Tonight's Inspiration: Loops and Circles

Tonight I fell in love with this wonderful looped song by Emily Hope Price



and this photo seen here.

Don't you just love being drawn in by unexpected finds? What have you been inspired by lately?

Two Works in Progress

Chinese coins, both stacked and rolling:


Trip Around the World, ready for lots of machine quilting practice in the wide borders...


Any works in progress in your house or studio?

Adirondack Daily Report

Dear Hermanacita-

Upon your request, following please find my report on the Adirondack daily. Suggestions included, in big sisterly fashion, at no extra charge.

When traveling by Amtrak, it is advisable that you:

1. Pack a lunch. Market manchego, local apples and fresh baked baguettes are much better than the pre-packaged, microwave-heated sandwiches offered in the (only occasionally open) dining car.

2. Do not, however, pack excess liquids. You will want to visit the lavatory as little as possible. Dehydration is your friend.

(Photo spot intentionally left blank. Your welcome....trust me.)

3. Enjoy the view. Farms...lakes...mountains...the surprising abundance of swimming pools in the Canadian suburbs.

4. Do nothing. When do you have hours to do nothing? Take advantage of it!

When you tire of that, kick your husband's trash at Scrabble.

5. Pack a camera with a speedy shutter. There will be (rare) occasions where the train will actually move at a fast clip...

...and you will want to catch those trainspotters striking modern-dance poses just outside of Albany.

(Do you think they are related to these S. Utah hoodoo dancers?)

6. Be grateful for a chance to get out and stretch your legs.

7. Notice things. Somethings will be right in front of you, seemingly mundane.


Other things will be un-photographable moments gliding past your window....gleaming copper sunsets...marshland swirled in foggy meringue...bold iron geometry of railroad bridges...diverging train tracks of ways not taken...golden glints of sunlight on a church steeple...curving tracks hugging the lake shore. You can't slow down, speed up, back-track, stop, use your flash or take another picture. Notice it as it just keeps slipping past your window, non-stop, the entire ride.

8. Finally, dream of your next trip by rail. Perhaps with one's favorite sister?

Respectfully submitted (with kisses) to a traveling kindred spirit,

(sspbt)

A

Daily Beauty and Creation

Inspiration...

Exploration...

My husband is chistoso, but not Mexican

One night, earlier this week...

4:55 pm: Hubby brings in the mail, including the 2010 census.

9:28 pm: Having a few extra minutes I decide to fill out the census.

10:22 pm: Getting ready for bed, I proudly tell the hubster that the census was on the door for mailing.

(Note: Ok, the census is NOT a big project. In fact, I think it took 3 minutes tops...including a discussion about whether the hubby having a father and grandfather -- both of Scottish decent -- born in Mexico, would even remotely qualify as being ethnically Mexican. My pride was in the turn around time, as most things get buried in my inbox for time periods more closely resembling geological ages that nanoseconds, regardless of project size. End of note.)

Giving myself a metaphorical pat on the back, I ask, "I got it finished and ready to send the same day! How often does that happen???"

10:23 pm: Without missing a beat, "Once every ten years?"

Wise guy.

Intercambio de recetas (or recipe exchange)

(Cornbread, pepper chicken and beans, those lovely habichuelas!)

I have discovered my dad's cornbread recipe has bartering power. Wahoo! This week, it was worth one lesson on Dominican-style beans. Oh my, did I get the better end of this deal! Admittedly, this is more on the "concept" end of things than a hard and fast recipe, but Marisol said you're supposed to season it to your taste. So please do!

Habichuelas Dominicanas por Marisol

Ingredients:

Large pot of beans of your choice, cooked until soft, undrained
garlic, lots of it & chopped fine
oil
vinegar
8 oz. tomato sauce
small red onion, with ends and skin removed, cut in two pieces
1 sopita cube, which appears to be Domincan flavor bullion, cut in half

small red pepper, green pepper (and/or other peppers of your choice), seeded and sectioned
tomato (such as grape tomatoes), only a few
adobo
Dominican oregano
cilantro, regular and wide leaf

1. Heat oil. Add garlic and saute. Add 1-2 TBS of vinegar before it starts to brown. Add the onion cut in two. Add tomato sauce. Add 1/2 sopita cube. Let simmer for 5 minutes, mas o menos.

2. Add the hot garlic/tomato/onion sauce to the beans. Also add peppers, tomatoes, dash of adobo, oregano (crushed in your palm before it's added), and other half of sopita cube. Bring beans to a simmer. Simmer for 45 minutes or more, until the water has cooked down but the beans are still soupy. Add both cilantros, whole. Let simmer an additional 10 minutes. Take out large onion and pepper chunks and cilantro if you desire. Season to taste with salt, pepper and adobo. Serve over rice and enjoy!

Crafternoon II

Forget the Superbowl. This is what's inspiring me...

And last Sunday's crafternoon? I was in desperate need of a desk calendar...but this desperate? Bleh!

With a little help from the back of last year's calendar...now we're talking!

Wahoo! Now there are quilts on my desk. Aren't they beauties???

This Sunday afternoon creativity time is good for my soul.

And my desk.