Dee-lish!

Things are really starting to get crazy here!  Between this awful heat, work, wedding planning and trying to enjoy the summer, good spare time is hard to find!  Wedding coordination is going well and I'll be able to show you the progress I've made in a little while.

I wanted to share with you the meal My Mister made last night.  He's such a great cook!  Although, it may be his fault when I don't fit into my wedding dress!  Mister marinated beef tips and then cooked them on the grill.  He grilled up the summer squash and zucchini, and the garlic scapes got a quick lick of fire, too.    Bu that's not the best part.  Behold:

Homemade Effing Hollandaise sauce.  Holy. Shit.  I just wanted to drink the whole bowl of it.  I refrained- we're not married yet and I don't want to scare him away before he's legally obligated to stay with me.

Have you had any great summer meals you wouldn't mind sharing?  

I feel like I've been in a culinary rut lately.  

Please do share your favorite hot weather recipes! 

A Quickie!

I was tagged by BMORE CRAFTY to fill in this super fun, random quickie quiz- how could I not play along! Here goes!

1. What's your staple meal (ie. what meal do you cook most often when you can't be bothered to be adventurous) ?
A really lazy night is Quorn fake nuggets and a California Pizza Kitchen Margherita pizza. If I'm feeling a little more motivated but still tired, I'll make an Indian dish.  I have a lot of really great recipes where the hardest part is having the ingredients on hand, the rest is throwing them in a pot and letting the spices do all the work.  I've tried all of Smitten Kitchen's Indian recipes, and they are all good.   This book is good as well.

2. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I'm still not sure.  I'm happy working in antiques for now, but I'm not sure if this will be the field in which I stay for the rest of my life.  I'm seriously thinking about learning how to play the fiddle, so maybe I'll be a rock star.  Let's hope.

3. What book are you reading at the moment (if any)
Ugh, I'm reading Twilight.  I told myself that I would never read it, but curiosity got the best of me and I borrowed it from Implausible Yarn Heather.  I'm also reading A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle.  It makes me want to go to France for our honeymoon.  

4. How do you relax?
I really love reading all of your blogs.  Seriously.  Nothing makes me feel better than to come home after a hard days work and catch up with all of you.  After that, I really like to get in the kitchen and prepare a nice meal.  I love chopping veggies and measuring and just generally being creative with my food.  Also, eating is a wonderful way to relax.  

5. What color are the interior walls of your home?
I'm renting right now, so the walls are an off-white bland blah.  Someday I will have creative control of my walls!

6. What is your guiltiest pleasure?
America's Next Top Model.  There.  I said it.  I am so ashamed, yet I can't help myself.  I just love it when they fight and cry and the judges are mean and then there are the JAYS! The whole thing is such a shitshow- I can't help but love it.

7. What time is bedtime and getting up time?
Bedtime is around 12 or 1 am.  I wake up at 7:30 on a regular work day, and as late as I can when I'm blessed with a day off.  The latest I can sleep usually is around 9:30- I wish it could be later.  I love to sleep.

8. How long do you spend reading blogs (per day or per week)?
Oh, wow.  Probably about an hour a day, off and on.  I read blogs with my coffee in the morning, and when I get home after work in the evening.  Then I'll check my google reader off and on.  If there's a new post, I'll read it.

Part of this is to tag a couple of people with the same little quiz.  Just off the top of my head:

Implausible Yarn.

Maiden Jane.

The 60/40.

Virginia is for...

Lyrical Journey. 

Karoline Knits.

Goldenbird Knits.

FO: Hamamelis Shawl!

~~~I changed my banner- what do you think?
 I just love the photos you get in this summer light!~~~

While fondleing a skein of Fiberphile sock yarn I had in my stash, it dawned on me what it wanted to be.  I bought the pattern, downloaded it, and had finished the first chart the same night. Although it took me a while to finish the shawl, I'm still so so happy with it. I used to power through projects, but with everything so busy in my life I just need to accept that I will knit when I can, and finished things when they are done.

Ever since the pattern came out, I've wanted to knit the Hamamelis Shawl by Kirsten Kapur. I loved everything about it: the garterstitch border, the leaf design, the top down construction.  The pattern was well written and I didn't have any problems knitting it.  Smooth, gentle knitting on this one.  I knit the medium size on US 6 needles.

Please excuse the lack of "modeled" photos.  It's been so damn hot here in Maine, and the thought of wrapping wool around my neck sends me into a panic.  I'm sure this will get lots of use in the fall and winter months, but for now it will be laid out to be admired.

Moth Love.

I came upon this luna moth on my way to do laundry.  Luna moths only live for a week, and don't eat- they don't even have a mouth.  Their sole purpose is to reproduce.  Can you imagine living your whole moth life having sex and never being able to eat?  Can you imagine how hungry you must get fornicating all the time?  Just saying...

Creativity Boot Camp: Full Bodied (or full figured).

It took me a long time to come to terms with my body.  You see, when I was 12 my hips exploded.  My boobs blew up.  I was 12 years old and I had an ass.  In three months I acquired a body of an adult.  To a little kid all of those changes just felt bloated and unnatural.  And fat.  I felt like a monster.

For years I hid in oversized clothing.  Extra large men's t-shirts and big baggy pants were my uniform of choice.  Tent like hooded sweatshirts.  I didn't like myself.  I'd never really been overweight, but what I saw and what I felt were not real; my idea of myself had no attachment to reality.  I never had a full fledged eating disorder, but my self image was vastly different than how I actually appeared.  I know that now.

It's only until very recently that I've felt better in my skin.  I can wear clothing in my size and not feel completely exposed.  Finally, I've accepted that my hips may be a bit wide, that yes, I do in fact have buns, a chest- and that's ok.  I'm a woman.  Three years ago I never would have posted a picture of my ass on the interweb.  This is a bit of therapy for me- a letting go.  A way to settle the score between me and my body.

So there it is- full bodied.  A strange interpretation of today's prompt, but what the hell.

Yeeeeeeeeee-haw!

Last night I saw the Dixie Chicks!  I went with my bestie Torie (right) and her mum (left).  We had so much fun dancing and singing and whooping it up!  They've both seen the Chicks before, and they were nice enough to include me in their tradition- on one condition.  I had to wear a leopard print cowboy hat.  I agreed, and had such a great time!

The event was at Gillette Stadium, an outdoor arena in Boston.  It rained the whole time, but we danced on and made the best of it.  And really, there's nothing an $11 beer can't cure!

Thanks ladies, for a unforgettable night! 

Creativity Boot Camp: Fluid.

When I first read the prompt "fluid"  I didn't want to take a photo of water- that didn't work for me.  But the more I thought the more I couldn't get it out of my mind.  I really wanted to do the fish at work, or the condensation on a vase.  I really didn't want to go out and shoot the buggy out-of-doors and look like a tourist with my camera smashed into my face- gawking at something that is so obviously not out of the ordinary.  But then I realized- this is exactly what I needed to do to follow the assignment and do what I normally wouldn't do.  So here it is- a not macro shot of subject matter that isn't directly plant life (just the reflection of).

I believe that I captured not just the fluidity water, but of time and place.  I feel as though you could look at this photo and there's no restriction of what year it may be or exactly where it's located.  There's a bit of a story to it- the end of a day, sun is setting, the day is done, children are ordered out of the water and home for dinner.  It just feels nice.  Maybe I feel that way because I've known this place my whole life.  Maybe it gives me a warm, reassured feeling because it's my home.

I'm so excited to see what you all decided to focus on for today's prompt!  

I have to admit, it took me a while to convince myself that this shot was ok.  

I think that this course is good at helping me to learn that it's ok to step out of my bounds- 

and that beautiful things happen when I do.  

Creativity Boot Camp: Grow.

Today's photo is a bit too obvious, but I'm home sick with a migraine, so that's that.

I've been thinking about the music that I listened to as a teenager, and what my hopes and dreams were.  But the truth is, I didn't really have any.  I was a troubled kid who didn't really think I'd do much of anything except smoke pot and hang out and party.  I was kind of a jerk, with no real ambition or desire to do much of anything.

I'm not really sure what happened between then and now, I guess I've just grown.  Somehow I earned a degree in behavioral sciences, went on trips to Italy, Ireland and Mexico, found My Mister, adopted my Fatcat and have pursued so many fulfilling creative outlets.  I think I just got fed up with being slothful and unhappy.  I've changed so much as a person since then, and I really feel as though I need to celebrate that more often.  

Creativity Boot Camp: Heavy Metal.

I am so so so happy with my photograph today.  It was meant to be- we were shopping in a record store after a nice lunch and I saw a silver spray-painted (fake) skull.  Thank god I had my camera with me!  I set up the shot amongst the shelves and voila- here it is!  This is so different than anything I ever would have done- yet I'm thrilled with it.

Creativity Boot Camp- I love you!  

Creativity Boot Camp: Multilayered.

Layers of flowers on a stalk.  I've thought of the ways that things are layered in nature.  Petals on a flower, rings on a tree.

I'm having such a hard time putting my thoughts into words today!  I've started this over and over again, and still I can't quite put a finger on what I want to say.  I've been deep in thought all day about layers and interconnection in nature but I can't quite get the right words.  Humph.

I guess I'll just leave you with this photo and an exclamation that I'm loving CCB!  I've really learned a lot from this experience already- I can't wait to see what else is in store for us!

What do you think so far about Creativity Boot Camp?

Creativity Boot Camp: Picnic.

I had kind of a craptastic day today, that ended well, but was sure full of craptastical crap.  I thought about the topic today, "picnic", and tried to think about what makes a picnic special.  Baskets filled with goodies?  Lounging at the beach?  I tried to get really creative and think of out of the box stuff, but really all I could think of was getting out of work and having a cold beer outside.  Which goes with the picnic theme, but really I just wanted a beer.

I love the journaling prompt for today!  I've never thought of myself as an artist, and I'm not really sure why.  Why can't I be an artist?  A photographer?  Why do I feel as though my talents are less deserving of a title then the talents of other people?  There's no reason!

I guess the word "artist" has always been reserved for people who paint pictures and "do art" as a profession or are respected in a creative community as a creative person.  People who are artists are labeled as that by others, not themselves- or at least that's what I used to think.  I'm going to take this exercise to heart and really commit to the idea that I am an artist, dammit!  I make stuff, I put my heart into making things!  Whether it's a knitted garment or a really great meal, from now on I'm going to consider myself an artist in everything that I do!

Creativity Boot Camp: Ivory.

The prompt for the first day of Creativity Boot Camp was "Ivory".  I've been thinking all day about a lack of light, how to make monochromatic photos interesting, using shadow to make an image interesting, and how the hell do I express Ivory when I'm totally rained in?  My comfort in photography is taking pictures of flowers and natural objects in their natural settings, so this was a really fun exercise for me to get out of my comfort zone.

I started out by creating a still life of yarn.

Then I moved on to photographing forms of white, experimenting with shadows and shapes and shades of white.

I kept thinking about the word ivory, searching, thinking about ivory as an object instead of a color.  Keys on a piano are called ivories because they used to be veneered with ivory. I snapped off a few photos of the keyboard, and then went on to take both ideas and merge them: monochromatic images, with straight parallel lines.   

I love the group of photos I ended up with, and I had so much fun wandering around on this raining Sunday, taking photographs and thinking about new ways to make them interesting. I'm so glad that I signed on to be a part of the Creativity Boot Camp! I've already started working through some of my  mojo blockage issues- hurray for inspiration!

Beautiful Blogger Award!

I was awarded the beautiful blogger award by Erin at Dropped Stitches- Thanks, Erin!  I feel so honored  that she thought of me.  Sometimes it's easy to lose a bit of confidence, and receiving a beautiful Blogger Award was such a lovely way to affirm that my little ole blog is liked!  Part of accepting the beautiful blogger award is to list ten things that you all might not know about me.  Here it goes!

1.  When I was 8 I was attacked by a dog in my neighbors kitchen, with the whole family there..  It ripped open my face.  I had to get a second reconstructive surgery a couple of years later.  I still love dogs.

2. I received the superlatives "class clown" and "most sarcastic" my senior year.  Nearly 10 years later, my goofy self is still quite proud of the achievement.

3. Sometimes I dream I smoke cigarettes, and I love it.  But then I feel guilty in my dream- I think my subconscious is trying to tell me to cool it with the cigarette lust.  I was a heavy smoker (pack a day- eww!) up until 6 years ago.  I haven't had a puff since the day I quit.  I know that if I do I'll just start up again.

4. I really want to learn how to play the fiddle.  I was in an instrument store, saw the display of fiddles, and ever since then I can't stop thinking about how much fun it must be to play one!

5.  I'm a bleeding heart liberal.  Oozing bloody bleeding heart liberal.

6. I support the troops.  I really hate that there's an idea out there that liberal people don't support the members of their military. 

7.  I sing Tori Amos songs in the shower.  It's the only thing I can think of that I know the words to.    

8.  I've been on my own since I was 17.  I had to grow up pretty fast, but I don't look back at it with sadness.  My experiences make me who I am.  I embrace the things that have happened in the past- and I move forward.  

9.  Sometimes I snort when I laugh.  Thank god My Mister thinks it's cute!  

10.You know those lovely short winded blogs, where the person has a lovely picture and then brief text and you just think "oh, how beautiful! How sparse!"  I wish I could be like that.  I really, really envy those people.

It's so hard to pick only 10 people to receive the award- there are so many lovely blogs out there that I love so much! You are all beautiful bloggers!  It took me a while, but the awards to go: 

Little Red Said

Urban Muser

Jenn's Spot

Golden Bird Knits

Jenny's blog on Knitting

The Student Knitter

Viking Tea Party

Handmade at Home

Maiden Jane

Virginia is for...

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll be back later today with a Creativity Bootcamp update!

We Frolicked!

Today My Mister and I went to the Maine Fiber Frolic- one of my favorite events of the whole year!!! We had so so so much fun. It's been a tradition since we first started dating to go together every year. It was supposed to rain, but the weather stayed nice and it didn't rain the whole time we were there! The fiber gods were smiling down on us!

There were lots of really great vendors selling fiber, yarn, finished objects and notions. I picked up a few skeins of yarn, and they are soooo beautiful!

There were spinners all around! I tried out a couple of wheels, and really took a shine to an older saxony style wheel. It was a bit over budget ($400) and I think the budget for a second spinning wheel is about $0 right now. Oh, well. A girl can dream, can't she?

We ate gyros and sweet potato fries. We also had homemade ice cream. No photos of the dessert- we consumed our cones at warp speed.

Alpacas!

Sheep!

Goats- oh My!

I ooooo'd over a goat as a woman walked by and she stopped and said, "Want to hold her?" How could I not! The goats name was Noreaster, and she's a cashmere sweetie.  Her soft little coat was so delicious!

My Mister found two skeins of worsted weight wool that he loved.  They were really really inexpensive- $8.80 for 11 oz and $4.80 for 6 oz.  I can see the yarn becoming a cabled had and mitten set for him.

I used all of the restraint I could muster and picked up only two skeins of fingering weight yarn.  It's made by a company called String Theory and their colors are beautiful!    The fiber is 80% merino, 10% nylon and 10% cashmere.  I might do some sort of stranded colorwork, but when I bought the yarn I was thinking about making little shawlettes.  We'll see what happens!

I'm so proud of myself- I really went out of my color comfort zone and made a conscious decision to do so.  Do you ever find yourself buying the same shades and colors of yarn?  I never buy pinks or light colored yarns, so I'm so excited to have broken free of my repetitive habits- at least this time!

I've been knitting up a storm, but I'm a little weary 

of posting a wip shot- I don't want to jinx my mojo!  

Hope you're having a great weekend!  What have you been up to?  

Guilty {movie} Pleasures.

I so enjoyed hearing all about your guilty {food} pleasures!  I thought I'd present to you another edition of guilty pleasures- this time with the focus on movies!  Have you ever been asked the question "Have you seen Insert-Movie-Title-Here?" and you lie, and say no, or agree that that film was ATROCIOUS because the alternative is to show someone your lame/sappy/vulnerable/goofy side?  I'm sure I'm missing a ton, but here's a quick list of movies that I hate to love:


Mean Girls.  Preteen comedy?  WTF is wrong with me?  My only defense is that Tina Fey wrote it.

Superbad- so lewd that I can't help but love it.  I remember the first time I watched it, My Mister was shocked at how much I was laughing.  It's not at all my type of movie, but it cracks me up every time.

I don't even know how many times I've watched Tombstone.  I'll come clean as to why I like this movie- Val Kilmer, in this role and only in this role, is so very attractive to me, tuberculosis and all.  I know it's bad.  I know the acting is awful.   But there's something about this film that is so cheesy and over the top that I can't help but love it.

I love any Jane Austen book that's a movie- Sense and Sensibility, Mansfield Park, Pride and Prejudice.  I try to act like I'm not another dumb sappy girl, but I really am.  I can't believe I just admitted that.  

Musicals-  The Sound of Music, Mary Poppins- these are movies that I am so so so guilty about loving.  I grew up with them so it feels like a part of my past that I can't deny.  Julie Andrews is so annoyingly perfect and sweet, but I can't help but love her.  Shit.

I've saved the best for last- one of my all time favorite comfort movies of all time.  ALL TIME!!  My Mister thinks that I'm so lame, but I love love love love Marie Antoinette by Sophia Coppola.  I think she's one of my all time favorite director/writers.  I love so much about the film, but as far as historical value, well let's just put it this way-  I wouldn't watch this film in lieu of taking a French History class.  Not really accurate, but everything is so beautiful that I just ignore that part!

Tell me- what are the films that you hate to love?!  

I had such a great time reading all of your comments about your guilty {food} pleasures- please let me know your cringeworthy delights!

I can't wait to hear what you have to say!