I Love: Dessert

WARNING: The following blog post may cause uncontrollable cravings. Proceed with caution!



I am one of those people who believe that dessert is the best part of a meal. When I was growing up, we had dessert with every meal (which could explain my robust appearance). It wasn't until I met Tim that I learned (and this was at 32!) that not everyone eats dessert with dinner.

But I love dessert. I prefer things that are creamy and pudding like, but you'll see that there are many exceptions to this rule.

I Love:


creme brulee


ice cream


devil's food cake


banana pudding

Banana pudding was my favorite when I was a kid. I still feel like a little girl when I eat it.


Spotted Dick

Now I know what you are thinking and that giggling is going on. But spotted dick is really really good! If you ever get the chance to taste it, please do!


chocolate dipped strawberries


peach cobbler a la mode


cheesecake


pineapple upside down cake


chocolate mousse

These last two are my husband's favorite. Pineapple upside down cake is easy enough, but real chocolate mousse, since the 1970's, I've only had it in France.

MMMmmmmm. I've made you hungry, haven't I? I Love Dessert

Playtime & The Rule of Thirds

Will and I went to the park to play today. He was thrilled to get out. I'd just studied up on The Rule of Thirds for a photography assignment on perspective, and I used my time with Will to experiment.

I love this picture of my little nugget. And it follows the rule of thirds. If you imagine a vertical line dividing William in half, you've got one of the alignments that fits the rule. But he's a big silly heart breaker whatever rule you follow!

He loves to swing. The ground beneath the swings was quite soggy and muddy; the things we will do for our loves.

And he's getting ready to drive - watch out ladies!

On to the slides!

We checked out a tree that had been cut down.

Then, after much more climbing, sliding, jumping, laughing, and various adventures around the park, the boy got tuckered and and sat down right where he stood.

It was a good day.

Watch out, Paula Dean!

So I now have a header, and a beautiful one that I will be marrying this summer. It will be an outside wedding. K.

On to other news, my mom gave me an early Easter gift of a deep fryer. I've wanted a deep fryer for some time. We are trying to spend less money and I am cooking more and more. But we crave french fried, nuggets, fried fish, etc. So today what deep fryer madness day, and it was ALL GOOD.

Oster 2.5L Cool Touch Deep Fryer = Where have you Been All of My Life?

Tonight, I cut fries for french fries (didn't rinse them first, which I've learned makes crispier fries - they were still amazing). I bought some breaded perch, clams, and butterfly shrimp with a gift certificate I had from Barry's Perch and More here in Marysville and we has a Fisherman's Feast. It was SO SO good. I love fish. I am 3/4 Irish - doesn't fish course through Irish blood?

I was on recipezaar today looking at all of the fried food recipes. Deep fried Oreos, Mars bars, mushrooms, not to mention funnel cake, elephant ears, onion rings, I could go on. I just lost 15 pounds - I think my family might be 400# by the end of the year.

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Not really, but we will have to be careful. Paula Dean is right - everything is better deep fried. There's just no way around it. All of us children of the 60's through the 80's grew up on fried food, it's ingrained into us. It's part of our cellular memory. (I just made that up, but it does sound good.)

So that's the news today. Am going to have to think of something that isn't fried to eat tomorrow!

Where is my header?

Where is my header, you ask? Well, for some strange reason, Blogger quit recognizing it as valid. It just showed the broken link image at the top of the page. I have tried creating 2 more (one of which I am considering marrying, I am so in love with it), all of which are .jpg images. When I try to upload them, I get the message that "the photo has an invalid url." What? So until I figure this out, there will be a generic header.

By the way, this will be my new header:

So pretty, right? All images were adapted from Beauty In Everything, put on photobucket, then I used the collage tool to put them together and added the words, et voila, a new header. Technology is our friend.

But right now, to Blogger, I say "BAH!"

If I Were . . .

I originally read this list on joluchka's blog. I thought it was cool and wanted to give it a go.

Beauty in Everything

if I were a month, I'd be April

if I were a day, I'd be Wednesday

if I were a time of day, I'd be 8:00 p.m.

if I were a font, I'd be Book Antiqua

if I were a sea animal, I'd be a jellyfish


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if I were a direction, I'd be northwest

if I were a piece of furniture I'd be a huge comfy chair

if I were a liquid, I'd be white grape peach juice

if I were a gemstone, I'd be amber with a mosquito in me

if I were a tree, I'd be a ginkgo

if I were a tool, I'd be a Swiss army knife

if I were a flower, I'd be knautia


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if I were an element of weather, I'd be a soft breeze

if I were a musical instrument, I'd be a piano

if I were a color, I'd be celedon

if I were an emotion, I'd be motherly love

if I were a fruit, I'd be a peach


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if I were a sound, I'd be a whisper

if I were an element, I'd be carbon

if I were a car, I'd be a Mercury "Woody" Station Wagon

if I were a food, I'd be egg noodles

if I were a place, I'd be Athens, OH

if I were a material, I'd be cotton


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if I were a taste, I'd be brown butter

if I were a scent, I'd be lavender

if I were a body part, I'd be a brain

if I were a song, I'd be "April In Paris" by Erroll Garner

if I were a bird, I'd be a robin


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if I were a gift, I'd be knitted

if I were a a city, I'd be Chicago

if I were a door, I'd be red

if I were a pair of shoes, I'd be cheetah ballet flats

if I were a poem, I'd be "Hope is a Thing with Feathers" by Emily Dickenson

This was an interesting exercise. I had to ponder a few of them, but most just came to me. What is your "if" list? I'd love to find out!

Egg

The first assignment for the C+C Photography Photo Worksop involved framing and photographing an egg against multiple backgrounds. It was an exercise in color, shadow, and object framing and I enjoyed every minute of it.

First we had to photograph a white egg against a white background

Next, a black background. I found this one difficult as my egg kept looking yellow in the photos. But with the expert guidance of Camilla, Carolyn, and the other participants I finally got one good shot.

After these exercises, we got to get creative. My favorite shots were all close-ups; I also took a few with some unusual backgrounds, but they didn't have the right feel to me. So here are a few that I like.

Silk

Do you get lost in you tube land? I don't often, but last night was an exception. So, while perusing videos of songs that I love, I found even more reasons why Zero 7 may be my favorite band. Sia's voice is pure silk. The videos are artsy fantastic. These are songs that I have loved for a long time, but the videos were a revelation.

"Home" makes me swoon




But my favorite song by Zero 7 is "Destiny."





Like the music? Get it at Erin's Bookshelf.


Have a gorgeous weekend.

Have a Hippie Day: Accessories

You all know by now that I love etsy. I think it is the best marketplace for artisans anywhere. I love trolling the site for things I want to buy (but, alas, often can't). I'm tempted to spend a bit of my paypal balance on these great accessories.

All of these items are offered by vendors that have shops full of beautiful items. If you like an item, check the shop; you're likely to find more to love.


These Damask earrings from Kim B. Designs are $38.00


or you can go for the Marrakesh Moroccan Filifree Earrings from Lucinda's Charms for $10.00


I absolutely love the 5 Medalions Necklace by jewelry designer Julie Gilliam. $28.00


Ayca creates beautiful crocheted shrugs and accessories. This scarf reminds me of a feather boa. So Janis! $35.00


This is the coolest little locket. Beads By Evelyn, $27.50


This bracelet is what I might be spending some money on. Silver Bead Bind bracelet, Brass Lady, $7.25


But then again, I could also stand wearing this Floral Vine leather wristband around. Art of Spirit Leatherworks, $18.00


Isn't this the coolest ring? Peace Ring by Esoterica Bazaar, $26.00


The Greatest fringe bag by marianagaby. $179.00


Or take a paisley trip with the Paisley Sage Shoulder Bag by Jilly Designs. $189.00

Besem Natural Scents makes palm/beeswax candles, natural soaps, body creams and scrubs.


The Old Hippie pillar smells of sandalwood and patchouli. $20.00