no way I'm MABEL!!

This is totally the weirdest poll I've ever taken. If you can get from "Starr" to "Mabel" in any way, shape or form ~ you are on another planet!! Go take this test and see how far off it is for you!!!

Your Old Fashioned Name Is...

Mabel Saynsberry

What's Your Old Fashioned Name?

catching up...

Well, it might not seem like it, but I have not been a total slacker! Last evening I was catching up on blogs of friends and I was totally shamed that I have not posted much! Really, I am as artistic as ever, but I get so dang distracted and don't keep up with any one thing, including this blog. But honestly, my first love is drawing and sketching and I do still do it from time to time. If I could indulge in one Big Regret, it is that I have not figured out how to have drawing/painting/sketching in my life every day while having to make a real living! UGH!! Does anyone know of someone who needs an apprentice to keep? I'm there!!

So anyway, my favorite program - bar none -is SURVIVOR!! I was so excited for the last season to begin that I copied the logo. That was in February, of course...


I did do one "everyday matters challenge" recently ~~~


Today I was just starved to draw something and picked up the nearest thing to hand...


And I have to say that I did follow the Survivor season and absolutely fell in love with Yau-Man. If only we had more men like this in the world!!

love my grands!

Today, I cannot help but brag on my grands. If you have made it as far as I have in this life, you will know that the grandchildren were worth waiting for! Oh how I love those little guys even if I don't want them with me all the time!! And isn't that the beauty of it?? You get to have them for the best of times and send them home for their pathetic parents to deal with. Ain't it sweet justice?? I am grinning sooooooo big over that!!

Meanwhile, I came home today to a gift! It was cookies made by my five-year-old grandson Colin. He had searched out the recipe himself ~ chocolate butter cookies in the shape of pretzels (with red sprinkles) ~ and his mom helped him make them since he and his older siblings were home sick from school and needed some entertainment. Colin wasn't thrilled with the cookies themselves, but he did bring me a bagful and leave them for me while I was at work today. Naturally he decorated the baggie they are in ~ he wrote his name and drew a picture of me, along with a heart for love. Personally, I think he is a budding Rembrandt and will keep that precious baggie as a remembrance. Then, if he gets famous it will be worth a mint. If not, I can torture him with it, right?? In any case, I love it. I do know that the child is gifted no matter what.


And the cookies were tasty, too! I held off eating any until I photographed them, but then I promptly gobbled down two of the four. Honestly, they were very good! So I called Colin for the recipe, but he is too busy playing outside in the yard to talk to me right now. Hmmmmmmmmm. I guess I can wait for his recipe secrets, but the rest of the cookies will be gone by the time I talk to him again.....

Pickled!

Sometimes even I wonder how I get interested in the things that I do! Of late, it has been making PICKLES! So, between working, yardwork, visiting family, knitting dishcloths and socks, studying Italian and working Sudoku puzzles, I've been researching pickle recipes and shopping for ingredients. Weird, huh??

I'm still experimenting, but I am focusing on FRESH pickles, not canned. I've made some sweet pickles, some authentic dills without vinegar, some kimchee style cabbage with Korean chile powder (whoo boy!!), some carrots that were wayyyy too sweet, some carrots that are just pickles and not sweet, some bok choy, some HOT cauliflower and so on and so on. When I get through the experimental phase I will keep the recipes that I like and go from there.

I do like the idea of Fermented veggies rather than just pickled, but we'll see how that develops. Meanwhile, aren't they gorgeous?? I love how they look just as much as how they taste!

Hmmmm...... should I plant some cukes real soon?????????? I know that they grow and multiply much faster than the grocery store prices would have you believe.......

knitting a shrug....

This is my latest project even though I'm not quite sure yet how it will turn out! I am using yarn from my stash and filling in to make it last for the project, so it may not develop as desired when all is said and done. Meanwhile, I am on the second half of said project and will post a pic when I can get it photographed. I am using "bowtie" yarn by Moda Dea in shades of lavender, pink and bright green.

Also, I have been thinking carefully about gifts for my secret pal in SP10. I have sent two gifts so far ~ gifts that I carefully considered in terms of the list my secret pal posted as to her likes and dislikes. Upon checking her blog, I think that my secret pal is pleased so far. At any rate, she has gotten two "surprise" packages from me and she seems to be thrilled!

bouna giornata,
starr