Rotten Bananas

art&soup

2011-04-08T13:18:00.012-05:00

What are you up to this weekend? So many nice options! If you live around here, your best bet is the 3rd annual Dallas Art Fair which runs through Sunday. After the Fair, you might as well keep your art buzz going! Have you seen the 2008 documentary, Herb & Dorothy? It's the story of a New York postal worker and his librarian wife who compiled a world class modern art collection. It's inspiring!

Enjoy your weekend!

Asparagus Mushroom Potato Soup - Peachtree Family Cookbook

1 leek, sliced

3 c mushrooms, sliced

3 T butter

3 garlic cloves

6 c red potatoes, quartered, unpeeled

10 c chicken broth

1 t freshly ground pepper

1 lb asparagus, sliced into 1 1/2" lengths

salt to tast

In a stock pot, saute the leeks and mushrooms in the butter and garlic until tender.

Add the potatoes, broth and pepper and cook until the potatoes are soft. The asparagus should be added last and cooked only until crisp tender, about 5-7 minutes. Salt to taste. Garnish with sour cream or creme fraiche. Plain greek yogurt would work too.

Photo by Esteban Cavrico via Flickr

now....where were we?

2011-04-06T23:05:00.015-05:00

I sure do hope the past few months have treated you well!

I left you right after Sadie's bat mitzvah and Sailor Glam party.

It was perfect. That's Sadie's hand drawn tat (tatt?).

I went from platinum to brunette with a painful grow out period in between.

I lost, gained, lost, gained and am currently losing the same 10 pounds.

I just can't seem to quit you!

In November I took a full time job in addition to being a quilt maker.

Winter 2011! Ya-hooo! We loved our snow and ice days because it gave us

plenty of time for Valentines!

Another year older. If older is wiser, then perhaps my newfound wisdom

led me to the wonders of Jumbo marshmallows.

Alan and I created this fun recycling mascot for a local elementary school.

Cave danger in the Hill Country. Pitch black. Super scary.

My boy Buster has slowed to a crawl....

What have YOU been up to?

save the words

2010-11-09T21:48:00.011-06:00

Did you know that each year hundreds of words are dropped from the English language? Perfectly wonderful, useful words! If you're crazy about words, click on Savethewords and adopt one or two or bunches! Your only responsibility is to use your word in conversation and correspondence as frequently as possible to the best of your ability. I'm in! Here were a few of my faves:

amorevolous - affectionate, doting

aquabib - water drinker

gnathonize - to flatter

aporrhoea - B.O. aka body odor

and the winner...

foppotee - a simple minded person

Go ahead and adopt a few of your own!

You're such a smarty!

swappin manly stories

2010-11-06T23:28:00.003-05:00

Sunday Waffles

1 3/4 c. flour

2 t. baking powder

1/2 t. salt

2 T sugar

3 eggs

7 T vegetable oil

1 . vanilla

1 1/2 c. milk

Preheat the waffle iron. Sift the dry ingredients into a medium sized bowl. Separate the eggs, putting the egg whites in a smaller bowl. Beat the egg whites until stiff. Add the egg yolks, oil, vanilla and milk all at once to the dry ingredients. Beat until there are no lumps in the batter. Fold the egg whites into the batter using a spatula. 1/2 cup of batter makes a 9" waffle. Lots of tasty variations....chocolate chips, nuts, berries, etc...

Have a great Sunday!

sailorglamarama wrap up...

2010-11-03T21:13:00.007-05:00

Sailor Glam wrap up posts coming soon!

We had a crazy good time!

top pic - Allison V Smith

bottom - fun in the photo booth

fun runner

2010-11-01T20:00:00.003-05:00

Are you free the afternoon of November 13th? Say 3-6 ish?

Yes?!? Then please sign up for my burlap table runner

class at Oil and Cotton in Oak Cliff.

Bring friends and a few copies of your favorite Thanksgiving recipe to

exchange with the group.

Class description and fee can be found here.

Wine and local cheeses will be enjoyed during class.

dear dad,

2010-10-31T18:31:00.013-05:00

You're the best dad ever! Happy Birthday!

xo, Shari

photos by allison v. smith

please pack your knives

2010-09-17T08:39:00.004-05:00

Another great season of Top Chef is over. They've packed their knives and gone. This year's finale took place in Singapore and it was exceptional. It was incredible watching these chef's navigate their way through unfamiliar territory. Very impressive. I especially enjoyed the emphasis on fish and the street food of Singapore. It's worth looking up on Hulu if you missed it. Here's a simple and delicious salmon recipe if you're in the mood for fish. Enjoy your weekend!

Salmon Teriyaki - Betsy Eiseman, Lamplighter Family Cookbook

1/2 c soy sauce

1/4 c dry sherry

1/4 c light brown sugar

1 T olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1T finely grated fresh ginger

1 1/3 lbs salmon steaks, 1"thick

Whisk together soy sauce, sherry, brown sugar, olive oil, garlic and ginger. Pour over salmon and marinate for 30 minutes, turning once to coat evenly. Place oven rack 4 inches from heat source. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray lightly with nonstick spray. Remove fish from marinade and place on baking sheet. Broil for 10 to 12 minutes.

Note: This marinade is so tasty! This salmon is great paired with roasted asparagus. For color and added tastiness, top with chopped tomato and grated parmesan.

photo: Fulton Street fishmonger, 1964, mcmahanphoto.com

the meat grinder

2010-09-16T08:51:00.009-05:00

No, this isn't a post on Lady Gaga's putrid meat dress from the VMA. But rather, a post on recess. Didn't you just love recess as a kid?!? Our school playground did not resemble the razzle dazzle playscapes of today. No wood chips or squishy surfaces to cushion our fall. No brightly colored plastic equipment to prevent small hands from burning on hot days. Our playground consisted of a metal jungle gym, a bank of swings and the meat grinder. The meat grinder was a slab of black asphalt - the site for red rover, jump rope and all manner of horseplay. It was accurately dubbed the meat grinder because it literally shredded your tender young skin on contact. Hico Elementary recess wasn't for wimps! Aren't you just wild about this incredible swing for 12 made from recycled tires constructed by Jan Korbes in South Africa? Can you even imagine the fun?!? I want one now!

on two wheels

2010-09-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

Skidding in on two wheels, here are some random shots from our Summer.

Red in Fredericksburg is filled with cool items in every price range.

Fantastic 3-D puzzle. You have to see it up close to appreciate it!

Great Wall O' Cutters. Der Kuchen Laden, Fredericksburg.

The girls love their cousin Karleigh!

The tooth fairy pays a visit to Harry.

Look at that sweet face!

Incredible mirror. Incredible store. Root Fashion and Aura. Fredericksburg, Texas.

Outside a restaurant at the height of Mel's latest outburst. Funny stuff. Austin, Texas.

Giant creepy baby head from a vintage store in Austin. There's a Twilight Zone episode in here somewhere.

City park bridge in Hico. I've been riding my bike, driving a car or running over this bridge my entire life. I finally noticed just how great it is.

Layers and layers of yumminess.

gator baby

2010-09-13T10:28:00.022-05:00

This summer I made a quilt for a baby gator. This little guy was born to a couple of die hard Florida Gator fans and needed the perfect quilt. Here is the play by play of the aptly named quilt, Gator Baby.

Thankfully, I had wonderful school colors to work with! This is the maquette I presented to my client, friend and coworker, Beth. Whenever possible I make a maquette to convey my ideas. I thought the rugby stripe was great for a little boy and made a nice field for a big gator head.

Next, I went in search of reference. I didn't have to look any further than Sadie's bookshelf for our well loved copy of The Enormous Crocodile, by Roald Dahl. Gators and crocs; crocs and gators, I know there are differences, but this illustration happened to work perfectly for the project at hand. Admittedly, my first sketch resembled the Claussen pickle pelican, sans the funny hat. Alan came in and saved the day with a subtle adjustment. Thanks Alan!

Pupil practice and finished eye.

Ric rac teeth. Great idea Deb!

Sweet backing.

I chose a quilting pattern called Toothache to mimic the jagged teeth. We also added the baby's name and other particulars for a personal touch. Thanks for the great project Beth! Tons of fun.

bubbles

2010-09-10T06:00:00.004-05:00

I hope you enjoy bubbles in some form or fashion this weekend!

Kids of the 70's? Just for you, as in me. In it's entirety. You're welcome!

Want to mix up your own?

This link has lots of recipes.

photos 1 and 2 by Julianne Swartz via Pia Jane Bijkerk, Sis (my niece) aka Mary Eloise by her Mommy, Sofia bubbly from geekdreams/flickr

one month countdown

2010-09-09T14:27:00.006-05:00

Sadie's Bat Mitzvah is one month from today. Updates over on Sailor Glam.

the sho(far) must go on*

2010-09-09T13:49:00.008-05:00

Last nights funnel cloud was no match for a sanctuary full of Jews ready to ring in 5771. Bring it. This bunch has seen it all and more.

Since apples dipped in honey are a customary treat on Rosh Hashanah, I decided to make baked apples for dessert tonight. According to the Michigan Apple Council, these are the best apples for baking:

Cortlands

Jonagolds

Jonathans

Rome

Golden Delicious

Winesap

I could only get my hands on Jonathans and Golden Delicious.

Baked Apples

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Core apples and place in a baking dish. Pour small amount of water in the bottom. I added vanilla beans to the water. Put some brown sugar in the hollowed out cores. Drizzle with honey. Bake until apples are soft, but still retaining their shape.

Top with whipping cream and glazed pecan pieces.

Happy New Year!

*a little Jewish holiday humor. What's a shofar you might ask? Click here.

you said it stevie ray!

2010-09-08T11:22:00.003-05:00

I sure do miss this guy. Classic Stevie Ray Vaughn, Montreux 1985

hiatus + headlines

2010-09-01T20:06:00.015-05:00

I went on hiatus. I didn't really mean to. I just needed to. Summer projects and bat mitzvah updates coming soon. Five more weeks! Tonight, I'm fascinated by the work of Lauren DiCioccio. Incredible! Her obsessively detailed handiwork lends permanence and beauty to yesterdays fleeting headlines.

Stunning.

via laurendicioccio via a cup of jo on her fabulous friday links!

i am the half blood prince

2010-07-27T08:30:00.009-05:00

Harry Potter, the boy who lived, is alive and well in our household. House pillows in Sadie's Etsy shop, rereading the series, collages of favorite movie moments and great anticipation of the November release of Deathly Hallows, Part 1. Here is a magical film that Sadie made yesterday.

The song is alohomora by pogo.

golden tan of a lifetime

2010-07-23T12:35:00.007-05:00

Have you listened to the Summer Job Series on NPR's All Things Considered? Listeners are invited to share their stories of memorable summer jobs. Have you ever heard of corn tasseling or wondered about the people who play your favorite characters at Disneyland? There are some great story tellers out there! Click here to read the transcripts. Here's the story I submitted this morning. I would love to read it on air!

Golden Tan of a Lifetime

When I was growing up in Hico, Texas, where the population was only about a thousand at the time, high school kids could either haul hay or work at the Koffee Kup Kafe, which is what I did. Once I mastered the mile high meringue and discovered the perfect ratio of vanilla syrup to Coke and perfected the precise art of cutting a multi-tiered club sandwich, I decided I needed a change of scenery. I found it one summer, along with the golden tan of a lifetime, at a tree nursery just outside of town. Five mornings a week, our rag tag crew piled into the back of a beat up Chevy pickup at crack thirty, a.k.a. 6 am, and our supervisor, Leon, drove us out to the fields. It was a scene straight out of Cool Hand Luke. He dropped us off at the end of a mile long row of pecan trees and picked us up at the other end in the afternoon. Each of us had a spool of twine we fashioned as belts and all day we trudged down the row, tying each tiny pecan tree to a wooden stake, in three places, to help it grow straight and strong for selling.

Did I mention that summer was a record breaking scorcher?!? 100, 101, 102 degree days. Consistently. Once I forgot my thermos of ice water, but thankfully, Leon always left a big orange water cooler in a central place for anyone who needed it. Anyone ended up being one person, my crew mate Cecil, who treated the jug like his personal hydrating station. With filthy hands, he dipped in his tin cup and chugged it right over the open top of the cooler. I watched in horror as the water dripped down his face, through his grizzled beard and back into the jug, brown as lake water. I never forgot my thermos again.

There was romance in the field too. The highlight of my day was catching a glimpse of Scott, a football playing college boy home for the summer. That fall, I went on to accompany his parents to watch him play in West Texas, stopping at every Wendy's from central to West Texas. But that's another story for another day.

Even though the work was monotonous, the camaraderie was enjoyable. A friend and I always worked one row apart, facing each other, and tied at the same pace so that we could chat the day away.

As it turned out, that camaraderie was the most productive thing about the job. Right at the end of summer, as we finished our work day, a fierce Texas thunderstorm blew in. Sheets of rain and buckets of hail battered our little saplings, and our summer of work was torn to bits.

pintervention

2010-07-14T00:24:00.007-05:00

This is a gift from my friend Kalynn. 500 artfully placed pins. Kalynn has a very tidy sewing space. She even likes her pins nice and tidy, all straight with yellow heads; nary a white or even classic silver to be found. My willy nilly multi colored pins of varying quality in this container and that make her a little batty. Her attempts to convert me have backfired. Can't you see this is too cool to actually use? Not one pin disturbed. I love it and you Kalynn!

posta

2010-07-05T22:57:00.004-05:00

How was your Fourth? I sniffled my way through Toy Story 3 and we enjoyed a nice fireworks show. Over the weekend we also learned to make fresh pasta with an awesome family. It was really fun. Kitchen Aid pasta attachments now top my list of must haves.

You just have to drink great wine when you're making fresh pasta. Great wine is even better when served from a cool, hand blown decanter.

The sauce was fantastic. The recipe was from Marcella Hazan. Here is a terrific link to lots of her recipes.

Bella and Cookie are ready to eat!

Our thanks to the Pasquinelli's for all the fun!

a neighborly fourth

2010-07-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

Suggestions for a neighborly fourth:

1. Bake a cake. Any flavor. Box or homemade. It doesn't matter. That isn't the point.
Frost with white icing. Decorate like a flag. Hint. Blueberries make an awfully nice field of blue. Tasty too.
2. Grab a handful of paper plates and plastic forks.
3. Walk up and down your street with cute children in tow. Or spouse or friends. Or pets.
4. Knock on the door and offer a slice of flag cake.
5. Have a nice chat and move on to the next house.
6. Don't stop knocking until the cake is gone.

Boom. Happy 4th.

*This post originally ran in 2009. Being neighborly never gets old!

fuel for thought

2010-07-03T11:32:00.004-05:00

Charcoal or gas? What camp are you in? Talk amongst yourselves. This post might provide fuel for thought. Pun most definitely intended. You might also enjoy this list of top grilling tips from Country Living. Have a great weekend!

images via garden and gun and country living

gaga for summer

2010-06-28T08:26:00.012-05:00

We had a good weekend over here.

I delivered this quilt.

Farmers market was eventful. I sat and listened to a tuba and euphonium quartet playing the Beatles and Lady Gaga's Bad Romance. I was also fascinated by this giant pea sheller machine shaking the purple hulls and creamers right out of nature's garb.

Sadie opened her new Etsy shop and Sophie put together a happy summer outfit. I hope you had a good weekend too! Here's another cool cover of Bad Romance via Ken's excellent music blog.

happy things

2010-06-24T13:18:00.008-05:00

Here are a few things making me happy today:

Ice cold watermelon cut into perfect little chunks for easy grabbing.

Platinum.

And this song.

Don't you just love the whistling?

What's making you happy today?

Happy Thursday everyone!

hot dogs + cold soup

2010-06-22T10:00:00.013-05:00

Summer officially started just yesterday and BAM, just like that, 100 degrees all week. Feeling a little sluggish? Not relishing the idea of heating up your kitchen? It's time to take a look at all my cold soup recipes again. Although I never ever grow tired of classic gazpacho and I love the avocado cucumber, this spinach and cucumber soup is a unique and very tasty alternative with minimal heat up in the kitchen.

I'd like to thank my sous chef, Olive. Stellar company in the kitchen.

My boy Buster was not so helpful. It looks like he partied too hard last night!

Spinach and Cucumber Soup with Feta from A Good Day for Soup

by Ferrary and Fiszer

2T butter

4 scallions, trimmed and chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

2 cucumbers, peeled, seeded and diced

fresh spinach leaves, about 2 cups coarsely chopped

1/2c. fresh chopped parsley

2 c. chicken stock ( I didn't have any on hand, so I used one bouillon cube dissolved in 2c. boiling water)

Fresh lemon juice from one lemon

1 c. buttermilk

salt and pepper

1/2 c. crumbled feta cheese

In a medium saucepan, heat oil over med/high heat. Cook scallions, garlic and cucumbers until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add oregano, spinach and half the parsley. Cook, stirring just until spinach wilts.
Puree mixture in a blender or food processor with stock and lemon juice.
Cover and chill.
Stir in buttermilk and taste for salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with remaining parsley and some feta.

my dad

2010-06-20T06:00:00.003-05:00

My Dad

I adore my Dad.

He's present and always ready for what's next.

He enjoys his family of 5 kids and 11 grandkids and we enjoy him. Dad is a patient man. He'd have to be with this crew! Chaos? horseplay? constant chatter? endless questions? spilled milk? Bring it on. He loves to be in the mix. As Dad always says, it's not a party until somebody spills a drink!

My Dad is proud of his family and tells us so. He's encouraging, supportive and affectionate. His good, tight hugs are the best!

He was kind and devoted to his aging siblings. They babied him as a baby and he retuned the favor in spades. He gave them the gift of his time and said goodbye to each one. He's a good man.

Dad loves our annual camping trip, playing cards, working with his hands, his cats, a nice round of golf, a good firm handshake, clearing brush and making pies. He even makes his own crust! My dad can do anything.

I love you Dad. I always have.

Happy Father's Day!

P.S. Dad, thanks for getting me out of that jam with Columbia House record club when I was 10. Those 8 tracks were supposed to be free! xoxo

king of pops

2010-06-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

Here is the card I made for my Dad. This idea is great for any celebration! Birthday queen, king/queen of best friends, royal kids, etc...you get the picture.

Speaking of pictures, that's where we begin. Blow up a copy of a favorite photo. Dad's handsome photo was used as an ad for a photographer. I love his flat top!

Cut out a crown from construction paper or newspaper or fabric, or whatever else you have on hand.

Sew or tape or glue crown to the honoree.

Since this is for my dad, I decided to top each point with photos of my dad's 5 kids.

These are from varying attractive stages of our lives. My apologies to baby brother David for using such a puny photo of you. I had to make room for my TEETH!

Next, grab some art supplies from around the house. I brought out Sharpies, watercolors and a little glitter. Glitter makes everything better!

Have some fun decorating. Don't get tripped up on how you want it to look. Be loose!

I went a little overboard on his rosy cheeks. No worries. It's still really cute.

Happy Father's Day!

knitta please

2010-06-17T21:08:00.003-05:00

On our recent trip to Austin, I saw up close, in living color, the handiwork of

Magda Sayeg, graffiti knitter.

The girl knits everything she can get her hands on!

Lamp posts, street signs, crutches and even a smart car!

So unexpected and fun. Here is a link to Magda's site if you'd like to see more.

craft nerds

2010-06-16T20:10:00.015-05:00

I recently spent a very pleasant afternoon crafting with Sophie, Sadie and Fay, my super fun sister in law. We signed up for the paper chandelier class taught by the cool girls over at Paper Nerds.

I made these "spacers" by winding colorful strips from magazines around a chopstick. I sealed the edge with hot glue and cut them into different lengths.

Mine isn't so much a chandelier as it is a mobile. Either way, I love it!

We started with a ring made from bendy branches. I wrapped mine in lilac bias tape from my Aunt Nadine's sewing box. She would've loved knowing a whole room of crafty girls enjoyed her rick rack and other goodies.

This is Sadie's dream catcher/chandelier combo. More is always more with Sadie. Love it!

Here is Sophie's creation. I love her double levels and great variety of trims. Beauteous!

Fay's is nice and colorful. Very ambitious design! She even took supplies home with her. Fay wasn't ready for the fun to end. Thanks to Shannon and Tish, THE Paper Nerds. This weekend they're teaching paper marbling. Check out some of their classes here. Or let your kids make one at home. Minimal supplies, big payoff! Happy Crafting!

and four became five

2010-06-13T23:03:00.002-05:00

This is my brand new niece Frances. Isn't she beautiful?!?

In March, my sister Dori, her husband Jim and twin daughters Georgia and Lillian traveled to Ethiopia to pick her up. They had only seen Frances in a photo and were most anxious to hug and kiss her and bring her home to Texas. And one week later, their family of four became five.

They will never, ever forget the week they spent in Ethiopia. And they will never forget the warm and caring people they met along the way.

Frances adjusted to her new life quickly. She likes a nice bath tubby.

And she loves her big guy Bert. When you join this family, you have to love dogs! It's mandatory. I think Frances got the memo.

First trip to the Airstream? A+++ of course!

And boy, does Frances LOVE her big sisters! And they love HER! These three sisters even share the exact same birthday, just 9 years apart. Isn't that amazing?!? Triple the birthday fun!

Sweet children everywhere. So much need.

Lillian and Georgia have designed a set of notecards they are selling to benefit a group of children they met during their stay. They have already raised $450! I'm so proud of them. They have big hearts.

A set of 4 notecards sells for $5 and will help an Ethiopian child attend school. If you'd like a set of note cards please contact me and I can fix you up! shari@redllamastudio.com

open for business!

2010-06-10T08:04:00.005-05:00

I've opened my Etsy shop with a few sweet items. Come on in. Shirts and shoes optional.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/redllamastudio

christmas in june

2010-06-06T23:59:00.003-05:00

It's 100 degrees outside, still no AC in my studio, and I'm making Christmas stockings, or "socks" as my grandmother Mommy Elta used to call them. I hope she would love my modern interpretation. I use gorgeous hand dyed wools with names like Earth and Bubble Gum and Jack 'o Lantern. What's not to love? Secret pockets are sewn into the ultra suede lining for hiding treats.

Interested? email shari@redllamastudio.com

comfort food

2010-06-03T00:00:00.001-05:00

This post originally ran about a year ago. I think it's worth a repeat. If you live in Texas, you'll be thanking me around Saturday for this delicious cold summer soup.

I'm not talking about mac and cheese, or meatloaf or mashed potatoes or roasted chicken.
You see, the dress I planned to wear for Sophie's middle school graduation is snug.......ish. Not obscenely tight or anything. Just a tad snug. This is a problem because I like to be comfortable. At all times. I like jeans and funny t shirts from Threadless and running shorts and tennis shoes and A line skirts. Nowhere on this list do you see snug dress. I'll use this deadline as an opportunity to eat smart this week for a comfy fit. If you follow the Weight Watchers core plan, this is a perfectly legal recipe. Just be reasonable about portions.

Here is what I'm eating tonight.

cold avocado cucumber soup - serves 4 - Everyday Food, long ago issue

1 english cucumber, peeled and cut into 1/4 in. cubes

2 avocados, pitted and peeled

1/2 c. non fat plain yogurt

3 T. fresh lime juice

1 small minced jalapeno (seeds and ribs removed for less heat, if desired)

2 T. chopped fresh cilantro

course salt and pepper

1 t. olive oil

In a blender, combine half the cucumber and 1 avocado with the yogurt, lime juice, jalapeno, scallions, 1 T cilantro, 1 c. ice water, 1 1/2 t. salt and 1/4 t pepper. Puree until completely smooth. Transfer to a large bowl.
Cut remaining avocado into 1/4 inch cubes. Stir avodado and remaining cucumber into soup. Thin with 1/2 to 1 c. water, as desired. Season again with salt and pepper. Chill about 1 hour. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

some women just can't take it

2010-06-02T15:40:00.007-05:00

My nephew Tyson graduates from high school tomorrow. There are sure to be tears. A toast to my brother and sister in law for raising such a wonderful guy. We're having a little family party in his honor. I was looking through some old recipes for a nice kid friendly punch. Kids love a good punch after sitting still for so long! I ran across this recipe from my Aunt Shirley who just died a couple of months ago at 97. Shirley was very social. She enjoyed having the ladies over for an afternoon of bridge. I got tickled when I read her personal note: Here's a recipe I use sometimes - but I leave out the Ginger Ale. It's good but some women can't take the carbonated water.....

If you're so inclined, by all means, add the ginger ale! Here's the recipe if you have a little shin dig coming up and you want a special drink for the little guys.

2 packages Kool Aid - Keep in mind, this was before they had Kool Aid with sugar added.

1 can 6 oz. frozen orange juice

1 1/2 pints pineapple juice

2 qts. water

2/3 c. sugar

bottle of ginger ale

You can add to or take from. Mix and it's better to set awhile. This makes about 18 glasses. Shirley probably meant punch cups.

roid rage 2005

2010-06-01T06:46:00.010-05:00

Polaroid rage, that is.

In the summer of 2005 our family took a Polaroid every single day.

The girls or I would tape it in the notebook and write a brief journal entry of the days events. It's fun to try and decode the invented spelling of the day.

It's sweet little time capsule. Here are a few pages from our book.

Translation: Today Sadie thought she was in a tornado in her box/house.....

Everyone thought it was so funny that Alan chose a Dyson vacuum cleaner as his birthday gift. He really did! As a matter of fact, he's vacuuming right now as I write this post. The man loves a clean floor.

Lots of people have blogs and sites devoted to Polaroid love. This one is plain creative fun. Here's a site dedicated to the new generation of Polaroid film. Have a great day and feel free to share your Polaroids with me!

eighteen

2010-05-30T17:19:00.008-05:00

18 years.

A beautiful life.

Happy Anniversary Alan!

Here's a random little assortment of songs I love about love.

Our engagement photo was taken by Scogin Mayo, spring 1992

old guys are cool

2010-05-26T22:24:00.026-05:00

I've had these gents in my inspiration folder for awhile now. I love old guys. When I heard 60's t.v. personality Art Linkletter died today at 97, I thought about these guys again. They are still making cool stuff in their 90's. Irving Harper, above, designed some of the most recognizable housewares of the 50's and 60's. Today, at 93, he makes intricate paper sculptures. Read about his genius right here.

This is Vollis Simpson, a retired farm equipment repairman. Vollis uses scrap metal and junk yard parts to create enormous metal sculptures he calls Whirligigs. A mere 91, he lives and works in Lucama, North Carolina. Read more about Vollis here.

Don't his Whirligigs look oddly perfect in this holiday window for Bergdorf Goodman?

And if you aren't familiar with Mr. Linkletter, take a look at this clip back when television shows were sweet. I vaguely recall...

photos from NY Times, Design Sponge and American Visionary Art Museum

*zip it there sporty spice!

2010-05-25T15:32:00.024-05:00

I'm crazy about iced coffee on a summer afternoon. Here's a little "recipe" to make your own. All you need is a jar, 1/3 cup of ground coffee and 12 hours. I had to rig a lid since my lids and jars are never together.

Cold-Brewed Iced Coffee

Time: 5 minutes to mix plus 12 hours' resting

1/3 c. ground coffee

Milk (optional)

1. In a jar, stir together coffee and 1 1/2 c. water. Cover and let rest at room temp for 12 hours.

2. Strain twice through a coffee filter. In a tall glass filled with ice, mix equal parts coffee concentrate and water, or to taste. If desired add milk and anything else you like.

Yield: two drinks

*Title of post from this clip featuring Will Ferrell jonesing for a cup of joe. Funny.

plants on strings

2010-05-24T10:08:00.008-05:00

Look at these incredible string gardens as seen on Poppytalk via Aesthetic Outburst. Super cool. See more here.

Happy Monday everyone!

pile o babies

2010-05-20T19:15:00.015-05:00

My poor sewing machine could use a little love. We've been on the clock day and night. That's why it's been so quiet at Rotten Bananas lately. I've been busy sewing the first items for my brand new Etsy store, The Shop at Red Llama Studio. By now, most of you are probably familiar with Etsy. If you aren't, it's an online site for buying and selling handmade and vintage items. Mass production is a no no. I'm opening my "store" with mostly baby items. Aren't babies supposed to be recession proof?

Bonus: Tiny plastic baby included with each purchase while supplies last.

the art guys

2010-05-17T10:57:00.010-05:00

Doesn't this party look like a blast? That tent is the best! It was designed by The Art Guys out of Houston, Texas.

These guys do a little bit of everything ranging from performance art and large scale installations to sculptures and intricate drawings. Most of their pieces are based on very ordinary, accessible objects. I love this one called Get a Hold of the Situation, made entirely of clamps and plywood.

This table is called Plywood Lace.

Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to see a couple of short videos. My favorite is Bottle Rockets. These two have a great time making art together. Thanks to Kalynn for today's post inspiration. Happy Monday!

sooner or later...they break everything

2010-05-12T12:34:00.026-05:00

I laughed to the point of tears

this morning. All thanks to Shit My Kids Ruined, a hilarious site where people send in photos of the destruction wrought by their offspring. We're well beyond this stage (unless you count that fingernail polish remover eating off the surface of the table top incident?! well, maybe we're not past this stage)..

...maybe that's why it's so stinkin' funny.

I actually had my eye poked by both daughters. Once with a paintbrush and once a fingernail. The pain brought me to my knees. But the patch is so becoming.

The old pepper in the fish tank trick. Good one.

So many great ideas. Tough to pick my favorite.

Today's fun via Alan and Eric Lidji

bullseye

2010-05-11T05:00:00.001-05:00

Who says baby quilts have to be colorful and whimsical?

Most certainly not me.

Although I do love color and wholeheartedly embrace whimsy, I love making crisp white baby quilts.

Meet Peyton. Her mommy works in advertising and Target is her big client. Everyday at work Peyton's mommy is inundated with color.

Loud, vibrant, saturated color.

At home, she wants a rest from the color. This is the family living room and that tiny baby in the gorgeous white bowl is Peyton.

For Peyton's quilt, I used eyelet remnants from shirt designer Craig Taylor for a touch of girly, japanese double gauze, flax colored linen, pin wale corduroy, seersucker from Mood and straight up utility cotton for beautiful texture and variety. Every fabric was soft, and most importantly, washable!

Her name is hand embroidered tone on tone. It's subtle, (can you even see it?) but it's there.

I love that Peyton's mommy isn't afraid to throw it on the floor and get it dirty. It's loved.

Maybe it will be the quilt Peyton remembers when she grows up. That would make me very happy.

Neutral baby quilt = Bullseye.

P.S. I sent Peyton this fluffy white llama (photo at top) along with her quilt. Red Llama? White Llama? It's all good.

baby love times two

2010-05-10T10:30:00.007-05:00

This movie looks absolutely precious.

I hope all of you mothers out there had a lovely Mothers Day!

Happy Monday everyone.

my mom

2010-05-09T10:15:00.001-05:00

I'm crazy about my mom for so many reasons:

My mom is no nonsense...no drama.

She's a great listener.

Animals are her passion and purpose.

My mom is a one woman humane society.

She inspires fierce loyalty.

My Mom thinks her kids are great, as is.

She doesn't criticize or judge.

And she doesn't dispense unsolicited advice.

Mom cares for the underdog, literally and otherwise.

She looks after dogs, cats, teens and the elderly who

might need a little lift.

Mom helps others quietly, without fanfare or expectation.

She is a very kind person.

From time to time, my mom doesn't mind running afoul of the law for the sake of rescuing pets. She once nabbed an abused dog, brought him home and changed his name and appearance,

like he was in the witness protection program.

She's funny too. Once when she ran out of names for stray dogs, she named a whole slew of them after the Brady kids.

When my girls are grown, I hope they love me as

much as I do my mom.

Happy Mother's Day.

thank your lucky stars

2010-05-09T10:08:00.003-05:00

We can always take comfort in knowing that on Mom's watch, we'll never be put in harm's way.

More hilarity from the guys over at Awkward Family Photos. Click here for more mom's of questionable judgement and go give your own mom a tight hug for being so normal!

Happy Mother's Day!

friday night lights

2010-05-06T22:09:00.008-05:00

Ready?!? Okay!!!

Tomorrow night my very favorite show, Friday Night Lights,

returns to NBC.

It has everything and nothing to do with football.

The reviews are stellar going into season 4.

I love this show so much because it reminds me of growing up. We lived in a small Texas town a lot like the one on the show. My dad was the football coach there. When we were tiny, Dad would take us kids to the locker room and toss us in a big shower with multiple heads. Presto! Five kids bathed and ready for bed and a brief break for Mom. Here I am with Dad around 1980 when both of us had darker hair. Long retired from the game, he is still greeted warmly about town as "Coach."

Set your Tivos. You'll be a fan.

Here's the finale from last season to get you caught up.

gracias mexico!

2010-05-05T14:54:00.020-05:00

Thank you Mexico, for the beautiful papel picado and much, much more!

Such as....

Tasty Rita X

Can you tell I was a cocktail waitress throughout college?

Sugar dusted churros.

Lovely and talented Salma.

Candy filled pinatas.

My beloved pintos. You're delicious, cheap and versatile. My comfort food.

Festive Mexican sodas.

Praying for good health, wealth and fortune.

Here's a nice little recipe for White Sangria, the perfect sweet/tart combo for a warm May day.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

White Sangria from Pastry Queen Parties by Rebecca Rather

1 (1.5 liter) bottle dry white table wine

1 (6 oz) can frozen lemonade concentrate, defrosted

1/4 c. freshly squeezed lime juice, about 4 medium

1/2 c. brandy

fruit for floating in pitcher, such as citrus slices, fresh cherries, pineapple chunks

1 12oz can soda water, or to taste

In a large pitcher, stir together the wine, lemonade, lime juice and brandy. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate fro at least an hour, preferably longer. When ready to serve, stir in the fruit and soda water. Add plenty of ice and serve immediately.

All photos by me except the following:

Salma from her Wikipedia page

Papel picado - stylehive.com

margarita - mexicanfood.about.com

meet the crew over on sailor glam

2010-05-04T07:00:00.002-05:00

We're busy planning Sadie's Bat Mitzvah over on Sailor Glam.

Come over and meet the crew. You can always find new posts by clicking on the

Sailor Glam link on the right side of this page.

won't you smile for the camera?

2010-05-03T10:24:00.025-05:00

Sophie turned 15 last week.

I should tell you that Sophie has been a top notch daughter from day one.

The only thing we love more than birthdays around here, is the party that comes with it! Here are a few scenes from Sophie's party last weekend.

Sadie and I did all the cooking. We made lasagna, not only because Sophie loves it, but because it feeds a crowd and we could make it in advance. Sadie enjoyed noodle duty.

Next came the cake. Chocolate with cream cheese frosting. I like to add just a dash of heavy whipping cream to the frosting. It gives it a nice sheen and fluffy consistency. Maybe this is common knowledge?!? Here's the recipe.

Because Sophie loves photography (click on this link to see her super blog) and this crowd loves to strike a pose, I borrowed this beautiful backdrop from a photographer friend of mine, Jim Olvera. Here's a link to his site. We set it up in the backyard. Thanks Alan for cleaning the yard spic and span.

I think they had fun. Pictures don't lie, right?

There was an article in yesterdays New York Times about kids being unable to communicate face to face because they rely solely on texting and Facebook to talk with friends. These girls did not get the memo. They talked and talked some more until 4 am, as only girls can do.

And finally,

Dear Mr. Jamie Oliver, Forgive me!

simple kitchen

2010-04-27T08:06:00.006-05:00

Here's a wonderful recipe from one of my all time favorite cook books, Cucina Rustica, by Viana La Place and Evan Kleiman. Cucina rustica translates as "simple kitchen." With a few choice ingredients, you can whip up a fantastic meal! Here's a nice spring salad for you to try.

Chicken and Mozzarella Salad - serves 4

1 whole chicken breast

2 sprigs fresh rosemary

1 garlic clove, thinly sliced

5 T olive oil, divided

salt and pepper

1 green bell pepper (yellow, red or orange would be great too)

1/2 hothouse cucumber

1 large tomato

1/4 lb. haricots verts or tender green beans

3 celery stalks

1 fresh mozzarella, about 8 oz.

3 T. red wine vinegar

5 fresh basil leaves

Under the skin of each 1/2 chicken breast, insert a sprig of rosemary and a few slivers of garlic.

Rub with 1 T of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Roast in a 450 degree oven for 15 minutes or until the juices run clear. Let cool. Remove the skin and bones and cut chicken into dice. Peel the pepper with a vegetable peeler. Remove the seeds and membranes and cut into thin strips. Peel the cucumber, cut into half lengthwise, and remove the seeds. Cut cucumber crosswise into slices. Dice the tomato. Cook the haricots verts or garden variety green beans in salted boiling water to cover until tender but crisp. Refresh under cold water and drain on paper towels. Slice the celery stalks crosswise and coarsely chop the tender leaves. Cut the mozzarella into dice and drain on paper towels to remove excess moisture.

Assemble chicken, vegetables and mozzarella in a shallow salad bowl. Add the remaining olive oil, vinegar and season to taste. Tear the basil leaves and sprinkle over the top.

worthiness

2010-04-26T12:04:00.013-05:00

Leave it to Anthropologie to give us hair bands that are actually worthy

of being worn as bangles. (Do you have that habit? I sure do.)

So long ho hum Goody elastics!

You're absolutely NOT worthy.

At Anthropologie stores now, $10 for a set of 4.

If I were buying real bangles today, I would definitely pick these. I love the beautiful simplicity. Made by joyodesigns, I spotted them here. Lovely. How's your Monday?

humbled

2010-04-22T08:00:00.001-05:00

Today is Earth Day and I find myself overwhelmed by the beauty of these images taken from the Hubble space telescope.

just cinch em

2010-04-20T05:41:00.020-05:00

I have never figured out how to wear this dress. This is a lot of fabric my friends. Look, it spans the width of our queen size bed. It came with this dinky self belt. Not enough when you don't have much of a waist to begin with. This dress calls for power cinching.

Then I remembered these incredible sashes

from Vivienne Westwood

that I saw on the lil bee.

I think I'll dive into my

stash and make a sash.

Title refers to this funny long ago SNL skit. Remember this one?

ka-bow wow wow - explosion of color

2010-04-19T07:46:00.011-05:00

We've had a few gray days around here. Dreary, blah days.

These photos from The New York Times really perked me

up this morning. Meet some of the colorful

contestants from Intergroom, a trade show for dog groomers.

Look at these patient poodles!

Buster and Olive won't even sit still for a nail trim.

Francesa the seahorse.

Indiana Bones

Look at Skye. Do you see the dragon on her side?

The intense color is phenomenal!

Tucker as the Mad Hatter. Aren't the spools of thread clever?

This is Missy. Her owner Angela Kumpe won Sundays contest

with this design of a grieving angel created in memory of her mom

who died in February.

Aren't they remarkable?

Happy Monday everyone.

photos by Suzy Allman for The New York Times

for liz

2010-04-15T15:12:00.026-05:00

This is not a typical post for me.

This is a sad post in honor of my friend Liz.

My friend Liz died on Saturday. She should be celebrating her birthday today. Sadly, her cancer was cruel and unrelenting, so this birthday wasn't meant to be. Liz would tell you she did a lot of things she wanted to do in the past couple of years. She mostly caught up and shared laughs with family and friends, and she travelled. Liz fell in love with Africa. She gave me this amazing story quilt from one of her trips. She knew I would cherish it and that I would appreciate the great effort and handwork of the woman in rural Zimbabwe who made it. Liz wanted women to succeed, no matter the vocation or location.

The applique and embroidery are incredibly detailed.

Carefully placed stitches turn utility cotton into

the drawn, haggard face of an old woman.

Lovers...

...hands intertwined.

The sweet story is handwritten by the artist on a small piece of paper,

folded and tucked in a pouch in the lower right corner of the quilt.

Liz stories wouldn't fit on a tiny piece of paper.

The sweet and funny stories of her kindness need to be told again and again,

never to be forgotten.

For Liz.

gleeful

2010-04-14T21:21:00.027-05:00

The girls were all abuzz last night. Loud, giggly and excited.

Sophie baked Funfetti cookies from a box, and arranged them

neatly on trays as though guests were arriving any minute.

No kidding, it was festive around here, especially for a school night!

All this hubbub over the continuation of Glee.

This is not surprising to me. They love show tunes.

They just had to.....it wasn't an option.

I was raised on show tunes. South Pacific, Man from La Mancha,

Oklahoma and of course, Funny Girl.

That's me in the white knee socks alongside my sister Dori.

I adored my Babs inspired Funny Girl sailor outfit.

My aunt Kathy bought them for all of us girls. They even came with a

wooden whistle necklace. We loved those dresses and wore them to see the movie.

How awesome was that?!?

Foreshadow: dressing like favorite characters from musicals.

When my girls were very small,

I wanted them to get accustomed to behaving nicely in

theaters so that we could enjoy musicals together. I would drive

one fancy neighborhood in particular looking for placards in yards

announcing upcoming productions. I drove the swanky neighborhood

because their middle school drama department was so well funded

that their costumes and sets and sound were
incredible,like off Broadway!

It was great because walking away from a $2 ticket was

easy to do if people got crabby.

Did we ever have fun! They donned poodle skirts for Bye Bye Birdie,

fringy western duds for Annie Get Your Gun, the yellow ball gown

from Beauty and the Beast and turn of the century street urchin chic for

Oliver.Sadie actually spent an entire year channeling
Jack Dawkins from Oliver.

I think they might've loved Oliver best of all.

blogging betties

2010-04-14T11:28:00.009-05:00

The blogging community is uniting today in an effort to raise

money for breast cancer research.

This insidious disease effects all of us. A dynamic group

of bloggers have formed a team called Blogging Betties for Boobies

to complete the Susan G. Komen 3 Day walk.

If you haven't made a donation to a friend or family member

participating in the event I hope you'll consider making a

donation to this awesome group of girls.

This link will take you directly to their team page on the Komen site.

beautiful photo via suchprettythings.typepad.com

happiness machine

2010-04-13T07:35:00.005-05:00

What a fun idea! Take two minutes to watch this.

You'll be tickled.

p.s. tech support, aka the girls, went to school. Sorry the

words are cut off!

natures armor

2010-04-11T23:33:00.010-05:00

I ran over this turtle. Not with my car, but with my foot.

At first I thought he was a pecan and didn't stop. But I knew

in my gut it wasn't a pecan, so I ran back to take a look.

He was very still, but looked perfect. Internal injuries? Maybe.

Traumatized at the very least. I picked him up and finished my run.

He didn't move for an hour or more, then finally poked his little

head out to say hello.

Was his life spared because I'm so light on my feet? Not likely.

Although I'm sure it helped that my running pace

is less hare, more tortoise.

It had to be his amazing (and beautifully designed!) suit of armor.

His name is Milton. We'll stare at him for a few days before

he moves down the street to our neighbors lush tropical pond.

Photos by Sophie

forget all your cares

2010-04-06T10:12:00.016-05:00

We went on a Sunday drive. Olive came with us!

Buster decided to sleep in, all day long, because that's what

old dogs do...

He missed all the fun.

Here's our day as seen by Sophie.

brisket twice removed

2010-04-04T19:42:00.016-05:00

Brisket, done well, NOT well done, is a real crowd pleaser. Here is a brisket recipe that I adapted from a smitten kitchen recipe that she adapted from Emeril. I had every intention of making the smitten version in my slow cooker, but started the process too late. Besides, I didn't have all the ingredients on hand to follow her recipe specifically. No worries. I'll use what I have on hand. I refuse to go to the grocery for 2 or 3 items. So, you can read the smitten kitchen version here and see my adaptation of her adaptation right here:

Sunday Brisket - Me via Smitten Kitchen via Emeril

2 onions, I had a purple with a mushy side and a small good yellow one

1 shallot

1/2 packet of dry onion soup mix

4 garlic cloves, peeled and halved

1 t. salt

1 t. garlic powder

1/2 t. black pepper

a little cayenne

1 t. fresh thyme

beef bouillon cube

1 c. water

1/2 c. ketchup

Heinz chili sauce - Not much left in the jar, so I put about 1/2 c. water in the jar and swished it around. I ended up with a little over 1/2 c. diluted chili sauce

1/2 c brown sugar

5 pound brisket

Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Make the sauce: Heat a skillet over medium flame and saute onions and shallot, stirring every now and again until caramelized and your kitchen smells great. Add the garlic cloves and saute a bit longer. Stir in spices and seasonings, cook for 2 more minutes and remove from heat. In a large bowl, stir together ketchup, onion soup mix, chili sauce, beef bouillon and water, and brown sugar.
Place brisket in a baking dish, spread the onion mixture over the top, then pour the sauce over the brisket. Cover with foil and bake for 5 hours.
When the brisket is tender, remove it from the baking dish to a platter and cover that in foil.
Put the baking dish with the drippings in the refrigerator. Remove the fat with a spatula or big spoon once it has solidified. Reheat the sauce and serve it alongside sliced brisket.

Terrific!

power to the peeps

2010-04-02T16:42:00.004-05:00

Happy Easter Weekend!

we've hit the wall

2010-04-01T20:46:00.019-05:00

So sorry for this week's post shortage.

You see, I've been up to my wrists in matzah ball batter..hmm, or

is it dough?? Five days in, if Passover were a marathon,

we'd be hitting "the wall" about now.

I'm even tired of macaroons. And I do love my coconut.

Here are a few photos from the first night Seder

over at Susie and Joel's.

saki to me!

2010-03-31T15:41:00.028-05:00

Sakitini Saturday was magic.

Our goals were simple:

great food and drinks

affordable ingredients

easy clean up

nature/eco friendly as possible

It was a beautiful evening where cactus pads became salad plates,

banana leaves were unfurled into table runners and

dinner plates and lettuce cups were handy entree vessels.

Hollowed out oranges and romas were fragrant and

effective bowls for easy to pour sauces.

Washing plates.

The vivid green looked really fresh against the surface of

white banner paper.

See that rectangle above the salad? That's japanese vermicelli that

I cooked and then placed in loaf pans. I covered the loaf

pans with wax paper and weighted the tops with cans.

Once chilled, I was able to cut them into rectangles

and dust the tops in peanuts.

Daffodils were on sale $1.50 a bunch! They

fit the criteria of our evening perfectly.

Everyone had their own sides of peanut and lettuce wrap sauce.

Nice work Kalynn!

Roll it up.

Presto! Clean up done

and we're out the door.

Like I said, magic.

sakitini saturday

2010-03-26T04:00:00.003-05:00

Any big weekend plans?

Kalynn and I are hosting our dinner club

at a nearby boat dock. Since there's no kitchen,

we'll be cooking everything in advance. That way,

our work will be done and we can have just as

much fun as our guests.

Here's our menu and table decor planned

out on the Weiss' chalkboard wall.

sakitinis and/or wine

roasted beet with goat cheese salad

chicken skewers

lettuce wraps

peanut sauce

roasted veggies

lemon sour cream pound cake over lemon sorbet

Nice pawdicure Button!

Happy weekend.

sweet tart

2010-03-26T03:50:00.001-05:00

My dinner party dessert is lemon sour cream poundcake

from Art Smith's 2001 cookbook, Back to the Table

You might know Art as Oprah's former personal chef.

If you saw him compete on last seasons Top Chef Masters,

you likely fell for his kindness, his great laugh and his

modern southern cooking.

Lemon sour cream pound cake

3 c. flour

1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

2 sticks unsalted butter, room temp

3 c. sugar

6 large eggs, room temp

1 t. vanilla

zest of 2 lemons

1 c. sour cream, room temp

Lemon syrup - super tart

zest of 1 lemon

1 c. fresh lemon juice

1/4 c. water

2/3 c. sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour pans. Art calls for a Bundt pan. I used 2 loaf pans because I want to cut them differently.
Sift the flour, baking powder and soda and salt together. set aside. Beat the butter and sugar in a large bowl with a hand held mixer on high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then the vanilla and the zest. On low speed, add the flour in 3 additions, alternating with 2 additions of the sour cream, beginning and ending with the flour and beat until smooth. Spread evenly in the pan.
Bake until tip of the knife comes out clean, about 1 1/4 hours.
Meanwhile, make the syrup. Bring the lemon juice, zest, water, and sugar to a boil over high heat and cook until it is reduced to 1/2 cup. (It's intense!) Allow syrup to cool before drizzling onto the cake.
Transfer cake to wire rack and cool for 10 minutes. Drizzle half of the syrup over the bottom of the cake and the other half over the top. Cool completely before cutting.

Quality control, aka the girls, gave this cake a thumbs up.

i ♥ paper + thread

2010-03-25T08:27:00.020-05:00

Sewing on paper is loads of fun. You never get the same look twice.

You don't even need to own a sewing machine.

All you need is needle and thread.

Besides, handmade is special. It makes people happy.

This little birthday book started with a beautiful piece

of handmade paper from Pape rSource.

If you don't have a Paper Source in your city,

they have an extensive online store.

$4.95 will get you a gorgeous sheet

of paper to work with.

I hand stitched with embroidery floss around the circles.

Use the design on the paper as your guide, or simply stitch

freehand. No right and wrong here. It's about the

personal touch.

I bound the booklet by machine and added a festive

tassel/bookmark of yarns and ric rac. I played with

a variety of stitches for the binding.

I took a portrait of the birthday girl, drawn by her son, and reduced

it to fit inside one of the circles on the backside of the booklet.

My pal Stephanie and I vowed on January 1 to see one another the first day of each month.

A walk, a cup of coffee, a quick bite....whatever works. So far, so good.

I made her this simple card from our new year fortune cookie.

I sent this furry notecard to a crafty shop owner that I admire.

It's really not too early to start collecting bits and pieces to make your Mother's Day card!

Look at this post for ideas. Send me photos if you make something. Have fun

with it. No need to make it hard.

maiden voyage

2010-03-24T13:56:00.013-05:00

I told you in this October post that our family is celebrating Sadie's bat mitzvah this year! Sadie and I thought it would be fun to blog about the process of pulling this shindig together. This will be a simple and fun way to deposit our big and small ideas, share resources

and show off our incredible family and friends

whose talent, creativity and generosity will blow you away.

We couldn't do it without them. And honestly, wouldn't want to try!

Sailor Glam, 10/9/10

Come on over!

http://sailorglam.blogspot.com

This was my ginormous binder from

planning Sophie's bat mitzvah. A blog

has got to be easier than lugging this thing around!

liberty of what?!?

2010-03-22T13:18:00.012-05:00

Target 8 am, Sunday morning March 14th. Daylight savings time? No problem. I set my alarm.

I was happy to. Totally worth it. I was there, first in line. Ready for the first peek. They just weren't ready for me. Quizzical looks from the staff. Liberty of What??? I pointed to the colorful romping bunnies in sunny meadows and floral prints covering every surface of the store. This stuff, I told them. Oh, they said, Leon is still unpacking that stuff. Huh?!? But, I had to go. I had plans with my Dad. By the time I returned in the evening, what I really wanted was gone. So, after much hype, and the darling commercials and general hooplah about the fantastic Liberty of London line, the in store experience was sadly lacking. I did, however, end up with this great tunic and some bikini bottoms. Don't ask me what I'm going to wear on top! I'll worry about that later.

Did your families have a happy spring break? Coasting to summer.

this land is my land

2010-03-11T20:07:00.021-06:00

I think it's really cool when people name

and identify their places with signage.

Here are just a few signs that Mom and

I found in and around Hico.

Sign from above:

AEIOU

Sinterra? Santerra? Senterra?

Sunterra? I think it's Sonterra!

What sounds right to you?

Don't you like the off center placement of the letters?!

Very hip.

I'd like to see the house this road leads to....

Choice font. Love it!

Say hello to Bonnie, aka Bon Bon. She sure did enjoy the ride.

She enjoys anywhere my Mom is.

I think Keno enjoyed it too. Unfortunately, he was banished

to the back seat. He has boundary issues.

One of the many, many, many kitties we fed on mom's"rounds".

She's a one woman humane society. But I won't go on and on

about her devotion to animals or how awesome she is.

She doesn't like that sort of thing.

My Uncle Robert's handiwork. He went for a more primitive look.

R.I.P. Pearl and Louise. Salt of the earth.

What would you name your spread?

get smart

2010-03-10T09:46:00.008-06:00

Sophie is taking exams this week.

I couldn't walk a day in Sophie's academic shoes and I've told her so.

I'm really proud of her.

To prepare for exam week, I've stocked our pantry with some of

her favorites. It's the least I can do.

Here are a couple of other good snack recipes for the studious

young people in your home.

Orange Cream Smoothie

1 c. milk

1 1/2 c. orange juice

1/2 t. vanilla

1 c. vanilla frozen yogurt

1/2 frozen banana, cut into chunks before you freeze

3 T. orange juice concentrate

Directions:

BLEND

Serves 4

PB Snacks - Lamplighter Family Cookbook

1/3c. peanut butter

2 T butter

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. ginger

5 c. popped popcorn

2 c. Rice Chex cereal

1 c. mini pretzels

1 c. M&M's or raisins or other

candy they enjoy

Directions: In a small microwaveable bowl, combine peanut butter, cinnamon and ginger.

Microwave until the butter melts and mix well. In a 9x13 baking dish, combine popcorn

cereal and pretzels. Pour peanut butter mixture over & toss until well coated.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes, stirring halfway thru cooking time.

Cool to room temp, then stir in candy and/or raisins. Makes 8 cups.

Note to Sophie's pal Taylor.

Sorry you can't have this one. I'll try to find an allergy

friendly recipe for you, ok?

And last, a kid deserves a study break now and then.

How about the latest from VeryMaryKate?

Very Mary-Kate, Episode 4 from Mary-Kate Olsen on Vimeo.

Very Mary-Kate, Episode 8 from Mary-Kate Olsen on Vimeo.

golden evening

2010-03-09T09:54:00.017-06:00

Last Saturday night, I threw together a little dinner party celebrating the visit and birthday of

Deb, my long distance friend and collaborator in quilting.

Although we've worked together for a few years, we had never met. We had a blast!

Now, what to make.

Since the pants were still borderline snug from Tex Mex the previous evening, I decided to go a little lighter. This is my version of a hearty salad from a favorite local restaurant.

Click here for my pal Ann's version of the same salad on amy and ann.

my grocery list:

romaine

variety of tomatoes

(cherry, grape, heirloom, whatever you have access to!)

golden or red beets

red potatoes or fingerlings

haricot verts

avocado

goat cheese

chicken breasts

crusty bread

wine

italian sodas for the kids

Pinch the stem ends off the haricot verts and cook until crisp tender in boiling, salted water.

Be careful not to overcook.

Trim ends from your beets, peel, dice and toss in a little olive oil and salt.

Put in 375 degree oven and roast until tender. Confession: A ridiculous hot dog and beet diet

in college almost ruined beets for me. Wisely, I gave them another chance. Do any of

you remember that one??

The color is just incredible!

In a separate pan, I roasted the potatoes with olive oil, salt and

rosemary in a 375 degree oven until tender.

I broiled the herb marinated chicken breasts.

I tossed the romaine in a basic vinaigrette, typically 3 parts oil to 1 part

vinegar/acid plus herbs and seasonings to your liking.

Taste it and decide what to add. I put minced fresh

garlic in there too.

Everyone started with a dressed salad base and then we passed around

the toppings so you could pick and choose what you liked.

It's a great meal that's nice for a group.

And what's a birthday without cake?! Kalynn picked up these

beauties from Whole Foods. They do a very nice job with desserts!

Great food, wine, dessert and company......a perfect evening.

Happy birthday Deb! So nice to meet you.

let's party

2010-03-08T08:06:00.010-06:00

Spring is natures way of saying, "Let's party!"

-Robin Williams

I had just enough daffodils in the yard to dress up my table for dinner

with friends on Saturday night. I'll share my menu tomorrow.

I hope everyone had a nice weekend.

Now go and show Monday who's boss!

star gazing

2010-03-07T09:52:00.008-06:00

I love movies. I love sitting in a dark theatre with Twizzlers and popcorn watching endless trailers. I'm just wild about the whole experience. I enjoy going with others or by myself. I'm game for most any genre except horror. I'm a scaredy cat from way back. I also love celebrity trivia. My head is filled to the brim with useless facts. My mom, siblings and pal Sue are the same way. Warning: Do not engage in celebrity trivia with my family unless you're bringing your "a"-game. You will be trounced. It's not pretty. Mommy Elta, my grandmother, always had celebrity mags around her home. Long before the Star, Enquirer or People, she was reading Screen Play and Modern Screen. I'll credit her (blame her?!?) for these mad trivia/trivial skills.

That said, I'm super excited about watching the Oscars tonight and the red carpet chatter that precedes it. I've seen only half of the nominated films this year. Enough to be somewhat in the know.

I've actually had some memorable brushes with celebrities. In the 90's I worked part time in Los Angeles. It was paradise. The work was fun and the nightlife was a blast. I had many fun celebrity sightings. Absolute most thrilling??

Robert Redford, hands down. I ran straight to the pay phone to call Mom. He was magnificent. I even shared a moment in Spago with Veronica Hamel a fine actress from Hill Street Blues fame. She spoke to me like I was a trained therapist. She spoke of aging in Hollywood and what a curse it was. Shortly after her confessional, Wolfgang Puck sat down at the bar with us. My moment with Veronica over, Wolfgang signed a cookbook for me and bought a round for the bar.

Another restaurant, another night, all the patrons were being rushed through dinner. The place had to be cleared for a private party. My big ears heard something about Sylvester Stallone and a premiere party. That sounded like fun. My friend Colleen and I ducked into the bathroom and pulled a stunt from the Lucy and Ethel playbook. We stood on top of the toilets and waited quietly for the place to clear out. When the crowds arrived, we left our porcelain perch and went out to mingle. Although Sylvester never showed, we did chit chat with an actor who had an unusual name. Keanu.

Any fun stories from you? Do tell. In the meantime, be glamourous dear readers and enjoy the Oscars!

give me liberty

2010-03-04T08:00:00.004-06:00

Did you hear that Liberty of London is releasing an

extensive line of products for Target?

Clothing and housewares so lovely you'll want

something from every department!

The patterns are happy, cheery and whimsical. Perfect for spring.

If you just can't decide which pattern suits you best,

take their patternality quiz by clicking here.

As for me? They called me arty and delightful.

Why thank you very much.

MARK is my patternality match, but I really love them all.

What's your patternality? Available March 14.

The day my want vs. need experiment screeches to a halt.

midweek resolve

2010-03-03T12:18:00.009-06:00

My Weight Watchers resolve always get a bit shaky around midweek. Today, I'm really craving sweets. I decided to make these Oatmeal-Raisin Bites, a recipe from one of my weekly WW handouts. They are delicious! You'll notice the recipe calls for butter and sugar, the mandatory ingredients for a tasty cookie, but around half as much as the average recipe. Although the recipe says one point per serving, they fail to mention yield, so the point value remains a bit of a mystery.

Oatmeal-Raisin Bites

1 1/2 c. rolled oats

3/4 c. whole wheat flour

1/2 t. baking powder

1/4 t. salt

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 c. butter, softened

1/4 c. sugar

1/2 c. packed brown sugar ( I used Splenda brown sugar)

1 large egg

1 t. vanilla

1 c raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine oats, flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; set aside.
Using a mixer, cream butter and both sugars until thoroughly combined. Add egg and vanilla and mix again.
Add oat mixture and stir just until combined; fold in raisins.
Drop rounded teaspoons of dough about 1 inch apart onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 9-10 minutes for chewy cookies and 11-12 minutes for crispy ones.

My recipe made 32, but I confess, I ate some dough. It probably should've made 36 of the teensiest cookies ever!

flown the coop

2010-03-02T09:04:00.013-06:00

I finished and delivered the egg quilt yesterday. I just love it.

I hope the bidding parents love it too.

Scraps and bits of gold hued fabrics stitched willy nilly make up the hay.

The tip of the ultra suede beak held in place with

a stitch resembling a chicken or bird track.

This rubber stamp pattern was the inspiration for

for my wild eyed chicken.

The kids names and special sentiments about their school

are stitched throughout the quilt top.

An egg pattern is stitched everywhere in between.

The back of the quilt is super cool too. It really shows off Deb's handiwork.

human rainbow

2010-02-26T10:40:00.016-06:00

If you visit my blog with any regularity, you can probably tell that

I love color.Bright, vivid, saturated color.

When I heard the NPR story on the Hindu festival Holi,

I just had to see it for myself. Absolutely stunning.

Holi is a celebration of Spring. During the festival, all

social gaps are bridged. Age, sex and social status are

disregarded. It's noisy, raucous and joyful.

People hug and laugh and douse one another in color.

A human rainbow.

By the way, this natural powder supposedly washes off

with a shower or two.

Holi begins this Sunday, the 28th. Happy Holi to

all those who celebrate this incredible festival

and happy weekend to everyone else!

photo credits: jasmineandtheelephants.com, bestcelebrations.com,maryt.wordpress.com,

porus chaudry for qualityjunkyard.com

like magic

2010-02-24T13:08:00.008-06:00

I had some really big plans for my shiny new crock pot. We've all heard the tales. Toss in this and that before you go to work and let the savory smells greet you at the end of the day. Pour yourself a big glass of wine, adjust the seasonings in your magic crock pot and call the family because it's time to eat! Sadly, I dropped my brand new crock pot and now it's sitting on the floor all busted up, a mocking reminder of the culinary conveniences that might've been. This is the soup I would've made in my magic crock pot. It's one of our family favorites. Back to my trusty stock pot. Dazzle factor? Low.

Monterey Chicken Soup - The Peach Tree Family Cookbook

3 T olive oil

1 1/2 med. onions, chopped

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 @ 4 ounce cans green chiles, diced

3 t chili powder

3 t cumin

3 t dried oregano, crumbled

12 c chicken broth

3 @ 14 1/2 ounce cans tomatoes, diced with juice

4 c chicken, cubed

4 c frozen corn, thawed

2/3 c cilantro, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

monterey jack cheese, shredded

Heat oil in stock pot over medium low heat.
Add onion and garlic. Saute until soft. Add chiles, chili powder, cumin and oregano. Stir one minute.
Mix in broth and tomatoes and their juice. Bring mixture just to a boil. Add chicken, corn, cilantro and simmer until cooked thoroughly.
Season with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle with cheese.

abs on wheels

2010-02-23T08:50:00.002-06:00

Shot early this morning (take a look at the bags under my eyes!), here's a little peek at my portable gym.

hatching a winner

2010-02-22T07:00:00.002-06:00

Would you like to see the project that kept me from blogging last week? Our recent snow storm literally forced my hand on this current quilt project. The power outage turned this machine applique quilt into a hand applique one and had me channeling my inner Ma Ingalls on the prarie with Sophie and Sadie in the supporting roles of Mary and Laura.

Long after the power was restored, I was still hand stitching, thimble on finger, finishing what I started. This sweet little quilt is for a school auction.

I've made many, many quilts for school auctions. The objective is to involve kids in the process and to end up with a quilt that all of them want for their very own. A bidding frenzy ensues. A win for the school and for one delighted kid.

Since these kids raise chickens at their school, this quilt is all about eggs. Every child embroidered an egg. Here's some of their handiwork. Kids don't over think the creative process. The result is magic. They have tons of fun. And they're invested in our project.

You'll see this chicken again.

Today, off to Deb, my master quilter and pal, so she can bring the quilt to life.

I'll post the finished quilt next week. In the meantime, have a great Monday.

give it up for josh

2010-02-13T15:35:00.008-06:00

It's been a wild couple of days here in Texas! A record breaking snowfall and no power for a couple of days. Everybody had a blast. I know you're all anxious to find out who won Monday's giveaway. Thanks to everyone who participated, both long time readers as well as new friends! Watch today's special Valentines Day video to find out who gets the drawstring bag! A big hug and thank you to my dear friend Josh Alan Friedman for treating us to a great show. Enjoy!

To hear more from Josh, click right here or visit him at joshalanfriedman.blogspot.com.

snow curtain

2010-02-11T05:41:00.007-06:00

I woke up early this morning to a steady shower of big, fat, beautiful snowflakes. I guess Texas just couldn't stand to be left out of the winter snow party! Look at this lovely snowflake curtain made from recycled paper. A perfect DIY snow day project. Complete instructions can be found on the always inspiring design*sponge.

my tiny valentines

2010-02-10T21:57:00.002-06:00

Aren't you just crazy over sweet homemade

Valentines cards?

Shiny, messy glitter and a swash of watercolor

is all you need. Oh, and an adorable photo

doesn't hurt either.

I just love this one of the girls when they were tiny.

What else do I love on Valentines Day?How about our family favorite

flour less chocolate cake, aka "Bruce" cake, named for

the chocolate loving boy who infuriates the evil Miss Trunchbull in

Matilda, by Roald Dahl.Recipe on following post.

bruce! bruce! bruce!

2010-02-10T21:29:00.003-06:00

Bruce Bogtrotter's Cake - Roald Dahl's Revolting Recipes

This is a fantastic cake!

8 oz. good quality semi sweet chocolate

12 T. unsalted butter, softened

1 c. plus 2T sugar

1/4 c. all purpose flour

6 eggs, separated, yolks lightly beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Line 8 1/2 inch round cake pan with wax paper and butter the sides and bottom of pan.
Melt the chocolate in a pyrex bowl set in a saucepan of simmering water or in a microwave on low heat. Mix in the butter and stir until melted.
Transfer to a large bowl and add the sugar, flour and lightly beaten egg yolks.
Whisk the egg whites until stiff. Gently folk half of the whites into the chocolate mixture, blending thoroughly, then fold in the remaining whites.
Pour batter into the cake pan and bake for about 35 minutes. There will be a think crust on top of the cake, and if tested with a toothpick, the inside will appear undercooked (don't worry, the cake will get firmer as it cools). Remove from the oven and let cool in the pan on a wire rack.
When the cake is cool enough to handle, carefully remove from the pan, leaving the crusty side up.
Dust generously with powdered sugar and serve with sliced strawberries.

recycling is not foreplay

2010-02-09T18:00:00.003-06:00

Valentines Day. One day.

A comical look at the other

the other 364 from Bret and Jemaine,

Flight of the Conchords.

Thanks to Ken for putting this song on

last years Valentines Day mix. It

makes us laugh! Check out Ken's great music blog.

For mature audiences only. The video that is....

Ken's music blog can can be enjoyed by

the whole family!

mine and yours

2010-02-08T22:53:00.006-06:00

Dear readers,

Be mine and a handmade bag

made up from my sweet stash could be yours!

Please sign up for my valentine week giveaway.

Just make a comment to this post no later than midnight

Wednesday. The winner will be announced on Friday.

I heart your odds: if you send a brand new follower my way,

I'll put your name in twice. Just have your friend identify you

when they become a follower and make a comment.

Have a lovely week!

Shari

emily's oven

2010-02-05T05:00:00.001-06:00

This simple little gem of a recipe came from a 1999 preschool cookbook.

We've made it hundreds of times over the years as it's Sophie and Sadie's weekend favorite.

Thanks and hugs to Emily and Nancy for years of delicious oven pancakes.

Emily's Oven Pancake

2 eggs

1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. milk

1/4 c. sugar

dash of vanilla

1 T of butter

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Let butter melt in ovenproof skillet while oven is preheating.
Beat 2 eggs.
Add 1/2 c. flour, 1/4 c. sugar, 1/2 c. milk and dash of vanilla.
Stir until smooth.
Bake in preheated skillet for 12 minutes.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar and lemon or syrup.

Happy weekend!

prize with poundage

2010-02-04T20:33:00.010-06:00

I love prizes.

I saved these birthday gift cards to reward myself back to

my Weight Watchers goal. One month in, I'm

hoping to snag 5# prize tomorrow!

sunshine & inspiration

2010-02-03T12:30:00.009-06:00

I'm attempting to channel the sun on this otherwise

gray and cloudy day. How about you? If you're looking

for a little sunshine and inspiration,

click here to play with endless

combinations of color

featuring images from Flickr!

This just makes me happy.

family

2010-02-01T09:43:00.008-06:00

A family snapshot, by these guys, from Rachel's swanky

bat mitzvah party.

A wonderful celebration and fabulous day beginning to end.

Sadie's big day will be here in a flash.

that's not how twins works!

2010-01-29T15:55:00.005-06:00

Very Mary-Kate, Episode 1 from Mary-Kate Olsen on Vimeo.

Enjoy your weekend!

via Nick Olsen

don't you dare...

2010-01-28T19:30:00.010-06:00

...eat that batter!

buster "cellophane" lidji

2010-01-27T08:26:00.015-06:00

I just left Buster at the vets office for a little procedure on his eye. He's lumpy, bumpy, crusty and a little bit gross, but he's our old guy and we love him! He sure was sad this morning as his entire family, one after another, denied (a pre-op requirement) his customary morning snack and healthy gulp of water. I could barely look at him. If given words, he might've said, "What am I, cellophane or something?"

virtuous dinner

2010-01-26T09:49:00.005-06:00

Well, things are heating up over on the Biggest Loser campus with accusations of lying and throwing weigh ins and such. Why do the trouble makers always have to reign from Texas?! I just love Tuesday nights! Here is the virtuous meal I'm making tonight.

BBQ Chicken - serves 4 adapted from a Weight Watchers cookbook

3 T ketchup

1 T hoisin sauce

1 T apple cider vinegar

2 t molasses

2 t reduced sodium soy sauce

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

stir together all ingredients except chicken
coat chicken breasts with sauce and bake at 375 degrees until cooked through

I'll serve the chicken with salad and brown rice.

This is a photo of my Weight Watchers journals. I became a lifetime member in 2007. I tracked obsessively to reach my goal. I've put a few back on, so I'm back to writing in my journals and attending meetings once again.

d home best of dallas

2010-01-26T08:26:00.008-06:00

Do two mentions in the past few months qualify as a media blitz?!?

In my world, the answer would be yes!

Here is a photo from the current issue of D Home Magazine

and here is a link to the article.

Thank you D Home and thank you Bill and Cindy for loaning

me "our" quilt for the shoot!

photo by Alex Ham for D Home Magazine

a tallit for rachel

2010-01-25T20:31:00.004-06:00

By the way, a tallit, or tallis, is a prayer shawl.

the beautiful is as useful as the useful

2010-01-22T11:19:00.012-06:00

My apologies if this week has felt like an endless

evening of someone else's home movies. I hope

it's been some fun for you too. I think it's time

to wrap it up now.

Puzzlers Daddy and Tim get in touch with their feminine side

with the completion of bunnies and butterflies.

Suitable for shellacking.

A rustic Brady moment.

Only the finest linens for our crew.

Nature's sculptures.

So true! So true!

Have a beautiful weekend.

grilllzzzz + aliens

2010-01-21T10:00:00.005-06:00

Test for determining if someone is an alien from a far away galaxy

according to my friend Malina:

1. offer grilled cheese sandwich

2. if they refuse the grilled cheese sandwich,

you are looking into the eyes of an alien.

3. Harry is an alien. If you saw

yesterdays video, you might

tend to agree

Otherwise, the whole family loved our custom grilled cheese sandwiches.

Sorry David. No special orders.

Roasted Tomato Basil Soup - The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook

3lbs. ripe plum tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise

1/4 c. plus 2T. olive oil

1 T salt

1 1/2 t. pepper

2 c. chopped yellow onions (around 2)

6 cloves of garlic, minced

2 T butter

1/4 t. crushed red pepper flakes

28 oz. canned plum tomatoes with their juice

4 c. fresh basil leaves, packed

1 t. fresh thyme leaves

1 qt. chicken stock

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Toss together the tomatoes, 1/4c. olive oil, salt and pepper. Spread the tomatoes in one layer on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes.
In a large soup pot over medium heat, saute the onions and garlic with 2T of olive oil, butter and red pepper flakes for 10 minutes until the onions start to brown.
Add the canned tomatoes, basil, thyme and chicken stock. Add the oven roasted tomatoes, including the liquid on the baking sheet.
Bring to a boil, then lower heat and simmer for 40 minutes.
Pass thru a food mill on the coarsest blade or just use your blender like I did. I still like my soup a bit chunky so I didn't puree too fine. Adjust your seasonings.