Christmas is comingggg!!!

I went to one of the local university's bookstore yesterday (which is absolutely gorgeous and is more like a gift store) to purchase a ladybug backpack for my niece.

Sister, here it is:
It's so she can have a backpack all of her own, just like big brother only much, much girlier! :o)
I also found a whole section of the much-coveted Melissa & Doug toys!! Let me know which one's you are thinking of!!!!

Wild Berries

I have been discovering the joy of wild blackberries alongside the roads during my walks to and from work, as well as just randomly!!! There are two spots right in town that I've discovered, and several small places along the country road that some friends live along. Every day this weekend, I walked along that road picking berries, and even made a blackberry, raspberry, and strawberry crumble.

After the weekend of not walking down certain roads in town, I gathered berries this morning (not a lot, about 3/4 cup, but just right for me)! And I plan on hitting the other area on my way back this afternoon. I am really beginning to find it so fascinating that there is all of this food existing right under our noses, but we are so conditioned into thinking everything comes from a grocery store, or in some sort of prepackaged box. In fact, I noticed in my friends' yard massive grapevines growing as well as some other sort of berry in their woods (buckeyes...I think). These are not quite ripe yet, especially the grapes which have probably about a month to go, but I look forward to gathering them up and munching happily. It shocks me to realize that they do nothing with all of this fresh food that is literally right in their back yard!!! Ohhhh well, it will go to some good use...feeding my stomach!!

Vacation

Well, the office where I work has agreed to let me take a whole week off!!! I didn't really ask for it, but they gave it the okay. The only thing is, I get paid by the hour and would miss out on a substantial sum of a paycheck. However (and more importantly) I would get to spend loads of time with my family without being rushed, could have some down time after a very busy year thus far, and just be happy!!! AKA being able to lay out on the grass to read and look at the stars (not at the same time of course)...haha.

So, needless to say I'm really considering just taking the whole week off. I'm going to look into my finances and make sure that all is okay and more than feasible.

This would also (happy happy joy joy!!) allow for me to NOT take the 6-hour bus trip back up because I could get a ride!!! That in itself is gloriously wonderful!! I hate spending 6 hours making a 3 hour trip on top of the fact that the ticket is a bit of an expense. Though I will admit I am friends with the person who sells the tickets and he always gives me a deal. Nonetheless, last time I took the trip I spent 2 hours of it listening to the "mouth" from Massachusetts tell me his whole life story!! I'm really not complaining though, just excited about the possibility of things going better than good.

:o)

Planning Ahead

I love to plan ahead, make lists, and get organized if only inside my head. Already, I have outfits planned for cooler Autumn weather and ideas for Christmas, birthdays, and anniversaries!!!

The local food co-op has such neat and unique items, both in terms of food and other goodies, that I think I just may make up a gift basket for everyone for the holiday season!!! I know for a fact that this past weekend my mother was eye-balling the hummus chips, and there are many other things that I know my family members will enjoy.

On another note, I've been wanting to get some more classy, staple clothes...not things that are so trendy. Well, I've never been one to follow all of the trends anyway, I've more or less just always picked and chose and made my own fashion. Hmmm.....perhaps it is the fact that I am an adult and desire to portray myself more so as an adult. For example, the kitschy t-shirts with sayings and band names on them just are not really for me anymore.

More homey

I miss being home...for lots of reasons. However, I enjoy having my own place as well although it is one of those "in-between" kind of places. I've resolved to make it more home-like as best as I can, and less like a glorified bedroom as other people have created their small studio apartments to be.

So, I purchased some new furniture items and plan on reorganizing and rearranging my current set-up. I bought a smallish kitchen storage/butcher block sort of thing that will make my kitchen "area" more appropriate for the activities that I like to do there. I am NOT the sort of person who can survive on "instant noodle" microwaveable food. I like to cook, bake, and create in the kitchen. Hopefully, my new kitchen set-up will enable me to accomplish more of what I want to do. Though, I DO long for a real kitchen, including a stove and a refrigerator with a freezer.

No complaints for now though, just gotta make the best of everything.

Baked Doughnuts

Here are my first attempts at baked doughnuts!!! I combined a recipe from this awesome website that I found here with a doughnut recipe from a Moroccan cookbook I am borrowing from the library. (I had to combine the recipes and fudge it a bit because I don't have all of the ingredients and I only made 6 mini doughnuts.)

Anyway, as you can see they came out pretty well!! I flavored them with brown sugar, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, cinnamon, and allspice (combined in a spice mix that I was given) with some fresh grated ginger. On top I drizzled a syrup of the same spice mix mentioned above and honey, and then topped them off with chopped walnuts!

Overall, they came out better than I thought that they would. I used whole-wheat flour and a yeast mixture (I don't have any baking powder and I don't know of any substitutions...any ideas?), and they sort of remind me of a sticky bun texture. The holes closed up but oh well, next time I'll just have to make them bigger.

Multi-tasking is Overrated

I find myself constantly multi-tasking even when I don't really "need" to. For example, I'll eat breakfast, read, watch a program on my computer, and check my email all at relatively the same time....ridiculous, right?

So after realizing this fact, I've realized other things as well:

1) By doing a bunch of things at once, I don't really focus on the enjoyment of ONE of my activities...thus experiencing it to a lesser degree than I really could (and should!). This includes slowing down at meal times...putting down the book or whatever, and focus on my food: its texture, smell, and all of the subtle nuances of taste that really going into wholeheartedly enjoying a meal, and more importantly, being more thankful for it. Along with this, if I'm reading and eating at the same time, for example, I'm not really thoroughly enjoying the book either.

2) By doing a ton of things at once, I find myself being bored later on. I got my "fix" per se of doing this and that all at the same time instead of taking each thing for what its worth, and in its own frame of time. Thus, if I do one thing at one time...I will not only do a better job and enjoy it more, but it will result in less "bored" time (which is completely "heinous" anyway...an individual should NEVER be bored!!)

I realized that by doing one activity wholeheartedly one at a time, it opens up my day to a world of enjoyment and experience...the activities that I DO do now, I can focus more on and have a more fulfilling time doing them.

So:

-slow down
-notice the little things
-experience everything
-use all five senses
-BE THANKFUL!!!

Culloden in North America

I was happy this past reenacting weekend that I was finally really able to contribute to the group. I feel like I'm a big ole mooch sometimes because I'm still such a beginner at the hobby and don't have the resources to be as involved as everyone else right now.

Nevertheless, I was able to bake and create for the wonderful folks of the CLHA (and guests!) with onion pie, rhubarb fool, and rum balls. I also made sure to help with dishes and watched the young Sir Handsome and Lady Pretty while their mother was off having tea with the Prince and the other ladies.

Unfortunately, I got sick on Saturday night (feeling terrible EVERYWHERE including headache, dizziness, upset stomach) and so went home that night. However, I am definitely looking forward to the Mabee Farm market fair because I would like brown silk ribbon for the outfit I plan on making as well as those awesome fingerless mittens. I'm soooo excited about camping right on the Mohawk River!! Last year, at Crown Point, I slept facing Lake Champlain and I slept so soundly...I'm hoping the lazy river will have the same effect :o)

7 Miles

I went for a seven mile walk yesterday! It took me about an hour and 45 minutes and went to places and down roads I've never been before. While walking, I was getting kind of worried because I was unsure of the exact distance, was unfamiliar with my surroundings, etc...AND it seemed to be taking an uber, uber long time!!

I think I may try to make it a habit of walking it every once in awhile...

It fits and he says "Thank You!"

It came in on Saturday and lo and behold, it fits perfectly!! I don't know about the collar, but the rest is wonderful!