Spring is for Spray-painting!

Spring has sprung! I can tell because it's finally warm enough to spray-paint outside (as long as you keep an eye out for scattered showers). My neighbor said that, before she got to know me, she always wondered what the "ratttle, rattle, rattle" noise was echoing from my back yard. And to ring in the season...


I found this neglected little chair at Goodwill. It had never been finished, and, although it was a whopping $10, I just couldn't pass it by.


Besides, I could just picture it painted cherry red next to the bigger mommy chair, in my side yard. (This is my only picture of the mommy chair...ahem...behind the trains...out the window.)


Didn't it turn out sweet!


Cozy can hang out there and sip lemonade while I'm gardening this Summer.

Tastes Almondy...

My brilliant red-haired sister made me this for Christmas.

Yes, I made the "huh?" face too, but, trust me, it's very cool. Felted soap. The process is a mystery to me, but she used her magic to make almond soap...and felt it. (The felting is the part that I can't picture happening, since my felting experience is somewhat limited.) ...but I've tried the soap - the wool is gently exfoliating, and I suspect it's depositing lanolin on my skin (but that could just be my imagination...the power of positive thinking?)


It passed the Cozy test too. ...hmmm...tastes even better than Irish spring (which she got a nibble out of this evening)...


...plus it has this cool stringy stuff I can try and pull off....


...entertaining and delicious!

Gardeny Goodness

Well, my feet are super-sore from walking around Seattle and speed-walking/Boo-chasing around the Garden Show in highly inappropriate shoes! (Supportless, allbeit cute flats!). I knew that I should have worn my converse, but I was just too dang lazy to go and find a pair of socks.

...and I just couldn't wait to regain custody of Sofia. Those dang grandparents stole her away and left this huge void in our home! Of course, I could wait long enough to eat at Ipanema's with Tony. Going out to eat with just Cozy and BooBoo always make us sentimental about the time in our lives when Anthony and Sofia were our little (and only) children. They've grown so fast.

Sofi called me when we were almost finished with our lunch.

Me: We're at Ipanema's without you.
Sofia: You're in Seattle! Don't come get me!
Me: Uh, why do you think we drove out here?
Sofia: Can you come back tomorrow? There's somthing I wanted to do tonight.
Me: No.


She pouted the whole way home and then was a cranky beast to everyone who missed her so much. I think she just doesn't want us to be so sad the next time she goes away. :)

My favorite displays at the Garden Show? Seattle Urban Farm Co. (once again) It's more of a chicken truck than a chicken tractor - and twice as cool.



AND whoever did this garden. I'm too lazy to go look at my flyer. Adorable cold frames!


"I will not garden until payday. I will not garden until payday." Just keep saying it, Annalia, maybe it will come true.

Peek-a-paper

...good for so much more than just wiping hineys.


I don't know who left the bathroom door open, but Cozy thanks them.

I-Need-A-Better-Name Salad

The ingredients may not look tempting, but once you put everything together...


This is technically called 3-bean salad, but how lame is that? It doesn't even begin to describe the cuminy, cilantroy yumminess or the low-fat, fibery goodness of this dish. Tony is trying to eat better, so I am trying to cook better. This salad is part of my effort. My MIL made it for us several years ago, and I scrounged up the recipe on the internet. Try it. You'll like it.


Flavoricious Fiberlicious Bean Concoction
takes: about 30 minutes
makes: 6 side dishes

1 1/2 c. frozen edamame beans
1 can or 14 oz of black beans
1 can or 14 oz of black-eyed peas
2 c. thinly sliced celery
1/2 c. diced red onion
1 tsp. chopped garlic
1/2 cup cilantro
2 tbsp. lime juice
1/4 c. olive oil
1 tsp. cumin

Cook the edamame beans for 4 minutes, and then rinse them (to stop them cooking). Set aside. Heat olive oil, add cumin. When fragrant, remove from heat, add lime juice, and combine with all of the other ingredients. After mixing, let stand for at least ten minutes before eating (or it will explode...just kidding...no, I think it just gives all of the flavors time to get to know each other.)

I'm so impressed with my lack of pettiness in making this nutritious salad, since Tony is happy to torpedo any chance I ever had of losing weight. (Why do you think I try to do it when he's out of town.) His latest effort involved putting at least 6 different flavors of ice cream in our freezer. Who can resist that? Stronger people than me, that's who. ....and he's dairy-free!

Pokefluff and Other Stuff

We haven't been neglecting foodie Saturday; it has simply been awhile since I've found anything new to brag about. Well, chocolate, almond cheesecake was o-so-brag-worthy. And, although any food where the delista asks, "Would you like chocolate drizzled on that?" is pretty brag-worthy, it was really the almond flavoring that won my heart. sigh. Yum.


I had to bring a slice over to my parent's, so that I could share the love.

We were one our way to a cousin birthday party - Lulu's Pokemon party! We didn't let Cozette drive all of the way, but she was thrilled to steer while we were on the ferry.


I admit I ran into the quilt shop and bought some "peas and carrots" (by Moda) before I got on the ferry. I think they'll make an adorable baby boy quilt - should the need arise.


In true Annalia fashion, I finished Lulu's birthday present on the way to the party....and found that I had sewn the binding on incorrectly.


I fixed it as best I could. Not too noticable is it?


Pokemony enough....?



...for a little buneary?


Sof and Auntie Rachel posing as Pokemon trainers.


The Poke-pinata. (It broke on the third whack!)


What a lovely, busy weekend. I think I'm ready for some boring down-time.

Why, yes, I have been sewing...

...I've just been trying not to blog about it. I don't know why. Maybe I'm just trying not to deviate from the original reason I started my blog - to keep in touch with family and friends. ...but occasional sewing posts are ok, right?


I've been making more doll quilts - surprise! Some of them, like this wonky log cabin quilt, are practice quilts to get ready for larger projects, but I have no shortage of little people to give them to (thanks to my siblings for making me a billion nieces). I was anti-wonky things for a long time, but I think, used judiciously, I might be ok with a little "wonk" here and there.


Not too much wonk, right?


This stacked-coin quilt is Lily's birthday present (I'm pretty sure she doesn't read my blog, since she'll be turning 2.) Her birthday isn't until April - what was I thinking?!! It semi-matches Cozy's doll quilt, since they're birthday twins.


The stripey one....well, I just felt like making something blue and green. I thought a bold brown would be nice to show off the quilting, but it shows it off a little too well.


(I have tension issues that need to be resolved by a professional. Right now I'm quilting with my tension on a 9 just to get by.)


Of course all quilts need matching pillow cases (which double as stuffy sleeping bags).


Don't they make sweet bundles?