tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-98121592024-03-12T21:09:04.048-04:00miscellanyoccasional ramblings of a crafty girlmelly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.comBlogger472125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-9440378973012734972011-12-18T09:38:00.001-05:002011-12-18T09:42:41.208-05:00winter garden walkfinally, a nice hard frost. this morning it covered every surface. not quite the snow I'm hoping for, but lovely nonetheless.<br />
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on my hollyhock, hibiscus seed heads, oregano and sweet autumn clematis. <div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4JkV-HwP1IKUKxHxACoDJ5YZTUu4pvm4rU8Cv7N-VyY8fvxxh-fWCZGnNcx_ljAlaF3aU9ZApXWgrEjRdX5VcAo683ijRwQxte_8UE5OSh_jpPnlaL9lolHHVOLZ31ZYX9GDmQ/s640/blogger-image-1974078498.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB4JkV-HwP1IKUKxHxACoDJ5YZTUu4pvm4rU8Cv7N-VyY8fvxxh-fWCZGnNcx_ljAlaF3aU9ZApXWgrEjRdX5VcAo683ijRwQxte_8UE5OSh_jpPnlaL9lolHHVOLZ31ZYX9GDmQ/s640/blogger-image-1974078498.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNv22nVMz8PD6oQNbYWakHnBmo78GFmCDyK4tTMViUigSgVpkRFI_E3xbu98vs9A1ioOoNuB_3HtW9c3dTalmnYyznLqNdVRefwxo2VvPlhtfa9SMAhFdWzqhRq3bu5ycvxinwg/s640/blogger-image--608121072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuNv22nVMz8PD6oQNbYWakHnBmo78GFmCDyK4tTMViUigSgVpkRFI_E3xbu98vs9A1ioOoNuB_3HtW9c3dTalmnYyznLqNdVRefwxo2VvPlhtfa9SMAhFdWzqhRq3bu5ycvxinwg/s640/blogger-image--608121072.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPDPqKwNz8-ALZPCLuFMGfWgm5xcgJ2_0bfvf_QlEp-t3cqXz76XNO7Zn0B697JCEnv0jeUoRiAGeyDeCtITrucwlSymie56RakwFxQPYmArZQynu47Nk6Na9hSkNLqyN1vTo8Q/s640/blogger-image--769985917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPDPqKwNz8-ALZPCLuFMGfWgm5xcgJ2_0bfvf_QlEp-t3cqXz76XNO7Zn0B697JCEnv0jeUoRiAGeyDeCtITrucwlSymie56RakwFxQPYmArZQynu47Nk6Na9hSkNLqyN1vTo8Q/s640/blogger-image--769985917.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUG7U2Dzhndb_x08Qt-MGIFqEdRwX1Guh86L8ZfwoP9gF15J5O3E5rDtfTR0iC3EaNJo3TD1rl90Q2xAAirbeS-a6fO-rthRH-eb4VuNQDa2aoBht4QgJ9H4PxxJ4Zw2Z1XO3Z_g/s640/blogger-image-195427986.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUG7U2Dzhndb_x08Qt-MGIFqEdRwX1Guh86L8ZfwoP9gF15J5O3E5rDtfTR0iC3EaNJo3TD1rl90Q2xAAirbeS-a6fO-rthRH-eb4VuNQDa2aoBht4QgJ9H4PxxJ4Zw2Z1XO3Z_g/s640/blogger-image-195427986.jpg" /></a></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-77881543541072723612011-11-26T11:15:00.001-05:002011-11-26T11:39:42.892-05:00blogoversary<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">my blog is having a birthday next month. to celebrate, how about i give YOU a gift? </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">do you know ree drummond, <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/">the pioneer woman</a>? that woman is everywhere these days. i have one slightly used copy of her wonderful cookbook, <i><a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/my_cookbook/">pioneer woman cooks</a>.</i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIDM2V-49zc7bfpgja4zKe9eIgq6r0YhnaJ2oH_tjKRgXzAAiQzevVZMwXdWctyWG4Jz4hHXuDYUZwI-bMmC20b7yA-C-rJo3NKBPD_-bEmh4skHGC_nOHz-2akhcHC5EL7UcgQ/s1600/PWcookbook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIDM2V-49zc7bfpgja4zKe9eIgq6r0YhnaJ2oH_tjKRgXzAAiQzevVZMwXdWctyWG4Jz4hHXuDYUZwI-bMmC20b7yA-C-rJo3NKBPD_-bEmh4skHGC_nOHz-2akhcHC5EL7UcgQ/s320/PWcookbook.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it is chock full of man-pleasin' recipes, pw's amazing photographs and tidbits of life on the ranch. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you want it? leave a comment by midnight, december 31st EST and on new year's day i will pick a winner. it could be YOU!</span>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-35277289649240003752011-11-09T17:46:00.002-05:002011-11-09T17:46:55.508-05:00wordless wednesday<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-31752329246177362122011-08-15T17:53:00.000-04:002011-08-15T17:53:18.528-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoJnnEgsMqN06wmJyS93ZZNxKNMUjlgLBu3ts_v7nZ-Uhg6ZbkL0gSxQt9UyBbsDbp1E0i1XB3SvyAO6uECTDn75FMb7rzD6Mv29gEHIGSQYC-TaqRWaxtwNmJvIfLJpBAPJHGA/s1600/IMG_5212.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyoJnnEgsMqN06wmJyS93ZZNxKNMUjlgLBu3ts_v7nZ-Uhg6ZbkL0gSxQt9UyBbsDbp1E0i1XB3SvyAO6uECTDn75FMb7rzD6Mv29gEHIGSQYC-TaqRWaxtwNmJvIfLJpBAPJHGA/s400/IMG_5212.JPG" /></a>
<br /><div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-60634838344792918932011-08-11T19:59:00.000-04:002011-08-11T19:59:32.304-04:00sew cute<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">i was sketching a simple rag doll the other day - round head, triangle body, skinny legs. i knew i wanted felt hair but sketching wasn't helping so </span>i went to the internet for inspiration. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">i stumbled upon <a href="http://retro-mama.blogspot.com/">retro mama</a> and fell in love with <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/63234073/greta-doll-pdf-sewing-pattern?ref=pr_shop">greta</a>. i spent hours figuring out how to execute this dolly on my own.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">i made pattern pieces, rifled through my stash and the very first 'lissa doll was born.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUZO8vEYijOBNPVrIoZ2BY7HR5ViXYy312XtkQqh11j0PxtCh4xxfgIKJnSizkmZGa8vOz2B_tMPb0Ll3PP31l0jSvBg-EQdyhlAfluULPFvAUERA_RcwQp7qz8uJZYnJMzDXUw/s1600/IMG_5173.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUZO8vEYijOBNPVrIoZ2BY7HR5ViXYy312XtkQqh11j0PxtCh4xxfgIKJnSizkmZGa8vOz2B_tMPb0Ll3PP31l0jSvBg-EQdyhlAfluULPFvAUERA_RcwQp7qz8uJZYnJMzDXUw/s400/IMG_5173.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">once i get kim's actual pattern, i know i'll be able to work out the kinks of assembly. this little girl is formidable. don't let the cute fool you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8uYvgwjrhHc4eQAa4hUkz7qXSwOWoP1lmi25j4ZdzAbGK11n2Quxlmu4AUjNioHCn-69TzPFS6vQsU3IyyZHJ_GQ3Y1_ecXyrZ2ON1q7BDbOtiYC3jTjLeY8XH8MVSnT6vWPTA/s1600/IMG_5182.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR8uYvgwjrhHc4eQAa4hUkz7qXSwOWoP1lmi25j4ZdzAbGK11n2Quxlmu4AUjNioHCn-69TzPFS6vQsU3IyyZHJ_GQ3Y1_ecXyrZ2ON1q7BDbOtiYC3jTjLeY8XH8MVSnT6vWPTA/s400/IMG_5182.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i already know of four girlies who would love their own. i fear this is about to get out of control.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.buyhandmade.org/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="I Took The Handmade Pledge! BuyHandmade.org" border="0" height="100" src="http://www.buyhandmade.org/images/100x100.jpg" width="100" /></a></div><br />
<div style="clear: both; text-align: NONE;"></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-77730954896411224892011-04-04T01:43:00.001-04:002011-04-04T01:43:10.724-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images1.cpcache.com/product_zoom/485468311v1_225x225_Back_padToSquare-true.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://images1.cpcache.com/product_zoom/485468311v1_225x225_Back_padToSquare-true.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-24784201287343575512011-03-23T17:34:00.002-04:002011-03-23T17:37:12.986-04:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">karen bower at <a href="http://www.rockredshoes.com/">Rock Red Shoes</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">posted this pearl today.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">she rocks. red shoes or not.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><center><a href="http://www.rockredshoes.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" title="Bloggy Blog Designz"><img border="0" src="http://i902.photobucket.com/albums/ac224/neuffj/Completed%20Desgnz/2011/Rock%20Red%20Shoes/Button.png" img /></a></center><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;">"You are not your bra-size, nor are you the width of your waist, nor are you the slenderness of your calves. You are not your hair color, your skin color, nor are you a shade of lipstick. Your shoe-size is of no consequence. You are not defined by the amount of attention you get from males, females, or any combination thereof. You are not the number of sit-ups you can do, nor are you the number of calories in a day. You are not your mustache. You are not the hair on your legs. You are not a little red dress. You are no amalgam of these things.</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;">You are the content of your character. You are the ambitions that drive you. You are the goals that you set. You are the things that you laugh at and the words that you say. You are the thoughts you think and the things you wonder. You are beautiful and desirable not for the clique you attend, but for the spark of life within you that compels you to make your life a full and meaningful one. You are beautiful not for the shape of the vessel, but for the volume of the soul it carries." </span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><div style="color: #171717; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #660000;">— </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #171717; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: #660000; text-decoration: none;"><a class="authorName" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/499.Unknown" style="color: #560000; text-decoration: none;">Unknown</a></span></span></span></div></span><br />
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</span></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-52248253464472928462011-03-16T16:07:00.000-04:002011-03-16T16:07:03.906-04:00rubberband man<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WVTF_N-fJRxf5dO7izjYlTsEhgfOVFZeoDIQnOA-lwGzjF37_drSPHEC9MLCD6TYtMIRhKKYU5kaGnSnIfIbjz9lxC5yZocQEa1e3ArXS1BU_F8k-sBTk4TlHAa9WRm7iJnzUw/s1600/25565_356377665898_654150898_4140111_2662819_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WVTF_N-fJRxf5dO7izjYlTsEhgfOVFZeoDIQnOA-lwGzjF37_drSPHEC9MLCD6TYtMIRhKKYU5kaGnSnIfIbjz9lxC5yZocQEa1e3ArXS1BU_F8k-sBTk4TlHAa9WRm7iJnzUw/s320/25565_356377665898_654150898_4140111_2662819_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">justin & timmy</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">i needed a rubber band today. i knew ken had some in his office. i looked up and there was justin's rubberband ball. he was so into rubber bands one year ashey gave him boxes <b>FULL</b> for christmas. i think it was his favorite gift. i don't remember any others, only the laugh we all shared. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">thanks for the picture, cristi. i sangged it from you .:)</span></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-41187301158199200942011-03-15T14:08:00.000-04:002011-03-15T14:08:30.739-04:00actual knitting content<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_HksidKn9HNo/TX-S6WZSbWI/AAAAAAAAGME/R4N33rybiNs/s640/IMG_20110315_122051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_HksidKn9HNo/TX-S6WZSbWI/AAAAAAAAGME/R4N33rybiNs/s320/IMG_20110315_122051.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">knitting up this sweater for girl-child. i am loving it! started ten days ago and i feel like i'm almost done! i know i'm not, but still. digging how easy the pattern is to follow. the yarn is so soft and i love the construction - top down, raglan sleeves and the cabled ribbing is so nice! i know i just spoke in a foreign language to my non-knitterly friends. my apologies. but for those who do understand, check out this amazingly easy pattern by amy swenson.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">yarn is by elann, peruvian sierra aran. pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mr-greenjeans">mr. greenjeans</a>.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/badges/redirect?p=mr-greenjeans"><img src="http://api.ravelry.com/badges/projects?p=mr-greenjeans&t=.gif" style="border: none;" /></a></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-45945421327571920112011-03-07T15:58:00.000-05:002011-03-07T15:58:32.703-05:00no winter lasts forever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AZjxxOCmy4g/TXVADh66BYI/AAAAAAAAGMA/k6GlhXgSnzM/s1600/IMG_20110307_111841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-AZjxxOCmy4g/TXVADh66BYI/AAAAAAAAGMA/k6GlhXgSnzM/s320/IMG_20110307_111841.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"> no spring skips its turn. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">walking outside today, my spirits were lifted by bits of spring i saw everywhere - birds chirping happily in the trees, flowers pushing through the sun-warmed soil, blooming in spite of frosty temperatures and me with my baby-friend, both of us happy to be outside, playing in the sunshine. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">today marks a year, our first year without justin. everyone is asking how we're doing. ashley and i both agree - we are no more sad today than yesterday. one year doesn't hurt any more than 364 days. losing someone you love just hurts. every day. but today, noticing spring all around in the company of a small child whose whole world is filled with wonder made me hurt a little less.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">quote by Hal Borland</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #330000; font-family: georgia, 'bookman old style', 'palatino linotype', 'book antiqua', palatino, 'trebuchet ms', helvetica, garamond, sans-serif, arial, verdana, 'avante garde', 'century gothic', 'comic sans ms', times, 'times new roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-3476261107694581452011-02-14T09:40:00.001-05:002011-02-14T09:41:36.929-05:00hallmark holiday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSWVN7t8ZaLzsQXRv9jo4sxgj1mmoOkC0JBcEYQ9pbpfEAUJeB1_g" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSWVN7t8ZaLzsQXRv9jo4sxgj1mmoOkC0JBcEYQ9pbpfEAUJeB1_g" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">my husband calls valentine's day a 'hallmark holiday'. i'm pretty sure he hates it, but he does love me, so this morning i was surprised with chocolates galore and sweet nothings found in cards stashed all over the house. for valentine's day. he did good. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">this is such a rare occurrence for him (ha!) that he requested public recognition for his deed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">so here you go, babe. thank you for the cards and the chocolates and the extra ten pounds i will most certainly gain from your generosity. i love you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">and <a href="http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day">a little history of valentine's day</a>, just so you all know.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">glad we don't celebrate valentine's day like the ancients did - i'd be slapped with bloodied goat strips! chocolates are a much better way to show your affections, don't you think?</div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-63945194700143083602011-01-20T10:53:00.000-05:002011-01-20T10:52:20.652-05:00my own recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>eta: in thinking about this recipe, i decided it's really more of a pilaf, as the brown rice never creamed up like a good risotto rice would. so, for the instructions, i would cook the rice according to directions, seasoning the water with the turmeric. cook the vegetables in a little olive oil until tender, adding kale and beans last few minutes just to wilt the kale and warm the beans.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><i>i can't wait to make this again.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HksidKn9HNo/TSyuIY9GajI/AAAAAAAAGJg/AVkRLO-5IzU/s640/IMG_20110111_142048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_HksidKn9HNo/TSyuIY9GajI/AAAAAAAAGJg/AVkRLO-5IzU/s320/IMG_20110111_142048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
olive oil<br />
1 medium onion, diced<br />
a few handfuls of baby carrots, chopped<br />
1 garlic clove, minced<br />
2 cups brown rice<br />
turmeric<br />
water<br />
salt & pepper<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><em style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">sauté</span></em></span> onion and carrot until onion is cooked through, browning slightly. add garlic, cooking just a bit. you don't want to burn it. set the veggies aside in a separate dish to add back later. add rice to the pan and just enough water to barely cover the rice. cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. when water cooks down, add a little more. keep adding water until rice is tender. i did this for twenty minutes, then added more water and put a cover on the pan, reduced the heat to low and simmered for another fifteen minutes. i would probably add back the veggies before this last simmer. i cooked mine from the beginning and the carrots were mushy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">i season with salt and pepper at each step - first the cooking vegetables and again when i add the rice. the turmeric was a surprise. i was looking through my spices, smelling as i went and the turmeric spoke to me, adding great flavor and color.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">when the rice was tender, i added a scootch more water, made a little well and cracked an egg on top. popped the lid back on and cooked till the whites were done but the yolk was still soft.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">for my nanny family, i would add kale and white beans at the end. i think it would be great with any vegetables and the beans add protein. what a great meal! healthy, hearty and good.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">i impressed myself. i don't cook like this. i find good recipes. and today? i guess i did just that.</div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-7795557114152536752010-10-28T11:45:00.000-04:002010-10-28T11:45:28.252-04:00eggcellent<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">it made me rediculously happy yesterday to find this little beauty waiting in one of the nesting boxes:</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpzGGSfhExCagftLdo-lmd8pS5EWdcCla6cA2u2PRawgzo6sCNM9fRiXT1jEgdoGaueVOQFtKpy8LmIBm880aTByWIgnBeAC6U6LSjQaSw7FQFfiZJrLAx54SnRvuLNne-0ezaQ/s1600/IMG_5064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpzGGSfhExCagftLdo-lmd8pS5EWdcCla6cA2u2PRawgzo6sCNM9fRiXT1jEgdoGaueVOQFtKpy8LmIBm880aTByWIgnBeAC6U6LSjQaSw7FQFfiZJrLAx54SnRvuLNne-0ezaQ/s320/IMG_5064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> next to a store-bought egg:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav_tSluHsRKWM8LuR_Xc5O52f16g3GyDkqVQWEp4lY7pRJ0O0wW5HrpAhw-U9DwErssPS_cqNW-dvtCVgVRfSrIUiKkQ9J9E_luXTmWAd03iBigNyLeTPqbIpXhnho0jIr5nu8w/s1600/IMG_5059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav_tSluHsRKWM8LuR_Xc5O52f16g3GyDkqVQWEp4lY7pRJ0O0wW5HrpAhw-U9DwErssPS_cqNW-dvtCVgVRfSrIUiKkQ9J9E_luXTmWAd03iBigNyLeTPqbIpXhnho0jIr5nu8w/s320/IMG_5059.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">my two boys. rocky in the front and clyde in the back. </div><div style="text-align: center;">so you can see the size difference between my two roos:</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0UB1RkJoqzLLfT5vlsrBX8KROqfBKgPH6bzo6n7-LZIoNjv21dElHcJRHNUOsHW26Z7jBzXOTPOUprwHae207mw23u9QXgmvR9S9_PUv9iTMivg33OWaHV_Lzfg1oXg_ZEgqdw/s1600/IMG_5035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE0UB1RkJoqzLLfT5vlsrBX8KROqfBKgPH6bzo6n7-LZIoNjv21dElHcJRHNUOsHW26Z7jBzXOTPOUprwHae207mw23u9QXgmvR9S9_PUv9iTMivg33OWaHV_Lzfg1oXg_ZEgqdw/s320/IMG_5035.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> rocky is an old english bantam. he will always be this small. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">as the chickens grew, the coop seemed to shrink! clyde found a new home with three hens, in toledo with my friend susan. i hear they're doing very well. now the coop is perfect for rocky and his girls.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">the four remaining hens are doing great. no eggs today, but i'm hoping for more happiness soon.</div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-49128666651502602982010-08-28T09:14:00.000-04:002010-08-28T09:14:04.212-04:00stitches<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">i had the deep pleasure of going to stitches, midwest last week with a couple of great knitterly friends. i went on their website to see if my new favorite yarn, madelinetosh was hosting a booth. i sadly discovered they were not. but! webs was there with a huge lot of this gorgeous yarn. don't you just love the name? i came away with this little lovely in composition book grey. but really, i think of it more as storm clouds. it's very similar to my dear mmmalabrigo. now, what does it want to become?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_HksidKn9HNo/THFTegNlhGI/AAAAAAAAGCw/tQsswAcolUQ/s1600/IMG_20100822_100012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_HksidKn9HNo/THFTegNlhGI/AAAAAAAAGCw/tQsswAcolUQ/s320/IMG_20100822_100012.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-65950832443583905662010-08-18T21:04:00.000-04:002010-08-18T21:04:00.867-04:00indiana state fair<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9seiuDcvre95lYWrYdIkU429fdbesjzyaKj2DruSoRbZuR_YZ1P_fkhD7htf-w7Fw0nSJVgEx4mxqZV3F0bNZ5-1ICnHoQgNr2tDi3LFawKsfD3F4AMqZm7Y0Jc5NYgIz_iTSZw/s1600/IMG_4950.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9seiuDcvre95lYWrYdIkU429fdbesjzyaKj2DruSoRbZuR_YZ1P_fkhD7htf-w7Fw0nSJVgEx4mxqZV3F0bNZ5-1ICnHoQgNr2tDi3LFawKsfD3F4AMqZm7Y0Jc5NYgIz_iTSZw/s400/IMG_4950.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">we had a great time at the fair last week. we arrived early to beat the heat and the crowds. though i didn't get to see <i>everything, </i>i did get to spend close to an hour in the poultry barn, talk cattle with a cute cowboy and got my fill of lemon shake-ups (my favorite).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">we spent the first part of our visit checking out the antique tractors and visiting all the activities in pioneer village. there was primitive woodworking for the mister and fiber arts for me. we just kept giving girl-child cotton candy and she was happy. some things never change.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">the day was too short but it was about all we could stand in the indiana heat. i forget how blasted hot it gets here in august. i think it's like childbirth that way - too painful to remember.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">i'm seriously thinking of entering a project in next year's fair. think this lovely would win any ribbons?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs306.snc4/40662_419755592020_654257020_5216689_3890458_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs306.snc4/40662_419755592020_654257020_5216689_3890458_n.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">i finished my modern quilt wrap.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">if you missed it on facebook or ravelry, here it is for your viewing pleasure. i don't see how i'll ever knit anything so lovely again. even though it's simple garter stitch, the colors are so striking against each other it looks quite impressive. i can't believe it's done! finally! it would be fun to enter something in the fair and i can't think of a better project. stay tuned...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-2249805469488707352010-07-25T20:43:00.000-04:002010-07-25T20:43:57.933-04:00housing chickens<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3r_2YRmrvvbmzN5Zmot8avRD8CBidYe6o9GcWTBxEveo24wk4a77wFEm8M6LSuabDo8Zm7goesPIAf2ibU4JKNYgjY4l1e-7Y4bCc6DKch-CeMl1iWlPpA-QsbtPq3nGlfG8o3g/s1600/DSCN1117.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3r_2YRmrvvbmzN5Zmot8avRD8CBidYe6o9GcWTBxEveo24wk4a77wFEm8M6LSuabDo8Zm7goesPIAf2ibU4JKNYgjY4l1e-7Y4bCc6DKch-CeMl1iWlPpA-QsbtPq3nGlfG8o3g/s400/DSCN1117.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">ken figures these "free chickens" have cost us about $500. so at two eggs per hen per day, if they started laying tomorrow, it would take until new years for any sort of ROI (return on investment). my numbers geek husband. i don't care about any of that. i look out my window and this view makes me smile. that's what matters.</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: NONE;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-70469690928508321632010-07-24T21:59:00.001-04:002010-07-24T22:16:55.385-04:00on naming chickens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">this is cleo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqpWNybwAriMn_OZAisCer5p_JrE0uotbKHcmmTc1K1_DH6w42qmN2M1iq7Ra93qXR-1u_xDXLyoNMVk12hIck2q4Q4w4BoJFe4gOVvS97v5dl9X1p2y0hA0cgQcQ61-uI-QCQQ/s1600/IMG_4048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqpWNybwAriMn_OZAisCer5p_JrE0uotbKHcmmTc1K1_DH6w42qmN2M1iq7Ra93qXR-1u_xDXLyoNMVk12hIck2q4Q4w4BoJFe4gOVvS97v5dl9X1p2y0hA0cgQcQ61-uI-QCQQ/s320/IMG_4048.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">she was the first hen to get a name. with her 'eyeliner' i thought it was fitting. this photo was taken a few weeks ago, when we first got the chickens. below is cleo now, pictured with 'flo' (the other red hen). they've really grown!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4I28kfp9Ahzrr7uPHMwqZpgQq2cMxLcoQMUCOZM6HKUOFqOEVbYm6Pxa3eB1cQM7nzTb7p5z5fN3xnzycZih62W0-lb55QC8O0y9o3gXhahevOAXlPfUfi-FFMCcQ0ioOq5kCQ/s1600/DSCN1114.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4I28kfp9Ahzrr7uPHMwqZpgQq2cMxLcoQMUCOZM6HKUOFqOEVbYm6Pxa3eB1cQM7nzTb7p5z5fN3xnzycZih62W0-lb55QC8O0y9o3gXhahevOAXlPfUfi-FFMCcQ0ioOq5kCQ/s400/DSCN1114.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">we also have 'rocky', 'clyde', 'lola', 'carmela', 'bonnie', 'beth' and 'chica-kahn'. (HA!)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">sadly, we lost adrianne last week. i don't know what happened except she was teeny tiny and i don't have a CLUE as to what i'm doing with these birds! but i am learning. that was a hard day. but it's all part of raising animals, i guess. and now that i know better i can do better.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">i think ken was worried about us getting too attached - naming them. but in my mind, how can i not name them? they are living beings. they will eventually gift me with their eggs. how can i not?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">and let me just say, if he didn't care about them too, he wouldn't be talking the time to build a perfect coop.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5B9U6vMh_H7b35U9Fhho3uGGHLiKojAKdtSt-PJty_VcThplKuTYPaZaTCrsLCEKOqt1h_xETdZw6q4GDw-NZpA4DcjegiO6kJqxmfSzrUhPRK6iJSrriEnG_elIHJjuBfRqIuQ/s1600/DSCN1110.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5B9U6vMh_H7b35U9Fhho3uGGHLiKojAKdtSt-PJty_VcThplKuTYPaZaTCrsLCEKOqt1h_xETdZw6q4GDw-NZpA4DcjegiO6kJqxmfSzrUhPRK6iJSrriEnG_elIHJjuBfRqIuQ/s400/DSCN1110.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">we're almost done! tonight is the first night they'll actually sleep inside.<br />
today, the coop got painted. tomorrow, i'll start on the trim. you just wouldn't believe the craftsmanship that has gone in to this little coop! it's all trimmed out in rough-hewn cedar. the window is a totally custom casement window. and both side doors have hinges, latches and screens for ventilation. that window! i think it's my favorite part. ken took four 12 x 12 panes of glass and built a perfect window. it's insulated, and the nesting boxes come out the back with hinged lids. ken says his brother is going to call these 'city chickens'. that is fine by me.<br />
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someone is pretty pleased with himself. and nine little somethings are clucking happily tonight.</div><div style="clear: both; text-align: NONE;"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img align="middle" alt="Posted by Picasa" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" style="-moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; border: 0px none; padding: 0px;" /></a></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-55933012041216596702010-07-07T15:44:00.001-04:002010-07-07T16:40:56.971-04:00wednesday websharei found the most adorable patterns for dishcloths ever! kris patay, of <a href="http://krisknits.blogspot.com/2007/08/current-obsession.html">kris knits</a> has designed some serious cute. i bought one set and went back the next day and bought four more! i mentioned it to a friend and she said she just couldn't pay for dishcloth patterns. the next day i got a text that read, "i just spent eight dollars on dishcloth patterns!" serious cute.<br />
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with inexpensive cotton and just a few hours you can easily create a whole set of cloths to keep for yourself, or gift to someone special.<br />
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i made all of these in the last week or so, all available in her free pattern section:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/kriswilder/Blog%20Stuff/th_spring-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://s8.photobucket.com/albums/a14/kriswilder/Blog%20Stuff/th_spring-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">picture courtesy of kris knits.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://images4.ravelry.com/uploads/imelly/30510287/2010-06-20_2017.30.36_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://images4.ravelry.com/uploads/imelly/30510287/2010-06-20_2017.30.36_medium.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>this is the first one i did as a blanket square. it ended up a little small, but with some tweaking, i think many of her patterns would be usable for blanket squares.<br />
this is the one i did in blue for the schuyler blanket project:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://images4.ravelry.com/uploads/imelly/30483422/2010-06-20_2010.40.11_medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://images4.ravelry.com/uploads/imelly/30483422/2010-06-20_2010.40.11_medium.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">they knit up in a jiffy. go on and buy yourself some cute.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-60984878627664690292010-07-06T10:15:00.001-04:002010-07-24T22:29:58.408-04:00kentucky unfried chickens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQZLV7eOis3Bov4fnmbiPESfGi854E0ETDnbmgUVpypuCD0_Baard4waK0M6TjhP9q_ThCSI0bW7s569NLJXqQY_ltYiLgMEqb8KQpJtY05VIhahO3MKkHDIbU6v8GT2PopBGQg/s1600/IMG_3976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQZLV7eOis3Bov4fnmbiPESfGi854E0ETDnbmgUVpypuCD0_Baard4waK0M6TjhP9q_ThCSI0bW7s569NLJXqQY_ltYiLgMEqb8KQpJtY05VIhahO3MKkHDIbU6v8GT2PopBGQg/s320/IMG_3976.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">ken went down to kentucky this weekend to do some work for his parents. he stopped by his brother's small farm on the way home. when he told me where he'd been and said, "i have a surprise for you." my first question was, "is is alive?" i know my husband. he's the sort that will come in the house with something cupped in his hands - toads, snakes, bunnies and once, even a baby raccoon! i was pleased to see my surprise was only a box of chickens. i'd been talking all year about wanting some laying hens. well, now i have nine. and one little banty rooster. today, we need to build a home for them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">pics to follow!</div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-45695392792168563752010-06-20T09:31:00.002-04:002010-06-20T09:34:44.296-04:00Schuyler Blanket Project<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2lt22J5f8iT37nH93ePd2g?feat=blogger" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_HksidKn9HNo/TB4K8Q-C6gI/AAAAAAAAF9A/xkn7aX-oT4M/s320/2010-06-19%2017.09.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">i haven't been knitting much lately. i don't know if it's just a summertime thing, or maybe grief, but i just haven't felt inspired. i've gone to my knitting group a few times in the past weeks and that has helped. but otherwise, i've just not felt creative, until yesterday. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">a few weeks ago i joined a particular knitting group on ravelry but it's ties are much closer than just an internet forum. <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/the-schuyler-blanket-project">the schuyler blanket project</a> was founded by my friend, tammany. her daughter, the namesake of the project was born last summer. when schuyler died the same day, tammany's knitting friends put together a blanket of squares, hand-knit by them, in the hopes she would feel the comfort of their love as she wrapped the blanket around her. tammany started the schuyler blanket project to share that love with other grieving families. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">i pledged two squares on a blanket for a woman i don't even know. but i do know her pain. and i know the magic these blankets hold. these squares, hand made with love are no great miracle but in some small way they matter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">if you have some spare time (literally, my first square knit up in just a few hours), and a willing heart, please consider knitting (or crocheting) an 8 x 8 square for this wonderfully worthwhile project. send your squares to me directly and i will see they find a home in a blanket for a mother who has experienced life's greatest loss.</div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-42311061260625308612010-06-01T20:45:00.000-04:002010-06-01T20:45:06.142-04:00as the garden grows, so does the gardenermr. melly has been working non-stop for weeks, in the yard and in the garden.<br />
last year was our first gardening experience, and as the garden grew, so did this gardener. i learned the difference between pole beans and bush beans. i learned the best way to eat a tomato is like an apple, right off the vine, warmed by the sun. i grew hibiscus from seed. they made it through the winter. the mandevilla did not.<br />
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i learned wisteria do not like to be moved around. i grew a plant from seed last year and was thrilled to see it leaf this spring. i wanted to move it to the garden, but killed it trying to replant. one day i will have a blooming wisteria. but not this year.<br />
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but i do have strawberries!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs592.snc3/31207_397857837020_654257020_4622311_5344473_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs592.snc3/31207_397857837020_654257020_4622311_5344473_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">they are sweet and delicious. and i learned six plants can easily turn into about ten!</div><br />
i also learned some work needs to be done in the fall. it has taken ken no less than five days to get the space ready to plant. he got a rototiller and made quick work - removing the grass, turning the fall leaves and working in my compost. compost, what a miracle! i took all my kitchen scraps last year, sawdust from baby mac's crib and weeds basically, and created a beautiful, nutrient rich product to work into the soil. mother nature is one clever lady.<br />
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stay tuned for more pictures and to see how my garden grows.melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-2538983814972767332010-05-14T22:59:00.000-04:002010-05-14T22:59:40.690-04:00hold on<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://whenigrowupcoach.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/hold-on.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://whenigrowupcoach.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/hold-on.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">many of you know my love for the work of artist <a href="http://kellyraeroberts.com/">kelly rae roberts</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">recently, she teamed with demdaco and that union made her work incredibly affordable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">remember i got one of her art girlies? well today, i found this little gem. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">a gentle reminder to just. hold. on.</div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-52693563275999662862010-04-26T14:59:00.000-04:002010-04-26T14:59:46.329-04:00starring marilyn monroe<div style="text-align: justify;">i've been thinking about blogging lately. so i figured maybe i'd come and post something. but what can i say? </div><div style="text-align: justify;">and what can i blog about that will push the last post down, out of sight? everything feels trivial. dumb.and then, i think of marilyn. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUO6ePz_2ECrFr6exY7bSk91z8lDRhJTY5wqSJjNoS38CZl0pziM6iVyqr9-GqE_0YemFncyIqbeSxOtAusHnafKOOfd66d8JXHRQO5q9qAiqpw71Qf_eFfsgCjL-lOt4d-d4bog/s1600/DSCN1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUO6ePz_2ECrFr6exY7bSk91z8lDRhJTY5wqSJjNoS38CZl0pziM6iVyqr9-GqE_0YemFncyIqbeSxOtAusHnafKOOfd66d8JXHRQO5q9qAiqpw71Qf_eFfsgCjL-lOt4d-d4bog/s320/DSCN1043.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">she's the one on <i>top</i> of the dog pile. and she's justin's cat - marilyn monroe.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">i've never known a cat like marylin. she acts more like a dog, really. she greets ken at the door when he gets home from work with the rest of the pack. she comes when he calls her and cries for him at the door when he goes outside. ken, the self-proclaimed cat hater is now a self-proclaimed cat lover. this cat, anyway. her antics make us laugh every day. and laughter really is good medicine.</div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-75433987365051863132010-03-07T19:48:00.002-05:002010-04-26T14:53:23.648-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: auto;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HksidKn9HNo/SCJOR7gHIBI/AAAAAAAAB1k/IdIzRiuSLBE/s1600/justinIMA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_HksidKn9HNo/SCJOR7gHIBI/AAAAAAAAB1k/IdIzRiuSLBE/s320/justinIMA.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">justin james </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">september 10, 1987 - march 7, 2010 </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">love you, buddy. always.</div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9812159.post-14610137372877801732010-02-24T15:50:00.000-05:002010-02-24T15:50:24.858-05:00this<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa4wl0lJ9YW8kDyxPvzJS1hjY8qtPFacDv4JWP5VZtv9R-ThRgife3Mwjv2Vg-8VpGighcSdi0uDrB9JvSNUhPQrY3YQpkwg6A_M_FKLuLcDRX0ybaCtDQRAKUFFMJ5ab6IENLg/s1600-h/IMG_3835.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa4wl0lJ9YW8kDyxPvzJS1hjY8qtPFacDv4JWP5VZtv9R-ThRgife3Mwjv2Vg-8VpGighcSdi0uDrB9JvSNUhPQrY3YQpkwg6A_M_FKLuLcDRX0ybaCtDQRAKUFFMJ5ab6IENLg/s400/IMG_3835.JPG" /></a> <br />is in my yard right now.<br />my dogs are going NUTS!<div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>melly~http://www.blogger.com/profile/03306598204814387612noreply@blogger.com4