Sunday Sevens 10-18-15

Tags

cats, Chamna Nature Preserve, Columbia Park, cooking, Kennewick, Richland, Sunday Sevens

Sunday Sevens is a weekly post where we share some photos from our week and yak a bit about what we’ve been up to.  It’s fun and you should join us!  See Natalie over at Threads and Bobbins for more info.

My favorite dinner this week was actually a brinner:  breakfast burritos.  Spicy sausage, scrambled eggs, sauteed veg, cheese, a little fresh tomato and green onion on top, and leftover guacamole.

SO GOOD.

I took a walk in Columbia Park this week and had to get a picture of all the geese.  Please note that they are standing under a “don’t feed the birds” sign because THAT’S WHERE THE MORONS ALWAYS FEED THEM–right under the sign.

*facepalm*

(They were actually edging away from me when I took this, as they’d decided I was a little bit too close and didn’t appear to be packing snacks.)

And then there was this guy.

Yes, the squirrels have the morons pretty well figured out as well.

Butterick patterns were on sale this week, so picked up this one I’ve been eyeing for a while.  Lots of interesting possibilities for mixing and matching knits here.

I feel like I might be falling a little bit in love with sewing knits after pretty much diligently avoiding them for years.

On Saturday, I went on another MeetUp walk, this time to Chamna Natural Preserve in Richland.  Fun time–cool autumn morning with sunshine, some nice people, TWO dogs to pet, AND my honey came along, too.  🙂

That afternoon, after puttering around uselessly for hours without getting anything done, I finally gave in and took a nap with the cats.

Notice that there’s no room for me on MY side of the bed because it’s full of cats.  I had to steal a quilt off the couch and sleep on the other side.  Shelby is deeply suspicious of people sleeping on the wrong side of the bed, but Pooh’s just happy to be taking a nap with his mom.

Busy week ahead.  I’ve finished the birthday present, so now it’s on to the Cozy Afternoon runner (well, after some mending–bleh).  Birthday festivities are happening Thursday, then we’re off to Portland on Friday for another bike ride and another potluck.

Have a great week, everybody.

STH

Sunday Sevens, 03-08-15

Tags

C Bar, Chamna Nature Preserve, Oregon, Portland, Richland, sewing, Sunday Sevens, travel, Washington

I was such a Domestic Goddess this week, I even impressed myself–made chicken stock and vegetable stock, froze garlic and jalapenos for future use, made a new batch of moisturizer . . . .

Let’s just forget about this little incident, shall we?

Yeah, blender shopping needs to happen soon.

On Monday, I took a walk at Chamna Nature Preserve; every time I go these days, I see more green.

Bonus mysterious urban ruin for Natalie:

My pattern collection outgrew the shoe boxes it was in, so I cleared some space in my sewing room dresser for it.  Which then got me started working on a hand applique UFO project from a class some time ago (cause the stuff in that drawer had to go somewhere).

These are all my clothing patterns; my bag patterns are still in shoe boxes for now, but I dream of the day when I finish enough of my UFOs to get the bag patterns in the dresser, too!

The vintage (1998) pattern I ordered from Etsy finally came!  This is what I’m going to use to replicate the Kelly skirt with a pattern that’s actually in my size.  This one has the button front and pockets; all I’ll have to do is turn the front pleats the other way to make a box pleat.  This length is better for me, too.

No plans to work on this one right away, so it’s going in the pattern stash for now.

Another 1998 pattern; this one I bought when it came out.  I’m contemplating making the red jumper on the pattern envelope in a solid black, so that I have something to wear my VAST collection of necklaces and pendants with.  Almost got some ponte at Joann’s, but I was nervous that it might not be weighty enough for this style.  Hmmm . . . .

On Saturday morning, my honey and I headed to Portland for some “us” time before the frenzy of the cycling season really gets going.  We walked around, shopped a little bit, and both took lots of pictures.  Then we saw Ladysmith Black Mambazo–what a fun show!

On Sunday, we had a wonderful brunch at C Bar in southeast Portland, including this Pulled Pork Breakfast Burrito.  Pork, sauteed red peppers and onions, scrambled egg, potatoes–seriously delicious!  I need to try making this at home soon.

We are home again now and had our barbecued hot dogs (70F is close enough to summer for the Official BBQ Opening Day, I’ve decided), salad, and twice-baked potatoes for dinner.  Now it’s time for exercise, then to bed.

Have a wonderful week, all.

STH

Photography 101, Day 5: Solitude

Tags

Chamna Nature Preserve, photo101, Richland, Washington

Taken at Chamna Nature Preserve, Richland, WA

Sunday Sevens 02-15-15

Tags

cats, Chamna Nature Preserve, Columbia River, cooking, Oregon, Portland, randonneuring, recipe, sewing, Sunday Sevens, travel

Just a quick one, then I need to get some sleep–busy day today!

Took a walk with my mother on Tuesday in Columbia Park.  So happy to see the sun again–it’s been a while.

Bonus shot of geese because GEESE:

I’ve been working (slowly) on finishing my partner’s vest this week, but I’m having a terrible time getting motivated to do it.  I am the worst at actually finishing things.  😦

Lately all I’ve wanted to eat are things in the category of “saucy chicken on rice.”  The latest entry in this category:  Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken.  Great dish to make when you REALLY want takeout, but also REALLY want to eat a little healthier than that.  Not at all quick, but not bad nutrition-wise if you serve it with brown rice and stir-fried veg, as I did.

Plumbing woes.  Less said about that, the better.

From another walk, this time on Thursday by myself at Chamna Nature Preserve.  I love all the textures and colors in this picture.

I’m craving spring vegetables, so this plate of veg was my contribution to Sunday’s get-together in Portland to discuss Paris-Brest-Paris plans.  I also made Green Goddess Dressing to dip the veg in and it was SO GOOD–so fresh and herby.

I also learned a new trick:  when homemade mayo breaks, put an egg yolk or two plus a teaspoon of cold water into a bowl (or blender), then pour the broken mayo into the bowl very slowly while beating.  It saved my dressing!

Shot of Columbia Gorge on the way to Portland this morning.  Beautiful, beautiful day once we got out of the freezing fog at our house.

Bonus shot of that lovely blue sky:

Okay, so it’s Sunday Nines.  Whatever.  😉

Have a great week and hang in there–spring is coming.

STH