Today I cleaned out my craft "closet." (I say "closet" because it's really a bookcase with numerous bins and boxes that function like a closet. At my house, things are seldom as they seem.) While this may not be an activity most people look forward to, I've been hankering after it for several days. Since today provided an extra day off work, it seems only fitting to do a little work of the non-paid persuasion.
Just to be clear, when I say "I cleaned out" something, it generally means that everything (and I do mean every little piece of ribbon, scrap of paper, and tube of glitter - wherever it may be hiding) must be removed from its container and resorted. (It seems I don't always put things back exactly where they belong - go figure.) This process is always lengthy - today I spent about four hours on it - but worthwhile. While reorganizing, resorting, redoing anything seems pointless to some, it frequently brings me joy. I play records (yes, I said records - those little vinyl things that spin at 45 revolutions per minute), sing loudly, drink coffee, laugh at old photographs, fill a large trash bag with dried up paint and scraps of paper that should have been tossed long ago, and drop tidbits on the floor for the cats to enjoy. (They are my constant companions in this type of endeavor. It seems they enjoy the sorting process as much as I and are heartily entertained by emptying and refilling containers.) By the time I finished, there was glitter to be vacuumed from the pooltable, bits of ribbon the cats had shredded, and a well-organized book shelf just begging for me to open a box and dive into a project.
Now, on occasion I have been called a neatness Nazi and characterized as ruthless and cruel when it comes to throwing away unused items. However, I must confess, that when it comes to craft supplies I soften. After all, one never knows when she will want that six-inch length of polka dot ribbon to adorn a card or that stack of patch pockets from old blue jeans to put on a set of placemats.
The world of crafting is a world of possibilities, and cleaning out craft supplies reminds me of all the wonderful items stashed away at my fingertips. The bright green paper and the flower stickers beckon me to create something happy. Even the darkest pieces - paper and photos - remind me to appreciate the sunlight. Sifting through a box of love letters makes me yearn to layer lace and pearls into something sweet and romantic. Each photo, a snapshot of a moment I can never have again, makes me smile, reveling in the happy journey that is my life.
Monday, January 21, 2013
A Taste of Something Different
From the outside Guru Palace is an unassuming storefront parked at the end of a strip mall featuring Trader Joe's and Michael's crafts with the usual mom-and-pop businesses that keep America running in between. At 5:30 on a Sunday evening, parking spots await right in front of the door, though by 6:30 patrons had to walk a little further. Upon entering, guests are greeted with an ornate (and probably hand-carved) solid wood swing to the left and a run-of-the-mill bar straight ahead. This contrast sets the tone for the physical establishment as well as the meal. Tables and chairs available at any restaurant supply store arranged in typical fashion adorn the left side of the dining area while alcoves with floors covered in pillows bedecked in rainbow silks, beading, embroidery, and gold trim live on the right side. Standard florescents are softened with fabric boxes that give a reddish hue to the light and a hushed feeling to an otherwise industrial room. The Indian tapestries and artwork featuring lush colors and glistening sequins create a sharp contrast to the scrubbed concrete floor.
In the moment our eyes took in these opposites and adjusted to the lighting, we were greeted with a friendly hello that began excellent service during our outing. Since I had perused the menu earlier in the day, I suggested to Jeff that we order a couple of the complete meals to sample a variety of dishes. We informed our server that this was our first trip to the establishment and that we lacked experience with Indian cuisine. He seemed excited to tell us about the dishes and he agreed that the meals - which came with an appetizer, several small entree selections, dessert, and Indian chai tea - were indeed the route to go. He even nodded approvingly when we voted for mildly spiced dishes, seeming to say that all novices should begin there. In an effort to help us, whenever a choice occured, he gave us some of each. For example, he brought both plain and garlic naan, and for dessert he ordered both a rice pudding and cake balls in rose syrup - but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Before the appetizers arrived, we were presented with a heavily peppered cracker bread and a thin spinach-based dipping sauce to cut some of the burn on the tongue. Next, the appetizers were placed between us. Since we had ordered a vegetarian dinner and a tandoori dinner, we had several morsels to sample. Our first bite of succulent garlic chicken with caramelized onions was deluxe. The subtle spices gave off a faitly exotic aroma that enhanced each morsel. The vegetarian plate included small bites of vegetables drenched in a spiced breading and deep fried, as well as a large samosa - a crusty dumpling filled with gingered potatoes and peas. These items sang when dipped in the accompanying fruit sauce (perhaps plum?).
When the tandoori entree arrived, sizzling and popping fresh from the flames, the aroma enveloped the table and piqued the senses. The plate, lined in more of those lovely caramelized onions, included a mix of sheesh kabab, tandoori chicken, lamb tikka, and a vegetable curry accompanied by basmati rice, raita (fresh yogurt with cucumber, tomatoes, and spices), and palak paneer (curry style spinach with fresh cheese and spices). The vegetarian plate included daal (a lovely, thick, spiced lentil soup), bengan bhartha (roasted eggplant that was to die for) and palak paneer accompanied by basmati rice and plenty of naan to soak up all the juices from the lentils and clean your plate after the eggplant. Needless to say, Jeff and I could not actually eat all of this food in one sitting, so (with the knowledge that dessert and Indian chai were still forthcoming) we (reluctantly) packed up the leftovers of our feast and gave our tongues time to recover. (The tandoori dinner was spicier than the vegetarian dinner, but the raita served as a cool respite to the dishes.)
After boxing up our remainders (which I might have for breakfast, soon) plates were cleared and chai tea presented. A couple of sips into the tea brought dessert - gulab jamun (two dense cake balls soaked in a chilled rose syrup) and kheer (a thin basmati rice pudding with almonds and pistachios). The rose syrup was sweet and subtle, giving a light floral scent that coupled well with the dense cake balls. (Jeff pointed out that they had the texture of small cake donuts, and we discussed how to replicate it at home.) The rice pudding, not as sweet as the gulab jamun, was delicious. Though thinner than any rice pudding I've eaten, the nuts added a nice contrasting crunch and the pudding itself had a smooth vanilla finish.
As the splendid meal ended, we promised each other to return soon. (It looks like there is a buffet at lunch, and the tasting opportunities intrigue us!) In addition to the excellent food, we were treated to outstanding service - our glasses were never more than a third empty, food was delivered promptly, explanations were offered genially. Finally, our bill (before tip) came to $40 and change - a bargain for the amount of food and interest factor alone. All-in-all, dinner at the Guru Palace set the tone for a wonderful evening of entertainment at the Mesa Arts Center, where we saw Shatner's World - a one man show featuring an energenic William Shatner (who is about to turn 82!) who made us laugh and made us think about life, love, and what we do with our time on Earth.
In the moment our eyes took in these opposites and adjusted to the lighting, we were greeted with a friendly hello that began excellent service during our outing. Since I had perused the menu earlier in the day, I suggested to Jeff that we order a couple of the complete meals to sample a variety of dishes. We informed our server that this was our first trip to the establishment and that we lacked experience with Indian cuisine. He seemed excited to tell us about the dishes and he agreed that the meals - which came with an appetizer, several small entree selections, dessert, and Indian chai tea - were indeed the route to go. He even nodded approvingly when we voted for mildly spiced dishes, seeming to say that all novices should begin there. In an effort to help us, whenever a choice occured, he gave us some of each. For example, he brought both plain and garlic naan, and for dessert he ordered both a rice pudding and cake balls in rose syrup - but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Before the appetizers arrived, we were presented with a heavily peppered cracker bread and a thin spinach-based dipping sauce to cut some of the burn on the tongue. Next, the appetizers were placed between us. Since we had ordered a vegetarian dinner and a tandoori dinner, we had several morsels to sample. Our first bite of succulent garlic chicken with caramelized onions was deluxe. The subtle spices gave off a faitly exotic aroma that enhanced each morsel. The vegetarian plate included small bites of vegetables drenched in a spiced breading and deep fried, as well as a large samosa - a crusty dumpling filled with gingered potatoes and peas. These items sang when dipped in the accompanying fruit sauce (perhaps plum?).
 |
| Samosa and fried vegetables |
 |
| Garlic Chicken (We had a few bites before the photo!) |
When the tandoori entree arrived, sizzling and popping fresh from the flames, the aroma enveloped the table and piqued the senses. The plate, lined in more of those lovely caramelized onions, included a mix of sheesh kabab, tandoori chicken, lamb tikka, and a vegetable curry accompanied by basmati rice, raita (fresh yogurt with cucumber, tomatoes, and spices), and palak paneer (curry style spinach with fresh cheese and spices). The vegetarian plate included daal (a lovely, thick, spiced lentil soup), bengan bhartha (roasted eggplant that was to die for) and palak paneer accompanied by basmati rice and plenty of naan to soak up all the juices from the lentils and clean your plate after the eggplant. Needless to say, Jeff and I could not actually eat all of this food in one sitting, so (with the knowledge that dessert and Indian chai were still forthcoming) we (reluctantly) packed up the leftovers of our feast and gave our tongues time to recover. (The tandoori dinner was spicier than the vegetarian dinner, but the raita served as a cool respite to the dishes.)
 |
| Tandoori dinner |
 |
| Tandoori with basmati rice, raita, and palak paneer |
 |
| Palak paneer, bengan bhartha, and daal with naan and basmati rice |
After boxing up our remainders (which I might have for breakfast, soon) plates were cleared and chai tea presented. A couple of sips into the tea brought dessert - gulab jamun (two dense cake balls soaked in a chilled rose syrup) and kheer (a thin basmati rice pudding with almonds and pistachios). The rose syrup was sweet and subtle, giving a light floral scent that coupled well with the dense cake balls. (Jeff pointed out that they had the texture of small cake donuts, and we discussed how to replicate it at home.) The rice pudding, not as sweet as the gulab jamun, was delicious. Though thinner than any rice pudding I've eaten, the nuts added a nice contrasting crunch and the pudding itself had a smooth vanilla finish.
 |
| Indian chai tea |
 |
| gulab jamun and kheer |
As the splendid meal ended, we promised each other to return soon. (It looks like there is a buffet at lunch, and the tasting opportunities intrigue us!) In addition to the excellent food, we were treated to outstanding service - our glasses were never more than a third empty, food was delivered promptly, explanations were offered genially. Finally, our bill (before tip) came to $40 and change - a bargain for the amount of food and interest factor alone. All-in-all, dinner at the Guru Palace set the tone for a wonderful evening of entertainment at the Mesa Arts Center, where we saw Shatner's World - a one man show featuring an energenic William Shatner (who is about to turn 82!) who made us laugh and made us think about life, love, and what we do with our time on Earth.Sunday, August 21, 2011
Early Morning Sustenance
School is fully underway with a few changes to our schedule. This year Jeff is teaching an A hour class that begins at 6:40 a.m. and I'm working in the credit recovery program that gears up at 6:50 each morning. These early demands mean we have to be out the door by 6 a.m. instead of our usual 7 a.m. I'm not really a morning person these days, so the thought of getting up an hour and a half before leaving just didn't set well with me. (Normally we arose at 5:30 and left at 7.) So we decided that streamlining the morning routine would allow us to back up the alarm by only half an hour and still leave on time.
One place we've had to give a little time is breakfast. Traditionally, I made a quick breakfast of scramble eggs and toast or oatmeal with fruit, but the one hour time frame doesn't accommodate those tasks. To make sure breakfast is available on demand, I've begun making a week's worth on Sunday afternoon. The first week I stuck with tried and true - sausage and egg biscuits. My original intent was to buy a box of these little beauties in the freezer section and nuke them at will. However, when I saw the price (several dollars for two!) I decided to make my own, which turned out better than bought because I could add a little strawberry jelly to the biscuits providing something sweet to offset the spicy sausage patties. I also discovered that wrapping the sandwiches in parchment paper before stashing them in a plastic container in the fridge made them easier to pop in the microwave and carry out to the car for mobile consumption.
Last week I branched out a bit and made pigs-in-a-blanket breakfast style. I used sausage links and a couple cans of cinnamon rolls for the process, which was as easy as wrapping the coils of dough around two small turkey links before baking them in the oven. In the morning 20 seconds in the microwave made them perfectly edible.
This week I'm trying yet another variation. (My plan is to have at least five kinds of "sandwiches" through which I can rotate.) I began by popping 10 frozen waffles in the oven. (This ensured they were crispy and flat instead of soggy.) While these baked and cooled, I beat a softened package of cream cheese with a good deal of fig jam. (I just kept adding and tasting until I liked the balance.) Next, I spread the mixture (which would also be a great cake filling) on the waffles, being sure to fill all the little squares. After adding some thinly sliced ham (or use turkey breast) to five of the waffles, I covered them with the remaining waffles. Next, I cut all the sandwiches in half and wrapped them to create 10 breakfast goodies. I haven't warmed one up in the microwave yet, but the filling sure was good with a little left over ham. (Actually, I could see using this filling to create yummy appetizers like stuffed dates or ham rolls, or just eating it on a toasted English muffin.)
The goal, of course is to still have time for a decent breakfast even though we're starting our days earlier. After all, food is life.
One place we've had to give a little time is breakfast. Traditionally, I made a quick breakfast of scramble eggs and toast or oatmeal with fruit, but the one hour time frame doesn't accommodate those tasks. To make sure breakfast is available on demand, I've begun making a week's worth on Sunday afternoon. The first week I stuck with tried and true - sausage and egg biscuits. My original intent was to buy a box of these little beauties in the freezer section and nuke them at will. However, when I saw the price (several dollars for two!) I decided to make my own, which turned out better than bought because I could add a little strawberry jelly to the biscuits providing something sweet to offset the spicy sausage patties. I also discovered that wrapping the sandwiches in parchment paper before stashing them in a plastic container in the fridge made them easier to pop in the microwave and carry out to the car for mobile consumption.
Last week I branched out a bit and made pigs-in-a-blanket breakfast style. I used sausage links and a couple cans of cinnamon rolls for the process, which was as easy as wrapping the coils of dough around two small turkey links before baking them in the oven. In the morning 20 seconds in the microwave made them perfectly edible.
This week I'm trying yet another variation. (My plan is to have at least five kinds of "sandwiches" through which I can rotate.) I began by popping 10 frozen waffles in the oven. (This ensured they were crispy and flat instead of soggy.) While these baked and cooled, I beat a softened package of cream cheese with a good deal of fig jam. (I just kept adding and tasting until I liked the balance.) Next, I spread the mixture (which would also be a great cake filling) on the waffles, being sure to fill all the little squares. After adding some thinly sliced ham (or use turkey breast) to five of the waffles, I covered them with the remaining waffles. Next, I cut all the sandwiches in half and wrapped them to create 10 breakfast goodies. I haven't warmed one up in the microwave yet, but the filling sure was good with a little left over ham. (Actually, I could see using this filling to create yummy appetizers like stuffed dates or ham rolls, or just eating it on a toasted English muffin.)
The goal, of course is to still have time for a decent breakfast even though we're starting our days earlier. After all, food is life.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Looking for a Label
During back-to-school shopping today we purchased new dress shirts for Jeff, glasses and contacts for Jade, and a few jewelry trinkets to enhance my wardrobe. Try as we might, we had a difficult time buying American-made goods in these categories.
The only products we came home with that I'm certain were produced in the United States are the boy's contact lenses. Some online research this morning (before we left) indicated that many of today's disposable brands come from American facilities. Bausch and Lomb (founded in 1853), Johnson and Johnson (maker of my brand - Acuvue), and Cooper Vision all make their products in the U.S. of A. CIBA Vision, a company based in Switzerland, also has production facilities here as well as many other countries around the world. Thus, I knew we had scored one for the red, white, and blue when we left the house. However, the new glasses were another story entirely.
My online research yielded many companies that manufacture and distribute glasses frames and lenses, but most did not specify brand names. To compound the situation, the companies I read about also imported some brands and distributed those alongside their own products. Italy seems to be an especially popular country for eye wear exports to the U.S. In addition, none of the frames we looked at were marked with a specific company or country, (mostly because we didn't buy designer frames). Our assumption is that these frames were not created here, though we did purchase the glasses and contacts from Eye Masters, a private corporation based in San Antonio. (The company is a subsidiary of Eye Care Centers of America, which was founded in Texas in 1988.)
We finished glasses shopping feeling we had done our best to buy American, though we didn't really have enough information to guide us or enough choices to make the option feasible. Next, we spent some of our dollars on lunch at Panda Express (an American company that originated in California in 1973) and Steak Escape (an Ohio company founded in 1982). Both of these fast food joints are available at our local mall which, of course, employs our neighbors and students.
Next came shirt shopping for Jeff, but this portion of our day yielded zero satisfaction in the American-made department. Every dress shirt we looked at in J.C. Penney, Macy's, Dillard's, and Kohl's was made elsewhere - Taiwan, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. (At Kohl's I decided to browse through the women's clothes as well, but I couldn't find anything made in the U.S.A. - not even the Levi's which came from Mexico or Indonesia depending on the style. Lee jeans didn't present a better choice either, since they, too, came from overseas. As a matter of fact, every major jeans brand I looked at was made somewhere other than America - including Kenya, Egypt, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Costa Rica.) Eventually, the necessity of having decent dress shirts for work won out over our frustrated endeavors to buy U.S. goods, but we felt a little guilty leaving the store with a sack full of garments manufactured in another country.
Finally, we purchased a few other small products including a clip-on lamp for Jeff's classroom and a couple of bracelets / earrings as accessories. Again, we couldn't locate American made options in our local stores. This is not to say they don't exist, but if stores where we shop don't carry something made in the U.S.A., it is much more difficult to purchase it. We don't always have the luxury of ordering online or devoting an hour or two to researching brand names. Overall, I feel like we're in the midst of a consumer Catch-22 because we want to support the economy by purchasing needed goods, but we don't want to send our money to another country. In addition, more people would buy American goods if they were easily available, but not enough people bought them at some point so they're no longer on local shelves. Ultimately, we'll keep trying to buy items made in America, but the frustration is taxing.
The only products we came home with that I'm certain were produced in the United States are the boy's contact lenses. Some online research this morning (before we left) indicated that many of today's disposable brands come from American facilities. Bausch and Lomb (founded in 1853), Johnson and Johnson (maker of my brand - Acuvue), and Cooper Vision all make their products in the U.S. of A. CIBA Vision, a company based in Switzerland, also has production facilities here as well as many other countries around the world. Thus, I knew we had scored one for the red, white, and blue when we left the house. However, the new glasses were another story entirely.
My online research yielded many companies that manufacture and distribute glasses frames and lenses, but most did not specify brand names. To compound the situation, the companies I read about also imported some brands and distributed those alongside their own products. Italy seems to be an especially popular country for eye wear exports to the U.S. In addition, none of the frames we looked at were marked with a specific company or country, (mostly because we didn't buy designer frames). Our assumption is that these frames were not created here, though we did purchase the glasses and contacts from Eye Masters, a private corporation based in San Antonio. (The company is a subsidiary of Eye Care Centers of America, which was founded in Texas in 1988.)
We finished glasses shopping feeling we had done our best to buy American, though we didn't really have enough information to guide us or enough choices to make the option feasible. Next, we spent some of our dollars on lunch at Panda Express (an American company that originated in California in 1973) and Steak Escape (an Ohio company founded in 1982). Both of these fast food joints are available at our local mall which, of course, employs our neighbors and students.
Next came shirt shopping for Jeff, but this portion of our day yielded zero satisfaction in the American-made department. Every dress shirt we looked at in J.C. Penney, Macy's, Dillard's, and Kohl's was made elsewhere - Taiwan, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, etc. (At Kohl's I decided to browse through the women's clothes as well, but I couldn't find anything made in the U.S.A. - not even the Levi's which came from Mexico or Indonesia depending on the style. Lee jeans didn't present a better choice either, since they, too, came from overseas. As a matter of fact, every major jeans brand I looked at was made somewhere other than America - including Kenya, Egypt, Nicaragua, Bolivia, and Costa Rica.) Eventually, the necessity of having decent dress shirts for work won out over our frustrated endeavors to buy U.S. goods, but we felt a little guilty leaving the store with a sack full of garments manufactured in another country.
Finally, we purchased a few other small products including a clip-on lamp for Jeff's classroom and a couple of bracelets / earrings as accessories. Again, we couldn't locate American made options in our local stores. This is not to say they don't exist, but if stores where we shop don't carry something made in the U.S.A., it is much more difficult to purchase it. We don't always have the luxury of ordering online or devoting an hour or two to researching brand names. Overall, I feel like we're in the midst of a consumer Catch-22 because we want to support the economy by purchasing needed goods, but we don't want to send our money to another country. In addition, more people would buy American goods if they were easily available, but not enough people bought them at some point so they're no longer on local shelves. Ultimately, we'll keep trying to buy items made in America, but the frustration is taxing.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
A Day Off
Sometimes little things can be the most frustrating to deal with. I have multiple choice philosophy for such days: A) When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. B) When the going gets tough, the tough eat something delicious. C) Both of the above. Yup, today was a choice C kind of day, so I took the boy out for lunch at our favorite California Mexican place (Rubio's) where we devoured fish tacos with smoky chipotle sauce (me) and overstuffed bean burritos loaded with cheese (Jade). Next, we headed to Hobby Lobby's big sale to hunt for home decor. Take a look at our finds!
After lunch and shopping, I felt immensely better and we headed home. While Jade worked on his online class, I put all the purchases in place. Then to cap off the day, we decided cookies were in order. (OK, I decided, but he'll eat most of them!) My first thought was to make jam thumbprints with some of the fig jam from last week, but then I spied the snicker doodle recipe. As I rolled the dough into little balls, it occurred to me to combine the two ideas and press thumbprint indentations into the snicker doodles. However, since I didn't refrigerate the dough first, the shape didn't hold. Not to be discouraged, I pulled a can of cream cheese frosting from the pantry and mixed in a good portion of fig jam. (I couldn't tell you how much since I just kept added jam until the icing tasted distinctly of figs.) Once cooled, the cookies became wonderful little sandwiches. Soft and cinnamon-y cookies, cream cheese and fig filling - what's not to like? This filling would be great between layers of spice cake, too. It might even be the type of filling Jeff is enjoying so much in Viennese tortes since it has the creaminess of good icing, but the taste of fruit. Overall, the day may have had a rocky start, but it had a sweet ending.
 |
| Since white vinyl decals are hard to come by, I decided some soft colors that play well with the pale blue would look good. In addition to adding some whimsy to the space, these afford a couple more choices for towel colors. |
 |
| Here's the artwork I picked up for the guest bath wall. I have been torn between something with muted, romantic colors and something with a more graphic quality. This just seems tailor made for the space from its dark brown tree, to its bright white background and lone touch of blue. (And who could resist a bird in a tree?) |
 |
| Next, these sconces caught my eye. I fancied they looked like stylized bird cages, and so I just had to bring them home, too. |
 |
| My final purchase of the day came in the floral department. I've spent the last two weeks looking for something to put in these aged vases that used to live on the fireplace. (Once the new coat of white when on, their creamy beige just didn't seem to look right, so they have a new home in our bedroom. The combination of silk flowers with the assorted dried grasses seems to be just the right amount of drama for the space. |
After lunch and shopping, I felt immensely better and we headed home. While Jade worked on his online class, I put all the purchases in place. Then to cap off the day, we decided cookies were in order. (OK, I decided, but he'll eat most of them!) My first thought was to make jam thumbprints with some of the fig jam from last week, but then I spied the snicker doodle recipe. As I rolled the dough into little balls, it occurred to me to combine the two ideas and press thumbprint indentations into the snicker doodles. However, since I didn't refrigerate the dough first, the shape didn't hold. Not to be discouraged, I pulled a can of cream cheese frosting from the pantry and mixed in a good portion of fig jam. (I couldn't tell you how much since I just kept added jam until the icing tasted distinctly of figs.) Once cooled, the cookies became wonderful little sandwiches. Soft and cinnamon-y cookies, cream cheese and fig filling - what's not to like? This filling would be great between layers of spice cake, too. It might even be the type of filling Jeff is enjoying so much in Viennese tortes since it has the creaminess of good icing, but the taste of fruit. Overall, the day may have had a rocky start, but it had a sweet ending.
 |
| Snicker doodles with cream cheese and fig filling |
Monday, July 4, 2011
Still Painting
As I write, the 12-hour top coat wait time has begun on the lower kitchen cabinets. (Hooray!) This means that tomorrow I'll be able to replace the fronts (and all the pots, pans, and utensils that are in boxes in my living room) and begin the final section - the upper cabinets. I'm anticipating and dreading this part because I'll have to stand on a step ladder to reach the top, but I'm almost done with the required painting. Don't get me wrong, I won't be finished painting since I have a dining table and china hutch to go, but if one of those doesn't get done before Jeff's welcome home party, it's not a big deal. I have to admit, living with the disarray is wearing on my nerves, but I'm happy to be able to see the end. I'm also happy with the results.
Of course, as painting continues so do some smaller projects. The last couple of days I have cut out fabric for eight place mats in a simple pieced quilting design. The first set of four is made from a heart of hearts block with (of course) graduated hearts appliqued to the front. The second set of four is made from a windmill block that consists of strips of fabric turned in different directions. Cutting out the pieces was pretty simple once I made a set of card stock templates. (I realize this is elementary for all you quilters, but I'm new to the craft.) I'll be posting photos of those as I stitch them up (tomorrow?). For now, I'm calling it a night to enjoy some fireworks and a glass of wine (which reminds me of a wine bottle project I want to get started on as well).
 |
| My dining room has become project central. |
 |
| Half of my cabinets are empty, making it feel like moving day! |
 |
| This is the finished product in the guest bath. I still need to accessorize, but the basics are there. |
 |
| I couldn't decide whether to paint it white or brown, but after an initial coat of white, I decided brown is the better choice. (Guess I should have listened when Mom said it would be.) I'm still looking for some vinyl wall stickers to apply to the doors, but white ones are hard to come by since the manufacturer seems to assume everyone has light colored walls. (ha!) |
 |
| Here's the main attraction - kitchen island - in black and white. You can see the original cabinet color in the background (though that view will be very different come tomorrow morning). I'm contemplating a black vinyl design on each door and some pretty hardware (retro glass handles or maybe something in wrought iron). |
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Figs Galore
When Charles Dickens wrote, "Train up a fig tree in the way it should go, and when you are old sit under the shade of it," he neglected to mention having to deal with the fruit in the meantime. Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining about how prolific my lovely (not so) little tree is, only about its timing. Figs are delicate morsels that must be eaten or cooked within a day or two of picking or they begin to shrivel (which means, I suppose, that it's time to get out the dehydrator). So last night, after I put the guest bath and kitchen island cabinets back together and everything back in the drawers, etc. I decided I'd better cook some figs.
Of course, finding my jar stash to be nearly nil, I had to make a quick run to Wally World for supplies. At the time, the quart jars looked like the way to go - plenty of room for all those figs. After filling some of them, however, I see that pint jars are probably a better choice for portion control during later use. (Live and learn!) I also discovered that the largest pot I own accommodates only four pounds of figs with their accompanying liquid/syrup. This severely restricted the process since I had to make something, wash the pot, and start over each time. (I feel a VERY large pot coming home in the near future.) I wanted to use eight pounds of fruit to make the pickled figs, but ended up with only the four that would fit. Since they take awhile to make, it becomes problematic to produce small batches. Though, the smell was heavenly and the small amount of syrup left over at the end, delicious! It reminded me of cinnamon crab apples I've eaten somewhere down the line. Even today, I'm staring at the beautiful jars thinking I should just open one and dig in, but I'm trying to practice restraint until fall when all the fresh fruit is gone.
Once the pickled figs were in the jars, I decided fig chutney (one of my personal favorites) should be next on the menu. Another four pounds of quartered figs went into the pot along with other yummy ingredients like chopped onions, cinnamon, all spice, and ginger. This too has to simmer for quite a long time, so I contemplated what to do with the remaining four pounds but decided to quit for the night by the time the chutney finished bubbling. So, here's the tally for the week: four pounds of figs into jam, four pounds of figs pickled, four pounds of figs into chutney, four pounds of figs still in the fridge, and four pounds of figs eaten fresh and given to a neighbor. Judging from the size and color of the fruit remaining on the tree, I have about a week's reprieve before the next harvest begins. (I'm actually hoping for two weeks, but that's selfish.)
Anyone want to trade some pickled okra or canned salsa for figs? I think I'll have plenty.
Of course, finding my jar stash to be nearly nil, I had to make a quick run to Wally World for supplies. At the time, the quart jars looked like the way to go - plenty of room for all those figs. After filling some of them, however, I see that pint jars are probably a better choice for portion control during later use. (Live and learn!) I also discovered that the largest pot I own accommodates only four pounds of figs with their accompanying liquid/syrup. This severely restricted the process since I had to make something, wash the pot, and start over each time. (I feel a VERY large pot coming home in the near future.) I wanted to use eight pounds of fruit to make the pickled figs, but ended up with only the four that would fit. Since they take awhile to make, it becomes problematic to produce small batches. Though, the smell was heavenly and the small amount of syrup left over at the end, delicious! It reminded me of cinnamon crab apples I've eaten somewhere down the line. Even today, I'm staring at the beautiful jars thinking I should just open one and dig in, but I'm trying to practice restraint until fall when all the fresh fruit is gone.
Once the pickled figs were in the jars, I decided fig chutney (one of my personal favorites) should be next on the menu. Another four pounds of quartered figs went into the pot along with other yummy ingredients like chopped onions, cinnamon, all spice, and ginger. This too has to simmer for quite a long time, so I contemplated what to do with the remaining four pounds but decided to quit for the night by the time the chutney finished bubbling. So, here's the tally for the week: four pounds of figs into jam, four pounds of figs pickled, four pounds of figs into chutney, four pounds of figs still in the fridge, and four pounds of figs eaten fresh and given to a neighbor. Judging from the size and color of the fruit remaining on the tree, I have about a week's reprieve before the next harvest begins. (I'm actually hoping for two weeks, but that's selfish.)
Anyone want to trade some pickled okra or canned salsa for figs? I think I'll have plenty.
 |
| Start here - with fresh, ripe figs |
 |
| Fig jam |
 |
| Pickled figs |
 |
| Fig chutney |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)