What I'm reading: Fiesty Stitcher

I think the best gift my husband gave me was my sewing machine. Super basic sewing machine, not ultra fancy. I constantly say I'm not a professional. And I will never learn to sew by pattern. (Well maybe once in a while I'll try it, if I'm totally desperate) I've made tons of little purses for friends and family members. I've even attempted a dress for my little girl twice, one of which I was proud to let her wear in public... (No patterns). I really like the idea of this book which I found at the library. It follows my line of thinking. And encourages you to not be afraid to try fabrics I've never worked with. I think I'll try a few of the ideas inside. My favorite idea inside this book is the tailored t-shirt. Unconventional at it's best.

In the garden - March 2011

This past week we had a "few" sunny breaks in the weather and we got a chance to fix up our garden boxes! I really was itching to fix up the boxes because I wanted to do well with our garden this year. Unlike past years where I hadn't (and didn't know) I was supposed to prep the soil with amendments, this year we added chicken manure and compost to our soil. I was happy to see SO many happy worms in our soil a few days after. Crossing my fingers for a bumper crop!! I tried planting directly some beans and spinach, again hoping for the best.
I also was extremely pleased to see the shoots from the peony my co-worker gave me (which I thought died on me, due to my lack of transferring it on time) coming out!!
While I'm at best a lackluster weekend gardener I would really love to see better results for this years sore shoulders and arms!

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup

I love squash and yesturday night we had some roasted butternut squash for dinner. I converted it to a lovely thick soup. Perfect for the stormy weather here. Add a little side of chicken strips and I had the idea meal..

4 c Cubed Butternut Squash (about half a squash)
Olive Oil
1/4 c Heavy Cream
1 tea Curry Powder (yellow) or to taste
Salt to taste

Toss squash with oil and add salt to taste. Roast in oven on low broiler til tender. In a 4 qt pot with approx. 3 c of water add squash. Add curry powder and boil. Puree with stick blender. Add heavy cream at end and stir til well blended.

Well you can almost garnish with about anything that sounds good. But I throw in leftover rice or try popped popcorn.

And to make this go full circle, I saved the seeds and hope to grow more squash in the fall..If the slugs don't gobble them up first..

What I'm reading on my Kindle: Count of Monte Cristo

The Count of Monte Cristo (Signet Classics)
My husband got a Kindle from his friends for his 40th birthday. But I tend to love classics so most of my books are free. I'm trying to get into all the classics I've heard of to enrich my reading understanding. Sort of like home schooling myself on why some books turn into classics and some are just popular for the moment. Right now I'm reading Count of Monte Cristo..While I have any idea of what the story is about, I like reading the details that are missed in most movies..I read so much, I caught my husband telling me to not leave "my" Kindle around..Hee Hee

Confetti Garland!

My office at work is fairly nondescript and we are supposed to be creative! So I decided to add a little kinetic garland..It reminds me of confetti. So I'm calling it my confetti streamers! The garland moves ever so slightly with the lightest breeze..So calming..