I don’t comment on your blog, it doesn’t mean I don’t like your blog, it just means I don’t feel like I have anything pertinent to add to the conversation
I rarely do the “reciprocal comment”….who has time for that? Okay, maybe some of you do, but I don’t feel like I do…..plus, I think that’s a little manipulative or perhaps “overly polite”. I guess what I’m saying….I don’t comment on people’s blogs, so they will come over and comment on my blog.

Comments anyone?

Easy and de-lish!

2012-01-31T15:16:00.001-07:00

The coconut macaroons were good…..are good….yes, there are still some left!

(Lauren, I did give some to the guys working on my fireplace )

However, I have to have a lot of self-control….I love coconut!

yes, I had to eat one as soon as they were cooled!

See that little empty spot?

They got a little more toasted than I would have liked, but they were still good!

The recipe was really easy….

Coconut Macaroons

1 bag of coconut

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

(mix all that in a bowl)

In a separate bowl add

2 egg whites

1/4tsp salt

(whip with electric mixer until stiff peaks form)

Then fold egg mixture into coconut mixture and drop by tablespoons

full onto cookie sheet (use parchment paper or silpat mat otherwise you’ll

end up with a sticky mess)

Bake at 350 for approximately 25 minutes….I cooked both cookie sheets at once

and rotated them half way through the baking time. I had them on the convection setting,

so if I did it again in the convection oven, I think I would bake them at 325.

Let cool and then dip the bottoms in melted chocolate if you wish or drizzle chocolate on top.

I thought they were pretty darn good just plain and cooled.

Will keep covered in the refrigerator for 2 weeks…..yeah, like they will ever last that long here

at my house!

The fireplace is finished…..so glad to have the “hole” filled in….YAY! Isn’t it nice to have a

project completed…..whether you’re the one who completed it or not?!

It used to have burgundy tile, and it just didn’t feel like “us”.

This is the same slate that we have in our kitchen.

Pic of old fireplace surround…..

The original plan was to have some iridescent lime green tile….I spent a lot on

it (the tile) and then it turned out horribly and I had them rip it out….I didn’t take pictures of

all of that, because it was rather heartbreaking

I also stopped by the library to return a few books, so I couldn’t

resist picking up a few more to have in the wings.

I’ve really been on a reading spree lately….it’s just such fun to escape

to an entirely different world for a while.

Time standing still…..have you noticed that?

When you are reading or hooking or doing something you love, time seems to stand still

and then you look up and you’ve been doing what you love for hours?

Love that!

Whipping something up

2012-01-30T11:38:00.001-07:00

I’ve been meaning to try out this recipe for a while.

I’m off work today and stuck at home while they are putting in our

fireplace surround…..this has been a long time coming, so I’m trying to make

the most of my time at home today.

These are going to be chocolate bottomed coconut macaroons….

Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk, coconut, vanilla, egg whites and salt….

what could be easier?!

I’ll let you know how they turn out!

How to cure the winter blues

2012-01-28T05:31:00.001-07:00

Since the weather here has been unseasonably

warm, we’ve been taking the dogs on more walks.

Kenny has been finding lots of moss and creating with it.

This is one of my favorites!

********

How about trying a moss martini?

No silly, you don’t drink it!

You bring it indoors to have a little bit of green in your home!

Don’t forget to add a snowdrop for garnish!

Do you judge a book by it’s cover?

2012-01-24T05:52:00.001-07:00

Last night I stopped by the library to pick up a few books.

I was in a hurry, so I just grabbed what caught my eye.

Judge a book by it’s cover? Who me?

Well, yeah, that’s exactly what I did and here is what I ended up with.

I started “Lamb” last night and so far it’s sucked me in and is

reading pretty fast. That’s the best thing about the library….it’s free and

if you get a few books at a time, if you start one and it’s not jiving with you,

you can just lay it aside and start something else.

As for “Five Smooth Stones”……I tried for 2 weeks to “get into” that book

and I just couldn’t do it…..seems it was moving to slow for my taste.

Some books get returned unread, no matter how beautiful the cover is.

Advances and aspirations

2012-01-22T13:11:00.001-07:00

I must admit…..a week or so ago I tried to “slip” into my skinny jeans and I realized I wasn’t “slipping” into them….I was “Squeezing” into them!

A few too many holiday cocktails!

So, please forgive me if you see me posting more and more about food and exercise and less about

rug hooking.

Yesterday, I went to a 2-hour “yoga flow” at my local gym, and this morning I must say I’m a little sore. It was one of those days where I was feeling good and pushing myself a bit to further my yoga practice.

I was excited to be able to get up into “wheel” and hold it for a bit.

I’m really going to try and focus on building my upper body strength, as that seems to be where most of my problems lie…..I can get up into wheel, but I have a hard time holding it because my arms get tired.

I was also able to get up into “bird of paradise” on both sides yesterday.

The Bird of Paradise Yoga Pose -- powered by ehow

I can get this far. (that would be the first picture with her leg bent)….perhaps one day I’ll be able to straighten that leg, but for now it’s fun to be able to do another bound pose.

I’ve also learned another binding pose that I can do regularly on both sides.

Here is another pose I’m trying to get to….another reason

to work on strengthening my arms and shoulders!

Crow pose

Fun photos

2012-01-21T08:30:00.001-07:00

Girl in front of me at the gym, Thursday night……sweated

a smiley face on the back of her shirt.

Do you think this is proof that people who exercise

are happier?

Comfort

2012-01-19T15:50:00.001-07:00

Odd, this has been a really warm winter so far…….

I know that as I type this, that stating that fact, we’ll be in

for some kind of humdinger of snow or ice later on, but

I’m chancing it.

We’ve been craving comfort food here, warmer than usual or not.

Kenny made a great pot of chili that had all kinds of things in it like

beef, bacon, whiskey and beer.

It was called “Red Hot Whiskey Chili” and you can get the recipe HERE.

WARNING….we like hot and I’m not talking 98 degrees, I’m talking spicy!

Kenny put in less than 1/2 as much chipotle peppers in adobo sauce as it called for and it was STILL to spicy hot for us! I added some cheese on top, but it was still hot….added some ketchup and it was still hot!

He thinks he’ll make it again, but leave out the chilies this next time.

My comfort food dish this week was turkey pot pie.

We’d cooked a turkey earlier in the week and I had a few odds and ends of veggies

lying around….carrots, celery, mushrooms, pearl onions, peas…..so I sauteed those in a little butter, added in a can of cream of chicken soup and a little milk and put it in a pie dish.

Pictures of hot pads that my great-grandmother crocheted.

I never saw her crochet, but I think of her every time I use them….

another sort of comfort I suppose.

My mantra, “Use those beautiful things that people have made”

Philosophical

2012-01-17T05:25:00.001-07:00

A philosophical journey from here to there...

Do you think that if $10,000,000 were to be suddenly deposited into your checking account, that over the following months and years you'd have fewer and fewer challenges?

Or do you think, perhaps, that your challenges would simply evolve and change?
Right, evolve and change.

And do you think that with your extra $10 million, you'd gradually be presented with more and more opportunities to be happy?

Or do you think, perhaps, that your opportunities would simply evolve and change?

Right, evolve and change.

Now doesn't that answer everything?

Abundance rocks but it's relative.

(Borrowed from tut.com)

"Food's Erin Brockovich"

2012-01-15T15:20:00.001-07:00

Watch, listen and think…..

Just another reason to try and eat more REAL food.

I find it scary that we think that everything in the grocery store

is “safe” to eat.

Crikey!

2012-01-15T12:58:00.001-07:00

Somehow my “blog list” disappeared…..I’ll slowly be rebuilding the lists, but perhaps in a manner that makes it easier for me to check in on things…….friend’s blogs, rug hooking blogs, yoga blogs, fashion blogs, etc……

Slots of fun!

2012-01-14T08:41:00.001-07:00

Had a great night last night! We headed to Downstream Casino to see Lorrie Morgan.

She did not disappoint, she was awesome! Kenny got us 3rd row seats!

I took lots of pictures, but in most of them she just looks like a white light…..

I guess it’s because we were so close and there were so many lights…

However, I did video her last song, one of my favorites….

I love going to see someone perform and they are just as good or better

than they sound on their albums.

Lorrie was awesome!

After the show, Kenny played the slot machines for a while…..yes, he was a big winner!

He won this on a penny machine…..how fun, we were whooping and

hollering as the machine just ching, ching, chinged along!

I guess it paid to “get out of the nest” last night!

Hope you are getting a great start to your weekend!

Push me–Pull me

2012-01-12T16:11:00.001-07:00

I need to get up and go to yoga class,

(it snowed here today…not a lot, but it’s really cold

…..20 degrees as I type)

but part of me wants to stay home and snuggle in……

ever feel that way?!

Inspiration

2012-01-10T06:09:00.001-07:00

Just a few pictures from my “INSPIRATION” board

on Pinterest

and what I find inspiring about them.

This pictures of paint brushes inspires me to

want to get out

my art journaling book that I’ve abandoned

for quite some time.

This little patchwork horse makes me think

it would be awesome as a rug,

or a jumping off point to hook some sort of animal

in a bright patchwork style with

a softer watercolor-y looking background.

There is a tutorial HERE for how to make these

snappy rain boots for cheap….

makes me want to get cuted up

and splash in puddles this spring!

This nubby, scrubby pillow makes me wonder what fibers

I could use and achieve this look in rug hooking.

I love it’s earthy, organic look!

Another rug inspiration jumping off point….stark-dark

angular shapes played against

beautiful girly colors….

love that

contrast!

If I ever get out my art journaling stuff,

I love the idea of writing about

myself in the shape of a fingerprint.

Would I get more done if my “to-do” list

looked more fun like this one does?

Hounds looking as chic as I know they really are!

Once I clear all the “junk and clutter”

out of the rug hooking room,

I think this would be way fun.

I already have a chalkboard door….

but a whole wall…..WOW!

Color for color’s sake!

Color

2012-01-08T09:18:00.001-07:00

5 questions

2012-01-07T12:29:00.001-07:00

I picked these up over at Of Petals and Wool and thought I’d play along.

1.What's your favorite kind of tree?

Hmmm, have never really given this much thought, but I do love a birch tree…..that peeling white bark….pretty in spring and ghostly in the fall. We have a birch in our front yard.

If you want to know about the Celtic symbolism of the birch tree read this from What’s Your Sign…..

The Celtic meaning of the birch tree deals with:

Growth
Renewal
Stability
Initiation
Adaptability

Listen closely and you will detect whispers of transformation and growth in the midst of the birch groves within your soul.

The birch is highly adaptive and able to sustain harsh conditions with casual indifference. Proof of this adaptability is seen in its easy and eager ability to repopulate areas damaged by forest fires or clearings. Bright and beautiful, the birch is a pioneer, courageously taking root and starting anew to revive the landscape where no other would before.

This is a powerful metaphor for our lives. The birch asks us to philosophically go where no other will go (voluntarily or otherwise). The birch asks us to take root in new soils and light our lives with the majesty of our very presence. The birch sings to us: "Shine, take hold, express your creative expanse, light the way so that others may follow."

Paradoxically, while the birch is a brilliant symbol of renewal, it is also symbolic of stability and structure. The druids also held the birch as the keepers of long-honored traditions.

Associated with the sun, the birch is a solar emblem, and facilitates passion, energy, as well as growth. This solar association is paralleled when we learn the druids carried birch bark with them as kindling. Birch serves as a perfect igniter as it will start to burn even when damp. This makes it a prized fire starter over most other wood types.

Here again, this makes for a perfect analogy. The birch asks us to serve our fellow man with a fire in our hearts. In this respect, the birch reminds us that even if our spirits are dampened by the set backs in life, we can always catch fire from the spark of passions that drive us to divinity.

2. How did you celebrate the New Year?

New Year’s eve, we stayed in and had steak and potatoes and watched movies. My husband was asleep before midnight, but I woke him up to give him a New Year’s Eve kiss anyway!

3. Do you have any family traditions for the New Year?

4. I'm so glad I (fill in the blank) found yoga in 2011.

5. Did you have a nickname as a child?

Yes, still do. Tambo

Self Portrait

2012-01-02T12:06:00.001-07:00

I’ve hooked and hooked on the big rug the past 2 days…..

I’ve got a lot accomplished but still a lot to go…….

My favorite part of this rug design is that no matter how you look at it,

it makes sense…..upside down,

right side up….

I am part of the rug, the rug is part of me…..

Pulling up the loops, one by one, is a meditation..

Hooking let’s you leave yourself, yet come back to yourself.

Happy New Year

2012-01-01T07:57:00.001-07:00

Wishing you PEACE

LOVE

ABUNDANCE

Resolutions / Schmezolutions

2011-12-31T12:53:00.001-07:00

Do you love Anderson Cooper and Kathy Griffin as much as I do?!

Here are their New Year’s resolutions…..

As for me, I'm not good with resolutions.....

as soon as I make them I start to feel hemmed in.....

I don't like people telling me what to do...

not even myself....

as soon as I feel like I HAVE to do something, it makes me hate it....

even if it's something good and something I would probably enjoy....

And what about tonight?

New Year's Eve.....

the pressure....

the pressure to have fun....

go out with a bang....

I have had a few memorable New Year's Eves..... the one that sticks out the most was when I was 20 and dating Kenny (my now husband). It was cold and icy outside and I had on the cutest pale pink leather mini skirt and a pale pink sweater with some sort of sparkly design on it…oh yes, and pale pink leather heels….we went out to eat somewhere fancy with a few other couples and then went to the University Plaza for a New Year’s Eve party.

I was only 20 and you were supposed to be 21, so I’m not sure exactly how I got in, but I did…..

It was fun, we were dancing and drinking and living it up and then the power went out….no lights, no music, but they did light candles all around…..very memorable.

I think that tonight we are staying home….I’m cooking steaks, crack potatoes, grilled Romaine hearts and some molten lava cakes…..then a couple of movies….

This one looks like a chick flick….so I picked it out for me….

This one looks like something Kenny will enjoy….

However you spend YOUR New Year’s Eve…..stay safe!

Romo has a home

2011-12-31T08:15:00.001-07:00

Yes, it’s a good week for the dogs! Little Romo has found a forever home….what a great way for him to end the year!

Keep your fingers crossed…..

2011-12-28T05:13:00.001-07:00

…..Shannon just might be finding a forever home!

I clicked on her picture yesterday and it says she is “on hold”….I hope this is a good sign!

She’s been on my sidebar for several months now.

Perhaps she will get a forever home for the new year!

Self-indulgence and re-charging

2011-12-26T12:42:00.001-07:00

Took a little time today to head up to Barnes and Noble…..

enjoyed some spinach artichoke quiche, chips and iced tea

and a BIG stack of magazines and books……ahhhhh!

Yes, you guessed it….

2011-12-18T07:20:00.001-07:00

I know you’re going to find this surprising, but I’ve been in the glitter again!

This time I’ve been glittering some Christmas cards……

Start with a regular, cute Christmas card…..

Brush on a little glue or Mod Podge , where you want the glitter to be….

Sprinkle on glitter…..

Give it time to dry and then shake off the excess….

Voila!

This is just ONE of the reasons that I gave up teaching rug hooking

and dyeing wool for sale on eBay and locally….now I also have time

to do things that bring “Joy to my World”……like THIS!

Hope you are making time in your holiday season to bring

a little joy to your own world!

A bit more glitter

2011-12-17T09:16:00.001-07:00

Today I’m finishing up my Christmas shopping, wrapping and all that.

Here are a few pictures of the front room……

The pinecones are all hand-glittered by Kenny.

Most of the packages are wrapped.

A few more deer in our collection….

I think the deer have been an accidental collection over the years, I looked up the symbolism of them this morning and here is what I found….quite beautiful actually!

Deer, Power Animal, Symbol of Gentleness, Unconditional Love and Kindness
By Ina Woolcott

Deer's medicine includes gentleness in word, thought and touch. The ability to listen, grace and appreciation for the beauty of balance. Understanding of what's necessary for survival, power of gratitude and giving, ability to sacrifice for the higher good, connection to the woodland goddess, alternative paths to a goal .
In the Celtic tradition, there are two aspects of deer - female and male. The Hind (the red female deer), called Eilid in the Gaelic language, symbolizes femininity, subtlety and gracefulness. The Hind is believed to call to us from the Faery realm, tempting us to release the material trappings of so-called 'civilization', to go deep into the forest of magic, to explore our own magical and spiritual nature. The topic gentleness is part of this tradition. Many stories tell of Hinds changing into women, often goddesses, to protect does from being hunted. The lesson to be gleaned here is that when we explore magic and spirituality, it must be with good intention, to harm no living being, but to enter the realm of the wild things in the spirit of love and communion. The Stag, Damh in the Gaelic tongue, is also linked to the sacredness of the magical forest. The Damh represents independence, purification, and pride. It is known as the King of the Forest, the protector of its creatures. For time immemorial people have sought to identify with the stag by ceremonially wearing antlered headdresses and imitating the deer's leaping grace.
Both Celtic and Native American hunters prayed to the deer to give them a good hunt, and in return promised to take no more than was essential for the survival of the tribe. This helps remind us that our spirit of gentleness and unconditional love should extend to all species, not only our own.
Maybe the most effective way to summarize the lessons of these beliefs, is to say that only when we move through life in the spirit of love for all beings can we melt the barriers that separate us from others, from other life forms, and from the beautiful mystery which is our own magical and spiritual gift.
By observing the ways in which deer behave, it is possible to see what amazing qualities - or powers - they possess. From the deer we can learn that the gift of gentleness and caring can help us overcome and put aside many testing situations. Only love, both for ourselves and for others, helps us understand the true meaning of wholeness.
If a deer crosses your path, this may show you that you are a very compassionate, gentle and loving person. If you don't have these qualities, then consider if you have a problem that needs addressing. Are you facing a challenge in your life, whether with a fellow human being or a delicate situation? If you are feeling negative emotions such as anger, try letting go. Think about whether a gentler and more loving approach can sort the issue out. It may be necessary to speak the truth, this is best done with kindness and from the heart, this will generally give a better result.
Deer teaches us how powerful it is to be of gentle demeanor, to exert keen observation and sensitivity. Deer's are in tune with nature and all it comprises. They are sacred carriers of peace and show those with this power animal how to open their hearts and love unconditionally.
Frequently twins or even triplets are born in the spring. Females and males reside in separate groups until the mating season. White-tailed deer are rather sociable, and family members forage food together along with other family groups, which gives the appearance of a large herd. Fawns are born a color that protects them, camouflaging them from a predator’s sight. In the first few days of their life they hardly move, until their energy field is strong and grounded. They then stand up and begin to follow their mother around. A magical sight to behold is fawns coming out of forests, following their tenderly protective mothers. Even when grazing, the mothers are constantly watchful, fully aware and alert of what is going on all around them. They travel through forest and field with deliberateness and clarity, mindful of the fragile creature they nurture and protect. There is a powerful lesson to be learned here by us. Though we are born with an inborn ability to be unconditionally loving, often we are born to parents whose life experiences have taught them to become hard, and to lose that ability to experience and give unconditional love. Watching the deer and her babies is a reminder to honor and respect the child-like innocence within your self and go about your life with gentleness and an open heart. You should also stand strong on your path, in your beliefs, and not allow yourself to get distracted by outside influences.
Deer has entered your life to help you walk the path of love with full consciousness and awareness, to know that love sometimes requires caring and protection, not only in how we love others, but also in how we love ourselves.
A deer's senses are very acute and they see extremely well in low light, giving them the ability to understand the deeper symbolic meanings of things. They can hear a twig snap a very long way off. People with this power animal are often described as being swift and alert. They are intuitive, often seeming to possess well developed, even extrasensory perceptions. Sometimes their thoughts seem to race ahead, and they appear not to be listening, to be somewhere else. Anyone with power animal has latent clairvoyant and clairaudient abilities. They can see between the shadows, detect subtle movements and hear that which is not being uttered. Ask the deer to help you develop these true gifts.
The set of antlers grown by the male deer are antennae that connect it to higher energies. If you come across a deer in the wild, try to count the number of points on their antlers. This number is associated with numerology and can carry great significance for those with this power animal.
Deer teaches us to be gentle, to touch the hearts and minds of wounded beings who are in our lives. Don't push people to change, rather gently nudge them in right direction, with the love that comes from deer. Love and accept people as they are. The balance of true power lays in love and compassion.
When a Deer totem enters your world, a new innocence and freshness in about to be awakened. New adventures are just around the corner and there will be an opportunity to express the gentle love that will open new doors for you.

Q & A

2011-12-16T06:08:00.001-07:00

I got these questions from Julia’s blog and today I have time to participate.
1. Where is your favorite place to think, reflect and pray?

I’d have to say in bed

or driving in my car

….those are two places which are usually quite. I’ve started the practice of trying to set an intention for my day every morning before I get out of bed.

2. Did you believe in Santa as a kid?

Oh did I?! My grandparents lived in Colorado for a while when I was young. I remember going to the “North Pole” to sit on the “real” Santa’s lap…he brought me a baby doll that I saw in his workshop…I still have her! I think I believed in Santa until about 5th grade….to be honest, I still believe

3. What is your favorite kind of Christmas cookies? You can add a recipe if you have time.

Hmmmm, I’m not much of a cookie person, so I don’t have a favorite kind of Christmas cookie…..does that make me odd?

However, I love, Love, LOVE fudge….especially with walnuts in it….that is one thing that I have a hard time passing up!

4. Did you grow up around any of your grandparents?

I was especially fortunate to have 4 grandparents and 4 great-grandparents until I was in high school….I grew up around all of them and have many fond memories.

5. What is your favorite winter sport-skiing, skating, sledding, others(? ) ? If you live in a warm place what is your favorite winter sport when the Olympics are televised?

My favorite winter sport would be sledding if we ever got enough snow…..I remember sledding a LOT when I was younger,

but it seems now we get more ice than snow. I actually like just about everything about the winter Olympics, but my favorites would be ice-skating, luge, the downhill skiing jumpers, downhill skiers and snowboarders….yes, LOVE winter Olympics!

No clear winner

2011-12-16T03:43:00.001-07:00

I think this is nice. There was no clear winner in the bird contest.

Poor bird #1 got no votes….she’s a little sad, but she’s a bit of a “bordello” bird…..or at least that’s a “nice” way of saying what we dubbed this little bird. Yes, she’s a bit “whore-ish” looking and she was made by me

Birdie number 2 got 2 votes and she was created by Kenny….yes, he’s quite creative!

Birdie number 3 also got 2 votes and was also created by Kenny. Someone commented that this bird would have gotten more votes, but got a bit cheated because it only had one picture….perhaps that is true….it is a simple, but elegant bird.

Birdie number 4 also got 2 votes and was created by our friend, David….I think this is the most exotic little bird of the bunch!

Birdie number 5 also got 2 votes and was created by myself….personally, I like the pink beaded band around it’s neck…..yes, both of my birds had a touch of pink! Big surprise!

Birdie #6 got 1 vote and was the first bird that Kenny created….also another one of my favorites for it’s exotic look!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment and vote.

I do kind of like it that we didn’t have a clear winner….

….everyone sees beauty in a different way and that makes me smile!

You’re never too old for…..

2011-12-13T16:49:00.001-07:00

…..glitter!

Saturday night we sat down at the dining room table amidst the deer and

poinsettias and proceeded to make glittered birds! We had so much fun, just

like little kids!

These birds, started out as black with gold bodies…..that is, until we got ahold of them!

This next little group started out as olive colored birds…..funny how they change once they are all glittered!

Of course, there were 3 of us making them, sooooo….

nothing like a little competition…..vote for your favorite….

Each bird’s number is ABOVE their picture.

Let me know by leaving a comment or feel to e-mail me…I’ll let you know results on Thursday!

Intention

2011-12-12T05:51:00.001-07:00

Wishing everyone a great start to their week!

I’m trying to start every day with an intention….

Have time to play around?

2011-12-11T07:48:00.001-07:00

Then this might be for you.

You can upload a picture of yourself and it will match you with your homless dog double.

Meet Tammy's Doggelgänger.

Studies have shown that some of the happiest dog and owner pairs share similar features, personality traits, even body types.
That's why The Pedigree Adoption Drive and NEC developed Doggelgänger; human to canine pairing software, designed to connect homeless dogs to their human doubles.
Simply upload your image and our state-of-the-art interspecies comparison software will analyse your features, then compare them with thousands of real dogs looking for adoption.
Help The Pedigree Adoption Drive find homes for dogs in need. Find your canine match with Doggelgänger, and put a smile on a face just like yours.

Oh nuts!

2011-12-10T13:24:00.001-07:00

I just stirred these around a bit while they were roasting in the oven.....my house smells divine!

Chipotle and rosemary roasted nuts

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Being Positive

2011-12-10T07:57:00.001-07:00

They say bad things come in “3”s………

First the bashed window in my car and my stolen purse…..

Then the pee stain on the floor…..

Then the other night someone ran into the back side of my car (no one was hurt, someone went to jail….it’s a long story!)…..

Yes, that’s “3”…..I’m done!

Christmas Chaos

2011-12-04T08:03:00.001-07:00

Yesterday started out to be such a great day…….

yoga

shopping with Sheri

McSalty’s pizza

Then this….

Oh yeah, I was lying on the rug with Cleopatra and I started noticing

that horrible “pee” smell…..I rolled back the carpet and found THIS…..

huge stain on our newly refinished hardwood floor….dry as a bone….AARGH!

Also went to move the big lamp in front of the pink Christmas tree and heard a crackle

and an electrical smell….yup, now the lamp is torn up and I’ll have to find someone to fix that.

I did a little research on the floor stain and it says I can put hydrogen peroxide on the stain and it will lighten it up…in the process of trying that….we’ll see…..I also have the rug doused with some odor neutralizer……

Right now, the house is in a state of disarray…..Kenny has hauled boxes of decorations

down from the attic and last night the garland that you see wound up on the floor in front of Lonnie, was spread out all over the kitchen with needles dropping everywhere (Kenny cleaned that all up)….it’s now on the mantel in the front room awaiting further adornment.

It looks like we’ll be having a nature themed Christmas this year…..Kenny has brought home several miniature poinsettias, along with two large poinsettias as well as a poinsettia tree.

Yesterday, Sheri and I had been to Inspirational Home in Galloway Village and I found these

little hanging terrariums for the air plants Kenny had bought a few weeks ago, so he has those hanging up in the front window.

It’s beginning to look a little like Christmas!

Back

2011-12-02T15:47:00.001-07:00

Well, I’ve got some internet service, but it’s not as fast as it usually is. When we decided to ditch our land-line, they said we would be without internet service for about 2 days……it ended up that we are not going to have “real” internet service until December 8th, however, they did turn my iphone into a personal hotspot, so I can run our home computer from that…..it works….just a bit slow.

Here are a few pictures of Lonnie and his fan club from Thanksgiving day.

The pretty lady next to him on the couch is my Grandma Doris, the lady behind the couch is Kenny’s Aunt Donna and his Uncle Jack to the side…..needless to say they are all “dog people”!

Lonnie just loves them all!

Off for a bit

2011-11-30T11:14:00.001-07:00

I have no Internet until Dec. 8th, so won't be blogging much until then.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:S National Ave,Springfield,United States

Losing ourselves in art

2011-11-23T08:33:00.001-07:00

“Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”
Thomas Merton

Last night, I went to Sheri’s for hooking…..I was so “lost in my art” that I forgot to take any pictures, so go bug Sheri and beg her to blog! Tell her you want to see pictures of her witch doll….it’s SO ADORABLE!

Here’s a little update on the “Redbud Runner”…..it’s getting closer to being finished. Once I prep my stuffing for tomorrow, perhaps I’ll sit down and “go to town” on it while I wash all the dog bedding….yes, the dogs have a bed or two in every room of our house! That’s lots of dog beds to wash…..don’t want everyone coming over to Thanksgiving tomorrow and having our house smell like a zoo!

Above you can see Cleopatra finishing up her breakfast….she loves to dine in the “drawing room”!

Last night I worked on “filling in” the redbud leaves….I think I have 7 more to hook….perhaps I’ll finish them today.

AT&T is working on “dry looping” our service for internet when we get rid of the land-line….we may have no internet service for a couple of days….not sure when this will happen, but if I seem AWOL all of a sudden, that’s the problem.

Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

Back in order

2011-11-22T10:18:00.001-07:00

Ahhhh, my life is slowing getting back in order…last night I got a new iPhone and we decided to take the plunge and get rid of our land line…..it just seems silly to be paying a monthly charge for that, when we really don’t use it that often.

Stopped by the library on the way home from supper last night and picked up a few books to read.

“Revenge of the Kudzu Debutantes”

and “The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes”

I felt like I was needing something light-hearted and fun to read. I started the first one last night and so far it’s been very entertaining.

If you need a good book to read, you might head over to Deanne Fitzpatrick’s blog and look at all the suggestions she is getting from readers of her blog. Now I’ll always have ideas for books to read!

I’m going hooking tonight at Sheri’s, so can’t wait to share pictures with you from that when I return.

Planting a seed

2011-11-20T07:43:00.001-07:00

“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”
~Robert Louis Stevenson~

Today, I’m hoping to plant a seed with the hooking artists who

read my little blog.

What would happen if you started treating your rugs like art?

Yes, I know, some rugs are meant and made to go on the floors to add

comfort to our lives, but some are meant to go on the walls to add comfort to

our souls.

If you look closely at the picture below, you can see the turkey rug on the wall,

but you can also catch a glimpse of another rug on the floor, to the left of the chair.

A while back, when I was working out a solution of hanging the

odd shaped garden rugs, HERE, I had the chance to really hash

things out with Dan at Pelican Gallery (framing and archival savant)

about different ways to hang rugs. He brought up the idea of stitching

the rugs to a gallery wrapped canvas as well as SO MANY other ideas.

This is the result of that conversation.

He measured my rug and then made a custom wrapped canvas for it and we

decided that the rug would really POP, if the canvas was painted black.

He did all of the construction and painting for me and then sent me home with a

blank, black canvas.

Honestly, it stood in my rug hooking room for a month or so before

I had the guts to dive in and stitch the rug to the canvas.

I tried to take pictures of the stitching, but the stitching is hard to see because I used

fishing line to do the stitching.

The best way to describe it, is it is sort of sewn on like a hand-tied quilt.

By attaching it in this manner, there is no one part of the rug that gets

stressed from the tension of the tying.

What I like best about this technique, is that you can have just one nail or hook on the wall

to hang a rather large rug.

I hope this plants a seed with a few of you who are out

there looking for a better way to hang your artful rugs.

We work so hard and put so much time and effort into making our rugs,

I think it’s high time we start hanging them with as much care.

Disappointed

2011-11-19T06:15:00.001-07:00

…..in the recipes I tried last night.

Last night I was all jazzed because I was going to try a few new recipes that sounded really great and I took pics as I made them, because I thought they sounded fantastic……..

Well, the baked chicken parmesan was okay, I mean, it was okay….if you want to try it yourself you can go HERE to see the recipe. Their recipe used chicken breasts, I used chicken tenderloins….I don’t think that is what made the difference…..as for me, I like the way “I” make chicken parmesan, even if I lightly pan fry my chicken.

I also made the coconut bars out of “Fat Witch Brownies” cookbook that Kenny brought home from the library.

OMG, they were sickening sweet…..I definitely couldn’t eat one as a BAR, but they are good if you just want a little sweet nibble with your coffee…..yes, I gave it a second chance this morning…..still too sweet. If you’d like to see that recipe go HERE. Who knows, YOU might like them…..especially if you love coconut and you have a really sweet tooth.

As for good news, I have my window all fixed in my car and my driver’s license reprinted…..now to get a new cell phone…..yup, life is just about back to normal.

My bank sent me forms to dispute the charges that they were able to make on my debit card…..about $450 in about an hour…..all at gas stations.

Made me think, shouldn’t gas stations make you punch in your PIN number when you are using your debit card to get gas? The police officer said this is where they usually head 1st after stealing someone’s credit/debit cards. Or at least have you punch in your zip code?

My bank sent me an ATM Dialogue that told what stations and what times they were using my card. I sent that on to the police, so hopefully they will be able to go back and look at the security cameras and maybe piece something together and catch these peeps, before they hit too many other people.

Vegas on a train?

2011-11-18T06:08:00.001-07:00

Last night I was totally whipped and went to bed at 8:30……slept like a baby.

Dreamed of being in Vegas,

except the entire time I was on a moving train…..weird….

Well, I thought it was weird until I realized that today is Friday, and

after today I’ll be on vacation for a week…..couldn’t come at a better

time.

Can’t wait to get home tonight and try out two new recipes that I hope turn out

fab enough to share with you.

Baked chicken parmesan and coconut bars!

Enough of my pity party, on with the show!

Nothing comes without a price

2011-11-17T18:03:00.001-07:00

Man, what a looooong ass day today’s been.

I have to admit, I slept pretty well, all things considered, until about 3am in the morning

….then I woke up and started thinking about anything else that might have been in my purse that got stolen…..Oh yeah, a library book, “Tales from a Yoga Studio”….kind of ironic, don’t you think? I had taken it with me to work, in case we were slow (I was the “late” person on Wednesday).

So much time spent on the phone

with credit card companies, my bank, my insurance agent, faxing documents to the police department, the glass repair company, yada, yada, yada….

I even wore my

t-shirt to work today….to remind myself that just because

that there are still more good people than bad. I really want to believe that!

So, if you’ve ever read about “law of attraction” it says that you attract what you vibrate (think about)….it’s an energy thing…..so, last night, of course I’m thinking about criminals and bad people and today at work, I swear, some of my patients were ex-cons or meth heads…..seriously! I’m not saying they were bad people….they were actually quite nice, but again, kind of ironic.

I’ve had several comments on my last blog post and some private e-mails as well…..thanks for everything….really!

As I was making phone calls today, I was trying to make sense out of what happened…..why would someone want to do this to ME? Then again, why NOT me?

Sometimes we see people and think we want what they have, but would we be willing to give up what they may have given up to have what they have?

You see Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and you see the homes and the trips and the kids, but would you be willing to give up so much of your privacy to have that life?

You see Jennifer Aniston and her rockin’ bod, but do you want to pass up those margaritas with your friends? Be longing for a husband and a baby? (or at least that’s what I read)

I don’t know….

I guess someone saw me getting out of my Chrysler 300 and going into a yoga studio…..what went through their mind?

She’s got plenty of money, she won’t miss it.

What they didn’t see was the girl who worked part time and went through nuclear medicine school full time and lived on Ramen noodles for a year while she was 1000 miles from home

the girl who bought her yoga classes with a Groupon,

the girl who is still driving the same car that she bought in August of 2004.

Nothing comes without a price……

Man oh Man

2011-11-16T21:46:00.001-07:00

I got to the tai chi class last night and it had been canceled, so I drove back home and then went back later for a Power Yoga class……..one and a half hours later, I was dripping with sweat…..

A few times I got cramps in my legs and had to ease off into child’s pose

The entire class went up into headstands…..well, the entire class but me….

I don’t know that I’ve ever been able to do a headstand, but now I’m going to start practicing

on how to get there.

Honestly, by the time we got to the headstand portion my arms and shoulders were so

fatigued from doing so many “flows”…..we must have done 500!

I went back again tonight for a “gentle vinyasa” class…..yes, tonight I needed someone to be gentle with me because my shoulders, arms and hips were screaming at me most of the day.

On the way there, there was a little snow coming from the sky and it was so nice and peaceful…..but COLD!

So nice to get into the yoga studio and stretch and breathe into those tight and sore places from last nights class.

However, that is when my peacefulness ended….I came out to my car to put my yoga mat in my trunk and realized that my purse was no longer in my trunk! As I went around to the driver’s side of my car……my window was busted out…..someone must have seen me putting my purse in the trunk when I was going into class…..glass is everywhere.

(this pic is from the web…..take that amount of glass and multiply it by 100…that’s what the inside of my car looked like)

A classmate I didn’t know offered to drive me home….I filed a police report, called all of my credit cards and then had Kenny take me back to get my car. He took a broom with him, to sweep all of the glass out of my car seat and drove my car home for me……..

let’s hope tomorrow is better…..

Something new….

2011-11-15T15:09:00.001-07:00

….headed out to my first Tai Chi class…..

I’ll let you know how it goes….

Blank canvas….

2011-11-14T19:49:00.001-07:00

….or black canvas?

So what’s up with this?

Stay tuned and you’ll find out soon!

Fall, glorious fall

2011-11-13T15:48:00.001-07:00

Today was one of those days where the aroma of fall leaves is like a heady perfume.

The wind tousles your hair and the sun hugs your back.

Yes, you have to look a little harder to find beauty in the garden in autumn, but today beauty seemed to be everywhere.

Commenting or not

2011-11-10T18:05:00.001-07:00

I just want to say thanks for all the nice comments on my blog recently. I’ve been in sort of a blogging funk lately, but when I have something to share I’ll try to share completely.

I also haven’t been commenting on other’s blogs as much recently….more of a “time thing” than anything else…..I’m still reading blogs in fits and spurts.

Last night I tried out a new recipe for a tamale pie….I made little individual pies…..they turned out really pretty….

…but as far as taste was concerned, they were a little heavy on the cornbread…

oh well, not every recipe is a winner.

However, I did make some coleslaw that was tasty.

Caesar Coleslaw

1 small head cabbage – grated

3 carrots – grated

small container of grape or cherry tomatoes (halved)

1 small bottle Caesar dressing (about a cup or so)

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

squeeze of lemon

Directions:

Mix it all together!

If you like Caesar salad, I think you’ll like this coleslaw.

I used purple cabbage and then just added in the carrots, because

I had them on-hand….they made the slaw really pretty.

I think it would have been even better if I would have had some croutons to throw on top.

This may not be one of my healthiest recipes, but it was certainly easy and delicious!

You could make it even easier and use bagged coleslaw mix and save yourself the grating!

I have such a hard time eating enough veggies…..I grew up eating corn and potatoes and green beans…..other than that, I didn’t like any other veggies and my parents never tried to make me eat any other veggies…..I’m totally serious.

Now I’ve learned to love tomatoes, raw spinach, sweet potatoes, red and yellow peppers and lots of other veggies, but I still wouldn’t touch cooked spinach….unless it’s in a quiche or dip or casserole! I’ve also tried roasted brussels sprouts and haven’t had much luck learning to like those either. Any ideas?

I guess while I’m yammering on….how do you feel about daylight savings time?

I’m not liking it at all! Once I get home from work, I go into hibernation mode….

After walking the dogs, I find myself lying on the couch, flipping through the channels….

Putting on my PJs at 5:30 or 6pm….sometimes going to bed at 8:30.

I swear, I’ve got to figure out some sort of new routine or I’ll end up in my

big girl jeans again!

Finally, the hook-in

2011-11-07T05:42:00.001-07:00

I got up that Saturday morning and jogged across the Boonslick Bridge which

crosses the Missouri River….

I think it was 32 degrees and the bridge is 1/2 mile….I jogged

the 1/2 mile over and then on down to a building, so probably just 3/4 of

a mile…..oh, my hands were SO COLD! I walked the rest of the way back.

I run at the gym, but I forgot that my asthma kind of kicks in when I run in

cold weather. Regardless, it was a beautiful start to my morning, watching

the sun come up over the Missouri River.

I considered this my penance for all of the drinking I did the night before.

I’m not saying that I consider exercise to be punishment, but rather a reminder of

how much better I feel when I live a little cleaner

Plus, there is nothing like getting your day started on a good note.

I came back, got ready to go to the hook-in, scarfed down a pretty big breakfast…

yogurt, banana, milk, coffee, hard-boiled egg, more coffee and headed to the hook-in.

OMG! There were SO MANY people there! It’s what my grandpa would have called

“elbow to a**hole”

I mean, if you look at the pictures, there is not much

room to walk between tables, there are soooo many hookers…..

wishing I could have body surfed above the crowd!

And then I saw it……

Hand-spun yarns and dyed fleeces…..OH MY!

Cha-ching!

Now, I must say, I haven’t spent hardly any money on

anything rug hooking related since last spring when I went to the hook-in

while I was in Florida…..well, I needed to make up for lost time!

I bought some fleece and some hand-spun yarns….what am I going to do with

them? Not sure, but they will certainly inspire me for future projects.

I also saw this adorable turkey…..

Well, I had to have the pattern for THAT! I love, Love, LOVE

Thanksgiving!

And look at all these other 3-D patterns….

These 3-D patterns are from Prairie Road Designs.

Now, I must admit, that I don’t have tons of pics from the hook-in,

but I was able to get pictures of the rugs that were being worked on around me.

Finally, here are a few pictures of finished rugs that I was

able to get pics of…..so beautiful!

Thanks for hanging in there with me and waiting for the hooking pictures!

This was truly one of the most fun hook-ins I’ve ever attended!

Also, just an update…..Sunshine has been adopted!

Yes, I know…..

2011-11-06T08:00:00.001-07:00

….I’ve been lax in posting the pictures from the Boonville Hook-in.

However, after a needed “unplugged” period of time, I’m back and ready to share!

I arrived in Boonville and checked in at the charming “Hotel Frederick” in downtown Boonville, MO. I must say the hotel was wonderful and the staff….even more wonderful.

The front desk clerk checked me in and helped me upstairs with my luggage and hooking paraphernalia.

My room was like me…quirky…it showed a love of history with a twist of modern.

When I arrived it was a little too late to do much in the downtown area, but too early to

eat supper, so I decided to check out the lounge (aka “the bar”)

OH MY!

Delicious cocktail creations were just waiting to be savored!

I ordered the Pear-Basil Martini…..I thought to myself, pear…a bit fall like, basil-a bit summer-ish….perfect for the beautiful warm autumn day….caught between fall and summer!

Waxing poetic about cocktails? Yes!

In the lounge they also had fresh oysters from the east coast as well as fresh Gulf shrimp that they have flown in once a week…..well, that just set my wheels turning.

Next, I had Jeremiah (the bartender extraordinaire)

whip me up an oyster shooter…..that would consist of an oyster in a shot glass with some pepper vodka, Worstershire and tobasco…..it was divine!

Then, Jeremiah had an idea…..wouldn’t it be fun to make up a martini

with the same type of flavor….”Genius!” I replied…..create one for me and I’ll let

you know what I think…..

Does this answer the question…..

DELISH! Yes, that’s an oyster, a shrimp and an olive on the skewer!

So, as you can tell, by this time, I really have my “party on”, but I’m

starting to teeter a bit, so I really need to get something to eat.

Just my luck, when I go into the café….

which, by the way, is SO MUCH MORE than

a café …I run into several rug hookers who let me sit at their table and break bread with them.

Fun night? Most definitely!

Delicious food? Blackened Redfish….spicy and delicious!

Afterwards, a few of us got together and hooked in the lobby for probably about an hour….

By now it’s getting late…..11pm? Something like that….I’m beat, so I

head up to my room and fall asleep so quickly….which is unusual for me if I’m away from home.

Most of the time when I stay somewhere new I don’t sleep well at all…..slept like an angel.

That is…..until 2:15 am, when I am awakened by this…..

Oh yeah! The hotel is situated near the river and railroad tracks…..there were trains going by

with whistles, helicopters flying overhead and THIS is what wakes me up…..

Okay, well when THIS wakes you up…..of course you can’t help but listen….I

swear it went on for 30-45 minutes…..let’s just say I’m glad the guy didn’t have the 4 hour Viagra!

Someone had a romantic weekend in Boonville!

Now, I swear…pictures of the hook-in tomorrow!

Happy Halloween

2011-10-30T20:08:00.001-07:00

Pictures taken Saturday night in downtown Springfield……

It was dark and late, but many revelers were out in costume….

A brigade of Oriental maidens….

Something big, creepy and spooky….

A big, creepy monster….

This is us before we headed downtown…..I had just

gotten back from the hook-in and was reallly tired, but

threw on a wig, a mask and made the best of it…..

really had a fun time once we left the nest!

On the way to a hook-in

2011-10-30T09:29:00.002-07:00

No, I’m not on the way to a hook-in, just got back.
Relaxing with a hot cuppa coffee, on my big computer….so much easier to blog
from than the iphone
I thought I’d share some pics I took on my way up to Boonville, MO for the hook-in.
The trip from Springfield to Boonville takes about 3 hours, but when you stop
here and there and everywhere in between it takes much longer, but often the longer
road is the more interesting road……
This is somewhere in Missouri…..I headed off the highway and went down a few
country roads….it’s really beautiful this time of year….the trees making canopies over
the roads. Something about that just makes you able to breathe a little deeper, than driving
on the highway.

While I was driving I saw a sign for the historic towns of Blackwater and Arrow Rock.
I’d never visited either place, so I decided to check them out.
Blackwater is a sleepy little town with some quaint antique shops and super nice people running them, the people there were so friendly and so proud to tell you about their town.
I loved this little garden situated between some of the old buildings….reminded me of when
I visited Charleston, SC several years ago.

On the way to the downtown area of Blackwater, I saw a house with this
gnome home out front….I didn’t get a picture of it, but luckily
it is on the Blackwater website…..how fun!

I decided to move on to Arrow Rock….I’ve heard of Arrow Rock for years….
they used to have a workshop there that was run by Bobbie True who was a resident of the village.
I found one of the rugs she had hooked on Barb Carroll’s website….the date was her wedding date.

While I was in Arrow Rock, I stopped by their little post office and the
postmaster let me take pictures and told me that they were going to find out
in the next month whether or not their post office was going to be closed.
There are only 15 people who live in Arrow Rock village, but they have thousands of
visitors each year who purchase stamps while they are there and she is so proud of her
little old post office and has a wonderful collection of postal memorabilia.
Beautiful post office boxes…

A collection of stamps from when the postage used to be cancelled by hand…

This ceiling…..to die for….

Old mail satchels….

Kenny would give his eye teeth for a leather mail satchel like this one….

I also learned that this is where the 1973 version of “Tom Sawyer” was filmed.
This is the house where Becky Thatcher lived….

This is the greeter in one of the shops…..

Thanks for stopping by, tomorrow I’ll share about the hook-in….

The fun has just begun

2011-10-29T00:59:00.001-07:00

After drinks and dinner we hooked a bit in the lobby of The Frederick Hotel.....

Pear-basil martini by Jeremiah

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:U.S. 40,Boonville,United States

Ahhh fall

2011-10-28T05:47:00.001-07:00

Yesterday after work we harnessed up the dogs and walked them through the neighborhood and then into a small patch of woods near our house.

I tried to take a few pictures, but they are fairly blurry,however, I’m posting them anyway.

Want to see WHY the pics are so blurry? Try walking through this maze

of branches and grapevines and underbrush with a dog leash in one hand

and your iphone in the other trying to take pictures and video.

It eventually does come out into a clearing…..

Today I’m headed out to Boonville, MO to the

“Blood on the Rug” Hook-in……will try to take

many pics of my adventures!

The past week

2011-10-23T10:07:00.001-07:00

I’ve been really bad about blogging this past week…..

Here are a few things that have been going on, or things I’ve seen

that I’d like to share with you.

Last Saturday, we celebrated my niece, Madison’s, upcoming 13th birthday.

She loves whipped cream and my mom got her hands on this bag of whipped cream that has

a built in decorating tip…..Madison loved it!

This is a picture of my biggest win while playing Mexican Train Dominoes! If you’ve never played before you should definitely check it out!

Last Sunday, went to War Eagle craft show with friends. The weather was beautiful and spending a day with friends is always great!

Of course Monday-Friday there was work……..

Random things I’ve seen and wanted to share, things that make me go hmmmm…..

Are you in the 3% or the 97%

Yesterday spent the day dyeing wool with Dulcy…..sorry, no photos, but

we did dye up some hedge apple green, a pretty cherry/garnet color for an upcoming

rug that Dulcy is going to be hooking and I dyed up more greens for my redbud runner.

This morning I finished reading “Yoga Bitch”…..really enjoyed it!

Hope you’re enjoying your weekend…..hope to have more blog-able things to write

about next week.

Beautiful weekend

2011-10-15T06:47:00.001-07:00

Landscapes: Volume Two from Dustin Farrell on Vimeo.

If you want to start your weekend out with some beauty, then make

the video above large screen and enjoy!

Oh my!

2011-10-13T14:35:00.001-07:00

It’s hedge apple green!

I’ve wanted to paint with this color for at least a year……

I finally took the plunge and went for it!

I know it may not be for everyone, but I’m loving it!

What a difference

2011-10-10T05:46:00.001-07:00

What a difference a couple of days make.

I woke up this morning to encourage the dogs to go outside and saw

that the tiger’s eye sumac is quite a bit more rust covered

than it was on Saturday morning.

Monday

Saturday

Are you seeing how the seasons are gradually changing

around you in your part of the country?

I think that is one of the things that I love most about living

in the Midwest…..the changing of the seasons. I have several friends

who have left Missouri to live in Florida and while I LOVE to VISIT,

I’m afraid I’d miss the seasonal changes if I lived there.

……

The plan for today was to have the pool closed and have Dulcy

come over to dye wool…..however, now they are calling for rain, and

with the way my dogs FREAK over rain and thunder, we’ve called that off…..

shoot, that was going to be a whole blog post!

Oh well, don’t worry, I’ve had another project that I worked on this weekend….

just have to get some pictures taken….

Hope to share that with you later today or tomorrow.

I’ll give you a hint…… it involves hedge apple green!

Transitions

2011-10-08T06:13:00.001-07:00

I woke up this morning to the distant sounds of an owl…..

hoo-hoo-hooing in the trees…..

That’s what I like about where I live…..I’m in the city, but there are still

undeveloped plots of land near enough to us to site the occasional owl, turkey, or fox right in the midst of our neighborhood.

The nights are getting cooler, the a/c is off, the windows have been thrust open…

Extra quilts nestle at the foot of the bed…

The evening dog walks have become more of a pleasure and less of a chore.

It’s good to wake up to the aroma of java and linger over it as I walk through the yard.

That wonderful transition into fall…….

The leaves on the tiger’s eye sumacs are acquiring a beautiful rust patina

and the banana trees are dreading their relocation to the garage.

The pool will be put to bed on Monday…..

Hyacinth beans are putting on quite a show right now….hurray for them as they are just about

the only bright color in the yard right now….

Virginia creeper is bursting with berries and just a few rust colored leaves hanging on….

I adore autumn!

Yes, hooking

2011-10-07T04:44:00.001-07:00

Tuesday night a few of my hooking buddies headed out to blogless Sandy’s for hooking…..

Sheri is working on the most adorable witch doll….we all went nuts when we saw it!

Kelly was hooking a sheep into wool for a customer…..this is going to be a pillow…..

Sandy is just about finished with her flip-flops rug, which is also going to be turned into a pillow….

As for me, still plugging along on my Redbud Runner…..oops, no pics of that.

There is really nothing better than getting together with good friends and hooking, eating and conversing.

The weather here has been super beautiful, so Sheri picked me up in her new convertible and we headed down the highway to Sandy’s…..she has pics of our wild hair after our ride, you’ll have to visit her at her blog and bug her to post some pics!

Hope it’s great in your neck of the woods.

A big knitting project

2011-10-04T04:35:00.001-07:00

Found this as I was surfing the web today.

I’ve knitted some scarves, but I can’t imagine taking on a project of this magnitude!

Fascinating!

By the way, kind of surprised by how FEW people commented on yesterday’s post.

Did you click on the LINK to see the Beyond Rugs catalog from the Farnsworth Museum?

Maybe not that many of you are bored with traditional rug hooking like I am.

I thought this was a real eye-opener…….oh well……

Beyond Rugs

2011-10-03T04:35:00.001-07:00

If you find yourself “bored” with rug hooking check this out…..

Beyond Rugs

Dulcy and I have had many conversations about still wanting to

rug hook, but being a bit bored with it….this helped open our

eyes to several new possibilities.

Do you ever find yourself “bored” with rug hooking?

Satisfying Saturday

2011-10-02T06:57:00.001-07:00

It’s so good when every once in a while, you have a Saturday that just seems to flow……

I went to a posture clinic at Sumit Hot Yoga. This was a 2.5 hour class where they work with

you on getting proper alignment on your yoga postures…..very helpful and I feel like I learned a lot.

When I got home Kenny asked if I wanted to go downtown to OktoberFest…

We headed downtown…had a few beers with the rest of the revelers….

Listened to some live music

That’s where I saw this…..

Got up this morning to check on tickets and saw this:

An Exclusive Engagement with

BRYAN ADAMS
SOLO AND ACOUSTIC
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9TH @ 8:00 PM

SOLD OUT!

Kind of bummed about that. Oh well….we did try out a new

restaurant, new to us that is, Bruno’s.

Great service, great dipping sauce for the bread….olive oil, balsamic vinegar and sundried tomatoes….yum!

Had a delicious Bloody Mary, really good brick oven pizza, and a “to die for” Italian Wedding Cake!

Definitely somewhere I plan on eating at again and again.

Today I’m headed out to the craft show to see my friends.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Fed up? Watch this

2011-10-01T05:23:00.002-07:00

Rebellion is percolating under the surface all over America……

photo from BLGARCIA

Home

2011-09-30T05:13:00.001-07:00

Looks like Daisy has found a home….who could resist that sweet face?!

I’m still feeling a bit unsettled, but I have settled on a book to read…..

I’m only a few chapters in, but really enjoying it so far.

Today, Saturday and Sunday is the Ozarks Craft Show.

Even though I’m not participating I have a few friends who are so be sure and stop by

their booths if you get a chance to go.

Renee and Kelly will be in the big brown barn with their hooked rugs, stitched pillows,

wool and assorted other goodies.

Another friend, Meredith, will be in big tent #5…..she previewed some of her goodies on

Facebook……looks like lots of girly goodness for sure!!!

Get out and enjoy the weekend! Just have to make it through work today……

Unsettled

2011-09-22T14:09:00.001-07:00

Here it is, the ending of summer

and the beginning of fall.

This time of year always seems to make me feel unsettled…..like an itch that you can’t quite scratch,

or being hungry, but not being able to find just the right food to quell your hunger…..salty….no, sweet…..no, crunchy……no, creamy….no.

I want to read, but do I want mystery, romance, adventure……..

I want to get out my sweaters, but it’s not quite cold enough…..

Want to wear my flip-flops, but it’s getting a little too cool…..

In the past few weeks I’ve bought new faux fur boots and some jewel toned tights, but it’s not QUITE right to wear them yet.

That yearning for cold weather, but wanting to hold on to the longer days of summer. Why can’t we have fall with lots of light….lots and lots of hours of light?

Like I said, unsettled……

Samantha and “Blood on the Rug”

2011-09-19T12:11:00.001-07:00

While I was talking to Elinor Barrett, at the Truman Rug Show, she told me that she adopted one of the dogs that was featured on my side bar last year…..this was Samantha on my blog last year…..now Sammie Jane Doe….now that makes me smile!

Elinor said she had also made up a story about Sammie Jane’s past life and how she came to be in hers…….

“I didn't tell you that I've made up a history of her life. Did you watch
the Bourne movies? Well, Jason Bourne was originally David Webb from
Nixa, MO. I think he left her behind when he went into the CIA and that's
when the Nixa pound picked her up. (I may have too much time on my
hands!)”

Oh Elinor…..this makes me feel so “un-alone”…..we make up stories about our dogs all the time.

If you’d like to meet Elinor, she’ll be at the Baa Baa Boonville Hook-in Saturday, 29 October 2011. $15 to attend (This price includes morning pastries, lunch, snacks and beverages.)

E-mail me and I’ll be happy to send you their flyer!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

~from Elinor~

Hello!

We are so looking forward to seeing all of you at our Blood on the Rug~Halloween Hook~in, October 29th. We already have 83 registrants and are expecting more and a wicked good time! We want you to have a wonderful weekend and have updates for you to help you in your planning. If you registered other people, please pass this information along to them.

1. We've spoken with the managers at the Boonville hotels and they love the idea of hookers at work in their lobbies and rooms they're making available. Sounds like a pajama party to us! At least two hotels (Hotel Frederick

and Comfort Inn

)

are offering a special and most excellent rate - just tell them you're with the Baa Baa Boonville Hook-in for either Friday +/or Saturday nights. There's also a special public reception scheduled on Saturday afternoon at the Hotel Frederick that will include quilt appraisals and book signing by Ann Hazelwood. http://www.booksonthings.com/php/bot2009.php?topic=home. Also,Glenn's Cafe,

the restaurant at the Frederick is terrific and highly recommended. We encourage you to check it all out! Let's show them what a good time hookers can bring to the Boonville hotels!

....See all the details on the hotels below.

2. We're busy brainstorming for our breakfast and lunch menus. No hook-in would be complete without the snacks and desserts, and because we're going to have such a large crowd...

...if you feel so inspired to bring a treat along, we would be totally delighted!

3. We've added more vendors! In addition to Rhonda and Marty from Black Sheep Wool Designs

Patty (Queen of the last weekend's awesome Truman Lake/Warsaw hook-in) from Saltbox Primitives

and Marcia from White Horse Antiques, we are very pleased to welcome the following vendors:

Ozark Handspun - if you haven't seen this opulent yarn before, you'll love it! Meet Dave Gentzsch who dyes and spins these gorgeous fibers. www.ozarkhandspun.com

Prairie Road Designs - Sheila Arbogast from Wentzville, MO. You'll love Sheila's charming patterns for totes, rugs, pillows, and wool applique. Dog lovers alert - take a look at her cool three-dimensional dog pattern! www.prairieroaddesigns.com.

Sleepy Hollow Wool: delightful bags, beads, dyed wools and more designed with hookers in mind by Mary Barile and Jenny Schutte. You can find them on Facebook and Etsy.com

....And making his first appearance, our newest exhibitor: Hank the wonder dog! We anticipate at least one or two more vendors may also be joining. Stay tuned!

4. Parking is available in a lot next to Turner Hall (on the west side of the building -- between the building and Main Street.) There is also ample street parking.

Let us know if you have any questions and we'll see you on the 29th. Bring lots to show and tell! Best wishes for a great start to fall, and may the wool be with you!

Cheers,

Your Rughooking Fiends

elinor.barrett@gmail.com

Ode to Dulcy

2011-09-18T06:53:00.001-07:00

We have some new fall décor…..my husband laughed and called it,

“Ode to Dulcy”

Hot

2011-09-17T12:03:00.001-07:00

So Thursday after work, I went to my first ever “hot yoga” class.

I’d been told I’d either love it or hate it…..

well, I must say, I’m somewhere in the middle…..

it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought it would be.

Sweaty…..yes! This is me after class.

Doing downward facing dog with sweat dripping down your body and stinging your eyes…..

I knew it would be hot, but had no idea.

I swear there was not a dry spot on me when I finished!

I think I could have probably wrung my shirt out when I was finished…..seriously!

I have not sweated this much since I was in drum and bugle corp in high school

and we would march up and down hills in the humid Missouri August heat.

September is national yoga month and my first class was free, but I also had bought a

series of five classes earlier in the year, but was waiting for the weather to cool off before I gave it a try.

Will I be going back…..yes, I think I’ll try to go once a week until I use up those 5 classes and see if my body becomes more accustomed to the hot room…..100-105 degrees.

Maybe the colder it gets outside, the better that room will feel.

I did decide to bite the bullet and purchase one of these yoga towels….

When I took my first class you could borrow a beach towel to put on top of your

yoga mat, so you wouldn’t slip/slide around in all of your sweat.

It just didn’t work for me….it kept bunching up and sliding around…..hopefully

this will be a good investment.

Mason has a home

2011-09-14T19:37:00.001-07:00

Another great day for the hounds! I thought Mason was

a real cutie pie….evidently someone else did too!

This feller has finally found a home!

Adopted!

2011-09-12T04:45:00.001-07:00

Yay Zoey….I hope this is your forever home….

you are one sweet looking basset girl!

Truman Lake Rug Show and Hook-In

2011-09-11T06:22:00.001-07:00

Yesterday, I drove to Warsaw, MO to attend the 1st Truman Lake Rug Show and Hook-In.

All I can say is fabulous! Patty and her “flock” put on quite a stupendous event!

I spent most of my time talking to hooking friends that I hadn’t seen in a while, and did manage to get a little hooking done. I did get several pictures from the rug show to share with you. (sorry that I didn’t get pics of ALL the rugs, but I got a lot)

We got to vote on our favorite rug in the show, so I’ll also let you know which rugs got 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.

I also got to meet Wendy Miller of “The Red Saltbox” and let her know that her wool covered cording technique has changed my life. Seriously….if you haven’t tried this you MUST! Isn’t it fun to meet someone that you’ve only known through the internet for years and they turn out to be just as nice as you thought they would?!

Okay, on with the show!

Below is the rug that took 3rd place in the “Viewer’s Choice”

Below is the rug that took 2nd place in the “Viewer’s Choice”

Below is the rug that took 1st place in the “Viewer’s Choice”

I’m proud to say that I know both of the women who hooked the 1st and 2nd place rugs.

1st place was Judith Groff and she hooked this from a picture of a one room school house where she went to school.

2nd place was Nelda Johnson….although this is hooked in a primitive palette, Nelda was one of the people who first influenced me to hook with bright colors.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Adopted

2011-09-08T04:44:00.001-07:00

Cheyenne has been adopted…..of course who could

resist that sweet face?!

Check out my side bar for other dogs looking for

forever homes.

Opening day!

2011-09-06T12:38:00.001-07:00

This morning I got up and jogged 3 miles so I could indulge on

opening day at Caspers!

They give you so much chili that it spills over the top of the bowl….

soooooo worth it!

So cute!

2011-09-06T06:37:00.002-07:00

I’ve been meaning to share this rug with you.

This is an M. Shaw pattern that my hooking buddy, Kelly,
hooked up. Love all the cute colors and the 3-D flowers with the
button centers!
You can click on the picture to see a larger version.
You can visit Margaret Shaw’s website to see more of her
patterns HERE.
See, I can still make a blog post and have it not be about food!

Food obsessed

2011-09-05T10:46:00.001-07:00

Have I become food obsessed or what?!

I feel like that is all I ever blog about lately…..

oh well…..

Yesterday, the hubs and I went to Branson to do a little shopping and

of course….

eating…..

We had heard wonderful reviews about Cantina Laredo on “The Landing”,

so we decided to give it a whirl.

My aunt, Joan, raves about their guacamole, so we decided to give it a try….

Yum!!! Their salsa was also really good!

Margaritas and mojitos got us started in the right

direction to Funville.

I mean, how can you not have fun when you are sitting outside,

overlooking the lake, watching fountains and fire and rainbows…

Such a beautiful day and we finally got a break for the 100 degree heat!

I think it was only in the upper 70’s or low 80’s yesterday…..

like I said….beautiful!

As you can see below….we did a good job on the guacamole

Kenny had the Camaron Poblano Asada -

Grilled steak around poblano pepper with shrimp, mushrooms,

and monterey jack cheese on chimichurri sauce.

I had the Enchiladas De Camarones -

Shrimp, monterey jack cheese and roasted peppers

in enchiladas on vegetables topped with sour cream poblano

sauce.

Yes, I ate the WHOLE THING!!!!! It was sooooo good!

…and good to get away for a bit!

Not quite there YET!

2011-09-04T08:38:00.001-07:00

Funny, I’ve had lots of comments on the yoga pose……

Just to clarify…..I can’t get my head down to my knee…..yet

I’m more at this point…..

I’ll try to have Kenny take a pic of me at some point to

show you where I’m at.

Stretching yourself

2011-09-03T10:51:00.001-07:00

Last night we stepped out and went downtown for First Friday Art Walk. One exhibit had all kinds of animals made from braided fabric…..camels, rabbits, birds, skunks, elephants….you name it!

As we made our way around the galleries I was surprised to see a picture

of my cousin, Kayla, at Transformations Gallery and Tattoo.

Interesting concept, an art gallery and tattoo gallery combined…..

We also stopped by Good Girl Art…..

found a really cool sea shell table…..Kenny is thinking

about going back this weekend to see if it’s still available.

Hawthorn Gallery had some really beautiful pieces by artist Dale Auguston

By this time, we were starting to work up our appetite,

so we stopped in at Fedora Social House to use our coupon we bought

on Living Social.

We had all kinds of fondue….

Fedora Cheesesteak fondue as an appetizer,

Teriyaki Fusion as our main course…..this is where the stretching occurred…..

we had never been here before and were a little freaked out when they

brought out a plate of raw steak……WHAT?!

They told us that we put it on the skewers and then cook it in the broth

in the fondue pot…..ended up, it was pretty good…just not a concept

that we were familiar with. We had this with lobster mac and cheese and bacon peppadews.

Okay, by this point I’m totally stuffed, but our special “Fon Duo” also included dessert…..

White Chocolate Chambord fondue….and to dip into it….marshmallows, graham crackers and pretzels…..oh my….SO STUFFED!!!

So this morning I got up and headed off to yoga class.

This is a new pose I learned this week….marichyasana

Stretch yourself…..go new places, do new things!

Don't Miss the Truman Lake Rug Show and Hook-In September 10, 2011

2011-09-02T15:22:00.002-07:00

Truman Lake Rug Show and Hook-In
1st annual Rug Show and Hook In!!!
They are bringing in some "big time" vendors for their first annual show including,
Maggie Bonanomi

Wendy Miller

Anita White

Renee Nanneman

Melissa Towne

and Sheri DeMate

Registration is $15.00 and may be paid at the door. Refreshments will be provided and lunch will be available on site.
A rug show will be available to the public but separated from the Hook In.
Time: September 10, 2011 from 9am to 3pm
Location: Warsaw Community building
Street: You can call Patty for directions!
City/Town: Warsaw, MO.
Website or Map: http://www.saltboxprimitivewoolens.com
phone: 660-438-6002
They are hoping for a lot of rugs to be entered in the show. Everyone will
vote for their favorite rug and the first three will receive prizes.
Gift certificates at Saltbox Primitive Woolens
1st $75.00
2nd $50.00
3rd $25.00

Double Chocolate Banana Bread

2011-08-30T15:37:00.002-07:00

So here lately I’ve become a little obsessed about trying new recipes and trying to make them healthier without sacrificing taste…..this is the latest experiment. I found a recipe that was pretty darn healthy, but I wanted to get rid of the sugar and replace it with honey…..I did….and
it turned out pretty darn fabulous! This is making me a little braver to try more modifications in
other recipes.

….and yes, the picture of the bread is taken on a Christmas platter…..that’s what I had around
at the time.
Double Chocolate (Whole-Wheat) Banana Bread
(adapted from this recipe at A Full Measure of Happiness)

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 C canola oil
1/2 C skim milk
2 eggs
1 t vanilla extract (I used vanilla bean paste….found it at TJ Maxx)
1 1/2 C whole-wheat flour
1/3 C honey
1/8 t salt
2 t baking powder
1/3 C unsweetened cocoa powder
heaping 1/2 C bittersweet chocolate chips/morsels

Oops…just realized I don’t have the eggs in the picture of the ingredients!

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Combine the wet ingredients in your mixer bowl and mix on medium until bananas are mashed.

Add the dry ingredients (salt, baking powder, sugar, flour, cocoa powder, mocha powder, chocolate chips)

and combine until just mixed. Don’t be nervous….this is not a thick batter….kind of thin actually.

Pour the batter into your sprayed/greased bread pan.

Now the best part……lick the bowl….do the raw eggs bother you? Yeah, me neither….I like living dangerously!

Now, put your bread in the oven and bake for about 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Once it’s done, let it cool for a bit and then run a knife around the edge and flip it out onto a platter……

Reviews from Kenny and myself…….

moist
fudgy
good texture
flavorful
best when warm
banana-y tasting
super best when warmed up and served with a scoop of ice cream on top!

Things I learned along the way…..

when converting a baking recipe that uses sugar and you decide to use honey instead….
1 cup sugar = 3/4 cup honey, also decrease another liquid by about 1/4 cup
lower your baking temperature 25 degrees

Learning as I go and sharing it with you.
Don’t be a baby bird and just eat anything that people push at you….

Home

2011-08-28T06:27:00.001-07:00

Yay! Josie has found a home! This makes me happy…..

I check on the pages of the dogs I feature on my

blog just about every day and it always makes me

smile when one of them has found a home.

What’s Hookin’?!

2011-08-27T06:01:00.001-07:00

Summer is coming to an end…..so enjoy those last moments of

slipping into your flip-flops and digging your toes into

the sand.

Get ready for pumpkins and crows……

…..Ghosts and gouls…..

Remember to make time to play in your wool!

(all pictures from my hooking group last night)

Need a good laugh?

2011-08-23T18:43:00.001-07:00

Watch this….

I love, Love, LOVE Anderson Cooper….now I

love him even more!

Hear the whole story here…..

Installation and an Un-recipe

2011-08-21T05:56:00.002-07:00

A few weeks back, Kenny installed “The Garden Rugs” in our dining room.
It was so satisfying to have all 3 of them completed and displayed.
It seems like it took FOREVER to complete them.
I started them HERE….over 2 years ago!

I love how they add a splash of color.

I’m currently working on another hanging technique.

Hope to have that to share with you soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It’s been a while since I’ve blogged about hooking….have not been hooking a lot,
but I have been experimenting with cooking a little bit.
Yesterday I made this summer veggie quiche……

I must say, it was quite delicious and fresh tasting.
Pretty healthy except for the Pillsbury pie crust….hey, I had
them in the freezer and decided I needed to use them up and then
I’m going to be searching for a whole wheat crust to use the next time.
If you have a whole wheat pie crust recipe to share, send it my way!
I didn’t exactly have a recipe for this….I made it up as I went.
I put water, cup-by-cup into my pie plate to see how much volume it held….about 4 cups.
Then I put that water in a mixing bowl so I would have an idea of when I reached
4 cups in volume. Then I just kept adding ingredients until I reached the 4 cup mark.
“Un-recipe for Summer Veggie Quiche”
Ingredients:
1 pie crust
3 eggs
2 egg whites
1 zucchini (grated and then press the water out of it)
Kalamata Olives (pitted…I used about 1/4-1/2 cup…whatever was left in the jar)
garden fresh tomatoes (about 3 small ones coarsely chopped)
1/2 cup feta cheese
1 cup Queso cheese
1/4 cup chopped spicy oregano from the herb garden
salt and pepper to taste
Directions:

Place pie crust in pie plate and crimp the edges
mix all ingredients together
pour into pie plate
bake at 350 until quiche is no longer wiggly (for me, about 45 minutes)
Let sit about 5-10 minutes before serving

Feel free to try it out with whatever veggies you have in YOUR garden!
Try a different type of cheese, a different kind of herb….start with this and
make it your own…I’d be curious to see what you come up with!
This “making it your own” and “using what you have” is a tip I got from Bethenny’s book.
One of those “game changer” books for me.

Last night’s dinner

2011-08-19T04:37:00.001-07:00

Made by my husband, Kenny…..

stuffed Hatch chiles.

Have I told ya’ll what an excellent cook he is?!

I know a few of the ingredients he used….

goat cheese

queso cheese

cheddar cheese

shredded chicken

red pepper

Whatever was in them made them delicious!

Extreme chocolate zucchini brownies

2011-08-16T14:54:00.002-07:00

Okay, so I am SO not down with eating a healthy dessert unless it is downright fabulous…….I mean seriously…..I’d rather have a small piece of something decadent and wonderful than a huge piece of something that is healthy and ho-hum.
Readers, may I introduce you to my new acquaintance…….
THE EXTREME CHOCOLATE ZUCCHINI BROWNIE

I found the recipe via TasteSpotting. If you haven’t visited that website….go there soon!
It led me to the website “A Dash of Sass” where I found Kate’s recipe…..go to her website to check out her recipe. I didn’t quite have ALL of the ingredients she used, so my recipe here is the way I made them….I must say that the results were still stellar in my opinion!
If you are craving chocolate, this will not let you down!
I know zucchini in a brownie sounds downright weird, but you really don’t taste it, plus it sneaks in a little veggie!
Extreme Chocolate Zucchini Brownies
2 cups zucchini, grated
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup raw honey
1/4 cup agave syrup
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1 cup stone ground whole wheat flour
3/4 cup oat flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (I used Nestle’s)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 x 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper leaving 1 inch of the paper hanging over the edge to create handles. Spray paper with cooking spray (I use Mazola pure). Set aside.
- Grate zucchini.

Press with a paper towel or between your hands to remove excess moisture. Fluff with a fork, set aside.

- In a large bowl, beat together oil, eggs, agave and honey and vanilla.

Add zucchini.

- In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, salt, baking powder and cinnamon.

Stir to combine.

- Add dry mixture to the wet/zucchini mixture.

Stir to combine.

Add chocolate chips.
- Pour batter into prepared pan.

- Bake 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.

Remove from pan using parchment paper handles.
I’ve had these warm out of the oven…..delicious!
Cold….really good!
Warmed up in the microwave with a scoop of Breyer’s Vanilla Ice Cream….divine!

Here’s the nutritional breakdown…..healthy…..yes, healthier than most store bought or brownies from a mix…..remember these are a TREAT! I’m always looking for ways to get away from processed foods…..yes the chocolate chips are processed and I suppose you could leave them out…..but, I’m trying to lean into eating healthy…..
I could have made them sound like they had less calories and made them into 32 servings, but who are we kidding….no one eats a TINY brownie!
Nutrition Facts
16 Servings

Amount Per Serving
Calories
258.4
Total Fat
14.3 g
Saturated Fat
5.2 g
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.7 g
Monounsaturated Fat
5.4 g
Cholesterol
23.1 mg
Sodium
128.4 mg
Potassium
91.8 mg
Total Carbohydrate
32.2 g
Dietary Fiber
2.6 g
Sugars
19.4 g
Protein
3.5 g

Hurray for Squint!

2011-08-15T14:12:00.002-07:00

YAY! Squint has been adopted……we’ll celebrate a little later tonight or
early tomorrow with some EXTREME chocolate brownies! (New healthy recipe)
I love the story about how Squint got his name…..
He was an owner-surrender at the shelter - the owner got him for hunting "but, he ain’t worth a damn as a huntin' dog". Actually, he is a very loving dog. He got the name Squint because he squints his eyes when you pet him.

Thoughts on Monday

2011-08-15T04:49:00.001-07:00

Against all odds

2011-08-14T06:44:00.002-07:00

Against all odds……

Even with all of the hot, dry weather we’ve

experienced this summer…..

the “naked ladies” managed to make

their appearance!

Kenny dug these up from an older home, close to us that my

brother was remodeling to re-sell. The old gentleman who
owned the house was an AVID gardener and had to be
put in a nursing home.

I just know that he would smile, knowing another
AVID gardener rescued these beauties.

Putting up walls

2011-08-11T04:41:00.001-07:00

The weather here has been hot, hot, hot and dry…….

However, I think it was on Monday, we finally got some much

needed rain…..these are pictures taken from my office window at work.

Beautiful huge wall clouds…..

Yes!

2011-08-08T20:16:00.002-07:00

This has been a rocking week!
Harry Potter has found a home!

Hooking as meditation

2011-08-07T09:09:00.002-07:00

Last weekend I spent two eight hour days hooking at the fair.
This is the most that I’ve hooked in a LONG time.

I woke up the next day feeling refreshed and like all was right and balanced in my world.

Perhaps it’s the hooking?

The space clearing I did a few days ago?

The exercise and yoga?

The eating better? Okay, well that was thrown out the window that weekend while I was at the fair……
slaw dog
cheesecake wontons (2) I shared the other 3
fish taco
jerk burrito
giant pork tenderloin sandwich
This week however, I’ve been back on track with the healthier eating. I told you yesterday, I am far from perfect in that category :))
I really don’t know anything about meditation, so I decided this morning that I would do a little research…..
Meditation: What it is !!!
An ordinary person may consider meditation as a worship or prayer. But it is not so. Meditation means awareness. Whatever you do with awareness is meditation. "Watching your breath" is meditation; listening to the birds is meditation. As long as these activities are free from any other distraction to the mind, it is effective meditation.
~from Health and Yoga~
So I guess the answer is yes….hooking can be a form of meditation.

If you feel the same way, feel free to steal this little banner and use it on your blog.

Another Victory

2011-08-07T07:42:00.002-07:00

Maggie has found a forever home……
of course she would…..she is adorable!

My favorite enchiladas

2011-08-06T08:42:00.002-07:00

Today I’m sharing with you my favorite enchilada recipe.
The original recipe is from All Recipes and I’ve modified it a bit
to try and make it a little healthier.
I’d say the main thing is to try and shop (when you can) for items that have as few BAD things as you can…..try to steer away from enchilada sauce that has high fructose corn syrup, or taco seasoning that has a lot of preservatives. Go low-fat if you want or just use the REAL stuff and eat a little less. I find that it takes me more time in the grocery store these days, because I REALLY take my time to read the labels and make the wisest choices of what I’m eating.
Folks, Americans have become like baby birds…..so many of us just open up our mouths and eat
whatever people put in them

…..start reading labels and knowing what is in that can or package of stuff you are buying! Your body doesn’t know what to do with a lot of the FAKE stuff.
Hey, I’m for sure not saying I’m perfect at doing this, but I am trying to be more conscious of what I eat.
The great thing about this recipe is you can make it with chicken, shrimp, steak, or roasted veggies!

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - boiled and shredded
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 (7 ounce) can chopped green chile peppers
1 (1 ounce) package natural taco seasoning mix
1/2 cup low fat sour cream
2 cups low fat cottage cheese
1 teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
12 (6 inch) whole wheat tortillas
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese (low fat if you can find it)
1 (10 ounce) can red enchilada sauce

(I tried out the Kraft Mexican Authentic Cheese blend in this recipe…..can’t say that I recommend it…..it melted, but had kind of a grainy texture to it)

Directions

To Make Meat Mixture: Heat oil in medium skillet over medium high heat. Add chicken, onion and green chile peppers and sauté until browned,

then add taco seasoning and prepare meat mixture according to package directions.

To Make Cheese Mixture: In a medium bowl mix sour cream with cottage cheese and season with salt and pepper; stir until well blended.

If you need to HIDE the fact that you are using cottage cheese, just use
a hand blender or regular blender and it will have this consistency and they will never know the difference.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
To Assemble Enchiladas: Heat tortillas until soft (I just dampen a few paper towels and put them on the bottom and top of the tortillas and then nuke them for about 20-30 seconds).

In each tortilla place a spoonful of meat mixture,

a spoonful of cheese mixture

and a bit of shredded cheese.

Roll tortillas

and place in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish seam side down (I sprayed mine with Mazola Pure spray…..it doesn’t have silicone, and really…..do you want to be ingesting silicone if you can help it?!).

Oops….you have meat and cheese mixture and cheese left-over…..GOOOD!!!!!

Top with any remaining meat and cheese mixture, enchilada sauce and remaining shredded cheese.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Great with salad and some home-made salsa!

Hooking at the fair

2011-08-05T08:15:00.002-07:00

Last weekend I spent Saturday and Sunday demonstrating rug hooking at the Ozarks Empire Fair from 11am-7pm both days.
It’s fun talking to the people walking through the exhibits and sharing something that I love to do. I got a chance to meet some really great people and I’m always amused that there are so many men who are truly interested in hooking if they could just get to a place where they felt it was “acceptable” for a man to hook. It seems to me that when men set their mind to something that is looked at as a “woman’s craft” that they can become quite prolific…..just look at Eric Sandberg.

and Kaffe Fassett

However, sometimes while I’m demonstrating I get a bit annoyed with…..”oh yeah, I did that latch hooking stuff when I was a kid”…….my response….”yeah, I did that too when I was a kid, but this is not latch hook”

I was so excited that one of my BFF’s won grand champion of rug hooking….her second year in a row….and I’m proud to say…..my first student, Ebay Renee!
She did this self portrait with Sharon Townsend as her teacher at a camp in Texas this spring.

Here are more pictures of rugs from the fair this year…..
I can’t say that I always agreed with the judges choices, but on a
different day with different judges perhaps things would have turned out a bit differently.
I try to remind myself that mainly this is about getting rug hooking “out there and exposed”.

This one below is not rug hooked, and was in a different category, but
it’s a cute appliqued book cover….

What a great week for the dogs!

2011-08-05T05:58:00.002-07:00

Alira has also found a forever home……I’ll be back to my regular
blogging soon!

Forever

2011-08-02T05:15:00.002-07:00

Looks like Otto has found a forever home!

When I saw him, I just fell in love…..what’s not to love….part spaniel, part basset hound…..sounds perfect to me, and luckily someone else felt the same way.
When I have time, I’ll start searching for another
dog on Petfinder who is searching for their forever home.

Wool geek

2011-07-31T07:22:00.003-07:00

If you are a wool geek, like myself, I think you will enjoy these videos.
I ran across this, this morning….videos from artist/designer
Christien Meindertsma
She makes beautiful chunky rugs and poufs and ottomans from wool yarn as well as flax.
She also makes what she calls “one sheep, one sweater”…..sweaters knitted from individual sheep.

I hope you’ll visit her website to see even more videos on her process…..lovely!

shearing, washing and spinning from Christien Meindertsma on Vimeo.

Headed to the Ozarks Empire Fair

2011-07-30T06:30:00.001-07:00

It’s that time of year when the fair is in town.

This weekend I’ll be demonstrating rug hooking in the E-Plex on

Saturday and Sunday from 11am-7pm.

Stop by and say hi if you get a chance.

Rut

2011-07-29T18:24:00.002-07:00

‘Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.’ ~William James

This past week I feel like I’ve been stuck in a rut.
Maybe it’s the heat…..
I go to work and when I get home all I want to do is sleep…..and eat…..
….but when I eat, it’s like there is nothing that really quite hits the spot…..
do you ever get that feeling?
I’ll have a few chips…..no that’s not it.
I’ll have a popsicle….no that’s not it.
Maybe some trail mix….no that’s not it.
I’ve been trying to read a few books, but can’t really seem to get into them either.
Then today it hit me…..I need to do some space clearing….generally when I feel “stuck”, if I can purge some of my “stuff” it leaves me feeling clearer.
So, I left work early and came home and organized my closet…..seriously folks….my closet has been a wreck since summer arrived….I still have a few winter things hanging out in there, when I’m in a hurry I’ll just pile my clean clothes on the shelf instead of hanging them up, throwing my flip-flops in and grabbing my tennis shoes to go to the gym……I’ve been a disorganized mess!

(Okay, I admit, I can become easily distracted by bright colors, feathers,
sequins and various sparkly things….this is not my closet, but wouldn’t it just
be the coolest if it was?! I’m talking clothes and ALL!)
I was able to find an entire sack of things to get rid of.
None of them were shoes!

(again, not my shoes, but WOW….love them all!)
Just putting this in here again, because I feel it needs repeating…..
okay, needs repeating to myself…..
‘Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an uncompleted task.’ ~William James

Not fast enough

2011-07-24T07:09:00.002-07:00

Oh how I wish this were going faster!
However, I must say that I’m not feeling overwhelmed
by this large runner….I’m rather savoring it.

I’ll work for a while on background when I need mindless hooking….
Work on the circles when I’m wanting to vary my colors back and forth….
Hook on the pods when I’m in the zone of doing a little more detail….
Or work on the leaves, when I’m really feeling detail oriented…..
Then there are days when I just want some immediate gratification….
That’s when I hook on those little flower buds that have fallen to the ground….
This rug is just what I’ve been needing!

Still, my mind is starting to think of the “next rug” that I want to hook.
Perhaps something with trees and birds….and words….
I don’t have anything definite in mind, so that is probably a good thing…..
just twirling ideas around in my mind…..

Isn’t that just another great part of the hooking adventure?!

Bits and pieces of things I see that make me smile….

We’ll see what comes out of the “mind meld” as I like to call it…
collecting all of these things in your head and then
seeing what comes out in the next rug….

To live content with small

2011-07-23T08:51:00.002-07:00

Off to hook

2011-07-22T05:14:00.002-07:00

I took the day off work to go down and visit and hook with the women in
Warsaw, MO…..in the mean time click on the link below to visit the
Rugs of Rebecca Knudson ……inspiring to say the least!