tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41897941874157135152024-03-13T05:09:38.081-07:00Future Jack or ChloeSometimes you get more than one miracle.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger232125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-4596290955547401112018-07-23T05:14:00.000-07:002018-07-23T05:14:00.182-07:00I don't always paint, but when I do...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuFU6a4CvVROCA_IdBA72_5zPaWVKAXTFvw4HeYtEiYvK48zAKOU53_06ZGHr2PKbjMVBlH5300OFBr4NK7IdQ3m8rm9gzwBRT69xdfzSXMxJx1yYcT_ADB0GUVUOA-JTr1yqJlZ0078/s1600/Bird+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRuFU6a4CvVROCA_IdBA72_5zPaWVKAXTFvw4HeYtEiYvK48zAKOU53_06ZGHr2PKbjMVBlH5300OFBr4NK7IdQ3m8rm9gzwBRT69xdfzSXMxJx1yYcT_ADB0GUVUOA-JTr1yqJlZ0078/s320/Bird+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flaming-Oh!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypZ1d2BHPt1Wtrk4iViRJ-myRFZ-dvsxNOs2fWqgODGqcfX_Z6UhqslouRFBz18nk-iSHcufg5FEukrmtcvrPMlhRdHpcL8stYF0ViJuBOVk3p3twSfaWFa_2cQ5kmmCoYT7AWGS3ymM/s1600/Bird+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiypZ1d2BHPt1Wtrk4iViRJ-myRFZ-dvsxNOs2fWqgODGqcfX_Z6UhqslouRFBz18nk-iSHcufg5FEukrmtcvrPMlhRdHpcL8stYF0ViJuBOVk3p3twSfaWFa_2cQ5kmmCoYT7AWGS3ymM/s320/Bird+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruffled</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-gNodBZL-Blnsb9MUyEFwc4T1E8xeCLiUlU-byoFSd3sWDdZB-2PjijGDcLwnG8IvRQuHND2DOMzbgX3-_cafm8y1rLVNOcYmallUPeHS8KNQpyeWETb7h0bv0b8iqdCtPWLFY5DljI/s1600/Bloom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-gNodBZL-Blnsb9MUyEFwc4T1E8xeCLiUlU-byoFSd3sWDdZB-2PjijGDcLwnG8IvRQuHND2DOMzbgX3-_cafm8y1rLVNOcYmallUPeHS8KNQpyeWETb7h0bv0b8iqdCtPWLFY5DljI/s320/Bloom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloom (quote derived from Christina Caine)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyO76hQVZew6Lb1WGsJMPzBZ0aaMfuxsfcCguYKECJTE6oaLC2Sli47ObvjxuFRr4el5_5pRWKNh-VGmLVTsC-EXwmXGYzfnMbBVz7mkXq8YD3C1PLXuBjLXZ0sZ1wRkzvBUR0sSHjnQ/s1600/Bunny+Maru.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="887" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCyO76hQVZew6Lb1WGsJMPzBZ0aaMfuxsfcCguYKECJTE6oaLC2Sli47ObvjxuFRr4el5_5pRWKNh-VGmLVTsC-EXwmXGYzfnMbBVz7mkXq8YD3C1PLXuBjLXZ0sZ1wRkzvBUR0sSHjnQ/s320/Bunny+Maru.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the Garden of Bunny Maru</td></tr>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-84089691703288336132018-01-01T09:21:00.000-08:002018-01-29T10:51:53.313-08:00Wubby’s Ham & Cheese Bites with Spicy Harissa SauceWub got access to all the <a href="http://jam.com/">Jam.com</a>* courses for Christmas. She’s started herself off with the <a href="https://jam.com/courses/4/cook-for-yourself" target="_blank">Cook for Yourself</a> course. With very little guidance from me this is the hot appetizer she came up with...<br />
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<b>Tasty Sauce</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJTVtcKlt-_bNgnp-pW9Y9w1Swbsx6N2V2Tv1ttS73Op3XQzv1pGnXYWqpUnB161G5wG_I21ssdpTGWKnRAbE8dkov-m6b5pNEljW8Vwjb1AWbZkGyWAbSVQmSzypO7j9ca9EE65jB7M/s1600/2E06D159-1C01-4B9D-878E-3B81B3AA93DF.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJTVtcKlt-_bNgnp-pW9Y9w1Swbsx6N2V2Tv1ttS73Op3XQzv1pGnXYWqpUnB161G5wG_I21ssdpTGWKnRAbE8dkov-m6b5pNEljW8Vwjb1AWbZkGyWAbSVQmSzypO7j9ca9EE65jB7M/s320/2E06D159-1C01-4B9D-878E-3B81B3AA93DF.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
1/2 Tablespoon harissa (we use DEA brand)<br />
2 Tablespoons mayonnaise<br />
2 Tablespoons sour cream<br />
1/2 teaspoon roasted garlic seasoning (we use Weber)<br />
1/4 teaspoon each srirach garlic seasoning, rosemary, thyme and oregano<br />
Splash red wine vinegar<br />
pinch of cayenne<br />
3 drops of green hot sauce (we use Trader Joe's Green Dragon)<br />
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Mix together until thoroughly combined and let rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to combine.<br />
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<b>Preheat oven to 450.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt3aadN41GONbyNPQluPR6ucBI4ZsbkS-yFgMug5bddKtVAk13Jo3ODrfQx4tnWYlQAFiPBvGsUaCh38Fhke3FkqmR0a4Z-NKPJq0M07wReXzXsG3EWZWOHrmxQB4GLT2Tt_Ok1a3lyI/s1600/CA587723-FF13-4132-A6EF-97432DF85D96.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt3aadN41GONbyNPQluPR6ucBI4ZsbkS-yFgMug5bddKtVAk13Jo3ODrfQx4tnWYlQAFiPBvGsUaCh38Fhke3FkqmR0a4Z-NKPJq0M07wReXzXsG3EWZWOHrmxQB4GLT2Tt_Ok1a3lyI/s320/CA587723-FF13-4132-A6EF-97432DF85D96.JPG" width="320" /></a>Lightly oil a baking sheet with olive oil. Arrange slices of French baguette cut into round on the baking sheet. Top with a slice of good ham and a slice of sharp cheddar cheese Bake for 7-10 minutes until cheese is bubbly and melted. </div>
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Arrange on a plate and top each round with a dollop of Tasty Sauce. Yum!<br />
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Crispy bread, smoky ham, melty cheese and a cool creamy, addictively spicy sauce? Yes, please!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4u7m7v3iO1fsVecknKQ2A7iqG1X_7T94AeU8MUCxZGrV3lUCQEAarvxi4g5pMsyUj_FVCj25Bw_JR-ziMsxbkB47QngWncBwqwkC8fUN7iXlekaJ4PBW_9Y729H0Ug2I5eKOV5n-n-Q/s1600/9EE0312F-EAFE-40EB-9132-ED97F5553ECB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4u7m7v3iO1fsVecknKQ2A7iqG1X_7T94AeU8MUCxZGrV3lUCQEAarvxi4g5pMsyUj_FVCj25Bw_JR-ziMsxbkB47QngWncBwqwkC8fUN7iXlekaJ4PBW_9Y729H0Ug2I5eKOV5n-n-Q/s400/9EE0312F-EAFE-40EB-9132-ED97F5553ECB.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Perfect to enjoy with family!</div>
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*I am not affiliated with <a href="http://jam.com/">jam.com</a> but I would recommend them. </div>
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Wub is having a blast trying to figure out what she is going to cook next and she's excited about her other course offerings especially the <a href="https://jam.com/courses/8/invent-your-own-machines" target="_blank">Invent Your own Machine</a>s and <a href="https://jam.com/courses/5/become-a-music-star" target="_blank">Become a Music Star.</a></div>
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I like the fact that she is learning on her own and is eager to test and try new things. I also like the range of courses that they offer and how Wub gets to choose what she wants to do next within each course. Each lesson builds skills within itself so Wub can start off where she feels strong and build new skills to take her onto a different set of tasks. </div>
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And if these appetizers are just the beginning, I can hardly wait to see what she comes up with.</div>
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They have a free trial period and they offer a 10% "scholarship" if you enter your email.</div>
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Pro Tip: Sign up for their newsletter and they'll send you some pretty good coupons throughout the year. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-27899453667340766452017-11-06T17:40:00.000-08:002017-11-06T17:53:28.163-08:00The world's worst cat died today. She was mean, she would scratch whoever she thought she could get away with. She was unfriendly, hated the dog and would attack him at any opportunity. She wanted us to pet her but didn't want us to touch her and the battles she fought over this paradox were both amusing and frustrating. She was loud and obnoxious. She liked to knock things over and sit in places that she wasn't supposed to. She sometimes peed in the water dish. If she didn't see you feed her it didn't happen and she would meowl loudly, refusing to eat until you put a few bits of food in her dish. She would eat the dog's food, balanced on the edge of his bowl, straddling it to show him who was boss. She was petty and rotten and low on charm.<br />
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People would ask us why we kept her. An unsocialised, neurotic mess of anger, distrust and claws...If we had given her to a shelter she would never have been readopted.<br />
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She was the worst but she was our worst and we loved her. Oh Don Piano I hope you are in a better place. I hope you are being petted and that you like it. I hope you know your food dish is full, that the dog knows who's in charge and there's all sorts of shit to knock on the floor and sit on. Goodbye you miserable creep of a cat. I miss you so much already...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircrQ_cCPT8crz77WZfCkxBppIDD4flemU-RNCXR4f9u3ot5zUGp4KSF0ryy2KTmdVD80vGV38pPTstI8MaO462YOzPR3WRlKYyZYGoO7otizQkfGPCo-OtFTcPUAw32PN_IMsy3fSUNo/s1600/IMG_0042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1196" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircrQ_cCPT8crz77WZfCkxBppIDD4flemU-RNCXR4f9u3ot5zUGp4KSF0ryy2KTmdVD80vGV38pPTstI8MaO462YOzPR3WRlKYyZYGoO7otizQkfGPCo-OtFTcPUAw32PN_IMsy3fSUNo/s320/IMG_0042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-15471755772855839252017-05-30T19:43:00.003-07:002017-05-31T06:50:46.257-07:00Curry Puffs or Let's make some fairly complicated for dinner on Tuesday... Don't let the post name fool you, these actually aren't all that complicated. In fact considering how limited my patience is for teaching people stuff, I 98% totally enjoyed making these with Wub and only got slightly impatient once my back started hurting. And sure you could judge me for using paper plates for dinner but I don't care. I made Curry Puffs, on a Tuesday. That's all the fancy I have for one day.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEwHV5DuRGDI-KQplLPezouXRyDj46bA_kEmsaWMM00_sjvmq93h3WFhI9Kb0Wrs5mSOjzBpuAOvsO05Hr7m0m53JVIvyaXDsDg3DF51LdYFJ-Q7b6FGz1gbG9PFLGhSUCxexPJaS68Q/s1600/Curry+Puffs+%25285%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeEwHV5DuRGDI-KQplLPezouXRyDj46bA_kEmsaWMM00_sjvmq93h3WFhI9Kb0Wrs5mSOjzBpuAOvsO05Hr7m0m53JVIvyaXDsDg3DF51LdYFJ-Q7b6FGz1gbG9PFLGhSUCxexPJaS68Q/s400/Curry+Puffs+%25285%2529.png" width="273" /></a> I looked at several different recipes for Thai/Malaysian Spiral Dough Curry Puffs and in the end sorta made up my own thing. The flaky pastry is super easy to make and kind of seems like a magic trick. <br />
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You make two, very easy doughs, let them rest while you make your filling. (I made a fairly classic chicken curry type. The general consensus in my house was you could stuff these with cat hair and chocolate sauce and they'd be pretty tasty. Don't though. Seriously.) While the filling cools you divide each dough into eight pieces, stuff one inside the other and then the magic begins, but I'm getting ahead of myself, first the recipe....<br />
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<i>Disclaimer: I am neither Thai nor Malaysian so maybe these aren't just like your Nan's Curry Puffs. I'm okay with that. If having to be 100% authentic were a prerequisite for making a new dish, no one would ever try anything new</i>. <br />
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<b>Spiral Curry Puffs</b><br />
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<i><b>Water Dough:</b></i><br />
300 grams of all purpose flour (roughly 2 1/2 cups, but if you have a scale weigh it)<br />
1 1/2 Tablespoons melted butter<br />
1 egg white lightly beaten<br />
3/4 cups (ish) warm water<br />
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In a large bowl combine the flour and salt. Rub the butter into the flour until thoroughly combined. Add the egg white and most, but not all of the water. Stir to combine adding more water if needed to form a soft but not sticky dough. Knead until smooth. Cover and lest rest for half an hour.<br />
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<i>Butter Dough:</i><br />
150 grams of all purpose flour (1 1/4 cups)<br />
100 grams of softened butter (7 1/2 Tablespoons)<br />
pinch salt<br />
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In a medium bowl mix together until a smooth cohesive dough forms. Cover and set aside.<br />
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<b><i>The Curry Filling I Used:</i></b><br />
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8 oz chicken breast cut into small cubes<br />
2 large potatoes peeled and cut into 1/2 inch dice<br />
2 large carrots peeled and cut into 1/2 inch pieces<br />
1 large onion 1/2 inch dice<br />
8 oz button or crimini mushrooms in 1/2 inch chunks (See a pattern here?)<br />
2 cloves of garlic, crushed, grated, chopped, whatever<br />
1 cup of frozen peas, still frozen<br />
2 Tablespoons of a good brand curry powder. (I am particularly fond of Ship's)<br />
1 teaspoon garam masala<br />
1/2 teaspoon White pepper<br />
Salt and Pepper to taste<br />
Water <br />
2 Tablespoons each butter and coconut (or vegetable) oil<br />
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In a large saute pan over medium high, heat the butter and oil until sizzling. Add the onions and mushrooms season with salt and pepper and saute until mushrooms are just beginning to brown. Stir in the garlic and cook for a minute or so until fragrant.<br />
Add the curry powder, garam masala and white pepper. Cook and stir for 1-2 minutes to lightly toast the spices. Add the chicken season with salt and pepper and stir to cover chicken in spices.<br />
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Add the potato and carrot and a couple of cups or so of water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 15-20 minutes until the potatoes are tender and slightly broken down.<br />
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The sauce should be thick and almost nonexistent almost like a potato puree as opposed to gravy. If too runny cook longer to evaporate the liquid. If too dry add more water.<br />
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Once the mixture has reached the right consistency remove from heat and stir in the frozen peas. Set aside to cool while you work on the dough.<br />
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I forgot to take a picture of this part but you will want to separate each into eight pieces of roughly equal size. Roll into balls and cover.<br />
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Take a piece of the water dough and flatten it out slightly. Place a piece of the butter dough in the center and fold the water dough up and around to completely enclose the butter dough. Pinch the seams closed and place seam side down, cover and repeat with the remaining dough balls.<br />
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Next using a light dusting of flour flatten one of he dough balls into a rectangle. Using a rolling pin, roll it out into a long thin rectangle. Roll the dough up into spiral tube.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTkyoEIIM38xUtdrCnG0clpvqRQ8LUvMND6xhFzqjgKU2oORoCeEkW5UQ7r-wE3VfavncoQNgk7e3g9kPtuDDIfQQRbj2l0IZInFamsstpj1eKnuAV0-gN3sk4O0Dv8e3WlnvNAjd2Ao/s1600/Curry+Puffs+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJTkyoEIIM38xUtdrCnG0clpvqRQ8LUvMND6xhFzqjgKU2oORoCeEkW5UQ7r-wE3VfavncoQNgk7e3g9kPtuDDIfQQRbj2l0IZInFamsstpj1eKnuAV0-gN3sk4O0Dv8e3WlnvNAjd2Ao/s320/Curry+Puffs+%25284%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>Flatten out this tube and roll it into a rectangle in the opposite direction. Roll up again. Place roll seam side down on the counter and cover. Repeat with each ball of dough until you have eight dough roll.<br />
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Cut each of your rolls in half. Place cut side up, flatten with the palm of your hand then roll into a thinnish, roughly circular disc. You should be able to see the spiral. Repeat until you have sixteen discs.<br />
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Take one of the discs and place the prettiest (most swirly side) face down on your palm. Place a generous spoonful of the cooled filling in the center.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9laQKsqSR_CO-te7VN1WWC8gqFFFJvgZdcY_rzQPc2FfCZ7mypYRQF6sxDrrsHlthzzv3cTbHmB27g5NtZfNJJUtooWwFEyt1mVhAU48yJgYLtjX2C1o0X5pKDaCPBKctfOyhNvJxus/s1600/Curry+Puffs+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik9laQKsqSR_CO-te7VN1WWC8gqFFFJvgZdcY_rzQPc2FfCZ7mypYRQF6sxDrrsHlthzzv3cTbHmB27g5NtZfNJJUtooWwFEyt1mVhAU48yJgYLtjX2C1o0X5pKDaCPBKctfOyhNvJxus/s320/Curry+Puffs+4.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Fold up the sides, pinching and pulling to form a lip. Fold and crimp the edges to seal. Repeat with all sixteen pieces.<br />
<br />
Heat oil in a large heavy pan over medium high heat. Fry a few at a time until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve warm or cold.<br />
The pastry on these is A-MAZ-ING. So easy to work with, it is simultaneously stretchy but also sticks to itself quite well making the crimping a breeze. (To be honest crimping is never a breeze for me, arthritis and carpal tunnel makes for very clumsy fingers. Wub however zoomed through the crimping and hers were waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay prettier than mine.) All the stretch would lead you to believe to believe these are going to be chewy or tough but no, these are crisp, tender and flakey.<br />
<br />
We almost can't wait to make these again. Some other filling ideas would be cat hair and chocolate sauce, mashed potatoes with cheddar cheese, cream cheese with tuna, grated onion and jalapeno, caramelized onions and Swiss cheese, English style sausage, Cornish pasty type filling, bananas and chocolate chips, coconut jam, apples with cinnamon and sugar and so on...<br />
<br />
In many of the recipes I read they said these freeze well uncooked. We
just cooked them all with plans of eating them for lunch etc.
over the next day or two. So I can't vouch for that but I do know it
works well for knishes. If we ever do manage to freeze some I'll let you know how that goes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFay7Gkuh7U8w18vAyZM3NVitNErjGO2viOKJdftvyxL1PJSPabhGghu6HR8v8X-v3iZQYsdjHeQEC3hd_WfP_59hWMziBGuRrFD63y0SzCGDsCyUjXqXcaQRrhZp_KMCpYLlfZnXAVJs/s1600/Curry+Puffs+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFay7Gkuh7U8w18vAyZM3NVitNErjGO2viOKJdftvyxL1PJSPabhGghu6HR8v8X-v3iZQYsdjHeQEC3hd_WfP_59hWMziBGuRrFD63y0SzCGDsCyUjXqXcaQRrhZp_KMCpYLlfZnXAVJs/s400/Curry+Puffs+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-47266314973651343602016-03-22T18:58:00.002-07:002016-03-22T19:09:15.073-07:00It's Tamale Day by Golly!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghxzb-bRyXQ-hSgkcR-Xx7dYJ4h5zt4J9jyTE91va0P_IgznkrKNL6Wk0J0h9Ik8h1TJ2QFNkAqNIV4V5EyNooaNIvQj9eem_X1eJdHunvditBKhno4sVazhuEPgBi3D2Eb9o3LDArGMw/s1600/Tamales+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Today's the day. I got up at 5:30 this morning so I could work on Wub's
Easter dress before I had to make salsa (mmmmmmmmmmm...) and the sweet
corn filling for the tamales. I made the Spinach Filling last night
while I was making the <a href="http://spinach,%20artichoke%20%20and%20blistered%20jalapeno%20filling%20%202%208%20oz%20packages%20of%20fresh%20spinach,%20cleaned%20and%20rough%20chopped%201%2012%200z%20package%20frozen%20artichoke%20hearts,%20thawed%20and%20chopped%202%208%20oz%20packages%20cream%20cheese%20softened%201%206%20oz%20package%20grated%20parmesan%20cheese%201%20small%20onion%20finely%20diced%201%20small%20jalapeno%202%20tablespoons%20olive%20oil%201%20tablespoon%20of%20your%20favorite%20roasted%20garlic%20seasoning%20%28i%20use%20weber%29%20salt%20and%20pepper%20to%20taste%20%20%20place%20the%20whole%20jalapeno%20over%20a%20burner%20and%20slowly%20char%20all%20over,%20turning%20periodically.%20place%20in%20a%20bowl%20and%20cover.%20set%20aside%20to%20steam%20and%20soften%20%20%20heat%20the%20olive%20oil%20over%20medium%20high%20heat%20until%20it%20ripples.%20add%20the%20onion%20and%20as%20much%20%20spinach%20as%20will%20fit.%20season%20with%20salt%20and%20pepper%20to%20taste%20and%20stir.%20as%20the%20spinach%20wilts%20down%20add%20more%20to%20the%20pan%20seasoning%20as%20you%20go,%20until%20all%20of%20the%20spinach%20is%20wilted%20and%20the%20onions%20are%20soft.%20%20%20%20%20pour%20mixture%20into%20a%20mesh%20strainer%20and%20allow%20to%20drain%20and%20cool.%20%20%20%20peel%20and%20finely%20chop%20the%20blistered%20jalapeno.%20%20%20in%20a%20large%20bowl%20combine%20the%20softened%20cream%20cheese,%20jalapeno,%20garlic%20seasoning%20and%20parmesan.%20stir%20in%20the%20drained%20spinach%20and%20chopped%20artichokes%20until%20well%20combined.%20%20%20at%20this%20point%20it%20is%20ready%20to%20fill%20tamales,%20enchiladas%20and%20quesadillas.%20you%20could%20also%20toss%20the%20whole%20deal%20in%20a%20casserole%20dish%20and%20bake%20at%20375%20until%20bubbly%20and%20lightly%20browned%20and%20it%20makes%20a%20pretty%20darn%20good%20hot%20dip./" target="_blank">Spicy Mushroom Filling</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpD8cu2bEGuqwZlSTQKWMLMIrLzAaheu398ETHhhimnC8UeppsvJv4i01iM67-gUGtbHnkpqZRzlY6X0mLcsspk0jSm4osAcENpMYN5DUJ1keW_Pb5pOYrtzlNAJ7uwZ_3C70db_pu_Y/s1600/Tamales+%252817%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinpD8cu2bEGuqwZlSTQKWMLMIrLzAaheu398ETHhhimnC8UeppsvJv4i01iM67-gUGtbHnkpqZRzlY6X0mLcsspk0jSm4osAcENpMYN5DUJ1keW_Pb5pOYrtzlNAJ7uwZ_3C70db_pu_Y/s400/Tamales+%252817%2529.JPG" width="225" /></a></div>
<a href="http://Spinach, Artichoke and Blistered Jalapeno Filling 2 8 oz packages of fresh spinach, cleaned and rough chopped 1 12 0z package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and chopped 2 8 oz packages cream cheese softened 1 6 oz package grated parmesan cheese 1 small onion finely diced 1 small jalapeno 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon of your favorite roasted garlic seasoning (I use Weber) Salt and Pepper to taste Place the whole jalapeno over a burner and slowly char all over, turning periodically. Place in a bowl and cover. Set aside to steam and soften Heat the olive oil over medium high heat until it ripples. Add the onion and as much spinach as will fit. Season with salt and pepper to taste and stir. As the spinach wilts down add more to the pan seasoning as you go, until all of the spinach is wilted and the onions are soft. Pour mixture into a mesh strainer and allow to drain and cool. Peel and finely chop the blistered jalapeno. In a large bowl combine the softened cream cheese, jalapeno, garlic seasoning and parmesan. Stir in the drained spinach and chopped artichokes until well combined. At this point it is ready to fill tamales, enchiladas and quesadillas. You could also toss the whole deal in a casserole dish and bake at 375 until bubbly and lightly browned and it makes a pretty darn good hot dip. " target="_blank"></a>.<br />
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<b> </b>Wub helped me make home made salsa and the Sweet Corn and Green Chili tamale filling. I have to say they are both pretty darn tasty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSpoQd4B5-l4LfgzGxNYtrQahswHDt7EtPDd_K79ul14LaCC8BoyVExS5qTIWbYrgRHYL-7Pycxv-leDaiRilrpObF0BeJLoro-CIJVSu82pl89wsyBYRtBzDQ9D9v6n3F7yfgYTw7jg/s1600/Tamales+%252811%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFSpoQd4B5-l4LfgzGxNYtrQahswHDt7EtPDd_K79ul14LaCC8BoyVExS5qTIWbYrgRHYL-7Pycxv-leDaiRilrpObF0BeJLoro-CIJVSu82pl89wsyBYRtBzDQ9D9v6n3F7yfgYTw7jg/s320/Tamales+%252811%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a><b>Spinach, Artichoke and Blistered Jalapeno Filling</b><br />
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2 8 oz packages of fresh spinach, cleaned and rough chopped<br />
1 12 0z package frozen artichoke hearts, thawed and chopped<br />
2 8 oz packages cream cheese softened<br />
1 6 oz package grated parmesan cheese<br />
1 small onion finely diced<br />
1 small jalapeno<b><br /></b>2 Tablespoons olive oil<br />
1 tablespoon of your favorite roasted garlic seasoning (I use Weber)<br />
Salt and Pepper to taste<br />
<br />
Place the whole jalapeno over a burner and slowly char all over, turning periodically. Place in a bowl and cover. Set aside to steam and soften<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBX7mXWVi3exInvlRAG6HveuomayVIA7qzAClPzr9rATjsVqgv7DTqVp_40hh57C5NbE4qJOoVQRjl9Qs5EF001uaguDEA2S6aKxzJm6mzU-GPOVYj01sVOB895t-FlqNfT2P7sXFNVKI/s1600/Tamales+%252810%2529.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBX7mXWVi3exInvlRAG6HveuomayVIA7qzAClPzr9rATjsVqgv7DTqVp_40hh57C5NbE4qJOoVQRjl9Qs5EF001uaguDEA2S6aKxzJm6mzU-GPOVYj01sVOB895t-FlqNfT2P7sXFNVKI/s320/Tamales+%252810%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a> Heat the olive oil over medium high heat until it ripples. Add the onion and as much <br />
spinach as will fit. Season with salt and pepper to taste and stir. As the spinach wilts down add more to the pan seasoning as you go, until all of the spinach is wilted and the onions are soft. <br />
<br />
Pour mixture into a mesh strainer and allow to drain and cool. <br />
<br />
Peel and finely chop the blistered jalapeno.<br />
<br />
In a large bowl combine the softened cream cheese, jalapeno, garlic seasoning and parmesan. Stir in the drained spinach and chopped artichokes until well combined.<br />
<br />
At this point it is ready to fill tamales, enchiladas and quesadillas. You could also toss the whole deal in a casserole dish and bake at 375 until bubbly and lightly browned and it makes a pretty darn good hot dip.<br />
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<b> </b><br />
<b>Sweet Corn and Green Chili Filling </b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJd8ijVkH3EXwsUvz9BPv6-XnF_fVLUips7lcACrGa6UiLOg0-Kcp1WBc8tbrJsf_sBYH_5VWSFspgz7_Lg3AiqC0yeuYByLSLgYGp8Fp5Wx8ULP0Ac8XNK6u3Z7Qkndu4y2jKt_O-VI/s1600/Tamales+%25282%2529.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJd8ijVkH3EXwsUvz9BPv6-XnF_fVLUips7lcACrGa6UiLOg0-Kcp1WBc8tbrJsf_sBYH_5VWSFspgz7_Lg3AiqC0yeuYByLSLgYGp8Fp5Wx8ULP0Ac8XNK6u3Z7Qkndu4y2jKt_O-VI/s320/Tamales+%25282%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a>2 lbs frozen sweet corn kernels<br />
1 16(ish) oz jar of your favorite green salsa (I like Mi Costena or Herdez)<br />
1 8 oz package of cream cheese softened<br />
1 lb shredded Queso Quesadilla or Monterey Jack or Mozzarella cheese <br />
1 jalapeno roasted, peeled and seeded (see recipe above)<br />
1 bunch green onions sliced both white and green parts.<br />
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley if no likey the cilantro)<br />
1 Tablespoon of your favorite roasted garlic seasoning. (I use Weber)<br />
<br />
This is a large recipe and can easily be halved. <br />
<br />
In a large bowl combine the softened cream cheese with the jalapeno, cilantro, green onions and roasted garlic seasoning. Slowly stir in the green salsa. (It will look a total mess here but trust me it gets better.) Then the shredded cheese until combined and last the corn. <br />
<br />
If planning to use as a filling, refrigerate until set. <br />
<br />
Or pour into a baking dish and cook at 375 until hot and bubbly and you have a delicious dip for chips.<br />
<br />
We made mountains of masa and entire landscapes of tamales.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuE2ONscU29PKJATzcedOu2dhJNxj1ZK8b-ctpY8KXm0_MDzUmOWqqOSSTWkAeyqW_ziMf5BXjtn5W5TU6kGJTio_qXqgNhp4pAQ72csSQzqpVBKzfAVFHQEeu47pp2H3o72bvWRLp4o/s1600/Tamales+%252820%2529.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtuE2ONscU29PKJATzcedOu2dhJNxj1ZK8b-ctpY8KXm0_MDzUmOWqqOSSTWkAeyqW_ziMf5BXjtn5W5TU6kGJTio_qXqgNhp4pAQ72csSQzqpVBKzfAVFHQEeu47pp2H3o72bvWRLp4o/s400/Tamales+%252820%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt66Mjc1g1ZVuTjfEuATKUUT2Xg1nVEgxHiFF2YasDnRebkwMrGa-wFJvxTaF5mupWinCB76RzAAvNHToMEj3U3vn6aRH8YSxugHBmkKKUuzcAGQaa8I49_STxDB05olj3fZFSrwAKAw/s1600/Tamales+%252819%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt66Mjc1g1ZVuTjfEuATKUUT2Xg1nVEgxHiFF2YasDnRebkwMrGa-wFJvxTaF5mupWinCB76RzAAvNHToMEj3U3vn6aRH8YSxugHBmkKKUuzcAGQaa8I49_STxDB05olj3fZFSrwAKAw/s320/Tamales+%252819%2529.JPG" width="180" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbfH1rKsVir9xiXa849zoVrpekxnW8eAAExTARJ38l1dkTBeZatgRd-FKrwK3v3AwXT5K5IYNu1BNdEdR0CQpnJDROZkQnO-8mJyGARyZdLL9IQjksrut7RrzUkz7FVFg021gkOroBLg/s1600/Tamales+%25283%2529.JPG" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLbfH1rKsVir9xiXa849zoVrpekxnW8eAAExTARJ38l1dkTBeZatgRd-FKrwK3v3AwXT5K5IYNu1BNdEdR0CQpnJDROZkQnO-8mJyGARyZdLL9IQjksrut7RrzUkz7FVFg021gkOroBLg/s320/Tamales+%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQNK8okGIrrGaCsPKsNemoP30Lh-OQlet0ERUHruxnWl5uOjetcpHK2ncRx0cI2tbwBGi5VNsTENkRglpCOVHMjEvC9wkgVXK3E2JZJFAQjxodhtxF04IrvVGaSUV1Xd2LdOhILDBh3A/s1600/Tamales+%25287%2529.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQNK8okGIrrGaCsPKsNemoP30Lh-OQlet0ERUHruxnWl5uOjetcpHK2ncRx0cI2tbwBGi5VNsTENkRglpCOVHMjEvC9wkgVXK3E2JZJFAQjxodhtxF04IrvVGaSUV1Xd2LdOhILDBh3A/s320/Tamales+%25287%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a> Dinner was at 5:00 and we feasted on refried beans, spanish rice and oh so many delicious tamales.<br />
All told we made about 200 tamales. So we have lunch for the next few days. (Or maybe we'll freeze them...)<br />
<br />
Lora has agreed to share her recipe for her incredible slow roasted beef and her delectable chicken filling. So as soon as she gets them to me I'll post them and maybe some tips on how you too can have your own Tamale Day and perhaps a freezer full of good food seasoned with good memories.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-68784813628730363512016-03-19T16:06:00.000-07:002016-03-22T19:01:28.744-07:00 Spicy Mushroom Filling<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5P5So-FmE5er3QsnZoozSY8I1sUg09inBhY7rv9zn6t5rHBLSmoIa0GjOtcKN92z_YFMrmPwg2Kh3IOrhJ-S0TlK3vMgxxmQ2SFUPcGF6CqrBkvdu4cPeIrEGzYtG3IHomLpPHyExxU4/s1600/Spicy+Mushroom+Filling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5P5So-FmE5er3QsnZoozSY8I1sUg09inBhY7rv9zn6t5rHBLSmoIa0GjOtcKN92z_YFMrmPwg2Kh3IOrhJ-S0TlK3vMgxxmQ2SFUPcGF6CqrBkvdu4cPeIrEGzYtG3IHomLpPHyExxU4/s400/Spicy+Mushroom+Filling.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
Sunday is tamale day. Why? Because we are some tamale loving people. So tomorrow my sisters and I will get together around noon and start making masa and filling the tamales. Around 5:00pm we should have a half starved group of maniacs descend upon us to gobble up crunchy chips with homemade salsa and homemade queso and a mountain of freshly steamed tamales.<br />
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Being the decided weirdoest in a bunch of utter nutters, I make the vegetarian filling. Because I love me a vegetarian tamale. (I also love me a meat tamale but for some reason vegetarian tamales make me real happy)<br />
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My usual contribution is Sweet Corn and Green Chili with Queso Quesadilla Cheese. And those will be making a modified appearance tomorrow but I wanted to expand my horizons a little bit. So in addition to the usual sweet corn/green chili I will also be making a Spinach Artichoke and Blistered Jalapeno filling and these: <br />
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<span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption"><b>Spicy Mushroom Filling for Tamales or Tacos or Burritos or Enchiladas or Quesadillas or your face...</b><br /> <br /> 2 lbs white button mushrooms roughly chopped<br /> 2 large onions cut into medium dice<br /> 2 cloves garlic minced<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> 2 Tablespoons olive oil<br /> 1 Tablespoon butter<br /> 1 6 oz can tomato paste<br /> Chipotles in Adobo Sauce*<br /> 1/2 cup water<br /> 1/4 cup white wine<br /> Salt and Pepper to taste<br /> <br />
Heat the oil and butter in a large skillet until butter is foamy. Add
the onions and mushrooms, season with salt and pepper and cook over
medium heat until softened. Turn up the heat add the garlic. cook until
golden.<br /> Mince up as many chipotle peppers as your heat level can
stand (*I'm a chili head so I could have handled more but since others
will be eating this I went with one. This was a nice level of heat
without being alienating to the less spicy of the crew.) Add the
pepper(s) 2 tsp of the adobo sauce, 1 can of tomato paste, the water and
wine bring to a boil and turn down real low. Simmer 5 or 6 minutes. <br /> Stuff into whatever you want. <i>I would not recommend this a good filling for dolls and stuffed animals.</i></span></span></span><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-58426227585621818612016-03-09T16:10:00.000-08:002016-03-09T16:16:30.913-08:00Free Pattern! The Other Birthday DressI showed off "the other birthday dress" in this post. I realised that since I'd already drafted a size 10/12 child's large pattern I might as well share it. And since I was going to share it I might as well make a mini tutorial on how to sew it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoYalnvhv9IRDaf8fcffiaff73_kboNiwSojKgoW0zlsJSAF-iqMFTZPaDZc8THZi5_BABeFiSMMZpYaKxvJ9_KNuH2bQiVfyuOaaKaGxFYMPk_wp0iXB0kN8IOWXi5qLe4UUudjBzEQ/s1600/Chloe%2527s+Birthday+h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Free Pattern" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoYalnvhv9IRDaf8fcffiaff73_kboNiwSojKgoW0zlsJSAF-iqMFTZPaDZc8THZi5_BABeFiSMMZpYaKxvJ9_KNuH2bQiVfyuOaaKaGxFYMPk_wp0iXB0kN8IOWXi5qLe4UUudjBzEQ/s400/Chloe%2527s+Birthday+h.jpg" title="The Other Birthday Dress" width="266" /></a></div>
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Mind you I took no pictures of the process so all I have is drawings but if you have any knowledge of sewing it should be pretty clear.<br />
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If you would like to sew the dress using the same fabric, it is available in my Spoonflower shop here:<br />
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<a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/designs/5081704-party-animals-multi-by-plucksduck" target="_blank">Party Animal Fabric</a> </div>
The fabric is designed to repeat perfectly on one yard of Modern Jersey. Other knits choices will work you will end up with less of the tossed print part of the fabric though.<br />
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<b>You will need:</b><br />
General Sewing Supplies-thread, pins, sewing machine, scissors etc.<br />
Pattern available here-<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BySm-w4keWQxTTFIR052UHNzc3c/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Party Animal Raglan</a><br />
Less than 1 yard of knit fabric with 25% stretch and good recovery.<br />
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To begin download and print out the pattern pieces. You want to choose 100% or No Scaling or uncheck the Fit to Page box on your printer.<br />
Trim and tape the pages following the diagram and then cut out the two pattern pieces.<br />
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Cut out two sleeves on the fold and two bodices on the fold. You will also need on strip of fabric 2x20 and one square of fabric 2x2 for the neckband.<br />
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I own a serger but at the moment it is being incredibly uncooperative so I sewed the entire dress using a narrow and long zig zag stitch. You can serge or twin needle it if you prefer.<br />
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<b>Step one:</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGSTMH9di6AbtrlgbMR38D3F_cJL1ibr_5rv1cnC7L8R4sJH0kFx929CAY2RUg7wOco7_SIWyYyehuNf7A51VBKZ87woazHu0_JM3WsfNHpUEsgiVdms-d9PTQ3l4if4s2vwpmkJBT9o/s1600/Figure+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyGSTMH9di6AbtrlgbMR38D3F_cJL1ibr_5rv1cnC7L8R4sJH0kFx929CAY2RUg7wOco7_SIWyYyehuNf7A51VBKZ87woazHu0_JM3WsfNHpUEsgiVdms-d9PTQ3l4if4s2vwpmkJBT9o/s320/Figure+1.png" title="Party Animal Raglan Free Pattern" width="259" /></a></div>
With right sides together sew the sleeves to one bodice piece<br />
along the shoulder seams.<br />
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<b>Step two:</b><br />
With right sides together sew the sleeve to the other bodice half along the shoulder seam.<br />
Repeat on the other side.Turn to right side and topstitch your seams if you desire.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zRmEaqJ5lSeXRj_M1011pUyPzpCR3Nh-5BrnYp1ZV5xLdWXz9l091gzHB0wvtnmME6Gk6jOw4ZncTa5nW4zdgU1D1EA0iTg5_PMFUUbv12l6EMoP38H60dekcpQGneo-4RMSwrq-wus/s1600/Figure+3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zRmEaqJ5lSeXRj_M1011pUyPzpCR3Nh-5BrnYp1ZV5xLdWXz9l091gzHB0wvtnmME6Gk6jOw4ZncTa5nW4zdgU1D1EA0iTg5_PMFUUbv12l6EMoP38H60dekcpQGneo-4RMSwrq-wus/s200/Figure+3.png" width="250" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3Z49zkmGHfZ-U63vbxo9PRxbdDiebrGKsMkBonjbAsqtXEyxTSiUqWfx_m5sh0xiI3NMjFs2vzZtQZIFVUSclTffhZtBvPvojvTtoKt3SPnsimfXPoBT5ndFtowL6TJXM3dbn_kaKsE/s1600/Figure+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3Z49zkmGHfZ-U63vbxo9PRxbdDiebrGKsMkBonjbAsqtXEyxTSiUqWfx_m5sh0xiI3NMjFs2vzZtQZIFVUSclTffhZtBvPvojvTtoKt3SPnsimfXPoBT5ndFtowL6TJXM3dbn_kaKsE/s200/Figure+2.png" width="250" /></a><br />
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<b>Step three: </b></div>
Turn dress inside out and match up the sleeves and bottom hem. Sew the side seams from sleeve hem to bottom hem on both sides, You can turn the dress right side out and topstitch if you desire. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_Ouvk5xr2f-qd33xI6VnTuUi2WfkAGgTN3s1zQIozX2EppCn5ZFnP8pZwsiZoIarFyELe3XLw_Qndrb6EcrNfX0bkj9u0h4AXJ718cHNR1bDURpH_pCqQQBLY3B6OXxdMDf2VBnnbm0/s1600/Figure+4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx_Ouvk5xr2f-qd33xI6VnTuUi2WfkAGgTN3s1zQIozX2EppCn5ZFnP8pZwsiZoIarFyELe3XLw_Qndrb6EcrNfX0bkj9u0h4AXJ718cHNR1bDURpH_pCqQQBLY3B6OXxdMDf2VBnnbm0/s320/Figure+4.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Step four:</b><br />
To make neckband sew strip together to form a loop, fold loop in half lengthwise concealing the stitches to the inside.<br />
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Fold knot piece in half and stitch along cut edge. Turn tube so seam is on the inside. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVt2A0N5JbJNFKAghwA7jGWswNDBXID36_Oj_Y73mLlhnGF0kjnEg84f6RAkZC4bqvSzcN6TcskXokmSWhAl67hyphenhyphen38twaT6GoqKh5B9YbTySivlRfnXg5NoZYZuFkS7TuubrlDqq1lFT0/s1600/Figure+6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVt2A0N5JbJNFKAghwA7jGWswNDBXID36_Oj_Y73mLlhnGF0kjnEg84f6RAkZC4bqvSzcN6TcskXokmSWhAl67hyphenhyphen38twaT6GoqKh5B9YbTySivlRfnXg5NoZYZuFkS7TuubrlDqq1lFT0/s400/Figure+6.png" width="288" /> </a></div>
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<b>Step five:</b> </div>
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Pin the knot piece onto the center sleeve portion of the neckline and baste in place. Center the seam of the neckband over the knot piece and pin evenly around the neckline. Fold the knot piece up to cover the seam and stitch the neckband to the neckline. Turn to right side and topstch in place. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwT7QgshriwxjNDGTYaCx3-GvNm5OVUD0L9ipClhuNKoSSGBjuV0-QWDDOMxQrCaP5mAwVa4TMFuwAHhpZB7BSTnts57H-3HdGnMS60UaT71gO2cVFN80-dm1mRY-5pO4GYcz3heLnoU/s1600/Figure+5.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwT7QgshriwxjNDGTYaCx3-GvNm5OVUD0L9ipClhuNKoSSGBjuV0-QWDDOMxQrCaP5mAwVa4TMFuwAHhpZB7BSTnts57H-3HdGnMS60UaT71gO2cVFN80-dm1mRY-5pO4GYcz3heLnoU/s320/Figure+5.png" width="288" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliinmE14JVRb4fcFFM2cgY4QxN_7f515sKs2uYhDbF2yPdHpI0PMiRlp3JpoWJFwtCjGDCbj6A-TwkW6ak5-JEI1ASDZtD86V-Hsmp3pw5yamSuNqho4rg8kTOvWMKKWtcMeJEEh8i6M/s1600/Figure+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliinmE14JVRb4fcFFM2cgY4QxN_7f515sKs2uYhDbF2yPdHpI0PMiRlp3JpoWJFwtCjGDCbj6A-TwkW6ak5-JEI1ASDZtD86V-Hsmp3pw5yamSuNqho4rg8kTOvWMKKWtcMeJEEh8i6M/s320/Figure+7.png" width="281" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHlyj7oF07VRCGP0LTM0H8JB75fOMvVz7lT3MNEG8kxS9o5bvohXQvxHfIMuD1iOTzHWyofjUs3qF63GOeFfgRzzp6BELgr31hrne5u7tAC7E23m9pKNRiQ3HsN830yXMTOBHWkYxMMM/s1600/Figure+8.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHlyj7oF07VRCGP0LTM0H8JB75fOMvVz7lT3MNEG8kxS9o5bvohXQvxHfIMuD1iOTzHWyofjUs3qF63GOeFfgRzzp6BELgr31hrne5u7tAC7E23m9pKNRiQ3HsN830yXMTOBHWkYxMMM/s400/Figure+8.png" width="383" /> </a></div>
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<b>Step six:</b></div>
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Hem sleeves and bottom edge of dress (I used a lettuce edge on the bottom)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUWuj8ScQzdra4xcOW7JIIBIpnyPhoSgtUa1go8YMgceiUXV92YB34pCZdBF0iSE0MdAaE7XRFpT97afmEUDrxwDBTCLjnM5gT2DyvkgcWPMncnwmxK3FkMpWxv-YDTM-g-s6-baCc4I/s1600/Chloe%2527s+Birthday+4+x+6+b+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Free Pattern" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUWuj8ScQzdra4xcOW7JIIBIpnyPhoSgtUa1go8YMgceiUXV92YB34pCZdBF0iSE0MdAaE7XRFpT97afmEUDrxwDBTCLjnM5gT2DyvkgcWPMncnwmxK3FkMpWxv-YDTM-g-s6-baCc4I/s400/Chloe%2527s+Birthday+4+x+6+b+1.jpg" title="Party Animal Raglan" width="266" /> See ya' later alligator.</a></div>
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<b>The legaleze:</b> I believe when you give you should give with both hands. What that means for you. If you want to share the file it would be nice if you sent people here to get it but you don't have to. If you want to change the file, change it. If you want to sell dozens or hundreds of size 10/12 raglan dresses be my guest. Enjoy!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-4055902203386503042016-03-07T08:08:00.000-08:002016-03-07T08:19:19.303-08:00A super party...with Printables!<div style="text-align: center;">
This weekend was my great nephew Jude's 5th birthday party.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigkK8o6vfFW-OJZJRM82jc1snf4aKUVrmgS7dux65sICmY82_bhfIuq0PiRzHlbLu_XKYzLCuDjHUBZFMM_EY3uu55IlUikdRz4FVECnHD4fi0Op3A4_i5CKu6pHrcOLOUJgDzqV4IwU/s1600/Jude+Ering.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigkK8o6vfFW-OJZJRM82jc1snf4aKUVrmgS7dux65sICmY82_bhfIuq0PiRzHlbLu_XKYzLCuDjHUBZFMM_EY3uu55IlUikdRz4FVECnHD4fi0Op3A4_i5CKu6pHrcOLOUJgDzqV4IwU/s400/Jude+Ering.png" width="322" /></a></div>
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And because 5 is kind of a big deal, His grandma and mom wanted to make it super for him. As in Super Hero and also as in super over the top.</div>
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Everyone dressed up as their favorite super hero and played tie up the villains (parents)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-NrzUt5qEgUvLjM5HwQK2fxgEZ3jmPd8hQ1RGSCFbMkfDRuygGC6gnHh_blgbqWm_LB02iL0UCxSiE_x6TixW8hpUjZhJ-jqaN5av8n87Mb5Th5bunV-XBqYVQy4QlaFUQreKqByaUI/s1600/Villain+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-NrzUt5qEgUvLjM5HwQK2fxgEZ3jmPd8hQ1RGSCFbMkfDRuygGC6gnHh_blgbqWm_LB02iL0UCxSiE_x6TixW8hpUjZhJ-jqaN5av8n87Mb5Th5bunV-XBqYVQy4QlaFUQreKqByaUI/s200/Villain+3.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6IBDmJVyaP5SQXEyHTsxHA-g0gbsjazsNTIqWgWDXPNSXnO-JfuydGZjxbwIzd5ofdm-3hxmjxfWkGA5oCPmCS6PsoYIbBwZEv4uWZZJBZF-fRIqpIRLyOSNxqabT9o0vANGW9tLlQY/s1600/Villain+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg6IBDmJVyaP5SQXEyHTsxHA-g0gbsjazsNTIqWgWDXPNSXnO-JfuydGZjxbwIzd5ofdm-3hxmjxfWkGA5oCPmCS6PsoYIbBwZEv4uWZZJBZF-fRIqpIRLyOSNxqabT9o0vANGW9tLlQY/s200/Villain+1.jpg" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5eSbJ2eppSw6goTXE6eWVBmyMekJCwrvqgbAqqfHLCvLbVzxJpJJsH62OjKA6WqHpNeNi9Dn3g-FYo-gehoUPNZuY7V7QQ7OQ-q12TqC1dUteNvdxnzj_6AH7_bPpYeOi21nHHvS5wg/s1600/Villain+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5eSbJ2eppSw6goTXE6eWVBmyMekJCwrvqgbAqqfHLCvLbVzxJpJJsH62OjKA6WqHpNeNi9Dn3g-FYo-gehoUPNZuY7V7QQ7OQ-q12TqC1dUteNvdxnzj_6AH7_bPpYeOi21nHHvS5wg/s200/Villain+2.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Enjoyed a spectacular cake courtesy of <a href="http://pieceofcakebakery.com/" target="_blank">Piece of Cake</a> and his Aunt Amanda.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmAxpJrLz79hdPli8b5EBD3iQ_x7AzfjShzJ6ELyCa-2p039WTR9Nmf6fuYOnX5NCywsfaFFyinxK7_HOZby4FT9AE7VAA52UY5FDOlmh4qYztpPdMNQSsu-4HKeXX9hh-1H_K_4UcCc/s1600/Cake.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmAxpJrLz79hdPli8b5EBD3iQ_x7AzfjShzJ6ELyCa-2p039WTR9Nmf6fuYOnX5NCywsfaFFyinxK7_HOZby4FT9AE7VAA52UY5FDOlmh4qYztpPdMNQSsu-4HKeXX9hh-1H_K_4UcCc/s640/Cake.png" width="640" /> </a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-jwknt3mKh-b8P95wLPwyHcoMNYnBXTbNG45r6QsORbmToQPX7ftSJliFeRWFNy65qUMx0rmSCHVh6lXYehvfn-K1O1dpawFhBIEPP4RtzcGxk0T9Q7Sv78D1nXD1UmGRk3pNPkHZBI/s1600/Jude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3-jwknt3mKh-b8P95wLPwyHcoMNYnBXTbNG45r6QsORbmToQPX7ftSJliFeRWFNy65qUMx0rmSCHVh6lXYehvfn-K1O1dpawFhBIEPP4RtzcGxk0T9Q7Sv78D1nXD1UmGRk3pNPkHZBI/s640/Jude.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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And had a general blast eating "hero" sandwiches, Thor's hammers and super cookies.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPozsXguGItKozhipx1_RynIQIdqjuwNEdK3XhHiTaCB5HQYPqNDTVL9N9Ug6Zy7fYnQrE_lgWncTgakPiq0DOX4gOUNwlOv9G3wKSIWfNL89xbWM014l31OtLWDvBNleWWNC1IcLtF8/s1600/Food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPozsXguGItKozhipx1_RynIQIdqjuwNEdK3XhHiTaCB5HQYPqNDTVL9N9Ug6Zy7fYnQrE_lgWncTgakPiq0DOX4gOUNwlOv9G3wKSIWfNL89xbWM014l31OtLWDvBNleWWNC1IcLtF8/s320/Food.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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We put a lot of work and thought into making this a truly super party.</div>
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My part was designing the invitations, printables and cutouts for the party.</div>
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I designed all the Pows, the banners and labels for sandwiches sand silverware. In the spirit of giving I'd like to share those printables with you. Free.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguveEOBdkqMG6AVwh2pAXmRmuoJK4lUfjyk-fFbnK5RewrVc3LvAJUqLqElzp7jWsLyHNPnb28rLmHFEHdDrmhlAqOX7A_iTeU-FCTDqSeeVUal-pngPF5KxCSDCbMrKmJoYbZJZsPF1w/s1600/Printables.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguveEOBdkqMG6AVwh2pAXmRmuoJK4lUfjyk-fFbnK5RewrVc3LvAJUqLqElzp7jWsLyHNPnb28rLmHFEHdDrmhlAqOX7A_iTeU-FCTDqSeeVUal-pngPF5KxCSDCbMrKmJoYbZJZsPF1w/s400/Printables.png" width="335" /></a></div>
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All of the files can be found here:</div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0BySm-w4keWQxNkIwQ1hWU3pWNkE" target="_blank">Super Hero Printables.</a></div>
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Because I believe that when you give, you should give with both hands, you are free to use these files in any manner you see fit. Share them, change them as you see fit. Whatever you like these are for you.<br />
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Also Scarlet Witch Costume!<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-18407128730472392582016-03-02T10:59:00.000-08:002016-03-03T10:59:56.644-08:00Eight is great... Today is the Wub's 8th birthday. Every year I look back wistfully at how much our sweet pie baby has grown. Each birthday takes her farther from that sweet tiny baby that she was and turns her toward the amazing kid that she's turning out to be.<br />
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At one you were fun, smiling and clapping, learning to walk and cheese for the camera.<br />
Two was not terrible, but merry and sweet with shiny red shoes on your cute little feet.<br />
Three was beast because you were our beauty and you know there's no such thing as a Gruffalo<br />
At four you keen to sing us Jolene and explain that you were not a "minja"<br />
Then five came along for our fierce "masketeer" and a sweet pixie haircut that showed off your ears.<br />
Six and in school brought you glasses to see and a party so fancy with cookies and tea<br />
Seven danced in and twirled us about with tutus and tap shoes dancing recitals<br />
Eight is upon us, what will it bring? No matter the journey, the places you go, I'm glad that we get to enjoy the show.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK9PyNN5RNlAfSDJ7XGYMDpWaut9eqmEvNjCvAhyphenhyphenV9_SEQbV4twPEMZDPdy-aEqXbboyQlRiDl7IYEXAmj784vlonB4dU0MfSDgHBJnmTiFzdKUQVCPCL0zJwAj7nDk-2-EgWR7rXhFc/s1600/Chloe%2527s+Birthday+f+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK9PyNN5RNlAfSDJ7XGYMDpWaut9eqmEvNjCvAhyphenhyphenV9_SEQbV4twPEMZDPdy-aEqXbboyQlRiDl7IYEXAmj784vlonB4dU0MfSDgHBJnmTiFzdKUQVCPCL0zJwAj7nDk-2-EgWR7rXhFc/s400/Chloe%2527s+Birthday+f+1.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ8Bc6MElxAqSwYZUukqnyna77ckgFhRRWg-2fuzJiXggDt871IvREdaVzLHLlkJ2JXc_U0pAYkjxzLHmDQuGIixn2YLBzfoIxJMUa1WjuVZUaytMtzuq2dAC6smX2rtf-AAs7eefrt8/s1600/Chloe%2527s+Birthday+h+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJ8Bc6MElxAqSwYZUukqnyna77ckgFhRRWg-2fuzJiXggDt871IvREdaVzLHLlkJ2JXc_U0pAYkjxzLHmDQuGIixn2YLBzfoIxJMUa1WjuVZUaytMtzuq2dAC6smX2rtf-AAs7eefrt8/s400/Chloe%2527s+Birthday+h+1.jpg" width="266" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-83481059511116178162016-03-01T09:26:00.000-08:002016-03-01T09:36:15.394-08:00The Other Birthday Dress...Yes, I made two. But Modern Jersey was on sale at Spoonflower and I'd been painting these pictures and I already had the fabric mostly designed and let's face it, who doesn't love a raglan dress?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsq0JkrUq2pEjovsVQ-SMGl5DT4vqKhXT54nuQoDEtQ0ubq37ffBA_v4m7JJaxXj8hGya-R8Nz0wu0GkotLSipXSv46V2lh5DbyxMuWKGezgISgDBiNQZZDgu7zsTPSernV8KJ0za1V54/s1600/Chloe%2527s+Birthday+h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsq0JkrUq2pEjovsVQ-SMGl5DT4vqKhXT54nuQoDEtQ0ubq37ffBA_v4m7JJaxXj8hGya-R8Nz0wu0GkotLSipXSv46V2lh5DbyxMuWKGezgISgDBiNQZZDgu7zsTPSernV8KJ0za1V54/s640/Chloe%2527s+Birthday+h.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
I drafted the dress myself using one of her school uniform for size/shape and modifying it for the raglan sleeve. I used this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxCBmxoJKdk" target="_blank">tutorial</a> to get the sleeve right. <br />
The <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/designs/5081704-party-animals-multi-by-plucksduck?view=for_sale" target="_blank">fabric</a> was designed specifically for this type of dress and sized specifically for one yard of Modern Jersey from Spoonflower.com.<br />
The dress is switchable from front to back because Wub liked panels. Maybe the alligator a little more. The bottom hem is a lettuce edge in rainbow thread.<br />
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See ya' later, alligator!</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-38880405550192011102016-03-01T08:28:00.003-08:002016-03-01T08:39:51.672-08:00The Birthday Dress<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfHTi8JhkJGMdYuYXTO0K0ggoPNn0AHNLi2y_TIVVfTFYVpx7kpz0_9UEFXc8b_QEMeCZTJzCkTYlRXF0jLJXE65V7-YO7fhZcQ860sngirK9Qm85bOdYwih60RdNx3V6HFIWI20qHdU/s1600/Chloe%2527s+Birthday+4+x+6+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpfHTi8JhkJGMdYuYXTO0K0ggoPNn0AHNLi2y_TIVVfTFYVpx7kpz0_9UEFXc8b_QEMeCZTJzCkTYlRXF0jLJXE65V7-YO7fhZcQ860sngirK9Qm85bOdYwih60RdNx3V6HFIWI20qHdU/s400/Chloe%2527s+Birthday+4+x+6+a.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
I used The <a href="http://www.welcometothemousehouse.com/product/norah-dress-and-tunic">Norah Dress and Tunic Pattern</a> by <a href="http://www.welcometothemousehouse.com/">Mouse House Creations</a> with a few modifications (Primarily because I had printed the pattern piece and not the instructions and then could not figure out which computer I had stored the original file.)<br />
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The bodice is unlined and I did a bias bound neckline instead.<br />
I added an exposed zipper at the back instead of the button and loop closure.<br />
I left the hem straight to show off the border print fabric which gave the dress a handkerchief style hem.<br />
I embroidered the collar, hem and sleeves. The collar also has celebrate embroidered on it.<br />
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It was a fairly easy sew (even without instructions) and I want to make her a few more as I love this silhouette on her. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-90154944377638177612016-01-03T17:02:00.001-08:002016-01-03T17:07:44.960-08:00Chicken, Leek and Potato Soup in honor of my fatherMy dad used to make this incredibly delicious soup. Every pot was delightful, magical and soul satisfying. Tender shreds of chicken, soft potatoes and delicate leeks floating in a fantastically scented, slightly creamy broth.<br />
<br />
There are a few foods that I think of as belonging to Dad. Barbecue and especially the sauce, chili, boiled dinner and spaghetti sauce that took three days to make. I can oven roast some damn fine meat, fake a sauce that doesn't compare to his but is still good, make pretty darn good chili and my spaghetti sauce is awesome even if it doesn't take three days to make.<br />
<br />
I've made the soup the way my dad did for years. Although I am always willing to explore new flavors and recipes, there are some foods that are hard wired in my brain. The way they are is the way they are and you just don't mess with them.<br />
<br />
But one of the ingredients for the soup became increasingly difficult to find. I could never find it when I wanted it and when I did find it it was usually mid July and soup was not at all what I was craving.<br />
<br />
So one winter day I became desperate enough to commit traditional recipe heresy. See, the secret to my dad's soup was <a href="http://www.knorr.com/product/detail/246079/leek">Knorr Leek Soup Mix</a>. Three stores and no luck so I just bought 3 large leeks and decided to fake it. (ha ha I faked the fake stuff)<br />
<br />
<i>By the way it is considerably easier to find Knorr Leek Soup these days thanks to the interweb but I tend to stick to my newfangled version.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Chicken Leek and Potato Soup </b><br />
<br />
3 large leeks, cleaned and diced<br />
1 small onion finely diced<br />
2 medium carrots finely diced<br />
2 ribs celery finely diced<br />
4 oz button mushrooms finely diced<br />
3 Tablespoons butter<br />
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil<br />
Large sprig of fresh rosemary or 1 1/2 teaspoon dried <br />
Salt and Pepper to taste<br />
3 quarts of chicken stock*<br />
*This can be homemade, or made by boiling a chicken, seasoned with salt and pepper in 3 quarts of water reserve the chicken for the soup, or canned or boxed low sodium chicken broth.<br />
1 6 oz chicken breast boned or deboned (unless boiling a whole chicken to start)<br />
2-3 or 4 or 5 or 12 pounds potatoes, scrubbed and cut into large cubes. Honestly, there never seems to be enough (You can peel them if you like, my dad did, but I am lazy and like the skins)<br />
4 cups whole milk or 3 1/2 cups skim milk and 1/2 cup cream.<br />
8 oz sour cream <br />
<br />
In a large pot, over medium heat, sweat the vegetables with the rosemary in the butter and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.<br />
<br />
Add the chicken broth, and chicken breast, bring to a boil, turn down heat and simmer 15-20 minutes. Remove chicken and set aside to cool.<br />
<br />
Add the potatoes to the pot with a generous amount of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes until potatoes are tender.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile, shred (and debone if on the bone) chicken breast. When the potatoes are tender add the chicken to the pot. Test for seasoning and adjust to taste.<br />
<br />
Slowly whisk in the milk and sour cream and bring up to temperature. Do not boil.<br />
<br />
Serve in large bowls with a spoon. You can have other stuff like bread and/or a salad too if you like.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-87284305123257930922016-01-03T06:44:00.000-08:002016-01-03T10:49:42.198-08:00Mimosa Jam or three trips to the store later... I'm not sure if it's obvious, but I REALLY like making jam. I love pretty much the whole process from picking out the fruit to giving it away to my family and friends and all the steps between.<br />
<br />
This particular adventure came about because at Christmas time Rowen couldn't find any store bought Mimosa Jam for Baked Brie. I was too tired/busy then to attempt it but thought while I'm on vacation...<br />
<br />
So on Friday I sent MHM to the store for a bottle of inexpensive champagne only to realise our debit card was not working. Fine. Saturday after going to see Star Wars The Force Awakens (sooooooooooo good!) we stopped off at another store and picked up a bottle of Roget Spumante. Alright! now we're cooki...damn. No low sugar pectin. MHM ran off to yet another store and bought me a jar of it. (And yes, I make so much jam we buy it in the big jar.)<br />
<br />
By this time, I wasn't feeling so super. My legs were giving me fits so I decided to have a bit of a lie down. I finally have a diagnosis for all the problems I had at the end of the year last year, Erythema Nodosum. which is inflammation of the fatty layer of the skin. Not as scary as some other choices I had for diagnosis (Lupus) but slower to heal than I want.<br />
<br />
So this morning...<br />
<br />
<b>Mimosa Jam</b><br />
2 oranges peeled, reserve the peel from 1 of the oranges.<br />
4 1/2 cups of orange juice preferably not from concentrate. (I would not bother with fresh squeezed since you are going to cook it.)<br />
2 cups of inexpensive sparkling wine<br />
3 cups of sugar<br />
1/4 teaspoon salt<br />
1/2 teaspoon butter <br />
2 Tablespoons sugar <br />
4 Tablespoons Low Sugar Pectin.<br />
<br />
Set up for however you wish to store the jam. I use small plastic containers. You can preserve it in jars if you wish. <br />
<br />
Mix the 2 Tablespoons of sugar with the 4 Tablespoons of pectin and set aside.<br />
<br />
Using a spoon, scrape off all of the white pith from the orange peel.
Then slice into fine slivers. Place the oranges in the blender with 1
cup of the juice and process briefly. We're going for seriously pulpy
orange juice here.<br />
<br />
Pour the orange mixture into a large wide pan add the remaining juice,
sparkling wine, peel, sugar, salt and butter. Bring to a boil over
medium high heat and cook for 7 minutes. Watch carefully as this really
liked to boil over. Towards the end of the cooking time begin skimming
the foam from the top. You can discard it or save it to top ice cream,
yogurt, pancakes etc. Or mix with ice and soda water to make the<a href="http://futurejackorchloe.blogspot.com/2015/06/pineapple-galangal-kinda-like-ginger.html"> best fruit soda EVER.</a><br />
<br />
Stir in the sugar/pectin mixture. Return to a boil and cook for two minutes. Process how you see fit.<br />
<br />
<br />
Oh my yum...<br />
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Although I think I may make a slightly different version with more orange pulp and peel because I have all the ingredients, so why not?. I'll let you know.<br />
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<b>*****Update*****</b></div>
<i>This is more like marmalade... </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<b>Mimosa Marmalade or...Marmosa?</b><i></i><br />
<br />
4 oranges peeled, reserve the peel from 3 of the oranges.*<br />
1 1/2
cups of orange juice preferably not from concentrate. Plus more maybe a further 1 1/2 cups<br />
2 cups of inexpensive sparkling wine<br />
3 cups of sugar<br />
1/4 teaspoon salt<br />
1/2 teaspoon butter <br />
2 Tablespoons sugar <br />
4 Tablespoons Low Sugar Pectin<br />
<br />
<br />
Set up for however you wish to store the jam. I use small plastic containers. You can preserve it in jars if you wish. <br />
<br />
Mix the 2 Tablespoons of sugar with the 4 Tablespoons of pectin and set aside.<br />
<br />
Using
a spoon, scrape off all of the white pith from the orange peel. Then
slice into fine slivers.<i> *Why did I use three instead of all four? I got tired of scraping pith.</i><br />
<br />
Place the oranges in the blender with 1 cup of
the juice and process briefly. We're going for seriously pulpy and slightly chunky orange
juice here.<br />
<i></i><br />
<br />
Pour the orange mixture into a large wide
pan add the remaining juice, sparkling wine, peel, sugar, salt and
butter. Bring to a boil over medium high heat and cook for 7 minutes.<i>
For some reason this version did not try to boil over and there was absolutely no foam. I think I may have forgotten to add the butter to the first batch of jam. </i><br />
<br />
Stir in the sugar/pectin mixture. Return to a boil and cook for two minutes. Process how you see fit.<br />
<br />
Eat on toast. <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-82821959385577508332015-10-23T18:48:00.000-07:002015-10-23T18:48:15.180-07:00Book It Day or a butterfly emerges from it's cocoon. Which is symbolic of hope and maybe some kind of metaphor for triumph in the face of adversity. So I've been in the hospital. For a week. This is actually the second time I've been hospitalized in three weeks. But I've been ill. For about three months. Not "I'm a dumbass because I won't go to the doctor so now things are serious." kind of ill but, several tips to urgent care/emergency room, scary antibiotics, ill.<br />
<br />
There is nothing like lying flat on your back for days on end, with iv antibiotics running through the central line they jacked into your neck, to help you realize that you are a complete loser for not finishing your daughter's Book It Day costume.<br />
<br />
If you are unfamiliar with the Book It Program, it is an incentive program sponsored by Pizza Hut that encourages children to read. Our school takes it completely seriously, asking the kids to dress up like their favorite characters from books and having a parade in the gymnasium.<br />
<br />
This year we had a theme: Eric Carle. And although I like Eric Carle's books, he is not one of our favorite, favorites. I do however really love the beauty of his artwork. So when Wub said she wanted to be the Butterfly from The Very Hungry Caterpillar I decided I was going to make her a long tunic style dress with huge butterfly wing sleeves. I was then going to airbrush the dress to mimic Mr. Carle's gorgeous artwork.<br />
<br />
Best laid plans....<br />
<br />
But I had to do something. It was so hard on Wub and MHM worrying about me while trying to keep everything just turning over at home. MHM would get up in the morning, get Wub ready for school, head to school and work, pick up Wub from the sitter, grab something to eat and head to the hospital until it was time to go home and get some sleep. At some point he also picked up an upper respiratory infection so that was nice. She was such a trooper, I couldn't let her miss out on the fun of Book It Day too.<br />
<br />
So I sent him to the Dollar Tree to pick up poster board, green duct tape, colored pipe cleaners, and red sock hat. With crayons and a few supplies from home we got started.<br />
<br />
Using the book as a guide I cut out two wing shapes from the poster board. Then I lightly traced the major areas of the wings. Then we colored and colored and colored some more. It took the best part of three evenings and most of one very long day to color both wings (front and back). To be honest, it probably would have taken less time if we hadn't been using a hospital floor and tray table respectively to color on. Also if I had been slightly less doped up.<br />
<br />
After finishing the wings we used the green duct tape to join them together. Four elastic loops were held in place with clear strapping tape and we had ourselves a pretty rockin' pair of butterfly wings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizX3o4bAEYyqOekLtXIf9HcKvw9cKOdu5gMJ38dXhXJixoXr8njkcLRBlH5CBntG_HEMjkBThjqUvleGfS5fLy_2m6U70GC11tmxz6XTSr7AD_HcdXBVydicG55qYY-E13N5vFIyz53Jg/s1600/12119106_10153763172589887_8010547873856470982_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizX3o4bAEYyqOekLtXIf9HcKvw9cKOdu5gMJ38dXhXJixoXr8njkcLRBlH5CBntG_HEMjkBThjqUvleGfS5fLy_2m6U70GC11tmxz6XTSr7AD_HcdXBVydicG55qYY-E13N5vFIyz53Jg/s320/12119106_10153763172589887_8010547873856470982_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOgtyzqLGCoIM1gDiJ_FnpqYSxWeks8KTgRJ3LwL4adZMfj6UNqhTdbChi7f86OIKn0waAYgh6F7HPygj44FF3wqi6VCScVmb7sCpBwgrLfs-ot4zDdMbhkeOhAMZs6s4vpPS8TUQfYE/s1600/12143106_10153763172074887_8492776909797454621_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEOgtyzqLGCoIM1gDiJ_FnpqYSxWeks8KTgRJ3LwL4adZMfj6UNqhTdbChi7f86OIKn0waAYgh6F7HPygj44FF3wqi6VCScVmb7sCpBwgrLfs-ot4zDdMbhkeOhAMZs6s4vpPS8TUQfYE/s320/12143106_10153763172074887_8492776909797454621_n.jpg" width="240" /></a>The head was made by lightly, tack stitching a circle of green foam on top of a circle of yellow foam to the hat brim and repeating on the other side. We then threaded a green pipe cleaner through the top of the hat, centered it making each side equal length. Then curled each side around a pen to form the antennae. I think she made a pretty adorable butterfly.<br />
<br />
It definitely distracted us for awhile from scary allergic reactions to antibiotics and scary words like Lupus. They still are not sure what is wrong with me. Pathology points to an infection but it also points to an autoimmune disease such as Lupus. I hope that is not what it is. I won't know the answers for a while because the rheumatologist doesn't have any openings until May. No matter what the outcome. I will make do.<br />
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Hell, I hope that I can do better than make do and that I can make a butterfly.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-42654538689863067542015-10-05T05:14:00.000-07:002015-10-07T08:10:39.816-07:00These Bars are Bananas, B*A*N*A*N*A*S Fosters...The next logical step from<a href="http://futurejackorchloe.blogspot.com/2015/10/caramel-apple-bars-cause-its-fall-yall.html"> Caramel Apple Bar</a> is obviously a <b>Bananas Foster Bar, </b>right?<br />
Flaky shortbread topped with creamy, rummy, roasty bananas and sprinkle of crisp, nutty streusel. So yum, you gotta get you some. <br />
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<b>Shortbread Base</b><br />
1/2 cup rolled oats<br />
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour<br />
1/2 cup sugar<br />
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted<br />
1 tsp vanilla extract<br />
3/4 tsp salt<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly butter a 9x13 baking pan.<br />
<br />
In a blender or food processor grind the oats into a fine(ish) flour. In a bowl mix the oats, flour, sugar, salt, vanilla and butter together to form a dough. Press into the bottom of a prepared 9x13 pan. Bake for 15 minutes.<br />
<br />
In the meantime prepare:<br />
<br />
<b>Banana Filling</b><br />
4 ripe bananas,thinly sliced. <br />
1 can sweetened condensed milk<br />
1/2 cup packed brown sugar<br />
1/4 cup rum <br />
3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted<br />
1/2 teaspoon salt.<br />
<br />
Mix the milk, brown sugar, rum, butter and salt together, stir in the sliced bananas and pour mixture over the partially baked crust. <br />
<br />
Sprinkle evenly with:<br />
<br />
<b>Streusel Topping</b><br />
1/4 cup rolled oats<br />
1/4 cup all purpose flour<br />
1/4 cup chopped walnuts<br />
3 Tablesp0ons packed brown sugar<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
1 Tablespoon cold, unsalted butter cut into small cubes.<br />
<br />
Mix all ingredients together using a pastry blender fork until butter is thoroughly distributed. Sprinkle mixture over apple filling. Return pan to oven and continue baking for 45-55 minutes until streusel is crisped and brown<br />
<br />
Allow to cool and cut into 16-20 squares.<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-65363515611040161262015-10-02T05:07:00.003-07:002015-10-02T05:09:21.419-07:00Caramel Apple Bars 'cause it's Fall Y'all!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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There is something about the first few days of Autumn that cause an almost uncontrollable urge to eat apples. I know for some people Fall is the time of pumpkin spice but for me the sweet, crisp tang of the new apple crop is infinitely more appealing.<br />
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These bars have a crisp, buttery shortbread base topped off with a caramel, creamy apple filling finished with a layer of crumbly streussel. Oh my!<br />
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They are amazing still warm from the oven but if you have the patience to wait until they've fully cooled you will be rewarded. The crust will firm up giving the bars a good crunch and the caramel apple filling will mellow and set.<br />
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<b>Shortbread Base</b><br />
1/2 cup rolled oats<br />
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour<br />
1/2 cup sugar<br />
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted<br />
1 tsp vanilla extract<br />
3/4 tsp salt<br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 350. Lightl butter a 9x13 baking pan.<br />
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In a blender or food processor grind the oats into a fine(ish) flour. In a bowl mix the oats, flour, sugar, salt, vanilla and butter together to form a dough. Press into the bottom of a prepared 9x13 pan. Bake for 15 minutes.<br />
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In the meantime prepare:<br />
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<b>Caramel Apple Filling</b><br />
2 peeled, sliced into wedges and thinly sliced. (I used 1 Granny Smith and 1 Pink Lady)<br />
1 can sweetened condensed milk<br />
1/2 cup packed brown sugar<br />
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted<br />
1/2 teaspoon salt.<br />
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Mix the milk, brown sugar, butter and salt together, stir in the sliced apples and pour mixture over the partially baked crust. <br />
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Sprinkle evenly with:<br />
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<b>Streussel Topping</b><br />
1/2 cup rolled oats<br />
1/2 cup all purpose flour<br />
1/2 cup chopped walnuts<br />
1/3 cup packed brown sugar<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
2 Tablespoons cold, unsalted butter cut into small cubes.<br />
<br />
Mix all ingredients together using a pastry blender fork until butter is thoroughly distributed. Sprinkle mixture over apple filling. Return pan to oven and continue baking for 45-55 minutes until streussel is crisped and brown<br />
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Allow to cool and cut into 16-20 squares.<br />
Take an artfully arranged picture and then nom, nom, nom!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-25539864247459945442015-07-16T20:17:00.001-07:002015-07-16T20:19:36.626-07:00Blueberry Orange Jam<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJufSSCVOidWRIkTSeIF5OxQHMYy5-suZwtnkIiE3xLIPaoImkvOLhBrBnB-zkO1cqWec7duGVYucFmCuRtWNe6EhMPzS8uHWRav4ZYAwE5V-_I73ZlOozUrjYOSj0OX1zIhE3MrduCs/s1600/Blueberry+Orange+Jam+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJufSSCVOidWRIkTSeIF5OxQHMYy5-suZwtnkIiE3xLIPaoImkvOLhBrBnB-zkO1cqWec7duGVYucFmCuRtWNe6EhMPzS8uHWRav4ZYAwE5V-_I73ZlOozUrjYOSj0OX1zIhE3MrduCs/s320/Blueberry+Orange+Jam+%25282%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
3 Large Navel Oranges Zested, then peeled and roughly chopped<br />
30 0z of fresh blueberries<br />
Juice of half a lemon<br />
5 cups of sugar<br />
1/4 teaspoon salt<br />
4 tablespoons low sugar pectin combined with<br />
1/2 cup sugar<br />
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In a large, wide saucepan combine orange zest, chopped oranges, the blueberries, 5 cups of sugar and the salt. <br />
Bring to a rolling boil over high heat then turn down to medium and let high simmer for 10 minutes. Stir frequently as it simmers mashing the blueberiies against the side of the pan to break them up. <br />
Once the beries are broken down and the jam is slightly thickened, turn the heat back up to high and bring everything to a rolling boil. Stir in the sugar/pectin mixture and bring back to a boil for 1 minute. <br />
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Remove from heat and ladle into clean containers of your choice. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-83272458141118732432015-06-15T04:56:00.003-07:002015-06-15T04:58:09.380-07:00Pineapple Galangal (kinda like ginger) and Vanilla Jam<br />
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2 whole pineapples peeled cored and cut into chunks<br />
4 cups sugar<br />
Juice and zest from 1 large lemon<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> 1 vanilla bean<br /> 1 inch chunk of galangal or ginger root<br /> pinch salt<br /> 1/2 cup sugar<br /> 3 tablespoons low sugar pectin</span><br />
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In a large non-reactive (glass, ceramic or stainless steel) bow mix
together the pineapple chunks and 1/2 cup of sugar. Mix together and
allow to sit at room temperature several hours or in the refrigerator
overnight. <br />
(Alternatively you can mix all 4 cups of the sugar in and allow to macerate in the fridge for up to five days.) <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoPAzDMbweMtgAo_gUIAk-cbZ_wxFeJKuPjBPlkuY6yaxwM7dOnQTuFPHY7nBGI1x-H5Bva7Eu6dus_fbtQgkhhoqxdl_raynZiO5ne-LzkLui43p5LSyNwm7KRN0WLt4nMJVEP-d_oE/s1600/Pineapple+Galangel+%2528kinda+like+ginger%2529+and+Vanilla+Jam+%25287%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoPAzDMbweMtgAo_gUIAk-cbZ_wxFeJKuPjBPlkuY6yaxwM7dOnQTuFPHY7nBGI1x-H5Bva7Eu6dus_fbtQgkhhoqxdl_raynZiO5ne-LzkLui43p5LSyNwm7KRN0WLt4nMJVEP-d_oE/s320/Pineapple+Galangel+%2528kinda+like+ginger%2529+and+Vanilla+Jam+%25287%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>
In a blender or food processor puree half of the pineapple with the
vanilla bean and the galangal until the vanilla pod is thoroughly broken
down. Pour into a wide shallow pan. Repeat the puree process with the
other half of the pineapple. You can leave this half slightly chunky if
you like. Pour into a wide shallow pan. Add the remaining 3 1/2 cups of
sugar (Unless you did the fridge with all the sugar for a few days
thing.) the juice and zest from a large lemon and a pinch of salt. Bring
to a boil over high high heat. <br />
Continue boiling for 8-12 minutes until mixture is thickened and pineapple is tender. Skim off any foam that rises to the top.*<br />
Combine the half cup of sugar with the 3 tablespoons of low sugar
pectin. It is important to use low sugar pectin in this recipe. There is
not enough sugar in the recipe for regular pectin to work. Stir into
the boiling pineapple mix and allow to cook 1-2 minutes more. <br />
Remove from heat and place in containers of your choice. <br />
I really do prefer the plastic ones to canning jars because I give
away most of my jam. But this recipe is just fine for hot water canning
or flip over canning.<br />
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*So I've skimmed off the foam should I just throw it away?<br />
You can just toss it...However you can also:<br />
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Mix it with 2 cups of whipped cream or a can of coconut milk and freeze it for Fruity Ice Cream.<br />
<br />
Same as above but in popsicle molds.<br />
<br />
Mix it into a complimentary juice maybe add a dash of adult beverage for a refreshing mocktail or cocktail. <br />
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Use it as a topping for sundaes or waffles or pancakes.<br />
<br />
Mix a 1/4 cup of it (or to taste) with ice and 12 ounces of seltzer water for the best fruit soda you'll ever have.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-66386026056630786892015-06-14T12:55:00.000-07:002015-06-15T04:36:30.570-07:00Strawberry Vanilla and Lemon Jam (with or without Rose)4 lbs of strawberries, trimmed, hulled and cut in half. This will be about 3 1/4 pounds after prep.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMmaZTi51VyuCivkshjOuFKSzAWJPSiX1-y0-2EpcwViAafO7cu_CMq1LnScGgk90jzXy03pdMS6-BukEUw8s_OvpfldJr-TxH5BNmWfX_9WkgZChzH_EKWhi3YND6TtT3rrQp3SM6TM/s1600/Strawberry+Vanilla+and+Lemon+Jam+%2528with+or+without+Rose%2529+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidMmaZTi51VyuCivkshjOuFKSzAWJPSiX1-y0-2EpcwViAafO7cu_CMq1LnScGgk90jzXy03pdMS6-BukEUw8s_OvpfldJr-TxH5BNmWfX_9WkgZChzH_EKWhi3YND6TtT3rrQp3SM6TM/s320/Strawberry+Vanilla+and+Lemon+Jam+%2528with+or+without+Rose%2529+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>2 large lemons, zested and juiced<br />
1 vanilla bean split and seeds scraped out<br />
3 cups sugar<br />
****************<br />
pinch salt<br />
1/2 cup sugar<br />
3 tablespoons low sugar pectin*<br />
1 tsp rose water, optional<br />
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For best results plan ahead 3-5 days. Can be made the day of but the jam will be significantly more flavorful and have a better texture if you can macerate the berries for a few days.<br />
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Mix the first four ingredients in a large nonreactive bowl (stainless steel, glass or ceramic) stirring to combine well. Let macerate covered at room temperature for several hours or cover and refrigerate for up to 5 days. <br />
<br />
Mix together the half cup of sugar and three tablespoons of low sugar pectin. It is important to use the low sugar type in this recipe. It will not set otherwise.<span id="goog_57662753"></span><span id="goog_57662754"></span><br />
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Option 1) Berries suspended in Strawberry Jelly: Place the macerated berries minus the vanilla pod in a large shallow pan with a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over high heat then cook on high for 8-10 minutes until berries are softened and the juices have thickened. Skim off any foam that rises to the top.<br />
<br />
Option 2) Jammier Jam: Place half of the berries and the vanilla pod in a blender or food processor and puree. Pour into a large shallow pan with a pinch of salt. Use the juices from the strawberries to help "rinse" the blender out and into the pan. Add the remaining berries and juice. Bring to a boil over high heat then cook on high for 4-6 minutes until berries are softened and the juices have thickened. Skim off any foam that rises to the top.<br />
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For either option: Stir in the pectin/sugar mix and continue to boil for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in Rose Water if you are using it. Can or container as you see fit.<span id="goog_57662751"></span><span id="goog_57662752"></span><br />
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I like plastic containers. One because I can give them away and not regret the loss of a canning jar. Two because I can literally be done with a batch of jam (after prep/maceration time) in less than half an hour. If you use plastic containers and you want to store them they must be refrigerated for up to three months or frozen if you want to keep them longer.<br />
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<span id="goog_57662744"></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-29823436467488262902015-06-07T13:33:00.001-07:002015-06-07T13:38:49.198-07:00Hot jamn!J<b>alalujah! Jalapeno Jam WIP</b><br />
<br />
1 large red bell pepper seeded and diced fine<br />
12 large green jalapenos* tops removed and cut in half<br />
1 small onion finely diced<br />
2 large clove of garlic minced<span class="text_exposed_show"><br /> 1 1/2 cups apple cider vinegar<br /> 3 cups of sugar<br /> 1 1/2 tsp salt<br /> 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper<br /> 1 teaspoon butter</span><br />
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar<br />
2 tablespoons sugar<br />
3 tablespoons low sugar pectin<br />
<br />
*You can either seed and demembrane all, some or none of the
jalapenos. I advise taking a thin slice from the top of the pepper to
get a rough idea of heat. Mine were pretty spicy so I deseeded half of
them. You can also reserve the seeds and once everything is combined and
cooked together for a bit if you feel it isn't as spicy as you want you
can chop it fine and toss some in.<br />
<br />
Place 8 of the jalapenos
and 1 cup of the vinegar in a blender or food processor and puree. Set
aside for a minute or two. Do not open the top as the jalapeno pepper
and vinegar fumes can really do a number on your eyes and lungs.<br />
<br />
Cut the remaining 4 jalapenos into fine dice.<br />
<br />
In a large shallow pot combine the red pepper, diced jalapeno. onion,
garlic, salt, pepper and butter. Carefully pour the jalapeno pepper and
vinegar mixture into the pan. Use the remaining half cup of vinegar to
swish out any remaining jalapeno pulp from the blender and pour into the
pan. Add three cups of sugar and stir to combine. <br />
<br />
Bring to a
boil over high heat skimming off and discarding any foam that comes to
the top. Once the mixture reaches the boil set a timer and boil
(watching carefully) for 10 minutes. (This is the stage you could add
more of the reserved jalapeno seeds if you felt it needed more heat.)<br />
<br />
In the meantime mix together the 2 tablespoons of sugar and the 3
tablespoon of low sugar pectin together in a small dish and set aside.
It is important to use Low Sugar Pectin otherwise the jam will not fully
set.)<br />
Once the mixture has boiled for 10 minutes stir in the
1/4 cup of vinegar and the sugar/pectin mixture. Boil for 1-2 minutes
more. <br />
<br />
At this point you can use your favorite canning method to
preserve it. Or like me you can let it cool just slightly and divide it
into small plastic containers. That way you can give it away and not
feel wistful at the loss of of your semi expensive canning jars. As we
all know almost no one ever returns those things no matter how much you
promise to refill them with more home made jam. <br />
<br />
This will be better as the flavors meld so if you can wait a day or two good on you. If you can't, well I understand.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-69897776360690729272015-05-09T00:00:00.000-07:002015-05-09T22:55:49.528-07:00Warning: This is a Mother's Day Post and it will probably make you cry...sorry My mother used to say "I miss your face." You'd call and if she hadn't seen you in awhile "Come see me, I miss your face." or you'd stop by and it would be "Where ya' been? I missed your face."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARKNoLD1nbQ14PBkocGx475O0vSdmOtFB6lXtJxzO7WIud33gIX4oRXmtWkXyUXX5FOBj2Pzl4Un8fA1eXrjjczJ9K2Wh5M7O5RjVlFLrd0Py9MtHqrld9w1DynwBZT5r9a3N8ATn9A8/s1600/24835_106495842723820_1229519_n.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiARKNoLD1nbQ14PBkocGx475O0vSdmOtFB6lXtJxzO7WIud33gIX4oRXmtWkXyUXX5FOBj2Pzl4Un8fA1eXrjjczJ9K2Wh5M7O5RjVlFLrd0Py9MtHqrld9w1DynwBZT5r9a3N8ATn9A8/s320/24835_106495842723820_1229519_n.jpg" width="212" /></a><br />
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Thing is, I don't miss Mom's face. If I want to see Mom's face it's everywhere. I can look at pictures of her when she was young, freshly married and impossibly beautiful like a glamorous movie star.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsg8uU7bj6FUA9H3zW3832-jLuoy8d8Dysveze9onYLX7e5LIdKu5eeNFzzx4yVrmwAKmnkwU91PAbU66Ew6Yx-yjoMkgmHIU3KeYMQQZfRTcvMTLixtMmUdWVaPviZrpH8Ir6I5stMc8/s1600/Wedding+day+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EFHU2HQDfNC_zDM2qK3tDqYVm7Dqd0hysghuJItcMW7NMnSx-CrKjp23rzjXT3iWm0xNQAW3Ay9cjJ6EqPQ7UERJl69th6zTkCci_HMyrOvBGguuTd5qfPUam7W7xTGXu-_9-__FR_g/s1600/Wedding+Day.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTPDi7M92khhpRfzrsxXaD2JHEGUsDwO4DOD2siySHYGKMYB6-4RvOJZMhaIdrnfaKZs3UhmcuitlkVFe27ZuuB9ZFafeicVNYxyhsI1PPM28vsP8X-djmm8DH64hyR048QDAf12AwhlQ/s1600/Like+Lora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6EFHU2HQDfNC_zDM2qK3tDqYVm7Dqd0hysghuJItcMW7NMnSx-CrKjp23rzjXT3iWm0xNQAW3Ay9cjJ6EqPQ7UERJl69th6zTkCci_HMyrOvBGguuTd5qfPUam7W7xTGXu-_9-__FR_g/s320/Wedding+Day.jpg" width="308" /><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsg8uU7bj6FUA9H3zW3832-jLuoy8d8Dysveze9onYLX7e5LIdKu5eeNFzzx4yVrmwAKmnkwU91PAbU66Ew6Yx-yjoMkgmHIU3KeYMQQZfRTcvMTLixtMmUdWVaPviZrpH8Ir6I5stMc8/s320/Wedding+day+2.jpg" width="240" /><br />
Or when she was in the prime of motherhood, hair tied back in a bandana surrounded by a passel of kids but still ridiculously stunning.<br />
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I've got pictures of her in her thirties surrounded by her sisters, laughing and carrying on.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFbGxEiMCDZR1MS8j54Lc5usvjuO8Rq8rhJMWWcjQY_HSwkKd5RGY7V3UvbkDHOmlzT-_nyWaEUBwjf3Zq__4w9b_V2yAoRMhxxQzWiiknoX_678bK8yFiJGG5rLYshg49NQSCU_TPQU/s1600/24835_106495886057149_1829758_n.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIFbGxEiMCDZR1MS8j54Lc5usvjuO8Rq8rhJMWWcjQY_HSwkKd5RGY7V3UvbkDHOmlzT-_nyWaEUBwjf3Zq__4w9b_V2yAoRMhxxQzWiiknoX_678bK8yFiJGG5rLYshg49NQSCU_TPQU/s320/24835_106495886057149_1829758_n.jpg" width="281" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYlaf7VOy6fYP3QMkuHnjUeVpMF0EvJCgoHN34seSG5soIxRiDFf2f_vK3Qxez1wrDXhzQGDRbxDcvBoxgYkF2S1JGhYr8NL33GMX1k8xx0xBffiTsDLxpGRIAIPr0bZBh6klznLui60/s1600/Slap.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDYlaf7VOy6fYP3QMkuHnjUeVpMF0EvJCgoHN34seSG5soIxRiDFf2f_vK3Qxez1wrDXhzQGDRbxDcvBoxgYkF2S1JGhYr8NL33GMX1k8xx0xBffiTsDLxpGRIAIPr0bZBh6klznLui60/s320/Slap.jpg" width="320" /></a>Elegant shots of her at inaugurations and galas and weddings and charity events. Pictures of her as a kid, with the kids, at home and in hospitals. Shots from holidays and of course too many pictures of her in that bedroom.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80TVuoRT1jVURv8CR4_vAFZHYCE_3e4Z7R8Zqm9asM4DC0ys3BGaPUPOPfE39KK-UB2RD-o_CcHvWlAjK2EYESKFHcM4nmA0H7kCwyzvwbxtJSU1ykqqmUk7VB1hVfW1hXFh7pRwEM-k/s1600/34086_412689954886_3410407_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg80TVuoRT1jVURv8CR4_vAFZHYCE_3e4Z7R8Zqm9asM4DC0ys3BGaPUPOPfE39KK-UB2RD-o_CcHvWlAjK2EYESKFHcM4nmA0H7kCwyzvwbxtJSU1ykqqmUk7VB1hVfW1hXFh7pRwEM-k/s320/34086_412689954886_3410407_n.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwRA1rpNEA1KFer5RnCVCo-M9P3EsFdA-QXc4t5QTiq9o1bQK6sFI2jY8IpyRaoXc6cCgHNTelL-XlYkMk1FZ4GG6_MOy6mIrSW20JoZuRL3LsX9Hd9lG_9g5oNoiqVdVKPuRHRawP4U/s1600/10425524_803154803056693_5525767215874910214_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwRA1rpNEA1KFer5RnCVCo-M9P3EsFdA-QXc4t5QTiq9o1bQK6sFI2jY8IpyRaoXc6cCgHNTelL-XlYkMk1FZ4GG6_MOy6mIrSW20JoZuRL3LsX9Hd9lG_9g5oNoiqVdVKPuRHRawP4U/s320/10425524_803154803056693_5525767215874910214_n.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7xA7bzOqJmuMsl1D9ezGW6qCaNS-WLBqeVTNVf1IO82Gk-annGW-UL-s5CXtlSqtqd7t5kM3MaaygLbXoA874tw_pABWwgHNfEevfVGUxYPdkRkOTmJdDO9tj2cQu_BOJZ5b4-Re36A/s1600/313429_272078776158182_680391598_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc7xA7bzOqJmuMsl1D9ezGW6qCaNS-WLBqeVTNVf1IO82Gk-annGW-UL-s5CXtlSqtqd7t5kM3MaaygLbXoA874tw_pABWwgHNfEevfVGUxYPdkRkOTmJdDO9tj2cQu_BOJZ5b4-Re36A/s320/313429_272078776158182_680391598_n.jpg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LHGJKjVcn6iyarhS8nkWbOSyfBBGSFS09ye01dVJ79zRlqam34qtlrwwd2xKj1nxT1t1yZYBFIRMV4CEUSYlbSV9DuU-VigpQZZiFJPTQd45dQ0KjujStrNRECGl0szUmUumjHv4ckI/s1600/My+wedding.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4LHGJKjVcn6iyarhS8nkWbOSyfBBGSFS09ye01dVJ79zRlqam34qtlrwwd2xKj1nxT1t1yZYBFIRMV4CEUSYlbSV9DuU-VigpQZZiFJPTQd45dQ0KjujStrNRECGl0szUmUumjHv4ckI/s320/My+wedding.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
If I look in the faces of my sisters and brothers, my nieces and nephews I can find bits of her there. So I don't miss her face.<br />
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I look at these pictures taken with brownie cameras, and polaroids, cheap 110 cameras and disposable 35mms and then digital cameras and flip phones and of course, smart phones. It's the phone pictures that hurt me.<br />
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I've got videos of my cat chasing rubber bands and my husband opening presents, my daughter tap dancing and countless little kids yelling "Watch me! Watch me!" and in all that time I've, in fact <i>we've</i>, had a ready, easy source of video it didn't occur to any of us to turn it on her.<br />
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After Mom died and the initial numbness that carries you through planning a funeral and smiling bravely going back to work I began to long to hear her voice. Something as stupid as an old voice mail would have sufficed. "Hi this is your mother. Call me." But I am good at pressing 7 so I didn't have an old voice mail. <br />
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I wish I had taken my phone out of my pocket and recorded her giving candy to Wub. Telling her about some rock in her collection or any damn conversation at all. I didn't know I needed to and now I regret it.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3v-AS63eR7vi7ItzZWgQD7aqrIW0mCOBviR8mm-rfKuM-E-WNpVnD3fg_C4SgAEuLspQfDtVb9uPiOp_5FmNcc7FIONCV9i3hLpXvqzqbaO4-O5_u9-6t5U5Cl4n0kV4oiB-JYfKiWQ/s1600/1375077_647090175323705_1590916412_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3v-AS63eR7vi7ItzZWgQD7aqrIW0mCOBviR8mm-rfKuM-E-WNpVnD3fg_C4SgAEuLspQfDtVb9uPiOp_5FmNcc7FIONCV9i3hLpXvqzqbaO4-O5_u9-6t5U5Cl4n0kV4oiB-JYfKiWQ/s640/1375077_647090175323705_1590916412_n.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
Today is Mother's Day and I miss my mother. I miss her so much. Not her face...her voice.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-18513057910151448572015-05-07T06:46:00.001-07:002015-05-07T06:47:02.777-07:00Make a wish...<div style="text-align: center;">
Dandelions must be God's favorite flowers. They are humble, beautiful, often misunderstood and maligned and they are spread by making wishes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNCjIiJrgRS9N7Uy7VInM11XgwrKFFNlesn80oJN4URDuCY7qZioh2SDqBap-C4qd_VDBGFTN4801ji9iqXFQSjqUnLXsFL7ZwRyo5peBNrnd3ZWTj6Ocky_mrn1i8z-2-qa7qOLypM8/s1600/Make+a+wish.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNCjIiJrgRS9N7Uy7VInM11XgwrKFFNlesn80oJN4URDuCY7qZioh2SDqBap-C4qd_VDBGFTN4801ji9iqXFQSjqUnLXsFL7ZwRyo5peBNrnd3ZWTj6Ocky_mrn1i8z-2-qa7qOLypM8/s640/Make+a+wish.png" width="468" /></a></div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-13301296787958514402015-04-25T19:49:00.002-07:002015-04-25T19:53:37.368-07:00Solar Powered Whale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xFP4ymgAHf7xpiBQxIEiCzSt-6oDwjvB-sVBVeVDV2RpRxA4jLmfsl-GpRp1mZbWfH5HmTRk0xtFhAzDHpPfspuRsLv9dMjCiJmMLwGarNhEnG0oP0QL2NVFusN_tE5WZrbYCBPDU_M/s1600/11188370_10153317160554887_4140003629413746915_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xFP4ymgAHf7xpiBQxIEiCzSt-6oDwjvB-sVBVeVDV2RpRxA4jLmfsl-GpRp1mZbWfH5HmTRk0xtFhAzDHpPfspuRsLv9dMjCiJmMLwGarNhEnG0oP0QL2NVFusN_tE5WZrbYCBPDU_M/s1600/11188370_10153317160554887_4140003629413746915_n.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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This is Wubby she likes to rock.<br />
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Bad puns aside the girl really does love rocks.<br />
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When<a href="http://www.kidsclothesweek.com/"> Kids Clothes Week</a> announced Wild Things as their theme for this quarter the first thing that popped into my head was <a href="http://kurthalsey.com/">Kurt Halsey</a>. If you are unfamiliar with his heartbreakingly sweet paintings you've been missing out. His art makes me both incredibly happy and a little bit weepy. Some things though are just a perfect slice of bliss.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik17avv7rZ8QsA2iA3k-0lv0JPXSO5PSBnXlFuuz1PhNl7YJ_NpgOgwXQJvR3J4Nh1o_z8R4qNHHsoM1QmyUSnoBiy_NA4xkaxZo78GThZ9nevSlQQNDHZ25DcvVjEr71_-ZzcqulGuYg/s1600/11150487_10153317161624887_985812378685908864_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik17avv7rZ8QsA2iA3k-0lv0JPXSO5PSBnXlFuuz1PhNl7YJ_NpgOgwXQJvR3J4Nh1o_z8R4qNHHsoM1QmyUSnoBiy_NA4xkaxZo78GThZ9nevSlQQNDHZ25DcvVjEr71_-ZzcqulGuYg/s1600/11150487_10153317161624887_985812378685908864_n.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<a href="http://kurthalsey.com/products/how-a-green-album-grew-into-something-so-grand">The Green Album</a> is one of my absolute favorites of his. In my head it was the perfect thing to Sharpie paint and embroider on a <a href="http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2010/08/solar-dress-free-pattern.html">Solar Dress. </a><br />
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I made my first Solar Dress nearly<a href="http://indietutes.blogspot.com/2010/08/solar-dress-free-pattern.html"> four years ago</a>. I credit Charity Beasley and <a href="http://indietutes.blogspot.com/">Indietutes</a> as one of my main teachers when I was learning to sew and this sweet drss was the first pattern I felt really comfortable making. <br />
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Sadly the pattern only goes up to 7/8 and Wub has outgrown.<br />
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Fortunately because so many wonderful people have shared their skills and knowledge through magic of the interwebs; in addition to learning how to sew I've also learned how to grade a pattern up. <br />
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Tuesday evening I washed the fine cotton sheet I had decided to use as fabric. Wednesday morning I woke up got everyone off to work and school whilst dyeing the sheet from white to pale blue and upsizing the pattern. While the fabric was rewashing and drying I worked on the <a href="http://futurejackorchloe.blogspot.com/2015/04/a-bear-is-animal-right.html">Hooded Maggie Mae</a>. Once it was done I could concentrate on something simpler.<br />
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The solar dress is an incredibly fast sew. I had it cut out and sewn in under an hours time. After Sewing it all together I used a light box to trace the painting onto the bodice using an aqua colored Sharpie. I used freezer paper behind the image to protect the rest of the dress and I lightly filled in the whale with aqua and teal using rubbing alcohol to blur and soften the lines. I was going for a dreamy watercolor effect.<br />
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After I had the Whale painted to my satisfaction I embroidered all the outlines with 4 strands of navy blue cotton thread because I didn't have any embroidery floss of appropriate color and I wanted to get started.<br />
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I had no idea that I was secretly in love with embroidery until I was making Wub's Easter outfit earlier this year. One hand picked zipper and a few lazy daisies later and I am hooked through the nose. Pretty funny considering that I kinda despise hand sewing.<br />
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Finished up the embroidery last night and this afternoon we took it out for a spin.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsdZyxkYNWwMIZdqLw79IgEVhZ32mHRIZzZqvEWvIqoGd1_ymcp7Alj96q_657R2NW0L4fxrM1awZBPEkLz19445BTU1Cd_5GpeJa1ehetxkiUOLxxAK13HOk_7FUf5eAcneNlEYaD5s/s1600/11169815_10153317174289887_7184648205991794956_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsdZyxkYNWwMIZdqLw79IgEVhZ32mHRIZzZqvEWvIqoGd1_ymcp7Alj96q_657R2NW0L4fxrM1awZBPEkLz19445BTU1Cd_5GpeJa1ehetxkiUOLxxAK13HOk_7FUf5eAcneNlEYaD5s/s1600/11169815_10153317174289887_7184648205991794956_n.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a>Twirly? Check.</div>
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Sassy? Check</div>
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Full of sweet, charming details and comfy to boot? Check, check and check.</div>
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Kinda makes you want to jump for joy...</div>
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The end. </div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-91421687758500899342015-04-22T19:41:00.005-07:002015-04-23T16:32:21.080-07:00A bear is an animal, right?To say I had a hard time with this dress would be putting it mildly. This was an absolute bear to sew. As I was finishing it up today I looked at my choice of fabrics and started cracking up. "Of course! It's hexed!!!"<br />
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I have sewn <a href="http://shwinandshwin.com/">Shwin and Shwin's</a> <a href="http://shwindesigns.bigcartel.com/product/the-maggie-mae-tunic-dress">Maggie Mae</a> at least a dozen times. I even added an exposed zip to the last one. Honestly, how hard can it be to add a hood and<a href="http://shwinandshwin.com/2012/11/maggie-mae-with-long-sleeves.html"> long sleeves</a>?<br />
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Let me tell ya'...<br />
The first thing I did was drop the neckline to accommodate the hood addition. I decided to draft my own hood and to make it extra snazzy I added a racing stripe down the back.<br />
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Simple enough until I realised I had made the hood absolutely GINORMOUS. I trimmed it down and assembled it and set it aside to work on the bodice.<br />
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I decided not to do the interior lining since the hood would finish the neckline. I extended the arms and flared them slightly out to make it long sleeved. The I added a facing to the cuff to give a nice clean look.<br />
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You will notice there is another racing stripe running underneath the sleeve. I meant to do that. <i> If</i> by "I meant to do that." you mean I had Wub try the dress on and thought I should probably add some extra fabric so she didn't lose feeling in her hands. Also being able to move your arms is a nice bonus.<br />
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Bodice assembled I moved on to attaching the hood.<br />
Notice the super cute grey zipper guard that totally ties in the racing stripe on hood?<br />
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Yeah, apparently I was drunk when I measured the hood because after initially making it HUGE I decide to cut it just a little too short.<br />
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You know what they say measure twice unless you're Kristi then measure sixteen times and then let Karl measure because you're gonna get it wrong.<br />
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Hood modified, attached and zipper inserted...<br />
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(Oh yeah I couldn't find any of the THREE zipper feet I have so I had to fudge that a little. Plus it's a zipper, not traditionally my friend, so that took a little bit out of me.)<br />
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I decided to (intentionally this time) add a little bit of the print to the side seam pockets for even more visual interest. Initially I sewed them on wrong. After unpicking it all and getting them in the right place I went on to assembling the skirt.<br />
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Traditionally a Maggie Mae is pleated but as this was an exercise in pu<strike>ni</strike>shing myself I decided to gather the skirt.<br />
I don't generally enjoy gathering. It's so fiddly and something always ends up slightly wonky. I went ahead gathered, pinned and sewed. Oh my! so beautiful! Perfectly even, no puckering or ripples and the seam was perfectly straight. The only thing that could have made it better was if I hadn't sewed it front to back.<br />
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<i>When I was younger I always wanted my very own Inspector Gadget gadget. It's changed over the years as to what it would be (although I have to admit that Sharpie makes the list quite frequently) However, for the past seven or so years that I've been sewing it's definitely been Go Go Gadget Seam Ripper!</i><br />
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I frogged the skirt resewed it and it turned out almost as nice. I got all the side seams sewn (which is how I discovered the sleeves were a wee bit strangle-ish and also slightly too short.) I ripped the bottom sleeve seams added a strip of fabric Narrowing it to a point as it reached the armpit seam. What was originally intended to be a neat facing on the sleeve hems was turned into a cute little cuff detail instead.. Because really this dress has already taken up three weeks of my sewing time so why not add more stuff?<br />
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The hem was originally intended as a peekaboo facing but I decided to drop it down and let it show.<br />
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For all the ripping, picking, poor planning and general frustration I am 94% pleased with it. Which is pretty high for me.<br />
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I'm pretty sure that Wub is 100% pleased though.</div>
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Yeah, 100%.</div>
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The end.</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4189794187415713515.post-40140808465668584272015-03-03T11:42:00.001-08:002015-03-03T11:44:36.543-08:00And now we are seven...Wait....What?I kinda hate birthdays. I kinda love birthdays. On one hand I love all the planning, cake making, present buyingness of it. I also very much enjoy watching my sweet girl grow and learn and become the amazing person she is becoming. On the other hand MY BABY!!! Waaaaaaaaaaaaaah!<br />
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This year we took her to her "castle" for birthday pictures. <a href="http://www.evansvillecvb.org/facilities/meetings-and-conventions/old-courthouse">The Old Courthouse</a> is stunningly beautiful and they were kind enough to let us slink about and snap a ton of photos.<br />
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And because we are really hobbits (albeit GIANT hobbits) She had two (yes, two) birthday cakes.<br />
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<b>Cake for Party</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPp0e6vHrtGPta6pD9lKrOKdISjFbzOKHTqR8a6RCWrKS1mzamAmbtk7CwqWzCDJ3tOd8Yq6Rf7Df3auIaqWA5s2VSBaPY3YFZi62jcWsCnAEJBnRyX_938cJ-8D19uouXKp64_Lh8Sm8/s1600/Balloon+Cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPp0e6vHrtGPta6pD9lKrOKdISjFbzOKHTqR8a6RCWrKS1mzamAmbtk7CwqWzCDJ3tOd8Yq6Rf7Df3auIaqWA5s2VSBaPY3YFZi62jcWsCnAEJBnRyX_938cJ-8D19uouXKp64_Lh8Sm8/s1600/Balloon+Cake.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<b> Cake for Actual Birthday</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PHJj2DfoZgO2gD8Ac_KUk4UFz_OY30s3LvPqYL6v0b1Tjo4ftHpiW5_HTE-VnGn1m1gfs38xTq8uMHR4YfSq78-xb_1Us3WGYucLXRcYIkgdubjhj93SS8ixInAVaY994hXqIuTsZdU/s1600/100_4936+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PHJj2DfoZgO2gD8Ac_KUk4UFz_OY30s3LvPqYL6v0b1Tjo4ftHpiW5_HTE-VnGn1m1gfs38xTq8uMHR4YfSq78-xb_1Us3WGYucLXRcYIkgdubjhj93SS8ixInAVaY994hXqIuTsZdU/s1600/100_4936+(2).JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Happy Birthday my sweet Wubby.</div>
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0