Month: October 2015

Beginning and an end…

Aynaria 5 Comments

This afternoon I made this pumpkin and potato curry and while it tastes delightful just how it is, I will be adding a bit more to the dish tomorrow.

Pumpkin Curry.10.19.15
Vegan: Pumpkin and potato curry

I snapped this photo right after I cut up the pumpkin (which came from the garden) and the potatoes. Currently, this is setting in the refrigerator, by the time I reach for it tomorrow it should really be delightful since the herbs and spices have a chance to marinate. So this is my “beginning project.”

Satin Stiched emblem
Using satin stitch to attach an emblem

I also have a project that came to an end. This was one for the BF. Actually, it did not have much of a beginning. I used one of my sewing machines to attach this emblem to a hooded sweatshirt. I used the satin stitch. I have one sewing machine that does the satin stitch; however, I used the sewing machine that does the zigzag stitch. I changed the length and width so that it was able to mimic the satin stitch.

I’m including two different videos that show how this can be accomplished using the zigzag stitch. My daughter keeps pestering me about making my own videos so that I don’t have to keep hunting and posting an appropriate video.

 

Pulled Jerk Chicken

Aynaria 4 Comments

Although my diet is mainly vegan, it does not stop me from preparing non vegan meals for those I love. Guess what? You don’t have to be vegetarian or vegan to eat healthy. In fact there are plenty folks within both of those groups that eat very unhealthy. You just need to make healthy choices. In our household, we eat mainly whole foods, which simply means as close to the natural food source as possible.

Pulled Chicken.10.18.15
Pulled jerk chicken

Earlier today, I made the above dish for my BF. I used a kitchen favorite, my BF’s 15 pound granite mortar and pestle (which I gifted to him) to grind up the variety of herbs and spices.

This afternoon, when I arrived home, my daughter asked if I would make eggrolls. She loves them and they are the perfect finger food.

Vegan: Dhal and spicy coconut rice

Aynaria 5 Comments

Yesterday morning, I made a delicious dhal.

Creamy Dhal.10.14.15
Creamy dhal. I should have taken this picture when it was made as you can see, my daughter ate a lot! 🙂

Last night, when I returned home, this was all that was left. My daughter inhaled most of the dhal. A pity, but my fault since I did not take the picture as soon as I created the dish. In addition to the lentils, mushrooms and other freshly ground herbs and spices, I was able to add pumpkin, tomato and hot pepper that all came from the garden.

Spicy Rice.10.14.15
Spicy coconut rice

Last evening, I made spicy coconut rice. The herbs and seasonings were freshly ground by myself and coconut was added. my daughter inhaled both dishes.

Dhal and Spicy Coconut rice.10.14.15
Creamy dhal and spicy coconut rice

As you see there was enough dhal to pair with the rice! This meal is low on calorie, but extremely flavorful. Anyone that knows me well, knows I love flavor. We mainly eat whole foods, which simply means as close to the natural food source as possible.

An unexpected handcrafted gift from my BF’s mom: Row counters!

Aynaria 4 Comments

Last evening, I received a wonderful surprise in the mail. Pete’s parents had sent me these wonderful row counters. Aren’t they colorful and adorable?

Row counters from Helen.10.13.15
Row Counters that my BF’s mom made for me.

His mom uses them for golf. I think she called them trackers? For some of my more complicated projects, these are definitely most welcome and they arrived at the most appropriate time since I’m finally going to finish knitting my chevron scarf.

Work in progress: Chevron scarf

I started knitting this scarf almost two years ago and it’s laid dormant for a while, even though it’s almost finished. My dilemma? I could not decide if I wanted this scarf to be super long. I’ve finally decided I do want extra length and so I still have a ways before this scarf is complete. Thanks to the lovely row counters made by my BF’s mom, I have a wonderful way to mark the various rows of knitted stitching. Each time I use them, I’ll be reminded of her thoughtfulness.

Last evening I sent her and her husband and email letting them know I was thinking of them and also to thank her for her thoughtfulness.

Flowers. Card for Helen and Joe.10.14.15
Handcrafted thank you card made for my BF’s parents

and later today, I’ll be sending her the above card with the matching envelope. I made both last evening. I wrote his parents a nice note and I also told his mom that her unexpected gift made my happy day a bit more sparkly. 🙂 I’m still working on her knitted washcloths; however, I’m hoping to have those completed by some time next week.

How was the card made?

Two different stamps. I used the masking technique and the flowers were stamped on white card stock. I colored with my Copics markers. His mom loves glitter and so I used my Wink of Stella pens to add a bit of sparkle to the flower petals. After it was dried, I fussy cut the flowers with my X-ACTO knife and placed on the pink card stock. The paper used to make the envelope was embossed and then I used my Martha Steward envelope maker to create the envelope.

 

Another year, I’m 45!

Aynaria 7 Comments

Happy Birthday to me

Actually my birth date was this past Friday and while I’ve been wanting to post on my site. I just haven’t gotten around to doing so. I have posted fairly regularly on my Facebook page and so if you’ve friended me and follow my posts, you’ve seen a few things that I’ve been doing along with the occasional back and forth banter that goes on between my BF, friends and myself.

Let’s see… my daughter was away part of last week with a seventh grade retreat. We received tons of rain in our area and my daughter and BF gave me amazing gifts for my birthday! I am truly blessed. I am hoping to take a picture of both gifts some time today and hopefully post them over the next few days.