Monthly Archive for September, 2008

Cooking Wish List

So I haven’t had the time to sew.  I did buy some embroidery tools, but my ideas are still brewing about where to dive in (and I’m still filling my sketchbook).  But I have been cooking.  Experimenting.  Reading tons of food blogs.

I bought a fabulous bunch of kale from the farmers market and made kale crisps from The Cleaner Plate Club.  It was absolutely wonderful, what we didn’t eat that afternoon, I put into a gluten free quiche.  It was not my most successful quiche. I made a rice flour crust and cooked the heck out of it.  Plus I added sugar and probably shouldn’t have for a quiche.  So more experimenting.  If anyone has a fabulous gluten free pastry shell recipe, please send it my way.

I have been bookmarking food recipes like mad.  Here are a few that I am dying to make:

Warm and Nutty Cinnamon Quinoa from 101 Cookbooks (Her cookbooks are on my wishlist in case anybody is interested in that sort of thing.)

Bourbon Peach Handpies from SmittenKitchen.  I made something similar with the kids, using some apples and they were great, but this recipe sounds YUMMY!  PS – this is totally fun to make with kids.  They make the cutest pies!  I didn’t take pics, I was too involved with the little hands and pie fixins, but they are a HUGE hit and a great way to involve kiddies in the kitchen.

Crispy Roasted Chickpeas from Kalyn’s Kitchen.  I don’t see these lasting too long at our house.

Grandma’s Grain Recipe from 101 Cookbooks.  When I introduced food to Iz I started with the Cereal recipe from Super Baby Food, and it was such a great cereal, I might try it again as well, but the book is in a box in storage!!!.  This recipe is perfect, just the way I like to cook, a handful of this, a handful of that.  It looks so yummy.

Herbed Summer Squash and Tomato Torte from SmittenKitchen.  I made something like this a few weeks ago, and I wasn’t as careful as I should have been preparing everything, so it didn’t turn out how I thought it would, but it was still delish.  I want to try again after another visit to the farmers market.

Summer Vegetable Pancakes with Basil Chive Cream from Eggs on Sunday.  I love veggie pancakes.  Comfort food, and perfect after a trip to, you know, the farmers market.

Quinoa and MushroomStuffed Zucchini from The Kitchn.  I love to try new things, and I have not yet toasted quinoa, I think Iz would love to eat this.

Enchilada Lasagne from Happy Herbivore.  I’ve been looking at a bunch of recipes for this and like this because of the no cheese factor (although I love cheese, I really want to cut back on the dairy at our house).  I love the ideas of layering food for cooking, especially when we have leftovers for lunch!

Cheddar Corn Spoon Bread from Cafe Johnsonia.  I love corn bread and this looks so warm and yummy.

What are you making?  If you have a fave dish or recipe, I’d love to try it!

You Made A Left Turn

It’s amazing what comes out the mouths of babes sometimes.  I was floored the other day when we were driving and Iz said, “Mom, you are making a left turn.”

Speechless, that’s what I was!  We’ve been talking left and right for as long as I can remember and she’s not used Left or Right for as long as I can tell.  Then, driving, she blew me away.

I am loving this age.  Sure the emotional stuff can be a little much (one more bout of screaming at me and I might just pass out)

Thoughtfulz

The grasping of things we’ve been talking about for a while, and even the new stuff, is just so freakin’ amazing.  Today was spider day at school.  They had a giant web up with plastic spiders, then another family brought in live spiders they caught from their yard in jars.  The kids went outside and found natural elements for their habitat and filled the jars, and made lovely homes for the spiders.  We talked about the spiders during book time, for a long time.  I just love all the soaking up of everything.  I love that Iz can put into words what she’s experiencing.

Our Day At The Beach

{Please Note: Not a lot of sewing has been done, I’ve got two skirts, cute corduroy jackets and lovely village frocks to make, but not a lot of sewing time.  I’m also thinking about finding a place for a sew-cial and lessons…so there will be mroe soon, I promise!!!!  I’m also working on ideas for a few embroidery projects in my sketchbook, so it’s comeing, I just know it!}

Sunday the weather here in Seattle was just amazing, so we decided to play outside.  We started at the West Seattle Farmer’s Market (sorry, no pics, what was I thinking!).  What an incredible place, woah!  I think we’ll be heading back every possible Sunday, it’s open year round.

Then, we found our way to Alki, a lovely beach front in West Seattle with an amazing view of Puget Sound.

Space Needle

It was a little chilly, Iz was wrapped up in her cozy blanket…

Windy Beach

or soaking up the warmth from the sand…

Sand Castle

It was cool to see kites, we loved this one…

Kite

Pumpkin Season

It’s pumpkin season (oh summer where did you go?).  I love the fall.  It’s cozy and crisp, super colorful.

Pumpkins For Sale

It’s our first visit to Craven Farm and it’s my guess, we’ll be back at least another time before Halloween.

Wheel Barrows

cravenfarm17

The pumpkins were huge! and there were so many.  It’s a big patch, when Iz would trip over a vine, I couldn’t see her.

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The one!

Ducks In A Row

There was a petting zoo, where all the ducks are in a row.

Pirates of the Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Pricing Guide

It was a wonderful day and we can’t wait to decorate our pumpkin loot!

Happy Pumpkin

We Love The Library

After school on Friday, we headed downtown to the Central Library. After getting our library cards, we each got one, we headed upstairs to the cafe.  We shared a bagel and Iz got her usual hot chocolate.  After eating all the whipped cream, the hot chocolate landed on her lap, my lap the table and the floor.  But that wasn’t going to stop us….

Cafe At The Central Library

The gift shop is conveniently located right next to the cafe, we spent a looooong time there, Iz needed to handle every single thing, but we ended up getting matching rainbow rings.

new rings

The library is in an incredible building designed by Rem Koolhaas and Joshua Ramus. At one point Iz looked down and wanted me to look at the garden:

Look Mom!  There's A Garden Down There!

The childrens section is a dream, we spent hours there.

Yellow Room

Climbing.

Climbing Time

Using the computer.

Computer Time

We left with a bag full of books and movies.  We missed our weekly library visits.  It’s nice to be back at the library.

Hello Fall…

The air is a bit chilly and very fresh.  It was a grey day for the first day of fall.  The hydrangeas are changing.

Fall Hydrangeas

The leaves on the classroom tree are starting to change too.  Last week they were all green.

Even The Leaves On The Circle Tree Are Changing

There were gourds and pumpkins (oooh it’s Halloween time!) on the table.

Fall Gourds

Then the kids painted them.  Iz put hers in the frame.

Gourd Painting

After school was spent under the tree in the swing.

Under The Tree

The day ended with the most delicious spinach and sausage ravioli.  And a cosmopolitan.  Well 2 actually.  But who’s counting?

Ravioli

KISS Auditions

KISS

I <3 Skype

I Skype.  Do you Skype?  I really love Skype.  Skype lets me talk to my little brother, and lets me see my little brother.

skype6

Our conversations last around 30-45 mins and is way better than watching tv.

skype5

Skype lets me not miss my brother so much.  He’s been stationed all over the world and we’ve gone for years without seeing each other.  Now, it’s down to a week at a time.

skype4

I can see what his hair looks like (when he has any), what he’s wearing, and even what he’s eating (tonight it was a burger from Arby’s).

skype3

He can even send kisses, ’cause he loves his big sis soooooo much.

skype2

I always tell him not to hold a pose too long, he’ll get stuck that way.

skype1

See you soon Lil’ Bro – I love ya!  xxoo Z

ps – go sign up for skype.  it can be free.  it’s awesome. thanks skype for letting me visit with my brother – you rock!

The Holiday List

Every year I talk about doing it, but this year I’m going to talk about it now instead of 2 months from now. I want to make my Christmas gifts this year. I have a list of ideas (not matched up to the recipients mind you..)but a list of wonderful useful projects that I’m using as a starting point. Of course it will evolve according to wish lists and such, but I’m excited about it none the less.

Felted Sweater Coasters : See these and these and these, oh and these, gosh I love these

Blankets:  I love this one, this one,

Napkins: This is my fave tutorial because I LOVE bias tape. Here’s a tasty one not using bias tape.

Freezer Paper Prints: The ideas have been percolating over here (in my head…), I’m eager to attempt a few….here’s a cute tute, and a bunch of great ideas on Flickr.

Pillows:  In a perfect world I’d love to get some fabric printed and make some groovy pillows.  But I have other ideas for pillows too. here, here, and all of these here.

Bags: The possibilities are just endless.  But this season I’ll probably focus on fabric shopping bags….. I love my EnviroSax, but I think I love my flip&tumble bag more, it’s easier to carry…., but I also love making bags out of found clothing/bedding/fabric.

Looking for your own ideas?  Check out SewMamaSew.  There are so many Handmade Holiday tutes, you are sure to find something for everyone on your list. But start now. Or the list over at down—to—earth.

You don’t have to sew to make your gifts either.  I’ve been cooking up a storm and have been tossing around food gift ideas, maybe a collection of my fave recipes, or ingredients in a jar for my fave soup or cookies.

The possibilites are endless, so I’m making my list and checking it twice, going through my supplies and doing a little bit every week.  I’m hoping to get together with some of my fellow craftettes and plow through the project list so I’m not late!

What are you going to make for the holidays?

Our Day

Now that Iz goes to school all week and I work, we don’t spend as much time together.  I really, really miss her.   I’d gotten so used to doing everything with her.  We were always together.  Now, whenever we are home together, I just want to hang out with her.

Hot Chocolate

Fridays is half days, so for our first Friday, we had a wonderful afternoon.  We skipped on over to Endolyne Joe’s in West Seattle for a hot chocolate, gourmet mac ‘n’ cheese and a hot fudge sundae.  We shared them all (except the hot chocolate, even though she doesn’t finish them, they are hers, no touching my hot chocolate mommy).

Swinging

After lunch we went to Lincoln Park.  It was such an amazing day.

Lincoln Park-6

Lincoln Park-7

We even found a jellyfish on the beach.

Jellyfish

After dinner, we had to watch some jellyfish movies.