tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52859101841888510382024-03-08T05:34:28.728-06:00Mighty DistractibleWhat happens when a writer and designer with ADD get together? They create a blog about creativity...Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.comBlogger474125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-39413182686115451072014-06-24T15:08:00.000-05:002014-06-24T15:08:19.057-05:00Summer Vacation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMF37ZliKOfVB-oJtJr832TLqyCe5HHQ6HtGSXysjC5WryN2sBtLq6kjf02uZSN7uzQhInL4dxRDV0y5bPLvphQi0TCPVIu6AzqYTlMndTfst9x8GtWat1w_mgNEs75skf9dS-b-pjVIG6/s1600/28sld-summer-vacation-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMF37ZliKOfVB-oJtJr832TLqyCe5HHQ6HtGSXysjC5WryN2sBtLq6kjf02uZSN7uzQhInL4dxRDV0y5bPLvphQi0TCPVIu6AzqYTlMndTfst9x8GtWat1w_mgNEs75skf9dS-b-pjVIG6/s1600/28sld-summer-vacation-1.jpg" height="166" width="320" /></a></div>
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In case you haven't noticed, Cassandra and I have been sort of conspicuously absent these last two weeks. Cassandra and her family took a trip to settle her college-graduate daughter into a year-long job in Mexico City and I've been traveling a lot for work.<script type="text/javascript">
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Add to all this travel, the fact that both our jobs have gotten a lot busier in recent months and you have a recipe for "not much crafting time." My garden looks a mess and I haven't picked up knitting needles in ages. I have a million sewing projects (okay, maybe not a whole million) that are screaming to be done. But, when I get home at night, I just want to veg out with TV or a book. </div>
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I need to retire. </div>
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Truthfully, I'm going to be the best retired person in the world because I'll finally get to do all the projects I'm dying to do now. </div>
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So...what does all this grousing mean? Cassandra and I have decided to have a summer vacation from the blog. We've been at this consistently, at least twice a week, for four full years and we just need a little break.<br />
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For the next couple of months, we'll do some re-prints of classic Mighty Distractible posts for your reading enjoyment and we'll get back to new, fresh content after our summer is over.<br />
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Thanks for being consistent and loyal readers. We hope you'll stick with us during (or come back after) our vacation. :)<br />
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- Alex</div>
Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-73473293725410016352014-06-05T11:50:00.000-05:002014-06-05T12:55:55.205-05:00Picture Day!My life is crazy right now - busy at home, busy in the garden, busy with friends, and extra-super-busy at work. Whew! I need a vacation from my life. LOL<script type="text/javascript">
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Anyway, because I'm so busy, today is going to be Photo Thursday (something I just made up). Hopefully, my nutty life will provide you a few minutes of entertainment today. Enjoy!</div>
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- Alex</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgea4wLqe1Hp_wcZkwl1wNqtSyrPHz-D7S7tRQkumSVmH5psKM9oIMbs2lM_wThtFUCjPFMxtlYXLYk8Py1LpkVEBnUo8UoqGKGXb-jhA36I4mO3DHRM8cO-Mi3KxtSrSW60pQ3WwfHOjnX/s1600/IMG_2671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgea4wLqe1Hp_wcZkwl1wNqtSyrPHz-D7S7tRQkumSVmH5psKM9oIMbs2lM_wThtFUCjPFMxtlYXLYk8Py1LpkVEBnUo8UoqGKGXb-jhA36I4mO3DHRM8cO-Mi3KxtSrSW60pQ3WwfHOjnX/s1600/IMG_2671.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a gallery show in the neighborhood.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhbIG9kY3NNx7nnVuNa-Udj4BFblYwdy4mVYPlmJmeYTr73j8bTq4tIou1y8sHRl2hCS9S4EUooBIqu6zwQ3eh-Oon9hk_smPrSXTuA5EKSOr8qQ0BT0TuwPNOvKRJ3a2E39z_eiuAqMl/s1600/IMG_2703.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEhbIG9kY3NNx7nnVuNa-Udj4BFblYwdy4mVYPlmJmeYTr73j8bTq4tIou1y8sHRl2hCS9S4EUooBIqu6zwQ3eh-Oon9hk_smPrSXTuA5EKSOr8qQ0BT0TuwPNOvKRJ3a2E39z_eiuAqMl/s1600/IMG_2703.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having (many) good dinners with friends.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijikWdPuUZl0pDStxHHtnLpXvfLkRWivVgIea92PVqiNeBOYTi9sp5WYtNJvIBn8bHnEXT-034srC7OV3DIonpWXXFj1Z8-OwE3Quyc69FTta8HS1bVfHJ-00vVvNA0qUUT22e5HsFJKfS/s1600/IMG_2726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijikWdPuUZl0pDStxHHtnLpXvfLkRWivVgIea92PVqiNeBOYTi9sp5WYtNJvIBn8bHnEXT-034srC7OV3DIonpWXXFj1Z8-OwE3Quyc69FTta8HS1bVfHJ-00vVvNA0qUUT22e5HsFJKfS/s1600/IMG_2726.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying to decide about siding and windows for my house.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLs4_o4DkcPkkUAmX0UQ0rWYZW_7OoZeVW6TDnMLCDYt4X7xcdyzjXx0UdhLzD-s2lBFDkUWDXImq1Ea-FuaImukuCzOZCzHw-nUZAUkaPwwQlhZFBozDwZts__5KRg8p3H9lvmme9Xwi/s1600/IMG_2828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLs4_o4DkcPkkUAmX0UQ0rWYZW_7OoZeVW6TDnMLCDYt4X7xcdyzjXx0UdhLzD-s2lBFDkUWDXImq1Ea-FuaImukuCzOZCzHw-nUZAUkaPwwQlhZFBozDwZts__5KRg8p3H9lvmme9Xwi/s1600/IMG_2828.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attending cool charity events with awesome people.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghZgiQxjDdTGi4AiU2Y7y8bJM9sRl40GzZlRgBp3O-KKRwzf5n80Bi7_LPopcpvZ5VQ3MyEGaDU5dI0e0VcePi42dRcI0MhF6NDFkOdHjgyAWYRfigzCkdpTECCFf52Ze0Z9KXrK_L0EN/s1600/IMG_2837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghZgiQxjDdTGi4AiU2Y7y8bJM9sRl40GzZlRgBp3O-KKRwzf5n80Bi7_LPopcpvZ5VQ3MyEGaDU5dI0e0VcePi42dRcI0MhF6NDFkOdHjgyAWYRfigzCkdpTECCFf52Ze0Z9KXrK_L0EN/s1600/IMG_2837.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Going to conventions.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYGVN2t-fBWnNamUfdt1psJuEy17QjVWVAyh1oSUAleyFf8jIRQSfRmEQRW3DBMlLQoPzSxgfA-wGQNWe2LcZKgg6fmb4e0t_q2MDy9vn6JuYeCZdqRd6G2q2fRt0ZKDFnNpSPmvNqfVv/s1600/IMG_2850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYGVN2t-fBWnNamUfdt1psJuEy17QjVWVAyh1oSUAleyFf8jIRQSfRmEQRW3DBMlLQoPzSxgfA-wGQNWe2LcZKgg6fmb4e0t_q2MDy9vn6JuYeCZdqRd6G2q2fRt0ZKDFnNpSPmvNqfVv/s1600/IMG_2850.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dealing with my bees building crazy comb. (An experiment gone awry)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S_GBDfEiMfgqA1ejZ553wB9Jy5YdtQ3mWbWCp40aI3iQxSinjH5FJi-_w3paRrPsfJY-YiEZI45WWpi5n578WIZQiKLMREYqyaOJgkkwU2DQPGPgoQGX3HJRpPOAQ6JRwm_OtRlHzBUS/s1600/IMG_2852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2S_GBDfEiMfgqA1ejZ553wB9Jy5YdtQ3mWbWCp40aI3iQxSinjH5FJi-_w3paRrPsfJY-YiEZI45WWpi5n578WIZQiKLMREYqyaOJgkkwU2DQPGPgoQGX3HJRpPOAQ6JRwm_OtRlHzBUS/s1600/IMG_2852.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marveling at my hive.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF48dVWeHQBlEneeyHUhlt6GMgAS6eZgumzZm_qn9zp2uyd6V1GtGmZo0LGJc-ikEDmyKwnx_ZmgNQJTNUWfePENFkcHmNMZbZp2yhgnAPynS4caRRkH_RuwJfpbhN66ijr_PNS7-EWP7/s1600/IMG_2859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiF48dVWeHQBlEneeyHUhlt6GMgAS6eZgumzZm_qn9zp2uyd6V1GtGmZo0LGJc-ikEDmyKwnx_ZmgNQJTNUWfePENFkcHmNMZbZp2yhgnAPynS4caRRkH_RuwJfpbhN66ijr_PNS7-EWP7/s1600/IMG_2859.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting cool people (at conventions).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaMuPabePfBRw5swtOmt2feAAxnRGZmbfqjiDIY9UVsa144AmFlRJEhkzql9hqqeDFymA-PifhBn_8GKeHJQoUoBSk2cEVNNSa4RbprGhIFjfjIY74VGiV6SZezOFug00OQ8o-mE4Gu_p/s1600/IMG_2926.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaMuPabePfBRw5swtOmt2feAAxnRGZmbfqjiDIY9UVsa144AmFlRJEhkzql9hqqeDFymA-PifhBn_8GKeHJQoUoBSk2cEVNNSa4RbprGhIFjfjIY74VGiV6SZezOFug00OQ8o-mE4Gu_p/s1600/IMG_2926.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Attending graduation parties and EATING. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtLmXcH8qhHUyNmCfMRtbbJjqfKUE41l66Tg2qVJwZSpkXZI6O8GQYWmfcHPYbJlegGkmP6VuMq9o5ofCWg-ZdngGYnVwWyAW00v5yoXUd5FJr0rG_modthzZwQyKeOM99aLtp80T8FoK/s1600/IMG_2927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtLmXcH8qhHUyNmCfMRtbbJjqfKUE41l66Tg2qVJwZSpkXZI6O8GQYWmfcHPYbJlegGkmP6VuMq9o5ofCWg-ZdngGYnVwWyAW00v5yoXUd5FJr0rG_modthzZwQyKeOM99aLtp80T8FoK/s1600/IMG_2927.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And eating...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YqwGkFtvyYAewOTc9mi8M6n2TxsjZUQEPOLTESpgf8mMbihtKFWbYVLkO6MH3JsATVc2JwKZj2gAtLn9CzgMXTYEqzsH7g4Tmg_Ry1nUtnCv6BM8JF6QZU7BBKTBWMbmj1CswrV5MD2c/s1600/IMG_2932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0YqwGkFtvyYAewOTc9mi8M6n2TxsjZUQEPOLTESpgf8mMbihtKFWbYVLkO6MH3JsATVc2JwKZj2gAtLn9CzgMXTYEqzsH7g4Tmg_Ry1nUtnCv6BM8JF6QZU7BBKTBWMbmj1CswrV5MD2c/s1600/IMG_2932.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying my peonies and my bees (who are enjoying my peonies).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymr4Rf_BXkDXXLLWjHCmR4-oMUKE3dNGi7oprIMPOhgcfHLlg1OkmvVHZJoMr3Fxx0D5ini2vpeHXgu60MPFgBvc52-KzFszCQktPA8jcPk6PKQwsLCyh7otp5EYmouUMhKzM3IX9FZ1O/s1600/IMG_2933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjymr4Rf_BXkDXXLLWjHCmR4-oMUKE3dNGi7oprIMPOhgcfHLlg1OkmvVHZJoMr3Fxx0D5ini2vpeHXgu60MPFgBvc52-KzFszCQktPA8jcPk6PKQwsLCyh7otp5EYmouUMhKzM3IX9FZ1O/s1600/IMG_2933.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting the company's "Corporate Art Sale". </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4OYkCmukoVt9fLTTzbmoqKlUEbuUAdK65L3dMISTqZUu9MMGSolrIKgGtkisfIil1YoGZnKr3qC5MU-EPO_6cS-SY38W4y5B4rIU8D5yHDZxwcfnaOHVnZooCE8ZI56bTy4EU8Yqo5gs/s1600/IMG_2941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz4OYkCmukoVt9fLTTzbmoqKlUEbuUAdK65L3dMISTqZUu9MMGSolrIKgGtkisfIil1YoGZnKr3qC5MU-EPO_6cS-SY38W4y5B4rIU8D5yHDZxwcfnaOHVnZooCE8ZI56bTy4EU8Yqo5gs/s1600/IMG_2941.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having a sleepy, allergy-ridden Sunday.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXe0XwEHKexelUa4jymJurdIWWLIsnTV_4Za7snaiIrnAwxhKCEaVgAGDKTwRCBolMQhDOUspUp94fwinNKVCv-lmTvXPp0T5f-3M7_tIMNTd5Ecc91XARJnmIubNiMl-Y8YmmEJYEHbz/s1600/IMG_2942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIXe0XwEHKexelUa4jymJurdIWWLIsnTV_4Za7snaiIrnAwxhKCEaVgAGDKTwRCBolMQhDOUspUp94fwinNKVCv-lmTvXPp0T5f-3M7_tIMNTd5Ecc91XARJnmIubNiMl-Y8YmmEJYEHbz/s1600/IMG_2942.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visiting the company warehouse to prep for another trip.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW34ZLUleLz_XmlXV_zGz8V0OZHceEVNO83OqWLff_NagPfqSMfFwya2LIfdL4mytqkfQABbBgQCAxoO6Owq3Xszv2jQ8u-rUmPHWU3OAAnGvxLXDAzqsvnLSFC8Oxysj4IstLtcKPwwd9/s1600/IMG_2945.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW34ZLUleLz_XmlXV_zGz8V0OZHceEVNO83OqWLff_NagPfqSMfFwya2LIfdL4mytqkfQABbBgQCAxoO6Owq3Xszv2jQ8u-rUmPHWU3OAAnGvxLXDAzqsvnLSFC8Oxysj4IstLtcKPwwd9/s1600/IMG_2945.JPG" height="285" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wishing I had the time to just sit and knit (maybe next winter!)</td></tr>
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Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-41311945227906163842014-06-03T14:43:00.000-05:002014-06-03T14:43:28.392-05:003 BrothersIf you've ever been to Milwaukee and not eaten at <a href="http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/43/472101/restaurant/Bay-View/Three-Brothers-Milwaukee" target="_blank">3 Brothers</a> restaurant....it is a tragedy. You can get a meal there that rivals the best restaurants anywhere here or across the ocean.<br />
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The menu has a selection of Serbian dishes for meat lovers and vegetarians alike. Granted, the menu leans heavier on the meat side, but my vegetarian family gets along there just fine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjN0c7_8iIOZs5acV-2S8cLpZ7XpkHbDbkLMTJkCFAAT0uSnqshJxteeKaD2FGSoo3-XLo094l24nTvtyM9sU_t1Uwv91iwt1UK1axDNkri9yJkZWXyh-v77DQMrGDK2GgnFqYiy3qfA3/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjN0c7_8iIOZs5acV-2S8cLpZ7XpkHbDbkLMTJkCFAAT0uSnqshJxteeKaD2FGSoo3-XLo094l24nTvtyM9sU_t1Uwv91iwt1UK1axDNkri9yJkZWXyh-v77DQMrGDK2GgnFqYiy3qfA3/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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We actually held a small party there for my college-graduate daughter a couple weeks ago. Everyone raved about the food. The meat lovers went wild for the lamb and chicken paprikash, the vegetarians went wild for the cheese and spinach burek....and EVERYONE went wild for the Serbian salad.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNNofNFVv1HJNCZKl5LawEIhgbkd0dub16DDeEvEQY4HG-qyvnY3oScpFSr7OLfRxLTQ8uWio-aZzzNmjRi9U2fgS5Hjyh9YlPAJyv9xjoK3eRb54ABmrWKFyEMOEH1BhvpQxj7_wn_gE/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQNNofNFVv1HJNCZKl5LawEIhgbkd0dub16DDeEvEQY4HG-qyvnY3oScpFSr7OLfRxLTQ8uWio-aZzzNmjRi9U2fgS5Hjyh9YlPAJyv9xjoK3eRb54ABmrWKFyEMOEH1BhvpQxj7_wn_gE/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dregs of our Serbian salad.</td></tr>
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It's not just the food that makes 3 Brothers special. It's the ambiance. A tiny, intimate spot with mismatched chipped dishes and no two table and chair sets the same. Now, you might be thinking to yourself...ugh, whimsy. But no, this place has legitimately aged into what it is today. It's authenticity reminds me of places I went to as a child. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrKX_zVL2L6-SZe8Oq9U9kZL1wL5NHuCZYD1kzZwHUMcbSc9hf1TSAMH_oHORT6eQU31YmjKag27qiOfV6wrEhb9DCK1X-63MV2wG9_EiwU7EnyInHVVa_A6hZG10j0YigOhhPaD5_-BR/s1600/photo+3%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrKX_zVL2L6-SZe8Oq9U9kZL1wL5NHuCZYD1kzZwHUMcbSc9hf1TSAMH_oHORT6eQU31YmjKag27qiOfV6wrEhb9DCK1X-63MV2wG9_EiwU7EnyInHVVa_A6hZG10j0YigOhhPaD5_-BR/s1600/photo+3%255B1%255D.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The original bar with Schlitz globe.</td></tr>
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Years and years ago, this location was actually a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Schlitz_Brewing_Company" target="_blank">Schlitz</a> bar and it is on the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/" target="_blank">National Register of Historic Places</a>. (I would love to be able to share more history of the building itself, but I wasn't able to find anything online.) You see hints of this establishment's beer tavern past here and there, inside and out...although this place has been 3 Brothers since 1954.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6F6Z5VOaij1x749xGMXH8sLiojuk1VLB41hS_w0Lf8LlTnC0iW7ClswntBaHVLG0YFllKSjxrUsaTfNt22LTWC3cuw-B5LZNPbjvZ-GYoJAWDAON-EdtL6JR1JpyElYWsFfIiCpYzin1U/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6F6Z5VOaij1x749xGMXH8sLiojuk1VLB41hS_w0Lf8LlTnC0iW7ClswntBaHVLG0YFllKSjxrUsaTfNt22LTWC3cuw-B5LZNPbjvZ-GYoJAWDAON-EdtL6JR1JpyElYWsFfIiCpYzin1U/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A portrait of the beautiful original owner watches over the diners.</td></tr>
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The family that operates 3 Brothers are warm, welcoming, and so, so hard working. The kitchen is bursting with family members cooking from scratch.<br />
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So, if you ever find yourself in Milwaukee...Alex and I will meet you there...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85Oywyrjd_G16dITNvIsTRvRerq0ai_iNu-963aujp4tTFU8ejT8GX24XA7GHZMx3E8LDz9Hul1dSbKMFQJJdQV_WqrXf9AS6fyjVmjPP1O-X7wmkPqRso0-Jshe_gB0NrYFsYBfFCHRv/s1600/photo+4%255B1%255D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh85Oywyrjd_G16dITNvIsTRvRerq0ai_iNu-963aujp4tTFU8ejT8GX24XA7GHZMx3E8LDz9Hul1dSbKMFQJJdQV_WqrXf9AS6fyjVmjPP1O-X7wmkPqRso0-Jshe_gB0NrYFsYBfFCHRv/s1600/photo+4%255B1%255D.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alex and I after a great meal and a few glasses of wine... </td></tr>
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CassandraCassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-14146813851804646952014-05-29T15:39:00.000-05:002014-05-29T15:39:00.532-05:00Allergies, Be Damned!The smell of lilacs is like the nectar of the gods. The sad thing is, it only lasts about a week. So, what is one to do?<script type="text/javascript">
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Well, in my case, I take a trip to Madison's Arboretum and stick my face in blooming lilacs for about an hour and a half. By the time I'm done, I've gotten my lilac fix (and I've sneezed my head off) and don't feel quite as bad when the blooms start to brown and drop.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcccsQzuFkMhH2UyNdbHJKyuIh70M7OR6J9sVQictITmjKjUuTAIY1Abcn9lNeer7ZgLRLfAiD7iKZowoC9hFargtb8p2iUbCz26Se5XD4okrBQpJnISOVbj8N9A2EJwNY9CynrFYoah_m/s1600/IMG_2872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcccsQzuFkMhH2UyNdbHJKyuIh70M7OR6J9sVQictITmjKjUuTAIY1Abcn9lNeer7ZgLRLfAiD7iKZowoC9hFargtb8p2iUbCz26Se5XD4okrBQpJnISOVbj8N9A2EJwNY9CynrFYoah_m/s1600/IMG_2872.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, let's start with the <a href="http://uwarboretum.org/" target="_blank">Arboretum</a> (lovingly referred to as The Arb). The University of Wisconsin Arboretum is actually a research facility - acres and acres of land - gardens and prairies - that's used for environmental and ecological study.<span style="font-family: inherit;"> Their mission is <i>to conserve and restore Arboretum lands, advance restoration ecology, and foster the land ethic." </i>And, to the delight of thousands of people, it's open to the public for all manner of <a href="http://uwarboretum.org/visit/" target="_blank">fun</a>. The <a href="http://uwarboretum.org/about/history/" target="_blank">history</a> of the Arb is fascinating and it's wonderful to know that all this gorgeous land (and water!) in the middle of our city will be preserved for the foreseeable future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">My all-time favorite part of the Arb is the lilac grove. There are, quite literally, hundreds of varieties of lilacs. Large flowered, small flowered, double-flowered, trees, bushes, sweet smelling, spicy smelling, and even one that smells slightly of feet. Adjacent to the lilac grove is the cherry and apple grove so it's easy enough to wander from the heady scent of lilac over to the blooming trees for a bit of a palate cleanser. I love that the cherry and apple trees bloom concurrent with the lilacs. It makes the trip doubly fun. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Here, in pictures, is a summary of my trip to the Arb last Friday. We had a stunningly gorgeous late afternoon promenade and stuck our faces in every single lilac bloom. Halfway through I started sneezing but, as the title suggests, allergies be damned - I was going to get my fill!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Enjoy!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSP9vMDfbosPHh7vXPvp67bfr_HQAIl9uVqSUKFB-040QEvhZIPqzEWDSyKMqEnIaMQ1aJBJywBVUgHi-OZuiHFP05R18kLZpgbUo522xjqlMqVzCbiPpL-wb3TggZhKXasyOeh7SAkxh/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSP9vMDfbosPHh7vXPvp67bfr_HQAIl9uVqSUKFB-040QEvhZIPqzEWDSyKMqEnIaMQ1aJBJywBVUgHi-OZuiHFP05R18kLZpgbUo522xjqlMqVzCbiPpL-wb3TggZhKXasyOeh7SAkxh/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">My friend didn't sneeze as much as me.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Blue skies and sun!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">These are the tags on the trees - in case you want to identify the variety.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilz-PKr15-gO4JNKxAZzVHR3nIOeLW2XtYMqUJYdue8ujoTYlSu2UEeBuBxfiISG77uZoTqpjQsBz441QaqFlB00Iob8AXLRVhyphenhyphenHNcl2xj6Dlo9D3CDnbMyeZvGNbDVh3xPNQmsZ-b3Zqf/s1600/IMG_2884.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilz-PKr15-gO4JNKxAZzVHR3nIOeLW2XtYMqUJYdue8ujoTYlSu2UEeBuBxfiISG77uZoTqpjQsBz441QaqFlB00Iob8AXLRVhyphenhyphenHNcl2xj6Dlo9D3CDnbMyeZvGNbDVh3xPNQmsZ-b3Zqf/s1600/IMG_2884.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgbVWoG-zWGK3dKSs8Gqgxo-CuJsrHRL6nmpMjV7WE1EeqoBW3Nh7UHeb60lffhctPXePBuloVZdjFPguySCgiRsnw2VQYIYNlfTd6R0avxDFHsqlaodeJbjpEtKQ1lc4KQ-B-N0HLrsO/s1600/IMG_2890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgbVWoG-zWGK3dKSs8Gqgxo-CuJsrHRL6nmpMjV7WE1EeqoBW3Nh7UHeb60lffhctPXePBuloVZdjFPguySCgiRsnw2VQYIYNlfTd6R0avxDFHsqlaodeJbjpEtKQ1lc4KQ-B-N0HLrsO/s1600/IMG_2890.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Look at the crazy curl on these flower petals!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Entering the apple & cherry tree grove.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Then we wandered into the maple grove.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU-TwFYrraGHS1SJGcczHWfDUcJr_8U7I_c7M2cke_qV4e50MACplJpJx5LVnWfW_nw2sTrf1Q00v4PCaPgKdgpfs04n3fNCRFgw4sMsLstxB-9Tv7xrJ7bBjN6F7EVhTa5KF8hFjG3Nd/s1600/IMG_2920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyU-TwFYrraGHS1SJGcczHWfDUcJr_8U7I_c7M2cke_qV4e50MACplJpJx5LVnWfW_nw2sTrf1Q00v4PCaPgKdgpfs04n3fNCRFgw4sMsLstxB-9Tv7xrJ7bBjN6F7EVhTa5KF8hFjG3Nd/s1600/IMG_2920.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">This Norway Maple was one of the biggest trees I've ever seen.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkp82fzKv7PLaVTk8izvTJTPUhewyVMMcQy10qgOkUiSWThrAPCf8AX-VbvKSEr0V0b5C9OP9dzgn7MpJXTGahnK_XIJZVosCLlhvQz39tcZ0If6gKOkW7WcyjaZAa-9Syy7s2cq_IUdN/s1600/IMG_2924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDkp82fzKv7PLaVTk8izvTJTPUhewyVMMcQy10qgOkUiSWThrAPCf8AX-VbvKSEr0V0b5C9OP9dzgn7MpJXTGahnK_XIJZVosCLlhvQz39tcZ0If6gKOkW7WcyjaZAa-9Syy7s2cq_IUdN/s1600/IMG_2924.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Wildflowers by the visitor's center.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNchq_FXRh44GwSGahXqHEExhhGeKEMpMf_MVgUcL52O-uh3mDcGP24TCvsd_u_3QM-k2oraF3jhx0PZ0kIqu9OMQNAE0R8jZwzmyeef8DHgZKVwcKYACQ3D_rDXxaOSWYMTnDyANwMW1/s1600/IMG_2925.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdNchq_FXRh44GwSGahXqHEExhhGeKEMpMf_MVgUcL52O-uh3mDcGP24TCvsd_u_3QM-k2oraF3jhx0PZ0kIqu9OMQNAE0R8jZwzmyeef8DHgZKVwcKYACQ3D_rDXxaOSWYMTnDyANwMW1/s1600/IMG_2925.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-24656807261105566962014-05-27T12:57:00.000-05:002014-05-27T12:57:03.065-05:00The DressI <a href="http://mightydistractible.blogspot.com/2014/04/garment-sewing.html" target="_blank">told you before</a> about Cal Patch's online garment design course I'm taking...and how fabulous it is. Well, I have a finished product! A dress that I just adore. It is a simple tunic shape with long sleeves and a wide neckline.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvdZoRd9PJfnxNm4eI3ocnKvr9CA2AJey1RxvQAcgyI5ZMnafNRaKnO47_rvw0igeAqEUoyB1OaxZGbAskhw3ijQOfmBXEArN0Lit5-SaAaFQ_i_2r2317ysO6QM1zgtqgMSGMfOeBP6H/s1600/CalPatchTunic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvdZoRd9PJfnxNm4eI3ocnKvr9CA2AJey1RxvQAcgyI5ZMnafNRaKnO47_rvw0igeAqEUoyB1OaxZGbAskhw3ijQOfmBXEArN0Lit5-SaAaFQ_i_2r2317ysO6QM1zgtqgMSGMfOeBP6H/s1600/CalPatchTunic.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me mugging for the camera!</td></tr>
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I could have chosen to make short sleeves, no sleeves, a collar...etc. That is the beauty of creating patterns from scratch. This freedom has rekindled my interest in garment sewing. Being able to make a pattern that is pretty darn close to my actual shape and then refining it even further on a muslin gives me a finished product that fits better than any commercial pattern ever has. It's more work on the front-end, but way less tailoring on the back-end.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1w8wiKiYWhxWBgMtkIPaN-AO7Fug82pdWEDvC_b4Pakb5-hbPTsvRujN8mo1dhS5QVCr3dxjlQvEyGvmhTrIMULfP0MOWnQJtahthAw0peTpwkcyLYYCEpNwzIsAq1XSJcF3CGF8cSk1N/s1600/muslin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1w8wiKiYWhxWBgMtkIPaN-AO7Fug82pdWEDvC_b4Pakb5-hbPTsvRujN8mo1dhS5QVCr3dxjlQvEyGvmhTrIMULfP0MOWnQJtahthAw0peTpwkcyLYYCEpNwzIsAq1XSJcF3CGF8cSk1N/s1600/muslin.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My muslin taking shape.</td></tr>
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What I love most about this class is that <a href="http://hodgepodgefarm.net/" target="_blank">Cal</a> starts with the basics of garment design. I feel as if I've learned the "best practice" way of drafting a pattern and fitting it properly. All without being snooty or too full of details that go over a beginner's head. I feel like I have a basis for doing more complicated designs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJmQJXo3d9_kLBkcA-hXOcX7QCOhfmo_u1QL1B6IauuVpSvTVFs1Dh2HbVrKPLMhtoBsTTj_BnW5yBND2mC46YXKufqwuk5DQrUm77ebAiawIbrkpmKteSCUV0n6eKPHKTKHaDXRZ3H9-/s1600/biasedging.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJmQJXo3d9_kLBkcA-hXOcX7QCOhfmo_u1QL1B6IauuVpSvTVFs1Dh2HbVrKPLMhtoBsTTj_BnW5yBND2mC46YXKufqwuk5DQrUm77ebAiawIbrkpmKteSCUV0n6eKPHKTKHaDXRZ3H9-/s1600/biasedging.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The edging makes this dress.</td></tr>
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The quilter in me wanted to use a bias tape edging around the collar as an accent. I made my own bias tape out of a coordinating (in my mind) fabric using <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0OVoGAX15dI" target="_blank">this great tutorial</a>. I did finish the edging by hand because I didn't want to see a stitching line on the front. But that was no big thing considering I recently hand stitched a queen-size quilt binding!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvPQ8XpKu0WHVqL6O3yuFMyRwRzoLiYvXGAlCI_LwILzcUdcY1X_bsIhnlbCa8xVlSToGhia2OLdPNhYvZofMaoHr1Uw4O4zAt1bz00q_339PolNNtTlCGlYfsldffBvD3ucYZf1DyLyM/s1600/handsewing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvPQ8XpKu0WHVqL6O3yuFMyRwRzoLiYvXGAlCI_LwILzcUdcY1X_bsIhnlbCa8xVlSToGhia2OLdPNhYvZofMaoHr1Uw4O4zAt1bz00q_339PolNNtTlCGlYfsldffBvD3ucYZf1DyLyM/s1600/handsewing.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All done during the RuPaul Drag Race finale!</td></tr>
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The fabric is <a href="http://www.pinkchalkfabrics.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=5265&gclid=CMymidbOzL4CFVQFMgodjwQA3g" target="_blank">Amy Butler Soul Blossoms Passion Lily Mulberry</a>. It is gorgeous. A little loud...but gorgeous! There's no hiding your light under a bushel in this frock. :)<br />
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–Cassandra<br />
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PS - My friend Troy says this fabric reminds him of this..<br />
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</script>Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-38475106879962426372014-05-20T11:56:00.000-05:002014-05-20T11:56:52.947-05:00Yes, You Can Milk an AlmondThere's a great website called <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/" target="_blank">The Kitchn</a>. I think it's a foodie off-shoot of another great site called Apartment Therapy - which I've visited often. I discovered the site because a friend of mine kept posting recipes from the site that REALLY appealed to me. I found myself "sharing" a lot of these recipes, just so I could find them again. (I couldn't just go to the site and start following it, like a normal person...)<script type="text/javascript">
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Anyway. One recipe that I simply HAD to try was "<a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-make-almond-milk-at-home-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-189996" target="_blank">making almond milk at home</a>". </div>
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The first time I ever had almond milk was, as a very young person, during a visit to Sicily to see my family. My cousin (actually my grandmother's first cousin), Nino, took me for a <i>passagiare</i>, which is the practice of taking a post-dinner walk around town. As is common, we walked to the town square to have a treat and he recommended the having the almond milk. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.</div>
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Almonds figure heavily in Sicilian cuisine so I already had a familiarity and love for the taste but this was something else entirely - intense, smooth, slightly sweet. It was amazing. Unfortunately, commercial almond milk that's available here is too sweet and not at all like the drink I still have on those rare occasions that I get to visit Sicily.</div>
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So... off to try this, seemingly simple, recipe in my own kitch(e)n!</div>
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<b><u>Step one</u></b>: Soak raw, preferably organic almonds in water overnight or up to two days.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwysveWpHMDO1QWJpm6LBv-SfCu_MrJPMWTMbUTuLyLNiR0suSRPd0FEDWOvfRsMPb8bkhXhb-z2jbcZQUcoTXZKysBJ7wOonvoh3T3vZIgxUbaUOYxeNiK2-V2p_exy0oOZoCrYT8xvxJ/s1600/IMG_2796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwysveWpHMDO1QWJpm6LBv-SfCu_MrJPMWTMbUTuLyLNiR0suSRPd0FEDWOvfRsMPb8bkhXhb-z2jbcZQUcoTXZKysBJ7wOonvoh3T3vZIgxUbaUOYxeNiK2-V2p_exy0oOZoCrYT8xvxJ/s1600/IMG_2796.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZOBZwl6He9o_ZBhN9OdYg0UVR5R8WF_j4WIo9SNmdxO4ZCdVZBjz9vzaQZCnDFNQ-RmWeF8LFDN3mhxcXcvug2oS5BimEXNPVxm_0tsoCDxvJ68_2rar0UXjYyrEIh4gAaXPzBlKqFYV/s1600/IMG_2799.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZOBZwl6He9o_ZBhN9OdYg0UVR5R8WF_j4WIo9SNmdxO4ZCdVZBjz9vzaQZCnDFNQ-RmWeF8LFDN3mhxcXcvug2oS5BimEXNPVxm_0tsoCDxvJ68_2rar0UXjYyrEIh4gAaXPzBlKqFYV/s1600/IMG_2799.JPG" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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This step was easy - although I didn't read the instructions properly and I put them in a covered mason jar instead of an uncovered bowl. I'm not sure if this made a difference but the idea of leaving an uncovered bowl of soaking almonds on my counter seemed...um...disgusting and bug-attracting.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq_f5Acd43YJ4IG4BA09Z2sS2gwHso57bRB1My3kpZZEUe0DI2M3M05kgu-kQnPdyQkfD4ywadKD8bwmFwfYCghHIpsAO4krpZ97FSdwMIeKHjIDT85m1pMg95WVHTXZh3RFHZxsp8tah/s1600/IMG_2819.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq_f5Acd43YJ4IG4BA09Z2sS2gwHso57bRB1My3kpZZEUe0DI2M3M05kgu-kQnPdyQkfD4ywadKD8bwmFwfYCghHIpsAO4krpZ97FSdwMIeKHjIDT85m1pMg95WVHTXZh3RFHZxsp8tah/s1600/IMG_2819.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Although, after two days, this is pretty gross too</td></tr>
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<b><u>Step two</u></b>: Drain and rinse the almonds<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nc1BJhM2VxbuqWvgPI1PG88AOU0P4tSAXdgq93a-mO6KQRsCIpjS-AXabq96xppJIN36jt5CNUL7jzPK0EstSIgjHR1FiwaZdV5iCmJLaL0NipGPGItxfTix7p4SyAsesn21VNJkgPw5/s1600/IMG_2820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2nc1BJhM2VxbuqWvgPI1PG88AOU0P4tSAXdgq93a-mO6KQRsCIpjS-AXabq96xppJIN36jt5CNUL7jzPK0EstSIgjHR1FiwaZdV5iCmJLaL0NipGPGItxfTix7p4SyAsesn21VNJkgPw5/s1600/IMG_2820.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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Yep. Done and done.</div>
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<b><u>Step three</u></b>: Put almonds and clean water in a blender<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWDBp78Wze-cab_5oK5T1deE0k_JZj6ppoJiSoQxdhTiu6KcN0ybBb2q-WG0jwQ06oCfyTDc9kZHfFfCPY82d2hA5LgFSpKAG2780whPVBdVUCCYy68m5_mWGGm6R-Y_-_HDZA9f-0tuN/s1600/IMG_2821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWDBp78Wze-cab_5oK5T1deE0k_JZj6ppoJiSoQxdhTiu6KcN0ybBb2q-WG0jwQ06oCfyTDc9kZHfFfCPY82d2hA5LgFSpKAG2780whPVBdVUCCYy68m5_mWGGm6R-Y_-_HDZA9f-0tuN/s1600/IMG_2821.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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Again, easy enough. Although, don't fill the blender too full or it will spill over. I ended up doing my blending in two batches.</div>
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<b><u>Step four</u></b>: Pulse until almonds are chopped up, then blend for a full two minutes<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4ojcWbAWkPkbLUDUExWnTvGmgdEso4daIBp0P_2Mb8xmLxVp931qarkMlZODW3wwUnY5-s47u3vJmY034rD-wx-jjBrbaOP2OGtd1Nwk7tAoXxvI_yIxSIaaYBLTVkmdb1hzboYEGf7_/s1600/IMG_2822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga4ojcWbAWkPkbLUDUExWnTvGmgdEso4daIBp0P_2Mb8xmLxVp931qarkMlZODW3wwUnY5-s47u3vJmY034rD-wx-jjBrbaOP2OGtd1Nwk7tAoXxvI_yIxSIaaYBLTVkmdb1hzboYEGf7_/s1600/IMG_2822.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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So, seriously, two minutes is a LOT longer than you'd think. I actually set a timer and was surprised at how long this seemed. I'd highly recommend timing it instead of going on instinct or, I promise, you won't have blended it enough.</div>
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<b><u>Step five</u></b>: Strain the blended almonds<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvwlesQu5rgiawKHr7ABoPr2VrT7giUdzFKcC0wZ3J9J_Sy85IeVJmTakVQMYzrihjyohOwryfmMXceOivHkfFOjo_0EB4Wd_QaFQa6flSnDyO66mOtjfWu-U0eYawDE75nybZA72x8Hp/s1600/IMG_2823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvwlesQu5rgiawKHr7ABoPr2VrT7giUdzFKcC0wZ3J9J_Sy85IeVJmTakVQMYzrihjyohOwryfmMXceOivHkfFOjo_0EB4Wd_QaFQa6flSnDyO66mOtjfWu-U0eYawDE75nybZA72x8Hp/s1600/IMG_2823.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first (failed) attempt</td></tr>
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So...yeah. Here's where things got sticky (and messy). My first attempt was to use cheesecloth. That got me nowhere fast. The stuff just sort of sat on top of the cheesecloth not draining and, again, I wasn't about to leave it on the counter and just walk away for a couple of hours while it dripped - glacially slow. So, I strained in two steps:</div>
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<ol>
<li>I strained the milk through a fine-mesh sieve, pushing against the solids with the back of a wooden spoon, squeezing out as much milk as possible. </li>
<li>I filtered the milk a second time through coffee filters. The finer silt that was left was minimal but it made a difference in the "grittiness" of the milk. And I wanted the very smooth milk that I remember.</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8DAZa2s_OWoxiK9z_JBy0d2-mcWbRwq592djiu8U677MOKcjDoXjw4c8Dj6kjL-65i8N7yNAlQQapWGdTB5EgGzI8Ur8ouJ2I1mduzh9bhuwg2oVeRB3SZEM2K4nJ7Hw70S0OQz-SMHk/s1600/IMG_2826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8DAZa2s_OWoxiK9z_JBy0d2-mcWbRwq592djiu8U677MOKcjDoXjw4c8Dj6kjL-65i8N7yNAlQQapWGdTB5EgGzI8Ur8ouJ2I1mduzh9bhuwg2oVeRB3SZEM2K4nJ7Hw70S0OQz-SMHk/s1600/IMG_2826.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part two of straining</td></tr>
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The final product is smooth and very tasty. I chose not to sweeten it but, if I did, I would use a small amount of honey. The last tip I have is this: the actual recipe (link above) calls for 1 cup of almonds to 2 cups of water, with 2 cups of clean water to blend with in step four. I found my final product to be more watery than I would like and I think, in the future, I'll blend with 1/2 the water called for, in order to try to give the milk a little more "body".<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5bi9varRqqFcorEyneFrUTjjCvtL3I7d3QoiBgCFcxm0peBvfVCwJH1iRwcoovWEX4_niDDMKQOTrPlMlmglbYv5Bc7wknn_AQLSCl3WDTG_E85blNx1nokIDq4aGefeC7WmZ15Dz97F/s1600/IMG_2827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5bi9varRqqFcorEyneFrUTjjCvtL3I7d3QoiBgCFcxm0peBvfVCwJH1iRwcoovWEX4_niDDMKQOTrPlMlmglbYv5Bc7wknn_AQLSCl3WDTG_E85blNx1nokIDq4aGefeC7WmZ15Dz97F/s1600/IMG_2827.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yummy on cereal!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNuK5ii-YQa2gzZ_AB4-nVQluNWP9LzxVJ-Ls7dibocpzLit8CA1wUktloSQGKvztpn8YoUhdFvbbJjg5-hIxVEFOYx5UMP646_2HmRnyOtX9cosixnA58ui9IUmPy0ddMUr9c2jqtRWQ/s1600/IMG_2829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcNuK5ii-YQa2gzZ_AB4-nVQluNWP9LzxVJ-Ls7dibocpzLit8CA1wUktloSQGKvztpn8YoUhdFvbbJjg5-hIxVEFOYx5UMP646_2HmRnyOtX9cosixnA58ui9IUmPy0ddMUr9c2jqtRWQ/s1600/IMG_2829.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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Overall, it wasn't a bad first try although I would like to find a more efficient straining system. </div>
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Finally, what to do with the left over ground almonds? The recipe suggests using them "as is" as an additive in smoothies or yogurt (good addition of protein) or drying it to make almond meal which can be used in baking. I decided to try drying it out just to see what the process was like. The answer... long and arduous. LOL In a 200 degree oven, spread out on a cookie sheet, the meal took nearly four hours to dry to a point where it felt like almond meal. I had to go in occasionally and break up the lumps so they'd dry too. I now have a bag of almond meal in my freezer that I'll have to find a use for at some point. Maybe a coating for fish??<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaily63Q8VL6K4Nfw4oCEBMQKW2UoVS5ZF4fkMYMvTrBbQkaOGl2H2dEutJU0eUMPM23jxD4_k2Ytjv0jlGwNyFtMmFB3KKwfY7tmQIB7dsRN9CHP9hRILsFZvsFYo7UA3ovWqlo7bsL5Z/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaily63Q8VL6K4Nfw4oCEBMQKW2UoVS5ZF4fkMYMvTrBbQkaOGl2H2dEutJU0eUMPM23jxD4_k2Ytjv0jlGwNyFtMmFB3KKwfY7tmQIB7dsRN9CHP9hRILsFZvsFYo7UA3ovWqlo7bsL5Z/s1600/IMG_2830.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaXnwjZCfSeBecCgoGM4zPqOoIdr25Yn27Vcb7P_XNQgyB2VXrKf9UO4AUbUlnBhaiOwg7WLKykvFbUAnCChAlcdCpSPBEMrFzh9fkEl_-tyMFGsqGLHQ2o9xU9QXgyUzg8Osq7EFviCN/s1600/IMG_2831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaaXnwjZCfSeBecCgoGM4zPqOoIdr25Yn27Vcb7P_XNQgyB2VXrKf9UO4AUbUlnBhaiOwg7WLKykvFbUAnCChAlcdCpSPBEMrFzh9fkEl_-tyMFGsqGLHQ2o9xU9QXgyUzg8Osq7EFviCN/s1600/IMG_2831.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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Oh! And the almond milk only lasts a few days to a week in the 'fridge so don't make a lot unless you're really thirsty. It will separate but that's not "going bad" - you just have to shake it. You'll know if it's bad because it will start to taste sour. A little honey could help extend the life because it wards off bacteria, for what that's worth.</div>
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Give it a try, if you like almond milk or think you might like almond milk. Then, on a warm summer evening, sit on the patio and sip a glass. You may feel like you're in Sicily for a few minutes. :)</div>
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- Alex</div>
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Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-8843373008863335472014-05-13T10:17:00.000-05:002014-05-13T10:17:42.749-05:00Abandoned Baby BirdsWhat if I told you that you could knit something quick and completely adorable PLUS it would help tiny abandoned baby birds? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ0tmQ5DcI7WbeaiErOOLeBAdy3hhNYcy9NSTTtDyRmOei_FNqDIWkDr2iNPQ-6FnUXQYC3V-6MfhsV5SVOoG7dC0RFIFWafH4rOqbKDvEiJm2NfniJh37QvM8nor6O9ZZJPQu0a-qLBt/s1600/baby+birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZ0tmQ5DcI7WbeaiErOOLeBAdy3hhNYcy9NSTTtDyRmOei_FNqDIWkDr2iNPQ-6FnUXQYC3V-6MfhsV5SVOoG7dC0RFIFWafH4rOqbKDvEiJm2NfniJh37QvM8nor6O9ZZJPQu0a-qLBt/s1600/baby+birds.jpg" height="320" width="306" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(not my actual knitting but LOOK HOW CUTE!)</td></tr>
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My friend Melissa turned me on to a <a href="http://www.giveshelter.org/images/stories/Volunteer_pdfs/Group_Opportunity_links/Knitting_for_Birds.pdf" target="_blank">nest knitting pattern</a> put out by our <a href="http://www.giveshelter.org/" target="_blank">Dane County Humane Society's</a> wildlife service. Knitted nests are the perfect cozy place place for abandoned babies to grow or even for nursing a sick bird. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgTnCeegPuG-whf9ORZnzmQbi-F2nrRJmDwbSYXoxNsd3yMpXm7UEG5C3GS1yvx7RX14gDGt9ONMkwv6ynFopVvpDIajFFB73g_7iMD4ZuXxsy6vMQlxt8OZ_U3M-3alXf3TaRrtTA-_C/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOgTnCeegPuG-whf9ORZnzmQbi-F2nrRJmDwbSYXoxNsd3yMpXm7UEG5C3GS1yvx7RX14gDGt9ONMkwv6ynFopVvpDIajFFB73g_7iMD4ZuXxsy6vMQlxt8OZ_U3M-3alXf3TaRrtTA-_C/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(my actual knitting)</td></tr>
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These nests are knitted with doubled or tripled cotton or acrylic yarn so they are really sturdy and washable. For my nests, I used some (leftover from a sweater) <a href="http://www.yarn.com/product/webs-knitting-yarns-ryc-cotton-jeans/" target="_blank">Rowan Cotton Jeans</a> from my stash. I had two 50g balls and was able to make a nest from each (with very little left over) when knitting with the yarn doubled on size 6 dpns.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDCSSv7_xLvPS6u6BjcWqy-njK8WmEc9ovLI0B7jpkW25MWX-y1NuiSbsVXMbqxLC-GI-rOZcHaNnMKbkwqPzaWeSH0vZluzWLkAM5RzkdrqYgW50v6wn4m9HI3CD9YxDXnuJYVvkx3Vx/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifDCSSv7_xLvPS6u6BjcWqy-njK8WmEc9ovLI0B7jpkW25MWX-y1NuiSbsVXMbqxLC-GI-rOZcHaNnMKbkwqPzaWeSH0vZluzWLkAM5RzkdrqYgW50v6wn4m9HI3CD9YxDXnuJYVvkx3Vx/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.giveshelter.org/images/stories/Volunteer_pdfs/Group_Opportunity_links/Knitting_for_Birds.pdf" target="_blank">This pattern</a> is so spot on. The bottom sits completely flat and the stockinette sides curl over just right to form a stiff nest with just enough give.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdURQmvwDZ2BjpJE7B8dFonp0zzlm5irFZi9w0_SF96KlczBmLuTP6NOFHOkBEalrDxiC_lUAXuXhY4JCzy9xKhJIZiccMT-qKUlKcIx0WSP719bSOeIesMu42C_qJsYlIgF7dhLboZgD/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdURQmvwDZ2BjpJE7B8dFonp0zzlm5irFZi9w0_SF96KlczBmLuTP6NOFHOkBEalrDxiC_lUAXuXhY4JCzy9xKhJIZiccMT-qKUlKcIx0WSP719bSOeIesMu42C_qJsYlIgF7dhLboZgD/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I went ahead and tied a nice knot on the bottom. This way it will be sure to hold up through a washing.</td></tr>
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Folks who live here in Dane County can drop their finished nests off at the <a href="http://www.giveshelter.org/" target="_blank">Humane Society</a>. And for those folks outside of our area, I'm positive your own humane society, wildlife rescue, or Department of Natural Resources would have a use for these as well. A little research will most likely prove fruitful. I can vouch for <a href="http://www.giveshelter.org/images/stories/Volunteer_pdfs/Group_Opportunity_links/Knitting_for_Birds.pdf" target="_blank">this nest pattern</a> though, it knit up beautifully.<br />
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Knit on friends,<br />
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Cassandra <br />
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PS - When I say this was a quick project, each nest took me about 3 hours. And that is with talking or TV watching going on at the same time. <br />
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</script>Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-74615484214944205882014-05-08T13:42:00.000-05:002014-05-08T13:42:44.385-05:00It's Never the Bee's Fault<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDkYAiJ9PoLK_emieIPCs6oOp6FQep6hmLT6IQNNflR-SpnZ31vG8qAfjzUCDSmY7cUm_Gtc83htSfpNhLOX7lN1nZPkoDKTr0J8b_fayQ912geGVYf_l1ySq2Us39DV268F3H0-QE19f/s1600/eye.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTDkYAiJ9PoLK_emieIPCs6oOp6FQep6hmLT6IQNNflR-SpnZ31vG8qAfjzUCDSmY7cUm_Gtc83htSfpNhLOX7lN1nZPkoDKTr0J8b_fayQ912geGVYf_l1ySq2Us39DV268F3H0-QE19f/s1600/eye.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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This was my face on Monday morning.</div>
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You may have figured out from the title of this post that my swollen eye is the result of a bee sting. The dear girl got me right on the eyelid, just below my brow. Now, I'm not allergic to bee venom but, when you get stung where the skin is so thin and the capillaries are so close to the surface, everything swells up BIG. It was pretty impressive.</div>
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People always ask me about bee stings and I always answer honestly, "It's never the bee's fault."</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEKLXx5c9Ty0FhCSRzhb0aYE7DleSix3xgzcqJEHvtdFiletirgCjLjQ97QU28ZcfrXcWNl-ER27LnXX7KrXqjoyaaISQxhXeyilvs7-UZqchcQ3x2vMhAE862Iv0myIOMbKw150etRi7/s1600/bee_4773.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQEKLXx5c9Ty0FhCSRzhb0aYE7DleSix3xgzcqJEHvtdFiletirgCjLjQ97QU28ZcfrXcWNl-ER27LnXX7KrXqjoyaaISQxhXeyilvs7-UZqchcQ3x2vMhAE862Iv0myIOMbKw150etRi7/s1600/bee_4773.jpg" height="175" width="200" /></a>Here's the thing... honeybees have jobs to do. They're busy and they don't have time to worry about the random person walking down the street or even coming near them when they're collecting pollen. A honeybee will NEVER, EVER sting a person for no reason. However, when you have a hive with tens of thousands of bees, and some of those bees are tasked with protecting the hive, there are certain rules that you must follow in order to avoid getting stung. </div>
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Needless to say, I managed to skip a few of those rules on Sunday.</div>
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Here are some things to know - basic rules for mitigating bee stings:</div>
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<ol>
<li>Don't wear dark clothes if you're going to interact with a honeybee or hive. Large black, brown, or navy blue masses approaching a bee or a hive looks like a bear or similar threat. This is why bee-keeping suits are generally white.</li>
<li>If you don't wear any other safety equipment when working with a hive, you should always wear your veil. Honeybees instinctively know that the eyes are the most vulnerable part of a mammal and they will dive bomb your head if they think they're under attack. (Can you guess what I WASN'T wearing when I got stung?)</li>
<li>Don't make sudden, fast movements around a bee. Don't swat at them or yank their hive boxes apart. Just move slowly and steadily. I've been able to successfully scoop bees up from my clothes, or a curtain, or the window and cup them in my hands to take them back outside. I almost always bring a few hitchhikers into the house with me after a hive check.</li>
<li>Listen to your hive. If the buzzing starts to ratchet up to a higher pitch, they're getting agitated and are more likely to sting you.</li>
<li>Don't walk barefoot in a heavily bee-populated area. This would seem like common sense, wouldn't it? I've stepped on more than one honey bee in my time.</li>
</ol>
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Now, this last one is up for debate. Popular wisdom says not to wear sweet smelling perfumes, lotions, etc. because you could attract bees. However, actual scientific research has proven this to be untrue. Regardless of which is right, I don't risk it. I try to avoid poking around the hive if I have any artificial scent on my body or clothes. Of course, there's nothing I can do about my hair - my shampoo and conditioner have scent - so maybe that's why my bees like to sit on my head. LOL</div>
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So, when I say it's not the bee's fault, what I mean is that I haven't done my part to appropriately integrate into their world. On Sunday, the bee who stung me was a guard bee - tasked with protecting the queen. She shot out of the hive the minute I started to remove the frame that had the queen on it and she "bee-lined" straight for my face. In my hubris, I wasn't wearing my veil because the bees were so docile and sweet that morning. In other words, it wasn't the bee's fault. </div>
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One last tip about honeybee stings. When a honeybee stings, it releases a pheromone that the other bee read as "danger" and it makes them more prone to attack. You'll hear the buzzing get more high-pitched. That's the time to walk away slowly.</div>
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Remember this, if you get stung by a honeybee, the bee that stung you dies. It's a "one and done" deal for them so please try to respect the fact that she thought she was doing her job and she sacrificed herself for the hive. :)</div>
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My eye is better and I'm none the worse for the sting but, needless to say, I'll be much more careful and remember my own rules in the future. </div>
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- Alex</div>
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</script>Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-87788282276101518252014-05-06T12:58:00.000-05:002014-05-06T12:58:30.493-05:00Sweater DramaI've got a real problem with sizing lately. Between <a href="http://mightydistractible.blogspot.com/2014/01/hell-in-handcart.html" target="_blank">the debacle with the tunic for me</a> and the sweater I'm going to tell you about today, you might start passing some judgement on my skills.<br />
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I recently finished one (of the two) holiday sweaters for my boys. Wait...what? The holidays were almost half a year ago. Yeah, well those cables took me longer than expected. Plus, I've been distracted by a lot of drawing in the past year. I'm sort of on a drawing bender (please refer to title of blog for explanation). I'm shooting for new sweaters for <i>next</i> holiday season :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsI0H59v-eP9r-LDrhvuZrrVHcKLE-Ub5YM6WG19m21vRsUCePwYNbfE4xCa0zlA71Hthj5R3jxWCDM-IiGLcf84hQz74r_ScWh0cvG39UH4TkMW1y5y-0i3m8ZSOsvmjHpLK-043sPSAr/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsI0H59v-eP9r-LDrhvuZrrVHcKLE-Ub5YM6WG19m21vRsUCePwYNbfE4xCa0zlA71Hthj5R3jxWCDM-IiGLcf84hQz74r_ScWh0cvG39UH4TkMW1y5y-0i3m8ZSOsvmjHpLK-043sPSAr/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks like nothing is wrong from this angle. Just wait.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The pattern I chose to knit is <a href="http://www.bigskyknitting.com/patterns/patterns-for-kids-and-babies/7938286" target="_blank">Mariah by Janet Szabo</a>.
Ms. Szabo has a lot of designs in her collection (one more beautiful
than the next btw) and so I'm assuming whatever went wrong was me, not
her. <br />
<br />
Anyway, one is finished, and it's not perfect. I realize now that I chose the wrong size for my boy (or maybe my gauge was off, but I actually don't think so). Even though I took the proper measurements, the whole thing is way too wide. If I knitted it longer in the arms and torso it probably would fit me!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvELWjtBG0INJPdFZE_Xu7IQ1TBmZ1Zloku48Ji29T4HmXqsg-A7BJ2zqzvQ1KxoMAPTJ24iUcerLNRRdkgItz2_92AoAYKrWSYAzY8pQ_j3S_2nND2sHZSVh1Ff_xqTX6n3Ee5-CQnWO/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEvELWjtBG0INJPdFZE_Xu7IQ1TBmZ1Zloku48Ji29T4HmXqsg-A7BJ2zqzvQ1KxoMAPTJ24iUcerLNRRdkgItz2_92AoAYKrWSYAzY8pQ_j3S_2nND2sHZSVh1Ff_xqTX6n3Ee5-CQnWO/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woo, this is one wide sweater.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The actual knitting part of the project was great. I loved the cables and as always, it was a thrill every time I saw them emerge from nothing. <span style="color: red;">Knitting cables is magic.</span> If you've never done it, you should. They are actually not as hard as you'd think, but you do need to keep your wits about you.<br />
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There were two things I did to make the cable knitting process as foolproof as possible on this project. First, I sliced apart the pdf cable instructions and created my own all-inclusive cable chart to work from. I couldn't handle remembering if I was supposed to be looking at chart A, B, C, etc. Also, I always kept a lifeline in my knitting...because unknitting cable stitches is one of Dante's circles of hell. (For those who don't know what a lifeline is, see <a href="http://www.knittinghelp.com/video/play/using-a-lifeline" target="_blank">this video</a>. I actually use dental floss for this because it's easy to slip in and out without disturbing the texture of the yarn.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1CsYvNz0U_KU7gjX0vYalxLekb30kp1oqvWvz0FHbhmWcqt3bjcD5VY-d-msphkcX0TZqob_nCLL5KSS9HH4Yq9cDCfLVRAhbhfoodV28E3YrJZm4wGJlAGrilzJMRnb3yafDhE7GoQe/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1CsYvNz0U_KU7gjX0vYalxLekb30kp1oqvWvz0FHbhmWcqt3bjcD5VY-d-msphkcX0TZqob_nCLL5KSS9HH4Yq9cDCfLVRAhbhfoodV28E3YrJZm4wGJlAGrilzJMRnb3yafDhE7GoQe/s1600/photo.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anyone with a pet bird will know who frayed these pages.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In my defense on the neckline, I did extend the saddles a couple inches on each side to try to minimize the neck a little, and it still turned out rather huge. This sweater is borderline <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0085549/" target="_blank"><i>Flashdance</i></a>.<br />
<br />
Want to know the craziest thing of all? My little one loves it. He wears it all the time, even to school. So, that is sort of a win because I've knit sweaters that fit him beautifully that he never requests to wear. I think part of his attraction might be the color. It is golden-yellow dreamy! The yarn is <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/yarns/Wool_of_the_Andes_Worsted_Yarn__D5420103.html" target="_blank">Knit Picks Wool of the Andes</a> in Tumeric. I never got tired of that color when I was knitting. Never!<br />
<br />
Now, here's my dilemma. Do I charge ahead and make sweater #2 from the same pattern? Or do I try something else? I better make my mind up soon. The holidays are only 7 months away...<br />
<br />
Cassandra<br />
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</script>Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-49107802573281879652014-04-29T13:27:00.000-05:002014-04-29T13:31:41.220-05:00When Advertising Goes Bad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn94MnGZn2JqwAVxtglxudQYVejt-GKeT8DYSKOuMc7niltgzKft1VQ6fPH4sgNVx8we2_murQtIMKh4i9vs_LtE68rmH9n33tOxb4NrukB7eEvfwfHJ2ukAaeyviv7-ZizBt7OOy6FCYo/s1600/kraft-miracle-whip-dressing-original-12-oz.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn94MnGZn2JqwAVxtglxudQYVejt-GKeT8DYSKOuMc7niltgzKft1VQ6fPH4sgNVx8we2_murQtIMKh4i9vs_LtE68rmH9n33tOxb4NrukB7eEvfwfHJ2ukAaeyviv7-ZizBt7OOy6FCYo/s1600/kraft-miracle-whip-dressing-original-12-oz.png" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
"We are MW, and we will not tone it down."<br />
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"Honk if you're not mayo"</div>
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Kraft Foods has been trying to rebrand Miracle Whip as an "edgy" condiment. A condiment appropriate for the outsider. A condiment for the young radical. </div>
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In simplest terms, Miracle Whip is mayonnaise mixed with salad dressing making a <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/shopping-storing/food/miracle-whip-mayonnaise-10000000674215/" target="_blank">sweeter, bolder-tasting spread</a> that can be used in place of its more refined cousin. Developed in 1933, the new "salad dressing spread" premiered at the Century of Progress World's Fair in Chicago. According to the Kraft Foods archivist (seriously), <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miracle_Whip" target="_blank">the spread was a "instant hit"</a>. All that sugar appeals to an American palate.</div>
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By comparison<span style="font-family: inherit;">, <span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">mayonnaise was invented in France in 1756 by Duke de Richelieu's chef. In 1905, the first ready-made mayonnaise was sold at Richard Hellman's New York deli and, in 1912, mayonnaise was mass marketed and called "Hellman's Blue Ribbon Mayonnaise. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Mayonnaise has never felt the need to rebrand itself. Maybe that's the prerogative of a condiment that is a staple of French cooking and has been around for over 250 years.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Regardless of which condiment is "better", this post is about advertising and the, frankly, painful-to-experience campaign to make-over Miracle Whip (now referred to as MW).</span></span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-u5tVBlMuo8?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><b>Stacy's Deviled Eggs</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 18px;">Additional ads include: Drew's Sandwich, Jim's Artichoke Dip, and Debi's Potato Salad</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Available on YouTube.com</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">The mass-produced food industry is no stranger to overwrought ad campaigns that try to convince a gullible public (usually children or young adults) that snack chips or breakfast cereal or American Cheese Food is so radical and awesome that the buyer will gain some borrowed equity of coolness by the sheer act of having it in their cupboard.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">There is something so forced and "wrong" about these campaigns. Certainly, those of us who work in marketing, advertising, or business can recognize what these companies are trying to do and (hopefully) don't fall prey to the message. But, what about people who DO actually fall for it? If Kraft Foods screams it loud enough and long enough, how many people will start to believe that they'll be as provocative and cutting-edge as the MW ads imply?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">There is no doubt that we all choose our brands based on the perception we wish to project. However, is it reasonable to expect people to think of Miracle Whip as a cool, radical product instead of a standard ingredient in most 1950's salad recipes?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">To their credit, Kraft's 2012-2013 campaign focused on the polarizing nature of mayo versus MW. It was a very risky move. It's possible that a consumer could identify with the mayo-loving celebrity instead of the MW-loving celebrity, thus swaying them over to mayo. Although, the sheer nature of the campaign was to admit that people were already deeply entrenched in one camp or the other. If nothing else, it was a fun campaign that recognized and celebrated the "battle of the condiments" even if it didn't seem to advance the product in any significant way.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">Kraft may have been better served by more directly acknowledging its roots and updating the narrative. Happy families creating new food memories with the addition of Miracle Whip would have been a lovely nod to the past while re-introducing the product to a younger audience. But, that's not the direction they chose. Perhaps because Hellman's Mayonnaise was celebrating their 100th anniversary and advertising nostalgia and recipes, MW felt that they needed to position themselves as diametrically opposed.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Either way, it's tough to make condiments interesting. Perhaps the best (and possibly the most successful) ad campaign for a condiment was Grey Poupon's "One of Life's Finer Pleasure's". These informative and slightly humorous ads transformed the Dijon mustard into a common household staple.</span></div>
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/G_pGT8Q_tjk/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/G_pGT8Q_tjk&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/G_pGT8Q_tjk&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Grey Poupon was acquired Kraft Foods in 1999. In 2013, Kraft "updated" the original, groundbreaking ad with this version:</span></div>
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<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/zCO_GYv6zCU/0.jpg" height="266" width="320"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/zCO_GYv6zCU&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/zCO_GYv6zCU&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
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The 2013 ad was nominated for an Emmy award for best commercial. Kraft seems to be nothing if not predictable in their advertising approach. Funny, sure. But how does it advance the brand?<br />
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So, what brought on this little treatise? A text message that read: "Do you find Miracle Whip's insistence that it's an "edgy condiment" as bizarre as I do?" which lead to a five minute discussion of how annoying the campaign is - at least to Cassandra and me.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">What camp are you in? Are you an outsider? Radical and ready to challenge the world with your bold decision to use Miracle Whip? Or are you old-skool and enjoy the refined ("boring" according to Kraft) taste of mayonnaise? As I write this, I'm eating french fries with mayo to dip. I guess you know which camp I'm in. ;)</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Don't fall prey to crazy ad campaigns people! Take it from a marketing and advertising professional. Find brands you can believe in and choose your products wisely. My words of wisdom for today.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">- Alex</span></div>
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Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-13026565916422109522014-04-24T15:23:00.000-05:002014-04-24T16:51:27.921-05:00FreshnessWhile <a href="http://mightydistractible.blogspot.com/2014/04/how-does-my-garden-grow.html" target="_blank">Alex has had hands itchy to get out in the dirt and plant</a>, my spring fever has manifested in a different way. Open windows, the sound of rain, and the familiar chirps of birds back from their southern vacation inspire me to clean and sew.<script type="text/javascript">
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My studio was the focus of my most recent cleaning frenzy. Walls washed, stash organized (as best it could be), and clutter begone! It now feels delicious to be in this space.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc12HaWYu6kp_1VLhO1Fp9RV6fA6hlAK-shU7FpJ5-SVW-jXA_k0qFF0JxY9U4WSAkvWGxFbZQ9uYMT25LC9rRv-fSiyXwtuE9sk2ft1uBYEwNH3ysRT455q_Jz0k5fNr7cIFW9ZML0nL/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc12HaWYu6kp_1VLhO1Fp9RV6fA6hlAK-shU7FpJ5-SVW-jXA_k0qFF0JxY9U4WSAkvWGxFbZQ9uYMT25LC9rRv-fSiyXwtuE9sk2ft1uBYEwNH3ysRT455q_Jz0k5fNr7cIFW9ZML0nL/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes you have to make a mess to get things clean.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
All I want to do is bind fabric with thread. Quilts, garments...you name it! Cotton yardage feels especially crisp and fresh in my hands. (Damn, I sound like one sick individual!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcDzWPW34TvJ93WukmnaNaMGaAdphfmgsEgKqtoMl0GhAIUy_YBW7qHdnlW8gAtklv-ONPl2GCVYpcZwtaGXgN3W3TCE5dEUxAAJIVOwU8hZUoG2P-ygb_YIL36HeXNG9cgKhNcomemRI/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcDzWPW34TvJ93WukmnaNaMGaAdphfmgsEgKqtoMl0GhAIUy_YBW7qHdnlW8gAtklv-ONPl2GCVYpcZwtaGXgN3W3TCE5dEUxAAJIVOwU8hZUoG2P-ygb_YIL36HeXNG9cgKhNcomemRI/s1600/photo.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhh...I can breathe in here...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I've also been loving hand-sewing. Needle, floss, and the tight drum of an embroidery hoop have been just right while I'm watching a movie or sitting on a park bench at the playground.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwfTsriZExuTE02V7xPPFdZilanxuzsZ_V4G6tqkvPqAt2RvF4N_DdtKURIYiZcALEHMAH9Lg5_k2rTS0HxlvEEj6TPfRfRV2OhznGysLa4StYcRPLkf_pwo_I5BUISvOAPAiZ83B4rkJ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwfTsriZExuTE02V7xPPFdZilanxuzsZ_V4G6tqkvPqAt2RvF4N_DdtKURIYiZcALEHMAH9Lg5_k2rTS0HxlvEEj6TPfRfRV2OhznGysLa4StYcRPLkf_pwo_I5BUISvOAPAiZ83B4rkJ/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicory coffee and handwork, yes please!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqbbtMo_AkNiaQ_dQjhfNGfbbpJiUypabZlCxt5MhUXBXnnqOKSeW-rbe2oqCZ1Td1Oa4OTS8_qWShVX_E-bTQnqvHFYGIqJDsJNVX25DjkXfvsBBXXhAY_AwRerkMc-9PJfiLRbZbyzG/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZqbbtMo_AkNiaQ_dQjhfNGfbbpJiUypabZlCxt5MhUXBXnnqOKSeW-rbe2oqCZ1Td1Oa4OTS8_qWShVX_E-bTQnqvHFYGIqJDsJNVX25DjkXfvsBBXXhAY_AwRerkMc-9PJfiLRbZbyzG/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chain stitch is like a little meditation.</td></tr>
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I've picked up my knitting, but yarn is too heavy. Maybe it is me trying to shake off the dregs of the recent arctic blast...I don't know. But the knitting needles are not calling me.<br />
<br />
Peace,<br />
<br />
Cassandra<br />
<br />
PS: In the image of my little embroidery toolkit above, you will see the best marking pen in the known world. It's the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dritz-667-Tailors-Marking-Set/dp/B0052WSQHK/ref=sr_1_4?s=arts-crafts&ie=UTF8&qid=1398369160&sr=1-4&keywords=dritz+marking+pen" target="_blank">Dritz Tailor's Marking Pen</a>. Yowza...it is one of my favorite tools now. Makes a nice, sharp, dark line (in either white or blue) that comes off as easily as it goes on. I know it's more expensive, but it's worth every penny.<br />
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Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-27034732173696385392014-04-22T11:24:00.000-05:002014-04-22T12:16:04.080-05:00How Does My Garden Grow?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This week my garden grows in bags. :)</div>
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In case you missed it, this cool gardening tactic has been making the rounds on Facebook lately. Bag gardening isn't new - just do a Google search and you'll yield thousands of results. However, the blog post that has been referenced on FB presents the idea in what I think is a better way. It brings the height of the garden up to waist level (for me, anyway) and out of the reach of the voracious bunnies that live in my neighborhood.</div>
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So here, in pictures, is my adventure in bag gardening. Easy to do - took me one shopping trip and about a half hour to plant. I'll post updates as the bags grow (or don't!). And please, send us pics if you do this too. I'd love to see your results.</div>
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- Alex</div>
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Shopping list:</div>
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2 wooden sawhorses (Home Depot) - $19 ea - reusable for many jobs</div>
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1 piece of cow fencing - cut to 3' widths (Farm & Fleet) - $20 for eight finished cuts</div>
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4 one cubic foot bags of garden soil (Home Depot) - $5 ea</div>
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Seeds for shallow rooted plants (herbs, greens, etc)</div>
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You'll also need a utility knife or some other sharp knife or scissors.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKQ6DZpRy2qAfLWcuwmKBXbCnGXv8ZqxMb5FYBm85TpxEABoZKpFLsOL8crWZaDOSa02bo1e07MFE1qppmWhqxpBlYFehW8nDaBkcSINCq8uAYtuh3zO4QJBvc78Mq-0PFmOnS0tcUCqq/s1600/image+(1).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKQ6DZpRy2qAfLWcuwmKBXbCnGXv8ZqxMb5FYBm85TpxEABoZKpFLsOL8crWZaDOSa02bo1e07MFE1qppmWhqxpBlYFehW8nDaBkcSINCq8uAYtuh3zO4QJBvc78Mq-0PFmOnS0tcUCqq/s1600/image+(1).jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is what cow-fencing looks like.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ReNZseHhguSeZdDc0Yv2eQDXiwKHd0GGF9JhOJOABmSl5bGHe76tkSpielmuyywvJbxYVHftaGF08AC_EGOxy3LwBjnjtD4mWZHeofHlNoMWUz-Dp5oeabwRAW88nIbvZMVstZ8Jtos-/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ReNZseHhguSeZdDc0Yv2eQDXiwKHd0GGF9JhOJOABmSl5bGHe76tkSpielmuyywvJbxYVHftaGF08AC_EGOxy3LwBjnjtD4mWZHeofHlNoMWUz-Dp5oeabwRAW88nIbvZMVstZ8Jtos-/s1600/image.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two sawhorses, one cut of cow-fencing, holds four bags of soil.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9Uc8sKKpYOKGmjG8PHZEY5nKq8JLOUsRzwJ8rl_OXjhzL9trlwrb7UZHX4jBc7zWNGZhU_sHoKW0dpFtByr1qVScpJ-lq1fGkM84OwKqDTruIewKrIVvuow1WSS0UdnjxyQGTOZ_4YiH/s1600/image+%25281%2529.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9Uc8sKKpYOKGmjG8PHZEY5nKq8JLOUsRzwJ8rl_OXjhzL9trlwrb7UZHX4jBc7zWNGZhU_sHoKW0dpFtByr1qVScpJ-lq1fGkM84OwKqDTruIewKrIVvuow1WSS0UdnjxyQGTOZ_4YiH/s1600/image+%25281%2529.jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poke holes in the bottom of the bags for drainage.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASpa_HgDxK7pl9uf0xu6XJljxGFBBMCEGtPVpz2Nnt10VzzoJXd3tvb0WlrWJFPeof95n247YSISWjdcbgmWuV0Sh-1fMImAdDKs94QcoBuSlJQT22MmHOySXm9-8LCmnqPBeaLhQhJ3G/s1600/image+(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjASpa_HgDxK7pl9uf0xu6XJljxGFBBMCEGtPVpz2Nnt10VzzoJXd3tvb0WlrWJFPeof95n247YSISWjdcbgmWuV0Sh-1fMImAdDKs94QcoBuSlJQT22MmHOySXm9-8LCmnqPBeaLhQhJ3G/s1600/image+(2).jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cut open the top of the bag, leaving about a 2"-4" border.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFcR-zKu1vgZoYnSyHCmfW2413nLHTyEiet0SkO3ZtReAqHoOC-xS5go4_LFiEPNckJg_uVWsnDzUJKAFA_NYht7eMfDAwD2Pg6XoOTwYvc4bOXQMV2Opvv9AFgB98Dy5E_xp2reX3Zua/s1600/image+(3).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkFcR-zKu1vgZoYnSyHCmfW2413nLHTyEiet0SkO3ZtReAqHoOC-xS5go4_LFiEPNckJg_uVWsnDzUJKAFA_NYht7eMfDAwD2Pg6XoOTwYvc4bOXQMV2Opvv9AFgB98Dy5E_xp2reX3Zua/s1600/image+(3).jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like this. Leave the "flaps".</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRLD_UN4p29Ov0ajoV5qDPxX8yvexNLyCbZJE4WKvs8jEU-M6oVVjk9Y7Zx3vii8NhJ07VC3hdEQPxVIwWGBLDshNc6kJIvd5uCq1oJUFUEBZL7GgtiQIA5ytNOfxmA94b3Utlz-bSIG2/s1600/image+(4).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRLD_UN4p29Ov0ajoV5qDPxX8yvexNLyCbZJE4WKvs8jEU-M6oVVjk9Y7Zx3vii8NhJ07VC3hdEQPxVIwWGBLDshNc6kJIvd5uCq1oJUFUEBZL7GgtiQIA5ytNOfxmA94b3Utlz-bSIG2/s1600/image+(4).jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loosen the soil.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddb-mB1Os2kiQJu-YSvlGCxx_1Qcyv7DQnZTsLe36oEN6x66vAaXWhrYt3A20AYQzWC8o0CbfA0rgBfDHvMwTQP8JoEiP55KDW_aR25QWJtkW5r_3wriFkBxExB26MGsX7P-EHCiSTLWB/s1600/image+(6).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddb-mB1Os2kiQJu-YSvlGCxx_1Qcyv7DQnZTsLe36oEN6x66vAaXWhrYt3A20AYQzWC8o0CbfA0rgBfDHvMwTQP8JoEiP55KDW_aR25QWJtkW5r_3wriFkBxExB26MGsX7P-EHCiSTLWB/s1600/image+(6).jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Remove and retain the top layer of soil (you'll reuse this).</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-3i6R_HtxZDK5Xxlsf_390cJdx75EJE5XihX5eZMQVVopqIRnls8wslvFDMCcf9SZzF_8GvTmf8FC-49vBmTy-aKwiEESn23g4qGxBFdAS-pJiwfKPH3YJiNyP2qOWVhF2yhXFGGOeGA/s1600/image+(5).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-3i6R_HtxZDK5Xxlsf_390cJdx75EJE5XihX5eZMQVVopqIRnls8wslvFDMCcf9SZzF_8GvTmf8FC-49vBmTy-aKwiEESn23g4qGxBFdAS-pJiwfKPH3YJiNyP2qOWVhF2yhXFGGOeGA/s1600/image+(5).jpeg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shallow-rooted seeds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1__7E3JHPj3txeITmFi2cAFle2I6_FPOati22z_1mMGW6y_BEPnf1bCN3fXnBfoP25jtk83j3kCEyPeCfisi0cBu3PPsUgoF5eJkgE5_atJd9-ynRScu-TSqnN11hoKyCRFUmI-bA_ORR/s1600/image+(7).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1__7E3JHPj3txeITmFi2cAFle2I6_FPOati22z_1mMGW6y_BEPnf1bCN3fXnBfoP25jtk83j3kCEyPeCfisi0cBu3PPsUgoF5eJkgE5_atJd9-ynRScu-TSqnN11hoKyCRFUmI-bA_ORR/s1600/image+(7).jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sow the seeds per the package instructions.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9YG1NK65SKuoFnWkGz8wzfpWuG5lX7e8ZPXDCa5pKpP3JG2fcXZGQj5GZcxOwiLrJdu8sxumSDpbSbBv-9LbhnfDhGEysZdGrS6HDlKv-wVTJFl_5WIS82tmAG6qGlKjVNwlHqzvJf49/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9YG1NK65SKuoFnWkGz8wzfpWuG5lX7e8ZPXDCa5pKpP3JG2fcXZGQj5GZcxOwiLrJdu8sxumSDpbSbBv-9LbhnfDhGEysZdGrS6HDlKv-wVTJFl_5WIS82tmAG6qGlKjVNwlHqzvJf49/s1600/image.jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Use the removed soil to cover the seeds.<br />Roll the flap up and tuck them in the sides. This provides stability.<br />I used the seed packets to mark my plantings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9kQqgylS21gG2V-aNUOv3TjBeABfeVIQR1pg3l98sLmcM6Fe-uRDNCV1SaFkrfoMH8DdgN-rYeLZ8m3wH_7rVpvcvLtGXJ_iT4tLsLti783cHL7GdYerXCmq83OmoKJxvd_aZHxlfSd6/s1600/image+(2).jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz9kQqgylS21gG2V-aNUOv3TjBeABfeVIQR1pg3l98sLmcM6Fe-uRDNCV1SaFkrfoMH8DdgN-rYeLZ8m3wH_7rVpvcvLtGXJ_iT4tLsLti783cHL7GdYerXCmq83OmoKJxvd_aZHxlfSd6/s1600/image+(2).jpeg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">My finished bag garden!</td></tr>
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Fingers crossed, I should have a fabulous garden of greens for my summer eating!<br />
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</script>Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-242705638936295932014-04-17T17:14:00.000-05:002014-04-17T17:14:53.998-05:00Garment SewingIt's been busy, busy, busy over here!<br />
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Last weekend I spent both Saturday and Sunday cleaning my studio. The place was a hot mess and it needed a heavy hand of purging and polishing. But oh, how it shines now! It's making me really itchy to spend some more time down there designing and sewing. I'm attracted to a clean room like a moth to a flame.<br />
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One of the projects on my sewing table right now is a tunic dress for me. I'm taking this amazing class taught by <a href="http://hodgepodgefarm.net/" target="_blank">Cal Patch</a> on <a href="http://www.creativebug.com/" target="_blank">Creativebug</a> where I'm learning how to do proper body measurements and draft a pattern. Yes, draft a real sewing pattern to my own measurements! In this course she's teaching the tunic, an a-line skirt, and how to draft a pattern from an existing garment that you love. The tunic and the skirt are very basic but she goes through the process of modifying them to suit your taste with collars and waistbands, ruffles, etc.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zfAtkG6Dn73fodSUQeDdvUyzhBcMRD7UTGh3TKQZupePJTtFi9y0vSFIn2hZfsR1XNS8upN4dCDdeF2Toft_5o3kiTTHK2bi1mhpKu804-yJnqT7zlh-0JWPhc85hHcS9j9lOVOxnnvF/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zfAtkG6Dn73fodSUQeDdvUyzhBcMRD7UTGh3TKQZupePJTtFi9y0vSFIn2hZfsR1XNS8upN4dCDdeF2Toft_5o3kiTTHK2bi1mhpKu804-yJnqT7zlh-0JWPhc85hHcS9j9lOVOxnnvF/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drafting a sleeve under Cal's tutelage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I've always wanted to learn how to design my own garments properly. And the instruction in this class is just what I needed. Very hands-on and the technical information is explained in plain talk. Learning these basic rules of pattern design has really given me a lot of confidence. Expect to see me strolling down the avenue in something original this summer! (And surely talking your ear off about it here, ahem)<br />
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I've also been sewing up some quilt blocks that I've never tried before. It's going well, I've learned a ton. Expect a new quilt block tutorial here very soon!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEGCLtYBBcN3jPp9AyE3olJx9hdLW0nkQUPaF4yaR8ZDRIAcXeMB9YKOojNfTo0ZnAOGhMUlzuUrnui_ikFXIdKrwiceaSu4hPqGArz1nUWdq6t5LqTUGyJGu73uK4mTh2gD0QzProcUc/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpEGCLtYBBcN3jPp9AyE3olJx9hdLW0nkQUPaF4yaR8ZDRIAcXeMB9YKOojNfTo0ZnAOGhMUlzuUrnui_ikFXIdKrwiceaSu4hPqGArz1nUWdq6t5LqTUGyJGu73uK4mTh2gD0QzProcUc/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is a close-up sneak-peek!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Have a beautiful day,<br />
<br />
Cassandra<br />
<br />
PS - Cal Patch also has a great book on pattern design <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Design-Yourself-Clothes-Patternmaking-Simplified/dp/0307451399/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1248062013&sr=1-1" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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</script>Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-70661250327912777892014-04-15T13:26:00.000-05:002014-04-15T13:41:39.102-05:00For The Love of BeesYou know it's spring if Alex is posting about bees - even though Wisconsin woke up to 1.5" of snow on the ground this morning!! WTH?<script type="text/javascript">
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Here's what this morning looked like:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdesT9ybpfUITi_H3AGDiiWxLb9fFnZIHpETGDoArYCIMqBfH90KtwuJo9Egw1nhc4wxOcqFDjdlfrkwckD3QXzFt_V7HRa9HlA7VcWhFrHDeLZ3QO-kU8Y5K8wNqSbTWfTP7xeIU8JZR/s1600/snow4-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdesT9ybpfUITi_H3AGDiiWxLb9fFnZIHpETGDoArYCIMqBfH90KtwuJo9Egw1nhc4wxOcqFDjdlfrkwckD3QXzFt_V7HRa9HlA7VcWhFrHDeLZ3QO-kU8Y5K8wNqSbTWfTP7xeIU8JZR/s1600/snow4-15.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Muskrat John</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bnEmEp7GUoC6s8ns3shyphenhyphenE5INc0yf-U-qGUf5CaveBEymWSmszxIiZs-J-WRyUyf8JbWL8-u7ygR4LjincwpuwPnCby7Z3IHdv6XQppPE5SZcFB_WHDhoABU-Gg7i-TnEtdgA2uPM1ada/s1600/bunnysnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5bnEmEp7GUoC6s8ns3shyphenhyphenE5INc0yf-U-qGUf5CaveBEymWSmszxIiZs-J-WRyUyf8JbWL8-u7ygR4LjincwpuwPnCby7Z3IHdv6XQppPE5SZcFB_WHDhoABU-Gg7i-TnEtdgA2uPM1ada/s1600/bunnysnow.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Muskrat John</td></tr>
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Seriously. It's April 15. I love Wisconsin but this must be some kind of cosmic joke.<br />
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Anyway, on to happier subjects... BEES!</div>
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As you all probably know, I started my first hive last year. If you're interested in reading (or re-reading) about my adventure, here are the posts: <a href="http://mightydistractible.blogspot.com/2013/06/home-home-at-last-part-one.html" target="_blank">Home At Last (Part 1)</a>; <a href="http://mightydistractible.blogspot.com/2013/07/home-home-at-last-part-two.html" target="_blank">Home At Last (Part 2)</a>. Also, this is a fun post about keeping the bees: <a href="http://mightydistractible.blogspot.com/2013/09/feeding-bees.html" target="_blank">Feeding Bees</a>.<br />
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So, last year I didn't actually get my bees into their hive until mid-June. This is super-late in the summer if you're a bee-keeper as it only gave them about 10 weeks to build up to a critical mass strong enough to survive a brutal Wisconsin winter. Add to that the fact that my bees "lost" their queen partway through the summer and started over with a new queen and I'll bet you can guess what happened... The hive died.<br />
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There may be nothing as sad as a hive full of dead bees. It was heartbreaking. Fortunately, I anticipated that this might happen and put in an order for a 2 lbs "package" of bees. This is, quite literally, a box of bees with the queen in a separate box. Like this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXT8jTHEtLj_NSF4kOD4fQflXsM5z7N_WiOdC5SZE9jwGPjbVVekxD3w3bVh9blfjWlnNMPo8H_Bruck7nMDjTr93pUHmVVfAQyVv-8G8Bp1K_oPGshJ8du48MRviJrQvcrg4AXFs7G0L/s1600/queeninbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheXT8jTHEtLj_NSF4kOD4fQflXsM5z7N_WiOdC5SZE9jwGPjbVVekxD3w3bVh9blfjWlnNMPo8H_Bruck7nMDjTr93pUHmVVfAQyVv-8G8Bp1K_oPGshJ8du48MRviJrQvcrg4AXFs7G0L/s1600/queeninbox.jpg" height="276" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, I cleaned out the hive, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoOk2UXP0eI" target="_blank">watched a video on how to install a package</a>, and went to pick them up.<br />
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Side story... my dogs went with me out to the farm to pick up the bees. They had a blast running around the grounds and smelling all the smells. They refused to go anywhere near the outbuilding where the packaged bees were - they know the sound of bees and they avoid them. :) Then, I loaded the dogs in the car, brushed the bees off the outside of the box, and put the box into the way-back of my station wagon. The dogs could hear the buzzing and totally freaked out. They spent 10 minutes of the drive home in a panic, watching over their heads for flying stingers. Poor pumpkins.<br />
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My new bees are beautiful. They're golden-yellow, fat, and super-docile. They took to the hive right away - immediately cleaning, foraging, and just generally being bees. After a few days, I released the queen from her box and she disappeared into the hive. At some point in the next week or so, I'll take the boxes apart and try to find her - just to make sure she's doing her queenly duties.<br />
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I'm pretty sure that my bees are either Italian or Buckfast - two of the breed types of honey bees. These two types are yellow, like mine. The Carniolan bees are mostly black and much smaller. Here's a great article on the types of bees and their traits: <a href="http://backyardbuzz.wordpress.com/major-types-of-honeybees/" target="_blank">Major Types of Honeybees</a>.<br />
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Finally, here are a few pictures I took about a week after they were installed in their new home. I'll keep you all posted on how things are going this summer. I like to think that, because I got an earlier start and I'm blessed with such healthy bees, I might actually build up a hive that will survive next winter. Fingers crossed!<br />
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- Alex<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheF7EuiMf9LSDTvCk6U4pAUpu6Zv_jDK9pfny0L1AVRfrhEOpq1bR6kf-Gm4rPmJKF1kOxEUbTz-RWU6zQXOgw9dBCxuX85QWiXwhtaZAGoFYPd6QIzdBFA1gh032Ve9UaPYbi7AHMczG/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheF7EuiMf9LSDTvCk6U4pAUpu6Zv_jDK9pfny0L1AVRfrhEOpq1bR6kf-Gm4rPmJKF1kOxEUbTz-RWU6zQXOgw9dBCxuX85QWiXwhtaZAGoFYPd6QIzdBFA1gh032Ve9UaPYbi7AHMczG/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying the sun</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pollen patty and sugar syrup - YUM</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstEuNphA92TXjoWZsF1li6mIk12sfmy9pRBAgdLoyIhhiajKqZaeRVDte9kGqWX9d5mx_KZtoa-kzE1IyJkInw38lHEV1vKklZnJ6k1Kf36n0NN7i4s08YweozI0eGR-uAEOI_FarmfGy/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjstEuNphA92TXjoWZsF1li6mIk12sfmy9pRBAgdLoyIhhiajKqZaeRVDte9kGqWX9d5mx_KZtoa-kzE1IyJkInw38lHEV1vKklZnJ6k1Kf36n0NN7i4s08YweozI0eGR-uAEOI_FarmfGy/s1600/photo+4.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a mid-day meal</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5VRaTqjasDrBjzi3c3OWtne8E7Q60Zdp-i3N6yxxeWGLFfRZp0izPmv-xUX54KKL3J7Rs3Wqh-q1M07QmjrqSlUH2K63KQB-0yM_-jGvYr0rNiIFJC3jhEmxwz53HjJnJFI5V16x44AV/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5VRaTqjasDrBjzi3c3OWtne8E7Q60Zdp-i3N6yxxeWGLFfRZp0izPmv-xUX54KKL3J7Rs3Wqh-q1M07QmjrqSlUH2K63KQB-0yM_-jGvYr0rNiIFJC3jhEmxwz53HjJnJFI5V16x44AV/s1600/photo+5.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the new person</td></tr>
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Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-42975378487389514402014-04-10T14:46:00.000-05:002014-04-10T14:46:54.524-05:00Walt DisneyI'll tell you, I was a big Bugs Bunny fan as a kid. If you would have posed the "Bugs Bunny or Mickey Mouse?" question to me..it would have been Bugs all the way. He had so much personality, and Disney cartoons...well, they just didn't have the same sass.<br />
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<i>Disclaimer: this attitude did not reflect my attitude toward Disney live action. I couldn't get enough Mary Poppins, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, or Parent Trap when I was little.</i><br />
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But now that I'm all grown up, I see the artistry of Walt Disney animation in a whole new light. This shift actually began when my daughter was about four, and her very favorite movie was <i>Snow White</i>. I had never actually seen it...and well...it was just <i>lovely</i>. No other way to say it. You could see the hand in the animation and the care taken to block out every frame with artistic balance. My mind had been changed.<br />
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Sure, I could take or leave some of the more recent animated Disney efforts, but there is a special place in my heart for the original classics like <i>Snow White, Pinocchio</i>, or <i>Peter Pan</i>.<br />
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I was fortunate enough to get to see a <a href="http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/treasures-of-the-walt-disney-archives/" target="_blank">traveling exhibit of treasures of the Walt Disney archives</a> in Chicago last month. That (mostly hand-made) collection of props, models, and original artwork on display reinforced my newish respect for Disney.<br />
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Take a look at what really caught my eye:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3EJJikhWGSHkXXa4A3YSSljNQod06ss3Bp8fdWCJNeJmKjll2s2SnF02Fx54LdGXyG7l6zPCRBEuocadkax4toMqICn3kPz7j_YqH6eXwFtJbA6KsAnS-OUU82U9zZOaeigouahP-qlY/s1600/20000Leagues.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw3EJJikhWGSHkXXa4A3YSSljNQod06ss3Bp8fdWCJNeJmKjll2s2SnF02Fx54LdGXyG7l6zPCRBEuocadkax4toMqICn3kPz7j_YqH6eXwFtJbA6KsAnS-OUU82U9zZOaeigouahP-qlY/s1600/20000Leagues.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a hand-made prop of the submarine from <i>20,000 Leagues Under the Sea</i>. It was absolutely stunning. I could have sat there all day and just counted the rivets.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U4lRYIGrJUOGNxFLM6geI7l-Rr3jCup-fBi5YNW_4tHHU5nbUmIs-PNBYvJKkvtZqooGOkepvWCwINnctMOBvVtlS4GNfaVVkVIq-RSBIk_IvMX6ThLpce08xlV5zsnW9YwOKzNdBNBe/s1600/DisneyDraftingTable.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7U4lRYIGrJUOGNxFLM6geI7l-Rr3jCup-fBi5YNW_4tHHU5nbUmIs-PNBYvJKkvtZqooGOkepvWCwINnctMOBvVtlS4GNfaVVkVIq-RSBIk_IvMX6ThLpce08xlV5zsnW9YwOKzNdBNBe/s1600/DisneyDraftingTable.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is an actual early Disney animation desk. It is a work of art in itself.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLn1b_NTWxhrIZ1BACbSrBWBSWxWYTvOrlSAJzUrMMWmeyEab9zQaKme9cRMAYDOTjkXxQIEs1juE5h10wuVOSXOrhfydDf94MBJBeq_YGroIac3bMlGDTPqToodyBTgOIWB-DdAdpVwu/s1600/Mouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLn1b_NTWxhrIZ1BACbSrBWBSWxWYTvOrlSAJzUrMMWmeyEab9zQaKme9cRMAYDOTjkXxQIEs1juE5h10wuVOSXOrhfydDf94MBJBeq_YGroIac3bMlGDTPqToodyBTgOIWB-DdAdpVwu/s1600/Mouse.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a close-up of an original Disney animation title card. I was knocked out by the subtle color pops in the shading.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZblYrlg1TD-xN3S25Wew81JacPYZfi-WSucU96JUOm0EDYntAK_GO1hUbrhiQ1Kjv9Y2Cnb4wIlQvBxyp3Hc1ivUuL791Yg9GrbDVBjnDx8ySpaPTxN-O6E9Gyqhn_GeFtUHnz_xBJ04/s1600/Pinnocio.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5ZblYrlg1TD-xN3S25Wew81JacPYZfi-WSucU96JUOm0EDYntAK_GO1hUbrhiQ1Kjv9Y2Cnb4wIlQvBxyp3Hc1ivUuL791Yg9GrbDVBjnDx8ySpaPTxN-O6E9Gyqhn_GeFtUHnz_xBJ04/s1600/Pinnocio.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If only I could have stolen this beautiful background painting from <i>Pinocchio</i>...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PpRySRqQDfy6lwHCrPC4vjb7PYcFFIapes6CbkOO_SoCdQ8YJ8I1QHRdliMifXrS_7ygxtA1HyhjHnzUqZmUENR5SRLLcQJxwZe2Nnc6ye4QDglMEgmb-WE7AjAIUi_x4k8E7ml8FFIU/s1600/SnowWhiteBodice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PpRySRqQDfy6lwHCrPC4vjb7PYcFFIapes6CbkOO_SoCdQ8YJ8I1QHRdliMifXrS_7ygxtA1HyhjHnzUqZmUENR5SRLLcQJxwZe2Nnc6ye4QDglMEgmb-WE7AjAIUi_x4k8E7ml8FFIU/s1600/SnowWhiteBodice.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is part of the costume worn by the artists model who posed live and on video for the animators reference on Snow White. My gosh it was beautifully sewn. (It was tiny. Had to be a size 0.)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeY9vGVH9bAbP7SAqtZrxQ7LBgBJJExteTfP1oypKyoCf5xj-vTM5iahM-s0nkx5CifnsxtJbjttDOUPB-NlDAubpJYbSsjhWI8TZoy4GtqXpbddohyHLJAy7zGvkmujy44SNhJolY70H/s1600/DepthCamera.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUeY9vGVH9bAbP7SAqtZrxQ7LBgBJJExteTfP1oypKyoCf5xj-vTM5iahM-s0nkx5CifnsxtJbjttDOUPB-NlDAubpJYbSsjhWI8TZoy4GtqXpbddohyHLJAy7zGvkmujy44SNhJolY70H/s1600/DepthCamera.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hard to see, but this is a contraption where they slid in painted clear glass panels and then shot through with the camera for a 3D effect. This one was used on their first animated feature, <i>Snow White</i>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8nIYcMFSEQzEe9tqllOMMJxCRV3LMnNr6ozzMPsl0esnZbniBRIZeWn7hnCBJtfIoTZscqAdGnkgINukyTJ-dwkXnYXF4KfKoBOtRs0T9-4ia9qi-L8IauHPOI5AWxVgSE7wvVzkb3LU/s1600/SnowWhiteBook.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM8nIYcMFSEQzEe9tqllOMMJxCRV3LMnNr6ozzMPsl0esnZbniBRIZeWn7hnCBJtfIoTZscqAdGnkgINukyTJ-dwkXnYXF4KfKoBOtRs0T9-4ia9qi-L8IauHPOI5AWxVgSE7wvVzkb3LU/s1600/SnowWhiteBook.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The book at the opening of Snow White was carved out of wood by hand and gilded.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QRX36U-iv8uvVx7qIdzPYsXFau1RdcR9H_qAee13mDfHcvZjbJCX3-fMxhEUKM9Sy1ghzUVHpSoWG7yb_nXoJEp0jWnmc8TS6nGLqaxve8KEdRpngdAjgySWoqF65yAp-_N65o52-VF3/s1600/Storyboards.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6QRX36U-iv8uvVx7qIdzPYsXFau1RdcR9H_qAee13mDfHcvZjbJCX3-fMxhEUKM9Sy1ghzUVHpSoWG7yb_nXoJEp0jWnmc8TS6nGLqaxve8KEdRpngdAjgySWoqF65yAp-_N65o52-VF3/s1600/Storyboards.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Storyboards for the penguin scene in <i>Mary Poppins</i>. Again, I could have studied this all day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdD66SYtsMD2BvlsY4FKD5476Em8tJf7PtYy0CzVF_VjbrgFn4rrsdk7F7Ols3NG_0iaUfDccgh7RT8M9w1S6RKeuiVhePlGjTTeYneV0BPkGteHFxXcS7bC3c1fKj7Cxe94ZpmkmxtMl/s1600/CarpetBag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdD66SYtsMD2BvlsY4FKD5476Em8tJf7PtYy0CzVF_VjbrgFn4rrsdk7F7Ols3NG_0iaUfDccgh7RT8M9w1S6RKeuiVhePlGjTTeYneV0BPkGteHFxXcS7bC3c1fKj7Cxe94ZpmkmxtMl/s1600/CarpetBag.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't need to tell you what this is.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBObJF1ckQBJ_EtrQnsCnUQQfO7G7VjHOTOK7FnMqUaSpKJbbw7s3SnThu1KR6mmI7q7VwoszrHVl0rQzOb0EQJ6X9l7DQj3GGcYifPGp2OvdXoULzIcf1Rv8fiPDYeoYLGtP6XFhIvODv/s1600/MaryPoppins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBObJF1ckQBJ_EtrQnsCnUQQfO7G7VjHOTOK7FnMqUaSpKJbbw7s3SnThu1KR6mmI7q7VwoszrHVl0rQzOb0EQJ6X9l7DQj3GGcYifPGp2OvdXoULzIcf1Rv8fiPDYeoYLGtP6XFhIvODv/s1600/MaryPoppins.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Or this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The color harmony, hand lettering, and composition took my breath away on this poster for an early Disney short.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFwl09AjE8A9nfzd1nmV1ea763YOPdV2YNHSBxRVFW-1vPK_MBq0Vxu-dkgSL1F221o6veov2by_tsfL2KQT9MfOXZ5PUgkaAP3EyCIrzAKuuG-uVYAnBKovl5MK9-La6PiGRXKe32WH8/s1600/AliceHem.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFwl09AjE8A9nfzd1nmV1ea763YOPdV2YNHSBxRVFW-1vPK_MBq0Vxu-dkgSL1F221o6veov2by_tsfL2KQT9MfOXZ5PUgkaAP3EyCIrzAKuuG-uVYAnBKovl5MK9-La6PiGRXKe32WH8/s1600/AliceHem.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the hem of Alice's skirt from the recent Alice in Wonderland. Yeah...I'm calling them out on that machine embroidery. Tisk-tisk.</td></tr>
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If you get a chance to go see this exhibit yourself, please do! It's worth the price of admission.<br />
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–Cassandra<br />
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PS - I still love Bugs Bunny too! I mean really, everything I ever learned about <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM4lJKfu5Mg" target="_blank">opera</a> was from him.<script type="text/javascript">
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</script>Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-50442798360450632782014-04-03T13:48:00.001-05:002014-04-03T13:48:11.488-05:00The Magicians: Book ReviewReading is such a wonderful escape. A good book can transport you to new worlds, teach you new things, and generally broaden your world view in the most entertaining way. But who has time to read? <div>
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My friend Jessica is the most voracious reader I know. Whether from paper, e-reader, or audio, Jess can consumer multiple books in any given week. She puts me to shame. Cassandra has taken to listening to audio books while she's doing her graphic design so she can get through a lot more "reading" than I do. Writers can't really listen to other words while trying to construct words that make sense. :) Regardless, I still love to read and try to carve out time for at least one book a month - which covers my book club selections if nothing else.</div>
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So, when I go on vacation I use that time to hunker down and read a lot. For some reason, television doesn't hold the same interest when I'm away - probably because I don't have TiVo - so I take my escapism elsewhere. This trip I read a book called The Magicians by Lev Grossman.</div>
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It's an interesting thing when an author borrows so heavily from other, well-known works. The Magicians (and the sequel, The Magician King) have been rightly called Harry Potter for grown-ups. But I'd throw in a giant dollop of Narnia on top of that.</div>
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The basic premise is this, Quentin Coldwater is a geeky, out-of-place high-school senior who is mysteriously whisked away to Brakebills College (a magical college, of course) to take an entrance exam. Upon being accepted, Quentin's world opens up and he begins his life away from home - including all the drinking, sex, and experimentation that most college students experience. This is why it's NOT a book for your kids. :) There are, as you'd expect, the requisite oddball teachers, friends and enemies and frienemies</div>
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In addition to the on-campus, magical adventures, there are also the trips home to the "straight" world and lots of musings in Quentin's head that sound like the musings of any 18-21 year old who's trying to find himself. There are spells to be learned and tasks to be undertaken. There are crushes and heartbreaks and friendships that will last a lifetime. And, on top of all this, there's the constant reference to a set of children's books that are about a place called Fillory (read: Narnia). The correlations between Fillory and Narnia are sort of ridiculously obvious - way more so than the correlations between Brakebills and Hogwarts. But the books play an important part in the development of these kids and ultimately in their post-college future. </div>
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The Amazon.com reviews are very mixed. I noticed that a lot of people got annoyed with Quentin, which I found amusing. To me, he was no different than my son at that age - the setting was just different. He's full of angst and unrest. He's completely unsure of his future and often frustrated, angry, or just stupid in his decision making. I think a lot of people weren't crazy about how similar it was to Harry Potter and/or Narnia but, frankly, that didn't bother me much. The fact that the kids were older made the entire tone more adult. And it's probably important to note that, unlike Potter, there's little time spent on how the magic actually works except in the vaguest sort of way. The story is more about the characters and their growth.</div>
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Regardless of the "faults" in the story, the story-telling is solid. Grossman paints a vivid picture of Brakebills, the magic, and the adventures. He's captured truth in Quentin and the rest of the characters. And, despite the length of the book, it's a fast(ish) and engrossing read. </div>
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I've got about 20 pages left in the book but the big twist at the end has just been revealed and it was interesting. I'm already looking forward to reading the sequel and will post a review when I'm done with it. </div>
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Happy reading!</div>
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- Alex </div>
Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-59092924130157063192014-04-01T13:13:00.001-05:002014-04-01T13:18:39.179-05:00Birdie Sling - Pattern ReviewThis weekend, my cousin and I stayed up to the wee hours sewing for ourselves. I tell you...it felt great! We drank pots and pots of tea, had <a href="http://metvnetwork.com/schedule/2014-4-5" target="_blank">MeTV's awesome Saturday night lineup</a> as background noise, and laughed and sewed all night long. What did we make? Gorgeous purses!<br />
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After an exhaustive <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> idea search, we settled on <a href="http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/patterns_display.php?id=37" target="_blank">Amy Butler's Birdie Sling</a>. A trip to the fabric store (or two...ugh) later we were set to sew. Well, sewing after we cut out the pattern pieces for a couple hours. Wow, there is a lot of interfacing to cut for this bag (two different kinds even). Not something I would skimp on in this case either. This is a <i>very large</i> purse and I think it would be too heavy to support it's shape without that extra support. <br />
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This pattern has a lot of nice details like pleats and gussets. And I do think it's those little things that make this bag as cute as it is. It is seriously adorable. And now that I've been carrying it for a few days, I'm head-over-heels with the single large strap and large inside pockets.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiPdXbF05G1CJtR8CVCUWxbYlf9o6buAx6GUsb_XqnpFxI8h2HT1Umq7LStez2Ay0ZKAFA-GbdpnSbP28A2tYt6e_fGeJCJkKNObXeMsy7m8Xzy1cNT56whIx7barA58s2WJvVi2a8BK0/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiPdXbF05G1CJtR8CVCUWxbYlf9o6buAx6GUsb_XqnpFxI8h2HT1Umq7LStez2Ay0ZKAFA-GbdpnSbP28A2tYt6e_fGeJCJkKNObXeMsy7m8Xzy1cNT56whIx7barA58s2WJvVi2a8BK0/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My interior pocket panel on the left, my cousin's on the right.</td></tr>
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As always, Amy Butler's written instructions are bulletproof. This is my third time using one of her patterns (<a href="http://mightydistractible.blogspot.com/2013/10/gumdrop-pillows.html" target="_blank">gumdrop pillows</a> and <a href="http://mightydistractible.blogspot.com/2013/07/frenchie-bag-deux.html" target="_blank">Frenchy Bag</a>) and I would make another in a heartbeat.<br />
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I'm such a fan of the written sewing instructions from contemporary designers, I like them a lot more than the traditional ones from companies like <a href="http://butterick.mccall.com/" target="_blank">Butterick</a> and <a href="http://www.simplicity.com/default.aspx?" target="_blank">Simplicity</a>. Patterns by folks like Amy Butler anticipate what is going to trip me up...and add extra illustration or instruction at that point. I really appreciate that, it makes those moments real learning opportunities.<br />
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Another great idea is to tackle a new pattern with a friend. My cousin and I broke up the work of pinning, sewing, and pressing between the two of us and the work just clipped along so nicely.<br />
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My fabric choices for the exterior were an <a href="http://www.hawthornethreads.com/fabric/designer/anna_maria_horner/loulouthi/summer_totem_in_strudel" target="_blank">Anna Maria Horner</a> (from my stash) and <a href="http://www.joann.com/search?q=juliana%20horner" target="_blank">Julianna Horner </a>(Ana's daughter) from <a href="http://www.joann.com/" target="_blank">JoAnne</a>. How weird is that mother-daughter combo? Completely unplanned. I lined the inside with a random calico I got from JoAnne as well. Again...why am I so surprised when I find things I like at that store??<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJ-uR9XZo_bKToD3PJhPKlha6tI4m1oXUh98zy1n1h6OBsIcIIJCjiyYDSOoofORi7T1dAt_6r_DUbU0HBg5egMQFpz1ksO0EtUl2M1G-PovJitA0ikr7dymwKSRDzgPOXE48ktYQKeoS/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJ-uR9XZo_bKToD3PJhPKlha6tI4m1oXUh98zy1n1h6OBsIcIIJCjiyYDSOoofORi7T1dAt_6r_DUbU0HBg5egMQFpz1ksO0EtUl2M1G-PovJitA0ikr7dymwKSRDzgPOXE48ktYQKeoS/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buying way more than I needed! Couldn't resist.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I don't wear such busy patterns on my clothes (usually)...but I do like my accessories to pack a little more punch. And this one looks like a <b>big</b> pop of happiness. <br />
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–CassandraCassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-80731807471617222782014-03-20T11:59:00.000-05:002014-03-20T12:35:49.593-05:00The Problem With LeftoversYes. It's another food post.<br />
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I've been woefully uncreative lately and have had a resurgence of the cooking bug. When I was down for the count with my surgeries, I couldn't go out for a lot of restaurant meals and, frankly, not a lot of food appealed to me so I got back into the kitchen. It took awhile to actually cook whole meals and not just "cook" a can of soup but, in case you haven't noticed, this has been my major distraction lately.</div>
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The good news is, today is the first day of spring which means that, soon enough, you're going to be bombarded with gardening and beekeeping posts! Woo hoo!</div>
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So, what's on the menu today? Leftovers. </div>
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Here's my problem - I hate leftovers. I throw out a lot of food because it sits in my fridge for too long (and Cassandra will tell you that I'll eat stuff that's pretty old). I just look at the containers and think, "That's not what I want to eat" or "I just had that the other day" or "That's not good reheated". So it sits until it's too old for even me to eat. I've decided that the key is to cook things that can be RE-COOKED into something new.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftzzKx-YPjzjX9BkeBnd7jXTez4ZthkywytaaZ2d1phZM-Kcpjkb4LthaWl2QF31FtrawrQyQzpuCT5BdGO5WOLqsfYMuNeCd-Ao3HISsH7TRQfWK2XPvhX3pFIHf80tIL7wWrGs9jy0_/s1600/AP307K-use-leftovers-army-cook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjftzzKx-YPjzjX9BkeBnd7jXTez4ZthkywytaaZ2d1phZM-Kcpjkb4LthaWl2QF31FtrawrQyQzpuCT5BdGO5WOLqsfYMuNeCd-Ao3HISsH7TRQfWK2XPvhX3pFIHf80tIL7wWrGs9jy0_/s1600/AP307K-use-leftovers-army-cook.jpg" height="320" width="239" /></a></div>
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Yesterday I decided that I couldn't let the half a corned beef in my fridge go to waste. I don't really care for sandwiches (too much bread) and there's no way it would reheat very well. I had cooked a "round" instead of a brisket and it was dense but a little dry. So, I decided to make corned beef hash - which a adore. While I was in the store shopping for my missing ingredients, I ran into my neighbors who were shopping for missing ingredients for reuben sandwiches. I just had to laugh. I guess we all have to get creative with leftover corned beef after St. Patty's Day.</div>
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So, I grabbed some red bell peppers and russet potatoes. Then headed over to get some Ziplock Snack Bags to portion out the remaining diced corned beef to freeze for future hash. I walked up the freezer aisle and low-and-behold what did I find? Frozen Ore-Ida O'Brien Potatoes.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb7RSAtVUNSC9JpO5mdhpoIePPQKflDbbVemfmv7csf7HKIIStL5Z0_LY9Kb4_JoXMVYi4rSdvxQObAek4rntI2FKlbvPnrC9r6ycwQGE_uWjhG83OQ5roSCibwTON3_sQ3hlrZU8eOlw/s1600/obrien.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsb7RSAtVUNSC9JpO5mdhpoIePPQKflDbbVemfmv7csf7HKIIStL5Z0_LY9Kb4_JoXMVYi4rSdvxQObAek4rntI2FKlbvPnrC9r6ycwQGE_uWjhG83OQ5roSCibwTON3_sQ3hlrZU8eOlw/s1600/obrien.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My life got easier.</td></tr>
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Holy cats! I love Ore-Ida products and here, right in front of me, was pre-cut, diced potatoes, bell peppers, and onion all in one, awesome, frozen bag. </div>
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I put the fresh produce back. (I know, I know. But it was already 6p and, by the time I'd be done dicing and cooking, I wouldn't have eaten until 8p).</div>
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Boys and girls, this was the easiest, fastest, and yummiest dinner and will be my go-to corned beef hash "recipe" forever - unless I want to get fancy or feel the need to dice stuff.</div>
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<b><u>Here's how to make it:</u></b></div>
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<ul>
<li>Dice corned beef into 1/4" cubes</li>
<li>Heat a skillet on medium high heat and cover bottom with vegetable oil (I used canola)</li>
<li><i>Pro tip: If you heat the skillet first and then add your oil, your food is less likely to stick</i></li>
<li>Put frozen O'Brien Potatoes in the skillet in a single layer</li>
<li>Cover and cook on medium high for about 10 minutes without disturbing</li>
<li>Turn the potatoes (the bottom should be lightly browned) and add the diced corned beef</li>
<li>Continue to cook until the potatoes have browned to your liking. I like there to be some crispy bits in my corned beef hash so I cook them for a while, turning every so often so that they don't burn.</li>
<li>Salt and pepper to taste</li>
</ul>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSDfUzLKYtPo_G7bNFw4ZTVryHVUYzLj7Rpj_pJHRV1oQ4NpLUJJsUPzbR_YqyfBLgmS_m8jURK2h6rM9EG5dSbCx69qLR5LPiwlJE29dCxAkm6JbakzI9RqsRiok4PxQSQNgDUEuW5GG/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuSDfUzLKYtPo_G7bNFw4ZTVryHVUYzLj7Rpj_pJHRV1oQ4NpLUJJsUPzbR_YqyfBLgmS_m8jURK2h6rM9EG5dSbCx69qLR5LPiwlJE29dCxAkm6JbakzI9RqsRiok4PxQSQNgDUEuW5GG/s1600/photo.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The finished product. YUM!!</td></tr>
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I'd say that the total cook time is probably about 20-30 minutes. As I mentioned, I put up the remaining diced corned beef in the freezer. When I make another batch, I'll probably put the corned beef in at the beginning with the potatoes since it'll be cooking from frozen as well.</div>
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Bon Appetite!</div>
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- Alex</div>
Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-90727876491365297622014-03-18T12:12:00.000-05:002014-03-18T12:12:10.093-05:00Perfectly ImperfectThis weekend my youngest celebrated his 5th birthday. I can't believe he's that old already. It seems like only yesterday he was a teeny baby. How time flies!<br />
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My littles are big fans of home-made cakes. They don't balk at store bought, but every year they kind of assume that mommy is going to make and decorate a cake to their specifications. I try my damndest to make the best cake I can...and I do<i> fairly</i> well....but these cakes are never perfect. There's always something that's a little bit off. Mind you, they taste fine. I'm talking about the aesthetics.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEv_I8ihW0ZqJoSl56imG3mgWyLtJOon7FnXOY63TGhW04DMjYNSWrSryCqXTq35ipJztVmIJI48Yvv_iq7e5n5n3nQIBfKXs7mEL8-SbivXX5TDzSEN4_q7p8XUcD58UjgMZtZY6OOisl/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEv_I8ihW0ZqJoSl56imG3mgWyLtJOon7FnXOY63TGhW04DMjYNSWrSryCqXTq35ipJztVmIJI48Yvv_iq7e5n5n3nQIBfKXs7mEL8-SbivXX5TDzSEN4_q7p8XUcD58UjgMZtZY6OOisl/s1600/photo+3.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cake cooling on my messy counter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Part of my problem is that I love cream cheese frosting and will go out of my way to use it. Even if that means I have to sacrifice the sculptural qualities of buttercream. So....it looks a little gloopy, but tastes oh-so-yummy!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9x8bsewcF7VVMf-3jOVUNTeEikKqqLFBaWQnxj5LX4X5GPfzQylnjGe3d8PI_8emA0v83DY5d2MmFeboxZ1bVLZO2pibsBBCjdqxGFTgCZtxe_-0df7R8KvOVLSgY2B3zL7QlGL8ntss/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9x8bsewcF7VVMf-3jOVUNTeEikKqqLFBaWQnxj5LX4X5GPfzQylnjGe3d8PI_8emA0v83DY5d2MmFeboxZ1bVLZO2pibsBBCjdqxGFTgCZtxe_-0df7R8KvOVLSgY2B3zL7QlGL8ntss/s1600/photo+2.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cream cheese frosting gets even runnier with food coloring.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I don't self-identify as a baker. Sure I make cakes, some breads, and <a href="http://mightydistractible.blogspot.com/2014/02/where-you-at.html" target="_blank">potica</a>. But it's not my passion. I happily follow a recipe and leave it at that. It's not the thing I think about while driving in the car or before I go to sleep, like I do with knitting, sewing, or drawing. I know folks who's baking is an art form, and I reserve the title of "baker" for them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18ioIOoByhpXJpeoSPp0CPoXYVYzUO88rYQhv7J3lCIfC7VnKFuEsAw3DboFwA1iwlbKJjIYvvCaoMZp6a2r-_gFA9y3MqOXHwXE2dFn8jrq292T1dHYdBKxI7QuMlOHJXN1fJc_zm6_i/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18ioIOoByhpXJpeoSPp0CPoXYVYzUO88rYQhv7J3lCIfC7VnKFuEsAw3DboFwA1iwlbKJjIYvvCaoMZp6a2r-_gFA9y3MqOXHwXE2dFn8jrq292T1dHYdBKxI7QuMlOHJXN1fJc_zm6_i/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I, in my own humble, fumbling way...make cakes with more heart than art. And my kids are thrilled. I call it a win. :)<br />
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Take care,<br />
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CassandraCassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-28813520813719908762014-03-13T09:34:00.000-05:002014-03-13T10:57:26.994-05:00Food, Glorious FoodLast weekend was a whirlwind of social engagements - all of which included food, of course!<br />
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Friday night was an epic restaurant meal with one of my great foodie friends. We ate at <a href="http://nostranomadison.com/" target="_blank">Nostrano</a>, a Madison favorite, and pulled out all the stops. I'm slightly embarrassed to say that we shared three appetizers, two entrees, and one dessert.<br />
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This was our menu:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h3 style="background-color: #f0e9dc; color: #262626; font-family: museo-sans-1, museo-sans-2, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<i>CELERY ROOT SOUP*</i></h3>
<div style="background-color: #f0e9dc; color: #262626; font-family: museo-sans-1, museo-sans-2, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0em; text-transform: uppercase;">
<i>GREEN APPLE | CHIVE-CREME FRAICHE | CURED MACKEREL | MARCONA ALMONDS</i></div>
<h3 style="background-color: #f0e9dc; color: #262626; font-family: museo-sans-1, museo-sans-2, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<i>SUNCHOKE SFORMATO</i></h3>
<div style="background-color: #f0e9dc; color: #262626; font-family: museo-sans-1, museo-sans-2, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0em; text-transform: uppercase;">
<i>GRILLED RADICCHIO | BOSC PEARS | SUNFLOWER SEEDS | WILLI'S BANDAGED CHEDDAR | AGED BALSAMIC</i></div>
<h3 style="background-color: #f0e9dc; color: #262626; font-family: museo-sans-1, museo-sans-2, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<i>GRILLED OCTOPUS SALAD</i></h3>
<div style="background-color: #f0e9dc; color: #262626; font-family: museo-sans-1, museo-sans-2, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0em; text-transform: uppercase;">
<i>FINGERLING POTATOES | CHICORIES | SALSA VERDE | CAPERBERRIES | TANGERINE AGRUMATO</i></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<h3 style="background-color: #f0e9dc; color: #262626; font-family: museo-sans-1, museo-sans-2, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<i>CAULIFLOWER RISOTTO*</i></h3>
<div style="background-color: #f0e9dc; color: #262626; font-family: museo-sans-1, museo-sans-2, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0em; text-transform: uppercase;">
<i>HEDGEHOG MUSHROOMS | ROMANESCO | PECORINO | CURED EGG YOLK</i></div>
<h3 style="background-color: #f0e9dc; color: #262626; font-family: museo-sans-1, museo-sans-2, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<i>GRILLED STURGEON</i></h3>
<div style="background-color: #f0e9dc; color: #262626; font-family: museo-sans-1, museo-sans-2, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0em; text-transform: uppercase;">
<i>FREGULA SARDA | LITTLENECK CLAMS | ARTICHOKES | ROASTED GARLIC | SAFFRON</i></div>
<h3 lang="en-US" style="background-color: #f0e9dc; color: #262626; font-family: museo-sans-1, museo-sans-2, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<i>AFFOGATO</i></h3>
<div lang="en-US" style="background-color: #f0e9dc; color: #262626; font-family: museo-sans-1, museo-sans-2, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 1px; line-height: 21.600000381469727px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0em; text-transform: uppercase;">
<i>CARAMEL GELATO | SEA SALT | ESPRESSO | BOMBOLINI </i></div>
</blockquote>
YUM!! Add a couple of amazing cocktails (wine for my friend) and we had a crazy-good meal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn654-ZvqnGGC-cgC10Xh-Jgj7OgMTvNo9xMRaDZyQVc7puuFELFHiOL_4so_NEx7kPZ78LlYahDXpE8mcRwHNIbda1LOex7SGFfMpYzCQTAKNpT-UDRl7ShT3ofFRpjDvEJYLHDFSVOx/s1600/garlic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpn654-ZvqnGGC-cgC10Xh-Jgj7OgMTvNo9xMRaDZyQVc7puuFELFHiOL_4so_NEx7kPZ78LlYahDXpE8mcRwHNIbda1LOex7SGFfMpYzCQTAKNpT-UDRl7ShT3ofFRpjDvEJYLHDFSVOx/s1600/garlic1.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>Saturday I had THREE parties to go to. The first is one of my favorites of the year - the annual Garlic Potluck at my friends' Tami and Tom's house. It's exactly as you imagine. Everyone has to bring a dish that includes garlic and, of course, if you're playing along the right way, it should be a LOT of garlic. Tami and I were talking about the party a couple of weeks ago and I was musing about what I should make. I had this idea that I wanted to do a white pizza with garlic but realized I couldn't make enough to feed the entire party. That idea mutated into garlic bread and, between Tami and I, we invented a recipe for the most garlic-y of all garlic breads. It was easy to make and everyone loved it. The recipe is below.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoXixFFL-eyIRWk9o8YTzZ6omTI3g3HlslVqFbIQLSNj78aEwKGBO7F587bj6BC5EG0XbcR3_v9GqxI2czGQoweYdK8w2qqb3eMoxBn1XQ9H_z54TW_TGpgaq9hyphenhyphenQnm2DckIkJQ0BaShy/s1600/bigpreview_Little+Girl+with+Balloons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoXixFFL-eyIRWk9o8YTzZ6omTI3g3HlslVqFbIQLSNj78aEwKGBO7F587bj6BC5EG0XbcR3_v9GqxI2czGQoweYdK8w2qqb3eMoxBn1XQ9H_z54TW_TGpgaq9hyphenhyphenQnm2DckIkJQ0BaShy/s1600/bigpreview_Little+Girl+with+Balloons.jpg" height="125" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(not the actual child)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The middle party was a combo birthday party for my friend and her two-year old. All I had to do was show<br />
up to that one and be tolerant of a house FULL of very small children. It was a riot. There was one little red-headed girl who insisted on holding a giant bunch of balloons. Every time her mother took them away from her, she'd have a total screaming melt-down. She really loved those balloons... The menu was primarily child-friendly snack foods and cake.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(my actual crock pot & pork)</td></tr>
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Party number three was one of two, annual beer tasting parties at my friend Andy's house. It's sort of pot-luck-ish although I was so full from my previous parties that I couldn't think about eating and just brought drinking material. Andy always provides some meat-based product as the core food and, for this party, he made pulled pork in the slow cooker. Holy cow (or pig, as it were), that was some amazing pork! So good, in fact, that I made him give me the recipe then stopped at the store on the way home and bought a pork shoulder to make for Sunday dinner. It's the simplest and tastiest pulled pork that I've had in a long time. The recipe is also below.<br />
<br />
Finally, on Sunday, we had the pulled pork with cole slaw and "parmesan potatoes", which is a derivative of a popular side dish from a local restaurant called <a href="http://www.quiveysgrove.com/" target="_blank">Quivey's Grove</a>. Again, recipe below. :)<br />
<br />
So... that was my crazy weekend of eating. It was so much fun and I really enjoyed creating some new dishes to add to my repertoire. I hope you like them too!<br />
<br />
- Alex<br />
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<b><u>Extra Garlic Garlic Bread</u></b><br />
<br />
One long loaf (or a number of rectangular "rolls") of French bread. You want a bread that's relatively soft on the outside, not a hard crust bread.<br />
5-6 heads of garlic plus a few cloves<br />
Italian seasoning<br />
Parmesan cheese<br />
Salt (if there's not already salt in your Italian seasoning)<br />
<br />
Roast the garlic. An easy way to do this that is quicker and eliminates the fuss of removing the cooked cloves from the head is to skin the cloves, place them in an aluminum foil packet, and drizzle with olive oil. Close the packet up tight and place in a 400 degree oven until the cloves are very soft and slightly caramelized.<br />
<br />
Put the roasted garlic, along with the olive oil they cooked in, into a bowl and blend smooth with an immersion blender. If you don't have an immersion blender, you can do this in a regular blender. Take the garlic paste and stir in Parmesan cheese and salt to taste.<br />
<br />
Cut the bread long-ways and place on a cookie sheet, cut side up. Brush the cut side with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Spread the garlic paste on the bread, making sure you get some paste all the way to the edges.<br />
<br />
Mince the remaining cloves of raw garlic and sprinkle on top of the garlic paste.<br />
<br />
Place in the oven and cook until the garlic paste is golden and the minced garlic has browned. Be careful not to burn the minced garlic.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork</u></b><br />
<br />
Pork shoulder roast that will fit, whole, in your slow cooker<br />
Worcestershire sauce<br />
Brown sugar<br />
Salt<br />
<br />
Pour enough Worcestershire sauce to cover the bottom of the slow cooker. Place the roast in the slow cooker and pour more sauce over it to coat all sides. (I turned the roast over and sort of rubbed the sauce all over it) Then take about a 1/2 cup of brown sugar and coat the wet roast with it. Put the cooker on low and cover. Cook for anywhere from 10 to 12 hours. Remove the roast (it'll probably come off the bone in chunks) to a large platter or cookie sheet with raised sides. Discard the bone. Using two forks, shred the pork. If there's a lot of liquid in the slow cooker, pour off all but about a 1/3 to 1/2 cup. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker, salt to taste. Turn the slow cooker to warm (if you don't have a warm setting, you can leave it on low) and leave it until it's time to eat. Serve with bbq sauce or "dry" (ie: no sauce) and top with cole slaw.<br />
<br />
I had so much of this when I was done, I've also used it for pork tacos and with eggs in the morning. It's kind of all-purpose!<br />
<br />
<b><u>Parmesan Potatoes</u></b><br />
<br />
A bag of frozen shredded hashbrowns<br />
Onion (diced)<br />
Salt<br />
Pepper<br />
Shredded Parmesan cheese<br />
<br />
Place the frozen hashbrowns in a shallow baking dish. You want the layer of potatoes to be relatively thin. Mix in diced onion, salt, and pepper to taste. Level out the potatoes so the top is pretty flat. Cover the top with shredded Parmesan cheese until you can't see potatoes through the cheese layer. Bake, uncovered, in a preheated 375 degree oven for about an hour, or until potatoes are hot and cheese is melted and golden brown.<br />
<br />
<br />Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-11567477292991343452014-03-11T13:31:00.001-05:002014-03-11T13:31:23.735-05:00In like a lion....out like a lion? I don't need to tell you that this winter has been brutal.<br />
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Yesterday we had nearly 50 degree temperatures at my house. When you stood outside you could hear water dripping or running all around. Finally. Melting snow means spring is on it's way. I know we still have a way to go...and snow is actually predicted for tonight...but we are sputtering into the finish line.<br />
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I grabbed my camera at dusk yesterday and snapped a few images of the moment. The light was so soft and beautiful. This fleeting time between seasons is the most magical to me. Much of my creative inspiration is found in the muted tones of early spring.<br />
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Taking a pause to absorb the beauty of the light inside and out left little time for dinner. Oops! Ravioli it is kids.</div>
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Peace out,</div>
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Cassandra</div>
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</script>Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-12632571293760112332014-03-06T15:38:00.001-06:002014-03-06T15:38:37.865-06:00"You're Soaking In It!"Remember that old TV commercial for Palmolive dishwashing liquid? A woman is getting a manicure and complaining about how hard the dish soap is on her hands. Madge, the manicurist touts the gentleness of Palmolive and, when the customer objects, Madge says "You're soaking in it!" and the woman freaks out and pulls her hand out of the soak. <script type="text/javascript">
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While knitting isn't quite as hard on your hands as hand-washing dishes without gloves, it is very drying - especially if you knit with wool. One would think that the lanolin in the wool would actually condition the fingers but, in my experience, it doesn't help much.</div>
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So, keeping lotions in my knitting bags has become a necessity. Cassandra made (you read that right), MADE, this awesome solid lotion. You can make your own by following her recipe, <a href="http://mightydistractible.blogspot.com/2012/10/making-your-own-hand-lotion-bars.html" target="_blank">found here</a>. </div>
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As much as I love my Cassandra-made solid lotion, my all-time favorite hand cream is <a href="http://www.nocrack.com/" target="_blank">No-Crack</a>. Crazy name, I know. But in the rough Wisconsin winters, hands crack all the time. I used to get deep, painful fissures in the sides of the index fingers and, occasionally, on the tips as well. It took me a few years to figure out that, between the cold weather, the forced-air heat, and my age, I could no longer get away without treating my hands better.</div>
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<div>
No-Crack actually works and has a really interesting origin story. Made right here in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, No-Crack started as an experiment. This copy is from the <a href="http://www.duluthtrading.com/" target="_blank">Duluth Trading Company</a> website (where you can buy the product, of course):</div>
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<i>One summer's day back in the 1940's, a woman walked into Hebberd's Drugs in LaCrosse, WI and asked for "bag balm" – a thick, greasy cream that farmers rubbed on cow's udders, to keep them from getting chafed and sore from all that squeezing and pulling. She explained she wanted it for her hands, not her cows. Enterprising young pharmacist Arthur Hebberd, the owner's son, said they didn't carry it, but he'd see what he could whip up.</i></div>
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<i><img src="http://www.duluthtrading.com/media/images/_web-assets/system_pages/PagesWithoutAHome/ArthurHebberd.jpg" style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px;" width="174" /></i><br />
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<i>Arthur Hebberd, creator of No-Crack Hand Cream</i></div>
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<i>Arthur liked to experiment with different concoctions – deodorants, perfumes, shampoos and such. Now he created a hand cream. Next time the woman came in, she tried it. "It's too greasy," she said. "I couldn't use it during the day."</i></div>
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<i>So Arthur developed a new kind of non-greasy hand cream that people could use as often as they needed to, without having to wipe away messy residue. It was a rich, heavy cream, made from lanolin, allantoin, mineral oil and other ingredients. He gave it a simple name: No-Crack® Hand Cream.</i></div>
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Arthur sold the company in 1993 and the two guys who bought it vowed (and kept their promise) to continue to produce the hand lotion just as Arthur had created it. They've added to the line - producing various scents - but I tend to always revert to the original "Unscented Day Use" cream. The "super" and "night" versions are a little too greasy for me and I find the day cream to work for all purposes.<br />
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So, if you need a really hard-core hand lotion, I highly recommend No-Crack. It's available in various places online. Happy knitting with soft hands!<br />
<br />
- AlexCassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-30954064189652059152014-03-04T14:24:00.000-06:002014-03-04T14:24:07.554-06:00King CakeHappy Fat Tuesday everyone!<br />
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My house smells divine. Two king cakes were baked last night.<br />
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What? You've never had a Mardi Gras king cake you say? Well, let me school you. According to Wikipedia:<br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;">A <b>king cake</b> (sometimes rendered as <b>kingcake</b>, <b>kings' cake</b>, <b>king's cake</b>, or <b>three kings cake</b>) is a type of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cake" title="Cake">cake</a> associated in a number of countries with the festival of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epiphany_%28holiday%29" title="Epiphany (holiday)">Epiphany</a> at the end of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas" title="Christmas">Christmas</a> season, and in other places with the pre-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lent" title="Lent">Lenten</a> celebrations of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mardi_Gras" title="Mardi Gras">Mardi Gras</a> / <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carnival" title="Carnival">Carnival</a>.</span><br />
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</span><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The cake often has a small plastic baby (said to represent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Jesus" title="Child Jesus">Baby Jesus</a>)
inside (or sometimes placed underneath), and the person who gets the
piece of cake with the trinket has various privileges and obligations.</span><br />
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Every country that celebrates with king cake seems to have their own take on it. Read <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_cake" target="_blank">here</a> for more details. The kind I make for my friends and family is of the Louisiana variety (they actually do make more than one kind in that region). It's a colorful purple-gold-green praline-filled bread confection with a little plastic baby Jesus hidden inside (I stick mine right inside, not under the slice). If you are from New Orleans, I think the person who gets the piece with the baby inside hosts the next party during the Mardi Gras season (they party for <i>way more</i> than a day down there). We don't adhere to that tradition 'round these parts...we just get excited to have a baby Jesus in our slice.<br />
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I have to admit, I use a <a href="http://www.mampapauls.com/product.sc?productId=10" target="_blank">box mix for my King Cakes</a>. It is so bulletproof. I think next year I might experiment from scratch. I go back and forth on the idea. <i>'Cause if it ain't broke don't fix it.</i> Right? <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePHt5cnh6xAJWtVXtpBwjOedw2AHllZ_dsYyiL35UAJhbCU5OPLkoKJ3mbEtjHOjY8DuHKi0XaIUFD5Drt3UjOSTB0spl9nDLByLX0e5vt7iLx2BlqOybupnqn6ZuXwdERzOJddSw2eBa/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePHt5cnh6xAJWtVXtpBwjOedw2AHllZ_dsYyiL35UAJhbCU5OPLkoKJ3mbEtjHOjY8DuHKi0XaIUFD5Drt3UjOSTB0spl9nDLByLX0e5vt7iLx2BlqOybupnqn6ZuXwdERzOJddSw2eBa/s1600/photo+1.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King cakes are delicious! (even from a box)</td></tr>
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A slice of king cake starts this day of overindulging off just right. Later tonight my family will be having jambalaya and red beans and rice...maybe some hurricanes for the big folks? Mmmmmm.<br />
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<b>Laissez les bons temps rouler!</b> <br />
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–Cassandra<br />
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PS: Check out Alex's wonderful post on <a href="http://mightydistractible.blogspot.com/2013/01/mardi-gras-2013.html" target="_blank">Mardi Gras in New Orleans</a> from last year.<br />
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</script><br />Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-14990043362455022662014-02-27T18:37:00.000-06:002014-02-27T18:37:42.568-06:00All The News That's Fit To "Print"It's no secret that news sources in the United States are woefully inadequate - at least for those who care about actual news. It's partisan (if speaking about national politics), nationalistic (if speaking about news in general), and shallow (if speaking about anything else).<script type="text/javascript">
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Recently, Jane Harman, former US Representative from California, was on MSNBC discussing a task force recommending that the NSA stop collecting phone records. Important stuff, right? Everyone in this country should be concerned about privacy in light of recent revelations regarding our government's blatant misuse of power. Literally, while in mid-sentence, Ms Harman was interrupted by the interviewer (Andrea Mitchell) for "breaking news". To stop a Congresswoman in mid-sentence, speaking on such an important topic, one would think that war had broken out or the President had been shot. No...</div>
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The "breaking news" was that Justin Bieber was appearing before a judge for his recent arrest. Not that he was arrested - that was old news at this point. But that he was <i>appearing before a judge</i>. </div>
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We should be horribly ashamed. How can we expect the rest of the world to take us seriously when a teenaged celebrity is more important news than the NSA and their collection of citizens' phone records? Or more important than the words of a former Congresswoman?</div>
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It's embarrassing.</div>
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September 11, 2001 was when I stopped watching news produced in the United States. When the Twin Towers fell, I was on foreign soil, watching from thousands of miles away. I had the choice of three news outlets: CNN International (which was, essentially, just playing CNN Domestic's feed), BBC International, and local Dutch television. I started watching CNN and occasionally flipped to BBC, since that was also in English. Within an hour, I had completely stopped watching CNN whose coverage had devolved to nothing but a series of weeping people intercut with replays (endless replays) of the planes hitting the towers and people falling/jumping from heights too far to survive. It was an exercise in pain and self-pity. It was hopeless and helpless. Within an hour, the BBC had a panel of world leaders discussing the attacks - what they meant, if they were an indicator of something worse. The BBC began exploring how we could prepare in case there were more attacks and the political implications of the US response. </div>
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This was the news I needed.</div>
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No one would argue that I'm a pragmatist. I'm not terribly emotional and my response to tragedy is usually to look for ways to fix/understand what happened. So, the BBC delivered the kind of news that appeals to me. All the wailing and gnashing of teeth doesn't do anything but allow us to wallow in pain. Now... I've been taken to task for having this opinion and am willing to admit that many people NEED to grieve in this way. However, I'm still going to argue that our grief doesn't need to be played out on our national news.</div>
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So, I don't watch or read US produced news anymore. I get most of my news from <a href="http://bbc.com/">bbc.com</a>, which does a nice job of covering the world's big stories. And, lately, I've found myself reading more from <a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/" target="_blank">Al Jazeera America</a> which promises "fact-based, in-depth news". </div>
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At the end of the day, getting real news that's not adulterated by the personalities of the people who own or run the outlet or by the advertisers who pay their bills is getting tougher and tougher. And, frankly, I think that the US news outlets have fallen prey to these influences faster and farther than any other. If I never hear another story about Bieber, it'll be too soon.</div>
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- Alex</div>
Cassandra and Alexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14285693580656596950noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5285910184188851038.post-50011927217561271362014-02-25T14:56:00.001-06:002014-02-25T14:56:15.372-06:00It's a Whole New Us!Hi folks!<br />
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Have you noticed our new look? I'm pretty excited about it! It was time for something new.<br />
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When we started this blog a few years ago, our intentions were really vague. So, without the constraint of rules, we spent some time finding ourselves. We've experimented with graphics, formats, layouts, content, etc. After all this time, I think we've suddenly found our groove. Of course there are more changes to come, but we like this start.<br />
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Alex and I really enjoy writing (knitting/quilting/sewing) patterns. And from our download stats, many of you enjoy using them! We've decided that this is an area where we are going to devote the bulk of our time (don't worry...we're still distractible). So keep watching...there is more to come!<br />
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For now, visit the tabs above to access our current selection of patterns (all free!). They are organized by craft type so it's easy to find what interests you. We also have a presence on both <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/" target="_blank">Ravelry</a> and <a href="http://www.craftsy.com/" target="_blank">Craftsy</a> if you would like to download our patterns from there.<br />
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Speaking of new patterns, we will have two yummy knitting patterns featured in the upcoming book <i>DeFarge Knits Shakespeare</i>. We will let you know when the book release date is set.<br />
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–Cassandra<br />
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PS - I forgot to mention that our <a href="http://mightydistractible.blogspot.com/2012/05/log-cabin-block.html" target="_blank">Log Cabin Quilt Block</a> was named one of the top 6 most popular designs featured on <i>FaveQuilts</i> last year! Check out the story <a href="http://www.favecrafts.com/blog/fc/top-quilt-block-patterns/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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