QOTD

Abibliophobia: 
the fear of running out 
of reading material. 

 

Wedding Gift

This was my sewing today, a small gift for an acquaintance getting married today.  This wedding day was picked especially because of Halloween, the bride's favorite holiday.  All the decorations at the reception will be Halloween and the guests have been encouraged to come in costume.  I think it's great to have the confidence to do what will make you happy.

Pillowcases for the happy couple!

I dropped them off this afternoon for Torey to wrap-up in a gift bag as she is invited to the reception.  Torey wraps things up beautifully.

I might just need a pair myself.

Season Appropriateness

They've been up for a few weeks but I had to snap a picture for our sewing group. They are not over the top Halloween so I think I can keep them up through November.

It's very fun fabric and a little more off white than the photo shows.

Serendipity!

A new friend! It's Sam!  Two Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs in the front yard.  So fun that I expected traffic to stop!

Sam belongs to David and his family.  David grew up in this neighborhood which makes it doubly fun that he has a Swissie too.  Sam is just a year and a half.  Hard to believe from this picture but he and Min are the same height but Sam outweighs her by about 20 pounds.  A very nice dog and we could let them loose in the front yard and they stayed close.

His head is massive, twice as wide as Min's.  His trick to get your attention is the same as Min's, sticking his nose under your arm.

The Tom Bihn Bag

One of my most favorite bags ever.  A fabulous color and big enough to hold plenty.  I always expect someone to comment on it, walk right up to me and say with excitement, "Oh, a Tom Bihn Bag!"

The Sidewalk...

is just a few steps from the curb! 

Lovely, shining, and white but it makes everything else look pretty icky.  Sadly, nothing else will happen for some time.

Will need to give some thought to the arranging of the drawers.  The bottom drawer has no dividers because it is very deep.  I am perplexed as to what to put in such a deep drawer.  Maybe towels standing on edge?

Looking Back to the Future

This was our adventure today, recycling glass right here in Provo.  There was an article in the newspaper yesterday morning announcing this bin and now instead of driving 12 miles to the closest glass recycling bin, it is only 1 mile!  And this one is the nicest recycling bins of any kind that I have seen.  There is access on both sides and it's a little hard to read but those black squares at the top slide to the side and then you can presort the clear, grean, and brown glass as you toss it in.  I could not see into it, even on tip-toes but from the sound of it, we might have been the very first contributors.  I say we, Min and me, but also because two neighbors also added to the glass collecting container next to our garage.

And to think we had curb pick-up weekly for all types of recycling twenty-five years ago in Illinois.  It still amazes me.

Provo city will start picking up the individual recycling bins weekly as of November 1.  Previously they contracted that out and we had pick up every other week.  Much confusion with new bins and old bins and when that will start (November 1) but the most egregious thing I noticed this morning was Styrofoam sticking out of a recycling bin.  Really?  Are you kidding me?  Styrofoam?

Focus on CSA

The produce washing area on the farm. May 2015

It takes some planning to make sure all the fresh veggies are being used. And now that the temperature is finally cooling down and it feels like October, soups are starting to sound really good. This is a great tasting recipe and I sometimes have it over a baked potato or rice. 

Vegetarian Chili – Mary Crafts 
1/4 cup olive oil
4 cups coarsely chopped zucchini, about 2 medium
2  cups coarsely chopped onions, about 1 large
4 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 large red peppers, chopped
2 cans (35 oz. each) tomatoes (4 cups if using fresh)
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon dried basil
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 can dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 tablespoon dried dill
2 Tablespoons lemon juice

Heat oil in a large pot, sauté zucchini, onions, garlic, and red peppers until tender.  Add tomatoes and their juice and all the seasonings.  Cook uncovered for about 30 minutes.  Stir in beans, dill and lemon juice, simmer about 15 minutes.  Serve with sour cream and green onions on top of each serving. May be frozen or refrigerated for up to three days.

 
What I also like about this recipe is what is not from the garden is most likely on the pantry shelf.  No extra shopping needed. 

Refilling the Cupboard

Finished another baby quilt from the stash last night so I took a picture this afternoon after the rain.  Odd lighting, still some dark clouds and some sun peeking out.  It looks as if the flash went off but it did not.  The spotted blue fabric is an ombre and it photographs in an interesting way.

This close-up shows the fish that make me laugh.  I love this layout.  It will be a great way to use up small pieces of novelty prints.

Quilt size - 36x45
Batting -  2 sided fusible poly
Machine quilted
Machine bound
Pattern - Charming from Gotham City Quilts

Edited: 10/20/15... MNCarol said it is very cute in person and most quilts look better looking at them live.

Quite Crisp in the Morning

47 degrees this morning which is not so bad when we are striding swiftly around the neighborhood.

Sitting in front of the open window at the sewing machine was a different story!  I leave that window open all day and night because it is awkward taking the screen in and out while reaching across the table and over the top of the machine.

I had lunch with Torey today and brought a jar of  Pickled Brussels Sprouts to try.  I had forced myself to wait the 48 hours and then even a little longer so that we could experience them together.  Frankly, I was unsure because, what! no sugar!?! Foolish me.  We were delighted and I promised her more jars of her very own.

Recipe from Marisa McClellen, Food in Jars

Also, and this was news to me, it is National Veterinary Technician Week.  An entire week for the techs.  I say hurrah! some of the best people I have ever met.

Caramelized Red Onion Relish

Another fabulous recipe from Food in Jars by Marisa McClellan.  I have had fun this season with this book, a book designed for small batches.  This recipe said it would make 3 pints but I only got two and a half.  There is one already in opened and in the fridge.  I waited a couple of days in case that might make a difference, then spread some on a turkey sandwich.  Yum!

One of the reasons I tried this recipe is that it called for not only apple cider vinegar but also malt vinegar which I happened to have from another recipe.  Did not like the malt vinegar then but in this relish it works.

In all the goo-goo-gaa-gaa over little Sadie, the perpetual motion puppy, it was easy to put Min on an even higher pedestal as the best behaved dog ever.

Pedestal wobbling

Came home to find this.  Three pieces of gum and their wrappers missing and believed consumed.
Okay then.

Day 2

A bit out of sequence because I had just taken a couple of pictures with my phone and then could not get them to my computer until today and then they came by way of Kirkland WA and Long Beach CA.

Only two pictures because I wasn't prepared with my camera at the ready during all our play times.
This was in the morning:

She had been eyeing Min's tail and I said un-huh Sadie and she stopped to look at me.

Tuesday was farm day, produce pick-up in Payson.  We had been playing for a good 45 minutes in the backyard because I wasn't sure how she would travel for that length of time.  Ha.  She was asleep by the time we got to Center Street (the other side of our block) and stayed in the car with barely a peep while Min and I jumped out at the farm and then slept all the way home.  I opened the crate with a happy "We're home Sadie!"  Nothing.  I called her name again and her eyes barely opened.  I had to drag her out and carry her to the backyard.

Little snoozer.

1:07 to 1:19, Day 3

 

Picture snapped as I was getting up to rescue Min.

Sadie, Day One

Hello!

Those ears!

I forget how big Min really is.

The details:

Home 11:50 inside briefly Noon outside, running and exploring with Min, potty (pee) 12:10 inside, escaped from cleverly designed play pen in less than a minute had a little water, cuddled a little, eyeballed Min a lot but not afraid at all of her 12:15 into crate for a nap, whining then whining changed to howling. Firmly said "That's enough Sadie"  she stopped for a minute then we repeated the sequence a few more times, including my words and when she put her head down, good girl Sadie. 12:25 Fell asleep 12:40 whining, whining changed to howling, Firmly said,"that's enough Sadie, you're okay repeated that once more adding lay down now, you're okay and when she did, added good girl Sadie a couple of times.  Ignored a couple of more whimpers and she went back to sleep. 12:57 whining, whining changed to howling, Firmly said,"that's enough Sadie, you're okay repeated that once more adding lay down now, you're okay and when she did, added good girl Sadie a couple of times.  Ignored a couple of more whimpers and she went back to sleep. 1:10 A little fussing, I say the same words.  She is quiet but now it has been an hour in the crate so next time she sits up I will let her out. 1:20 up and eating lunch 1:25 outside,  potty (pee)almost immediately 1:30 Poops lots of running and up and down the steps of the deck, much exploring, tasting of leaves typical lunatic puppy behavior that makes me laugh. Howling at the French doors.  Why. 2:10 inside and zonked out in her crate. 2:40 Awake just before Andrew arrives Drinks a little water, goes outside and pees. Bounces around the backyard for a bit, up and down the stairs twice. 3:00ish In the truck and on the way home.
Min's giant dog crate upside down and bottom into top.  It didn't work..