Monday, March 03, 2008
Monday...a day of rest
This morning we walked in freezing rain for 40 minutes, with the boys to school and then continuing on in the "loop" to home. Monday is the day the boys have an English activity at school (reading club)during lunch, at least for the next couple of weeks, and after having them around for a week of break, I needed the quiet. After the walk I returned to jammydom and hopped back into bed. Afternoon saw me sipping coffee at the computer and chatting on the phone. Showered, I walked to the grocery store for a couple of things that multiplied into heaviness for the walk back. Now my guys are home and the peace an quiet is done but thats ok.
Now for the less stellar news. I bought a new scale, a nice accurate digital and it put the 3 pounds back on. We figure it means the old cheapo scale was off by 3 pounds so my original 207 was 210 but that we still lost 3 pounds each.
Then I weighed in after my shower this afternoon and instead of 207 it said 205. Yeah baby! I love when weight fluctuates in the downward direction. I know its only a daily fluctuation...just don't burst my bubble ok?
I gotta stay off that scale incase I bloat and it goes up.
Tonight for supper we will have spaghetti. I'm hankering for some pasta. Oh and last nights supper was yummy. Here is the address for the recipe:
http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/curried_chicken_mango.html
Other goodish news is my leg is feeling a bit better and I am taking less ibuprofen the last couple of days. It was bothering me Friday but Saturday and Sunday and today its been a tad better, not perfect, but good enough to go out walking thank goodness. Yesterday was GORGEOUS and we took the kids sledding at the bump ( little hill in a near by playing field) and todays mild temperatures made walking really nice (except for the freezing rain this morning). Maybe....just maybe...Spring will spring on time?? Please??
Garden has become a mild obsession as it is won't to do each spring. I want two eastern redbuds (pictured above)for the front yard. I could do it cheap and get a couple of twigs by mail order but would rather get a couple of half decently sized ones at a nursery.
Also in the running for flowers are Asclepias, Rudbeckia, maybe a butterfly bush or two, poppies other than the light orange ones that are currently taking over the garden...pink would be nice, and some new lavender plants would be great in the hot dry front yard.
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Photos
Valcartier pictures: On the stairs of The Everest (thats not stark terror on my face...thats what BRAVERY looks like), and rafting, and whats fun in the snow without a bec a sucre? (a sugar kiss...maple syrup boiled to the taffy point, poured on snow and rolled up with a stick). $2 a piece and I could make it at home, but would it taste as sweet? LOL
Photos....
The snow banks at Grandpapa's house are VERY tall. Don't whine at me because you got 3 inches on top of the BARE ground. We has REAL winter here, MOM. LOL
The guys skiing at Mont Ste-Anne, and Ben at Valcartier.
Holy shit!
We weighed in today..and even though I snuck onto the scale before today and there was no positive...or would it be negative?...needle movement(it even went up), today the scale says we both lost 3 pounds. HOLY MOLEY!
SO: 14 days ago today I weighed in at 207. Started EatingWell on that wednesday. Had some falling downs while away. Ten days =3 pounds lost. Wow. Maybe its a fluke? For me I mean?
I am going out today and getting a better scale, digital with big numbers and a beep that tells you when it has you weight ready so that you can actually move your tummy and boobs out of the way to see it without making the weight change. It is what it is with no fuzzy interpretations.
And then I am going to stay OFF the scale untill weigh in day so I don't upset myself prematurely.
New favorite breakfast: cook 1/3 cup oatmeal with 3/4 cup water and a sprinkle of salt in microwave for 2-3 minutes. Top it with 1/2 cup fat free sugar free vanilla yogurt and a scant tablespoon of favorite jam (sour cherry or plum here). 248 calories and so yummy. Like dessert for breakfast!
SO: 14 days ago today I weighed in at 207. Started EatingWell on that wednesday. Had some falling downs while away. Ten days =3 pounds lost. Wow. Maybe its a fluke? For me I mean?
I am going out today and getting a better scale, digital with big numbers and a beep that tells you when it has you weight ready so that you can actually move your tummy and boobs out of the way to see it without making the weight change. It is what it is with no fuzzy interpretations.
And then I am going to stay OFF the scale untill weigh in day so I don't upset myself prematurely.
New favorite breakfast: cook 1/3 cup oatmeal with 3/4 cup water and a sprinkle of salt in microwave for 2-3 minutes. Top it with 1/2 cup fat free sugar free vanilla yogurt and a scant tablespoon of favorite jam (sour cherry or plum here). 248 calories and so yummy. Like dessert for breakfast!
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Other stuffs:
Broke one of my 3mm DPNs yesterday and had to buy new ones. GRRRRR. Downside of loving bamboo. The new needles are metal and I hate their slipperyness.
Cameron's new socks maybe too tight....MORE GRRRRRRRRRR Shoulda cast on more stitches but I really thought/hoped 45 would be enough with 3 mms and this wool. This is how the needle broke...trying on the sock. I will finish it and see how this all shakes out.
Some progress on sweater. Not a bunch..far to go since I am only chest level just above armpits.
My Canadian Guild Of Knitters Level One course arrived this week and I have my yarn and notebook ready for the workings. I will go out today and buy a 3 hole punch for the course pages. I hate flipping stapled pages over and this isn't the first time I have regretted not having a good 3 hole punch. Will grab some printer paper while I am at it. I am looking forward to this you know. Its like going to school but at home and about knitting.
This is all.
Cameron's new socks maybe too tight....MORE GRRRRRRRRRR Shoulda cast on more stitches but I really thought/hoped 45 would be enough with 3 mms and this wool. This is how the needle broke...trying on the sock. I will finish it and see how this all shakes out.
Some progress on sweater. Not a bunch..far to go since I am only chest level just above armpits.
My Canadian Guild Of Knitters Level One course arrived this week and I have my yarn and notebook ready for the workings. I will go out today and buy a 3 hole punch for the course pages. I hate flipping stapled pages over and this isn't the first time I have regretted not having a good 3 hole punch. Will grab some printer paper while I am at it. I am looking forward to this you know. Its like going to school but at home and about knitting.
This is all.
Saturday
You know, I get pretty enthusiastic pretty easily and my staying power is pretty weak. Its been a week and an bit and I am cranky with the whole food thing. I am NOT hungry. Not at all actually. I just want to eat things I shouldn't. Lets call it withdrawals because I seriously believe thats what it is. I am trying to break a life long habit of over eating and indulgence in food and lemme tell you, its not easy AT ALL.
I feel like a recovering alcoholic at a bar when I go out. All around me, people are eating and drinking yummy wonderful tasting things that are LOADED with calories my body cannot afford to have. It makes me angry. It makes me disgusted. It makes me sad. Or is it ME thats making me feel those feelings? Chicken and egg, non? I am 5 foot and a 1/2 inch and weight 207 pounds. My body cannot live like this anymore and I am resentful of the rest of the world for going on like normal.
My right leg has been painful for 3 weeks...my knee and hip complain at the weight. I am winded by everything. Although my physical pronounced me healthy, who are we kidding?? This IS NOT HEALTHY!!!!!
I am not in this to be a bombshell in a bikini. Thats NEVER gonna be my reality no matter what I weigh. I am in this to regain health and self respect. Looking better is a happy side effect.
I feel like "How long am I going to be able to do this??" when I know the answer has to be "Forever". I think what I really mean is "When will I be able to just do this and not have to feel obsessed with food, good or bad?"
I fear the answer will be "Never" and that makes me want to give up....just one more reason to "accept myself", right? One more reason to binge on chocolate or ice cream or pasta or ANYTHING. How sad is it that everyfood is a comfort food? Am I that needy? Maybe.
A part of me longs just to crawl into a comforting lap and be cradled and understood and comforted...given strength and solace. If I could find a quiet time and place it would be a good thing to meditate and pray. For now I journal it here, ugliness and all. I have had very MEAN and UGLY HATEFUL thoughts about the world around me as I forge ahead on this new pathway. Its very childish actually because there is noone to blame for anything except myself and I do know that.
Gotta breathe deep, center, ground...whatever...and find some peace.
I feel like a recovering alcoholic at a bar when I go out. All around me, people are eating and drinking yummy wonderful tasting things that are LOADED with calories my body cannot afford to have. It makes me angry. It makes me disgusted. It makes me sad. Or is it ME thats making me feel those feelings? Chicken and egg, non? I am 5 foot and a 1/2 inch and weight 207 pounds. My body cannot live like this anymore and I am resentful of the rest of the world for going on like normal.
My right leg has been painful for 3 weeks...my knee and hip complain at the weight. I am winded by everything. Although my physical pronounced me healthy, who are we kidding?? This IS NOT HEALTHY!!!!!
I am not in this to be a bombshell in a bikini. Thats NEVER gonna be my reality no matter what I weigh. I am in this to regain health and self respect. Looking better is a happy side effect.
I feel like "How long am I going to be able to do this??" when I know the answer has to be "Forever". I think what I really mean is "When will I be able to just do this and not have to feel obsessed with food, good or bad?"
I fear the answer will be "Never" and that makes me want to give up....just one more reason to "accept myself", right? One more reason to binge on chocolate or ice cream or pasta or ANYTHING. How sad is it that everyfood is a comfort food? Am I that needy? Maybe.
A part of me longs just to crawl into a comforting lap and be cradled and understood and comforted...given strength and solace. If I could find a quiet time and place it would be a good thing to meditate and pray. For now I journal it here, ugliness and all. I have had very MEAN and UGLY HATEFUL thoughts about the world around me as I forge ahead on this new pathway. Its very childish actually because there is noone to blame for anything except myself and I do know that.
Gotta breathe deep, center, ground...whatever...and find some peace.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
The Internets Ate My Post
I had a big post all typed up last night and then the internet ate it. So now you are stuck with whatever blather I come up with this time.
Got back on healthy track today. The trip kinda derailed that for both of us. Mille Feuille (spelling?) after supper the other night at Grandpapa's, wine at Grandpapa's, assorted snackings and meals while away althought I did try to make healthier choices.
A thought on portions: I like 'em big...how else did I get like this? But seriously, the portions at some restaurants are insane and have increased like crazy over the last decade or two. We went to Baton Rouge for supper on Monday night. I had ribs (ofcourse) BUT I had steamed veggies instead of the potato. HM had baked potato (loaded). When it came his potato was like some sorta genetic mutant it was so frakking huge, plus with all the cheese etc on it. My broccoli and cauliflower was alot too. The plates are platter style and they have to fill them I guess.
I was extremely over stuffed by the end because I of course tried to clean off my plate... Another problem. Apparently humans as a species have some sort of knee jerk reaction to eating an entire meal because, as cave peaople, we never knew when we'd be full again. Nowadays, with meals a plenty for most of us in North America, this reaction to meals is troublesome.
Smaller plates are a good start. And don't fill them two or 6 storeys tall. Divide thusly: Half plate veggies and/or salad, one quarter protein, one quarter whole grain or startchy veg.
Today I bought a popcorn popper. Here is why: Have you heard about people who got cancer from breathing in microwave popcorn fumes? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/06/AR2007050601089.html
I have been considering cutting my microwave popcorn crazed monkeys off for some time. Also, its LOADED with salt. And fat. So I bought a $15 air popper today, and some popcorn, and this Becel spray (look in the margarine area of the dairy cases) to add buttery flavour and some nutritional yeast to give a "cheesy" taste. Verdict: airpopped popcorn is better than I remember it. it used to always come out kinda tough for me before. This was nice an crunchy and fluffy if bland as hell compared to microwave movie theater style flavoured popcorn. The tastebuds need retraining on this. Ben enjoyed his with the spray. Cameron will like his with either the spray or his alldressed seasoning. I am happy about this switch. Biggest plus? Lower calories mean I can eat more popcorn.
What was that I said about portion control???
Cameron's sweater: not done but I really will get back at it. Really.
While we drove I cast on sock one of a new pair for him. Am on the gusset decreases. I can pick away at both but will I make the two week deadline I gave myself two weeks ago? HAHAHAHAHA No. And thats ok. I forgive me.
Got back on healthy track today. The trip kinda derailed that for both of us. Mille Feuille (spelling?) after supper the other night at Grandpapa's, wine at Grandpapa's, assorted snackings and meals while away althought I did try to make healthier choices.
A thought on portions: I like 'em big...how else did I get like this? But seriously, the portions at some restaurants are insane and have increased like crazy over the last decade or two. We went to Baton Rouge for supper on Monday night. I had ribs (ofcourse) BUT I had steamed veggies instead of the potato. HM had baked potato (loaded). When it came his potato was like some sorta genetic mutant it was so frakking huge, plus with all the cheese etc on it. My broccoli and cauliflower was alot too. The plates are platter style and they have to fill them I guess.
I was extremely over stuffed by the end because I of course tried to clean off my plate... Another problem. Apparently humans as a species have some sort of knee jerk reaction to eating an entire meal because, as cave peaople, we never knew when we'd be full again. Nowadays, with meals a plenty for most of us in North America, this reaction to meals is troublesome.
Smaller plates are a good start. And don't fill them two or 6 storeys tall. Divide thusly: Half plate veggies and/or salad, one quarter protein, one quarter whole grain or startchy veg.
Today I bought a popcorn popper. Here is why: Have you heard about people who got cancer from breathing in microwave popcorn fumes? http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/06/AR2007050601089.html
I have been considering cutting my microwave popcorn crazed monkeys off for some time. Also, its LOADED with salt. And fat. So I bought a $15 air popper today, and some popcorn, and this Becel spray (look in the margarine area of the dairy cases) to add buttery flavour and some nutritional yeast to give a "cheesy" taste. Verdict: airpopped popcorn is better than I remember it. it used to always come out kinda tough for me before. This was nice an crunchy and fluffy if bland as hell compared to microwave movie theater style flavoured popcorn. The tastebuds need retraining on this. Ben enjoyed his with the spray. Cameron will like his with either the spray or his alldressed seasoning. I am happy about this switch. Biggest plus? Lower calories mean I can eat more popcorn.
What was that I said about portion control???
Cameron's sweater: not done but I really will get back at it. Really.
While we drove I cast on sock one of a new pair for him. Am on the gusset decreases. I can pick away at both but will I make the two week deadline I gave myself two weeks ago? HAHAHAHAHA No. And thats ok. I forgive me.
Friday, February 22, 2008
Friday..Day 3..
Its is day three. Everyone still lives...but for how long? mwahahahahaha
Just kidding. It has had its severe cranky craving "FEED ME" moments but we are both holding up very well. HM missed lunch Wednesday so he had many calories left to indulge in chocolatey goodness..bastard. Lucky for him he did it while I was out.
My saving grace is chocolate herbal teas. Chocolate Spice by Four O'clock is danday. Carob instead of chocolate so no caffeine at all. The one I got today is Chocolate Chai by Presidents Choice. Not quite as herbally as Four O'Clock but the store didn't have what I was looking for...Oh wait...I forgot to check the health food section. DANG.
Anyways, I was running late for my nail appointment because it took me too long to pick out an omega-3 supplement for Ben and a Glucosamine supplement for my sore knee. I figure it might help, (will help any other joints anyway), and it can't hurt so may as well try it. I am forty y'know. Gotta keep Arthur Itis (he's the worst of the Itis family you know) at bay. My hands hurt with some of my knitting so maybe it will help that too.
So, what else is new.....
Not much. Cameron's sweater is into the raglan shoulder decreases. I hope I am doing them right. Plus the colour work on the front chest. I will have many ends to weave in when done. I give myself two weeks to clear this from the decks (less now than when I first said 2 weeks...).
Our largest clown loach went belly up...two fish left.
I think thats about it. I am very dull this week.
Just kidding. It has had its severe cranky craving "FEED ME" moments but we are both holding up very well. HM missed lunch Wednesday so he had many calories left to indulge in chocolatey goodness..bastard. Lucky for him he did it while I was out.
My saving grace is chocolate herbal teas. Chocolate Spice by Four O'clock is danday. Carob instead of chocolate so no caffeine at all. The one I got today is Chocolate Chai by Presidents Choice. Not quite as herbally as Four O'Clock but the store didn't have what I was looking for...Oh wait...I forgot to check the health food section. DANG.
Anyways, I was running late for my nail appointment because it took me too long to pick out an omega-3 supplement for Ben and a Glucosamine supplement for my sore knee. I figure it might help, (will help any other joints anyway), and it can't hurt so may as well try it. I am forty y'know. Gotta keep Arthur Itis (he's the worst of the Itis family you know) at bay. My hands hurt with some of my knitting so maybe it will help that too.
So, what else is new.....
Not much. Cameron's sweater is into the raglan shoulder decreases. I hope I am doing them right. Plus the colour work on the front chest. I will have many ends to weave in when done. I give myself two weeks to clear this from the decks (less now than when I first said 2 weeks...).
Our largest clown loach went belly up...two fish left.
I think thats about it. I am very dull this week.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
I walked.
So There.
LOL
40 minutes(to B and C's school and back)at lunch hour.
Day one is already better.
Question: Why is it that my thighs itch like crazy when I take a brisk walk? Its been happening since I was a teenager and drives me absolutly insane. It lasts about 10 minutes and feels like the itchiest itch you can imagine. Is increased blood flow or fat jiggling or what?
I hates it.
LOL
40 minutes(to B and C's school and back)at lunch hour.
Day one is already better.
Question: Why is it that my thighs itch like crazy when I take a brisk walk? Its been happening since I was a teenager and drives me absolutly insane. It lasts about 10 minutes and feels like the itchiest itch you can imagine. Is increased blood flow or fat jiggling or what?
I hates it.
Wednesday February 20
Wasn't quite ready for morning when it arrived. Cammie as usual puttered in for a "thnuggle" while we lay listening to the news etc. Its a sunny day but cold for the winter carnival at school.
Next week is break and I seriously cannot wait. I am sleeping in as much as possible come hell or high water. Am very growly and tired the last couple of days and we all know what that means every month.
Today is day ONE of the new healthy lifestyle. So far we have skipped our walk BUT I did do 2.5 minutes on the unused elliptical trainer last night at a steady pace. Its like jogging but doesn't have the impact. Except on my lungs and heart. Holy f&ck. Since it sunny out I really need to get out and catch some rays so walking later on is on my agenda. Maybe that will help with the desire to kill.
There is a weight loss support group on Ravelry that I joined and one woman inparticular is very inspiring. She was quite heavy...got diagnosed with cancer and with tteatment gained the big water weight... She decided to take her second chance at life with gusto and since then has lost 75 pounds and gone from a size 24 to a size 8. One year after diagnosis she ran a half marathon.
Now, I hate running. I seriously do..even as a kid hated to run.. but she is very inspiring is she not?
Some of the gals are trying the Couch To 5K program.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
http://www.c25k.com/
Amazing non?
So while todays morning walk was a blow out, there is hope. Baby steps and not beating myself up are two of my mantras. I have had 40 years of bad habits. i cannot fix myself overnight.
Also, why is it that when you declare yourself to be trying to live healthier, and then you don't do your exercise or whatever, other people feel they have the right to call you on it or push at you. If I am pushed I push back in the opposite direction and how defeating is THAT in this situation. For me that makes everything worse. I know I fall down but I don't plan to stay down. I need support not MORE guilt than I carry everyday. This is noone in particular but has happened in the past and it really doesn't help a person to pick themselves up and go on as before.
Goal: I do have one.
My goal is to see a 10% result in 6 months. Just 10% will make me a healthier person. After the 6 months I will revise. So in 6 months (AUGUST 20) we shall see how I made it.
And even if I don't make the 10 I will take what I can get and not punish myself and make the disappointment worse.
Another goal: Try to stay motivated no matter what. Even if weight doesn't change (which would seriously SUCK) I will be more active and eating healthier than I have been.
The lady that lost 75 pounds eats a healthy diet and does not deny herself her favorites all the time. She has a rule: it can't come into the house, no more than one serving, and she has to walk to and from the source. So say she feels like chinese food...she cannot bring home leftovers, she must walk to and from the restaurant, and she may only have one reasonable healthful serving (Not a plateful heaped). Good idea huh?
Plate appearance helps to: half the plate is non-starchy vegetables, 1/4 plate whole grain serving or portion, 1/4 plate is lean protein. This is a reasonable healthy meal, non?
If this blog deteriorates into food obsession please bear with.
KNITTING: Camerons sweater is coming along. I may be able to join it into the round today. Am trying to get both sleeves the exact same length. Was hunting for my raglan instructions yesterday and then realised I had loaned the book Knitting Without Tears to Kadi. Whoops...luckily Knitting Workshop has some info on the joining and decreasings. Fingers are crossed for finishing this sweater in two more weeks if I can stay monogamous enough. Am dying to wind my chunky baby alpaca and start the Unoriginal Hat by Stephanie Pearl-MacPhee (yarn harlot). Must resist.
Tonight is knitting in NDG. I love my NDG peeps.
Next week is break and I seriously cannot wait. I am sleeping in as much as possible come hell or high water. Am very growly and tired the last couple of days and we all know what that means every month.
Today is day ONE of the new healthy lifestyle. So far we have skipped our walk BUT I did do 2.5 minutes on the unused elliptical trainer last night at a steady pace. Its like jogging but doesn't have the impact. Except on my lungs and heart. Holy f&ck. Since it sunny out I really need to get out and catch some rays so walking later on is on my agenda. Maybe that will help with the desire to kill.
There is a weight loss support group on Ravelry that I joined and one woman inparticular is very inspiring. She was quite heavy...got diagnosed with cancer and with tteatment gained the big water weight... She decided to take her second chance at life with gusto and since then has lost 75 pounds and gone from a size 24 to a size 8. One year after diagnosis she ran a half marathon.
Now, I hate running. I seriously do..even as a kid hated to run.. but she is very inspiring is she not?
Some of the gals are trying the Couch To 5K program.
http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml
http://www.c25k.com/
Amazing non?
So while todays morning walk was a blow out, there is hope. Baby steps and not beating myself up are two of my mantras. I have had 40 years of bad habits. i cannot fix myself overnight.
Also, why is it that when you declare yourself to be trying to live healthier, and then you don't do your exercise or whatever, other people feel they have the right to call you on it or push at you. If I am pushed I push back in the opposite direction and how defeating is THAT in this situation. For me that makes everything worse. I know I fall down but I don't plan to stay down. I need support not MORE guilt than I carry everyday. This is noone in particular but has happened in the past and it really doesn't help a person to pick themselves up and go on as before.
Goal: I do have one.
My goal is to see a 10% result in 6 months. Just 10% will make me a healthier person. After the 6 months I will revise. So in 6 months (AUGUST 20) we shall see how I made it.
And even if I don't make the 10 I will take what I can get and not punish myself and make the disappointment worse.
Another goal: Try to stay motivated no matter what. Even if weight doesn't change (which would seriously SUCK) I will be more active and eating healthier than I have been.
The lady that lost 75 pounds eats a healthy diet and does not deny herself her favorites all the time. She has a rule: it can't come into the house, no more than one serving, and she has to walk to and from the source. So say she feels like chinese food...she cannot bring home leftovers, she must walk to and from the restaurant, and she may only have one reasonable healthful serving (Not a plateful heaped). Good idea huh?
Plate appearance helps to: half the plate is non-starchy vegetables, 1/4 plate whole grain serving or portion, 1/4 plate is lean protein. This is a reasonable healthy meal, non?
If this blog deteriorates into food obsession please bear with.
KNITTING: Camerons sweater is coming along. I may be able to join it into the round today. Am trying to get both sleeves the exact same length. Was hunting for my raglan instructions yesterday and then realised I had loaned the book Knitting Without Tears to Kadi. Whoops...luckily Knitting Workshop has some info on the joining and decreasings. Fingers are crossed for finishing this sweater in two more weeks if I can stay monogamous enough. Am dying to wind my chunky baby alpaca and start the Unoriginal Hat by Stephanie Pearl-MacPhee (yarn harlot). Must resist.
Tonight is knitting in NDG. I love my NDG peeps.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Sunday Update.........
DIET: begins Wednesday.
CURTAINS: Up but am hemming today.(fusible hem tape RAWKS!!)
MOVIES: Spiderwick Chronicles was seen last night. Scary in places for Cameron (9 yrs) but Ben had no problems. I LOVED it but I have not read the books. Apparently, book four is skipped (according to Ben) and they happy ending-ed it a bit. Did I mention I LOVED it?
MOVIES I MUST SEE: Nim's Island with Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, and Abigail Breslin. Yeah its a "family" movie but A) Gerard Butler is HOT and B) Jodie's character is funny and C) it looks hugely entertaining with strong female characters! Girls rule!!
FAKE ISLE HATS: Done and turned in.
MY NEW YARN: My pay for the Fake Isles= Misti Baby Alpaca Chunky....oooooooohhh.. We won't mention the Lopi yarn I bought for the felted rug project.
NEW BOOKS: Friday I bought the EatingWell Diet book and Friday night I got Knitter's Handy Book Of Patterns...one book and my collection of books will be done for awhile...c'mon back into stock Enchanted Knitting..
UNO: I beat HM and Ben BIG TIME in an hour plus length game today. YEAH BABY!!
CAMERON'S SWEATER: one more increase on the 2nd sleeve and then its stockingette to length. Join sleeves to sweater body tomorrow maybe?? WOOT WOOT!
That is all. I now return this blog to its regularly ubscheduled programming........
CURTAINS: Up but am hemming today.(fusible hem tape RAWKS!!)
MOVIES: Spiderwick Chronicles was seen last night. Scary in places for Cameron (9 yrs) but Ben had no problems. I LOVED it but I have not read the books. Apparently, book four is skipped (according to Ben) and they happy ending-ed it a bit. Did I mention I LOVED it?
MOVIES I MUST SEE: Nim's Island with Jodie Foster, Gerard Butler, and Abigail Breslin. Yeah its a "family" movie but A) Gerard Butler is HOT and B) Jodie's character is funny and C) it looks hugely entertaining with strong female characters! Girls rule!!
FAKE ISLE HATS: Done and turned in.
MY NEW YARN: My pay for the Fake Isles= Misti Baby Alpaca Chunky....oooooooohhh.. We won't mention the Lopi yarn I bought for the felted rug project.
NEW BOOKS: Friday I bought the EatingWell Diet book and Friday night I got Knitter's Handy Book Of Patterns...one book and my collection of books will be done for awhile...c'mon back into stock Enchanted Knitting..
UNO: I beat HM and Ben BIG TIME in an hour plus length game today. YEAH BABY!!
CAMERON'S SWEATER: one more increase on the 2nd sleeve and then its stockingette to length. Join sleeves to sweater body tomorrow maybe?? WOOT WOOT!
That is all. I now return this blog to its regularly ubscheduled programming........
Thursday, February 14, 2008
More thursday/VD
I should explain my anger in my last post. Bridgewater Nova Scotia is quite a small town and was the location of our business a few years ago. We had a store on KIng Street right in the heart of downtown, two doors down from the library. Its a town where just about everyone knows everyone else or is related to them (its like that in Lunenburg County). As picturesque and cozy as NS is, its not without its problems. Addiction and low employment rates are a way of life for many. We have had our horror stories of crime and abuse. It just saddens and enrages me that in such a stereotypically "safe" place, a child was robbed of her life.
Enough of that. Moving on the what was good today:
My dye book arrived!! "Dyes From American Native Plants" is a book that explores natural dyes native to North America with an emphasis perhaps on the midwest since it was written by professors in Oklahoma. May I just say its awesome???!
Also in the mail was a BIG surprise. Remember I told ya about Bohemian Bubbles Spa Soaps? ( http://www.bohemianbubbles.com/ ) Its my old homesteading pal Terri and she makes awesome hand crafted soaps. I was a fan when she made fairly plain utilitarian soap that relieved her kids' eczema, then she started experimenting and I loved it more...her's is the bar I hold other hand crafted soaps to (pun intended) and she has only gotten BETTER!!! In the mail today I recieved a soap care package from her!!! Squeee!!! Natural soapy goodness, 8 bars full(sized), 2 half bars. I hopped in the tub this afternoon with my new book and the cake of Honey I Love You soap. Sweet sudsy goodness. Oh my gracious lovely lather and no tight dryness. MMmmmmmmmmmm..sensuous soap. Her soaps do not overwhelm with scent so you needn't worry about upsetting someone's sensitivities, but the bars do smell niiiiiice all the same. She's got some new products in the works for this season including a retriurn to her goats milk soaps, since she again has goats (Alpines this time). I still miss my goats Cocoa and Marigold, Nubian baby girls I got from Terri and her small flock back in the day. Good times.............sigh Then HM finally got home at 7:15 pm and had flowers, Alicia Keys latest cd, and the Essential Eating Well Cookbook (wrong book...was supposed to get the diet book but this was all he could find). WTF!!!? :o0 I was really surprised and touched because i wasn't expecting anything since I was told that my knitting book order last week was my gift. Isn't he great folks????
I had a card and chocolate covered marshmallow heart waiting for him...
Oh Yeah..and CAKE. I baked a yellow cake in a bundt type pan, frosted it, and scattered red cinnamon heart candies over it. So pretty!
The guys recieved valentines in the mail from their wonderful aunty Jessie. They were VERY pleased.
I hope someone showed you some love today.
Blessings!
Enough of that. Moving on the what was good today:
My dye book arrived!! "Dyes From American Native Plants" is a book that explores natural dyes native to North America with an emphasis perhaps on the midwest since it was written by professors in Oklahoma. May I just say its awesome???!
Also in the mail was a BIG surprise. Remember I told ya about Bohemian Bubbles Spa Soaps? ( http://www.bohemianbubbles.com/ ) Its my old homesteading pal Terri and she makes awesome hand crafted soaps. I was a fan when she made fairly plain utilitarian soap that relieved her kids' eczema, then she started experimenting and I loved it more...her's is the bar I hold other hand crafted soaps to (pun intended) and she has only gotten BETTER!!! In the mail today I recieved a soap care package from her!!! Squeee!!! Natural soapy goodness, 8 bars full(sized), 2 half bars. I hopped in the tub this afternoon with my new book and the cake of Honey I Love You soap. Sweet sudsy goodness. Oh my gracious lovely lather and no tight dryness. MMmmmmmmmmmm..sensuous soap. Her soaps do not overwhelm with scent so you needn't worry about upsetting someone's sensitivities, but the bars do smell niiiiiice all the same. She's got some new products in the works for this season including a retriurn to her goats milk soaps, since she again has goats (Alpines this time). I still miss my goats Cocoa and Marigold, Nubian baby girls I got from Terri and her small flock back in the day. Good times.............sigh Then HM finally got home at 7:15 pm and had flowers, Alicia Keys latest cd, and the Essential Eating Well Cookbook (wrong book...was supposed to get the diet book but this was all he could find). WTF!!!? :o0 I was really surprised and touched because i wasn't expecting anything since I was told that my knitting book order last week was my gift. Isn't he great folks????
I had a card and chocolate covered marshmallow heart waiting for him...
Oh Yeah..and CAKE. I baked a yellow cake in a bundt type pan, frosted it, and scattered red cinnamon heart candies over it. So pretty!
The guys recieved valentines in the mail from their wonderful aunty Jessie. They were VERY pleased.
I hope someone showed you some love today.
Blessings!
Where are the children safe?
It doesn't matter where you live or how careful you are, there are predators everywhere. Rural areas, small everyone-knows-everyone towns, the big city....
For all the people who bitch and moan about kids being indoors and sedentary instead of running all over the neighborhood and in a park like "when I was a kid...", this is part of the reason. As parents we are afraid to let our kids roam with any kind of the freedom that we enjoyed as children because no one knows when or where the next predator will strike (Trois Riviere? Bridgewater?). Then when you think, ok...they are older now...they know how to look out for strangers etc...you get this kind of news...
Bastards.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9005548.html
For all the people who bitch and moan about kids being indoors and sedentary instead of running all over the neighborhood and in a park like "when I was a kid...", this is part of the reason. As parents we are afraid to let our kids roam with any kind of the freedom that we enjoyed as children because no one knows when or where the next predator will strike (Trois Riviere? Bridgewater?). Then when you think, ok...they are older now...they know how to look out for strangers etc...you get this kind of news...
Bastards.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9005548.html
Thursday
Every morning...well...pretty much every morning... I drag my butt down to the family room, click on the tube for Canada AM and Ellen, and boot up the 'Puter. While I blog read etc I keep and ear on the TV for interesting ness but I don't turn it off after Ellen even though MARTHA (aka The AntiChrist)is on after. I don't pay much if any attention to that but I have had the osmosis effect of noticing that all the time she has dogs on...WTF? Is Martha the new TV dog experts show? Cesar the dog whisperer better wtch out..bitch is movin' in on his canine turf..
Today she had a yarn made out of dog hair (Paw-Paw). Dog dog dogs all the diggety dog time.
Must have run out of floral arrangment ideas and ways to re-use broken dishes.
I am sorry if this offends any Martha lovers. She has been a bee in my bonnet for a few years now. For those of us without the superwoman, happy homemaker gene, she is source of external peer pressure to strive harder and be more than is possible without lots and lots of drugs and therapy and a 28 hour day. Oh and more arms...and maybe a cloning machine. ( That'd be sweet, eh? One me for laundry, one for each kid so there is no rivalry, one for cleaning the frakking bathrooms.... MARTHA use your powers for good!! Make me a clone machine from papier mache and old photocopiers!!!)
Ok...lets see. As I mentioned its THURSDAY and its also VALENTINES DAY!!
What do you have planned for your loves? I got nothin'... Maybe this afternoon I will bake a cake. I have mix and frosting...this is doable.
Last night i went on my first Laval Knits evening. It was just me and Tara. We wondered if we can keep LK alive and discussed how the group we have branched out from, Montreal Knits, started slow but with perserverance and time, grew to be the big bag of funness it is now. We have about 9 members I think even though we were two last night..there were more last time and thats all part of it. My point (and yes there is one eventually) is that I think if we core members don't get too discouraged and keep it going, we can have a small group of devoted knitters that become friends. Thats what its all about.
I enjoyed my time with Tara. We met once before so it wasn't completely strange. We are at different points in our lives, me with school aged kids and her with preschoolers, she will be returning to the work force while I am a full time SAHM for the foreseeable future,...but this is why a group WORKS!!!!!! We are all different and its exciting to talk with OTHERS. To get differing perspectives on life, the world, and of course our unifying love of yarny goodness and its uses/allure.
So, was I disappointed it was just two of us? Only a little...the good company made up for that.
Happy VD!!
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
LOOKIT!!!!
Thats an Earth Box.
This is a DIY link.
http://www.instructables.com/id/Building-your-own-Earth-Box/
I am...intrigued.....
Uh Oh
The caffeine has befuddled my brain and I saw that Eating Well has a "diet" book out now.
While HM was ironing his pants for work I said "How would you like to go on a diet with me?"
DOH.
He said YES if I would start an exercise regimen with him.
DOH!
So, we have decided that we will buy the book and will walk togther each morning after the kids go to school.
Someone shoot me.
While HM was ironing his pants for work I said "How would you like to go on a diet with me?"
DOH.
He said YES if I would start an exercise regimen with him.
DOH!
So, we have decided that we will buy the book and will walk togther each morning after the kids go to school.
Someone shoot me.
More Frakking snow
(This is my new wonderful bureau and the only picture I have of me in the dress I had made for Hawaii by Daniel Beaudet, designer in residence at Effiloche. Barb, stop pestering me now.)
I have tried to be cheery about winter. It hasn't been to hard actually. I like that the fresh snow covers up the dirty snow and all looks fresh and clean and bright. Its beautiful. Its a marshmallow world!
I am so f%cking sick of shovelling "marshmallows" I could scream.
COME ON!!! I don't even like to talk to my KIDS before I've had some coffee let alone clean off the car AGAIN and shovel out the end of the drive so I can get them to school. Seriously. Enough is enough already. Thank gods for wonderful neighbors like the guy whose name I don't know (but i know his wifes name so I just call him C's husband)who was clearing his drive way end at the same time and trotted over to speed my job up. How sweet is that??
The backed up traffic was NOT sweet. Why is it that when snow is on the road simple things like manners or common sense are just thrown to the wind? The highways are VERY backed up this morning and as a result so are all the streets that have access to the exits. But does that mean you have the right to block intersections so that other people can't get around? Where I come from you keep the intersection clear while you sit and wait for traffic to move. Not everyone is going in your direction, dickheads, and it would be nice to get out and into the lanes going the other way! Or to be able to turn onto a street when I have the right of way. Dickheads.
Ok...what else is annoying me.. The Manly Fake Isle is being persnickity. To do the decreases necessary I will end up with a ginormous hat so I need to rip back and start them sooner OR do more of them. Thatc oupled with the math to figure out how many decreases I needed and how many stitches to knit in between near had me in tears. Math not good for me. Make me sad and cranky. Ug.
While I was doing some knitting last night my darling first born wanted to be full of the helpy-ness so he requested the permission to switch the clothes from the washer to the dryer. Sure i said. he knows what buttons to press but we went over it again anyways.
Later he came to me to tell me how WET and DRIPPY the clothes had been and that it got water on the floor but he was good and wiped it up with a towel from the hamper.... AAAACK!!!! I ran down stairs to see that there was still some water standing in the washer (front loader), hit the power button on the dryer to shut it down and then slammed the washer shut to turn it onto the shortest cycle in order to get it to drain. It must have unbalanced or something and shut down and Ben assumed that all was well. Once washy was empty I opened the dryer and removed the absolutely sodden dripping clothes back to the washer to again attempt getting them clean. Then I had to sop up the standing water in the dryer and off the floor. Holy crap. There was a burnt smell whick I assume may have been from the belt of the dryer trying to tumble the very heavy soaking clothing. Ben and I had a quick tutorial on how clothes should never be drippy when going into the dryer and if this ever happens again, come get mommy. Oh the joys of scaling Mount Washmore.
I needs more coffee.
Washy and his brother are working fine by the way. The washer is running as we ...type/read...? There are still a couple loads to be done to eradicate all the dirty laundry. I did MANY loads yesterday and thanks to the wonder substance known as caffeine I even put my clothes away in my new bureau. And do you know WHAT??? Thanks to the wonder spatial event known as more drawers, my clothes FIT in the bureau!!! The drawers can open and close with ease and nothing gets caught.
There is even room for more.... shh don't tell.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
On top of Ol' Laaaauuuundryyyy
There is quite a view...its getting so taaaallll there should be snow tooo......
Yes the laundty mountain is STILL not a foothill despite yeasterdays efforts. Its not the Everest it was...but its defininitly not levelled out. ARGH me and my laziness. See this is all because A) HM went away and while the cat is away the mouse totally slacks on the housework B) when HM returned he brougfht with him his laundry ($&*rassafrackin&#!...grrr)C) we had company so housework was not attacked this weekend as planned D) Cammie wet the bed.... These all added up to crazy laundry madness. No back to bed for me today. Laundry..only laundry..and maybe some knitting...and making supper...and hanging my curtains...
I assembled the laundry hamper and I am very pleased with its addition to the bathroom. Its already full, too. Whoda thunk it?
Last night for supper I made a recipe from the current Eating Well magazine. May I just say this is an awesome food maghazine? Its fantastic food but healthy and there are lots of healthy food articles too. We had a customer at our shop whose daughter worked for the magazine at that time and he recommended it as a title we should carry and thats how I got hooked.
Anyways, here it is:
Linguine with Escarole & Shrimp
NUTRITION PROFILE:
Low Calorie | High Fiber | Low Sat Fat | High Potassium | Heart Healthy | Healthy Weight
VIEW COMPLETE NUTRITION GUIDELINES »
Lots of tangy lemon, fresh tomatoes, escarole and shrimp create an incredible sauce for whole-wheat pasta. Serve with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and whole-grain bread.
Makes 6 servings, about 1 1/3 cups each
ACTIVE TIME: 45 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 45 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy
8 ounces whole-wheat linguine
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 pound peeled and deveined raw shrimp (16-20 per pound)
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 cup white wine
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
16 cups thinly sliced escarole (2-3 heads) or chard leaves
1/4 cup clam juice or water (see Shopping Tip)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice
6 lemon wedges for garnish
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook linguine until just tender, 8 to 10 minutes or according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, heat 3 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook until pink and curled, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add garlic and the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to the pan and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add wine and cook until reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes. Add escarole (or chard) in handfuls, stirring until it wilts before adding more; cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens are tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Whisk clam juice (or water) and cornstarch in a small bowl then add to the pan; simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Return the shrimp and any accumulated juices to the pan, add lemon juice, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper and cook until heated through, about 1 minute.
4. Drain the linguine and return it to the pot. Add the sauce; toss to coat. Serve with lemon wedges.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 271 calories; 5 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 112 mg cholesterol; 37 g carbohydrate; 20 g protein; 10 g fiber; 502 mg sodium; 751 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (70% daily value), Folate (55% dv), Vitamin C (30% dv), Magnesium (25% dv), Potassium (21% dv).
2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 2 lean meat
TIP: Shopping Tip: Some bottled clam juices are very high in sodium, so salt the recipe accordingly. We like the Bar Harbor brand (120 mg sodium per 2-ounce serving). Look for it with the canned fish or in the seafood department of your supermarket.
USER COMMENTS
The best that can be said for this is that it is healthy and filling. But extremely boring. Some grated paremesan helped a little.
Susan, Ottawa, ON
I used spinach instead of escarole or swiss chard because I couldn't find either at the market. HM put parmesan on his like the User Comments. And it didn't make 6 servings in THIS house. More like 3 1/2. heehee
Yes the laundty mountain is STILL not a foothill despite yeasterdays efforts. Its not the Everest it was...but its defininitly not levelled out. ARGH me and my laziness. See this is all because A) HM went away and while the cat is away the mouse totally slacks on the housework B) when HM returned he brougfht with him his laundry ($&*rassafrackin&#!...grrr)C) we had company so housework was not attacked this weekend as planned D) Cammie wet the bed.... These all added up to crazy laundry madness. No back to bed for me today. Laundry..only laundry..and maybe some knitting...and making supper...and hanging my curtains...
I assembled the laundry hamper and I am very pleased with its addition to the bathroom. Its already full, too. Whoda thunk it?
Last night for supper I made a recipe from the current Eating Well magazine. May I just say this is an awesome food maghazine? Its fantastic food but healthy and there are lots of healthy food articles too. We had a customer at our shop whose daughter worked for the magazine at that time and he recommended it as a title we should carry and thats how I got hooked.
Anyways, here it is:
Linguine with Escarole & Shrimp
NUTRITION PROFILE:
Low Calorie | High Fiber | Low Sat Fat | High Potassium | Heart Healthy | Healthy Weight
VIEW COMPLETE NUTRITION GUIDELINES »
Lots of tangy lemon, fresh tomatoes, escarole and shrimp create an incredible sauce for whole-wheat pasta. Serve with a glass of Sauvignon Blanc and whole-grain bread.
Makes 6 servings, about 1 1/3 cups each
ACTIVE TIME: 45 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 45 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy
8 ounces whole-wheat linguine
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 pound peeled and deveined raw shrimp (16-20 per pound)
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, plus more to taste
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1/2 cup white wine
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
16 cups thinly sliced escarole (2-3 heads) or chard leaves
1/4 cup clam juice or water (see Shopping Tip)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon lemon juice
6 lemon wedges for garnish
1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook linguine until just tender, 8 to 10 minutes or according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, heat 3 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shrimp, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook until pink and curled, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
3. Add garlic and the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to the pan and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add wine and cook until reduced by half, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes. Add escarole (or chard) in handfuls, stirring until it wilts before adding more; cook, stirring occasionally, until the greens are tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Whisk clam juice (or water) and cornstarch in a small bowl then add to the pan; simmer until slightly thickened, about 2 minutes. Return the shrimp and any accumulated juices to the pan, add lemon juice, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper and cook until heated through, about 1 minute.
4. Drain the linguine and return it to the pot. Add the sauce; toss to coat. Serve with lemon wedges.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 271 calories; 5 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 112 mg cholesterol; 37 g carbohydrate; 20 g protein; 10 g fiber; 502 mg sodium; 751 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (70% daily value), Folate (55% dv), Vitamin C (30% dv), Magnesium (25% dv), Potassium (21% dv).
2 Carbohydrate Servings
Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 vegetable, 2 lean meat
TIP: Shopping Tip: Some bottled clam juices are very high in sodium, so salt the recipe accordingly. We like the Bar Harbor brand (120 mg sodium per 2-ounce serving). Look for it with the canned fish or in the seafood department of your supermarket.
USER COMMENTS
The best that can be said for this is that it is healthy and filling. But extremely boring. Some grated paremesan helped a little.
Susan, Ottawa, ON
I used spinach instead of escarole or swiss chard because I couldn't find either at the market. HM put parmesan on his like the User Comments. And it didn't make 6 servings in THIS house. More like 3 1/2. heehee
Monday, February 11, 2008
Monday is my new favourite day
Why? Because the boys are in this English reading program at lunchtime so that means I have the whole day, from the time they leave til the time they get home after shool, to MYSELF. Oh sweet UNINTERRUPTED peace and quiet how I have missed you. And what did I do so far? I slept.
Sad but terribly true, but I am exhausted from no sleeping in this weekend, and y'know how I loves my sleepin' in. We had early rising company visiting so we were good hosts and got up to make coffee and be sociable even though my sociable doesn't kick in til later. Sunday we took advantage of the getting up for guests to go to Ikea EARLY (unheard of!). By 11:30 we were back in the car with...ahem...a lot of stuff. 2 new dressers for our bedroom to deal with the ugly dresser and drawer shortage. A new laundry hamper of which I say we need about 50 to deal with the dirty laundry this house creates but oh well, we got one. A low table/coffee table thing to go next to my knitting chair, a duvet. a duvet cover, curtains, rods, finials, brackets, coordinating pillows....oh and lightbulbs. The car was packed. As soon as we were home and unpacked HM started assembly. this was a disaster for the largest bureau because the parts weren't right at all. Holes and pegs and drawer bottom slots did not line up. The half assembled bureau went back into the car with the smi assembled drawers and went back to Ikea. Oh and smaller bureau was perfect...but big bureau was seriously f%cked up. HM returned home with new boxes of bureau and by bedtime had it assembled. It looks lovely. We moved the antique loveseat from the dormer window nook to the end of the bed and put small dresser in its place. Tall dresser is where my white one had been. I washed the new duvet cover and the throw pillow covers and the assembled it all on the bed. Holy warmness!! That one duvet (the 365 duvet(year round)) is warmer than the two blankets it has replaced together. I was seriously warm...too warm. But its so poofy ... Today sleeping it was like nestling in to a comforting burrow. Aaaaahhhhh...
We went skiing on Saturday which was ok. i only managed one run thanks to the foot cramps from my boots and the terror that alpine skiing has for me now. In 2006 I was coming along very well! I was exhilerated and enjoyed it and did several runs each trip. Now I am terrified the whole time that I am going too fast and the other people are going too fast and they are going to crash into me I just know it and Godds why do skis have to be so f&cking FAST..... Going slow and VERY controled is tiring on the ol' quads lemme tell you. I spent the rest of the afternoon knitting...or trying to. Devising stranded knit earflaps for a project. I got both done and when home attached them into the cast on BACKWARDS...had to rip and re-cast on Sunday. I was just too tired saturday night(see above about no sleeping in) when the problem arose.
So that, in a nutshell is why today is my new favourite day. I sleep in, I do SFA more or less althought I do have a load of laundry in the washer now an will be doing at least one more, I will most likely knit or clean the kitchen too. And I suppose supper should be thought of....
Yup...
Until I meet the boys for their 4 PM hair cuts, my time is my own.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Remedies and an Idea..I has one
Cameron came home at lunch with mildly bloody socks. Seems he has contracted himself a case of Athlete's Foot. Not surprising given the fact that his feet get wet every day in his boots which may not dry thoroughly overnight (he has TWO pair and we rotate them wet for dry) plus wearing his maybe wet socks in his indoor shoes all day. Now that he showers himself (mostly) I haven't been going over him with the eagle eye like when I did the scrubbin's. Anyways, today was the day when his feet lost enough skin to weep a bit so I kept him home from school for the afternoon to go shopping. First he had a tea tree oil foot soak.
One pair of his boots literally has a hole in it now so they went into the trash. His other pair were dry this morning but wet by lunch hour even though I spray them with silicone spray (they aren't rubbery..kinda quilted vinyly stuff). We hit Walmart and I found boots for NINE bucks(regular $35). I bought two pair. They are not super fantastico like Kamik or Sorel but will do to finish off this winter. Colour me happy at such a deal. also found kids sweat pants for $6. Woo Hoo.
Hit Jean Coutu for dry green clay and searching for an essential oil thats particularly good for athlete's foot (tagetes). Could not find it anywhere I searched (2 drug stores, 3 brands of essential oils) so I got Cypress instead. Also got some zinc oxide cream.
Now, y'all might say "You don't have babies...why zinc oxide cream???" Well, lemme tell ya. Zinc oxide cream is indispensible in any home. Use it on : zits, cracked heels, cracked finger tips, jock itch, and other irritations besides diaper rash. Zinc is bactericidal and speeds heeling while the petroleum jelly and lanolin in the cream moisturises.
Once we were home I made a foot powder with the green clay, a bit of baking soda, and essential oils of : Tea Tree, Cypress, Lavender, and Eucalyptus.
I made a foot rub oil with olive oil and : Mint, Tea Tree, Cypress, and Lavender. It smells really nice but it tickles Cameron to have me rub his feet. LOL
Now for my IDEA:
I was visiting the gardening group on Ravelry and was inspired by a discussion on knit items for gardeners: one suggestion was a handle cozy for when you are raking or hoeing. My thoughts are these: one could make one by knitting in the round a sleeve for the straight handled tools It could be felted for durability and cushioning one's grip. The choices are to make it openended at both ends and glue it in place, or close one end with decreases etc like a glove finger and leave it loose so you can take it off and wash it. Bye bye blisters and slivers but not sure if it would slide too much.
Other Idea: THICK Felted knee pads or kneeling pad to protect tender knees from the ravages of kneeling in the dirt. Maybe Lambs Pride Bulky held double with a 12 or 15 mm needle? Maybe two layers of such? Or 3 layers of regular felted knitting?
By the way, dollar store flutter boards make awesome CHEAP kneeling pads.
What thinkst thou, oh knitters and gardeners?
One pair of his boots literally has a hole in it now so they went into the trash. His other pair were dry this morning but wet by lunch hour even though I spray them with silicone spray (they aren't rubbery..kinda quilted vinyly stuff). We hit Walmart and I found boots for NINE bucks(regular $35). I bought two pair. They are not super fantastico like Kamik or Sorel but will do to finish off this winter. Colour me happy at such a deal. also found kids sweat pants for $6. Woo Hoo.
Hit Jean Coutu for dry green clay and searching for an essential oil thats particularly good for athlete's foot (tagetes). Could not find it anywhere I searched (2 drug stores, 3 brands of essential oils) so I got Cypress instead. Also got some zinc oxide cream.
Now, y'all might say "You don't have babies...why zinc oxide cream???" Well, lemme tell ya. Zinc oxide cream is indispensible in any home. Use it on : zits, cracked heels, cracked finger tips, jock itch, and other irritations besides diaper rash. Zinc is bactericidal and speeds heeling while the petroleum jelly and lanolin in the cream moisturises.
Once we were home I made a foot powder with the green clay, a bit of baking soda, and essential oils of : Tea Tree, Cypress, Lavender, and Eucalyptus.
I made a foot rub oil with olive oil and : Mint, Tea Tree, Cypress, and Lavender. It smells really nice but it tickles Cameron to have me rub his feet. LOL
Now for my IDEA:
I was visiting the gardening group on Ravelry and was inspired by a discussion on knit items for gardeners: one suggestion was a handle cozy for when you are raking or hoeing. My thoughts are these: one could make one by knitting in the round a sleeve for the straight handled tools It could be felted for durability and cushioning one's grip. The choices are to make it openended at both ends and glue it in place, or close one end with decreases etc like a glove finger and leave it loose so you can take it off and wash it. Bye bye blisters and slivers but not sure if it would slide too much.
Other Idea: THICK Felted knee pads or kneeling pad to protect tender knees from the ravages of kneeling in the dirt. Maybe Lambs Pride Bulky held double with a 12 or 15 mm needle? Maybe two layers of such? Or 3 layers of regular felted knitting?
By the way, dollar store flutter boards make awesome CHEAP kneeling pads.
What thinkst thou, oh knitters and gardeners?
A Plan...we has one
Spring (ish) Break is coming up here at Chez AliP at the end of this month. This has been an adjustment since we moved here...March Break in February? WTF?? back in NS ALL the public schools have the March Break vay-cay at the same time. Here in the Qc its staggered. Another adjustment because you say "We have break at this time" and someone is bound to tell you you are wrong because they have break at another time...but thats another story for another time...
HM arrived back from Va Beach last night full of love for that lovely place and this morning we had a discussion as to what this family will do for Break. Will we driv many many hours and lose two days to travel and go to his new favourite place in the 'Verse,or stay in province and do winter fun stuffs. Trust, it was a bit difficult to decide. I was kinda thinking that strolling on a vacant beach and not having to wear heavy duty outer garments would be a novelty in February...sigh. But the fact is thats a lot of driving for 2 or thress days of no snow. We are Canadian. We decided to embrace the snow. Plus if we don't go to Valcartier, the kids may kill us in our sleep.
SO, the plan is made. A room is booked at the Hotel Quebec in Ste-Foy for 3 nights. Its our favourite because of the pool area and good food in the restaurant. We have stayed there a few times now. Winter fun and shenanigans will be had at Village Des Vacances Valcartier. http://www.valcartier.com/page.aspx?GP=223&SID=241&LA=EN
If you have never been to Valcartier in winter OR summer you are missing some serious fun. Our first time was when the boys were pre-schoolers and we were here for a family visit at Christmas.
There...a vacation plan. We has one.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Whirlwind weekend
Friday we had snow. BIG snow, little snow, ice pellets...we had a storm that dumped big time. My friend Dana was scheduled to spend the night here Chez Nous after our knitfest at Effiloche. Well...Effiloche didn't happen for us thanks to the storm but Dana, being resourceful and wise in the ways of public transit, took the Metro to Laval and hopped an express bus right to the station which is only a couple blocks away from here. I got totally stuck trying to get out of my driveway and it took our wonderful neighbors Luc and Helene plus some random snowstorm pedestrian to push the $%^&&ing Acura out of the driveway. I tell you, I never woulda got stuck if I had the Volvo BUT someone has that in Virginia Beach where he's whooping it up with clients.
I finally made it to the bus station, got Dana, we went and grabbed pizza etc and rushed back home to the kids who were watching TV. Luc snow blowered my driveway Friday night during the storm. I owe BIG.
Saturday we lazed around in our jammies and ate pancakes and chocolatines and drank coffee and talked gardens. Then we decided we would get out so we showered, dressed, made the kids dress, and headed into Montreal. When we came out to shovel our way out because the plow had been by again and more snow was in the drive and on the stairs etc etc etc we discovered Luc had blowered out the end of the drive AGAIn. I owe SO big..
We hit Carta Magica for cards to bribe the kids with and then went to Effiloche to visit Ginette, whom I adore. Mucho hugs from G and Daniel. Ginette and I discussed a business proposition she had for me in knitting samples for her shop in return for compensation. This is kinda exciting! Daniel was also curious if I would do some for him at some point and we will discuss later if he still wants.
So, for Ginette I have two Fake Isles to knit. I love that pattern SO much. Easy but looks amazing!!! After we left Effiloche Dana treated us to dinner at Faste Fou. YUMMY fries there.
I wanted to cast on for the Fake Isle when I got home but I needed to call my mom and get scolded for not calling in days, read to the boys before bed, and then I was POOPED.
Today I have laundry piled so high...oh boy..
However, through LaineyGossip.com I found this clip of Sarah Silverman and I link it here because it HILARIOUS.
Backstory : Jimmy Kimmel has a running gag about bumping Matt Damon at the end of his show...Matt Damon has played along spectacularly..this clip is in retaliation for being bumped all the time. Sarah Silverman is Kimmel's long time girlfriend.
Enjoy: http://www.break.com/index/shes-screwing-matt-damon.html
An excellent finale to a great weekend.
I finally made it to the bus station, got Dana, we went and grabbed pizza etc and rushed back home to the kids who were watching TV. Luc snow blowered my driveway Friday night during the storm. I owe BIG.
Saturday we lazed around in our jammies and ate pancakes and chocolatines and drank coffee and talked gardens. Then we decided we would get out so we showered, dressed, made the kids dress, and headed into Montreal. When we came out to shovel our way out because the plow had been by again and more snow was in the drive and on the stairs etc etc etc we discovered Luc had blowered out the end of the drive AGAIn. I owe SO big..
We hit Carta Magica for cards to bribe the kids with and then went to Effiloche to visit Ginette, whom I adore. Mucho hugs from G and Daniel. Ginette and I discussed a business proposition she had for me in knitting samples for her shop in return for compensation. This is kinda exciting! Daniel was also curious if I would do some for him at some point and we will discuss later if he still wants.
So, for Ginette I have two Fake Isles to knit. I love that pattern SO much. Easy but looks amazing!!! After we left Effiloche Dana treated us to dinner at Faste Fou. YUMMY fries there.
I wanted to cast on for the Fake Isle when I got home but I needed to call my mom and get scolded for not calling in days, read to the boys before bed, and then I was POOPED.
Today I have laundry piled so high...oh boy..
However, through LaineyGossip.com I found this clip of Sarah Silverman and I link it here because it HILARIOUS.
Backstory : Jimmy Kimmel has a running gag about bumping Matt Damon at the end of his show...Matt Damon has played along spectacularly..this clip is in retaliation for being bumped all the time. Sarah Silverman is Kimmel's long time girlfriend.
Enjoy: http://www.break.com/index/shes-screwing-matt-damon.html
An excellent finale to a great weekend.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tuesday (what i did Monday)
I tried to post last night but the innernets was not cooperating with me. Here I am now though.
Yesterday was such a beautiful day that I went skiing again! I know!!... how crazy am I???
There is a trail we knew of but hadn't ever checked out so after lunch I dropped the boys at school and continued on my way to the trail Sure enough there were ski tracks so I got geared up and hit this unknown territory. Alone! I wasn't very stiff or sore so I was feeling a bit cocky. Lets just say I fell down more while alone..LOL
The trail went through a wooded area behind a subdivision and next to a golf course (Club Versant). The sun was shining and the ski was blue and my lungs were burning and my heart was pounding and my hands were aching from gripping my poles so tight. From the distance markers along the trail I think I did over 4 kms in an hour. I gfuess we could just measure by time: I skied for an hour with very short stops to A) get back up and B) catch my breath. Boy was I glad when I was DONE. LOL
The weather for today and tomorrow is BLEAH!!! Rain/snow/sleet/high winds... I am so glad I went out yesterday. My legs are stiffer, my back too, but it was good. And then I had a big nap. hee hee
Now, before I went out I had put RIBS in the oven. I have really got it goin' on when it comes to ribs now I must say.
Step one: Season the pork ribs and lay them in a roaster. I used Mrs Dash "Chicken and Rib" (i think thats the name) and a wee bit of salt. Then pour some water in the bottom of the pan, not much..less than a cup. Cover and place in a 200 degree F oven to steam cook slowly.
Step Two: Go skiing
Step 3: Take a nap.
Step 4 : ( 5 hours after step one) Increase oven to 300 for 30 minutes.
Step 5: Remove ribs from the roaster to a broiler pan or baking sheet. They should be pretty much falling a part so be careful. Douse with sauce and return to the oven, turn it up to 350 and leave it for 30 minutes to bake the sauce onto the ribs.
I served with potatoes and a vegetable. They were terrific. Tah-Dah!!!
Yesterday was such a beautiful day that I went skiing again! I know!!... how crazy am I???
There is a trail we knew of but hadn't ever checked out so after lunch I dropped the boys at school and continued on my way to the trail Sure enough there were ski tracks so I got geared up and hit this unknown territory. Alone! I wasn't very stiff or sore so I was feeling a bit cocky. Lets just say I fell down more while alone..LOL
The trail went through a wooded area behind a subdivision and next to a golf course (Club Versant). The sun was shining and the ski was blue and my lungs were burning and my heart was pounding and my hands were aching from gripping my poles so tight. From the distance markers along the trail I think I did over 4 kms in an hour. I gfuess we could just measure by time: I skied for an hour with very short stops to A) get back up and B) catch my breath. Boy was I glad when I was DONE. LOL
The weather for today and tomorrow is BLEAH!!! Rain/snow/sleet/high winds... I am so glad I went out yesterday. My legs are stiffer, my back too, but it was good. And then I had a big nap. hee hee
Now, before I went out I had put RIBS in the oven. I have really got it goin' on when it comes to ribs now I must say.
Step one: Season the pork ribs and lay them in a roaster. I used Mrs Dash "Chicken and Rib" (i think thats the name) and a wee bit of salt. Then pour some water in the bottom of the pan, not much..less than a cup. Cover and place in a 200 degree F oven to steam cook slowly.
Step Two: Go skiing
Step 3: Take a nap.
Step 4 : ( 5 hours after step one) Increase oven to 300 for 30 minutes.
Step 5: Remove ribs from the roaster to a broiler pan or baking sheet. They should be pretty much falling a part so be careful. Douse with sauce and return to the oven, turn it up to 350 and leave it for 30 minutes to bake the sauce onto the ribs.
I served with potatoes and a vegetable. They were terrific. Tah-Dah!!!
Sunday, January 27, 2008
A Beautiful Winter Day
Warm hand made socks (hand dyed by me too!), x-country skiing (ski fond in French), and I only fell down once!!! I had a hard time getting up so HM had to help. Lets just say between the laughter and getting bonked on the head by the camera around his neck, him helping me up was NOT a pretty or graceful sight.
So a I posted yesterday I had GREAT trepidation about buying the skis and going out for an afternoon of ski fond with HM. I couldn't get the pretty skis because the didn't have the right size for me(poop) so I got regular ol' skis and they work dandy. I love my boots. This afternoon we left right after the sitter arrived and headed for Cafe Castel to meet the Montreal Knits Sunday girls because I was buying newbie mary's Denise needles. Since we were there and had paid for parking, I let Samir talk me into cappucinos. Ok he didn't have to talk us into it. The man is a cappucino artist...he makes cool designs with the foam. I got a butterfly..hee hee Pretty coffee..hee hee HM got to meet the gals and see that YES I really do go out to knit with people and they got to see that he's not as bad as I say he is nd that he survives my abuse quite well.
Then it was off to Cap St Jacques for ski fond. And I did quite well for my first time in 23 years. The first half of the trail was harder than the second half but I only stopped a couple times to catch my breath. The legs and thighs were fine but MY BACK was not happy. At the top of a ginormous hill (ok...it was a small rise but you try shufflin' up a hill in skis) was the cabane where you can sit, get a snack, and in the sugar season have something syruppy. I had tea and a muffing and tried to cool off. Then we were off again and thats when I fell down. LOL
The back didn't scream for the second part of the trail and we had some good laughs. Afterwards we went to the Deli De La Tratorria in Pierrefonds for another cappucino and some goodies and then headed home. All in all it was a nice day and more romantic, in my opinion, than dinner and a movie. HM even offered to carry my skis at the end...(everyone go "AAAWWWWWWWW").. tee hee.
So now I'm chillin' with a beer and can't wait for next time.
It was all kinds of wonderful.
Back log pics 2
Ski babies and the Auto Show 2008. They did not like sharing a convertible and someone was very tired by the end.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
What to do.....
Who knew that sleeping so much would end up sapping my muscles of so much strength? Ok..technically EVERYONE knows that but now I am living it. I have never been in such bad shape in my life and thats saying something because I have nevr EVER been IN shape. This is bad. A crisis of sorts for me personally.
Two weeks ago we went skiing and I barely made it through one run. ONE run where I used do do lots. Yes, my new boots are incredibly painful but it was also my thigh muscles burning that shocked me. Only ONE run. So incredibly pathetic.
I hate walking because its boring as hell. Working out to a video? Been there~ yuck to that. Join Curves? Did it and didn't go.
Tomorrow HM wants to get me some cross country gear. I loved cross country skiing as a teen. Haven't done it since although I wanted to and had the skis and boots iuntil my feet got too fat for said boots. I used to ask HM to get some xcountry skis and ski with me and he was always..NO WAY.
Well guess who bought xcountry skis when he was in Montreal alone for 6 months 3 years ago? He went a lot both with his Dad and alone and LOVED it. (ARGH!!!!!)
Since the kids and I have been here he hasn't used his cross country gear and we have spoken of it. So, tomorrow is the day we go and get me some gear and I start cross countrying again.
This should have me bouncing with joy and anticipation but actually i am having big trepidation. This whole out of shape is VERY bad and NOT an exaggeration and I fear the shame I will feel tomorrow trying to xcrountry for the first time in 23 years. The shame, the pain, the burning sensation in my lungs and various body parts, the anger and rage I will feel at myself for allowing this to happen......
This could be all kinds of wonderful or very very unwonderful and traumatizing. I'll let you know if i live.
Two weeks ago we went skiing and I barely made it through one run. ONE run where I used do do lots. Yes, my new boots are incredibly painful but it was also my thigh muscles burning that shocked me. Only ONE run. So incredibly pathetic.
I hate walking because its boring as hell. Working out to a video? Been there~ yuck to that. Join Curves? Did it and didn't go.
Tomorrow HM wants to get me some cross country gear. I loved cross country skiing as a teen. Haven't done it since although I wanted to and had the skis and boots iuntil my feet got too fat for said boots. I used to ask HM to get some xcountry skis and ski with me and he was always..NO WAY.
Well guess who bought xcountry skis when he was in Montreal alone for 6 months 3 years ago? He went a lot both with his Dad and alone and LOVED it. (ARGH!!!!!)
Since the kids and I have been here he hasn't used his cross country gear and we have spoken of it. So, tomorrow is the day we go and get me some gear and I start cross countrying again.
This should have me bouncing with joy and anticipation but actually i am having big trepidation. This whole out of shape is VERY bad and NOT an exaggeration and I fear the shame I will feel tomorrow trying to xcrountry for the first time in 23 years. The shame, the pain, the burning sensation in my lungs and various body parts, the anger and rage I will feel at myself for allowing this to happen......
This could be all kinds of wonderful or very very unwonderful and traumatizing. I'll let you know if i live.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Thursdayness..........
Its Thursday and its F%cking cold out there. Minus 20ish Celcius...no idea on the Farenheit (I believe minus 7C is 20 degrees F...I think I heard that on the news yesterday and was all "Oh...how interesting.." but i maybe remembering it wrong.)
~Break taken to find Celcius conversion online~
Nope I remembered the above more or less correctly ( -7C is technically 19.4F but who is counting)
Ok...Minus Twenty degrees Celcius is equal to minus 4 F.
Suffice to say: Its Chilly!!
So...what else besides its cold...ummm....
There is knitting tonight at Ariadne but I am feeling draggy so I think I just want to stay home tonight. Must go to Sunday's knit though because I have arranged to buy someones spare set of Denise needles at a great price and am quite excited. There are felted Denise holding bag patterns on Cat Bordhi's site http://www.catbordhi.com/free_patterns.html and I think i will have to make one because the Denise case doesn't have room for additional needles according to what I have read.
No school tomorerow and we were supposed to go to Sheila, Ben's therapist,(www.creativeandplaytherapy.com), but her poor mom has been in an accident and Sheila needed to cancel. Ben will be disappointed but I don't mind so much since it means no rushing around on a "day off". Sheila is absolutely amazing I do have to say and if you or someone you know has issues to be worked through, she is fabulous.
Dr William Dyer is on Ellen right now and I have never heard him speak before. Oh my gods the man is brilliant and so inspiring. WOW. His latest book is based on the Tao and its teachings. He quoted Mark Twain:
"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds upon the heel that has crushed it."I leave that thought with you now.
~Break taken to find Celcius conversion online~
Nope I remembered the above more or less correctly ( -7C is technically 19.4F but who is counting)
Ok...Minus Twenty degrees Celcius is equal to minus 4 F.
Suffice to say: Its Chilly!!
So...what else besides its cold...ummm....
There is knitting tonight at Ariadne but I am feeling draggy so I think I just want to stay home tonight. Must go to Sunday's knit though because I have arranged to buy someones spare set of Denise needles at a great price and am quite excited. There are felted Denise holding bag patterns on Cat Bordhi's site http://www.catbordhi.com/free_patterns.html and I think i will have to make one because the Denise case doesn't have room for additional needles according to what I have read.
No school tomorerow and we were supposed to go to Sheila, Ben's therapist,(www.creativeandplaytherapy.com), but her poor mom has been in an accident and Sheila needed to cancel. Ben will be disappointed but I don't mind so much since it means no rushing around on a "day off". Sheila is absolutely amazing I do have to say and if you or someone you know has issues to be worked through, she is fabulous.
Dr William Dyer is on Ellen right now and I have never heard him speak before. Oh my gods the man is brilliant and so inspiring. WOW. His latest book is based on the Tao and its teachings. He quoted Mark Twain:
"Forgiveness is the fragrance the violet sheds upon the heel that has crushed it."I leave that thought with you now.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
How bizarre and sad.
It was all over the internet yesterday about Heath Ledger's death. You know, thats how his FAMILY found out! It was all over the media before the police even could call next of kin. Sick and wrong, that.
Heath Ledger was never my favourite actor though I do not dispute the fact that the man had massive talent. With so much life, film opportunities, his daughter's life, etc ahead of him, his time is over. It really is such a waste. Sad sad sad.
Heath Ledger was never my favourite actor though I do not dispute the fact that the man had massive talent. With so much life, film opportunities, his daughter's life, etc ahead of him, his time is over. It really is such a waste. Sad sad sad.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
OSCAR says Canadians Rock!
Ok..maybe not precisely like that but come on! Sarah Polley is nominated(or at least her film is) and Ellen Page and Jason Reitman are in Juno, which is nominated for Best Picture. Whats strange about Juno's nomination? Its a COMEDY. Thats almost unheard of, a comedy getting nominated for best picture.
Ok..now, why do I even care? Technically I don't so much. My cinophile tendencies are getting pretty watered down as the years go by, no longer a wanna be actress...no longer working in video stores...You know how it is.
Ok..back to why I am interested in Juno's nomination... Ellen Page is the actress playing Juno, the lead character in the movie of that name. She is a mere 20 years old and already her career is kinda WOW (Pit Pony, Marion Bridge, Hard Candy, X-Men Last Stand)! and...AND......
SHE is from Halifax, Nova Scotia!!!!!!! Yeah baby!
Ellen Page's family must be flippin' out with excitement. Halifax? Can ya's hear them screamin'??
Betcha registration at The Shambhala School goes up cuz of this. heh heh
Ok..now, why do I even care? Technically I don't so much. My cinophile tendencies are getting pretty watered down as the years go by, no longer a wanna be actress...no longer working in video stores...You know how it is.
Ok..back to why I am interested in Juno's nomination... Ellen Page is the actress playing Juno, the lead character in the movie of that name. She is a mere 20 years old and already her career is kinda WOW (Pit Pony, Marion Bridge, Hard Candy, X-Men Last Stand)! and...AND......
SHE is from Halifax, Nova Scotia!!!!!!! Yeah baby!
Ellen Page's family must be flippin' out with excitement. Halifax? Can ya's hear them screamin'??
Betcha registration at The Shambhala School goes up cuz of this. heh heh
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Yummy!
In A Panic salad:
I am calling it this because I had supper going when HM called and it turned out he didn't pick up the spiced potatoes at Adonis like I told him to. Yes I did tell you. So what to do but throw on some rice and make a salad...but out of what?? A fridge search scrounged up this........
Red Onion (OR sweet spanish onion) thinly sliced in half rounds
Plum Tomatoes thinly sliced
English cucumber thinly sliced
fresh Cilantro leaves chopped
Olive oil, Red wine vinegar, a drop or so of honey, salt and pepper.
Slice the veggies and throw them in a bowl. Chop the cilantro ( a goodly amount)and toss that in with the veggies.
Into a clean jar Put oil and vinegar enough for your salad and add to it a drop or so of honey, just to take the edge off, and salt and pepper. Shake well and pour over the other ingredients, tossing the salad with your hands until slices are all separated and coated and mixed up.
Serve with meal.
I sit here and hour and a half eating the leftovers. Gods this is good.
I am calling it this because I had supper going when HM called and it turned out he didn't pick up the spiced potatoes at Adonis like I told him to. Yes I did tell you. So what to do but throw on some rice and make a salad...but out of what?? A fridge search scrounged up this........
Red Onion (OR sweet spanish onion) thinly sliced in half rounds
Plum Tomatoes thinly sliced
English cucumber thinly sliced
fresh Cilantro leaves chopped
Olive oil, Red wine vinegar, a drop or so of honey, salt and pepper.
Slice the veggies and throw them in a bowl. Chop the cilantro ( a goodly amount)and toss that in with the veggies.
Into a clean jar Put oil and vinegar enough for your salad and add to it a drop or so of honey, just to take the edge off, and salt and pepper. Shake well and pour over the other ingredients, tossing the salad with your hands until slices are all separated and coated and mixed up.
Serve with meal.
I sit here and hour and a half eating the leftovers. Gods this is good.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Friggity Diggity Doo
Which is exactly what I got done today...nothing. I slept in, talked to my mom, got ready to go to the ski hill, knit in the bar after we got our pass photos done (got almost nothing done thanks to Frak ups following my mitten chart). Came home and made an Indian recipe from my Xmas Gift cookbook for supper while HM got the kids KFC. They never in a million would eat Minced Lamb and Peas with saffron rice and raita. It was very good and also very easy if you have all the spices etc. Next time I will up the chili powder or green chilis. I used the last of my cumin seed too and they weren't real fresh so they lacked a certain sum'n sum'n.
Now I am tired. I stayed out too late last night. It was Friday night knitting at Effiloche and after I drove my knit pal Dana home, we had a vissie at her place just the two of us. It was nice to see her apartment and borrow her knitting book, see her stashlette. I paid for it though because after I got home, I couldn't go right to bed (it was way after midnight) and I stayed up reading until after 2 am. I am tired and cranky because of PMS too. Oh, the heads I could have joyfully torn loose from bodies today for practically NO REASON except I had a low simmering rage going all afternoon. Awful. Sorry for being me , World. Tomorrow will most likely be better.
Now I am tired. I stayed out too late last night. It was Friday night knitting at Effiloche and after I drove my knit pal Dana home, we had a vissie at her place just the two of us. It was nice to see her apartment and borrow her knitting book, see her stashlette. I paid for it though because after I got home, I couldn't go right to bed (it was way after midnight) and I stayed up reading until after 2 am. I am tired and cranky because of PMS too. Oh, the heads I could have joyfully torn loose from bodies today for practically NO REASON except I had a low simmering rage going all afternoon. Awful. Sorry for being me , World. Tomorrow will most likely be better.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Diary of a lazy slacker: Day..ummmm
I'm too lazy to work out the math of what day of my existance it is...especially what with leap years and shit.
Went knitting last night and enjoyed my time. Got a bit done on sleeve one of Cameron's sweater, now I am done the increases. Got a bit done on my second sock. Both are stockingette boredom mindless knitting but switching was actually a relief thanks to the different gauges and colours.
Mitten experiment continues slowly when I have the focus to follow the graph. Its sooo puuuurrrrty.
Of course since I am bored with projects I itch to cast on something new and interesting. Must..resist..startitis... The siren song of the stash calls to me "Try a new sock pattern with a nicer heeeelll, Alison...." " What about those felted mittens you bought me fooorr?... "
Be quiet, voices from behind my chair!! Shush or I'll release some moths!!
This morning was lovely. Ben woke early and not only made his own breakfast (toast and peanut butter) and got dressed before I even came downstairs but he also fed the dog, put her out AND lined up all the morning pills. That sounds awful doesn't it...my morning phamily pharmaceutical round up... Ben has a prescription, and then there are the vitamins and EFA supplements that I make the guys take each morning and Cammie's Nasonex spray when I remember. See?? I am not supermedicating my kids,...really! The number of vitamin jars would be reduced by one if the boys took the same vitamins but I have Flintstones for picky eaters for Ben and sour gummi Flintstones for Cameron because he specially requested them and he is not such a picky eater. They take different EFA capsules too. Super duper dose for Ben (to try and help with the ADD and the fact he eats a very limited variety of foods) and Junior formula in easier to swallow size for Cammie (who eats a MUCH more varied diet than Ben but can't swallow the capsules Ben takes, or i'd give them the same ones). This is the second morning in a row that Ben has been cheery and bright and helpful and its absolutely delightful.
What made today even better than yesterday was that by the time I got downstairs after an apres alarm clock snuggle with Cameron, he too had gotten dressed and made himself a bowl of cereal for breakfast!!! WTF!? I stood there...with nothing to do but dole out the pharmacopia and give many hugs and kisses and praises for such a wonderful surprise. My mornings are usually full of wheedling, coaxing, demanding,, threatening, and finally screaming in order to get the boys ready and out the door on time, paired with breakfast preparations and chore reminders (feed the dog). Is this what it will be like when they are teens and I'm not supposed to have to herd them through morning preparations??? Its awesome. They were out the door this morning with time to spare for a cold walk to school with happy dispositions. Oh it was magical. Le sigh.........
Went knitting last night and enjoyed my time. Got a bit done on sleeve one of Cameron's sweater, now I am done the increases. Got a bit done on my second sock. Both are stockingette boredom mindless knitting but switching was actually a relief thanks to the different gauges and colours.
Mitten experiment continues slowly when I have the focus to follow the graph. Its sooo puuuurrrrty.
Of course since I am bored with projects I itch to cast on something new and interesting. Must..resist..startitis... The siren song of the stash calls to me "Try a new sock pattern with a nicer heeeelll, Alison...." " What about those felted mittens you bought me fooorr?... "
Be quiet, voices from behind my chair!! Shush or I'll release some moths!!
This morning was lovely. Ben woke early and not only made his own breakfast (toast and peanut butter) and got dressed before I even came downstairs but he also fed the dog, put her out AND lined up all the morning pills. That sounds awful doesn't it...my morning phamily pharmaceutical round up... Ben has a prescription, and then there are the vitamins and EFA supplements that I make the guys take each morning and Cammie's Nasonex spray when I remember. See?? I am not supermedicating my kids,...really! The number of vitamin jars would be reduced by one if the boys took the same vitamins but I have Flintstones for picky eaters for Ben and sour gummi Flintstones for Cameron because he specially requested them and he is not such a picky eater. They take different EFA capsules too. Super duper dose for Ben (to try and help with the ADD and the fact he eats a very limited variety of foods) and Junior formula in easier to swallow size for Cammie (who eats a MUCH more varied diet than Ben but can't swallow the capsules Ben takes, or i'd give them the same ones). This is the second morning in a row that Ben has been cheery and bright and helpful and its absolutely delightful.
What made today even better than yesterday was that by the time I got downstairs after an apres alarm clock snuggle with Cameron, he too had gotten dressed and made himself a bowl of cereal for breakfast!!! WTF!? I stood there...with nothing to do but dole out the pharmacopia and give many hugs and kisses and praises for such a wonderful surprise. My mornings are usually full of wheedling, coaxing, demanding,, threatening, and finally screaming in order to get the boys ready and out the door on time, paired with breakfast preparations and chore reminders (feed the dog). Is this what it will be like when they are teens and I'm not supposed to have to herd them through morning preparations??? Its awesome. They were out the door this morning with time to spare for a cold walk to school with happy dispositions. Oh it was magical. Le sigh.........
Monday, January 14, 2008
Oh sweet frakking Jeebus
If I here Hello Delilah one more time today I will really get very cranky!!!!!
Although today there was parody on the radio called Hey There Jemima. It was about pancakes. Yum.
Although today there was parody on the radio called Hey There Jemima. It was about pancakes. Yum.
Last one
This is the sampling of my yarn haul...one skein of each type I got. The "blue" variegated in the back is actually a purple. Stupid camera. The variagated with orange is also featuring purple, not blue.
The brown sock yarn by "lifestyles"(hee hee isn't that a condom brand???)has a soft ballerina pink and aqua/turquoise in it that just made me go crazy for it. LOVE LOVE LOVE.
More pics
Sunday had me out and about with Marla then on Tuesday my family gathered to give best wishes to my nephew Trevor and his bride to be. My sister Jessie recieved the biggest poinsettia that I ever saw EVER. Her hubbie's biker pal brought it from where he works where they were preparing to THROW THEM OUT!!! Holy tax write off/wasted money. Isn't amazing????
NS Trip
My trip to NS was great. I had a wonderful chatty lunch with friend Karen on the Dartmouth waterfront on the Friday then we went for a walk.
Saturday saw a snow storm but that didn't stop me and Barb from our Yarn crawl and hooking up the the Halifax KOL crew. More pictures to follow!
Sunday, January 13, 2008
New funny
I have just got hooked on "The Pen". If you are fond of sheep and New Zealand and sheepish New zealander humour, this might be for you too. Cooincidentally Flight Of The Conchords member Jemaine Clement plays Robert.
http://www.myspace.com/robertandsheepy
Saturday, January 12, 2008
I Am LongCat!!
Your Score: Longcat
64% Affectionate, 45% Excitable, 46% Hungry
Protector of truth.
Slayer of darkness.
Loooooong.
Longcat may seem like just a regular lengthy cat, but he is, in fact, looong. For proof, observe the longpic.
It is prophesized that Longcat and his archnemesis Tacgnol will battle for supremacy on Caturday. The outcome will change the face of the world, and indeed the very fabric of lolcatdom, forever.
Be grateful that the test has chosen you, and only you, to have this title.
To see all possible results, checka dis.
| Link: The Which Lolcat Are You? Test written by GumOtaku on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test View My Profile(GumOtaku) |
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Ok....
I may regret it but I am creating a 72 stitch mitten using a chart for a ram's horn motif and the cuff instructions for "Pirates". Yarns? Cherry Tree Hill in Foxy Lady and Briggs and Little sport in white...on 2.75 needles. Its a little looser than most would knit but my 2.5 s are busy.
May I just say that the Cherry Tree Hill makes me want to weep with its beauty. If I and said mitten survive they will be exquisite.
May I just say that the Cherry Tree Hill makes me want to weep with its beauty. If I and said mitten survive they will be exquisite.
Long Time
Its been days since I posted and I have my reasons, laziness being one, but also stuff has been going on etc .
The HusbandMan called from work last Friday to announce we had to discuss something. Of course I felt that minute panic of "oh crap he saw how much yarn I bought in Halifax" but then I relaxed because I didn't buy THAT much. Turns out he'd found out about a job opportunity back home in Halifax and should we consider it. That filled my head space for the entire weekend..should we? ...shouldn't we? Yes? No? Looked at real estate just incase... Finally he talked to his higher up about it on Monday and while moving back would be great, it doesn't feel like this would be a most secure move. We moved here for some job security, such as it can be. Even if this job he has now was a dud, a large metropolis has more employment opportunities at HM's level than back in the Maritimes. To move back there to a position that is precarious at the moment and have no back up opportunities is very scary. So the decision is we stay the course, and thats fine. Mostly. While I see the need to be secure and like it very much, I still miss home. Not as much as I used to, but still... So I am glad the question is resolved as it is but have some residual sadness.
The boys are back to school this week and the daily bitching and complaining began immediately. "I hate school!" "I'm too tired!" "Drive us!!" " I'm not eating that for breakfast/lunch!!" "I don't want to do my homework!!" Blah blah blah. Oh structure how I've missed you! NOT!
Yesterday, it was very windy here. the morning wasn't so bad but the forecast for blustery day proved correct. TOO correct. We are no tempo-less. A tempo, for those outside Qc., is a temporary shelter for ones car. A seasonal garage consisting of a steel framework and a fitted cover of tarplike materials tied to it. One weights this mother down with concrete blocks and also stakes it to the ground. Yesterday in the blusteryness, our tempo went tits up into the front yard..totally turtled!! Pieces of the steel frame were twisted and bolts snapped, concrete blocks lay where the dropped, my pretty lampost was sheared off and needs to be replaced in the spring when the snow is gone to expose the rest of it. Holy moley! I had called my husband at work once earier on, when it was kinda funny how the tempo was filling with wind occassionally like a hot air balloon. He was very busy and not as interested as I was. Then I called back later and said " I know you are really busy and I'm sorry to call again, but I have a Holy Shit situation on my hands and have no idea how to proceed!" He replied that he was on his way! I took pictures so he would see how bad it was and just incase we were to put the damage through insurance. My neighbor came over aNd started dismantling the structure for me while I dealt with lunchtime kids and then together we had it partially dismantalled and totally uncovered so the wind couldn't move it anymore.
The weird thing? I'd gone out for a few minutes in the car earlier and decided to park on the other part of the driveway when I returned about 15 minutes before the tempo hit the fan. How's that for being watched over??! We would have had SERIOUS car damage if I had parked under the shelter as usual.
As soon as I can I will post the pictures.
On the knitting front I am very discontented. I want to start new things but when I try to decide its never right and things get ripped over and over. I am on the gusset decreases of sock 1 of my first pair for ME. I'm using Lismore Sheep Farm sport weight (single ply) that I hand dyed this summer with candy colours on white. Plain vanilla sock pattern though. Cameron's sweater draaaaagggggs on through stockingette wasteland. I have a sleeve on the go for that too. I tried to start a double knit mitten for Ben but its been ripped 3 times. Maybe I'm just bored? sigh. I haven't started Bird in Hand because I think its too hard for me plus I cannot settle on a colour combination. I want to make Norwegian mittens so badly but I don't have a pattern that doesn't have some fussy cuff edging besides the Pirate mitten...maybe I could take the pirate mitten and use its cuff with another graph...? sigh. HELP!!
The HusbandMan called from work last Friday to announce we had to discuss something. Of course I felt that minute panic of "oh crap he saw how much yarn I bought in Halifax" but then I relaxed because I didn't buy THAT much. Turns out he'd found out about a job opportunity back home in Halifax and should we consider it. That filled my head space for the entire weekend..should we? ...shouldn't we? Yes? No? Looked at real estate just incase... Finally he talked to his higher up about it on Monday and while moving back would be great, it doesn't feel like this would be a most secure move. We moved here for some job security, such as it can be. Even if this job he has now was a dud, a large metropolis has more employment opportunities at HM's level than back in the Maritimes. To move back there to a position that is precarious at the moment and have no back up opportunities is very scary. So the decision is we stay the course, and thats fine. Mostly. While I see the need to be secure and like it very much, I still miss home. Not as much as I used to, but still... So I am glad the question is resolved as it is but have some residual sadness.
The boys are back to school this week and the daily bitching and complaining began immediately. "I hate school!" "I'm too tired!" "Drive us!!" " I'm not eating that for breakfast/lunch!!" "I don't want to do my homework!!" Blah blah blah. Oh structure how I've missed you! NOT!
Yesterday, it was very windy here. the morning wasn't so bad but the forecast for blustery day proved correct. TOO correct. We are no tempo-less. A tempo, for those outside Qc., is a temporary shelter for ones car. A seasonal garage consisting of a steel framework and a fitted cover of tarplike materials tied to it. One weights this mother down with concrete blocks and also stakes it to the ground. Yesterday in the blusteryness, our tempo went tits up into the front yard..totally turtled!! Pieces of the steel frame were twisted and bolts snapped, concrete blocks lay where the dropped, my pretty lampost was sheared off and needs to be replaced in the spring when the snow is gone to expose the rest of it. Holy moley! I had called my husband at work once earier on, when it was kinda funny how the tempo was filling with wind occassionally like a hot air balloon. He was very busy and not as interested as I was. Then I called back later and said " I know you are really busy and I'm sorry to call again, but I have a Holy Shit situation on my hands and have no idea how to proceed!" He replied that he was on his way! I took pictures so he would see how bad it was and just incase we were to put the damage through insurance. My neighbor came over aNd started dismantling the structure for me while I dealt with lunchtime kids and then together we had it partially dismantalled and totally uncovered so the wind couldn't move it anymore.
The weird thing? I'd gone out for a few minutes in the car earlier and decided to park on the other part of the driveway when I returned about 15 minutes before the tempo hit the fan. How's that for being watched over??! We would have had SERIOUS car damage if I had parked under the shelter as usual.
As soon as I can I will post the pictures.
On the knitting front I am very discontented. I want to start new things but when I try to decide its never right and things get ripped over and over. I am on the gusset decreases of sock 1 of my first pair for ME. I'm using Lismore Sheep Farm sport weight (single ply) that I hand dyed this summer with candy colours on white. Plain vanilla sock pattern though. Cameron's sweater draaaaagggggs on through stockingette wasteland. I have a sleeve on the go for that too. I tried to start a double knit mitten for Ben but its been ripped 3 times. Maybe I'm just bored? sigh. I haven't started Bird in Hand because I think its too hard for me plus I cannot settle on a colour combination. I want to make Norwegian mittens so badly but I don't have a pattern that doesn't have some fussy cuff edging besides the Pirate mitten...maybe I could take the pirate mitten and use its cuff with another graph...? sigh. HELP!!
Thursday, January 03, 2008
I'm Back and its Next Year!!!
Holy crap. I went away for a week and when I returned it was the next year! 2008 is here. Time space continuum something or other, or too many Yellowbirds at my sister's house? Hmmm......
I had a great time in NS visiting with friends Barb and Marla and the 902 area code knitters that showed up at The Wired Monk coffee shop on the 29th for some yarny companionship. Hollah, home girls!!!!!
Anyhoo, I return with gifts of the Debbis Bliss book How To Knit which has been on my WANT list because of its concise instructions for cables etc. I loooovvveee yoooouuuu Baaaarrrrb! Also, yummy chocolates were delightful and are all gone. I also returned home with some stash enhancement and ANOTHER bookshelf addition, Ann Budd's sweater pattern book. These and the Christmas offerings of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Opinionated Knitter and Knitting Workshop make for a pretty full shelf.
On the stash enhjancement we have Lion Brand variegated wool, Paton's variegated wool, Paron's Krpy sock yarn, and LifeStyles by Zircon (?) sock yarn in subtle pale pink, beige, turquoise/aqua, and brown. LOVE it. The photo (to be published later) only shows one skein of each addition. Trust...there is more.
Tonight HM returned home from work bearing a gift. He neglected to purchase the first season of Flight Of The Conchords as a gift and the guilt/nagging/bitching/pouting was really getting to him so he hunted Montreal and Laval after work for a copy and brought it home to me. YAY!!! So, once the kids go to bed, you know what time its going to be. That's right.
Its gonna be time for Business Time.
I had a great time in NS visiting with friends Barb and Marla and the 902 area code knitters that showed up at The Wired Monk coffee shop on the 29th for some yarny companionship. Hollah, home girls!!!!!
Anyhoo, I return with gifts of the Debbis Bliss book How To Knit which has been on my WANT list because of its concise instructions for cables etc. I loooovvveee yoooouuuu Baaaarrrrb! Also, yummy chocolates were delightful and are all gone. I also returned home with some stash enhancement and ANOTHER bookshelf addition, Ann Budd's sweater pattern book. These and the Christmas offerings of Elizabeth Zimmermann's Opinionated Knitter and Knitting Workshop make for a pretty full shelf.
On the stash enhjancement we have Lion Brand variegated wool, Paton's variegated wool, Paron's Krpy sock yarn, and LifeStyles by Zircon (?) sock yarn in subtle pale pink, beige, turquoise/aqua, and brown. LOVE it. The photo (to be published later) only shows one skein of each addition. Trust...there is more.
Tonight HM returned home from work bearing a gift. He neglected to purchase the first season of Flight Of The Conchords as a gift and the guilt/nagging/bitching/pouting was really getting to him so he hunted Montreal and Laval after work for a copy and brought it home to me. YAY!!! So, once the kids go to bed, you know what time its going to be. That's right.
Its gonna be time for Business Time.
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