WildFlours

Mommy's Shirt to baby's dress.

2010-02-07T13:53:00.003-05:00

I recently took an old button-up gingham blue shirt of mine that had a medium sized stain on the back and refashioned it into a dress for Macon. I used the cuff end of the sleeves to make the sleeves for her dress. I also made a pair of tights from an old white camisole. It looks really cute with the dress. The legs have lace around the bottoms. We think it turned out super cute!

Baby's Stocking Stuffers

2009-12-18T18:47:00.006-05:00

I found almost all of Macon's stocking stuffers on Etsy.com.

Drumroll please . . . Introducing Macon Delaney

2009-12-18T18:26:00.003-05:00

Born November 24, 2009 at 8:38 pm. Weighing in at 8 pounds 4.7 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. We are both so very proud! (Pretty good excuse for not posting on my blog....is she not?!?)

Baby's First Thanksgiving

2009-11-13T15:30:00.003-05:00

The baby just has to come before Thanksgiving so she can wear this!!! Isn't it adorable. She also has a little knit pumpkin hat and booties.

Scattered showers.

2009-10-11T20:37:00.007-04:00

We had a second baby shower this weekend in NC. It was hosted by my sister-in-law, Stephanie and my Aunt Gail. It was very lovely. Scott and I had a wonderful time seeing family and friends that we hadn't seen in a while. The food was yummy. We had delicious pumpkin cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, coconut chicken strips, tea sandwiches, and more. And the addictive apricot punch. We received many great gifts. I'll be posting photos of some of them soon!

Baby Shower.

2009-10-08T15:11:00.008-04:00

These are a few of my photos from the baby shower my co-workers threw. You can see them all on my facebook albums, if you'd like!

Photo finish.

2009-10-04T21:11:00.003-04:00

We've reached the final stretch and exciting stuff is ahead. As we have to properly document it, we got a brand new camera (thanks to Scott's parents, Kaye and Gordon!) It is pretty cool. I just started playing around with it this evening, but it seems like a great buy so far. Our second baby shower is this weekend. Can't wait to really put it to the test! (Sorry no photos from the first shower yet. We forgot our camera's battery and I'm waiting on Lyndsay to get me a CD of her photos.)

Christmas Dress.

2009-10-04T09:12:00.002-04:00

I have searched high and low for a tiny black sweater to go with "To Be Determined's" Christmas dress (which is a red and black plaid with a white peter pan collar.) There was not one to be found. So......once again Etsy.com to the rescue. I found a wonderful knitter in Turkey! She has knitted this lovely little sweater (without a pattern, just with a photo I provided.) Her name is Gulten and her shop is Blue Moon. If you need any knitting done, I'd highly recommend her. Not to mention that she uses very high quality yarns and her rates are extremely reasonable! (And it only costs $4.00 to ship such a thing from Turkey, believe it or not.)

Creative flick.

2009-10-04T09:09:00.001-04:00

We went to see "The Invention of Lying" yesterday. It takes place in a world where no one has ever told a lie before. And then one man realizes he can. It's very creative and funny. Check it out.

We're swingin . . .

2009-09-23T20:23:00.003-04:00

We picked up our swing tonight with some of the money we received at the baby shower last week. I love it. It matches the living room perfectly. And it is apparently the last one of these in the southeastern US. I checked online today and only one Target seemed to have one left.....and now they have none! It was really easy to assemble. It has an elephant theme and a place to plug in your MP3 player, which we really liked. Napster has lots of lullabyes, FYI.

September shower.

2009-09-23T10:23:00.008-04:00

We had our first baby shower last Friday! So exciting.......she's almost here! This one was given by my friends Alicia and Lyndsay (Thanks girls!) and was attended by lots of fellow lawyers, courthouse clerks, DA's & probation office staff, and staff from our own office. I am so glad everyone came out to share in our special time. We got many wonderful gifts. These are only a few of them. My friend and co-worker, Laura, made the beautiful red gingham quilt in the first photo. It is perfect for our nursery! I still need to take photos of some of the other unique gifts and will do that today! Thanks everyone!

Certified.

2009-09-16T11:31:00.003-04:00

We attended our last birthing class last night. We are now certified. We had a little party last night at the class and everyone brought refreshments. I made these pink and blue onesie sugar cookies. Aren't they cute. I would have put a lot more detail into them, but Future Daddy forced me to go sit on the couch instead. They still turned out pretty cute.

Babydoll.

2009-09-03T20:54:00.003-04:00

We just got this doll for our baby. She is quite cute and for 0+ years. She is going to sit in the tiny rocking chair in the nursery.

The nursery update . . .

2009-08-30T20:10:00.004-04:00

Sleeping Quarters.

2009-08-12T10:51:00.003-04:00

We just got our bassinet in the mail a couple of days ago. It is the folding bassinet from Cariboo ( a New Zealand Company). It is very simple, but attractive. I'm not a big ruffle fan and most bassinets seem to be covered in them! This one goes very well in our bedroom. I think she'll have many happy dreams in this one.

Art lesson.

2009-08-02T20:30:00.005-04:00

We plan on putting these prints up in the nursery, along with 2 others. They are from Barking Bird Art which you can find at etsy.com. They are very cute. There are tons of different prints. They will be matted and framed and go over the bookshelf.

Let there be light.

2009-08-02T20:27:00.003-04:00

We installed the new light fixture and dimmer in the nursery this weekend. So glad to have that one done. Our fixture is like this one, but white with yellow polka-dotted shades. It is very sweet & is perfect for a little girl's room. I also put together the mobile today but have not hung it yet. I bought blinds. Still have to paint the window casing first. I'll probably do that tomorrow evening. I can't wait to get the curtain hung.

Rock a bye baby.

2009-07-30T15:45:00.003-04:00

This may be our favorite part of the nursery so far. We got this rocking moose at IKEA. I had seen it back in December and we just had to get one. Right now it is obviously just decoration, but one day she'll rock!

Her highness.

2009-07-30T10:04:00.002-04:00

We are getting this little high chair in red. It is very cool. It flips over to make a toddler chair that can scoot right up to the table (no booster seats). The kids I know don't like booster seats for some reason. I thought they were cool, if I remember correctly. Kids these days! It is also very easy to clean, all one piece that can be wiped down easily. If you haven't noticed, I like red. So that doesn't hurt either!

Apple-icious.

2009-07-30T09:59:00.002-04:00

Our crib set came in the mail yesterday. It was made by a very nice woman named Jamie (of Boodybabies) who I found on Etsy. I put up a request on Alchemy and so many nice people responded to my ad. I was able to look at photos of lots of their work and choose the workmanship and price that suited us. She made a crib bumper, crib skirt, blanket, and curtain. They are made from Sandi Henderson's Farmer's Market Apple pattern and red gingham. I have several different sheets to coordinate with the set (solid red, yellow w/white polkadots, and the Brooke pattern from PB Kids). They each make it look totally different, which I thought would be fun. We know we'll be changing those sheets! We are really happy with how it turned out. Jamie did a great job!

Diaper duty.

2009-07-30T09:58:00.002-04:00

I chose this diaper bag. I hadn't really found anything I liked much at all until I saw this one. It is roomy and is easy to get things in and out of. We bought it at Bellini in Atlanta. It is JJ Cole's cocoa tree pattern.

Get mobile.

2009-07-30T09:50:00.003-04:00

This is the mobile that will be hainging over the crib. It is bamboo. We bought it in Atlanta at B. Braithwaite. So cute! I love the hedgehog.

New ride.

2009-07-30T09:47:00.003-04:00

We have decided on the Bumbleride Flyer in Ruby. We tried out strollers at Baby's Room in Marietta, GA. They had all the models we were considering and were able to show us all about them. I highly recommend taking these for a test drive. I totally changed my mind after pushing this one around. Storage was a big issue for us. This one seems to have plenty of room. And it is easy to fold and pretty light. It ain't so bad lookin' either.

Nursery plans

2009-07-30T09:44:00.004-04:00

We have had this furniture for a while now (although the changing table is still in the box.) I love it. It is very simple and modern. Both are from Babies R Us by Amy Coe. I was lucky enough to get a major discount on both pieces (both a clearance price and a 15% coupon!)

Victory

2009-07-22T10:16:00.002-04:00

I just found out I won an appeal in the TN Court of Criminal Appeals. Yay!

Baby 411.

2009-06-24T22:16:00.002-04:00

It's a girl! We are so excited!

Questions, questions.

2009-06-24T13:31:00.003-04:00

Tag, I'm it. And with that . . . I will answer the questions.

1. What did you do 10 years ago?
I worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a research assistant/technical editor in the computer sciences department.

2. Five items on your to-do list:
- Write a letter to a prison inmate/client
- Go to the OB to find out the gender of our baby (at 3:45 pm today!!!)
- Paint the trim in the nursery
- Paint my toenails
- Call friends & family with the baby news

3. Snacks I enjoy:
salt & vinegar chips, peppermint ice cream, frozen lemonade

4. What would you do if you were a billionaire?
Buy a farm house. Quit my job. Start a new career in something creative eventually. But first, I'd travel.

5. Places I would live:
- Camden, Maine
- Knoxville, TN
- NYC
-Tuscany

6. Jobs I have had:
- Sandwich Artist
-Salesperson
-Research Assistant
-Secretary
-Teaching Assistant
-Law Clerk
-Attorney

Today's Weird Pregnancy Craving . . .

2009-06-17T12:55:00.002-04:00

is.......drumroll please.....SPAGHETTIOS! and Grape Koolaid! What am I? 5? I don't know when the last time I had a Spaghettio was or how I even remembered what they tasted like.

Corbett at the Zoo.

2009-06-14T10:26:00.009-04:00

Spreading the baby news!

2009-06-14T10:20:00.007-04:00

We told my family on Mother's Day. We also celebrated both mine and Scott's May birthdays that day. So it was quite a big day!

Then came the peas.

2009-06-14T10:19:00.001-04:00

Garden Beginnings

2009-06-14T10:14:00.004-04:00

This is what the garden looked like way back in April or early May. Lots of lettuce, arugula, spinach and onions.

Happy First Mother's Day

2009-05-18T18:39:00.002-04:00

I got to celebrate my very first mother's day! Scott gave me a lovely card and a Boppy Cuddle pillow. It's a pillow made for pregnant mommies-to-be that supports the back and belly. I am sure it will be very useful in the coming months. Then we went to Pigeon Forge. We had a nice lunch, played miniature golf and bought some maternity clothes at one of the outlet stores. A very nice day indeed.

Tiny hands. Tiny feet.

2009-05-13T11:53:00.003-04:00

One more for the baby brigade! Our little bundle of joy's estimated time of arrival is November 19, 2009! We are both very excited!

{image from GettyImages}

Happy Birthday Ralph.

2009-05-08T18:25:00.001-04:00

I made this cake for my friend, Ralph. I tend to bring goodies to court with me on Tuesdays and on this particular Tuesday I took a red velvet cake (his favorite) for my friend the probation officer's birthday. It was enjoyed by all. I used the Paula Deen recipe from Katie Lee Joel's cookbook. It was great . . . if I do say so myself.

Patchwork wreath.

2009-05-08T18:21:00.001-04:00

I made this little wreath a while back with 2 x 2 scraps of fabric. You take a foan wreath form and poke the scraps into the form with a pencil. Isn't it cute? And very easy to do. But be careful . . . I may have had a small injury.

Happy Birthday Ethan.

2009-05-08T18:14:00.001-04:00

I made this baby quilt for my friend, Tasha. (who coincidentally was induced today and is in labor as I write this!) She is having a baby boy to be named Ethan Miles. Her nursery colors are tan, brown and blue. She loved the quilt, Hopefully Ethan will too!

Little Garden Buddy.

2009-05-07T18:28:00.001-04:00

Check out my new garden cart. It is the cutest thing. It is soooooo useful. I have already used it a ton.....moving dirt, hauling compost, bringing my new plants to the garden space. It also dumps like a little dumptruck. It is a tough little thing.

Showers, baby!

2009-04-30T09:21:00.002-04:00

This is a great bib pattern from Chickpea Sewing Studio. I have already made several for a baby gift for a colleague of my husband's. And knowing three more ladies who are to give birth within the next few months, I plan on making many more. They are a really nice gift and very easy to make.

New obsession.

2009-04-30T09:18:00.001-04:00

I am addicted to knifty knitting. I have the round ones and these long ones. It is so quick to make hats and such on. Love it! Can you say Christmas presents? I have made a several things already. I'll be posting photos soon!

Make reservations.

2009-04-17T17:22:00.002-04:00

We recently went to see Anthony Bourdain at a local theater. It did seem like a strange idea at first, and wuite frankly, I had low expectations. However, it was really a fun experience. He talked about his experiences travelling and eating all around the world. Then he took questions from the audience. That part was quite amusing. There is no end to what some people are willing to ask in public. If you get the opportunity, I'd recommend going to see him. He's a pretty interesting guy.

Watch this!

2009-04-17T17:21:00.002-04:00

So good!

Happy Friday!

2009-04-17T17:13:00.003-04:00

What are you doing this weekend? If I was asked that once today, I must have been asked 25 times! Do people actually want to know? Or is it just like asking, "How are you?" Hmmm. Well, here it is.....

Going to the Talahi Plant Sale

Working in the vegetable garden

Helping Scott clean out the garage

Going on a tour of historic homes and gardens

Making meatballs

Sewing bibs for a shower gift

Washing the car and the dog

Baking a treat to take to court next week (for the friendly bailiffs!)

Crazy for Peanuts.

2009-03-19T11:16:00.003-04:00

I am not a PB fan, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating this awesome array of PB flavors from PB Loco. And besides I can incorporate it into baked goods, right?!?!? Oh the possibilities. I just learned of this stuff from my friend Bree on her blog Life at 123 House.

Some of the flavors are:

PB with Raspberry White Chocolate

PB with Asian Curry Spice

Sumatra Cinnamon and Raisin

A face only a father could love.

2009-03-16T17:33:00.001-04:00

Cake for Dad.

2009-03-16T17:20:00.002-04:00

So I haven't blogged too well this year so far. I'm behind, but catching up as we speak. In January I made this cake for my Dad's birthday. It is the Ultimate Coconut Cake from MSL. It is pretty time intensive, but well worth it! Here's my Dad and my niece getting ready to dive in. She liked the frosting, but not the cake. Turns out she's not a big coconut lover.

Don't bother.

2009-03-07T21:54:00.003-05:00

Peas please.

2009-03-02T15:02:00.002-05:00

Spring is almost here. And that means the first crops of the year are about to be planted. . . peas. This got me thinking about recipes. I have never been a huge fan, but Scott really likes them. I have a feeling that I might enjoy them more out of the garden. Here as some recipes I'm planning to try this year:

English Peas in Lemon Thyme Butter

Pea Fritters

Risotto with Peas, Marjoram and Asiago

Sugar Snap Peas with Mint

Pasta with Creamy Mushroom Pea Sauce

Sesame Snap Peas with Carrots & Peppers

Recipes from: Eating Well, All Recipes and Martha Stewart.

Neat Stuff.

2009-03-02T14:52:00.007-05:00

Check out these neat things from Spoon Sisters: Happy Birthday cake mold/pan, the toothpickup truck (how adorable would this be on your buffet table?) and Lost Count candles for the birthday boy or girl with a sense of humor.

Partygoer.

2009-02-26T16:00:00.003-05:00

I want to go to this party. Isn't it lovely...this being my new favorite color and all. It has become the accent color in our living room upon redecoration. It happened rather accidentally, but I love it. I love this photo from Karl Juengel. I saw it on Jordan Ferney's "Oh Happy Day."

Freezer fun.

2009-02-20T18:00:00.002-05:00

This Beaba tray from Williams-Sonoma is made to freeze homemade baby food. But! Wouldn't it be perfect for freezing homemade pesto sauce this summer? It has 2 oz. compartments.

My Sweet Valentine.

2009-02-16T21:14:00.002-05:00

I had a lovely Valentine's Day. We made dinner at home . . . surf and turf. Yum! Dessert was red velvet cake. My husband gave me these sweet treats. I loooove Philosophy cinnamon buns shower gel. The Dylan's scrub is also fabulous. I was much more pragmatic in my gift giving. He received a lovely ceiling fan. Nothing says love like a light fixture, right? Seriously, though, he did want it. I also gave him some vanilla bean truffles.

Magnetic personality.

2009-02-12T15:14:00.004-05:00

Just saw these on the Litle Window Shoppe site. They are originally from How About Orange. Here are the directions from How About Orange: "Cut out bits of felt into shapes you like (I did them freehand—I think it gives them more personality than drawing on them first and making them too perfect) and then glue the layers on top of each other with craft glue. Make sure the bottom leaf layer is big enough underneath for your magnet to sit fully on it. Stick the magnet on with hot glue." Since I'm redoing the kitchen, I'll be whipping some of these up in the new colors soon!

And the dish ran away with the spoon.

2009-01-28T13:41:00.004-05:00

That could actually happen with these little jewels. I am a confessed dish-a-holic. And I have kept that in check for about a year now. I have not bought one single serving platter or cake stand. But aren't these adorable? They are from Dutch designer Jorine Oosterhoff. They are made of porcelain and come in three increasingly cheeky sizes: Mad, Madder and Maddest. Each comes with its own lid. The interior is glazed, so as to hold any kind of delicious treat, and the exterior is unglazed for a smooth modern finish. Don't tempt me little dish people!

The Academy Award Nominations Are In!

2009-01-22T11:08:00.003-05:00

Nominated for BEST PICTURE

* “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”

* “Frost/Nixon”

* “Milk”

* “The Reader”

* “Slumdog Millionaire”

We've only seen 2 so far. . . Button and Slumdog. We both loved Slumdog. It is a wonderful story. It has a little bit of everything . . . romance, action, drama. We plan on seeing The Reader sometime very soon. I'll keep you posted!

Yay! New books!

2009-01-21T22:20:00.003-05:00

Can't wait for these two! The craft book comes out in March and the cupcake book comes out June 2! It'll be a yummy summer for my co-workers. I'll be trying lots of those recipes out I'm sure. I plan on trying the "Pure" cupcake recipe from Sweet Revenge Bakery in NYC that was featured on Martha today. I'll be posting soon!

For bookworms only.

2009-01-09T09:00:00.002-05:00

This little shelf is quite clever. Makes it look like your books are juf t floating there on the wall. Another find from Uma.

What's up, doc?

2009-01-08T10:23:00.003-05:00

Carrot Cake! This Friday is my friend & co-worker, Laura's birthday. Since I will be in court on Friday, we celebrated early with her favorite, carrot cake. I made the recipe by Alton Brown of the Food Network. It was different, but turned out great. It is a much less spicy than normal cake. I would suggest making it the day before you need it. It takes much better after it's rested and the flavors have mingled. And I am making another one next week for my grandmother's birthday. I'll at least have to come up with another way to decorate it. Hmmmm..... Click here for the recipe.

Nuts About This.

2009-01-08T10:09:00.003-05:00

We need one of these from Uma. Our neighbor's walnut tree has provided us with a huge amount of fruit this year. However, I am no good at getting them cracked. Having almost broken the wooden/plastic cracker we have now, I think this one would do the trick. It looks impossible for me to break. All stainless steele.

Christmas with the Lannings

2009-01-04T11:44:00.009-05:00

Christmas with the Sloans

2009-01-04T11:39:00.001-05:00

Things I've done since last I posted . . .

2009-01-04T11:33:00.004-05:00

I'm a bad blogger.

2008-12-28T19:49:00.006-05:00

I suppose I should have gotten coal in my stocking for being such a terrible blogger. But I didn't. Here are some of my Christmas gifts! And I promise to share what I have been up to for a couple of months. I have lots of photos!

Wordless Wednesday (a day late)

2008-11-20T14:13:00.001-05:00

If Only . . .

2008-11-19T22:02:00.002-05:00

Sometimes when I'm sitting in court listening to my fellow counselors and the judge, I think about this odd tv show, "Cop Rock." One day, maybe they will break out into song. I bet the bailiffs could do a fabulous number. Can you believe this was actually on Primetime? Funny stuff.

30 Gifts Under $25: No. 27

2008-11-19T21:50:00.003-05:00

Wishbone Key Ring

I love this simple silver key Ring from Sundance. It is only $15. I think it'd be a nice teacher gift. . . something a little different.

Upgrade recently?

2008-11-16T18:03:00.002-05:00

If you've upgraded your cell phone lately, you probably have an old one laying around. We did. We donated ours to Cell Phones For Soldiers this weekend. It's very easy. Just go to the website and print out a postage paid label. Drop it in the mail and it will be sent to a soldier. This helps all our troops keep in contact with their loved ones. Donate yours, please.

30 Gifts Under $25: No. 28

2008-11-15T18:21:00.004-05:00

The Microplane

This is a must-have for the kitchen! I love this little tool. It is one of my most-used kitchen tools. I use it for citrus zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, you name it. If you have a cook in your family, get him or her one of these. It would be a lovely gift with a bottle of whole nutmeg for grating. You could even include a few recipes that list nutmeg as an ingredient.

30 Gifts Under $25: No. 29

2008-11-14T12:07:00.004-05:00

Pecan & Raspberry Kringles from O&H Bakery

These things are fabulous. I first tried the O&H Kringle in law school, when a classmate brought one in for an ealry morning Mediation Class. Her mom had sent it to her. The bakery is in Wisconsin and it must be a magical place to produce such sweet delight! The Kringle is moist, flaky and delicious. Anyone on your list with a sweet tooth would surely like to receive one or two of these!

30 Gifts Under $25: No. 30

2008-11-13T17:49:00.006-05:00

I have been inspired by some old posts of Jordan Ferney at Oh Happy Day to do a "30 Gifts Under $25" post. I'm starting now since I know a lot of friends and family have already started their shopping. So here goes ...

From Lollyphile - Lollipops in three neat flavors: maple-bacon, absinthe, and wasabi-ginger! Not your average Christmas candy! You can buy 12 for $24.

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-12T10:05:00.001-05:00

Living Room Do-Over

2008-11-11T22:08:00.003-05:00

I have taken on the living room this week. We started painting on Sunday and I finished most of the work today (since it was a holiday from work.) I used Valspar in Martha Stewart Signature Colors. I really liked this paint, great coverage. I was painting ove a dark brown, and it worked really well. The walls are "bamboo mat" and the trim is "bakery box." Don't you just love that? I also bought quarts of "wading pool," "vintage map," and "boathouse blue." I plan on painting various pieces of furniture and frames and such. There are quite a few other projects to do still: 1) patchwork pillows 2) framed embroidery 3) painting to hang above the sofa 4) family trees 5) paint lamps & buy new shades. Wish me luck!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-11-05T11:55:00.002-05:00

It's heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere.

2008-11-03T20:47:00.002-05:00

I apologize for posting this late, but I have had massive computer problems as of late (resulting in the loss of all our drivers - yes, this means the camera too!) However, I'm back up and running and happy to report that I received my Blogging By Mail package! I received lots of treats sent to me all the way from Canada! The lovely owner of the blog "It's the Little Things" sent a fabulous box of goodness. The package contained the following items:

* pumpkin-shaped candy & cookie confection in a cookie cutter
*"Life Is Good" luggage tag
*cute little vase
*lemon-scented candles
*weekly magnetic calendar
*shiny lip gloss
*recipe cards
*flour sack dishtowels
*scrapping materials
*good-smelling shower stuff

Thank you for the delightful package. And thanks to the organizer of this swap-by-mail, Stephanie of Dispensing Happiness.

Pawlitics.

2008-11-03T20:43:00.002-05:00

Bunny-rific Birthday.

2008-11-03T20:37:00.004-05:00

My niece is now 2 (which is hard to believe!) I made her birthday cake again this year. Her "security blanket" is her bunny. So I decided to go with a bunny theme. I thought it turned out very well. The cake was vanilla bean with swiss meringue buttercream frosting. I made the bunny and the carrots from fondant and the fence pickets from gumpaste. The dirt is crushed Oreos. She was delighted with it, which totally made it worth the time and effort. I made carrot cake cupcakes for the adults with a little fondant carrot on top of each one. Another successful bbirthday I think!

Yummy stuff.

2008-10-24T14:55:00.002-04:00

I want this! This book is from a bakery in Red Hook, Brooklyn. I have baked up a few of their recipes before. The Sweet & Salty Cake was featured on Martha 2 Christmases ago. It is sooooooo good. I can't wait to get my hands on this!

I'm alive.

2008-10-24T14:51:00.002-04:00

I'm still here. Just had some technological difficulties. I have all sorts of photos to share, but our computer hard drive was fried recently. It has taken a while to get everything back to normal. I will be posting some neat things soon, I promise.

Martha blogs too.

2008-09-27T21:58:00.002-04:00

Martha Stewart recently devoted an entire show to blogs and their bloggers. She is having a contest. Submit your blog here!

Baa.

2008-09-26T14:05:00.004-04:00

We bought one of our local 4-H Club's lambs from the state fair. It is being delivered today. I'm so excited. Oh the possibilities! Our deep freezer awaits. Here are some recipes I'm thinking of trying: Grilled Leg of Lamb with Pomegranate Molasses, Proscuitto and Cheese Stuffed Lamb Tenderloin, Grilled Lamb Chops With Tapenade Butter, Lamb Medallions With Black Olive Wine Sauce, and Moroccan Braised Lamb Shanks.

{photo from gettyimages}

Welcome Autumn.

2008-09-23T20:41:00.008-04:00

We celebrated the First Day of Fall by decorating our front porch. I also baked a pumpkin pie, which we enjoyed after a walk with Nigel (the not so good dog) around the neighborhood. Parker (the good dog) stayed home, as he has a natural hatred for the felines and they tend to run rampant in the evenings. I also have plans to make pumpkin butter and cinnamon swirl bread sometime this week. Happy Autumn.

Hot off the presses!

2008-09-22T19:38:00.004-04:00

I am so looking forward to these two books. They are both to be released in October. I have recently fallen in love with Domino Magazine. And am a longtime fan of Martha, of course. I absolutely love her baking book. It is so informative. I really learned a lot from it.

Mad Men.

2008-09-22T11:47:00.005-04:00

We love this show. It is absolutely fabulous. The acting and writing are superb and the sets/clothing are to die for. The characters have so much depth. It is one of the best shows ever put on television in my opinion. If you aren't already watching, WATCH. You won't be sorry. Sundays @10 on AMC. Oh, and it just won an Emmy for best tv drama. So it's not just me.

Festival Frenzy.

2008-09-20T22:10:00.006-04:00

It's a really fun time in East Tennessee. Both the Hola Festival and Greekfest are next weekend. You can sample latin foods from MANY countries, including Venezuela, Brazil, Mexico, Honduras, and Cuba. At Greekfest, you can tour the Greek Orthodox church, see traditional Greek dancing, try souvlaki, pastitsio, spanikopita and greek pastries. Both are great family events. If you are near Knoxville and looking for something fun to do next weekend be sure to check it out.

Fall Garden Time.

2008-09-18T13:54:00.002-04:00

My poor little tired garden isn't looking so fine anymore. I have a few different kinds of plants that are still producing: kohlrabi, swiss chard, eggplants, carrots. I moved all my pumpkins out to the front porch and I'll be cutting down the cornstalks this weekend to add to my display of autumnal joy. Everything else has bitten the proverbial dust. And it is FINALLY getting cooler! So it's time to plant some fall crops. Here's the plan: shallots and early italian garlic (for a spring harvest), baby's leaf & Avon spinach, endive, arugula, red russian kale, pak choi joi choi (chinese cabbage), buttercrunch lettuce, and radicchio red surprise.

Freebies.

2008-09-17T11:25:00.004-04:00

Check out these free desktop wallpapers from Cecily Ink. I like having the calendar on my desktop an awful lot.

S'mores in a Cupcake?

2008-09-16T21:06:00.006-04:00

I made these for our family picnic two weekends ago. I had seen them on Martha a while back and wanted to try them, but hadn't gotten around to it. I thought they'd be a fun and portable dessert for a picnic. I also made an Italian Jam Tart (which I forgot to take a photo of, but I'll post the recipe sometime since it was sooooo easy and delicious.) Plus, I finally got to use the culinary torch Scott got for Christmas last year. (We just never seem to get around to creme brulee.) I used giant cupcake liners, so I only got about half the yield. Everyone ended up cutting them in half, but I thought they looked cooler in big form.
Makes 2 dozen

2 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon cocoa powder (not Dutch-processed)
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (from about 20 squares)
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
9 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
Marshmallow Frosting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 standard muffin tins with cupcake liners; set aside.
Sift 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar, flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together into the bowl of an electric mixer. Using the paddle attachment, mix ingredients together on low speed.
In a large bowl, mix together eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Add to flour mixture and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl and continue mixing on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add boiling water and stir to combine; set cake batter aside.
Place graham cracker crumbs, remaining 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter in a large bowl; stir until well combined.
Place 1 tablespoon graham cracker mixture into the bottom of each prepared muffin cup. Use the bottom of a small glass to pack crumbs into the bottom of each cupcake liner. Reserve remaining graham cracker mixture for topping.
Place 2 teaspoons chocolate in each muffin cup. Transfer muffin tins to oven and bake until the edges of the graham cracker mixture is golden, about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and fill each muffin cup three-quarters full with cake batter. Sprinkle each with remaining chocolate and graham cracker mixture. Return to oven and bake, rotating pans halfway through baking, until tops are firm and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer muffin tins to a wire rack and let cupcakes cool in pan for 10 minutes. Remove cupcakes from pan and let cool completely.
Transfer frosting to a large pastry bag fitted with a large plain round or French tip (such as Ateco #867 or Ateco #809). Pipe frosting in a spiral motion on each cupcake. Transfer cupcakes to a baking sheet. Using a kitchen torch, lightly brown the frosting, taking care not to burn the cupcake liners. Serve immediately or store in an airtight container, up to 2 days.

The Lone Melon.

2008-09-16T21:01:00.003-04:00

It's sad but true. Only one watermelon survived whatever that was that was eating the babies and the blooms. Way to go, little melon. However, meet your arch nemesis, the melon baller.

Grilled to Perfection.

2008-09-16T20:54:00.003-04:00

We grill pizza. Yep, right there on the plain 'ol gas grill. No fancy pizza stones. People seem shocked by this. Trust me. It doesn't stick to the grates. The trick is to have a VERY hot grill when you throw on the dough. Grill on one side then flip it over and put your toppings on the already-grilled side. Then slide the pizza back onto the grill (I use the wrong side of a cookie sheet often, as you can see.) Here's the recipe we use for crusts.

PIZZA DOUGH Recipe
1 pk Yeast
1/2 ts Sugar
2 tb Olive oil
2 c Flour -- to 2 1/4 c
1/2 ts Salt
1/3 c Warm water
1/3 c Warm water
Soften yeast in 1/3 c warm water for 5 minutes. Add 2 c flour and the rest of the ingredients. Knead til smooth, adding additional flour as needed. Place in greased bowl and cover and let sit til doubled. Punch down and roll out to fit pizza pan. Or just stretch to your desired shape and size if you're grilling. I like an oval for grilling.

Source: Gourmet Magazine.

Purple Potatoes!

2008-09-16T20:51:00.003-04:00

These are my precious purple potatoes. Fresh from my garden. They are actually "Russian Blue Potatoes." Aren't they pretty? Not too pretty to eat though. We just tossed these with some olive oil, kosher salt, and fresh ground black pepper and grilled them in a metal grill basket. Yum.

Gingerbread Blueprints.

2008-09-16T17:44:00.005-04:00

It's time for me to start planning for my gingerbread house. Every year I participate in a gingerbread competition. Last year I particiapted in two, the Fantasy of Trees in Knoxville and the National Gingerbread Competition in Asheville, NC. I won a blue ribbon at the FOT. I won second place the year before (for the house in the photos.) Unfortunately, due to my criminal court schedule I won't be able to go to the national competition this year. But I will be at FOT. This year's theme is "There's No Business Like Snow Business." I'm thinking about a "Hollywood" (emphasis on the "holly") theme. Maybe something like Rodeo Drive with Santa's sleigh loaded down with shopping bags from the designer shops. We'll see. I'llbe sure to post updates when I get started.

My type of jewelry.

2008-09-15T10:58:00.015-04:00

I love these pendants from The Weekend Store. They're repurposed old typewriter keys. Just love 'em. They make rings, bracelets, and earrings too.

She's baaaack.

2008-09-15T10:58:00.007-04:00

Martha's new episodes start today. Hopefully, they will inspire me to do some good things.

Magical Ice & Homemade Fluff

2008-09-15T10:58:00.004-04:00

I had no idea that it wasn't common knowledge that marshmallows could be made at one's own home until recently. My co-workers were pretty surprised that this could be done. So I had to make some for 'em, of course. The reason this topic came up was a cookbook I had heard about on MSL Radio, "Marshmallows" by Elaine Talanian. I have got to procure this little baby. Another one I heard about on the radio recently is "Granita Magic." Who knew this was such a lively topic? The author was on Everyday Food chatting abou this book. Granitas are sooooo easy and apparently, the possibilities are endless. Saffron & Honey! Balsamic Red Pepper and Horseradish! Crazy stuff, but I'll try anything once.

Did I eat what?

2008-09-15T09:52:00.004-04:00

I think I'm a fairly adveturous eater, so I took the bait. I found this over at Very Good Taste. Here’s what I was told to do:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.2) Redden all the items you’ve eaten.3) Italicize any items that you would never consider eating.4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/ linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:
1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bow
l33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

50% - Not sooooo bad. At least I knew what almost everything was, right? Let me know if you play along!

I'm a winner!

2008-09-14T21:05:00.003-04:00

I won 2nd Place in the Tennessee Valley Fair for my Blackberry Jam! And 3rd place for my Blueberry Jam in the "Other Jams" category. I'm very pleased, since this was my first experienc in canning. As a matter of fact my blackberry jam was only my second try after a mediocre first try of Strawberry-pineapple jam at the beginning of summer. Next year I'll get the Blue Ribbon!

Things I'm Liking . . .

2008-09-14T20:42:00.006-04:00

RIng Toss Necklace at Sundance

Gelsey Wedges and Adele T-straps at Sundance (sundancecatalog.com)

Maryjane Pumps by Wanted (at Piperlime.com)

Blogging By Mail

2008-09-14T20:16:00.002-04:00

I just signed up for Blogging By Mail. A swap for foodies! You just sign up to send a package with 10 of your favorite things by October 18 and promise to blog about the one you receive. Last time the swap was hosted by Dispensing Happiness hosted BBM, 85 people participated. Remember to sign up by Sept. 21!

Light up your nest.

2008-07-30T13:34:00.002-04:00

I love the New Haven Chandelier from anthropologie. I think it'd be great in a nursery or small child's room. Here's the description from their site: Sheltered under a peaked bower of woven ginkgo branches, a hooded warbler watches over her nest, warm with illumination from a trio of radiance.

My name is Tina and I'm a canaholic.

2008-07-28T19:34:00.007-04:00

Can anyone say intervention? I really will stop soon. After tomato sauce, blackberry jam, blueberry lime jam and .............. fine, I'm not stopping. This weekend I canned crushed tomatoes (some with italian herbs and some with mexican spices), blueberry jam, vanilla-plum jam, salsa, and tomato preserves. I have a lot more tomatoes and cucumbers to go.