Monday 29 August 2011

Episode 21 - Two Sides - Monday, August 29, 2011

Link to Episode 21!

Creativity Studio

The "Wisteria in Bloom" Doily info is over on ravlery.com.

Country Living

Four Seasons In One Day

Four seasons in one day
Lying in the depths of your imagination
Worlds above and worlds below
The sun shines on the black clouds
Hanging over the domain
Even when you're feeling warm
The temperature could drop away
Like four seasons in one day

Smiling as the shit comes down
You can tell a man from what he has to say
Everything gets turned around
And I will risk my neck again
You can take me where you will
Up the creek and through the mill
Like all the things you can't explain
Four seasons in one day

Blood dries up
Like rain, like rain
Fills my cup
Like four seasons in one day

It doesn't pay to make predictions
Sleeping on an unmade bed
Finding out wherever there is comfort
There is pain
Only one step away
Like four seasons in one day

Blood dries up
Like rain, like rain
Fills my cup
Like four seasons in one day


Monday 22 August 2011

Episode 20 - Playing Catch-Up - Monday, August 22, 2011

Link to Episode 20!

Creativity Studio

The pattern for my alpaca shawl is called "Governor's Lady" in the pamphlet "Crochet for Tables, No. 202" by The Spool Cotton Company, 1943.  Head over to ravelry.com to check out projects made with this pattern!

Country Living

Pecan Brown Sugar Shortbread

1 c unsalted butter, softened
1/2 c brown sugar, packed
2 1/4 c flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c finely chopped pecans (or so)

In a mixing bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar.  Stir in flour and salt.  Stir in pecans.  Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth, about 3 minutes.  Pat out to 1/3" thickness and cut into squares, rectangles, triangles, etc.   Poke each cookie with a fork (to prevent puffing while baking). Place cookies about 1" apart on an ungreased cookie sheet, and bake at 300F until browned on the bottom and cookies have firmed up (not hard, just until when you touch them lightly they still have a bit of an indent left), about 20-25 min.  Don't over bake or they will be dry.  Makes about 42.
N.B.  This is a recipe to use good quality ingredients in.  Fresh flour, fresh nuts and fresh butter does make a big difference!  I would suggest using dark brown sugar if you have it for the most flavour, but I regularly use light brown because that is what I normally have in the house, and the flavour is pretty good.  These are a "sandy" style shortbread, not the "melt in your mouth kind" that typically uses cornstarch.

Link to Hardcore History podcast archives.  Dan Carlin is the host.  Episodes are also available over on iTunes as well.

Monday 15 August 2011

Episode 19 - What I Did On My Summer Stay-cation - Monday, August 15, 2011

Link for Episode 19!



Creativity Studio

Link to Annie Lennox singing "Something So Right" (sorry, no embedding :( )

Country Living

That Beefy-Noodley Thing

1 - 1.5 lbs. ground beef (or thinly sliced/cubed/ground pork or chicken)
2 packages ramen noodles (I used Sapporo Ichiban brand, link to amazon.com)
2 - 4 c frozen mixed veggies (or so, I don't measure, just use what you've got)
2 c hot water
additional: onion powder, garlic powder, soy sauce (just a bit), sambal oelek (fresh chili paste) or other hot sauce, or substitute fresh veggies for frozen (pre-sautee if needed, like onion)

In a large non-stick pan, sautee ground beef (or brown if cubed/sliced meat).  Add noodles (slightly crushed), soup flavouring packages, veggies and water.  Bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for about 5-10 minutes, making sure noodles are moistened and cooking.  Add a bit of cornstarch in cold water if too wet, and cook for a couple of minutes.  Serve!  NB: Try and use a decent brand of noodles.  The really cheap ones just don't have good flavour, or stand up to the cooking and get mushy.

Monday 8 August 2011

Episode 18 "Re-" - Monday, August 8, 2011

Link to Episode 18!

Creativity Studio

Link to jayfroggy on etsy.com.  This is the artist who does the "Ojo de Dios" (or Eye of God) mandalas with yarn.  Really cool and fabulous colours!

Link to Studio E G K on etsy.com.  Woodblock prints of rural life and animals.  Link to Studio E G K personal website.

Link to Tugboat Print Shop on etsy.com.  Very detailed woodblock prints.

Link to D. Michael Coffee Prints on etsy.com.  Abstract prints using 3 colour reductive ink process, as well as block prints.

Monday 1 August 2011

Episode 17 - Down Time - Monday, August 1, 2011

Link to Episode 17!  This week's episode picture is reclaimed cotton yarn.

Creativity Studio

Link to "How to Reclaim Yarn/Unravel a Sweater"

Critter Corner

Link to darford.com.  We get Obie's dog treats from them.  Treats are no gluten, no grain and no GMO's.  His last box of treats had a bag of free dog food for stray dogs attached to it, and I fed it to the strays that came up to me this week.