Saturday, October 30, 2010

nothing.

I know if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all. But what if you just feel like you have nothing to say? Do you make stuff up and hope it's interesting enough?

Friday, October 29, 2010

jolene.



to be honest i like dolly's version better, but couldn't find a decent video.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

i've got plenty of other things i could do.

exactly.

Life changes underneath me. I pick myself up off the floor. Doors close all around me. Some locked others just a turn. When I rise above the ground. No other can reach me. As I dip and dodge. The pieces emerge seamlessly. Age bends and strains. Repair is needed.
Life changes underneath me. I plant firmly in the soil.

Sunday, October 24, 2010

senior.


maybe it's just me, but seniors these days look so much older than my class did at that age. I do love taking senior photos...it makes me nostalgic!

Friday, October 22, 2010

roots.


I don't know a lot about my heritage. I do know that I have Jewish/Russian, Bohemian, English and Dutch roots. This photo represents my Bohemian roots, my Skala roots. This woman is my great grandmother, who was a twin. The only other photo I've seen is of her and her twin riding horses side by side. It may possibly be that same day as this photo was taken as well, because her outfits are so similar. No matter if I never find out details of my family's history I know the faces and some of the footsteps my family has taken...

love.

all you need is love.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

aloe.


I got a wonderful surprise the other day when Nicole and I got together for dinner and a trip to the yarn store. My skin loves natural products and aloe really helps with my dry summer skin. Hurray for aloe!

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

yarn.

this is my progress....go me! my next project is a scarf for my niece.


I bought new yarn today...I adore the store, Knitted Together-I don't know if Nicole is aware of the monster she's creating.

out east.

My downfall with watching the travel channel is missing the places I've been and wanting to be some where I'm currently not. This evening I missed the east coast. I didn't spend quite enough time in NYC, so I cannot wait to return-some day when I find some one I know living there. Honestly most the places I travel are because I know someone there and have somewhere to stay. Not that I don't want to go other places, it's just that I have limited resources.
I had the most amazing few days on the east coast. I ate from a street vendor, met Dr. Seuss, ate seafood in Massachusetts, saw the fall in Connecticut, put my feet in the Atlantic Ocean, wandered the MOMA, and rode the most glorious train ride after an extremely long day.




Monday, October 18, 2010

in a days work.


today i finished some thing. let us rejoice! I got the purple hemp in Springfield, MO and the blue at Day Dreams in DSM! I think I'll be getting more soon.

props.





i love vintage things, so when I came across these props I grabbed them up! They're perfect for kids and babies...heck, even puppies!

sigh.

i'm already contemplating my new years resolution and i think mine's moving towards avoiding letting people disappointment me and using my voice. I completely understand that disappointment is part of life, I've had my share of disappointments I've caused and just as many-if not more-given to me so generously by other people. I have a problem using my voice and speaking up for myself. I know I still have years of work and struggle in front of me, but I am discouraged by the amount of disrespect I get from people. I have a lot of great things in my life and don't need to let the junk of other people clog up my life.

fall.




Sunday, October 17, 2010

fresh ink.


i finally got my KEY button tattoo and I couldn't be more pleased with it. A big thank you to Ace from Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

drool.


Saw this and my mouth started to water. Perhaps this diet stuff won't be too bad afterall...

Thursday, October 7, 2010

nom nom.


I'm completing part of my 4 goals by cooking at home and cooking better food for myself! A lot of veggies, garden goods, and home cookin'! The next goal: chocolate zucchini bread!

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

bake this.


Next week I am going to attempt to make chocolate zucchini bread. This is the recipe that I found to use unless some one informs me of a better one. It's from joyofbaking.com


Chocolate Zucchini Bread:

1 1/2 cups shredded raw zucchini (about 1/2 pound or 227 grams)

1 cup (130 grams) all-purpose flour

1/2 cup (45 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder, sifted (not Dutch-processed)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground allspice

1/2 cup (120 ml) safflower or canola oil

1/2 cup (100 grams) granulated white sugar

1/2 cup (105 grams) light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup (125 grams) semi sweet chocolate chips



Chocolate Zucchini Bread: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven. Grease (or spray with a nonstick vegetable spray) a 9 x 5 x 3 inch (23 x 13 x 8 cm) loaf pan. Set aside.

Grate the zucchini, using a medium sized grater. Set aside.

In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and ground allspice. Set aside.

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla extract until well blended (about 2 minutes). Fold in the grated zucchini. Add the flour mixture, beating just until combined. Then fold in the chocolate chips. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake until the bread has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes, then remove the bread from the pan and cool completely.

Makes one - 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf.

soil.

I really enjoy gardening. There's some thing about getting my hands dirty and digging up the ground that relaxes me. Even when my back hurts I have such a good time that it doesn't even seem noticeable. So I am looking into taking some horticulture classes through DMACC-the picture shows some of what they offer and is quite intriguing. I think the most exciting are herbaceous plant materials, soil science, and fruit and vegetable science. And perhaps I can fit in a art or graphics class as well. Sounds like a fun time to me!

Monday, October 4, 2010

my town.

As I sit in my second home-really where my heart is-it makes me kind of sad to know that I'll be leaving it tomorrow. I spent almost 4 years living in Mt. Ayr with my grandparents and now that both of them have passed it's bitter sweet to come home. In a way I feel homeless even though I know there are a dozen places that I am welcome. Now that my aunt and uncle have moved into my grandparent's home I can't stay there. Emotionally I cannot stay there. After my grandma passed away it took me close to a year to set foot in my own house. It's almost like pieces of my heart are missing now that my grandparents have gone-it's not really my home any more. The town, of course, is but the house is no long mine. Since my grandpa passed a year ago in June the house has been cleaned out and family lives there, yet I can't bring myself to stay the night. I haven't been there since their things have been moved in and I am not sure that I really want to. I love my aunt and uncle, it's just not the same-no deer head, ashtrays, cobwebs, grandpa's chair, or his glasses on the kitchen table.
I truly love Mt. Ayr and as ridiculous as it sounds to people who live here and are dying to get out-this place is my get away. Where I can go and be stress free, feel welcome, and see people that are close to my heart.

It really is good to go where everybody knows your name.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

bruschetta.


Homemade. Yummy. Best dinner in forever!

words of meaning.

My friend, Stephanie, posted this quote on facebook and I couldn't think of a more true statement.

‎"In these bodies we live, in these bodies we die. Where you invest your love, you invest your life."