Celebrating WONK - "Wonk indicates Humanity"

I loved this post and wanted to share. It is from Ginger at Wiener Dog Tricks

Here is probably one of my favorite parts, and there are many:

"I think we have to shift our heads aroud a bit about all of this Making we're tackling to get what we need. And it's exactly what Mab said: "If [we] want it to look like something from a catalog, then have it mass produced in a factory."

We need to make friends with Wonk. Invite it to tea. Service it biscuits. Ask it about its childhood. Consider its finer points and stop judging its obvious irregularities. Because when Wonk is present, it's a sign that an actual human has constructed the thing we're looking at. Wonk indicates Humanity."

And I need to embrace this. Because I also have the tendency to finish something and get a bit discouraged that it isn't quite what I thought it would be. Or maybe just let go of those expectations to begin with. And really enjoy the process.

I was talking to a friend the other day about things that maybe don't turn out like you want, maybe not quite perfect, maybe a little wonky. She said she gives those away. Funny, those are the ones I feel I need to keep. Almost as if they are not worthy of giving to someone else. Hmmm. Interesting perspectives, aren't they?

A developing sense of style...

I love the outfits she is coming up with lately.

Here we have pajamas as well as wings and a tutu. I think there may be a wand in hand as well. But of course.

And then there is this beautiful ensemble as well. Makes me smile.



I think this may be my favorite....

I really have been busy

So I finally got my machine running smoothly again. Actually, I spent about 2 hours one afternoon in the wonderful company of Ginny at the happiest place on earth - Paradise Sewing. It was the happiest place for me because we did a whole bunch of troubleshooting on my machine and finally figured it out. The bobbins I was using were slipping, causing tension issues. Simple fix! And she is just amazing. So funny, knowledgeable and generous with her time. Thank you so much.

So I got back to work on the quilt for our bed. After reworking a few things I ended up with over 100 blocks. And I love them.






Now I just have to figure out how I can lay this whole thing out for placement. I don't think I even have enough floor space for this thing.

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We did it again....

We (the wonderful ladies of book club, plus a few) went to the fair and ate all sorts of really bad for you food. Seriously. I don't think we got anything that wasn't fried. (Okay, maybe 1 thing.) So, without further ado, here is our 2011 culinary tour of the fair.

Cheese fries, garlic fires, fried zucchini, garlic-parmesan all in one potato chip, deep fried bacon platter (forgot the picture of the chocolate bacon), a skewer each of fried mushrooms and artichoke hearts - I think this one was the mushrooms, a loaded brat, the gang, cinamon mini-donuts and one of many Cinnabon cinnamon rolls.

Sleeping Beauty Wakes

Loving this performance!




Thank you Jacque!



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Ketchup in the tub

Bug has been spending a lot of time in the pool this summer. And her hair has these beautiful green highlights, even though if is dark hair. (should have gotten a picture of that...) We tried baking soda and that didn't really work. So now we are trying tomato. Ketchup is the easiest medium for her at this point. We'll see how it goes.






Turns out the green is not from chlorine, but rather the minerals, like copper, that build up in a pool. Well, we have a fresh water pool (not sure exactly how it all works) and guess how the levels are managed. Yep, with copper. The first summer we were here one of our friends got out of the pool with a slight greenish tinge to all of his body hair. Nice, huh?

Hopefully this works.


EDIT: So, um, didn't really work. I think it may be a bit lighter, but there is still green in my girl's hair. Not the wonder cure so many others raved about. We'll keep looking...

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Beautiful hands

My Bug's beautiful hands.






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Christmas in July

Just spent the day with my guild, Village Quilters, making things for the holiday fundraiser. This is what I got to put together. Such fun.






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Sticky Toffee Pudding

This is one of those "Oh my!" recipes. It honestly doesn't look all the fancy but it definitely wows them when you serve it. Find a pretty casserole type dish that can go in the oven since that will be your serving dish.

For Cake
2 ounces butter
6 ounces sugar - 3/4 Cup
8 ounces all purpose flour - 1 cup
1 tablespoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 ounces chopped dates - 3/4 cup
1 egg
2 cups boiling water

For Toffee Topping
5 ounces brown sugar - 2/3 cup
3 ounces butter, melted
1/4 cup heavy cream

preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter a 9x9 or similar size baking dish.

Put all the ingredients for the cake except the water into a kitchen mixer and blend well using a paddle attachment (or use large mixing bowl with handheld mixer) on slow speed. Add the boiling water and mix well. Add the water slowly with the mixer off to avoid splashing.

Pour the resultant batter into the baking dish. Bake APPROXIMATELY 40 minutes. The cake is done with a toothpick comes out clean.

While the cake is baking, prepare the topping: melt the butter and pour it into a medium mixing bowl Add the sugar and cream and mix well. Set in the fridge to chill.

When cake is done, allow to cool (still in the pan). After cake is cooled, spread the topping mixture over the cake. (At this point you can store it in the fridge for a day or two if necessary.)

Place cake under broiler until the topping begins to brown. Once the topping is brown and bubbling, remove from oven and serve. We usually serve with ice cream or whipped cream. This is very rich and somehow those things seem to break it up a bit. Enjoy!


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