Confession: I was---probably still am---a school geek. As a child, I loved school. When I came home from school, I played, you guessed it, school. Although I enjoyed summer vacation, I couldn't wait to go back to school. Even today, I still love shopping for school supplies---found myself a really cute pencil tin this year! :-)
When the Mother Nature decides to ignore the forecast and turn a gloriously late summer weekend day into an overcast, rain-sprinkling one? Pull out a book from the project shelf and get to work, of course. :-)
Work is not always required . . . there is such a thing as sacred idleness, the cultivation of which is now fearfully neglected.
Brushing off the cobwebs to finally put up a post. :-) Crazybusy would only begin to describe the past few weeks, and then when I think I've edited the final book chapter and can RELAX, my client informs me that the other editor on the project has only managed to get through 5 chapters in the time I've done 20 (!). And could I please, please, please take more work? So yes, I have 8 chapters to get through before vacation---beach, I can hardly wait to see you! (Living 10 miles from the sea comes in handy when austerity measures rule the day.)
Hope today finds you all recovering from a potato salad and flag-waving stupor. :-) Between lounging about and reading your latest beach novel today, make time to head over to Knitting Daily and download this free 10-page e-book titled Knitting Techniques for More Successful Knitting (and sign up for a free issue of Interweave Knits while you're at it). Although geared more for beginning knitters, I have been knitting for at least 10 years and still found much of the information new and useful. So check it out---it's FREE! :-)
One aspect about the recession that challenges our family is the work-time imbalance that has become routine for almost the last 2 years. My husband and I each have too much of what the other wants so desperately. He, a true hunter/gatherer, wants nothing more than to be working again, and I of course have more work projects than I can handle. I want nothing more than to have another 10 hours in my day so that I can work on all the many non-work projects I have had to put off for longer than I care to remember, whereas my husband, after working on his job apps in the morning, has stretches of hours to fill. And I think both of us crave nothing more than a bit of balance for each other. Something you never read about when the news reports of "more jobs being shed" (can't help but notice how the human element has almost been entirely removed)....
I have much beloved collection of half-century or older women's magazines, cookbooks, and encyclopedias of household hints that I've picked up for very little money here and there at used book stores, flea markets and eBay (of course). I love them for the historic value, the recipes, as well as for reminders that no matter how much the world changes, so much really stays the same.
Many years ago, my grandmother was at her weekly hairdresser appointment, and one of the other customers shared with her a crochet pattern for dishcloths. Until my grandmother died, no one in my family had to buy dishcloths ever---our kitchen drawers were pack solid with them.
I was up with the farmers this morning. I usually am an early riser, but with the sudden early onset of mid-summer heat, I have had to push back the hands on the alarm clock even further.
Now that picnic season is almost officially upon is, here is a tasty alternative to the bog-standard deviled egg. First, I should mention I love eggs, as in I get twitchy when our in-house stash falls below half a dozen ('tis no exaggeration). For me, they are the perfect fast food, so versatile, so yummy, and thus I am always looking for new ways to prepare them. This recipe is based on one from The New Spanish Table, a fabulously fun book of food by Anya von Bremzen. Here's what you need:
6 large, hard-boiled eggs, peeled, and cut in half lengthwise
6 T tuna, drained and flaked
2 T mayo
1 T lemon juice
2 T chopped pimento-filled olives
Little sea salt and fresh black pepper
Thin strips of pimiento (from can or jar is okay) or roasted peppers
Minced flat-leaf Italian parsley
First, scoop out the eggs yolks and mash in a bowl. Add tuna, mayo, lemon juice, olives and mix well. Salt and pepper to taste. Spoon the mixture into the egg halves (you may have a little more filling than needed). Garnish with pepper strips and chopped parsley.
Enjoy!
One of my favorite summer treats is to pick a tomato fresh from the vine, slice it thin, drizzle with a little olive oil, and scoop onto a crunchy baguette. Oh, and throw a handful of basil leaves in top! Mmmm. :-)
So says Luther Burbank. My husband and I often have "discussions" regarding what exactly is a flower versus a weed. To me, the distinction is almost always irrelevant---a purty flower is a purty flower. :-)
After months of watching our near-daily loaf from the local bread shop get smaller and smaller while being charged the same price, the husband decided enough and set out to make our own. And I must say his efforts (and sourdough starter) have been very successful!
Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend with loved ones! It feels like Spring really is HERE now, what with more and more flowers in bloom, the earth warming beneath our feet, the daylight pushing later into the night.
It's been a long time since I've posted some Friday Freebies, and today I finally have three for you. First, though, please let's admire the supercuteness of my new niece, aged 11 days. Isn't that just the sweetest little face?! And o the red hair!
I don't know when I have so looked forward to a Spring as I have this year. Months of rain---the worst here in more than seventy years---gray skies, damp clammy days, and countless cups of tea can do that to a person. And even though the calendar insists we have passed the Golden Day and perhaps the temperature has warmed ever so slightly, the sun remains elusive.
According to my calendar, Fat Tuesday and the Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent, are next week. Which means we are in the midst of Carnaval, or Mardi Gras if you prefer, here! This cutie was a part of the local school parade today. :-)
Ok, so there is no reason to be sad that good old Phil saw his shadow today, thus granting us at least another six more weeks of winter. The more inspiring Candlemas, which marks the half-way point of our cold season, is celebrated today. And as our thoughts turn toward seedlings and the approaching season of growth, perhaps Candlemas is even more fitting a holiday than January 1 to contemplate our new beginnings and set goals we hope to achieve during our personal growing season.
Wow, do I love this idea! ReadyMade (another one of my favorite sources for inspiration) has published instructions to make this gorgeous patchwork blanket using old sweaters and a bit of satin ribbon. Have I mentioned how much I love this idea? :-) Anytime an article is repurposed, recycled, reused gets the "thumbs up" from The Happy Recessionist, and when the end product is a beautiful warm winter blanket---and you know how much these cost retail---I make an appointment to scour our drawers and the local charity shop for sweaters looking for a second lease on life. I like the idea of mixing up basic knits with textured and cabled pieces, too. Obviously, the size can be played with as well, so the kids can have smaller versions of their own. ReadyMade DEFINITELY gets The Happy Recessionist seal of approval for this creative concept. :-)
