Woodburned Boxes

I've had this project sitting around for about 18 months and I finally got to it and it turned out so pretty and was so much easier than I thought it would be that I'm not sure why I didn't get it done before. Who knows why my mood swings function as they do.

I was inspired by one of my favorite Etsy stores--Sixth and Elm--that takes woodburning to new heights. Any wooden box will work and I got mine at a local craft store for $4.99.

The idea of burning all that script freehand was terrifying but once I figured out the cheating techniques it wasn't hard at all.  Here's how I did it:

Step One
Print whatever script you'd like to use from your computer.  I didn't go fancy but used Monotype Corsiva in 16 point font, double spaced, with wide enough margins so that the text would fit over the entire top of the box, side to side and top to bottom.  At Sixth and Elm Chantelle uses the French text of the love letters of Abelard and Eloise but I chose my favorite poem, "A Valediction Forbidding Mourning" by John Donne instead. Though the French thing gets bonus points for being extra romantic.

Step Two
Once you have a sheet of paper with the text exactly in the size and manner that you'd like it to appear on your box you take a charcoal pencil (the softer and thicker and blacker the better) and rub charcoal on the back of the sheet on the back side of each line of text.

In the picture to the left you see what I mean about rubbing charcoal on the back.

Step Three
Lay the charcoal-backed paper in place where you'd like the text to appear.  This is easy for the top of the box, you just lay it over the top and tape it lightly in place on the sides, but around the sides of the box it's a bit more difficult. 

I did the whole top of the box first but when it was time for the sides I printed off my text then cut and taped together the lines so that they ran continuously around the perimeter of the box for three lines, starting at the back (I used a different poem for the sides--"On Weeping" by Donne.  Then I put charcoal on the back and I taped the three lines together and taped them around the sides of the box--you can kind of see what I mean by the photos above.


Step Four
With a thin ballpoint pen go over each word of text, tracing the letters and figures of the printed words.  Once you've traced everything, take off the sheet of paper and you'll find that the charcoal has acted as a perfect carbon copy of the text and now your lines are written right on the box in charcoal.

The charcoal will get all over your hands and will smudge on the wood but don't worry, once you've done your woodburning you can easily remove all those smudges.

Step Five
Once you've traced everything and have your words transferred to the wood you just need to take your woodburning tool and go over everything slowly and carefully. This is time-consuming and tedious and your hand will cramp up but it's not hard to make the words look pretty because all that has already been taken care of by the charcoal transfer.

See how pretty it looks?  And all you need to do once you've burned the words is go over the whole box with a large pink eraser to erase all the charcoal smudges.  Don't use sandpaper because that tends to just smear things more, an eraser works better, but if you have a stubborn smudge you can finish it with a bit of sandpaper as a final resort. This photo is taken after the burning and erasing and as the box was ready for the final step.

Step Six
Give it that nice, antique look by applying a light stain to the wood, inside and out.  Using a rag with a bit of stain on it, I applied a MinWax Golden Oak stain in one thin coat to the box and let it dry overnight.

Once dry, sand the box with a fine grit sandpaper, particularly around the edge, to give it that rustic, antiqued look.  I also cut a square of felt to fit perfectly inside the box so it can be used as a jewelry box.  You could also glue a little round or square mirror on the inside of the lid for an extra touch.

And if this is all just too much for your holiday schedule you might contact Chantelle at Sixth and Elm and see if she'll whip you up an order.  Her Harry Potter boxes are so fun for that wizarding fan in your life.

My Latest Sweater

I partially knitted the front of this sweater three times before I finally got it right. The first time it was smaller than the pattern indicated (even with my gauge being accurate) and the second time I noticed the tiny cables were much looser than they were pictured in the pattern. As in not as pretty.

So I unpicked and knitted one size bigger and twisted twice as tightly (every 4 rows instead of every 8) and was finally satisfied.

The fun thing is, the cowl and the sweater are actually two separate pieces so that if you're cold you can wear it with extra warmth (and fashion) but without for a cooler day (or a coordinating scarf).

All in all very nice.  And I'm on to another.

If you're interested in this one for yourself you can find the pattern here at Lion Brand (for free!!).

And by the way . . . I'll be taking a break until after the Thanksgiving weekend.  We've got volleyball and sledding and The Nutcracker and lots of pie-baking and gluttony on the schedule. No time for posting but I'll be thinking of you and hoping you're having a great Thanksgiving too. Next week I've got all sorts of nice things to report on--like giant zebra heads.

***

And if you're feeling crafty this Black Friday weekend, may I suggest a couple books that I've recently been sent to review that I thought were quite right?

First, Design It, Knit It: Babies from Debbie Bliss is a fun addition to your library.  Showing you how to put together your own designs, it's a little different than your average knitting book but still takes advantage of the smaller time requirement that baby clothes offer.  As with all of Debbie Bliss's books, the designs are very cute and the patterns easy to follow.  She makes such classy clothes.

Second, there is How to Sew a Button (And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew) from Erin Bried which is just what the title says--a little domestic how-to manual for those of us who may have missed the Home Ec classes in junior high (raising hand). A great little gift for the holidays or as a stocking stuffer, it would be particularly great for any future college students about to be thrown into the wilds of the dorms. 

Finally, there is The Complete Book of Baby Bargains: 1000+ Best Ways to Save Money Every Day by Kimberly Danger. I've been a mom for 16+ years now and I will swear that this book had ideas that were new to me.  And good ones! If you've got a new mom on your shopping list and want to help her out this might be one of the best new-baby handbooks out there, right next to those "What to Expect" books.

Baked Potato Soup

If you're not already eating hot, chunky, stick-to-your-hips-to-build-up-those-reserves food this winter I guess this may not be your thing but as for me, I'm working hard on the hot, steaming carbs.

Soups are a staple around here and this one is a favorite (because what's not to like about potatoes, cheese and bacon?) And if you happen to have extra mashed potatoes left on Friday you can use those quite nicely.

Sometimes I'll give it a Mexican flair with a good dose of paprika and chili powder.

2 large potatoes
1/2 cup minced onion
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup flour
4 cups milk
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 cups Cheddar cheese
4 slices crumbled bacon
3 tablespoons green onion

Bake potatoes at 425 for 40-60 min till tender, cool. Scoop out of skins.Saute minced onion in butter till tender. Add flour, salt, pepper and mix well. 

Add milk slowly, whisking as you go to keep it smooth. Add it all, whisking constantly. Cook till thick and bubbly. Lower heat and cook 1 min more. Add scooped potato and 3/4 cup cheese. Stir till cheese melts. Garnish with remaining cheese, green onions and bacon.

Really?

I got my latest Athleta catalog yesterday. Yes, I like working out (even more if I've got spiffy workout clothes) and yes I do a bit of yoga here and there but when I got to this picture my mouth fell open.

Are they kidding me?? Do they really think that this is going to get me to buy their clothes? All I can think about is the feeling of tearing and ripping and intense pain.  It totally took me out of the spending-money-on-workout-clothes mode. Completely.

Good Stuff Coming: Teen Underground

Big, BIG news! Our local Z.J. Loussac Library, with the help of the Anchorage Rotary Club (Downtown), is creating a special area at the library just for teens and they held a contest this past month to create a logo for the newly christened Teen Underground project. Spencer, with his new little Mac Mini and his crazy Illustrator skills decided to throw his hat into the ring . . . and he won!

The prize is an iPad but I think the thrill of winning is nearly as mind blowing as the electronics.  He was thrilled not only that he won but that the judges were so complimentary and kind in their praise, one of them even offering to mentor him (which I think is probably the biggest prize of all).

Anyway, it was all a terribly potent and explosive secret to try and keep but today at the club luncheon they unveiled it all and I can officially let that cat out of the bag.  And actually, that experience was wonderful in itself.  I'd never been to a Rotary meeting before and it was impressive to see so many people in the community coming together to take a project like this to fruition so that their city and the up-and-coming generation benefits.

Afterward we told Spencer that he'd probably never be in another place with 250 more powerful people (unless he happens to get an invite to a presidential inauguration or something). In the crowd was our lieutenant governor, our past mayor, current legislators and business owners of some of the most influential businesses in town. It was fun to see Spencer get a round of applause from such a distinguished crowd (and he loved the prime rib). They'll be doing a big spread in the newspaper about it so there will even be more fame coming. Hope it doesn't go to his head.

It all got me rather jazzed about the project--I mean, we are at the library at least once a week as it is but after seeing the floor plan for the new area and all the teen-centered amenities it offers I can't help but get excited and think about how it's going to be a great thing for Anchorage. Already the donations have been generous. Gosh, I live in a great place.

It also was gratifying to feel that our decision to let Spencer buy a computer wasn't insane after all.  He still doesn't really have internet access except to about four or five websites and doesn't play games but once Andrew installed some extra copies of Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop Spencer's been busy doing online tutorials to learn the software. If you don't know already, Lynda.com is a wonderful site for online tutorials on all sorts of subjects and well worth the small subscription fee.

It seems that with all the current time-wasting associated with computers that to have our son learning a valuable skill at minimal cost thrills me to the core.  Isn't this is the essence of what technology is supposed to offer? Isn't this kind of thing that the computer was invented to provide? Education without restrictions of location, age, experience or economics? I suppose that's what the Teen Underground project is ultimately trying to do for other kids out there and it's exciting.

Can you imagine such a thing 50 years ago?  Crazy. We live in an amazing time.

Chocolate Pecan Tart

Pie is my favorite dessert but of all the pies pecan is my least favorite. It's a little too sweet and jelly-like for my taste I guess. I haven't really sat down to examine all my feelings on the issue.

But several years ago I went to a class taught by my friend Dani that gave out some pecan recipes and this chocolate pecan tart changed my thoughts about the traditional holiday dessert forever.  It has the same base as a pecan pie but thinner so it's not quite so syrupy and jellyish and then you have a thick drizzle of dark chocolate ganache over the top that cuts the sweet down to size.  Of course the vanilla ice cream on top helps a bit too.

At any rate, it's a fabulous recipe and one I'll be making for Thanksgiving along with Upside Down Apple Pie. Here are some of the other recipes I'll be making. Tried and true, you can't go wrong with any of these.

Perfect Thanksgiving Stuffing (adapted from another of Dani's recipes)
Cranberry Onion Sauce (good for turkey or pork loin it's savory-sweet)
Sesame Cheese Crescent Rolls (different but absolutely and completely wonderful)
Smoked Gouda Rolls (that's "how-da" to you)
Sweet Mustard Sweet Potatoes (I'm a sweet potato fan but I refuse marshmallows)
Sweet Potato Souffle (A side dish? A dessert? You be the judge)
Orange Glazed Carrots (because there's not enough beta carotene at Thanksgiving)
Baked Brie with Honey Garlic Sauce (the greatest appetizer ever invented)
Sparkling Pomegranate Holiday Punch (a classy punch for the feast)
Fancy Two-Toned Drinks (a magic trick for your table)
White Hot Chocolate (for when we decorate and listen to holiday music)
Chocolate Truffles (easy to do and tasty too)

9" prebaked crust in fluted tart pan
1½ cup pecan halves
4 large egg yolks
⅓ cup dark corn syrup
½ cup light brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter
¼ cup heavy cream
pinch of salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 ounces semi sweet chocolate, melted
1 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
vanilla ice cream

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

Arrange the pecans over the bottom of your prebaked pie crust. In a saucepan combine the egg yolks, corn syrup, brown sugar, white sugar, butter, ¼ cup cream and salt. Heat over low heat while stirring constantly. Do not let mixture boil. Cook about 7-10 minutes, until it becomes slightly thicker.

Stir in the vanilla and pour whole mixture carefully over the pecan-lined crust. Bake for 20 minutes until filling is puffed and golden and beginning to bubble.

Cool for 45 minutes before taking crust out of tart pan. Combine semi-sweet chocolate and 1 tablespoon cream and melt either in microwave on low power or in double boiler on stove until chocolate is thin enough to drizzle. Add more cream if necessary.

Drizzle back and forth over tart in criss-cross pattern then serve with ice cream on top.

Log from the Sea of Cortez

I think I told you I've been on a Steinbeck kick lately--I re-read Of Mice and Men, The Red Pony and The Pearl then I read The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights to the kids while we drove up toward Denali several weeks ago (which is a great book if you're trying to introduce your boys to bigger and harder books without losing their interest along the way). And then there was Travels with Charley. . . . ah, the love of a good book.

This one I picked up at the used book store and made the mistake of leaving it out on the counter in the kitchen too long. Andrew came through, saw it, then took it to read for himself which wasn't objectionable except that he would occasionally get to passages and say, "Oh, this is great--listen to this!" and then he'd try to read it to me. I finally had to do that "I'm not listening to you!" move with my hands over my ears several times for him to get the picture that I didn't want the best parts spoiled. Poor guy.

Eventually he finished it and I was able to read it for myself and thoroughly enjoyed it.  If you're someone who goes for a good National Geographic special or (like me) ought to get an honorary degree in marine biology after all the nature shows you've sat through with your kids over the years then this would definitely be the book for you.

One of Steinbeck's nonfiction works, it chronicles his six-week voyage on the Western Flyer with friend and co-biologist Ed Ricketts as they traveled the Sea of Cortez in search of marine specimens. In Travels with Charley he's a knight errant, questing to find the real America. In The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights there are other knights on other quests and in The Sea of Cortez he's once again the knight himself, looking for meaning among the beauty of the sea and looking for connections between the humanity he's left behind and the anemones and sea cucumbers he's observing.

There are sections that are fascinating from a biological standpoint (such as when the crew accidentally spears a sea turtle and brings it on board) and then there are sections that connect with you on a philosophical level (such as when he describes our human trait of hope). However, I promise you that there are things that will make you squirm when read from our 21st century perspective.  The amount of death that he and the crew inflict in their collection techniques is a little sickening. I'm not a member of PETA or Greenpeace but I still have a healthy respect for life in any form and some of the passages seem too wasteful for my tastes.

Toward the end the men meet up with a fleet of Japanese fishing vessels who are strip-mining the ocean of shrimp. As Steinbeck describes their harvesting he condemns not only the over-fishing but the waste of life but, with beautiful irony, Steinbeck never sees his own involvement.  Immediately after they leave the Japanese ships they find a bay full of 10-foot manta rays and he describes their efforts to kill some of the creatures.  They spear several of them and critically wound others but they never stop to think that while what they're doing isn't on the same scale as the Japanese it's the same disregard for life--and perhaps worse for Steinbeck because he could at least recognize the principle of waste in others and their own killing wasn't done for any kind of profit, monetary or dietary, just for curiosity and "because they were there" like a bunch of boys shooting at birds with a BB gun.

But despite this, as I read the book I had the overwhelming urge to go with them and I wondered if anyone had attempted to recreate the voyage. Sure enough, the National Geographic society did just that a few years ago and NPR and The New York Times both picked up the story which you can read at SeaofCortez.org.

Maybe I, too, have got a bit of that knight errant blood in me to let this kind of story drag me along so thoroughly.

Making Homemade Tortillas

My friend Ruth brought over her fancy schmancy tortilla maker--the kind that plugs in and squeezes out the dough before cooking it perfectly between two non-stick plates--and I was in awe.  I was completely sold and decided right there that I had to have one too (she should work for Amway because she's obviously a born salesman).

I'd tried to make tortillas once before, I'd even bought one of those little steel hand presses where you put the dough between the plates and squeeze them together with a lever but had had miserable results.  The dough stuck all over the place, the tortillas were anything but round and I secretly wondered if Mexico had been running a scam all these years and that tortillas were actually impossible to make by hand. I threw the tortilla press in the back of the cabinet and the only workout it's had since is when Lillian gets it out to use with her playdough.

But after seeing Ruth's tortilla maker and using her recipe and hearing her methods I was convinced I could do it and I gave things another go. And what do you know? It worked pretty well.  Here's how you do it:

Step One
Mix 2 cups flour with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 cup vegetable oil (I know traditionalists use lard and I'll have to try that sometime because I've heard it's the only way to make them authentic).  Mix all the ingredients in a food processor or mixer and pulse/blend the ingredients until it has the texture of coarse crumbs. Then add 2/3 cup warm water and mix until the dough becomes a ball that isn't too sticky--you can add a touch more flour if necessary.

Step Two
Now wait.  Turns out, this was the crucial part I was missing. You must let the dough relax for the gluten to do its business. Then the dough will be pliable without being too sticky and it will all go so much easier.  So form the dough into 12-15 small balls and set them out to relax for 30 minutes.

Step Three
Press the dough in your tortilla press (or roll them out with a rolling pin if you're up for it). You don't need to grease anything because heaven knows there's enough grease in them already.

Step Four
Lay the flattened circle of dough in a cast iron skillet heated to a medium-high heat. You could use a non-stick skillet instead but the cast iron gives it a nice texture, color and aroma.  You don't need to use any grease, just the dry hot skillet will do the job.  Cook it for 15 seconds or so on one side then flip it to the other side and cook it some more.  If you're doing it right it'll puff up in little pockets of steam.

It might take you a few tortillas to get the hang of it but be patient, it will come in a very zen way.  By the time I was done I was getting some actual circles rather than the amoeba-shaped specimens I first produced.  But no worries, even the ones that looked like mutant organisms still tasted good.

I still like the ease of the electric tortilla maker but compare the cost ($40-$70) to the cost of the press ($14) and that kind of settles things.  And for me the even bigger issue is the space saved.  I have so many gadgets in my kitchen I don't know where I'd put a big electric thingy but the smaller press nestles perfectly in my cast iron skillet when not in use and that seals the deal.

Cabbages and Kings

I had plans to write a post this weekend but then this happened. . . .

I'm not complaining, in fact it's been kind of pretty and cozy (don't tell, but while the kids were gone yesterday afternoon I actually listened to some Christmas music on the sly) though it did make it difficult to take the kids to school yesterday. An HOUR there and back. I swear! They say we got eight very wet inches.

But we consoled ourselves with plans for the upcoming holidays and some Philly Cheesesteak Pizza:

And I think today I may actually mess around with this ultra-cool contraption:

We have some neighbors up the street who are in the habit of leaving out piles of things they don't want by their mailbox--you know, things that they're too lazy to take to the thrift store or the dump but they're sure someone else wants? Because if the tires are too bald for them they're going to be perfect for someone else out there. Oy vey.

But apparently my kids are the exact clientele these neighbors were hoping for because they went through the latest heap of trash and came back home bearing newfound treasures.  Yes, they have the makings of world-class dumpster divers.

At any rate, they actually came back with something pretty great this time. A rock tumbler.  Do you remember those holiday JC Penny catalogs? We used to poor over them, making out our Christmas lists and things like toy rock tumblers and mini telescopes and tiny play sewing machines were always on my list but I never got a rock tumbler.

It's just as well because I doubt the Penny's catalog had tumblers that would have survived my childhood but this one is the real deal. Complete with grit and polish and everything I need to polish them rocks.

So while the snow falls I believe I will have some fun polishing these rocks I found on the beach in Homer and here in Anchorage.  They're already rounded and when they're wet they're the most gorgeous colors. Wish me luck.

And if that's not enough for you here are three other very cool things:


Drives of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Most Spectacular Trips is a book I found at our latest Border's hot chocolate run and if you have someone who is a road trip junkie (like me) and loves great pictures and dreaming of travel then this is the book.

Carved Butternut Squash Centerpieces is just that--a way to make this funky yet beautiful and strange holiday decoration.

Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate looks as if it could take it's place as the best drink on the planet. Could you get a better set of modifiers all in one place?

French Country Cassoulet

Have you ever asked yourself "What would a casserole looked like if it actually got dressed up once in a while and made an effort?"

Well wonder no more, I have here the answer for you.  I think "casserole" came from the French word "cassoulet" and, as with so many things involving taste buds, the French know how to do it right.

This is just a fancy casserole but oh . . . OH (that's a moan) is it tasty! And as a bit of a tangent: I've been wanting one of those fancy Le Creuset enameled iron pots for ages--they're really the only thing for browning on the stove then transferring large amounts of food to the oven for slow, savoring roasting. 

The 6-quart pan is big enough to roast a chicken but runs for about as much money as a Toyota.  No, seriously. They're upwards of $300 and there is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING that can induce me to spend that much on a pot, I don't care if it is French.  Did you know that just to replace that cheap little knob on the top is $15? Aliéné!

I did, however, find the same pot--the VERY same--made by Lodge (the company that produces great Dutch ovens and cast-iron cookware) for a mere $50.  Now that's what I'm talking about.  Still, not a bit of nothing but certainly more financially doable than $300.  But what about the quality, you say?  Well, let's just say that after 10 years my Lodge pot cracks. Darn. I'll just buy another one. In fact, I could buy FIVE more and still be floating high.  I think I'm safe.

Anyway . . . on with the recipe.  Not only will it make you weep from the aromatic fragrance of it cooking, it just gets better each day of leftovers.  Yes, it is a bit heavy on the proteins but so what? It's winter . . . live a little. And serve it with a big loaf of crusty bread.

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
8 ounces thick-cut bacon
1 pound fat sausages of your choice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 15-ounce can cannellini beans (or great northern)
8 ounces carrots, sliced
1 14-ounce can petit diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato puree
1/2 teaspoon dried sage
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme or 1 tablespoon dried
2 cups chicken stock
2 cups seasoned bread crumbs
salt and ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cut the chicken into large chunks. Thickly chop the bacon and cut the sausages into thirds if they're large.  Heat the oil in your Dutch oven casserole dish and cook the meat in batches, or until just browning on each side. Remove from oil and set aside.  Add the onions and garlic and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. 

Stir in the beans, carrots, tomatoes, tomato puree, spices and salt and pepper to taste.  Add enough of the stock to just cover the meat and beans, you don't want things swimming around.  You can always add more stock during the cooking if needed.  Cover dish and cook 1 hour.

Add more stock if necessary. Spread crumbs over the top and cook uncovered for 40 more minutes or until browned. 

You can also try adding other vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli or beans for variety.  Last time I made this I also threw in about 12 ounces cooked orzo I had frozen in the freezer to use it up and the pasta was excellent in it.

If You Only See One Movie. . . .

I've shared these RSAnimation videos before and while they're long (10 minutes) they are worth the time.This one discusses education and asks many of the questions I asked in my series "Preparing Our Kids for Life" last month--only Sir Ken Robinson answers them much better than I could.

Robinson outlines ways the current educational system is failing, why children are being treated for ADHD, how humanity is born with the capacity for creativity, and what the current system does to eradicate it. All to the genius of RSAnimation studios fascinating animated presentation.

I present . . . "Changing Educational Paradigms." My husband forwarded this gem to me. He's the only person I know who forwards things to me in my email box that are consistently gems.

How to Make a Pink Daisy Chain Necklace

Years ago I saw these beautiful little daisy chain beaded bracelets at Shy Siren (along with a lot of other beautiful jewelry--they have some gorgeous pieces) and thought, "I can make those!"

Of course I hadn't really any idea how to make them, they just looked like something one should be able to do without breaking a sweat or whatever.  It did take me a little bit of practice but I eventually was able to duplicate the look here with my own necklace and actually it's easy enough for smaller fingers (think 10 years old or older maybe?) to do if they're looking for a pretty holiday present project.

You'll need:
45 inches gold wire
15 dark pink crystals
14 light pink crystals
1 small light pink crystal
15 small dark green crystals
15 small light green crystals
12 inches gold chain
4 gold jump rings
1 gold lobster clasp
needle nosed pliers
1 gold head pin

Step One:
Cut the wire into three 15-inch lengths (approximately, if you're making a bracelet obviously you'll need less). Once you're ready to start you're going to start in the middle and work outward.

Step Two:
Make the first daisy in the middle by stringing two dark pink crystals onto one wire, one dark, one light and one dark pink crystal onto the next wire (the middle wire) and then two more dark crystals onto the last wire.  Position all the beads in the middle of each wire and then twist all three wires together at either end of the grouping of beads so that it looks like the daisy you see to the left.

Step Three:
On one end of the wires string two small dark green beads, onto another string two small light green beads and onto the third string one small light and one small dark green bead.  Loosely braid the three wires together so that the beads are evenly spaced along the braid as you see in the above below. Twist together one inch or so away from the daisy.  Repeat on the other side of the daisy,


Step Four:
Repeat around the chain, alternating the daisies with dark pink petals and light pink centers with the daisies that have light pink petals and a dark pink center.  Braid identical groupings of green beads in between the daisies as you see in the top photo. When you're finished you'll have two dark and two light petaled daisies and five groupings of green beads in between the daisies and on the ends of either side.

Step Five:
Once you've got all your daisies in place you just need to trim down the ends of wire.  Cut off the excess wire to leave about half an inch. Twist the three wires together and bend over the nose of your needle-nosed pliers to make a loop.  Wrap the end of the wire around the base of the loop as you see in the picture at left.

Attach the gold chain to the loop you've created with one of the gold jump rings. Repeat on the other side.

Step Six:
Decide how long you'd like the necklace to be and trim the chain accordingly.  Add two rings, one to each end of the chain where you'd like it to clasp, and attach a lobster clasp to one side and leave the ring on the other side as you see in the picture below.  I let a bit of the chain dangle and added a little crystal charm using one large dark pink crystal and one small light pink crystal strung on a head pin.  I made a loop in the end and attached it to the end of the chain as you see in the picture.

Now you've got your necklace (or bracelet). Suitable for all sorts of occasions--you could use the same idea and make a darling crown or tiara for any princesses you happen to have around the house. 

***

Congratulations to Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy for winning the Taco Night avocado recipe contest! She's won the $100 iCard for her recipe for guacamole--check it out. How many recipes do you know that are worth $100?

Also, on a separate note, I'm considering bringing back the Write-Away Contest and would like to see how many of you would be interested.  I stopped doing them because entries had dwindled but if there is interest (and I've heard from a few people already) then I'd bring them back to give you some writing prompts and some great guest judges.  Just let me know . . . and if you're new here and don't know what I'm talking about, here's a link to one of the past contests.

Small Sidenote

Why can't Alaskan politics just creep quietly under the rug? Why must we still find the national spotlight?  I've never been so frustrated at an election in my life. I'm supposed to get out there and vote and I'm putting it off to the last minute because I can't find anything good to vote for.

Here in Alaska we have the choice to vote for:

A) The small town Democrat mayor who has pretty much said in his ads he wants to spend as much money as possible but then the good news is he probably won't be able to because he'd get lost on his way to work if actually elected.  Yes, unelectable and expensive are the words there, folks.

B) The maniac right-wing Tea Partier who has grown shiftier and crazier as the campaign has progressed.  If he claimed that his opponent were in conspiracy with Martians I wouldn't be surprised anymore.

C) The nepotistic child who was given her senate seat by her daddy in a dirty move that doesn't sit well with me to this day. Too liberal to be legitimately called a Republican yet too smart to openly come out in Alaska as a Democrat, the media loves her and is desperately trying to get us to vote for her which continues to grate on me. Maybe she's the best option but I can't bring myself to agree.

So what is a decent, law-abiding, slightly conservative citizen to do? My religion tells me to get out and vote yet they refuse to tell me who to vote for.  I told Andrew if it were that important to vote then you'd think they'd give me more instructions.  I don't want any of the candidates in there and that's the truth.

So my probable strategy? Vote for the guy least likely to be able to accomplish anything. Less accomplished means less spent. Don't bad-mouth gridlock because at least if the guys in Washington are tied up, bickering, then they can't find the time to spend our money. Is it possible to create a new party based solely on the principle of gridlock?  Their slogan could be, "We'll be fighting all the time, we won't spend a dime!"

***

And here are what a few of the bloggers in my feeds had to say from their ends of the country/world.  Sounds like I'm not too alone.
Thank God It's Election Day
Call Me Evil
I Zip Across Party Lines Faster Than a Speeding Bullet
I Kissed (Partisan) Politics Goodbye

My Life in France

There are a couple subjects that can be assured to get me talking: movies and food. I love thinking about food, talking about food, tasting food--even taking pictures of food is fun.

If you find yourself as obsessed with food as I am (and yes, obsessed would be the correct term there) you've got to read this book.  Julia Child's My Life in France was published in 2009 with help from her nephew, Alex Prudhomme, after he sat down with her to record her memoirs in 2006. She'd meant for many years to write a book about her life but with all the work of writing cookbooks and making a television show she hadn't had the time.  As her life was drawing to a close Prudhomme convinced her to make the time and I'm so glad he did because the result is a gorgeous piece of storytelling.

If you've seen the movie Julie and Julia (see, there I go again--food and movies) then much of the narrative might feel familiar to you because the movie was based partly on the book but, as is so often the case, the book is SO much better.

It begins with Julia and Paul Child moving to post-war France, eager and open to anything the new culture can offer and it isn't long before Julia discovers a love of French food and cooking.  The story follows their loving marriage, hobbies, travels and the people they collect along the way (she meets an amazing array of cultural celebrities from movie stars to writers and artists, and all before she is even remotely famous).  You find yourself falling in love with the place as much as they do and feeling that it's too bad you didn't get a chance to meet the couple because you're quite sure you'd all be best friends.

When I saw the movie Julie and Julia I loved it, but what I really loved was the half with Meryl Streep playing Julia Child.  Amy Adams as Julie What's-Her-Bucket was somewhat irritating, whiny and difficult to live with so to find that the book covers the part of the movie I loved PLUS the years beyond where the movie ends was a huge bonus.  It's all the good parts and none of the downers. 

The book is not only a sweet tribute to the Childs' marriage and the persona behind the celebrity but it's a beautiful photograph of a France that has since been absorbed into the modern world.  You don't have to be obsessed with food to appreciate the excellent writing and storytelling taken from Julia's copious journals and letters and you don't have to be a Francophile to enjoy the quirky French and oddly endearing inconveniences of a post-war Paris but by the time you've finished you'll find yourself wanting to whip up an omlet or bone a duck to be just like Julia and see if you too can't learn to live a little more graciously.

A great book.

All Dressed up and Nowhere to Go

It was an interesting parental moment last Friday night.  We wanted to take the kids out for some culture to see The Death of Edgar Allen Poe (which I wrote about here) and I bet you can imagine the scene: The theater was across town and the play was to begin in 30 minutes but yet we were still eating dinner, the kitchen was a mess, the kids had been playing outside and looked like they'd been hit by a tornado and no one was even thinking about getting ready.  I cracked the whip and we all jumped in to help get things put together but when I said those fateful words: "Now go upstairs and get ready" I was met with a panic.

"You mean we have to dress up??"

"Uh, yea. Go get ready."

"I don't want to wear church clothes! Why do we have to dress up?"

"Because that's what people do when they go out to a play, they dress up. And it's what you're going to do. Go get ready."

"That's not fair!" (because this argument has been such a winner in the past)

"Look, you don't have to wear ties, just put on some decent pants and a decent shirt. No big deal."

"CHURCH PANTS??"

"Yes, your church pants--they're khakis so they'll work. Go get them on."

I must have told them to get dressed 15 times before it sank in that I was not going to budge on this. My inward logic that if I wasn't asking them to wear a tie, then it couldn't be a big deal didn't seem to help much.  Apparently it was all in the image.  Jeans may not be that much different from khakis when it comes to comfort but there's a huge line between them when it comes to "cool."

By the time we were in the car and moving I had one child who had done what I'd asked and was fairly presentable (though with a rainbow of mismatched colors only an 8 year-old or a bag lady could get away with), one who had quickly admitted defeat, capitulated to the requirements and was dressed--more or less--appropriately.  And then there was one (who shall remain nameless) who was so ticked at my rules that he/she wouldn't look or speak the whole trip and spent most of the time staring sullenly at the floor.  It must have took amazing stamina to be that mad for that long--I've got to hand it to him/her.

But what really set the kid off was when we got to the theater and he/she found that not only were they the only ones whose demon mother had made them wear khakis, people for rows around were seated in the most comfortable and pleasurable denim.  We were the only ones dressed up . . . unless you count the guy wearing the giant rat costume who was there for the after-play trick or treating in the lobby.  It did leave me wondering where one would find a six-foot rodent suit. . . .

Of course the argument that "Everyone else is wearing jeans so why can't we?" has never worked in the past because I gave up caring what the world thinks in . . . uh . . . about 8th grade but what hit me, once again, was my disappointment at my fellow theater-goers.  Doesn't anyone dress up any more?  Afterward I asked Andrew if there are any events left where it is universally accepted that one dresses up.  I've been to the opera, the symphony, the theater and in Anchorage you're guaranteed to see more people in jeans than you'll see in suits (let alone tuxedos). I've been to funerals, to weddings, to church meetings and again--the jeans are there in abundance.  I tried to come up with an event where everyone would agree that dressing up was an absolute must . . . the prom? The Oscars? But was left with a big blank.  Maybe a state dinner? Do you think anyone shows up to the Obamas' place in jeans?

When did we get to the point that pajamas were acceptable at the grocery store? Or that jeans were proper attire for church? I know we left off dressing up for things like air travel and shopping excursions and I'm not one to moan about the demise of bustles and corsets but surely there was a line there . . . somewhere . . . and we've crossed it.

But why does it matter? Why should we even care, you say? Well I suppose on one level it doesn't matter because truly, there is the fact that you cannot judge another human being by the clothes they wear but then there is the other equally true fact that clothes are a reflection of what is inside--that while they may not make the man they most certainly reflect him--or, at least, what he wants us to think of him.  And fairly accurately, too.

We choose our clothing because of our own unique tastes, size and bank accounts and to deny that clothing is irrelevant is blindly foolish and unrealistic.  You bet clothes reflect what's inside--why else do teenagers spend so much time and money agonizing over what to wear each day? Because, to them, their clothing is a personification of their status and personality and, frankly, I can't disagree.  The girl who wears clothing that doesn't cover her, the boy who is a billboard for his favorite sports team, the woman with the $400 designer jeans, the hipster who scours the vintage thrift stores or the middle aged retiree buying flannel shirts in bulk at Costco are all saying something with their clothing choices so why have we decided to say, collectively as a society, that it is no longer important to put on our best?

My own personal guess?  I think it's all a shift in attitudes--it's not cool any more to let someone think that they are so important, that they mean so much, for you to put out the extra effort to impress them with your appearance.  Why do you dress up for a job interview? Because you want them to see that you're serious, that you take the whole process seriously and can have a professional attitude.  Why do you dress down? Because your comfort is more important.

I looked at the situation Friday night: here we had a local theater company that had gone to so much effort to put on a quality production.  They'd spent hours and hours rehearsing, had built up excitement for the play, had done everything to heighten the audience's experience. They had done their best to make their own small contribution to the arts in Anchorage so is it too odd to expect the audience to put forth the tiny effort to dress differently than they do for standing in line at the supermarket or raking the yard?  If the experience is truly to be something special, shouldn't the audience dress to that expectation? Don't they at least have that responsibility?

People just don't realize that when they dress sloppily or too casually--whether it's for a play or a wedding or a sermon or a date--that they are saying, "This event just wasn't important enough for me to care about my appearance or what you think of me" and that's served to diminish all sorts of experiences that should be special.  Watch television in your pajamas in the privacy of your own home but when you're out and about try to break out of the mold once or twice and see if it doesn't make all the difference.

Maybe if we dressed up for life we'd find ourselves enjoying all sorts of things we never thought about before.