The Sketchbook Project

This is the coolest project.  It is put on by the Art House Co-op in Brooklyn, NY.  You send them $20 and they send you a moleskin sketchbook.  You have different topics to choose from depending on what day you sign up for the project.  You fill up the book with things from your life and send it back to them by Jan. 15th, 2011. Then, the books are all catalogued and put into the Brooklyn Art Library.  You can log into your book anytime and everytime someone  signs your book out, you will be notified.  Sometime next year the books will travel and be on display all over the US and you will know again when someone checks out your book.  You can also add a short bio to keep in the book.  This is a great project for writers, artists, moms, dads and kids and anyone else who enjoys filling up books.  Here is the website: www.thesketchbookproject.com.  go ahead and have some fun!

Weekend

This was one of those weekends.  So much to do, but, we finished it all and had a great time. You know how it is - you are always parents, no matter how old your children are.  Well, it happened to be moving weekend for our oldest daughter, Lindsay.  She had a very busy week traveling for work and also planning an engagement party for her younger sister which would be held on Saturday.  Well, needless to say,  the packing had not progressed to the point where we could have just taken boxes out to the car and moving truck and whisked them to her new apartment.  I thought college moving was tedious, but I completely forgot how many more things you aquire when you are on your own for three years!  Her new apartment was on the second floor with no elevator. I had to keep reminding myself that this was the same daughter who diligently picked up her room every time I asked when she was younger!  (Not so sure about that.) I'll tell you that I did not have to exercise the rest of the weekend.  This morning I was reading an article in our hometown newspaper and guess what the new, cool exercise is? Running flights of stairs!  You can do it at home and it requires no equipment.  It tones your hips and thighs and helps you lose weight.  So I guess I should actually be thanking Lindsay for asking us to help her move.  Next time maybe her new place might even be on the third floor!

Haiku for Autumn

The falling leaf tumbles
Twirls round and round
A mini tornado.


A movie out side my window
In full fall color
The members of birdom, stocking up for winter.


That smell of autumn, drifts in the air
Right into my nose,
Raises me to my toes.

Quick and Easy Meal (and healthy, too)

Here's a great way to get your whole family to love salads!

1 bag of mixed baby spring greens
1/2 small bunch of asparagus, cut in bite-size pieces
2 large carrots, peeled and sliced.
1/2 red onion, chopped
1/2 cup of sliced almonds
1/2 cup Italian dressing
4 slices of procsiutto
4 eggs
1 1/2 Tbls. olive oil

In a pan with 1 Tbls. olive oil heated, saute asparagus, carrots and onion till they are carmelized.  Pour into a bowl and set aside.  Add 1/2 Tbls. olive oil to pan and heat.  Add 4 slices of prosciutto and almonds. Saute till almonds are slightly brown.
Put spring greens into 4 salad bowls and add sauteed vegetables. Use the frying pan with a bit of non-stick spray to fry the 4 eggs. Add one fried egg to each bowl of salad.  Top with prosciutto and almonds and drizzle with Italian dressing.  Serve with crusty bread and you have a great meal!  Enjoy!

A beautiful waterfall at the Biltmore in Asheville, NC.
Took a great trip in May-wonderful time to go when things
were just beginning to bloom.
                                  

There was a wonderful winery there too and it was interesting to see what creative things they did with the wine bottles.

Feel Good Patterns from Land's End

Lands End has been asking us to do knitting for charity for many years.  Here are some really simple pattern squares that will be knit into blankets.  Even a beginner can do these and they go so quick.  So, on these cool fall days, when the wind is blowing all of those pretty leaves into your yard, make a cup of tea and knit part of a square.  You will be doing something good for you and for someone else. Enjoy!Landsend.com