Just in case you've not been following the game

They did it! It's the first time the Stanley Cup has stayed in California. Congratulations Ducks! 14 years in the making and you made it look easy! Way to go!

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Sights of San Luis Obispo

While we were in San Luis Obispo we took a walking tour of downtown. Just in case you've never been, this is how I saw it. It's a nice little city, you deserve to visit sometime yourself.

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Photos, photos and more photos

I was at the beach last weekend. I took so many photos. Here are a few.

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San Luis Obispo

We went to SAn Luis Obispo for the holiday weekend. Had fun. Saw the beach, actually walked along it for a bit. and then took a tour of downtown SLO. The pics below represent the most interesting thing I saw in their downtown area. The only rule is posted on the wall/window next to the alleyway. I give you, the gum alley:




I was amazed at how high it went. Both sides covered in chewed gum. I can't imagine the biohazard represented in it all. Eeeck! All in all it is probably the most interesting bit of street art I've ever seen. Forget the chalk paintings in NYC. This was just plain incredible. The only regret? I wasn't chewing gum, so I couldn't add to the art work; and I didn't have my 6'6" son in law with me so he could reached an entirely new height!

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Go Ducks!

Yes, it is that time of year. The Stanley Cup Finals are in full swing and the Anaheim Ducks are in it! Yay! I would love to be watching it live but, the feed on TV will have to do. All I can say is team Selanne and Giguere deserve the win and hopefully in 7 games will take the final!

!!!!Update:!!!! Wahoo! 1 down, three to go!

!*!*!*!*!*!*!*Update 2: !*!*!*!*!*!*!* 2 down, two to go!!!!!!!!

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Finished!

I got it done. Yay! I began working on this when I was in Virginia. Then I decided to start over because I saw Alicia's Tiramisu Blanket. I fell in love with the pattern and downloaded her free pattern, ran to the yarn store and began. It goes together pretty easily and I love the weave of the pattern. Don't you just love the net?

Then came the problems. I was using a lighter wieght yarn that Alicia recommended. I wanted to use a pearl cotton called Catania by Schachenmayr I bought all y store had (7 skeins) and began. By the time I was at the end of the 7 skeins I knew I needed at least four more. My store couldn't get them. Ugh.

I looked everywhere to find it. A lot of stores had colors but no one had the white I needed. So at the end of last week I began again. I used a Lion Brand Micro Spun (not silk at all) With everything else I had to get done, I was able to run through a skein in about four hours. Throw a wedding for a niece in the middle of it all and today I finally finished. I used 7 skeins.

The pattern turned out great. I did not tie a bow at the end because this blanket is for my grandson. I can guarantee his dad would not be thrilled with the bow.

Thanks Alicia, it turned our great!

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Thanks Everyone!

We had a great anniversary!

There has been a lapse in blogging die to the fact that I have a project to finish before Memorial weekend and it is busting me. aaack. Along with the project, I have finally determined that I am allergic to our laundry products. I have a HUGE rash all over and it has now welted up enough to be a concern to those who have been able to see it first hand. It even is making the skin on my arm seriously dense and swollen around my wrist area. fun! I just wish I knew which laundry product it was. Well, more experimenting with it.

I may post a pic or two but don't hold your breath for a couple of days.

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Just Married

bicycle, originally uploaded by foodchronicles.

I remember those words so well....

He: Looked like the lead singer from Metallica
She: A pretty good copy of Jamie Lee Curtis in her prime

He: Played bass in a rock band
She: made costumes for the band

He: Was her brothers friend
She: Had a bet with a friend on who of them would go out with him

He: asked out she
She: accepted

The rest is history. 32 years of a journey, not a destination. He no longer looks like the lead singer in Metallica, she no longer resembles Jamie Lee. They are both part of a bigger picture now, with blessings of daughters and sons-in-laws. With a granddaughter and a grandson.
And more war stories some people wouldn't believe. A roller coaster of a life.

They started out with a bicycle and a loaf of french bread tucked under their arm. And dreams of being together forever, simple lovers building a life made from dreams.

Thank you dear one. I will love you forever.

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Random photos

Winslow AZ, originally uploaded by foodchronicles.

I take so many pictures. I need to share more on the web. Here are a few random shots as I travel about.











This was the best window! I love the colors.

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Humming bird

Humming bird, originally uploaded by foodchronicles.

The Humming birds are thick this year. I was able to get a few shots of them coming to the feeder.

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I'm back

I took a week away, or so, to become a furniture mover!

Yes, while others were indulging in all the good that is Women's Conference, I was across the street helping move a young couple into a third story apartment. In the rain. In the hail and sleet.

The silver lining? I also got to spend 4 wonderful days with little miss. I got hugs and kisses and love. The four flights of stairs were worth all of that. The funnest part? When Little Miss ran to the play area, climb the slide ladder and slid down, then exclaimed "I did it!" It was all too cute. She is such a blessing. Who wouldn't want to be a part of that for life?

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Needless to say...

I'm having a really bad weekend. Friday afternoon, Escondido, stop for gas. Instead buying a new hatch for the back instead. Arrgggh! Hang up and drive people!!!!!

Other than my psyche, I am fine. Click for a larger photo.

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The corners of my home

I challenged s'mee to an exercise I have seen in different places on the net. It is called corners of my home. Yesterday she did the exercise and the post is on her blog. She also challenged me to do the same.

I find it very interesting that the important corners of my home are related to those I love and care for most. A lot of them you'll not see due to the fact that there are family photos that I cannot share with you. Not that there is anything bad about them or us, but some things need to stay just for family.

The corner I've picked to share is a small corner in my craft room. It is a piece of my family history. It is a physical representation of vivid memories. I really should be posting this at food chronicles as it is food related too. You see, as a small child, I lived in a constant state of turmoil due to my parents inability to be grown-ups. Food was usually an after thought rather than the center of a day. I came to realize that I was a skinny little rail of a girl because we didn't eat enough to keep small ferrets alive much less growing children.

There was only one place that food lived. It was a long drive away, but always worth the drive! We would take turns in the summertime going to grandma's house. She was a meticulous person. Her every action was planned, every movement calculated and very little time or effort was wasted in her day. She was the quintessential housewife. Her very life was to clean, organize, shop and make sure when her husband arrived home, that he would find all was well and a good meal on the table. It was her whole life. Including when we came to pay a visit.

We would travel in pairs, as always. My brother and I would get to go first. We'd pack everything we would need into a sack and off we'd go to grandma's for two. whole. weeks. They were always the best two weeks of the year. We'd arrive and instantly begin working. Lay out your clothes. Check to see if they were clean and in good repair. If laundry needed to be done, it was done. If mending needed to be done, it was completed quickly, before anyone noticed we were a bit unkempt. We would accompany her as she shopped. Being the little soldiers we knew to be with her. Never pleaded or begging for anything at the store. We had been told to be good and not to expect anything but a good swat if we were cheeky.

After the marketing was completed the groceries were laid out on the table in alphabetical order. My grandpa insisted on seeing the purchases of the day. Upon inspection and approval he would date them and grandma would arrange them on the shelves in neat and quick order. She would shoo us out of the kitchen so she could cook. Rarely, if ever, were we allowed in the kitchen to help. We would sit quietly in the living room waiting as grandpa would peruse the news paper or a book. When dinner was finally ready we would be summmoned to the bathroom to wash up. After careful inspection of fingernails and palms, we could join the group at the table. The group consisted of grandpa, but she always referred to it as the group.

At this table the wonders of the world were opened up to us. Wonders of celery, stewed tomatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy! A wonderful roast, or a simple goulash was heaven. The smells and flavors were the best things ever. As I write this I suddenly understand the whys and hows of my affinity for food. Grandma's food was never really fancy, or complex. But it was delicious and better than most of the hot dog or hamburger meals at home.

If you cleaned your plate there was always dessert. However, it was sometimes the simple act of cleaning your plate that was a challenge. I remember once my next younger sister trying to quietly eat when grandpa hollered at her. I was surprised and stunned at his quick order to her to stop! Stop eating they way you're eating! I thought she had committed some heinous act of eating with her mouth full or something equally as impudent. But no, it was the fact that she was eating all of the same item before moving on to the next. He insisted that she take a bite of one food and then move on to the next in an clockwise position around her plate. That way it would taste better and she would enjoy it more. Aaaaack! It is the kind of thing that caused childhood nightmares!

And nightmares came, did they ever. I remember every time I was at grandmas I had more nightmares than anywhere else I'd sleep. I awaken in the night scared and frightened. She'd get up with us and always ask if we wanted a piece of her glorious lemon coconut cake. Or a date cookie. Or a dish of chocolate pudding. "I suppose, if you think it will help", I would answer. "of course it will!" she would exclaim. And amazing but true it always did.

When she died, the only item I asked to keep of hers was her cookie jar. That simple little red riding jar. I remember it oh so well. As you can see from the story above. All those memories and a hundred more, come flooding out of the jar, each time I look at it. I don't remember a time it wasn't in her kitchen. My mom tells me she got it when my mom was in high school. It's old, but it's worth more than anything else to me.

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First of the trees

fused glass tree, originally uploaded by foodchronicles.

I have been wanting to do some table art. I was inspired by Shiso Mama and her collage a day series.

I've decided to do a spring, summer and winter to match this harvest plate. Watch for them soon. Tomorrow night I have four 14 year old girls coming over to make their own necklaces. That should be fun.

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Earth Day April 22

Finally, we're celebrating Earth day on the right day. April 22 is and has always been the real day the first Earth Day was celebrated. Go to Food Chronicles for my Earth Day post.

Gotta "love your mother" Peace out, baby.

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Help a fellow crafter

Alison Gordon is a fellow crafter. She is also a co-organizer of Bazaar Bizarre and owner of WonderlandQ. Like most crafters, Alison does not enjoy the benefit of health insurance. Recently she fell ill and accumulated a few medical bills. I do not know Alison personally. However, when Renee, of Wolfie and the Sneak decided to put together a fund raiser I knew I had to participate.

We all need to help each other out a bit. Now and then we give when we can. Maybe just maybe if and when we need help it will come back to us in ways we never expect. I've donated an item for sale as well as other crafters. Head on over to Wonderland Retreat and see what inspires you. Help out a great person. You never know what that will do for you!

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Meet me on Main Street!

Sheri and [m] have started a new project. It's called ~street~. They are looking for us to send them pictures of our Mains Streets. Whether they are full of charm and ambiance, or are run down and horrible, they want us to share ours with them and the world.

This photo was taken in Lexington Virginia, where I spent a month in March. The charm of this city can be seen in this photo of Main street in Lexington. The entire downtown area is walkable. It is up and down and on one side boxed in by two universities. The downtown charm is incredible. Each building is at least a hundred years old and you can still see the shadows of the first occupants in each of them. Lexington is full of history, from Stonewall Jackson's home and burial place, to the fraternity and sorority row houses. Oh the tales each could tell!

What's on your main street? Sheri and [m] want to know. Go to their place and see how to submit your photo and a short, and I mean way shorter than mine above, description for consideration. It's at the bottom of the page, scrolled down and enjoy your walk down Main Street.

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I had the best day Saturday!

wedding day
Originally uploaded by foodchronicles.

Not only did I get to see my youngest daughter and her darling husband, but we went to the best wedding. It was fun and delightful and did I say fun?

We got up early Saturday morning sand drove to Las Vegas. Met up with the daughter and grabbed some lunch. We went here and there wasting a bit of time prior to the reception. We went to Williams-Sonoma, Barnes and Noble and Whole Foods. Fun. We talked about chocolate and food, and stuff. Looked at pots and pans and even stopped in a Pottery Barn.

After we had wasted most of the afternoon we headed over to the house for the ring ceremony and the start of the reception.

It was the reception of our architect and his bride. He's actually the youngest one's brother-in-law (which makes it nice, money wise for the plans!). They have been dating about a year and a half. J decided to propose at the Parisian last November, on their anniversary. Because he did such a good job with the proposal they decided to keep the parisian theme for the reception.

It was gorgeous. The food was good, the flowers a plenty and lots of good friends and family added to the mix to make the day perfect. I added these pics to flickr so y'all could see how creative the bride and her family was.

If you're in the Las Vegas area, they are professional florists and I would recommend them anytime! I felt as if we had walked into a florist when we entered the house. There were flowers everywhere. It was beautiful and even the powder room had been decorated in the theme of the day.

Congratulations J&A! Enjoy the honeymoon!

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New glass in the shop

I have limited quantities of new items in the shop. This is an example of what is there! They are four tiered glass light catchers for lack of a better name. I should have a name this object contest, as my creativity is strained when trying to name these things. They are currently available in greens, blues, red/yellows and browns. More to come in the coming days, the kiln is working over time.

I will also be putting up some same size tiers as well as individual tiles for mixing and matching.

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Quick Note

I have an update on the "There is beauty all around" post. Go there to read a little more about the Violin and the public story.

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Where I work from 7-9 a.m.

I go out, still in my jammies usually, and get to cutting glass. Here are a few of the tools I use:









And currently this is what I'm making:



They're 2x2 tiles that will hang individually or in sets. Watch for them in the store starting on Monday!

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Magazine Cover!

This months issue of wired magazine had a great offer. You could go to their site and make you own magazine cover for the July issue. That is, if you were one of the first 5000. Well I was gone when the magazine came and looked at it just a few days ago.

I still went to Wired's promo site and made a cover. I used one of my pictures from the "light" exhibit and this is what I came up with. Can you tell I'm a Mac devotee?

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Phew!

The taxes are done 4 days early! And no one died! Yay!

Now I can go back to crafting! The picture above is in the VMI Chapel. It is part of their museum. It is a pictoral of the Civil War battle, the charge at New Market. I believe. There's nothing like guys with guns blowing each other to bits to induce you to get your taxes done.

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And the father is...........

Larry Birkhead is the father of the baby. Duh. Just looking at each of them, I determined he was the father at the very beginning of this ridiculous saga. Now maybe the news will turn back into the news.

File this under duh. In the wacky news section. Back to the real world.

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