One Word

Posey featured a one word meme on her blog today and invited anyone who wanted to play along. So, why not? I thought I'd share this photo I took a few years ago in our old apartment. Funny, I am so attracted to chairs. I have been photographing them for the past ten years. I find them fascinating on a few different levels.

On that note, here's my one-word meme:

Where is your mobile phone? Purse
Where is your significant other? Huh?
Your hair colour? Brunette-ish
Your mother? Beautiful

Your father? Gone

Your favourite thing? Words
Your dream last night? Unsettling
Your dream goal? Family
The room you're in? Bright
Your hobby? Food
Your fear? Numbers
Where do you want to be in 6 years? Relocated

Where were you last night? Here

What you're not? Organized
One of your wish-list items? House
Where you grew up? Long Island
The last thing you did? Sang

What are you wearing? Vanilla

Your TV? Hers
Your pets? Never
Your computer? Love
Your mood? Restless
Missing someone? Sara

Your car? Gift

Something you're not wearing? Lipstick

Favourite shop? Ricky's
Your summer? Sacred

Love someone? Many

Your favourite colour? Ivory

When is the last time you laughed? Today
When is the last time you cried? Yesterday

Feel free to participate. I'll be back tomorrow. I can't believe I'm really doing the everyday post thing. Wow. Happy November!

If only I had the time...A Fantasy.

I would pop my favorite popcorn on the stovetop, top it with Chinese five-spice powder and settle into a dreamlike haze while watching this beautiful film.

I would buy and read this book because it has been teasing me for way too long.

Then I would devour this one for dessert.

I would propel myself back to nyc for dim sum at my favorite spot and then
get lost in this store and this one for the afternoon.


This post is dedicated to my partner-in-crime, Julie-
who left this evening for five days in France
filled with beauty and romance.
I am oh. so. jealous.
Bon voyage.
xoxo

"Caramel" Apple Crisp

I'm happy to be home in my nice, warm, house tonight. I'm listening to the rain and enjoying the calm, finally. Today felt a bit like the day before a big holiday. Lots of excitement. There was a buzz in the air and it's usually that buzz that makes the students a bit "restless" (eh-hem).

Understandably so, but still.

Last night's vegan Snickerdoodles would have been delicious had I not let them continue to bake for eight minutes over the recommended bake time. I know! Cookies always fool

me with their soft gooeyness. Ya never think that stuff can turn to rock in a matter of minutes.

Anyway, I totally redeemed myself tonight with my very own version of a "Caramel" Apple Crisp.

The "Caramel" is in quotes 'cause I used butterscotch chips.

Apple Crisp is one of those fun recipes because it allows for a lot of improv, as long as you've got the basics.

Here's what I did:

Step 1: Slice about four apples. I leave the skin partially on. I like it like that. I cut these slices in half, but you could leave them as is. I'm always thinking about little windpipes and such.

Step 2: Throw them into your baking pan and toss with cinnamon and sugar. I also added a healthy dose of nutmeg-we love that spice around here. I also added a glug of maple syrup and a small tip of vanilla extract. I tossed this all together and then added my topping.
Steps 3,4,5, etc... I mixed the topping in a separate bowl. I eyeballed all the measurements: About 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/4 c. wheat germ, 1/4 cup whole wheat flour, pinch o' salt, 1/4 cup brown sugar. I whisked it all together. Then I added about five tablespoons of butter all cut up. I mushed it all with my fingers. Fun!
We added the topping and then added about 1/2 cup or maybe more of the butterscotch chips. Next time, I think I would add the chips before sprinkling on the topping.

I dotted the crisp with a few more bits of butter before baking, uncovered in a 350 degree oven for 35 minutes. If I can "toot my own horn" here for a minute...This was outrageously good.
Just what the doctor ordered. The only thing that I wished I had was a big dallop of whipped cream to top it all off. Mmmmmm.

And while we're on the topic of treats, I've been meaning to show and tell my favorite halloween candy find of 2008!

On halloween night, I thought we would run out of candy, so we ran out to Family Dollar and that is where I found these heavenly little morsels. I am a huge peanut butter fan. I could eat it in some form every day. Love it. Well, I loved the old fashioned Mary Janes when I was a kid, too. I never knew these little kisses existed. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for that little Mary Jane girl. I think that's what initially attracted me to the bag. Then I realized what they were. I wish I would have bought more of these. They are a soft, creamy, taffy kiss with REAL peanut butter right smack in the center. Heaven.
And considering the price of candy, these were a steal at $1.00 bag.

Electricity in the Air

Wow. I'm amazed. Really. I'll never air my political views pubically.

All I'm going to say is this just feels like a different evening.

I can't help but mention that.

Also, I just spoke to my Grandmother, who is 91, and she told me she voted today.

And now...just a couple of photos from Halloween.

I took this while waiting for our Chinese take-out after trick-or-treating.

I like the colors of the gumballs and the subtle shadows captured on the wall.

And introducting...Witchy Mama and "Hannah Montana!"

I love how my wig and her jacket are practically the same color!
Off to go bake some Snickerdoodles and watch the results come in.

Crafts by Cub

My girl is a huge Max and Ruby fan. That's a show on Noggin, for all of you who don't live in Kidville. I actually really like this show. The decor is a fabulous mix of Mexican/Vintage, if that makes sense. Great wallpaper, too. I love to watch these sweet little rabbits, who happen to be brother and sister, walk from room to room. I was on a paper doll kick a few weekends ago, so I included Cub in the fun.

We downloaded the paper dolls from Noggin's site, then colored them and cut them out.

Well, I cut them out. I'm a control freak like that! Then I pasted them to (what else?) an old granola box and made little puppets out of them.

They were supposed to make an appearance at the puppet theatre (the box my sewing machine came in), but that never happend.

Maybe they will hang on our tree this year?

Anyway, I love paper dolls of any kind and this was a fun activity

for us to share together.

While we're on the subject of bunnies...This evening I finally got Cub to eat some solid veggies, as opposed to the liquid kind.

I steamed some baby carrots. When they were tender and drained, I threw them in a bowl with a big thud (?) of butter then drizzled them with maple syrup. I finished them with the tiniest pinch of ground ginger and WOW!

I think I maybe got to eat about four, if that many!

Victory.

November 2: All Souls Day

I can't believe this day almost went by without my realizing it was All Souls Day, Dia de Los Muertos! I prefer the Mexican traditions for this day because they really celebrate the dead, decorating their graves with marigolds, salt, bread, and sugar skulls. How I love those sugar skulls.

I don't visit the graves of loved ones, really. I do light candles and have photos and special

belongings all around me to remind me of those that have passed .

To all those that I love and have crossed to the other side...especially my beautiful

Mommy, whom I miss every day and oh, so many of my family and friends-most recently

my special lady, Sara...

I remember all of you today and thank our creator for

the time we had together!

Not to end on a sad-happy note, I found this recipe and hope that someone out there

will be brave enough to try it. If I wasn't so exhausted tonight, I would.

Maybe next year...

Sugar Skulls

2 cups powdered sugar 1 egg white

1 TBSP. corn syrup

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/3 cup cornstarch

colored icing

1 fine paintbrush

Sift powdered sugar. Mix the egg white, corn syrup, and vanilla in a very clean bowl, then add the powdered sugar with a wooden spoon. When almost incorporated, start kneading with the tip of your fingers until you can form a small ball. Dust with cornstarch on board. Keep on kneading until smooth, then form into skull shapes. Let dry completely, then paint with colored icing, including the names of the people you are giving them to.

Consider this two posts in one!

In solidarity with November being National Blogger Month, I just signed-up with NaBloPoMo.

However, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do, really. If you sign on, you are supposed to post an entry daily during the month of November. No problem there, except I think they want you to post over on their site. Being the territorial Taurus that I am, I think I'm going to keep it over her. I hope that will still count for somethin'!

I would have had a post yesterday, but my camera battery died and I wasn't able to download any photos of our sweet Halloween. Cub was still getting over being sick, so we didn't get to the party over in Ft. Wadsworth, just home after trick-or-treating, which was fine by this tired Mama. Later in the evening, I did get to watch Phantasm, which was pretty good. I didn't want anything too scary and I do love my seventies horror flicks, so it was perfect.

Now to completely shift gears, yesterday was a day filled with early morning errands, a visit from my best-friend, and lots of thrifted and library books. We brought the above gem home from the library. When I find something extraordinary, I like to share the love with others.

So, let me introduce one of my favorite children's picture books. I think it's my favorite title, hands down. I had completely forgotten about this one, until recently. I was doing some research online for preschool books and saw this on many lists. I immediately reserved it at our local library and voile! It was read twice last night, enjoyed immensely and had Cub and I both in stitches, which is always a great way to go off to sleep!

I won't say too much about it, just that I think the illustrations are so beautiful and reminiscent of comic book art and the story is different and special.

Happy Sunday. We are still nursing candy hangovers today!