Latte Love Affair

You know you enjoyed a little too much holiday indulgence (creme brule lattes anyone??) when you can't button your sweater for fear of exposing the rather large appendages growing horizontally from your torso.  And that was just day one of back to work in non-pyjama style clothing.  While I have no desire or time to join a gym, I thought it might be helpful to try to track what I am eating (and a friend inspired me to try with promise of a "happy"--as in the clothes i want to wear fit me--shopping trip in the spring).  In the past I've found this helpful to avoid binging on my favourite foods (clearly I am willpower intolerant as well as dairy intolerant).  In this spirit, I recently joined a site named Fat Secret.  Honestly.  Poor name choice I know but it has its redeeming qualities, sort of like Spark People but less labour intensive.  And even better, they have a great App that lets you scan barcodes on what you're eating and presto, all the nutritional information magically appears on your file.  Love.  Or not love.  Depending.

Knitting Tutorial for Beginners- 2. Knit Stitch, Bind Off in Knit Stitch

this post is for you jen--just so you know or have a link when you are ready to learn.  after several attempts at learning, she is the only one i could follow (sad but true).  hope it is helpful.

Family Fun

Well, we finally got our act together around here and left the building as a family unit (prying pyjamas off of the kids was no easy feat but the lure of movie popcorn is strong).  After much debate (or what passes for debate around here) we set off to see We Bought A Zoo.  I knew the premise but I don't think I was prepared for the balance of fun to serious of the movie.  It was well done but a little too much reality and not enough escape if you ask me.  And DD2.  She must've cried her way through a good deal of the second half of the movie and seemed to be struggling with teary eyes as we walked through the parking lot.  When I asked what was the matter the dam broke and she stood and sobbed; "I miss Aunt Catherine".  Ouch.  Guess my family fun ripped the scab right off of that wound.  I am definitely losing my Julie McCoy clipboard over this one.

This Round Goes to Me

Found a learn to knit web series on You Tube for Teens--guess I just need instructions given really slowly and at the most basic level to succeed.
Here is my cast on (independently), knitted and purled tiny scarf.  Think I will finish it for DD2's favourite stuffy.

Resolution Number Two

For years I have been wanting to learn to knit.  And while I have completed a couple of very irregular scarves, my goal for the year is to learn to knit well enough to make something somebody will actually wear.  Flip flop socks in particular.  Found a cool pattern while milling around Michael's last night waiting for DD1's cake decorating class to finish and figured I'd better learn the basics before attempting something of an "Intermediate" nature.  See, already changing my attitude....this time last year I probably would've just tried it anyway figuring I'd learn as I went along.  Hence the unwearable scarves (which says a lot since it's got to be pretty bad for a scarf to be unwearable, right?).
Today I sat in front of the computer and learned how to cast on and while it seemed awkward, I am sure it will improve with practice.  For now, I've unravelled it to try again later.  Again, something I wouldn't have done this time last year.  I am learning the benefits of restarting to do things properly--knitting projects, recipes, relationships....it's amazing how this old dog can learn new tricks.

And This Round Goes To.....

Well, it looks like it might be pastry 1: gill 0
However, the turkey pot pie still needed to be made.
A little creative work was required but sufficient pastry was fashioned into something resembling a covering for the pot pie.  The hearts in no way reflect my feeling about the whole process.

and to rub it in, the picture did not maintain the proper rotation in upload.  of course not.

Year of the Pie Crust

Another year dawns....so far in 2012 I have managed to ignore my family to read the Hunger Games Trilogy.  For those that haven't picked it up yet, it is quite riveting and while written for teens, it is still a pretty good read.  As I emerge from my warm bed, clear away the empty mugs of tea, and brush aside the mountain of foil candy/chocolate wrappings, I am determined to do at least one productive thing today.  DD2 now has a ipod touch so I've essentially lost her to technology.  DD1 is at swim camp.  Pup is chewing a marrow bone (and thank goodness for that as he nearly lost a life today running through the house like a crazy dog with my very dirty front door mat in tow).  Fridge is full of turkey from three days ago that must be managed.  Soup seems easy i suppose but the lure of finally conquering pie pastry is too much to resist.  Break out the kleenex, there will be tears but 2012 is the year I successfully master the "no fail" (if i had a penny for every time i swore while turning a no-fail recipe into a complete failure) pie crust.   Keep Calm and Make Pastry.  Indeed I will.