tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-265946022023-11-16T03:02:47.371-08:00Life With...A little of this. A little of that. Full of Imperfections--like me....Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-71556244570733374202009-02-17T11:39:00.001-08:002009-02-23T12:06:01.859-08:00My ValentineIn the past it hasn't been a really important date, but this year I must have seen about 1000 hand drawn hearts around the house. So I couldn't help making Valentine's a little extra special this year.<br /><br />These are the beaded hanging hearts we hung on the kitchen light.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytB7VyQUMbOgvG-hHLkxgPcr-Fu9qNPgAVQ8SfuKckLTA_ySmVKcsw6pqeXnYDWSVfHCcPWrqpsXDr-JBNL7HOWC1LmjGHbekVSe6pkOo64knh7c2cSEgra7mtVRP8irdk3e9PA/s1600-h/P1030986.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 0px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytB7VyQUMbOgvG-hHLkxgPcr-Fu9qNPgAVQ8SfuKckLTA_ySmVKcsw6pqeXnYDWSVfHCcPWrqpsXDr-JBNL7HOWC1LmjGHbekVSe6pkOo64knh7c2cSEgra7mtVRP8irdk3e9PA/s320/P1030986.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303855547904929378" /></a><br /><br /><br />I made a garland like one that I had seen on Crafty Crow, but is no longer on the Web site.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLa9lhhbmH5Paarig5TEaP_QZgxeb0cpVzFzjnJpPQzpklZipXY9d9ySEbHxL8JV3nhj-qwikf5SqSPJ-nzt31n5Rpv-3Ze_qJ2_l5LyZI8OXP-oXpVKuqn6-hfz_7XCYKqhur8g/s1600-h/P1030997.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 400px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLa9lhhbmH5Paarig5TEaP_QZgxeb0cpVzFzjnJpPQzpklZipXY9d9ySEbHxL8JV3nhj-qwikf5SqSPJ-nzt31n5Rpv-3Ze_qJ2_l5LyZI8OXP-oXpVKuqn6-hfz_7XCYKqhur8g/s320/P1030997.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303855558762071858" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34FLVOVRJJTnRzSbQd8L-RB_VLIeGyxmTTyFSN_mauo6NiMiTtlrt6X4cR4jU8VgJhI8NFWD6OS8mdhhOq8d620Sz9bNTKm5iRM_mAAaTgITYSuOlzsPCYTEaRgeTjQYqTvySZA/s1600-h/P1040002.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 400px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34FLVOVRJJTnRzSbQd8L-RB_VLIeGyxmTTyFSN_mauo6NiMiTtlrt6X4cR4jU8VgJhI8NFWD6OS8mdhhOq8d620Sz9bNTKm5iRM_mAAaTgITYSuOlzsPCYTEaRgeTjQYqTvySZA/s320/P1040002.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303855566379045682" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHDKkQlGeJY1in91nDTLv9L0OA-bb9YGIORcyc88BUPRIGV0WZJqTKz7T6j_Ttmg4zW4gFGTXacwSTPvGnr0YGmIazVuH-kywCrSDXu5d3SV46wBWyunR0euivxBfaLcnDnQUGA/s1600-h/P1030999.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 400px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHDKkQlGeJY1in91nDTLv9L0OA-bb9YGIORcyc88BUPRIGV0WZJqTKz7T6j_Ttmg4zW4gFGTXacwSTPvGnr0YGmIazVuH-kywCrSDXu5d3SV46wBWyunR0euivxBfaLcnDnQUGA/s320/P1030999.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303855561393292130" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />And I embellished a couple t-shirts with felt Love Bugs that were inspired by the Martha Stewart Show Love Bug cookies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOb1Th5-P7ugJxTwNlW6GHjw584MAp37Emxv_59K-rOo-eQFeEsyQ8T9IwQS70rw94B6AlYkWzedIvhfRuNUmDdR5ii-_tUOlD1UloqhUnUgsMD_rp19GuRDXN5XqFiF3wI2ATg/s1600-h/P1030993.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOb1Th5-P7ugJxTwNlW6GHjw584MAp37Emxv_59K-rOo-eQFeEsyQ8T9IwQS70rw94B6AlYkWzedIvhfRuNUmDdR5ii-_tUOlD1UloqhUnUgsMD_rp19GuRDXN5XqFiF3wI2ATg/s320/P1030993.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303855553056128418" /></a>...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-27245395645854496902008-11-15T16:01:00.000-08:002008-11-15T16:33:28.381-08:00The Summer of FoodI think that what I have been doing lately can be summed up by two book recommendations from my summer reading.<br /><br />I have long believed in healthier eating and home baking and generally knowing where our food comes from, but this past spring and summer I really made a plan to find what staples are locally produced and buy those items rather than relying on the grocery store for everything. I will say it was time consuming mainly because it involves really nailing down what we eat, and finding places to buy it, and a bit of driving. But now that I have a system in place for getting what we need it has become habit and therefore a lot easier.<br /><br />One book that reassured me that it is all worth while is <span style="font-style:italic;">Apples to Oysters</span> by Margaret Webb. This is an every person's alternative to Michael Pollan (whom I also enjoyed reading this summer). The stories are warm and make you want to thank your local farmer. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.margaretwebb.com/images/fpo_book_cover.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 555px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 111px; height: 149px;" src="http://www.margaretwebb.com/images/fpo_book_cover.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Aside from food, my eldest daughter has started school and that has thrown me head first into the next phase of my life, PTA mom/volunteer. Is it just me or does it get a little more hectic around the house when the first school days hit? It has been cool to see what my youngest is like when she is alone to shine. It has also been cool/scary to see the affect that school has on a little one. She loves it and I had no doubt she would be just fine, but it as been like a minefield mitigating all the outward influences that come from other students.<br /><br />When she is not in school we like to do a lot of crafts, and practice scissors skills, which I had not realized as such an important skill until I witnessed 6 kindergartners wielding sharp implements in close quarters. A friend told me about The Creative <span style="font-style:italic;">Family,</span> by Amanda Blake-Soule. This is a beautiful book to leaf through and we are looking forward to our own family art nights during the long cold evenings in winter. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://amandasoule.com/wp-content/themes/iknow_soule/images/book_cover_250.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 314px;" src="http://amandasoule.com/wp-content/themes/iknow_soule/images/book_cover_250.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br />Lately I am hoping for an upturn in the financial markets and peace and prosperity for all. Sounds a little Dickensian, but if Santa can wrap it I will take some under the tree this year....Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-62435829979122163712008-11-03T17:44:00.000-08:002008-11-04T07:36:04.614-08:00If I could, I wouldI have been following the U.S. campaign. I have two words for it--Barack Obama. Wow! He has the presence of a great leader at a time when the U.S. (and the world) needs it most. He is cool under pressure, he is thoughtful, intelligent and respectful. And believe me, he is impressive to people who don't live in your fine country. I am hopeful that he will be the next U.S. president. I wish I could vote for him. <br /><br />My message to all of you is vote! Bring a friend, bring two. Have a tailgate party....Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-11042125483234355142008-03-07T08:14:00.001-08:002008-03-07T08:41:47.298-08:00Earth Hour<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bYtTzdj5Iw10XQNVGOj4TFMTLVgSqPFpks9hoC8c5kEy-BzANHrduykScta0mS5RTJkX1m-dVx7Li1m2FYQt0nxZ9wEVMAb78d96aKCWYORolcQgrytQ7aYG9Db44Zijcp4SmA/s1600-h/Earth-Hour-Logo-rbg.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bYtTzdj5Iw10XQNVGOj4TFMTLVgSqPFpks9hoC8c5kEy-BzANHrduykScta0mS5RTJkX1m-dVx7Li1m2FYQt0nxZ9wEVMAb78d96aKCWYORolcQgrytQ7aYG9Db44Zijcp4SmA/s320/Earth-Hour-Logo-rbg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175040329991533122" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVXAk-stk3qMUM1JlZn-kgCKfLoW1B7uwmc__nYUwY0nHwhTDTLMTGxM-vrTWZijGpIzJkb0n7jYZw8scOlFXkxwVk0ZGs0BmeTzzjHAuuh315nELt858P1cYEWVdj9UwCjIjFw/s1600-h/EH_728x90.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVXAk-stk3qMUM1JlZn-kgCKfLoW1B7uwmc__nYUwY0nHwhTDTLMTGxM-vrTWZijGpIzJkb0n7jYZw8scOlFXkxwVk0ZGs0BmeTzzjHAuuh315nELt858P1cYEWVdj9UwCjIjFw/s320/EH_728x90.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175034080814117410" /></a><br /><br />Maybe you have already heard about this, but if not on March 29 World Wildlife Fund wants you to join the movement to turn off the lights for one hour to reduce energy consumption. My city is participating in the challenge too, though this is a global effort that started in Australia. Check out the <a href="http://www.earthhour.org/">Earth Hour</a> site to see if you can participate in the challenge too. In fact, why don't we have a little competition between ourselves to see who can rely on the fewest resources during that one hour. Bragging rights are at stake here. Of course how hard will it be for me not to wash the dishes or do the laundry at that hour—not very? No, the hardest part for me will be shutting off the t.v. and PVR....Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-45681754814494974322008-02-29T17:15:00.000-08:002008-03-01T18:50:15.926-08:00And the winner is...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1lngdmRG8DfbyIavtOqMk0fMM8PcaM6uL3LekVPC8WaorbUT_3Z7Fa0f5a9HBbFEXIA3WhxqYmfumXqXyqdZ7EmUngqzF-u5j1Hrp_nRWhpyVUDzT6zjv3IU_Wl9EjQH21XHNw/s1600-h/P1030275.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1lngdmRG8DfbyIavtOqMk0fMM8PcaM6uL3LekVPC8WaorbUT_3Z7Fa0f5a9HBbFEXIA3WhxqYmfumXqXyqdZ7EmUngqzF-u5j1Hrp_nRWhpyVUDzT6zjv3IU_Wl9EjQH21XHNw/s320/P1030275.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172958863494922114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORgfYvRiIUCJVFQ98F30R6N-bWKV9jHHHHARYbHR1bE3S95vc8dTfMkxlUNzJcvAjpyXRPS4LKQx0_fXQ84isHnnoBXR2ayxYtAiR1dlLKke2gIYA5FgDoBdEO-aKxBj0akwxgg/s1600-h/P1030283.JPG"><img style="float:centre; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjORgfYvRiIUCJVFQ98F30R6N-bWKV9jHHHHARYbHR1bE3S95vc8dTfMkxlUNzJcvAjpyXRPS4LKQx0_fXQ84isHnnoBXR2ayxYtAiR1dlLKke2gIYA5FgDoBdEO-aKxBj0akwxgg/s320/P1030283.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172958893559693202" /></a><br /><br />Sabrina, SMF Sporty Chic<br /><br />I wanted to say thank you to everyone who played along. Let's just say that there was such a variety of collections. I was very impressed. Collections varied from pearls to recipes, dust (yup, we all have that one) to horseshoes, bottles to Playboys. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvOEYJ4yUn2i3g9Szi6-GvUCeisHTGo3a7YrKNPCRkwLkwn39r9WuFtzl59-4R9O4MPh3mjIwwUYpZtKyQE4ETNBQE7XYmrGyJI7oa2OnHkyMs8z10uWbfaEAY-Yq1tItlXFWew/s1600-h/P1030255.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhvOEYJ4yUn2i3g9Szi6-GvUCeisHTGo3a7YrKNPCRkwLkwn39r9WuFtzl59-4R9O4MPh3mjIwwUYpZtKyQE4ETNBQE7XYmrGyJI7oa2OnHkyMs8z10uWbfaEAY-Yq1tItlXFWew/s320/P1030255.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172958837725118322" /></a><br /><br />My collection is hand made pottery. I love that they are mini pieces of art with a practical application. When I tried throwing a few years ago I grew to appreciate the effort that goes into making a piece of pottery even more. So that brings me to the prize. Sabrina will get a gifty of some of my favourite things: a box of Stash Morroccan Mint tea, chai lip balm from <a href="http://www.moonsnailsoapworks.com">Moonsnail Soapworks</a>, and a mug for tea (artist to be determined). <br /><br />Please check out everyone's fabulous collections. I posted links below:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYSSitO_95Tzbmt7CQaJtai-pPB_BdGvj6MVGH0rYyg4zZLpwywDnYmPKXo48pC4qbogkMknvg5y9NKo6yeo5pWLrLq4cMvZoH1SYzDJldHVyS0YpdA7i6YXGTtwvwcPyjIka_g/s1600-h/Entries.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYSSitO_95Tzbmt7CQaJtai-pPB_BdGvj6MVGH0rYyg4zZLpwywDnYmPKXo48pC4qbogkMknvg5y9NKo6yeo5pWLrLq4cMvZoH1SYzDJldHVyS0YpdA7i6YXGTtwvwcPyjIka_g/s320/Entries.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172957042428788578" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://afewthingstosay.blogspot.com/">Kristin, A Few Things to Say</a><br /><a href="http://yarnhog-yarnhog.blogspot.com/">Suzanne, Yarnhog</a><br /><a href="http://a-friend-to-knit-with.blogspot.com/">Leslie, A Friend to Knit With</a><br /><a href="http://smfsportychic.blogspot.com/">Sabrina, SMF Sporty Chick</a><br /><a href="http://knittingissewes.blogspot.com/">Sonya, Knitting Issewes</a><br /><a href="http://mellowbeing.com/blog/2008/02/button-collection.php">Mellow Being</a><br />Meg—Vintage hankies<br /><a href="http://chronicennui.typepad.com/">Kim, Chronic Ennui</a><br /><a href="http://caroskos.blogspot.com/">Lydee, Thoughts of a Sometimes Stay at Home Mom</a><br /><a href="http://beckyknitstoo.blogspot.com/">Sophanne, Becky Knits Too</a><br /><a href="http://wanderingcatstudio.blogspot.com/">Valerie, Wandering Cat</a><br /><a href="http://www.bloomize.com/">Clara, Bloomize</a><br /><a href="http://rosemarygoround.blogspot.com/">Romi, Rosemary-Go-Round</a><br /><a href="http://fibreholic.blogspot.com/">Patty, Fibreholic</a><br /><a href="http://senjaknits.blogspot.com">Senja, Senja Knits</a>,<br /><a href="http://temperama.blogspot.com/">Temperance</a>, Cookie cutters and Tea Pots. <br /><a href="http://blog.mayyan.net/2008/02/29/the-sheep/">May</a><br /><a href="www.keanalee.typepad.com">Keanalee</a> <br /><br />Good night!...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-70463520976002073182008-02-25T19:11:00.000-08:002008-02-25T19:27:33.108-08:00It's a Contest Baby!I am excitedly "collecting" items for <a href="http://life-with.blogspot.com/2008/02/stitch-in-time_19.html">my (first eva) contest prize</a>. Bring on the entries, I will draw names after the contest closes Feb.29. If you are really stuck on ideas here's one—and I might add that this is very embarassing for me and I am very glad I do not have a photo of it—when I was about 7 I collected eraser shavings. Seriously. Not a highlight of my youth, but I blame it on a particularly non-attentive second grade teacher. She was not very engaging. To put a positive spin on it I will call it my deconstructionist period. Since I don't have a photo of that very early collection I will leave you with an image from <a href="http://www.abc.net.au/tv/collectors/txt/s1572897.htm">Brita Hansen's</a> crayfish collection. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51TOY7NeKR32hymz9zn9t2HlwKr8y0VpzsgNbzHJi2_PVlIyXQhm_5XdTaz-1eF22_d5cwj9dp2s_zPvEuaaeMdnF5ZzENVaEfFToZ2uU4G0vyUdAdqD45kuAlye3IKtgULm-JQ/s1600-h/crayfish_m1188451.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg51TOY7NeKR32hymz9zn9t2HlwKr8y0VpzsgNbzHJi2_PVlIyXQhm_5XdTaz-1eF22_d5cwj9dp2s_zPvEuaaeMdnF5ZzENVaEfFToZ2uU4G0vyUdAdqD45kuAlye3IKtgULm-JQ/s320/crayfish_m1188451.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171124337629195586" /></a><br /><br />Please note: I (almost absolutely) guarantee there will be no eraser shavings in your prize (probably definitely.)...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-57090935570341337632008-02-19T11:11:00.001-08:002008-02-29T11:46:43.664-08:00A Stitch in Time and a First For Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlttIaWOgswjnFGI1kgNgwtesuVXuZWlgaa-hruoDm5L7o1W1KyIzjJLlcSvhN3TNL4FFFdEZbCz3g7rBWmFMzzMNyh0doRcujW2BxCJX-mI8CaOpE3NswHJdth2O4HdjndvQx6w/s1600-h/P1030192.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlttIaWOgswjnFGI1kgNgwtesuVXuZWlgaa-hruoDm5L7o1W1KyIzjJLlcSvhN3TNL4FFFdEZbCz3g7rBWmFMzzMNyh0doRcujW2BxCJX-mI8CaOpE3NswHJdth2O4HdjndvQx6w/s320/P1030192.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168815371800800434" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUzNF1QoSPtskm8a9EHX5ZG5yTVMGXVUmZxc_agdrl3jWPITMUf57bknXdbZ5zgDo6YriC87UW0klUOEWWsSnEmy1F8Z35Y4JYVf2mmk1x-CLMXns9J-7t_Rms8srclAOLRL23Q/s1600-h/P1030188.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEUzNF1QoSPtskm8a9EHX5ZG5yTVMGXVUmZxc_agdrl3jWPITMUf57bknXdbZ5zgDo6YriC87UW0klUOEWWsSnEmy1F8Z35Y4JYVf2mmk1x-CLMXns9J-7t_Rms8srclAOLRL23Q/s320/P1030188.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168815384685702338" /></a><br /><br />There is history in every stitch. I can't help but think of my Nana and my mother when I am sewing with this machine. I feel a connection to them—maybe the excitement over a new project, the monotony of an ordinary mend, the feeling of accomplishment over a job well done or just plain finishing another item on the to-do list. I wonder about the things on their minds as they worked away—foot to pedal, hand to fabric—maybe we shared some common thoughts. It gives me a feeling of past meets present meets future,<br /><br />I finished the apron with a large front pocket perfect for hiding the collections gathered by young children. Photo number two is of snack bags I made, inspired by A Friend to Knit With, though I made a pillow fold as a closure instead of a zipper. Truth be told I have already ripped them out and re-sewn them since this picture was taken but they aren't nearly as nice now as they were before my adjustments "to make them better."<br /><br />The idea of a collection has got me inspired to hold my first-ever contest. Anyone game can post an image of their special collection, or the collection of someone near and dear to them. My example is a collection my daughter put together of found objects near the cottage we stayed at last fall. I will assemble a "collection" of items as a surprise and draw names for the winner. Please post your images on your blogs and let me know in my comment box that you have participated by midnight Friday, February 29, I will post the outcome of the draw Saturday, March 1 (not February 29). I can't wait to see them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaiEGLjk_FSo05262ozgerQth1Qdyw-LVjl9rM8IM-VV-KNqy06uPZFoFrT_UxpTzSkEaD1laPQG_JbczHdELkyQl3RxUJ0oIdBorIhBWdsTUXyhwm_Ql3In0_zQ1QVu88o-njA/s1600-h/P1020493.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaiEGLjk_FSo05262ozgerQth1Qdyw-LVjl9rM8IM-VV-KNqy06uPZFoFrT_UxpTzSkEaD1laPQG_JbczHdELkyQl3RxUJ0oIdBorIhBWdsTUXyhwm_Ql3In0_zQ1QVu88o-njA/s320/P1020493.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168895541660347682" /></a>...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-25146354642944554172008-02-12T18:27:00.001-08:002008-02-12T19:32:35.806-08:00House Keeping.I have been keeping track of the photos I owe you so I hope you all forgive their lateness. <br /><br />First the hat I knit for daughter one. I started with a twisted stitch for the brim continued the twisted knit in the body of the hat then decreased to eight stitches at the top, increasing between those to create a little sea anemone effect at the top. And because I learn as I go I realized the hat was too small after I finished it and picked up the stitches around the brim to lengthen it to fit. I am still in the process of knitting one for daughter two (but I have been a very, VERY lazy knitter lately so I am not sure when it will be ready.) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigp7JuNA7NurcuhKiVUzhdF60JutBRpwtUj-ZyVKDF759gYqiymqCk1SE60j1Hc30lflpeSiZd2q8G_22hiRaeoJHJ0StByirBizSwSxAvnntZUdhFm_vo2PsUePmFFERfPuAcw/s1600-h/P1030173.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjigp7JuNA7NurcuhKiVUzhdF60JutBRpwtUj-ZyVKDF759gYqiymqCk1SE60j1Hc30lflpeSiZd2q8G_22hiRaeoJHJ0StByirBizSwSxAvnntZUdhFm_vo2PsUePmFFERfPuAcw/s320/P1030173.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166287061992598514" /></a><br /><br />Here is the Monkey sock using Fleece Artist sokomo from <a href="http://fibreholic.blogspot.com/2008/02/trip-in-pictures.html">Fibreholic</a> (thank you again), the colourway is brilliant. I tried to get a bit of the accumulating snow in the background but was unsuccessful. Trust me on this it looked very winter wonderland. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmlbMN0a1xD374rwdnC7EcAGh_9tOURmTLQHjwexWNtB05MkFy8udokzTuK8Frvr_dq3aycqbU5iLw988AW5sU0xHzOYVmVJrOIJWle0Ae8ViFWwBnpFBYBXv0_0oX45O-Gt_GQ/s1600-h/P1030177.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBmlbMN0a1xD374rwdnC7EcAGh_9tOURmTLQHjwexWNtB05MkFy8udokzTuK8Frvr_dq3aycqbU5iLw988AW5sU0xHzOYVmVJrOIJWle0Ae8ViFWwBnpFBYBXv0_0oX45O-Gt_GQ/s320/P1030177.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166287074877500418" /></a><br /><br />Lately I have been re-bitten by the sewing bug. I have long admired <a href="http://a-friend-to-knit-with.blogspot.com/2007/02/cookie-of-week-xs-and-os.html">A Friend To Knit With's</a> sewn objects, and now <a href="http://lululollylegs.blogspot.com/2007/12/christmas-wrap-up.html">Lululollylegs</a> and <a href="http://afewthingstosay.blogspot.com/2008/02/twirly-twirly-snow.html">A Few Things To Say</a> add to my itchy stitchy fingers. These are some very talented people and I have been inspired by their many beautifully executed projects and fun and funky fabrics. I can't wait to build up my stash (which pales in comparison.) <br /><br />Last week I brought my 1961 Singer for servicing and picked it up today. I forked over $84 for the servicing and two packages of needles and was feeling really confident about all my future sewing projects when it tipped over only seconds away from home. The fall caused my spool posts to snap and let's just say that I was "slightly" miffed. The girls were so concerned that if I hadn't been so grouchy as a result of the horrible accident I would have been chuckling at the worry on their faces. Luckily the glue gun came through once again and I was able to complete the better part of two matching craft aprons. If you don't look too closely at the stitches it looks not too bad. Have I already mentioned I learn as I go? The second attempt will likely look more tailored than the first. I used Ikea fabric, polka dot lined with an animal print, and I am going to add velcro to the neck ties, and a pocket on the front. Oh, and my other little girl, my standard schnauzer, decided that you would like to see her behind in the shot. I like to think she was being protective. So that is my big update. I have loved reading your blogs and peeking at what your up to. <a href="http://yarnbee.blogspot.com/2008/02/month-of-mittens.html">Yarn bee</a> and <a href="http://musindigo.indigoblues.ca/blawgarc2bymonth.asp?blog=musindigo&id=82&cmts=yes&year=2008&month=2">Musindigo</a> really got me with their fair isle mittens which are to die for—you have to check them out if you haven't already seen them.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtavmz7WEO2hJd8oxchJb7tM9FlxDCrAo_uw13mrmONA0vYc8FoJb36JQ6gEeM-Fa-rWXYEgzWkv54Dr74Flju1uNl6xSzZyQn782w5l6tD-AXcfS1D9emgGNS1mKUWQA4fnidRA/s1600-h/P1030165.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtavmz7WEO2hJd8oxchJb7tM9FlxDCrAo_uw13mrmONA0vYc8FoJb36JQ6gEeM-Fa-rWXYEgzWkv54Dr74Flju1uNl6xSzZyQn782w5l6tD-AXcfS1D9emgGNS1mKUWQA4fnidRA/s320/P1030165.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166287001863056338" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZxuSYOXS9j7Mx3W0gIT4QAK2yG-NHAO6i1dcFshQvVRCWos0LtXtau-QbqVADK3soFnCH6dFLWENL1Wjq58Jj-Hdp8V93ZnnOS7JH4zcM9i4W8HPlk9mOqOsC4ThTUFmB5iUMw/s1600-h/P1030168.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZxuSYOXS9j7Mx3W0gIT4QAK2yG-NHAO6i1dcFshQvVRCWos0LtXtau-QbqVADK3soFnCH6dFLWENL1Wjq58Jj-Hdp8V93ZnnOS7JH4zcM9i4W8HPlk9mOqOsC4ThTUFmB5iUMw/s320/P1030168.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166287044812729314" /></a>...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-79098594570132478632008-02-07T17:00:00.000-08:002008-02-07T17:04:41.248-08:00Happy Snow Day Everyone!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WZNbNCLE9JQOXhx_PKPqGvXrUlpMAEzGnQ04QwlaoSKefxGtXvskIwi4x5iRRBcsfo8jNc5RHUEHdQX_eMeVvJBIrloQ6RYB2eaStf713KuI7wqvCx07b9mpDK6j9J87g3J7OQ/s1600-h/P1030120.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WZNbNCLE9JQOXhx_PKPqGvXrUlpMAEzGnQ04QwlaoSKefxGtXvskIwi4x5iRRBcsfo8jNc5RHUEHdQX_eMeVvJBIrloQ6RYB2eaStf713KuI7wqvCx07b9mpDK6j9J87g3J7OQ/s320/P1030120.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5164408626314871138" /></a><br /><br />Nothing new to report so I thought I would post a pic of a most excellent snow person made by three very talented people close to my heart. I am enjoying the snow—especially when inside by the fire!...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-65257876703625129332008-01-15T17:23:00.000-08:002008-01-22T16:43:44.402-08:00I've Been MemedThis is a quick post to fulfill a meme from <a href="http://fibreholic.blogspot.com/">Fibreholic</a>. Patty, I would love to say that I am reading one of the many decent works of fiction waiting on my shelves, <a href="http://books.google.ca/books?id=qOM2AQAACAAJ&dq=inauthor:David+inauthor:Adams+inauthor:Richards">David Adams Richards' <span style="font-style:italic;">Friends of Meager Fortune</span></a> borrowed from a dear friend who seems not to mind that I am a book-return deviant; Khaled Hosseini's <span style="font-style:italic;">The Kite Runner</span> which has become a movie in the time I have wasted not reading it. Instead the non-fiction world takes up most of my time. So I give you my current read's page 161, fifth sentence: "Add garlic and hot pepper flakes and cook gently for a few minutes until tender and fragrant but not brown."<br /><br />Yes, sadly, this is how exciting my life gets lately. On the other hand we are eating rather well. Oh and I highly recommend Bonnie Stern's Heart Smart: The best of Heart Smart Cooking. I am on my second week of recipes from this book—dee-lish....Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-39292655629660152232008-01-01T17:14:00.001-08:002008-01-03T17:55:38.892-08:00What Would Katherine Say?The following recipe was served as desert at our New Year's Eve Dinner and let me tell you they will rival any brownies you have had. They have a beautiful sheen on the top, and beneath that crispy layer is a fudgey chocolate heart. Hepburn once advised a woman with these simple rules to live by: 1. Never quit; 2. Be yourself and 3. Don't put too much flour in your brownies. The proof is in the brownies.<br /><br />The recipe came form the Gourmet magazine cookbook, which has almost every recipe you could ever want for. You can find it here as well: <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/106559">Epicurious.com</a><br />Please note that I used bittersweet chocolate because I did not have unsweetened. <br /><br />Katherine Hepburn's Brownies<br /><br />1. Melt together 1 stick butter and 2 ounces chopped unsweetened chocolate and take the saucepan off the heat.<br /><br />2. Stir in 1 cup sugar, add 2 eggs and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and beat the mixture well.<br /><br />3. Stir in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)<br /><br />4. Bake the brownies in a buttered and floured 8-inch-square pan at 325°F for about 40 minutes.<br /><br />You can cut these brownies into 16 squares, once they have cooled, or eat them out of the pan. We enjoyed them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a side of the other desert I had made, Creme Caramel. The caramel sauce was divine on the brownies. <br /><br />You may be wondering why two deserts? Well I started out intending to make chocolate pudding, but I burnt the bottom of the pot (I am still getting used to the ceramic top stove) in a may-be-better-just-to-throw-the-pot-away kind of way. So I made the creme caramel as a back-up. However I thought it had failed because my sugar caramel seemed too much like hard candy when I put it in the glass pie dish. So I went with my no fail desert, brownies and vanilla ice cream. <br /><br />The creme caramel did work. Once flipped onto the serving tray the custard was floating in caramel sauce. I am glad I made both deserts because I am as it turns out not a huge fan of the custard—the caramel was to die for. Anyway, now you know. As an aside I did get the pot cleaned. It took a lot of boiling with water, scraping, boiling with soap, more scraping, boiling with hydrogen peroxide and soap, more scraping, and a ton of elbow grease. <br /><br />This could have been two posts but I waited so long to post the first half that I came up with more things to write about in the meantime. This post is purely cooking/baking related as it turns out so it works out all right. Today I found the biggest avocado I have ever seen. I am in awe of its size though I realize for those of you living in California or Florida this will look like any other avocado. How is it I had never realized the potential for a simple avocado to reach this enormous size? (Have I ever mentioned my slightly nutty interest in joining the avocado-of-the month club? If I had I may have known of their potential size sooner.) Look, it is as big as my hand (which isn't exactly petite.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oiuALOualHpw76fvuaLNz26WFHK__7EvpLSjNWseCIF1jv0dZZq-9tSBOcPxDglTrFHhV5SSAStRD656FfEE1TPUfUwVRca1WwwOCpWAleLwWztCYtlRGT8b_4upOj7te5hU4w/s1600-h/P1030015.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oiuALOualHpw76fvuaLNz26WFHK__7EvpLSjNWseCIF1jv0dZZq-9tSBOcPxDglTrFHhV5SSAStRD656FfEE1TPUfUwVRca1WwwOCpWAleLwWztCYtlRGT8b_4upOj7te5hU4w/s320/P1030015.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151432570540107602" /></a><br /><br />No more buying and slicing and pitting and scooping 3 or 4 hass avocados. No, from now on I am just buying one of these bad boys and voila, guacamole! Oh <span style="font-style:italic;">and</span> it was was delicious too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYwgwgQnz9l7dox6XNEo2SdvvomCX8dheBdYlXxTxs0Qa7mZOcIOfPOt7k8B2rNnpOwfS0B7dvT9Te_uY9isXMIJhzUkS5Jq5m-RLE_aLIxVEPMg8gSWbMpBvTPjamApYerdzRg/s1600-h/P1030016.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtYwgwgQnz9l7dox6XNEo2SdvvomCX8dheBdYlXxTxs0Qa7mZOcIOfPOt7k8B2rNnpOwfS0B7dvT9Te_uY9isXMIJhzUkS5Jq5m-RLE_aLIxVEPMg8gSWbMpBvTPjamApYerdzRg/s320/P1030016.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151432583425009506" /></a>...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-10416384701706671472007-12-20T11:03:00.001-08:002007-12-20T11:23:55.313-08:00We're Home<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgwlDim3ln6Mrn2wKVaB5wI2pcunlg_4PceNXCzjYDvAbwONwPiGk7RgQ6uFfqL7Qhfat9r0XEdSqneFENpZqqTFHckucS64s8liSNeaW42lgJ4vmFgxLcGKvlC-M3bHUS0YYjA/s1600-h/P1020915.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 400px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgwlDim3ln6Mrn2wKVaB5wI2pcunlg_4PceNXCzjYDvAbwONwPiGk7RgQ6uFfqL7Qhfat9r0XEdSqneFENpZqqTFHckucS64s8liSNeaW42lgJ4vmFgxLcGKvlC-M3bHUS0YYjA/s320/P1020915.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146133701883307794" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HjyJhVUArFkhsio2wKfYvOvgGpU__7whNBj1ysafy33LnGHd0FJ0YeLlsv0F2BlsgMs8_puJ6DmZKZvkuZMjxvedkZXIwJXhU5TxjuB-ScdvCwWtmZiD6SXNIhyphenhyphen1dKZ0Sr3qcQ/s1600-h/P1020920.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 400px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9HjyJhVUArFkhsio2wKfYvOvgGpU__7whNBj1ysafy33LnGHd0FJ0YeLlsv0F2BlsgMs8_puJ6DmZKZvkuZMjxvedkZXIwJXhU5TxjuB-ScdvCwWtmZiD6SXNIhyphenhyphen1dKZ0Sr3qcQ/s320/P1020920.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146133706178275106" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMc5s9QpZitdZEg0WvP3tWrnlQ9ePrtsuTfZrHgT_1N8zCnHy3h-2IJiaHNTrw_701kUY8rvBOC8Gkbqp7A615gL-DbFs-_amJXpIbyXHdUtUvFLKt6hQF24nh2hDvi0M7Nw4Dw/s1600-h/P1020922.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 400px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMMc5s9QpZitdZEg0WvP3tWrnlQ9ePrtsuTfZrHgT_1N8zCnHy3h-2IJiaHNTrw_701kUY8rvBOC8Gkbqp7A615gL-DbFs-_amJXpIbyXHdUtUvFLKt6hQF24nh2hDvi0M7Nw4Dw/s320/P1020922.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146133714768209714" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiothtTjq3vvm15-_KxVpF2TW0eXFFuP2dMsNT2gYyJ3NbnKfFqQoTOZBhF_NqPGr73MxZCncQo3R4_YASkV3zZ4Zu_Nq5DrV1skgf_drrPXtPDAHqSJ9TJe7UBlJwt8jdUqRIw/s1600-h/P1020911.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 400px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbiothtTjq3vvm15-_KxVpF2TW0eXFFuP2dMsNT2gYyJ3NbnKfFqQoTOZBhF_NqPGr73MxZCncQo3R4_YASkV3zZ4Zu_Nq5DrV1skgf_drrPXtPDAHqSJ9TJe7UBlJwt8jdUqRIw/s320/P1020911.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146133719063177026" /></a><br /><br />Here are some after photos for you. We are really pleased with the result and compared to <a href="http://life-with.blogspot.com/2007/12/where-we-are-going.html">the before</a>. Please note they have been edited to exclude obvious signs of the destruction inflicted on a house when two children, one dog and two adults crash into it (meaning I moved the mess off to the side). In the midst of moving, unpacking, shopping, playdates and the usual stuff I have managed to fit in some baking. I included a photo of my favourite turtle squares From the Dec 2006 issue of Fine Cooking. Fortunately it is free recipe on their site, because they are a must try.<br /><br />Caramel Turtle Bars<br />by Nicole Rees<br /><br />Yields about 4 dozen 1-1/2-inchsquare<br /><br />For the crust:<br />Non-stick cooking spray, vegetable oil, or melted butter for the pan<br />7 oz. (14 Tbs.) unsalted butter, melted and cooled to just warm<br />1/2 cup packed light brown sugar<br />1/2 tsp. table salt<br />9 oz. (2 cups) unbleached allpurpose flour<br />For the caramel topping:<br />2 cups pecan halves, toasted and coarsely chopped<br />1 cup packed light brown sugar<br />3/4 cup heavy cream<br />4 oz. (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, cut into chunks<br />1/2 cup light corn syrup<br />1/4 tsp. table salt<br /><br />For the ganache:<br />6 Tbs. heavy cream<br />2 oz. good-quality bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped (about 1/2 cup)<br /><br />Make the shortbread crust:<br />Line a straight-sided 13x9-inch metal baking pan with foil, letting the ends create an overhanging edge for easy removal. Lightly coat the sides of the foil (not the bottom) with nonstick cooking spray, oil, or melted butter to prevent the caramel from sticking.<br /><br />In a medium bowl, stir together the butter, brown sugar, and salt. Stir in the flour to make a stiff dough. Press the mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared pan. Prick the dough all over with a fork. Refrigerate the pan for 30 minutes (or freeze for 5 to 7 minutes), until the dough is firm.<br /><br />Meanwhile, position a rack near the center of the oven and heat the oven to 325°F.<br /><br />Bake the dough for 20 minutes, and then decrease the oven temperature to 300°F and bake until the crust is golden all over and completely set, about 15 more minutes.<br />Make the topping:<br /><br />Sprinkle the pecans evenly over the crust.<br /><br />In a heavy medium saucepan, bring the brown sugar, cream, butter, corn syrup, and salt to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until all the ingredients are melted and smooth. Let the mixture continue to boil, without stirring, until a candy thermometer registers 240°F, about 6 more minutes. Turn off the heat and immediately (but carefully) pour the caramel evenly over the prepared crust. Let the bars cool completely, about 2 hours, before garnishing with the ganache.<br /><br />Make the ganache:<br />Put the chocolate in a small heat proof bowl. In a small saucepan, bring the heavy cream to a boil. Remove from the heat and pour over the chocolate. Let sit for 3 minutes. Stir gently with a rubber spatula until combined and smooth.<br /><br />Fill a plastic zip-top baggie with the ganache, snip the tip off a corner, and drizzle the ganache decoratively over the caramel bars (you don’t have to use all the ganache; keep the extra in the fridge for 5 days). Let the ganache set for 30 minutes to an hour. Carefully lift the bars from the pan using the foil sides and transfer them to a cutting board. Separate the foil from the bars by sliding a spatula between them. Cut the bars into 1-1/2-inch squares. They will keep at room temperature for 1 week.<br /><br />From Fine Cooking 82, pp. 74...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-37677821536469235012007-12-09T17:24:00.000-08:002007-12-09T17:34:53.747-08:00Where we are going<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPdzzGAKO2tX9r3wGlDGBiQ4fj7ZBNlHYA8qcoHZYFdrRsl4dMIOK4hCzXEdLRdkS3dvg_3Xm58GibCSlmYS5qOyu0q3FN82VeiBBvJhsMKBNsoQ_irMt3_QyJRC6HjimYM34Rg/s1600-h/P1020875.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOPdzzGAKO2tX9r3wGlDGBiQ4fj7ZBNlHYA8qcoHZYFdrRsl4dMIOK4hCzXEdLRdkS3dvg_3Xm58GibCSlmYS5qOyu0q3FN82VeiBBvJhsMKBNsoQ_irMt3_QyJRC6HjimYM34Rg/s320/P1020875.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142149910037947634" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP40siR9ybYMsDRPeNBhe8WvS41mlqQC8zdJRtdQQLTcbz920P0qLt19Q2QqnOCWGxeBSVca05yklzGlLUwqxLjBPHml_m2r7SgBSDRuEsbBCKQCB2vEKgW-nTG863ZCUwUZlBw/s1600-h/P1020878.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOP40siR9ybYMsDRPeNBhe8WvS41mlqQC8zdJRtdQQLTcbz920P0qLt19Q2QqnOCWGxeBSVca05yklzGlLUwqxLjBPHml_m2r7SgBSDRuEsbBCKQCB2vEKgW-nTG863ZCUwUZlBw/s320/P1020878.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142149914332914946" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGWJNRKUueD1c0MPS1R6dj9J6Mru-kY-tr_mw1h5U-oc-3f2BWCaMywEweBZrg7lHu1LYvOC9k3Dj3aAJcLx28oZn6oz3Gt7uzP36ZfgZ0uym3CKEA840aSmud4GeD0xcTcaNdg/s1600-h/P1020880.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGWJNRKUueD1c0MPS1R6dj9J6Mru-kY-tr_mw1h5U-oc-3f2BWCaMywEweBZrg7lHu1LYvOC9k3Dj3aAJcLx28oZn6oz3Gt7uzP36ZfgZ0uym3CKEA840aSmud4GeD0xcTcaNdg/s320/P1020880.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5142149922922849554" /></a><br /><br />Here are a few before shots for you. Even without all the rooms painted the house already looks very different from these photos. I haven't taken knitting pictures though I have been knitting. My recent FO is a hat for daughter one. I am making one for daughter two which will hopefully work out some of my earlier versions kinks. Hope you are all well preparing for various holidays....Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-89566228172681685352007-11-28T17:12:00.001-08:002007-11-28T17:14:55.930-08:00DaughterFor those of you who have them or are one<br /><a href="http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=979466996">Daughter, performed by Loudon Wainright III</a>...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-74565826690573944382007-11-22T11:34:00.000-08:002007-11-22T11:41:54.833-08:00Happy American Thanksgiving!I have FOs to give thanks for sadly no photos yet. I have also started monkey socks with the Fleece Artist sock yarn that <a href="http://fibreholic.blogspot.com/">Fibreholic</a> spoiled me with back in September. It is a treat to knit with it and I am loving the pattern (I think this <a href="http://www.knitty.com/issuewinter06/PATTmonkey.html">Monkey Sock</a> craze may really start to catch on.)<br /><br />I have updated the <a href="http://life-with.blogspot.com/2007/11/button-up.html">button file</a> so please, switch it with your old one, it will look prettier against your coloured backgrounds....Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-42275321356425894312007-11-21T21:43:00.000-08:002007-11-22T11:24:49.741-08:00Button UpFor <a http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gifhref="http://yarnhog-yarnhog.blogspot.com/2007/11/no-knitted-gifts-button.html">Yarnhog</a><br />Download the gif file <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=2054873013&size=o">here</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55422124@N00/2054873013/" title="NoKnit by swa2, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2130/2054873013_9cdb052da4_o.gif" width="188" height="61" alt="NoKnit" /></a><br /><br />I am almost ashamed to admit that I was ripping back a pair of socks I had intended for my mom for Christmas when I read about Suzanne's movement. Realistically they were not likely to be ready in time for Christmas anyway. The button is my first and I forgot to save is as a gif file for you so it will not have those unsightly white corners on your lovely coloured backgrounds....Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-29596319133942869772007-11-14T12:09:00.000-08:002007-11-14T17:32:34.786-08:00UpdateThank you to <a href="http://a-friend-to-knit-with.blogspot.com">Leslie A Friend to Knit With</a> for her idea for casting on for the <a href="http://life-with.blogspot.com/2007/11/i-call-it-bones-backless-bolero.html">Bones backless shrug</a> which was a total aha! I had thought about casting on from the shoulders but the splits for the arm holes had me flummoxed but now that I have had a little more sleep I can see that she is right. I will redraw the pattern, try a fabric version and swatch some choice yarn for it and keep you all posted. Nobody hold their breath mind you but I will try to keep this timely. It would be nice as a Christmas gift if I can get on it.<br /><br />Thank you for all your support!...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-59757397385540546882007-11-12T20:30:00.000-08:002007-11-12T19:27:33.172-08:00I Call It The Bones Backless Shrug<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQdiqE5zuR_wN1b9ovLD0hsc2cpQcnPpH48y8EbwpiSrdN9h30AdMJ4aZJkh2-OCyTDAtFEgy0eYvjM_5wBU8MEjR5CyX37aPjDW8XELbA4cbWyoz3l-_iQPZvA4WFU0rTLFA3g/s1600-h/BnsBaklsBolero.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 355px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQdiqE5zuR_wN1b9ovLD0hsc2cpQcnPpH48y8EbwpiSrdN9h30AdMJ4aZJkh2-OCyTDAtFEgy0eYvjM_5wBU8MEjR5CyX37aPjDW8XELbA4cbWyoz3l-_iQPZvA4WFU0rTLFA3g/s320/BnsBaklsBolero.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5131418744638907138" /></a><br /><br />As I watched <span style="font-style:italic;">Bones</span> (on Fox) the other night the lead character, Temperance Brennan, had on the most adorable shrug over a blue silk shirt. I have searched for a photo of it to no avail. To the best of my recollection the illustration above is the closest I could come to re-creating it. I thought, "Maybe I could knit one?" The problem? I am not so good at knitting that I can tackle knitting my version of the shrug without a few tears and maybe some hair pulling. So I am appealing to you if not just for me, but for the sake of my hair. Does anyone out there know of a pattern like this one? Maybe something I could use as a rough guide? I would even accept some advice as to how to cast on for this sucker. I was envisioning having to start working it in two parts casting on the valleys below the armpits, working the armholes sections separately increasing stitches on the right front and left front to achieve the angles I want, working the middle section with increases on the left back and left front eventually adding several stitches to connect the back section across the upper back and neck and then sewing up the to connect the shoulders. My brain has flipped over in my head. Is this even possible? Does it makes sense to anyone else? Maybe I need to start in the round at each sleeve and join it at the neck? I apologize if my thoughts read a little like Latin. Unless you read Latin in which case they read a little like Greek. Any help would be greatly appreciated....Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-30550470136200591902007-11-11T00:01:00.000-08:002007-11-11T08:02:30.986-08:00In Remembrance<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83c5P-TA0vVDOObONH1FPO05PtScbb7WNUiyaZ56HMnWdNiPtt0JLzAR4qNE2grfyZFlAcGNd7U0h_vNmJXj5K3QrmwFk0XibNN1QjzhqATv78J703EJOYhdvLIEMyzqXEu5NfA/s1600-h/Poppy.jpg"><img style="float:left margin:0 355px 40px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg83c5P-TA0vVDOObONH1FPO05PtScbb7WNUiyaZ56HMnWdNiPtt0JLzAR4qNE2grfyZFlAcGNd7U0h_vNmJXj5K3QrmwFk0XibNN1QjzhqATv78J703EJOYhdvLIEMyzqXEu5NfA/s320/Poppy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130568474258285298" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">In Flanders Fields the poppies blow<br />Between the crosses, row on row,<br />That mark our place; and in the sky<br />The larks, still bravely singing, fly<br />Scarce heard amid the guns below.<br /><br />We are the Dead. Short days ago<br />We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,<br />Loved, and were loved, and now we lie<br />In Flanders fields.<br /><br />Take up our quarrel with the foe:<br />To you from failing hands we throw<br />The torch, be yours to hold it high.<br />If ye break faith with us who die<br />We shall not sleep, though poppies grow<br />In Flanders fields</span><br /><br />— John McCrae<br /> <br />On August 4, 1914, Britain declared war on Germany. Canada, as a member of the British Empire, was automatically at war, and its citizens from all across the land responded quickly. Within three weeks, 45,000 Canadians had rushed to join up. John McCrae was among them. He was appointed brigade-surgeon to the First Brigade of the Canadian Forces Artillery with the rank of Major and second-in-command.<br /><br />The day before he wrote his famous poem, one of McCrae's closest friends was killed in the fighting and buried in a makeshift grave with a simple wooden cross. Wild poppies were already beginning to bloom between the crosses marking the many graves. Unable to help his friend or any of the others who had died, John McCrae gave them a voice through his poem. It was the second last poem he was to write.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">In Flanders Fields</span> was first published in England's <span style="font-style:italic;">Punch</span> magazine in December, 1915. Within months, this poem came to symbolize the sacrifices of all who were fighting in the First World War. Today, the poem continues to be a part of Remembrance Day ceremonies in Canada and other countries.<br /><br />– taken from the <a href="http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/general/sub.cfm?source=history/firstwar/mccrae/flanders">Veterans Affairs Canada Website</a>...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-8931361624593793292007-11-05T16:55:00.000-08:002007-11-05T17:51:53.401-08:00Boxing DayEvery day is boxing day around here. I have tackled packing about 12 boxes to date (35 days until the move). Today the kitchen cupboards got a little lighter. I like having my Tupperware cupboard emptied out, that's right Kristin I am operating on a limited Tupperware supply over here (gasp!). By the week's end I hope to have my kitchen down to the bare essentials. Knitting has been slow, I have tried to finish daughter number two's socks but I am stalled at three inches down on the second sock. My first daughter has been wearing the socks I knit for her to bed. This works out well since a) they are warm and b) she refuses to sleep with a blanket. Is this weird? (I say knowing full well that anything a child does is probably not unique but out of sheer frustration I will say it anyway) I have had the thought that because she used a Grobag for three years the shock of not sleeping with it anymore has driven her to this. I am thinking (hoping) that by the time the temperature drops to sixty degrees at night, inside, we will effectively freeze out the no blanket thing. I don't know how she can do it. I can't even get her to wear a sweater.<br /><br />This weekend I made a little heaven on a plate. If you have never purchased <a href="http://www.taunton.com/finecooking/recipes/fennel-rosemary-beef-tenderloin-creamy-mustard-sauce">Fine Cooking</a> before and you like cow — as we say to our daughter who is reading Charlotte's Web and is now more aware of where her meat comes from — then I urge you to get the latest issue for the Fennel & Rosemary Beef Tenderloin with Creamy Mustard Sauce (there are many great recipes in it in addition to this one). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUeaVKtTEqzC1fQBp1rauqX90GSh8XrpA6E92VnNwsX37ncWnt8lxri8HEuAdIH4G3t5dRniq4icNzU3wG_gDc_0o09igB5KD6nTNqzKIm6oZd1GxXLesTvaSNV4pGag9sq7g3A/s1600-h/051089102_01.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 450px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUeaVKtTEqzC1fQBp1rauqX90GSh8XrpA6E92VnNwsX37ncWnt8lxri8HEuAdIH4G3t5dRniq4icNzU3wG_gDc_0o09igB5KD6nTNqzKIm6oZd1GxXLesTvaSNV4pGag9sq7g3A/s320/051089102_01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5129538904308159186" /></a><br /><br />I have tasted this recipe once before (thank you Mama Mia) and it turned out delicious both times. As an aside we used yogurt instead of creme fresh both times for the sauce with great results. Mashed or roasted potatoes make ideal sides. Yum!...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-3227709344033767962007-10-24T18:50:00.000-07:002007-10-24T19:40:45.626-07:00Colour Blind...Elmira white, white cloud, stone house, old montreal, delaware putty, chestertown bluff, yukon sky, beacon hill damask, lemon grass, muddy york, cedar key, baby fawn, autumn leaf...I am living in a blur of colour at the moment. We are planning on painting nearly every room in the house we are moving into and the task of choosing all these colours is daunting. I have "fallen in love" with over five different shades of taupe and I am starting to wonder if that means something about my personality. Benjamin Moore is my new best friend. He has great taste, but is sure to leach my pocket of all its loose change.<br /><br />With paint colours being chosen, a mover hired, and carpet cleaner booked our move is starting to feel very real. In the meantime I am busy making costumes for Halloween. Not as much of a challenge this year which should mean no late nights. I am looking forward to seeing my two beans running wild from house to house. <br /><br />Has anyone else out there been watching Pushing Daisies (I am hooked)? One of the characters, Emerson, has an unexpected love for knitting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAa6iQ97qqprr6BpPOxdaxxVwnY-6eK5XyIN0dxhnnxXkS2TSNB81qukHHwGPm6REzwQVgk_3DqXI1fByJnypQDWxMile-3YZo29lvw8MJlp-7aEcqwsS1aLyRS0JW4Fvz3zjoQ/s1600-h/Emerson.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 500px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMAa6iQ97qqprr6BpPOxdaxxVwnY-6eK5XyIN0dxhnnxXkS2TSNB81qukHHwGPm6REzwQVgk_3DqXI1fByJnypQDWxMile-3YZo29lvw8MJlp-7aEcqwsS1aLyRS0JW4Fvz3zjoQ/s320/Emerson.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5125096117122732738" /></a><br /><br />Did you notice the knitted file holder and kleenex cozy in the photograph? I wish I had a better head for quotes but this week he said something to the effect that daddy needed some new yarn. I heard it, it made me chuckle, then I promptly forgot the quote and kept the sentiment. <br /><br />Now where was I? Oh yeah, thousand islands, seaspray......Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-78153325459419157742007-10-13T19:14:00.000-07:002007-10-14T09:10:33.509-07:00Cooked Books<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiH7XA-cqMZEAlnzgXqIlIqyL5G07b6DE6q0tZh5E9dxcXqQadnBPPxgJsn8SGKS-WIxyfv76EwPwKjPkkVFxqKAJP20AQjQ11ORIwvM4mf_SPlUgeookbxCbdL1sTEhNFUWwB3w/s1600-h/applesforjam_cook.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 500px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiH7XA-cqMZEAlnzgXqIlIqyL5G07b6DE6q0tZh5E9dxcXqQadnBPPxgJsn8SGKS-WIxyfv76EwPwKjPkkVFxqKAJP20AQjQ11ORIwvM4mf_SPlUgeookbxCbdL1sTEhNFUWwB3w/s320/applesforjam_cook.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5121010382807502690" /></a><br /><br /><br />I would like to confess that I have an addiction to cookery books also that I am totally guilty of judging a book by its cover (that's the graphic design nerd in me, some of you might share this compulsion <a href="http://rosemarygoround.blogspot.com/">namely</a>). Yesterday I fell in love with <span style="font-style:italic;">Apples For Jam</span>, by Tessa Kiros (jacketed in a matte stock with a varnish over print of some sort of scrolling vine motif—yummy!). It was the title I was first attracted to (<a href="http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/search?keywords=Tessa%20Kiros&pageSize=10&s_campaign=goo-NF-Food-Tessa_Kiros&s_kwcid=tessa%20kiros|1918353798&gclid=CO2Aupjhjo8CFQ9QgAodnQO6Ig">she has really great titles for all of her books</a>). I was browsing the recipes at the book store, but ordered it online last night so haven't had the chance to try any of the recipes (though they look very appealing). The whimsical writing is impossible to resist. I am most fond of Tessa's anecdotes about her young daughters and how she wants these recipes to be a fond memory for her kids to enjoy long after she is gone. In it she muses about things like finding apples all over her house with little bites taken out of them (something that happens around here every fall). Also hard to resist is that the chapters are colour coded. For instance the "stripes" chapter includes a recipe for Chocolate Toffee Nut Squares. I will let you know how it turns out. I can't wait till the mail get here!...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-80659888098307894562007-10-12T12:28:00.000-07:002007-10-21T17:34:31.468-07:00Snacks anyone?Pull up a chair and have a bite. Pumpkin bar squares or banana bread? I couldn't resist throwing in the purple cauliflower, purple broccoli and brussel sprouts too. Have a great week-end. P.S. We sold our house! I may actually miss it being so tidy.<br /><br />*For those of you wanting to try any of these recipes (especially Kaet) I have now included them for you. The spiced pumpkin chocolate-chip squares are from <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com:80/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-squares?xsc=stf_MSLO-RECIPE">Martha Stewart's Holiday Halloween issue</a>. The banana bread recipe comes from the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/55422124@N00/1681138146/">Bonnie Stern Heart Smart cookbook</a>. I have enjoyed many recipes from it especially the date squares. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcruJ4NTVZowg85jrB-UKIKJvGo90TCHGwHmeJuiRPreEZ4f_38ZExm2LQFAoV9ggieZr-JZH_qqBX_1_SkXCnW6wKCjiWHF0S4Ie5JFpnSUdIUrO-uFSSC6T7MQM8Xx09lRaoNg/s1600-h/P1020689.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcruJ4NTVZowg85jrB-UKIKJvGo90TCHGwHmeJuiRPreEZ4f_38ZExm2LQFAoV9ggieZr-JZH_qqBX_1_SkXCnW6wKCjiWHF0S4Ie5JFpnSUdIUrO-uFSSC6T7MQM8Xx09lRaoNg/s320/P1020689.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120535466018696226" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_lut2tFJF1_Xd6FPf0W13-fTjYlv_RfkjR70Ii4N4q_u7kzD5UohrMJ1Syh-xzsgJRIlJkW4UVk958aB-QIc6HUEjUbwJDQ6EmCXGWbOkN-PbQfxd9szSVjunKjYDuMRywhvqQ/s1600-h/P1020685.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_lut2tFJF1_Xd6FPf0W13-fTjYlv_RfkjR70Ii4N4q_u7kzD5UohrMJ1Syh-xzsgJRIlJkW4UVk958aB-QIc6HUEjUbwJDQ6EmCXGWbOkN-PbQfxd9szSVjunKjYDuMRywhvqQ/s320/P1020685.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120535474608630834" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OHckOJcX6zHA1_KvNQAYPe_rvGa51KpgKtYiwrPKfiIjDtG67OdOefhNr4IycFQeTswTVHVwD0qyAfm-CG0aFmOhnII8oCVcABKN1kJIrNprZP2yhHY65Gl9-K2QcuN30qJe5w/s1600-h/P1020693.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8OHckOJcX6zHA1_KvNQAYPe_rvGa51KpgKtYiwrPKfiIjDtG67OdOefhNr4IycFQeTswTVHVwD0qyAfm-CG0aFmOhnII8oCVcABKN1kJIrNprZP2yhHY65Gl9-K2QcuN30qJe5w/s320/P1020693.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120535453133794306" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyFyARfEz5pK4XV5gGHq5sxfxPYpT7Tz2ww8NNHDuAlhcF-Oezv6J2r-Vd3bcINLz901g0GlXPvhXB6Kg-aUUSYDKgeuZVs-0sLlMtSkeVaPt0F9mBwZM3HwcH9KNyesjaBgTLw/s1600-h/P1020691.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGyFyARfEz5pK4XV5gGHq5sxfxPYpT7Tz2ww8NNHDuAlhcF-Oezv6J2r-Vd3bcINLz901g0GlXPvhXB6Kg-aUUSYDKgeuZVs-0sLlMtSkeVaPt0F9mBwZM3HwcH9KNyesjaBgTLw/s320/P1020691.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5120535461723728914" /></a>...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-83789471689642795682007-10-10T12:12:00.000-07:002007-10-10T12:55:33.579-07:00Virtual(ly) KnittingIn the midst of buying (and selling) houses I forgot to post about my recent invitation to <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/">Ravelry</a> (yet one more computer activity that keeps me from any real knitting). I am there as, LifeWith, me and my five little projects. I am enjoying the ease of finding projects on Ravelry and it got me thinking about a possible new past time—virtual knitting. Virtual knitting will involve finding new projects that I will one day knit. As part of this past time I will also drool over things like <a href="http://alchemyfibredesigns.com/events/">Alchemy Fibre Designs</a>, because it is fabulous and who doesn't need another scarf?<br /><br />Oh and I have begun a work out routine. It is at a local wellness centre that includes three half hours a week of stability ball and weight training, plus one weekly learn and burn session. If you should ever have someone offer you a learn and burn session my suggestion would be to RUN! My learn and burn involves spinning—anyone else had the pleasure?—probably I am a big wimp, but it was HARD people. Not so much the spinning but at certain intervals we have to lift our bottoms off the seat (which is a relief because let me tell you my butt was on fire after) but it totally winded me. I am looking forward to having a lot more endurance for that activity soon. This recent work out routine is part of my endeavour to be fitter at 30 than I was at 20. There is also going to be an <a href="http://www.isagenix.com">Isagenix cleanse</a> ( I am a bit of a skeptic). Anyone familiar with this particular process? Should I run now?...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26594602.post-35409739464693218222007-10-03T19:11:00.000-07:002007-10-03T19:39:05.289-07:00Catch UpI am finding it hard to keep a blog so I am going to unload all that I have been up to lately in a free flow random thought kind of way because that is how my life rolls <br /><br />Bought a house; signed a bunch of paperwork; "staged" our house to get it ready for sale; started a fitness program; shuttled the kids to and from various activities; cleaned the house; listed our house for sale; panicked over it selling fast; cleaned the house; nagged the family to keep the house tidy and maintain that un-lived in quality, that "ready-for-you-to-move-right-in-and-call-it-home" look; cleaned the house for pictures; listened to <a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/">David Suzuki</a> speak (AWESOME, I feel compelled to tell everyone about <a href="http://www.davidsuzuki.org/NatureChallenge/">this!</a>); panicked about the house selling; cleaning the house before sleeping in it and leaving it; feeling not really at home in my own home, which is usually comfortable but never this sterile—it doesn't feel like my house. <br /><br />So here is where I intend to spend my summers for the next, well many, many years. It will all be worth while. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaSdiNCpgFYmav2LI3zBmQ5nfjRkO_Ua8HZ-ndEJClq9A-71zWhTtWXK-bHAc3VxAilP1vcDkKEniKQZV8rzJj9w47iSEySit1Ik5RfBupxtj84EMxsTXqLTE3_xVDvgMFKE0Tw/s1600-h/P1020642.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsaSdiNCpgFYmav2LI3zBmQ5nfjRkO_Ua8HZ-ndEJClq9A-71zWhTtWXK-bHAc3VxAilP1vcDkKEniKQZV8rzJj9w47iSEySit1Ik5RfBupxtj84EMxsTXqLTE3_xVDvgMFKE0Tw/s320/P1020642.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5117298818668239378" /></a>...Sarahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17705558268782509452noreply@blogger.com11