Checking in on #15in2015

Well it's been a long while since I even whispered #15in2015, and longer still since I actually made progress - ha! With the current schedule and responsibilities, there has been zero, zilch, nada time for those activities that I most love. Weird how that goes, isn't it? 

Firstly, I have done the ever so difficult and daunting task of pulling whipping yarn out for the mermaids. Yep, it was taxing but I got through it. And here they sit, with their yarn......hhhhmmmm, I wonder how long this will take. I got them out because I had a moment of guilt when in the Smidge's bathroom the other day and realized she has art for her walls, it's just not ready to hang. #MomGuilt

And the progress on project #4. At least I believe it's project #4. Here's a sneak peek, intentionally hiding the full rug, because there's gotta be something to reveal at the end, right? In my defense, this is a fairly large rug and I'm not all that enthused. At one point, I didn't pull a single loop in a six week period. So it's taking a while.

So because there's not really enough to do (ahem), I've started working on two, not one, I-Spy quilts for classmates that are expecting babies in the fall (these then are officially fibre projects #5 and 6). Can't have a baby entering the scene without an I-Spy quilt to get them started in this life. The squares are all cut and I've started laying them out (this is not the final pattern shown below). Sewing, sandwiching, quilting, binding to go x 2. Ha! Due date: late September (not the babies' due date, but when I'll be seeing the moms to deliver the quilts). No problem (insert nervous laughter here). 

Now don't be expecting an update for a while, because that would mean that I'm badly procrastinating on schoolwork which would be highly irresponsible of me, right? And yes, since you insist that I admit it, #15in2015 is looking dicey. 

Go-To Recipes

I really enjoy cooking for my family, friends or a crowd, and I love to bake! I have a bazillion (true, I counted) recipes that are printed or ear-marked to try. I'm proud of myself because I now throw out any recipe that's less than fantastic. Life's too short to keep so-so recipes on hand. 

In the spirit of sharing, I thought I would share a few with you that are now what I consider go-to recipes. Those that have served me well and pleased many palates. 

If you've had a meal at my house in the summertime, you've probably had Spicy Chicken Taco Salad. This is a fun, and incredibly delicious summer meal. Jeanine Friesen has her own successful blog (thebakingbeauties.com) and is a cookbook author, but this meal she posted when guest-blogging. Head on over and be sure to try it out.  

Some time ago, the Smidge and I stumbled on this amazing recipe for chocolate chip cookies and have never looked back. There's a small difference in the recipe that distinguishes it from others - the preparation of the baking soda in hot water. It makes a big difference with the cookies, and one that we love! Try out these Best Chocolate Chip Cookies - makes a big batch of yumminess! 

You'll think I like chocolate, and I can not lie. I was looking for a chocolate chip muffin recipe to make for a neighbour, and because I've never made that flavour before I needed a recipe. Sally's recipe is incredibly well explained which I found very educational. The muffins were as promised. If I had to criticize them I'd perhaps say there's too much chocolate - I know, a big problem to have! One note: I know my oven is hot but these muffins were done more than 8 minutes faster than they were supposed to be, so keep a close eye. Otherwise, a gold star for Sally's Baking Addiction Chocolate Chip Muffins! 

Finally, you may very well have heard of no-knead bread already, but I can attest to the ease of making this bread. If you're needing (not kneading) homemade bread, and haven't tried the recipe, do so. 

That's it for today, but I'll most likely have more to share in the future! 

Enjoy. :)

To Blog or Not to Blog

Aaaah, that is the question. I'm feeling rather Shakespearean of late, not because I've read any or even seen a Shakespeare play, but simply because I was in Stratford last week. Influences of Shakespeare everywhere, including the town named for him. I think I'm holding on to the memory because it was the most perfect of days. A mom-daughter day with perfect weather and a fantastic experience seeing The Sound of Music at the Festival Theatre. If you can go, and you're a SOTM fan, you simply must go. It was incredibly. Kudos to all involved on a job very well done. 

Really got off topic there, my apologies. 

Though I haven't had two seconds to rub together, I haven't forgotten about my dear blog. What to say, what to tell you. So little to share when I'm up to my eyeballs in school work. It seems blogging is everywhere these days, so one is acutely aware of how much blogs have become a part of our culture. Even my daughter's musical at school last night, which was about summer camp, was centered on a character who was writing a blog about the experience. It's hard to believe the word traces its roots back to "web log" coined less than 20 years ago. Now, for some of us, blogs are a regular, (almost) daily part of life. 

There are many blogs that I read regularly, that I really miss if I'm not caught up on. One thing that's not fun about summer is that many bloggers wane with their postings in the summer months. Makes for some boredom. 

You may ask how I have time to read blogs. You're right, technically I don't, and shouldn't. But with the ease of reading them, and how quickly one can zip through a post, it seems like not much of a drain of time. 

So, alas, I leave you with not much to report. I have may a teensy bit of headway on my current hooking project, but with so little time to hook, I am apparently left with nothing to blog about but blogging itself.....

Ain't that a corker!