Done, Done and Done

Did ALL my xmas shopping online, Thursday night! Took me 30 minutes and I was finished for the season. Thanksgiving dinner was spectacular, lots of food and good company. Outside lights are up, all that's left is to put up the tree. That takes maybe an hour? There is a surprise this xmas, but it won't be here for a week or so. So..all the time consuming traditions are done. All that's left is all the cheesy xmas movies on the Hallmark channel  to watch with hot tea and cocoa while knitting/crocheting.  This is the first year I have been done BEFORE December started!

I was a good girl and refrained from ordering anything for myself. I avoided Knitpicks because it's like kryptonite to me. I can't resist it. It's too much temptation. As for the other stores, nothing I wanted. All the gadgets I have are fine and in good working order. Clothes are serviceable, everything else is good.  Made it very easy to shop for me this year *laughs*

I do have to go grocery shopping, its pet food weekend. After many efforts of trial and error, I have managed to coincide the time when both the dog and cats need food. One trip for them all. Fact is, I just hate shopping. I used to not hate it, I actually was a champion shopper. I'm not sure when it because a hated chore, but it did. Now I would rather just order what I need online and have it delivered.  I'm not sure if it's just the fact the stores are full of people that could careless if they are blocking the aisles, or let their kids run rampant through a store oblivious to the havoc they are causing, or people that will run into you because you didn't jump out of their way. It's a bit of all the above. I've gotten tired of people running into me and me having to apologize.

I do want to go see the xmas lights at some point. Now that is peaceful since it's after most stuff has closed. The zoo lights are supposed to be really good this year, I'm tempted to do that as well. Take a thermos of hot cocoa and go see the lights.  Must check with family to see the schedule.

Bah, now it's off to the grocery, the most of all hated tasks. I'm really thinking of starting to use the Safeway delivery option again. It's rather nice.

Chocolate Hazelnut Snack Mix

Again, Apartment Therapy has done it again. I swear, they are becoming my go to place for cool recipes. I'd never heard of this stuff before. Anything, though, with Nutella in it - is automatically in my good graces.

Dark Chocolate & Nutella Puppy Chow

Makes about 5 cups

5 cups Chex cereal
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
2 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (such as Nutella)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Place the cereal in a large bowl. In a small bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, 1/4 cup powdered sugar and 1/4 teaspoon salt and pour into a gallon-size zip-top bag.

Place the dark chocolate, Nutella and butter in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30 second bursts until the chocolate and butter have melted. (If you don't have a microwave, melt the mixture in a double boiler instead.) Add the vanilla and stir until smooth. Immediately pour over the cereal and stir gently until evenly coated. Transfer the cereal to the zip-top bag and shake until well-coated with the cocoa powder mixture. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon powdered sugar and shake again.

Spread puppy chow onto a baking sheet and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Let cool completely. Puppy chow tastes best within 1 to 2 days of making it, but will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Mac n Cheese

I'm always searching for the perfect mac n cheese. This might be it!  It's all thanks to Apartment Therapy.

Creamy No-Roux Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese

Serves 4 to 6

What You Need

Ingredients

1 pound pasta, any shape
1 1/2 cups whole or 2% milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2-3 cups shredded cheese, like cheddar, Monterrey jack, or Colby (Colby Jack is PERFECT)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon powdered mustard

Instructions

1. Boil the Pasta: Bring about 4 quarts of water to a boil over high heat in the pasta pot. Add the pasta and a tablespoon of salt. Cook until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain and set aside.

2. Warm the Milk: When the pasta has finished cooking, prepare the cheese sauce. Begin warming 1 cup of the milk in the saucepan over medium heat. Whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup of milk and the flour until there are no lumps. When you just start to see tendrils of steam rising from the warming milk, whisk in the milk-and-flour mixture. Continue whisking gently until the milk thickens slightly to the consistency of heavy cream, 3-4 minutes.

3. Make the Cheese Sauce: Turn the heat to low and begin mixing handfuls of cheese into the milk. Stir in the salt and mustard. Stir until all the cheese has melted and the sauce is creamy. Taste and adjust the seasonings as desired. Remove the sauce from heat.

4. Combine the Pasta and Cheese Sauce: In a large serving bowl, combine the pasta and 1/2 of the cheese sauce. Stir to coat the pasta evenly. Add the second half of the sauce and any extra add-ins.

5. Serving and Storing Leftovers: Serve the mac and cheese immediately while still warm. Leftovers will keep for up to a week and can be reheated in the microwave. If the sauce is a little dry after re-heating, mix in a splash of milk to make it creamy again.

Additional Notes:

• Baked Mac and Cheese: If you have a little extra time, you can bake the macaroni and cheese to give it a golden crust. Pour the prepared mac and cheese into a casserole dish, cover with a lid or foil, and bake at 350°F for 1/2 hour. Remove the covering, sprinkle with breadcrumbs and a few pats of butter, and bake uncovered for another 15-20 minutes until the top is golden and the interior is bubbly.

Sunshine, Sweaters and Coffee

It's a picture perfect day here. Warm enough just for a light sweater and sunglasses and sipping your coffee outside in the sunshine. Yeah, it's really weird, usually it's rainy, grey and at least cool enough for a good thick hoodie.

I'm still knitting on the log cabin quilt. It's a slow knit because I haven't been watching as much tv lately. I'm going to settle down with it and knit tonight. I also have two gifts to knit for xmas this year. Luckily, they are easily knit, just need the yarn. Both are in a bulky yarn, so they should make up rather quickly. Gotta love the bulky stuff for quickie knits.

Coffee love today was a tall salted caramel white mocha. I've switched to a tall, it's cheaper and way less calories. Once I looked at the calorie count on what I "was" drinking, I about had a heart attack. Damn! Speaking of that, Burger King and I are officially divorced. That relationship just isn't a healthy one. Well it was healthy on their end, they got my cash. Was NOT healthy on my end, I really don't want to discuss the calorie count on their stuff. "shudders"

I'm also embarking on a new quest. I'm going to learn GIMP. I've been flirting with it for a year or so, but now I'm really going to give it a concerned effort. Photoshop has just gotten ridiculous with it's pricing. I hate the monthly fee they have switched to. I want to own my software, not rent it. I still have my old Photoshop CS2 that I can fall back on if need be, but I'm determined to go it with GIMP this time around.  It's a HUGE ASS learning curve, but it needs to be done. Thank god for deviant art and the nine million tutorials they have.

I'm also considering switching my laptop to linux. I really don't use it that much and want to have linux product in the house again. I need to refresh my coding, I've gotten so damn lazy with it. shame on me.

Also loving the new 4.3 update for the S3. I doubt I will be using the google gear, but it's nice to have the option. I have to say, I really do love Android the best. Not that IOS is not good, the iphone is a remarkable product. I just love the fact I can tweak and android to my tastes.  After all IOS has Catacademy, the only way to learn spanish! *laughs*

It's almost the Holiday season!

No matter what the retailers want me to think, I know that the holiday season does not officially start until the day AFTER Thanksgiving. So therefore, I simply refuse to feed into the hype. I will on Friday, I swear.

I discovered a new author, Dannika Dark . I started with the first novel in her new series, The Seven Series. I totally fell in love with her characters. It wasn't love at first sight, more like love from about halfway through. Naturally, I had to go get the rest of her books which is another series she has been writing. She truly spins a good story and her imagination is fantastic.

My living room is coming together, slowly but surely. I just need to change out the curtains to a winter red. Red is my winter theme, while blue seems to be summer. While neither is exclusive, each color is the major accessory color. I'm just going to live with the fact that my living room is eclectic and never going to be House Beautiful material. No matter how hard I try, it's never going to make that list. Oh well, comfy is not a bad thing.

I spent a good three hours today organizing my music. I had no idea I had so much of it, but I guess I've been collecting music for long enough that's it's a collection now. I did get smart and have it backed up in not one but two places. PC/external hard drive and a large SD card. Oh wait, four..I forgot the cloud server. If you have ever had a crash and burn happen, you become OCD about backing up stuff.

Also gave the cats a bath again today. You would think by the fourth time around, they would both realize they are a: not drowning, b: not dying, c: not giving up one of their nine lives or d: handing over a first born kitten. Sheesh, the amount of howling, hissing, growling and dirty looks is worthy of an oscar. Five minutes after though, they both want cuddles to help them get over the trauma of it all. Nothing like a damp cat on your lap to make your Saturday!

I saw Thor finally yesterday. OMG! The Marvel team just knocks these productions out of the park. The casting, the storylines, the costumes, the sets are all just spot on. I admit, I have yet to read one of the marvel comic books. I know, shame on me. I'm more of a movie production kind of marvel fan. *laughs*

One thing that I hate about the cinema, which I rarely go to, is the previews. Not that I mind the previews for what they are, it's just that they make me want to see a million other things.  One the list: Polar Bears and Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit. Both were worthy of "cinema ticket" and not just "dvd". Yep, that's how I rate a movie. If I'm willing to pay 8 to 10.50 to sit in a cinema with usually rude people, you know I think it's going to be fantastic. Although yesterday, there were exactly six people in the cinema for Thor. It was midday on a Friday..I must remember that!  It was a really nice experience, to be honest. I skipped the mortgage required snack bar. Not in my wildest dreams would I pay 5.00 for a coke unless it came with whiskey, vodka or some other alcohol involved.  Nope, I just went for the movie and I totally enjoyed it.

I also managed three days of the week at the gym! Go me. I know, it's such a tiny accomplishment to most people, but to me, it rocked. I want to go again today. That bullshit of "once you start, you will like it" is true. Damn it. The first five minutes suck ass, but once you get your tunes going and a rhythm, it's actually pretty cool. My thing is I get so bored. I was counting suv's that drove by. I counted 172 in five minutes. Apparently Oregon is not quite on the "more miles per gallon is better" thing.   I'm hoping to go again today or tomorrow.

And now, it's off to tackle housework, I do the heavy cleaning on Saturdays. In my house that means, emptying the dishwasher, hoovering and laundry. It's soooo strenuous. Might bake today as well, depends.

Dear Applebee's

Giving a heads up that there are mushrooms in the risotto would have been nice. My dinner was a failure. Boo. Mushrooms are a fungus. Athletes foot is a fungus. Do we see a connection. ANNNND, the statement "mushrooms will not kill you",is a false statement.  They do!!!!!!  Ick, just ick. 

Happy Holidays to me!

The sofa finally happened!!! Yes, I finally caved and bought a sofa. Didn't hurt that the price dropped considerably and honestly, it was a price that could not be beat.  I will go pick it up tomorrow and then bring that bad boy home. Just in time for snuggle season, too!

Today T and I traipsed ALL over. Started with getting coffee at our favorite place, Dutch Brothers. Then it was off to get gas at Costco.,which was 3.04 a gallon!!!! I almost fainted, my car all but tapped danced her way to the pumps. Stopped at Target and OMG, the christmas spruce glade plugs in where in!  I stocked up for the year. I can't help it, I like my house smelling like pine during closed window season. Also didn't hurt to get a Target gift card in the deal, either. Then it was down to Woodburn,OR.  to get mom's curtains. Then we had to get Bug's kid meal at Jack in the Box, Mom's Tacos at Taco Bell, our sandwiches at Subway (which honestly, is the WORST subway I have ever been in). Please do not ask why our family can not eat at ONE place, that answer is non existent. After that, it was a lunch stop to eat, collect Bug and back out.  We hit up the store for the sofa, then to Bed, Bath and Beyond for a citrus juicer. Yeah, I'm going to start doing fresh juice, it's been recommended.  After that I dropped T and Bug off and scooted for home.  All that and my gas gauge never left full - love my car!

Back to subway. T actually called our order in while we were between Jack in the Box and Taco Bell. We ordered and sat in line at Taco Bell and then drove to the subway. Our sandwiches were no where near ready! What's the idea of having "call in " if you don't actually make them. We waited and waited and got told twice they were working on it. No, you're helping every person that walks in the door. I was about twenty seconds from walking out the door when they were finally ready. Never again...at that subway. Nope, not happening. Don't care.

Kind of excited to have a sofa again! I love to curl up and knit and watch movies and knitting in the recliner is just a pain since a cat insist on sitting with me! At least on a sofa, I can spread out a bit more. Annnd, my daybed is returning home. T has finally found a bed she liked and it was delivered today. So, daybed in the den, sofa in living room..life is totally good.

Off to make vegetable stock. I'm making white bean soup tomorrow.

Possibly the best sandwich ever

I had a veggie delight sandwich from Subway tonight. I've not eaten at Subway in forever!!!! Anyhow, the veggie delight on the honey oat bread with provolone, mayo and mustard is quite possibly the tastiest sandwich ever!

Normally, if I eat out I don't go for a sandwich. However, tonight it was just damned good. And to accompany my sandwich I'm watching Dracula from last week. I'm so slack. I love this show, just didn't get around to watching. I usually don't watch tv during the day and nights I've been watching Haven and getting caught up on that. 

I'm on square number three of the sofa blanket. I have to say, a log cabin style blanket definitely uses up all your odds and ends of yarn. I'm still really wanting to knit one that is made of particular colors. I'm thinking light browns and dark browns? It takes five colors to knit. Maybe a light beige, a tan, a light brown, a dark brown and a very bright color for the beginning center square? Torn between a really bright blue or a bright cherry red?  But, the joy of knitting..I can make two, one with bright blue squares and one with cherry red squares! 

I think that is my absolute fave thing of knitting. I can make it with exactly the colors I want. Kind of spoils you terribly to be honest. You can never just walk into a store and be happy with the offering. You alway see it and go "Oh that would be so pretty in (pick a color)". Grrr.  See, spoiled rotten.  If only I could find a good inexpensive source of material to make tshirts, I would be set!

I can't believe that Xmas is FIXING TO BE HERE!!! I'm not ready. Let me repeat that, I'm NOT READY! Can't it be like August again?  I would even deal with the heat just for a few more months to prepare. I'm not even ready for Thanksgiving. Well, I do have a turkey in the freezer. Plus stuff for pumpkin pie. The rest, yeah...working on that. Apparently, I'm not enthused with the holiday this year. I'm ready to put my tree up. I blame the stores, they put the shiny stuff out earlier and earlier. Soon, we won't even bother taking the stuff down because the stores will be selling it all year long.

I feel knitting coming on....yep...definitely knitting.

Minestrone

Bless my godmother's heart. She introduced me to this and I fell in love. I have since accused her of harboring a grudge towards my childhood dislike of vegetables. The woman had vegetables in almost every dish on her table. I secretly think she was a closet vegetarian.

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 chopped medium onion

1 chopped carrot

1 chopped stalk of celery

2 cups chopped and peeled potatoes

salt and pepper

6 cups of vegetable stock

1 cup of tomatoes (peeled, seeded and cored) or use canned ones with the juice.

2 cups of beans, squash, zucchini or kale

Parmesan cheese

 

Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a stockpot. When hot, add the onions, carrot and celery, cook till the veggies have softened.

Add the potatoes sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook for a couple of minutes, then add the stock and tomato. Bring to a boil then lower to a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, till veggies are soft and tomatoes break up.

Add the other veggies, stll cooking at a simmer. Cook till all the veggies are soft. Season to taste and add the rest of the olive oil.

Garnish with the cheese. Serve with a good hearty bread on the side.

a small type of pasta like the shells or tubetti can be added at the end as an add on.

Toss in a small white bean with the pasta and have Pasta e Fagioli.

from the iPad

White Bean Soup

This is an all time favorite of mine. It's a standard in my home no matter the season. Why? Honestly, as a child I hated beans! Absolutely hated them. I once sat at the table past midnight because I was told I couldn't get up till I ate the damn things. That was the first time the parents discovered I might have a wee bit of a stubborn streak. My godmother finally convinced me to try this soup and I was won over. Hey, even then, if I was wrong I admitted it.

1.5 cups small white beans that have soaked over night in water.

6 cups vegetable stock, room temperature

1 chopped medium onion

1 chopped med. to large carrot

1 chopped celery stalk

2 bay leaves

pinch of dried thyme

salt, pepper

Drain the beans from their soaking water. Add to a stockpot along with the onion, carrot, celery, bay leaves and thyme. Bring to a boil over a medium to high heat, then lower to a gentle simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally (yes, I use a timer to remind me to stir) until the beans are very soft. Minimum time-1 hour. Add liquid as needed so soup doesn't thicken up too much (you can use water if needed.)

When the beans are very tender, season with salt and pepper. Use an immersion blender and puree the soup till smooth. Or you can pour it into a blender to puree. The immersion blender is much easier.

Serve up with a hearty bread on the side, or stuff in the fridge for a couple of days.

 

from the iPad

Lentil Soup

1 cup dried lentils, washed and sorted

1 bay leaf

few pinches of dried thyme

1 diced small carrot

1 diced celery stalk

6 cups vegetable stock-room temperature

salt, pepper

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1 chopped onion

1 teaspoon minced garlic

 

Put lentils, bay leaf, thyme, carrot, celery and stock in a stockpot. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then cook over a low heat till lentils are tender. (about 30 min)

While that is cooking, add the olive oil to a small skillet and heat over medium heat. Add the onion and stir, cooking till tender. Add the garlic and stir, cooking for about a minute till it's mixed well with the onion. Remove from heat.

When lentils are tender, remove bay leaf. (trust me, you do NOT want that bad boy ending up in your bowl, unless you're from Louisian where it is common and you fish it out at the table.) Add the thyme and the onion mixture and stir well.

Serve now, or you can toss in the fridge for up to 2 days. If tossing in the fridge, reheat it over a low to medium heat, adding stock if it thickened up too much.

from the iPad

Tomato Soup

Nothing tastes as good as a nice hot bowl of tomato soup in the deep dark days of winter. Well, I kind of like it on the hot sunny days of summer, but that's just me. Up until a few years ago, the only tomato soup I had came from a red and white can. Then I discovered an Italian bistro that made the best from scratch tomato soup. I have been hooked since.

1 cup sun dried tomatoes, loosely packed

1 can of whole peeled tomatoes (28 oz)

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tablespoon thyme (I can never find the fresh..if you can, adjust up to 1 tablespoon)

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 medium finely diced carrot

1/2 thinly sliced red onion

salt, pepper

2 tablespoons honey

1 quart vegetable stock

1/4 cup chopped parsley

Preheat the oven to 375F.

Put the sundried tomatos in a bowl and cover with 2 cups of boiling water.

Drain the canned tomoatoes (reserving the liquid). Put half of them in a shallow baking pan and drizzing 2 tablespoons of olive oil over them. Add the thyme. Roast turning over once or twice, until the tomatoes are dried and slightly browned. -roughly 30 minutes

When all the tomatoes are done, drain the dried tomoatoes and pour their soaking liquid in the baking pan. Scrap up all the browned bits from the pan, breaking up the roasted tomatoes. Roughly chop the dried tomatoes and add to the baking pan.

Add the remaining olive oil into a stockpot and heat over medium heat. When hot, add the garlic and cook till it begins to color. Add the carrot and onion and cook till they start to liquify. Season to taste, add honey and stir till it dissolves in.

Add the reserved liquid from the canned tomatoes and continue stirring till the liquid evaporates. Stir in the stock along with the bits from the roasting pan. Turn up to high heat and bring soup to a boil, then lower till you have a slow boil going. Cover and cook till vegetables are tender. roughly 30 minutes

Garnish with parsely.

 

from the iPad

Potato and Leek Soup

2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil

3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into small cubes

3 leeks, white and light green parts only, (wash well and slice)

salt/pepper

1 quart vegetable stock, warmed at least to room temperature

 

Add oil to a stock pan, heat over medium heat till hot. When hot, add the vegetables, salt and pepper. Cook while stirring for roughly 3 to 4 minutes.

Add the stock and cook until the vegetables are tender. (about 30 minutes).

Serve

This can be chilled in the fridge for up to 2 days. It's also a good soup for hot summer days as it is yummy served chilled.

from the iPad

Cauliflower Soup

Makes roughtly 4 normal size servings (two in my household) and can be done up in under an hour.

1 chopped onion

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes

1 medium head of cauliflower, florets only

salt and fresh ground pepper

1 quart vegetable stock

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

Croutons for a garnish

 

Heat 1/2 of the oil in a stockpot over a medium heat. When hot, add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally til the onions start to brown. Stir in the garlic, red pepper flakes, caulitflower, salt and pepper. Continue to cook, stirring till the cauliflower starts to soften a bit. (about 5 minutes).

Add the stock and stir. Bring to a boil over high heat, the adjust to a simmer. Cook till the cauliflower is tender (about 15 minutes).

Stir in the remaining oil, taste for seasoning and serve with croutons.

Goes well with a hearty salad and whole wheat croutons.

from the iPad

One Hour Vegetable Stock

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 carrots, sliced

1 onion, chopped

1 celery stalk, chopped

2 or 3 cloves of garlic

5 to 10 white mushrooms, sliced

10 wo 20 parsley stems with leaves

2 tablespoons soy sauce

Salt and fresh ground pepper

 

Put the oil in a deep skillet and heat over medium heat till hot. Add carrots, onion, potato, celery, garlic and mushrooms. Let them sit over medium heat 2 or 3 minutes then stir them till they are nicely browned. (More flavor this way)

Transfer to a stock pot, add 6 cups of water, soy sauce, parsley and salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then adjust to a gentle simmer. Cook till vegetables are tender - about 30 to 40 minutes. (Here, longer is better if you can.)

Strain, taste and add seasoning if needed. You can use now or store for future use in the freezer. (I actually reuse empty yogurt containers, the quart size. Yes, I know they say don't reuse plastic containers, but I'm a recycle nut. They are excellent for storing soups and broths in the freezer)

from the iPad

Vegetable Stock

2 carrots, cut into chunks
1 onion, quartered
1 potato cut into chunks
1 celery stalk, chopped
2 or 3 cloves of garlic
10 or 20 parsley stems
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Combine everything in a stockpot with 6 cups of water. Toss in a pinch of salt a bit of pepper - this is strictly to your taste. Bring to a boil, then adjust the heat down so the soup simmers steadily. Cook for a minimum of 30 minutes. (The longer you cook this the better, but 30 minutes will get you a quick stock). Strain and then taste. Add seasoning if needed.

Use now or store in the freezer.

from the iPad

Where has the holiday gone?

Every year, the amount of trick or treaters dwindles. It's such a sad state of affairs, I tell you. I know we have kids around here..I hear them from sun up to sun down screaming outside my house. The one night of the year, when they are SUPPOSED to run rampant..they are quiet. *shakes my head* It's not fair. At least this year my nephew is here so I can pawn all this candy off on him! *grins evilly* This is one of my favorite nights of the year! Samhain and Ostre - nothing beats them at all. I've always loved these two holidays above all others for some reason.

My new knitting project is coming along nicely. I think the new sofa is finally happening this weekend? Or early next week. So, I wanted a new afghan for it. Every sofa needs a snuggly afghan on it. It's mandatory!.  It's kind of a log cabin type affair.  Here is square one.

I'm trying to use up all the scraps and bits and pieces I have laying around. You know, the odd skein off that you thought you needed but never used? As it looks, no two squares are going to look the same. I'm trying to be as varied as possible. Square #2 should be finished tonight or tomorrow. Not sure how many squares I will need, but this is a great project as it's fast, and very portable. Since it's straight garter stitch, it's going to be nice and squishy for snuggling with. 

NaNoWrMo starts up in 5 hours!!!!! OMG..I'm so not ready. I was ready three weeks ago..now I'm totally not ready. I have no idea.. I'm just going to sit down and start typing and hope something decent falls out!

And, I just gotta say.. I'm so in love with my phone that words can't describe it. Finally after so many years, I have what to me is the perfect phone. It's large enough to actually see stuff but thin enough to fit in a wallet.  I so <3 my phone! Just remember - phone perfection is the one thing besides beauty that is in the eye of the beholder.  Android/Windows/Apple...they all do the same thing, pretty much the same way. The joy of having the choices is that everyone gets what is perfect for them. 

Binging, it's a good thing.

The latest trend in television viewing is "binge watching" or "marathoning".  It's being bandied about as if it's a new thing. It's not really. Well, not if you're a reader!

How many of you have gotten a long awaited book and literally sat up to read the thing cover to cover? *coughs* Harry Potter? Twilight? *coughs*  We have all done it, might as well confess up to it.

The question is: Is it so bad? The talk now about the whole multi episode viewing thing is it's not good. I don't see the harm in it. Personally, I watched House of Cards on Netflix till I literally couldn't keep my eyes open. It was that good!   Did it harm me? No. Did I miss out on anything important? No. Two harmless days of tv watching did not end the world.

Personally, I see it as a way to get someone involved with a show. Take for instance Grimm. The thing is literally filmed in my city. You see them filming ALL OVER. I watched the first three episodes then forgot to program it in my tivo and poof...gone. I recently found it on Hulu and started over from episode 1..damn if I am not hooked on it now. The back to back to back caught my attention. I didn't have to wait a week or two or even a month in some cases to see the next episode. They were all right there..and on Hulu..they automatically start. It's like watching one long movie.  Will I now watch it on a weekly basis live on tv? Oh hell yes. Well..via tivo because truthfully, I rarely watch anything at it's alloted time slot.

The whole thing is...if you had to read a book like a serial, you might lose interest. Especially if they took hiatus's for long periods. For instance over the holidays. Some shows are off for a whole month! Way to loose someone's interest, there.  

Personally, I like my television like my books. In nice big chunks. I think that House of Cards was just the beginning on putting the whole season out at once. You could then watch one episode a week if you wanted...or watch them all at once.  Either way, the shows would be watched, advertisers would be happy and the viewer would be happy.

Speaking of advertising...Hulu shows ads during it's shows. Honestly, I rarely notice them. They don't detract from the whole binge thing at all. Gotta have a bathroom break after all, right?

Oh Sunday, How I love thee!

Today I had absolutely NOTHING I had to do. Yes! NOTHING!!!! It was simply put, amazing. I made homemade biscuits. I have the worlds simplest biscuit recipe. It was purloined from Pinterest. 2 Cups of Self Rising Flour, 1 cup heavy cream. Roll out, cut out, bake at 450 for 10 minutes. Voila. Biscuits that are so light and fluffy they all but levitate off your plate.  They were the featured course in tonight's dinner. I HAD planned on chicken and dumplings, but said chicken refused to defrost for me. Damn thing is still frozen on the inside. Somehow, my chicken must have mistaken itself for a turkey. Sorry, dude, you are NO where near that big.   So, for tomorrow, I have fixing chicken and dumplings.  Tonight I just had biscuits and gravy. Extremely simple but rather filling and very satisfying.

I crocheted a bit today, I knitted a bit today. I went over some patterns trying to decide my next knit.  Went through some yarn to see if any suited what I want to knit next. Watched some tv, got caught up on my Tivo shows. Vacuumed a bit, ran the dishwasher. Yeah..that was about it. It was weird. Usually my Sundays are havoc filled. This one was unnervingly peaceful. Kind of a spooky peaceful to boot.

I rather enjoyed today. The evening promises to be more of the same. Quiet, tv watching, reading and knitting. Yeah, now we all know why I like winter. It's a peaceful time of year.

Sunshine, Sweaters and The Usual Friday Traffic

It's a sunshiny day here, with intermittent cloud breaks. Just chilly enough for a sweater, but not enough for a full duty heavy duty hoodie. In other words, a perfect day. Except for:

The usual Friday traffic around here. I don't understand it. I have never understood it, nor will I ever get it. Monday through Thursday, traffic is normal. Heavier during rush hours and at noon, but normal outside those three periods. Except on Friday. For some reason, unknown to the laws of physics, it's bumper to bumper the whole day.

Is it a case of a really huge amount of people work a four day work week around here? Or for some odd reason a lot of people come here only on Friday? It's weird. I know the traffic lights don't have a Friday schedule. The roads don't narrow on Fridays. I really try to avoid leaving the house on Fridays because I know it's going to be an extra long trip and my traffic mouth will kick into high gear.

On the brighter side, it's the WEEKEND!!! Tomorrow is Ingress day. I'm going out to play for a good portion of the day. Then do some serious fall house cleaning. I want to air the house once more before the chilly weather really sets in. Clean the carpets and curtains and get the house winter proofed. I need to get the sewing machine set up so that I can make new curtains for the bedroom and some for the living room. It's time to put the summer stuff away. Booo...I liked my blue theme that I had going on, but winter needs a darker theme.

I know, it sounds strange that my house has seasonal wear. My grandmother had summer stuff and winter stuff. The summer stuff was lighter fabrics, colors and washable rugs. Winter was thicker fabrics, more snuggle fabrics and thicker rugs for the floor. Might just all be a psychological thing, but I swear it does work. Slowly, I'm developing the summer/winter thing. I've always had a summer arrangement and a winter arrangement for furniture, guess it's times for the textiles to join in.

I decided to go with Scrivener for my Nano Novel this year. I was going to use Yarny..but it ate my research snippets which freaked me out. In Yarny's defense, they did reappear after about four hours, but I don't think my heart could take it if that happened during Nano! I would panic like someone living in the path of an exploding volcano! I need my stuff to be here at all times. Noooo freakouts need apply.

I'm also hunting up a rug for my dining room. It just needs that little something extra to make it better. Yeah, rugs fix everything in my book *laughs*. I'm all about layering under my feet. Plus the dog likes it. And the cats.

Oh well, back to work...I have a project due at end of day.

Nano 2013, anyone?

Nano 2013 is quickly approaching!  I'm super excited this year. Not only do I have one plot bunny, I have THREE!!! That's right, three! *dances around* Usually, I'm hurting at this point for even one. For some reason this year, I'm over flowing with ideas. It's fantastic.

Maybe because I've not been actually writing anything as of late? Could be my plot bunny partner in crime is back? *grins* Well, it's more of my muse has returned. I'm super excited.  Soon as midterms are over, letting the writing commence.

I've decided to try out Scrivener this Nano. It's been highly recommended and it's time to graduate from google docs to something that can keep me more organized. Last year, I had notes in no less than thirty different folders and it felt so disjointed. This year, I'm all about being organized. I've flirted with it over the past few years, but always fell back on google docs at the last minute.  I will still use google docs as my backup location. But Scrivener will sync with dropbox so I can move between desktop to laptop. If I find I"m on the chromebook, I'll just work in docs and save to dropbox via web app.

Other happy news, I've discovered the perfect fast food meal. Although, it's filled with the dreaded "unknown chicken parts" *laughs*. Yes, I'm talking the mighty kids chicken mcnugget meal at McDonald's. Upsize the coke to a large and it's perfect. Six nuggets, small fry, apple slice and a soda. Not too much, not too little. It's perfect. It's also only 5.15 with the upgrade. Bonus part, I toss the toy aside for the nephew. I'm building up a bag of stuff to occupy him while he's in my car.  Hey, it works.

Lately, I'm all about the crochet. For some reason, I'm on a basket kick? I have no idea. It's coming in handy that's for sure. I could use some catch all baskets around the casa. Another project I want to make is some type of rug? Maybe a crocheted one? Not sure, but I think it would work nicely for the kitchen. The tile floor gets a wee bit chilly in the wintertime.

Totally forgot Wonderland was on tonight, thank gods for Hulu! I'm going to have to catch it there tomorrow night. Did find a Grimm book on iTunes today. It's like a companion for the show. I was all over that, that's for sure. Love that show. I'm a late comer to it. Now hooked though, can't miss it.

Right now, it's Elementary time. I do love that show as well.

I must be crazy!

Once again, I have been tempted by the gods to do NaNoWriMo. I totally blame Rilana for starting this way back on '02! She convinced me to attempt it and I've not been able to NOT participate. Once I knitted a sweater during it! I'm such a glutton for punishment, I swear.

Thing is...I had an entire story pop into my mind in about ten minutes yesterday! The characters are ready to go...a somewhat story line is done. Yeah..took all of two hours? I'm taking that as a sign. I only decided to do this yesterday. Like I said, glutton for punishment.

Had a busy weekend. Family dinner, massive train ride to play Ingress, shopping, cleaning, rearranging, I made a king size comforter. Yeah..it was eventful. The comforter? Well, let's say I'm probably the world's most frugal person as of late. A good all season king-size comforter goes for 120 and above. However, Ikea had comforters on sale last month. The king-size, was the 120.00. Usually a king size comforter really isn't a king size. It usually barely covers the top of the mattress. I hate that. I'm a snuggler, I ball the damned thing up at night around me.

My answer? Make my own. I bought two twin size comforters, sat my butt on the floor and hand stitched them together lengthwise. For all of 29.99! Let me tell you, that's A LOT of comforter! It's HUGE! *grins* It does cover the bed, as in it hands half way to the floor on the sides and plenty to tuck in at the bottom. It's huge, fluffy and my bed is now like being inside a cloud. I'm seriously considering moving into it till like May or something?
All that's left is the cover for it and pillow shams for the pillows.

I love winter, pure and simple. It's the most wonderful time of year. Not hot, not overly blindingly sunny, tons of nice dark. *sighs* It's just perfect! I'll even not bitch about no snow. Just give me some cold and dark and I'm a happy camper. I still say I need to move into an igloo..although they are pretty bright if caught out in sunshine. Like living inside a skylight! Ugh!

Another great thing from recently-Google Play Music. I love it! I've discovered so much new music on it, it's obscene! It's quickly becoming the soundtrack to my life!  Love Love Love it!

Drats, forgot to put the chicken into marinade. Crap..off to do that.

Family fun time

It's family fun time today. We took the kid to Safari Sam's to play, It's one of those indoor gym things with bounce houses and huge slides in it. He's enjoying himself and I have wifi. If it was later in the day, I would also have a beer sitting next to me. *laughs*

Got my pre-calc out of the way today. I left the computer at the house churning out reports. The best part, I can remote into my computer and check on stuffs. I love technology some days.  It's nice to NOT be stuck at a desk.

I'm really pissed off at Congress. I'm so tired of them posturing around and me having to pay for it. Our congress reminds me of the House of Lords that existed back in English History. They only thought of themselves and no one else.  I wish we could fire all the congressmen that are acting like 4 year olds and just replace them with people that give a crap about the everyday person.

In happier news, the sun has returned to PDX. It's still chilly but not as rainy. The monsoon has passed, it seems. Supposedly, it will be around 70 this weekend? Boo. I need to make some weekend plans, I want to go do something...but what? Hmmmm

I got a new book today..the new JR Ward book. YAY. That is what I'm doing later today. READING!!!!! I always slack off on her book release dates.  *sighs* I love her writing style. It just rocks.

Okay...apparently we are now off to Target! Sweet!!!! I needed to go by there as it was.

Oh My! Yes!

I stumbled across this today:
     via Apartment Therapy

Creamy Candy Bar Sauce

Adapted from Apples for Jam by Tessa Kiros
Yields about 1 cup

12 fun-sized candy bars, like Milky Way, Snickers, and/or Three Musketeers
1/2 cup heavy cream

Tear the candy bars into pieces and place in a small saucepan along with the heavy cream. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until the chocolate is melted and the sauce is creamy, about 5 minutes. Serve warm over ice cream (or enjoy plain with a spoon.)

Leftovers can be covered and stored in the refrigerator, and reheated on medium low.

Recipe Notes

• 12 fun-sized candy bars are approximately six ounces.

*I did not create this..see the link above for full credit where credit is due.

Sewing, Coffee and a million other little things.

I truly am an Aquarius. I have a million projects going and can seem to get to none of them. I am going to scrounge up all the thread I have. Trust me, right now, it's in a million different place around the house. Once that's done, I'm going to sit down and make the duvet cover for the bed.

I have a grand scheme in mind for the bedroom. However, it involves A HELL OF A LOT of purging and going through stuff. That's my downfall...I'm horrible at sitting and sticking to one task. I admit it, I need to seek a support group for scattered people.  But, that should not stop me from making curtains, duvet cover and pillow shams. That can be done with the bedroom in the current configuration. Annd, install the lamps I purchased almost a week ago now! See! I get distracted so very easily.

Today, I'm going to park my butt on the floor and make the king size comforter. Yes, I am making one. That thread and needle I have readily handy-no hunting involved.

Besides my self proclaimed scatteredness, I got all my homework done. Just in time for the new round to be let loose tomorrow. -sighs- While I love learning and am in an occupation that demands a lifetime of learning, it gets old after a bit.  I'm also in the mood for cinnamon buns and a loaf of bread. Must be the weather?

We are having another round of storms coming through. It's chilly, rather wet and blustery outside. Perfect day to stay INSIDE. It's even #NationalCoffeeDay, so I'm loving on my fancy schmancy espresso maker today. Although I swear it's #TeaSeason.

Other than that, there will be knitting going on as always. I want to finish the scarf I'm working on. I lost my other fave one and loved the yarn this one will be made of. Then I want to knit on a blanket I've been working on. Gonna need it. The Beaver blanket can't suffice for every occasion, now can it? See-that reminded me. I have some knitted pillow covers that I need backs for. Hello, same fabric from duvet can work for those! Yes! There is a method to the madness that I call a mind, I swear there is.

Remember all those socks I knitted? They are coming in handy now. Tis time. I love handknitted socks for running around the house in. They are house slippers that hug your tootsies.

As for now...the main project is hoovering/mopping/baking. Just need good music for that. I am music-ly motivated. I'm lucky that my computer is near the kitchen, I <3 on my Google Music Player.

Peek of the scarf:

I love the colors! It's a very simple yarn: Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable in Dragonfly.

Fall/Bake-both have four letters!

I've been blog surfing and an amazing thing has happened. The baking season is upon us. All over the blogosphere people are talking about baking and sharing recipes.  And here, I thought it was just me?

I've baked two batches of biscuits in the last two days. I like to start small and work my way up to the more complicated things. However, I'm really wanting to bake cookies and a cake now!  And I vow by all that is holy...I will master pie crust this fall/winter!  It truly can't be that complicated, right? Well..based on my attempts..it's is complicated. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong.

Prior to the baking season, I have cleaned my kitchen to an inch of it's life. The counters are clear, the drawers thinned out. I think I'm ready to roll.

Plenty of workspace, that's the key. The table is right next to the counter for setting things to cool off on and such. I do have to admit, I have a good amount of counter space to work with. 

My fave biscuit recipe: 2 cups of self-rising flour and 1 cup heavy whipping cream.  Yep, that's it. Two ingredients makes it super easy to whip up. You roll it out, cut them out and back for 10 minutes in a 450 degree oven.  If it was any easier they would come out of a can!

B is for super comfy bedding

It's officially fall and that means getting the house ready for the colder weather. The main thing is getting the bed winterized.

I bought a new mattress topper. Finding one for a king size bed is not easy. Well it is easy, the hard part is finding one that is not 500.00 or better! I found mine at Target. On Sale. Had a Target gift card. Had my 5% off Target card. Got that puppy for a mere 35.00!  Now, I bet you think that was the hard part? Nope..ever tried to wrangle a king size anything onto a bed....by yourself? Yep, that's the hard part.

As is, my bed has a pillowtop to begin with. Plus it had a thick quilted mattress pad on it. Now it's got bascially three pillow tops on it. Hmm, yeah..feels like one of those plush beds from a fancy schmancy hotels. Tossed on some flannel sheets, all ten pillows and bam...one very comfy cushy bed perfectly suited for winter.  Problem now..I can't get up in the damned thing. So I bought one of these, the Bekvam stool. It sucks to be short, I swear!  Hm, I think it's gonna need staining. But that is for a later time and date.  At least the cats like it. Isabella sniffed it, climbed up on it and was "hey...this makes it easier to get up with". Nothing is sacred in my house.

I also got two cute lamps to attach to the wall. The Arstid wall lamp. The current bedside table lamps take up so much room on what constitutes nightstands in my house - the ever so popular three shelf bookcase! Yeah, wall lights will be much better.

Last but not least...a new comforter. Well, it will be a new comforter once I'm done. Have you priced a down comforter for a king size bed. Yeah, we are back to that damn big bed syndrome issue. Well, I'm rather frugal. Ikea has comforters on sale. Twin size down comforter, winter rating of 3 on sale for 14.99. I simply bought two of them, plan to just stitch them together and then make a huge duvet cover for it all.
Bingo, king size thick down comforter for 30.00! Once I make the matching pillow shams and new curtains, I will have one luxurious bedroom.

One can never put a price on comfort. Well, you can, but it doesn't have to be hundreds of dollars. And let's face it, I'm kind of frugal.

Grrrr

Dear Students on Academic Discussion Forums,

Wikipedia is NOT considered a reliable source for reference. Even Wikipedia tells you NOT to use it as research references, but to use it as a guide to the ones considered reliable by the academic world. Click on the link if you do not believe me!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Academic_use

Thank you
Person wanting to bash their head in because just because it's on the internet does not mean it's true!

New Frosting Recipe!

The start of fall means it's time to bake again. That means I go searching for new things to try. This is one of them. It sounds so yummy. It's courtesy of  StyleMePretty

Almond Italian Meringue Buttercream

Make 5 batches (25 cups)

Adapted from Warren Brown’s CakeLove Book

ingredients

* 5 large egg whites
* 1 ¼ cups extra-fine granulated sugar
* ¼ cup cold water
* 1 lb unsalted butter (at room temperature- about 35-45 mins out of the fridge)
* 1 tsp almond extract
* Candy thermometer
* 1 quart saucepan

directions

step-1
Slice the butter into tablespoon-sized pieces and set aside.

step-2
Measure 1 cup sugar and the water into the saucepan and stir gently. Pour the remaining ¼ cup sugar into a small bowl and set aside. Place the candy thermometer in the saucepan and heat the sugar water over medium-high heat. Partially cover with a lid.

step-3
While the sugar syrup is cooking, separate the egg whites into a standing mixer (fitted with the wire whip attachment). With the mixer on high speed, begin whipping the egg whites to stiff peaks. When the peaks are stiff, you have a meringue.

step-4
Pour the ¼ cup of sugar into the meringue while the mixer is running, and keep whipping.

step-5
Bring the sugar syrup to 245°F (raise the heat if you need to). When the syrup is at 245°F, remove the thermometer and slowly pour the syrup into the meringue while the mixer is running. After a few minutes reduce the mixer speed to medium-high for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the meringue is cooled. Add the almond extract, then add the butter 1 tablespoon at a time. Increase the mixer speed to high for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the butter is fully incorporated.

* Makes 4-5 cups buttercream

Vacations come and go!

Went up to Lake Tahoe for the week. Every day was spectacular weather wise. Honestly..no matter where I went, it was just downright gorgeous. Just crystal clear the whole time. My camera app was working constantly. Had a great time, made some new friends (always a fun thing), ate like the proverbial horse at some fabulous places and collected pine tree seeds. I'm determined to grow a pine tree on my balcony.  There was ALOT of knitting going on. Almost finished my sweater, just need to do the second sleeve and I'm done. A LOT of reading was done, the deck was perfect for that most of the day. Baked two apple pies just because I could. I basically just sat back and relaxed. I rarely got online on my computer-even though the wifi is now installed. I did text quite a bit. The lake is now 4G almost all the way around it. There are some spots on the western side of the lake that are zero signal but just a few now. (Dear Rubicon Bay...get with the program, a mobile signal is needed!)

From about 8000 feet up overlooking Lake Tahoe

Looking down at Emerald Bay

Lake Tahoe

Lake Tahoe..again

From the 15th Hole at the mini golf course. I want BIG trees now!

Lake Tahoe done in granite.

Wind surfers on the lake. There were some guys surfing as well.

The cabin. Rather roomy and walking distance to four casinos! The North Shore rocks.

Travels to Lake Tahoe are always fun

Yesterday, I drove from Portland to Lake Tahoe. I cut down through Kalamath Falls down to Susanville to Reno and up over Mt. Rose to the lake.

I passed Crater Lake, and went through about six National Forest. I saw the Pumice Desert and some of the most beautiful scenery. Unfortunately, I also saw a fatality. It was on a section of winding highway were the signs literally said 25 or 30mph or even 15mph around them. Someone didn't obey the signs and someone died.  Someone on a motorcycle didn't make it around the bend totally. Their motorcycle which originally looked like what I call a "crotch-rocket" looked like shredded cheese. Whomever was driving, I have no idea, there was a full covering over them.

While I love motorcycles, they are dangerous. Either the driver of the bike was swinging really wide to take the bend. Usually if they are speeding, they will swing wide to take a bend. Unfortunately, there was a vehicle coming along the opposite direction. One with four wheels. Law of gross tonnage will always win.  Never fails.

Besides the fatality, there were road works. The kind of road works that requires a car to lead the line of cars through it. While I love the fact that Oregon takes care of it's roads, I have had enough road construction this summer to last for a few years. Counting the two I drove through yesterday, the one I drove through today, I have had six road works to deal with this summer. Three of which were near my house and were dealt with on a daily basis.   If I never see an orange road cone till summer next year, I will be rather happy.

I do admit, the road works were worth it. The lake is positively gorgeous this time of year. The tourist have all gone home at least till ski season kicks in. It's quiet, the traffic is not bad at all and the winds have picked up a bit, so the rustle in the trees is so nice at night.  Plus, it's cooler. In fact, it's cool enough tonight...I might have a fire going.

Hmmm, knitting by a fireplace, something just so cozy about that.

I'm being rather Lazy

Instead of packing...I'm debating a scarf. I've decided that after knitting for ten years, it's time to make a pattern of my own. Now mind you...I have never attempted anything like this. Hell, there are still patterns I can't even begin to follow.  I know, it's strange. No idea what has come over me, but I figure what the hell. It's a ten hour drive to Lake Tahoe, I'll have time to think it over, that's for sure.

I have managed to find wifi service near the cabin, only 1.7 miles away! All is not lost. While I have stocked up on ereaders, patterns and other assorted things I simply can't live without, there is always something you need. I am not looking forward to living off my phone connection for nine days.  I'm afraid I'm spoiled rotten when it comes to tech/gadgets and stuff like that.

I do plan to play #Ingress while I'm up there. A whole new bunch of portals..I'm hoping to submit some new ones as well. It's a greek thing..to me, it's relaxing.  I do plan on laying around the cabin reading and doing much of nothing. I might do laundry before I come home, we will see.

What sucks is I just started a binge on the show "The 4400". I had started watching it but then slowly stopped watching for some reason. Yay for netflix! I know the show got cancelled, but Netflix has all  forty-three episodes. And me without wifi for a week! Oh well, it will be here when I return.  I do have cable up there though, so there is that. 

Let's face it, between end of August and beginning of snow season, there is NOT a lot to do up there but relax. The temps are supposed to drop into the low 30's at night.  Ooo. fireplace!!! Hello! There is that. I know the dog will love that part.

I'm going to go scrounge dinner up..I'm starved.

The Copyright Wars

You have to love the internet. Stuff is posted, stuff is shared, stuff is claimed. Every now and then, I see something and it makes me laugh because it's so stupid you have to look twice.

Today, I read an article on a popular weblog. It had a graphic attached to it. Naturally the first comment was "nice article, you could have credited me with using my design". Attached was a similar design but not the same one.  The graphic...was text in speech bubbles. 

I've seen people getting in "troll fights" because of graphics. Once, a person was demanding a picture be taken down because it was hers and she created it. Um, she created it out of images that were copyrighted by someone else. The pictures were owned by a television studio. I'm sure she was careful to get the copyrights to use the photos. 

Is using a graphic you found online bad? I don't think so. You put it on the internet so people can see it. If someone says, "hey this is great" and uses it...and GIVES YOU FULL CREDIT WITH A LINK. Why not? More exposure for your hard work. That's why you put it up in the first place, right? 

Copyright gets bantered ALL OVER the place now days. Everyone is an armchair lawyer. Just because you manipulate a few things does not mean you own the elements of it.  If you create a blue bubble with pink words in it that are left hand center and have a .02mm drop shadow..yes you own it. You do not own the blue bubble, the words nor the drop shadow.  

If you create a knitting pattern, yes it's yours. However, what people knit from it...you do not own. For instance...you build the schematics for a television set. That's yours by law. Does that mean you own the tv that is made from it? No. The person that bought the tv owns it. 

Has anyone watched the news with the copyright battles between Apple and Samsung? They are suing each other on everything from technical aspects to superficial things. The technical aspects are close but the superficial stuff has been laughed out. "Oh, they have a white phone?" Sorry, color is not copyright-able.

Intellectual property is a very specific area. Once you start trying to copyright an idea, you're already on the downhill slide. Take the pyramids. The Egyptians built then, the Mayans built them. According to current historical thinking..they had no contact with each other. So..they came up with the same ideas independent of each other. Who came up with it first? Who holds the copyright to the pyramids? 

I believe that if you invent something, yes it's yours. In that configuration. But that's all. If you take a photo...it's yours. If you paint a picture, yes it's yours. If you invent fictional characters, yes they are yours. See the connections, here? If you create a logo from scratch, it's yours. 

If you create a logo from common every day graphics, you own the configuration, not the elements. If you manipulate a photo, the manipulation is yours, not the elements. If you write a story with someone elses characters..the story is yours..but the characters..no. 

See the differences?  

Avoidance Successful!

I avoided the "stove on a hot day" syndrome. I opted for the "drive thru" choice. I always include a few "drive-thru" days in my monthly budget. They are for just such emergencies! When one lives in a home with no A/C...one has to allot for such days as it's just too hot to turn on the stove to cook.

I didn't even knit on my sweater today! Not one single stitch! Nary a one! *laughs* You know it's hot, if I'm not knitting.   At least it didn't get as hot as they predicted, although tomorrow is supposed to be another scorcher of a day. After that it's dropping back down into the low 70's which will be nice. However...I will be up in the mountains enjoying..wait for it... 30 degree nights!   Yes...you read that correctly, 30 degree nights! I'm so damn happy it so makes up for the fact there is no damned internet up there.  

I'm going to read and knit, drink and gamble and then do it all day after day! It's nice having a place that is walking distance to a casino..less chance of a DUI. Since I can cut through the back way, there is little chance of a WUI *walking under the influence* either. *snickers*

Casino is due east and the lake is due south...both by foot. Correction, two casinos due east of me. I'm just glad I'm headed up AFTER tourist season has ended. Not that I mind tourist...just don't like them crowding it up while I'm there. *grins*

Hmm, I think I hear a video game calling me? No..wait is that yarn? Nope, it's a video game.

Heat Wave Ver 4.8

Hello second week of September and hello return of the summer heat wave.  See anything wrong there...besides any grammatical errors? The words "September, heat, wave" should never be on the same side of the period. Never.  It's September 10th and going to be 92 degrees today. That is just wrong. I'm a winter type person and I live for the cold, the dark, the rainy and the cloudy. This heat and sun stuff gets old after day three of it.

To add to the joy of the day, we got a notice by the city that our water will be off from 10am to 2pm, due to construction across the field. Yay! Hot day and NO water. Lovely. I filled up the tub, several pitchers, some huge bowls and such. My babies (the pets) need a lot of water in this heat. Right now, they are lounging in front of a fan. Poor things.

And I have a confession, I'm now on episode 25 of the original Hawaii Five O. Don't ask me why I've gotten hooked on this thing, but I have. As hokey as the story lines go, they actually are well written episodes. The language is very out dated since was produced in the late 60's and the 70's.  It's rather amusing to see them get around with no mobiles or any truly modern technology. The stories though are kind of riveting. Kind of makes me miss tv shows. What is really sad...I have over 400 channels and the best thing on is a show that is over thirty years old!

I'm still knitting on the big red sweater. It had horrible beginnings. It was going to be a hoodie, but I scratched that pattern, then it was going to be a top down and I messed up on the increases. Now it's top-down version 2.0 and working perfectly. I was lazy and didn't frog the other efforts, I've just been knitting from them and frogging it as I needed the yarn. I'm just now getting to "unused" yarn on it.

I really love this pattern, easy, not a lot involved in it. I think I'm going to knit it in other colors. Change up the yarn, maybe go for some wool-ease, or maybe 100% wool? Either way, my sweater needs will be met for years to come.  The irony of sweater planning on a 92 degree day does not escape me at all.

Speaking of heat, I'm considering making myself a frappucino? Or maybe an iced coffee since I have a pitcher of chilled coffee in the fridge. Yummy!

No idea where this graphic came from, I am not claiming to have created it. Someone is creative however and they are a genius!

Happy Extended Weekend!!!

Yeah, today is a "bank" holiday. In the US we refer to it as Labor Day. It's a nice long weekend, sort of a last hoorah for summer before school and fall hit.  Me, I'm glad summer is winding down. While we were blessed with a relatively cool summer,  a lot of people were not.  It will be nice to have cooler/cold weather back. I'm sorry...I'm just a cold weather kind of person. Must be genetic, after all my ancestors hailed from the far cold northern areas! *laughs*

Today they announced that Charlie Hunnam will be portraying that Grey dude in Fifty Shades. While I deplore the book on so many levels, I love his acting abilities. Now I'm totally torn, will I watch it? Probably, but not for awhile. It will have to be on dvd and be on sale. The only reason I would watch the damn thing is cause he's in it.

The red top down sweater is coming along nicely. I'm on the never ending increase section of the yoke. I swear the entire body of the sweater knits up faster than this damned yoke. Still it's my absolute fave pattern for sweaters. No seaming, no calculations...just pure knitting. I love the fact you can knit the sleeves and just use the Kitchener stitch to attach them to the sweater. Easy..and yes, still NO SEAMS! Life is good.

I have homework out the wazoo today/tonight. I slacked off all weekend and now it's time to pay the piper, so to speak. But for now..I'm fixing more coffee and eyeing that sweater.  Knitting is calling to me.

Pretty much a perfect Saturday

Its not overly hot, just warm and pleasant. Traffic was a bitch today, due to Oregon State playing football. Oh and the University of Oregon was playing football. And the Oregon State Fair is in full swing. Something like an extra 30k cats were expected to be on the highway today. It was fun, let me tell you.

I have restarted the "red project" yet again. First it was a hoodie, which just wasn't doing it for me. Then a sweater that I made a huge error on. So it is now in its third incarnation. As they say, third times a charm.

I touched zero school work today. Nada, zilch, nothing I say! Yeah, tomorrow starts the grind again, so I'm lounging today.

Did go to Home Depot. Can you explain why a place would sell a staple gun.... But NOT THE DAMN STAPLES it uses??? Please, I really want to know. For some bloody reason, they sell the staple gun, but Office Depot sells the staples. I realize they both have the word Depot in their names, but they really are two separate corporations. I checked! I was a disgruntled customer today. Just disgruntled.

Went to the grocery... Forgot half of what I needed. -shakes my head- in going to have to go back later tonight. I am totally out of yogurt. That it's considered a crime under this roof!

Oooh, I feel a nap fixing to happen.

Almost Friday.

Thursday's aren't that bad. They are the preview to Friday! Always a good thing, yes? Today, I hung out at our library. I love our library..it rocks.

It's got this handy dandy room that you can sign up for. It's a study room. It comes complete with a table for four, two comfy chairs, a HUGE whiteboard and a cork board. The best part...you can turn the thermostat down to 68 degrees and freeze to death. For someone that has no A/C, to me, its' a treat unto itself. I would use the damn room just for the A/C! However, it does make a good place to study, away from all the distractions at home.

Tomorrow is picture hanging day. The huge white space above my "sofa" will be no more! I do need to get three frames for things before hand. I pulled out about six things to put up. I like the face there are various shapes, rectangle, round, square. It will make it interesting. Once they are up, my living room will be done for a bit...at least until an actual sofa arrives in late October. I know the animals are loving the new arrangement, loads of room for them to lounge around in.

Next up will be dining room arranging. Not much to do there but move a couple of things and maybe switch out the curtains? Not sure if I want to continue the red or change to another color? Im undecided on color. It just involves curtains and a table cover. I'll have to think on it. Oh...the living room could use a new area rug, maybe.

I'm also going to put in a SQUEEEEEE moment. Finally, our local transportation company is getting their online ticket purchasing up and running. Yes, we will be able to purchase bus/train tickets via an app on our phones! No more having to worry about exact change, worrying that the ticket machine is working. Simply click your phone and your ticket will be there! I'm so psyched. Im kind of lazy...I prefer to let someone else deal with traffic. I can sit back, read, knit, play ingress and no worry about traffic!!!! I'm so very excited that it's finally going to happen. They have been promising it for ages now. As it is, it's three behind schedule. Why? Because the Apple app development center was down for three weeks!!! Apple just SUCKS! How can you let your app development center be broken for three full weeks? That's just pure bullshit.

I'm also looking forward to September because summer tv programming has gotten so bad and so boring, I'm living off streaming from Amazon/Hulu/Netflix. To be honest, I think I might be able to live without cable at all...if not for the fact I adore True Blood on HBO. Hmmm, I could always buy the episodes on iTunes and watch it through my Apple TV? I'm going to price that out and see what it comes too?

Now I"m off to knit on the hoodie. It's slow going, I feel like I get nothing done on it at all, even if I knit on it for a few hours.

from the iPad

Is it Friday, yet?

For some reason, this week is dragging like anything! So far this week, I've rearranged the living room, the dining room, the office area. I've hoovered, done dishes, watched exactly 7.5 hours of lectures online, almost finished my hitchiker scarf and started on my red hoodie.  So why do I feel like I've gotten nothing done? Why does it feel like effing Monday?

I want Friday!!!! I want it NOW!!!

I think part of the problem is I went from a household full of people to almost none. This quiet is getting on my nerves to say the least. I know...be grateful for it. I'm sure I will be once again..but right now, it's driving me insane. Even people online are irritating me.  Bah. *laughs*

Maybe I will go watch a movie, the computer stuff will take care of itself.  Knitting will distract me from my middle of the week blues I seem to have.

I could always hang the pictures and stuff I have for that huge white wall you see above. And I didn't realize my living room was that big? 

To tired to nap

Today was a busy day. Moved family into their new place. While I was NOT the one going up and down the three steep short flights of stairs, I was still exhausted. I can only imagine how they feel.  However, they are moved in...and they are a mere six or seven blocks away. Not six hours in Idaho!!!!!  It was so worth the cramped quarters for a few weeks, the waiting, the stress of moving everything, the driving back and forth and the final move in.  Life is good now.

I watched Skyfall and loved it. While I sobbed like a mad woman at parts, like when they blew up my beloved DB5 and other parts, I totally loved it as it was a fresh "reboot" for the series. I'm a die hard James Bond fan and can now officially say, I have SEEN THEM ALL!!!! In their entirety!

Trying to decide what I want to watch tonight? Do I binge watch something on amazon? Do I find another movie? In the last three days I have watched four full length films, more than I've watched in a long time. Maybe it's time for some tv binge watching? Either way, there will be knitting involved and some wine.  It's a wine kind of night.

Tomorrow is hoover and shampoo rug day. I want to hoover and shampoo before I do the "fall" rearrange. It's definitely time to start getting the house winter proofed.  You can almost feel fall in the air. It's fantastic.

Streaming, it is!

Totally hooked on Amazon Prime Video at the moment, mainly cause it's easy to use and it's got some great stuff on it. My fave way of streaming at the moment is through my Wii, of all things. It honestly has the best Netflix, Hulu and Amazon apps ever! Seriously, I can stream Netflix over tivo, blu-ray player, ipad, android phone, PSP3 and the Wii. The Wii has the absolute best interface by far for all three streaming apps.  I wish the others were this easy to use.

I noticed today that Ford is now a one fanged kitty. Somehow, he lost his left front fang? I'm kind of suspicious. I think he and Isabella got into it and he lost, hence why he's always hissing at her and howling at her if she even breathes in his vicinity. Would totally explain the animosity he feels, for sure.  Either way it doesn't seem to be bothering him. He eats just the same.  He's such a mama's cat though. Stays glued next to me no matter where I'm sitting.

I've been avoiding the sun all week and the itching has totally stopped. Yay! I'm going to have to venture out tomorrow though, so it will be big time sunscreen time for moi. Me and the Kids sunscreen have become tight friends.

Tomorrow's list includes a coffee pot. I found one that matches my toaster, it's 70!  Um, no. It's just coffee thank you. I have a fancy espresso maker for fancy coffee, I just need a plain run of the mill coffee maker to make iced coffee in. I love me some iced coffee!

Plus, Mom has decided for her housewarming gift, she wants a fan. She's discovered the joys of a fan when one has no A/C! Ha! I think she might finally be accumulating to it here, although I give it another few months. She got here during our hottest part of the year! Timing is everything, let me tell you.

Oops, time to go cook dinner. Dad will be here around 8pm or so. I know he will be hungry and tired after driving all day. With the arrival of him...the move is complete. It's official...the family has arrived!

I wanna knit this #1

I want to knit these!

knitted out of Lion Brand Amazing yarn.  Plus I want a matching hat. I'm low on mittens.. hats and scarves I have falling out of the closet in droves!  Mittens, I can't keep at all.

Good Morning Sunshine, said the Bulldozer

This morning my alarm was my phone beeping and the sound of building demolition across the small field from my home. It's very strange to look out the building and be able to see the highway? Totally weird. However, the phone beeping was the best part.  It was my email letting me know an email came in. It was a good email. I finally got invited to a very elite tech group. One I've been wangling to get into for ever it seems?  I literally almost fell out of bed.I scared the cats.  They are now mad at me.  Don't care, too happy over the news.

Another college class started today. This one is Python. It's one language I've never attempted, so I'm giving it a whirl this semester. The one thing about being in the computer field...you NEVER stop learning. EVER. It's fantastic, since I am a learner. I love to learn new things. Some things I learn and then promptly forget since it's something I won't use daily. Others, stay with me forever. But I have discovered that even the stuff I learn and then figure I really don't' need still stays with me and helps in other areas.

In all my educational efforts, I never took a humanities course. Now I'm taking it and boy...it's rather controversial for some. Me, I think it makes damn good sense, but I've got some classmates that are outraged!!! *laughs* I do love see them get all worked up over theories. It's a theory people...doesn't mean it's fact, it could be fiction at the end of the day. That's why it's a THEORY! *snickers*  You kind of have to get your entertainment where you can, you know?

Saturday is move in day for the family!!! They will be moving into a place a mere .9 miles away!!!! Not even a mile!!!!!!! *INSERT LARGE SQUEE HERE* That's right..not 475 miles away...0.9 miles!!!!!!! Although...that means that the sister's coffee pot is moving out. Damn. I've discovered that while I LOVE my fancy schmany expresso maker...a regular old coffee pot is better for iced coffee. I might acquire a very small one. After all, I'm going to be the only one in the house that drinks the stuff. A pitcher will last me a few days, I'm sure. *shifty eyes* On second though, might need to get a regular sized one. Hmmm...better go see what I can find.

I'm still knitting on the hitchiker scarf. My knitting has slacked off lately since I've been so busy with family, classes and other assorted duties that life demands. I love that scarf pattern though. I might make one out of wool next. Perhaps a nice striped fingering weight? I need to get knitting on my hoodie..that's a MAJOR project for sure.

I'm also getting the urge to go thrifting. I used to do it alot, but got bored with my local thrift stores. Not to mention, some of them have gotten rather proud of their offerings. A coffee cup from 2002 is not vintage or antique. It's old. Therefore, it should not be marked 12.00...it should be .99. I have been tempted more than once to explain the aging process to those places.  "It is common practice to define "antique" as applying to objects at least 80-100 years old."  See...2002 is NOT antique.

With the new allergy, I've discovered if I am in the sun on day one...day two is spent avoiding it. Day three it's okay to venture out a bit, just don't get caught sitting in traffic on a sunny day. The itching that occurs is maddening!  

Hmmm, I think there is key lime yogurt in the fridge. That sounds really yummy now. I think I'm going to go grab some and get my day started and all.