Pillow Talk

I just received this pretty, handmade pillow, as a GIFT, from Margaret, the sweet lady that made my quilt.. You don't see that everyday…an online transaction with a follow up gift mailed separately to your doorstep! Margaret said that she was going to make me a matching pillow, even though our transaction was was completed in full. A few weeks later (today) this lovely gift arrived, wrapped in pretty paper, with a brand new pillow insert included! You can't beat that kind of service. I hope that if you are ever in need of a beautiful, handmade chenille quilt that you contact Margaret for a quote. I posted about the quilt here: http://sweetyellowbird.blogspot.com/2011/10/ingrid.html

Margaret's email is: gleefullest@yahoo.com

Bean Stew

Another delicious recipe:

Easy in ready in no time:

Ground Pork Sausage (I  just bought the kind that looks like ground beef, in a meat package, you could substitute frozen meatballs, fresh ground turkey, beef, whatever - the sausage meat balls were REALLY good though and we don't even eat much pork).

Form the meatballs, and brown in the bottom of a large saucepan. While they are browning, peel and slice the carrots, and fennel (I watched a youTube video to see how in the world to cut up a fennel/anice bulb; it's easy as it turns out. Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LW0OCAnBYq8). When the meatballs are browned on all sides, throw in the veggies, and kind fo toss them around with the meatballs to cook up a bit.

Add 2 cups of Broth (beef or chicken depending on your meatballs), diced tomatoes, and one-two cans of Beans (the recipe called for Canelonni [white] beans, but I used mixed beans). It depends on how much you like beans - we love them, so we used two. Add salt and pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes, to heat through.

Add sliced fresh Basil, to garnish, and a sprig of the fennel tops. Serve with rustic bread.

Hope you likey:)

Jordan

I didn't get a photo (dang), but we had some serious fun with Jordan yesterday - it was a real delight to catch up with him. Every once in a while we see either Jordan or Colton here in Edmonton, and we love it, truly! We all had fun, playing 'Apple' with our numerous apple devices - Jordan showed me a few tricks, and watching Top Gear as Mark's prisoner... you guys, we love you so much - and really enjoy your visits:)

Korean Beef & Rice

This was made in 29 minutes...and is from a Pampered Chef cookbook. I'm not usually a huge fan of these little P/C books, but this book is really terrific. The photo could have been better, but we decided to take a photo a little late...but you get the idea. Delicious. Here is the recipe:

• Flank steak (this is important, and I learned something here...flank steak is not expensive and can be tough - the trick is to  cut it in strips against the grain - which is the goal with any steak - and it is wonderfully tender this way, It's quites striated, if that makes sense.

3 T soy sauce ( we like the sweet Korean style - especially for this recipe)
1 T sesame oil ( necessary -don't skip_
1 t sugar (or substitute)
2 cloves of garlic, minced.

• Make this sauce, and then pour over the beef strips in a bowl to marinate while you get the rice started.

• Make jasmine rice. Once it's on the go... chop the green onion, and peel the carrots (see below)

• Peel 2-3 medium carrots, then continue to peel, making long carrot curls. Place in bowl of ice water til you are ready to serve them.

• Cook the beef, by heating 1-2 T vegetable oil and adding the beef in a single layer. Leave undisturbed for 2 minutes on one side, then turn over and cook the other side another 2 minutes. While you are cooking beef, microwave 1/2 of frozen peas.

Serve in a pretty rice bowl; rice topped with beef, green onion, been sprouts, peas, and (drained) carrot curls.  Super easy, fresh, and really, really good.

Siri Quotes

Siri, what is your favorite color?
"My favorite color is... well, I don't know how to say it in your language, it's sort of greenish, but with more dimensions."

Who makes the best cell phone?
"Your're kidding, right?"

Siri, I love you.
"You can't."

I don't know what you said.
"If you say so."

When is iPhone 5 coming out?
"Everything you need to know about Apple products you can find at the Apple website, and Apple stores are everywhere."

OK
"I'm ok, if you're ok."

What do you look like?
"Shiny."

Ritzy Misfit - Customer Service Extraordinaire!

Ritzy Misfit

extraordinaire (epicene, plural extraordinaires)

1. extraordinary, out of the ordinary

These guys (ok, I think they are all girls) mean business when it comes to customer service! I would almost say they will dog you til you are satisfied, till you are more than satisfied, til you are thrilled! But they are even cooler than that...here is what you will get when you shop Ritzy Misfit:

• On trend, unique, handmade, high quality jewelry, at a reasonable price
• Possibly the best customer service I have ever had
• Customized designs
• Celebrity sitings wearing your new jewellrey:)

Here are some samples:

RITZY MISFIT - - 
The original hand stamped wax seal pendants

As all of our pieces are made from scratch by hand, please allow 2 weeks from payment until shipment + adequate time for delivery.

No one is perfect, but we are all beautiful. These pendants give the feeling of being beautiful, unique and rough around the edges at the same time. My work reflects the wonderful, flawed idiosyncrasies in us all. And it makes us breath-taking.

Ritzy Misfit has recently been seen on:

Bachelor Pad, on ABC worn by Krisily (mini with pink crystal) 
The Bachelorette, worn by Ali herself! (see other listings for examples) 
Kendra Wilkinson from the girls Next Door, seen in this listing 
And Jillian Harris on 2009 Bachelorette. (turquoise J) 
There have also been many other unconfirmed sightings on amazing people!

This listing is for a stunningly original pendant; melted and stamped by hand. They are then rubbed, sanded and buffed until at the peak of imperfect perfection!

They are each one of a kind pieces of art. No pendant can be replicated.

The personalized initial pendant is my ultimate best seller. It can be made into any letter you choose.

The “flaws” or “blemishes” or “imperfections” that I adore turn out to have a few degrees of roughness. For me, the rougher the better. Like myself. Ü

There are approximately 3 categories of “character”.

PLEASE READ before purchasing:

CHARACTER: 
The first level of character is almost perfect. These are almost completely round, and even around the edges. 
The second degree has more character, or flaws (which I personally love) and may be less perfectly round, and more rustic looking. 
The third degree has a lot of character, in the way of roughness, (not sharp), inconsistencies, and uneven overflow of metal. Many of these are my ultimate favorites.

I own the kelly green 'E' and a pretty lock in yellow. I love them both! I am wearing the green initial pendant right now:) Note in the samples, how they can be customized as to color and color intensity, and degree of character...more smooth, to more organic in shape. Please visit Ritzy Misfit at http://ritzymisfit.bigcartel.com/ (cheaper prices at this site) or on Etsy (for a higher price) at http://www.etsy.com/shop/RitzyMisfit.

Earthquakes - Wednesday Class

Lincoln

Source: modernhepburn.tumblr.com via Britta on Pinterest

Nail of the Day

Copper Penney by Revlon

Democrats

Jared and I laughed so hard tonight when Bill O'Reilly quipped the following on tonight's edition of 'The O'Reilly Factor':

"The philosophy of the Democratic party is to take the money, and then throw it out the window."

The Brown Pelican

More Brown Pelican info for Jane, Charlie, and Jacob. We learned about the Brown Pelican today, and here is more information!

 It will be fun to listen the sounds they  make, their song, and their call. See below:

Overview

Brown Pelican: Large, unmistakable seabird, gray-brown body, dark brown, pale yellow head and neck, oversized bill. Black legs, webbed feet. Feeds on fish by plunge diving and scooping them up with pouch. Powerful flight alternates flaps with short glides. Flies close to the water in straight line.

Range and Habitat

Brown Pelican: Pacific, Atlantic, and Gulf coasts north to Nova Scotia, occasionally found inland. Preferred habitats include sandy coastal beaches and lagoons, waterfronts and pilings, and rocky cliffs.

Sounds and Calls:

Listen to Call

Brown Pelican Voice

Voice Text

Generally silent                    

                                                                  Interesting Facts:

• A group of pelicans has many collective nouns, including a "brief", "pod", "pouch", "scoop", and "squadron" of pelicans.
• The Brown Pelican can hold about three gallons of water (and fish) in its pouch. They have air sacks beneath their skin and in their bones that make them very buoyant.
• The Brown Pelican incubates its eggs in an unusual manner; it covers them with its webbed feet. This practice was detrimental to the species when the pesticide DDT was in common use. This pesticide caused thinning of the eggshells resulting in so many broken eggs that the species became endangered.
• Though adult pelicans may consume as much as four pounds of fish per day, they do not compete with sport or commercial fishermen because of type of fish they eat.

TOMS Shoes

The One for One Movement


In 2006, 


American traveler Blake Mycoskie befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by TOMS customers.

Why Shoes?

Many children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores or going to school, these children are at risk:

•A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Wearing shoes can help prevent these diseases, and the long-term physical and cognitive harm they cause.

•Wearing shoes also prevents feet from getting cuts and sores. Not only are these injuries painful, they also are dangerous when wounds become infected.

•Many times children can't attend school barefoot because shoes are a required part of their uniform. If they don't have shoes, they don't go to school. If they don't receive an education, they don't have the opportunity to realize their potential.

An Important Post....on Polish

Ok, so it's not that important, but I do love this color. It's called Ingrid, by China Glaze, and it's a very wearable soft minky brown with a subtle gold fleck. It's not an 'I'm not really sure I can wear this out' kind of brown, though to be truthful I would wear any brown out nowadays. The lower photo is the more accurate photo of the two. 

Yesterday (and the day before) I was sick, (today not too bad - the fastest cold recovery ever!) and had to amuse myself whilst laying around all day, which was astonishingly easy to do! I rearranged my Fall lipsticks (swapped them with the Summer hues - so Summer is now in the drawer), likewise my perfumes...(goodbye for now to 'Beach' and 'Bronze Goddess') and hello to Burberry, and Flower Bomb.

What else did I do...I posted on my blog numerous times, I watched multiple conference talks...and General Relief Society talks...loved Elder Oaks talk, all of them really.  I slogged down copious amounts of herbal tea with FRESH honey, and Buckley's™. 

Today I was all a whirl of activity, feeling better, I caught up with all kinds of mundane but satisfying tasks like tacking a hook on an under garment that needed sewing, cleaning out my kitchen drawers, righting a white washer load that had gone pink, counting out the missing china pieces that I would like to order, attempting to cream my newly acquired honey, and the like.  

We moved some trees around today too, and dear hubby would come and get me to look at each new move... he loves trees, and our trees in particular. A birch that had been banished to our tree graveyard (where we move sick and perhaps dying trees, but sometimes they are just Charlie Brown trees) revived whilst there, as they often do (it's a magical tree graveyard) and is now resplendent in our front yard. It's golden and beautiful...I will take a photo tomorrow and post it.

Glorious Chenille

A wonderful lady, Margaret from Etsy and eBay, make this lovely chenille quilt for me from blocks of different neutral chenille. I sent her the backing which I found at a local store and then ordered from a store near Margaret to have mailed to her...it adds to the vintage feel of the quilt. Margaret spent tons of time setting and resetting the blocks to get them perfect. I was looking for a very neutral/yellow pallet, and she came up with the perfect combinations. Shep rovides top notch communication and will collaborate with you until you are happy with the layout, providing oodles of pictures and ideas. I will link her email address herre when I get her permission:) Margaret stitched her name into the back, in a kind of cross stitch which I think is so cool, as her 'signature'. Love. It.

Here is Margaret's email address: Margaret Dwyer   gleefullest@yahoo.com
She can also be found at: CaterpillarClothCollections.com

iSad

Who Says There is no God?

Bees & Honey

I am the first to admit that we are late to the party when it comes to the honey extraction process; we should have started in August, but we took out two frames to make room for the feeder frame, in preparation for winterizing the hive, and there was tons of honey on those two frames, so we let it drip/strain into an enormous bowl. Since this is our first year, we were super excited, and with some practice we hope to do a lot better next year with timelines. I am reading the book Beekeeping in Western Canada by D.C. Murrell and D.N. MacDonald.

We were very fortunate to have maintained our hive over last winter, since it was so long and cold - I hope we will be so fortunate again this year, as with a little time, I think I am better understanding the process of beekeeping. I would really be sad to lose my crew now! 

BTW - Mano was stung on the foot today - he says it was a good experience because it's his first sting. He was decked out in head to toe beekeeper gear, except for no socks in his shoes! You have to laugh. Now he knows what it feels like. I have only been stung once in my life, that was ages ago - as a tweener.  

Lastly, how did we get into bees? I have to thank Eli - he brought over the whole set up for Dad for Father's day last year - it was a super cool gift. We like everything about it! 

PS We ended up with 11 jam jars of honey! It smells and tastes heavenly!

THE BEE.

Like trains of cars on tracks of plush
I hear the level bee:
A jar across the flowers goes,
Their velvet masonry

Withstands until the sweet assault
Their chivalry consumes,
While he, victorious, tilts away
To vanquish other blooms.

His feet are shod with gauze,
His helmet is of gold;
His breast, a single onyx
With chrysoprase, inlaid.

His labor is a chant,
His idleness a tune;
Oh, for a bee's experience
Of clovers and of noon!

Emily Dickinson

My outdoor pool, and my indoor pool...

Hearst Castle, in San Simeon, north of Sal Luis Obispo, Ca.

California

These pics are for homeschool with Janey, Charlie and Jacob...even Scarlet b/c she was interested in Dolphins:) They are not to look below the Cabrillo statue for now - next week we'll go on to Tidepools and the Brown Pelican. Then we want to cover the topography and weather, earthquakes, and maybe some conservation from the San Diego zoo. I loved spending time with the kids learning! I will think more too about how I can include each one,maybe do some one on one.