tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38698894400694996072024-03-19T01:16:03.793-07:00It's an engineer thing, dear...merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.comBlogger88125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-7310889984140101392011-07-07T20:07:00.000-07:002011-07-07T20:07:09.557-07:00The STP, a quilt & a grill.What has merryheathre been doing, you may be wondering... Well, I have been training for the STP, but not nearly as much as I should have. Turns out, it's very boring and it takes a very long time to ride 60 miles on your bike by yourself. The BIG EVENT is this weekend and I'm sorta ready. My philosophy is that in endurance events (and this is DEFINITELY an endurance event) it's almost more mental than physical, so I'm trying not to freak out. I keep asking people to tell me "You're going to be fine. You won't die. You'll have fun! You'll meet people to ride with."<br />
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It's sort of working.<br />
<br />
Now last weekend, I was looking for things to do to avoid riding my bike, so I got some quilting done! And will you look at this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcLqIHnMZ7GlQ9oQBIEYqdfkYVbZFpkPmEckG4wne5c-feWo8A4LcvG5yKz40ipQS98v4yZetVQDeWQKzBcwPgXPHCNWcx9tVIE1lKqzwdwHh1o9RgfdhctKyXHGHFwsKzRbnKw8Jb0o9/s1600/P7040001.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626805611790491538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTcLqIHnMZ7GlQ9oQBIEYqdfkYVbZFpkPmEckG4wne5c-feWo8A4LcvG5yKz40ipQS98v4yZetVQDeWQKzBcwPgXPHCNWcx9tVIE1lKqzwdwHh1o9RgfdhctKyXHGHFwsKzRbnKw8Jb0o9/s320/P7040001.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>It's the center of the <a href="http://merryheathre.blogspot.com/2010/03/quilt-progress.html">quilt of merryheathreness</a>, which I <a href="http://merryheathre.blogspot.com/2009/11/progress-with-bang.html">showed you</a> here <a href="http://merryheathre.blogspot.com/2010/03/catching-up.html">eons</a> ago. <br />
<br />
Finally, I'd like to say a little something in defense of my Le Creuset skinny grill pan. I did a google search on how to use the thing and I found numerous sites with people detailing why they don't love the pan, threatening to send it to Goodwill, ebay, etc. Well, I used mine for veggie burgers on the 4th, and it was GREAT! I got it as hot as possible without it smoking. Then, I placed the burger on for a good amount of time, turned it over, and voila! Nice little grill marks, nothing stuck! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTwwhk7ZQ8Z3uQuDM8Wccng5h1gWf9NEag531RHhCwp7sWqjYFAOKBNgi-rFFRRihG9AWdqmPVZVCqFOuvu6uT5NMMo8jEj9KI9IJ2xIQLexbMxRZmjP-xAXm3Z4gLVgq2VdLMK8sm2pH/s1600/P7070006.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626805619252314754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbTwwhk7ZQ8Z3uQuDM8Wccng5h1gWf9NEag531RHhCwp7sWqjYFAOKBNgi-rFFRRihG9AWdqmPVZVCqFOuvu6uT5NMMo8jEj9KI9IJ2xIQLexbMxRZmjP-xAXm3Z4gLVgq2VdLMK8sm2pH/s320/P7070006.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a> I used olive oil spray on the pan, and on the burger (because the burgers don't have much fat in them). The sheen that's left there is from numerous burgers... :)<br />
<br />
So, I am speaking up in support of the Le Creuset skinny grill pan! I think it's awesome! I'm going to use it again and again! Take that, you haters!<br />
<br />
Okay. I'm going to pack for my ride to <strike>my death</strike> Portland.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-89800975038076788102011-05-11T17:53:00.000-07:002011-05-13T13:38:21.182-07:00Well, I am soaked. Or rather, I would be, if I had not stripped down to my underwear the moment I entered my front door.<br /><br />I'm trying to figure out who I can blame - and where it all started... It might be my brother, who loves to ride bikes. It might be the citizen committee I staff, dedicated to non-motorized transportation. It might be that I need to lose a few pounds.<br /><br />Whatever it is, I am training for the Seattle to Portland. I am freaked out, because apparently that's a REALLY long way.<br /><br />And, I spent my ride home from work today blinking the rain out of my eyes and hoping that I'm not the body type that bulks up from exercise. I really don't want to end up looking like this:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioh7dMHdTFdufCqBVWBVR8qMHYIwN3MSLeEcE0VbjOD5oKRm2afuF5DdNcqFoEZ_UozZRT6LChfnjPFmqAJXjeFApJOQYCdKJQjXLOuAsVmokjwaUb4WFWFujAdi-qxsaLJuIj-S-7Qsh_/s1600/thighs.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioh7dMHdTFdufCqBVWBVR8qMHYIwN3MSLeEcE0VbjOD5oKRm2afuF5DdNcqFoEZ_UozZRT6LChfnjPFmqAJXjeFApJOQYCdKJQjXLOuAsVmokjwaUb4WFWFujAdi-qxsaLJuIj-S-7Qsh_/s320/thighs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605628501025630722" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Champion, from The Triplets of Belleville, one of the best animated movies of all time.</span><br /></div>merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-27664824755197957722011-03-30T19:05:00.000-07:002011-03-30T19:13:47.627-07:00What Should I Read Next?So, my parents got me a Kindle for Christmas - you may recall, as I posted a cover that I made for it here earlier. Also, I made a resolution (that I also posted here) to alternate between fiction and non-fiction books this year. BTW, this has been fun. I've been despairing a bit of fiction, though, since I can only read one before I go back to non-fiction and it seems like it's hard to know whether or not you're going to get a good book. Therefore, I googled "book recommendations". The first link was <a href="http://www.whatshouldireadnext.com/">What Should I Read Next?</a> and I am enamored of it.<br /><br />It's simple - you type in the title of a book that you like and it gives you books that other people who like that book like. It <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> similar to Amazon's recommendations, except here people make their own lists of books they own, not just books that they also purchased.<br /><br />I just spent a good hour and a half typing in all the books I could think of that I loved and then looking at the recommendations. I now have a pretty good idea of a few books I'd like to read next... It lived up to its name!merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-82022653128837163452011-03-14T13:44:00.001-07:002011-03-14T13:50:23.489-07:00I signed up... Now comes the real challenge.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7v7DmSyJcHURiNrdsADDssN6sWeM-nh6cOmR2H96jMFA8Ub_3UzxxCdvguxadLDnUcsA0Exo2S3auX08Gd924ti1LWHe3qdHx0iO7_FMipbzoN17CAyPMByA1HhRjRCs0nKDC_iZegxL/s1600/STP-logo-web-banner.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 104px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo7v7DmSyJcHURiNrdsADDssN6sWeM-nh6cOmR2H96jMFA8Ub_3UzxxCdvguxadLDnUcsA0Exo2S3auX08Gd924ti1LWHe3qdHx0iO7_FMipbzoN17CAyPMByA1HhRjRCs0nKDC_iZegxL/s320/STP-logo-web-banner.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584039867924306450" border="0" /></a>I did it! I bit the bullet and got out my credit card. Now I'm going to ride my bike back to work and start getting used to being "in the saddle". It's 80% sold out, so if you're going to join me, sign up now! For more info on the STP, go <a href="http://shop.cascade.org/content/events/stp">here</a>.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-42826391557776448252011-03-08T19:33:00.000-08:002011-03-08T19:40:09.496-08:00I've missed you...I've been remiss in this, my seemingly easiest of New Feb's Rezzies. So, as a peace offering:<br /><br /><br /><object style="height: 390px; width: 640px;"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/cFnuP9niRUg?version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/cFnuP9niRUg?version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br />P.S. You may have to go to youtube to watch it in all it's glory, and I do recommend it.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-19358454883946233412011-02-08T22:14:00.000-08:002011-02-08T22:41:23.210-08:00Weekly PostI saw lots of really cool things today. Alas, I did not get pictures of any of them. But! Have no fear, I will recreate them here:<br /><br />I saw baby ducks and a grown up duck. Aha! Upon google image searching, I do believe I saw goslings and a goose because the babies were quite yellow and the adult was really big in comparison to the babies. This is a close approximation:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvrbmLCjkvZuUPOTi-f6n3Qp7iU5bjWE6jYPQLsnuTL01P8lWrNTm3u5fmP-VRUORSvVmwV_9Pwg54iBvrvxWG6DbliP-AP7rLTQqhte4nY9ng9yn5ZcNBqJBUKY9Gwez6soEENM1UU8d/s1600/goslings.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxvrbmLCjkvZuUPOTi-f6n3Qp7iU5bjWE6jYPQLsnuTL01P8lWrNTm3u5fmP-VRUORSvVmwV_9Pwg54iBvrvxWG6DbliP-AP7rLTQqhte4nY9ng9yn5ZcNBqJBUKY9Gwez6soEENM1UU8d/s320/goslings.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571574976388372306" border="0" /></a>I also saw a train-full of tractors. There were at least 30 identical tractors. There could have been 50. I was getting on the ferry in Edmonds, but had to wait for the train to go by and they were on some of the middle cars, all perfectly aligned with each other.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmdGfNdj3mxmTnEdtY15Oyiz16g_Q7HgFbBn-c9b6fG_4GCRjo1G8oRhloG0AgDelUzF7137Y69uHxNTiGribHX2Qnk9IkUhDgm4jbY8yt73oYbh3Ahz83gryZFddNYOIKioL0Lm2stit/s1600/case-ih-magnum-180.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 193px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmdGfNdj3mxmTnEdtY15Oyiz16g_Q7HgFbBn-c9b6fG_4GCRjo1G8oRhloG0AgDelUzF7137Y69uHxNTiGribHX2Qnk9IkUhDgm4jbY8yt73oYbh3Ahz83gryZFddNYOIKioL0Lm2stit/s320/case-ih-magnum-180.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571574975796355010" border="0" /></a>I also saw (fine, I broke one of my new feb's rezzies and bought) some really cute fabric! It's called Hideaway by Lauren & Jessie Jung for Moda. I got a half yard of the chalet fabric on bottom, a quarter of the teeny-tiny deers in the middle, and a quarter of the dot fabric on the right (but with a white background). I love it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YpCG39qSKjUT8HsCthQPUEuKgkgUaoWmzpxywqfuIs70MkAz254gWXZttGM4j3CkDE0QunVZ4gu392f4tZlE2jVwzhuKQFmosvpZXlWqBwKeqIX0dwmynvo0N8OnokyEkDeZnp_Nx9iC/s1600/hideaway.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 274px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YpCG39qSKjUT8HsCthQPUEuKgkgUaoWmzpxywqfuIs70MkAz254gWXZttGM4j3CkDE0QunVZ4gu392f4tZlE2jVwzhuKQFmosvpZXlWqBwKeqIX0dwmynvo0N8OnokyEkDeZnp_Nx9iC/s320/hideaway.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571574965557569810" border="0" /></a>Also, while I was at the quilt shop, the ladies working there LOVED my kindle cover and said I should write patterns. I thought - "hey! that's a great idea!" So, there we go. Another back up career if this whole engineering thing ends up being too much of a drag for me.<br /><img src="file:///C:/Users/MERRYH%7E1/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.png" alt="" /><br />The sun was shining, and it was a beautiful day!<br /><br />P.S. I haven't forgotten about NYC. Someday - maybe even soon - I will post more.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-90778347696357828072011-02-01T07:33:00.001-08:002011-02-01T07:44:21.155-08:00New Feb's Rezzies<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaryh0HdAWTxHagIFEeL1M-frmFAM1KQ8M3UbD5yS9XZ7M5dYnLkPi_DdDUcJl5xmo-tc5nXfo5VIoYgY7DeohETG8BpxUZxCjaX38V3MgNHZ7Ws1PP3Dc51NbyNzWhmdpbOhBnIS1_zPo/s1600/P1010072.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaryh0HdAWTxHagIFEeL1M-frmFAM1KQ8M3UbD5yS9XZ7M5dYnLkPi_DdDUcJl5xmo-tc5nXfo5VIoYgY7DeohETG8BpxUZxCjaX38V3MgNHZ7Ws1PP3Dc51NbyNzWhmdpbOhBnIS1_zPo/s320/P1010072.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568747290680026850" border="0" /></a><br />Well, New Year's passed me by without much fanfare, so I've decided to make New February Resolutions. I'll follow them (or at least try) for the next year - so here goes!<br /><ol><li>Read at least one non-fiction book for every fiction book read.</li><li>No purchasing new fabric, paper, stamps, ribbon, stickers, etc. (Exception: Items needed to finish projects that I own the majority of the supplies.)</li><li>Go on one date per month - at least.</li><li>Blog weekly or more.</li><li>Ride the Seattle to Portland - sign ups are today!</li></ol>Other things I'm thinking about - Cleaning? Eating better? Being on time? Did any of you make new's years resolutions? How are they going?merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-66083964680229062682011-01-17T21:54:00.000-08:002011-01-17T22:14:01.472-08:00An expensive tomato and a kindle sleeve.The other day I bought a tomato at the co-op because it was a pretty yellowish-orange color. When I got home I realized that I had spent $1.25 for a tomato the size of a ping-pong ball. So, the eating of this tomato became important and memorable:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qz64VjmMrO3lIfw7ax2i7LjT61WDui1BXViTH5I0tfB6Yaxrc9m9vzSX6UWz-zvdhJ9nSSuo6oRhgGs-HtIql1zNrwW5e5C3uHGSX-BLUPw0_FH8f6sMto-lxHn_zfqTwinKYw3xz0kC/s1600/P1130092.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qz64VjmMrO3lIfw7ax2i7LjT61WDui1BXViTH5I0tfB6Yaxrc9m9vzSX6UWz-zvdhJ9nSSuo6oRhgGs-HtIql1zNrwW5e5C3uHGSX-BLUPw0_FH8f6sMto-lxHn_zfqTwinKYw3xz0kC/s320/P1130092.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563402286193469682" border="0" /></a>I paired it with whole wheat flat bread - which I forgot to take a picture of, but you can imagine it, I'm sure. I also made a dipping sauce with olive oil, white balsamic, fresh garlic, and finely chopped basil. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9tEMfj3hsgRbWEcDDFWNUwArseW-a-F5fo_E3SwVU4-9r9EPMctTodJltVLYJjFzmPN5A2EGhgZhSWJAebcVj9LbMS_lUNiuz-75Ue8YH9FkYl3MsG1Rv8dnoVv54f_SOjBG5n0Fj701/s1600/P1130094.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG9tEMfj3hsgRbWEcDDFWNUwArseW-a-F5fo_E3SwVU4-9r9EPMctTodJltVLYJjFzmPN5A2EGhgZhSWJAebcVj9LbMS_lUNiuz-75Ue8YH9FkYl3MsG1Rv8dnoVv54f_SOjBG5n0Fj701/s320/P1130094.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563402277710877554" border="0" /></a>There was also avocado. It was wonderful.<br /><br />Yesterday I decided that since I had today off, I should make myself a kindle sleeve. So, I started playing around with the fabric that I had chosen. The two bluer fabrics are by sweetwater for moda, and I'm not sure about the tan. Of course, since I'm never content to do things the easy way, I decided to make an argyle pattern with the fabric! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYteBxpaFeIztfvE1KjtOJ9AxUOZ3LmjaPjS_JkFckO2g5E9JyKYPuortmWCbIoW7ho0nEwtW2MgAu-pHNQFtuFH0ikHq7KosAH6MwFEakf7NI6_RQzSLUjpuYhyphenhyphenXeuCz12TzXgwTzpvz/s1600/P1170099.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihYteBxpaFeIztfvE1KjtOJ9AxUOZ3LmjaPjS_JkFckO2g5E9JyKYPuortmWCbIoW7ho0nEwtW2MgAu-pHNQFtuFH0ikHq7KosAH6MwFEakf7NI6_RQzSLUjpuYhyphenhyphenXeuCz12TzXgwTzpvz/s320/P1170099.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563402274294174722" border="0" /></a>Let me tell you - I did nearly every step on this thing twice. I was messing up right and left. But, I kept laughing and kept going. The back is just a solid piece of the blue fabric with ampersands and it's lined with the argyle fabric. I quilted it with the argyle lines, too.<br /><br />Here I'm showing you the closure. I haven't sewn the button on yet - but it's made so the flap "blends" with the argyle pattern. Nifty, eh? My finger is holding it down. Otherwise the button goes flinging across the room.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty6X53EVSriEOSJmjgkEdduidhUGWTId_ZNJq4zGNia4YrXk7KDdpnI-TqfGYqDmBiol6mMieDVpDARAOeAhGnJLDn3y84f3XMrZEyWu_eLL9oIfGiuuWzRiMPRloqq__vTIaXh0Rir9w/s1600/P1170100.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjty6X53EVSriEOSJmjgkEdduidhUGWTId_ZNJq4zGNia4YrXk7KDdpnI-TqfGYqDmBiol6mMieDVpDARAOeAhGnJLDn3y84f3XMrZEyWu_eLL9oIfGiuuWzRiMPRloqq__vTIaXh0Rir9w/s320/P1170100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563402268795513682" border="0" /></a>Please, if you like it, tell me. I'm not super happy with it but if enough people tell me it's cool I'm hoping I'll stop looking at it critically and just be like "yeah - it'll do."merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-58276357907085258282011-01-02T19:12:00.000-08:002011-01-02T20:32:19.133-08:00Things I read about......And wanted to share with you!<br /><br />First up? <a href="http://tulapink.com/2010/12/30/560/">Tula Pink</a> has been sewing, and she made a couple bags from Amy Butler's new book, <a href="http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/books_detail.php">Style Stitches</a>. Which I happen to have purchased. I'm thinking I ought to make one of these bags, too!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_XVbMwyWR6r0JmEJCU0PycFFy35Zh2KRj254IIQCyxC78AEqi8XHdSahA30PHiuC9ttlf71DlSBaU25lwpjPAL7bvEL3GhpnXjVAdNTgtbzgN8t4NDKyvrj_kDFsRXHggyTXumdujGo8/s1600/Parisville_Laminate_Bag.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 255px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA_XVbMwyWR6r0JmEJCU0PycFFy35Zh2KRj254IIQCyxC78AEqi8XHdSahA30PHiuC9ttlf71DlSBaU25lwpjPAL7bvEL3GhpnXjVAdNTgtbzgN8t4NDKyvrj_kDFsRXHggyTXumdujGo8/s320/Parisville_Laminate_Bag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557810015269942274" border="0" /></a>Next - some pretty clothes. If the stars ever aligned for me to wear designer clothes (there would have to be major weight loss, major income, and some sort of a reason/occasion), I'd totally wear any of these:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweH4b7XjZ0toAvBTCKDQldRFysd3KUKhzNmDrvJxC3XQWW7Skrl6tTgXBsoQZ8Vvut4d4o5nNzoytQnjfxTzAL2y1PkdQW8kxxqxX1a-lYUvg7P_6F_KdIPaMISb3jNwB4OaUexe0kDrY/s1600/erdem1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiweH4b7XjZ0toAvBTCKDQldRFysd3KUKhzNmDrvJxC3XQWW7Skrl6tTgXBsoQZ8Vvut4d4o5nNzoytQnjfxTzAL2y1PkdQW8kxxqxX1a-lYUvg7P_6F_KdIPaMISb3jNwB4OaUexe0kDrY/s320/erdem1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557810018813027154" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMek6djAolzrSASpmg88N7S35_WzY3hp52yKhw5fYm6UvIDV5XZ3xKNcUgoziN5tkF__zEr6A9QM63ZExnR7AdTPkVSdsmX_DrvhU5T3TM_FjVBEhR0h5PGYN8mUe_vlIzRxqt66UagwA/s1600/erdem2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMek6djAolzrSASpmg88N7S35_WzY3hp52yKhw5fYm6UvIDV5XZ3xKNcUgoziN5tkF__zEr6A9QM63ZExnR7AdTPkVSdsmX_DrvhU5T3TM_FjVBEhR0h5PGYN8mUe_vlIzRxqt66UagwA/s320/erdem2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557809998044095122" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIoY8qBYq9p8IFKV-ybQ-FhPY2fxDWsD9kzL0NYTE_KvSFNqSY4QvyQ1NP2BTLqztOkiSMbQYnXLCiKl3-__mvWejCSz-1YYy5hus4Yycil0HSvjCw7KmlNHwCQv-guk5JFr5q8Bn4Nkp/s1600/erdem3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIoY8qBYq9p8IFKV-ybQ-FhPY2fxDWsD9kzL0NYTE_KvSFNqSY4QvyQ1NP2BTLqztOkiSMbQYnXLCiKl3-__mvWejCSz-1YYy5hus4Yycil0HSvjCw7KmlNHwCQv-guk5JFr5q8Bn4Nkp/s320/erdem3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557809991975612498" border="0" /></a>They're from <a href="http://www.vogue.com/collections/pre-fall-2011/merdem/runway/">Erdem's Pre-Fall 2011 collection</a> (don't ask me what that really means), and I'd even wear the ones I'm not showing you.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-62528901302301300992011-01-02T18:53:00.000-08:002011-01-02T19:07:29.419-08:00You're probably wondering...What does merryheathre do with all her time? Because she sure doesn't spend it blogging! Or replying to emails! Or tweeting...<br /><br />Well, here's what I spent a couple New Year's Eve hours doing - sewing!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHxh-LpAiHhms0HihVSezkIZaLYt00coghsELwNOCvnmRn-EHhyphenhyphena-faxxSO25q-YgHJqwJwIz0ZRPhuig1sDymDKJnyKWq8rtt5dF2CJWtzIiGFTIpoJHXbNk9sJoSJXCnZhE0-GqQ0Yi/s1600/P1020083.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMHxh-LpAiHhms0HihVSezkIZaLYt00coghsELwNOCvnmRn-EHhyphenhyphena-faxxSO25q-YgHJqwJwIz0ZRPhuig1sDymDKJnyKWq8rtt5dF2CJWtzIiGFTIpoJHXbNk9sJoSJXCnZhE0-GqQ0Yi/s320/P1020083.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557788215710543538" border="0" /></a>I started out with raw materials from alert readers (thank you, Dave Barry), ref250 and ~K, as they like to be known. The main material is a pair of boxer shorts that have been re-purposed into a ditty bag. That's the ref250 part. The lining is laminated nicey jane that ~K picked up for me because I forgot to buy it way back at the shop hop!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVNf9WTg4mOdHNny8ye7897a_dfkc-gZPiA3OP2gJAZidFr9nAOnxoeKZ07_mDUwX5zEookswe9hVq5zYbgXyxsSHbEwugD1rHSB5VvDG7Vr0Lg58eaGea22Bx9I_2x49-DIZmtAkepEU/s1600/P1020082.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVNf9WTg4mOdHNny8ye7897a_dfkc-gZPiA3OP2gJAZidFr9nAOnxoeKZ07_mDUwX5zEookswe9hVq5zYbgXyxsSHbEwugD1rHSB5VvDG7Vr0Lg58eaGea22Bx9I_2x49-DIZmtAkepEU/s320/P1020082.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557788210007573714" border="0" /></a>The green bits and thread are from my stash with a Coats & Clark zipper to finish it off. Now I've gotta make a case for my kindle...merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-43097115846761682172010-12-02T21:41:00.000-08:002010-12-02T22:34:53.321-08:00It only seems appropriate... NYC Part 1Let's begin with food. I mean really. Is there any other topic that we spend more time on? Maybe with certain people, but in general, I think it's the weather and food.<br /><br />Without further ado... The food of NYC, through a very small window of time and personal preference.<br /><br />When we arrived it was diner food - and so fun! There were about a bazillion things on the menu, the men working there were really nice, and the hot chocolate had lots of whipped cream.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkK3WznbjcfuxsKauqa76ZwOyUjMaS89AvZkzOVXS4IhmTebxqetRZZJb_s0EOw352XEIe7EaA3Zw-dOsw30KnNZTkB1D_C6FrbDzjxvMGu553ZYjLRsEUBay-Ui8YaA5QPM6UGkCUDH5/s1600/PA200010.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkK3WznbjcfuxsKauqa76ZwOyUjMaS89AvZkzOVXS4IhmTebxqetRZZJb_s0EOw352XEIe7EaA3Zw-dOsw30KnNZTkB1D_C6FrbDzjxvMGu553ZYjLRsEUBay-Ui8YaA5QPM6UGkCUDH5/s320/PA200010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546331676750925666" border="0" /></a>The Best Ambiance award goes to our Friday night dinner - an Italian place near Times Square with giant portions (Most. Delicious. Alfredo. Ever.) and waiters who carried the trays way above their heads.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9KeHQBTUddSge-AqXDHI1YovRA1F7cPTR9xsR1PfzWGuDlsvJzPjzIDYD6vj3gEGkuUh2XTBtpYgwMN-JL17XXgW91KNomH5TA0BknEAzcXZe1NmfZAaSj5wJ7IlesokJdqAjHcu8xtq/s1600/PA220116.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9KeHQBTUddSge-AqXDHI1YovRA1F7cPTR9xsR1PfzWGuDlsvJzPjzIDYD6vj3gEGkuUh2XTBtpYgwMN-JL17XXgW91KNomH5TA0BknEAzcXZe1NmfZAaSj5wJ7IlesokJdqAjHcu8xtq/s320/PA220116.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546331667345781506" border="0" /></a>On my list of places to go was a chain called Le Pain Quotidien (never did figure out the pronunciation) where they had this delicious little number that they called a tartine or something, but it was basically an open-faced sandwich. More specifically, it was insane.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5_4jqpjT3ezXbE9yFoLbBTUbKX_SYjBsUNjARxvAWZB22h6qvd9KQucJCUbEvI-_mxMQurGomj7jnYP4IcnPWW_6tFAxwItF4OyK1YfKzhCZ1is-ifRBP6SXylyuBJr7pFZluDUfvrGc/s1600/PA230137.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5_4jqpjT3ezXbE9yFoLbBTUbKX_SYjBsUNjARxvAWZB22h6qvd9KQucJCUbEvI-_mxMQurGomj7jnYP4IcnPWW_6tFAxwItF4OyK1YfKzhCZ1is-ifRBP6SXylyuBJr7pFZluDUfvrGc/s320/PA230137.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546331663812577458" border="0" /></a>My traveling companion was a serious fan of the street food, especially the Halal carts - which he paired with Coke. I never tried it, but the smell was delicious. (I'm actually making myself hungry right now.) There were also hot nuts at these Nuts4Nuts carts that were quite good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokmhb-u3pOhDaJ5xPii39IWj6cskSfSDFemq13OFXwuwjk02AAPjb1aa_dB13QytwAiI-RjYfL2ryvXSuKjnD6Rj37sxBsnJsW9gF0Pn57cGWhqtQhG572-PEhmkqaFKky3YVqdlICdG8/s1600/PA250234.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhokmhb-u3pOhDaJ5xPii39IWj6cskSfSDFemq13OFXwuwjk02AAPjb1aa_dB13QytwAiI-RjYfL2ryvXSuKjnD6Rj37sxBsnJsW9gF0Pn57cGWhqtQhG572-PEhmkqaFKky3YVqdlICdG8/s320/PA250234.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546331654460756114" border="0" /></a>As long as I was in New York, I had to try a cupcake from Magnolia Bakery. I really wanted a hummingbird cake, but they were out, so I went for chocolate with chocolate frosting, and it was delicious. It practically fell apart in my hand. (I actually like cake with a little more substance, but when in Rome...)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQ0dtl0KUDVZiJOQTgo8l8hAF6Yhb3EvQftufq-ydzrjmiPiHEYmCvbFmXRdHxINC65xXcmKlwGGpgO5erK-U7MpvJcGMPDEygUcBEI5IW-3idhUdka5r9_PmJwasauwt06B4San4qX7q/s1600/PA260284.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTQ0dtl0KUDVZiJOQTgo8l8hAF6Yhb3EvQftufq-ydzrjmiPiHEYmCvbFmXRdHxINC65xXcmKlwGGpgO5erK-U7MpvJcGMPDEygUcBEI5IW-3idhUdka5r9_PmJwasauwt06B4San4qX7q/s320/PA260284.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546331653221830738" border="0" /></a>Back at Le Pain Quotidien, Phillip decided to try their waffle. Research after returning home reveals that this is called a liege waffle and it's traditionally made with a yeast dough, pearl sugar, and large amounts of butter. I can tell you personally that the result is delicious.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1s1ML8L9UiV_356T4Z1EIzI2KImzQPYCKpSkyVVVn1UTK3r9IbORfD7NeQgkad8N7A57uMdeXsPc4Dcfv1Pdmbd0yd05cGxJZYbzeW4CviVNOoDYcu2paqVsPwC8Lz4dDh97OjbNuL9vy/s1600/PA260290.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1s1ML8L9UiV_356T4Z1EIzI2KImzQPYCKpSkyVVVn1UTK3r9IbORfD7NeQgkad8N7A57uMdeXsPc4Dcfv1Pdmbd0yd05cGxJZYbzeW4CviVNOoDYcu2paqVsPwC8Lz4dDh97OjbNuL9vy/s320/PA260290.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546330558982886354" border="0" /></a>The award for Biggest Surprise of the Trip goes to Sbarro of Times Square, for truly delicious pizza with crispy/chewy crust, just like it should be. I'm sorry I assumed you'd be just like the mall, Sbarro of Times Square, and thank you for allowing me to snap the maximum occupancy sign at your establishment. They're the same everywhere in NYC, and I found them pretty entertaining.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0K1JNY6CUcU7kXQmr4ahXLo3lpIA6-iKyb1s25vvQlyjgwtpK0hDlqHcl-MWMjXUufeb_suin5iEFaSRUhH3Xj5zhO_WvPGrMwFUwLEgXKKq7SGwm1QmhtJGow2yvJG-eoVJuxY9uc90/s1600/PA260296.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr0K1JNY6CUcU7kXQmr4ahXLo3lpIA6-iKyb1s25vvQlyjgwtpK0hDlqHcl-MWMjXUufeb_suin5iEFaSRUhH3Xj5zhO_WvPGrMwFUwLEgXKKq7SGwm1QmhtJGow2yvJG-eoVJuxY9uc90/s320/PA260296.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546330552052085810" border="0" /></a>And now, *drum roll, please* THE TOP THREE BEST, MOST DELICIOUS THINGS I ATE! in chronological order because I can't decide which was best of the best.<br /><br />First, at the MoMA Cafe - Pumpkin Cheesecake with Chantilly Cream and Spiced Pumpkin Seeds. Moist, flavorful without being overly spiced, perfectly balanced. Man, I'm hungry!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0qYIZn3B1kktfy1YPMCBvd_PRw_wrG46TymV3ZmjCDYjmCucP8gBBmCQjIqZdyP_XPpnGPrRO-V6n6tdB7HrDab2SluCZXvyrXHSZU_bPLgPDuAKRZ85PGfrtW4cmaJrwHgJHX95iJ8b/s1600/PA210043.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV0qYIZn3B1kktfy1YPMCBvd_PRw_wrG46TymV3ZmjCDYjmCucP8gBBmCQjIqZdyP_XPpnGPrRO-V6n6tdB7HrDab2SluCZXvyrXHSZU_bPLgPDuAKRZ85PGfrtW4cmaJrwHgJHX95iJ8b/s320/PA210043.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546330549638227538" border="0" /></a>Next, my birthday main course at Aureole, a Charlie Palmer restaurant: Miso Alaskan Black Cod. The black things are deep fried (?) balls of black rice, it's on a bed of baby bok choy, the whole thing is in a "citrus butter sauce". Tender, flavorful, seriously one of the best meals I've ever eaten. I wanted to lick the plate. As a side note: the service was terrible, so I'm not sure if I'd recommend the place, even with its wonderful food.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kjpxkrsqKzoYPUbt_edu6OfmPAGUd7VlY4U5whlayMqP8iIynAAAPjzgLLCw8biluENYGYsPV0aeu0pZJouP4FIIfc_MagdXVMxa-OOfjA-dVhExQtLK1em98ilbtp4kyKTtaRlvzGye/s1600/PA230155.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2kjpxkrsqKzoYPUbt_edu6OfmPAGUd7VlY4U5whlayMqP8iIynAAAPjzgLLCw8biluENYGYsPV0aeu0pZJouP4FIIfc_MagdXVMxa-OOfjA-dVhExQtLK1em98ilbtp4kyKTtaRlvzGye/s320/PA230155.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546330539258762034" border="0" /></a>And finally, Lemon Chess Pie from a picturesque little place in SoHo. Lemony, sweet, creamy texture... I didn't even know there was a such thing as Lemon Chess Pie, but I'm looking up recipes posthaste. This, I may be able to recreate.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZSP2nlC-TljqR3aKpwHsNvh7OoscwXbHPaQHzz-E5iw4Llp6_SgIVKTDXMFcSUn6374dkXVaiz9vShDzNAcY8Gc4sK00z20_1dffOiGktcpZwWucmX2sTlfVMX-70fiFTUWZGg31yYfR/s1600/PA250241.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvZSP2nlC-TljqR3aKpwHsNvh7OoscwXbHPaQHzz-E5iw4Llp6_SgIVKTDXMFcSUn6374dkXVaiz9vShDzNAcY8Gc4sK00z20_1dffOiGktcpZwWucmX2sTlfVMX-70fiFTUWZGg31yYfR/s320/PA250241.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546330534188062050" border="0" /></a>There you have it and I haven't even mentioned the Indian food, the bagels, salmon cakes, salads, Mexican food WAIT! I can't sign off without letting you know this last little tidbit.<br /><br />There is a chain called <a href="http://shakeshack.com/">Shake Shack.</a> They make ice cream that is legit. All other ice cream is dead to me. The sad part is that there are only 5 locations. The good part is - I went to three of them! Yes I did. Ain't no shame.<br /><br />Now I'm going to snack and go to bed. I will return soon to tell you about another aspect of New York - next time something that won't leave me salivating.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-7444634956956687762010-12-02T21:09:00.000-08:002010-12-02T21:39:49.822-08:00A Thursday Night...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVIII514v-0qbi7f5U3p83eSI1sso9a6MVh3hP7rzThBZoFp_DFzINJ_KhYWa4vSbF5C5qxe4COdaLYgH_1jBs0tL3nooOB6twohKcSJD5-r6qELt9Ed_fLDeu2hihyM5QkvenlM2dN3Y/s1600/PB130013.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYVIII514v-0qbi7f5U3p83eSI1sso9a6MVh3hP7rzThBZoFp_DFzINJ_KhYWa4vSbF5C5qxe4COdaLYgH_1jBs0tL3nooOB6twohKcSJD5-r6qELt9Ed_fLDeu2hihyM5QkvenlM2dN3Y/s320/PB130013.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546323952481068386" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">The Accidental Argyle Twins</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyBSMvxunFe1B_9abeig4H0ja6Jprjgs1L7HETirrzm29FSixVVdCwFBxIxdCt1y51ibzgZJMraUm0NUYUGB1zA953Oz0Q4TOq1yGfIBtrAB8QD0-lssXQUfGR353tNStpi-OZNNCLtgi/s1600/PB220020.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlyBSMvxunFe1B_9abeig4H0ja6Jprjgs1L7HETirrzm29FSixVVdCwFBxIxdCt1y51ibzgZJMraUm0NUYUGB1zA953Oz0Q4TOq1yGfIBtrAB8QD0-lssXQUfGR353tNStpi-OZNNCLtgi/s320/PB220020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546323947231785410" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">A Rare Port Townsend Sight: Snowfall!<br /></span></div><br />Tonight I worked late because of a recurring meeting that I jokingly detest. I've had a historically love/hate relationship with the meeting (okay it's been more on the hate side), but have come to terms and now reward myself for making it through the meeting with all my brain cells intact. Today's meeting was the usual - really not that bad, and when I talked to Mom on my way home, I told her I was going home to drink a bottle of wine and buy things on the internet. :) So here I am. I haven't drunk any wine, and I've only purchased a couple Christmas ornaments, but it's been a relaxing evening nonetheless.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG7gMZ2vQR2JFzE3_8_gTuFTchf62W6j3b5oAQjUuZBIf4Z0u8L0MixwtY2NES00fV9Or6LBcf8roz7xI0WQX_juvZyJbnoaJOSQdaPidWBT7yshcFPVsKkUUT4Ptwu92Uqp2KhfhHjjn/s1600/PB230024.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimG7gMZ2vQR2JFzE3_8_gTuFTchf62W6j3b5oAQjUuZBIf4Z0u8L0MixwtY2NES00fV9Or6LBcf8roz7xI0WQX_juvZyJbnoaJOSQdaPidWBT7yshcFPVsKkUUT4Ptwu92Uqp2KhfhHjjn/s320/PB230024.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546323938348152338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Baby Ansel Looks to his Mom for Advice<br /></span></div><br />You may have wondered where I've been, cyber-ly speaking - and the answer is, nowhere really. I went on a fabulous vacation, then came back to my mundane life, which is surprisingly busy for not being the Big Apple. :) I've included a couple pictures to spice up this post - and if you stay tuned, I'm about to post the first NYC post. I know, I know, it's about time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpN8tWuprecxQBj-DdX1Kw1_pCK_Q0Twe7qgbduyJVu0bAfIFVxCSgHvtACkamC2cXGxjBYDBiNOTA4F_9t1k-sD0wS7FsquF5kOkxgVHa6djbbwRYJBjPApt4q3RJ_5_wwWXuj8QYNXoA/s1600/PB250025.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpN8tWuprecxQBj-DdX1Kw1_pCK_Q0Twe7qgbduyJVu0bAfIFVxCSgHvtACkamC2cXGxjBYDBiNOTA4F_9t1k-sD0wS7FsquF5kOkxgVHa6djbbwRYJBjPApt4q3RJ_5_wwWXuj8QYNXoA/s320/PB250025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546323929881025682" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">A Thanksgiving Feast!<br /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgjoWWrKDmjAScGQrC1Rtl3JV8uZIUGDP2Nbs7tEC-ZImltKxD0x6ilSR462UdNcJRmOJZ_WS2tgNONq9ItFSYVafvSeatvv-bWaKBjIZjTSqX3ANM-XTGZ8Wgtp7CcmA_CLd0jTrcGig/s1600/PB260030.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgjoWWrKDmjAScGQrC1Rtl3JV8uZIUGDP2Nbs7tEC-ZImltKxD0x6ilSR462UdNcJRmOJZ_WS2tgNONq9ItFSYVafvSeatvv-bWaKBjIZjTSqX3ANM-XTGZ8Wgtp7CcmA_CLd0jTrcGig/s320/PB260030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546323925724701042" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Black Friday Shoppers, out at the crack of NOON!</span><br /></div>merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-22406739258069865162010-11-08T20:47:00.000-08:002010-11-08T20:58:08.482-08:00Empire State of Mind<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmdNBehzb8Ho6B3_OXRgoUzRAMXALzDFbAhdBV3aEZ4cD4cQPmTqDS-roWsyH5anQJ7LmA7XRu9qTwZBhv5U2aMlwh_jvuNB5ywMqzAys626NwAKiyRDk-nS30__vldpCCSFQDz50RNQd/s1600/PA240217.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmdNBehzb8Ho6B3_OXRgoUzRAMXALzDFbAhdBV3aEZ4cD4cQPmTqDS-roWsyH5anQJ7LmA7XRu9qTwZBhv5U2aMlwh_jvuNB5ywMqzAys626NwAKiyRDk-nS30__vldpCCSFQDz50RNQd/s320/PA240217.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537408931900122658" border="0" /></a>Well, I've been back for almost two weeks (two weeks, really???!!?) and I've been internally debating that whole time: how shall I blog about my trip? By subject? Chronologically? Just a few highlights? If you have a preference, let me know in the comments - but as I've typed this, I think I've concluded: subject posts. We'll have food, shopping, art, buildings, fabric, parks, etc. How's that sound? Let me know if you have a subject for me to cover!merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-46124152848044581612010-10-18T19:27:00.000-07:002010-10-18T19:46:37.509-07:00Meet BosleySo, my parents have a new member of their family. I suppose you could say I have a new four-legged brother. His name is Bosley, and he's a mid-size Australian Labradoodle. He's goofy, he's a thief, he's got sharp little teeth, and he's just about as sweet as they come. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0N3koH95CP5Pm5hFPt5QVBcNUGqky7-JPwk4N6G8LBae0Lc7S8JbJ5GC8jISK74bk2tnd4c1GP7zSwUUIp1IThR75S3MHK846X4jkH2tWXgdZp5ELuhv4b9osKmwgDp57qEkM8pay8bu1/s1600/PA100932.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0N3koH95CP5Pm5hFPt5QVBcNUGqky7-JPwk4N6G8LBae0Lc7S8JbJ5GC8jISK74bk2tnd4c1GP7zSwUUIp1IThR75S3MHK846X4jkH2tWXgdZp5ELuhv4b9osKmwgDp57qEkM8pay8bu1/s320/PA100932.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529579228379219186" border="0" /></a>While I was blow-drying my hair one morning, he absconded with my sandal - luckily I caught him before any damage was done. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIeeFjH05RaBq4LMcEOnzpjnQ1y4p4APZIUTwlcxJUFBA7XMYlCw1KzhGukj2XtiQTwGVq1tlTmTx8jJqs72kT7_RRMjkzU3e_APrVoMGgjb4WP3FILu2FuwjgcrJOaAKuBfU8Un3QhG9/s1600/PA100934.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIeeFjH05RaBq4LMcEOnzpjnQ1y4p4APZIUTwlcxJUFBA7XMYlCw1KzhGukj2XtiQTwGVq1tlTmTx8jJqs72kT7_RRMjkzU3e_APrVoMGgjb4WP3FILu2FuwjgcrJOaAKuBfU8Un3QhG9/s320/PA100934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529579216386381714" border="0" /></a>Bosley looks just like a stuffed animal that I had when I was little called Fuffy. Just like fluffy without the "L". <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRpTw93vB8XGgS7BuX4r6Oq1OMd2PH2XG9A-kLkSq_e8tgNvE439XPSzGvpMOIwaqbYEVk6VNS_joTBselpgUMySj_9bY0q8jsB29X9xIJ7G4NpofMf33KkJ6A4fY-XutXysweNVNqAqz/s1600/PA100941.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcRpTw93vB8XGgS7BuX4r6Oq1OMd2PH2XG9A-kLkSq_e8tgNvE439XPSzGvpMOIwaqbYEVk6VNS_joTBselpgUMySj_9bY0q8jsB29X9xIJ7G4NpofMf33KkJ6A4fY-XutXysweNVNqAqz/s320/PA100941.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529579212369846994" border="0" /></a>He's little now, but he should end up around 40 lbs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFCBpNqMaIVpfzorybjAaCCHQIlEB9Qf1MPEdK_9TNCYFRr6JGTgm5Ai2c_OuUSj0CYpNooy5CGiauFncI72y3XmMjX5fV9KKRaipnm0gssJxBpPiHV8K4H0BQtAncYOP8uQ8Hid3_c3N/s1600/PA100944.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJFCBpNqMaIVpfzorybjAaCCHQIlEB9Qf1MPEdK_9TNCYFRr6JGTgm5Ai2c_OuUSj0CYpNooy5CGiauFncI72y3XmMjX5fV9KKRaipnm0gssJxBpPiHV8K4H0BQtAncYOP8uQ8Hid3_c3N/s320/PA100944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529579204511961362" border="0" /></a>Oh yeah - those sharp little teeth? Twice he's tested them out on my big toe. I was just standing there, minding my own business, and YEOWWW! Sure enough, the teeth work.<br /><br />P.S. Poor Lillabee is terrified of him. I think it's cuz he's the only animal smaller than her that she's ever met. They'll be friends soon, I'm sure of it.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-61028139413626748642010-10-18T19:00:00.000-07:002010-10-18T19:24:13.456-07:00Alert! I need your fashion help!This is the "Hot or Not?" portion of my blog. I'm going to post pictures of three pairs of shoes and I'm hoping you'll tell me that I'm on the right track as far as what to do...<br /><br />The background is this: I leave for NYC in less than 24 hours (there are stops on the way, but I digress). I would like to look stylish while maintaining my comfort in the big apple. So, in a fit of indecision, I purchased three pairs of shoes yesterday. I will share them now with my comments, and I'm hoping you'll share your comments as well.<br /><br />The shoes are meant to be worn with black leggings and long sweaters - so all are black shoes.<br /><br />First up, a test shot with my Thanksgiving turkey socks.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQRcna16CRZa4GzDA7h2o6f4pCzRTjB5KwkUMMgMujQsZaXueEbG-t0wgsQUZLSyfHXdLS1ZCxORCcVzv6RX1vN_F-IDd_ovLVN_UYuRvZh7ZtfPml5ktP-Yd0IsEG539GxiNIUaP2sLC/s1600/PA180983.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQRcna16CRZa4GzDA7h2o6f4pCzRTjB5KwkUMMgMujQsZaXueEbG-t0wgsQUZLSyfHXdLS1ZCxORCcVzv6RX1vN_F-IDd_ovLVN_UYuRvZh7ZtfPml5ktP-Yd0IsEG539GxiNIUaP2sLC/s320/PA180983.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529574259377859170" border="0" /></a>Okay, now I'm serious. The first pair of shoes is the cushiest. They've got the highest heel and seem to be pretty comfortable, although it's difficult to know for the long haul. I think they're pretty cute. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfeiHt6RsTavnwcwmFoyOOK6b5bBvPwoTtyjJ-sf2Ju5gT74IXS2IQmG5MOlwLHrxvmxbZ1YNjpHVTPDLbYHIGZi6HZZgWG5dYgfDQ2DNHJP6Y9WS4j_uxRej6_ACsjVXivz0usmCoZvP/s1600/PA180984.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhfeiHt6RsTavnwcwmFoyOOK6b5bBvPwoTtyjJ-sf2Ju5gT74IXS2IQmG5MOlwLHrxvmxbZ1YNjpHVTPDLbYHIGZi6HZZgWG5dYgfDQ2DNHJP6Y9WS4j_uxRej6_ACsjVXivz0usmCoZvP/s320/PA180984.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529574252629846114" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAtjip-4xJdnZXFGb6sFwQ9R0NZ7Sz4rJHsuybE1YNrrgQTvHmoJKz7XMr9M0qmYTEF2EqXv6WmjLxSy79ntL2_UEwkTFWk22P7NkA54vI4K-kSj5QJylPVxQaXyS-bVlwzm6ySygTP0J/s1600/PA180990.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAtjip-4xJdnZXFGb6sFwQ9R0NZ7Sz4rJHsuybE1YNrrgQTvHmoJKz7XMr9M0qmYTEF2EqXv6WmjLxSy79ntL2_UEwkTFWk22P7NkA54vI4K-kSj5QJylPVxQaXyS-bVlwzm6ySygTP0J/s320/PA180990.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529573827182041522" border="0" /></a>Next we have suede slouchy boots. These always look funny to me. Even on other people, I start thinking about Robin Hood, or something. But, they don't look that bad in these pictures. The only issue is they have ZERO cushion. If you vote for these, and know of a good insole - please share that info, because I'm pretty sure that's the only way these are viable.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitg2LJU8n1wJ6mhBsmTiVylwccGZy4sUXkrSFtuVarQzWVBIr8ZgVWykJpDni8_O9Q3s79bAILEw1ESOEbL_MoDSjCNpbDk3V4wS3j0NkgivwFnk0U_GmVAK-zCVyrfx9hAdlt7ztV7fjf/s1600/PA180986.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitg2LJU8n1wJ6mhBsmTiVylwccGZy4sUXkrSFtuVarQzWVBIr8ZgVWykJpDni8_O9Q3s79bAILEw1ESOEbL_MoDSjCNpbDk3V4wS3j0NkgivwFnk0U_GmVAK-zCVyrfx9hAdlt7ztV7fjf/s320/PA180986.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529573821940556034" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPprKGn__W0JZ5sI0ECsxKOIrIldM4qbwueZXtcuIkX21BMLuqGwnQnhe-tPjPlLQb8QHVYROGzLJR4JDoAGh6TUOCdkTi0y3vA1bN-dt5A1JkieoEz018fC3OgbrjiteoI7UGUE-dB8A/s1600/PA180987.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPprKGn__W0JZ5sI0ECsxKOIrIldM4qbwueZXtcuIkX21BMLuqGwnQnhe-tPjPlLQb8QHVYROGzLJR4JDoAGh6TUOCdkTi0y3vA1bN-dt5A1JkieoEz018fC3OgbrjiteoI7UGUE-dB8A/s320/PA180987.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529573814047467234" border="0" /></a>Finally, my personal favorites - but they're still not quite perfect... These are kind of cowboy, kind of motorcycle. I'm thinking these would be good, with another pair (or two) for variation for the toes. Again, it's the long haul that I'm a bit worried about.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2feAJxiNRWWJNSnRvJqA3ALHX9f9S7vvKCZiHdRGaqQ3p42eynWZ71rHKBiMu9vkrTT9x0OaW0nu0YSp_SHtUgqFw72YAhlFklDn0kzXw3q-AHWJjIaO66xRNI9IcyfzSwK8Bc7eO5Msj/s1600/PA180988.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2feAJxiNRWWJNSnRvJqA3ALHX9f9S7vvKCZiHdRGaqQ3p42eynWZ71rHKBiMu9vkrTT9x0OaW0nu0YSp_SHtUgqFw72YAhlFklDn0kzXw3q-AHWJjIaO66xRNI9IcyfzSwK8Bc7eO5Msj/s320/PA180988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529573809247468994" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuRv28EcjjCcJz1AsVxWnhKSzVn4OzbHXM8ECqticZur9a_Go4dUlqiagnZRjDj_gWdAVPmIhkPFuldY9WPloXxbdBWmH1KMiCfKk8anzxQ3eBoX8dEXW2EstHnBU2L90fHYuvG4Aq2Bw/s1600/PA180989.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQuRv28EcjjCcJz1AsVxWnhKSzVn4OzbHXM8ECqticZur9a_Go4dUlqiagnZRjDj_gWdAVPmIhkPFuldY9WPloXxbdBWmH1KMiCfKk8anzxQ3eBoX8dEXW2EstHnBU2L90fHYuvG4Aq2Bw/s320/PA180989.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529573806822560130" border="0" /></a>So, there is my dilemma, in black and black. Speak words of wisdom to me, friends of electronic assistance!<br /><br />I suppose a fourth option would be to shop when I get there... ;)merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-81422166004694267502010-10-16T22:12:00.000-07:002010-10-16T22:39:57.255-07:00Little ProjectsI've gotten a few little things done! Nothing big, mind you, but they might add up to one mid-size accomplishment, so here goes!<br /><br />I planted a "garden". It was contained in two pots, and I started them from seeds. I had bachelor buttons and marigolds, the seeds of which were both gifts from Firefly.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXYSr5xAwvy0niHYwIPJgw7TbyQF1HZmCUV2dYT77GOZz9_DupIbsZ1v7u9SeZt7TraLotba1Nr-eHPOWa8d5Kz381b_5AttI6QfkGGgks0hGk8XflH-Zt1X2ThyphenhyphenOvPNpnXSCpFjrfyFl/s1600/P8120795.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXYSr5xAwvy0niHYwIPJgw7TbyQF1HZmCUV2dYT77GOZz9_DupIbsZ1v7u9SeZt7TraLotba1Nr-eHPOWa8d5Kz381b_5AttI6QfkGGgks0hGk8XflH-Zt1X2ThyphenhyphenOvPNpnXSCpFjrfyFl/s320/P8120795.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528880986517086818" border="0" /></a>Here are the marigolds, just starting out - not very big.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6X6Lup4TJ4ET33NrBKqdbDAHmFOxtLW4YHaFqa2KNx9QDANAkSn7sUcLQDZaU4_kBb4_tm5mATlBtGlhP_Mnad6zRugVvDUe6LRtSAbfmujYi129MWqmHgR8AsVlmVBlK8Aqs_T5i_M0Y/s1600/P8120801.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6X6Lup4TJ4ET33NrBKqdbDAHmFOxtLW4YHaFqa2KNx9QDANAkSn7sUcLQDZaU4_kBb4_tm5mATlBtGlhP_Mnad6zRugVvDUe6LRtSAbfmujYi129MWqmHgR8AsVlmVBlK8Aqs_T5i_M0Y/s320/P8120801.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528880559483387218" border="0" /></a>Then, they started doing really well, but a raccoon decided that he wanted to eat the bugs that were living in the soil and he tore up my nicely tended "garden". These two flowers survived:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXWzunMUdhCwgUw34YL6vHACAcWykQtqFTio0eglWOXpXI5yUDW8xuMDJYpVaxbZcTUz3YIx5eH5ZhNXtGYODA_nsvhkx1tFNDkhnaWa88twSy0IvXT0u7k8vKf67BCKwOo9h_HPqFIg3/s1600/PA160966.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibXWzunMUdhCwgUw34YL6vHACAcWykQtqFTio0eglWOXpXI5yUDW8xuMDJYpVaxbZcTUz3YIx5eH5ZhNXtGYODA_nsvhkx1tFNDkhnaWa88twSy0IvXT0u7k8vKf67BCKwOo9h_HPqFIg3/s320/PA160966.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528880553868402786" border="0" /></a>It's getting cold enough that they'll probably all go away soon, so I might get some bulbs ready to plant... they're always pretty in the spring!<br /><br />Next, I crocheted a monkey! (One of my coworkers wonders if that's a euphemism for anything.) Isn't she cute! She needs a little sundress and a bow for her "hair", but for now the fact that she exists is enough for me.<br /><br />Here she is trying out the strainer as a swing.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVULfWUtoYvUfbYOIWhUTvoV4g62oXE6s2ZIbJ5Ay7ObC4-zwV9VEn9y9_MY2djqrBn7qmkZ3L1tGKQ9WjvvXYUjovM5v6317kl-VjA1AUDBP5ihwUvZLzCMaXvwMP04SpQEqgKwp9QG9/s1600/PA110954.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyVULfWUtoYvUfbYOIWhUTvoV4g62oXE6s2ZIbJ5Ay7ObC4-zwV9VEn9y9_MY2djqrBn7qmkZ3L1tGKQ9WjvvXYUjovM5v6317kl-VjA1AUDBP5ihwUvZLzCMaXvwMP04SpQEqgKwp9QG9/s320/PA110954.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528880553594031586" border="0" /></a>I like to buy myself flowers and practice my arranging skills - here's the latest: spray roses in a spherical vase.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjDhxBwqTeIJfhyphenhyphenrEuwoN_YLGb7H39WysUEp-LT2RNvkMdLGH5M3Z_lMUPMRTl-qRMEK5bambwoB6qqKMyitGf_rMEgipGUxz4GiOmr7jafosDEOxB44IWTYtzEzr72oOK4bw_gg8XWY1/s1600/PA160969.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjDhxBwqTeIJfhyphenhyphenrEuwoN_YLGb7H39WysUEp-LT2RNvkMdLGH5M3Z_lMUPMRTl-qRMEK5bambwoB6qqKMyitGf_rMEgipGUxz4GiOmr7jafosDEOxB44IWTYtzEzr72oOK4bw_gg8XWY1/s320/PA160969.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528880546127566050" border="0" /></a>And finally, tonight's project was a baby sling for a friend who's due to deliver next week. Nothing like waiting until the last minute, right? Turns out I didn't buy enough fabric, so it took some fancy cutting and sewing at the beginning, but it was a fairly simple process once I got those kinks worked out. I used the tutorial found <a href="http://www.handmade-adelaide-baby.com/baby-sling.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH0DGYU-IiipubNTilK2bzu2bfN7CoXs8uv5oxg2E7cQeKSqupfpXLpp-NeygABbdiP53IoeOB4OHVykc7xqmZsY4Tfbp5zQy-CH7fEaOUQjAizQWQK9ETPxJIxI8qaOiblnHb-flnOps/s1600/PA160981.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH0DGYU-IiipubNTilK2bzu2bfN7CoXs8uv5oxg2E7cQeKSqupfpXLpp-NeygABbdiP53IoeOB4OHVykc7xqmZsY4Tfbp5zQy-CH7fEaOUQjAizQWQK9ETPxJIxI8qaOiblnHb-flnOps/s320/PA160981.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528880542300194530" border="0" /></a>The inside fabric has the names of all different kinds of tea - picked out by the expectant mother. I found the polka dot fabric to match at Joann. It's reversible, and I believe that the words can be right side up. (That did stress me out a bit.)<br /><br />Fun stuff, and like travel, it makes me want to do more!merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-9500947143983472402010-10-16T21:54:00.001-07:002010-10-16T22:11:12.775-07:00Travels, part 2.My second trip took me to Spokane area to catch up with old friends and be guest at a wedding. It was beautiful weather, as it often is in Eastern Washington. I've never been really sure about Spokane as a city (too much sprawl), but the people who live there are wonderful and I had a great time. This first picture shows what I mean about too much sprawl - this is "downtown".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQMnaQUrxnMg861w2ysqVM5luqD6fqSV-JEdlxDJ5CItT3moBrZ1jrx3853UgPcnI3mDlnf36fO4-xVhkPR05HkhsTvu5w25dVK4jCcb3Pqz9ID2gtg2Jz2oLLq5eCbNqGaWHqRmpEKQM/s1600/P8080719.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxQMnaQUrxnMg861w2ysqVM5luqD6fqSV-JEdlxDJ5CItT3moBrZ1jrx3853UgPcnI3mDlnf36fO4-xVhkPR05HkhsTvu5w25dVK4jCcb3Pqz9ID2gtg2Jz2oLLq5eCbNqGaWHqRmpEKQM/s320/P8080719.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528875230010528450" border="0" /></a>But, then again - look at the sky!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2zhT5trbKYi8vF_68YV0VjlGHUpsnlYbD9CSadvwmWMVPoZWxwYP1hg0YtILpGi4-okDntUybAkxG8O2Qi0eXB0HwzilIYx7zMVAXC5E0a1nhtO30ugjQuU0HrdZomyV42IrPGAJXXAt/s1600/P8080728.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl2zhT5trbKYi8vF_68YV0VjlGHUpsnlYbD9CSadvwmWMVPoZWxwYP1hg0YtILpGi4-okDntUybAkxG8O2Qi0eXB0HwzilIYx7zMVAXC5E0a1nhtO30ugjQuU0HrdZomyV42IrPGAJXXAt/s320/P8080728.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528875220449999026" border="0" /></a>I forgot my camera in the hotel when I went to the wedding, so I can't show you pictures, but I can tell you, it was a really fun wedding, and I hope the bride and groom will be together forever. They were really cute and seemed to genuinely enjoy each other.<br /><br />Afterward, I went to a friend's aunt's house, and had some DE-licious cake.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdMbfGsYyX_2Lrkdr1g7LOUUmv2nmPEqKFqeJUTsYmkMiCKzNGFydsoM557D0GxxyqOFxZFeq6Z15dT3oyaEsINPa68bS_YJNv-BLEg2bJ5l1JIVaqnGKikABIdJeSZ0-60IPS9qR68bR/s1600/P8080732.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdMbfGsYyX_2Lrkdr1g7LOUUmv2nmPEqKFqeJUTsYmkMiCKzNGFydsoM557D0GxxyqOFxZFeq6Z15dT3oyaEsINPa68bS_YJNv-BLEg2bJ5l1JIVaqnGKikABIdJeSZ0-60IPS9qR68bR/s320/P8080732.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528874633905644274" border="0" /></a>Firefly loved it too. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0AiU0eoGn7YnoG_za47-sqfNiXsO9h6unj_kKoZiDNbfW_r836VAWGRqsCTjqT0Mx5XC2SA1_OQhjrVHs6UMpZUC_yD9jqd4ycq7kubgntBRbDFcneR45Mi2-dl1RfB8wpcrs9cv3W8I/s1600/P8080733.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0AiU0eoGn7YnoG_za47-sqfNiXsO9h6unj_kKoZiDNbfW_r836VAWGRqsCTjqT0Mx5XC2SA1_OQhjrVHs6UMpZUC_yD9jqd4ycq7kubgntBRbDFcneR45Mi2-dl1RfB8wpcrs9cv3W8I/s320/P8080733.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528874626648089570" border="0" /></a>While I was there, I actually did some work! I checked out a slow sand filtration system and met an expert in the field. It was so much fun, and I confirmed that I am, indeed, a giant nerd. The best part was the boat ride to the system.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpbbVBP8qDcpVBGjVJU3z0xmBhSFrw2T7UWeRe5DfF8KN2fFBoYNlsbZwU8dWYsndDhZDKhrnGr7gBFdFEDyyzap9CEdnClBTh79TWKH0H4bmWgZ4iKIZOtidCmhbCko0EE10LgFaZdgA/s1600/P8090737.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpbbVBP8qDcpVBGjVJU3z0xmBhSFrw2T7UWeRe5DfF8KN2fFBoYNlsbZwU8dWYsndDhZDKhrnGr7gBFdFEDyyzap9CEdnClBTh79TWKH0H4bmWgZ4iKIZOtidCmhbCko0EE10LgFaZdgA/s320/P8090737.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528874625530051618" border="0" /></a>I also spent a day with Mary and her daughter - don't you want to hug them!?! We had Red Robin (Yum!), which I love, and afterward found a little chocolate shop where I got a pretzel dipped in caramel and then chocolate. It doesn't get better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwMLaMaQxiqF7kbKrFxm9LDd2mfwhRbzwc2Dm0Rn7thIfgIPCEaCv1D0pgtPTCREulh2X7CuZDUgwxkaV4PPppmTSVahaFirUFj7exouMPrJmGxk6dXdKhfxWGlUEFSbtPfSAnAq7GbQU/s1600/P8090756.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWwMLaMaQxiqF7kbKrFxm9LDd2mfwhRbzwc2Dm0Rn7thIfgIPCEaCv1D0pgtPTCREulh2X7CuZDUgwxkaV4PPppmTSVahaFirUFj7exouMPrJmGxk6dXdKhfxWGlUEFSbtPfSAnAq7GbQU/s320/P8090756.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528874621988193746" border="0" /></a>Back at Mary's house, Kenzie and I modeled the latest in farming fashion. In fact, we submit that this will be the cover of the top-selling issue of Farming Weekly in history. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RaJQcqp8sxUpWJwYOx9gw8bxrrbNwT3uspTx-E3etgVZhpQdUINzbZp8II8WRn1_m_o6O6WuEdB_DDRnhezCjXlVddjqWEbsxSylVZioYKUORkjnwbdFu3kq8l8pmZVDEPYmsvy2tEoI/s1600/P8090781.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RaJQcqp8sxUpWJwYOx9gw8bxrrbNwT3uspTx-E3etgVZhpQdUINzbZp8II8WRn1_m_o6O6WuEdB_DDRnhezCjXlVddjqWEbsxSylVZioYKUORkjnwbdFu3kq8l8pmZVDEPYmsvy2tEoI/s320/P8090781.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528874615533886850" border="0" /></a>It was a good trip with all the essential elements: wonderful friends, good food, fabulous weather, and entertaining things to do.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-42996755889631501812010-10-16T14:48:00.000-07:002010-10-16T16:23:41.380-07:00Travelling (back in time)Some time ago, I made a couple trips within days of each other... Here are the posts about them. First up, Tri-Cities, where we find a group of old friends descending upon the area for a birthday, a baby, and a whole lot of laughter.<br /><br />Andria and I matched at church, reinforcing the fact that we are identical twins despite the drastic differences in our height and coloring.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIYjnBHEAR2GbLnWoxHw5F2PBJmZBGnGAbDgDLv3RRmlOfmQiE6GjBBZDdYlJSLZOjGtMt4KfUrkm3Y9UFGV_AOScH0A8h0YzSFa3Bq8mJiVgQB2PqMZrCj6KW6igyQ6uNC7GUbieoH_k/s1600/P7240663.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTIYjnBHEAR2GbLnWoxHw5F2PBJmZBGnGAbDgDLv3RRmlOfmQiE6GjBBZDdYlJSLZOjGtMt4KfUrkm3Y9UFGV_AOScH0A8h0YzSFa3Bq8mJiVgQB2PqMZrCj6KW6igyQ6uNC7GUbieoH_k/s320/P7240663.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528775837347773042" border="0" /></a>I sat next to Loni's daughter, Alisha, who I would like to kidnap (not really, of course). She is such a doll!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPzwZFo7JtgotfWrxW7BiBtfdhlOb-H9ta0nKg8wMff4DIbm21LNtPiLUJ76E2PXsMnKNdfnMG0d5mYU6JAL9vfBmv0I4A_CRGMPF1rT93JWSoZW7lR-0q2GcLPMABacAEoeO4pbYTRVP/s1600/P7240665.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTPzwZFo7JtgotfWrxW7BiBtfdhlOb-H9ta0nKg8wMff4DIbm21LNtPiLUJ76E2PXsMnKNdfnMG0d5mYU6JAL9vfBmv0I4A_CRGMPF1rT93JWSoZW7lR-0q2GcLPMABacAEoeO4pbYTRVP/s320/P7240665.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528775829094151938" border="0" /></a>While I was there, Andria and I visited Amber at her work, Chandler Reach Vineyards. It was a beautiful warm day, and I wanted to stretch out on the grass and just get warm through and through.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLpaEb8ZSQu_V3KNXi3DsSnwO4vT8fmnQVjIYGq26QjEyt3t4-uEwf5T8M1DgFvF8D0B4RyOYusoeI7iwpxU-wVGr_AaknAFxlR9ud0xeXa_aaGQE9k-l7ZSPkxPktOLybabG2AsNVN3u/s1600/P7240674.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBLpaEb8ZSQu_V3KNXi3DsSnwO4vT8fmnQVjIYGq26QjEyt3t4-uEwf5T8M1DgFvF8D0B4RyOYusoeI7iwpxU-wVGr_AaknAFxlR9ud0xeXa_aaGQE9k-l7ZSPkxPktOLybabG2AsNVN3u/s320/P7240674.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528775823387674162" border="0" /></a>But, since there were people around, I opted for the more socially acceptable option of sitting at a table in the courtyard.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWR0W6MglAzyjJqk0UooCXMqMR15VR88-WYjRii0V8erJskWNDU_pnu1iXvUr9dwN6A6DddTas2km5OoCqfPI7e16IU5R0uRf8p-IGCei3-0pePzYiWWngjKhlE2ozBtG9hShvuR92YiIh/s1600/P7240683.JPG"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWR0W6MglAzyjJqk0UooCXMqMR15VR88-WYjRii0V8erJskWNDU_pnu1iXvUr9dwN6A6DddTas2km5OoCqfPI7e16IU5R0uRf8p-IGCei3-0pePzYiWWngjKhlE2ozBtG9hShvuR92YiIh/s1600/P7240683.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWR0W6MglAzyjJqk0UooCXMqMR15VR88-WYjRii0V8erJskWNDU_pnu1iXvUr9dwN6A6DddTas2km5OoCqfPI7e16IU5R0uRf8p-IGCei3-0pePzYiWWngjKhlE2ozBtG9hShvuR92YiIh/s320/P7240683.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528771774255918850" border="0" /></a>While there, we celebrated Tamara's birthday. She chose Starbucks, mani/pedis, and lunch out for the celebration, and we had a great time. Since she'd just had a sweet baby, there was a lot of birthing discussion. It was educational. Loni got a dessert at the restaurant that was nearly sinful - I forget what it was called, but it was basically mango whipped cream. Yum.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWul6RnNTHq-AEAqFHag-XgtYP0OTt7GxGngXFHw0Ld_2g2oe_LKMdP8-TMASuEwjIG1TPjF9OMp137A5k44zxjPaXwK1x9-at2E8rg3cE1Zl6SlQDXp5NJ4hdU1eu_EVyaN4jeNgy7ze/s1600/P7250688.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWul6RnNTHq-AEAqFHag-XgtYP0OTt7GxGngXFHw0Ld_2g2oe_LKMdP8-TMASuEwjIG1TPjF9OMp137A5k44zxjPaXwK1x9-at2E8rg3cE1Zl6SlQDXp5NJ4hdU1eu_EVyaN4jeNgy7ze/s320/P7250688.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528771768868887362" border="0" /></a>We spent time at Tamara's house, and got to see that Booger continues his quest for world-record status as the Biggest. Cat. Ever.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzB3EgPwGEDN4jOFU2iyvoADLpHNIRHjacHzsqYIDM4QS4_BJ-IRmeo1oVVXc7P6AAatTNZzYw54CnlzU8As7LZb7jR2k1jrjXLWDYJ-dnHsoYh_HF5bVPSiywD2M5b1BnxM-zNRviGw5/s1600/P7250691.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzB3EgPwGEDN4jOFU2iyvoADLpHNIRHjacHzsqYIDM4QS4_BJ-IRmeo1oVVXc7P6AAatTNZzYw54CnlzU8As7LZb7jR2k1jrjXLWDYJ-dnHsoYh_HF5bVPSiywD2M5b1BnxM-zNRviGw5/s320/P7250691.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528771765604313602" border="0" /></a>Little Ian stretched out the most for me that he had yet! He was such a brand new baby that he still preferred the scrunched up position, but here he is going for "tall".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCVgmgdQJg2MvptiVA-1dlz1M1u4qxRfhRrAwwmGxgLGeOp8t6srAMcH6Q4h68iAZUWGsDnIZPJKha8ho9MUjkmyuOI2EU-H2y2CVkPJRtah4ik5GVNVIp__3H8QZWK3DMf-XgmNwlnfv/s1600/P7250696.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCVgmgdQJg2MvptiVA-1dlz1M1u4qxRfhRrAwwmGxgLGeOp8t6srAMcH6Q4h68iAZUWGsDnIZPJKha8ho9MUjkmyuOI2EU-H2y2CVkPJRtah4ik5GVNVIp__3H8QZWK3DMf-XgmNwlnfv/s320/P7250696.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528771758376001746" border="0" /></a>Couldn't resist showing you this picture - baby bottom!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv8-5wqKNjDFLqbp1eHa6-rqR19aj76QNe_LOPP4uTDxo9TZMoA3b8RWGU2ftMMJKxkdsBglfzPUlI-Jub3t-cmI19JMyeCEPlYDoSAl9VqUDT7VLaZNKln7icLeUJYq4W0N6OnDcGQV5/s1600/P7250700.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLv8-5wqKNjDFLqbp1eHa6-rqR19aj76QNe_LOPP4uTDxo9TZMoA3b8RWGU2ftMMJKxkdsBglfzPUlI-Jub3t-cmI19JMyeCEPlYDoSAl9VqUDT7VLaZNKln7icLeUJYq4W0N6OnDcGQV5/s320/P7250700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528771753995590114" border="0" /></a>What a wonderful vacation. Now that I've written this up, I'd like to go back, please.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-63812327133017538992010-09-26T21:28:00.001-07:002010-09-26T21:40:49.343-07:00Recreate a restaurant sandwich...When I worked at that restaurant in the Napa Valley, I had a couple favorite dishes - and up top was the heirloom tomato sandwich. I recreated the sandwich here at home, and after some tweaking, I think it's really good.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bCRZhS63WbACyL7N8QzygOG9bOMUtL2rC9_xtLqTui1bG75sRjjXrb-00MirylbGp_zQeVHns8XOHL-r-DOgLFGRtymAv5hkT73TxM7xRytlbCyowLyNXo7L9qeZ9wOMDNUGHbuA2bP_/s1600/P9200900.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0bCRZhS63WbACyL7N8QzygOG9bOMUtL2rC9_xtLqTui1bG75sRjjXrb-00MirylbGp_zQeVHns8XOHL-r-DOgLFGRtymAv5hkT73TxM7xRytlbCyowLyNXo7L9qeZ9wOMDNUGHbuA2bP_/s320/P9200900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521445756012898066" border="0" /></a><br />Ingredients:<br />Sourdough bread<br />Mayo<br />Garlic<br />Heirloom tomatoes<br />Fresh basil<br />Havarti or fontina<br />Balsamic vinegar<br /><br />1. First - put some garlic through a press, mix it with some mayo. Let that sit.<br /><br />2. Lightly toast a piece of bread, spread with "garlic aioli". Next, slice the tomatoes. Here you can go two routes. If you're going to do it traditionally, you'll reduce the balsamic vinegar to make a syrup. If you're going to do it the easy way (how I did it this week), drench the tomatoes in vinegar and let them drip off a bit before setting on the bread. Add cheese, then make a basil chiffonade and sprinkle over the top. In the picture above, I used olive oil, but I don't recommend it - looks nice but the flavor just isn't right. Finally, pop the whole thing in the toaster oven until the cheese is soft but not melted and EAT UP!<br /><br />3. Die of deliciousness.<br /><br />I realize that middle step is really long, but this is my first "recipe", so bear with me. :)merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-35763734813428246402010-09-26T21:15:00.000-07:002010-09-26T21:27:14.323-07:00SunshineYesterday may have been the most beautiful day in Port Townsend ALL YEAR! It was warm (okay, like 68 degrees - that's warm for PT), it was sunny, it was gorgeous! A couple friends (including my mom, and a couple people my age and their mom) came up for the evening and we spent some time at Fort Worden, first at the lighthouse watching ships go by, then exploring the bunkers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RG2dpVE7D0duSC_tnNrx6BoN5C21SksktNGyuywvSQmMonFv4GTrESziI_eIOCRfpCrGCpa3av44rqDaST9CV6nPLAcvsxEfqtFQv94HjtVw60qYyxfhiSv6dhLASPD-L1UjDVwX2sX2/s1600/P9250913.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0RG2dpVE7D0duSC_tnNrx6BoN5C21SksktNGyuywvSQmMonFv4GTrESziI_eIOCRfpCrGCpa3av44rqDaST9CV6nPLAcvsxEfqtFQv94HjtVw60qYyxfhiSv6dhLASPD-L1UjDVwX2sX2/s320/P9250913.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521442498499088882" border="0" /></a>Then we headed downtown, where I thought "Oh man, I forgot my coat!" but I didn't end up needing it at all! The Port Townsend Film Festival was underway, and we caught some of the outdoor movie festivities between ice cream and dinner. Yes, we did have dessert first and it was wonderful!<br /><br />We had dinner at The Fountain Cafe, which was described by one online site as a "foodie" place. We enjoyed the food, and even better, had great conversation! Topics included Facebook, the Napa Valley, travel, and carbonated beverages.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CLOSw09pBQUmdplGGJbe1cvfxZ-xSBmUbcz4l_bnGu7Z3Tgwa4o_qmXydNGed0DVtsC_i2ZgSwpTQiMKnPEizkwdu6iliMIZS75RnEKT-0c5KPMxZiOuIKkXPXtYHQ9ts6-AXraAYN7I/s1600/P9250916.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5CLOSw09pBQUmdplGGJbe1cvfxZ-xSBmUbcz4l_bnGu7Z3Tgwa4o_qmXydNGed0DVtsC_i2ZgSwpTQiMKnPEizkwdu6iliMIZS75RnEKT-0c5KPMxZiOuIKkXPXtYHQ9ts6-AXraAYN7I/s320/P9250916.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521442492895305330" border="0" /></a>Fun people, delicious food, I came home and went to bed happy.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-76941593432719952312010-09-26T20:59:00.000-07:002010-09-26T21:12:00.129-07:00Good friends! (In matching clothes!)I matched friends twice recently! The first time was on purpose - I saw Firefly wearing her pretty purple top, so I got out my purple top. Then, we took a picture to document it. Look how tall she is! (I'm pretty sure she'd want me to point that out to you.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTbHLgYCEsQ8_bZSqaQx_4i8Pyoi3YgHlZBekuv_W0VBQWZ9ITHx5gDJ2LFjYZke0RKABnom4g_Z5tTw3N3dDpq12EP3F37_1iHl2_e3P7mpou2xzhXgJ_fxKlyZhlQwZstcJo2AjWtUt/s1600/P9180899.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTbHLgYCEsQ8_bZSqaQx_4i8Pyoi3YgHlZBekuv_W0VBQWZ9ITHx5gDJ2LFjYZke0RKABnom4g_Z5tTw3N3dDpq12EP3F37_1iHl2_e3P7mpou2xzhXgJ_fxKlyZhlQwZstcJo2AjWtUt/s320/P9180899.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521439723853931186" border="0" /></a>The next time was a coincidence at work! During our pizza lunch, my co-workers and I realized we totally matched! Purple, Huskies sweatshirt, and gray. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk13FUuMmOULt_6DseA48F4kaW1wDwN882IXq4W5msCbu8wwsVldqBgrADiXN1J-extT38ytaGhF2ujO_RZ0nOH8-vCmV4M2b48M_zN6DV-4nn0zJfUgLtsTdtSiNGfvD3OEBk9v8iPRdI/s1600/P9230902.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk13FUuMmOULt_6DseA48F4kaW1wDwN882IXq4W5msCbu8wwsVldqBgrADiXN1J-extT38ytaGhF2ujO_RZ0nOH8-vCmV4M2b48M_zN6DV-4nn0zJfUgLtsTdtSiNGfvD3OEBk9v8iPRdI/s320/P9230902.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521439714321049954" border="0" /></a>I may be partial to other Washington teams (go Cougs!) but for this occasion, I was happy to be wearing the colors.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-27190619624945671152010-09-18T09:09:00.000-07:002010-09-18T10:11:18.286-07:00Kimberly and Mary Heather's Totally Excellent AdventureIt was a must anticipated event - no sleep for four days, or at least we both woke up at 4am (and then went back to sleep).<br /><br />Kim & MH were headed to the Jefferson County Quilt Show, hosted by Cabin Fever Quilters. Because it was going to be a big day, we got up early and set out for provisions to sustain us on our arduous journey. Undertown provided Bob's Bagels and a mocha for MH:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UGs3keCXUat33Sa1PoGkGkjoyOYYBX5kJPqdg_jUeu35np22NIJDpvC-ADjY0VhZZ1y9wZaBEnmtethQih1jYRDHhyphenhyphenuV-kaPuvR2LGqjP8aw8yIpK5btKjHZ5uYjWFuL_LCnQplAWxWd/s1600/P9170892.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UGs3keCXUat33Sa1PoGkGkjoyOYYBX5kJPqdg_jUeu35np22NIJDpvC-ADjY0VhZZ1y9wZaBEnmtethQih1jYRDHhyphenhyphenuV-kaPuvR2LGqjP8aw8yIpK5btKjHZ5uYjWFuL_LCnQplAWxWd/s320/P9170892.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518288924863182786" border="0" /></a>and a chai for Kim:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEf2i9ncYy95l6SgBfm-6iDrpxqjSAHUrKTCagvfY0CdODf-Utoz-vEq721lBDdC5FBS3DXSuswgf88cyHzNvvwprdwyculXDdvo59lC3anlJklRGvCUR033S-lYQQrdWHHCMSaST3KJAR/s1600/P9170893.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEf2i9ncYy95l6SgBfm-6iDrpxqjSAHUrKTCagvfY0CdODf-Utoz-vEq721lBDdC5FBS3DXSuswgf88cyHzNvvwprdwyculXDdvo59lC3anlJklRGvCUR033S-lYQQrdWHHCMSaST3KJAR/s320/P9170893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518288919393601106" border="0" /></a>On our endeavor to stimulate the failing economy, we decided to start with low point and build from there, so we started at the fairgrounds. The economy hasn't been kind, and there weren't many vendors at the quilt show. Neither of us bought anything, and we ended up leaving after the first door prize drawing, which we didn't win. Boo.<br /><br />On to bigger and better stores!!<br /><br />Next we went for crafting supplies at Crafts Cottage. The economy may be a theme here - because Crafts Cottage is going out of business, largely due to the economy. We did our part to help them close in style and spent quite a while looking at everything in the store.<br /><br />Then, we headed out of town, but not too far, and stopped at Kala Point for a quilt shop and some lunch. It's the quilt shop that MH shops at the most locally, so she wanted to show Kim. After that it was time to restock up on provisions again. We had Panini sandwiches with Havarti, spinach, some olive spread, yellow squash, and eggplant. They weren't bad (MH says "they were good!") as long as you didn't look at the guts falling out. The lady at the deli told us about a yarn shop across the way where we were temporarily delayed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cZSKwDSggqPd2JFF-kfcZ7snGXjxKGWuyq5DUPDN34Rcu_-X58_iSmySX6kBh1tQeTWgRyuxP3Ww22eEIrBXlPcs_fitgj0Ps0C3s3YuS3CWdREZPdspL1OKPCDIUNJhSwjpOoSpezFI/s1600/P9170895.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4cZSKwDSggqPd2JFF-kfcZ7snGXjxKGWuyq5DUPDN34Rcu_-X58_iSmySX6kBh1tQeTWgRyuxP3Ww22eEIrBXlPcs_fitgj0Ps0C3s3YuS3CWdREZPdspL1OKPCDIUNJhSwjpOoSpezFI/s320/P9170895.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518288911323361362" border="0" /></a>Kimberly was overcome with her love for new quilt shops when we arrived at our next stop, Quilted Strait's new location in Port Gamble. Kimberly had to stop and take a nap in the store while Mary Heather tried to decide what to leave on the shelves for other patrons to buy (MH says "That's not true! I didn't buy that much! I've bought WAY more at other stores! And weren't you taking forever deciding blue or green?"). After she finally ("Whatever!") made her selections the duo set out to revive Kimberly with a sugar high from Sluys Bakery in Poulsbo. The whirlwind shop-till-you-drop adventure continued with Rubber Soul and Heirloom quilt shop in Poulsbo. Then just in case there was a crafting deal we might not have found yet, we hopped over to Silverdale where we concluded our adventure with stops at Joann's and Michael's. At Michael's, Kimberly and Mary Heather were all over a bin of cheap stamps like white on rice. And to think they almost missed spotting that bin on the way to the checkout stand.<br /><br />Would you like to see the loot? Of course you would! (This part is especially for Karrina - we've been thinking of you during the whole post. If you're anything like Kim, you'll zoom in on the picture and figure out what everything is and have questions and opinions about it all!)<br /><br />First up, crafty stuff! We smushed it together - MH's spoils are mostly on the left, Kim's on the right.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOD76O7dLOTRILR3yUkM_k-3xgJibD3OzFMqFJcggK0NgB_2PLbY_n5zqGFMcn_xJ3VgbEQ8M8qL01CXMBzD-z84wQzjjiUlJ5TYy_oz8f9EEHEhq3hoisSX97Jrr-iQtlfkUzV289-643/s1600/P9170896.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOD76O7dLOTRILR3yUkM_k-3xgJibD3OzFMqFJcggK0NgB_2PLbY_n5zqGFMcn_xJ3VgbEQ8M8qL01CXMBzD-z84wQzjjiUlJ5TYy_oz8f9EEHEhq3hoisSX97Jrr-iQtlfkUzV289-643/s320/P9170896.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518288904184847554" border="0" /></a>And, fabric!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRZXmianSLw_sZjq2V6P9a3057aRj9nQPRp1TyO4Df8QdaW2VDGuG5jb0vrb1p6YpDeyx51EsnaPd7f_UKPPva_ewsa12sJbyTnPy8iwnxqmabOSqSgIZdIVmrIcoR4GSazB6-f9sNjPQ/s1600/P9170897.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRZXmianSLw_sZjq2V6P9a3057aRj9nQPRp1TyO4Df8QdaW2VDGuG5jb0vrb1p6YpDeyx51EsnaPd7f_UKPPva_ewsa12sJbyTnPy8iwnxqmabOSqSgIZdIVmrIcoR4GSazB6-f9sNjPQ/s320/P9170897.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5518288894346303634" border="0" /></a>MH observed on the way home, "I can buy new projects so much faster than I can get anything done." The reason we're telling you this now is: You may not see finished products from these supplies for a while. At least from MH.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-51783673623386944162010-09-14T17:49:00.000-07:002010-09-14T18:18:03.070-07:00Checking in with my camera...In case you were curious what I've been up to, I figured I'd see what my camera has to say - in chronological order of recent history, I went to a TangoHeart concert, and they lost my reservation, which was the best thing that could have happened! I ended up in the best seat in the house - here's my view, without zooming:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9Gef8tIolKGILGm05mBGSd41bUJtPhRPMzPgqgR2Rm7Aze6O-ivYW0w7tTuOHeKCkOvbuNJ1cFIZe9AbDnYwbCeNw5lC6hvUpNAMjozTYqifWqA3O7XgLpW4E0meUXuw-lO_llzmmJ7K/s1600/P8250840.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz9Gef8tIolKGILGm05mBGSd41bUJtPhRPMzPgqgR2Rm7Aze6O-ivYW0w7tTuOHeKCkOvbuNJ1cFIZe9AbDnYwbCeNw5lC6hvUpNAMjozTYqifWqA3O7XgLpW4E0meUXuw-lO_llzmmJ7K/s320/P8250840.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516940657078515890" border="0" /></a>I've done several trips to and from Bellevue (been going to 24/7 for a year now) and the weather was beautiful on many occasions:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9ThTzgOX219KvB6HNyIZhkNnnsBXMoDZBG7hT1uhZWfbstBYDMXykFqeWuqloAuOcK7tTdAApBWkcy4gBGWDONmfmIKGKSt4odFhT4KImFUxJ91kphuttc-si-s2wgWHThtd6BNT1WHw/s1600/P8280862.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9ThTzgOX219KvB6HNyIZhkNnnsBXMoDZBG7hT1uhZWfbstBYDMXykFqeWuqloAuOcK7tTdAApBWkcy4gBGWDONmfmIKGKSt4odFhT4KImFUxJ91kphuttc-si-s2wgWHThtd6BNT1WHw/s320/P8280862.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516940648519616178" border="0" /></a>I threw a totally awesome baby shower, complete with the most delicious cupcakes I've made EVER. I don't even have a picture of the best ones, but here are the chocolate:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnp2GUVhy_z2PMgYaynpqqogZHU-BUTY0cc8cKGk8M93XoQmQfMfEV9Lq4j1YXbo3Uxy4vFR0UgkShXtZve1xPzrhwfDrvytXj90EBHc7XqX_hJ8bsZ0bxTY_0NV2km2Rus43tskyi59s/s1600/P8280881.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxnp2GUVhy_z2PMgYaynpqqogZHU-BUTY0cc8cKGk8M93XoQmQfMfEV9Lq4j1YXbo3Uxy4vFR0UgkShXtZve1xPzrhwfDrvytXj90EBHc7XqX_hJ8bsZ0bxTY_0NV2km2Rus43tskyi59s/s320/P8280881.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516940646175874450" border="0" /></a>(The best were vanilla - funfetti with lemon buttercream frosting and I LOVED the frosting. I usually don't like frosting.)<br /><br />One Saturday night, mom and I went out and got in touch with our southern rock sides and checked out the band "Kane" at a free concert on the beach. The lead singer is an actor on Leverage, a show that I watch pretty regularly. The concert was pretty good - and we looked hot, for being so cold.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZttv5PFGF_as-jU1NEzxiDWJ_mCQuUZioWl5_3da-PL3VtXCXYIaybMwl-utf1gPyCz6rLMebLn5DEeWXifuTmjxKKddbSALQchDpxUsdNmd8SZdCHAKi__eSdo8m-VHXcd1sRgjDt6O/s1600/P9040885.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiZttv5PFGF_as-jU1NEzxiDWJ_mCQuUZioWl5_3da-PL3VtXCXYIaybMwl-utf1gPyCz6rLMebLn5DEeWXifuTmjxKKddbSALQchDpxUsdNmd8SZdCHAKi__eSdo8m-VHXcd1sRgjDt6O/s320/P9040885.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516940634868682130" border="0" /></a>Most recently, a group from 24/7 came over to visit me and we finished the day at Elevated Ice Cream. I had Swiss Orange Chocolate Chip and Amaretto Hazelnut with hot fudge, almonds, whipped cream, and jimmies. YUM. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9EcYMcyGPpvmK5Yja4CufzqJvqiNGVAYBBJe37HnjnJzTMdVSP4G2mseBaBEEJwSVUiNnl2OnfRTJex_ZeoQ5fe3fQKyCE6Yw5Mnj3pOQLXg3Fpv8x3wAXblB3b0J8rbk_WRlHWnutxX/s1600/P9110891.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9EcYMcyGPpvmK5Yja4CufzqJvqiNGVAYBBJe37HnjnJzTMdVSP4G2mseBaBEEJwSVUiNnl2OnfRTJex_ZeoQ5fe3fQKyCE6Yw5Mnj3pOQLXg3Fpv8x3wAXblB3b0J8rbk_WRlHWnutxX/s320/P9110891.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516940627636000450" border="0" /></a>So, that's me checking in. How have things been with you?merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-10861711166359152452010-07-04T21:36:00.000-07:002010-07-04T21:47:22.399-07:00More Loot - and what I plan to do with it...Since you know me pretty well, you know I did not limit myself to the Neptune purchase while I was shop hopping. I also bought a layer cake - also a Tula Pink design, but this is her latest - Plume. I got it at the Bellevue shop, Quiltworks Northwest, which I liked very much. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFB4-d4WxMQ-uiedOSujzaWzpeDPsvAoBBHSGwQi6lCtySqlhu0yqmr6WQp14gqYmASp_4pUQ2CxS7h0acMOMWL2TAiUkywgbPWy1E9NXZJZA0dK_GOd3cRjj18anKqNKypVg5PXXC6ZnE/s1600/P6280599.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFB4-d4WxMQ-uiedOSujzaWzpeDPsvAoBBHSGwQi6lCtySqlhu0yqmr6WQp14gqYmASp_4pUQ2CxS7h0acMOMWL2TAiUkywgbPWy1E9NXZJZA0dK_GOd3cRjj18anKqNKypVg5PXXC6ZnE/s320/P6280599.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490277033129423314" border="0" /></a>I bought the layer cake with this quilt in mind - I like the fun circles - although I'm not sure if I'll be able to let myself do raw edge applique. I may end up modifying the pattern a little bit. I haven't gotten the binding or backing yet - but all in good time. :) Suppose I ought to get some sewing done. ( I know, right!?!)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioy5zlOmrB1TZPpRhcRozql2_o-lYtTbT6IGq8_s5Z20K8whiKwPlRHEV47p_IQFnW2bGoABtYQE_Hhm4gcuf3hcUqPq_hXpY9UjlBurTGUvEby7THL85Htbib33lJqOqqmQuaOIySsEhb/s1600/pattern.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 246px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioy5zlOmrB1TZPpRhcRozql2_o-lYtTbT6IGq8_s5Z20K8whiKwPlRHEV47p_IQFnW2bGoABtYQE_Hhm4gcuf3hcUqPq_hXpY9UjlBurTGUvEby7THL85Htbib33lJqOqqmQuaOIySsEhb/s320/pattern.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490277025905715730" border="0" /></a>My camera battery died, so I can't show you all the fabric I got a Quiltworks - but this is part of it. One fat quarter, and one quarter yard that I'm planning to use for another coin purse from the pattern I got in Sisters, OR.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfMFMS2uDa17hJ9We_OPT2hGtekrkCqkJ6oK3IaRO7dLnXeEUEjLoAm8yFodZs3yOeaTr_pr7ZxawdaTKxFTymX5B4a6YnVLI23XLInXNrIwxlNmkMj_XTMrQIGAFMr5GZ_YW6bE1eN-X/s1600/P6280616.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghfMFMS2uDa17hJ9We_OPT2hGtekrkCqkJ6oK3IaRO7dLnXeEUEjLoAm8yFodZs3yOeaTr_pr7ZxawdaTKxFTymX5B4a6YnVLI23XLInXNrIwxlNmkMj_XTMrQIGAFMr5GZ_YW6bE1eN-X/s320/P6280616.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490277015989511986" border="0" /></a>Fun stuff!merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3869889440069499607.post-9884949179413309462010-07-04T20:52:00.000-07:002010-07-04T21:33:43.924-07:00Smooth sailing... sort of.If I've never told you about the time I got stranded at sea - let me summarize: Small boat, no motor. We got in the water around 5 on a Friday - followed the big boats around, but when the wind died they all went in and we were stuck with one paddle. Then, the tide changed and the sun went down, and I don't know how to sail. The man I was with was wearing prescription sunglasses and had nothing else. I did make it home around 11:30, freezing cold, quite hungry, and wet.<br /><br />So, I'm telling this story to a couple guys after work last week and one asks, "Do you want to go sailing Friday after work?" I was like "Yeah!" "Wait! Do you have a motor?" "Yes? Okay!"<br /><br />Friday did not disappoint in the weather department. It was beautiful when I arrived at the (just go ahead and pardon my lack of boat jargon knowledge) boat parking area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpV4HwwytWh6Vl-44gHQ5qXlmIoMgGkoTVzoZBB7TbPwreQ-nMNHA4CQkxcgTDFAQFdhr8oKCtneAScPGOFbuk6_oS_XbaYybDj6FBVNoVru_mgjMcxcuVuH3S0h4jCbGjMBImfLjdg4sU/s1600/P7020630.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpV4HwwytWh6Vl-44gHQ5qXlmIoMgGkoTVzoZBB7TbPwreQ-nMNHA4CQkxcgTDFAQFdhr8oKCtneAScPGOFbuk6_oS_XbaYybDj6FBVNoVru_mgjMcxcuVuH3S0h4jCbGjMBImfLjdg4sU/s320/P7020630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490268706015025762" border="0" /></a>I headed over, reminded the guy that I can't sail for my life and he said I was still invited, so off we went. It's what I call "the Friday night saily thingy", but turns out, it's a RACE! I totally looked the part. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zo-xslKRFJ7pEasz1pWTHxnsTlKnT02lZFJA9JDo0Bdoy-7x8YVqLk3bsWvgvg-rfTeMSqCKiOvwFEB01wyii1hY15j_06QrkZ2zgP6IoDZ9nZaaS65ZuaM1s_MYIj3Sw0RcVauFJJZk/s1600/P7020634.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zo-xslKRFJ7pEasz1pWTHxnsTlKnT02lZFJA9JDo0Bdoy-7x8YVqLk3bsWvgvg-rfTeMSqCKiOvwFEB01wyii1hY15j_06QrkZ2zgP6IoDZ9nZaaS65ZuaM1s_MYIj3Sw0RcVauFJJZk/s320/P7020634.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490268697855344418" border="0" /></a>Scott, boat owner and man in charge, had two helpers - the young woman you see below, and the young man in the next picture. I did very menial things like "pull on the red and white rope", while they jibbed and hoisted and reefed and did all manner of sailor-y things.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFjSaG_-T2AClrAsvFn4uBJX69ZPCrSRqZyhBhVNQ55NSRp03XT8c1qbjghlnGcN4fPL5jZSMk_c2WtMJAkrqcxhis-sDNUkpHKZi16TqY9WGGb1krSHtZiO7hB-ISJFN7r1UfkolQgGh/s1600/P7020635.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFjSaG_-T2AClrAsvFn4uBJX69ZPCrSRqZyhBhVNQ55NSRp03XT8c1qbjghlnGcN4fPL5jZSMk_c2WtMJAkrqcxhis-sDNUkpHKZi16TqY9WGGb1krSHtZiO7hB-ISJFN7r1UfkolQgGh/s320/P7020635.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490268686406533458" border="0" /></a>I did learn the difference between the three sails, although I'm having trouble remembering their names now... there was the main, the jib and the spinnaker (thank you, wikipedia!). <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSIt1eOixy41vTuFZqxwTS8D3h28hcGF2nYrHzVyTMxv0I1ZNDMXpn6B_Pkxonk-GSGq3mbWQQdAysZU-caWe0JpuVRw17XbSZEq1lqwfKPLymXg_awijRyxO1aSEvoEhX_4GfMZBCtLf/s1600/P7020639.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXSIt1eOixy41vTuFZqxwTS8D3h28hcGF2nYrHzVyTMxv0I1ZNDMXpn6B_Pkxonk-GSGq3mbWQQdAysZU-caWe0JpuVRw17XbSZEq1lqwfKPLymXg_awijRyxO1aSEvoEhX_4GfMZBCtLf/s320/P7020639.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490267988772421458" border="0" /></a>So, the race... What happens is, you head out into Port Townsend bay and there is a committee boat with "directions" on the back (in this case 2SWYF, or something) and then you follow the directions, and I'm not really sure what you win besides the bragging rights. In our case, the W meant this yellow thing:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiA4p_fraS581OnbVSfsgM5ENVu1zMqj1cl2AXuGOfVKb7H8CNP5rlh-WLdVTGa32YClKfifi_ZY8Dvt9IlTkPwMolxrnA1S8Z7909rifIYC177wed2T0nF5mNIw1Q8UUU17mXFmoDhN5g/s1600/P7020638.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiA4p_fraS581OnbVSfsgM5ENVu1zMqj1cl2AXuGOfVKb7H8CNP5rlh-WLdVTGa32YClKfifi_ZY8Dvt9IlTkPwMolxrnA1S8Z7909rifIYC177wed2T0nF5mNIw1Q8UUU17mXFmoDhN5g/s320/P7020638.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490267980435728018" border="0" /></a>So, we had to start, go around the yellow thing, go around another thing, then finish. Then, the 2 meant we'd do it all again with another start and everything. Well, we had a bad start the first time (and by that I mean we started last) but finished near the middle of the pack. Then, the wind died. So we sat around for a while. All of the sudden, the wind came back with a vengeance! So, we reefed the sail (by we, I mean they) and while that happened Scott fell which was not cool. Then, we were going really fast and tipped over way far and sitting all up on one side of the boat, and you have a blind spot - as you can see from this photo:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_RlEpzkM8NDFtyFW5HK8VwiBXCv6UbNKvJh1RwccmWEjLeCPcOtGXMIi-XbtV197MGEg2Uu23vb3KjmLNyhzcAGtvpxPAaW0lRpqTjejAqQCyKgnmwaYVCpS2zGbweY_Ce0EjF86tjIv/s1600/P7020637.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_RlEpzkM8NDFtyFW5HK8VwiBXCv6UbNKvJh1RwccmWEjLeCPcOtGXMIi-XbtV197MGEg2Uu23vb3KjmLNyhzcAGtvpxPAaW0lRpqTjejAqQCyKgnmwaYVCpS2zGbweY_Ce0EjF86tjIv/s320/P7020637.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5490267972882295426" border="0" /></a>So, imagine our surprise when we're flying along and all of the sudden hear a crash as we hit another boat traveling perpendicular to our boat. Needless to say, I discovered that sailors really do swear like sailors! But, the people involved were super chill about it and went to work on straightening it out. There was some damage to each boat, involving things like a bulkhead and a cleat, so I took my limited sailing knowledge and headed for home, where I had trouble calming down because it was so exciting!<br /><br />Before any of that ever happened, I was thinking, the phrase "leisurely sail"? Not really possible. Because either you're constantly adjusting the sails and ropes and this and that, or there's no wind and you're not really sailing. <br /><br />That being said, I loved it, and I think I can't wait to go again.merryheathrehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00871382346531432391noreply@blogger.com2