tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84319965157703362932024-03-05T01:34:51.659-08:00coloring in my lifecoloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-66584165882834191472012-07-13T02:12:00.000-07:002012-07-13T02:31:21.187-07:00hello....Can you believe it's been over a year since I've blogged in this space! Well I
just wanted to say hello. Things are chugging along and we are so, so glad that Summer is here in the Pacific Northwest (we need the sun to make up for <i><b>all the rain</b> </i>we get during winter and spring).
I know a lot of folks are having heat waves in the Midwest, South, and East Coast-try to stay cool, okay-and don't forget to drink your water.
Of course with summer comes gardening, and if you know me, I love gardening. I love growing stuff. Anyway I plant most things in my garden on purpose, except for this beauty~
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5c6MYF-HERVzU9bS9gZplZETwUa4Sw3NKnhRb7bl07mnCz1eEhbRTNKgZJFKRth97YwFFHi-op0MHISrjHe2SHKPWTjGGKOnnBM7ei6e4R3iE0a52_rw0c6MEY2huxRofy5Y2nDagoY/s1600/IMG_9108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em"><img border="0" height="300" width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5c6MYF-HERVzU9bS9gZplZETwUa4Sw3NKnhRb7bl07mnCz1eEhbRTNKgZJFKRth97YwFFHi-op0MHISrjHe2SHKPWTjGGKOnnBM7ei6e4R3iE0a52_rw0c6MEY2huxRofy5Y2nDagoY/s400/IMG_9108.JPG" /></a></div>
this sunflower was not planted on purpose. You see, I had a bird feeder on the tree and some seeds from it fell on the ground. This sunflower is so big. It just reminds me that even sometimes when things are not planned, they can turn out great-perhaps even better than we can imagine. I realize this with a thankful heart.coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-91124448704081066292011-05-26T18:47:00.001-07:002011-05-26T19:08:27.598-07:00canned<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5763079565/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2480/5763079565_33fd0a239b.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5763079565/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/"></a>.</span></div><p>Lots going on here, like I know with you all too-traveling down south for my cousins graduation, participating in the girls school activities-school will be out in about a week, can you believe it! <br />In between all these happenings I'm also taking a class. The class, which meets once a week for seven weeks, is a class about food preservation. I am really enjoying this class because <span style="font-style:italic;">its so hands on-</span>perhaps too hands on seeing that I cut my pinky finger pretty good today while cutting carrots for a pickled carrot recipe.<br /> So far in the class we have made and canned jams, jellies, soups, fruits, and today we pickled lots of things and even made our own custom herb vinegars. I kept my vinegar simple, a white wine vinegar with chives. We also are making sauerkraut and kimchi <a href="http://www.pickyourown.org/sauerkraut_homemade.htm">the old school way </a>(using salt fermentation). Next week we are going to learn the proper way to process and can tomatoes, make salsa, as well how to make fresh cheese-queso fresco. I think I'll take some tortilla chips to class for some good ole' taste testing (:<br />Have a great holiday weekend!</p>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-47453105404925345452011-05-08T14:40:00.001-07:002011-05-08T15:32:29.159-07:00fermentation station~brewing kombucha<br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5700589745/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/5700589745_ae295560b5.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5700589745/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/"></a>.</span></div><p></p><br /><br />~injera starter<br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5700589077/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/5700589077_e6b2f0cf8e.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5700589077/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/"></a>.</span></div><p></p><br /><br />~kefir grains<br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5700589357/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2405/5700589357_35cd393962.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5700589357/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/"></a></span></div><p></p><br /><br />Someone has been busy in the kitchen and guess what it hasn't been me! My husband is currently experimenting with the process of fermentation. He is reviving some kefir grains that we have had for at least 2 years now (we thought they were not "alive", but after sitting out on the counter at room temperature for a week (and adding lots of sucanat) the grains are now bubbling up. Next is the injera. We are huge fans of Ethiopian food. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injera">Injera</a> is like a sourdough pancake that is used to scoop up lentils, vegetables, and stewed meats-no utensils needed-and it is so so good. I think the starter has another week to go before its done. He also has a batch of kombucha going. Now I'm a little apprehensive about this one. My husband found a free scoby on craigslist and the person who gave it to him even included their favorite recipe. A couple of years ago (after reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nourishing-Traditions-Challenges-Politically-Dictocrats/dp/0967089735">Nourishing Traditions</a>) I did think about making kombucha, but instead thought kefir would be easier and less daunting to make.<br />At first when I saw him doing all these things in the kitchen, I kinda felt like he was taking over my "territory"-not the kitchen per say (because he cooks a lot of the time too) but the territory of experimenting-doing "quirky things" but hey I'm learning to keep my mouth shut. Really I'm looking forward to the results of his fermentation station, especially the injera (:coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-45708755451963788182011-04-23T16:53:00.001-07:002011-04-23T17:15:28.214-07:00out of doors<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5647979428_8554488f29_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5186/5647979428_8554488f29_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5647429561_15e1e6f1fa_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5227/5647429561_15e1e6f1fa_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />If I'm completely honest, I'll admit I'm not "too much" of an outdoorsy person. Yes, I love gardening, but as far as hiking, camping, and going on trails-I haven't done much of those things-but now we are living in a part of the country where people <span style="font-style:italic;">love </span>(and I do mean <span style="font-style:italic;">love</span>) the outdoors-and that feeling is a bit contagious. The more I venture out and see the beauty of this place we now live in I totally get it. Bring it on-I'm ready to get us a tent!</p>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-74137968294143924782011-04-08T14:17:00.000-07:002011-04-08T14:23:17.647-07:00spring is pretty....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5601037377_c80d782a11_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5310/5601037377_c80d782a11_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />isn't it?coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-48398906701703298662011-04-05T14:55:00.000-07:002011-04-05T15:23:06.617-07:00in the kitchen, for the kitchen~<span style="font-style:italic;">in the sink</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5AeIfOtmCjwqTMeRFJl1948lLDb1U_bPzBxT2-Xwj4KD3YehT4A02BhNKXPqSZx7614fPBiNbEYiHAX9Vx8T6ozL4TUcnHNfUtGXxC0tDknZUCcu-Fi1kX8bQXFTj30pyQLXTxRwrj8/s1600/IMG_7494.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5AeIfOtmCjwqTMeRFJl1948lLDb1U_bPzBxT2-Xwj4KD3YehT4A02BhNKXPqSZx7614fPBiNbEYiHAX9Vx8T6ozL4TUcnHNfUtGXxC0tDknZUCcu-Fi1kX8bQXFTj30pyQLXTxRwrj8/s400/IMG_7494.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592222789485167234" /></a><br />~<span style="font-style:italic;">by the sink</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xb4k5d-RYqvgwZUSPRJQ0IDMOaQfRJgdq0mNktcMeNc9yrBEFzsJgZ8_WWspiRmP6e0AOmtOr15gspFn38wCQCQPPUMXydV3Y0M6riHmROHt8T1U10mAWmP7GaDF4XwtUeP7UIuLiwU/s1600/IMG_7493.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xb4k5d-RYqvgwZUSPRJQ0IDMOaQfRJgdq0mNktcMeNc9yrBEFzsJgZ8_WWspiRmP6e0AOmtOr15gspFn38wCQCQPPUMXydV3Y0M6riHmROHt8T1U10mAWmP7GaDF4XwtUeP7UIuLiwU/s400/IMG_7493.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592222783782992258" /></a><br />~<span style="font-style:italic;">making salad</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszY10S6EH2FBPY3tDluvEukV3MkyxTSULbYKcXdCXR-A4f6E6F9cT8hCo8VEWnE8rc1Ax-MUvofrxs0jp88k0uDSojDAOR-Tv2BqzkEOy2cx6FxYBmDS1xx_cMWnr7QeZxVCa6oQbusQ/s1600/IMG_7487.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszY10S6EH2FBPY3tDluvEukV3MkyxTSULbYKcXdCXR-A4f6E6F9cT8hCo8VEWnE8rc1Ax-MUvofrxs0jp88k0uDSojDAOR-Tv2BqzkEOy2cx6FxYBmDS1xx_cMWnr7QeZxVCa6oQbusQ/s400/IMG_7487.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592222778934559682" /></a><br />~<span style="font-style:italic;">making potholders</span><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 1px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5593550150/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5178/5593550150_4df67a1ef1.jpg" style="border: solid 0px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5593550150/"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/"></a></span></div><p></p><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5593550254/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5190/5593550254_54a78f3f27.jpg" style="border: solid 0px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5593550254/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/"></a></span></div><p></p><br />I actually cut out the material for these potholders before our move. I finally got around to sewing them up this weekend. A really small satisfying project (although I found it interesting to sew bias tape around a circle:) The pattern for these potholders are in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Handmade-Home-Repurpose-Materials-Treasures/dp/1590305957">Handmade Home</a>. <br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Hope you are having a great Tuesday!</span>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-20329693113953904402011-03-23T18:13:00.000-07:002011-03-23T19:30:50.420-07:00crocheting, in between naps<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrr58ZSqpmWywDAwFohKOWjRK0iHBUwqMZRsBjnrUsBiQRKurdLpri1Zu6Ph6StwVfgtJts1Ihwa-qe-qwibiaSaEuFa0pKIzK_M6vn9NRy1mj5d8P5slwN8QfcdTE2WA8aSv4BSY4A2U/s1600/IMG_7471.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrr58ZSqpmWywDAwFohKOWjRK0iHBUwqMZRsBjnrUsBiQRKurdLpri1Zu6Ph6StwVfgtJts1Ihwa-qe-qwibiaSaEuFa0pKIzK_M6vn9NRy1mj5d8P5slwN8QfcdTE2WA8aSv4BSY4A2U/s400/IMG_7471.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587465492215763554" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULJ3Y-Y-ykkXewCyJywIcCFAtn3VXej5Vd4ETmML3cbsj-kZTjG7Um2nHxHgBbkpvjRxIv9tOV0ODEUrvI-c87uMTuQBRQ0W7xFW_Q9bMQFX9jHRNYdm3ukmcOjCloKrK8CZ8CYJjvNY/s1600/IMG_7472.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULJ3Y-Y-ykkXewCyJywIcCFAtn3VXej5Vd4ETmML3cbsj-kZTjG7Um2nHxHgBbkpvjRxIv9tOV0ODEUrvI-c87uMTuQBRQ0W7xFW_Q9bMQFX9jHRNYdm3ukmcOjCloKrK8CZ8CYJjvNY/s400/IMG_7472.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587465495648247538" /></a><br />Between naps I've been keeping myself occupied by doing a little crocheting. I got <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Square-Crochet-Motifs-unexpected/dp/1603420398">this book </a>a while ago and like the different shapes/motifs that is included in it. Having a bad cold at <span style="font-style:italic;">that time of the month </span>(I know, I know, tmi) should be illegal-but at least I'm learning some new interesting crochet stitches like dc2tog and dc3tog(:<br />now back to my nap!<br />xoxocoloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-65752659903759788432011-03-21T23:42:00.000-07:002011-03-22T00:13:40.983-07:00last week, this week....~we've eaten quiche<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYSYNG4Yckk5ZHNVpUT1VocbcyVHtE1Gqxx3ABG-zjbNsQlnZOvfVJvhuAW0zsENobmNgkje8DSiip5w7VllKFgQdyIs6Jv2CYskLsUZE9mm4B69sHoKekQUuzQZB_z_MV5SlFD9m8k0/s1600/IMG_7442.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKYSYNG4Yckk5ZHNVpUT1VocbcyVHtE1Gqxx3ABG-zjbNsQlnZOvfVJvhuAW0zsENobmNgkje8DSiip5w7VllKFgQdyIs6Jv2CYskLsUZE9mm4B69sHoKekQUuzQZB_z_MV5SlFD9m8k0/s400/IMG_7442.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586791983252703810" /></a><br />~we've been hit by the cold/virus bug, drinking lots of tea with lemon and honey and taking cold medicines, my workout routine is also lacking now-really I should be in bed now but I can't sleep.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkj5-HgCkTEXNeLRU0HX8M5AOAXvFxO6TzE7BVCyh5Da_FP37S15sQhNPNtokQTwyK-9v5Nks6_Ir1Rg2N-NPgYqth1F5SOoJ5TBKz4vuJnvcaRvYFCAw8QndU2HTS3DGKDrzqrNHUAzs/s1600/IMG_7446.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkj5-HgCkTEXNeLRU0HX8M5AOAXvFxO6TzE7BVCyh5Da_FP37S15sQhNPNtokQTwyK-9v5Nks6_Ir1Rg2N-NPgYqth1F5SOoJ5TBKz4vuJnvcaRvYFCAw8QndU2HTS3DGKDrzqrNHUAzs/s400/IMG_7446.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586792009742003410" /></a><br />~we've been admiring the beauty of plants, forget clothes shopping- I'd rather go shopping at the plant nursery.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwqmGnj-WUO9Zd8u2FwCgYrnce8etgF9ZuDHPHBYuzYcM1zQ0zOK01GXbq7xOAoq3vks9WkKyZ3gy-IacWZkXuENz8LndIh8NseNsrrtMooUCHzdMwWAN5T_SqkTW4Bk58mg9fKSnvrU/s1600/IMG_7448.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwqmGnj-WUO9Zd8u2FwCgYrnce8etgF9ZuDHPHBYuzYcM1zQ0zOK01GXbq7xOAoq3vks9WkKyZ3gy-IacWZkXuENz8LndIh8NseNsrrtMooUCHzdMwWAN5T_SqkTW4Bk58mg9fKSnvrU/s400/IMG_7448.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586792001299896066" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewX8gTXtLbYel5AeHfYaDQQuUQrkjPkvZW4JE2Drv9XzU43Lmv8a9h_gZHX_Ylv5iklHfbSEr7MHrT_cINSrTY82FnxEOv7ExZt2RFERPLEJQugV3whPNLsj6iuNgyVnTCav3z0ZSySk/s1600/IMG_7449.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewX8gTXtLbYel5AeHfYaDQQuUQrkjPkvZW4JE2Drv9XzU43Lmv8a9h_gZHX_Ylv5iklHfbSEr7MHrT_cINSrTY82FnxEOv7ExZt2RFERPLEJQugV3whPNLsj6iuNgyVnTCav3z0ZSySk/s400/IMG_7449.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586791994856480258" /></a><br />~we took enough cough syrup and a supply of cough drops in order to visit with a dear friend who was visiting in the area (from the Midwest), we had lunch at a great vegetarian restaurant (I told her to load up on elderberry syrup and vitamin C after our visit :) she's headed back home today.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PAFGNS4ZA_a4nNHVhaym7-wfPd-Sa3fsMgZeMU1ndPNeF10GSRiCh1mXIk5E4s8uQP9EuOzND_5YZMlYcSG9ZFZDsyh_J0OM6Vo4Ma9_fyB6WqjsgoFUurnm7aHwrc51NyrU6N1rZP0/s1600/IMG_7459.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PAFGNS4ZA_a4nNHVhaym7-wfPd-Sa3fsMgZeMU1ndPNeF10GSRiCh1mXIk5E4s8uQP9EuOzND_5YZMlYcSG9ZFZDsyh_J0OM6Vo4Ma9_fyB6WqjsgoFUurnm7aHwrc51NyrU6N1rZP0/s400/IMG_7459.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586794057135771250" /></a><br />I'd better go get some sleep, the kids on spring break this week and when these colds subside maybe we'll get to something a bit adventurous.<br />hope you are having a good week!coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-85510560995039910952011-03-12T20:50:00.001-08:002011-03-12T21:27:00.390-08:00a little owl family<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5521113515/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5134/5521113515_cbaced5ce2.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5521113515/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></a></span></div><p>Finally finished up this little owl family. Fun to knit, but lots of little parts that needed to be whipstitched on. I found that if I got the small parts knitted first (the wings, feet, eyes- which I only did this with the smallest owl) then I could add them to the body right away, instead of being done with the body and then impatiently knitting the small parts (because really I wanted to see the owl come together quickly:) <br />Right now they are perched on my dresser, but I'm sure not for long!</p><br /><em>the pattern for the owls can be found in <a href="http://www.knitsimplemag.com/node/209#7">knitsimple-Holiday 2010</a>.</em>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-3214155392320348302011-03-03T10:11:00.001-08:002011-03-03T10:20:15.333-08:00repotting....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75g0uE8M7d7wtYLqUHZS2dLek7GCw2mUA_5VJk-jbe8BtewpXZKFztLMtC3pRcQxbr4a8Kda1DKrpyYSpQqYhixLyRHF3B9XECbSCRP8PRtMpMrkTywnFb0ROy2MgY4MHR453jfK00gA/s1600/IMG_7426.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75g0uE8M7d7wtYLqUHZS2dLek7GCw2mUA_5VJk-jbe8BtewpXZKFztLMtC3pRcQxbr4a8Kda1DKrpyYSpQqYhixLyRHF3B9XECbSCRP8PRtMpMrkTywnFb0ROy2MgY4MHR453jfK00gA/s400/IMG_7426.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579918143955746290" /></a><br />When I came home this morning I noticed that one of my houseplants had been knocked over onto the ground. I suspect Chester had something to do with it. Anyway, I wasn't to happy about the whole thing but really it gave me the opportunity to re-pot some plants that needed it. So in a round about way thanks Chester-but next time try to stay out of the window that has the plants, ok?coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-6284435720451954612011-02-28T18:26:00.000-08:002011-02-28T18:31:07.171-08:00a journal of sortslike I need to spend anymore time on the web, but I've decided to keep an <a href="http://athirteenpointonejournal.blogspot.com/">online journal </a>about the half-marathon.<br />maybe it will keep me more accountable, <span style="font-style:italic;">maybe.</span><br />Have a good evening!coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-30187794630378210362011-02-27T13:57:00.000-08:002011-02-27T14:49:13.331-08:00needing motivation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhdgOWbu2YAAwHyLYVAgrBfiSKKhQXAGqpn9xRXi0x0JN92W6Ds_zmnJLWeYpR3z2Rz9cEIe3RvHA1tEOZO0E0f-Azu4TCGXvLWS0u063uZ1al1ZSGdsaHdT4YaBW4KhcxXkV24LwlrE/s1600/IMG_7418.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhdgOWbu2YAAwHyLYVAgrBfiSKKhQXAGqpn9xRXi0x0JN92W6Ds_zmnJLWeYpR3z2Rz9cEIe3RvHA1tEOZO0E0f-Azu4TCGXvLWS0u063uZ1al1ZSGdsaHdT4YaBW4KhcxXkV24LwlrE/s400/IMG_7418.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578499640588438402" /></a><br />(<span style="font-style:italic;">just have to have color, bright too, you know)</span><br /><br />early this morning, perhaps because I was under the fog of sleep, I got online and registered to do a half marathon in April. 13.1 miles. is this crazy? I can't tell you the answer to that just yet, but last night we were talking to some friends who had already signed up to do the marathon and they told me it would be a great experience (<span style="font-style:italic;">ah,the beauty of </span><span style="font-style:italic;">peer pressure</span>). in fact one of our friends told us that he intends to walk the whole race. truth be told I've been struggling with getting down a regular exercise routine since our move (I'm so not consistent-I've been going to the gym once every two weeks and at times less than that!)<br />I guess it boils down to my strong need of external motivation. <a href="http://coloringinmylife.blogspot.com/2010/04/run-girl-run.html">exercise and I have a strange relationship</a>. I avoid it, mentally talking myself out of it-however there are those rare moments when I show up and "just do it" (thanks <a href="http://store.nike.com/us/en_us/?cp=USNS_KW_0611081618#l=shop,women">Nike </a>for that one). Then as I work out I find myself liking it (especially when I have my music pumping), but what I love is that after workout feeling, <span style="font-style:italic;">if only I could hold onto that feeling</span>. Well for this upcoming month that feeling is going to keep me going, it just has too.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Happy Sunday!</span>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-84562641773243799542011-02-25T13:25:00.000-08:002011-02-25T15:00:03.913-08:00friendship through the distancesometimes in life you meet people that just get you. they are easy to be around. they like things you like. they like things that are different too, and that you admire. these are the friends you treasure~<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5476910443/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5212/5476910443_744b7f7c15.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5476910443/"></a> <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></span></div><p></p><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5476904065/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5476904065_8da5f39864.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5476904065/"></a></a></span></div><p></p><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5476900185/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5476900185_c7f6f78985.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5476900185/"></a><href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></span></div><p></p><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5476893275/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5217/5476893275_9b94f08e3a.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5476893275/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></a></span></div><p></p><br /><br />today I received a package of lovely goodies from that kind of friend. a friend I miss a whole lot. I miss our adventures, our lunches (which we always enjoyed some baked goods and a nice cup of hot tea or coffee), our library visits and our knit nights which included sharing our favorite fish sandwich. initially I was worried about the distance and sometimes what it does to friends, but you know somehow I think being aware of this distance makes me cherish our friendship even more.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;"> always hold on to your friends.<br /></span>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-15128259112799633962011-02-24T09:29:00.001-08:002011-02-24T09:47:19.248-08:00Mrs. Horse and friends<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5474331508/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5133/5474331508_d5e70f9a37.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5474331508/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></a>.</span></div><p></p>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-3761820893032630322011-02-21T15:53:00.001-08:002011-02-21T16:17:03.114-08:00just the facts....<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5466566378/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5100/5466566378_2e1967fc6a.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5466566378/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></a>.</span></div><p>~one of my children has been in her p.j.'s for almost two days straight, only was she now convinced to get dressed to go out and get ice cream with her dad and sister.<br /><br />~our little kitty is being very adventurous, not so long ago he hid himself in a kitchen drawer one morning after I had dropped the girls off at school. I was on the verge of tears. I had looked <span style="font-style:italic;">almost </span> everywhere in the house-until I pulled open a kitchen drawer and found him (he was just lying there-looking completely unfazed).<br /><br />~I'm still drinking my morning decaf, and its past three in the afternoon.<br /><br />~I need to catch up on my garden reading.<br /><br />~ I have knitting needles sticking out my hair at this moment<br /> (probably should be reading instead of knitting, huh?)<br /><br />~I made soup for lunch today, so we could have it again for dinner.<br /><br />~I'm hoping for an early bedtime, for everybody.<br /><br /><br />Happy Monday!</p>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-62821065152530477332011-02-19T18:52:00.001-08:002011-02-19T19:36:48.917-08:00into the forest<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5460260312/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5460260312_92df6f1de5.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5460260312/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></a>.</span></div><p></p><br />today we hiked into the forest. It was a little chilly, but a clear beautiful day. I'm so glad we decided to go out instead of sucumbing to the oh so popular after lunch nap~<br /><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5212/5460257378_ba2b75d7f1_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5212/5460257378_ba2b75d7f1_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5459639077_8c3d72da37_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5180/5459639077_8c3d72da37_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5094/5459625419_28853658e7_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5094/5459625419_28853658e7_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5459627303_7d687319e0_z.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 480px; height: 640px;" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5132/5459627303_7d687319e0_z.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />lots of people were out on the trails, so glad that we were out there too, taking in God's beautiful creation.</p>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-46650610172175071452011-02-15T17:37:00.001-08:002011-02-15T21:31:42.959-08:00dishcloths and orchidsI was asked to be a volunteer driver and parent assistant for a field trip today. Grades K-5 of the girls school went to see a <a href="http://www.bakersplays.com/store/product_info.php/products_id/323?osCsid=ae1b2b12bcc24789ade3cf4883422e35">play</a> at the local community college. <br />Just as we were rushing out of the door I grabbed some<a href="http://www.elmore-pisgah.com/article930.htm"> yarn<span style="font-style:italic;"></span> </a> (the colorway is fiesta) and some size nine double pointed knitting needles and stuffed them into my purse. I just wanted to knit something, something that was not going to need any attention to detail. Since the theater was dark I knew that I was going to make something super simple and do whatever stitches that came to my head. Now mind you the dishcloth came out wonky (increasing and decreasing stitches with no rhyme or reason will do this to a project) but a little crochet edging decreased the wonkiness factor a bit-plus it's just going to be a rag to wash the dishes! It was nice to have something small to work on during the play.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5449765928/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5140/5449765928_b45e71c861.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5449765928/"></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></a>.</span></div><p></p><br /><br /><br />For Valentines day I received an orchid-truly to make me happy for any occasion just give me a plant of some kind. I'm so excited that my collection is now up to four orchids.<br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5449756026/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/5449756026_6422dd3192.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5449756026/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></a>.</span></div><p></p><br />I am going to try to attend a community garden meeting tonight that is being held at the library. A big pot of beans are cooking on the stove and to tell the truth I'm here blogging to avoid making dinner-but soon my ears will be met with famous "I'm hungry", so for me (after I push publish post) it's back to the "chopping board".<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Happy Tuesday!</span>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-61518896115032830722011-02-13T14:47:00.001-08:002011-02-13T15:28:42.662-08:00making ValentinesThe weekends go fast don't they? After church yesterday we had some people over for lunch (which included <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/the-thirsty-traveler/jamaican-jerk-chicken-recipe/index.html">jerk chicken</a>). After sunset my husband went out to get a few things and I requested ice cream (didn't I just say something about healthy snacks?) <br />Well I ate a bowl of rocky road last night as I surfed the web, then I knitted a little and finally went to bed. This morning the girls were telling me that we needed to go to the store today to pick up their Valentine cards for their school parties tomorrow, but I suggested that we make some cards instead. I have a stash of stuff, paper wise, that needs to be put to use- so today we did some cutting, gluing, and a little stamping~<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5442642085/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5054/5442642085_885e906227.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5442642085/">making cards</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/">*nichole*</a>.</span></div><p></p><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5442642021/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5213/5442642021_398c35d52e.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5442642021/">cut-out</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/">*nichole*<br /></a>.</span></div><p></p><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5442641969/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5091/5442641969_41e34fc337.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5442641969/">making cards</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/">*nichole*</a>.</span></div><p></p><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5442641911/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5219/5442641911_fd3b979201.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5442641911/">making cards</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/">*nichole*</a>.</span></div><p></p><br /><br />now we just need to add candy to the cards, wonder if I have a stash of that around? (does extra dark chocolate count, I don't know since its full of anti-oxidants and all:)coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-77931075827787393042011-02-11T15:12:00.001-08:002011-02-11T15:43:05.824-08:00snack time<span style="font-style:italic;">~today's after school snack</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pu2tfEfxtDMK8rl20yoa5Ry7BNj8gq9IM-C0oqc_TKCuPINzihay6Do5Y33QD128_2lRmaz86QPeIeTieWypjG35_UvADLipSwvPbfyUgQPaAmLLLsl4WrR_j6H5omd1Lh-lzwVbY8U/s1600/IMG_7331.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pu2tfEfxtDMK8rl20yoa5Ry7BNj8gq9IM-C0oqc_TKCuPINzihay6Do5Y33QD128_2lRmaz86QPeIeTieWypjG35_UvADLipSwvPbfyUgQPaAmLLLsl4WrR_j6H5omd1Lh-lzwVbY8U/s400/IMG_7331.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572574083864107154" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">~my snack of choice lately, dates and slivered almonds</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_d037OPqHMHmOLa4-IeTLaxRScW5fDeJcjZJR2BU3gkuZI5kucLmSimhUtHHorDJxuVb-44oF1Gx-4V_xK66QawZJ2tf2neIqmNzD0VnG8WDT79WTYDvTyff-fnw02UjVkjovWWRJVzI/s1600/IMG_7324.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_d037OPqHMHmOLa4-IeTLaxRScW5fDeJcjZJR2BU3gkuZI5kucLmSimhUtHHorDJxuVb-44oF1Gx-4V_xK66QawZJ2tf2neIqmNzD0VnG8WDT79WTYDvTyff-fnw02UjVkjovWWRJVzI/s400/IMG_7324.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5572574075592169154" /></a><br />We <span style="font-style:italic;">try</span> to eat relatively healthy snacks, but of course there are times we eat a cookie or two. Anyway my snack of choice lately has been dates with slivered almonds. Dates are so sweet, sticky, really they are natures own caramels. Just a few of them help subdue that sweet tooth of mine-they are full of <a href="http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/?page_id=4057">good stuff</a> too. Here are a list of snacks that make there way on our table after school and on the weekends~<br /><br />*chips and salsa<br />*apples with nut butter or cheese<br />*bananas with nut butter<br />*crackers<br />*granola<br />*cut-up pieces of pineapple<br />*oranges<br />*toast with some spread<br />*popcorn popped in coconut oil and topped with a little butter and brewer's yeast<br /><br />snacks of course should quell those hunger pains, but shouldn't fill us up.<br />I notice that the higher quality of the snack the more satisfied I feel (which really is the case with most of the food we eat).<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Have a great weekend, and have some great snacks!<br /></span>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-19553637102802927152011-02-07T17:31:00.000-08:002011-02-07T18:12:58.034-08:00this and that~I am<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">~working on knitting up an owl family, two more to go</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONcYz8i1yTVQz8OEK266FxJoFWzc496PPRducv-u2XBkFyVVmFZ-nW6V-gzQm7pmRg79CzpIjrEZU9a6e0mci4eWOo83et_YDsbPVaaY9PsdwmHtK2pQq6LqXx52qzfk60-Ee9LUnxKc/s1600/IMG_7315.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhONcYz8i1yTVQz8OEK266FxJoFWzc496PPRducv-u2XBkFyVVmFZ-nW6V-gzQm7pmRg79CzpIjrEZU9a6e0mci4eWOo83et_YDsbPVaaY9PsdwmHtK2pQq6LqXx52qzfk60-Ee9LUnxKc/s400/IMG_7315.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571125732873052770" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">~painting on a big yellow canvas (more on that later:)</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-pDFLRaYZMVOmhQBJN_bgZelW8TVLIIGELTsjjgYFJ1oB5dRTo8Qh-7jbOb5jjoOtEdRdrajXdB_k-pOxGa53FjXKk1VlRIfFBnu674EBHESmxnrzz7VU6jt9EnsudCMwtVd7_uVmRU/s1600/IMG_7317.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt-pDFLRaYZMVOmhQBJN_bgZelW8TVLIIGELTsjjgYFJ1oB5dRTo8Qh-7jbOb5jjoOtEdRdrajXdB_k-pOxGa53FjXKk1VlRIfFBnu674EBHESmxnrzz7VU6jt9EnsudCMwtVd7_uVmRU/s400/IMG_7317.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571126365330528290" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">~liking the blues on this recently thrifted vase</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiojMrjWFk5cYvNwPHC7wUTzEZHdagyT2GQ355F3xgwcScmZwcn9Lwnq8NKqksjD14Refqhkg6upIHyGdmRCNHK9ft_AreAdyf-gdVeU-xEzwm9TO4QBfUm5V3cJSBPA-_F3EnhtfQ0dE/s1600/IMG_7316.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiojMrjWFk5cYvNwPHC7wUTzEZHdagyT2GQ355F3xgwcScmZwcn9Lwnq8NKqksjD14Refqhkg6upIHyGdmRCNHK9ft_AreAdyf-gdVeU-xEzwm9TO4QBfUm5V3cJSBPA-_F3EnhtfQ0dE/s400/IMG_7316.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571127481437906754" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">~glad we saw a rainbow today</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXzfgV9LDtXe6vawMCsdE6NgEPgFC7H3x9RnBbgSP-_FnRLzKp99qqWhmmDh5Rwuiqbz-lXpj22ZfEo39Xc-yKO_srzt1yq2vzmmAiHfNmkmpgXFCUenv7K9BDPZ0uXaNFh2hs3NMnes/s1600/IMG_7319.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXzfgV9LDtXe6vawMCsdE6NgEPgFC7H3x9RnBbgSP-_FnRLzKp99qqWhmmDh5Rwuiqbz-lXpj22ZfEo39Xc-yKO_srzt1yq2vzmmAiHfNmkmpgXFCUenv7K9BDPZ0uXaNFh2hs3NMnes/s400/IMG_7319.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571128081894311730" /></a><br /><br />this weekend also included church, ordering pizza Saturday night, attending a birthday party (for a classmate of my youngest daughter), vacuuming, with Sunday evening being topped off by a deep, deep cleaning of the upstairs bathroom-yeah. I love seeing the shiny chrome on the hot and cold water knobs-again.coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-27068223353539003652011-02-03T11:04:00.003-08:002011-02-03T11:52:11.429-08:00in the garden cowl, three waysthis cowl is something I worked on a lot during the girls weekly piano lessons. all it is really is a couple of rounds of stockinette stitch with some rounds of seed stitch thrown in. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5413989954/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4147/5413989954_43f2e16086.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5413989954/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></a>.</span></div><p></p><br /><br />~cowl pulled to the back<br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5414001662/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/5414001662_aefe9f9f00.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5414001662/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></a>.</span></div><p></p><br /><br />~cowl shoulder to shoulder<br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5413998374/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/5413998374_05afa50c81.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5413998374/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></a>.</span></div><p></p><br /><br />~cowl pulled to the front<br /><div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5413993622/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5171/5413993622_c2e9b39dec.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5413993622/"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/"></a>.</span></div><p></p><br /><br />for the last couple of rows I did add some increases so that the cowl would be wider at the bottom than at the top. I don't even know how many increases I actually added, I just added them at whim.<br />I think my favorite way to wear it is going to be the pulled to the front look.<br />now I gotta go find something else to keep my needles warm!coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-40220966179600489172011-02-01T23:20:00.000-08:002011-02-01T23:55:53.110-08:00untangling the tangled....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMS6m5gElsmAUZB8Ab22x3Y2SiEuyKmXibRN85Vhyrnp7x1XtjQYB2xYbvEGSV_w5ZgE3E3WnjsknQnCWKcu0nO5boWddG2VIVWlW-IqLFV2g3kjTd0asqSakRBZJeqnDrQwt6k7EosBg/s1600/IMG_7236.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMS6m5gElsmAUZB8Ab22x3Y2SiEuyKmXibRN85Vhyrnp7x1XtjQYB2xYbvEGSV_w5ZgE3E3WnjsknQnCWKcu0nO5boWddG2VIVWlW-IqLFV2g3kjTd0asqSakRBZJeqnDrQwt6k7EosBg/s400/IMG_7236.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568989071860996834" /></a><br />I spent a good part of my Tuesday night untangling yarn. I won't tell you how long it took. For the love of knitting, a knitters gotta do what she's gotta do.<br />(but I won't lie, this <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/cfaccessories/accessory_display.cfm?ID=80083">certain thing </a> along with <a href="http://www.knitpicks.com/accessories/Knitting_Yarn_Ball_Winder__D80583.html">this</a> are both looking quite appealing right about now).<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">goodnight!</span>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-85676634137606236892011-02-01T03:45:00.000-08:002011-02-01T04:59:48.523-08:00kitchen SundayI actually did spend some time in the kitchen Sunday, but not so much time on the other things I'd listed (the knitting, the laundry, the reading). I made potato fennel soup, quinoa salad, and<a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Gluten-Free-Banana-Bread"> gluten-free banana bread~<br /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">~rinsing quinoa before cooking</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJ3lCgzd1187ZJ3-SpV_R2b5_Ow5fKjv18K1Se_njGzs5PuKTK7dm8P9u5IQsbYSCyPx7OQl1FiMoV8CQzEmmZtNnk_y1f6v8ZxTcAzkdjaZmjIcjWL9nafuEuIcLcWlhS7eTYyUM3r4/s1600/IMG_7222%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJ3lCgzd1187ZJ3-SpV_R2b5_Ow5fKjv18K1Se_njGzs5PuKTK7dm8P9u5IQsbYSCyPx7OQl1FiMoV8CQzEmmZtNnk_y1f6v8ZxTcAzkdjaZmjIcjWL9nafuEuIcLcWlhS7eTYyUM3r4/s400/IMG_7222%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568687661124765650" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">~chop, chop!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX1EnCcSkaNGB878C9a80vCSTr_5kelD0pE_EQISphqcHy7epKslXdHEWdrjk08FUqWcH9D_UfxpZbcDYkVrszPXyq9v0h8QNeG69V2OiJfYLHqFBbaEGvTmkiyLYaWDnPv4W8nbxd1M/s1600/IMG_7225%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX1EnCcSkaNGB878C9a80vCSTr_5kelD0pE_EQISphqcHy7epKslXdHEWdrjk08FUqWcH9D_UfxpZbcDYkVrszPXyq9v0h8QNeG69V2OiJfYLHqFBbaEGvTmkiyLYaWDnPv4W8nbxd1M/s400/IMG_7225%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568688174633452722" /></a><br /><br />~<span style="font-style:italic;">soup simmering</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAVOGCviZstAeLBcM9sERVZ-st6Wb9_J9ubAy_QIS0HRgwwDX4EyICAwdjhjkwQbYDWtSdKB546gDTpkxzNCBevjDa7LcfjeobK8DXLYdkA6MBzhessMpGlV00gxC8_VtCCO6dthxTgY/s1600/IMG_7228%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAVOGCviZstAeLBcM9sERVZ-st6Wb9_J9ubAy_QIS0HRgwwDX4EyICAwdjhjkwQbYDWtSdKB546gDTpkxzNCBevjDa7LcfjeobK8DXLYdkA6MBzhessMpGlV00gxC8_VtCCO6dthxTgY/s400/IMG_7228%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568688664939934450" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">~gluten free banana bread-with a "couple" of chocolate chips thrown in for good measure</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2K0Mf5bD2VFsXqlIPQmnrQ78A2K3o0wUY6UDq__1cQpfYxCLks22M-FaOB_HJikz87qSIbHCc5afax_9ozBwPvbT7wJmKsIhbCoCikIhdWh87WkePdtO595EOKIK1EUThwHedVt0NOA/s1600/IMG_7229%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig2K0Mf5bD2VFsXqlIPQmnrQ78A2K3o0wUY6UDq__1cQpfYxCLks22M-FaOB_HJikz87qSIbHCc5afax_9ozBwPvbT7wJmKsIhbCoCikIhdWh87WkePdtO595EOKIK1EUThwHedVt0NOA/s400/IMG_7229%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568689155116772146" /></a><br /><br />It was so nice to come home after picking the girls up from school yesterday and not having to really worry about cooking right away (and it helped even more considering the schoolwork that needed attention). We ate the soup last night for dinner with some sandwiches. More is still in the fridge for my lunch today. The gluten-free banana bread turned out better than I thought it would. I tasted the batter before I placed it in the oven and it did have a pronounced "beany" flavor, but that flavor wasn't so strong after the bread finished baking and rested for awhile. I think it's pretty good and my youngest thinks so too (I suspect this has something to do with the chocolate chips-to her adding chocolate chips to a dish makes it absolutely delicious-note to self, add chocolate chips to tonight's broccoli :)<br /> The<a href="http://www.bobsredmill.com/gf-biscuit-mix.html"> gluten-free </a><a href="http://www.bobsredmill.com/gf-biscuit-mix.html">flour</a> I used was from Bob's Red Mill. We are not a gluten-free family, but I am interested in consuming less gluten-maybe becoming more in terms of "gluten light".<br />I think I'll try to keep this Sunday cooking going because it definitely makes the start to the week a bit less hectic.<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Have a great Tuesday!</span>coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-64876425372771877412011-01-28T17:01:00.000-08:002011-01-28T19:46:03.398-08:00soupin' it<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5396678031/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5095/5396678031_7e299a9189.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8390849@N02/5396678031/">soup</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/8390849@N02/">*nichole*</a>.</span></div><p></p><br />Made a big pot of <a href="http://www.cookusinterruptus.com/index.php?video_id=158">white bean and kale minestrone soup</a> this afternoon- a big pot because I want it to last most of the weekend. My oldest daughter has several church activities to participate in tomorrow, then I'm hoping to get some other things done on Sunday (laundry, reading, knitting, cooking). This upcoming Sunday I'm going to try to do a big food prep thing so that during the week we have things to eat on hand. I'm already planning to make another soup-potato fennel-for the week. I'll let you know how the Sunday food prep thing goes. My youngest stayed home from school today (she has a bit of a cough) so we took Chester to the vet for some of his immunizations and then we went to the co-op to stock up on apples, mandarin oranges, and bananas. <br />I like having fruit around.<br />Have a great weekend!coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8431996515770336293.post-67604103641469654382011-01-27T10:45:00.000-08:002011-01-27T11:53:26.460-08:00seeing greenIn our gardening class this week we tried out some plant/tree identification. Yikes! I'm telling you, trying to identify a plant or tree can sometimes feel like trying to locate a pin in a haystack-but what we try to do is to narrow down the possible options. Are the leaves opposite or alternate? Is this leaf from a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deciduous">deciduous</a> tree or is it <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreen">evergreen?</a> What is the leaf pattern? It's a bit like being a "green" detective, which really is fun. There are so many great people in this gardening class-retirees, young adults in their twenties, moms, farmers, former librarians, really it's such a fun and varied group (also a nice touch to the classes is that at each class hot coffee and tea are offered along with baked goodies, there is also fruit for those who are avoiding the goodies-I eat both :)<br /> Yesterday the woman who spoke about composting was truly an inspiration. She was trained in another field, but in her late forties she decided to go back to college to get her Masters degree in soil science- I love it! (I especially love it because I turned a year older this week).<br /> So today as I got home from a little shopping (went out to get some plant/tree guides of course) I took some pictures of green outside~<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">~lichens on a tree</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGOdmPtf5jXphADTn9Ulr4aJnWfILzWZeBVIL5CKXuzdpRncvZL8MUASv2IAEFVgWlfCl8AHmgiykBU6cOhNQJCsoB2wcc5nDqe7WQ0r9FSzX3zimYEb81YwLO_UJC-v_LTTYG0cw5pc/s1600/IMG_7209%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibGOdmPtf5jXphADTn9Ulr4aJnWfILzWZeBVIL5CKXuzdpRncvZL8MUASv2IAEFVgWlfCl8AHmgiykBU6cOhNQJCsoB2wcc5nDqe7WQ0r9FSzX3zimYEb81YwLO_UJC-v_LTTYG0cw5pc/s400/IMG_7209%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566944565058609698" /></a><br /><br />~<span style="font-style:italic;">moss in our driveway</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1I00Qry_z2QNGzp7Gw57tn4iM3xgeVrLNqUQp44MccNl5m5wuxQolPiRPPcmoKqlQ706k8sv890CbNOtAITOMKP6WRx-lR6EtCqW-0Dcyva5y7kYOIRi8KcsHzSxJ00nCDWV19pQynVs/s1600/IMG_7210%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1I00Qry_z2QNGzp7Gw57tn4iM3xgeVrLNqUQp44MccNl5m5wuxQolPiRPPcmoKqlQ706k8sv890CbNOtAITOMKP6WRx-lR6EtCqW-0Dcyva5y7kYOIRi8KcsHzSxJ00nCDWV19pQynVs/s400/IMG_7210%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566945149389680642" /></a><br />~<span style="font-style:italic;">rosemary planted last September when we first moved here and a <a href="http://www.hellebores.org/">hellebore</a> that was just repotted today (the hellebore I received from class, from a Master Gardener-she gave several of them away).</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8EQQkUPsheo6Xuepx57pJRCSUBPcysaw0_zG_eaOKX6o87PTLLZnPgxA7RrUrlqQ88jyF3umWU-naot4ITckFYjrK9vTHaOx2tSozsPI9V3dWL5uURLXxetp1i5YoySnwfYqOPpltWY/s1600/IMG_7213%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8EQQkUPsheo6Xuepx57pJRCSUBPcysaw0_zG_eaOKX6o87PTLLZnPgxA7RrUrlqQ88jyF3umWU-naot4ITckFYjrK9vTHaOx2tSozsPI9V3dWL5uURLXxetp1i5YoySnwfYqOPpltWY/s400/IMG_7213%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566945986901413234" /></a><br />~<span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Botanicas-Trees-Shrubs-Plants-Listed/dp/157145649X">the</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Botanicas-Annuals-Perennials-Plants-Listed/dp/1571456481/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1296157670&sr=1-14">books </a>I purchased today</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqFbrVX02u8UrUVeYyHPEByicRDjljbBaf2RhqK-MRzv6mBaAy2U2ctCRQwBArD5pUOI6Og3kGBJy3xnKXeqDpeZqSH_k1GqtEe157uQPh88XY_9_q5s7b90Y5LG4JOQWhL9D1o8OtV0/s1600/IMG_7216%255B1%255D.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeqFbrVX02u8UrUVeYyHPEByicRDjljbBaf2RhqK-MRzv6mBaAy2U2ctCRQwBArD5pUOI6Og3kGBJy3xnKXeqDpeZqSH_k1GqtEe157uQPh88XY_9_q5s7b90Y5LG4JOQWhL9D1o8OtV0/s400/IMG_7216%255B1%255D.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566948284234844178" /></a><br /><br />One thing about living here is that while is does get a little cold, it doesn't get <span style="font-weight:bold;">cold</span>. It's a very green place, really almost year round (hence the rain as well-but there's sun today, yay!-we take it when we can get it). Perhaps this green place is a great place to learn about gardening-maybe it's "growing" on me-pun fully intended!coloring in my lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03370030209652947443noreply@blogger.com2