I can't do it anymore! I've been cheating on you..

Okay, I can't keep lying to you, I have another blog.. okay, I have two other blogs.. (Can't help it, I'm a Gemini)

Curious what I do when I am not posting on Little Brown Girl?


Check out Living with Scissors, my craft and more blog dedicated to creating the life you want one project at a time.

And if you love plants but kill as many as you grow, check out Gardeners Like Us, my blog for all things gardening for new gardeners.

My New Favorite Song..

If you missed Aisha Tyler is Lit, a comedy special this weekend, than you missed the best music video... for No Ass At All. As a black woman suffering from this affliction, it was great to know I was not alone!

Better than one food blog..

From the Times Online 50 of the World's Best Food Blogs. Oh yummy, the only thing better than a good food blog, are 50 good food blogs.

Is there anything better...

Is there anything better than a sunny, clear day, at a neighborhood hangout, eating delicious Shepard's Pie... with a dear dear friend... whose stories make you blush, almost choke on your soda and lean forward anxious for more.

Cats vs. Dogs...

The real difference between cats and dogs.. Dogs rarely carry a grudge... Cats always do...

Sea Creature?

Actually, it's Horseradish... There is life in my garden after all, so I guess the Spring planting can commence.

What to feed a cold...

Okay, enough already. I have been sick on and off for about two weeks now and I am done. Some days all I could stomach were peanut butter and apricot jam sandwiches. The last few days I have been trying to eat more veggies and protein. Leading to the invention of my new favorite breakfast, sauteed asparagus, soy sausage and a steamed egg... of course also chicken soup (homemade is there any other way?)

The True Power of the Web

How About Orange posted this the other day, and I think it illustrates the true power of the Internet. So here is my blog Baconized.... because everything is better with Bacon. Do you need more Bacon? Check it out at http://bacolicio.us/

Plague

I have been sick for days and can't take it anymore. Exactly when does a cold officially become a plague?

My little corner of crazy...

So, walking the dogs today through deserted streets... I mean freaky not a soul for miles... And then notice a woman on her stoop smoking a cigarette... I say "Hi" (it's Seattle, we greet everyone here) and she quickly demands "Why aren't you watching the Superbowl"

At least 10 different responses come to mind, but since she is technically a neighbor (meaning I might see her again) and because I am trying to be less of a negative smart ass (NY resolution), I respond with... "My dogs don't like football" And this appeared to satisfy her...

So no football watching to speak of....but I did make Nachos... special, organic, wholesome, medicinal Nachos... Never underestimate the healing power of salsa, chips, avocado, and cheese... (also fire roasted jalapenos, olives, sauteed ground chicken with onions and peppers, refried black beans and just a touch of sour cream)

Mountain at the Mall

Taken from the Mall food court... sometimes you need to search for reasons as to why one would live in this damp, sunless, cold city... not that I am complaining...

It was the night before Inauguration and...

So tomorrow is the big day... I am so excited and along with most everyone else feel giddy and nervous like it was going to be me taking the oath tomorrow.

In preparation for tomorrow:

• I have carefully picked my outfit (black heels, black wide leg dress pants, and my favorite short red sweater with the ruffle collar...worn over a white t-shirt).
• I have looked through my selection of Obama wear and settled on my favorite Obama necklace.
• I'm letting my hair do what it wants...
• and I have packed extra tissues (I'll probably tear up)

Where am I going.... Not to one of the many parties or viewings... but to work.. Sadly there is a scheduled meeting right in the middle of the inauguration and I am too much of a coward to skip it... (well that, and I am a little behind with my workload and really the last thing I need to do in this economy is jeopardize my standing at work).

But I will watch as much as I can... I will smile at people I normally ignore, I will walk with a little more pep in my step, I will feel exuberant and I will be hopeful...

Flowers! The cure for the winter blahs....

So many gray day and so many more to come, the price one pays for living in Seattle. Most people here, medicate with caffeine, but I prefer flowers.

Werebeagle

Werebeagle derived from the old English, "Offthecouchyoudarn" beagle. There are many myths about the Werebealge some say they are normal dogs until the full moon, others say they are never truly normal and only change in the presence of food. When they change, they become something else... something more...

The first time we realized that Milo was a Werebeagle, was when we discovered the cans... Cans of cat food still in the bin on the floor... each with two beagle teeth holes neatly placed on the edge and the contents sucked dry. What kind of dog does this??? What kind of dog indeed...

Tonight I prepare for bed, knowing that no matter where he starts out, Milo will end up in the middle of the bed under the covers. Like a phantom he will creep or levitate ( I am never sure) under the covers, lying undiscovered until morning. In the morning, I will see that he has once again not only climbed in the bed, but smarmed the sheets with his doggy cooties..

I change my sheets 5 times a week, not because I like the feel of 400 thread count, freshly laundered cotton, but because I love a Werebeagle.

The real reason people use fabric book covers..

Have you ever seen those fabric paperback covers people supposedly use to carry their books and protect them from damage... This is a lie, the real use it to hide the book from prying eyes and protect the dignity of the reader. I don't have a paperback cover and really I don't give a &%$ about dignity when it comes to my choice of stories (film or page)... so that leads me to my current read, Moon Called by Patrica Briggs.

It is one of those books one would envision finding on a cross country bus trip in the bathroom of some dilapidated truck stop... and of course you would read it only because you were stuck on a bus for 40 hours... but no, I picked up the book of my own free will, and even payed full price for it... Shape shifting mechanics, vampires, werewolves and fae (fairy folk) all staged in the exciting Tri City area of Eastern Washington.. (By the way, why do so many stories of alien abduction, government made mutations , werewolves and vampires take place in the Pacific Northwest?.. Does everyone know something I don't ...)

Anyways, reading this book is, I imagine, like having sex on the bathroom floor with some hot stranger...(most likely in the same rest stop one would find this book.).... Immensely satisfying, rather unsanitary and just a little dangerous... (NOTE: I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS, JUST SAYING FOR THE SAKE OF COMPARISON)

The danger inherent in reading this book, is that I will probably read the sequel and with great lines such as "Being Submissive is a Bitch", how can I not...

That Kinda Cold....

I took this picture last year in January when we went to see the eagles. The trip was thrilling but unbelievably cold. Wet misty snow clung to everything, draining the warmth from whatever the tiny snowflakes touched.

No snow today, but I still can't seem to get warm.

When I was little, my father believed that one must sweat the cold out. He would slice up fresh ginger with lemon and boil it down in a big pot. He would make us put on our sweat suits and hats and wrap ourselves in a blanket.

Drinking the tea caused the strangest sensation. Of course it would warm your throat as it went down, but within a few seconds, the ginger would start to heat up. You could feel the warmth move like ripples from the pit of your stomach, out of your torso, through your arms and legs and finally out to your fingers and toes.. In little time your cheeks would flush and you would start to sweat... that drowsy kind of warmed sleep would follow. It's that kinda of cold, so tomorrow I will make my dad's tea.

Hello 2009

Ringing in the New Year...

I thought to make this post a fond goodbye to 2008, when I realized I was overjoyed to see it go. So screw 2008.. yeah we had an amazing election and I am happy to report my family and friends are healthy.. (thank the heavens) .. but really what else was there... (bitter party of one) Okay maybe a little bitter, but time heals all wounds and as the first day of 2009 comes to an end, I am happy to say I am OVER 2008...

My "Drug" of Choice

Emily Dickinson wrote, "There is no frigate like a book". I prefer to think of books as my favorite drug of choice. When the world gets to be too much (seen the news lately) or simply too mundane, I find I can get a nice sustained high with a book. It doesn't even have to be a good one, just something to capture my interest and set my mind wandering in a different direction.

When the holidays blues hit me smack dab in the middle of Christmas, I found myself craving just such a high... which is how I ended up "shooting up" with the Twilight series... The lovely loss of control I feel with these books is evidenced by the 1000+ pages I have poured through in the past two days. Two books down, two more to go and I am slowing down my pace ... so has to enjoy every last word. Are the books good.. they are "okay" The story on the other hand is hypnotic and engrossing... With every page, I keeping thinking and then what.. and then what...

The rumor is that the fourth book is a let down... "for the best I say"... I will read through until the bitter end... and if that end breaks the spell with terrible writing and a poorly thought out plot.. well then my detox will be that much easier....

Thank You Ms. Kitt...

I pay far too much attention to the youth oriented television and the mainstream media. As a result, I finding myself struggling to shed my belief that life ends with 40. I have mentioned this in passing to some of my older friends who seem baffled and give me assurances that 40 is where life starts to get interesting. This last year, I had been seeking role models, my age and older, to dispel my apparently misguided beliefs abouts turning 40.

I have been an admirer of Eartha Kitt, since I first saw her in old Batman episodes. As a child, I did not see many Black faces on TV and certainly not gorgeous woman who could hold there own. My mother introduced me to older movies with women such as Lena Horne and Eartha Kitt and I look to them as proof positive that Black women were beautiful. ( I should add the women in my family are stunning, but little old me would not believe anything unless I saw it on the screen).

Now as I watch these women "living the hell out of life", well into their 80's and beyond, I am reminded that true inspiration (for little black girls and 39 year old women) is found not on TV, but in the amazing lives of real women, like the amazing Eartha Kitt.

A running jump into the New Year...

Merry Christmas... phew! It was lovely fun and thankfully, it's over! (We'll in a few hours...) Some people get that post Christmas let down. Not me! I am just the opposite as the day passes I start to get energized, I can start thinking about the New Year and more importantly how I intend to live in the New Year. I worship beginnings... and thankfully every morning, Monday, and 1st of the month is essentially a chance to start fresh. Forgive myself for any past sins and strive to do the right thing. But in all the year there is no greater beginning than January 1.

I am giddy with excitement over all the things I want to do... Then of course there are a myriad of reasons to be excited about the coming year. In a word, OBAMA!!!! Logically, I know he is just a man and not the appointed savior of mankind, but I can't help but feel the warm glow of salvation when I think about him. I think today's New York Times hit on one of his cool factors with this article.. I think I need to add a visit to Hawaii to my New Year's list.

Merry Merry...

"Where are you Christmas.. Why can't I find you.."

Where Are You Christmas? from How the Grinch Stole Christmas the Movie

Merry Christmas!!!!! Truthfully, Christmas took me by total surprise. Logically I knew it was coming, I was just in denial. A punishing work schedule and being snowed in for 5 days has not helped my holiday preparations.

Today I wrapped presents and spent some time sewing. I still have a few things left to make, but thankfully, I have a few days off.

So, I hope that everyone has a wonderful holiday... see you in the New Year..

Look What I Just Won...

I haven't used my Ebay account since last year, but on a whim, I decided to check for a dress form.. Bingo, I found one that would work just perfect and today it was mine!!!!! I'll be sewing a new cover for her.. and of course will have to pick a name. I think Hepburn in honor of my two favorite fashion icons, Audrey Hepburn and Katherine Hepburn.

She doesn't know it yet, but she will be my model for a whole slew of aprons, dresses, scarves and flower pins, I will be making for the holidays...

Still Giddy About the Election

I am so excited for Obama's Presidency to begin. I love this site, http://www.ondayone.org/. Basically suggestions on what the President should do from day one.

Check out this Obamabat Font

Check out this great font... http://jeffdomke.com/?p=374

Oh Happy Day!

Fall Garden Glimpse

Our garden is taking its last deep breaths before Winter...

Flowers have faded, but look so pretty I can't bare to cut them down.

We'll most of the flowers have faded...

The vegetable garden has been cleaned and...


the vegetables harvested.

Gardening's Second Wind

There are days we labor in the garden, barely getting anything done, in a futile attempt to beat back weeds and tame unruly beds... and then there are days like this past Monday. A slight crush on tropical plants, a few days off and a shopping trip at the nursery yielded an all day planting marathon. We finished mulching beds, planted trees and perennials and the best part, a 10 foot circular bed in the middle of the yard complete with banana, orange cannas and palm trees.

This weekend I am turning my attention to the edibles. I'll harvest the last of the beets from the vegetable garden and try my luck at overwintering potatoes, and a fig tree is going on the south side of the house.

What would Coco do?

So if clothes make the Woman, than imagine my shock at realizing that lately, I have been dressing like a Hobbit... Now, before I am spammed by the People for Ethical Treatment of Hobbits, let me go on record saying "There is nothing wrong with looking like a Hobbit, it is just not for me!" To be honest, I saw it coming.

• The crop pants were just so damn comfortable and never needed hemming, than why not buy 5 pairs.
• If one white t-shirt is great than 10 must be awesome and really so what if they are stained you where shirts over them anyway...
• A summer vest professionalizes any outfit, even a stained white t-shirt and cropped pants
• Mixing patterns and textures is a sign of your refusal to conform and thus a good thing
• A boldly colored scarf is a whimsical nod to my heritage... even if it is 80's floral

and thus... the transformation to Hobbit is complete...







(Not actual picture of the blogger, but pretty damn close!)





Solution... (Not admitting to actually watching Lifetime TV, but maybe absorbing over acted Coco Chanel Biopic as I cruised channels *being fair.. it was not so bad*) I have decide to look to Coco Chanel as my design inspiration... With a little modification... I will not be chain smoking until I can fit into a size 4, nor will I be wearing any clothing with gold chains or ostrich feathers... and double stranded pearls aren't my thing.... Really, imagine if Coco Chanel shopped at Target and Lands End and lived in Seattle ... yup that is the look... classy, stylish comfort (hold the Hobbit)..

So what would Coco do when faced with my closet? After vomiting, she would promptly throw most of it out (donating such fashion don't is cruel to people in need) and then she would click her way over to Land's End (who have rocked the basics with their Fall collection) and order these....

Thank you Land's End and Coco for rescuing me from the Shire...

Fall is for food

For me, September starts off 4 months of truly inspired cooking. As the temperature cools, a warm kitchen becomes a cozy and relaxing place to spend an afternoon. Fall produce is rich with soft, starchy comfort foods, just think potatoes, pumpkins, squash, yams and apples; and cooking becomes an acceptable alternative to gardening.

If summer food is about simple and basic, such as the sweet and subtle acidity of a ripe tomato, than fall food is about complexity: layers of texture, flavor and smoky undertones. As a cook, in the Fall I feel like an artist, my paints are whatever ingredients I can get my hands on and my brushes are my Le Cruset pots and wooden spoons.

Every fall I pick a signature dish, I’ll cook it several times, tweaking it and making it my own before I release it on to family and friends. Last year, I settled on this chicken pot pie with lots of vegetables, dark meat chicken and a really creamy sauce; all covered with puffed pastry. It’s pretty damn good if I do say so myself. This year, I am toying with several ideas, so far I am thinking about these:

Sweet Potato Pie
I am in awe of the concept of vegetables in a pie. Sweet potato is my absolute favorite pie followed closely by pumpkin. Good sweet potato pie has a creaminess to it that I think would benefit from marshmallow and perhaps a little chocolate. hmmm?

Mashed potatoes
Mashed potatoes make me swoon, particularly when they have other notes like horseradish, leeks and bleu cheese.

Poutine
A Quebec comfort food consisting of French fries covered with gravy and cheese curds. I think I can make this slightly healthier with baked fries, and really light gravy.

Stay tuned, I'll keep you posted...

Dreams, Pet Projects and Burning Obsessions...

Confession... for almost 18 months I have been wanting to start a blog devoted to crafting a better life. There are many different types of crafters out there, but I rarely saw the type of crafter I wanted to be.... You see, some call it delusion... I call it divine insight, but I believe that with patience persistence and a little information, you can make anything you want. So why not focus on making things that bring you joy and improve your life...

My goal was to launch on September 1st and I am happy to say that I met it head on... (This required a 5 hour marathon session with Word Press... apparently building with CSS is not like riding a bike) So it is up, it is live and it is in progress... check it out at http://livingwithscissors.com

My first post is about my struggles in relearning penmanship and features a free template for Handwriting Practice Cards (as if anyone would pay money for what is essentially the alphabet). Enjoy...

Happy September

Okay, this barely counts as a post, but my goal this month is to post something everyday for the month of September.

Today marks the end of a 4 day weekend and the beginning of my favorite time of the year.

Fall: Let the cooking begin...

Ordering in Preparation for Fall....


Kenyon's Clam Cake and Fritter mix from Farm House Wares. I love my new hometown, but take every chance I can to celebrate the culinary joys of my New England childhood.. I love!!!!! Clam Cakes.. they are perfect on slightly chilly days... And the only place I have ever had them is the New England Area..

Warning!!!! You may think I am insane after reading this post...or Brilliant

"Christmas is only 128 days away"
Mentioning this in August is like saying you hear voices at a Psychiatrist conference... People will take notice, but not in a good way. But nevertheless, Christmas is only 128 days from today... but really who's counting. ;-)

Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year... The gifts are great, the food is awesome and I love cold weather... But really for me it is all about suspending disbelieve. Christmas (from thanksgiving to C-Day) is generally 30 days, where the entire US population goes insane... and we celebrate it.

Mass insanity... trust me..

• We think it is a good idea to dress in sweaters with appliqué characters.
• Red and green suddenly become a conservative color combination
• We pretend to be nice to people we dislike... even buying gifts for them
• Maxing out the credit card for 10 minutes of Christmas morning joy seems like a good idea.
• Dressing up your cat as a reindeer is not considered cruel. ( my cat actually enjoys this, really)
  
• Making a 5 course dinner from scratch sounds fun
• Singing at work becomes mandatory
• and being a good parent means shoving some old lady out of the way at Walmart, so you can get the last Whatever Elmo doll...
  

I LOVE IT!!!!!

So why am I thinking of it in August.... Well last year we made cards and a few select gifts. This year. I want to make cards and cookies and what gifts I do give ( I am cutting down-like I say every year) will be handmade... (exception, being books, and some tech stuff). But mostly this Christmas, I want to savor and enjoy a stress free 30 days of celebration... This means, starting a little early...

In September I will start compiling my list of things I want to make and for whom.... I love making gifts... I can make things I might otherwise not be able to afford and the feeling I get giving a lovingly handmade gift is better than any chocolate I have eaten thus far... A feeling you get to experience every time you think of the recipient or see them actually wearing/using your gift. September being only 12 days away... you can see why all the excitement and anticipation..

Somewhere Over the Rainbow

We took the ferry to Bainbridge Island on Saturday. It was very fall like with rain, a nice breeze and great views everywhere you looked.

My To Make List...

There are so many amazing tutorials on the Web of things I am dying to make. This Crochet Collar from the Ongoing Project is definitely tops my list. Now all I need to do is learn to crochet.

The Un Garden

Another photo from the Georgetown Garden Walk... This lovely dress form sitting on a porch surveying the garden.

The view from down below...

Sorting through my photos from the Georgetown Garden and Art Walk. This is my favorite. Something about the colors against the sky.

A Perfect Shot

I am a huge fan of the Blue Angels and look forward each year to their Seafair visit to Seattle. I hate the thought of war and think the military spends money that should go for social programs, however as a Die Hard Science Geek, planes are cool. And... the Blue Angels are amazing. Generally I end up seeing them by myself... and last year, I went down to Boeing Field to watch them take off. AMAZING!!!!

This year, I didn't make the time to go enjoy them.... Except for a brief moment from the deck of a South Lake Union Office... As they zoomed by I snapped a shot...

She's Back...

Yesterday, after more than 6 weeks of torture, I picked up my computer from the shop. I was so happy I almost cried in the parking lot and after months of sheer bitchiness (due only in small part to the computer), I have begun to feel pretty good.

Poor health, stress, job woes , lack of exercise, PMS and chocolate deficiencies have resulted in the worst funk I have experienced in years... In fact, I do not remember being this sick of myself since I was 25 (almost 15 years ago).

As I could barely stand to be around myself.. I am not sure how anyone else managed... Except to say.. my partner is a saint... and the dogs wanted treats... The cat has taken to just biting me randomly (cats are quite frank about their true feelings) and at the worst, I took to arguing with complete strangers in stores and public venues.

In short, I became that bitchy person we all dislike and pity...You know the one. She flies into a rage if something is mismarked in the store, she glares at strangers in the elevators, shakes her head with disgust at crying children, berates people at every turn, steps on daisies, kicks puppies, squashes lady bugs and eventually.. The horror... votes Republican because what does it matter anyway..

Luckily I am on the mend before I could do anything so heinous as the last few things described above.

To recover,

I have immersed myself in the healing power of crafts... We'll mostly I am just stroking my beloved ribbons and organizing my pencils, but any day now I am going to make something and it is going to be GREAT.

I am taking a class. Intermediate Skirt Making at a local alternative sewing shop, Stitches. I think that the 40's and 50's were some of the best times for clothing, so I am going with a 50's style silver and Grey polka dot cocktail skirt, complete with Crinoline petticoat. (pictures are on the way).

I have started back to the gym on early mornings. This has been a challenge, but I must say, after only a few visits, I found that if I did not go, I missed it terribly.

I am wearing brighter colors, not sure when all the black crept back into my wardrobe.

and finally, I am embracing the fact.. that it is never too late to become the person you might have been.

Paper Pusher

This is just a great idea. Print any type of paper you want instantly. One of my lifetimes goals it to have lovely penmanship, so I will be downloading one of the many penmanship templates. Check it out at

Printable Paper

Amazing Fortune

Found in my fortune cookie tonight at dinner....


You have remarkable power... which you are not using.

OMG

The wireless connection just died on my computer and I am shock.....Heading to the repair place tomorrow, wish me luck!

I want to try this...

Has anyone else seen this article? It is about some strange fruit that rewires your taste buds for a few hours and changes the taste of common foods. I am so tempted to try this... I wonder if there is a Seattle supplier. :-)

What kind of film does your digital camera take?

One need only take a look at my pictures to realize I am not a professional photographer. That said, I take a lot of pictures. I am a visual junkie. I find such happiness in the simplest of images and the fact, the I can seek out and actually make these images myself just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

I love to take photos of food, gardens, vegetables, plants, flowers, birds , my pets, my crafts and the wheels of vintage cars. A weird mix, but like I said it makes me all warm and fuzzy.

Last summer, I made a pilgrimage to several of the p-patch gardens in the city to take pictures. This summer, I am planning to do the same thing. My goal is 10 p-patches in 3 months. Here is the list of p-patches, I would love to eventually take photos at all of the.

Memorial Day...

Pick flowers today for my partner's mother to take to the cemetery . While I did so I thought of the people I am missing. I know my mother and great aunt would have loved this bouquet. All the flowers are from the yard.

5 to 7 servings a day...

The last few days I have been diligently forcing myself to eat more fruits and vegetables. I had been doing so well for months and then suddenly I lost my taste for them. A week went by where I was eating maybe 1-2 servings a day. But I am happy to report I am back on the Vegetable Wagon. My saviors, sweet salads, savory soups and Greek yogurt. The sweet salads are great for my sweet tooth, but sweetness thanks to strawberries and balsamic vinegar. The savory soups have tons of vegetables and thanks to mashed white kidney beans, the soups have a creamy texture. And finally Greek Yogurt... if you have never had it, go to the store right now!!!! Flavored with honey, the texture is like a smooth pudding with a soft and soothing flavor. Add berries or fruit and you are in heaven..

Dalai Lama in Seattle

The Dalai Lama was in town for the Seeds of Compassion event. I did not get a chance to see any of the events, but I did get to walk by his hotel... Sad, but we take what we can get ;-)

Wanted : Vegetables

The lingering winter has taken a toll on my palate. All I really want to eat is bread, oatmeal and chocolate, it's just too cold for anything else. Vegetables have virtually disappeared from my diet. The nominees for the James Beard Awards just came out... Maybe I will find some vegetable inspiration there...

Spring Snow Showers... and I Make Flowers

We had a spring snow shower delaying the warm weather yet again. So I made a little of my own spring and created this flower. The ribbon was made to look like an old Kimono, I inserted a red bead for the center and put a backing on it made of felt and a pin.

I am a major fan of ribbon and always amazed at how easily a piece of ribbon can become something even more beautiful.

Growing Plans

Last year I had a small and demure vegetable garden in raised wooden beds. Onions, lettuce, garlic, beets, peas, radishes and some of the saddest tomatoes I have even seen.

This year, bigger beds, made of brick not wood and tons of amended soil are the base of my new garden plans. Peas, carrots, fennel, beets, lettuces, onions, potatoes, chard, beans, artichokes and leeks will be joined by amazing tomatoes (thanks to recently learned "secret" tomato growing techniques). Needless to say, I have been busy!

Next to a pen and paper, my favorite tool for garden planning is Microsoft PowerPoint. I can create a scale plan and change it multiple times with just a few clicks. Here is my most recent plan.

My one goal this year, to take more pictures and document the progress of my little plot. Stay Tuned for "Before Photos".