I'm daydreaming of flowers around here. Bright, happy, summery blooms. Wishing I could cover the table with little glass bottles of them, cover the garden in giant flowering shrubs.
Soon. Oh. so. soon.

I was wishing for these same sights in January when I picked my One Little Word & set my goals. I was dreaming of blooming in my world & in myself.

Since it has been a few months I thought I'd check-in, take stock, & revisit where I was, where I am, & where I'm headed...

I started the year all ready to change my life & work really hard at it.
Some of that I am still feeling, some of that (if I'm being totally honest) I'm not.
My goals for this year were:

1. More vegetables. Less meat, less sugar. (because I am not 'dieting' but striving to make better, more healthful food choices)
I'm getting better at this all the time. I've decided not to just eat less meat, but not to eat meat at all. Yep, going vegetarian! So far, I'm feeling really good about this. I haven't been missing the meat, & I already feel lighter in my skin & my pants. It is taking me some time to figure out how to cook with my new menu, but as I love to cook anyway, learning new recipes is a big plus for me.

2. Activity 365. (whether it's the Couch Potato to 5K Workout Plan I'm doing, a hike, or a long walk with the dogs - do something active everyday)
Well, I rocked at this the whole month of January...& then I took a day off...& that led to more days off...& now I'm just getting around to it sometimes. This is the area that most bums me out. I fell back into my old routine so easily. I still plan to work at it, try to do more, try to do something I can maintain. Really, any movement is better than no movement & any improvement on where I started...on the couch. If you are inclined to pray - this is my area of greatest need towards getting healthy. Going vegetarian is fairly easy since I LOVE veggies - but I definately DO NOT love working out. I so wish I did!

3. Walk/Run a 5K.
I have amended this one a lot! Especially since the time in which I had planned to make this a reality is now right smack in the middle of a roadtrip to California I'm taking with my mom. That doesn't mean I won't look into it for later in the year, or that I've given up on it all together. I've also found a route that I could do unofficially that wiould still be the 5k distance. I might just do that - with a bunch of family who would also like to walk it. And, yes, I would be walking it. I definitely discovered I am not a runner. Sad as that makes me feel, I get no joy from jogging or running. I basically spent every jog interval of my abandoned 5k plan praying to finish just so I could walk again. So, any 5k in this girl's future will be a walked 5k. Even though it does make me a little sad that I have to let go of that dream I had of hitting the trail in my cute running skirt, ponytail bouncing, & just hitting my stride at mile 3. OK, maybe I don't have to totally give it up...my stride is just gonna be a little slower than I had planned.

4. Learn to knit in the round.
Oh, yes, I'm getting closer to this one. I now have in my possession a set of double pointed needles & two circular needles! I have large flat-knit projects on them at the moment, but as soon as I get those finished & get reasy to start another project I'm casting on. I'm thinking about a pair of yoga socks...

There you have it.
This is me right now.
Thank you so much, sweet readers, for hanging in there with me. For coming back to read my blather about crafts, food, places, things, & all of this - my life.
I'm so glad you're there!

So, where are you in your 2011 goals? Are you hanging in? Changing it up? Abandoning it for new horizons? I'd love to know!

I found a different stuffed squash recipe online & then because I never follow recipes exactly I tweaked it to my liking. :)
This was one of my first vegetarian main dishes (although would be great as a side) & I was so happy because it is SO good!
I hope you enjoy it too!

What you'll need:
2 Acorn Squash
1 small onion, diced
1 cup sliced button mushrooms
1 clove minced garlic 
1/2 cup frozen spinach, thawed & the water squeezed out
1 can Great Northern or Cannellini beans, drained & rinsed 
1/2 cup Italian style bread crumbs
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
canola spray (Pam)
olive oil
salt & pepper

I also added used - but not necessary:
a few splashes of Bragg's Liquid Aminos (tastes like soy sauce)
2 tbls. ground Flax seed

What to do:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees & then start with the Acorn Squash.
Halve it, seed it & put it in a baking dish cut side up.
Spray it with the canola spray & sprinkle with salt & pepper.
Cover it with foil & bake it for 1 hour or until fork tender.

Then in a large skillet or saute pan...
Saute the onion & mushrooms with a little salt & pepper until the onion is soft & translucent & the mushrooms have darkened & evaporated some of their water. 
Add in garlic, spinach, & beans. And continue to saute and pull apart the spinach until there are no big clumps, & any vegetable water has cooked off. You can add the Bragg's & Flax here if you like. (I added most of the Flax here but also added a little of it to the topping mixture.) Taste & add salt & pepper to your liking.

When the squash are finished roasting remove the foil, stuff them & set them aside.
Then in the same saute pan add a little olive oil, & the bread crumbs. Lightly toast the bread crumbs, you'll want a mixture that is like damp sand. Remove from heat & add the shredded cheese. Then sprinkle this over the tops of your stuffed squash.

Return the squash to the oven about 10-15 minutes until everything is heated through & the breadcrumb mixture is a nice golden brown.
Enjoy!

Notes:
If you aren't a fan of spinach you could use something like kale or another green sliced & wilted into the stuffing.
If you aren't a fan of cooked greens try shredded zucchini, remember to squeeze the water out of this too before you use it.
You could also add shredded carrot, or diced tomato -the color would look great in the stuffing.
Try whatever your favorite veggies are & tweak the recipe to YOUR heart's content. :)

**In later experiments with this recipe I also discovered I love it even more using spaghetti squash! :)

Well, I've gone & done it now, y'all!
Decided to change the way we eat around here!
I'm going vegetarian & flirting with being a vegan.
Oh my.

Over the past month I've drastically cut down on the amount of meat I eat at home & made lots of vegetarian choices when I've been out. Now, as I am preparing my new grocery list I'm just saying no to meat & stocking the pantry with lots of grains & beans. In the bulk section of our grocery store I can find tons of things to round out our meals on the cheap. The problem came when I got home with all the thin little bags (instead of boxes & packages) of various staples. I needed a way to store it all.

Since I started making my own yogurt I've been saving jars to store it in. I could have gone out and bought new mason jars, but when I bring in perfectly good reusable jars everytime we grocery shop why spend the money? Between the spaghetti sauce, pickles, & jelly jars I certainly can find enough storage, even if it takes me a little while to accumulate it all. I pulled a couple of my yogurt jars & repurposed them for grain storage last night.

Well, you know me - I couldn't just fill em up & leave em be! So, I got to label making while watching Criminal Minds. Break out the scrapbook supplies! I discovered my large circle punch & some cute scrap paper was just right for top of the lid labels. Something I definately need since all of these are stored on a bottom shelf. And, I cut some squares out of other scrap paper to stick on the sides of the jars to remind me of all the water to grain ratios since every one of them seemd to be different!

They may not be as beautiful as all new same sized mason jars woud be but I'm sure enjoying my own little recycling project in saving the jars. OK, the labeling is pretty fun too! I still ahve some jars to gather for lots of other things...Quinoa, various kinds of dried beans, Arborio rice, etc. I didn't want to use up all the jars I saved for yogurt afterall.

I so love needing something & then discovering a solution right at hand. Doyou have any great storage ideas to share?

Or how about a great vegetarian recipe? I've discovered that many of the things I make can be easily modified by removing meat & adding lots more veggies - things like lasagne & coconut curry were simple converts to my new diet. Other things - like beef stew & burgers - are much more difficult since the hubs is mortal enemies with mushrooms which would be one of the things I would use to replace some meaty flavor & texture. So, if you've got a favorite thing you like to make I'd love to hear it! I might try some chickpea burgers tonight, going falafel style. :)

I've been on the road this weekend!
My mom & I headed South for a quick trip to visit her sister & family for a couple days.
It wasn't anything super exciting & I don't have any stories to wow you - although I might make you chuckle with the tidbit about my mom talking back to the GPS...

GPS says "Turn right on East Main Street"
Mom answers "Ok, but only for you. I wouldn't do it for anybody else."

She also says "Helllooo out there..." to any cows, horses, lamas, donkeys, etc we pass along the way. And "Ok fine don't talk to me" when she gets no response.

She's a little cooky in a totally fun & loveable way. :)

Some of the best things about my trip were just moments that seem ordinary from the outside but things I will cherish for a long time...
Like the sound of my mom playing old hymns on the piano & my Uncle singing along. 
Seeing the oldest (I think) Texas Longhorn - named Gravy & his pals Biscuits.
Listening to my Uncle (who is also a pastor) tell stories & "preach" with such passion while we sat in their tiny kitchen. He is no less fervant with an audience of 2 than with one of 100+.
The crazy loving energy of their little dog Gracie, she has the most adorable (Ewok) face!
Sharing dinner & lots of laughs with my cousins...
It's the little things that are the most special, don't you think?

Like most of you my heart breaks for the people of Japan. As their world has been turned upside down, as they face devastation & struggle to move forward in the aftermath of the earthquake & tsunami my heart goes out to them.

But I want to do more.
Not only do I have the privilege to go down on my knees in prayer for that great nation I also have a chance to support relief efforts with my craft.
I recently had a cousin head to Haiti to use her nursing skills to help the people there. She wrote that the experience was an amazing one & that the group she travelled with was exceptional. She went with Samaratian's Purse & had high praise for that organization.  That is why I have chosen them out of the many wonderful organizations to support.

100% of the sales from the Wraps on this site will be donated to Samaritan's Purse  & 100% of the sales from the Oh My Owls snack bags from my Etsy shop will also be donated.

I know that this small amount of aid is but a drop in the bucket to the need, but every drop helps. If you would like to help here are a few more organizations providing aid:

Global Giving
American Red Cross
World Vision 

You can give to several aiding organizations directly from your Paypal account & even straight from your cell phone! To give to the Red Cross donate $10 per message by texting REDCROSS to 90999. The Salvation Army is also collecting donations, you can text QUAKE to 80888 to give $10 per message.
Or head over to Etsy & enter 'Help Japan' in the search field & give while you shop.

However you send your heart, whether it is with your wallet or your prayers I pray you are blessed in return. It really is such a very, very small World.

Blessings on you, sweet readers!

I pulled my two new projects from my knitting basket to show you this morning.
Both were started yesterday, although the one on the right was started, stopped & frogged 4 times before I settled on the pattern I am now working on.

I'm already getting started on Christmas gifts around here as the ideas come to me. Of course, they might end up as Birthday gifts or Just Because gifts long before we get to Christmas. 
A girl can pretend she's getting a head start.
Right? :)

Lots more Creative Spaces to see & love over at Kootoyoo. Pop in and add yours!

I got on a bit of a scarf making roll here recently & wanted to knit up a scarf for my sweet hubby. A man who admittedly does not wear scarves, but said he might - if I were to make one for him. ;)
So, I did.

I tried to come up with something that was just so 'him', & I think I got pretty close.
He works with concrete you see & so I started playing around with the image of a concrete block. You know, these guys:

What you'll need: 
    2 skeins Vanna's Choice Lion Brand Yarn in Grey Marble 
    (or worsted weight yarn of your choice)
    US size 10 needles (6mm)

What to do:
    Cast On 28 stitches
    Knit rows 1-9 in Garter Stitch (knit every row)
    Beginning with row 10 **Knit even numbered rows (wrong side rows)
         K6 P16 K6
    For odd numbered rows (right side rows) knit across
    This creates the middle stockinette block pattern. 
    Repeat for 16 rows or until the block pattern is a little more than 3 inches.
    To create the bars between the blocks return to Garter stitch (knit across) for the next 3 wrong side rows.
    You will continue to create blocks & bars from the ** until you have completed your 13th block or until desired length - end with knitting across a right side row.
    Return to Garter stitch (knit every row) for 7 rows.
    Bind off.
    Weave in ends.

This pattern is for personal, non-profit use only.

So handsome.
The scarf & the man. :)

This is my first-ever attempt at writing out a pattern so if you find yourself confused, or there seems to be something inherently wrong (which is so very possible) please don't hesitate to contact me.

Blessings!

I did actually finish that purse I was in such a hurry to get done - I even managed a few pics before I sent it off to the buyer & headed down to my mom's. Her cataract surgery went great, BTW, quick & easy just like we'd hoped. :)

I put a glaze over the center of the flower so it would stand up to the finger mashing it will get - the magnetic clasp is underneath it - but the glaze hadn't quite cured by the time I took these photos so it looks a little odd. It dries clear.

There is a large pocket along the back done in the inside fabric for contrast.

The smaller divided inside pockets are done in the contrasting outer fabric.

It looks like a super simple, quick project but I had to create the quilted fabric for the body & strap of the bag because we couldn't find it premade in fabrics that were right. So, that quilting took the majority of the time even though I did it all on the machine.
 
That, & the fact that I didn't have a pattern so I was improvising my way through it. The most nerve racking part was trying to figure out what to use for the batting layer. I had originally bought some heavy interfacing to give the bag lots of structure, but then as I was about to start the project I felt like that was the wrong thing to use so I switched to regular quilt batting. I think it all worked out ok, even though I also think I could have used just a big more structure in the bottom of the bag.

All in all I think it came out pretty cute. The birthday girl just loves pink so hopefully she'll enjoy her new bag!

I'm in a crunch to finsh a purse this morning so I can get it out the the person who ordered it so it can then be sent onto the birthday girl it is for...Her birthday is on the 4th...hope it gets there in time!

P.S. My mom is having cataract surgery tomorrow morning so good thoughts & prayers would be so wonderful as I head down to her place this afternoon & go with her to the hospital in the early a.m. :)

Blessings on you, sweet readers!