more tulips

I love these tulips so much I wanted to photograph them again--see how much they've opened up since Thursday.

tiptoe through the tulips

I saw these today--joyous pink tulips--so, I bought them.

I wanted to share a little bit of spring with you just like all three of these dutch ladies, Corry, Heleen and His.

I love Holland

orange squeeze and time squeeze

Squeezed some fresh orange juice today--delicious--but have you ever had one of those days where you wished squeezing just a little more time in your day were as easy as making some orange juice?

C'est la vie.

 

charley harper

Awhile back I purchased this Charley Harper needlepoint canvas from Purl Soho.

The image on the canvas is called gregarious grosbeaks--it was a little pricey, but I really love this image and wanted to try my hand at needlepoint so, I went ahead and "treated" myself.

My best intentions were to begin this project as soon as I received my package and in the meantime I gathered some needlpoint  how to books from the thrift stores and more information on-line.  I received everything except one of the colored yarns, which they sold out of, but wrote they would send me the color as soon as it was back in-stock. A month passed so, I checked their website and saw they had the color in question back in-stock.  I sent an email about the missing color of yarn and they apologized profusely about having overlooked the last part of my order.  

 

While waiting for the last color of yarn to arrive I started on my Christmas gifts--knitting up lots of scarfs, and my best intentions for this needlepoint project went awry-- it now sits in a little corner waiting for me to cover it in stitches.

I may get back to it in the summer. 

and the giveaway winner is.......

Christine via random.org

Thanks for playing along ladies have a great day! :)

:wednesday's meal:

I joined Flickr not too long ago and I've been trying to find my around there. It's a pretty amazing site--there must be a group for almost everything out there. I just discovered the EveryDay Food group and added this photo to it. It turned out pretty well (recipe), but I thought it was a little bland as did the rest of the family members. I may tweak it a bit next time around. The recipe is here.

We watched the men's figure skating last night because I have a little obsession with that sport in particular--I really don't like any other sport and have no idea why I love figure skating so much except that I do. I don't even know how to ice skate and don't even want to learn because knowing me I would break something on my first try.

:giveaway:

I'm giving this pattern away (Amy Butler Field Bag and Tote)--just leave a comment below on why you enjoy sewing.

Giveaway ends 2/20/10--11:59 P.M. Central Time

Winner will be announced on Sunday-please leave your email information.

Thanks for your participation! :)

Open to everyone Domestic and International

:a very sweet heart:

Have a great Valentine's Day!

:pioneer bread:

I made carrot soup yesterday and decided to bake a loaf of Pioneer bread to go along with it. This bread isn't difficult to make, but it does take awhile for it to rise especially if the weather is off. The recipe is from an old Betty Crocker Bread book, but I've tweaked it by using butter instead of shortening.

Pioneer Bread

1 pkg. active dry yeast

3/4 cup warm water (105 to 115 degrees)

3 tablespoons sugar

2 teaspoons salt

1 egg

3 tablespoons butter

1/3 cup yellow cornmeal

2 to 2-1/2 cups unbleached flour

softened butter and extra cornmeal

*Dissolve yeast in warm water in large mixer bowl. Add sugar, salt, egg, butter, 1/3 cup cornmeal and 1 cup of the flour. Blend 1/2 minute on low speed, scraping bowl constantly. Beat 2 minutes on medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in enough remaining flour to make dough easy to handle.

*Turn dough onto lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in greased bowl; turn greased side up. Cover; let rise in warm place until double, 1 to 1-1/2 hours. (Dough is ready if an indentation remains when touched.)

*Punch down dough. Flatten dough with hands or rolling pin into rectangle, 18x9 inches. Fold crosswise into thirds, overlapping the 2 sides. Roll dough tightly toward you, beginning at one of the open ends. Press with thumbs to seal after each turn. Pinch edge firmly to seal. With side of hand, press each end to seal: fold ends under.

*Place loaf seam side down in greased loaf pan, 9x5x3 or 8-1/2x4-1/2x2-1/2 inches. Brush lightly with butter; sprinkle with cornmeal. Let rise until double, 50 to 60 minutes.

*Heat oven to 400 degrees. Bake until loaf sounds hollow when tapped, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from pan; cool on wire rake with side down (long side).

1 loaf.

Enjoy!

:progress report:

So here is where I'm at with the camera bag I'm making from the Sew Liberated book. I had to make several pattern pieces from the measurements given in the book, which was the time consuming part. Now I'm on the cutting phase with just the contrast fabric left to cut out.

And, I'm making Pioneer bread-it's rising right now-I think it'll go nicely with the carrot soup I'm making for dinner tonight.

Oh, and I'm working on my swap partner's gift.

Wow, I wonder how many balls I can juggle up in the air before they come crashing onto my head! :)

:outdoors:

Back in January, Daisy (my sidekick), and I went for a nature walk. The day was sunny and bright, but cold-like a sweet and sour combination.

We started our walk on this winding path

below us we saw this

and this

but above us we saw this

and in front us we saw this

I hope you have a glorious day

:beginning my monday:

With a cup of espresso and Mr. Dickens (slowly reading Little Dorrit)-such a great writer-such a great story!

:why I love....:

Holland

(one reason anyway)

Because I have a terrific swap partner via Dutch Blue and she's from the Netherlands. Her name is Hiske (please go take a look at her blog).

(All photos above by Hiske)

She loves to bake and creates wondrous cakes (see that picture above). She loves flowers, has some beautiful ornaments and most importantly loves her beautiful children dearly.

She can write perfect English, but when she realized that her swap partner couldn't read her blog (because it's in Dutch) she quickly added a google translation button.

Now you know how special Hiske is.

:vintage:

I was going through my things and came upon on two items, which I haven't looked at for a very long time. Some things I've collected are books and vintage clothes and accessories.

Here is my little vintage heart pin that I bought when I was about 9 for 75 cents at a swap meet from an elderly woman. I remember thinking at the time how I was going be out 75 cents, but I really thought this pin was old and beautiful and wanted it.

Next, The Genius Of Charles James , a book which I've had since I was 19 or 21. I think I paid about $12 dollars for this book from a used bookstore. Actually, the used bookseller had about five copies and the books were in "new" condition. I went back to the bookseller two or three times before deciding that I really loved this book and wanted this book and so, I purchased it. I thought this fashion designer who was no longer alive and I hadn't heard about before was fantastic.

Several years later I did my internship at the museum with the book's author, Elizabeth Ann Coleman, a renowned costume curator. I was very fortunate this happened and I learned so many interesting things from her.

It's funny how life works out.

And, Charles James.....Well he was a genius and I still think so.

:spring swap:

I submitted my name to a spring swap taking place over at Dutch Blue . It's my first exchange/swap and I'm excited about it! The challenge will be fitting the quarter fabrics and the item made into a flat envelope, but I think it'll be a nice challenge.

My swap partner is from the Netherlands, which is fantastic because I studied Dutch Art History and fell in love with all things Dutch (I hope to visit that wonderful country someday).

I'm also crossing my fingers that my partner won't mind too much if I ask one too many questions about her lovely country. :)

:last of the cold spell:

Daisy and I went for our daily walk and were enjoying the last of the cold weather-before it gets hot and humid again. Appreciating the bare trees before they are full of beautiful green leaves and spotting small little birds not minding the cold weather.

Since it was cold, Daisy got to wear her Christmas sweater I knitted up, using one of Lion Brand's patterns (City Dog Sweater) and yarns. I have no idea what she is looking at, but it looks like I missed out on something very interesting.