On my desk...April 30

Lots of sunlight! Wow it's nice in the a.m. these days. I suspect I will be getting up by 6am or earlier now.

And other than sunlight?? items to go to the Post Office when they open. Postcards for a swap-bot exchange I joined. This Birthday Card swap needs some more people but it is not international. US readers? think about it.

There is also a package finally getting on its way to Australia. ;-)

And then there is the crinkly blotter....got wet one rainy pm, and I'll be glad to get to May tomorrow which still looks ok. Today I will be starting...god willin'....two postcards for a handmade pc swap. This one is international and I hope it will get my creative juices flowing. I have an idea to cobble/collage some extra pics I played around with for Christmas cards. Wish me luck! getting the idea from the head to the hands is quite a challenge I find.

sausage and pierogi

sausage and pierogi
Originally uploaded by redazadi

Still cool in the evening (thank you god/des!!) so dinner tonight was a hearty one. Sausage from the Amish market in onion gravy (love to be able to poof some crockpotted onions from the freezer), sauerkraut pierogi that we bought out in Chicago, and fresh cauli with buttered red pepper, and spring onions from our neighbors' garden. Oh I even decided to add buttered bread crumbs to the pierogi. What you don't see is a good dollop of greek yoghurt on my pierogi.

Full enough to do without dessert which is just as well, as I made none. ;-) Thought dh would be all day at Jury Duty but he came home by noon. Why that stopped me from making a dessert I don't know....

Well who knew...

I too am a snapdragon! I saw this over at Lilliboo's blog and it turns out I share a snappy nature with her. Anyone else an interesting flower?

I am a Snapdragon What Flower Are You?

This is...my favorite book

Dees came up with an intriguing subject for the weekly meme, This is...my favorite book.

I usually don't have the kind of favorite that I read again and again but two stand out in my mind. This one was a present for my 10th birthday - The Secret Garden by Frances Hogdson Burnett. I still have my copy, a 1949 Lippincott edition.



I certainly identified with little Mary and her "I Won't!" attitude. and later lived in Yorkshire and read it again there having a full appreciation of the 'invigorating' Yorkshire air. Later, living in SE Asia I could imagine Mary's early days of being cared for by servants. I know I've seen more than one of the film/tv adaptations and recently had a fine time seeing it on cable. I felt like Mary was a lot snittier in the book!

While living in England, I was happily near a library which was full of authors unknown to me, and I made some of my initial selections by scanning which one of them had a lot of books. I figured that if I liked the author I had a treasure trove; if not, I had one section already crossed off. I think that is how I first selected Laurie Lee. His Cider with Rosie became one of my favorites, read more than once while in England, and one which went around the world with me for a long time. While that copy is now gone, I now have this version which I found in a US used book store. I plan to read it again next winter...somehow it seems like a cozy, winter read to me...perhaps bringing back memories of England so long ago.



Want to see more faves?? check out the list of players over at Three Buttons who is good enough to maintain the list.

On my desk...April 23

JSJ session
Originally uploaded by redazadi

Nothing at home for me this week. I am taking a 5 day course in JinShinJyutsu, which is a form of hands on energy work.

This picture shows Janie, in yellow working with Mary on the table over at Janie's house. Janie is the practitioner I go to weekly, and it feels sooo sooo good. One of the nicest things about the class I'm taking is that we have 3-Hands On sessions each day - 1 person on the table, and two working on/with that person. Talk about mellow by the time class closes.

You stay fully clothed, on your back with the practitioner just touching various points on your body. If this sounds like something that would interest you, check the JinShinJyutsu link for further information. The modality is done world wide.

More desks at Kootoyoo's list .

Trash, trash, do we have trash!

Sunday was a big clean out the cellar day, and tho it rained off and on, it wasn't hot - yet. If it had been humid and hot, I have a feeling less might have been done.



Unfortunately, this cr*p has to sit in the driveway until next week when we have the quarterly bulk trash pickup. But better out there than still in the cellar. Without help, the two of might have killed ourselves trying to do it - or killed each other. About 1/4 of the original pile has already been taken away, and there was a carload for the thrift shop. Phew.
Progress!

Back to the Kitchen

she said gladly.

Yes, I do like to cook, and today I kind of started back into the groove. Trouble is, we have a bunch of good leftovers and dh could eat for a week on those. Hmmmm...

But, a quick one for us tonight as I was finishing up a bunch of postcards for SwapBot today. I used to belong to a postcard exchange on a now defunct community site and it was a lot of fun. Back then, I couldn't conceive of Making A Postcard or even pimping one out. But now older and willing to be more foolish, I have moved into the realm of silly and fun. Gotta remember to scan them, tho terribly unique they're not. I realized I wouldn't have much time in the next week to make the May 1 deadline.

But dinner you say? Wasn't that the topic? Oh right.

Poofed (pulled out of the freezer) a packet of pork that I had precut in bits for curry.


Then made some raita...just for me. Dh wouldn't voluntarily choose to eat any plain yoghurt.


Put it together and we had dinner. About a 30 min meal and yummy yummy yummy. A good bit of nice heat on a chilly rainy day. (Enlarge this pic to see a note...)


Dessert? Well dh was so pleased (he does love a curry) that he was willing to go out and get some vanilla ice cream for Root Beer Floats. No pics cause we slurped them right down. Then a telly night with (recorded last night) My Boy Jack which moved us both to tears. This should be required watching for the fool in the White House.

This is ...my latest discovery

Laura Brino

She's already been discovered with two cds and gigs about the east coast but I met her in a hair salon Friday. One of those random moments when you say....gosh, I need a haircut...how about just running in this one. And you have a serendipitous moment that lights up your day and makes you smile to be alive.

She is one of the nicest, most genuine young women I've met in some time. Grounded and gorgeous. Multi talented without a lick of pretension. Take a listen to her, and enjoy. I wish you could talk to her and enjoy her presence.

Oh yeah... I got one of the best haircuts I've had for a long time too. The way I remember my hair looking when it looked good.

Attention Button Lovers

Do you know how they are REALLY made??? No, this is not a China Watch alert. Watch Ms. Miranda July show you the trade secrets in the making of your favorite goodies. And have a good laugh ....

Button Making

best friends -about 1954

about 1954 best friends
Originally uploaded by redazadi

The threads on vintage photos have given me an incentive to make Thursdays a day when I spend at least 30 min on the old ones.

This one taken from about 1954 is interesting in that it's in a little metal frame. Summer, few cares ...well that's not true...but that's why we were friends. We shared family secrets with each other.

Moi on right, Mary Ellen on left...to me said as one word...Marellen. ;-)

On my desk...April 16

Not a lot today...I got sick from a lunch out yesterday and am feeling, as my Nana used to say, quite punk today.

But these are items I worked on Sunday at our Artist Way group's Studio Day. They are out to finish up this week, and I thought it would happen yesterday. Instead after 'losing my cookies' I slept and slept and slept. In fact, that is what I plan to do right now.

FREE TIBET

FREE TIBET
Originally uploaded by redazadi
What else can one say???

Mrs. G and her 3 Husbands

Not sure where in blogland I connected to Mrs. G. and her life in Derfwad Manor,

but you have to love her take on the HBO show Big Love . Be warned...there could be a lust outbreak when you see her 3 husbands.

C'mon HBO, make it happen. I'm signing up for Mrs. G's understudy Right Now.

This is...my perfect dinner party guest list

This week's theme comes from Lily and Agatha.

I have to say this one has had me stumped all week. I don't do dinner parties anymore, probably because I have a dh who works from home and so while I love to cook, I am doing more 'daily' cooking than I ever have. Plus, as life has gone on, I think I'd rather just have dinner with people I know and like. In the end, I came down to the decision that if I HAD to have a dinner party, it would be an open buffet with lots of the women I like. Mostly women in their 60s but a bunch of 40 yr olds thrown in. Talk would be REAL even tho there would be plenty of fluff to get the laughter going. And yes, in the end, as it usually is...there would be 'laugh till you wet your pants' howling about the perennial subject...sex.


What do they say???? "If you didn't laugh, you'd have to cry."

The food? Well, I've gone thru the vegetarian friends, the gluten free friends, so far no one who kept kosher but I suspect I'd make about 3 entrees, chicken, fish and vegetarian with a big salad...and choc raspberry bars and lemon bars. If it came down to only 6 coming, I'd FINALLY make molten lava cakes and have ice cream and homemade caramel sauce or dulce as a backup.

Now that I write...you know... I oughta just DO this! (and yes it would help if I could spell Silliness.....)

Egg-ing You On

You have to love this idea...from Eico.



Get out your little egg scissors



or have a go with the ol' knife...and breakfast without burnt fingers. I'm impressed.

Yes I am a Monkey

Well this has some accuracy....I am a monkey, astrologically i.e. So...which knitter wants that llama wool?!???!

Your Superhero Profile

Your Superhero Name is The Sergeant Monkey Your Superpower is Raised by animals Your Weakness is Blood Your Weapon is Your Grenade Saber Your Mode of Transportation is Llama

What's your Superhero Name?

Time Trio Giveaway

Time Trio
Originally uploaded by redazadi

Ok, now that I've done my cleanup, I am offering these to anyone who comments and is interested between now and Wednesday April 16. I know there are people who use such things in crafts but I'm not one. One prob has some gold, and one has a fascinating faceplate but I wouldn't plan on telling time with any....

Sebastian, who you may know as our Ancient Siamese, loves to do these drawings.. So delurk, and comment.

On my desk...April 9

(click pic to see large Flickr version with lots of notes - if you are nicely nosey)

Oh look at the other desks at Kootoyoo's list instead.

Aaargh I now know why I put off doing this...too many memories, both good and painful, and the everpresent issue for me of what to do with small bits. I have done this in fits and starts all week, and thought...damn..it's gonna get done today come hell or high water! (I shouldn't say that..we've had a week of rain.)

Well there is a good bit of order actually, a batch for charity, a bunch of silver for my daughter..and still a couple of bits to clear off the table. This was really tiring, physically and emotionally. Enuf.

Spent the morning in Little Saigon

Thanks to a little video from the folks at White on Rice.

They have a cool site and good info on Vietnamese food for round eyes like me. Check 'em out.

Roasted cauliflower soup

Winepairings: Roasted Cauliflower Soup recipe

Caulis are $1. a head and we still have gray, rainy weather. This sounds like a plan.
Plus it LOOKS like spring.


Roasted cauliflower soup
Originally uploaded by greg.turner

This is... my jewelry box(es)

Anastasia suggested this week's meme subject to MemeMama, aka ThreeButtons. Fun idea.

Mostly, I wear my wedding ring, either of two sets of earrings, a simple gold chain and one bracelet. All but the chain came from dh; the chain came from xh's trip to Kuwait. All are gold - I've never cared for silver and it never looked too good with my tawny coloring.

Sadly, this week's theme has reminded me that the rest of my jewelry hasn't been sorted out since the last time I did a clear out. Ok, the basket is out...I guess today is the day to look, organize and see what is still wanted. Find a new home for the rest. I guess this is the story of my life right now - she said wryly.

Janie and PeepsArt

50th post! So something special...

Janie, in addition to being a friend, is my JinShinJytsu practitioner and the one who led me on my own journey into this fascinating energy work. When I participated in her journaling sessions, she always encouraged doodling. AAAAArrrrgggghhh I thought AND said. I don't doodle!! And even today, I really don't. I write but I don't doodle.

Janie finally told me the story of her frustration in a class in seminary (yes seminary!) and how she just kept doodling. This was a new habit for her also, and in the years to come, it became a regular habit. From these doodles, the cards were born and a great deal of the revenue from the cards goes into local charities when there is a connection that clicks.

Above is one of my favorites but you can see many of her works at her website. Note that it is PeepsArt not Peep Art. There is a world of content difference!

Just the other day I was showing Janie some of the wonderful things made by crafters and sold on line, often in Etsy. She said she was soooo happy to see women continuing to engage in this kind of thing - the creative spark still flourishes despite the constraints of work and family for younger women. Janie calls herself Old Bird by the Bay, but age is relative. ;-) Enjoy her stuff!

Vintage Friday

Well, I had to refiddle a bit to keep Janie at the 50th post, so here is one I've meant to add...my and my Mommy, circa 1945? The actual pic is about postage stamped size and I can see I have some photoshopping to do in the future. Wasn't she pretty?????

Six Things About Me

Well I've been tagged by Big Cats Emporium (doesn't that want to make you go RrrrOOOAAAARRRRR!!!!) to tell 6 things about me. Thanks Cath, since you said I don't have to clean my desk now. ;-) Gosh playgroups are fun!

I was the youngest in my high school graduating class - 15 years old.

I once swallowed a live fly whole. (I don't know why she swallowed the fly, perhaps she'll die. She didn't. )

I won a writing contest in grade school, and was published in high school. You might say I peaked out before I turned 16.

I almost never wear patterned clothing tho many of my clothes do tend to acquire cooking or eating patterns.

I spoke only Lithuanian until I was 3 years old.

My favorite food texture is rubbery - e.g. mushrooms, escargots, gummi bears, Twizzlers. I suspect this is an infantile desire for the old rubbery nipples of baby bottles. My husband asks how I can put that crap into my body, but give me a 2lb bag of Twizzlers and you've won my heart.

Ok, now it's my turn. I'm tagging BellaDia, The Vintage Magpie, The DinnerChronicles, Cinnamondaze, Cally Creates and Nesting Instincts.

Here are the rules

1. Link to the person that tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.
4. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.
5. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website

I suppose it's time to clean the desk now, huh...

On my desk... April 2

On my desk... April 2
Originally uploaded by redazadi

Ok, this is part 1...lots of sorting out to do and today is the START. Maybe if I get on a roll, there will be a part 2, showing more skin...er wood. ;-)

More desks at Kootoyoo's list .

Arugula and PB Toast

Arugula and PB Toast
Originally uploaded by redazadi

I was ready for something different this am, but not exactly a salad. I thought ...ah peanut butter toast, but with what?? I didn't have any cooked bacon, and I didn't feel like cooking any sooo.....

As I was pondering, I looked outside at the herb area and Aha! the arugula is sprouting pretty well. That plant is about 5 years old and lives in a deep pot outside where it only gets fed by the rain. Good plant!

And a tasty breakfast - with tea of course.