sheepless in suburbia...

Movin' on over...

After some thought - I have decided to move my blog over to Blogspot... hope you'll follow me on over... so now I am HERE ...See you there!

 

Quilt Update here

speechless in suburbia?

Okay I admit it - long time no write. I'm having a hard time reconciling myself with the fact that I really don't seem to have much to say. (Oh no Joe! Say it ain't so!) I also don't find myself being that worked up about it...

(If you are still with me at this point - congrats - you must be a hardcore sheepless fan - because it ain't gonna get much better).

I'd like to tell you I've been off doing all sorts of exciting wonderful things (well, I have been doing a few exciting wonderful things) or that I'm just too busy (well I have been a bit busy) but the plain old truth is I just feel like I've run out of gas.

Out of gas as in - nothing really much to say. Maybe not needing to broadcast "the news" anymore. Maybe there just isn't any news. I am quilting a bit (I have a blog for that) I'm playing with photos (I have a new blog for that) I'm walking lots, reading books on my e-reader (yes I love it - and I'll bite off the arm of anyone that tries to snatch it from me).

It's been a really l-o-n-g winter. No real chinooks to speak of. I'm thinking I need to do something to get some sense of "spring is in the air...

(... and later)

To commemorate a hopeful spurt of spring enthusiasm, I went to my local seed store, purchased two packages of lettuce seeds, and planted eight rows of "Sassy Salad Mix" & "Gourmet Baby Greens". I hope I'm not being too overly optimistic - after all it's been snowing off and on since November - six months ago!

Well - I guess I'm on a roll now... time to email my "Heirloom Tomato Guy".

 

Quilting update...

 

 

   sheepless in suburbia - quilts! Update here

Who says I don't live in funky town?

Lately I've noticed alot more guerrilla crochet taking place in Calgary - usually it's bits and pieces around armrests of benches, rails and bike lock posts - but this one is truly unique! Granted it is more of a car "cosy" and it isn't technically "guerrilla" but hey love the look!

 

This photo is from Swerve Magazine - more on the Strata Toque here:

Strata Tuque

 

A cold but not so blustery day...

Every once in a while a very cold day comes along and it is determined that I will not venture out. These days are often designated when even the birds are reluctant to visit the feeder.

And so today I am in. All in. I've been working like a madwoman in the kitchen - a rather novel event. I started with ham sandwiches for the Old Guy, who despite the - 30 Celsius weather is obligated to work today. Apparently calling ones employer with "Sorry it's much too uncivilized to work in this weather - so I've elected to stay home with a snifter of brandy and a good book" isn't consider a viable option.

I've thrown a couple of lamb shanks and vegetables in the slow cooker for Swedish Cabbage Stew, plugged in the bread maker for Seven Grain bread, and rolled up 3 dozen curried sausages for mid-week make-ahead suppers. Did I mention the pot of steelcut oats bubbling on the back burner?

I've read my email, and the newspaper. I've perused Facebook, Ravelry, and a few blogs I frequent. I've waved Youngman 1 out the door to work, and Youngman 2 is soon to follow. Hmmmmm - it is now 11:00. Just in time to join the pooch for our mid morning snooze.

 

 

 

Did I just say that?

Overheard during coffee this morning...

"Bla bla bla .... that's where these young people get it from..."

Yes, that really fell out of my mouth this morning.

Where did that fun loving go go boots and granny glasses gal go?

 

... and boy did we eat!

... if there is one thing the sheepless household does well during times of celebration  - it is likely related to sustenance. Let's face it - we like to eat. I admit I am not great on the day to day business of food prep. I am from the "whaddya mean eggs aren't supper?" camp.

And so, although I am not likely to be pulling out a cookbook during the week (side labels on soup cans are fair game however) I do like to cook and bake and do all that "Julie & Julia" type stuff when I am on a stay-cation - especially if it's winter.

This year I bought 1 1/2 turkeys. One went to my mom's and the other (the half turkey) stayed home so it could be roasted up for Boxing Day leftovers and such. There are some definite pluses to the half turkey idea. First off at 9 - 10 pounds, it fits in the roaster great. You get half of everything - one leg, one wing, one breast. I usually tuck some chopped apple, carrot, celery, onion and herbs into the "half cavity" which is face down in the pan. It roasts in half the time. And the clean up? Well it's actually less than half. All the bones and scraps fit easily into a stock pot and there's a ton of broth for soups and stews. Perfect for a family of four. We ate cold 1/2 turkey sandwiches for lunch, hot 1/2 turkey sandwiches with gravy for supper, and finished off with Jamie Oliver's Leftover Turkey Leek pie (bottom right photo). The leftover's from that were frozen for later consumption (when the "whaddya mean cereal ain't supper?" line doesn't fly).

For New Year's we had a slow roasted prime rib (top left) with cracked pepper/salt rub, basted in loads of butter (after seeing Julie and Julia I won't skimp on the butter anymore) with fresh sprigs of rosemary and thyme. It was accompanied by mashed potatoes, turnips, yorkshire pudding and gravy. We finished with a freshly baked Apple Pear Pie. My made my pie crust from scratch using the Nun's Pie Crust recipe from Marty's World Famous Cookbook. This recipe is great because it's so big, it makes you move fast to get it to the desired lard-flour pea consistency without overworking it. I've made it a few times now - and it is delightfully flaky - so much so I even like it (I'm not a big pie fan).

Last but not least, I found some unique organic colourful carrots (top right) from Lund's at the market. Yes, they really are yellow, orange and purple! They were so tender and sweet that I just had to include them in my top picks.

And today?

I had a banana.

... these Christmas potholders were made by my mom - the "just do it" quilting queen... she made sets for me and my sister in law - plus another full sized quilt for my niece. On the other hand - I have cut out 2 stockings. (Yes, I must reluctantly confess the plush teddy bears got another reprieve this year).

I got a little side tracked by a "new to me" Woolhouse 4 shaft table loom which has moved into the family room. It is an older model that came with instructions for converting it to a direct tie up floor loom. I've decided four treadles will more than meet my needs. I'm primarily looking for something to weave tea towels on. (I can't seem to get my head around buying mass production tea towels - I've been spoiled by the quality of handwoven towels,  some of which I've had in excess of fifteen years). Val over at Fiberewetopia has written about choosing a word to embody the upcoming year. So, in the spirit of embracing the moment - my mantra for 2011?

K - I - S - S !

 

Christmas prep 101... notes from a Martha Stewart flunkie

Not sure why I am writing this - after all it's the day before "the day before" the day of... it's not quite noon. I'm still in my pj's and I've just eaten breakfast.

Yesterday we did a much needed culling of dated ornaments, saying goodbye to snowmen with broken noses (no amount of glue stick technology has managed to repair them) angels who have lost their wings and lustre, and tossing the gold flecked tassels which I'm sure once belonged to something...  I just can't quite picture what. We have finally chucked the old outdoor lights which suck energy like Rudolph on an Eggnog bender.

Having said that - there are still a few things I can't quite part with. Things from Christmas past...

Like Bloodshot Santa ...

... not to be outdone by Rudolph the chocolate ceramic reindeer. He is the last remaining of his herd. Youngman ll was cranking out Christmas pottery by the boxcar that year.

There are a few other little nick knacks (like the little red apples -from our very first tree together) that remain. They're now in a vase with gold beads, looking very eau du Martha if I do say so myself.

Today I should be wrapping presents and making pitas for Christmas Eve Greek dinner (in which we will chow down in front of the TV and watch holiday classics such as "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" or "The Christmas Story". 

But...

I've spent the morning making Christmas cards instead. I'm pretty lousy at it - so what should be a relatively easy process can be stretch into an all day and night affair.

I also decided to make the boys Christmas stockings this year. I've been threatening to replace the plush Teddybear stockings I bought the Youngmen when they were Babyboys (21 and 23 years ago)  - but I just haven't gotten around to it. I suppose tacky plush teddy's hanging by their necks on the pseudo yuletide hearth is a vision I'd like to erase from their memory now while I still have the chance - that way when we all end up in therapy it won't be something that comes up...

 

And lastly - thank heavens for the annual Christmas Cookie Exchange ... we had one at work and though I belly ached the whole time I was mixing up my sheepless family favourite (The Chocoholic's Chewie Delight)  I am very grateful to have so many other lovely cookies to sample and share.

And just so you don't think I'm not keeping up with world events...

There was an article in the paper yesterday about the malls being filled with men the week before Christmas. Apparently, women have already made their purchases and are smugly sitting at home wrapped up in their snuggie blankets with hot cocoa and a good book. Not sure what planet that writer is from - but I'll be out there with the best and the rest of them - standing in the gift card line ... afterall what's Christmas without a little self induced stress... ho! ho! ho!