Thursday, August 20, 2009

pimps updated aug 27 !

gorgeous mitten kit up for giveaway!
http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/2009/08/sandrasinghcom-isabella-mittens-kit.html

help needed on a shawl pattern suggestion using beads for a wedding: http://keepingknitsimple.blogspot.com/2009/08/grrrrrr-and-contest.html


want to see the most adorable felted pin cushion? or view the other creations? better yet want a chance to win it?? http://mimikirchner.com/blog/archives/2009/08/tiny-world-pin-cushion-giveaway/#comment-6385

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Shuffling off to ... Idaho

Off in the morning for a few days to visit college campus' with dear daughter. She will be starting her sophomore year in a few weeks but next will will have to transfer from home to finish her degree. So this shall be interesting! Plus this will be the longest car trip we have made in , well ever as a family! (island life you can't drive too far, smile) so 8 - 9 hours each way....got some knitting, lol! SO will check in from the hotel but may be kind of quiet! Hopefully the garden will survive the 90+ temps for a couple of days of neglect. The cat i know will eat well at the neighbors and i set up a sleeping spot for her in the small greenhouse, which she already loves.

On another note gram may not make it through the weekend. She has been slowly getting worse since her accident in may. Now she cannot swallow at all, even water. She is on hospice and she wants to move on. But gramps is not taking it well. To be expected after 75 years of being together. Keep him in your thoughts please, we hope nothing happens before we can get back.

Enjoy the burst of summer again!

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

cilantro basil margarita recipe

I used half the sugar (organic) and ended up using Cointreau, delicious! Hubby said it had a big wang to it and you'd never have known it had all that alcohol in it. The next day i made another and even diluted it with some soda water, still yummy! (i did note hubby kept having more sips whenever i wasn't looking! smile)


Yield: 1 cocktail, plus enough syrup for more drinks if desired

Ingredients:
1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup basil leaves
2 tablespoon fresh mint leaves
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
Kosher salt or cocktail salt for rim of glass
2 ounces top-shelf tequila (recommended: Cuervo Gold or anejo tequila)
2 ounces lime juice, or more, to taste
1 1/2 ounces orange-flavored liqueur (recommended: Grand Marnier or Cointreau)
1 1/2 cups ice cubes
Finely grated lime zest
Lime slice or wedge

Method:
In a small saucepan combine the sugar and water and bring just to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Add the cilantro, basil, and mint; stir to combine and then set aside until cool, allowing the herbs to steep in the syrup.

When the syrup has cooled, strain through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing on solids. Discard solids and transfer herb syrup to a small airtight container. Chill thoroughly. May be made up to 1 week in advance and refrigerated until ready to use.

When ready to make a cocktail, place a small amount of the salt in a shallow dish and wet the rim of a glass. Dip the wet rim in the salt to coat the rim and set aside.

In a cocktail shaker combine the tequila, lime juice, orange-flavored liqueur, 1 ounce of the chilled herb syrup, and ice cubes and shake well to chill. Strain into the prepared glass, garnish with grated lime zest and a lime slice or wedge and serve immediately.

(This recipe was featured on the Herb Helper Episode of Emeril Green on Planet Green)

Sunday, August 9, 2009

links

just a quickie! catching up on things and getting ready to make an herbal marinade for some shrimp....remind me to tell you about the fantastic basil/cilantro margarita i made last night....yum!!

contest link: http://www.larksongknits.com/2009/08/07/first-giveaway/


and another!! http://darcyknottyknitter.blogspot.com/

and a sweet quilt one: http://sipiweskequilts.blogspot.com/

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

AARRRGH!! (off my chest)


Yes, kind of shouting here. Ifyou remember we have had trouble with our internet/cable company. Unfortunately they have the corner on the market here on the peninsula, so customer service falls to the side, is dragged from their service van bumpers, flushed.....ok, i know, lol!

Spent the morning going in to stand and speak with someone who tells you the same thing over the phone, one supervisor only is able to do anything to fix our problem (as he created it on our bill) and he has not responded to any emails, calls even from people within their own company in regards to this. In the meantime i pay my bill to them but have to deal with having them still shut the cable off, then admit they goofed and fix it, after an hour on the cell phone! Today was the last straw. I contacted our local news station that is always looking for local "they're screwing me" stories, especially in this recession. We'll see if they want to help.

Other than that been keeping busy. Reading, gardening, knitting. Canada was a good trip although it took 12 hours to get home, twice as long. The blue angels were practicing in our area and roads were closed causing traffic jams, the canadian holiday weekend's start caused longer lines at the border, even in the Nexus lines.... but it was all good.

Today is the first day the sun is not currently killer, although it is burning off! Thank goodness the 104 degree temps are gone, we're not designed for that in this area, smile! Off to be productive!