Vanilla- One Month Check

Here is a peak at how my attempt at homemade vanilla is coming along. The recipe suggested adding a little bought vanilla to speed up the process, but for this first batch I wanted to see how it long it would take.

Ingredients: 1 bottle of cheap vodka; 2 vanillabeans; time...

At one month out, it is finally starting to turn a lovely light brown color.

A Bit of Spring

Inspiration Board

or my version of one anyway!

I finally found a use for the Ikea curtain wires I purchased earlier this fall and somehow never got around to putting up.






The batik image is a gift from a friend who recently travelled to South Africa.

Note to Self

Do not buy salted butter again. Yech.

This month has been lighter on the art project side and heavier on the cooking. Had to make up for that demoralizing pizza fiasco.... (I am working on a pair of socks.)

Some of the dishes that have made the top of my list this week are:

English Muffins with Sauteed Spinach and Swiss.
--both recipes (English muffins; muffin filling) were from Beautiful Breads and Fabulous Fillings.

Homemade Chocolate Pudding
--still working on finding an "excellent" version, but the "pretty good" versions have been quite tasty

Slow Cooker Potato Corn Chowder


No photos at the moment.......

Dinner

hmm. guess that would be turkey cheese roll-ups for dinner then, eh....?

Christmas Tree 2008

A last look at my Christmas tree before I take it down



New ormanents for this year:
from Ten Thousand Villages... made in Vietnam


paper cranes folded from Japanese origami paper

ornaments received as gifts

A Look Back

Somehow, it seems right to take a look back at some of my end of the year creativity before looking forward and setting new goals, new resolutions... Among the many December projects, here is a glimpse of a few:

my first attempts at "quilt journaling"....with yarn and wool

• for the wells of creativity that spout out randomly during nano
• for the recent election

making felt ornaments, mostly like those I saw in the store of pomegranetes or oranges, but here is one I designed of a snowman



my finished anemoi hat



and a free form wall-hanging (about 65% finished) inspired by small felt circles --a couple of which you can see, but most of which have yet to be embellished and attached



As for the new, my new year's resolutions are these:

1. Focus on the basics
2. Stop waiting for happiness. Happiness is right here. Right now. (this one is borrowed from Zen Habits blog. something I already now, but .... always good to be reminded.)