Backwoods Babble

Five Senses Friday #6

2011-08-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! Five Senses Friday! I haven't done one for a really long time and you know... I've missed it! I really am able to see my blessings when I do.

This week's image comes from a walk I had awhile back. I love the way the drops of water hang on the flower.

I found Five Senses Friday at a lovely blog - Abby Try Again... find her blog HERE...

Smelling:

The dirt in my garden as I dug up some beets.

Tasting:

Fresh baby beets from my garden, oh such a yummy earthy flavor.

Feeling:

Nervous - I am going to another singles dance this week. Ugh, I am fine when I get there, but dread it until I am enroute.

Hearing:

The sound of a Bald Eagle call while I was waiting for a friend to pick me up. It was far away, but I love the sound of that call - it never gets old. Thank you Washington.

Play along if you like (comment and let me know if you do, I want to see what you come up with!). Hope you are all having a lovely week!

So about that art journaling thing...

2011-08-26T12:10:00.000-07:00

I have tons and tons of things to put in the journal, but haven't been able to bring myself to add the first thing to page. I am such a chicken. I need to just get over it and do it. There's no trying in art journaling, just do it!

So, I will do this. I think it will be good for me. I collect all these pamphlets and clippings and things from my adventures. I can't help it - they call to me. So, now it's time I put them to use.

Keep checking back - an post with an actual photo of a journaled page will appear.

In other news, I have been having an amazing summer. My parents came to visit and we played alot. I have a garden, which struggles because I am a horrible gardener and the bed wasn't deep enough for anything to really grow. It is also possible that in my enjoyment of the rest of the summer I may have forgotten to water things very regularly.

However, I have been getting peas, swiss chard, a cherry tomato or two, strawberries and rhubarb. And beans that are growing on plants that are so short I didn't realize beans could grow on them. This fall I am going to build some boxes and will make sure that everyone has enough water and dirt next year.

Oh, and I have a pumpkin that is taking over the entire garden. I might also need to plan a bit better next year. Oh and lettuce - the lettuce is getting ready to eat also. Not the best harvest, but I learned something valuable, do not grown from seeds directly in the ground here, start them yourself or buy them. The growing season is pretty short, though we do get really lovely sun and nice long days.

So, I leave you with this photo of one of my harvests.

Hope the summer is going well for the rest of you! =)

Art Journaling - I swoon for thee!

2011-07-28T16:13:00.000-07:00

This photo has nothing to do with my post, but I came across it today and I hadn't shared it before, so here ya go.

I have heard alot of buzz about art journaling. My art professor in college had one, it was so cool. I have always been a bit intimidated by all the artsy people out there; like I mean hello, how cool are the things on this site?

But, I am going to try it, for 30 days beginning on August 1st. On Google plus, I have a small circle that I am involved with and I am doing a sketch a day for 30 days based off this awesome video idea. Here is the LINK to the video.

It's a super simple idea. Try something you have always wanted to do for 30 days. Simple and super cool. I have been having a BALL making a sketch a day, and having the accountability to check in with my google plus group is great. I take a photo of my sketch (and believe when I say I have alot of room for improvement) and then post them to the circle. Sometimes people comment, sometimes they don't, but its great for me.

So, have you watched the video? Are you going to try something for 30 days? If so, what?

Beginning August 1, I will be posting photos of my art journal pages on my flickr stream. You can follow it HERE if you want. I will also continue to add resources to my Art Journaling Page on this blog.

Hope you are all having a lovely summer and keep an eye out for my first attempt at art journaling!

Happy Summer!

Enjoying my Summer!

2011-07-21T22:36:00.000-07:00

So much in fact that I have not been around the web much, but I think that its okay to take a break once in awhile.

In my humble opinion, nothing beats a Northwest summer; though it would be nice if ours arrived. We have had some truly gorgeous warm, sunny days, but my garden says that it would like a few more please. I have a little garden again this year. Its amazing how much stuff has come out of there considering the atrocious FROST and crazy weather that we had in May when the poor little thing was getting started. But the flowers have been blooming all over the place on the trail. Lovely yes?

I did my first 20 mile bike ride in a long time a couple of weeks ago. Ouch. Ouch and Ouch is all I can say, but remarkably I was able to walk the next day, if a little slower than normal. It did encourage me to get on out and bike some more and that is fabulous.

And did some some sightseeing. And will be off to do some more this weekend. There is an art studio opening and garden tour on Camano Island that I cannot wait for. And in August - a Pirate Festival! Pirates! With ships and everything. So over the moon excited to see some tall ships. And the pirates are a total bonus.

And hello to my new followers! Its nice to see a few more people drop on by. Hope you stay awhile and engage a bit. I released the comment moderation, so post away and have some fun. But, be nice. This is a nice blog. I like coming here and being silly; its a nice escape from all the non-silly crazy that is out there.

So, how is your summer? Have you been doing fun things? I hope so.

Review: Blood Skies

2011-07-16T20:11:00.001-07:00

Blood Skies by Steven Montano

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've become stingy with my five star reviews. And here's why I hit this book with one - it totally won me over and I couldn't guess everything! Pick it up, you won't regret it.

I read alot and I think that the curse of this is that I frequently pick up a book and have most of it figured out by halfway through at the latest, not so with Montano's Blood Skies.

Vampires, check (and not the cute and fuzzy sparkly kind), unicorns (check, and again not so cute and fuzzy), witches, warlocks, grenades (yup that's right I said grenades) and magic, lots of interesting magic. I love worlds with magic, I really do and this book has it in spades. It is also full of adventure, and characters that are unique and plot twists that surprised me. I love being surprised when I read.

And this is just the first book, there are more on the way! So looking forward to what's coming.

View all my reviews

Review: Lighting Their Fires: How Parents and Teachers Can Raise Extraordinary Kids in a Mixed-up, Muddled-up, Shook-up World

2011-05-28T20:20:00.001-07:00

Lighting Their Fires: How Parents and Teachers Can Raise Extraordinary Kids in a Mixed-up, Muddled-up, Shook-up World by Rafe Esquith

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm a softie when it comes to inspirational stories for teachers as I am studying to be one. I was given this book by a random stranger on a plane, so how could I give it any less than five stars!? That aside, it is a wonderful book, full of ideas that are easily within the reach of the average person. This is not a go out and buy this product that will make it all better kind of solution, but rather a philosophy of education that makes sense.

The arts are usually one of the first programs to go in these days of tight budgets and hard decisions, but Rafe and other research is showing that adding the arts back into the curriculum is one of the best and least cost-effective ways to boost those test scores that we have become increasingly fixated on. Plus, its fun to have more creative lessons, for the teachers AND the students.

Rafe's style is easy and witty and full of real examples from his students and everyone would be a little better off if they picked this up and read through it at least once. =)

View all my reviews

Review: French Taste

2011-05-25T21:19:00.001-07:00

French Taste by Laura Calder

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love Laura Calder's show on the cooking channel. It's quirky, she is too, and when you read this cookbook it sounds EXACTLY like her. I am very intimidated by French cooking, but there is something about Laura's style that makes it seems less scary and tasty enough that I must try it now. There are a few recipes that I think I won't ever eat (there is something about gelled fat that while it may be tasty has a consistency issue that I do not find appealing), but overall I wanted to start at the beginning and just keep cooking.

The pictures in the book are amazing as photos in cookbooks should be, I think. I love tasty looking things and while I realize that mine will not necessarily look that good, they may someday TASTE that good and that makes all the difference. I cannot wait to play with more of her recipes this summer! Yum!

Definitely a must-have as far as I am concerned. It's not overly expensive, I got my copy used through Amazon and its like new, as in it looks like I just grabbed it at the store new. It's not very bulky which is lovely, since this also means I won't slugging it around. Love! Love! Love!

View all my reviews

Review: Urban Pantry: Tips and Recipes for a Thrifty, Sustainable and Seasonal Kitchen

2011-05-25T21:11:00.001-07:00

Urban Pantry: Tips and Recipes for a Thrifty, Sustainable and Seasonal Kitchen by Amy Pennington

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great little book, with some great recipes, tips and tricks on how to be a little thriftier and yet have an amazing tasty pantry year round! It is definitely going to be one that I keep around forever. The author even provides a sample list of what to keep around in your pantry, fridge, etc and includes tips on storage (which I always need reminding of).

Since I have gone gluten free, I find that I am so much happier (and healthier) making my own food and this is just another way to encourage me to do so. This summer, there will be canning, lots of canning as I work to preserve some of the tasties of summer for the cold, dark winter. Pennington has some wonderful tips on that as well, all in smaller quantities so you aren't left with like a ridiculous supply of something you may or may love later on (of course, you can always gift home preserves, who doesn't love that?).

Anyway, it's a reasonable price and I have found myself going back to it frequently for a sauce, for a tip I remembered she had. A great addition (that won't take up alot of space) in your cookbook collection. Plus, the pictures are fabulous! =)

View all my reviews

Testing yet another fun techy thing - Tulip Photo Slide Show

2011-05-17T22:43:00.000-07:00

So, I've been away awhile. I've been hiding in libraries surrounded by text books and rarely getting out. Such is the life of a college student. I did, however, manage to get out about a month ago to see the tulips in Skagit Valley. Totally worth the effort and the crowds. I am reviewing this free site below for a class I am taking and wanted to see how well it worked.
Might as well throw some tulip pics in for fun! =)

flash slideshow maker

Testing this new fangle tech thing

2011-04-11T15:59:00.000-07:00

This is a test of the mobile blog posting system. This is only a test. And I can't figure out how to add a title to the blog post, so guess I need some more information.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

A little bit of swan for the day…

2011-02-24T20:22:00.001-08:00

I’ve been here a bit, and I see swans every day that I leave the house, literally. They winter down here and seeing fields and fields of swans on the way to school, the bus stop or just the store, well, rocks!

I will be carrying my camera more often, now that I found the battery that I charged and then put somewhere safe (oops!) so there will be more on the way.

Review: Gluten-Free Girl: How I Found the Food That Loves Me Back...And How You Can Too

2011-01-30T00:49:00.001-08:00

Gluten-Free Girl: How I Found the Food That Loves Me Back...And How You Can Too by Shauna James Ahern

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Okay, I don't think we have to rehash how much I love this book do we? Shauna writes in a very easy manner, with so much love and joy that I just can't take it anymore. =)

Oh, I'll be reading this book again and again. The recipes sprinkled throughout are amazing, and I am working my way through them, but even more amazing is to hear words that ring so true about the struggles I had with my own health for so many years only to recently discover that I need to avoid the gluten, put down the bread and run the other way.

But, truly as Shauna expresses, nothing has been better for my life and I don't miss the bread, how could I miss something that makes me sick!? And there is a whole world out there full of amazing food that I would probably have never tried if I hadn't finally discovered what my body had been trying to tell me forever.

Even if you aren't on a gluten-free diet, I bet you know someone who is. Regardless, it is an amazing story of learning to live life wide open, finding love and enjoying amazing food. Read it! =)

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Review: The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

2011-01-16T21:42:00.001-08:00

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Everyone should read this book - truly!

I had to read this book for a class, which I am not always a fan of, since I like to have a choice in what I am currently reading. That said, I really enjoyed it.

As always, when there is anything I think might offend someone, I throw out the disclaimer, there are things that some of my more conservative friends would not enjoy. Some little bits that made me squirm a bit (I'm a conservative girl, some things I just don't want to know about ya know?!?!?)

Anyhow, the squirming aside, it is a fabulous book. The author's voice is clear, hysterical and gave me an insight into life on a reservation. That's right, the author is Native American and was raised on a reservation in Eastern Washington.

It is his tale of growing up, and what his decision to leave the reservation and pursue an education meant to him and his identity. It really is an exploration of what our choices mean to our sense of self, our friendships, and how to relate once again in a new world. Don't I sound all vague? Well, I don't want to give away the great bits.

I have a bunch of little sticky notes, marking some of my favorite lines (mostly because I have to write a reaction paper to my reading of it an partly just because). I even highlighted in this book, which I never, ever, do, even for assignments, but I just had to make note, just had to.

It's a short book, only 230 pages, so if you squirm a bit, its over quickly and you will walk away with an appreciation of a great many things in your own life.

Truly, everyone should read this.

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Zeitgeist and the month of December…

2010-12-01T18:14:00.001-08:00

makes

I am planning to blog through the month of December, you know one of those blog everyday kind of clubs. I like the idea of them a lot – though I’m not promising anything spectacular, because I tend to get sidetracked a lot, but I am planning to blog at least a little.

I wasn’t even going to bother attempting another one of these things – the dismal failures and the guilt, the added stress from the guilt, who needs it really!?!

I suppose if I actually made it all the way through I’d feel pretty awesome but it’s all good.

Actually, what most excited me about this blog all the month thing was the theme – Zeitgeist – isn’t that just one of the coolest words ever? It just sounds cool. I am thinking of adopting it as my theme for 2011 – I’m not joking, I like it that much.

In case you don’t know (or haven’t googled a defintion yet) here’s an overview of the meaning from wikipedia:

is "the spirit of the times" or "the spirit of the age." Zeitgeist is the general cultural, intellectual,ethical, spiritual, and/or political climate within a nation or even specific groups, along with the general ambience, morals, sociocultural direction, and mood associated with an era.

Okay, I haven’t tested where all those other hyperlinks go, but I was too lazy to edit them out. Isn’t that just cool – basically the theme is to express you – your life and all that. Isn’t that what most of try to do anyway? Express some piece of the life that we are living?

I just dig how it sounds and I’m going to make a more concentrated effort to think about what truly represents ME. What makes me the me that I am.

So, in that spirit, here’s a photo, because I haven’t been posting enough of them lately:

I may have already posted this one, but I love it. It is from my trip to the San Juan Islands (I really haven’t bee taking many photos). I love the moodiness of it. I love the overcast clouds, the soft light. So the opposite of the desert where everything seems washed out most days from the glare of the bright, bright sunlight.

But, I always find contrasts interesting, especially of the opposite kind.

So, here’s to some more posts and some more pondering of the zeitgeist of it all.

A reformed desert rat rediscovers the Northwest...

2010-11-29T18:23:00.001-08:00

That's going to be me in about 18 days! I am starting the final leg of completely freaking out and packing and trying to stay focused while managing all my current classes, signing up for new classes, trying to figure out how to pay for said new classes and.... whew! It's alot!

I really am beyond excited. As I look at things like this lovely family farm -- Henry's Tree Farm!

and looking forward to festivals and Christmas. Where I live now, a little town out in the desert, they don't really have a town square, and while there is certainly the air of Christmasy things at Walmart, it's not the same as snow, being so cold you can't feel your toes, snowmen, snowball fights and Christmas lighting ceremonies that most of the town shows up at.

I didn't realize how much I missed all of these things. I mean, really deep in my soul have missed them.

I am looking forward to seeing all the lovely, small town Christmas things. Maybe I'll even go to a local Christmas concert - woot!

Hope you are all having a wonderful holiday season. I won't be around much until after I am settled in with the move, but I have plans, oh so many plans for the future of this blog.

Thank you all for reading and following along.

Review: The Whistling Season

2010-11-13T20:26:00.001-08:00

The Whistling Season by Ivan Doig

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Okay, I finished this awhile ago, see a theme in my reviews yet? LOL

I absolutely LOVED this! I went into a bookstore and when one of the people working there asked if I needed any help, I asked for a recommendation. I do this alot, it's a great way to see what kind of people work at any store. If you work there, you should always have a couple of recommendations up your sleeve.

Set in Montana, it is essentially a story about the education system at the time, early in American history in the West. The characters are vivid, real and flawed, my favorite kind. And it is told from the perspective of a student, one of those dream students that all teachers want to have come along their classrooms.

I highly recommend it even if you are not interested in education, the stories of the narrator and his two brothers are awesome, hilarious and full of boyish mischief.

View all my reviews

NaNoWriMo is here - AND I might be crazy -- AND some good news!

2010-11-01T22:49:00.000-07:00

But, I think I am going to do it. I have been feeling (well besides stressed)that I need more creative stuff in my life. I spend too much time thinking, how it would be cool if I .... (insert creative thing here). And then this little email showed up announcing NaNoWriMo, which for those of you who don't know is National Novel Writing Month.

You can read lots about it on the NaNoWriMo website. It's really a big and scary challenge. 30 days - 50,000 words, approximately 1,667 a day. In order to finish a novel. Dauting, yes. Scary, yep. But, ultimately I hope uber-rewarding.

Today, was day one and I manage 1,701 words, just over 3 pages and could have gone longer, but I have some other homework to work on. What I thought I was going to write and what is coming out of my fingers on the keyboard are two different things, but that's okay.

Random picture time. This is from awhile ago, but I like how it's a going down the road on the adventure kind of picture. Sorry about the quality, I took it with my cell phone. Just as FYi, it's not snowing here yet, but I suspect it is on the way and soon. Unfortunately, for my December road trip.

Other GREAT news! I got accepted to my program at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Washington. Yup, all accepted and now get to freak out about all the little details like finances, driving up there, paying for books and culture shock. But, it's the great kind of freaking out to do. Love it! I'm truly on a new adventure in 46 days! =)

Hope you are all doing well and having a lovely week!

Critters in their Sunday Best–Orcas Island, Washington

2010-10-28T22:03:00.000-07:00

Isn’t that fabulous?? Blessing of the animals on a Sunday. My sister and I ran into this cool lady on the sidewalk across from the Outlook Inn on Orcas Island our last full day there. She had a couple of dogs and told us she had just been at the Blessing of the Animals service. She said it was yearly and that no one had come with a horse this time, but that it had happened in the past. Her dogs were dressed up in their Sunday best --- doggy jackets and all. How I wish I had paid more attention the day before when we walked by this sign. That would have an event to see. All the critters in their Sunday suits. Some people might think this a tad on the blasphemous side—I think it’s fabulous and not something you could see everyday. Of course, I didn’t, but maybe if I am really lucky, I won’t miss it the next time.

My apologies for not getting any photos of the dogs, I was a little overwhelmed by just the idea that they had gone to church and didn’t think of it until later.

Celebrating 200 posts–that’s a whole lotta babbling…

2010-10-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

First I want to thank all of my readers that have been with me along this wacky journey called having a blog. You guys rock! And for all of my new readers – you guys rock too, because you’re here too. I love that when we blog and when we read blogs we are participating in a conversation, even if we just lurk in the anonymity of it all. We get to follow people whose words we like, whose journeys we enjoy, empathize with and maybe who just say it the way that we want to and can’t sometimes.

I was going to be all poetic and whatever, but that’s not me. I just babble. I don’t have focus—why should I—it’s my blog and I’ll do what I want to. And so will you all, I hope – just blog because you can; because we are (most of us I think) still living in a world where it’s okay to just say stuff just because we can.

And I guess that’s another good reason to blog because you can; because there are people who are not blessed enough (still) to live places where it’s not dangerous to speak their minds. This is a crappy thing, but it’s a true thing. So blog, blog, blog and share what you have on your mind, ruminating inside the confines of your neural pathways or whatever.

Just blog. And that’s 200 for me—here’s to 200 more!

p.s. My photo has nothing to do with anything, I just thought it looked cool and added it because like always everything is fancier with a picture attached to it.

Where have all the pictures gone???

2010-10-25T15:54:00.000-07:00

I just realized as I was digging through my photos for this year, that I haven't really taken all that many. Why is this? I love to take photos, bad ones, silly ones, all kinds of photos. I wonder what it is about this year that has made me hit a slump. Could it be all the uneasiness about where I was going to end up this fall?? Or the fact that I am making a huge move soon with more uncertainty about how it is all going to work out??

I really don't know, but now that I'm on to you -- you stifling ogre of my creative expression -- I'll be taking some more photos. In fact, lots more -- take that! **I have also noticed that my battery is dead on my camera, so there will a short delay in the take thatness until it is charged again--oops.**

For now, you'll have to be content with the one I wrangled from my cousin's wedding below:

And a couple from my walk along the beach near an oyster bed at low tide, on Orcas Island.

I had a lot of fun exploring how the macro setting on my little digital can make things look so different, especially how the light is captured differently using that setting.

Gluten Free Almond Pear Cardamom Pancakes -- found on Simply Gluten Free Blog

2010-10-21T16:40:00.001-07:00

If you are entering the world of gluten free eating, like I am considering, you will realize quickly that there are alot of bad recipes out there. I have heard this over and over from friends who are gluten free and that it is really difficult to discover the good from the bad and that most of them rely on recommendations from other people. Well, we have to start somewhere.

I received a recommendation to read this fabulous blog -- Simply Gluten Freeand I have to say - yummy! So many amazing recipes. Really yummy looking stuff.

I have been craving pancakes, which I don't normally eat often, this whole week so far. Amazing what your brain gets stuck on when you are avoiding something.

Here's the recipe I settled on for my first foray out into the world of gluten-free cooking:

All the little **notes are what I did, when I had to substitute...

Gluten Free Almond Pear Cardamom Pancakes
Ingredients

2 large eggs **I used fresh from the farm ones, that I think perhaps were a little on the smallish side, probably should have used 3 of them**
¼ cup agave nectar or honey **I didn't have any, so I used regular honey, but less of it.. not even really sure if that is GF**
¼ cup almond milk (or water) **my almond milk was vanilla flavored**
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pure almond extract
1½ cups blanched, finely ground almond meal **I couldn't find almond meal, so I used Arrowhead Mills All Purpose Baking Mix**
½ teaspoon kosher or fine sea salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon cornstarch or arrowroot powder **I used cornstarch, because again, couldn't find arrowroot powder**
1/8 teaspoon cardamom
3 medium pears, peeled, cored and cut into 1/8 – ¼ inch dice **my pears were not super ripe, so I only used one

Directions

In a blender combine all ingredients except the pears. Process on high speed until smooth a fully combined, 1- 2 minutes. Pour batter into a mixing bowl and fold in the diced pears.

Heat a griddle or skillet over medium heat. Spray lightly with gluten-free non-stick cooking spray. Ladle in about 2 tablespoons per pancake. Cook until the tops form small bubbles and the edges start to look dry, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until the bottom is browned and the pancake feels firm, about 1 more minute. Transfer cooked pancakes to a plate and keep warm. Repeat with remaining batter.

Serve with a good quality non-dairy spread such as Earth Balance (or butter if dairy is not an issue) and maple syrup if desired.

Makes 12 pancakes.

created by Carol Kicinski of Simply...Gluten-free - www.simplygluten-free.blogspot.com

The amazing thing is I shared these with my mom and dad and they both liked them too! They are not exactly like non-gluten free pancakes, but really yummy anyway!

It's almost mid-week, do you know where your sanity is???

2010-10-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

I am pretty sure I left mine somewhere on Saturday, or maybe Sunday, that was a good day also. I just feel weird and scattery. It's just one of THOSE kind of weeks I guess.

It's a little bit of the holy hell I am moving whens??? Just a little. I panic easily, but calm down just as easily and get to the list-making and the practical side of things, I like to think that anyway. The panic can be pretty consuming at times, as my brain continues to make, re-shape and re-work the lists of things to do before I move while I am trying to fall asleep.

And, of course, I am still waiting to hear from the school I am in hopes of transferring to. My hope is that my pretty awesome grades and the fact that I already have my Associate's of Arts degree will help. And, that I rocked out my tests. Well, rocked em pretty well anyway.

And, I'm rambling, I know. It's one of those days, in one of those weeks.

I just have to keep telling myself, that soon, I'm going to be somewhere that looks like the picture below (even if it will likely have snow all over it):

I do love the green fields and even the cows; though I prefer the latter at a distance where they can't blow cow boogers at me--so gross!

Hope you are all having a good week!

Bye, Bye Gluten -- for at least 30 days...

2010-10-15T16:17:00.000-07:00

I have made a decision... I need to make some changes and I am starting with my diet. I have done alot of research and it appears that I could possibly relate alot of some issues back to potential gluten intolerance. So, for the next 30 days, I am going gluten-free to see if I feel better. Here's to a new adventure.

Here's another teaser photo from my trip.

On the plane ride to Washington I had a really nice conversation with the man sitting next to me. I told him how excited I was to be going to Orcas Island and he recommended this restaurant, Doe Bay, to me. It was the first place my sister and I ate when we arrived on the island. I would have been happy to have every meal there - the food was fabulous!

I think the next time I hit Orcas Island, I will even see about staying there. The photo below is a view from near the restaurant.

Hope you all have a fabulous and creative weekend!

A quick post and more to follow...

2010-10-13T10:00:00.000-07:00

I had an amazing trip recently to the San Juan Islands in Washington! For those of you who know me well, you know I'm a little obsessed with going there and this was my first trip! I spent a couple of lovely days on Orcas Island for my cousin's weeding which was stunning!

Here's a little teaser pic. This weekend I will be editing and sorting and drooling over all the fun stuff I shot! Of course, I'll share some with you all!

I said it was a teaser... LOL

Okay one more..

Also, I can't believe that I'm almost at 30 followers -- woot! Thank you to all my readers and followers. I am working on a schedule to make my posting a little more consistent. If you have anything you want to know more about that you have seen here, drop me a line. As you may have noticed, this is mostly what it says babble. I like taking photos and found that a blog is a good way to share them since the stories of where they are and how I found them are fun (at least I think so).

Welcome to my random part of the world and check in with you all soon!

Approximately two months until my return to the Northwest... when I have a better idea of my specific departure date, I will be posting a countdown clock. =)

Acrylics are aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawesome!

2010-09-14T19:22:00.001-07:00

I am in week two of my acrylics class this semester and as I have always thought - acrylics are the medium my soul was meant to use. (Yes, I can wax a bit on the dramatic side.) This does not mean that the quality of my work has improved, I need lots and lots more practice for that and I will post a pic soon when I find something that I think has some merit or is finished enough to show (even if it stinks).

I love the ability to layer color.

I love mixing colors to see what I get.

I love the vibrancy.

I love, love, love playing with acrylics.

Hope you are all doing something fun and creative this week - I know I will be!

Five Senses Friday #5

2010-08-17T02:54:00.000-07:00

It's that time again! Five Senses Friday! I haven't done one for a really long time and you know... I've missed it! I love the idea of having to come up with some thing new each week. It really helps me to see the blessings that I may have otherwise overlooked.

I found Five Senses Friday at Abby Try Again... find her blog HERE...

Smelling:

Fresh air....

Tasting:

Fresh zucchini from my garden! I am constantly amazed by how things TASTE so good when they come straight from the garden into your house!

Feeling:

Excited for passing my big, scary test and being one step closer to WASHINGTON!

Hearing:

The quiet noise of a second fan in my room. It's too hot to have the outside cool the house anymore and this room gets NO circulation. A little bit of heaven I tell ya!

Play along if you like (comment and let me know if you do, I want to see what you come up with!). I enjoyed this little experiment in the senses. See you for another next week!

Some good news!! Woohoo!

2010-08-17T02:30:00.000-07:00

Today was the big day for the test results from the big, scary test (AKA the West B). I was actually surprised by an email early in the day.... AAAAAAAAAAAND I passed!!! I suppose most of you guessed that from the title of today's entry. It would have been kind of poopy if I hadn't passed and left the title. HEEEHEEE!

So, another step done and I'm that much closer to leaving Las Vegas - yeah baby! I mean I am leaving regardless, but this is good. My scores were good, so I'm hoping that moves me up the admissions ladder a little quicker.

Now, to start working on revising a couple of sections of my main application. That starts in a few hours.

The pic is from my cell phone and downloaded off my facebook page, so sorry for the funky size, etc. Soon enough, I will be THERE! The land of trees and water again.

I cannot wait for my first decent walk in the rain at night moment. AAAAHHHHHH.... Back to reality soon! WWOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Hope the rest of you are doing well. I will have some pics from the contest soon - I promise. I can focus and breathe again.

Where did July Go!? And a new photo contest...

2010-08-04T01:41:00.000-07:00

July was a pretty traumatic month. I guess I hibernated through most of it. To update: the big, scary, test has been taken and now I have to wait for the results. I really dislike waiting. Especially when you are waiting for something like these test results. Things that determine your fitness for your future. Blech. Well it is 12 more days until I can start obsessively checking the website for my scores. Not too bad especially if I manage to hibernate through another couple of weeks. Then it will seem like time is flying by.

School starts again soon. This semester is a weird one since I am planning to transfer to another school so I'm trying to avoid taking too many classes that are program specific. I'd prefer to take them when I move. YAY! I'm moving! Cannot wait! The few days I spent in Washington were sunny and hot unlike what I wanted rainy and cold, but still. I fell in love all over again. Will be seeing you soon Washington for a wedding and then just a couple months after that... I'll be there permanently!

Since I haven't been as active with my photo taking I thought I would participate in another photo challenge from over here.... I always love the lists they come up with and it's fun. Here's the list for August:

1. A flag that represents you (your town, state, country, team, etc.)
2. Something comfortable
3. Something in season
4. Feet
5. Repetition
6. Culture or ethnicity
7. Contrast
8. An indulgence
9. A macro or closeup
10. Something masculine
11. Something feminine
12. Light
13. Eco-friendly
14. Business
15. An arrow
16. Something wet
17. Something dry
18. Butterflies*
19. Heart-Shaped Clouds*
20. Strength

Hope you are all doing well!

R.I.P. Stinky dog... we will miss you...

2010-07-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

I meant to do this blog last week, but couldn't quite get through it then. My wonderful stinky black lab is gone. She was 14 years old and the painful decision had to be made to take her on the last trip to the vet. Her last few days were not her best, but I am grateful that I was here and not already in Washington so that I could be the one to be with her.

The hardest part was that I was alone, but it was also by choice. There were family friends and neighbors who would have stepped in and helped as they could, but I couldn't stand to be around more sympathy.

She was a great dog. She was saved from a bum, who stole her and then traded her for a pizza. Initially, I was only meant to keep her for a night, but she ended up staying with us. She loved to chase birds at the beach and bark at the waves. Even though she was a black lab, she hated the water and especially if her feet didn't touch the bottom.

She couldn't go through a door if her ears touched and her best friend was a kitty named Kwim, who passed a few years ago due to complications with kitty diabetes. Even though I am sad, I know that she and Kwim are together again and happily playing over the Rainbow Bridge. Have you heard that poem? Here it is...

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor: those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind. They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. Her bright eyes are intent: Her eager body quivers. Suddenly she begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, her legs carrying her faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; you hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of you pet, so long gone from you life but never absent from you heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.... Author Unknown.

This was inside a card that a lovely neighbor sent to us. It's weird not to have her underfoot and needing me all the time. I will miss my stinky dog.

Maybe you've been wondering...

2010-06-22T22:50:00.000-07:00

Where I've been... well, nowhere really. I have been trying to stay off the computer and get some studying done. Obviously this is not working very well since here I am, but it is an effort.

This new test I am studying for to determine whether I'm cool enough to enter the Education program at Western Washington University is scaring the pants off me. I really wish they would accept my already passing Praxis scores as I have already gone through all the freaking out, stressing out, studying and lack of sleep for that test.

I don't test very well. I really never have. I am full of that panicky test anxiety right up until the professor, etc says go, and then I calm down and keep telling myself, you know this or you don't... just breathe goober. I am almost always convinced that I'm going to fail, and fail badly and I can't remember actually ever failing, but it could still happen.

So, now I stay up late (because that's the only time it's quiet here) and I study this book I found that is supposed to prepare me for the test. For the most part, it's the math that is making me want to pull all my hair out, but the test in general seems much more involved than the Praxis, which I guess is a good thing.

Hope things are going better for all of you!

At Long Last - Memorial Day Photos from Gold Point, Nevada

2010-06-09T18:47:00.000-07:00

With all the move excitement, I've been putting off a few other things. But, I finally got the pictures off my camera today and so it's time to share them.

My parents and I went north to a little "town" called Gold Point. People live there, but it's an old ghost mining town. There is a lot of old wreckage lying around and they are working on it to restore as much as possible and turn it into something that people can really come visit.

You can stay at a Bed and Breakfast there. Here's the link to Gold Point. I'm not sure where we heard about the Memorial Day event. This was the 6th year I think. And, it was fabulous! It was one of the most patriotic events I have ever been to. There were patriotic songs and a wonderful prayer offered during the flag ceremony. Everyone was there to honor the soldiers from all the wards. Absolutely fabulous.

They have a chili cook-off and events through most of the weekend. Many people came with their motor-homes in groups and stayed the week. So much fun!

These are some of my favorite images...

There were a lot of patriotic outfits and people in period costume. Love it!

And then there was a flag ceremony. Large lines of people holding flags (nearly a city block long) and waving them during patriotic music.

And the best and most powerful moment of the whole day was the lowering of last year's flag and the raising of a new flag to the main pole. In the first image, a veteran from the Korean War and a young lady are folding the lowered flag.

This is the same flag in the hands of a veteran of Iraq.

And here, is the flag from a young man who lost his life fighting in Afghanistan very recently.

It was so wonderful to see the love that all the people were so full of love and true gratitude for all the vets who were there and for all those who are still fighting for this country.

Enjoy these lovely images.

I'm mooooooooooooving...

2010-06-07T00:58:00.000-07:00

Really and truly moving out of the desert in about six months. After finals, I will be on my way out of here to the lovely, cold, rainy Northwest! It's finally here.

I'm nervous, scared and all those things that go along with making a big decision. I decided that it was time to stop dreaming, hoping and being sad and just do it. Just move. Just struggle through somewhere I want to be.

I couldn't be happier and can't wait to get on with the planning. I'm applying to school up there at the university I've been in love with since I was 19. Time for me to go live my dreams... Life is just too short to waste time being miserable because of lack of motivation to change.

This is me being melodramatic again, but while the thought may seem out of the blue, I've been dreaming about this for a very long time. Here's to making my dream come true!

**btw the pictures from Memorial Day are coming. It's ridiculously hot right now and even with the AC running the computer for long is like turning the room into an oven...**

Five Senses Friday #4

2010-06-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

Seeing:

An Amaaaaaaaaaaaazing flag ceremony on Sunday. A Memorial Day Celebration that I can barely put into words. Pictures and some words will follow tomorrow though.

Smelling:

the pool this morning for my first swim in a veeeeeeeeery long time...

Tasting:

Fresh peas from my garden! There is something so wonderful about eating something you grew. I could swear it tastes better.

Feeling:

Excited for an even BIGGER move at the end of the year. Hello Washington - did you miss me!?

Hearing:

The quiet noise of a second fan in my room. It's too hot to have the outside cool the house anymore and this room gets NO circulation. A little bit of heaven I tell ya!

Play along if you like (comment and let me know if you do, I want to see what you come up with!). I enjoyed this little experiment in the senses. See you for another next week!

Gold Point was amazing (I did also go to Goldfield) and will post more on both tomorrow. I got some really fun and beautiful pictures from the day.

2010-05-28T23:03:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday! And that means it's time for Five Senses Friday... Thanks so much to Abby Try Again for sharing this wonderful idea!

Seeing:

My art teacher's house at a BBQ tonight. It was such a lovely space.

Smelling:

Baked beans simmering in the crockpot. droool...

Tasting:

Cherries! Again, I know. But this was off the cherry tree in the yard! I beat the birds to one!

Feeling:

Content and excited for a move this fall.

Hearing:

The kitty happily purring next to me. Love that sound!

Play along if you like (comment and let me know if you do, I want to see what you come up with!). I enjoyed this little experiment in the senses. See you for another next week!

I'm off this weekend to Goldfield a bit north of here in Nevada. It's a restored ghost town, sort of. For the last few years they have been having a Memorial Day Weekend Rendezvous of sorts. Mostly lots of BBQ. Can't wait to get shots of the lovely old west buildings for some art projects I'm planning this summer....

Hope you all have a safe and happy Memorial Day Weekend and take some time to think and reflect upon all those brave men and women who have given their lives to keep us safe..

Have you ever wondered...

2010-05-26T02:28:00.000-07:00

What it would be like if you fell asleep and when you woke up you were somewhere else? Kind of like what happens to Alice in... Alice in Wonderland. I don't know why I have been thinking of this so much, but it's there almost constantly these days. Maybe it is because I am trying to get back in the habit of writing... writing and actually finishing short stories. And possibly, even get on with some painting. Yup, painting. I have all these lovely watercolor supplies, I might as well get some use out of them. Maybe I could paint what that world would be. My first thought was what if you woke up and the world wasn't finished yet... like you arrived too early.

Trees could be in various stages of completeness. Or, what if the world was where all the artistic images went to wait until they were finished? You know that drawing you did as a kid, maybe it's there, only since you've forgotten about it, not quite real yet. That would be weird.

So, on that note, I'm going to try and sleep now. I imagine I will have dreams of paper trees with crayon scribbles.

On a side note, I did some deep cleaning/purging recently and found homes for all my stuff. I wish I could remember where I wanted my camera to live, since I can't seem to find it.

Five Senses Friday #3 - A bit late I know...

2010-05-22T17:19:00.000-07:00

It's Saturday! And that means it's time for Five Senses Friday (a little late, but I like it so much I'm going to do it anyway!) Thanks so much to Abby Try Again for sharing this wonderful idea!

I love having a planned post, even if I forget to post it on the right day... LOL

Seeing:

My final grade for art class! I worked really hard this semester and even if I am not as good as the other kids in class, I make HUGE improvements.

Smelling:

Fresh sheets out of the dryer. That is one of my favorite smells ever.

Tasting:

Cherries! I love this time of year when are available.

Feeling:

Happy after an amazing nap yesterday.

Hearing:

The racket the quail make when the cat is near. It's comical even though they are upset. Poor things can't even look mean when they are scared.

Play along if you like. I enjoyed this little experiment in the senses. See you for another next week!

Finals are almost over!!!!

2010-05-19T22:46:00.000-07:00

The last one is tomorrow and I am drooling, drooling, drooling over the options for living this fall in Las Vegas. Have I mentioned that at times I feel like I am living in a black hole that sucks all the creativity out?? No? Well, I do. This particular spring was a special one for me, but as it heads into summer and the temperature starts pushing over 80, the old feelings are coming on back.

It might be the heat, it might be that I am just a whiner; it might even be that I have stayed here longer than anywhere else in the last 10 years and I've got those itchy feet to moving on again. It might be all of those things, or none of them. I don't know.

What I do know is that the change is going to do me aLOT of good. It's something new and will help with those itchy feet. And, lately, things have been a little strained around the house. I think we all need some space away from each other. I am praying, praying that I can find a job on campus to help make all these things possible. I have the funding to get by, but not to afford many extras and that will be harder.

Plus, I've been daydreaming about days spent in that amazing library on campus. Oh, it's so beautiful. Yes, I'm a book nerd... I love them. In fact, I love them so much that I am going to be a Librarian one day. Just a few more years of school.

Right now, that seems like an eternity, but I'm trying to look at it in the long term. A few years is nothing and if I get it done now; I won't be 80 when I finally find my dream job. =)

Hope that you are all having a week with many happy moments!

Five Senses Friday #2

2010-05-14T17:10:00.000-07:00

Another random unrelated pic just because I like to have pictures..

It's Friday! And that means it's time for Five Senses Friday! Thanks so much to Abby Try Again for sharing this wonderful idea!

I have been thinking about Five Sense Friday all week and I love that!

Seeing:

A big box full of my grandmother's recipes that arrived in the mail today. CANNOT wait to start going through them all!

Smelling:

Fresh lemons after I cut them up. I love that smell!

Tasting:

My first harvest of swiss chard - yum!

Feeling:

A little less stress when I saw that I have funding for school this fall when I checked online today.

Hearing:

The duet between Lee and Crystal on American Idol this week. Love that song!

Play along if you like. I enjoyed this little experiment in the senses. See you for another next week!

Happy Blogging!

Never enough hours...

2010-05-13T21:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, especially around finals it seems that there are never enough hours in a day. However, if I did all my studying at the Hoover Dam and felt like I needed another hour, I could always walk over to the Arizona side.

I just can't figure out how to keep from losing it when I cross back. Deep thoughts for a Thursday evening.

2010-05-12T16:06:00.000-07:00

Today, a completely random thought post. Including a completely random photo that has nothing to do with what I am saying. I just like to have pictures in my posts, I think it makes them pretty...=)

The wind has finally died down and I am really looking forward to a walk tonight after my second to last ever math class! Have I mentioned that I am excited to be done with the class!?! No, well I am!

The professor is one of those people who thinks he is funny, but really is not. He is also one of those people who thinks jokes make the class more fun, but has not the timing for such a thing. As a result, the class is primarily uncomfortable and full of awkward silences. That is when he acknowledges that there are other people in the room besides himself. You know the ones right?!?

I have been trying to focus on the positive and most of the time I can laugh about whatever it is eventually. And, eventually this will also be hilaaaaaaarious... yeah, right after I finish my final on Monday.

What I am trying to take away from this class is a great example of what I should never, ever, ever do in any future classroom I find myself in. I think that's a good thing. The good examples I have had are just as important as the rotten ones. Makes me a little more aware, hopefully.

I certainly hope that none of my future students ever feel the way that I do in this class right now. I honestly feel like my learning anything does not matter, only the sound of his voice does. Sigh.

On that note, I'm off to the second to last day ever! Hope you are all having a better day!

A dulcimer... a dulcimer... oh I swoon for thee..

2010-05-10T20:17:00.000-07:00

I love music and have always been a little sad that I was not terribly musically gifted. Recently, a cousin of my dad's visited and I had a short lesson with her dulcimer. I loved it! In fact, I loved it so much that I think I'm going to have a friend of mine make me one. She makes stunning instruments - a genius really and I cannot wait!

As of now, I'm think it will be similar to the one above (sorry about the picture I didn't think to take one of the dulcimer alone) with some lovely inlay work. It's what my friend does best. DYING to get my hands back on one.

**Here's a better picture. I can't remember where online I found it.**

Hope you all had a lovely weekend.

Happy Blogging!

Had a great day...

2010-05-08T22:35:00.000-07:00

Took a tour of the UNLV campus in Las Vegas. It felt so academic. Their library is amaaaaaaaaazing (really could not stop staring like an idiot) and I saw my first real lap pool in I can't remember how long (swooooon). I felt like I was walking through a little piece of heaven. I know, that sounds a little weird, but I'm very excited about this next step into what, I hope, will be a more challenging environment. I am getting a little bored here and that's never a good thing for me.

I have been playing with some of the online photo storage sites out there (photobucket, snapfish and now shutterfly). Just exploring the fun options. I love this weird little edging on the shot below. Sort of jazzes up a rather bleh composition.

I kind of like this one too...

I noticed the other day when I was playing that I hadn't fixed the size correctly (so the shot was distorted and didn't fully fit into the blog post), so I'll have to keep working with that so I can use the direct urls instead of downloading everything to the desktop to be uploaded first.

It's all fun. Hope you are all having a good weekend!

Happy Blogging!

SEEDLINGS! Cucumber seedlings...

2010-05-07T23:15:00.000-07:00

Again, my apologies for the rotten photo, but his is just too exciting NOT to share. I planted some cucumber seeds a little while back just to see.. AND LOOK WHAT I HAVE! Seedlings. (you can see the remaining bodies of their predecessors if you look closely... doh!)

They were literally not there one day and boom popped up the next. Fingers crossed that they continue to do well.

I also planted a couple of zucchini plants and they are growing like crazy.

In addition, a single survivor from the last great seedling debaucle (a beet) is trying to make an appearance. It has a single little leaf coming up. I made sure it is getting water and we'll see.

The acorn squash is much happier also with this warmer weather.

AND, oh this is exciting. The world's two ugliest tomato plants; the ones that had been planted right before a HUGE windstorm and got the tar beat of out them remember? BOTH have flowers and the yellow pear heirloom has 3 baby tomatoes starting! woohoo! Perhaps there is hope afterall.

Here's to hoping for some lovely warm weather!

Five Senses Friday - Thanks Abby Try Again!

2010-05-07T06:06:00.000-07:00

Kind of a cool image yes? I have been playing with a couple of different programs to give my pictures a new look. I like the idea of a picture frame.

It's Friday! And that means it's time for Five Senses Friday! Remember I talked about this earlier in the week. I saw it over at Abby Try Again.

So, here I go. This week was a bit stressful, but I did feel more aware of what was going on since I was going to be picking moments for this blog entry. I love that!

Seeing:

A lady bug on a walk through the neighborhood. Something about seeing lady bugs is just cool.

Smelling:

The faint smell of roses wafting through my bedroom window. I don't normally like roses, but these super faint whiffs in the night air were heavenly.

Tasting:

Frozen strawberries on a really hot day - it is such a treat!

Feeling:

A big chunk of stress melt away when I turned in my final for my literature class.

Hearing:

The sounds of happy quail in the backyard. This means we might see quail babies! Yay!

Play along if you like. I enjoyed this little experiment in the senses. See you for another next week!

Happy Blogging!

Summer Plans 2010

2010-05-06T22:39:00.000-07:00

What are you going to be doing this summer? Any big plans? I have very few really. Mostly, I am going to be staring at the garden to see what's growing; what I have killed and what looks tasty on a given day. That, and stressing about how freaked out I'm going to be the first day of class at a new school. (No official word yet, but I'm trying not to focus on that either).

My other plan is to work my way through the Artist's Way. Have you read it? I have heard a few people call it hokey and it can be, but if you are trying to work through a creative block or just want to get rid of the garbage in your head while working on something else - this is just fabulous! Okay, I think it's fabulous regardless, but I have yet to work all the way through it.

I am not, by nature, the most free person. I tend to bottle things up and just put on a pretty face to get by in the day. What this does when it's time to do something creative is frequently I have blocks and I'm not sure why. Well, after spending a little time going through the book, especially the AM pages, I figured out why. My head is full of snippets of internal dialogue that I keep in all day, and I mean full.

Once I started clearing these out, mainly through the AM pages, I was amazed. Of course, then I got busy and blah blah blah. You all know that story, we all do.

So this summer, one of goals is going to be to work through this book and get rid of as many blocks as I can. I think this will help alot with nerves in the fall. I will be all prepared to think outside that box and be brilliant.. =)

Hope you all have fun summer plans!

Did you notice???

2010-05-05T06:06:00.000-07:00

I made new button linky things to my other blogs? That's right... you can click on those pictures and they will take you to Backwoods Garden and Adventures by Jenna ... my alter egos.

I could not have done this without the help of THIS fabulous blog! So many great tips especially for blogger!

I think the ones I have now are just temps. Neither really represents the color scheme of the other blogs, but I just HAD to try it!

I feel some changes acoming for Backwoods Babble. Perhaps an overhauled look?

Happy Blogging!

Shuffle meme - stolen from My Voice my View!

2010-05-04T23:20:00.000-07:00

I found this today on one of my favorite blogs... My Voice My View

I thought it sounded like great fun and cheated a little. My ipod was charging so I just used the random setting in Itunes to get the tunes.

Instructions:

1. Put your iPod or MP3 player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn’t make sense. NO CHEATING PLEASE!

How do you feel today? Never Again by Kelly Clarkson (strange.. my favorite class met for the last time tonight)

What’s your outlook on life? Rebel Side of Heaven by Langhome Slim (eek! I haven't even listened to this song yet... give me a second while I see what I think... not bad, the title seems appropriate I guess.. I am a rebel afterall... LOL)

What does your family think of you? Go On by Jack Johnson (Are they saying I talk too much?!?!)

What do your friends think of you? Wonderful by Rob Thomas (hee hee)

What do your exes think of you? - Miss Independent by Kelly Clarkson (Hahahahahahaha... totally just snorted out loud!)

How’s your love life? - Set Free by Katie Gray (time to listen to my ipod more... I didn't recognize this one either.. but I dig it)

How will your love life be in the future? - What would you say? by Dave Matthews Band (aaaaah yeah...not sure if I get this one... LOL)

Will you get married? - Exogenesis Symphony part 3 (Redemption) by Muse (pretty music... no words..so I guess their guess is as good as mine....) It would be pretty waltz music I think... first dance perhaps???

Are you good at school? - Percussion Gun by White Rabbit (dang these samplers that I haven't listened to are killing me... LOL)

Will you be successful? - Hard on You by Rob Thomas (ugh! That doesn't sound promising does it?!?1)

What song should they play on your birthday? - Dam Would Break by Toad the Wet Sprocket... (I do love Toad... though Walk on the Ocean is my favorite Toad song)..

The soundtrack of your life? - Speed of Sound by Pearl Jam

You and your best friends are? - Chosen Armies by Children Collide

Happy times: Another Place to Fall by KT Tunstall

Sad times: Aan de Kust by Blof (a Dutch band, it's more of an summer anthemey song,but okay)

For tomorrow: 4 minutes by Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake (wait what?!? that is about how long I want to spend in math class tomorrow...lol)

For you: Vincent (Starry, starry night) by Josh Groban (love, love, love this song!)

What does next year have in store for me? - It Ends Tonight by All American Rejects (no it doesn't!)

What do I say when life gets too hard? Knights of Cydonia by Muse (are we seeing a muse theme...I do dig them..)

What song will I dance to at my wedding? - Intro by Muse (HAHAHAHAHAHAH!)

What do you want as your career? - Keep Forgetting by Cinematics (seems appropriate as I have changed my mind a billion times)

Your favorite saying? - Bubbly by Colbie Caillet (snorted again)

How will I die? - Away from the Sun by 3 Doors Down (excellent that means not in the desert... HAH!)

What fun this was! Try it! Play along here or on your own blog and let me know!

Loved this!

My FIRST Harvest!

2010-05-04T01:44:00.000-07:00

About five leaves of swiss chard! Not even anywhere near a serving and I'm jumping for joy! Swiss chard is rapidly becoming a favorite. I am drooling just a little thinking about all the yummy dinners I had last year. This year there are about 6x as many plants - so that is 6x the yumminess!

I apologize for the picture quality. My elph's battery was dead so I had to take it with my cell phone.

An exciting day for sure. A couple quick updates. The peas are not doing so well, still slowly growing, but I think I may have planted them too late, they look pretty sunburned. I will probably try another round of them for fall since they are so easy to start. I will also have room once the head lettuce is harvested where they can get a little shade in the afternoon which I think they would really like.

I have a TON of flowers on the roma tomato that we thought might die so this is great news! I just fertilized them again with what I call the fish guts. It is fish fertilizer and it makes the back yard smell a little like what my memory of September was in Alaska (lots of dead salmon) but the plants, especially the tomatoes, seem to really like it.

My two bell pepper plants seem to be unhappy so I will have to obsess over them some. They might be a little cranky that they aren't getting more sun. More research for me while trying to cram for finals.

That's the update for now! Happy Gardening!

I think I'm in danger...

2010-05-03T23:49:00.000-07:00

of becoming a REAL desert rat!?! How did THAT happen?

I was sitting outside today on what I would have previously thought of as a really, hot nasty day and caught myself saying... ahhhhh... I think this is nice.

I'm finding it harder and harder to resist liking it here. Whatever will I do!? It is kind of difficult to stay hardened to a place that produces a lizard running through your garden and quail that take dirt baths. Okay, not convinced?

Well, I am finding that this spring in particular is winning me over to the darkside. I mean look at the pic below.

I would have never even thought about trying to take something that showed the desert off this way a year ago. I may be doomed.

Trying something new later in the week...

2010-05-02T14:50:00.001-07:00

This is near Death Valley Junction. I adore old, busted things and have taken who knows how many shots of this one. That's an entrance to Death Valley in the background. There is a small herd of wild horses in the area that are fed and watered by the town - I love that!

I stumble across blogs that I fall in love with all the time. This week it was Abby Try Again. I am especially partial to photo blogs or blogs that feature photos and this one is fabulous!

While perusing through older posts, I found out about Five Senses Friday. It was started by Abby's friend Shari Altman and I think I'm going to add it to my list of things to blog. Each week you reflect upon what you enjoyed and either comment on Abby's blog or add it to your own.

The senses:

Hearing

Tasting

Seeing

Smelling

Feeling

I have been looking for a way to increase my awareness of my environment. This is PERFECT! I will see you all on Friday with the results!

Who aaaaaaaaaaaam I??? part 52

2010-04-30T21:40:00.000-07:00

Okay, not part 52, but I thought it was funny. I have still not been able to find much about the Russian side of the family. I can only really determine that they left Russia before the Revolution as one of the ancestors was married in the US.

Here's the maritime coolness that I found.. THIS is one of my ancestors. A sea captain no less! I have always loved The Ghost and Mrs. Muir so this is fabulous!

I still know very little about this family, though I have discovered there are likely ALOT of them. Hopefully, I will find out some more. I am toying with a few options as to where to go next.

However, since I found THIS I am guessing that things might be a little tricky... DOH!

Probably the last from Death Valley from me...this year...

2010-04-29T22:25:00.000-07:00

I was a bit slow in returning to Death Valley and definitely think I missed the peak blooms, though this funky weather may be extending what is out there now. Rain this late in the year and it's cool... totally crazy!

I took the same route as before and the road leading down into Badwater was great (except the part where it was fabulous last time, rather slim). There are a ton of these lovely, pastelly yellow dandelion like darlings in thick patches.

And lots of spots of these darlings, which are smaller than a penny and really only visible when you get out and walk around.

And the cactus, oh the cactus were in bloom almost the whole way back up from Badwater on the way towards Death Valley Junction. The shocking bright pink just jumps out of the landscape at you.

And tons more of the yellow daisy like flowers from a few weeks ago, just not as thick and not as fragrant. I am now persuaded into thinking that perhaps the fragrance was actually not the yellow flowers, but instead a low growing purplish weed that lately has the odor of ... well skunk cabbage. Or for those of you who don't know what skunk cabbage is... well skunk.

Oh sigh... most of the good blooms have gone. I do have the cactus blooming in the backyard to look forward to.

Happy Blogging!

Some more pics from Death Valley...

2010-04-23T22:42:00.000-07:00

I have not been able to get back out to Death Valley, so I may have missed the peak blooms, but here are a few more lovelies from the last trip. I think I'm going to try and do a little jaunt over there since tomorrow since it's been killing me that I haven't been back.

I love, love, love purple and this year there has been more purple than ever. Including purple skunk weed, which oooooooh boy, smells much like the skunk cabbage I grew up with in Alaska. That's not what the the next two purple flowers are, just thought I'd throw that out there.

And there is an abuuuuuuundance of yellow. Or there was really.

And don't forget RED! Red is not my favorite color, but when seen in the setting below, how can you not love it just a little?!?

And of course, the lovely, lovely white! They also have their place in spring!

As I have mentioned before last year, I take most of my pictures on a 12x digital zoom on my digital camera. I say this as most of the flowers are much, much, much smaller in person and not as easy to see. When I was out there awhile back the yellow was the most visible and once we got out and looked around when was we saw all the other colors.

Hope you enjoyed the little guys! Hopefully, I will have more soon!

Happy Spring!

Finally .... some GOOD news!

2010-04-17T21:38:00.000-07:00

I bought the little selection above after despairing that anything was going to grow in my garden. This was during the depths of this last round of ridiculous weather, wind storms mostly. I added several herbs - basil, rosemary, oregano and chamomile. All of it smells AMAZING when I touch or water it. Yum! More herbs will definitely be making an appearance.

From my reading and internet research the basil and rosemary in particular should be very well suited for this insane heat. When I first planted it, I was watering it to death, thankfully I realized it in time and it is now thriving happily in a pot all by itself.

I highly recommend before starting a garden that you research what you are going to have in it ahead of time. I was so excited that I just went to the store and bought what I wanted to eat not thinking at all about the suitability of said yummy things. This is where alot of my current headaches are coming from.

I also am not the most patient person at all times. This is something I am trying to remind myself of, just like as I am learning to draw better because I am slowing down, so too must I sloooooow down when it comes to the garden. Things will grow but fidgeting isn't going to make that happy any quicker...

My little acorn squash plant that I thought had taken it's last stab at life is reviving. Reviving in a big way. I had incorrectly assumed that some things in the garden were not doing well just because they were in my care. (This really was a logical thought, but incorrect.) I was lamenting the state of many things the other day when my mom wandered by and asked what had been eating my garden. EATING it?!? So, it wasn't me!?! Excellent!

Off to the garage I went where I had already purchased some dust by Sevin for just such an occassion. The most blatant victim was the swiss chard, which I had been convinced was going to do well and just wasn't. I had concluded that this insane weather was just beating the tar out of everything, but once my mom mentioned something was munching on it, I did notice that the holes I had seen were a little more symmetrical as is munchie-shaped that I had previously thought.

I also noticed an ant hill. Not just the little tiny swarmy black ones which make me itch just to look at. No, this was the big, fat, red stingy variety. I'm not sure what they are called. I heard fire ants, army ants. All I know is that my bottle said it would take care of ants and I wanted them OFF the swiss chard.

We also applied some ant poison that my dad had, but that dust... they writhed in agony once I hit them with it! I know I should delight so in the torture of little critters and normally I am fairly sensitive to it. But, these little buggers were eating my garden! Down with the nasties!

I am going to take some more pictures tomorrow so you can see how the peas are growing! So great to see! I will have to add taller stakes soon so they can grow upwards more.

I just added fertilizer today, some fish emulsion that my mom used last year on the tomatoes. **Fingers crossed that it makes things happy!**

Falling asleep in your math book...

2010-04-05T13:57:00.000-07:00

does not equal quality studying. It's spring and while I love all the green and gorgeous life that literally springs out of the desolate brown, I am not so thrilled with all that comes along with it. In particular, the pollen makes me sleepy. Okay, maybe not directly sleepy, but the pollen contributes to my allergies and then I wake up drooling in my math book. This does nothing for my grade or my understanding.

I wish somehow I could innoculate myself from the pollen, or some how change the molecular structure so that it no longer interferes. As neither of these is likely to occur any time soon, I'll just wipe off the drool and try to study some more!

Happy Spring!

Who aaaaaaaaaaaam I??? Wow!

2010-04-02T21:42:00.001-07:00

So I knew there was a Russian connection to my family. As I mentioned, there is the family legend that we are connected to Russian nobility. I assumed that this connection was quite a ways back, but really not so far.

My great, great grandmother was born in Russia in 1851. I am not sure exactly where, I only found that reverence as a side note in the book I'm digging through.

I always thought that my Russian connection was not very strong, but wow! That's really close. This makes me that much more anxious to really dig into the family. Her mother was born in St. Petersburg in 1830. Soo exciting!

I have always been fascinated by Russia and the rich culture of the people. My ancestors would have been living in St. Petersburg it appears at a very interesting time in that country's history in the tumultuous times leading up to the Russian Revolution. I am not sure if my great, great, grandmother's mother left Russia with her, but I can only assume that she may have.

Sooo time for a trip to the library as I believe they have a subscription to ancestry.com so I can do a little more digging.

To me, this is just unbelievable. Not only do I have deep, deep roots in the US, but also in Russia! And, unlike what I have always believed I do not have any Welsh or German in my blood at all! Crazy!

Cannot wait to find out more about my Russian heritage!

The Hillls are Alive.... with WildFLOWERS!

2010-03-30T12:21:00.001-07:00

I am writing this with my foot propped up, wrapped and currently being iced. I biffed it big time jumping out of the truck this last weekend as we were over in Death Valley. Yes, very, very graceful. As a friend of mine would say.... "you look like a champion...." Sadly, that is a mockery of how cool I looked falling into a hole.

But, I think it was worth every ounce of discomfort I have right now. The wildflowers, they are blooming like crazy on the drive in to Badwater. I mean like the best I've ever seen. Granted, I haven't been here all that long, and I missed the big bloom from a few years ago when the roads washed out on the one side of the valley, but this was fabulous!

The route we took was from Pahrump, down highway 372 a right at Shoshone (which is literally the end of 372, you can either go left or right); then up the road about 5 minutes past the end of Shoshone and a left at the first sign (it's really the first real road you come to after Shoshone) down into Badwater. This road down had, BY FAR, the best in wildflowers that I've seen. **A bit of warning, there is construction going on, so if you are only interested in the flowers and are going in the next few days you may want to turn around at the Ashford Mill Ruins as this is where the real spectacularness ended last weekend.) If you are going to be going over the weekend, it might be worth the funky loose gravel to continue on as we think it will probably just get better as it is a little early yet. And if you haven't seen Badwater, it's kind of cool to go and see how far BELOW sea level you are.

They aren't plastering the sides of the road, and they aren't particularly flashy, say by Northesastern US roadside standards, but for here.. AMAZING! Most impressive are the fields of these yellow flowers.

I'll add more detail about them in another post, but I wanted to get a preview of them up first. AND the smell, holy moses if you have allergies take a pill before you go because walking out in these fields will get you, very fragrant. It's the yellow ones you're smelling....

(The photo above was taken from Ashford Mills Ruins pullout looking back up the road- there's a sign off the main road and it also has outhouse facilities)

Though these cute little purple ones have a pleasant odor all their own as well.

What I would recommend if you are heading over there is to stop when you see a good patch of yellow and then get out and watch your feet. There are tons of tiny little spots of color that you can't see from your car. Then, of course, you have splotches like this guy...(who is clearly visible from the road by the way)

And I suspect even more lovelies on the way. I am planning to hobble out there again next weekend and perhaps the weekend after that as well. Last year we saw alot more along the road in to Badwater past the Ashford Mills turn out, but I suspect that the construction and what appears to be a number of heavy washouts may be delaying those blooms for now.

Regardless, happy snapping!

Seedlings ... oh the poor little seedlings...

2010-03-26T22:15:00.000-07:00

I have been attempting to start some of my seeds in the house before planting and I've come to the following conclusion. Not everything benefits from this arrangement.

It would appear that my broccoli, beets and the lettuce would have preferred that I did anything else besides what I have done, since both rounds of seedlings have not performed well once outside. I think they would have been happier to have been started from seeds, which may still happen in a couple of days if things don't improve in their parts of the garden.

We changed up the water system, it didn't look like it would be able to cover the whole space once things started getting larger. I think it also looks aesthetically more pleasing. I say this alot about things, but I try also to think in terms of function as well.

I love to look at the little seedlings in their starter box and am sad now that many of them may not make it.

I believe I'm not getting the whole idea of thinning, which is likely an important one.

But, I want to learn how to do things from seed since I have access to a free supply of them.

I think next year, certain things will just start from seeds in the ground and some from the indoor spot. So far the peas and cucumbers seem pretty happy though we drowned the first round of cucumber seedlings while playing around with the water system. For now, I will water them by hand until they are bigger and can take the water a bit better.

Now, it's a wait and see what grows game. I still have five little pea seedlings that need a home, but I couldn't decide where I wanted to put them. Tomorrow I will make that decision.

I find that I am starting to sound like one of my uncles who likes to point out all the good dirt he sees when we are on sightseeing outings with him. On the way home from an evening out tonight I caught myself gazing longingly at a couple of nice looking backyard plots on the way home.... sigh...

Happy Planting!

Who aaaaaaaare you?

2010-03-26T21:29:00.000-07:00

Have you been watching that new show... Who Do You Think You Are? on NBC? My mom and I are in love with it. If you haven't here's a quick premise. Lisa Kudrow (Phoebe from Friends) is one of the executive producers and basically it's celebrities finding out about their genealogy. Things they didn't know before. So far Sarah Jessica Parker has discovered she was descended from an accused Salem Witch. Emmett Smith found about his slave heritage. Lisa Kudrow found a relative her family had thought had passed away and about her Holocaust heritage. And tonight Matthew Broderick found out about his grandfather and great grandfather. It's really a very well-done show, check out the recaps on nbc.com...

What touched me was the first episode with Sarah Jessica Parker. She was talking about not feeling wholly American even though she was born here. Her family, she thought, had not been around very well. They were all immigrants and recent ones at that. Discovering her family roots in the US was amazing to her and I completely identify with that.

I have mentioned before that I was raised on an island in Alaska. What that means even more deeply was that we were the only ones there. Everyone else was in the lower 48 and we didn't see them much. I had an uncle who lived on the neighboring island and was a commercial fisherman, but he died when I was in grade school and I rarely saw my cousin or aunt much as we grew older.

It seemed to me that so many of the kids I was in school with had deep roots in the community and tons of cousins. The idea of cousins delighted me. I remember going to a family reunion when I was 10 on the East Coast and just being overwhelmed by all the cousins. Cousins were, to me, something rather elusive in understanding and even cooler than having friends... weird right?!?

Not only did I know that almost all my family was living elsewhere; I knew that in addition to that my family were recent immigrants. On my father's side, I am a fourth generation American and on my mother's only third. I am half Finnish Sami; 1/4 Dutch and my grandmother on my mother's side we're still working on but believe it's German, Welsh and Russian.

My grandmother's family on my mother's side I learned awhile ago has been around the US a rather long time. Finding this out reminded me of the moment when Sarah Jessica Parker discovered the same thing in her episode. I'm AMERICAN! I mean, duh of course I am, I was born here, but I'm FROM here at least a little. My family has walked the land, has been a part of building this history a long, ways back. Maybe I'm not explaining how that changed things properly. But before that revelation, before seeing it in print, I didn't feel as connected. I felt like an American, but not of the historical variety. Now, with that book in hand.... I had "connections" as you will.

In fact, as far back as the Revolutionary War if the current book can be believed. There's a little debate on the validity of what we have though tonight my dad seems to think that it's accurate and if he's certain, it's likely true. But, I want to find out for myself. I want to verify the data. I want stories.

In particular, I want to verify this little family anecdote. My grandmother told my mother when she was younger that her sister or a cousin had been doing research into the family and discovered that we were descendants of Russian nobility. Not anything fancy like the Romanovs, but who would have emigrated about the time of the fall of the Romanovs. There is apparently a museum somewhere in the Northeast US that is where these Russian nobles lived. My grandmother and grandfather went to visit once and my grandmother told my mom she felt they had not been properly received. I don't know how close the connection is, or even if it's true, but starting tomorrow, I'm going through the old book we have on the family and seeing what I can find out.

My mom said that grandma didn't talk much about her family when she was growing up. She was fascinated by my grandfather's Dutch family and talked about them instead. I don't know why. She doesn't know why. She thinks maybe my great grandfather was perhaps not the nicest man, but we don't know.

Now don't get me wrong. I am fascinated by my European roots. I was raised learning bits and pieces of my Finnish roots and they are fascinating. I am a descendant of the reindeer herders in northern Finland - the Sami. Truly a fascinating culture and one I love learning about.

I love my Friesan heritage (Dutch) and especially since I've had the opportunity to go there and walk around where my ancestors could have gone. Where I have met distant cousins who still live there. Where I was given a chunk of beeswax from my great, great, great grandfather's beekeeping farm. Where I breathed the air.

I just want to see where my grandmother came from. Who were her people really? What did they do?

There is progress!!!

2010-03-22T22:37:00.000-07:00

There is some progress on my little bit of dirt. Two days ago my mom and I hand churned all the dirt with a couple of bags of this compost, humus stuff that was recommended by our local nursery. They have always been very helpful and since it was on saaaaaaaaaaale, we bought a bunch.
Next we added a little chicken wire fence. The plot grew from the planned 5 ft x 5ft to a now 6ft x 14ft which is actually better since if half of what I plant grows, it's going to need the space.

The fence took most of yesterday, so I didn't add anything back in until today. Today we added a water system, since water and too much sun is likely to be the biggest factors in the success of this little venture.

The water system involves cutting hose, attaching elbows, t corners, etc and then punching (manually) all the little holes for the actual units that will do the spraying. In my case, not much of a spray, more of a energetic bubbling, but it will do the trick once we figure out how much and how often.

With the water system installed, I added the leeks, some lettuce and swiss chard. Then I wanted to add this bird netting to the top to help keep junk like dead leaves out and help keep the cat out. The one we purchased wasn't large enough, so another trip to the nursery later, I came back with another chunk of netting and a few more swiss chard plants - yum!

Tomorrow the plan is to continue planting. I have a few little baby plants that I started from seed that I think might be ready, an eggplant that I'm debating on and an acorn squash plant that I'm not 100% certain is ready to get in the ground yet. More research for me!

On a random side note, the last few days may be the most time I've spent outside in the yard in a very long time. I'm not a fan of sun, but digging in dirt - that I love regardless of weather.

Happy Planting!

Getting ready to "make" some dirt...

2010-03-19T22:15:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are not aware, the stuff we have here in the desert is not what you would call high quality dirt. It's either hard pack clay or what everyone around here calls poof-dirt (which honestly for all I know is the same thing).

I've decided on either 4x4 or 5x5 to start with. I am thinking it will be plenty and since it's likely going to take a bit for things to get going then I'm dealing with a huuuuuuuuge area.

Regardless, things do not typically thrive here without help. I have picked out the spot for the garden. Over there is a picture of the before of what I'll be playing with. It does get a little shade mid-day (which is the nastiest part of the day) and as I mentioned the swiss chard loves it.

My mom and I wandered over to the local nursery and came back with a few big ol bags of compost humus stuff that they recommended. They've been great so far, so I'm trusting them. They also recommended a decent looking fertilizer called "Gold Dust" that I saw mentioned on a few other blogs and other places so that made me happy. The best part - it was on saaaaaaaaaaale! My favorite kind of purchase next to free of course.

Tomorrow my mom and I will begin the process of trying to make the thing above look more like something that the plants might like.

I have discovered a friend from school that has been gardening here for several years who has graciously offered her assistance should I have questions. I don't know what she realizes she has signed up for, but since she is also offering free seeds (woohoo!) I will try not to be too much of a nuisance.

As I mentioned before, the neighbors are likely going to be very aware once I come across my first nasty looking bug. I've already started to devise ways to dispose of the ones that are not deterred by mean looks... squish ... squish ...squish...

Also on the agenda tomorrow is a plan to put up a chicken wire fence around everything since we have a family of bunnies next door and various other rodents that frequent the backyard. I know they won't be completely deterred, but it should help a little.

Happy Gardening!

A gardening blog has begun....

2010-03-19T22:09:00.000-07:00

I decided to start a little gardening blog after all for all the craziness this summer. You can check it out over HERE....

Working on a new post over there right now...

Happy Blogging!

The green thumb I have not...

2010-03-18T21:21:00.000-07:00

I have no green thumb. I can keep some things alive, but mostly they survive on luck.

So, why am I attempting to create a garden in the Southwest? Well... actually, I'm not so sure except that it sounded like a great idea. Last year, freakishly some swiss chard took hold in a funky little spot in the backyard and there was tons to be had all summer and well into the fall. AND, it was delicious.

This eating something that JUST came out of the ground, is pretty new to me. I grew up on an island in Alaska. We didn't really have much in the way of gardening there, though people definitely were able to. The vegetables came on barges or sometimes the airlines. They were not very tasty.

I do have memories of visiting my grandma and helping her in her amazing garden. Mostly I chased lizards and ate the snap peas off the vines, but oh the flavors. Maybe it's that I lost my grandma not too many years ago. In gardening I could perhaps find a continuing connection to her. Maybe.

It might also just be that I'm a little off my rocker and just enjoy punishment. I have had amazing vegetables produced locally. I just don't know that I truly have the skill to pull it off on my own as my mom will shortly be departing for the annual leaving the furnace behind and traveling adventure.

Here's to hoping!

A Garden... me??? Am I Crazy???

2010-03-18T20:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I might be. I have thought about doing this for awhile. I mean it does make sense. There is a spot to have a little garden in the backyard. I love, love, loved the swiss chard from last summer (which incidentally has decided it's time to sprout again all by itself). AND, well I love fresh food.

So, here is a list of what I am going to attempt this summer. I may start a blog specifically for this "experiment in crazy" but, again maybe not.

Right now, there is swiss chard a growing on its very own.

I started some seeds of broccoli, cucumber, beets and snap peas. There is also a seed of lettuce mix with the following: oak leaf lettuce, red leaf lettuce, arugula, cress, endive, radicchio and green-leaf lettuce.

And a a couple of plants... leeks, eggplant and acorn squash.

I know that people have grown all these things locally. Whether I will be able to is another story altogether.

Tomorrow my mom and I will be preparing the dirt for the (hopefully) little plants that will be around in according to the directions a few weeks.

Happy Blogging!

Wow! It's March! Where did February GO!?!

2010-03-10T11:04:00.001-08:00

WOW! I cannot believe I lost FEBRUARY completely! It has been busy at school - it seems all my professors this semester have decided to make up for all the "easy times" they've given us in previous semesters. Everything seems to take so much longer these days - why is that!?!

I haven't even really had the time to take pictures!?! Now, THAT must change, because that is my sanity maintenance. My poor knitting needles have been trying to get my attention - but all the homework and studying have taken over my life!

I'm in the process of changing schools as well. After alot of thought and some scary budget problems here in Nevada that could have resulted in the closure of the campus here, I decided it was time to go to the "big city over the hill" (aka Las Vegas); bite the bullet and finish my degree at UNLV. This will also mean that I will look a little more competitive when I start applying for jobs out of state. There are many advantages to this new plan and while the commute will get old quikc I am trying to stay focused on how I will be able to stay up to date with all my many podcasts a little easier now... LOL

The pic above is from like 2 years ago - the last time I visited Washington state and I just thought it was pretty. Besides, for me, a blog entry without a photo is bland (not for other people because most of them are much better writers than me)....

Hope y'all are having fun, and positive years!!!

Happy Blogging!

The Life of Pi - Yann Martel

2010-01-24T03:16:00.000-08:00

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Okay, four stars because I'm still thinking about the book and it's been a couple of days since I actually finished it.

This is another of a stack of books that I'm determined to FINALLY read. I picked it up on a recommendation, as I do alot of books, and I think I even lost the original copy I bought and then ended up with this one.

Anyways, I enjoyed it. ALOT. I especially liked the last chapter, which is a transcribed interview, so the book tells us between Pi and a couple of gentlemen from the shipping company.

I am still thinking about which story do I believe, which I believe is the point. The beginning says that it's a tale that will make you believe in God, and I don't believe that was true for me.

I will say that it's worth the time to read and while it took me a while to finish it, it was just time constraints that I had not that the book was uninteresting.

Keep your eyes our for meerkats. And, I'd add it to your to-read pile if you have not yet.

View all my reviews >>

Yeah, I'm still thinking about it and I LOVE that in a book.

Discovering Music...

2010-01-23T15:25:00.000-08:00

I love music. I always seem to have something running in my head. Sometimes I imagine that this is the soundtrack of my life - like if I was in a movie. Wouldn't that be cool? Okay, most days, not so much, but I do really enjoy music.

I get excited when I find a new band to listen to. I don't care if they are "current" or whatever, just new to me. NPR radio shows have helped me discover so many bands I would never have come across otherwise.

Today, it was Midlake, a band out of Texas. I love, love, love them. There are releasing a new album at the beginning of next month and I have it pre-ordered on iTunes already. I'm in the process of downloading their last album - Trials of Van Occupanther. Check them out on iTunes or Myspace.

Their sound is described as psychedelic folk in one of the reviews I saw - which would have scared me a bit, if I hadn't already heard a preview of them on the radio. It's fabulous.

I like to be diverse in my musical selection, but I definitely have a tendency to focus on a genre or particular type of sound for a while before moving on to something and then integrating whatever I find into my collection.

These guys fit right in with what I've been jamming to lately. Iron and Wine, Peter, Bjorn and John, Rob Thomas, Josh Groban, Pearl Jam, Gin Blossoms, to name a few. Maybe those don't really all fit together but in my world they do.

I can't wait until the whole thing is downloaded and I really start listening to them.

So what's on your playlist at the moment???

Saturday Book Review - Soul fo the Fire - Terry Goodkind

2010-01-09T14:38:00.000-08:00

Soul of the Fire by Terry Goodkind

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I am on a mission to catch up on this series, since I cannot remember why I stopped reading it in the first place. Also, with the new tv show, I find myself trying to remember what I've read. I vaguely remember the chimes. The big question are in the world or not? Is the magic really failing or not? And what's Zedd up to? These are the questions that Kahlan, Richard, Cara and another figure from Richard's past must answer if they are to save the land of Anderith from the invading army of Jagang. I find myself liking to return to series, especially longer ones, with decent character development. It's like sitting down and catching up with your friends about what they've been up to for the last ten years or so. In Kahlan and Richard, but as I am so drawn with the peripheral characters, I like to see what they been doing.I like Goodkind's style, it's easy, fluid and not overly flowery as some authors can get especially in books of this size. The stories move along, and while there is a conclusion of sorts, you are still left with plenty of questions that makes you want to read the next book.Not anything that has changed my world, but definitely provided with some lovely hours of imagination. Thanks Mr. Goodkind.

View all my reviews >>
**As an aside, I will be branching out a bit as my reviews go along. I have a goal to read a bunch of Dickens this year; some Daphne du Maurier thrillers among others. This is just the first in a line of hopefully fun reviews. And also fulfills my goal of blogging more.**

Happy Blogging!

He only looks cute...

2010-01-07T12:45:00.000-08:00

But, truly he is a minion of the underworld. At least that is how it has felt the last few nights. I made the mistake of moving my bedroom furniture all around to give myself more space. More space = more play time, at least to the two little devils that also sleep in my room. Felix, pictured here and his sister, Feisty, have the last two nights not allowed me any sleep! The first night I attribute primarily to the newness and the fact that someone left a lamp on in the living room so they thought it was time to play.

Last night, they played. They played ON my bed. Ever tried to sleep when cats were tossing their toys at you??? It doesn't work well. I'm a little cranky today and definitely crossing my fingers that this stops before classes start in a couple of weeks, because I will ABSOLUTELY need sleep then.

To recover, I'm re-watching LOST season 5 in my sleep-deprived delirium. It's vastly entertaining and I highly recommend you all try it. I anticipate at some point I will pass out during the day, probably at my keyboard or in the middle of an art project and wake up drooling...

Hope you are all getting the rest you need. Happy Blogging!

A little moonrise ....

2010-01-05T14:26:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure why I didn't share this pic the other night. I love the way the moon is rising over the horizon as the sun is setting. Totally gorgeous. So serene and the clouds make the whole scene slightly surreal and magical. As if through those funky pink clouds a dragon could burst through or something. Okay, maybe not a dragon, but it's my imagination and I'd like to see a dragon. Of course, it would be of the more rare, non people eating variety. Otherwise, I could not enjoy the view for very long.

I may take a shot at painting part of this scene. I like the colors and the challenge it would be. I would simplify it quiet a bit, since as a painting it might be a bit cluttered.

I need to get out and get some new photos taken for my upcoming drawing class. It's difficult since what I love in my photos is not necessarily what will look amazing in a sketch or a pastel. Such a different way to look at the world. Sigh...

I'm hoping to rope the family into a trip through Death Valley in the next few days. It's nice and cool out there and I love seeing all the ruggedness. I'm even falling in love a little (gasp!) with the desert out there. Who would have thought?!?

Happy Blogging!

Sunset on the last day of 2009

2010-01-02T19:20:00.000-08:00

I've finally scrounged a few minutes to get the most recent pictures off my camera. They were of the sunset on New Year's Eve - a particularly pretty one and a great way to end the year.

This first one is just before the color really started. I am especially fond of the clouds around the mountains. We do not have clouds often, so they are that much more fun to see.

This I love for the beautiful colors and again the clouds.

Hope the new year is finding everyone well!
Happy Blogging!

2010 - the List

2010-01-01T05:26:00.000-08:00

I'm a huge list maker, I think I may have mentioned this before. I also have a very small obsession with sticky notes. I once met a man who was a sticky-note designer (I kid you not) while overseas in Belgium. He handed me this lovely huge stack of prototypes and I think I almost fainted. I should have saved them or at least taken a photo, but I didn't.

Right now, I just have your run of the mill, standard sticky-notes from Walmart, soon I will be on the prowl for some that are a little less ordinary to brighten up my little day planner. I am also a little to attached to the planner, though right now there is not much to put in it. I anticipate a change... at least if I am to follow through with my to-do list for 2010 (otherwise known as resolutions).

Here's this year's list:

1. Lose weight (I won't say how much needs to go, but it's plenty).

2. Read at least 60 books.

3. Run 30 minutes without stopping.

4. Make the Dean's List every semester.

5. Cook dinner at least 3 times a week.

6. Volunteer at the library.

7. Blog at least three times a week.

8. Draw at least four times a week.

9. Finish at least ten large watercolors.

10. Be kinder to my family. (I know this should be first, but I thought I'd save the best one for last).

You might wonder what all this list-making has to do with the cactus featured above. Well, nothing, I just feel like my posts are not complete without a photo. Looking forward to the coming spring for more opportunities for great shots and a possible trip through Sedona, Arizona. **fingers crossed that it will be so**

All in all, I think these are all achievable and will challenge me. I like the practice of making resolutions, though I can never make just one - that's not a list and I like lists too much to go any other way.

Here's to hoping for a happy, productive and fabulous new year!!

My last act in 2009 was to finish this book..

2009-12-31T20:08:00.000-08:00

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace . . . One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
As an aspiring teacher/librarian I found this amazing, inspiring, uplifting and empowering. I know lots of adjectives. It's also incredibly relevant as Greg Mortenson and the Central Asia Institute are setting up schools in rural Afghanistan and Pakistan. The timeline covers pre and post 9/11 life in those areas with insights that I really appreciated.

It also restored my faith in New York Times Bestsellers as the last couple I have read I felt were a waste of my time.

It is written by a journalist and infused with Mortenson's words. Gorgeous and well worth the time. It really leaves you with a sense of hope that really one person CAN make a difference.

View all my reviews >>

I only gave it 4 stars because I'm trying to be stingier in my rating system and not give out 5's unless I feel like it's something that really changes my life.

Still thinking over my resolutions.. In my time zone I still have about 4 more hours before the official new year, so I'll procrastinate a bit longer.

Happy New Year and goodbye 2009! Hope 2010 is a good one!

Almost the new year... goodbye 2009...

2009-12-29T12:57:00.000-08:00

I know, it's not quite the end of 2009 but as it is so close, it has me thinking about this last year and last year's New Year's Resolutions. I didn't accomplish as much as I would like, so I guess it's time to re-evaluate my commitment to what I want to do. Maybe I am just not ready, or maybe it's just time to get off my duff so to speak and do it. I am thinking these things over as I look ahead to next year and what I want to accomplish.

How about you? Was it a good year, did you accomplish what you wanted? Are you planning on making New Year's Resolutions??

I like them, I know some people don't. Of course, I am a list freak, so this fits right in with my love of list making. Time to plan out a bit more to make my goals more tangible.

So, happy new year and I hope it is a good one for you all!

Ahhh... fiber therapy is a good thing...

2009-12-08T14:06:00.000-08:00

Studying for finals and the end of the semester stuff makes me crazy. All my professors every semester seem to save up the most time-consuming projects until the very end of the semester and never seem to give us the information to get started until right before either - ugh!

Fiber therapy makes it all better. These are the lovely little projects that are now winging there way via the postal service to my sister. She doesn't have internet access so I don't mind posting them online. She also doesn't really know what a blog is, so I'm totally safe.

The scarf is a lovely alpaca blend that I think she'll really love living in the cool, rainy Northwest. The hat is merino wool and the dish cloths are plain, lovely cotton (which I crocheted). I think next year, I'm going to try for a sweater, which considering how slow I knit, I will have to start shortly after Christmas.

Happy Holidays!

Mmmmm... Thanksgiving is coming soon...

2009-11-17T05:35:00.000-08:00

I LOVE Thanksgiving! It's my favorite holiday - mostly because I also LOVE food.

I have decided to do the cooking this year at my house. My mom normally does most of it. Here's what the menu looks like:

It was a challenge as one of the members of the household (cough ... cough... my dad) is a staunch supporter of everything always being the SAME... ugh. However, should you ASK him what he wants, bizarre things (mostly that sound unappetizing) come out of his mouth. So, I tried to balance the familiar with a little twist. **Fingers crossed this goes over well, because he's also a HUGE whiner.**

APPETIZER:

Squash Soup, courtesy of Alton Brown's recipe at the Foodnetwork
Spinach Salad, (spinach, tomatoes, cucumber and whatever dressing)

MAIN:

Turkey, of course. We don't usually do anything fancy with ours and I'm not likely to try and change this year, though I'd LOVE to at least stuff it with some aromatics or something..

SIDES:
Cranberry Sauce, courtesy of Bobby Flay's recipe at the Foodnetwork
**dad has the jellied stuff out of the can**

Roasted Veggies on the Grill, we are going to do shallots, brussel sprouts, asparagus, corn and carrots

Mashed Potatoes two ways, nice and lumpy for dad, and creamy garlic mashed for me

Yams with marshmellows, brow sugar and stuff (my mom's recipe, delicious)

Cornbread Stuffing, courtesy of Michael Symon's recipe at the Foodnetwork **sans ham because I don't like it**

DESSERTS:

Pumpkin Pie, courtesy of somewhere online, I can't find my paper right now. It has heavy cream and a bunch of other yummies in it.

Apple Tart, courtesy of Paula Deen's recipe at the Foodnetwork

I'm drooling a little thinking about it.

Happy Early Thanksgiving!

My apologies...

2009-11-16T05:35:00.000-08:00

For the massive amount of posts yesterday... I was combing a couple of blogs and didn't realize that I didn't HAVE to publish them once they were imported.

If anyone knows a way to edit your tags without re-publishing the entire post, please let me know. I'd love to streamline what I've done and didn't really think it through during my original set-up.

Watercolor....

2009-11-15T12:43:00.000-08:00

I am struggling in my watercolor class, really struggling. I can get most of the way through a painting and then BAM - big blob appears and it's ruined. Ever tried to back track out of a watercolor? It doesn't work well... sigh

We had a free day in class last week, since there were so many sickies around the week before. I finished the painting below, notice all the blobby spots, grrr...

This was supposed to be rocks, but instead looks more like some high plateau grassy area. I guess I didn't like the rocks.

This was from a photo of the Salt Lake from the top of Antelope Island.

And this is from an early assignments on color.

After the latest blobby disaster in class, we had a lot of time left and I was feeling a little demoralized so I decided to work on a sketch for my next attempt. I like the pencil and ink look so much better. Definitely going to spend more time playing with this.

I am plugging along with my Christmas presents again this year. I acquired a bunch of yarn recently and likely won't have the time until summer to start something else new, so that should allow me to plan a few more interesting designs instead of the same old, same old.

Well, like happy creating and stuff...

I have found Continental Style knitting... and it is good..

2009-11-06T15:54:00.000-08:00

I had been struggling a bit trying to learn the "continental style" of knitting. It is similar, in part, to how you hold the yarn when you crochet. This is something I am very familiar with. Last night - bam! I finally got it down.

My stitches look so much better. It's easier to control my tension. Love it! Love it! Love it!

And best of all - I can go faster! I think I may actually be able to finish my Christmas presents now. My mom and sister both want scarves and have decided on the same pattern as my first finished project, a simple k2, p2 (knit 2, purl 2) design in varying widths for each.

The yarn thief is delighted as well. She love, love, loves, the alpaca blend that I selected for my sister. And is especially fascinated with my bamboo needles. I cannot leave the room or one or the other disappears down the hall in her mouth... sigh...

There is a fabulous site found HERE, with great videos to help with learning to knit. It's fabulous - really!

Here's a pic of what I did last night. I am still pretty slow, but it's definitely faster than before!

Happy Knitting!

AAAAAARooooo! It's FUN time! AKA Halloween!

2009-10-30T18:07:00.000-07:00

I am not a big lover of Halloween. I get scared when I see commercials for scary movies. I am convinced that if I leave my closet door closed, "something" will be able to drag me into it. **I have mirrors on the doors.** This goes back to when I was young and watched Poltergeist II I think. It was one of those Poltergeist movies.

The kid is walking down the hall and it's all mirrors and suddenly, he is being followed by a creepy dude in a black hat, all dead looking. Then BLAM! He's sucked into the mirror - still stuck in my head all these years later.

Of course, there is also something living under my bed which requires that I leap at least a foot out from the bed, when I get out... sigh..

AAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRoooo it's fun time is what a wolfhead says. At least a plastic one that a friend of mine had once upon a time. To be funny, another friend of mine and I stole it and then left ransom letters and made a couple of ransom calls as well. muahahahahahahaha

However, this year I'm trying to get into the spirit. I'm going to my first adult Halloween party. I finally think it's time to try and conquer my boogeyman issues.

I will post pics after tomorrow!

Happpppppppppppy Halloween!

Roast Chicken, Roasted Mashed Potatoes, and Squash...

2009-10-12T13:38:00.000-07:00

So, I'm already drooling a little and the chicken hasn't arrived home from the store yet. I have some friends who are celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving right now and all the talk of food and Thanksgiving, made me want to roast a turkey. But...

a. It was really late in the day when it came up, so it would have been a midnight turkey.

b. There was not a turkey to be had anywhere in town.

So, Roast Chicken, Roast Potatoes and Squash it is!

Here's the ROAST CHICKEN recipe... yum! Can't wait!

My first knitting project - complete!

2009-10-11T19:01:00.000-07:00

I finally finished my very first knitting project! It's rough, and not blocked yet, but I'm pretty pleased with the result. It's not so bad that I won't wear it, though that doesn't really say that much. I'd probably wear it if it was the ugliest thing EVER just because I made it. I never have been one to worry about whether I match or not.

If you don't look too closely at the pic in the pile, you won't see all the goof-ups!

Don't you just love all those other pretties in the pic??? Those are some of my most recent acquisitions from knitpicks.com and libertysyarn.com.

Now, in between all the school craziness, time to bust out some Christmas projects. I have two scarves and bunch of dish cloths that I'm going to do this year.

And if I get around to it, a hat for me. =)

I will also be starting a toddler sock project to get going on learning how to knit socks....sooooo cannot wait until I get that down! So much more fun AND I will be able to pick my own colors! Love it! Love it!

The pretty purple is going to be a shawl as soon as I settle on a design and of course, find more time!

I also caught the yarn thief in the act... aka Feisty...

Happy Knitting!

The yarn is coming! The yarn is coming!

2009-09-19T19:55:00.000-07:00

Oh what a day I have had... picking out yarn for my Christmas projects! And, of course, could not resist something extra because it was pretty and something else because it was on sale! I have already forgotten the colorways and only remember that some was an alpaca/silk blend for my sister.

Once all the pretties arrive - I will post pics so you can drool along with me!

I also purchased some lovelies from my friend at Liberty's Yarn. If you have not checked out her fabulous online shop yet - you definitely should. Just click on the name above and you will be taken there!

She has some of the loveliest colorways. You can also find her on Ravelry, if you are there too!

While browsing through colors and sales I also found this set of needles below on knitpicks.com. I like the idea that they are convertible and so multi-functional. I am in a very small space now. I am definitely contemplating this lovely little set..

So, now the Christmas presents just need to be made and I need to figure out how to squeeze all these projects into my crazy schedule!

It's been awhile...

2009-09-11T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hey, isn't that the beginning of a song??? I think Uncle Cracker maybe??

Anyhow, it really has been a bit since I took the time to check in. School is just starting and already I feel as though I am drowning in homework and stupidity. I have several fellow students in my classes who feel that they must be THAT one. You know who I'm talking about, hopefully you are not one of THOSE.

Those people who must ALWAYS be right.

THOSE people who feel THEIR opinion must be respected, but refuse to give respect in return.

THOSE people for whom the entire class should resolve around. You know, the type who can ASK all the time-sucking questions that are completely unrelated to the lesson, but do the loud sighs and gripe should someone else have an ON TOPIC comment or question.

THOSE people who think every study session is all about THEM and that only THEIR time is valuable.

It's going to be a long semester.

Dragons, bananas and more oh my!

2009-08-30T05:05:00.000-07:00

Ever feel like you are having one of those kind of days??? You know the ones.. Where you start out with such a great idea and then you are eaten by your dragon?? Now that is a rotten day...

I just couldn't resist learning a new trick, hence the wizard being eaten by his dragon. I found this little gif and a ton more ... HERE

This would be a very random post, but I'm a little out of control with this new funness now! That's right I used the word "funness" in a sentence.

My continued obsession with gadgets!

2009-08-29T05:05:00.000-07:00

I am sure you may have noticed my obsession with gadgets. I saw a commercial with this one the other day and just about died. I can draw a straight line fairly convincingly, but I cannot cut one. Even with a paper cutter, I somehow manage to make the lines all wonky and it just is not cute.

Ta da! The machine for the untalented such as myself! Yes, I know it's completely expensive and totally frivolous, but that does not make me want it any less!

Like how I added the softer focus to make it look more dreamy????

I know you want to know more... Head on over to AMAZON to see more... or even better check out the Cricut website.

Happy Swooning!

Isn't she cute????

2009-08-28T05:05:00.000-07:00

I finally found the little attachment thingy for my phone so the pictures could be added to my computer. I took this one day while playing around.

I'm also trying out the post date options to see if it will work a few days out. As I am trying to be a more consistent blogger, I am hoping this will help out during the school year when I most definitely will not be able to sit down and post everyday.

That's my black lab/blue heeler, Abish. I was sitting in a pizza place with a few friends back home in Alaska when a bum wandered in and wanted to trade a puppy for a pizza. We told him we'd give him the pizza, but no one could take the puppy. He said that he would just drown it! One of my friends said she could talk her husband into taking it, but he would flip out if she just brought a puppy home.

So, the stinky, smelly puppy came home with me "just for one night"... 10 years later, she's still a little stinky and has trouble getting up and down due to some hip issues, but she's still here.

We spent many good days playing at the beach in Alaska. She barked at waves; chased sea birds and ran like the dickens the day a crab snapped at her.

I know she looks a little sad here, but she always seems to when I take pictures of her outside. Since she's only been an inside dog since the move to the desert, I think she's a little afraid that we are going to leave her out there.

Go give your pet a big hug if you have one!

Ahhh... another sunset...

2009-08-27T05:05:00.000-07:00

I know... I know... I just posted a sunset pic a few days ago. But.. but... this is just so pretty! I hope you enjoy it too.

I am less than a week away from my first day of class and I'm super excited! I had the chance to go school supply shopping, which is one of my favorite things ever. I also have all my books, folders and notebooks labeled to give my label-maker something to do. Now, just waiting for the financial aid office to get caught up and cut me a nice fat check! wooohoooo!

It's a good reason they are a little behind. Enrollment is up by almost 40%! Which is great for this little campus and hopefully means they will keep us around at least long enough for me to finish my degree! Another woohoo for that!

Happy Picture Making!

2009-08-26T05:05:00.000-07:00

I am a lover of kitchen gadgets. One of my happiest days was when I got a nice deal on my Kitchenaid stand mixer. I had been drooling over it for a few years and finally felt the price was right. I have been happily baking bread and trying out all kinds of recipes. I was able to choose an attachment pack as part of the sale and selected this lovely little set for making pasta. So far, I've only made macaroni, but shall soon be embarking on a fettuccine experience with fresh noodles. At least, I will once I rig up a way to dry the noodles in lieu of a fancy pasta drying rack.

Now I have my heart set and will likely purchase soon this little lovely below. This is a sausage stuffer. I was watching Top Chef the other day - one of many cooking shows that I love and one of the contestants was making their own sausage. I thought... huh.. I could do that and the dream for a new gadget was born. Luckily this little beauty is super cheap over on Amazon.

Happy Dreaming!

Oh the possibilities....

2009-08-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

I am addicted to anything artsy, vintage or otherwise when it comes to blogs. Lately, I have been adding and adding to my blog roll. It is amazing that I am able to get anything done with all the wonderful things that are out there..

Take this fabulous find, for instance, discovered on Just Something I Made:

I mean, how fabulous is that. She also has fabulous instructions for creating your own embossing that I may just have to try....

Happy Blog Hunting!

And I've moved back to blogger ....

2009-08-21T21:41:00.000-07:00

While I had some fun playing with Wordpress, it really is much more than I will ever need. I'm not that fancy. So, I'm back to play here at Blogger.

This is mixed media creation that I did awhile back - watercolor, colored pencils and an ink pen. I like the mixing of the different media and especially like how the ink stands out here. I am really going to have to get a few more cool pens to play with. Maybe even some colored ones! You know what that means... another trip to Blicks! Woohoo!

Sunsets are one of my favorite things..

2009-08-21T18:19:00.000-07:00

It's been a bit since I have made my own post - I know I'm such a slacker. I have been enjoying so many other wonderful blogs this summer that I just keep forgetting.

A couple of quick updates. The crazy Praxis I that I was stressing about most of the summer has come and gone. AND I passed with flying colors. I will also stress out for the big tests, but I always manage to get through them. Just one my many little neuroses.

I also found out that I will be able to finally have my Associate of Arts degree by the end of this semester! After so many years, finally something to show for it! I am still doing a little happy dance about that one! The best part being that my new found love of art classes actually contributed to this moving up of the estimated date of graduation! Yay for following what I wanted to do! =)

The picture above is from about a week or so ago. The fires in California are sending us hazy days and gorgeous sunsets. Amazing that when things are so crazy that we could see something so beautiful. I tried to capture the dark red sun, but ended up mostly with a big, bright spot. So, instead I selected one that showed more of the delightful soft lighting. So much more to learn about the little camera, but I'll keep on trucking.

I will try to be more diligent with posts, but with 17 credits this semester I am thinking they will be sparse. I am aiming for at least a couple a week, even if it's just a quick check in.

Happy Blogging!

Curry related first attempt - tasty!

2009-08-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

I don't really like meat. I mean it's okay, but it is not my favorite thing. So, I've been thinking maybe I should learn more vegetarian dishes to make up for my lack of protein and general poor eating. Also, beans and rice and most ingredients for the dishes are cheaaaaaaap... and I'm a total cheapskate whenever possible.

I have eaten curry dishes before and thought it was about time that I tried to cook one. This was surprisingly easy and would be great for leftover rice. I think when I use some of the leftovers instead of a hard-boiled egg, I'll try a poached one or a fried one with a nice gooey yolk. I think the extra goo would be delicious.

This would also be great (I think) in a stuffed pepper, baked with a little shredded mozzarella... oh the possibilities.

Here's the recipe. I swiped it from this book called Vegetarian that I found on the sale rack at a bookstore a hundred years ago.

Spicy Lentils and Rice **serves 4 though possibly as a side dish**

1/4 cup dried red lentils (I only had non-red ones), rinsed
1 bay leaf
1 cup basmati rice (I only had regular white, Basmati is more aromatic so it would definitely add to the flavor)
4 cloves (I only had ground cloves, so I just went light on the spicing and ran the rice through a strainer after to dilute it a bit)
4 Tbsp (1/2 stick) butter
1 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp mild chili powder
2 Tbsp Italian Parsley, chopped (I only had dry so I just sprinkled to taste)
salt and freshly ground pepper
4 hard-boiled eggs, chopped (in the pic in the book, they quartered them, but I thought it was pretty with the egg-slicer little medallions)

1. Put lentils in a saucepan, add the bay leaf and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil, skim off any foam and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes, until tender. Drain, then discard the bay leaf.

2. Meanwhile, place the rice ina saucepan and cover with 2 cups boiling water. Add the cloves and a generous pinch of salt. Cook, covered for 10-15 minutes, until all water is absorbed and the rice is tender. Discard the cloves.

3. Melt the butter over gentle heat in a large frying pan, then add the curry and chili powder and cook for 1 minute.

4. Stir in the lentils and rice and mix well until they are coated in the spiced butter. Season and cook for 1-2 minutes until heated through. Stir in the parsley and served with the hard-boiled eggs, if using.

So quick and easy. Can't wait to try it out on my dad - the pickiest eater ever!

Happy Cooking!

Another photo contest!!!

2009-08-01T17:14:00.000-07:00

I'm always looking for ways to improve my photography skills and these photo contests are a fabulous motivation to just get out there and get going!

If you want to follow along you can go HERE and get the rest of the details!

My first post will probably be in a couple of days since I'm fighting another nasty cold - ugh!

Happy Snapping!

The no good, very bad day...

2009-07-26T12:07:00.000-07:00

Had a happy ending.

Yesterday was a bad day. It started bad and got steadily worse for quite awhile before it ended well.

I had to take my big, scary Praxis I exam yesterday. Four hours of testing that I have been stressing over for a couple of months. I had planned to wake up fairly early since all three of the cats have pneumonia and I must dose them with all kinds of fun stuff, which naturally they hate. I forgot to set the alarm and woke up an hour late then spent a full extra hour chasing one of the cats that had suddenly decided that I was the devil instead of being the most docile of the three.

She then proceeded to scratch, bite and generally behave like the kid from the Exorcist while I attempted to give her the little dose of her medicine.

Then, the dog decided that she was too stressed to deal with the cats and peed on her dog bed which, since I was going to be gone all day couldn't leave just sitting there. So, I cleaned that up.

Next, I went to take care of shop kitty who tried to escape from the motorhome. I couldn't leave her out all day since there was an obvious threat of thunder and lightning and would be in deep poo if she got scared and ran off. So, I tracked her down, bribed her and got her back in the motorhome. She then proceeded to attack, bite, etc in an effort to keep me there. She doesn't realize that I don't appreciate this type of affection yet.

I rushed to get ready and realized I had also forgotten to gas up the car. ARGH! I headed off to the gas station only to find that I could not get into the station because there was a four car pile up in the intersection. Praying that there would be enough gas in the car to get me over the hill and into Vegas I took off about two hours behind schedule and crossing my fingers that nothing else bad would happen...

The guy in front of me hit a coyote. The buy behind me blew a tire...
I made it to the testing center extremely early to see if I could at least check-in and discovered I could start early - yay! The center was nice and cool, but the head phones I had to wear made my ears sweat - eeeeuw. I managed to get through all the tests and found out..... that I passed the Math and Reading with flying colors!!!!

I will have to wait 2-3 weeks for the rest of the results... I returned home without incident and was able to watch a thunderstorm for most of the ride, which was delightful!

Why do I blog???

2009-07-17T12:59:00.001-07:00

Because I can.. that is all.

And while you contemplate all that deepness, you can enjoy the image below from my trip to Washington state almost a year ago. I think it's almost time to go back for another visit!

I will also be embarking on a little adventure to see what my recently rediscovered Olympus 35 SP will do. I found it at a thrift store for $5.00 and have yet to take a roll of film with it. **Fingers crossed that something will be worth sharing..**

Excellent! 10 Followers!

2009-07-13T14:49:00.001-07:00

I have reached a goal! 10 Followers! Welcome to septembermom and her fabulous blog My Voice, My View... check it out! It's great!

I'm adding a random photo from my collection, just because I love photos. This was taken out by Tecopa in California.

Catch ya soon! I haven't had much time to blog because I'm studying like a fiend for the Praxis I that I'm taking at the end of the month. This means, of course, that I'm not likely to make my goal of 274 posts, but I'll sure give it my best shot as I find the time.

And my next adventure is.....

2009-07-06T06:02:00.000-07:00

A complete mystery to me. I haven't decided yet. I had alot of fun with the photo contest last month, but as I started this as a way to force myself to do NEW things, I can't really justify doing one every month now can I?

I guess it's time to make a list of things that I keep saying "sound like fun" and never get around to. I live about an hour outside of Las Vegas so it's not like there is a lack of new or interesting things. It's mostly a bad attitude about where I'm currently living that I have used as an excuse to not engage with the local activities.

Sigh...

Here's to hoping I can smack myself in the back of the head and get over it!

Celebrating 100 posts! yay me!

2009-07-06T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have finally hit 100 posts - yay me! I thought I would celebrate by adding a couple more pics of my orchids. I am also trying out this write your post and set it for another day thing - hope it works!

My dog decided to help me with my replanting a few days ago by knocking over one of the plants and smashing it to pics. Off to the store to get a few new pots. I was planning already to redistribute them, but was going to wait until after all the good flowering fun was done. How nice of her to be so helpful huh???

This is the poor plant that the dog helped. I really do love the colors - so different.

I also potted a little keiki from this plant. This is really good since this plant looks awful besides the pretty colors.

It's doing really well. It has already doubled in size! Sorry about the little fuzzy edges. The light was not the best. Time to track down a good portable one I guess.

I have found alot of creative freedom in blogging and I'm looking forward to more and more. I have also come across many other wonderful blogs and can't wait to discover more!

Happy Blogging!

Sweetsauer Photo #2 List

2009-07-05T13:52:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd add the list of what was in the Sweetsauer Photo Hunt #2 since I'm taking it off my side bar...

As a quick little recap. The goal was to complete the list in 1 month... try it.. I had a lot of fun and could definitely do a repeat down the road. =)

If you want to see my shots, click on the label on the left for Sweetsauer Photo Hunt #2..

**Bold items have been completed**

1. A View from Above (looking down)
2. A Macro Shot
3. Laughter
4. Relaxation
5. A Celebration
6. A Sunset
7. Sun/Lens Flare
8. A Bridge
9. A Shadow
10. A Garden
11. A Park
12. A Street Scene
13. Signage
14. A Summer Activity
15. A Summer Treat
16. Earth
17. Air/ Wind
18. Fire
19. Water
20. Something Vintage (pre-1980)
21. Something Made of Glass
22. Something Made of Wood
23. Something that Floats
24. Something Railroad Related
25. Something Round

Happy Snapping!