the gift of craft

Some call it structured procrastination. But I call it my new-hobbies-that-just-happen-to-get-in-the-way-of-my-job-but-it-is-my-amazing-selflessness-gift-to-others-that-I-don't-want-to-do-I-NEED-to-do. I must craft. I must draw. If I don't, I get grumpy. Luckily, with the holidays, I can tailor crafts to gifts for my favorite people. My newest interests are making books and felting. The books combine my interests in my muse, Pirate, and blends of pencil/ink, and felting combines my love of wool, cute things, and sharp objects.

fröhliche weihnachten

It was German food this Christmas. Fitting because so many German Christmas customs are holiday spirit essentials- the tree, the stockings, St. Nick. Even more apropos because the foods are familiar family favorites- sauerkraut, strudel, gingerbread. What a great time to celebrate the German way- time honored traditions for a baby's first Christmas. While the pretzels were for lunch and not part of the official dinner, they do photograph better than goose, red cabbage, spätzle,and prune wine sauce.

in a closed oven

Every year around this time I hear about these little nuts but had never tried one. If it is too cold for "an open fire" and "Jack Frost is nipping at your nose" like it is here, a little slit in the shell, a quick simmer and roast in the oven will do just fine. They are surprisingly meaty and robust and may just be a new tradition for our family.

gourd-eous

Went to the pumpkin patch last week to find the perfect pumpkin. Tens of thousands of pumpkins to choose from. The grocery store always has the same old same old, when in true Halloween form, "perfect" can mean partly green, warty, and oddly shaped. And that is just what I got.

get thee to the greek

Dinner with the neighbors last night was an episode of appreciation to Mediterranean cuisine. The color was delightful- reds, greens, and yellows- and the flavors light and clean- lemon, olive oils, and fresh yogurt sauces. A good reminder: as the days get darker, chillier, and landscapes dull, the impetus is to become a shut-in eating hotdish for the next three months. But visiting over shared dishes can make for a great escape.

8 months

Parker picking up blocks

Parker developing her palate

stitching a foundation

My friend started a foundation and I designed the logo. To celebrate all her hard work to create this dynamic, positive idea I made her a little gift: the logo in fabric form.

camp out

Last night I camped at Rocky Mountain National Park with a friend. Why? Because the elk are out in the meadows bugling by the camp site, because we wanted to hike, because, well, because it was a Monday and we could. This morning we hiked up to Fern Lake. The aspen tree leaves are turning yellow and in the hours we hiked it changed from sunny to cloudy than rainy. Fall is here.

paper cuts

I adore paper. I have drawers of paper, I rip out and save magazine pages, and craft with paper. I think paper art is an egalitarian art- cheap and accessible. But recently I have seen paper used in some pretty high class places. Here is one of the paper pairs in the Vdara lobby by Peter Wegner. It is 45 feet high and is all vertical stacks of paper. The other is paper blouses in a Louis Vuitton window featuring luggage. For more posh paper pictures, click here.

summer recap: gnocchi

Gnocchi is not a summer dish. But summer is a time of the year that I have time to try to make new things. This summer was full of new recipes and experiments: fried chicken, scallops, feta, roasted chicken, lemon cake, meatless meatballs, reductions, cod, and coffee ice cream. But my favorite dish was sweet potato gnocchi with butter, toasted walnuts and fried sage. Scrumptious summer.

summer recap: paddle

Going to the lake means going kayaking. Being so close to the water is calming and energizing at the same time.

summer recap: water dog

Pirate is a terrier. The very breed name means "of the earth." He is supposed to be a land mammal. His hobbies are to include chasing vermin in fields and napping in the grass. But he longs for the sea, the lake, the pond, the pool. Any body of water will do as long as he can paddle and splash.

summer recap: visitors

Parker and family took a rode trip to Colorado to visit me and the mountains. It was a fantastic time full of firsts, including the feeling of sand on her toes.

nmd vs. rnc

Don't know what NMD stands for? Then you must not celebrate a very important yet quiet little holiday: National Marshmallow Day. Sure Romney is accepting the nomination at the Republican National Convention today and people are debating politics, right and left. But there is a way today to join together- by sharing a gooey treat that can literally stick to your friend across the aisle. I made a gourmet take on the s'more- graham cracker crust, chocolate ganache, marshmallow creme, and chocolate shavings. We as a country need something to believe in so let's rally behind the marshmallow and its unique place in Americana.

summer recap: farmers markets

I love farmers' markets. In Boulder, it is an event. People spritzing vegetables to make them glisten in the sun and handing out samples of gourmet/organic/local fill-in-the- blank concoctions. Beyond vegetables there are wines, cheeses, pasta, herbs, and the best outdoor food vendors with international fare and of course, biodegradable utensils. A summer must see.

summer recap: viva

This year's trip to Vegas was once again fun but a little quirkier. Went to the original strip and saw lots of different street "performers" and discovered the wedding chapels and pawn shops. Of course there was a little bit of glamour too, like a pedicure at the spa and lunch by the pool. The best part was seeing Phantom before it closes for good. Lights, glitz, odd characters. What a fantastic place.

summer recap 2012: time for pie

Summer is when a blueberry bounty

becomes a pond for pastry ducks, and dessert for us.

summer recap 2012: summer attitude

On the eve of the eve of the first day of school, I begin my recap of summer. The road back home to Fargo is long and usually seems to take forever; my stay is long too- about three weeks- but is always over in a flash. At a tortilla making dinner hosted by my parents, the guests told stories of their favorite summer vacations. I tried to think of one from the past- Ireland? A hiking trip? Wisconsin Dells? They were all snapshots of delights in my mind. But it occurred to me that while I've always loved my summer months, this one felt different. I finally realized why while driving: this was the first summer in years that I didn't need to move, finish a dissertation, find a job, complete comprehensive exams, enter or finish any schooling. In other words, I felt that I had embraced a summer attitude.

one month

hoot hoot wooly owl

Made an owl out of cashmere sweaters for a friend's daughter with my new sewing machine. I think once fall comes back around I will make some more wooly animals, but I want to move on to more springy projects. I have been itching to craft but have had no time the last two months. I can feel the bottled up creativity getting more and more agitated inside me- I need to paint! Take photographs! Draw! Luckily, school/grading/planning will be over in two weeks and I can move away from creating lesson plans to creating art.

welcome baby parker!

Wednesday, February 8th became one of the greatest days for my family: Parker was born! Now there are whole new roles: sister turns mom, parents into grandparents and I am now an aunt. Everyone is ready to develop their part to nurture this little one.

deadwood

Last year I drove through Deadwood, SD in the middle of the night. I had to keep driving, but I desperately wanted to stop. It was such lovely looking place, with pristine and preserved buildings from the 1860s quietly nestled in the Black Hills. After that I read about it and devoured HBO's characterization of the town. I finally got to go back and stayed for the day. Deadwood was not always quiet; the region was called 'The Bad Lands' for a reason. During the gold rush, everyone carried guns and any free time meant hanging out with booze, cards, and women. I got to visit the museum, the graves of Buffalo Bill and Calamity Jane, and the site where the first pieces of gold were found. The entire city is now a protected National Historic Landmark.

tea party ii: baby shower!

One of the best things EVER is happening in my family right now: a baby is on the way! My sister is pregnant and due in a few weeks. During winter break I had a baby shower for her titled "Tea for Two." There were lots of family and friends, stories told, and desserts. The cradle my dad made transformed into a the greatest gift holder. And everyone got to leave with a gift- a mini tea party for later.

tea party i

My good friend's daughter has started getting interested in fancy things. She is six now, and is now drawing clothes and jewelry so she is a girl after my own heart. Of course I had to put on a tea party for her. Her mom is not as interested in dressing up so when they came over we both whisked her upstairs and dressed her up in as many pink and rhinestone items we could find in my closet and jewelry box (we did good). And then we had a lovely afternoon snacking and sipping and chatting.

holiday recap: stocking stuffers' stuffing

If only Pirate would rip through JUST the wrapping and not the presents themselves.

holiday recap: walking the dogs

Pirate and I decided to join in on the annual Wire Fox Terrier Rescue Awareness Walk in December. Seeing all of these foxies together was incredibly delightful for the owners and the strollers down 16th Street mall in downtown Denver. It was a festive night and at the end of the walk the dogs were invited into The Brown Palace for a photo op!

holiday recap: ooh la la dining

This past Christmas the family decided to create a grand 6 course french meal- amuse bouche, soupe, entree, salade, fromage, et dessert. I don't know what was more fun: planning the menu, making it all, or gathering around the table and eating and talking for hours. The food was incredible, especially the onion soup, but the most memorable items for me are the champagne and wine glasses with mustaches on them and the yule log. The mustaches were there because my sister is pregnant and can't partake in libations, so we turned her juice into Juice Francais and the la buche de noel (yule log), a French holiday tradition, was a great recipe to finally try out.