The past several days

Sunday night...

Went to Shari's to "study" for my interview.  Was distracted by this cute picture.  I had to contort in a weird way and turn off all the sound on my phone to get it, and keep them from thinking I was taking it.  I couldn't do anything about the sun, but in a way, I think it works...it keeps anonymity.

Two old ladies at Sharis eating sundaes. 

Monday...

Interviewed.

Went on a Pacific Fabrics Shopping Spree...I call it fabric love....

Here's a close-up of a fabric I'm planning to use for my niece's present.  Yes, her birthday was over a week ago, and yes, I'm just now buying fabrics.  But in my defense, creativity and genius take time.  (ha!)

Monday night...

Made the following biscuits for the first time...

Sweet & Savory Biscuits (see recipe, below)

Atticus likes them!

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SWEET AND SAVORY BISCUITS:

2 1/4 cups whole wheat flour, plus extra for rolling

1 cup barley flour (I used regular ole white flour for this one)

1/2 cup wheat bran

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon blackstrap molasses (I used regular molasses - you can also use honey)

1 egg

1 cup yogurt

1 tablespoon safflower oil

3 (2.5 oz) jars of meat-only baby food

In large bowl combine flours, bran and salt.  In food processor (I use a blender) combine the rest of the ingredients.  Puree into a liquid and add to the dry mixture.  Stir with a spoon, then knead with your hands to incorporate all the flour (I didn't have to do this part - I actually added more flour when rolling out because it was very sticky).  Turn out onto a floured surface.  Sprinkle more flour on top of the dough and roll to 1/2 inch thickness.  Cut into desired shape.  Place on baking sheat covered with greased or non-stick foil (I skip that and just grease my cookie sheet.  I have no idea if that makes a difference).

Bake for 25 minutes at 325 degrees, or until browned.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

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Tuesday...

Dog park

I finally have proof that I'm spoiling Atticus with his treats.  Another dog owner tried to feed him a store bought treat and he wanted nothing to do with it.  Outwardly, I apologized to the lady and explained he must be too busy playing.  Inwardly, I chuckled a little. 

Got a phone call while at the dog park.

While I'm not allowed to tell you the outcome of that phone call, I am having this..

IN CELEBRATION!!!!!!!!

Going to the movies tonight. 

Feeling pretty good!

Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you." ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

Fun

I would like to thank the Crafty Pirate for mentioning this application for Droid....Retro Camera.  Taking pictures is a lot more fun now...

Okay, enough playing around....off to study for my interview!

"Yeah, I'm a loser, but at least I tried." ~ Noah DeLong

I had something important to write in here, but I already forget what it is.  Hmmm...

Ehh...well, since I already created a post, here is a picture of a patchwork pouch I made recently and gave to Sarah.  Cute, right?

I really do not like this new blogger setup.  Its almost impossible to format anything without re-doing it 12 times because it just doesn't want to work.  I feel like the old fogey who doesn't like new technology.

I have an important promotional interview tomorrow afternoon.  Send good thoughts my way please!

"Using your talents is important, of course.  That's why they were given.  But you can't slide by on that.  You have to leave something of yourself - or you were never really here." ~ Erma Bombeck

Friends

Its nice my friends know me so well....

I also get shopping sprees at several of my favorite stores!

I'm using the new editor on blogger.  Not sure if I like it yet.

"When I am with my friend, me thinks I am alone, and as much at liberty to speak anything as to think it." ~ Seneca

The party

My birthday party combined a little of this...



with a little of this...

a bunch of this...

and one of these...

Overall, pretty fun!

I've now got the Sarah's-gone-weekend-is-over-have-to-go-back-to-work-blues. Blah.

"Spend the afternoon. You can't take it with you." ~ Annie Dillard

Birthday girl

Whats a 31 year old to do??

Why, have a pedicure (and manicure), of course!

Where shall the 31 year old hang out?

Why, visit "the beach" with a very special friend, of course!

What shall the 31 year old do at the beach?

Why, collect a rock and shell stash, of course! (no, these were all sarah's)

What else shall the 31 year old do?

Why, take a walk in the park, of course! (and keep a lookout for the coyotes!)

And what shall the 31 year old buy?

Why, buy another cookbook for the dog, of course!

Where shall the 31 year old eat?

Why, eat on the waterfront, of course!

What a lovely day!

"i need to see more toe-age." ~ s. guajardo

A how-to

This isn't really a tutorial, but more like an idea of what you could make if you have the following ingredients.

I used:
Black matte fabric paint
A set of old metal letter stencils
A foam brush
Small piece of burlap (yes, I'm about a year or so behind in the burlap phase everyone else seemed to be in)



Figure out what you want to write. I have a birthday coming up, and I wanted something along those lines.

Then start stenciling! Make sure you hold your stencil down. And dont use too much paint. Otherwise, you'll get some blobby nonsense under your stencil.



Cute!



When finished, my sign looked something like this:



After setting the paint (ironing it with another layer of cloth between the paint and the iron), I created a hem and threaded it with a stiff piece of leather cording.

Oh, and hung it up on my mantle...



My friend Sarah is coming tomorrow!!!

"Birthdays are good for you. Statistics show that the people who have the most live the longest." ~ Larry Lorenzoni