Update on Tablecloth

So, it's been slow going. But, it should be done... eventually? :-P I've been waiting for Mister to bring his camera home from work so I could take pics, but he told me this morning that I can use his phone to do that. So crappy phone pics it is!



Here's the work the I have completed. I have 5 medalions, and need 15 all total.



Here is a close-up on the pineapple motif.



Here's is the center/circle-thing that I'm currently working on.



And this is what it'll look like when it grows up!

Direction!

Well, I actually bit the bullet and posted on CL for a Foraging Mentor. I kept looking at everyone's posts about "yay the ramps/dandelions/fill-in-the-blank-with-spring-"weed"-of-your-choice are up, and we're eating them and they're delicious!" and thinking "man, if only I knew how to do that..."

It is POSTED! Hopefully someone knowledgeable will respond and be like "Why yes I am wise in the ways of foraging and would love to teach you the mystical paths upon which to walk". Because they will surely talk like that. Yup.

Also, I should think about and blog the preparations I would like to accomplish in Shiny New Apartment With New Roommates Who Aren't Doomers. [Clearly, I'm in a silly mood tonight.]

Will update as the situation changes.

Cars and such

So Mister's car is dying a long, slow, miserable, expensive death. It's a '96 Saab 900, manual. Even though it's hard for me to believe, 1996 is FOURTEEN YEARS AGO. Holy cow. That was when I started listening to the radio for myself... it's only a couple years ago, right?

Back to the point: Mister has been talking and talking and talking and dreaming and wondering and looking and inquiring about cars. About what he wants in a car. What he needs in a car. What make of car. What model of car. Whether to buck up and buy new or buy used. Many, many, many questions taunt his brain on a daily basis. He's pretty much got it decided on a Volvo C30 (and I could type that without looking up the model -- THAT'S how much he's talking about it!), but because he's really picky, there are no gently used models that have the features that he wants.

So he crunches numbers, and crunches numbers, and does some more. Is it really that close in price to buy new than to buy one year used? He's convinced that it is, and that this is really really upsetting news. He doesn't want to have to buy a new car, nor does he want a new car to be the best option. EVERY ONE knows what a bad deal buying a brand new car from a dealer is; yet it's looking to be an ok deal?

I've been avoiding the numbers, because I am not feeling nostalgic for math class at all. I'm happy to have him run the numbers himself, and tell me his discoveries. Of course, this means he has to tell me every time he rediscovers the same answer... :-P


*****

Have I mentioned that he's particular? Luckily, I'm used to this. I at first was putting my two bits in about gas mileage and such things, but his POV was: if I'm going to care about that, I'd go buy a Prius or something that's hybrid, rather than picking apart the cars I'm interested with THEIR gas mileages. Now if it came in diesel...

I just can't get past the fact that he wants to spend how much on a car? He CAN spend how much? Computer Programmers make much better pay than Ice Cream Store Managers, that's sure as shooting.

Recipes to Try

So I discovered a new cooking blog (via Tasty Kitchen) and I LOOOOOOOOVE some of her stuff. This is the stuff that I really really want to try at some point.

Beer Cheese Soup
Leek and Potato Gratin
Cheesy Rice from Beer Cheese Soup
Perfect Scrambled Eggs
French Toast Bake
Cornbread Dressing
Cornbread Dressing Chicken Casserole

And More Pretty Cakes!

I finally closed the tab so's that I won't see any more cakes. But here's what I saved...

Pretty Pirate cake
Treasure Map cake
White fondant wedding cake
Gorgeous, non-fondant wedding cake
Crazy difficult wedding cake involving royal icing
Adorable, orange and white, "crocheted" cake
Also crazy difficult wedding cake with hanging icing
Adorable, ghost couple wedding cake
Purple Divorce cake
Yellow with white flowers wedding cake
White with pink flowers wedding cake
Adorable little critter from Mapleleaf or some such
Anthropomorphic cupcake
Hello Kitty fondant cake
Steampunk butterfly cake
Two layer steampunk cake
Steampunk sea critter
Steampunk wedding cake
Three layer steampunk cake
Adorable orange and white cake
Gorgeous chocolate cake
Beautiful, modern two layer cake
Simple, modern fondant birthday cake
White on white, three layer wedding cake
Four layer, purple and black cake


Done!

A Little Craziness

So everyone is running around like crazy with gardens, and I still haven't been able to put mine in! I hope that I'll be able to get a decent harvest, and I should be able to put it all in next week.

On a brighter note, I might be convincing Mister that little dairy goats are just what he wants. I can understand the not wanting chickens (they are ridiculously noisy and stupid), but I think a goat would be more manageable. I could be completely off my rocker, but I've got a few years to finish up this convincing -- I've got time, and no need to rush it.

So, I am very tired, weary, hot and sticky (in more than one way!). I manage an ice cream store these days, and let's just say that it's the busy season. I'm working up to 6 days a week, and putting in a lot of hours. Granted, I'm making bank tip-wise, but I'm working for it. I was the only one on tonight (due to a coworker covering a shift at another store), and if I had 5 mins combined down time, that's a lot. I had a steady stream of customers -- and what's more, I got called in an hour early 'cause the day girl was swamped and in need of a supply run! So, all in all, 7.5 hours worked on a "5 hour" shift.

Mister and I have changed banks now; we are no longer at Bank of America (evil empire incarnate). We are working with a credit union: USAlliance. The only thing that I care about bank-wise is that I be able to instantly transfer money between Mister and myself, and USAlliance can do that. Mister is more picky, but they cover all of his wants/needs as well. One of the nice things about this place is that they have a minimum balance of only $5 per account. And that opening a savings account is the default. I'm looking forward to saving money in a savings account again. :-D I'll probably be going over my finances to squirrel away money (so that I don't spend it mostly!). ... Looking forward to this actually.

Cakes and Stuff

I've been looking at Cake Wrecks lately, and laughing my ass off for the most part. But some of it is really inspiring. I'd just like to save those that I find awesome and possibly recreatable.

Words in sponge cake a.k.a. "PS. I Cake You!
Pretty green and white with butterflies
White fondant mini cakes with flowers and butterflies
Simple but beautiful two layer with interesting use of Bundt pan
DAFFODIL CAKE!
Beautiful green and white fondant cake
Fondant The Count
Possibly fondant cookie monster
Very simple (albeit misspelled) Fondant wedding cake
Crazy awesome upside down, polka dot cake
Tispy, white, beautifully decorated cake
Hexagonal, chrysanthemum cake
Modern, fondant cake
Beautiful, fondant, cherry blossom cake
Funky, orange and pink cake
Javascript cake
Non fondant, fall cake
Beautiful, fondant, pale pink cherry blossom cake
Simple, adorable, sleeping deer cake



... and that's all I'll leave this at!