It doesn't have to be a special time of year for me to make a frittata; they are great all the time. This one was made with zucchini and just big enough for one person made especially without onions.
Even though a certain someone isn't supposed to eat wheat, Mr. Cowboy made up a batch of pyrahi; russian dumplings filled with vegetables and served with lots of melted butter and a dollop of sour cream.
The studio is finally done and last night I started filling the shelves with some of my favourite stuff; things that inspire me and remind me of my travels and happy times.
As you can see my post office cubbies are still empty and so are the dressers.
Haven't had time to hang anything on the walls.
The window seat cushions have been hastily covered with old rice bags (which are in mint condition) but you can't see them because all my scrapbooking supplies are in the way.
My wonderful Janome is sitting atop an old table which I have had for at least thirty years. I think it is time for a new table.
My cutting table was put to use tonight; sadly the first thing I created in my new space is a sympathy card for a co-worker who just lost her husband this morning after a lengthy illness.
I will be making another sympathy card during the week as another co-worker's mother passed away.
It felt really good to be in my own space and I know that today it was a sympathy card but tomorrow I could be creating a baby quilt.
We just spent almost two hours listening to Margaret Atwood; she was funny but barely looked up from her script. I groaned when she started talking about zombies but as Maura reminded me, they are a metaphor for consumerism, disease, or hordes of hopeless youth.
One friend said she didn't like the talk at all. I was just glad to have seen her.
I tried a new recipe for the potluck today and it certainly wasn't a heart-smart dessert. Take copious amounts of butter and brown sugar, add heaping spoons of espresso powder, and then throw in handfuls of chocolate chips and almonds. Get someone with muscles (thank you Mr. Cowboy) to mix this for you. With your hands you press the almond extract infused dough into a rimmed baking sheet. The recipe says to bake it for 45 to 50 minutes. I over did the baking because as soon as you cut them up they start to crisp up as they cool so less time in the oven makes for a chewier bar. These are great for dunking into your coffee.
Coffee Crunch Bars from the February 2009 issue of Bon Appetit magazine via Molly Wizenberg.
Had planned a hike up to the radio tower but it was socked in this morning so we walked the much easier river trail. And we had lots of company.
Burgers for lunch but these are not your average burgers. They are so big that we will not be able to eat meat for the rest of the week.
I love when this happens; the whole city disappears as the eiderdown quilt spreads between the mountains and the river. From up above it looks solid, but as we head down the hill the fog moves silently out of our way.
The awful white tiles were a recycle from another reno job; I'll be glad when they are gone.
The only problem removing the awful tiles was the metal lip that was installed around the room; may have to do some extra mudding to repair the holes.
The ceiling is done; the tongue and groove pine looks great and went up without a hitch.
Next I will be choosing a wall colour for my studio.
This is what happens when you leave a job half done instead of calling a proper landscaper to trim the cedar hedge; we are hoping that the damage to the hedge is minimal.
These are called Jack's Buttermilk Pancakes and I have no idea where the recipe came from. But it makes a huge stack of pancakes, enough for a few more breakfasts and a dozen for the Scottish neighbour who just loves his "pannies".
The above-pictured cinnamon rolls are made without wheat, yeast, or sugar and they are so good tasting that Maura said she could eat a pan a day. So could I! This recipe for Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls is from Tastyyummies. We did not use raisins but loaded these babies up with pecans.
I have a smaller version of this bear; his name is Persimmon; we adopted him 25 years ago and he hasn't lost any of his character or softness.
"The artist is the servant of that intention, those angels, that Muse. The enemy of the artist is the small-time Ego, which begets Resistance, which is the dragon that guards the gold.That's why an artist must be a warrior and, like all warriors, artists over time acquire modesty and humility. They may, some of them, conduct themselves flamboyantly in public. But alone with the work they are chaste and humble. They know they are not the source of the creations they bring into being. They only facilitate. They carry. They are the willing and skilled instruments of the gods and goddesses they serve."
"Creative work is not a selfish act or a bid for attention on the part of the artist. It's a gift to the world and every being in it. Don't cheat us of your contribution. Give us what you've got."
From The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
