I moved.
No, not that move. Just a little bloggy move.
I have combined all my blogs and am now over HERE.
Please come visit me. And comment. It's lonely there.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
A quilting lesson in semantics
I learned a valuable lesson today and it all comes down to semantics.
I have long believed that sewing boils down to not skill but whether or not you are a perfectionist. I was raised on the quote "The difference between a good seamstress and a bad seamstress is 1/16th of an inch". If you care about things like 1/16th inches, your projects will turn out well.
Today I learned something that should have been obvious long ago in my quilting career. Lesson: Straighten a border before adding the next border. Duh.
Since I am a perfectionist I figured I cut straight and sew straight. It should follow that my finished lines will be straight. Right?
Somehow no.
Two sides of my quilt are a tad wavy because I attached a straight border to a not straight edge. As I cut the other two sides straight I pondered my trouble and discovered it was a problem of semantics (not of faulty sewing of course). I thought a perfectionist did everything perfectly.
No, a perfectionist redoes things until they ARE perfect. A perfectionist notices things like uneven borders and fixes them before sewing on the next border.
Aha! Lesson learned.
Does this mean I pulled out my well used seam ripper?
Of course it does. Not. This perfectionist is also a homeschooling pregnant mom of 3 with 8 quilts in various stages of incompletion and about 100 projects on her someday list.
Thankfully I was also raised on a second quote: "No one will ever notice on a galloping horse."
A flag quilt SHOULD be wavy right? (just nod and say yes).
I have long believed that sewing boils down to not skill but whether or not you are a perfectionist. I was raised on the quote "The difference between a good seamstress and a bad seamstress is 1/16th of an inch". If you care about things like 1/16th inches, your projects will turn out well.
Today I learned something that should have been obvious long ago in my quilting career. Lesson: Straighten a border before adding the next border. Duh.
Since I am a perfectionist I figured I cut straight and sew straight. It should follow that my finished lines will be straight. Right?
Somehow no.Two sides of my quilt are a tad wavy because I attached a straight border to a not straight edge. As I cut the other two sides straight I pondered my trouble and discovered it was a problem of semantics (not of faulty sewing of course). I thought a perfectionist did everything perfectly.
No, a perfectionist redoes things until they ARE perfect. A perfectionist notices things like uneven borders and fixes them before sewing on the next border.
Aha! Lesson learned.
Does this mean I pulled out my well used seam ripper?
Of course it does. Not. This perfectionist is also a homeschooling pregnant mom of 3 with 8 quilts in various stages of incompletion and about 100 projects on her someday list.
Thankfully I was also raised on a second quote: "No one will ever notice on a galloping horse."
A flag quilt SHOULD be wavy right? (just nod and say yes).
Friday, September 4, 2009
I need a new kitchen
Some things in life are wants. Others are true needs. And I need a kitchen makeover. Please look at this link. If you live near me and have an old ugly entertainment center - or know someone who does - may I please have it? Pretty please? I'll use my other kitchen to make you up a batch of something yummy if you do.
Thanks. Pretty Girl will thank you too.
Thanks. Pretty Girl will thank you too.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
What's so bad about govt pushed artificial junk in my food?
My mom sent me this article this morning just to get a rise out of me. She titled her email "What if we were wrong about High Fructose Corn Syrup". So I decided to post it (and my soapbox response to it of course) on my blog.
My complaints with HFCS:
1 - It is more processed than table sugar. Maybe not a LOT more but some and I am trying to get toward things that are LESS processed than table sugar.
2 - It is in EVERYTHING. Even the commercial made by the corn growers that tried to say people are stupid if they think HFCS is bad says (quickly and slurred) "it's fine in moderation". But we don't consume it in moderation. Americans consume it in almost every thing they eat.
3 - Politically I am opposed to HFCS. The govt subsidizes it and I don't believe they have any business in that arena. The way their corn program works has weeded out the small farmers - the corn producers are primarily huge producers now. The govt has created corn giants and left a lot of farmers unemployed by creating a false market for something we really didn't need in our diets.
So no, I have not been wrong about HFCS. My opinions still stand.
My complaints with HFCS:
1 - It is more processed than table sugar. Maybe not a LOT more but some and I am trying to get toward things that are LESS processed than table sugar.
2 - It is in EVERYTHING. Even the commercial made by the corn growers that tried to say people are stupid if they think HFCS is bad says (quickly and slurred) "it's fine in moderation". But we don't consume it in moderation. Americans consume it in almost every thing they eat.
3 - Politically I am opposed to HFCS. The govt subsidizes it and I don't believe they have any business in that arena. The way their corn program works has weeded out the small farmers - the corn producers are primarily huge producers now. The govt has created corn giants and left a lot of farmers unemployed by creating a false market for something we really didn't need in our diets.
So no, I have not been wrong about HFCS. My opinions still stand.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Easy delicous healthy lunch
I stumbled across an amazing little lunch today.
Yesterday for dinner I broiled zucchini. I used to not be a zucchini fan (my only recipe was called "zucchini that's actually eatable") but I discovered a way to eat it like candy. Slice it thin, drizzle oil and either garlic salt or sea salt, then place under the broiler (grill would probably be even better) until it starts to brown, flipping once.
Last week when I made it no one would touch it and I ate the entire pan myself fresh cookie style (that's where you sneak another piece every time you walk through the kitchen).
Last night it wasn't finished until we (me and two kids) were finished eating (angel hair and diced eggplant) so not a lot was eaten. Today I took our leftover angel hair pasta and the leftover zucchini and chopped them in my pampered chef chopper. That way the zucchini pieces are small enough that no one can complain. It looked a lot like rice or roni minus all the chemicals.
It was delicious. The one yr old wouldn't taste it but once I pryed open her mouth and stuck in a bite she gobbled up the rest and even snuck a bite from her brother's unattended bowl. One boy devoured it and THANKED ME! for it. The non veggie eater declared it gross and just stared at it. I took the baby upstairs to bed and told him if it wasn't gone when I came back down, I got to eat it AND his granola bar (another recipe I need to share w/ you). About 2 minutes later his was gone so I'm assuming the complaints were just an act and he secretly loved it.
The biggest failure of the event was that I didn't make enough and all I got to do was lick the bowls and sneak a few bites of the baby's lunch. There you have it. An entire novel on our lunch. Go make yourself some. Then call me so I can lick your bowl clean too.
Yesterday for dinner I broiled zucchini. I used to not be a zucchini fan (my only recipe was called "zucchini that's actually eatable") but I discovered a way to eat it like candy. Slice it thin, drizzle oil and either garlic salt or sea salt, then place under the broiler (grill would probably be even better) until it starts to brown, flipping once.
Last week when I made it no one would touch it and I ate the entire pan myself fresh cookie style (that's where you sneak another piece every time you walk through the kitchen).
Last night it wasn't finished until we (me and two kids) were finished eating (angel hair and diced eggplant) so not a lot was eaten. Today I took our leftover angel hair pasta and the leftover zucchini and chopped them in my pampered chef chopper. That way the zucchini pieces are small enough that no one can complain. It looked a lot like rice or roni minus all the chemicals.
It was delicious. The one yr old wouldn't taste it but once I pryed open her mouth and stuck in a bite she gobbled up the rest and even snuck a bite from her brother's unattended bowl. One boy devoured it and THANKED ME! for it. The non veggie eater declared it gross and just stared at it. I took the baby upstairs to bed and told him if it wasn't gone when I came back down, I got to eat it AND his granola bar (another recipe I need to share w/ you). About 2 minutes later his was gone so I'm assuming the complaints were just an act and he secretly loved it.The biggest failure of the event was that I didn't make enough and all I got to do was lick the bowls and sneak a few bites of the baby's lunch. There you have it. An entire novel on our lunch. Go make yourself some. Then call me so I can lick your bowl clean too.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Dream Home Giveaway
Ha ha. You thought I was giving away a free home. Nope, just sharing my dream. I have made lists such as this several times over the years but I am hoping in a couple years my dream will turn into reality and I thought it would be kinda handy if I actually knew WHERE my list resided.
I would LOVE to hear feedback on my wishlist. If you disagree with me - I must know WHY before I get what I thought I wanted but didn't. If I left out necessities, please tell me that too!
Upstairs laundry room:
I think laundry would be so much less of a chore if it could happen right there where we strip and dress. No more running to the basement with baskets. No more baby crying at the top of the stairs because she really can't bear to not help.
Gigantic upstairs laundry room:
I am very particular about my laundry and I sort into various loads. I like to do it as the laundry arrives so I need space for baskets of every type of load. I also love the idea of a family closet - which we almost have now (4 of the 5 of us). I want an entire HUGE wall of shelves for each family member. Infrequently worn, space taking, or non washed items (like dresses, suits, ties) can go in each person's room but the stuff I have to put away, I would love to be just a step away. This would also cut down on the pull all the clothes out of the dresser and leave them on the floor act that kids seem so prone to.
Laundry shoot:
If for some bizarre reason I settle for a downstairs laundry room I MUST have a laundry shoot.
Accessible backyard:
I want to see my kids in the backyard from some frequently used room in the house and I want it easily accessible. If there is a deck, I want it only a step or two up and I want big doors that make it easy and inviting to step outside.
3 floor minimum:
I am a privacy seeking gal. I want a bazillion kids but I want them (and me) to be able to escape when necessary. The only time I feel this need met is when there are at least 3 finished floors in a house.
Location:
I would like to be within 5 min of the library. If we could walk there or the kids could bike there, that would be even better.
Okay, that's it. I will be back to update soon but that's all I can think of right now.
I would LOVE to hear feedback on my wishlist. If you disagree with me - I must know WHY before I get what I thought I wanted but didn't. If I left out necessities, please tell me that too!
Upstairs laundry room:
I think laundry would be so much less of a chore if it could happen right there where we strip and dress. No more running to the basement with baskets. No more baby crying at the top of the stairs because she really can't bear to not help.
Gigantic upstairs laundry room:
I am very particular about my laundry and I sort into various loads. I like to do it as the laundry arrives so I need space for baskets of every type of load. I also love the idea of a family closet - which we almost have now (4 of the 5 of us). I want an entire HUGE wall of shelves for each family member. Infrequently worn, space taking, or non washed items (like dresses, suits, ties) can go in each person's room but the stuff I have to put away, I would love to be just a step away. This would also cut down on the pull all the clothes out of the dresser and leave them on the floor act that kids seem so prone to.
Laundry shoot:
If for some bizarre reason I settle for a downstairs laundry room I MUST have a laundry shoot.
Accessible backyard:
I want to see my kids in the backyard from some frequently used room in the house and I want it easily accessible. If there is a deck, I want it only a step or two up and I want big doors that make it easy and inviting to step outside.
3 floor minimum:
I am a privacy seeking gal. I want a bazillion kids but I want them (and me) to be able to escape when necessary. The only time I feel this need met is when there are at least 3 finished floors in a house.
Location:
I would like to be within 5 min of the library. If we could walk there or the kids could bike there, that would be even better.
Okay, that's it. I will be back to update soon but that's all I can think of right now.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Why would I want a ranch dressing recipe?
I found this recipe for ranch dressing and wanted to keep it. Why would a ranch dressing hater want this recipe? Because there is an AMAZING "dip" that I like to eat with a spoon (a really big spoon) that calls for a packet of preservative and chemical laden ranch dressing mix. Hopefully some day I will come across that recipe and throw it into this post. Until then - here is the recipe for gross dressing:
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/2 teaspoon dried chives
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried dill weed
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
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