Makin’ curtains, printing recipes

I’m struggling with things this afternoon … curtain-making for one. I ask you, how many times do I have to go take measurements of the $*%& window before I write them down somewhere I can remember? I mean, really!!

I also have put the sixth coat of polyurethane on my decoupaged tables. They’re getting closer to completion, but doing this paint-dry-paint-dry thing is taking a while. I’d also like to point out that my crafting urges have led to the most exciting pasttime ever - watching paint dry. It’s all excitement around here, let me tell you.

I also spent some time putting my recipes into a cheat sheet so I don’t have to run around wondering what goes in things I like and make a lot. I tend to forget small details and just one important ingredient, even if I’ve made it 1000 times. It’s not ALL my recipes, just ones I use a lot and am particularly fond of. Well, technically I don’t make fried chicken or fritters a lot, but they are dear to my heart (so Southern ack!). The rest of it, yeah, all common things you’ll find here in Casa Miriam. I want to say I got this idea for a cheat sheet from Amy Karol - hers is almost all desserts! Do not laugh at my selections. My stomach is what it is, and likes what it likes (which seems to be breakfast breads, corn and chicken).

A few vegetables, dirt included

So I got that organic vegetable delivery the other day, and it looks like what’s below. I nearly forgot. The food is pretty much like going to a farmer’s market except they brought it to me instead. Many things came with their dirt still attached, and it all seems to have that nice fresh taste that you only get with recently picked produce.  Most everything was normal-type stuff, the only thing I’m not really sure about how to cook is the huge stalks of fennel. Anybody got any ideas? Cooked fennel stalks before?  Well, anyway, I got a nice big bunch of okra which I’d like to pickle and a butternut squash that will be soup. I’ve always wanted to make butternut squash soup.

I love to cook, and I was hoping a bit of cooking might be a nice way to spend the evening, it seems to make me feel better about the world.  It seems I’m not feeling quite myself however, I’m more along the lines of feeling scattered and dazed. I actually managed to burn a pan by letting the water all boil off.  I also nearly scorched some green beans and some leeks got disintegrated and blackened … I’m a pretty good cook, but it wasn’t my best night cooking. In the end it worked out, and part of my food delivery turned into a nice salad and quiche.

I seem to keep making posts at 11:45 pm.  How does it get to be so late, so fast?

Oh yeah, I’m livin’ the life …

So I had three things to tell you all today, and when I stopped and thought about them I was very amused. My three things are (1) organic vegetables, (2) a print from an independent artist and (3) something I just made. You can’t say I don’t do what I preach, er, ramble on about on here.

Organic Veggies: At the moment I’m super crazy excited waiting for my first home delivery of organic vegetables. A friend who already has been doing this for some time swears by Greenling for their produce. They are supposed to be awesome for veggie quality. I got two of their “surprise” baskets. The local basket has an unknown variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables from farms in the area.  The other one is the “artisanal basket” with a surprise variety of breads, meats, cheeses etc. from local shops. I don’t know what I’m getting, and I just love that! I have to admit that although I like the organic part, I’m actually more excited about the surprise element, and the fact that I don’t have to go to the grocery store.  I used to love getting home delivery of groceries in Manhattan.

Art Print: The art print is one called Bear Snug (#214 from March 1 ,2008) from Nut and Bee. What, you’ve never stopped by Annette’s stationery shop?  You really should. Her illustrations are some of the cutest I’ve ever seen, and I love checking out her 3x weekly postings of new Sketchbook Sweeties (her name for her drawings). Check out the Whirlipig and the Drama Llama. You’ll succumb to the spell too.

Kitchen Curtain: In addition to all those WIPs from yesterday, I did actually finish one thing, if only because it was the easiest thing.  I have this wierd spot in my kitchen where the 1970s builders decided to put a countertop for some sort of breakfast nook, I assume.  It would have made about 1000x more sense to put cabinets there, but apparently builders and architects can’t be bothered to be, you know, practical.

So I’ve put up 2 shelves (well, my dad did) and made a curtain to hide the area below.  Now it can serve as additional storage without just looking messy.  Plus, I love the stripe.

My mom had a GREAT idea for making this.  I got a pair of shorter pre-made curtain from Target to do this, and she suggested that instead of cutting off the extra at the bottom I should just fold it over so it’s the right length, and just sew in the rod pocket in the middle somewhere. Then you just sew down the sides. If you use a loose enough stitch, you can pull out the stitches later and reuse the curtains! FAB.