WOOL AND WATER

Recent Finds....

2012-02-01T06:18:00.001-08:00

I recently took a trip to Oddfellows Antiques in Berkley
and found a few Treasures....I found a ziploc "bag-O-people"
tucked away on a shelf and decided that they needed to come
home with me so that I could take strange photos
of them in many settings...
cuz that's how I roll.

Tom Sawyer.....

2012-01-31T13:23:00.000-08:00

A Project for Jake's Tom Sawyer Book Report

My 2012 Manifesto....

2012-01-02T08:12:00.000-08:00

Everyday I Will.....
Seek Out Beauty.....
Do Something Creative To Feed My Soul...
Revel In Silence.....
Love Myself....
Read.....
Perform A Random Act Of Kindness....
Connect With My Spirituality.....
Put Myself First.....
Let Music Take Me Away......
Be Present......
Try To Make The World A Better Place.....
Be Thankful For My Family.....
Pray....
Take Refuge In Nature...... If Only For A Few Precious Moments......
Participate In Life.....
Find Joy.....
Surrender.

Sew, Sew, Sew.....

2012-01-01T15:53:00.000-08:00

My 2011 Reading List.....

2011-12-30T09:22:00.000-08:00

Gypsy Lady....

2011-12-02T04:56:00.001-08:00

Food For Thought.....

2011-11-26T21:54:00.000-08:00

2011-10-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

In My Etsy Shop

Hey There Little Red Riding Hood....

2011-10-18T10:34:00.001-07:00

In My Etsy Shop

I Made A Bird.....

2011-10-16T13:01:00.000-07:00

Available In My Etsy Shop

Pink Oyster Mushrooms....Wow!!

2011-10-11T11:42:00.001-07:00

Pink Oyster Mushrooms, a photo by shaire productions on Flickr.

Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars....

2011-10-10T08:49:00.001-07:00

Recipe @ The Girl Who Ate Everything

Braciole With Rigatoni And Toasted Garlic Broccoli Spears...

2011-09-28T12:33:00.001-07:00

For the Rolls...
2 cup dried Italian-style bread crumbs
10 garlic clove, minced
1 cup grated Pecorino Romano
5 Sprigs Fresh Oregano Leaves
3 Large Sprigs Fresh Basil Leaves

2 Steaks (flank, sirloin, round)

For the sauce...
4 tablespoons olive oil
3 28oz cans crushed tomatoes
1 medium onion
2 stalks celery
2 carrots
4 cloves garlic
1 small can tomato paste
1 cup Red wine
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 Bay Leaf

For the Broccoli...
1 large head of broccoli
4 cloves garlic
1 stick butter
salt and pepper

Directions
Combine bread crumb ingredients in cuisinart,blend until fine and set aside.

Lay the steaks flat on the work surface, cover with plastic wrap and pound out thin.
Rub with olive oil and salt and pepper, sprinkle with bread crumb mixture to cover. Starting at 1 short end, roll up the steak as for a jelly roll to enclose the filling completely. Using butcher's twine, tie the steak roll to secure. Sprinkle the rolls with salt and pepper.

Heat the olive oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add the rolls and cook until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes, set aside.

In cuisinart blend celery, carrot, onion, garlic until finely diced.

In a large sauce pot add olive oil to coate the bottom then add clery, onion, carrot and garlic mixture and saute until translucent. Add the tomato paste and stir until mixed throughout. Add the wine to the pan and bring to a boil. Stir in the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Add red pepper flakes and bay leaf. Add the rolls and cover until the meat is tender,(Approx 2 hours) stirring occasionally.
Remove the braciole from the sauce. Remove the twine. Using a large sharp knife, cut the braciole crosswise and diagonally into 1/2-inch-thick slices. Transfer the slices to plates. Spoon the sauce over and serve with Pasta and Broccoli Spears.

To Prepare the Broccoli...

Finely slice the cloves of garlic. In a small saute pan melt the butter and add the sliced garlic. Slowly toast and swirl the garlic in the butter until golden brown then remove from the butter immediatley with a strainer onto paper towel to stop the cooking process (the garlic will continue to brown for a few seconds after removal from the butter. Set aside garlic and butter.

Cut the broccoli into spears leaving a good amount of the stem on. Peel some of the woody outside of the stem with a peeler. Blanch until bright green and tender.

Pour the hot butter over the broccoli and sprinkle with the toasted garlic, salt and pepper.

Green Chile Chicken Enchiladas....

2011-09-26T07:06:00.000-07:00

It's A French Onion & Reuben Kind Of Day.....

2011-09-15T17:14:00.001-07:00

Mmmmmmmmm.......

Lady Madonna...

2011-09-14T11:51:00.000-07:00

Jason Decaires Taylor Artificial Reef....

2011-09-13T17:47:00.000-07:00

Jason Decaires Taylor Underwater Sculptures....

Isla Mujeres Cancun Mexico

In Today's Lunchbox....

2011-09-12T14:50:00.000-07:00

Goat Cheese, Lingonberry Jam & Pears

The Grilled Cheese Academy....

2011-09-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

@ The Grilled Cheese Academy

Pin It

Crazy Potatoes....

2011-09-10T12:28:00.000-07:00

Jeff Brought Some Of These Crazy Potatoes Home The Other Day....Yummy!!

Pin It

It's A Mystery....

2011-09-10T12:25:00.001-07:00

Found These Growing In A Tree In Our Front Yard...Anyone Know What They Are?
Pin It

Lunch Box Love....

2011-09-10T06:50:00.000-07:00

Planet Box.....They Even Come With Magnets....

LapTop Lunch Box...We Have This One And Love It....

To Go Ware....

Dabbawalla...Sort of Looks Like An Angry Bird...

I have a secrect obsession with lunchboxes....I think I have about 10 in the cupboard as we speak...I Thought I would share a few of my current favorites.

Salted Caramel Cupcakes....

2011-09-09T16:27:00.000-07:00

Recipe @ MyBakingAddiction.Com

Ooooohh Looooove This.........

2011-08-03T13:21:00.000-07:00

Cool Mushroom Kit From

Back To The Roots

Happy Father's Day To All of My Favorite Men......

2011-06-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

I Love You All The Way To The Moon........

Free.......

2011-06-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

Sunday night after we had finally finished moving the last box......

I fell to sleep and dreamt of soaring over the bluest water.....

No sound except for the wind, some steel drum music playing far off in the distance

and my own voice saying over and over again...

"This is so real...This is so real."

The colors were so vivid and I had the most amazing sense of peace and freedom....

What I imagine Heaven & God to be....

These are my favorite dreams....

Dreams of soaring....

It's been a long time since I've had one....

This Arrived @ My Door Step Today.......

2011-06-09T14:31:00.000-07:00

Weeeeeeeeeee!!!!

The Meaning Of Life......

2011-06-09T14:24:00.000-07:00

Fun Things I Found While Packing....

2011-05-16T08:12:00.001-07:00

My Gypsy Puppet From Childhood....

My Voo-Doo Girl From Adult Childhood....

The Simple Living Manifesto.....

2011-05-11T05:34:00.000-07:00

Taken From...

The Simple Living Manifesto: 72 Ideas to Simplify Your Life

(Read Full Article for great links on how to accomplish some of these tasks)

@ Zen Habits

A simple life has a different meaning and a different value for every person. For me, it means eliminating all but the essential, eschewing chaos for peace, and spending your time doing what’s important to you.

It means getting rid of many of the things you do so you can spend time with people you love and do the things you love. It means getting rid of the clutter so you are left with only that which gives you value.
However, getting to simplicity isn’t always a simple process. It’s a journey, not a destination, and it can often be a journey of two steps forward, and one backward.

If you’re interested in simplifying your life, this is a great starter’s guide (if you’re not interested, move on).

The Short List
For the cynics who say that the list below is too long, there are really only two steps to simplifying:

1.Identify what’s most important to you.
2.Eliminate everything else.

Of course, that’s not terribly useful unless you can see how to apply that to different areas of your life, so I present to you the Long List.

The Long List
There can be no step-by-step guide to simplifying your life, but I’ve compiled an incomplete list of ideas that should help anyone trying to find the simple life. Not every tip will work for you — choose the ones that appeal and apply to your life.

One important note: this list will be criticized for being too complicated, especially as it provides a bunch of links. Don’t stress out about all of that. Just choose one at a time, and focus on that. When you’re done with that, focus on the next thing.

1.Make a list of your top 4-5 important things. What’s most important to you? What do you value most? What 4-5 things do you most want to do in your life? Simplifying starts with these priorities, as you are trying to make room in your life so you have more time for these things.

2.Evaluate your commitments. Look at everything you’ve got going on in your life. Everything, from work to home to civic to kids’ activities to hobbies to side businesses to other projects. Think about which of these really gives you value, which ones you love doing. Which of these are in line with the 4-5 most important things you listed above? Drop those that aren’t in line with those things.

3.Evaluate your time. How do you spend your day? What things do you do, from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep? Make a list, and evaluate whether they’re in line with your priorities. If not, eliminate the things that aren’t, and focus on what’s important. Redesign your day.

4.Simplify work tasks. Our work day is made up of an endless list of work tasks. If you simply try to knock off all the tasks on your to-do list, you’ll never get everything done, and worse yet, you’ll never get the important stuff done. Focus on the essential tasks and eliminate the rest.

5.Simplify home tasks. In that vein, think about all the stuff you do at home. Sometimes our home task list is just as long as our work list. And we’ll never get that done either. So focus on the most important, and try to find ways to eliminate the other tasks (automate, eliminate, delegate, or hire help).

6.Learn to say no. This is actually one of the key habits for those trying to simplify their lives. If you can’t say no, you will take on too much.

7.Limit your communications. Our lives these days are filled with a vast flow of communications: email, IM, cell phones, paper mail, Skype, Twitter, forums, and more. It can take up your whole day if you let it. Instead, put a limit on your communications: only do email at certain times of the day, for a certain number of minutes (I recommend twice a day, but do what works for you). Only do IM once a day, for a limited amount of time. Limit phone calls to certain times too. Same with any other communications. Set a schedule and stick to it.

8.Limit your media consumption. This tip won’t be for everyone, so if media consumption is important to you, please skip it (as with any of the other tips). However, I believe that the media in our lives — TV, radio, Internet, magazines, etc. — can come to dominate our lives. Don’t let it. Simplify your life and your information consumption by limiting it. Try a media fast.

9.Purge your stuff. If you can devote a weekend to purging the stuff you don’t want, it feels seriously terrific. Get boxes and trash bags for the stuff you want to donate or toss.

10.Get rid of the big items. There’s tons of little clutter in our lives, but if you start with the big items, you’ll simplify your life quickly and in a big way.

11.Edit your rooms. One room at a time, go around the room and eliminate the unnecessary. Act as a newspaper editor, trying to leave only the minimum, and deleting everything else.

12.Edit closets and drawers. Once you’ve gone through the main parts of your rooms, tackle the closets and drawers, one drawer or shelf at a time.

13.Simplify your wardrobe. Is your closet bursting full? Are your drawers so stuffed they can’t close (I’m talking about dresser drawers here, not underwear). Simplify your wardrobe by getting rid of anything you don’t actually wear. Try creating a minimal wardrobe by focusing on simple styles and a few solid colors that all match each other.

14.Simplify your computing life. If you have trouble with too many files and too much disorganization, consider online computing. It can simplify things greatly.

15.Declutter your digital packrattery. If you are a digital packrat, and cannot seem to control your digital clutter, there is still hope for you.

16.Create a simplicity statement. What do you want your simple life to look like? Write it out.

17.Limit your buying habits. If you are a slave to materialism and consumerism, there are ways to escape it. I was there, and although I haven’t escaped these things entirely, I feel much freer of it all. If you can escape materialism, you can get into the habit of buying less. And that will mean less stuff, less spending, less freneticism.

18.Free up time. Find ways to free up time for the important stuff. That means eliminating the stuff you don’t like, cutting back on time wasters, and making room for what you want to do.

19.Do what you love. Once you’ve freed up some time, be sure to spend that extra time doing things you love. Go back to your list of 4-5 important things. Do those, and nothing else.

20.Spend time with people you love. Again, the list of 4-5 important things probably contains some of the people you love (if not, you may want to re-evaluate). Whether those people are a spouse, a partner, children, parents, other family, best friends, or whoever, find time to do things with them, talk to them, be intimate with them.

21.Spend time alone. See this list of ways to free up time for yourself — to spend in solitude. Alone time is good for you, although some people aren’t comfortable with it. It could take practice getting used to the quiet, and making room for your inner voice. It sounds new-agey, I know, but it’s extremely calming. And this quiet is necessary for finding out what’s important to you.

22.Eat slowly. If you cram your food down your throat, you are not only missing out on the great taste of the food, you are not eating healthy. Slow down to lose weight, improve digestion, and enjoy life more.

23.Drive slowly. Most people rush through traffic, honking and getting angry and frustrated and stressed out. And endangering themselves and others in the meantime. Driving slower is not only safer, but it is better on your fuel bill, and can be incredibly peaceful. Give it a try.

24.Be present. These two words can make a huge difference in simplifying your life. Living here and now, in the moment, keeps you aware of life, of what is going on around you and within you. It does wonders for your sanity.

25.Streamline your life. Many times we live with unplanned, complex systems in our lives because we haven’t given them much thought. Instead, focus on one system at a time (your laundry system, your errands system, your paperwork system, your email system, etc.) and try to make it simplified, efficient, and written. Then stick to it. Here’s more.

26.Create a simple mail & paperwork system. If you don’t have a system, this stuff will pile up. But a simple system will keep everything in order.

27.Create a simple system for house work. Another example of a simple system is clean-as-you-go with a burst.

28.Clear your desk. If you have a cluttered desk, it can be distracting and disorganized and stressful. A clear desk, however, is only a couple of simple habits away.

29.Establish routines. The key to keeping your life simple is to create simple routines.

30.Keep your email inbox empty. Is your email inbox overflowing with new and read messages? Do the messages just keep piling up? If so, you’re normal — but you could be more efficient and your email life could be simplified with a few simple steps.

31.Learn to live frugally. Living frugally means buying less, wanting less, and leaving less of a footprint on the earth. It’s directly related to simplicity.

32.Make your house minimalist. A minimalist house has what is necessary, and not much else. It’s also extremely peaceful (not to mention easy to clean).

33.Find other ways to be minimalist. There are tons. You can find ways to be minimalist in every area of your life.

34.Consider a smaller home. If you rid your home of stuff, you might find you don’t need so much space. I’m not saying you should live on a boat (although I know some people who happily do so), but if you can be comfortable in a smaller home, it will not only be less expensive, but easier to maintain, and greatly simplify your life.

35.Consider a smaller car. This is a big move, but if you have a large car or SUV, you may not really need something that big. It’s more expensive, uses more gas, harder to maintain, harder to park. Simplify your life with less car. You don’t need to go tiny, especially if you have a family, but try to find as small a car as can fit you or your family comfortably. Maybe not something you’re going to do today, but something to think about over the long term.

36.Learn what “enough” is. Our materialistic society today is about getting more and more, with no end in sight. Sure, you can get the latest gadget, and more clothes and shoes. More stuff. But when will you have enough? Most people don’t know, and thus they keep buying more. It’s a neverending cycle. Get off the cycle by figuring out how much is enough. And then stop when you get there.

37.Create a simple weekly dinner menu. If figuring out what’s for dinner is a nightly stressor for you or your family, consider creating a weekly menu. Decide on a week’s worth of simple dinners, set a specific dinner for each night of the week, go grocery shopping for the ingredients. Now you know what’s for dinner each night, and you have all the ingredients necessary. No need for difficult recipes — find ones that can be done in 10-15 minutes (or less).

38.Eat healthy. It might not be obvious how eating healthy relates to simplicity, but think about the opposite: if you eat fatty, greasy, salty, sugary, fried foods all the time, you are sure to have higher medical needs over the long term. We could be talking years from now, but imagine frequent doctor visits, hospitalization, going to the pharmacist, getting therapy, having surgery, taking insulin shots … you get the idea. Being unhealthy is complicated. Eating healthy simplifies all of that greatly, over the long term. Read about how to simplify your eating habits.

39.Exercise. This goes along the same lines as eating healthy, as it simplifies your life in the long run, but it goes even further: exercise helps burn off stress and makes you feel better. It’s great.

40.Declutter before organizing. Many people make the mistake of taking a cluttered desk or filing cabinet or closet or drawer, and trying to organize it. Unfortunately, that’s not only hard to do, it keeps things complicated. Simplify the process by getting rid of as much of the junk as possible, and then organizing. If you declutter enough, you won’t need to organize at all.

41.Have a place for everything. Age-old advice, but it’s the best advice on keeping things organized. After you declutter.

42.Find inner simplicity. I’m not much of a spiritual person, but I have found that spending a little time with my inner self creates a peaceful simplicity rather than a chaotic confusion. This could be time praying or communing with God, or time spent meditating or journaling or getting to know yourself, or time spent in nature. However you do it, working on your inner self is worth the time.

43.Learn to decompress from stress. Every life is filled with stress — no matter how much you simplify your life, you’ll still have stress (except in the case of the ultimate simplifier, death). So after you go through stress, find ways to decompress.

44.Try living without a car. OK, this isn’t something I’ve done, but many others have. It’s something I would do if I didn’t have kids. Walk, bike, or take public transportation. It reduces expenses and gives you time to think. A car is also very complicating, needing not only car payments, but insurance, registration, safety inspections, maintenance, repairs, gas and more.

45.Find a creative outlet for self-expression. Whether that’s writing, poetry, painting, drawing, creating movies, designing websites, dance, skateboarding, whatever. We have a need for self-expression, and finding a way to do that makes your life much more fulfilling. Allow this to replace much of the busy-work you’re eliminating from your life.

46.Simplify your goals. Instead of having half a dozen goals or more, simplify it to one goal. Not only will this make you less stressed, it will make you more successful. You’ll be able to focus on that One Goal, and give it all of your energy. That gives you much better chances for success.

47.Single-task. Multi-tasking is more complicated, more stressful, and generally less productive. Instead, do one task at a time.

48.Simplify your filing system. Stacking a bunch of papers just doesn’t work. But a filing system doesn’t have to be complicated to be useful. Create a simple system.

49.Develop equanimity. If every little thing that happens to you sends you into anger or stress, your life might never be simple. Learn to detach yourself, and be more at peace.

50.Reduce your consumption of advertising. Advertising makes us want things. That’s what it’s designed to do, and it works. Find ways to reduce your exposure of advertising, whether that’s in print, online, broadcast, or elsewhere. You’ll want much less.

51.Live life more deliberately. Do every task slowly, with ease, paying full attention to what you’re doing.

52.Make a Most Important Tasks (MITs) list each day. Set just 3 very important things you want to accomplish each day. Don’t start with a long list of things you probably won’t get done by the end of the day. A simple list of 3 things, ones that would make you feel like you accomplished something. See this article for more.

53.Create morning and evening routines. A great way to simplify your life is to create routines at the start and end of your day.

54.Create a morning writing ritual. If you enjoy writing, like I do, make it a peaceful, productive ritual.

55.Learn to do nothing. Doing nothing can be an art form, and it should be a part of every life.

56.Read Walden, by Thoreau. The quintessential text on simplifying. Available on Wikisources for free.

57.Go for quality, not quantity. Try not to have a ton of stuff in your life … instead, have just a few possessions, but ones that you really love, and that will last for a long time.

58.Read Simplify Your Life, by Elaine St. James. One of my favorite all-time authors on simplicity.

59.Fill your day with simple pleasures. Make a list of your favorite simple pleasures, and sprinkle them throughout your day.

60.Simplify your RSS feeds. If you’ve got dozens of feeds, or more than a hundred (as I once did), you probably have a lot of stress in trying to keep up with them all. Simplify your feed reading.

61.But subscribe to Unclutterer. Probably the best blog on simplifying your stuff and routines (along with Zen Habits, of course!).

62.Create an easy-to-maintain yard.

63.Carry less stuff. Are your pockets bulging. Consider carrying only the essentials.

64.Simplify your online life. If you have too much going on online.

65.Strive to automate your income. This isn’t the easiest task, but it can (and has) been done. I’ve been working towards it myself.

66.Simplify your budget. Many people skip budgeting (which is very important) because it’s too hard or too complicated.

67.Simplify your financial life.

68.Learn to pack light. Who wants to lug a bunch of luggage around on a trip?

69.Use a minimalist productivity system. The minimal Zen To Done is all you need. Everything else is icing.

70.Leave space around things in your day. Whether they’re appointments, or things you need to do, don’t stack them back-to-back. Leave a little space between things you need to do, so you will have room for contingencies, and you’ll go through your day much more relaxed.

71.Live closer to work. This might mean getting a job closer to your home, or moving to a home closer to your work. Either will do much to simplify your life.

72.Always ask: Will this simplify my life? If the answer is no, reconsider.

Having a Serious Craving For One Of These......

2011-05-10T06:44:00.000-07:00

Miss Marna's Curried Lentil Burritos

Burrito Filling

1½ Cups Green Lentils
¼ Cup Beluga lentils
½ Onion Small Dice
1 Yam Small Dice (or Potato if you choose)
1 Small Bag Baby Spinach Rough Chop
½ Bunch Cilantro Rough Chop
½ Cup Jacks Salsa (Pico)
4 Cups Roasted Vegetable Stock
½ Cinnamon Stick
¾ T Ginger
¾ T Garlic
1 Bay Leaf
2T Curry

Cilantro Yogurt
1 Cup Plain Greek Yogurt
¾ Cup Cilantro Rough Chop
¼ Cup Fresh Mint Rough Chop
¼ Cup Red Onion Minced
1 Small Jalapeño Minced
¾ T Ginger
Juice of 1 Lemon
½ T Sugar
Salt & Pepper To Taste

Burrito Shells
(5) 10 inch Flour Tortillas
5 Beaten Eggs
2T Cilantro Rough Chop
1 Package Monterey Jack Cheese Shredded
Salt & Pepper To taste

Sauté onion, garlic, ginger, curry powder and jalapeno in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Cook until onion softens, stirring often, approximately 5-6 minutes.

Stir in veg stock, salsa, yams, lentils, bay leaf and cinnamon stick.
Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until lentils and yams are tender, about 30-40 minutes.
When lentils are cooked, add in spinach, cilantro, salt & pepper.

While lentil mixture cooks, prepare yogurt sauce.
Chill until ready to use.

To Prepare the Burritos:

Combine the eggs, cilantro, salt & pepper in a large pie plate.
Heat Canola Oil in a 12″ skillet over medium-high heat.
Dip both sides of a tortilla in egg mixture, and fry in the oil until tortilla is light golden brown on one side, then flip and fry opposite side.
Sprinkle cheese on tortilla, and allow cheese to melt slightly. Remove tortilla to a work surface.

Place approximately ¾ cup of the lentil mixture on the lower third of each tortilla. Roll tortilla from the bottom, over the filling to cover.
Fold in both side, and roll to the end.

Serve with spiced yogurt sauce.

Happy Mother's Day......

2011-05-08T06:36:00.000-07:00

Jeff and I woke up this morning to rustling sounds coming from the kitchen...

I walked in and there stood Jake with a little smile on his face...

I said "Are you making yourself some breakfast?".....

He said "No, I made it for you Mom".......

Oh my.....heart melting as we speak.....

What a great life I have.

Teacher Appreciation Chicken......

2011-05-06T05:41:00.000-07:00

Uncle Jeff's Spring Time Grilled Chicken Breasts

with Sliced Garlic, Plum Tomatoes and Fresh Basil......

Oh......How I Wish To Be A Teacher Today!

Think I'm Going To Need One Of These........

2011-05-05T06:28:00.000-07:00

Rust Belt Market.....

2011-05-03T07:56:00.000-07:00

Thinking About You Today......

2011-05-03T06:42:00.000-07:00

Mark Hogencamp......

2011-05-02T10:19:00.000-07:00

Read Mark Hogencamp's story Here

I Want To Live Here.........

2011-05-01T05:28:00.000-07:00

Made by Bella Luna Toys

Must Have One of These......

2011-04-29T06:59:00.001-07:00

Slumber.....

2011-04-28T14:50:00.000-07:00

Love Love Love........

2011-04-28T06:24:00.000-07:00

Made by Ann Wood

Today's Favorite Thing.......

2011-04-27T05:46:00.001-07:00

Made by Mimi Kirchner

Currently Reading......

2011-04-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

Loving it........

Me Likey.....

2011-04-21T06:59:00.001-07:00

Happy Birthday John Muir.....

2011-04-21T05:25:00.000-07:00

"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." ~John Muir

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul. ~John Muir

My Latest Find.......

2011-03-28T10:56:00.000-07:00

Estate Sale Treasures.....

2011-03-25T08:38:00.003-07:00

Cabin Fever......

2011-02-11T07:22:00.001-08:00

Click Here if you can't live without it.

I'm With The Band.....

2011-02-09T06:40:00.000-08:00

Just Finished Reading This....

Thumb's Up!!!

There's Nothing Better Than Some Good Old Fashioned

Unrepentant Sex, Drugs & Rock & Roll!!!

I've Heard A Rumor That One Of My Favorite Girls....

Zooey Deschanel

Will Be Playing Pamela Des Barres In a New HBO Series!!

Can't Wait!!!

Mmmmmm....Oatmeal Scotchies....

2011-02-09T06:32:00.000-08:00

The Finished Product.....

2011-02-06T15:28:00.000-08:00

Big Daddy's Superbowl Bacon Bomb Meatloaf.....

2011-02-06T09:38:00.001-08:00

If This Doesn't Kill You....

I Don't Know What Will....

Bacon.....

Beef.....

More Bacon....

BBQ Sauce......

Roll It Up Into A Bundle Of Love.....

And Bake With Jake's Cooking Instructions.....

"Mr.Jeff's" Asian Grill.....

2011-01-26T05:44:00.001-08:00

Lunch....

2011-01-24T08:19:00.000-08:00

Mmmmmm.......Mujaddara

Galician Winter Stew....

2011-01-24T06:39:00.000-08:00

Caldo Gallego

(Galician Winter Stew)

I found this recipe years ago. It is perfect for this time of year.
Gallego refers to someone or something from Galicia, the lush, verdant region in northwest Spain, directly north of Portugal, while Caldo means broth. If you ate this dish in five different restaurants or homes, you would invariably enjoy five different versions. Beans, pork in some form, and greens are the basics that everyone agrees on, but beyond that it depends on what is in season and what is in the garden. It is said to have healing properties…used for the common cold, a hangover or whatever ails you.

Serves 8-10

1 lb. bag medium-sized dry white northern beans
2 Bay leaves
10-12 cups Water or chicken stock
4 Slices Bacon diced
1/2 lb Slab bacon whole, pancetta or salt pork not sliced
1 to 2 lbs. smoked bone-in ham cut in large pieces or 2 smoked ham hocks
6 medium-to-large Yukon Gold Potatoes, peeled and cut into medium dice
3 medium Turnips peeled medium dice
1 extra-large bunch collard greens cut in large pieces (Fresh, not frozen)cut into large pieces
2 Spanish sausages [chorizos] sliced
3 or 4 large garlic cloves (fresh) finely minced and sautéed in olive oil
1 large onion finely minced and sautéed in olive oil with garlic
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Place the beans in a bowl and cover with about two inches of water. Place in the refrigerator overnight so that they start to become soft. If you forget to do this (like I did) here is a quick fix… you can bring the beans to a boil for 10 minutes and then cover and let sit for 2 hours.
2. Sauté Onions Diced Bacon and Garlic in Large Soup Pot.
3. Pour in 10-12 cups of water or chicken stock; add ham hocks and bay leaf. Once the water comes to a boil put salt pork in cover and allow to boil for 1 hour.
4. After 1 hour add white beans, cover again and boil for about 30-40 minutes until beans are almost done and tender.
5. Meanwhile, chop collard greens and peel and cube potatoes and turnips and add them to the soup. Check if you need to add more stock.
6. Add sliced chorizos, take ham hock out of pot shred meat and take away bone. Put meat back into pot. Remove Salt Pork shred any meat, remove all fat and return to pot.
7. Once potatoes are done (approx. 20 min) add collard greens until fully cooked. Add salt and pepper to taste if needed.

Aloo Gobhi.....

2011-01-19T07:32:00.000-08:00

I'm Thinkin' Bora Bora Sounds Pretty Good Right About Now....

2011-01-19T07:27:00.000-08:00

Coachella Line-Up.....

2011-01-19T05:43:00.000-08:00

Tickets Go On Sale This Friday.....

Black Keys....

Mumford & Sons....

Meet Me In The Desert!!

Jake Sings American Pie......

2011-01-12T14:30:00.000-08:00

Who Has The Cutest Nook Cover In The Land......

2011-01-06T11:24:00.001-08:00

Kensington....

2011-01-06T11:00:00.001-08:00

The Best New Year's Eve Ever......

2011-01-05T14:13:00.000-08:00

We stayed in and Jeff & Jake made dinner.....

Jake was the Maitre d'.......

The Kitty was our waiter....

Jake said......

Welcome to ......"Jake's Jazz & Meat Club"...

Jake had set the table all by himself.....

Candles burning...

Wine glasses for our Sparkling Cranberry Juice....

Steaks and Grilled Asparagus....

Jazz playing in the background.....

Very fancy....

Who needs Loud Bars and Expensive Restaurants.....

It was the best New Year's Eve I have ever had....

Jake even provided our after dinner entertainment....

Some crazy preformance art thing with a box on his head....

Afterwards he presented us with our bill for the evening....

We laughed....

He said....

"No Really....You Have To Give Me $20"

A Peaceful Christmas To All.......

2010-12-23T10:52:00.000-08:00

Things That Fill My Soul......

Best Friends Visiting From Far Away Lands...

Sleepovers....

A Great Husband And The Best Father Anyone Could Ever Ask For.......

Mom's, Dad's, Grandma's, Grandpa's, Brothers, Sisters, Aunt's, Uncle's....

Cousins......

My Sista's....

Baby Kitties....

A Very Smart Little Boy That Makes Me Smile & Laugh Everyday....

New Babies....

Road Trips....
Dave & Buster's With 3 Crazy Little Boys.....

Shopping With Gramma....

8 Year Old Boys Who Still Believe In Santa...

Sledding....

Ohio.....

Christmas Cookies.....

Big Snowflakes & Snowmen....

Hot Cocoa With Tiny Marshmallows...

Watching Little Boys Open Presents On Christmas Morning....

And Remembering What It Felt like.

New X-Men Character Unveiled.......

2010-12-18T09:42:00.000-08:00

Marvel Comics Introduced a new character in the X-men series today....

Wolverine's Backwoods Kin......

"Cousin Ferret"

My New Favorite Thing......

2010-12-11T15:51:00.000-08:00

NOOK COLOR

I Love My Husband!!

Summer 2011 Music Festival Wish List....

2010-12-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

Coachella

Rothbury

OutsideLands

Bonnaroo

SXSW

Austin City Limits Music Festival

Consumerism...

2010-12-02T05:37:00.000-08:00

Oooooh Balls.......

2010-11-24T06:26:00.000-08:00

I Found these little balls of goodness @ A Menu in Progress

My New Favorite Thing......

2010-11-23T11:03:00.001-08:00

Glogg from Lush

It's like bathing in mulled wine!

Meatface....

2010-11-20T07:46:00.001-08:00

OMG...Totally Love This!!!

For The Lunchbox.....

2010-11-20T07:06:00.000-08:00

Disappeared......

2010-11-19T10:31:00.000-08:00

"Atrabiliarios"

Doris Salcedo

This is Beautiful.....

2010-11-15T11:58:00.000-08:00

Brandi Carlile- Oh Dear from Phillip Wachter on Vimeo.

A Match Made In Heaven.....

2010-11-13T15:43:00.001-08:00

Trader Joes Sparkling Cranberry + Absolut Citron = Yummy!

One More....

2010-11-13T07:43:00.001-08:00

Frog Puzzle

Finds......

2010-11-13T06:55:00.000-08:00

Viking Girl Hat

Ruffled Echo-Touch Glove

Camper Boot

Star Wars Cookie Cutters

Succculent Wreath

I Want To Live Here....

2010-11-10T08:30:00.000-08:00

Simondale.net

Felted Mushrooms....

2010-11-08T07:21:00.000-08:00

Holy Caramel Pumpkin Gingersnap Cheesecake!

2010-10-29T07:36:00.001-07:00

I Love You Pioneer Woman!!

Homemade Pumpkin PopTarts.....

2010-10-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

Babble.Com

Always By My Side.....

2010-10-29T06:22:00.001-07:00

My Little Einstein......

2010-10-29T05:44:00.000-07:00

I Want To Live Here.....

2010-10-28T12:55:00.000-07:00

Made By TumbleBerry Toys

Sweet Potato Ravioli With Herbed Brown Butter....

2010-10-11T11:40:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon these @ A Cozy Kitchen.....Yummy!

Good Stuff.....

2010-10-08T06:11:00.001-07:00

Name the Kitty.....

2010-10-05T14:19:00.000-07:00

Murphy

Gonzo

Hazel

KittyPuss

Mrs. KittyPuss

Puddy

Luna

LuLu

Willow

Mrs.FluffyPants

(because she is fluffy & she looks likes shes wearing pants)
Steve (Jakes idea)

Spark

Cat

Our New Baby....

2010-10-04T13:58:00.001-07:00

Sunday....

2010-09-28T05:44:00.001-07:00

Greenfield Village Local Roots Oktoberfest Dinner Tonight....

2010-09-24T10:03:00.000-07:00

Potato Pancakes.....Beer......And A Whole-Lot-O-Pork.....

What More could a girl ask for?

Menu

Weisswurst
(White Veal and Pork Sausage)

Bratwurst
(Spiced Pork and Veal Sausage)

Kasseler Rippchen
(Smoked Pork Loin)

Schweinebraten
(Roast Pork)

Apple Kraut
(Sauerkraut Stewed with Apples Bacon
Beer and Caraway)

Rotkraut
(Braised Red Cabbage with Brown Sugar
and Red Wine)

Kartoffelpuffer
(Shredded Potato Pancakes)

Kroketten
(Croquette Potato – Mashed Potatoes Breaded and Fried)

Apple Sauce

Creamed Horseradish

Mustard

Caraway Rye Ale Bread

Potato Dill Bread

Frankenmuth Brewery’s Oktoberfest Lager

Yvonne Gill-Uhlianuk Mt. Bruce Sheep & Wool Festival This Weekend........

2010-09-24T08:33:00.001-07:00

Every year I look forward to this fall festival.......

This weekend Sept 25th-26th is the 20th Annual Fall Sheep & Wool Festival @ Mt. Bruce Station in Romeo. Yvonne Uhlianuk is a sheep rancher, producing meat for select tables, and fine wool and woolen goods, at Mt. Bruce Station, her picturesque, rolling property in Romeo. But as Yvonne Gill, a native New Zealander who arrived in Detroit almost three decades ago, she left an enduring mark on the way metro Detroit eats. Cooking fine French food at the old Women’s City Club and the Money Tree downtown, Tweeney’s Café in Birmingham, and Farmer Jack’s gourmet take-out experiment, Yvonne’s to Go, she became known as “the crêpe lady” and “the woman who brought quiche to Detroit.”
I arrived via Canada, came across on the bus through the tunnel. I was married to somebody at the time who was involved in industry, and Detroit was the place you were supposed to go. I came through the tunnel and walked on the streets of Detroit. I had no conception whatsoever of what America was about. I’d never seen television. It was extremely strange. Later on I met wonderful, wonderful people in Detroit. But really, I wasn’t fitting in because I’m a woman. At the London Chop House, [owner] Les Gruber looked at me and said, “We don’t hire women. You can’t pick up the big sauté pans; you’re not strong enough.” It was a meat-and-potatoes town, and really still is. But I had my own— not a vision — it was the only thing I knew. You’re supposed to eat nicely. And why did the health inspector tell me I couldn’t keep my parrot on the bar? It was gorgeous. I thought everyone should have a parrot on the bar. It doesn’t matter what you say about America, it doesn’t matter how loud you think the people are — when I first arrived, I thought “Don’t they ever shut up?” It doesn’t matter that you think they have no taste, that they eat bad food, it doesn’t really matter. Because America is the one country in the world where you can prove yourself and make money.

Even if you are not so much into sheep & wool this festival is well worth checking out! The drive is wonderful and the grounds are absolutely beautiful! I feel like I am in another country when I go out there! Yvonne Gill-Uhlianuk and her husband Peter own and operate this sprawling farm. They have sheep, geese, huge floppy-eared angora bunnies, cows, a wool shop, a giant farmhouse, a green house, an old log cabin, rolling hills and a gorgeous outdoor brick grilling area where they grill up some very yummy fresh lamb chops & sausages along with fresh farm produce. Last year I ate hands down the best tomato salad that I have ever had in my life. Yvonne was one of the first well respected female chef's in the Metro Detroit area. She was born in New Zealand and came to the states in 1964 when she was 21 years old. She trained as a Chef in Europe and ran several restaurants and specialty food shops in the Metro Detroit area before marrying her husband Peter (a former chemist for Du Pont) who had been a local farmer that she purchased herbs from back in her restaurant days. This is also a great place to take the kids, you can freely explore the grounds, take a walk out back and see if you can find the old log cabin take a peek inside at the old loft. They are shearing the sheep out in the barn and have many vendors selling many beautiful things. Hope to see you out there!

Her Inner Gypsy.....

2010-09-22T06:03:00.000-07:00

My crazy Mother is in Paris eating Foie Gras, visiting Jim Morrison's grave, and finding her way around the city all on her own. I am so proud of her. It has been a dream of hers to visit Paris for years and she finally made it there. Up until a few weeks ago she was flip flopping on her decision. I had just returned from a wonderful adventure of my own and told her she had to go. It will fill your soul with happiness...This life we live is short...so live it...fully and in the moment!

My Weekend.....

2010-09-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

Detroit Waldorf Film Festival....

2010-09-19T16:35:00.000-07:00

Hop Fest '10....

2010-09-02T14:04:00.000-07:00

Mark Your Calendars....

2010-09-02T11:49:00.000-07:00

So many great events coming up....

Renaissance Festival August 21st-Oct 3rd

Dalley In The Alley Sept.11th (12th Rain Date)

Ann Arbor Antique Market Sept 18th, Oct. 16th

DIY Festival Ferndale Sept 17th, 18th, 19th

Dakota Inn Rathskellar Oktoberfest Sept 17th-Oct.25th

Local Roots Oktoberfest Dinner @ Greenfield Village Sept 24th

Greenfield Village Farmers Market Sept 25th, Oct.2nd

Mt. Bruce Sheep & Wool Festival Sept.25th, 26th

Theatre Bizarre (Date TBD Oct 23rd?)

Halloween Nights Greenfield Village Oct.8th-24th

8 Years......

2010-09-01T14:05:00.000-07:00

Wow....That Went By Way Too Fast!

Happy Birthday To My Beautiful Boy!

I Love You Sooooo Much!

Road Trippin'.......

2010-08-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

O.K...So here's the breakdown....last week I had this crazy idea that I wanted to take a last minute road trip to San Francisco to go to the Outside Lands Festival....I decided that I would "will" it to happen using my powers of positive thought.....2 days later...Andrea (my best girly friend of 26 years) and I were on a flight to California....thank god my husband understands me and puts up with my "Inner Gypsy" because I spent my 16th Wedding Anniversary with my best friend driving down the coast of California instead of with my husband! We landed in San Francisco @ 7pm on Friday, rented a car and drove down to Big Sur, after a few stops on the way down we ended up at our hotel room @ The Big Sur River Inn around midnight, drank 2 sips of a beer and passed out...sleepy! We woke up at 6:30am walked out onto the deck and there were a bunch of Adirondack chairs sitting in the river down from our room....giant trees...mountain air....BEAUTIFUL!! We had a yummy breakfast of Huevos Rancheros and the best biscuits and gravy that I have ever had, grabbed one of these (my new favorite thing, I must have one soon) and some road supplies at the general store then jumped in the car and started driving.....we laughed so hard we cried and then laughed some more. The drive was amazingly beautiful yet terrifying at the same time..I was gripping the door handle for about 2 hours straight. It is hands down one of my most favorite spots on the planet...there is something absolutely magical about Big Sur...It makes me happy...I need to live there! We came upon a group of massive Elephant Seals sunbathing on the beach and a few playing in the water. We headed back up to San Francisco, dropped our bags at the Stanyan Park Hotel (very cute, great staff, clean and perfect location on the edge of Golden Gate Park in the Haight/Ashbury) then took a cab to the festival in Golden Gate Park. We spent the entire day there listening to great music and watching the people...the food was amazing...wood roasted flat bread in stone ovens...spit roasted meats tied up with fresh herbs....a giant wine tent called "Wine Lands"..... such great energy in San Francisco.....another of my favorite spots on the planet! Great people! We headed back to our room around 9:30pm and what luck...a cute little Irish Pub sat just next to our hotel....so we had to go in for a Guinness. We were starving from a long day of sitting around and drinking beer, so what do you order at an Irish Pub?....A Nacho of course! Holy Frijoles...black beans, piles of guacamole, sour cream and the cheese.....there is something about the Jack cheese in California....sooooo creamy...soooo good! You just cannot find it here. And off to bed for the night. We headed back to the airport around noon on Monday spent most of the day traveling and arrived home in lovely Detroit around 1am. It was about 3am when I finally crawled into bed next to Jake & Jeff, they were fast asleep....I snuggled up to Jake, held his hand and watched him sleep. Jeff woke up and I told him it was good to be home before he fell back to sleep....I felt so happy, renewed, refreshed, peaceful. I am so grateful that I was able to share this trip with my best friend in the whole world...it was very special and something that I will carry with me forever. Take my advice...if you feel the need to do something to feed your soul, just do it, don't talk yourself out of it because of the kids or the family or the 10,000 other reasons that come up. Be selfish and treat yourself well so that you can be present in your life....don't let it pass you by!

My Chilaquiles.....

2010-08-20T11:47:00.001-07:00

A traditional Mexican dish. Typically, corn Tortillas cut in quarters and fried are the basis of the dish. Green or red Salsa or Mole, is poured over the crispy tortilla triangles, called "totopos." The mixture is simmered until the tortilla starts softening. Eggs (scrambled or fried) and pulled chicken are sometimes added to the mix. The dish is topped with cheese (typically Queso Fresco) and/or sour cream (Crema), and it is served with refried beans. Like many dishes, regional and familiar variation are quite common.
Usually, chilaquiles are eaten at breakfast or brunch. This makes them a popular recipe to use leftover tortillas and salsas.
Moreover, chilaquiles are often lauded as a cure for the common Hangover this is because in Mexico it is believed that spicy foods help in the recovery process from a hangover.

My Recipe....

4 Bonless, Skinless Chicken Breasts

1 Grilled Onion, Quartered

6 Cloves of Garlic

12 Whole Grilled Tomatoes (Cored)

(or 15-20 Grilled Tomatillos For A Green Sauce)

Roasted Skinned Green or Red Chiles (I Prefer Pablanos They Are Mild)

2T Chile Powder

Add Chicken Stock To Cover

Slow Cook for about 4 Hours Until Everthing is Tender And Strain

(Seperate Chicken From Chiles/Tomatoes/Onion/Garlic)

Blend Chiles/Tomatoes/Onion/Garlic Into a Sauce

Add to Sauce...

1 Tablespoon Cilantro Minced

Salt and Pepper To Taste

Shred Your Chicken

Gather...

Mashed Pinto Beans

Tortillas Chips (Fry Them Yourself They Are Way Better)

Sour Cream (I prefer Fat Free Plain Greek Yogurt)

Freshly Chopped Salsa

Any Yummy Cheese will work...
Manchengo,Queso Fresco, Chihuahua, Jack or a Blend.

Layer Into Baking Dish...

Tortillas, Chicken, Beans, Sauce, Cheese, Repeat...

Bake @ 350 Until Chips Are Softened & Cheese is Melty...

Top With Fresh Salsa & Sour Cream...

Holy Comfort Food!

16 Years Man!!!

2010-08-13T02:50:00.000-07:00

16 years ago....Jeff and I were both working for Chef Brian @ Acadia. He was the Sous Chef and I was the Garde-Manger Girl. We were assigned to work some lame charity golf outing together, just the two of us. Even though I had to work a Sunday I was secretly happy about getting to spend the day with him. There really wasn't much work involved, mostly sitting around under a tent drinking many Heineken's and serving an occasional hot dog to some stray golfers.... I decided that day that he was mine and he has been by my side ever since. He is the very best Man, Husband and Dad a girl could ask for...thank you for taking such good care of us...and thank you for letting my spirit soar. I Love You!

No Regrets...Don't Think....Just Do....

2010-08-10T07:51:00.001-07:00

Flight...check....

Rental Car...check.....

Hotel....check....
Festival Ticket...check.....
Oh how I love the smell of eucalyptus in the mountains and ocean breeze.....
3 more days!!!